Episode 34

full
Published on:

1st May 2024

Deceptions Even the Most Discerning Christian Moms Battle with Sylvia Zuiderveen: Part 1

Do you feel like you are constantly swimming against the current of the culture? This episode will affirm all your efforts and confirm that you are on the right track! Your efforts are not in vain, Mama! Sylvia Zuiderveen is the Women's Ministry Director at Coram Deo Bible Church and she brings biblical conviction with fire in this episode! For more information about pointing your children to the Lord, following the biblical model for your home, and guarding against the influence of culture, check out Entrusted with a Child's Heart.

Scripture Referenced:

Psalm 90:12

Transcript
Stephanie:

They're the joyful agains our children shout on the swings, the

2

:

exhausting agains of cooking and laundry,

and the difficult agains of discipline.

3

:

So much of what we do

as mothers is on repeat.

4

:

So what if we woke up with clarity,

knowing which agains we were called

5

:

to, and went to bed believing we

are faithful in what matters most?

6

:

We believe God's Word is

the key to untangle from the

7

:

confusion and overwhelm we feel.

8

:

Let's look up together to embrace a

motherhood full of freedom and joy.

9

:

Okay.

10

:

Have you ever met someone that is an

absolute delight to be around, but

11

:

there's this part of you waiting to

end your conversation because you can't

12

:

wait to go open up the word because

they've made you hunger for holiness.

13

:

That is Sylvia.

14

:

As I intervene to me.

15

:

I am so excited for you to listen to

this episode of the again, podcast.

16

:

I'm Stephanie Hickox and as always, this

is brought to you by entrusted ministries.

17

:

Today, we're releasing part,

one of an inspiring interview

18

:

with Sylvia Zuiderveen.

19

:

She's a women's ministry director

and she brings the word with fire.

20

:

Her devotion to scripture

and her delight in God's.

21

:

Goodness is absolutely contagious.

22

:

I had some hard questions for her and

she did not disappoint in her answers.

23

:

She discerns the root of issues and

she calls us to something higher.

24

:

There were several times that

her answers brought conviction

25

:

to me as she humbly shared.

26

:

some of the tests and trials

She has faced as a mother.

27

:

Then also as she spoke some powerful

words of encouragement to our

28

:

generation of mothers, Her joy is

absolutely unmatched and she has one

29

:

of the best laughs I've ever heard.

30

:

It's truly evident.

31

:

Her joy comes straight from the Lord.

32

:

This episode is one.

33

:

You should have on repeat.

34

:

Sylvia.

35

:

I am just thrilled that

you are here today.

36

:

I know you faithfully diligently point

the women at your church to the Lord

37

:

it's such an honor that you took

time out of your day to share how the

38

:

Lord has met you and your mothering.

39

:

And how you want to encourage

this generation of mothers.

40

:

Thank you so much for

taking time to be with us.

41

:

So I had to look it up.

42

:

I knew the name of your church,

but I needed to refresh my memory.

43

:

On the meaning.

44

:

So Sylvia works at Coram Deo Bible,

church, and Coram Deo is a Latin

45

:

phrase, meaning in the presence of God.

46

:

I love that your church's call and

commitment is to live fully in the

47

:

presence of God, under the authority

of God and for the glory of God.

48

:

I absolutely see that in you.

49

:

And I know our listeners are

going to see those commitments

50

:

shine through as you speak.

51

:

You are the women's ministry director

at your church, is that correct?

52

:

Sylvia: Yep.

53

:

And so that includes everything from

teaching the Bible, training others to

54

:

teach the Bible, choosing Bible studies.

55

:

Implementing Bible

studies that are weekly.

56

:

That's one bucket of our

Women's Ministry program.

57

:

And then we've also got a

wonderful program called Moms4Moms.

58

:

And that's a monthly gathering where

we gather moms together and talk

59

:

on a topic related to parenting.

60

:

And then we've also got like a Women's

Christmas event, Women's Retreat.

61

:

We have a monthly prayer gathering

where we gather together to pray for

62

:

our church, our community, our world.

