Podcasts about jellytelly

As the CEO and Co-founder of Minno, a subscription digital media platform with a focus on supporting Christian kids and families, I lead a team of passionate and talented professionals who share a common vision and mission. With over 25 years of experience in the digital media industry, I have a proven track record of launching new businesses, securing start-up financing, developing innovative products, and growing online communities and e-commerce platforms. Before founding Minno, I was the Co-CEO of Creative Trust Ventures, where I led the financing, development, and commercialization of Buck Denver Asks...What's in the Bible? created by VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer. I also co-founded JellyTelly, a subscription-video-on-demand platform for Christian kids and families. In addition, I have been teaching E-commerce and Internet Marketing at the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University since 2008. My specialties include start-ups, online marketing, product development, customer relationship management, site optimization, conversion rate optimization, direct marketing, business development, and digital media.

I'm taking a stand this year. 2020 is the year of directing my family back to Christ and making a Gospel Centered, Christ focused atmosphere in my home. In this episode I share 7 resources we've been enjoying for helping in that regard! Listen to the Podcast: You can find the notes for this episode down below. And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. Right click here and save-as to download this episode to your computer. 1. Parenting by Paul David Tripp  This is a fantastic parenting book for all Christian parents to read! “God hasn’t just sent you to do his work in the lives of your children; he will use the lives of your children to advance his work in you.” “So your hope as a parent is not found in your power, your wisdom, your character, your experience, or your success, but in this one thing alone: the presence of your Lord. The Creator, Savior, Almighty, Sovereign King is with you. Let your heart rest. You are not in this parenting drama alone. Your potential is greater than the size of your weaknesses, because the One who is without weakness is with you, and he does his best work through those who admit that they are weak but in weakness still heed his call.” 2. Read Aloud Family by Sarah MacKenzie  Drawing close together as a family is hard work! But it's more important than ever that I'm making the time in my day to connect with my kids and all of us together as a family. Reading together is a beautiful way to do this! The Read Aloud Family is a great book that helps with that (it even has booklists)! Her podcast The Read Aloud Revival is also a great resource. “No one will ever say, no matter how good a parent he or she was, “I think I spent too much time with my children when they were young.” “When my head hits the pillow each night, I want to know that I have done the one most important thing: I have fostered warm, happy memories and created lifelong bonds with my kids—even when the rest of life feels hard.” 3. Courageous Parenting Podcast by Isaac & Angie Tolpin Courageous Parenting is a weekly podcast for Christian parents who want to equip confident Christian kids in an uncertain world. As parents of 8 kids, they know how important and hard it is to focus on Christ in your everyday and in marriage and parenting. I love their commitment to Christ centered parenting and I love to see the team they make in this. Angie is also a very encouraging person to follow on instagram. 4. Faithful Life Podcast by Matt & Lisa Jacobson Matt and Lisa are another couple I love getting advice from. They especially shine for me when it comes to marriage advice. Their podcast is a terrific resource! "What does it mean to be a biblical Christian in Marriage, Parenting, Church, and Culture? Each episode takes on a vital issue and explores what The Word says about it – topics like sex, purity, growing in oneness as a married couple, difficult parenting issues, being a biblical Christian in a fallen world and much more, including practical steps for real success and deep growth in these areas. . . we laugh a lot, too!" 5. The Duties of Parents by J.C. Ryle This is a book I have't read yet. But Jason says it's the best book on parenting he's ever read! It's next on my to read list. It's a quick short book but an excellent one! 6. Minno Did you cancel Netflix this month? Or are you struggling in knowing what shows are safe (and encouraging) for your kids? Minno (use to be Jelly Telly) is a streaming service for kids. Basically it's like a Christian Netflix for kids shows and we are huge fans of it!! Go to Gominno.com and use coupon code HOMEMAKING for 7 day free trial. While you check out that free trial, try out our favorite shows: Theo, Owlegories, 3, 2, 1 Penguins, and of course the classic veggie tales! 7. Drawing together in our marriage This last one isn't really a resource, but it's an important one right now! With everyone going on in the world today (and having a 4 mo...

I'm taking a stand this year. 2020 is the year of directing my family back to Christ and making a Gospel Centered, Christ focused atmosphere in my home. In this episode I share 7 resources we've been enjoying for helping in that regard! Listen to the Podcast: You can find the notes for this episode down below. And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. Right click here and save-as to download this episode to your computer. 1. Parenting by Paul David Tripp  This is a fantastic parenting book for all Christian parents to read! “God hasn’t just sent you to do his work in the lives of your children; he will use the lives of your children to advance his work in you.” “So your hope as a parent is not found in your power, your wisdom, your character, your experience, or your success, but in this one thing alone: the presence of your Lord. The Creator, Savior, Almighty, Sovereign King is with you. Let your heart rest. You are not in this parenting drama alone. Your potential is greater than the size of your weaknesses, because the One who is without weakness is with you, and he does his best work through those who admit that they are weak but in weakness still heed his call.” 2. Read Aloud Family by Sarah MacKenzie  Drawing close together as a family is hard work! But it's more important than ever that I'm making the time in my day to connect with my kids and all of us together as a family. Reading together is a beautiful way to do this! The Read Aloud Family is a great book that helps with that (it even has booklists)! Her podcast The Read Aloud Revival is also a great resource. “No one will ever say, no matter how good a parent he or she was, “I think I spent too much time with my children when they were young.” “When my head hits the pillow each night, I want to know that I have done the one most important thing: I have fostered warm, happy memories and created lifelong bonds with my kids—even when the rest of life feels hard.” 3. Courageous Parenting Podcast by Isaac & Angie Tolpin Courageous Parenting is a weekly podcast for Christian parents who want to equip confident Christian kids in an uncertain world. As parents of 8 kids, they know how important and hard it is to focus on Christ in your everyday and in marriage and parenting. I love their commitment to Christ centered parenting and I love to see the team they make in this. Angie is also a very encouraging person to follow on instagram. 4. Faithful Life Podcast by Matt & Lisa Jacobson Matt and Lisa are another couple I love getting advice from. They especially shine for me when it comes to marriage advice. Their podcast is a terrific resource! "What does it mean to be a biblical Christian in Marriage, Parenting, Church, and Culture? Each episode takes on a vital issue and explores what The Word says about it – topics like sex, purity, growing in oneness as a married couple, difficult parenting issues, being a biblical Christian in a fallen world and much more, including practical steps for real success and deep growth in these areas. . . we laugh a lot, too!" 5. The Duties of Parents by J.C. Ryle This is a book I have't read yet. But Jason says it's the best book on parenting he's ever read! It's next on my to read list. It's a quick short book but an excellent one! 6. Minno Did you cancel Netflix this month? Or are you struggling in knowing what shows are safe (and encouraging) for your kids? Minno (use to be Jelly Telly) is a streaming service for kids. Basically it's like a Christian Netflix for kids shows and we are huge fans of it!! Go to Gominno.com and use coupon code HOMEMAKING for 7 day free trial. While you check out that free trial, try out our favorite shows: Theo, Owlegories, 3, 2, 1 Penguins, and of course the classic veggie tales! 7. Drawing together in our marriage This last one isn't really a resource, but it's an important one right now! With everyone going on in the world today (and having a 4 mo...

