The Balanced MomCast | For Overwhelmed Christian Moms Seeking Time Management, Work Life Balance, and Focus

This season I’m switching things up from my regular format and reading essays from my award-winning book, Mom, You’re Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You. To purchase a copy, click the link below. Today I'm reading The Dedication and The Introduction. While the Balanced MomCast is on hiatus, you can find me at Behind the Balance on Substack , Writing Off Social , or The Scoop on Bala...

One of my favorite annual rhythms is reading through my previous year's journal and noting themes and highlights. It helps me see what I’ve learned, how I’ve grown, and how the Lord’s hand is evident through all of it. It is the single most important practice I do that helps me determine how I will spend the next year. So, today, I’m sharing 18 things I learned in 2024. And be sure to listen...

I am so excited about our conversation today with Dr. Sandra Richter. We explore the challenges faced by women in leadership roles in the church, beginning with a discussion of Deborah in the book of Judges and ending with Dr. Richter’s own story of navigating gender bias in her career and ministry. If you are a woman with a holy calling on your life to lead, this episode is for you. This is Part...

Today, I’m speaking to the Gundry Chair of Biblical Studies at Westmont College, a graduate of Harvard University, and mother to two beautiful daughters, Dr. Sandra Richter. We discuss the challenges faced by women in Biblical times and the cyclical nature of disobedience in the book of Judges. We discuss the sacrifices made by early generations of believers, the generational drift in faith, and t...

Your smartphone is so much more than where you call and text. It’s your GPS, your podcast and audiobook player, your camera, your bank, your QR code reader. Is it possible for a mom in 2025 to live without a smartphone? Today I welcome back to the show my friend Teresa Whiting where we continue our conversation about taking an extended break from a smartphone and using a flip phone instead. This i...

HAPPY NEW YEAR! If you are feeling a bit too dependent upon your smartphone and want to do something about it, you are going to love today’s episode. I’m talking with my friend, podcaster, author, and mother, Teresa Whiting about the 40-Day Flip Phone Challenge that she and her 23-year-old son took last year. She gives it to us straight, both the clarity and the confusion of navigating life withou...

How do you know what your spiritual gifts are? Is it what you like to do? What you’re good at? What the online spiritual gifts assessment revealed? What the evangelist spoke over you at youth camp when you were 13? This is Part 2 of my conversation with Pastor and author Chase Rashad Stancle where we unpack all of this and so much more. I loved everything about this conversation and I think you wi...

In John 17, Jesus prayed for the Church. He could have prayed anything for us, but the Lord prayed for unity. This begs the question, how are we doing with the whole unity thing? Today I welcome to the show my new friend Chase Rashad Stancle. He’s the lead pastor at Unison Christian Church, a racially and religiously diverse church in Grand Rapids MI. He’s also a racial equity coach, a musician, a...

As you wrestle with whether to hand your kids a smart phone you may be thinking a smartphone will help your child connect with his friends, provide safety in a dangerous situation, and lead to responsibility and greater independence. But what if that’s not the whole story? What if it’s not true at all? Today I welcome back to the show Erin Loechnoer, the author of The Opt Out Family: How to Give Y...

71% of parents believe that smartphones do more harm than good. And yet 99% of teens have phones given to them by their parents. Excess screen time is eroding our society, interrupting family rhythms, and disconnecting us from our closest relationships. From toddlers to teens to parents…tech has a grip on us all. Today we are continuing our season-long conversation about tech and social media with...

Today, I shift away from my typical pre-holiday pep talk to focus instead on granting you permission to prioritize self-care during the hectic holiday season. For show notes, go to https://thescooponbalance.com/243 While the Balanced MomCast is on hiatus, you can find me at Behind the Balance on Substack , Writing Off Social , or The Scoop on Balance.   Substack Newsletter: Behind the Balance   We...

How do you stand for your marriage when your husband is an addict or alcoholic? What if he’s actively cheating on you? How do you support a friend whose marriage is falling apart because of these or other issues? Today I welcome back to the show Jason Carver author of 40 Day Stand for Marriage Restoration. This is part 2 of our 2-part conversation. For show notes go to https://thescooponbalance.co...