63

:

And so yeah, we keep quite busy,

but God's at work here and we're

64

:

excited with what He's doing.

65

:

And one of the things He's just

faithfully worked through at our church

66

:

is using the entrusted curriculum.

67

:

Um, I love to hear that.

68

:

And I would love to hear more about

it, but first, can you tell us a

69

:

little bit about your family and

your children and what age and

70

:

stage are your kids at right now?

71

:

Sylvia: You bet.

72

:

I am married to Mark.

73

:

We've been married 26 years and

he is a pastor at our church and

74

:

he's just a wonderful godly man

and definitely my best friend.

75

:

He and I met as friends and

then had to reach that awkward

76

:

point of saying, do we date?

77

:

Do we not date?

78

:

I don't know.

79

:

I don't know.

80

:

And we both came to the

conclusion that we didn't.

81

:

Know how we would be able to

live together, but we knew we

82

:

didn't want to live apart and we

trusted the Lord with the rest.

83

:

So 26 years in we are still having

a blast together and laughing a lot.

84

:

And so we're raising two amazing kids.

85

:

Our daughter Elise is 20.

86

:

She's a sophomore at Cedarville

University in Ohio and then our

87

:

son Zach is 15 and he's a sophomore

at a local high school here.

88

:

That definitely sounds like

a dynamic story that I would

89

:

love to hear you tell sometime.

90

:

Sylvia: Oh my word.

91

:

Yeah, lots of competitive sand volleyball.

92

:

Stephanie: yeah.

93

:

Sylvia: Got us started, actually.

94

:

Stephanie: Oh, that's great.

95

:

And what is he the

pastor of at your church?

96

:

Sylvia: He does all operations and media.

97

:

Basically all things not preaching.

98

:

Website graphics, communication,

facility, security worship

99

:

used to be under him as well.

100

:

Worship and production.

101

:

He still got the production wing of

things, but worship is not anymore

102

:

because we also started a school.

103

:

And so that just happened

in the last couple years.

104

:

And so just managing all of

facility tech needs now for that.

105

:

Website needs for that.

106

:

Curriculum needs has expanded

107

:

Stephanie: Oh, that's

108

:

Sylvia: but Yeah,

109

:

Stephanie: Wow.

110

:

That's a huge undertaking.

111

:

Exciting,

112

:

Sylvia: his giftedness.

113

:

Honestly, like this is a tangent.

114

:

I won't take much of your time, but

like he was homeschooled and his

115

:

dad owned a construction company.

116

:

So part of what his dad would

taught him growing up was all

117

:

things related to construction.

118

:

His degrees in Bible and

multimedia technology.

119

:

So he never thought he'd use the

construction, but now that we

120

:

have all this facility growth and

facility need, he's overseen, gosh,

121

:

I don't know, two or three or four.

122

:

Buildouts for our church and all this.

123

:

And of course God had all of

that so perfectly designed and

124

:

laid out for such a time as

125

:

Stephanie: Yes.

126

:

Sylvia: it now and like only

God could have created all

127

:

of that in the way he did.

128

:

That's a side note, has

nothing to do with entrusted

129

:

Stephanie: but really, seeing God's

hand in our lives, in our children's

130

:

lives, it builds up your faith to hear

these testimonies of, look it, we,

131

:

even as intentional as we try to be as

parents, God has such a greater plan.

132

:

Sometimes I'm sweating it Oh,

am I developing their talents

133

:

and their gifts enough?

134

:

And the Lord has it, he's got it.

135

:

Mm

136

:

Sylvia: Does.

137

:

He does.

138

:

And this morning it's funny.

139

:

I was in Psalm 37 and it was that passage

that says, I was young and now I'm old and

140

:

I've never, Seen the righteous forsaken.

141

:

Are their children begging bread?

142

:

And that not only is beautifully

specific to what it's talking about

143

:

in that passage, but it also gives a

biblical principle that we can stand on.

144

:

We are not forsaken.

145

:

Any experience that comes into

our lives is a teachable moment.

146

:

We To show our children.

147

:

God is faithful.

148

:

God has plans that supersede ours.

149

:

His ways are higher than ours.