Can Crisis Parenting and families celebrating Holy Week fit together? Well, it does this week! These two issues come together on the Practically Speaking MOM: Intentional Mom, Strong Family Podcast. Val talks about Essentials in Parenting, even in Crisis. We hear about Val's Ladder of a Child's hierarchy of needs to reach God's will for their life both daily and long term. We look at the first three rungs of the hierarchy and Val tells parents, if you aren't able to provide these essentials for your child, then it is time to get help. Val's Blog this week. Here's a link by Jelly Telly, to help young kids to understand the purpose of communion in Easter Celebrations, JellyTelly Link.Link to Val's 2019 Easter Blog post Listener Debbie's link to a make-at-home game Essentials for Crisis Parenting: 1. Speak up - “Don’t rob people of the blessing of being a blessing.” 2. Make a list – moving the load/stress from your head to paper. 3. Be honest with your family - productively brainstorm together including 4 categories A. Do - what only mom can do B. Delegate - what others can do C. Dump it -sometimes even good things need to be reduced D. Leave UnDone and handle with prayer -"God, give me Passion for YOUR purposes in my day and Peace about the things that you don't want me to get done" Your child should not partner with you in the burden, but can help in the solution. Your children will be more on board with the solution when they help to create it. Not all family decisions are supposed to be a group decision or group plan, but you might be surprised at what your kids are capable of and may even enjoy being a part of the solution! 4. Write Clear Expectations– Let the chart provide the accountability so that your words can be preserved more for words of Hope, Trust, Love, Truth. 5. Remember your personal essentials: rest, nutrition, margin & boundaries, time with your Heavenly Father who has spiritual nourishment for you. CONNECT with Val:www.PracticallySpeakingMOM.com Public announcements & Resources Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PracticallySpeakingMom/Val's Private Group: Intentional Mom, Strong Family Instagram:@PracticallySpeakingMOM &nbs

When it comes to talking with kids about Jesus - where do you start? Are they too young to understand the concepts of sin, redemption, and eternal life? What resources are available to help parents? And what's with all the animals in most of the Bible stories we tell children?Phil Vischer is an author, speaker, filmmaker, and voice actor best known for the Christian children's series VeggieTales®, which he created in a spare bedroom as a 25-year-old, newly married starving artist. Since then, Phil has continued to pursue innovative ways to integrate faith and storytelling through fun and practical resources for families.Collectively, Phil's creations, which include the educational series What's in the Bible? and the autobiographical book Me, Myself & Bob, have sold more than 70 million copies around the world. Phil lives with his wife Lisa (aka Junior Asparagus) in West Chicago, Illinois. They have three adult children.The Laugh and Learn Bible for Kids is available on Amazon and wherever Christian books are sold.There are 18 NEW episodes of VeggieTales® being produced! The first new show — "The Best Christmas Gift" — is available now. On TV, you can catch the new VeggieTales® episodes on TBN. Trinity Broadcasting Network is the world's largest faith and family broadcaster reaching over 175 nations on 32 global networks - TBN's US reach is over 100 million households. DVDs are available from WalMart, Target, CBA channel retail stores. Streaming options include JellyTelly, and most digital platforms.SHOW NOTES:1:33 - Special Guest VeggieTales® Creator Phil Vischer2:05 - How did VeggieTales® get started?3:30 - Wathcing the start of MTV, Phil asked if technology and creativity could be used to promote values with which he agrees.5:00 - Did his family think Talking Vegetables was worth the effort?5:40 - Three HUGE guidelines VeggieTales® adheres to...7:07 - Mark explains how he first discovered VeggieTales®7:55 - What is the best age to begin talking with kids about Jesus?10:30 - Start talking with children about God by sharing His character - love and mercy!13:40 - Phil's children were an inspiration and held him accountable to sharing truth in VeggieTales®14:20 - Is it only the parent's place to speak with children about Jesus?18:00 - What resources are available to help parents?21:00 - But what about Balaam's Talking Donkey?22:20 - It is important to give kids the overall story of the entire Bible!23:20 - VeggieTales® has some VERY exciting news!30:45 - TakeawaysFeedback, or Show Ideas? Send an email to podcast@887thebridge.comDownload The Bridge Mobile App to get the latest podcast episodes as soon as they are published!Please share The Bridge Podcast with a friend if you enjoyed this episode. SUBSCRIBE to The Bridge Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play Music, and Spotify! The Bridge Podcast is still growing, and your positive review and 5-star rating would help. Podcast Sponsored by Boardwalk Plaza Hotel and Victoria's Restaurant

THE LAUGH AND LEARN BIBLE FOR KIDS Is available on Amazon and wherever Christian books are sold. NEW VEGGIE EPISODES—There are 18 new episodes of Veggie Tales being produced. The first new show—The Best Christmas Gift—will be available starting 10/22 ON TV, YOU CAN SEE THEM ON TBN—TBN is the world’s largest faith and family broadcaster reaching over 175 nations on 32 global networks - TBN’s US reach is over 100 million households. The air date has not yet been announced. IN STREAMING & DVD—Available on DVD in WalMart, Target, CBA channel retail stores, on JellyTelly, and on most digital platforms and multiple SVOD platforms. My latest video about Veggie Tales

Subscribe via iTunes or Google Phil Vischer, creator of VeggieTales, talks with Kurt about his spiritual journey as it pertains to creating, bankrupting, and coming back to his beloved show. This conversation is full of wisdom and fun. Here's a few resources from Phil to check out:  THE LAUGH AND LEARN BIBLE FOR KIDS Is available on Amazon and wherever Christian books are sold. PRESS RELEASE—check it out here IMAGES FOR YOUR STORY—here and here NEW VEGGIE EPISODES—There are 18 new episodes of Veggie Tales being produced. The first new show—The Best Christmas Gift—will be available starting 10/22 (see details below) ON TV, YOU CAN SEE THEM ON TBN—TBN is the world’s largest faith and family broadcaster reaching over 175 nations on 32 global networks - TBN’s US reach is over 100 million households. The air date has not yet been announced. IN STREAMING & DVD—Available on DVD in WalMart, Target, CBA channel retail stores, on JellyTelly, and on most digital platforms and multiple SVOD platforms. VEGGIE TALES/PHIL VISCHER IMAGES—https://bit.ly/2kmFgXG GIVE THE SHOW SOME LOVE 1) If you would be so kind to hop on iTunes (or your feed of choice) and leave The Paulcast a review there, that would be amazing. The more reviews we can get will lead to greater visibility in iTunes. And I (Kurt) LOVE reading your comments! 2) Also, please consider hitting up Theology Curator’s online tip-jar through Patreon (think Kickstarter for ongoing content creators). For $5 per month, or more, you can make a direct impact on this show. Financial partners like you really do make this all possible! Through Patreon, you make a tangible difference in this show’s sustainability and quality!

We all know how destructive grumbling and complaining can be. We want to cover our ears when our kids are complaining in the back seat of the van that they are hungry. We roll our eyes when our husbands complain again about the air conditioner making that noise. But how often are we stopping to evaluate our own hearts when it comes to grumbling and complaining. In this episode we are going to take a look at what we can do when grumbling and complaining takes over our house!  Listen to the Podcast: We also recorded this blog post as an audio podcast. If you want to listen in instead of reading, click play below or do a combination of both  And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. Right click here and save-as to download this episode to your computer. Links & Resources:  Pre-order the book The Grumble Free Year from Amazon Are you feeling discontent? 3 questions to ask yourself Preorder the Laugh and Learn Bible from JellyTelly for 50% off with coupon code: HOMEMAKING

We all know how destructive grumbling and complaining can be. We want to cover our ears when our kids are complaining in the back seat of the van that they are hungry. We roll our eyes when our husbands complain again about the air conditioner making that noise. But how often are we stopping to evaluate our own hearts when it comes to grumbling and complaining. In this episode we are going to take a look at what we can do when grumbling and complaining takes over our house!  Listen to the Podcast: We also recorded this blog post as an audio podcast. If you want to listen in instead of reading, click play below or do a combination of both  And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. Right click here and save-as to download this episode to your computer. Links & Resources:  Pre-order the book The Grumble Free Year from Amazon Are you feeling discontent? 3 questions to ask yourself Preorder the Laugh and Learn Bible from JellyTelly for 50% off with coupon code: HOMEMAKING

