Strategic Families

We often hear that we should not fear anything. I would clarify this to say that the Bible clearly and repeatedly and expressly commands us to fear the LORD. That God commands us is all the reason we need. But what's really cool is that God promises tons of blessings to those who fear the LORD. We need this message today and we need to teach it and model it to our kids! In this episode, Graham makes a biblical case for fearing the LORD. Let's model this and teach it to our kids! Scriptures Used: Psalm 36:1-4 – Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good. He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil. Deuteronomy 10:17 – For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.​ 1 Chronicles 29:11 – Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Isaiah 45:5a – I am the Lord, and there is no other;​ apart from me there is no God.​ Deuteronomy 4:24 – For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Psalm 33:8-9 – Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. Psalm 113:4 – The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! Philippians 2:9-11 – Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Psalm 76:11-12 – Make your vows to the Lord your God and perform them; let all around him bring gifts to him who is to be feared, who cuts off the spirit of princes, who is to be feared by the kings of the earth. Psalm 147:10‭-‬11 – His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. Psalm 89:6-9 – For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD, a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him? O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD, with your faithfulness all around you? You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them. Jeremiah 10:6‭-‬7 – There is none like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is great in might. Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like you. ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭15:3‭-‬4‬ ‭– And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! [4]  Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”   Proverbs 15:33 – The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor. Proverbs 9:10 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Psalm 25:12-14 – Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land. The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. Psalm 111:10 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever! Proverbs 14:26 – In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. Proverbs 24:21‭-‬22 – My son, fear the Lord and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise, for disaster will arise suddenly from them, and who knows the ruin that will come from them both? Proverbs 14:27 – The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. Proverbs 19:23 – The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm. Proverbs 10:27 – The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short. Proverbs 22:4 – The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. Psalm 128:1‭-‬4 – Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord. Psalm 103:15‭-‬19 – As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. Psalm 31:19‭-‬20 – Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues. Deuteronomy 6:1‭-‬3 – “Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.” Proverbs 23:17‭-‬18 – Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. Jeremiah 32:37‭-‬41 – Behold, I will gather them from all the countries to which I drove them in my anger and my wrath and in great indignation. I will bring them back to this place, and I will make them dwell in safety. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul. Proverbs 28:14 – Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity. Psalm 34:11‭-‬14 – Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. 1 Chronicles 16:23‭-‬27 – Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place. Psalm 112:1‭-‬3 – Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Psalm 33:18‭-‬22 – Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you. Psalm 85:9 – Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. Psalm 76:7‭-‬10 – But you, you are to be feared! Who can stand before you when once your anger is roused? From the heavens you uttered judgment; the earth feared and was still, when God arose to establish judgment, to save all the humble of the earth. Selah Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt. Psalm 34:7‭-‬9 – The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! Psalm 60:4 – You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah Proverbs 29:25 – The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. Psalm 145:17‭-‬20 – The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. Psalm 115:9‭-‬15 – O Israel, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield. You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield. The Lord has remembered us; he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron; he will bless those who fear the Lord, both the small and the great. May the Lord give you increase, you and your children! May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth!   Proverbs 8:13 – The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. Exodus 20:20-‬21 – Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was. Resources: When People are Big and God is Small, by Edward T. Welch Music: Intro: Life of a Traveler, by Black Rhomb (License #3565685) Outtro: Avocado Street, by Wes Hutchinson (Courtesy of YouTube Music) If this podcast been a blessing to you, please consider subscribing, leaving us a review and/or donating to our Patreon account. Thank you! Check us out on www.strategicfamilies.com.