150

:

His wisdom is great.

151

:

He's supremely lovely,

supremely excellent, and

152

:

supremely right in all things.

153

:

So when a trial comes your way,

when a difficulty comes your

154

:

way, you won't be forsaken.

155

:

That's consistent genesis to Revelation.

156

:

God is faithful, and so yeah,

telling our stories is so important

157

:

to our children and using them.

158

:

Being raw and vulnerable sometimes to say,

maybe this wasn't what I expected even in

159

:

my life or dad expected or you expected,

but we can't deny God's faithful hand.

160

:

It's there.

161

:

We have story after story

of his faithfulness.

162

:

So this has a story ready to be written.

163

:

We just don't know where

it's at in the storyline.

164

:

Hmm.

165

:

Preach.

166

:

That's such a good point.

167

:

We have to model for our kids to

have eyes, to see how the Lord has

168

:

worked in our lives to help train

them, to see God's purposes and plans

169

:

being carried out in their lives.

170

:

Can you speak to why you have chosen

to use interested with a child's heart?

171

:

And what sets it apart

172

:

Sylvia: Oh, it's absolutely distinct

and I'm so thankful for that.

173

:

I think so often moms are driven towards

method right now and they want to look

174

:

at results of their children where

what I love most about Entrusted with a

175

:

Child's Heart is that it starts with God.

176

:

It starts with who he is and his character

and his nature and why we can trust the

177

:

Bible and why the Bible has to be the

foundation of everything that we do.

178

:

And then it funnels into our

commitment to obey the Bible.

179

:

And part of that includes our marriages.

180

:

So it's building the foundation wisely.

181

:

And I think about, how the Bible talks

about building your house rightly and

182

:

foundation matters and entrusted with a

child's heart emphasizes The Bible and

183

:

the authority of it and the goodness

of it and the rightness of it And that

184

:

it gets to have supreme value And so

that then lays the foundation for good

185

:

parenting and that's what sets it apart

because other studies blogs articles are

186

:

so quick to go to Instant gratification

and give you the five ways you can do

187

:

this and the four ways you can do this,

but That is so short sighted to biblical

188

:

living and so I just appreciate that

entrusted really forces us and allows us

189

:

the joy of Finding contentment and joy

and sufficiency in the word of God first.

190

:

Stephanie: Well said, I agree, such

a strong foundation is set and I think

191

:

we have such a tendency to desire

those, but just tell me what to do.

192

:

And it's no, we're going to tell you who

to seek and we're going to tell you where

193

:

to look and we're going to encourage

you to develop that faithfulness with

194

:

the It's actually more of a to be list

than a to do list, often, and who were

195

:

to be in modeling it for our children.

196

:

You said that so well.

197

:

Thank you.

198

:

How have you seen women in your church

grow through pressing into the Lord

199

:

and their parenting through Entrusted?

200

:

Yes.

201

:

Sylvia: study is it's the ultimate

outreach opportunity too as a church,

202

:

because everyone's interested in raising,

they don't know it, they're wanting

203

:

to raise good kids, we want to raise

kids that know the Word of God, but

204

:

it's a way to get people in the doors.

205

:

Of the church that typically wouldn't

come into the church and they'll come

206

:

in and we've seen women get saved

Through entrusted with a child's heart.

207

:

And so that's of course our greatest joy

that they've suddenly committed their

208

:

life To the lordship of jesus christ.

209

:

And so that's beautiful.

210

:

That's astounding.

211

:

It's miraculous.

212

:

And so we're very thankful for that

The other thing that I see more than

213

:

anything is women Finding joy in the word

of God and parenting out of the Bible's

214

:

truth rather than the world's truth.

215

:

And I think that's the biggest

distinction is we're all over informed

216

:

we Can all go to the internet

and search up anything and find

217

:

anything to, answer those questions.

218

:

But we don't just want

answers, we want truth.

219

:

And so Entrusted with a Child's

Heart steers us away from worldly

220

:

wisdom, which we know is fleeting

and futile and unsatisfying, and

221

:

instead drives us towards the

biblical truth, which does satisfy.

