Struggle Well School

Sally Clarkson is the beloved author of multiple bestselling books including Own Your Life, The Lifegiving Home and Desperate. As a mother of four, she has inspired thousands of women through conferences, resources, and books with Whole Heart Ministries. She has also advocated relentlessly for the power of motherhood and the influence of home through her Mom Heart conferences, speaking to audience...

This week we're reading John 4:1-15. When was the last time you were compelled by God to do something? When we're obedient to His cues, He can use us to impact lives both directly and indirectly - even if all we're actually doing is giving a bowl of stinky tofu to a homeless woman.  For those of you who are "weary from the journey," take some time today to rest. Jesus gives you permission - He did...

This month we talk about Emilio Smith, the dog I once took back to a shelter, what to do about biting kids and the world of car seat dilemmas. I also tried to intimidate Rebecca into sending me some Better Life Bags product ASAP but it remains to be seen if that worked. 

As a trained actress and heartfelt Bible teacher, Wendy Speake ministers to women’s hearts through storytelling and Biblical life application. During her career in Hollywood, Wendy found herself longing to tell stories that edify and encourage women. Today she does just that, writing books about mommy anger and gentle parenting and performing dramatic Bible lessons for women’s groups, taking every...

Known by millions as a long-time Contributing Editor for Guideposts magazine, Kathryn “Kitty” Slattery has written hundreds of stories of hope and inspiration for a wide variety of publications, including Parent Life, Today’s Christian Woman, and Angels on Earth magazines.  Kathryn resides in beautiful New Hampshire with her husband Tom, and they are the parents of two grown children.   What we ch...

This week we're reading John 3:31 -3:35. Have you ever received a letter with one of those wax seals? It seems so fancy and official; it also authenticates who sent it. That's what we are to Christ - his wax seal. Each day we should be living in a way that authenticates Him, His nature, and His love for us.  Read along at Bible.com or download the free YouVersion Bible app. Episode Sponsor: Phonic...

Amber Runyon is hospice nurse who became a social entrepreneur.  She founded Legacy and Eleventh Candle Co. out of the desire to bring hope to women both in the United States and in Ethiopia who’ve been vulnerable to human trafficking, abuse, exploitation, and addiction, focusing on providing a therapeutic work setting that allows all women a fair chance and opportunity to grow. The bottom line: A...

For the last decade, Jen Schmidt has been encouraging, challenging, and cheering on women to embrace both the beauty and bedlam of their everyday lives on her popular lifestyle blog, Balancing Beauty and Bedlam. With a variety of topics—from easy dinner ideas and personal finance to leaving a legacy—Jen equips others to live life to its fullest, reminding them it's the little things that really ar...

Kat Lee is passionate about teaching others how to jump-start each day with a grace-filled, life-giving morning routine. She is a writer, speaker, podcaster and founder of HelloMornings.org . She and her husband, Jimmy, live in Waco, Texas, with their three children. What we chat about: the joy of having older kids (that you can watch Hallmark movies with) why Kat has chosen to use homeschool, pro...

This week we're reading John 3:22 -3:30. When was the last time you saw someone create a Pinterest board with ideas to be the perfect bridesmaid? Maybe it's time to change our perspective. 

What we chat about: conflict as part of a healthy relationship striving for oneness with your spouse four different ways we handle conflict the importance of being heard when and how to confront a friend teaching your kids to take responsibility Links mentioned: Ep. 99: Fired Up About 40 with Leslie Barry The Search For Significance: Seeing Your True Worth Through God's EyesLove & Respect: The...

Listen. Rebecky (as she likes to be called) has some big news and she decided to reveal it on this nationally-beloved segment of the podcast.  She has some excitement and ambivalence that she works through.  As always, I am a source of wisdom for her.  Besides her amazing news, we talked about my obsessive signing-up of my children for summer camps, how to keep kids from being naked in public, and...

