Raising Godly Girls

On this Thursday episode of the podcast, hosts Rachael Culpepper and Natalie Ambrose continue digging deeper on body image and practical ways to instill a healthy approach for our girls today. 

 

In a time when cultural messages and marketing language are thrown around 24 hours a day, seven days a week, girls are bombarded by plenty of ways to think about their bodies, but none of it aligns with Scripture. So how can we help our daughters take hold of the messages, strip the lies of their power and urgency, and help girls rest in the Lord content with how He designed their bodies?  

 

It's important for girls to understand that trends come and go—and it happens lightning fast these days! So if she's going to chase trends, she will likely always feel like she can never arrive—and she'll have no money! The Bible talks about the eternal beauty of a Godly girl's life that reflects Christ. This gives a more sustainable framework for girls to confidently navigate, trusting that God is working in their hearts no matter what the outward appearance looks like. Finally, the hosts offer a sobering look at how a mom's own baggage with body image can be inadvertently passed down to a daughter without a Scripture-empowered renewed mind. 

 

Three Things to Remember: 

 

When trends are your girl's measuring stick for beauty, she can be left feeling less-than. 


Helping your girl weigh the temporary against the eternal will guide her to order beauty in a mature way. 


Since your girl is watching how you handle your own sense of body image, it's important that we model this for her in Christian maturity. 


 

 

Scriptures Referenced in this Episode: 

 

1 Timothy 4:8 



1 Peter 3:4 


Romans 12:1-2 


 

 

 

Explore more resources to raise girls rooted in Christ at raisinggodlygirls.com. 

 To find or start an AHG Troop in your area, visit americanheritagegirls.org.

In this episode, hosts Rachael Culpepper and Natalie Ambrose use the analogy of parenting instincts to recognize oncoming illness in their kids as a framework to approach a girl's body image struggles. While parents are usually pretty good at connecting symptoms to oncoming illness in their kids, it's not always as clear when body image issues surface in our girls. So this week the podcast is focusing on body image, and how that is often reflective of a deeper spiritual thing happening in our girls.
 
Many times, girls hear negative messages about their bodies—that the body needs to be altered in order to fit in with the current notion of beauty. This can leave girls hating their bodies and measuring beauty through a lens that God never intended. How can we parent our daughters to embrace her body as a gift from God?
 
It's important to let a girl enjoy beauty rather than shame her for wanting to feel pretty. For a Christian girl, the key to a healthy Biblical Worldview on body image is tied to her contentment in the Lord rather than her appearance.
 
The AHG Ministry has a whole badge frontier designed to instill a healthy view of the body in a girl's journey. Raising Godly Girls also has the Raising Godly Girls Guide to Gender & Identity, which offers parents a great jumping off point to take these conversations into the home.
 
Two Things to Remember:
 
§ It's Okay for a Girl to Want Beauty, Yes—Even as a Christian
§ Feeling Beautiful Isn't a Good Source for Contentment, so Address This Gently but Directly in Your Girl
 
 
Scriptures Referenced in this Episode:
 
· Genesis 1:31a
 
 
Explore more resources to raise girls rooted in Christ at raisinggodlygirls.com. To find or start an AHG Troop in your area, visit americanheritagegirls.org.

As February fills our culture with pink hearts and romantic gestures, today's Valentine's weekend episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast invites families to pause and remember where love truly begins—at home. Before our daughters ever understand dating or marriage, they first learn what love looks like around the dinner table, in everyday conversations, and in the way family members treat one another. Rooted in the timeless truth of 1 Corinthians 13, this conversation reminds parents that real love is patient, kind, and formed through daily faithfulness, not grand gestures. 

 

Host Patti Garibay is joined by beloved author and speaker Jessica Smartt, whose work encourages families to slow down, reclaim childhood, and build homes marked by warmth, joy, and connection. Drawing from her newest book, Come On Home, Jessica shares how intentional rhythms, shared memories, and Christ-centered priorities help families move beyond merely loving one another—to genuinely liking one another. Together, Patti and Jessica explore how Biblical love shapes sibling relationships, strengthens marriages, and gives girls a clear, hope-filled picture of what love is meant to be. 

 

This episode offers encouragement for parents navigating busy schedules, sibling conflict, or seasons of disconnection. With humor, honesty, and practical wisdom, Jessica reminds listeners that a peaceful, joy-filled home is not built overnight—but through small, faithful choices that invite Christ into the center of family life. As Valentine's Day approaches, this conversation reframes the holiday as an opportunity to model Christlike love in ways that will shape a daughter's heart for years to come. 