**Part 2 of 2 with John Fort** Join us in this two-part interview to learn from John Fort, Director of Training for Be Broken Ministries. John is the author of Honest Talk: A New Perspective on Talking to Your Kids About , which discusses 6 critical conversations we need to have with our kids. John helps us see that we can't just think of "The Talk" -- this is a conversation that starts with emotions and feelings and goes on for years. Through these two episodes, you will be much better equipped to discuss this sensitive but incredibly important topic with your children. Let us not shy away but dive in -- for the sake of our children's purity and wholeness! Scripture referenced: 1 Timothy 1:15-16, ESV: Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Resources: Be Broken Ministries Critical Conversations FREE Webinar - good starting point for any parent Honest Talk, by John Fort – a book or parents who want all the basic information on addressing these issues with their kids The Need for Freedom – a course for parents of teens who have had no conversations yet Recommended Song: LIFT MY HANDS, by Forrest Frank Music: Intro: Life of a Traveler, by Black Rhomb (License #3565685) Outtro: Avocado Street, by Wes Hutchinson (Courtesy of YouTube Music) If this podcast been a blessing to you, please consider subscribing, leaving us a review and/or donating to our Patreon account. Thank you! Check us out on www.strategicfamilies.com.

**Part 1 of 2 with John Fort** Join us in this episode to learn from John Fort, Director of Training for Be Broken Ministries. John is the author of Honest Talk: A New Perspective on Talking to Your Kids About Sex, which discusses 6 critical conversations we need to have with our kids. John helps us see that we can't just think of "The Talk" -- this is a conversation that starts with emotions and feelings and goes on for years. Through these two episodes, you will be much better equipped to discuss this sensitive but incredibly important topic with your children. Let us not shy away but dive in -- for the sake of our children's purity and wholeness!

In this episode, 5 of the 6 Clark Family members talk about the value of kids working outside the home. What's that you say? Kids working? I thought being a kid was all about FUN?!? Well, being a kid is fun, but remember -- we want to raise them to be adults. Kind, compassionate, productive, hard-working, considerate adults, no matter where God calls them in life. Yes, they need to work INSIDE your home -- chores are hopefully a given! But they also need to work OUTSIDE the home and gain all of the incredibly valuable experience and insights that come from having a job for someone else and having to perform it faithfully -- even when it's inconvenient. Katie and Graham set the stage for why we believe this is so important, then our three oldest children, ages 13, 11 and 9, talk about their experiences from having jobs in our neighborhood. Have your kids listen in as well! With some intentionality, you will be well on your way to some great lessons. And we promise, work will NOT steal their childhood -- in fact, it will ENHANCE it tremendously.

Our guest for this episode is Dr. Christopher Perrin, co-founder and CEO of Classical Academic Press. Dr. Perrin is a wise man who has a great deal to teach us about parenting and generally living life as a Christian. He's one of those guys who just makes you feel smarter after listening to him! You'll see what I'm talking about as you listen to this interview. Our main topic is logic -- what it is, why it's so useful for the Christian life, and how we can bring it to bear on our family life. In many ways, this is really about using language effectively in our everyday lives -- AND, helping our kids really use their heads to combat the bad arguments they will surely encounter in the world. For Dr. Perrin, who is steeped in the Classical Christian tradition, the topics of logic and rhetoric are not just academic skills, but ones we can use powerfully as a way to love and honor Christ. Glean from Dr. Perrin in this interview and emerge a wiser parent!

**Part 2 of 2 with Monica Irvine** Our guest for this episode is author and speaker Monica Irvine, and this topic is so relevant, practical and really critical to our children's upbringing -- we're diving into the topic of courtship and dating. Monica is the founder of The Etiquette Factory, a ministry designed to equip us to help OTHER people feel valued. Monica has amazing ideas on ways we can be successful in this arena with our kids. But these aren't just tips. Monica has so much WISDOM that's based in her own experiences raising her three sons. And, she has great stories to illustrate the principles she shares. Monica really urges us as parents to take seriously how we communicate with our kids on this topic -- all to give them the best chance to honor God and all members of the opposite sex as they grow. What a fantastic concept!

Our guest for this episode is author and speaker Monica Irvine, and this topic is so relevant, practical and really critical to our children's upbringing -- we're diving into the topic of courtship and dating. Monica is the founder of The Etiquette Factory, a ministry designed to equip us to help OTHER people feel valued. Monica has amazing ideas on ways we can be successful in this arena with our kids. But these aren't just tips. Monica has so much WISDOM that's based in her own experiences raising her three sons. And, she has great stories to illustrate the principles she shares. Monica really urges us as parents to take seriously how we communicate with our kids on this topic -- all to give them the best chance to honor God and all members of the opposite sex as they grow. What a fantastic concept!

Our guest for this episode is author Hillary Morgan Ferrer, founder of Mama Bear Apologetics. Hillary has so much excellent wisdom to teach us in this interview about how we can approach our kids when it comes to defending the Christian faith. She discusses her story of becoming fascinated with apologetics, what apologetics is and why it's important; and she also gives a great framework for helping your kids hold to what is true and reject what's false, when it comes to what they're exposed to in the world. Mama Bear Apologetics is awesome and I know you're going to love learning and hearing from her.

In this episode, we (Graham and Katie) share all about a tool we developed years ago that has been critical for in our marriage and that we believe can be a great benefit to your marriage as well: the Date Night Inventory. We've used this dozens of times in our 15 years of marriage to encourage each other, reflect on ourselves and in some cases, bring up difficult things that need to be worked through -- all so we can experience more and more of the beautiful oneness that comes when God sovereignly brings husband and wife together in marriage. Your marriage is too important -- not only for its own sake, but also for the sake of your family and the sake of the Gospel -- to just "let it happen" and hope for the best along the way. We have to make an investment of time, energy and attention into breathing life into it. And when you do, God will do amazing things. Strong families are built on strong marriages! Join us as we walk through the Date Night Inventory and discuss how God can use it in your life together!

In this episode, Graham interviews Andrew Kern, President & CEO of the CiRCE Institute, an awesome organization that focuses on Classical Christian Education. Andrew has amazing thoughts on not only education but how to guide our children towards virtue and wisdom. You will find this episode enlightening, encouraging and challenging!

Today's episode features an interview with author SD Smith of The Green Ember series, along with his son, Josiah Smith, with whom SD just co-authored a book called Jack Zulu & The Waylander's Key. We discuss the Green Ember series and how they can be used within families; we discuss their new book together; and we get a window into what life is like in the Smith Family household, including how they seek to be a family of "grace and truth" -- just like Jesus Christ.

In this episode, Graham interviews Sarah Mackenzie, founder of the Read Aloud Revival, an amazing effort to help parents help their kids learn to love to read. She and her husband Andrew have 6 children. You may also know Sarah from her acclaimed book Teaching From Rest: A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace. In this interview, we dive into the beauty and benefits of reading aloud to your kids (hint: it's way more beneficial than you may think!), including one of my favorite benefits: how it can help us build family culture through shared experience. Sarah shares some of her read-aloud favorites and a powerful verse that has been helpful to her lately: Isaiah 40:31. Sarah also gives a preview of her upcoming new children's book, A Little More Beautiful.

In this episode, Graham interviews author and dad of 4, Dave Runyon, co-author (with Jay Pathak) of The Art of Neighboring, a fantastic book that encourages the church to be the church -- and get outside our four walls to engage those who live closest to us. This book reminds us that good neighboring is right at the heart of Jesus' commandments to love the LORD our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. It may not be easy, but as Christ-followers, this is what we're called to. And it is so worth it and such a blessing. You'll be encouraged and challenged by Dave as we walk through this incredibly important topic of being the kind of neighbors God has called us to be. What a great way to be a strategic family! Dave also gives us a peak into the intentionality in the Runyon home -- with great ideas to engage and listen to your kids.

In this episode, Graham interviews author and mom of 6 boys, Catherine Claire Larson, about her new & upcoming books and excellent thoughts on parenting. Catherine reminds us that parenting is both a responsibility and a joy and that the discipleship of our kids is absolutely critical work for the kingdom. Catherine is the author of two books, Waiting in Wonder: Growing in Faith While You're Expecting and As We Forgive. Her upcoming books will be Watching in Wonder (for moms of babies) and Walking in Wonder (for moms of toddlers).

In this episode, Graham interviews his great friend and neighbor, and pro parent Don Land, who recently retired from the Air Force. Don most served as Professor of Aerospace Studies and the Commander of Air Force ROTC Detachment 592 at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. Don is a great guy and awesome brother in Christ -- and also a fantastic parent! He's got so much wisdom to share with us in this episode, and you will especially love his out-of-the-box thinking on how to approach our kids. This episode focuses in on how to help our kids make their OWN decisions, -- which, if you're like me, you need some training on. Sometimes we like to just tell our kids what they need to think, forgetting that -- as Don reminds us -- we're not always going to be there with them. So we want to set them up for success for when those times come, and come they will.

