Farewell 05: Motherhood and The Internet—Our Predictions

Well, friends, is our final show of the Risen Motherhood Podcast. After 260+ episodes and nearly 10 years of ministry, it’s hard to find the words for this bittersweet gospel goodbye. And yet, we know that the Lord will continue to work in and through his people—what a gift that he never changes! In this final episode, Emily and Laura share their hope and prayer for the R|M community. From a few practical tips for living out a risen motherhood to their prayer for you as we part ways, we hope this show points you to the God who is faithful to complete the good work he began in you, dear mom—he will surely do it. This episode is brought to you by our generous donors. Learn more about our newest book, A Million Tiny Moments, and find discussion questions, links, and related resources here. R|M on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter

It’s no secret that the Internet has changed and shifted multiple times over since Risen Motherhood kicked off in 2016—as technology moves at an ever-faster pace, Emily and Laura thought it would be fun to think about what the future of motherhood in the digital age will look like. More importantly, they share a few practical thoughts on how we as Christian moms can think wisely about the way we consume content from online influences. The cherry on top? They end with a few fun predictions for one another: what their future projects may look like, how the Lord will continue to work in and through them, and more. Fortunately for us, God has already planned every step; we can’t wait to see what he has in store. This episode is brought to you by our generous donors. Learn more about our newest book, A Million Tiny Moments, and find discussion questions, links, and related resources here. R|M on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter

Over the years, so many moms have shared that our Scripture shows on the podcast have been ones they go back to time and again, remembering the truths of God’s Word as they wash dishes, head to school pickup, and more. As we think about the legacy we want to leave at Risen Motherhood, it’s so important to us that we remember this was never about us; it was about Christ. We hope this Scripture show encourages and emboldens you, dear mom, to keep coming back to God’s Word and rooting yourself in the truth of the gospel—because it changes everything. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language. This episode is brought to you by our generous donors. Learn more about our newest book, A Million Tiny Moments, and find discussion questions, links, and related resources here. R|M on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter

When we’re organizing the family calendar, packing lunches, or making a snack for our toddler, it can be tempting to feel as though no one sees our work as moms—but here’s the thing: God does see. God cares! Loving our children and faithfully tending to the tasks in front of us is a way we live a life of worship and make a Kingdom impact. In this episode, Emily and Laura unpack the phrase “every moment matters”—not because we’re expected to be perfect in every moment, but because no act of love and service is ever wasted. When we recognize that seemingly unspiritual, everyday things can be a chance to enjoy God and point others to his love, we can live for him in moments big and small. This episode is brought to you by our generous donors. Learn more about our newest book, A Million Tiny Moments, and find discussion questions, links, and related resources here. R|M on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter

Anytime you produce something public, you open yourself up to criticism—and Risen Motherhood was no different. Over the years, we received feedback of all kinds: encouraging, loving, constructively critical, and at times, hurtful. Maybe you’ve experienced the same in your own ministry work, or simply in everyday life. In this episode, Emily and Laura unpack some of these critiques and share their hearts for why they did or didn’t make certain decisions throughout the life of the ministry. Honestly, R|M wasn’t for everyone. But the gospel is for everyone, and we’re so grateful for the ways the Lord used us to bring the hope of Christ to so many moms. To him be the glory! This episode is brought to you by our generous donors. Learn more about our newest book, A Million Tiny Moments, and find discussion questions, links, and related resources here. R|M on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter

We know these moments come rarely: when a season of life has such a clean end that you get the opportunity to stop and reflect on all that God has done. As we had a chance to serve in this capacity over the years, we were also deeply changed. Even though we haven't shared all the details publicly, trying to faithfully deliver quality content, lead a team, and navigate the online world with grace shaped us tremendously. God has worked through his Word on our hearts too, and today we want to take some time to share a bit about those lessons we've learned. No matter the season God has placed you in, he's growing you. We hope this episode encourages you to reflect on the ways God is teaching you to align your heart to his. This episode is brought to you by our generous donors. Learn more about our newest book, A Million Tiny Moments, and find discussion questions, links, and related resources here. R|M on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter

You know that simple, encouraging text that comes through at just the right time, or that run-in with a dear friend that lifts your spirits, even if you only had five minutes to chat? That’s what we hope this episode is for you today, mom. If you’re feeling worn down, exhausted (that’s all of us, right?), or wondering if God is working where he’s placed you right now, we hope these entries from Emily and Laura’s newest book, “A Million Tiny Moments,” remind you that God‘s working in your everyday moments—even when it doesn’t feel like it. (Psst! They also share some fun behind-the-scenes about their seasons of life when they wrote these! You don’t want to miss this one.) This episode is brought to you by our generous donors. Learn more about our newest book, A Million Tiny Moments, and find discussion questions, links, and related resources here. R|M on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter

So let’s just say we reach a point where we’re pros at this gospel + motherhood thing… what do we do if it all starts to feel a little stale? As believers living in a fallen world, we know that the process of sanctification is often challenging—which is why we need more than just a framework or a system to keep us going; we need the Holy Spirit. In this episode, Emily and Laura share what they’ve learned personally through the ups and downs of pursuing gospel motherhood, encouraging us to keep coming back to the Lord time and again. Take heart, friend: our God is gracious and he will not allow you to be snatched from his hand (John 10:28). We can trust that even in seasons when we don’t see the fruit of our efforts, the Spirit is still at work. This episode is brought to you by our generous donors. If you'd like to join them or learn more, click here. Learn more about our new book, Gospel Mom, and find discussion questions, links, and related resources here. R|M on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter

We’ve spent a lot of time in this series looking at how gospel motherhood brings freedom—so what do we do when our freedom feels in conflict with another mom’s preferences? (Oof. Tricky, right?) In this episode, Emily and Laura discuss how we can honor moms who think differently than we do by asking questions while holding to our own convictions, being charitable, treating others the way we want to be treated, and prayerfully trusting the work of God in another mom’s life. Loving one another well often requires patience and sacrifice, but by God’s grace, we can learn to love other moms while standing unified around the most essential gospel truths. This episode is brought to you by our generous donors. If you'd like to join them or learn more, click here. Learn more about our new book, Gospel Mom, and find discussion questions, links, and related resources here. R|M on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter

Many of us know it from memory: “the heart is deceitful above all else” (Jer. 17:9). So in a world that shouts we should “follow our heart,” what does it look like to be in the world—acknowledging our human interests and passions—while not being of the world, pursuing these things at all costs? In this episode, Emily and Laura share a few examples and questions we can consider when evaluating our heart motivation behind decisions big and small. The application will look different for all of us, and that’s the beauty of it! God has wired each of us differently, and he knows our hearts inside and out. In the words of the psalmist, “no good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Ps. 84:11). Will you trust him with it, friend? This episode is brought to you by our generous donors. If you'd like to join them or learn more, click here. Learn more about our new book, Gospel Mom, and find discussion questions, links, and related resources here. R|M on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter