244 | Lessons in our first year as parents: sleep, judgement, anti-kids culture, family, and getting honest about our time with God
We’ve been parents for one whole year (well, more if you count pregnancy which we do)! We’re reflecting on the past year and talking about a bunch of things we’ve learned and what God has taught us - we get REAL and honest about where we’ve been at in this journey as newer Christian parents and talk about the blessing that is parenthood and getting to raise up our precious baby boy.
Links
Christian music playlist: https://tinyurl.com/2pwmhy4c
Shop Hosanna Revival (on SALE) with an extra 15% off with code SHELIVESPURPOSEFULLY: https://hosannarevival.com/shelivespurposefully
Shop Daily Grace Co (on SALE) and with an extra 10% off using code MEGANHOLMES10: https://thedailygraceco.com?dt_id=293954
Health episode with Chrissy Evans: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/she-lives-purposefully/id1535514405?i=1000713536329
Other parenthood episodes:
How to be a gospel-centered mom with Laura Wifler: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/she-lives-purposefully/id1535514405?i=1000717639142
God’s love in foster care, misconceptions and uplifting kids in crisis with Jessica Mathisen: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/she-lives-purposefully/id1535514405?i=1000716622742
Find healing rest from overwhelm and anxiety with Becky Thompson: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/she-lives-purposefully/id1535514405?i=1000711314027
A new Christian mom chat: boy moms, motherhood, adjusting, struggles, infertility and “Getting back”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/she-lives-purposefully/id1535514405?i=1000676924550
Motherhood lessons: where God has me is the BEST place and God’s unearned love: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/she-lives-purposefully/id1535514405?i=1000673453920
Birth story, high risk miracles and seeking Jesus postpartum: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/she-lives-purposefully/id1535514405?i=1000672474118
Outline
00:00 We’ve been parents for a whole year!
03:10 No comparison - every situation is different
11:30 no judgment
13:30 birth rate decline
14:30 our thoughts on sleep training and formula
21:20 good things take hard work
30:00 It takes a village and we love ours
33:00 Spending time with God as parents and the importance of maintaining your relationship with God in the busyness of life
40:00 letting go of milestone pressure
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243 | How to Be a Gospel-Centered Mom with Laura Wifler
For the mamas who just want to raise their kids WELL in Christ, today, we’re talking about being a Gospel mom.
I’m joined by Laura Wifler—wife, mama, writer, podcaster, and co-founder of the global nonprofit Risen Motherhood.
Laura’s new book, cowritten with Emily Jensen, Gospel Mom, is for moms longing to live a Christ-centered life in the midst of messy, mundane motherhood.
We dive deep into:
What it really means to be a Gospel-centered mom
How to tune out the noise of parenting advice and tune into truth
Why the “little years” of motherhood are not “lost years”—and how God is at work in them
Letting go of the “what if” and living faithfully in the “what is”
Encouragement for weary moms navigating comparison, unmet expectations, and daily overwhelm
Laura reminds us that our value doesn’t come from how productive or perfect we are—but from being rooted in Jesus and resting in His grace.
🎉 Grab Laura’s new book Gospel Mom (and don’t miss the companion workbook!): https://amzn.to/3IoYKoS
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242 | God’s Love in Foster Care, Misconceptions & Uplifting Kids in Crisis with Jessica Mathisen
In this powerful episode, we’re joined by Jessica Mathisen — foster mom, adoptive mom, and bio mom — whose mission is to help others know the deep love of God.
Jessica shares her journey through foster care and adoption, what led her to open her heart and home, and how God’s love shines through every part of the process.
We talk about:
What it’s really like to be a foster and adoptive mom
Misconceptions about children in foster care
What the Church needs to better understand and do
How we as a community can better support foster families
The hardest and most rewarding parts of fostering
Why Jessica wrote No Matter Where I Go and how it’s making a difference
This is a must-listen for anyone who’s been curious about fostering or wants to love families in crisis well. Don’t miss it!
🔗 Order Jessica’s book: https://amzn.to/3ZYMKRd
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241 | 6 Simple Ways to Grow Closer to God This Summer (Even When Life Feels Out of Routine!)
Summer can be full of sunshine, beach trips, and spontaneous fun—but it can also throw your routine completely off track, and staying consistent in your walk with God might feel harder than usual.
But it doesn’t have to be!
In today’s episode of She Lives Purposefully, I’m sharing 6 simple and meaningful ways to keep growing in your relationship with God this summer—even when your schedule is all over the place.
These ideas are flexible, doable, and perfect for busy Christian women, moms, or anyone who’s craving deeper faith in this season.
What you’ll hear in this episode:
🌿 How prayer walks with my baby boy have changed my daily rhythm
📖 30-day Bible reading plans that are actually realistic for summer
🌅 Why your evenings might be the perfect time to connect with God
👯♀️ Ideas for starting or joining a summer Bible study with friends
🚗 How to turn your commute or vacation travel into a worship drive
🧠 A fun new idea for weekly Scripture memory (inspired by my husband!)
Resources Mentioned:
✨ FREE Bible Reading Plans and Studies: https://www.shelivespurposefully.com/resources/
✨ Worship Playlist for Your Summer Drives: https://tinyurl.com/2pwmhy4c
PLUS
✨ Join SLP+ for a Full Year of Curated Bible Plans and Ad-Free Podcast Episodes!: https://shelivespurposefully.supercast.com
✨ My go-to Bible (use code SHELIVESPURPOSEFULLY for 15% off): https://hosannarevival.com/collections/beautiful-bibles/products/esv-large-print-journaling-bible-sierra-theme
✨ Other great Bible study tools for your summer quiet time with God (use code MEGANHOLMES10 for 10% off): https://thedailygraceco.com?dt_id=293954
Show Outline
00:00 We can and should grow in God whether we have routine or not
2:10 I’m so thankful for our Christian community and I’m emotional about it!
3:20 Potential podcast topic we might talk about soon
4:00 6 practical ways to grow in God this summer
4:45 Prayer walks
6:25 Short and conquerable Bible reading plans
8:15 Spend time with Jesus in the evening
9:15 Gather with Christians, church, and Bible studies during the week
11:10 Worship drives
12:50 Weekly memory verses
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240 | Delighting in God, the Importance of Bible Study, WRONG teachings with Elle Cardel
Have you ever struggled to delight in God or even know what that means practically? Did you know that God delights in YOU?
Today, I am joined by Elle Cardel from Daughter of Delight. We talk about delighting in the Lord, spending time in the Bible, the truth that God delights in us, fighting perfectionism, and changing the mentality of the need to earn God’s favor.
Show Outline:
00:00 Intro
04:30 What does delighting in God mean?
10:00 Practical ways to grow in our delight of God; being too busy for God; and the importance of Scripture
15:00 Nothing satisfies like our God does
18:00 Fighting the lie that we don’t need to study God’s Word
21:00 Popular, WRONG Biblical teachings to be wary of
24:30 “God won’t give us more than we can handle”… or will He?
31:00 God delights in YOU
Buy She Delights: https://amzn.to/4lqkqPP
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As Christian women, sometimes we can feel lonely in our walk with Christ. Do you feel that way? Spoiler alert: it’s not true and this is the podcast to prove it. I’m Megan Edmonds, your new Christian friend who cheers you on in your walk with Christ because I believe God has given you this one life to know Him, love Him, and live for Him purposefully. Each week, we will chat about all different areas of life from a Jesus loving perspective - relationships, faith doubts, emotions, parenthood, health and hormones, anxiety, and more! I share my own experiences and practical ways to grow in our relationship with God. Join me every Thursday as we take this walk with Christ together!
New Zealand