This month we are doing a general problem solved episode that’s navigated by our favorite people, YOU! From wedding planning to chip clips on baggy necks, we covered it all. Rebecky spills the tea about her (dun dun DUN!) homeschooling plans for the fall and her grand scheme to finally meet Madonna. Emily tries to get Rebecky super jazzed about the Waco marathon and it’s unclear if that was a success or not. We hope you love this one, see ya next month! WHAT WE CHAT ABOUT: Rebecky’s decision to stop homeschooling her kids (and she doesn’t care if you like it or not) Emily’s marathon training and what inspired her to try something she didn’t even think was possible saving up for our son’s weddings - is that a thing now? how FaceApp is making us all fear turkey necks and wrinkles with its age filter date night ideas for staying in or going out weighing the pros and cons of changing jobs CONNECT WITH REBECKY: website | instagram CONNECT WITH EMILY: website | instagram | facebook | patreon EPISODE SPONSORS: Brooklinen: get 10% off + free shipping when you use promo code SWP at Brooklinen.com Jelly Telly: pre-order the Laugh & Learn Bible for 50% off at laughandlearnbible.com with the promo code STRUGGLEWELL SUPPORT THE SHOW: Patreon | Amazon SHARE THE STRUGGLE! If you've been encouraged, share this episode with a friend.  The struggle is real.  We might as well do this together! Do you love the Struggle Well Project? Please leave a review here!

Are you losing hope? Working through trauma? Man. Lora shared with us her journey of finding the other side of a horrible situation, and I’m so thankful for her wisdom and perspective. Lora talks to us about why it’s OK to question God and shares the story that lead her to a crossroads in her faith. Lora Jones graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Accounting and from Midwestern Theological Seminary with a Master’s in Religious Education. She married J.L. Jones during college and their family became complete with the birth of two children, Janessa and Jayden. J.L. and Lora served the Lord in full-time ministry for nearly 20 years until the family was involved in an automobile accident. Lora alone survived. Currently, Lora is an inspirational speaker sharing her story across the country since 2006. Speaking to audiences of all sizes, her storytelling style enables her to communicate with Christians of differing backgrounds and denominations. Lora is a rock and this one heck of a heavy conversation but it’s a great one! WHAT WE CHAT ABOUT: the story of a horrific automobile accident that claimed the lives of Lora’s husband and children the lasting triggers of Lora’s experience how God used the shock of what had happened as protection against the weight of grief how Lora’s community supported her in the wake of the accident why Lora decided not to move back home after the accident how we can help others grieve the comfort Lora found in teenagers and college students how God restored joy and purpose in Lora’s life what Lora’s relationship with God looks like now encouragement to live in the present LINKS MENTIONED: Bible Reading Plan Song of a Wounded Heart Spiritual Prepper CONNECT WITH LORA: website | facebook CONNECT WITH EMILY: website | instagram | facebook | patreon EPISODE SPONSORS: Prep Dish: get 2 weeks free when you visit prepdish.com/swp Jelly Telly: pre-order the Laugh & Learn Bible for 50% off at laughandlearnbible.com with the promo code STRUGGLEWELL SUPPORT THE SHOW: Patreon | Amazon SHARE THE STRUGGLE! If you've been encouraged, share this episode with a friend.  The struggle is real.  We might as well do this together! Do you love the Struggle Well Project? Please leave a review here!

Today we are chatting about all our favorite natural summer tips and ideas! I've got my sister Sienna on the show today and between the two of us we have (almost) 8 kids 6 and under and we are always on the look out for new summer favorites. Here are the tips we've been learning:  Listen to the Podcast: Thanks for listening in today! You can find all the links & resources mentioned in today’s episode down below.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. Right click here and save-as to download this episode to your computer. Links & Resources:  The Charcoal soap that Sienna uses after the pool Our current favorite healthy sunscreen (give us your favorite healthy SPRAY sunscreen recipes)!  LavaDerm After Sun Spray  Aloe Vera (add lavender)  Bug spray ideas: Make your own using essential oils. Badger & Aunt Fannies Roxanna's Candles all natural bug repellent candle  My favorite place for healthy snacks: AzureStandard.com Preorder the new Laugh and Learn Bible from JellyTelly for 50% OFF using coupon code: Homemaking Join our FREE workshop: Using Essential Oils with Kids On July 2nd, Sienna and I will be hosting an awesome and practical workshop on how to use essential oils with kids. Sienna has been through a lot with her 2 (almost 3) kids and she has learned so much in how to help support their systems using oils and other natural products.  Join our FREE workshop here! (and YES! We will send out a replay of the video if you can't catch it live. And if you are viewing this anytime after the 2nd, go register and you will get immediate access to the workshop!)

Today we are chatting about all our favorite natural summer tips and ideas! I've got my sister Sienna on the show today and between the two of us we have (almost) 8 kids 6 and under and we are always on the look out for new summer favorites. Here are the tips we've been learning:  Listen to the Podcast: Thanks for listening in today! You can find all the links & resources mentioned in today’s episode down below.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. Right click here and save-as to download this episode to your computer. Links & Resources:  The Charcoal soap that Sienna uses after the pool Our current favorite healthy sunscreen (give us your favorite healthy SPRAY sunscreen recipes)!  LavaDerm After Sun Spray  Aloe Vera (add lavender)  Bug spray ideas: Make your own using essential oils. Badger & Aunt Fannies Roxanna's Candles all natural bug repellent candle  My favorite place for healthy snacks: AzureStandard.com Preorder the new Laugh and Learn Bible from JellyTelly for 50% OFF using coupon code: Homemaking Join our FREE workshop: Using Essential Oils with Kids On July 2nd, Sienna and I will be hosting an awesome and practical workshop on how to use essential oils with kids. Sienna has been through a lot with her 2 (almost 3) kids and she has learned so much in how to help support their systems using oils and other natural products.  Join our FREE workshop here! (and YES! We will send out a replay of the video if you can't catch it live. And if you are viewing this anytime after the 2nd, go register and you will get immediate access to the workshop!)

With so much technology and so many media choices at our fingertips today, its harder than ever to know what we should allow in our homes or not. If you have young kids that you want to protect, the challenge gets even harder!  So where do we begin when it comes to determining good media choices for our kids? In today’s episode, we start to dive into that.  This week’s episode comes from Chelsea! She sent in an audio messaged to ask about media choices. Listen into hear her questions and my response! (And find out how to leave a voicemail question below!) Finding the Right Balance I think this is a hard balance to walk. As Christian parents, we want to be and need to be protective over what our kids are watching, reading, and being exposed to. We want to be protective and help mold and form their young imaginations and questions.  But the other side of that is that we don’t want to be so suffocating with our rules and legalistic that they become overly curious, or we make them too naive, or even rebel in the future.  We want to protect and help guide our kids when they are young so that they are not exposed to things of the world too early. At the time same time, we want to help guide them through tricky waters while they are living under our roof and we can have open and honest conversations with them.  It’s definitely a hard balance to walk and the specific guidelines are going to differ from family to family.  Where our family is at right now So for example, we do allow most Disney movies in our home. We watch them as a family and have the chance to talk about what’s real in those movies, what’s not real, and it’s the perfect time to have discussions over character’s sins or moral issues. It becomes a great time to chat about why a certain character acted the way they did and if that is glorifying to God.  It allows us to explain to the kids that there are different religions and belief systems in the world but only one true God! Interaction with these movies and media allows us to start equipping their young minds.  At the same time, there are a lot of things we say no to. We always pre-screen “kids” movies before we let them watch them, they are not alone to choose things on Netflix without showing us first, and they are never ever allowed to surf on YouTube. On the rare occasion they watch something on YouTube, it’s only a tv show or movie we are familiar with and our watchful eye is on them to make sure they don’t click to something else.  With that said, they don’t watch move popular tv shows. They are allowed to watch many PBS shows (often with the opportunity to share why we believe a different way, such as with the show Dinosaur Train on PBS which is very evolutionary). But they are not allowed to watch most Nickelodeon, Disney, or other kid networks. Of course, this is made easy by the fact that we don’t have cable TV. We only stream off Netflix and Amazon Prime. I think the two exclusions to this are 1) Paw Patrol and 2) Little Einsteins which I believe is owned by Dinsey.  These rules will of course change and flow throughout the years as our children age. But as they grow older, our ideas of pre-screening everything will not change. I want to know what my kids are being exposed to. The same goes for reading material. In short, there is no definitive Biblical answer. We can’t point to one portion of Scripture and say, “see this gives us a list of what movies or TV shows are okay!”  But we can take what Scripture teaches, pull the principles from that, and pray that God would give us the wisdom to decide from family to family.  With that said, there are some incredible Christian tv shows that we use most of the time. Our favorites include:  Theo Owlegories What’s in the Bible And actually, I should mention an online service that we use and love. It’s called JellyTelly and it’s a kind of like a Christian Netflix for kids. It contains those three shows I mentioned plus a ton of other incredible ones! There are actually over 100 shows on there. I don’t have to worry about what my kids are clicing on or when they try out a new show.  Find out more at: https://youngwifesguide.com/jellytelly. It’s just $4.99 a month, so even cheaper than Netflix. Or you can get it for $49.99 for a whole year, which breaks down to two months free.  One last Sidenote: We must remember not to judge others and other families when they make media choices that are different than ours. Some things are plain sin that we must shield our children from, but a lot of other things fall into the gray area that we must decide for our family.  Want to leave a voicemail question? I want to cover YOUR questions and topics here on TTM! So if you have a question, please leave a voice mail (under 90 seconds) and I will try my hardest to answer it on the podcast or find someone more qualified to answer it