222

:

And the coolest thing is watching

hundreds of women every year, as

223

:

we walk them through Entrusted with

a Child's Heart, seeing them grasp

224

:

it, seeing them get it, seeing them

Really see families transformed.

225

:

We've seen marriages healed because of it.

226

:

As women realize, I need

to do this with my husband.

227

:

This is a joint effort and he can lead

our family and lead our family well.

228

:

And I'm going to learn

to trust him in that.

229

:

And we've seen a lot of that.

230

:

We've seen women find that the Bible gets

to have a place of priority in their life

231

:

because of taking the entrusted study.

232

:

And suddenly they realize I

can't parent without this.

233

:

It's not how do I fit the

Bible into my parenting?

234

:

It's transformational thinking.

235

:

Now, all of a sudden they're thinking,

how do I parent out of the word of God?

236

:

That's now become such a source of

great joy and wisdom in my life.

237

:

And that's exciting.

238

:

Stephanie: Praise the Lord.

239

:

That's so exciting to hear.

240

:

It really will bless you, eternally

and really every year of your life.

241

:

I love hearing from leaders

that they watch that play out.

242

:

Thank you so much

243

:

Sylvia: of the greatest joys that

I also think is fantastic is the

244

:

scripture memory and how that

becomes family scripture memory.

245

:

It's not just mom learning the Bible

verses, the kids are learning them,

246

:

they're singing them together, the

family's listening to them in the van

247

:

as they go places, and suddenly now

instead of mom's Bible study being

248

:

mom's It's a shared experience with

the family and they can all go back to

249

:

the verses they've learned together.

250

:

And that's so precious to me.

251

:

I love watching that.

252

:

Stephanie: Oh, it is so sweet.

253

:

And that the kids know where

are our rules coming from?

254

:

They're coming from the word of God.

255

:

My mom didn't just pull

this out of thin air.

256

:

There is a basis for this that

makes it so much more powerful

257

:

and the authority of God's Word

creating the standards in our home.

258

:

Tell me a little bit about what

do you see in the moms of today?

259

:

What are the blessings the Lord

is using with this generation?

260

:

And then also, what are maybe some

cautions you have for how you see

261

:

young moms being impacted today?

262

:

Sylvia: I love that question

263

:

I am seeing, and I'm so thankful for

this, an increased sober mindedness

264

:

among moms understanding the high

calling they have to parent children

265

:

on the authority of the Bible.

266

:

They're hungry for it.

267

:

They want to be taught.

268

:

What's interesting is a lot of our moms

right now didn't come from the church.

269

:

A lot of them weren't raised in the

church or they were raised without a

270

:

lot of strong foundation on the Bible.

271

:

That entrusted curriculum is so

important that way is we need to first

272

:

and foremost let women understand

a little bit of who God is, share

273

:

God's nature, share God's character,

share what the Bible is, and what the

274

:

storyline is, and why the Bible matters.

275

:

I love that increased sober mindedness.

276

:

Increased commitment that I see

to take parenting seriously and to

277

:

be proactive rather than reactive.

278

:

To see moms that are willing to say I'm

willing to stand against the ways of the

279

:

world to stand firm on the truth of God.

280

:

So I see that passion and

zeal like never before.

281

:

I've been parenting for 20 years,

which isn't a whole lot, but it's

282

:

enough to have seen a paradigm shift.

283

:

And I think a lot of moms my

age were a little more okay, we

284

:

want to have kids that are moral

and mom and kids that are right.

285

:

But sometimes to make that distinction

of saying, no, I just don't want good.

286

:

I want godly.

287

:

That was more the battle that was

fought in my generation, where with

288

:

this generation, I see such a fresh

fire to stand firm on the word of God

289

:

and going into parenting, understanding

that they're swimming against the

290

:

grain, but they're committed to it.

291

:

And they're excited about it.

292

:

So I'm very encouraged by that

in what I see of moms right now.

293

:

I think probably I have two

great concerns that I see brewing

294

:

up in motherhood right now.

295

:

And the first is we're over informed.

296

:

We're over informed on the

things that aren't formational.