This episode is #3 in the 3-part mini-series on strategically implementing Christ-honoring music into your family life. In this episode, Graham shares the Strategic Families Podcast's "Top 7 Old Hymns to Teach Your Kids." If you haven't already, check out the previous two episodes, #32 & 33, where we discuss why music is so important to remind us of Who God is and Who we are in Christ, and where we also provide two other lists of songs for you to check out and play for your kids -- and we think you'll love those songs as well.

This episode is #2 in the 3-part mini-series on strategically implementing Christ-honoring music into your family life. In this episode, Graham shares the Strategic Families Podcast's "Top 7 songs to Grove Out to with your Kids." If you haven't already, check out the previous episode, #32, where we discuss why music is so important to remind us of Who God is and Who we are in Christ. Today's episode is the "Top 7 songs to Grove Out with your kids."

This episode is #1 in a 3-part mini-series on strategically implementing MUSIC into your family life. In this episode, Graham shares the Strategic Families Podcast's "Top 7 songs to Jam Out to with your Kids." First, we cover some important introductory material about the idea of music as meditation: how music can be an amazing way to fill our kids' heads -- and our own heads -- with wonderful truths about God and who we are in Christ.

In this episode, Katie and Graham talk through ideas on how to make this summer both peaceful and productive for your family. Katie is the expert planner and while it may seem counterintuitive to plan out what we call a "break," if we fail to plan, we could be setting ourselves up for squandering an awesome opportunity that we have to set our kids and ourselves on a great trajectory. Remember Paul's words from Ephesians 5:16 to make the most of every opportunity -- summer is one of those opportunities! On the other hand, we don't want to try to accomplish so much that we get overwhelmed. Join us as we look ahead to the summer and how we can make a great use of it and end the summer knowing that we've used it well and have honored the LORD!

My guests in this episode are old friends of mine and people that I admire so much, Ben and Mary Craft. We've known each other for a long time but our families have been able to spend time together these last few months and it's just been really cool to reconnect with them. Ben and Mary are an awesome example of parents that are strategically raising a family that honors Christ. They're really are incredible people, but at the same time they're ordinary people like me and you. And they're just faithful parents who are in the thick of it with us trying to raise our kids to know Christ, to love Christ, and to be on mission for Christ. Ben and Mary are also just really practical, and you'll hear that in a lot of what they share during this interview. Our main topic today is how we can systematize things in our family life -- the things that just have to get done -- to allow us to focus more of our time on important, long-term goals. So I really think you're going to be blessed by what they have to share with us.

Today's guest is Andrew Pudewa, a wonderful and influential thinker and speaker and educator and someone who has so much to teach us about godly living. Andrew is a gifted communicator who loves helping families educate their children and is the founder of an awesome organization called the Institute for Excellence in Writing. He's also the host of the Arts of Language Podcast, which is also excellent. In this episode, Andrew helps us think strategically and soberly about how to prepare well for persecution, and relays the back story of how he got thinking on the topic. As Christians and Christian families, we would do well to heed his words and be careful to fill our minds and hearts with goodness and truth and beauty, thereby allowing ourselves and our children to more easily repel the lies of the world, the flesh and the devil, which war against the truth.

Today's guests are Taylor Hebert & Cabel Bailey, reporters with the fantastic daily 10-minute video news program, WORLD Watch. As Christian families, it matters where we get our news! WORLD Watch presents the news factually and with a Biblical worldview and is a great way to spark important conversations around the dinner table. In a world that is full of bad news, the good folks at WORLD Watch remind us, in every episode, "Remember: whatever the news, the purpose of the LORD will stand." You'll be blessed to learn from these fantastic reporters on why WORLD Watch exists and what you can expect from it if you subscribe! As WORLD Watch's website states: "We can't keep your kids from growing up too quickly, but we can help them grow into humans equipped with news literacy and Biblical discernment. And make it fun, too..."