 

 

Scripture Referenced in This Episode: 

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 


John 13:34-35 


Psalm 127:1 


 

 

To learn more about Jessica Smartt and her books, visit jessicasmartt.com 

 


Visit raisinggodlygirls.com for more encouragement and faith-based parenting tools.    

  

Learn how to find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your community at americanheritagegirls.org

As Valentine's Day approaches, we're shifting the spotlight from romantic love to one of God's most foundational gifts: the love of family. On today's Thursday episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, hosts Rachael Culpepper and Natalie Ambrose invite you into a joyful, practical conversation about Family Game Night—and how simple moments of play can strengthen connection, build unity, and help our families genuinely enjoy being together. 

 

In a culture where screens often compete for attention and schedules stay perpetually full, creating intentional space for laughter matters more than ever. Drawing from Psalm 133:1—"How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity"—this episode reminds us that joy, togetherness, and shared fun are not extras in the Christian home; they're part of God's design. Whether your family loves fast-paced card games, outdoor competition, or classic board games, these moments of play can become sacred ground for connection. 

 

You'll also hear a special Raising Godly Girls Minute from AHG Founder & Executive Director Emeritus Patti Garibay, sharing why laughter and shared experiences help families weather busy seasons and deepen bonds. Rachael and Natalie reflect honestly on the challenges parents face—exhaustion, stress, and competitiveness—and offer grace-filled encouragement alongside practical "pro-tips" to help family game night stay accessible, meaningful, and focused on connection rather than winning. 

 

Finally, the conversation ties directly into the heart of American Heritage Girls, where "faith, service, and fun" work together to shape joyful girlhood and strong families. From faith-based games to creative ways to invite friends into family rhythms, this episode will inspire you to carve out time for fun—and to trust that God uses even playful moments to cultivate unity and love at home. 

 

Be sure to subscribe to the Raising Godly Girls Podcast so you never miss an episode, and join us again this Saturday for a special Valentine's Day conversation about memory-making and protecting the wonder of childhood. Until then, keep raising Godly girls—and don't forget to bring on the fun! 

 

 

Three Things to Consider: 

 

Be sure the games guarantee that every age of kids can participate! (And if it's Twister, parents you might want to schedule a chiropractic adjustment for the next day!)  


While winning is fun, it's not the goal. I'm talking to you, competitive folks!  


Make it a regular time on the family calendar that everyone can look forward to.   



 

 

Scriptures Referenced in this Episode: 

 

Psalm 133:1 


 

Visit raisinggodlygirls.com for more encouragement and faith-based parenting tools.    

  

Learn how to find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your community at americanheritagegirls.org.

Valentine's Day often points our attention toward romantic love—but what if this season became an invitation to strengthen the most formative love a girl will ever know? In this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, hosts Rachael Culpepper and Natalie Ambrose reframe Valentine's week through a family lens, reminding parents that the home is the first and best place for a girl to learn how to give and receive love. 

 

Together, Rachael and Natalie explore how secure attachment, intentional family rhythms, and spoken affirmation shape a girl's understanding of belonging. From handmade Valentines and quirky family traditions to naming shared values and modeling grace, this conversation highlights how love is learned in everyday moments—not perfection, but presence. When a girl feels seen, known, and anchored in her family, she carries that confidence into every relationship she'll one day hold. 

 

You'll also hear a Raising Godly Girls Minute from AHG Founder & Executive Director Emeritus Patti Garibay, offering a tender reflection on a girl's innate desire for beauty, creativity, and connection—and how those expressions of love can become lifelong markers of belonging. Rooted in Scripture, this episode equips parents to consecrate their homes as places where grace is practiced, forgiveness is spoken, and love is never assumed. 

 

Whether your family is in a season of closeness or rebuilding, this Valentine's week episode invites you to start right where you are—praying over your home, speaking life over your daughter, and trusting God to grow love that lasts far beyond February 14. 

 

Three Things to Consider: 

 

A home consecrated to God's love will be known by God's love.  


Grace and Forgiveness are key ingredients for a healthy understanding of love in your home.  


Love must be spoken in your home. So don't let it go unsaid!  


 

 


Scripture Referenced in this Episode: 

 

Deuteronomy 6:9 


Ephesians 4:32 


Colossians 3:12-13 


 

 

Visit raisinggodlygirls.com for more encouragement and faith-based parenting tools.    

  

Learn how to find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your community at americanheritagegirls.org.