Carissa is wife to Phillip and mother to Eleanor. She's an adoptive mama, painter, Bible teacher, gardener and avid learner. She is the co-founder and co-director of McKinney Roots, a non-profit 100% food donation garden that supplies organic, fresh picked fruits, veggies, herbs and eggs to the food insecure in McKinney, TX.  If you would like to volunteer with McKinney Roots or help support them...

This week we're reading through John 3:16 - 21. Now, we all know John 3:16, but when was the last time you really sat down and thought about what it says? We are so loved. We'll also see what this passage says about the power of talking about things that we really wish we didn't have to... like eating too much guacamole. Seriously. It's a problem.    

Jessica Kastner is a journalist and author who serves as CT Coordinator for Straight Ahead Ministries, a non-profit working to see Jesus Christ transform the lives of juvenile offenders. She's also a single boy mom who has chosen to share her difficulty fitting the motherhood mold and everyday struggles. What we chat about: Owning the things about motherhood that make you happy The importance of p...

Jinger and Jessica Lord are a mother and daughter pair whom I have watched and admired first hand. They share a closeness that is often not present between a mom and her 19-year-old daughter.  Jinger is on staff at my church in charge of our children’s and family ministries.  She is highly organized and administrative with a passion for excellence and the discipleship of children and parents. Jess...

Hey ladies! Wanted to let you know there's a new podcast segment around the Mom Struggling Well Empire. It is coming out weekly exclusively for supporters of the show.  I think you're gonna LOVE my little sister as much as I do! If the Mom Struggling Well podcast is a project you'd like to support and you'd like to hear this segment weekly, head to patreon.com/momstrugglingwell and join us!  

Rebecca wants to ruin the show's theme song by changing her name to Becky.  Please send her messages on Instagram letting her know this is the wrong choice. Rebecca went on vacation (again) to visit her parents who are not (but actually are) Snowbirds. I stopped homeschooling this week and made some people mad.  We also solved multiple listener problems. Listen and be changed forever.

Wynter Pitts is the founder of For Girls Like You, a resource ministry for tween girls and their parents. She is the author of several books, including You’re God’s Girl!: A Devotional for Tweens and She is Yours: Trusting God As You Raise The Girl He Gave You. The mother of four girls herself, Wynter's mission is to empower and equip women of all ages to walk boldly into becoming who God has crea...

Laura Kelley is a mom of five through birth, adoption, and fostering. She's also is no stranger to sorrow. Last year, Laura and her husband Josh accepted God's call to adopt a 3-year-old boy from China named Everett. Tragically, Everett was born with a congenital heart defect leaving his new parents with some very difficult decisions to make about his medical care. He passed away just days before...

Kristen Hatton is the author of Face Time: Your Identity in a Selfie World for teen girls and the teen devotional Get Your Story Straight. A third book, The Gospel-Centered Life in Exodus for Students, is coming this summer. Kristen is also a blogger, Bible study teacher and speaker for groups of parents, women, and teens. In addition to her own blog, she contributes frequently to the Rooted Minis...

This week we look at John 3:1-15 and a guy named Nicodemus.  And then we ask some hard questions about our own lives.  Ouch.  That's the part we don't like.  Let's do it anyway!

Micah Maddox is a women’s conference speaker, Bible teacher, writer, blogger, and author of Anchored In: Experience a Power-Full Life in a Problem-Filled World. She is passionate about helping women find purpose, peace, and calm in our chaotic world. As a pastor’s wife and mother of three, she contributes her time to MOPS and her local church – including serving as a women’s ministry leader. What...

Tabitha Panariso is a devoted wife, mom of two (almost three) and a very wordy, typically unfiltered, writer of life and faith. She spends the majority of her days at home with her kids taking advantage of any other free time by pouring into her friendships and community. Over and over again, Tabitha is relearning that her worth has nothing to do with her doing and all to do with her being — His. ...

Stephanie Ackerman is an ordinary girl living an extraordinary life where she gets to do what she loves for a living. Her purpose is to create, inspire, teach, and encourage others through creative arts. At any given moment she might be praying, doodling, running, baking chocolate chip cookies, doing laundry, trying to match socks, doing more laundry, organizing piles, at the airport or coming hom...