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

I'm answering more questions from listeners this week -- all about announcing pregnancies, corralling toddlers, and dealing with disapproving parents. Show Notes VERSES CITED: - Matthew 6:27 - "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" - James 1:5 - "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." - Philippians 2:3-4 - “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” RELATED LINKS: - Stop, Drop, and Roll - free printable exercise game - How Do You Handle Picky Eaters - our best tips - 5 Smart Ways to Get Kids to Eat More Vegetables - Age-Appropriate Chores - free printable chart - Cultivating Creativity in Young Children - free printable chart - French Kids Eat Everything - book by Karen Le Billon - Keeping Toddlers Occupied - God Hath Not Promised Hymn STAY CONNECTED: - Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -weekly themed link lists of free resources - Instagram: @flanders_family - follow for more great content - Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life - parenting tips, homeschool help, printables - Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home- encouragement for wives, mothers, believers - My Books: Shop Online - find on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, or through our website

Romans 12:18 tells us, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” How does that play out in real life? Is there a place for meaningful debate on important topics? And, if so, how can we keep such discussions calm and civil and God-honoring? What steps can we take to defuse a disagreement and keep it from escalating into a full-blown fight? That's the topic of this week's episode. Listen in and let me know what you think. Show Notes VERSES CITED: Romans 8:28 – “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His” Genesis 50:20 – “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” Ephesians 4:15 – “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” Colossians 4:6 – “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Proverbs 21:19 – “Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.” Proverbs 21:9 – “Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.” Proverbs 17:14 – “The beginning of strife is likeletting out water, So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.” Romans 12:18 - “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” John 15:17-18 -- “This is My command to you: Love one another. If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first.” Proverbs 18:13 - “Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.” Proverbs 10:12 - “Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.” Proverbs 15:1 - “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 25:11 - “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Proverbs 16:21 - “Sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.” Proverbs 14:29 – “Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.” Proverbs 15:18 - “A hot-tempered person stirs up strife, but the slow to anger calms a dispute.” James 4:6 - “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Revelation 3:19 - “Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” RELATED LINKS: What Men Intend for Evil – poem I wrote several years ago Turning Point USA – the organization Charlie Kirk founded Charlie Kirk’s Instagram Account – still growing! STAY CONNECTED: - Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -weekly themed link lists of free resources - Instagram: @flanders_family - follow for more great content - Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life - parenting tips, homeschool help, printables - Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home- encouragement for wives, mothers, believers - My Books: Shop Online - find on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, or through our website

Since September is National Good Neighbor Month, I thought this would be the perfect time to share some ways to be a good neighbor. Compiling this list of ideas was easy. Our family has been blessed with lots and lots of wonderful neighbors throughout the years, so it was a simple matter of remembering all the kind things they’ve done for us along the way. Show Notes VERSES CITED: - Colossians 4:5-6 tells us to “Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” - Hebrews 13:2 - “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” - Isaiah 58:10 - “Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.” - Proverbs 27:14 -“If someone blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted as a curse to him.” - Romans 12:16, 18 - “Live in harmony with one another…. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people.” - Luke 1:58 - "Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.” - Romans 12:15 - “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” - Romans 12:12 - “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.” - Galatians 5:13 - “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” - 2 Corinthians 9:8 - “God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others.” - 1 Timothy 5:13 - “... going around from house to house; but even worse, they learn to be gossips and busybodies, talking of things they should not.” - Philippians 2:4 - “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” - Proverbs 27:10 - “Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.” - James 2:15-17 - “If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,' yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” - Romans 12:10-11 - “Outdo yourselves in honoring one another. Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” - Romans 10:14 - "But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” - Matthew 22:37-39 - "This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”" RELATED LINKS: - EP 78 – How to Deal with Unneighborly Neighbors - Free Resource Library STAY CONNECTED: - Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -weekly themed link lists of free resources - Instagram: @flanders_family - follow for more great content - Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life - parenting tips, homeschool help, printables - Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home- encouragement for wives, mothers, believers - My Books: Shop Online - find on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, or through our website

