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

If one thing can make us feel immediately frazzled, it’s chaos. Whether it be chaos on our calendar or chaos in our closets, chaos makes us feel completely out of control. One of the best ways to address the chaos in our lives is with some good old-fashioned organization. Simply knowing how the pieces of our lives fit together gives us clarity and focus. So, today, I’m jumping in to discuss one of...

In Scripture, life is depicted as a race. We are told to throw off everything that hinders our running. But how do you know if something you are carrying is hindering or helping? After all, what hinders me may be helping you. What helped you in the past may be weighing you down now. It can be tricky to decide what to set down. Today I’m offering five questions we can ask ourselves to help us deter...

In Scripture, life is depicted as a race. How we choose to run determines our quality of life, and whom or what we choose to run toward determines our peace and joy. ~Cynthian Heald Are you weary? Do you feel like life is harder than it’s supposed to be? Does it seem like everything is a constant uphill battle? Maybe it’s because you’re carrying extra weight. Today I’m going to share 3 weights you...

Today we celebrate our 100th episode. And I couldn’t think of a better thing to do than turn the focus back on you--my listeners. I’ve asked a few of my mom friends to offer a word of encouragement to the overwhelmed moms who listen to the podcast. If you’re feeling a little frazzled today, I want you to sit back, put up your feet, and savor the life-giving words that I’m about to share with you....

I’ve mentioned a few times recently that I have been eating mostly a whole foods plant-based diet. And some of you have had questions about that like, “Why are you doing that?” and “What do you mean, you only eat plants?" and "Is that the same thing as Vegan?” and “Where do you get your protein?” and “How do you do this with kids?” So, today I’m answering your most frequently asked quest...

One of the most challenging aspects of being a Christian mom is finding ways to be alone to pray or read or study the Bible (or just think or be quiet!) while you are surrounded by kids. If your quiet time with the Lord is limited or non-existent, I have three words of encouragement and four things to try. For show notes, please visit thescooponbalance.com/98 While the Balanced MomCast is on hiatu...

If you are a mom in the year 2021, you are probably on social media. And if you are a mom on social media, you have probably at some point considered taking a social media break, drawing better boundaries around your time there, or leaving social media altogether. Me too. Today I’m talking about my decision to leave social media and offering some questions to ask yourself in your own decisions abo...

This is our 5th and final episode on the Barrier of Busyness. Today we are talking about the importance of weekly rest: what Sabbath means and how to do it. If you are a mom, you DO actually get a day off. Let me show you how.    1. Sabbath means literally "Stop, rest." God introduced a rhythm of life when He worked for 6 days and rested on the 7th.  It is one of the 10 commandments (Ex...

Last week I led you through 4 steps to reorder your overly busy life and today I’m giving you 6 more. Grab a pen, grab some paper, grab your calendar, because we are ruthlessly eliminating hurry from our lives. For show notes, please visit thescooponbalance.com/95 While the Balanced MomCast is on hiatus, you can find me at Behind the Balance on Substack , Writing Off Social , or The Scoop on Balan...

We’ve spent the last 2 weeks unpacking the problem with your overly busy life. And now we are going to do something about it. Grab a pen, grab some paper, grab your calendar, and buckle in, because I am going to take you through a process to reorder your life, with action steps. For show notes, please visit thescooponbalance.com/94 While the Balanced MomCast is on hiatus, you can find me at Behind...

Last week we introduced the 4th and final Barrier to Balance known as Busyness. I shared with you 6 reasons busyness is a bad idea and I encouraged you to ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life. Today I’m continuing the discussion by helping you get to the root of your busyness. As John Ortberg says, hurry isn’t just a disordered schedule, it’s a disordered heart. So let’s get our hearts in ord...

Other than complete disconnection from God, nothing will hinder our ability to stay balanced more profoundly or more consistently than being overly busy. It’s one of the enemy’s most brilliant tactics. Over-commitment—even with good, Christian things—causes fatigue, resentment, bitterness, and ineffectiveness in all things. If you’ve been following along with my series on Balance Barriers, this is...