Today's guest is Dr. Danny Huerta, Vice President of Parenting & Youth at Focus on the Family. Focus on the Family is an amazing, faithful ministry that has been serving families for decades and Dr. Huerta has so much wisdom to share with us today on how to cultivate a mentally healthy home. Dr. Huerta emphasizes that we as parents have the primary influence in our children's lives and what a wonderful invitation that is. You will be blessed to learn from Dr. Huerta!

Everything is more expensive now -- that's no longer news. The question for us as families is: how will we respond in this moment? In this episode, we encourage your family to think of it as an opportunity -- yes, an opportunity -- to teach your kids -- and remind yourself -- that God is in control. He's not surprised in the least. This is a moment of "tightening the belt" for many families, including ours. But it's also a moment to lean into the LORD and be thankful for His goodness and provision.

In this episode, Graham interviews psychologist, business consultant and author Dr. Jennifer Thomas about her book and work around the languages of apology. This is such an important topic for our families, as there is no family that doesn't need to offer and receive good apologies! We sin against each other; we break promises; we let each other down. Dr. Thomas give us incredibly valuable tools so we can handle these situations well, which she calls the Five Apology Languages.

In this episode, Graham interviews Dr. Pete Frank about an awesome program he and his wife Amy created for boys called Gateway on the Journey to Manhood. Pete is an accomplished economist and serves as the provost for Grove City College in Grove City, PA. Today's topic is all about Gateway -- where it came from, why it's so beneficial for boys as they grow into men and how you can get one started in your own community.

In this episode, Graham interviews author, speaker and business leader David Benham. David is a passionate man of God who is known for unapologetically standing for the truth of Jesus Christ. He and his twin brother Jason are the authors of numerous books, including the bestseller Whatever the Cost. In this episode, David shares a powerful framework from one of their books, Living Among Lions, of how convictions lead to commitments, which lead to courage -- an awesome concept that we as parents can teach to our kids! David has great wisdom on the work/life balance, sharing how he prioritizes his family and incorporates his kids into not only recreational activities, but his work as well. In my favorite quote of the episode, David encourages and challenges men with this: "You can't delegate that seat at the table for dinner." Awesome truth!

In this episode, Graham and Katie explore everybody's favorite topic: discipline and consequences! But seriously, discipline is an important role for us as parents as we strive to build strategic families that are on mission for the Lord. Last time, we discussed how to motivate our kids to become contributors to your family life using a tool we call the Chip System. Today's episode is about the "stick" part of the "carrot and the stick," helping your kids see that their less desirable actions have consequences, using a tool we call the Consequence Jar. Join us as we share how you can set up this system for your family and the benefits it provides for your family!

Sticking with the theme of resetting & realigning things in your family, in this episode Graham & Katie introduce two concepts that have been helpful in our own family life: the Chip System and the Consequence Jar. We dive into the details on Chip System and how it can be used to help you kids become more responsible and producers in your family. It's basically your family's own unique currency.

Now that you've hopefully had a chance to set some life-giving family goals together, this episode is all about STAYING THE COURSE. Sometimes we feel like we've accomplished something just because we wrote it down! That's a foundational step, but good intentions won't get us very far. We need to make sure we have a plan to stick with our goals, and accountability along the way, along with celebrations as we achieve them. In all things, let's remember that we don't set family goals to earn God's favor -- if you're in Christ, He has already given you a right standing before Him through the blood of Jesus Christ -- but we set these goals IN RESPONSE to what He has already done, out of a heart filled with gratitude. Join us as we explore how we can persevere in accomplishing what He's given us to do for our families -- and communities.

In this episode, Katie and Graham discuss the value of taking a step back and conducting a family evaluation. No matter when you're accessing this episode, if it's been a while since you've done this -- or if you've never done it at all -- now is a great time to take stock of where God has been at work and where He may want to use you for the upcoming season. Like any organization, the family periodically needs an evaluation so we can think deeply about what's going well, what's not going well -- and what we can do about the things that aren't as they should be. It will take some work but it's so worth it!

