Upright Christian Parenting - Raising Upright Families in a Sideways Culture

Behind Closed Doors with Dr. Jessica Peck

BIO:
As a pediatric nurse practitioner in primary care, over the last 20 years Dr. Jessica Peck has engaged, encouraged, equipped, and empowered families to raise holistically healthy kids.   Dr. Peck is an accomplished author, a regular contributor to parenting magazines, and is a frequent guest on radio and television. Her book, Behind Closed Doors: A Guide to Help Parents and Teens Navigate Through Life's Toughest Issues was ranked the #1 new release in parenting on Amazon. Married to a rocket scientist and mom of 4, she hosts the Dr. Nurse Mama podcast on American Family Radio.
In this episode we chat through parenting teens through today's cultural issues and tackle the power of:
Listening with your 'face'
Writing Legacy Letters to your children
Motivation Interviewing 
The top issues that teens/kids struggle with today
The key values of parenting
We also laughed so hard at funny parenting moments that you'll be sure to connect with! Such a great episode and real conversation.
Connect more with Dr. Jessica Peck 
Twitter: @DrPeckPNP
Instagram: @dr.nurse.mama
Facebook: @Dr.Nurse.Mama
Website: https://www.drnursemama.com Podcast: https://afr.net/podcasts/dr-nurse-mama/
https://www.drnursemama.com/freebie (30 day resource guide) 

A Bear Story & Why Fear is a Liar

Fear is a liar
The difference between fear of the flesh and fear of the Lord
Holy Fear Holy fear is good fear of the Lord.
It is commanded in scripture.
Fear of God is to love people.
Good fear brings us to the Father.
Produces peace and reliance on God.
Fear of the FleshFear of earthly circumstances
Examples in scripture of unbelievers or the wayward
Not fearful of God and not showing Love towards his people
Unhealthy fear takes the focus off of the Father & produces self seeking
Self-reliant 
Removes God.
Fear and Intimidation is a trap that holds you back. But when you place your confidence in the Lord, you will be seated in the high place. Proverbs 29:25
Example of Pharaoh of Egypt and His lack of fear of the Lord.
Example of Moses having fear of the Lord and ignoring earthly fears.
Scripture:
Ephesians 6:12
Proverbs 1:7
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
2 Timothy 1:7
Psalms 23:6
Proverbs 1:33
Family Activity!!!!
What does your gate look like? Draw a ‘gate’ with you kids!
Who is the gatekeeper and why is he necessary?
Gatekeepers made sure that nothing unholy entered into God’s house and nothing was allowed to leave unless it had approval.
www.thetreehousestoryteller.com

Motherhood Mountain: A Miraculous Testimony of a Young Mother

This is a must listen episode. DISCLAIMER: Grab the tissues and know this episode gets heavy. Alison Propps reveals God’s miraculous power reviving her marriage and family heading down a road to destruction. Alison gets real with us as she opens up about her testimony and how God changed her life after a teenage pregnancy and young marriage. She has 6 kids and homeschools while passionately advocating for her children’s hearts amidst today’s sideways culture. She closes out the episode with one her beautiful poems about motherhood.
Takeaways:
How God works in us despite our circumstances and human faults. 
The real dangers exploited in social media for kids and teens. (Alternative ‘Gab’ phone)
Establishing healthy boundaries and how much our kids need our hands and eyes on the things they are exposed to.
How to discuss sex with your kids + healthy resources (see below). 
Correcting things on the spot when we see them.
We have shame when our sexual orientation is not based on God. Society teaches us one way, but God teaches His way.
Alison explains how everything we need stems from intimacy with Jesus! We think that peace is controlled circumstances, but real peace is not circumstantial. Instead you are ok and centered despite everything going crazy.
Link to Alison’s amazing journals & Planners:  https://www.alisonpropps.com/plannersjournals
Linktr resources for instilling sexual integrity in our children: https://linktr.ee/Protectingyourchild

Why our kids need the Armor of God to Battle today’s Culture

Why your kids need the Armor of God to battle today’s Culture
This episode helps to define the armor of God in a way that we can share with our children, but takes it a step further and builds a foundation for our lives. We talk through practical ways to building faith, and choosing to equip our lives for the sake of God’s truth and walking in boldness.
Take aways:
The Armor of God is not an insurance policy
We have to be in ‘training’ 
We must be praying along side of utilizing the armor
We have to use God’s help and invite His power to do the work in us
Unity is found in the church & is vital to helping us through
It is a choice to put on God’s armor
Bible References:
Ephesians 6
1 Corinthians 13:6
Matthew 19:26
Acts 4:12
 
Extra Family Activity
Pull out your art supplies and make a fun visual with your kids by designing what you think your ‘Armor of God’ looks like, then take necessary steps in your family life to give priority to growing together.