Episode #028 with Heather MacFadyen Learning How to Remain a God-Centered Mom   Head to KristiClover.com/028 to see all the Show Notes & Awesome Quotes that we collected for you!   * Check out this week’s wonderful sponsor: JELLY TELLY!   Head over to KristiClover.com/JellyTelly Use the coupon code "SIMPLYJOYFUL" (All caps!) — & get a FREE 7-day trial + a Jesus coloring book download from Jelly Telly    Have you heard of Heather MacFadyen from the God-Centered Mom Podcast? I hope you have! Today we’re going to be talking about how to remain a God-centered mom—which is the heart of Heather’s podcast. She is going to share her favorite tips that she’s received from guests on her podcast. She’s also going to rock your world with some of her morning tips—and lots of resources as well! Let’s face it, the most important part of being a God-centered mom is getting yourself in the Word of God.But that’s often really challenging for moms! It's hard to get away. We have demands piling up on us, sometimes before we even plan to get up in the mornings. Many of you have already received a copy of my book, Sanity Savers for Moms. {For those of you who haven't, it's a gift that I offer HERE.} One of my “sanity saver” tips in the book for finding time to get in the Word is to not feel guilty about putting a show on for your kids to watch, so you can sneak away with your Bible for a bit. There are so many really amazing Christian shows that you can put on for your kids, so you are both growing in the Lord at the same time. I'm excited to share with you that our sponsor for this episode just so happens to be JellyTelly!  Their company is so amazing! I share some of my favorite shows below and on the podcast. JellyTelly has some amazing Christian programming to entertain your kids while you pull away to be with the Lord…or sit with them and watch, too. {Don’t forget to use the code SIMPLYJOYFUL to get some awesome freebies! — more below}  You are going to be so blessed by this episode!   ON A SIMPLY JOYFUL NOTE… Do you have children who have school uniforms? Keep everything—socks, shoes, shirts, etc—together in one place. Heather says they keep theirs together downstairs. That way if it's time to walk out the door and someone needs to put shoes on but doesn’t have socks, they don’t have to run back to grab socks. Everything is all together. Morning Habit: Have a spot where all your stuff is so you don’t have to think about finding it in the morning.   IN THIS EPISODE… Grab your favorite drink and settle in—you are going to LOVE this episode!      ***Check out the SHOW NOTES to see all the great highlights, quotes, and links!***     BOOKS MENTIONED…   Hello Mornings: How to Build a Grace-Filled, Life-Giving Morning Forgotten God Sheila Walsh's God's Warriors       SPECIAL THANKS AGAIN TO THIS WEEK’S SPONSOR: JELLYTELLY!   Use "SIMPLYJOYFUL" (in all caps) to get a FREE WEEK of JellyTelly + 10 Page Jesus Coloring Book Download!! Yay! I'm so thrilled to be able to introduce you to JellyTelly! I'm a HUGE fan of their programming! JellyTelly is the only streaming video app designed specifically for kids where God is real and His Word is true. As a mom, I want my kids to enjoy shows and movies, but I also want those things to point them to Jesus!  Which is why I’m excited to tell you about JellyTelly. What is JellyTelly? You may not have heard about JellyTelly, but you've probably heard about Veggie Tales and What's in the Bible. Well, Jelly Telly is co-developed with Phil Vischer, the creator of those popular programs. There are actually over 100 new and classic shows, movies, and video devotionals with your kids about God, the Bible, and faith -- all available to easily stream and watch on your TV, phone, or tablet. JellyTelly is available on the App Store, Google Play, Roku Channel Store, Amazon Fire TV, and Kindle devices. As I mentioned in the podcast and above, I love being able to use Christian programs to sneak some time in with the Lord -- but it's also fun to watch with the kids. A few of our favorite shows: VeggieTales, Owlegories, Friends and Heroes, and What’s in the Bible?. I hope you'll take advantage of this free special. Just signing up to try it out helps to support the Simply Joyful Podcast. So, thank you on behalf of my team -- and my family (who loves that I have a team now)! Visit KristiClover.com/JellyTelly today and use the coupon code SIMPLYJOYFUL -- just for The Simply Joyful Podcast listeners! -- to get a FREE 7-day trial and 10 page Jesus Coloring Pack download!     HELP GET THE WORD OUT… My prayer is that this podcast would be a blessing to all who hear it. If you enjoy this podcast, it would be such a blessing to have you "Subscribe" to this podcast on iTunes or Stitcher and leave me a rating and review. This helps the podcast to rank in iTunes and be more "visible" for people searching for new podcasts to listen to. If you wanted to share this episode with friends or on social media, I've created several great images that are share-worthy.   Thank you so much for helping us get the word out about the Simply Joyful Podcast!   I hope you enjoyed this week's podcast! My prayer is always that you will be blessed and encouraged by each episode.   Live Simply. Be Joyful.     LET’S CONNECT!… My Website Facebook  Instagram YouTube Pinterest Twitter     CONNECT WITH HEATHER MACFADYEN… Heather MacFadyen has been married since the turn of the century (sounds more impressive than it is). She is the mother of four young boys (born exactly, to the day, within 6 1/2 years . . . just like she’d always planned). Heather hosts a weekly podcast (“The God-Centered Mom Podcast”)—interviewing fellow journeyers on the topic of motherhood. On social media, she chronicles the colorful chaos of “relentlessly replacing ‘me’ with ‘He’” — sharing the daily struggle of remaining God-centered while mothering four wild-at-heart, energetic, and often stubborn boys. Her heart is for moms to know God's great delight over them. How He sees the unseen eternal work they do every day. And to know they “Don’t Mom Alone”.   You can check out all of Heather's podcast episodes HERE! Be sure to visit her site as well at www.godcenteredmom.com.           **This post may contain a few affiliate links, both Amazon & others. Please see my disclosure page if you have any questions

