LOVING LIFE AT HOME - Christian Marriage, Biblical Parenting, Creative Homemaking, Purposeful Living

Each and every one of us has been born with qualities that cannot be altered and into circumstances beyond our control. The question is, how will you approach the unchangeables in your life? Will you learn to accept and live with them (and maybe even appreciate them)? Or will you allow bitterness and resentment over those unchangeables fester in the depths of your heart? The choice you make will h...

Father's Day is less than a week away, so I thought this would be a wonderful time to share a story about my father. I have lots of cherished memories to choose from, but this is one of my all-time favorites. I'm sure that, in the midst of the childhood crisis I was experiencing at the time, my dad never dreamed what a lasting and long-reaching effect of his response would have in my life, but it...

Our oldest son just celebrated his 37th birthday and told us over dinner what he considers the two most important and impactful things his dad and I did for him growing up, so I'm unpacking both this week's episode. I hope you'll listen in. Show Notes VERSES CITED James 1:23-25 -“For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who ....” Psalms 1:3 - “...his leaf also shall n...

The best way I know to "meditate day and night" on the Word of God is to commit large portions of Scripture to memory. Then you'll always have it with you. Want an easier way to do that? Listen in to Loving Life at Home for a simple, straightforward way to memorize Proverbs 3 with me -- the entire chapter. Show Notes VERSES CITED: Proverbs 3 Psalm 119:97 RELATED LINKS: EP 28: Bible Memory Tips Mem...

Several months ago, a reader named Donna sent me the following request: “I’d love to hear your summary or take away of how not to diet but lose weight." So on this week's episode, I'm discussing Dr. Michael Greger's book, How Not to Diet, and the amazing effects implementing his suggestions have had on my health, weight, and energy levels. Show Notes VERSES CITED: Psalm 139:16 - "Thine eyes have s...

Mother’s Day is right around the corner, so that’s what I’d like to discuss on the podcast this week. Even if giving birth to you is all your mother ever did, she would still be worthy of your gratitude and respect. But for most of our moms, the end of labor and delivery was when the real work began.  Show Notes: VERSES CITED: Ephesians 6:2-3 - "Honor your father and your mother --which is the fir...

Much of the material from this week's podcast comes from a blog post I wrote on cultivating contentment over a decade ago, but the same strategy still works today. If you've ever found yourself fixating on your problems, stewing about things over which you have no control, or struggling to "rejoice in all circumstances," this episode is for you! Show Notes VERSES CITED: 1 Timothy 6:6-8 – “Now godl...

Sometimes life's responsibilities seem so overwhelming and inescapable that you feel like you're barely treading water. How do you cope when the going gets tough, and your energy's already depleted? Here are seven strategies that have kept me afloat during the busiest, most exhausting seasons of mothering 12 children and managing a increasingly busy household. Show Notes VERSES CITED: - “These thi...

We're right in the middle of holy week, which makes this a great time to discuss some of our family's favorite Easter traditions -- especially those that keep our focus on the finished work of Christ on the cross. Show Notes VERSES CITED: - Matthew 13:44 - “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that...

Little known fact: Today (April 9) is Winston Churchill Day in the US. So today, I'm taking some of my favorite quotes from the British Bulldog, examining them in light of scripture, and applying them to marriage. I hope you'll listen in! Show Notes VERSES CITED: - Luke 12:48 - “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required....” - Romans 12:10 - “Be devoted to one another in love. H...

Proverbs 14:1 tells us, “The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.” I normally like to focus on the first part of that verse and consider, “What are some wise ways we can build our homes and strengthen our family relationships?” But instead of taking my usual approach and discussing how to nurture your marriage and make it better, today I’d like to examine...

This week on Loving Life at Home I'm answering a couple of questions about starting a family during medical school, but the principles also apply to other decisions people put off while waiting for perfect timing. Show Notes VERSES CITED: - Ecclesiastes 4:12 - "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." - Psalm 127:3 - "Children are a...

