Pardon the Mess with Scarlet Hiltibidal - Christian Motherhood, Biblical Parenting, Raising Christian Kids

They say that character is how you act when nobody’s watching. And as believers, we know that there’s never a moment where no one is watching because the Lord is with us at all times.     This week we’re praying for our kids’ character, using Stephen’s life in Acts 6 and 7 as our reference point. Every time Stephen is mentioned in Scripture he’s described as being “full of faith” or “full of the H...

Jim Denison is with us today, and I believe there’s no one more in tune with our culture and the narratives we’re facing as believers. Jim and I discuss why it’s important to identify the preeminent lies of the day so that we can have answers and bring light to those who so desperately need the Lord.    My hope is that today’s show gives you a new framework by which to consider our faith and encou...

What is that one thing that totally gets under your skin as a parent? Messy rooms, bad grammar, laziness? For me it’s disrespect.    It takes all I have not to lose my ever loving mind when my kids are disrespectful in our home or towards others. I think it’s because I know how detrimental it can be later in life if you don’t learn respect early on.     Respect is significant, so I’m thankful we’r...

Louie Giglio is back with us today, and you need to drop everything and listen now!    Okay, maybe it’s not that urgent but what a gift to have Louie join us in continuing our series on lies we believe as Christians. Today we’re discussing the common misconception that science and God do not line up, making christians have to turn a blind eye to certain science premises because of our faith.    Lo...

It’s borderline comical when you stop and think about all the people in the Bible who were simply going about their business only to have God completely “interrupt” their plans and completely change their course.     I think of Noah stopping life to build an ark, or Abraham leaving it all to go to a foriegn country, or even Mary switching her wedding plans to baby preparations.     Only God can ta...

There are certain lies we frequently hear in our culture that, if not addressed, we just might start to believe as truth. It’s interesting the lies I’ve bought into throughout my life that I now look back on and regret. Lies I’ve accepted in friendships, in marriage, in my identity—I could go on and on.   I’m guessing you’ve got a little of this going on too, so let’s take a little time to hone in...

Praying protection over our kids is probably one of the easiest things we pray for them from the day they are born. But this week in praying protection we’re doubling down on asking the Lord to watch over them physically, spiritually, and emotionally. One key point I try to pray over my kids relates to the messaging they receive about their identity and also the messaging they believe about God an...

These people in my house want something to eat every single night and, well, it’s all together exhausting. Anyone out there with me?     Thank goodness we have creator, writer, TV personality, and mom Dina Deleasa-Gonsar joining us today to address this age-old dinner dilemma. Dina created a popular food blog called DishItGirl.com .   What I love about Dina is her commitment to her faith, her fami...

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that” (1 Timothy 6:6-8 NIV).   Well that’s one way to put it bluntly, Paul. ⬆️   Today we’re praying contentment over our kids, and, let’s be honest, we probably need to be praying it for ourselves as well. Praying conten...

As we’re approaching our 300th episode of Pardon the Mess, I am thrilled to welcome back our very first guest all those years ago: Janet Denison!    Janet is an author, speaker, mother, grandmother, and friend who has given me a whole lot of parenting advice over the years. She’s joining us today to talk about finding “a great calm” in our lives even when everything around us feels completely chao...

Perhaps the greatest gift my parents have ever given me is the gift of growing up in a praying home.    My parents have prayed before meals, before bed, and before every major decision for as long as I can remember. They’ve prayed over me more times than I can count, and I’m eternally grateful to them. That being said, I can think of many years in my own life where prayer was not a priority (and m...

Oh friends, I really, really can’t wait for you to hear today’s show with Tricia Roos. I’m so grateful to know Tricia personally and see first hand how the Lord is using her story to speak of his faithfulness even in the deepest places of loss.     Tricia was three months into her pregnancy when she received a call that her unborn daughter had a rare condition that would be fatal. Against the advi...

Might I share with you one of my favorite quotes of all time?    “Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” - Francis Chan    I heard that quote many years ago and it continues to guide how I look at the various things that occupy my days. As I pray for the Lord to show favor over my life and that of my families, I find myself asking...