297

:

So, you know, We're over informed from

blogs and we're over informed from

298

:

Google and we're over informed from,

Reels and everything coming at us.

299

:

And yet, we give a lot more time to

articles and even Christian articles and

300

:

books, Christian books and thoughts from

Christian people before we have done our

301

:

due diligence to seek the Word of God.

302

:

And the Bible is very clear.

303

:

It is the revelation of God.

304

:

The Bible is not some other man's words

written about God, though those can

305

:

be very helpful and they have a very

important place at the right time.

306

:

I, if I could.

307

:

Wave one caution flag to young moms.

308

:

It's stop gathering information

until you have sat at the feet of

309

:

Jesus and sought him in his word.

310

:

Jeremiah tells us you will seek

me and you will find me when you

311

:

search me with all your heart.

312

:

That doesn't mean I want to go to

the Bible and then instantly google

313

:

what someone else said about it

or go to the Bible And find this

314

:

resource that shares something else.

315

:

That's what I believe might be leading

to a syncretistic approach, honestly,

316

:

in parenting where we're taking God's

ways, but let me just make sure they line

317

:

up with what this expert says or what

this person told me I'm supposed to do.

318

:

No, we believe the word

of God is authoritative.

319

:

It is inerrant and it is sufficient.

320

:

And so I want to take

its principles first.

321

:

I want to take its truth first.

322

:

I want to do my diligence to read

it and seek the Lord and ask him,

323

:

what does this mean for my family?

324

:

Before I go out on the internet,

before I go out and seek someone else's

325

:

words that aren't inspired words.

326

:

And, implement those.

327

:

That's probably the first thing that I

see young moms facing the temptation of.

328

:

And we all have to be guarded that way.

329

:

I had it this morning.

330

:

I was in my Bible time and I've got

a dictionary app on my phone and I

331

:

wanted to look up a word just in the

dictionary to make sure I was thinking

332

:

accurately about the definition of it.

333

:

And I looked it up in the dictionary

and next thing I knew I was on email.

334

:

We all have to All face that distraction.

335

:

We all get distracted and it's a battle.

336

:

We have to be ready to fight.

337

:

We are fighting for the

purity of our souls.

338

:

It's worth the effort to say, I've got

to walk away from the temptation of that.

339

:

So I think the over information is one big

pocket that we Just have to be cautious

340

:

of and be vigilant to fight and battle for

the glory of God and the joy in our homes.

341

:

But I think not only over

information but over opportunity.

342

:

And so whether that's the perfect

person to teach your child art lessons,

343

:

the perfect sport club for your child

to belong to the perfect this, the

344

:

perfect that, and so we have so many.

345

:

Opportunities that we really need

to seek the Lord, like Psalm 90,

346

:

12 says teach me to number my days

that I would have a heart of wisdom.

347

:

We have to be vigilant to fight for how we

spend every minute of our time because as

348

:

good as those opportunities are, they're

taking family away from the kitchen table.

349

:

They're taking family

away from the family room.

350

:

They're taking family away from shared

experiences and they're sending.

351

:

Mom, one place, dad, another

place, kids, another place.

352

:

And I'm just very concerned about that.

353

:

And I think that's a big opportunity

as well for us to challenge moms with

354

:

we see the passion, we see the fire.

355

:

We're so grateful that

you want to raise kids.

356

:

Godly children, not just good children.

357

:

You're not looking for moral children.

358

:

You're looking for children that will

love the Lord their God with all of

359

:

their heart, soul, mind, and strength.

360

:

So how do we walk that calling out?

361

:

Number one, we're gonna

fight over information.

362

:

Number two, we're gonna

fight over opportunity.

363

:

Hmm.

364

:

What a convicting, but incredibly

encouraging word at the same time.

365

:

I feel those same cautions.

366

:

And alerts that the Lord is putting on my

heart as well as I'm raising my children.

367

:

That was such an encouragement

sometimes for my family.

368

:

I look at lack of opportunities.

369

:

And I just have to battle

on a regular basis.

370

:

To not feel that my children

are at a deficit, but to

371

:

trust in the Lord's goodness.