Is your marriage dying or dead? Do you believe it can be restored? In a world where divorce seems like the first and best option and also the final word, today’s guest, Jason Carver, reminds us that God’s capacity for restoration of dying marriages and resurrection of dead marriages is greater than any attempt by our enemy to divide. This is part 1 of a 2-part conversation. For show notes go to ht...

Regularly, I hear from moms who are trying to navigate this digital age with their kids. And what I often hear is a sense of hopelessness and regret. But Jenna Kruse offers hope and encouragement by giving you a balanced approach, practical steps, and biblical wisdom for this all-consuming area of parenting school-aged kids. This episode is Part 2 of a 2-part conversation. For show notes, go to ht...

Are you spending 50% of your parenting time and energy navigating tech with your school-aged kids? Do you have little ones and you already rue the day they ask for Instagram? Are you overwhelmed with the very THOUGHT of setting up parental controls or installing an internet filter? Today’s guest is Jenna Kruse and she helps parents with school-aged kids overcome the frustration, fatigue, and hopel...

Today, I discuss the importance of recognizing when it's time to hire help and provide practical guidance for making that decision. I'll share my personal experiences with hiring help, promising you that there is no shame in seeking assistance. And then I outline six key questions to consider when determining if it's time for YOU to hire help. For show notes, go to https://thescoopo...

If you carry shame from your past, this episode is for you. If you have been hurt by a man, by a parent, or by your very own child, this episode is for you. If you think you need a do-over, this episode is for you. This is Part 2 of my conversation with Joby Martin, Pastor of The Church of Eleven22 in Jacksonville, FL (my church!) and author of the new book Run Over by The Grace Train. Listen to E...

Encountering the incomparable, immeasurable grace of Jesus is like getting run over by a freight train. You’re powerless against it, it takes you where it wants to, you can’t do anything to stop it, and it dramatically changes everything. Today is Part 1 of my conversations with Joby Martin. He's my pastor and the author of of the new book Run Over By the Grace Train: How the Unstoppable Love...

How would your life be different if you completely unplugged from your devices every day? How would you improve your parenting, your work, your marriage, your relationship with God? Last week we played Part 1 of my conversation with Hannah Brencher. She is the author of the book The Unplugged Hours: Cultivating a Life of Presence in a Digitally Connected World . If you haven’t listened to that, go...

Are you spending too much time on your phone? Do you feel overly connected to your digital life and disconnected from your real life? Well, buckle up ladies, because we are discussing this topic and hitting it from EVERY angle this season, beginning today with Hannah Brencher. She is the author of the book: The Unplugged Hours: Cultivating a Life of Presence in a Digitally Connected World. She is...

WELCOME BACK! After our three-month break, this is the beginning of season 14! It’s also the beginning of another school year and the beginning of Fall (sorta, it’s still 100 degrees in FL, but whatevs). For moms, it means a busy season with many people and things begging for our attention and time. But we can’t say yes to all of them. Today I’m sharing one filter I use pretty much every day to de...

Please take a 2-minute survey! If you have kids on a traditional school schedule in the U.S., two things are true: 1) it’s summer break, and 2) the children will be home for the next 10-ish weeks. Summer balance is different than schoolyear balance. But as we will learn today,  balance isn’t so much about what we do, but what we think about what we do. Today I’m sharing four mindsets to find your...

This is Part 2 of a replay of my 2022 conversation with Sarah Turner, mom to 6 kids (ages 11 to 29). Sarah passed away March 2024. I'm so grateful for her influence on my life. For show notes click here. While the Balanced MomCast is on hiatus, you can find me at Behind the Balance on Substack , Writing Off Social , or The Scoop on Balance.   Substack Newsletter: Behind the Balance   Website:...

In February 2022, I had the privilege of interviewing my dear friend, Sarah Turner, for a two-part episode devoted to the challenges of parenting teenagers. At the time of the recording, Sarah was in remission from an aggressive cancer. Sadly, a few months later, the cancer returned, and she passed away on March 4, 2024. As a tribute to Sarah, I am replaying our conversation. For show notes click...

For weeks, I have been offering you strategies to help you get stuff done. I hope something I’ve shared has helped you organize your projects, your tasks, or your responsibilities. But lest you believe that the value of your life consists only in the abundance of your accomplishments, allow me to bring balance to this series by offering you six times it’s okay NOT to get stuff done. Click here for...