255 // Don’t Let Summer Slip By! Boost Your Family Bond With A Few Fun (Realistic) Activities

Go deeper with the Stress Relief Workbook for Christian Moms.   Episode 255 // Summertime is a chance for great fun and family bonding… and a chance for extra bickering, cranky kids, and one million repetitions of “I’m bored.”   No more, friend.    Today, we’ll tackle a few angles to Summer Mom Life: a few reality checks about how to manage summer stressors, 10 fun and free ideas for family bonding, PLUS one big warning - to make sure you can fully enjoy this summer with your family!   Hop in, find some ideas, rest in some encouragement, and enjoy your summer 🙂   hugs & blessings, Jess   RESOURCES FOR YOU   FREE: 51 Self Care Ideas List (p.s. - use them with your kids this summer!)   DEVOTIONAL: Stress Relief Workbook For Christian Moms   LISTEN NEXT: Turn Your Day Around With These 2 Key Decisions (Ep 228) READ MORE: 25 Free Ideas For Family Fun Activities At Home, With Toddlers, Teens, Or Anyone In Between   GET MORE & SUPPORT THE SHOW   Support the show on Patreon today! - And enjoy this year’s PERK of new daily(ish) devotionals this year to encourage your faith & family life in 5 minutes a day!   Share the link to this episode with a friend who needs encouragement today :-)    And while you’re here - please leave a 5-star review for the show! What an encouragement!   FIND EXACTLY THE RESOURCE YOU NEED: Faith | Marriage | Parenting | Emotions | Communication | Home & Family | Freebies | Devotionals | Blog | Pinterest   DISCLAIMERS    I am a licensed therapist in South Carolina, but this podcast is not therapy. I may use affiliate links and earn a small commission if you purchase through my links. Read my full disclaimers here.   MISSION   Love Your People Well is all about helping you ENJOY family life as you build healthy, happy, and holy family relationships. Keep Jesus at the center of it all and joy at the center of your days.   Find your resources, devotionals, and more support at www.LoveYourPeopleWell.com

Grab my Family Faith Challenge on Etsy!   Episode 254 // Family discipleship is a key responsibility for Christian parents. But what does that really mean? What can it look like for toddlers or teens?   As you dive into the summertime, this is a unique chance to try something new and go deeper with your kids. Yes, you want a fun summer - but you also want it to be meaningful!   Join me today for a look at what “family discipleship” really means, and 10 ideas to engage your kids in their Christian faith this summer!   hugs & blessings, Jess   RESOURCES FOR YOU   FREE: Grab the Holy Habits 45-Day Bible and Prayer Challenge   DEVOTIONAL: Grab my Family Faith Challenge on Etsy! (a quick printable activity)   LISTEN NEXT: 5 Scriptures That Show Us What A Good Parent Looks Like (Ep 235)   GET MORE & SUPPORT THE SHOW   Support the show on Patreon today! - And enjoy this year’s PERK of new daily(ish) devotionals this year to encourage your faith & family life in 5 minutes a day!   Share the link to this episode with a friend who needs encouragement today :-)    And while you’re here - please leave a 5-star review for the show! What an encouragement!   FIND EXACTLY THE RESOURCE YOU NEED: Faith | Marriage | Parenting | Emotions | Communication | Home & Family | Freebies | Devotionals | Blog | Pinterest   DISCLAIMERS    I am a licensed therapist in South Carolina, but this podcast is not therapy. I may use affiliate links and earn a small commission if you purchase through my links. Read my full disclaimers here.   MISSION   Love Your People Well is all about helping you ENJOY family life as you build healthy, happy, and holy family relationships. Keep Jesus at the center of it all and joy at the center of your days.   Find your resources, devotionals, and more support at www.LoveYourPeopleWell.com

Dive into Scripture and build the home life you want with the Building A Home Of Godliness And Joy Devotional Workbook.   Episode 253 // Today, I want to offer a few quick ideas on how to make your summer more meaningful - for yourself and for your whole family!   Yes, do the big vacations and the fun events and the special summer things. But summer is also a unique (and perfect!) time for self-reflection. You can continue growing in your walk with the Lord and your family relationships even while enjoying extra sun and vacation time.   These ideas will be fun and encouraging, so let’s hop in!   hugs & blessings, Jess   RESOURCES FOR YOU   FREE: Find ALL the freebies! Head to www.LoveYourPeopleWell.com/free   DEVOTIONAL: Dive into Scripture and build the home life you want with the Building A Home Of Godliness And Joy Devotional Workbook.   LISTEN NEXT: How To Ask The Right Questions To Deepen Your Family Relationships: 10 Tips From A Family Therapist (Episode 233)   GET MORE & SUPPORT THE SHOW   NEW in our Patreon community this year - daily(ish) devotionals to encourage your faith and family life: Support the show on Patreon today.   Please leave a 5-star review and share the link to this episode with a friend who needs encouragement today!   FIND EXACTLY THE RESOURCE YOU NEED: Faith | Marriage | Parenting | Emotions | Communication | Home & Family | Freebies | Devotionals | Blog | Pinterest   DISCLAIMERS    I am a licensed therapist in South Carolina, but this podcast is not therapy. I may use affiliate links and earn a small commission if you purchase through my links. Read my full disclaimers here.   MISSION   Love Your People Well is all about helping you ENJOY family life as you build healthy, happy, and holy family relationships. Keep Jesus at the center of it all and joy at the center of your days.   Find your resources, devotionals, and more support at www.LoveYourPeopleWell.com  