372

:

And to trust that maybe the lack

of sports or activities is actually

373

:

providing a peace in our home.

374

:

That will surpass those opportunities

and bless them in a greater way.

375

:

Stephanie: And the Bible does say that

it's wise to have a multitude of advisors

376

:

and that can be true in certain things,

but I think we have to be careful to say,

377

:

no, I'm the main disciple of my children

and I don't need to contract this out.

378

:

And, can character be developed there?

379

:

Yes.

380

:

But also, do I need to be faithful

to train and minister to my children

381

:

and to have confidence in the

position and authority the Lord has

382

:

given us in our children's lives?

383

:

That if we stay faithful, that we're not

getting distracted and running all of

384

:

these directions, what can be produced?

385

:

How can we point our children toward

the Lord by not farming out their time

386

:

in all of these different directions?

387

:

Sylvia: And yet also recognizing

and celebrating the beautiful

388

:

creativity of our awesome God.

389

:

We've had multiple opportunities.

390

:

For instance, with my son actually got

to participate in the junior Olympics.

391

:

He's an athlete to the core.

392

:

And gifted so by God.

393

:

He's a musician to the

core, gifted so by God.

394

:

He drums for our church and for different

gigs within the community on a drum set.

395

:

And we have had to

meticulously guard his time.

396

:

And, I will say this, the bigger thing

behind that, it's not the opportunity.

397

:

It's the idol of your heart

398

:

Stephanie: hmm.

399

:

Sylvia: prey to.

400

:

So is it, Is it a Desire to please

people that you might feel like,

401

:

okay, oh gosh, I'm letting down these

people by not giving my children

402

:

these sporting opportunities.

403

:

Like you said they won't stand before

the Lord and give an account for

404

:

how your children were parented.

405

:

You and your husband will.

406

:

And I want to seek the Lord and say,

how have you gifted my children?

407

:

How have you gifted them?

408

:

And how does that gifting fit into the

priorities that you identify in the

409

:

word of God that we can honor you with?

410

:

So for instance, if I

have an athlete, awesome.

411

:

I am going to.

412

:

Encourage those skills for the

glory of God, not for the glory of

413

:

my child, not for the glory of my

family, not for the glory of a coach,

414

:

not for the glory of a community.

415

:

And those are all things vying for our

attention and our heart and our love.

416

:

It might be that.

417

:

Idle of people pleasing

that we have to flush out.

418

:

It might be that idle of performance or

perfection or applause or other things.

419

:

So I think that has to go into our

decision making with how we prioritize

420

:

our time and honestly for us It

comes down to who do we worship?

421

:

We worship God alone.

422

:

He's a jealous God.

423

:

And I trust that.

424

:

I trust that if he has gifted my child

in the area of sports, or if he's

425

:

gifted my child in the area of art or

music, and there are opportunities,

426

:

but there are opportunities that

conflict with my ability to worship God.

427

:

God, or my child's ability to worship God.

428

:

And God's design is, yes, we

worship him individually, but

429

:

yes, we worship him corporately.

430

:

So if that's something that's going to

pull my child or my family away from

431

:

the meeting of the saints on Sunday

morning, it's not going to happen.

432

:

It's not going to happen.

433

:

And again, this from someone who has an

athletic child who's gifted and has been

434

:

given numerous opportunities that way.

435

:

But ultimately I will not bow down to the

cultural idols that throw opportunities

436

:

that really are going to puff up.

437

:

Self yes, character.

438

:

He has learned character

extraordinarily well through sports.

439

:

He's learned character

extraordinarily well through school.

440

:

He's learned, character can come in the

most mundane moments and often does.

441

:

So we don't need to fall into that

temptation that our child won't learn

442

:

work ethic or time management if we

don't plug them into all these things.

443

:

Or, Oh no, they're eight.

444

:

Other people are starting

these things at age eight.

445

:

And if we don't start it now, they're

going to get behind on everything.

446

:

That is a lie.

447

:

If God has gifted your child and his

plan is for your child to exalt him

448

:

on a court or around a track or on

a football field, his will prevails.