Heaven, Not Harvard: Parenting Successful kids to Embrace Kingdom Living

Heaven, Not Harvard: Parenting Successful kids to Embrace Kingdom Living
How encouraging a friend in need turned into a podcast.
Obedience to what God calls us to do, especially when parenting.
What discipling your kids looks like.
How to be your kids google alternative.
Inviting your kids to tell you about the hard stuff.
Screen Time boundaries.
Family alternatives to screens & media platforms.
Go outside as a family
Calling out unBiblical concepts found in media and movies.
Accountable as a family
Juggling work and screen time boundaries
Creating healthy boundaries for our children.
Setting a foundation for our kids built on God's truth.
God created us to be different
Called to live a life that points to Jesus.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
Proverbs 13:24
BIO: Kala is a fellow Jesus following mom who’s parenting goal is Heaven not Harvard and loves helping others find their confidence in Christ alone. In her home, she does things against the current as she keeps Christ the focus. It’s not easy but it’s always worth it! Kala is also a podcast host of Confidence in Christ.
Find Kala on the socials:
Fb: @kalayoder IG: @kalayoder
Or Website: https://kaladiane.com
Listen to her podcast Confidence in Christ at:
Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/confidence-in-christ/id1630930436
Spotify: https://spotify.link/lykrXUTTbyb
 
 

Why we must understand God’s Character for Parenting

If we understand who God is, then we begin to have a better understanding of our identity in Christ.
Attributes vs. Attitudes
God is faithful.
Everything about God is constant and always.
God is Good.
God is the originator of goodness. (Gen. 1:31) The moment we see Him less than good, we begin to see Him less than God.
Jesus defines goodness in one word: GOD. (Matthew 19:16,17)
He abounds in goodness. (Exodus 34:6)
Goodness is the driving motivation behind all of His blessings. (Psalms 84:11)
Goodness is for this life. (Psalms 27:13)
As well as for eternity. (Psalms 31:19)
His goodness gives hope. (Psalms 27:13)
His goodness leads to repentance. (Romans 2:4)
Produces thankfulness (Psalms 136:1)
He has started a good work in all of His believers & commits Himself to completing it. (Phil. 1:6)
If we are reading our Bible consistently, then we will learn who God is.
'Omni’s of God'
Psalms 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
Immutable : unchanging, the same yesterday, today and forever. He is constant. ‘He is I AM’.    (Isaiah 46:9-11)
Omnipotent : all-powerful   (Psalms 33:9)
Omnipresent : all-present, from the tiniest atom, yet consumes the entire universe (2 Chr. 6:18; Eph. 4:6; Jer. 23:23-24)
Omniscient : all-knowing, all knowledge, knows all sees all
Omnitemporal : He is past, present, and future simultaneously. 
Referenced NKJV Women's Bible.

Emily Karc: Motherhood, Anxiety, the kid with a BAD label, & the POWER found in Christ!

Emily Karc: Motherhood, Anxiety, the kid with a BAD label, & the POWER found in Christ!
 
On this episode of Treehouse Storyteller, I sit down with Emily Karc. She is a wife and mom of two boys. She loves to write and to learn. She homeschools one of her sons which has taught her so much about Jesus. She longs to gift other moms hope and a safe space to meet at Jesus' feet and find they are not as alone as they think they are. She is an author and just released an incredible resource and book.
TAKE AWAYS:
Finding verses that children can memorize at a young age.
It’s about relationship, not religion. 
A struggle with anxiety, shame and depression.
It’s ok to ask for help, and to receive help, and have accountability.
Ultimately it is God that heals. 
Our set-backs, are setups for God.
Anxiety is a tool of the enemy and not from God.
‘You need to be filled up with Jesus, so you can pour out His love.’
Do not let your kids believe the lies for 18 years.
Kids labeled ‘BAD’ will simply become bad. 
1 in 10 kids struggle with anxiety.
How to prevent your kids from suffering from the weight of the world.
Being a parent to your kids, and not just a roommate. 
Why parenting is so important in today’s culture.
Social Media and its influence on children.
We have to talk about the hard things with our kids. If we don’t, the world will.
Our kids want answers and knowledge, but if we don’t give them truthful and Biblical answers, then they will find answers from someone else, and the world will fill them with lies.
Jesus power is Enough for you!
His love will meet you right where you are.
 