Grab my 40-day devotional on marriage communication: Communicating To Connect   Episode 252 // Did you know that your relationship can grow deeper, closer, and better if you figure out how to handle conflict well?   I’ve been a marriage and family therapist for over 10 years. And in today’s episode, I want to share my process for healthy, happy, and holy conflict resolution.    You can just grab the FREEBIE of my 10-point cheat sheet right here. But it’s definitely helpful to talk it through! So pop in your earbuds and let’s dive in for some practical tips and encouragement for your marriage today.    hugs & blessings, Jess   RESOURCES FOR YOU   FREE: Grab my FREE Conflict Resolution Cheat Sheet!   DEVOTIONAL: Grab my 40-day devotional on marriage communication: Communicating To Connect   LISTEN NEXT: Solving Your 3 Biggest Marriage Communication Problems (Episode 236)   GET MORE & SUPPORT THE SHOW   NEW in our Patreon community this year - daily(ish) devotionals to encourage your faith and family life: Support the show on Patreon today.   Please leave a 5-star review and share the link to this episode with a friend who needs encouragement today!   FIND EXACTLY THE RESOURCE YOU NEED: Faith | Marriage | Parenting | Emotions | Communication | Home & Family | Freebies | Devotionals | Blog | Pinterest   DISCLAIMERS    I am a licensed therapist in South Carolina, but this podcast is not therapy. I may use affiliate links and earn a small commission if you purchase through my links. Read my full disclaimers here.   MISSION   Love Your People Well is all about helping you ENJOY family life as you build healthy, happy, and holy family relationships. Keep Jesus at the center of it all and joy at the center of your days.   Find your resources, devotionals, and more support at www.LoveYourPeopleWell.com

Grab the devotional workbook today: Building A Home Of Godliness And Joy.   Episode 251 // Can you enjoy a healthy, happy, and holy family life without serving one another out of love?   The idea of serving others is counter-cultural. We think it won’t feel good, it will feel hard, we might get taken advantage of… Yet, this is how Jesus calls on Christians to show their love for each other!   And no one serves others more than a mom. It’s what we’re famous for! It’s important, even though it is sometimes taken for granted. It is meaningful, even though we sometimes may grumble about it.   So today on the podcast, let’s find encouragement together by considering 5 things that a servant does. How can we do those things in our home, with a godly attitude, for the good of our families and the glory of God?   Plus, one important warning for us all… to make sure we are healthy right alongside our families.   Ready? Let’s dive in, friend.    hugs & blessings, Jess   RESOURCES FOR YOU   FREE: Grab my free e-book and build your family bond! Building Your Mom Toolbox: Get Your Family Out Of The Rut And Reconnect   DEVOTIONAL: Grab the devotional workbook today: Building A Home Of Godliness And Joy.   LISTEN NEXT: Gospel Hope + Practical Ideas For The Discouragement, Hopelessness, And Hard Emotions Of Christian Family Life (Episode 142)   GET MORE & SUPPORT THE SHOW   NEW in our Patreon community this year - daily(ish) devotionals to encourage your faith and family life: Support the show on Patreon today.   Please leave a 5-star review and share the link to this episode with a friend who needs encouragement today!   FIND EXACTLY THE RESOURCE YOU NEED: Faith | Marriage | Parenting | Emotions | Communication | Home & Family | Freebies | Devotionals | Blog | Pinterest   DISCLAIMERS    I am a licensed therapist in South Carolina, but this podcast is not therapy. I may use affiliate links and earn a small commission if you purchase through my links. Read my full disclaimers here.   MISSION   Love Your People Well is all about helping you ENJOY family life as you build healthy, happy, and holy family relationships. Keep Jesus at the center of it all and joy at the center of your days.   Find your resources, devotionals, and more support at www.LoveYourPeopleWell.com