449

:

Your child will be out on the

field doing that because that's

450

:

what God has ordained for him.

451

:

But if we are trying so desperately

to train something into our children,

452

:

which God in His creativity doesn't

have for them, we may need to search

453

:

our soul to see if we're content with

the children that God's given us and the

454

:

way that He's gifted them for His glory.

455

:

And so I am a firm believer in

saying, those formative years,

456

:

Statistically speaking, George

Barner writes a lot about this.

457

:

By age 13, our children's worldview

is solidified for the most part.

458

:

Now, we know God is able to do all

things above and beyond what we can ask

459

:

or imagine, and he can save people, at

age 60, 70, 80, we see it all the time.

460

:

He's a miracle worker

and he is always working.

461

:

That being said, statistics do show

that for the most part, a child's

462

:

worldview is formed by age 13.

463

:

If I'm sending my child away every

weekend to become the best wrestler

464

:

in my community, what worldview

have I instilled in my child?

465

:

It is not.

466

:

Worship the Lord with all of your

heart, soul, mind, and strength.

467

:

It's worship Him at your

convenience, and that's not worship.

468

:

So we aren't training our children

well if we are setting them up

469

:

in a position where they have to

forsake the meeting of the saints.

470

:

Stephanie: Well said.

471

:

I, yes.

472

:

Sylvia: feel very strongly

about that, sorry.

473

:

Stephanie: I'm so thankful.

474

:

I agree with you.

475

:

This has come up even in my small

group this year, we were studying

476

:

Daniel, and for the first time

as I studied it, I thought about.

477

:

The pain that he must have felt as he

watched all of his people bow down and to

478

:

think, you guys I've been raised with you.

479

:

we know this is wrong.

480

:

We were instructed we

do not worship idols.

481

:

We do not bow down.

482

:

And to watch all of his people

fall into that temptation must

483

:

have been so difficult for him.

484

:

And I think when we see it in others,

it is right, and it's godly to call it

485

:

out and to say, We actually were created

to be a blessing to the body of Christ

486

:

and to bring God glory, not to fall

into this individualistic mindset where

487

:

we're all about developing ourselves and

our children and living through them.

488

:

So I think that is a worthy soapbox.

489

:

Sylvia: I trumpet that one loud and clear,

but I do it because I love our women.

490

:

I love the women in our church, and

I love the Word of God, and I've

491

:

seen it, what's that old hymn, 'Tis

So Sweet to Trust in Jesus, right?

492

:

Just to take him at his word.

493

:

When we trust in him, I do, I trust him.

494

:

The things of earth grow strangely dim

in the light of his glory and grace.

495

:

So if those things are so visible

in my life and so shiny to me and

496

:

so appealing, I just have to ask.

497

:

Am I basking in the light of his glory

and grace or have I started basking

498

:

under the glory of something else?

499

:

And for me personally, when I fall

prey to that with my scheduling or

500

:

opportunities or anything like that,

most of the time for me, I'm not speaking

501

:

this for everyone, but for me, it's

because there's something about the.

502

:

lure of the world that I am

falling prey to that I, and I

503

:

just need to do a heart check.

504

:

What is my motive for sending my child

out to all of these activities that

505

:

are exhausting them when we know our

children need sleep, that are putting

506

:

other influences to train them up in

character and in the way they think

507

:

and in the formation of their mind when

that's my role as a So to give that away

508

:

to someone Is a precious entrustment.

509

:

I want to make sure that those people

speaking into my children's lives

510

:

are speaking in a way that at least

aligns with the values of the Bible

511

:

and the moral standards of the Bible.

512

:

And sometimes we have had

coaches that are ungodly.

513

:

We have had teammates that are ungodly.

514

:

What that then requires is a commitment

on the parent to, Talk about all of

515

:

it to flush it out with them, to take

them to the Bible and say, what does

516

:

the Bible say about that response?

517

:

We want to teach our children that

the word of God prevails and that

518

:

every word they take In, needs to be

critically thought through and identified

519

:

as either biblical or unbiblical.

