Pardon the Mess with Cynthia Yanof

We say this often, but parenting is one of the greatest blessings and one of the greatest challenges. There are really hard places in parenting that are much easier to avoid rather than address head-on.  Suicide is one of those topics.  We heard you, and today we are doing just that by providing a special edition of content focused on suicide.  The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is (800)273-8255. 

We say this often, but parenting is one of the greatest blessings and one of the greatest challenges. There are really hard places in parenting that are much easier to avoid rather than address head-on.  Suicide is one of those topics.  We heard you, and today we are doing just that by providing a special edition of content focused on suicide.  The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is (800)273-8255.

This week we’re praying for our kids to have courage. The further our culture strays from God’s truth, the more courage it will take for them to live biblically. Passionately following Jesus, especially in today’s culture, is not going to happen if we follow the masses and blend in with the crowd. We’re called to be holy, set apart, sanctified, chosen, and on a great mission for Jesus. So are our kids.

We’re talking all things love this February, and it’s only fitting we talk about our love for our kids! Nell Bush joins us today to talk about being intentional in how we show love to our kids. We talk about practicing patience and love by accepting their inborn temperament and understanding their particular stage of development.

It’s often said that character is how we act when nobody is looking.  As a parent of a toddler, I cling to the hope that character evolves with age.  For that matter, as a parent of teens, I’m counting on God’s promise that he will “finish what he started” and help me get them over the finish line (Philippians 1:6). Character is a big one on the list of things we can be praying for our kids. 

This month, Pardon the Mess is focused on things we love, and we’re thrilled to have Kirk Cameron on the show to talk about family, marriage, faith, and raising kids. That pretty much covers all the things we love! Kirk is relatable, funny, humble, and godly. This is a podcast you’re going to love!

R-E-S-P-E-C-T! There’s not a parent out there who hasn’t echoed the words of the legendary Aretha saying, “All I’m askin’ is for a little respect when you get home.” This week, we’re praying for our kids to have respect. This is a core value that impacts all of their relationships, and it’s critical to walking well with the Lord. It starts by teaching respect in the home, and obedience is a key component as we raise our kids.

In today's episode, I talk to Robert J. Morgan, the author of one of my favorite books EVER, The Red Sea Rules.  Pastor Rob got me thinking about the difficulties I’ve faced lately, as well as the way God has helped me in and through them. Which then got me thinking about my youngest son.  When my toddler falls down, he always waits for me to pick him up and dust him off. Even if you don’t need dusting off today, someone around you definitely does.

The Lord uses people for his kingdom purposes who are willing to let go of their own agenda and go with his. To trade in their own personal security for something bigger than they can accomplish on their own. He uses those who live interruptible lives. Let’s pray this week that our kids have a heart for God’s calling in their lives and that they will be willing to lay down their nets every day in order to follow their Savior.

As we continue our “New Year, New You” series this January, we’ve covered topics related to our physical health, emotional health, and finances. This week, we’re talking about marriage, and I don’t know of a better person to talk to about this important but oftentimes difficult subject. Today, we’ve got Lysa TerKeurst!

“Safety first!” These words are the mantra everywhere, from the sixth-grade science lab to your own home when your kids run by with a pair of scissors. We’re all about safety when it comes to our families. This week we are praying protection over our kids.

“Mo Money Mo Problems” —The Notorious B.I.G. It’s not often that one quotes The Notorious B.I.G. to kick off a Christian podcast, yet his song title is all too relevant for how many of us feel when dealing with our finances. It’s not necessarily a reference to how much money we have, but just to the problems money can cause when we don’t approach it biblically. As we continue our miniseries this January, “New Year, New You,” we’re getting down to the nitty-gritty of our finances.

Why does contentment matter? “I would totally be content if I had just a little bit more.” Let’s buckle down this week and ask the Lord to show us where we need to find contentment in our own lives so that we can model it well in our families. Let’s pray that our kids know that money and material things do not bring lasting fulfillment and happiness, but that only comes from Jesus.

New Year, New You: Counseling Anyone? Well, excuse us for getting a little personal so early in 2020! But life is messy, and we plan on staying true to our name and hitting some of the hard stuff in our January miniseries called “New Year, New You.” Today, Paige Mayhew and Rebecca Leonard join us to discuss our mental health. Both of these ladies are licensed professional counselors who just so happen to love Jesus too. Doesn’t get much better than that!

Today on our podcast, Becky Jones joins me to talk about our prayer lives. She reminds us of God’s grace in the places where we haven’t prayed well in the past but also encourages us to make changes moving forward by treating prayer as a continual conversation with God instead of a list to check off. As we’re praying for our kids this year, let’s pray they understand the transformative power of prayer and how it leads to God’s guidance and provision in their lives.