Hi friend! Welcome to episode 40 of the Heart Lessons Podcast. My special guest today is Melanie Rainer, director and editor of content for JellyTelly. In today's conversation Melanie and I talk about her personal experiences with graduating from seminary, the joys of parenting a toddler, and what her go-to resources are for teaching her own daughter about Jesus. We also talk all things JellyTelly - from the video devotionals, show streaming availability, to the ways to incorporate all of these great resources into your everyday conversation with your kids. If you are a parent or if you have little people in your life and you desire to influence them positively with the message of the gospel, I think this episode will really help introduce you to some wonderful tools to really make this sort of influence accessible and attainable. Heart Lesson: The Lord goes before you. Connect with Melanie: blog // instagram // twitter Connect with JellyTelly: website // blog // facebook // twitter // instagram We Mention: Covenant Theological Seminary What's in the Bible? Phil Vischer 5 Minute Family Devotional Raising Boys and Girls  Are My Kids on Track? (book) Are My Kids on Track? (podcast from Surviving Sarah) Praise the Lord Everyday Owlegories Jesus Storybook Bible My First Message Movie Reviews via JellyTelly Parents blog Sally Lloyd Jones The Good Book Company The Garden, the Curtain, and the Cross New City Catechisms God of Angel Armies, song by Chris Tomlin Chathum Fish Market

Through some miraculous circumstances, my guest Heather MacFadyen took a powerful trip to Israel this past spring. She shares how that trip impacted her life, her walk with Jesus and changed her understanding of the Holy Land and the people who live there. “If Christians want to really know God, and our faith and our roots, we need to know Judaism. We need to know what Jesus did and how he lived. It makes everything come to life more.” In This Episode, You'll Hear... Heather's miraculous trip to Israel and how it came at a pivotal time in her life Insight into the places and people of the Holy Land (both Israel and Palestine) How understanding Judaism can help Christians really know the roots of our faith and how Jesus lived Links Mentioned In This Episode: Israel Collective Love the song in the outro? It's called God Day. It's by Jen Stanbro and you can get it on iTunes by clicking here and check out Jen's site by clicking here. Your Kids Are Going To LOVE This --> Get A FREE Week of JellyTelly! How awesome is that? Get over 300 hours of incredible Bible-centered video content. My kids (yes, even my teenagers) love JellyTelly. They especially enjoy Heroes of the Faith, Torchlighters, Veggie Tales and What's In The Bible. There's something here for every age. Click here to get your FREE week along with a fun coloring pack. Use the coupon code: INSPIRED. Connect with Heather MacFadyen Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram Connect with Kat Instagram | Facebook Click the play button in the post or grab your favorite podcast app and join us for a chat!

We all search for peace and clarity in life's big decisions. Life coach Carey Bailey shares how to build up faith-based decision-making processes in your life. “It's not my job to try and be in control, instead it's my job to trust God in the little things and the big... Read more We all search for peace and clarity in life's big decisions. Life coach Carey Bailey shares how to build up faith-based decision-making processes in your life. “It's not my job to try and be in control, instead it's my job to trust God in the little things and the big things. This process is not about finding clarity, it's about understanding and learning more about what it looks like to trust God in our every day.” In This Episode, You'll Hear... Tips for setting up a discernment process for hearing God in your decision making How to get started with journaling as a way to talk to God Why decision making is ultimately a way we can grow in trusting God Links Mentioned In This Episode: Love the song in the outro? It's called God Day. It's by Jen Stanbro and you can get it on iTunes by clicking here and check out Jen's site by clicking here. Your Kids Are Going To LOVE This --> Get A FREE Week of JellyTelly! How awesome is that? Get over 300 hours of incredible Bible-centered video content. My kids (yes, even my teenagers) love JellyTelly. They especially enjoy Heroes of the Faith, Torchlighters, Veggie Tales and What's In The Bible. There's something here for every age. Click here to get your FREE week along with a fun coloring pack. Use the coupon code: INSPIRED. Connect with Carey Bailey Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram Connect with Kat Instagram | Facebook Click the play button in the post or grab your favorite podcast app and join us for a chat!

Leslie Barry is my friend in real life.  She is high-energy and very passionate about people.  She is also refreshingly authentic and has such a tender heart.  I have learned a lot from her example and I wanted you to hear from her as well!  What we chat about: Adjusting to married life and striking a balance in the home How communicating with her spouse lead to a fantastic 40th birthday surprise Why Leslie says turning 40 gave her a new lease on life The exploration of finding out who you are and importance of knowing yourself The struggle and reward of being obedient to God How to cultivate contentment in your life The steps Leslie has taken to get past her people pleasing tendencies The healthy side of comparing yourself to others Links mentioned: So Long Insecurity: You've Been a Bad Friend to Us by Beth Moore StrengthsFinder.com Pure Pleasure: Why Do Christians Feel So Bad about Feeling Good? by Gary Thomas Noosa Yoghurt I'm Happy for You (Sort of... Not Really): Finding Contentment in a Culture of Comparison by Kay Wyma The Nightingale: A Novel by Kristin Hannah   Episode Sponsor: JellyTelly Did you know today our kids are consuming more media than ever before? On average more than 5 hours a day!  For most kids, this means watching shows where God doesn’t even show up in them at all! As a mom, I want my kids to enjoy shows and movies, but I also want those things to point them to Jesus!  Which is why I’m excited to tell you about JellyTelly. Head over to jellytelly.com and use coupon code MSW for a free week and a coloring book download! Support the show: Shop Amazon Affiliate Link Share the Struggle! Find me on Instagram or Facebook because I want to hear YOUR thoughts on this episode!  If you've been encouraged by the show, please share it with another mom. The struggle is real.  We might as well do this together!

Elizabeth considers herself "a poster child for children from divorced families." Experiencing divorce at three different ages and stages while growing up, she regularly witnessed marital strife that came from addiction, abuse, abandonment, and general dysfunction. Now a mother of five (three biological, one adopted, and one foster child), Elizabeth has made it her life mission to mend the broken branches of her own family tree through God's redemption, while equipping and encouraging other mothers in the areas of marriage, foster care, and faith. What we chat about: Some unique challenges of raising foster or adopted children Creative ways to deal with tattling kids The story of how Elizabeth's mother's three divorces at various stages in life affected her Managing motherhood as a natural overachiever Creating a mission statement to help evaluate the best places to focus your energy Advice for those considering becoming a foster parent How her new book, Mending Broken Branches (releasing October 24, 2017), equips and encourages women born into dysfunctional families who want something different for their own families  Links mentioned: Mending Broken Branches: When God Reclaims Your Dysfunctional Family Tree The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery L'Oreal Voluminous Original Where to find Elizabeth: website // Instagram // Twitter // Facebook // Pinterest Episode Sponsor: JellyTelly Did you know today our kids are consuming more media than ever before? - On average more than 5 hours a day!  For most kids, this means watching shows where God doesn’t even show up in them at all! As a mom, I want my kids to enjoy shows and movies, but I also want those things to point them to Jesus! Which is why I’m excited to tell you about JellyTelly. Head over to jellytelly.com and use coupon code MSW for a free week and a coloring book download! Support the show: Shop Amazon Affiliate Link Share the Struggle! Find me on Instagram or Facebook because I want to hear YOUR thoughts on this episode!  If you've been encouraged by the show, please share it with another mom.  The struggle is real.  We might as well do this together!