I’m kicking off the New Year a little differently this year with no guest joining us today. Instead, I’m sharing some of the things I wish I had known as a younger mom. I try not to live with regrets, but I also know the value that comes by taking inventory in our parenting and acknowledging the areas of growth as well as the struggles. The four things I’m sharing with you today began with an arti...

Happy New Year!  This time of year always inspires me to consider necessary life-style changes, incorporate missing things into my routines, and find ways to live a new year filled with amazing opportunities better than I did the year before. Or at least that lasts for a few weeks! But I’m always thankful for the routine in place of praying for our kids, and I love that we’re beginning 2022 by pra...

I’ve never really loved the post-Christmas letdown.   But the one thing I do look forward to each year is the opportunity to make adjustments in my life, allowing me to live more purposefully and biblically. That’s why Pardon the Mess is revisiting one of our favorite episodes of 2021. Louie Giglio joins us to talk through the spiritual aspects in our lives that may need some tweaking.   Louie is...

Are you ready to ring in the New Year later this week?   My crew is skiing over the next few days, and my greatest hope is to enter into 2022 without any casts, crutches, or major casualties. We set the bar pretty low over here.   But as we take time to consider a new year and all the new opportunities before us, I love the thought of praying generosity over our kids. The Bible speaks of generosit...

It’s the week of Christmas, and if it ain’t already done, it ain’t gonna happen. Well maybe not, but nonetheless you need today’s podcast. Melanie Shankle and Sophie Hudson from the Big Boo Cast are sitting down for a hilarious conversation on so many things that I had a hard time even coming up with a title for today.  I love their wisdom on extending grace to our kids and how the whole notion of...

This is it! The Super Bowl of all holidays—it’s Christmas!    This week as we’re praying joy over our kids,  I'm wondering what things have brought you joy this Christmas? Is it the small things like sitting by the Christmas tree late at night or car rides to look at lights? Or maybe it’s some of the bigger events that happen this time of year like parties and school programs.     I think my d...

When people ask me what books I consider “must reads,” I reference Mark Batterson 100% of the time. If I haven’t told you this week how much I love In a Pit with a Lion on A Snowy Day, then let’s just get it out there so you can add it to your Christmas wish list. 😀🎄   Knowing this, I’m going to ask you to excuse my gushing on today’s podcast since Mark Batterson is with us and talking about eve...

At the risk of saying this ad nauseum, may I once again mention how desperately I want our kids to truly know God and not just know about God? Maybe it’s because I grew up in an amazing Christian home and went to church every time the doors were opened but didn’t really know God personally for many years that leads me to drive home this point so often.   But at the end of the day our kids need mor...

I feel like there’s not a whole lot that needs to be said when introducing Sheila Walsh as the guest for today’s show. I mean after all, she’s godly, funny, and real. She’s not afraid to speak into some of the darkest places she’s faced and how God has met her there so faithfully. But that’s exactly what we talk about today as we chat about her new book, Holding On When You Want to Let Go . She vu...

As I read through the Christmas story this time of year, I’m reminded of the great favor God has shown on us. Even before the world was created he devised this plan of sending his son in the form of a baby so that we might have the opportunity to spend all eternity with him. He knew we would be rebellious, self-indulging, and sinful people, yet only by his favor are we not left in this desperate p...

I’ve figured something out about myself the last few years when it comes to holidays, especially Christmas. I’ve realized that even though I say I have “no expectations” of what Christmas should look like and I wholeheartedly believe that it’s important to let go of the idealism behind the “perfect” Christmas—I still carry around some deep rooted expectations that leave me feeling disappointed whe...

If your pants are a little tighter and the stress level a little higher this Monday after Thanksgiving, you’re not alone. With all the shopping, wrapping, parties, family gatherings, cooking, and baking—it may feel like a little hope is exactly what it’s gonna take to keep going.   Kay Wyma is with me today (I mean seriously, she’s the best), and we’re talking about the role hope plays in our live...