520

:

And if we aren't taking the time to

do that with opportunity, thought,

521

:

information, absolutely everything,

we're not setting our children up to live

522

:

rich lives for the glory of the Lord.

523

:

I told you she is phenomenal.

524

:

I hope that brought some great

conviction to you, but also gave

525

:

you a hunger to be in God's word,

to make sure that everything.

526

:

That you are believing that you're

thinking that you're acting out, that

527

:

you're speaking into your children.

528

:

Comes from the truth in God's word.

529

:

I pray that you continue to press

into the Lord for discernment to

530

:

swim against the culture and to raise

children who are ready to do the same.

531

:

If you haven't already.

532

:

Head over to our website, to sign up

for some new freebies that we have.

533

:

So you can get a taste of

entrusted with a child's heart.

534

:

I would love to schedule a call so we can

talk about exactly how interested with

535

:

the child's heart can bring the word of

God to your church or to your home group.

536

:

Email me at Stephanie.

537

:

S T E P H a N I e@ewach.com.

538

:

That stands for entrusted

with the child's heart.

539

:

Thanks for listening.

540

:

Stephanie: We know you're busy,

Mama, so we are truly grateful you

541

:

joined us for this episode of Again.

542

:

If you're looking for more information

about building your home on the

543

:

foundation of Jesus Christ, head to www.

544

:

EntrustedMinistries.

545

:

com to learn more about our study for

moms, Entrusted with a Child's Heart.

546

:

This scripture saturated study

has blessed families around the

547

:

world, and we want it for you, too.

548

:

Before you go, I want to pray

this benediction over you

549

:

from 2 Thessalonians 1, 11 12.

550

:

We're rooting for you.

551

:

To this end, we always pray for you,

that our God may make you worthy of His

552

:

calling, and may fulfill every resolve

for good and every work of faith by

553

:

His power, so that the name of our Lord

Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in

554

:

Him, according to the grace of our God.

555

:

And the Lord Jesus Christ.

556

:

Amen.

557

:

Until we meet again.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Again

About the Podcast

Again
Biblical Motherhood Untangled
So much of what we do as mothers is on repeat. Join us to redeem this repetition and untangle from the confusion and overwhelm of parenting. We'll follow the Agains in the Bible to focus on the things that matter most. Let's look up together to embrace a motherhood full of freedom and joy! This podcast is sponsored by Entrusted Ministries.

About your host

Profile picture for Stephanie Hickox

Stephanie Hickox

Stephanie has always delighted in God’s Word and in sharing it with others. Whether it is equipping mothers and leaders through Entrusted with a Child’s Heart, inspiring students when teaching at homeschool co-ops or children’s ministry, or homeschooling her own children, Stephanie’s life mission is to encourage others to follow faithfully and joyfully after Jesus—especially if they hold her favorite job title: mom.

Betsy Corning wrote Entrusted with a Child’s Heart in 1999 in response to the needs she saw in families as she and David counseled young parents just a few years behind them. Entrusted has been taught in hundreds of churches nationwide, been translated into several foreign languages, and has made its way around the world. More recently, Betsy received her Masters in Biblical Studies from The Master’s University and is developing a new Bible Study program called Get the Word Out. Her passion for God’s Word, discipleship, and teaching biblical principles as they apply to family life has remained strong to this day. One of the greatest blessings in Betsy’s life are her three grown children, their spouses, and ten grandchildren that keep her constantly in touch with every age and stage.

Jen Freckman Is an incredible wealth of wisdom. She will tell you a natural remedy for just about anything! She is also a voracious reader and she is just overflowing with quotes and guidance that she's encountered through reading and being faithful. She delights in her children and is a devoted mother. She is also an amazingly creative problem solver! Her solutions to manage her home and guide her children are inspiring.

Emily Deyo is such a treasure. She is an incredible encourager and servant-hearted woman. When she has the mic in front of her, so much value comes out! She is a wordsmith and her heart consistently beats for how she can encourage and serve others. She is a truly loving and attentive mother.

Join Betsy, Emily, Jen, and Stephanie as they share the wisdom only Scripture and on-the-job training can provide to help untangle the joyful calling of motherhood.