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In this heartfelt roundtable discussion, four Christian moms—co-hosts Mary Beth and Sarah joined by Christine Elsen and Maggie Walker—open up about the real joys, challenges, and spiritual considerations of choosing education for their children. From long-term public school tracks to homeschooling younger children, they share personal stories, pros/cons of each path, the importance of discipleship, building community and ultimately trusting God's sovereignty over their children's futures.

Whether you're wrestling with school decisions right now or just want encouragement as a believer raising the next generation, this episode reminds us: there's no one "perfect" educational choice, God is faithful on every path.

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Hear from Mary Beth & Sarah about their own educational backgrounds - they were not a straight line! How did that inform their families' decisions for their children's education so far? Tune in to hear about how they're navigating school and education and finding community for themselves and their children.

Resources:

Moms in Prayer

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As the first in a group of episodes about education and how we make choices for our families, Sarah and Mary Beth chat with Tina Hammer who has been homeschooling her three children for 23 years. Tina shares her unexpected journey into homeschooling, the practical challenges and immense joys she’s experienced, the importance of community, flexibility, and creativity, and how God has guided her family through it all. Whether you're a seasoned homeschooler, considering it, or just curious, this conversation is full of encouragement, wisdom, and real-life insight.

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In this episode, Sarah introduces the concept of “Godwinks,” inspired by a Hallmark movie and the book series by SQuire Rushnell and Louise DuArt. A Godwink is defined as an astonishing event or experience of divine origin – not mere coincidence, but a signal from God, often seen as answered prayer.

We connect Godwinks to the biblical practice of raising “Ebenezers” (from 1 Samuel 7:12), physical or symbolic markers of God’s faithfulness (“Thus far the Lord has helped us”). As we share a few examples of these glimpses of grace from our own lives, we explore how recognizing both big and small moments of divine intervention – from major life decisions to everyday details – reveals God’s personal care for us.

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Tom and Chane Hart join the podcast! Tom is an RUF campus minister at Furman University and he and Chane are parents of four, veterans of multiple cross-country moves and thoughtful leaders about Christian community. They joined us to talk about identity in Christ, orphan mentalities vs. beloved-child confidence, tiers of relationships, and why authentic community is simultaneously hard, glorious, and only a foretaste of what’s coming.

They didn't ask for this, but if you feel a prompting to support their ministry financially, you can donate here.

Key Quotes

• “A community that forgets mission becomes a ministry machine that crushes people. A community that forgets fellowship becomes a sweet club that slowly dies.” – Tom Hart
• “Anytime we get really ruffled and upset it reveals our idols.” – Chane Hart
• “When you are not claiming ‘I am the beloved,’ you cannot walk freely in this world.” – Henri Nouwen (read by Tom)
• “I am not an orphan. Stop acting like an orphan.” – Chane’s lesson from trauma
• “Community is hard. It’s worth pursuing. And the best is yet to come.” – Tom Hart

Find them on Instagram:

@whatthehartlikes

@furmanruf

Recommended Resources Mentioned

• C.S. Lewis – Reflections on the Psalms
• Henri Nouwen – Life of the Beloved & various works
• The Bible Project / Kurt Thompson / Dan Allender / Adam Young (story work & being known)

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Hosts Sarah and Mary Beth welcome guest Denise Derr to discuss the life-changing impact of Celebrate Recovery (CR). Denise, a co-ministry leader, shares her powerful testimony of transitioning from nine years in traditional 12-step programs (AA/NA) to CR where "God doesn't waste a hurt."

Key Takeaways:

• The Missing Piece: Denise reveals that despite her sobriety, she felt something was missing—a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. She had believed she was "too damaged for God's love," a lie the enemy uses to create shame.
• The Power of Community: Denise emphasizes the confidentiality of CR that creates a safe place to share the "quiet parts out loud" without fear of interruption or judgment. This safety is vital for the painful process of "peeling back the layers" and addressing character defects.
• Transformation and Leadership: Denise shares her journey from starting CR 11 years ago, to becoming a co-ministry leader. Her story illustrates that recovery is a daily process and a continuous choice to accept God's forgiveness and be dependent on Him.
• The Ripple Effect of Hope: The episode concludes with a moving account of how CR impacted Denise's marriage, transforming her relationship with her husband, Willie, who also got involved and now serves in leadership. Her story is a message of hope, demonstrating that God can restore relationships—even leading to her granddaughter wanting a marriage "just like yours and grandpa's."

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Inspired by the powerful stories heard at a Celebrate Recovery open house, Sarah and Mary Beth dive into the essential Christian practices of vulnerability, confession, and community. They grapple with the uncomfortable truth of what holds us back (fear, pride, shame) and share deeply personal "quiet parts" out loud, revealing struggles with self-righteousness, comparison, and deflection.

Drawing on a powerful Tim Keller quote—"To be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God"—Sarah and Mary Beth discuss how real connection and healing only happen when we break down the walls we build. They challenge listeners to embrace humility, confess their sins to one another as commanded in James 5:16, and seek out confessional community for the freedom and joy found on the other side.

Key Takeaways & Resources:

• The Power of Being Known: The core human desire to be fully known and truly loved is a reflection of God's love for us.
• The First Step is Humility: Confession and vulnerability require agreeing with God about who you are: a beloved, but imperfect, sinner in need of a Savior.
• Freedom is on the Other Side: As Proverb 28:13 states, "whoever confesses and renounces [their sins] finds mercy."

Mentioned in this Episode:

Brandon Lake's "Hard Fought Hallelujah"

Celebrate Recovery

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