At the beginning of June, I shared a summer reading challenge and some ideas for reading more this Summer. Now more than a month later, I wanted to do a quick update.  Listen to the Podcast: We also recorded this blog post as an audio podcast. If you want to listen in instead of reading, click play below or do a combination of both  And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. Right click here and save-as to download this episode to your computer. I have several reasons for loving to read so much. I really enjoy it and it fills me up Spiritually. But I also think it can be an excellent way to fill into my kids. I love this idea from Mother culture. “Mothers should cultivate their souls so that in turn they may cultivate the souls of their children.”  How I'm doing on my challenge: As of June 5th I had read 31 books. Today I'm at 37. So I guess I read 6 in June, which isn't bad! It's not enough to get me caught up, but not bad. I am currently in the middle of 16 books. So hopefully if I can start wrapping those up, I could actually start to catch up! I should be at 54 books this week.  So today I just want to encourage you that if you are behind on your reading goals, or you haven't picked up a single book this year, that's totally fine! Give yourself some grace. Try to get into a book if you want, and just get through as much as you can.  What I'm reading right now:  Audio book: The Passionate preaching of Marytyn Lloyd-Jones by Steve Lawson Audio book: The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber Audio book: Firefight - The Reckoners series book two by Brandon Sanderson Kindle: EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey Kindle: The Eye of the World - Book one in the Wheel of Time Series Christian Heroes: Then & Now: Nate Saint, Gladys Aylward, and Amy Carmichael.  Just read George Mueler and Hudson Taylor Housewife Theologian by Aimee Byrd Get two FREE books from Audible Jason and I have used Audible for our audiobooks for several years now and we love it! We have tried several other services but time and again Audible has the most books in Christian, fiction, kids, business, and anything else we could want. If you want to try out Audible, you can sign up for a FREE 30 day trial and get two free audiobooks. Just sign up with the link below.  Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks My hope would be to wrap up all 16 books I'm in throughout July but that probably won't happen at this point. Maybe in August ;)  I'm also starting to look into more homeschool theory books. We are starting to homeschool this year and there are so many philosphies and ways to approach homeschooling. So I want to do more research on those topics. So far I really like the Charlotte Mason approach to homeschooling with a few tweaks. But we'll see!  Welcome to our Sponsor!  I am so excited to once again be partnering with Jelly Telly for the month of July! We have been using Jelly Telly now for about 6 months and my boys are hooked (so am I)! Think of Jelly Telly as a sort of Christian Netflix for kids.  They have become my boys’ very favorite iPhone app as they have over 100 Bible based Christian tv shows for kids! Whether they’re discovering God’s great rescue plan in What’s in the Bible?, singing along with Yancy and Friends about how much God loves them, or discovering what it means to follow Jesus with the beautifully animated series Owlegories, I know they are safe as they browse.  I love that it’s all Bible based and I don’t have to worry about what they are watching. I love to hear them singing along to hymns in Theo and learning deep theology through What’s in the Bible. And you can try out Jelly Telly for FREE for one week AND get a 10 page Jesus coloring book download by using coupon code: HMF at checkout.  Our current favorite shows are Theo, Owlegories, and 321 Penguins but I can’t wait to check out a few more. They have over 100 tv shows for kids – how fun...

At the beginning of June, I shared a summer reading challenge and some ideas for reading more this Summer. Now more than a month later, I wanted to do a quick update.  Listen to the Podcast: We also recorded this blog post as an audio podcast. If you want to listen in instead of reading, click play below or do a combination of both  And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. Right click here and save-as to download this episode to your computer. I have several reasons for loving to read so much. I really enjoy it and it fills me up Spiritually. But I also think it can be an excellent way to fill into my kids. I love this idea from Mother culture. “Mothers should cultivate their souls so that in turn they may cultivate the souls of their children.”  How I'm doing on my challenge: As of June 5th I had read 31 books. Today I'm at 37. So I guess I read 6 in June, which isn't bad! It's not enough to get me caught up, but not bad. I am currently in the middle of 16 books. So hopefully if I can start wrapping those up, I could actually start to catch up! I should be at 54 books this week.  So today I just want to encourage you that if you are behind on your reading goals, or you haven't picked up a single book this year, that's totally fine! Give yourself some grace. Try to get into a book if you want, and just get through as much as you can.  What I'm reading right now:  Audio book: The Passionate preaching of Marytyn Lloyd-Jones by Steve Lawson Audio book: The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber Audio book: Firefight - The Reckoners series book two by Brandon Sanderson Kindle: EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey Kindle: The Eye of the World - Book one in the Wheel of Time Series Christian Heroes: Then & Now: Nate Saint, Gladys Aylward, and Amy Carmichael.  Just read George Mueler and Hudson Taylor Housewife Theologian by Aimee Byrd Get two FREE books from Audible Jason and I have used Audible for our audiobooks for several years now and we love it! We have tried several other services but time and again Audible has the most books in Christian, fiction, kids, business, and anything else we could want. If you want to try out Audible, you can sign up for a FREE 30 day trial and get two free audiobooks. Just sign up with the link below.  Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks My hope would be to wrap up all 16 books I'm in throughout July but that probably won't happen at this point. Maybe in August ;)  I'm also starting to look into more homeschool theory books. We are starting to homeschool this year and there are so many philosphies and ways to approach homeschooling. So I want to do more research on those topics. So far I really like the Charlotte Mason approach to homeschooling with a few tweaks. But we'll see!  Welcome to our Sponsor!  I am so excited to once again be partnering with Jelly Telly for the month of July! We have been using Jelly Telly now for about 6 months and my boys are hooked (so am I)! Think of Jelly Telly as a sort of Christian Netflix for kids.  They have become my boys’ very favorite iPhone app as they have over 100 Bible based Christian tv shows for kids! Whether they’re discovering God’s great rescue plan in What’s in the Bible?, singing along with Yancy and Friends about how much God loves them, or discovering what it means to follow Jesus with the beautifully animated series Owlegories, I know they are safe as they browse.  I love that it’s all Bible based and I don’t have to worry about what they are watching. I love to hear them singing along to hymns in Theo and learning deep theology through What’s in the Bible. And you can try out Jelly Telly for FREE for one week AND get a 10 page Jesus coloring book download by using coupon code: HMF at checkout.  Our current favorite shows are Theo, Owlegories, and 321 Penguins but I can’t wait to check out a few more. They have over 100 tv shows for kids – how fun...

The biggest fear for any parent is the death of a child. Tragically, Amy has experienced this twice, first with her son Simon in May of 2014, then again in November 2014 with her son Thomas. Now, Amy is using her experience to help other moms who are struggling with the loss of their babies during pregnancy or infancy through the You Made Me Mom support group. She is also the mother of three earthly children - Teddy, Peter, and her fifth child, due this fall. What we chat about: How to graciously respond to awkward questions from well-meaning strangers Amy's emotional story about the passing of her second son, Simon Adam, who was diagnosed with full Trisomy 13; as well as her third son, Thomas Job, who passed after 13-weeks gestation Ways to feel connected to your heavenly child The You Made Me Mom support group that Amy created to help other bereaved mothers How losing two children affected Amy's relationship with God and her husband, Adam Options available to mom's who are facing the birth of a child with a life-limiting diagnosis Links mentioned: I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy You Made Me Mom Facebook Group Where to find Amy: website // blog Episode Sponsor: JellyTelly Did you know today our kids are consuming more media than ever before? - On average more than 5 hours a day!  For most kids, this means watching shows where God doesn’t even show up in them at all! As a mom, I want my kids to enjoy shows and movies, but I also want those things to point them to Jesus!  Which is why I’m excited to tell you about JellyTelly. Head over to jellytelly.com and use coupon code MSW for a free week and a coloring book download! Support the show: Shop Amazon Affiliate Link Share the Struggle! Find me on Instagram or Facebook because I want to hear YOUR thoughts on this episode!  If you've been encouraged by the show, please share it with another mom.  The struggle is real.  We might as well do this together!

This episode is sponsored by Jelly Telly. Use code CULTIVATELOVELY to get your first week free and a free downloadable coloring book! Today we’re welcoming back Mystie Winckler, who was the first official guest of Cultivating the Lovely Podcast when she shared with us her passion for organization and how attitude is everything. If you haven’t already,... Read more... You just finished reading CLT Ep 28- Myers-Briggs for Moms with Mystie Winkler! Consider leaving a comment!