Important Values discussed:
What we ingest matters, etc. shows we let our kids watch. 
Our words matter. They are either bringing death or life.
Do not compare yourself. God created you uniquely.
Have ‘abnormal faith’, looking at the world’s culture as the odd way to live.
We can’t expect our kids to be world changers if we aren’t going to be
If you are not rooted in truth, then your kids will not be rooted in truth!
 
BIOGRAPHY:
Emily is a life long lover of the written word. She longs to use the words God gives her to inspire and encourage the women around her to come out from hiding behind their shame and pain, and find that Jesus' love is waiting to light up their life. When not writing, speaking, or advocating for 'the one', she spends her days chasing two young boys with her handsome hubby in eastern PA.
 
CONNECT with Emily:
Her recent book Dear Mama: One Mama's Journey of Learning to Live Beloved can be found on Amazon HERE and you can connect with Emily https://www.emilykarc.com/ and don't forget to follow her on socials as @emilykarc 

Bridges & Fireflies | How analogies, promises, and gratitude equips us against the enemy.

Welcome back to Treehouse Storyteller! If this is your first time listening, then make sure you go back and listen to our first handful of episodes. And if you have been following along, then don’t forget to hit that subscribe button to stay up to date with season 1. Treehouse Storyteller Podcast is a ministry of thetreehousestoryteller.com
 
This episode is all about analogies as we dive into scripture. We address the concept of being in a season where we need to get to the ‘other side’ and how we can walk this journey in confidence.
 
Take aways:
Surrounding yourself with community and support
Pursuing gratitude in the hard seasons
Feeding yourself with Truth
Remembering God’s promises
Our identity has been claimed!
 
Romans 8:16 ‘For the Holy Spirit makes God’s fatherhood real to us as he whispers into our innermost being, ‘You are God’s beloved child!’
We are fully equipped!
Romans 5:1 ‘Our faith in Jesus transfers God’s righteousness to us and he now declares us flawless in his eyes. This means we can now enjoy true and lasting peace with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One has done for us.
What are we choosing to meditate on? Where is our focus? 
Philippians 4:8 ‘Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart]. 
Are we living in the spirit or the flesh?
 
More Scripture:
Psalms 37:4-5
Romans 5:1
Deuteronomy 31
Hebrews 13:15
Exodus 15:2
Genesis 1:4
Matthew 5:6,14,16

Eryn Lynum: What is a Master Naturalist and What does Nature, Climate Change, and the Sabbath have to do with parenting today?

SHOW NOTES
 
Eryn Lynum: A Master Naturalist speaks truth on Climate Change and parenting.
On this episode of Treehouse Storyteller, I sit down with Eryn Lynum and discuss her journey as a Master Naturalist, and how she uses the Word of God, and the great outdoors to parent differently than the world. We talk about everything from the lies media has told us, to the fear mongering, to the great horned owl, and taking a day each week to sabbath. We dive deep into Biblical World View and reveal how Christian parenting looks different than the world’s idea. 
 
Biography: 
Eryn Lynum is a Master Naturalist, Bible Teacher, Author, and homeschooling mother of four. She brings together her certification as a naturalist and degree in Biblical studies to help families nurture their faith through God's creation.
Eryn has written amazing book called Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family’s Faith Through God’s Creation. It is absolutely beautiful. Eryn’s new book is found HERE !
She has also written 936 Pennies: Discovering the Joy of Intentional Parenting, as well as many devotionals and resources. 
‘THROUGH THE ART OF PLAY, THE DRIVE OF DISCOVERY, AND THE AWE OF ADVENTURE, CHILDREN WILL GAIN A SENSE OF WONDER IN THEIR CREATOR THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME.’
 
 
TAKE AWAYS:
How do we define truth in a toxic culture??
Creation sings of God’s love for His children and we can learn so much about God though His creation.
Romans 1:20 (ESV): 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Psalm 19: 1: The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Climate change can be understood from a Biblical World View and taught to our kids by facts and Biblical knowledge.
We know God through His word and His world. 
God is not a God of confusion, but of order.
Ignore what Media says about Climate change, especially if it stirs up fear. 
The benefits of having family values. 
 

Welcome to the Treehouse

Don't we completely need turned around sometimes in order to see what God is doing for us?
In this first episode, listeners will dive into the deep with Hannah to uncover some real life parallels to Psalms 78. We will unpack the word 'slew' in verse 34. This word is defined as turning something on its axis. 
Hannah explains from her artist perspective how to look at our lives from a fresh perspective as we surrender our hearts to God and His ability to change us.