Show Notes VERSES CITED: - John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." - Romans 12:10 - “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” RELATED LINKS: - A Prayer for Singles - free printable prayer guide - The State of a Union - How grows your marriage? - In Praise of...

Pop quiz: Which would you prefer? (a) That your husband focus his thoughts on your loveliest, most noble and praiseworthy characteristics? (b) That he ignore your good points completely and concentrate instead on your most annoying and bothersome flaws? That's an easy answer, as far as I'm concerned. So shouldn't you make every effort to treat your spouse the way you'd want to be treated yourself...

My youngest daughter and I just got home from a fun-filled mother-daughter retreat our homeschool co-op sponsors every January. The theme of this year's retreat was "Standing in the Truth," and in this week's episode, I'm sharing the major points of a talk I gave at the retreat on that same topic. I hope you'll listen in and let me know what you think in the comment section below. Show Notes VERSE...

Are sibling squabbles driving you crazy? Do you crave a respite from all your kids' bickering? Then listen in today as I answer another reader's question: "How can I get my kids to stop fighting?" Show Notes VERSES CITED: - 1 John 4:20-21 - "...the one who loves God should love his brother also." - Luke 6:31 - "Do to others as you would have them do to you." - Galatians 5:13 - "...do not use your...

For the new year, I want to tackle some of the questions that have been piling up in my inbox, starting with how to deal with neighbors who aren’t very neighborly. Listen in for four tips on getting through to the people who live nearby. Show Notes VERSES CITED: - Matthew 5:14   - “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”   - Proverbs 27:10 – “...Better is a neighbor...

There is great power in prayer, and Christians should be careful never to neglect this amazing privilege and vital discipline. That's why God commands us to "pray without ceasing. What's more, God will always answer our prayers -- though not necessarily in the manner we hope or expect. Show Notes VERSES CITED: - 1 Thess. 5:17 - "Pray without ceasing." - Psalm 139:13-16 - "For You formed my inward...

Show Notes VERSES CITED: - Colossians 1:16-17 – “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” - John 10:28-29 – “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snat...

The best laid plans sometimes go awry. How should we respond when that happens? That's what we're discussing on Loving Life at Home this week: What should one do when things don't go as planned? Show Notes VERSES CITED: - Proverbs 16:9 - “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”  - Matt 10:29-31 - “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the...

It's Thanksgiving week, so I'm counting my blessings, and my 12 children are right up there at the top of the list. Another thing I'm grateful for? The fact my husband didn't cut my childbearing years short by getting a vasectomy, though he definitely considered it at one point. Listen to this week's episode to hear why, and to learn what stopped him from going through with it.  Show Notes: VERSES...

This week on Loving Life at Home, I'm tackling a question about early education for preschoolers: What can a mom of multiple toddlers do to make sure her little ones are getting what they need? Those were pressing thoughts on my mind, too, when I was a young mom, and in today's episode, I'm sharing the advice a wise mentor gave me at the time. It served me and my children well and will hopefully d...

Several years ago, I read a book entitled Marriage to a Difficult Man. I felt a little self-conscious toting it around with me at the time, lest anyone assume it was a how-to book rather than recognizing it for what it was: a biography of the famous 18th-century revivalist preacher Jonathan Edwards in relation to his very patient and supportive wife. I have a similar concern in publishing this wee...

Nearly everyone has to wrestle with negative or sinful or intrusive thoughts at one time or other, so in today's episode, we're talking strategies for overcoming bad thoughts and taking them captive to the obedience of Christ. Show Notes VERSES CITED: - 2 Cor. 10:5 - “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God….” - Psalm 19:14 - “Let the words of my...

Today is my mom's 87th birthday, and this episode is in her honor. I'm immeasurably blessed to have the mother God gave me, and have learned so much from her over the years. Today I'm sharing 8 crucial things my mom did right, so you can benefit from her good example, too. Show Notes: VERSES CITED: - Proverbs 31:15 - “She rises while yet it is night....”  - Proverbs 31:17 - “She sets about her wor...