Grab your FREE Holy Habits 45-day Bible And Prayer Challenge here!   Episode 250 // It’s a cliche in Christian circles… “I should read the Bible more.” Or maybe, “I wish I read the Bible more.” Sometimes we beat ourselves up about it: “Gosh, why can’t I seem to regularly read my Bible?!”   It’s a thing many of us wish to be more consistent with. So why aren’t we? Does it really matter anyway? How could we get things moving in a direction we’re happy with?   Let’s go there.   Today, those are exactly the questions we’re covering. Make sure to stick around to the end for some really practical tips that will help address the biggest struggles we all have with reading our Bible regularly.   hugs & blessings, Jess   RESOURCES FOR YOU   FREE: Grab your FREE Holy Habits 45-day Bible And Prayer Challenge here!   DEVOTIONAL: Dive deeper with the Finding Your Identity In Christ devotional workbook.   LISTEN NEXT: Making Time For A Daily Devotional Time (Even As A Busy Christian Mom) (Episode 184)   GET MORE & SUPPORT THE SHOW   NEW in our Patreon community this year - daily(ish) devotionals to encourage your faith and family life: Support the show on Patreon today.   Please leave a 5-star review and share the link to this episode with a friend who needs encouragement today!   FIND EXACTLY THE RESOURCE YOU NEED: Faith | Marriage | Parenting | Emotions | Communication | Home & Family | Freebies | Devotionals | Blog | Pinterest   DISCLAIMERS    I am a licensed therapist in South Carolina, but this podcast is not therapy. I may use affiliate links and earn a small commission if you purchase through my links. Read my full disclaimers here.   MISSION   Love Your People Well is all about helping you ENJOY family life as you build healthy, happy, and holy family relationships. Keep Jesus at the center of it all and joy at the center of your days.   Find your resources, devotionals, and more support at www.LoveYourPeopleWell.com

Deepen your Christian walk with the Finding Your Identity In Christ devotional workbook!   Episode 249 // It’s easy to get caught up in the flow of everyday life. But do you realize that there is an Enemy at war against you? At war against your family?   As Christians, we often think about the power of Jesus Christ in our lives and we pray for the Holy Spirit’s help as we struggle, grow, and journey through life. And the Bible is clear that these things are true and good.   But the Bible is also clear that we must be careful, alert, sober-minded, and intentional in how we live - because “your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)   If you find yourself struggling against things like distraction, family conflict, big emotions, or other common worldy issues today - there is something bigger going on, and there is something that the Lord wants you to do about it!   Join me today, friends, for biblical encouragement along with some practical tips to keep the Lord first in our lives and to care for our families well.   hugs & blessings, Jess   RESOURCES FOR YOU   FREE: Grab your FREE 45-day Bible and Prayer Guide today.   DEVOTIONAL: Deepen your Christian walk with the Finding Your Identity In Christ devotional workbook!   LISTEN NEXT: How Romans 12 Helps Me Be A Better Christian Mom (Episode 181)   GET MORE & SUPPORT THE SHOW   NEW in our Patreon community this year - daily(ish) devotionals to encourage your faith and family life: Support the show on Patreon today.   Please leave a 5-star review and share the link to this episode with a friend who needs encouragement today!   FIND EXACTLY THE RESOURCE YOU NEED: Faith | Marriage | Parenting | Emotions | Communication | Home & Family | Freebies | Devotionals | Blog | Pinterest   DISCLAIMERS    I am a licensed therapist in South Carolina, but this podcast is not therapy. I may use affiliate links and earn a small commission if you purchase through my links. Read my full disclaimers here.   MISSION   Love Your People Well is all about helping you ENJOY family life as you build healthy, happy, and holy family relationships. Keep Jesus at the center of it all and joy at the center of your days.   Find your resources, devotionals, and more support at www.LoveYourPeopleWell.com  

Grab the Joy In The Journey 40-day Devotional on finding biblical joy in the hard seasons of motherhood.   Episode 248 // There’s nothing more painful than watching your kids struggle. But when they are struggling, there are ways that you can help!   Last week, we looked at caring for our hearts when our kids struggle. Today, let’s dive into some practical tips for how to HELP them when they are struggling.    I’ve been a family counselor for over 10 years, and I’ve thought through these tips based on what will help ALL kids - teens and toddlers and beyond. Every person is different, every relationship is different - but there are some tried and true strategies that help all of us.   Join me, friend, and let’s help each other, encourage each other, take a deep breath, and wade into the dark waters that our kids are sometimes swimming in.   hugs & blessings, Jess   RESOURCES FOR YOU   FREE: Building Your Mom Toolbox: Get Out Of The Ruth And Help Your Family Reconnect free ebook!   DEVOTIONAL: Grab the Joy In The Journey 40-day Devotional on finding biblical joy in the hard seasons of motherhood.   LISTEN NEXT: 13 Tips For An Exhausted Christian Mom (Episode 208)   GET MORE & SUPPORT THE SHOW   Join us in the Patreon community to support this ministry AND enjoy my 2025 Daily(ish) Devotionals in the private podcast + email every day!  Support the show on Patreon today.   Please leave a 5-star review and share the link to this episode with a friend who needs encouragement today!   FIND EXACTLY THE RESOURCE YOU NEED: Faith | Marriage | Parenting | Emotions | Communication | Home & Family | Freebies | Devotionals | Blog | Pinterest   DISCLAIMERS    I am a licensed therapist in South Carolina, but this podcast is not therapy. I may use affiliate links and earn a small commission if you purchase through my links. Read my full disclaimers here.   MISSION   Love Your People Well is all about helping you ENJOY family life as you build healthy, happy, and holy family relationships. Keep Jesus at the center of it all and joy at the center of your days.   Find your resources, devotionals, and more support at www.LoveYourPeopleWell.com