This week I'm answering a question from a listener who'd like to know how to raise kids who won't resent your family rules or rebel against them. Is that even possible? Listen in on Episode 94 as we discuss what parents can do to reduce the risk of rebellion. Show Notes VERSES CITED: - Philippians 1:6 - "...he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." - 1 Corinthians 13:13 - “But now abide faith, hope, love, these three. But the greatest of these is love.” - Hebrews 10:23 - “Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering....” - Hebrews 11:6 - “...without faith it is impossible to please God.” - 1 John 4:16 - “God IS love.” - 1 John 4:19 - “We love because He first loved us.” - John 13:35 - “By this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - Galatians 5:22 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness..." - Proverbs 3:11 - “...whom the LORD loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.” - Proverbs 13:24 - “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.” - Deuteronomy 12:32 - “See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it.” - Proverbs 30:5-6 - “Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar.” - Revelation 2:18-19 - “...If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book....” - John 2:1-11 - [story of Jesus turning water into wine at the marriage feast in Cana] - Ephesians 5:18 - "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." - James 1:5 - "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all...." - Isaiah 40:11 - “He tends His flock like a shepherd ... He gently leads those that have young.” - Matthew 11:28 - “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” - Psalm 127:1-5 - “Unless the LORD builds the house, they who build it labor in vain...." RELATED LINKS: - 50 Great Books to Read Aloud to Your Kids - 9 Benefits of Reading Fiction - Raising Kids Who Love to Read - A Few Favorite Board Games - Praying for Yourself - Praying for Your Children - Praying for Your Teens - Praying for Your Adult Kids - Pancakes on the Porch - How Our Family Flew to Europe for Free STAY CONNECTED: Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -weekly themed link lists of free resources Instagram: @flanders_family - follow for more great content Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life - parenting tips, homeschool help, printables Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home- encouragement for wives, mothers, believers My Books: Shop Online - find on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, or through our website

The CDC announced last week that the US General Fertility Rate has recently hit an all-time low of only 1.6 children per woman of childbearing age. That makes me sad, because I know how much joy children bring to life. The more, the merrier! In fact, as parents of twelve, my husband and I have reaped a lot of blessings from having a large family we could have never anticipated beforehand -- and so have our kids. Show Notes VERSES CITED: - Psalm 127:3-5 - "Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward...." - 1 Peter 3:15 - “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” - Proverbs 14:4 - “Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, But much increase comes by the strength of the ox.” - Proverbs 27:17 - “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” - 3 John 1:4 - “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.” RELATED LINKS: - 15 Unexpected Benefits of Big Family Living - Family Unfriendly by Timothy Carney - America Tonight - our interview with Al Jazeera - BBC documentary - you can watch our short clip about halfway down this post - EP 42 - Traveling with Children - Kids Eat Free in Tyler, Texas - Kids Eat Free in the USA - Age Appropriate Chores for Children - Teaching Kids to Do Chores Cheerfully - Who Knew Children's Chores Were So Controversial? - Bananagrams - a game I mentioned that my family enjoys playing - Proverbs for Parenting - topical arrangement of Proverbs (similar to what we used for storytime) STAY CONNECTED: Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -weekly themed link lists of free resources Instagram: @flanders_family - follow for more great content Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life - parenting tips, homeschool help, printables Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home- encouragement for wives, mothers, believers

We don't have to wonder or make wild guesses about what Jesus would do -- the Bible tells us clearly how He lived when He was here on earth, the kind of things He prioritized, and what He expects of anyone who chooses to follow Him. Show Notes VERSES CITED: - Philippians 2 - "Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ..." - Mark 10:45 - “For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life...." - Luke 9:23 - “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me." - Luke 14:27 - "And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." - Eph 4:26-5:1 - "Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger...." - Prov 3 - "My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments...." - Psalm 119:97-98 - "O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day...." - Psalm 1 - "Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly...." RELATED LINKS: - EP 28: Bible Memory Tips - EP 85 - Memorize Proverb 3 with Me - Sing the Word Vol 1-2 - word-for-word KJV scripture songs by Fred and Sarah Cooper STAY CONNECTED: Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -weekly themed link lists of free resources Instagram: @flanders_family - follow for more great content Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life - parenting tips, homeschool help, lprintables Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home- encouragement for wives, mothers, believers