We all give each other so many gifts for Christmas, and that's all fine. But there's one Person we often leave out -- Jesus Christ! In this episode, Graham and Katie dive into the Scriptures to explore what it could look like in our families for each person to give Jesus a gift. After all, it's His birthday we're celebrating! Think about what we do for others' birthdays: we give them gifts that THEY want. How do we know what Jesus wants? He's told us -- in His Word.

In this episode, we give suggestions on how your family can be a catalyst for community building in your neighborhood and spheres of influence. Christmas is an awesome time of year to "break the ice" by bringing something to your neighbors and being an instrument of God's love!

In this episode, Amy Frank shares about St. Nicholas Day, an awesome opportunity for your family to bless another family who needs encouragement. If you've never heard of St. Nicholas Day, this is a crash course on what it is and how God can use it in your community!

Ever wanted to celebrate Advent but not sure where to start? I highly recommend starting with books by Arnold Ytreeide, a gifted storyteller whose adventures will delight your family during the Advent season. In this episode, Arnold gives the back story on his amazing books for families, explains why he wrote them and shares a little on his parenting philosophy.

If you're like us, sometimes you're bracing for this time of year with your family -- it can be so much fun but can also be overwhelming. Join us as Katie Clark walks us through a helpful way to navigate this time of year as a family through remembering, resting and rejuvenating, as we thank God for what He has done and celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ!

This episode of the Strategic Families podcast includes an interview with Andrew & Janelle Devlin -- awesome young parents with four kids who run a business together and have their own podcast, Love + Money. They have tons of energy and great tips on how to be healthy and involve our kids along the way. You're going to enjoy and be inspired by this!

In this episode, Graham interviews author Jessica Smartt, who's also a homeschool co-op director and mom of 3. Jessica shares important ideas from her two great parenting books, Memory Making Mom and Let Them Be Kids.

In this episode, Graham interviews his brother, Chris Clark, an engineer & more importantly, a great dad and husband who is a faithful man of prayer. You'll take away some great ways to lead your family in this incredibly important spiritual discipline!

In this episode, Graham interviews Cliff Wright, executive director of the Charlotte Eagles, which Cliff describes as "a world-changing, disciple-making, community-building mission cleverly disguised as a soccer club." Cliff, who spent 15 years with YoungLife, shares compellingly about how we as adults should think about interacting with young people as they grow and navigate the challenges of modern life in middle school and high school.

In this episode, Graham interviews David Vroon, the leader of the Reallife men's ministry of Stonebridge Church Community in Charlotte, NC. David shares how we as men are called to be not only providers but protectors, priests, and presiders over our homes & families.

In this episode, Graham interviews Amy Wray Frank, an awesome homeschool mom who gave up a lucrative career opportunity to focus on her family. She shares a really cool perspective on how to turn our homes into monasteries in a way that allows us to minister to others -- with our kids.

Join us for a discussion with Jeff Greene, a homeschool dad who with his wife Diana, are so intentional and purposeful with their family of 6. They have an awesome set of core values, based on Scripture, that they have posted in their home and strive to live by.

In this episode, Graham interviews Dan Martin, a awesome, faithful man of God who is a former pastor and currently works in the Internet Evangelism Department at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), based in Charlotte. Dan is a humble man who has so much to teach us, as he and his wife Jennifer have faithfully "run the race" of parenting.

This episode is Part 2 of 2 of an interview with Lynn Wray, who has faithfully raised five wonderful children (now adults!), who have given her 18 amazing grandchildren.

An interview with faithful and awesome woman of God, Lynn Wray, who has raised five amazing children, who have given her 19 amazing grandchildren. Lynn shares about not growing up in a Christian home, but how the LORD intervened to radically change her family's trajectory when their two oldest children were very little. (Part 1 of 2 with Lynn Wray)

Join us with business owner and Christian father & husband Dan Wray, who emphasizes the importance of bringing God's Word to bear on the everyday rhythms of family life.

Join us for a health dose of parenting wisdom from Bruce Wray, faithful follower of Christ, father of 5 and grandfather of 19, as he helps us see why we should take the time to strategically plan for our family's future.

In this introductory episode, Strategic Families Podcast host Graham Clark discusses how God can use our families to advance His kingdom.