Though not originally setting out to adopt a child with special needs, when opportunity presented itself to adopt Macyn, they put their trust in God and took a leap of faith. Macyn was born with with Down syndrome, something a lot of people don’t understand and fear.  Shortly thereafter, in 2011, they adopted their second daughter, Truly. and in 2013, their son August was born. August is their second child with Down syndrome. Passionate to share her message of how God has used these three precious children to bring joy to both she and her husband’s lives and the lives of so many others, Heather founded her hit Instagram account @macymakesmyday, which currently has more than 68 thousand followers.  The Lucky Few: Finding God’s Best In The Most Unlikely Places her first book which details her family’s story, hits shelves March 21.   What we chat about: Heather's infertility journey When your heart is drawn to something you didn't mean to want What happens if you don't always like your child How to handle being a unique family WELL    Links mentioned: The Lucky Few: Finding God's Best in the Most Unlikely Places Tuft and Needle Alexa    Show Sponsor: JellyTelly is the only streaming video app designed specifically for kids where God is real and His Word is true. JellyTelly was co-developed by the creator of VeggieTales, Phil Visher. With the app, you can instantly stream hundred of hours of safe, affirming videos and movies for kids about God, the Bible and faith. It’s a great way for parents and kids to spend time together watching and learning, and then talking together about Jesus and their faith. The app is currently available on iOS, Android and Kindle, and includes shows like VeggieTales, Hillsong Kids, the Jesus Storybook Bible and many more! It’s entertainment you can trust, and shows that your kids will love! Make sure to check visit jellytelly.com today and use the special coupon code STRUGGLEWELL to get $5 off – or your first month of JellyTelly free!   Support the Show! Shop Amazon Affiliate Link    Share the Struggle! Find me on Instagram or Facebook because I want to hear YOUR thoughts on this episode!  If you've been encouraged by the show, please share it with another mom.  The struggle is real.  We might as well do this together! ***Some links above take you to Amazon.  When you click through, anything you purchase there will help offset the costs associated with producing the show. It doesn't cost you any extra, and it helps me out.  Everybody wins! Thank you for your support!***    

Debbie is one of the most encouraging women I know.  She is a work at home mom who lives where I've always wanted to live: Washington. She makes girly crafts and sells them on Instagram to overcome all the manliness in a house with a husband and three boys! What we chat about: When your marriage is not what you expected When homeschooling is NOT the best fit How to navigate seasons that seem difficult from every direction How Debbie ended her search for a satisfying deodorant   Links Mentioned: Farmgirl Paints Happy Homestead Botanicals   Find Debbie: shop // instagram   Episode Sponsor JellyTelly is the only streaming video app designed specifically for kids where God is real and His Word is true. JellyTelly was co-developed by the creator of VeggieTales, Phil Visher. With the app, you can instantly stream hundred of hours of safe, affirming videos and movies for kids about God, the Bible and faith. It’s a great way for parents and kids to spend time together watching and learning, and then talking together about Jesus and their faith. The app is currently available on iOS, Android and Kindle, and includes shows like VeggieTales, Hillsong Kids, the Jesus Storybook Bible and many more! It’s entertainment you can trust, and shows that your kids will love! Make sure to check visit jellytelly.com today and use the special coupon code STRUGGLEWELL to get $5 off – or your first month of JellyTelly free!   Support the Show: Shop Amazon Affiliate Link   Share the Struggle! Find me on Instagram or Facebook because I want to hear YOUR thoughts on this episode!  If you've been encouraged by the show, please share it with another mom.  The struggle is real.  We might as well do this together! ***Some links above take you to Amazon.  When you click through, anything you purchase there will help offset the costs associated with producing the show. It doesn't cost you any extra, and it helps me out.  Everybody wins! Thank you for your support!***

Jennifer is a farmer's wife and mom to two girls.  She is also a former award-winning news reporter who covered crime, politics and natural disasters for several newspapers.  Now she uses her reporting skills to chase after the biggest story ever: the redemptive story of Christ.     What we chat about: Exploring the Bible to see if God even cares about our happiness Happiness has a bad reputation.  Is it ACTUALLY the 'evil twin' of joy like we sometimes think? Is God a happy God?   Links Mentioned: The Happiness Dare Find your happiness style Lipsense Lipstick ViBella Jewelery    Show Sponsor: JellyTelly is the only streaming video app designed specifically for kids where God is real and His Word is true. Make sure to check visit jellytelly.com today and use the special coupon code STRUGGLEWELL to get $5 off – or your first month of JellyTelly free! Support the show: Shop Amazon Affiliate Link   Share the Struggle! Find me on Instagram or Facebook because I want to hear YOUR thoughts on this episode!  If you've been encouraged by the show, please share it with another mom.  The struggle is real.  We might as well do this together! ***Some links above take you to Amazon.  When you click through, anything you purchase there will help offset the costs associated with producing the show. It doesn't cost you any extra, and it helps me out.  Everybody wins! Thank you for your support!***

My guest for Happy Hour #110 is Amanda Bible Williams. Amanda likes words and books more than just about anything. She holds bachelor’s degrees in English and psychology, nearly a master’s in religion, and a deep love for a farmhouse east of Nashville, Tennessee, where she lives with her husband and their three children. Chief Content Officer of She Reads Truth, Amanda spends her days happily rearranging sentences and explaining that her maiden name really is Bible. Amanda was such a delight to chat with on today's episode. She and Raechel Myers have something really special going on over at She Reads Truth, where they're making Bible study approachable and accessible for everyday women. Her love for the Bible is seriously contagious. If you're anything like me, after listening to our conversation, you'll want to make yourself a fresh cup of coffee, grab your Bible and a journal and spend some time in God's word. She and Raechel have just published their first "book book". I cried all the way through Chapter 7, and was so encouraged at the same time. She Reads Truth is on shelves now, so make sure to grab a copy. You know we try to keep things real around the Happy Hour, so pardon my weepiness in this episode. We'll be back with lots of giggles in the shows to come. {You can listen to the showHERE. And of course, I would love if you would share with your friends. Just use the FB & Twitter links at the end of this post!} Links from the Show She Reads Truth She Reads Truth Book She Reads Truth Shop Kids Reads Truth: Advent 2016 Table Cards GoodReads The Writing Life by Annie Dillard + Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott + Humility by Andrew Murray + The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd + Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple + Love That Boy by Ron Fournier + Talk Like Ted by Carmine Gallo Music from Jason Poe Connect with Amanda Facebook // Twitter // Instagram Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram Sponsors: JellyTelly JellyTelly is the only streaming video app designed just for kids - where God is real and his word is true! With more than 100 shows for Christian kids including VeggieTales, Friends and Heroes, What’s In The Bible, and more - JellyTelly gives you safe screen time for your littles to help them grow in their faith! If you want to do devotionals with your kids but you’re not sure where to start, JellyTelly has a fun and easy way for your family to experience devotionals together - the 5 Minute Family devotional - 16 video devotionals that make it easy to talk to your kids about Jesus. You don’t have to subscribe to JellyTelly to get the devotionals - you can sign up for free at jellytelly.com/devotionals. WestRock Coffee Westrock Coffee is a brand that is changing lives by providing coffee that you'll be proud to choose for your home. Their focus is to be a catalyst for real change in the lives of farmers and their families by paying a fair price for the coffee in their delicious blends and offering farmers training to enhance the quality and quantity of their crops. Most of us will enjoy a cup (or two, or three) of coffee each day, some of us without even knowing which brand we chose. Choose Westrock Coffee's delicious coffees that are truly changing lives. Find Westrock Coffee at your local Kroger or go to Westrockcoffee.com to find out where you can add Westrock to your grocery list.