Last week in EP90 I introduced the one balance barrier that trips up every woman I know: The Comparison Trap. I talked about the history of it (which literally begins with Cain and Abel, on page 3 of my Bible) and the problem with it. Today, I talk about what we can do about it. If you feel trapped by comparison to other women, I am giving you 5 things you can do about it.  For show notes, please...

Way back in the spring of 2020 I started a series on the Barriers to Balance. We covered two of them: Perfectionism and People Pleasing (EP70-EP73). And then suddenly I found out we were moving and then I took a summer break and then I launched my new book. And now finally we are continuing with that series, nine months later. Today, we are introducing the one barrier that trips up every woman I k...

My biggest balance struggle, hands down, is the propensity to become easily overwhelmed. I would venture to say that it’s something I struggle with almost every day. And this is precisely why my passion is to help overwhelmed, frazzled moms find peace. Because I get you...I AM you! This morning as I was working through all the possible reasons I could be feeling overwhelmed (again!) I thought mayb...

Welcome to Season 6! If you are one of the many women I know who are crossing over into unchartered territory--a new job, a new baby, a new opportunity--or maybe you are beginning a new life after the death of a spouse, a child, or a marriage...I have a special word of encouragement for you. Be sure to listen to the end for a special message and prayer for those needing a fresh start. For show not...

It’s the countdown to 2021 and chances are you are looking forward to a new and probably better year. I’d encourage you to approach these next few weeks with great intention. This will require some reflection and planning on your part, but it will be well worth it. Today on the show I’ll take you through a simple three-step process that I go through every year in December to help me have direction...

We live in a noisy world. If we ever hope to hear God’s voice, we must learn to make room for God in our thoughts. If you live in a house full of children, you may feel like you have no control over this. I’m here to convince you otherwise. Today I’m talking about solitude and silence, what they are, how they are related to one another, and why they are more than simply a luxury, but rather a vita...

Are you thinking about stepping away from social media over the holidays? Or maybe you're planning on kicking off 2021 with an extended sabbatical? You'll love today's episode! I tell you nine things I learned from taking one year off social media and offer you a few tips if you plan to take one yourself. For show notes, please visit thescooponbalance.com/85 While the Balanced MomCa...

Balance is all about expectations. And who among us has not been at least a little blindsided by what we expected in 2020 and what has actually transpired in 2020? Today I’m sharing a few things that have thrown me off balance this year and two ways I’m addressing them. And I also have a really big announcement, so be sure to stick with me to the end. For show notes, please visit thescooponbalance...

In EP81 I gave you 5 questions to ask yourself when you can’t hear God. All those questions implied that you could position yourself to hear God better... and you can . In other words, sometimes you can’t hear God because you’re not listening well. But sometimes you can’t hear God and it has nothing to do with your ability to listen well. Today, I’m sharing with you 4 more reasons you can’t hear G...

I’m taking a break from my series on hearing God’s voice to speak to young moms. Especially young moms who are taking care of children while also trying to work. The tension a mom feels between taking care of her kids and doing all the other things she’s capable of doing--all the other things she's good at and feels called by God to do--is very real. Especially now when so many of our kids ar...

Throughout the Bible we see God speaking to His people: through prophets and disciples, through nature and circumstances, through His law and His spirit, and most profoundly through the living and breathing Word of God, Jesus Christ. Undeniably, God speaks. If we are not experiencing this beautiful and life-giving truth of Scripture in our own lives, then we should figure out why. So, today I’m gi...

One of the most common ways God will speak to you is through other people. When God spoke through people in the Old Testament it was almost exclusively through prophets. But in the New Testament, He uses the members of the church to speak to others for Him...that’s you and me! This is both exciting and terrifying, depending on who is talking and what they’re saying. But take heart, we can always l...

Like audio books? You'll love today's episode. Today I'm reading to you the Introduction to my new book Is the Voice in My Head God or Just Me?  Learn the story behind my 25-year study of Scripture to understand if and how God speaks to people, as well as what to expect and what not to expect in this new study.  For show notes, please visit thescooponbalance.com/79 While the Balance...