Grab the Joy In The Journey 40-day Devotional on finding biblical joy in the hard seasons of motherhood.   Episode 247 // When you are hurting because your kids are hurting… what can you do?   We usually want to jump to action steps to help them. What should I say? What can I do?   Those things are important… and we’ll tackle that next week :-) But we can’t just jump over the pain that WE experience when our kids are struggling. And that’s what we’re looking at today.   When our kids hurt, we hurt. When they are sad, we are sad. When they are anxious, we are stressed. It’s hard when they’re toddlers, harder when they’re teens, and might feel impossible once they’re grown and moved out.    But it’s not impossible to help, and it’s not impossible to manage our own big emotions about it all.    Join me today for 10 ways you can care for your own heart as you walk with your children through the dark waters they sometimes swim in.    These aren’t tips that will make it all go away. It won’t mean that you stop caring and helping. But hopefully, it can make a difference in allowing the Lord to comfort you and shepherd you through a hard season of motherhood.   Let’s dive in.   hugs & blessings, Jess   RESOURCES FOR YOU   FREE: Building Your Mom Toolbox: Get Out Of The Ruth And Help Your Family Reconnect free ebook!   DEVOTIONAL: Grab the Joy In The Journey 40-day Devotional on finding biblical joy in the hard seasons of motherhood.   LISTEN NEXT: 7 Biblical Prayers For Christian Moms When You’re Feeling Anxious (Episode 195)   GET MORE & SUPPORT THE SHOW   Join us in the Patreon community to support this ministry AND enjoy my 2025 Daily(ish) Devotionals in the private podcast + email every day!  Support the show on Patreon today.   Please leave a 5-star review and share the link to this episode with a friend who needs encouragement today!   FIND EXACTLY THE RESOURCE YOU NEED: Faith | Marriage | Parenting | Emotions | Communication | Home & Family | Freebies | Devotionals | Blog | Pinterest   DISCLAIMERS    I am a licensed therapist in South Carolina, but this podcast is not therapy. I may use affiliate links and earn a small commission if you purchase through my links. Read my full disclaimers here.   MISSION   Love Your People Well is all about helping you ENJOY family life as you build healthy, happy, and holy family relationships. Keep Jesus at the center of it all and joy at the center of your days.   Find your resources, devotionals, and more support at www.LoveYourPeopleWell.com

Grab your FREE conflict resolution cheat sheet today!   Episode 246 // Want to change your family relationships? Your home atmosphere? Change your words.    What you say, and how you say it, will shape every relationship you care about. Scripture talks often about our words and how we use them. And the Bible gives very specific wisdom about how to use our words to strengthen our relationships, bless others, and enjoy family life more and more.    Join me to dive into 5 specific, actionable tips straight from the Proverbs - and let’s start communicating well with our families today.    hugs & blessings, Jess   RESOURCES FOR YOU   FREE: Grab your FREE conflict resolution cheat sheet today (from a licensed marriage & family therapist!)   DEVOTIONAL: Grab the Keep Your Cool, Mama! 40-day devotional on emotional control or dive into your marriage specifically with the Communicating To Connect 40-Day devotional on marriage communication   LISTEN NEXT: How To Stop Yelling At Your Kids When You're Angry (Episode 212)   GET MORE & SUPPORT THE SHOW   NEW in our Patreon community this year - daily(ish) devotionals to encourage your faith and family life: Support the show on Patreon today.   Please leave a 5-star review and share the link to this episode with a friend who needs encouragement today!   FIND EXACTLY THE RESOURCE YOU NEED: Faith | Marriage | Parenting | Emotions | Communication | Home & Family | Freebies | Devotionals | Blog | Pinterest   DISCLAIMERS    I am a licensed therapist in South Carolina, but this podcast is not therapy. I may use affiliate links and earn a small commission if you purchase through my links. Read my full disclaimers here.   MISSION   Love Your People Well is all about helping you ENJOY family life as you build healthy, happy, and holy family relationships. Keep Jesus at the center of it all and joy at the center of your days.   Find your resources, devotionals, and more support at www.LoveYourPeopleWell.com