My guest for Happy Hour #109 is Jana Magruder. Jana serves as the Director of LifeWay Kids and offers a wealth of experience and passion for kids ministry, education, and publishing.  She has written award-winning curricula, both interactive and traditional in nature, for the state of Texas, IMAX films and international authors, as well as churches and ministries.  She is also the author of Kids Ministry that Nourishes and co-author of Life Verse Creative Journal, which she wrote with her teen daughter. Jana and her husband, Michael, along with their three kids made the journey from their home state of Texas to Tennessee where they serve in their local church and enjoy exploring the great city of Nashville!  In today's conversation, Jana and I chat about her role at LifeWay, creating curriculum for children's ministries across the country. She does a great job defining and explaining gospel-centered parenting and what that looks like in her family. We talk about the Austin Stone's new children's album releasing this Friday (you can pre-order here!). And of course, we have to chat about Willie Nelson, Coldplay, Ke$ha and a quick review on some Nashville restaurants. Make sure to check out Jana's books listed below and her podcast with LifeWay Kids. And don't forget to pre-order Only Jesus today! {You can listen to the showHERE. And of course, I would love if you would share with your friends. Just use the FB & Twitter links at the end of this post!} Links from the Show Austin Stone Community Church LifeWay Only Jesus Jana's Podcast: LifeWay Kids Podcast Happy Hour #76: Sally Lloyd Jones Life Verse Creative Journal Set by Jana Magruder & Morgan Grace Magruder + Raising Grateful Kids in An Entitled World by Kristen Welch + Talk Like Ted by Carmine Gallo + Kids Ministry That Nourishes by Jana Magruder + Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones + The Story of God's Love for You by Sally Lloyd Jones Nashveille Restaurants: Red Bicycle, Silo, Barista Parlor and Butchertown Hall What Jana is loving: Being over 40 years old, La Croix Cucumber Blackberry, and teaching 4th grade girls Music from Jason Poe Connect with Jana Twitter Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram Sponsors: JellyTelly JellyTelly is the only streaming video app designed just for kids - where God is real and his word is true! With more than 100 shows for Christian kids including VeggieTales, Friends and Heroes, What’s In The Bible, and more - JellyTelly gives you safe screen time for your littles to help them grow in their faith! If you want to do devotionals with your kids but you’re not sure where to start, JellyTelly has a fun and easy way for your family to experience devotionals together - the 5 Minute Family devotional - 16 video devotionals that make it easy to talk to your kids about Jesus. You don’t have to subscribe to JellyTelly to get the devotionals - you can sign up for free at jellytelly.com/devotionals. WestRock Coffee Westrock Coffee is a brand that is changing lives by providing coffee that you'll be proud to choose for your home. Their focus is to be a catalyst for real change in the lives of farmers and their families by paying a fair price for the coffee in their delicious blends and offering farmers training to enhance the quality and quantity of their crops. Most of us will enjoy a cup (or two, or three) of coffee each day, some of us without even knowing which brand we chose. Choose Westrock Coffee's delicious coffees that are truly changing lives. Find Westrock Coffee at your local Kroger or go to Westrockcoffee.com to find out where you can add Westrock to your grocery list.

My guest for Happy Hour #108 is the amazing Beth Moore. Beth is a dynamic teacher and a prolific Bible–study author whose public speaking engagements take her around the world to challenge tens of thousands. A wife and mother of two adult daughters, Beth lives in Houston, where she leads Living Proof Ministries and teaches an adult Sunday school class. Her first book with Tyndale House, So Long, Insecurity, was a NYT bestseller. Her debut novel, The Undoing of Saint Silvanus, released on September 20th. It was my joy and honor to interview Beth. The Lord used her ministry in 1999 to draw me to Himself, and I was able to share that with her and thank her for being faithful to the call God had given her. She was so encouraging to me, and I hope to you too, to remind me that the call that God had on my life far exceeded my dreams and expectations. In our conversation, Beth also shares about the process of writing her first novel, keeping it a secret, and finally sharing the draft with her youngest daughter. We chat about what she's reading and how much she adores her daughters and husband. This episode is a little shorter than the typical shows, but I promise you every minute is worth it. It was a dream come true to finally chat with Beth, and I hope you are as encouraged as I was. {You can listen to the showHERE. And of course, I would love if you would share with your friends. Just use the FB & Twitter links at the end of this post!} Links from the Show The Undoing of Saint Silvanus Happy Hour #66: Amanda Jones Living Proof Ministries Passion Conferences Strong and Weak by Andy Crouch Music from Jason Poe Connect with Beth Facebook // Twitter Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram Sponsors: JellyTelly JellyTelly is the only streaming video app designed just for kids - where God is real and his word is true! With more than 100 shows for Christian kids including VeggieTales, Friends and Heroes, What’s In The Bible, and more - JellyTelly gives you safe screen time for your littles to help them grow in their faith! If you want to do devotionals with your kids but you’re not sure where to start, JellyTelly has a fun and easy way for your family to experience devotionals together - the 5 Minute Family devotional - 16 video devotionals that make it easy to talk to your kids about Jesus. You don’t have to subscribe to JellyTelly to get the devotionals - you can sign up for free at jellytelly.com/devotionals. WestRock Coffee Westrock Coffee is a brand that is changing lives by providing coffee that you'll be proud to choose for your home. Their focus is to be a catalyst for real change in the lives of farmers and their families by paying a fair price for the coffee in their delicious blends and offering farmers training to enhance the quality and quantity of their crops. Most of us will enjoy a cup (or two, or three) of coffee each day, some of us without even knowing which brand we chose. Choose Westrock Coffee's delicious coffees that are truly changing lives. Find Westrock Coffee at your local Kroger or go to Westrockcoffee.com to find out where you can add Westrock to your grocery list.

My guest for Happy Hour #90 is the very beautiful Lauren Chandler. Lauren is a momma of three kids and wife to Matt Chandler, the lead pastor at The Village Church and President of Acts 29 Network. She recently released her first book: Steadfast Love. I am nearly half way through reading it and loving it so much. On the show, Lauren shares how she and Matt met while she was a camper at a camp at which Matt was speaking. She insists that it's a little less interesting than it sounds, but I will let you decide. Either way, it's fun to imagine how cute those two were back then. Lauren shares her journey with Celebrate Recovery, a biblical program that aims to help people overcome their hurts, hang-ups and habits. She tells about how difficult it was to get over the fear of losing people's approval and admitting that she was a sinner in need of a savior to redeem every part of her story. Lauren is now a huge advocate and supporter of recovery ministries. Lastly, Lauren and I talk about what it was like to learn that her husband was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Many of you, like me, may have heard bits and pieces of their story or have read their story, but I think you will love hearing Lauren's perspective and how the Lord used the events to confirm God as sustainer in their lives. They have a powerful story and I am so thankful that Lauren is being faithful to share. {You can listen to the showHERE. And of course, I would love if you would share with your friends. Just use the FB & Twitter links at the end of this post!} Links from the Show Celebrate Recovery The Village Church: Recovering Redemption Brewed The Net Green River Ordinance Lauren's Album: The Narrow Place Lauren's Book: Steadfast Love Believing God by Beth Moore +  You Are What You Love by James K.A. Smith + Sensing Jesus by Zack Eswine + Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls + Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls What Lauren is loving: Zum Products: Frankincense and Myrrh, Djinni Magic Bath Cream and YouWood Watches Connect with Lauren Facebook // Twitter // Instagram Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram   Sponsor: JellyTelly JellyTelly is the only streaming video app designed specifically for kids where God is real and His Word is true. JellyTelly was co-developed by the creator of VeggieTales, Phil Visher. With the app, you can instantly stream hundred of hours of safe, affirming videos and movies for kids about God, the Bible and faith. It's a great way for parents and kids to spend time together watching and learning, and then talking together about Jesus and their faith. The app is currently available on iOS, Android and Kindle, and includes shows like VeggieTales, Hillsong Kids, the Jesus Storybook Bible and many more! It's entertainment you can trust, and shows that your kids will love! Make sure to check visit jellytelly.com today and use the special coupon code HAPPYHOUR to get $5 off - or your first month of JellyTelly free!

Phil announces the launch of the all new JellyTelly, and the crew discusses the Golden Globes, euthanasia and gun control. They talk about Louie Giglio's invitation to pray at President Obama's inauguration, why he withdrew from the event, and then the gay rights movement. Are Christians becoming an oppressed minority?