Christian Parent, Crazy World

How powerful are our words? Can they change the future? In this episode of CPCW, Catherine takes a fascinating, prophetic look at how words have the power to shape reality in the past, present, and future. Our leaders are using words to confuse and distort reality. But as faith-filled parents, we can use our words through prayer to effect change in our lives, in our kid’s lives, and in the world. When our words have the power of TRUTH behind them, God’ truth in His Word, and when they are connected to His will—things can change. Radically.Let hope stir within you, moms and dads. Do our words have the power to change the future? You be they do. If our words are backed with the Word of God and the will of God, they can change everything for the better. So speak to the wall that your child is facing and command it to come down in the name of Jesus.SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:Proverbs 18:21Genesis 1:3Romans 4:17Galatians 6:9Scripture List to pray over your children: https://catherinesegars.com/resourcesPODCASTS REFERENCED:The Glenn Beck Show: Episode 136, “How the War In Ukraine Fast Tracks the Great Reset” (starting at 1:09): https://apple.co/3OkPmBbCPCW Truth Series:Episode 23: WHAT IS THE BIGGEST THREAT TO OUR FAITH AND OUR CULTURE TODAY? We established that truth is central and foundational to the Christian faith. https://bit.ly/3MhyAkREpisode 24: WHAT IS THE ENEMY’S GREATEST WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION IN OUR LIVES? The greatest WMD in Satan’s toolbox is the lie. Words are powerful. God created the entire universe through the spoken word, which is precisely why the enemy wants to attack truth by redefining words. And his favorite thing to do is to take a word and make it mean its opposite. https://bit.ly/3vtoxlI Episode 25: HOW DID WE END UP WITH 50+ GENDERS AND DRAG QUEEN STORY HOUR? In this episode, we discussed nominalism, a philosophical doctrine that says there is no such thing as universal truth so there is no such thing as universals in reality. https://bit.ly/3M46UzMEpisode 26: WHAT EVERY PARENT NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT THE PRODIGAL CHILD. This vital episode brings some much needed truth to our parenting by discussing the four stages of parenting and sharing the most important question you could ever ask your child. https://bit.ly/3uRgNep Other podcasts mentioned:Episode 14: HOW TO BATTLE FOR YOUR KIDS IN PRAYER: https://bit.ly/37ma1EDEpisode 13: FOUR TYPES OF PRAYER EVERY BELIEVER SHOULD KNOW https://bit.ly/38367QZ ARTICLES REFERENCED:New York Post: “Judge Jackson declines to define ‘woman,’ says she’s ‘not a biologist’” Read here: https://bit.ly/3L9e8CF Books by Dutch Sheets on prayer: Intercessory Prayer: How God Can Use Your Prayers to Move Heaven and Earth: https://bit.ly/3vtRKNtAuthority in Prayer: Praying with Power and Purpose: https://bit.ly/3xCUGtLWatchman Prayer: Protecting Your Family, Home, and Community from the Enemy's Schemes: https://bit.ly/3uWOYBvSPEECH REFERENCED:Ronald Reagan’s 1987 “Tear Down This Wall” Speech Listen here: Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Get to know Catherine better in this wacky bonus episode of CP/CW as she shares a very fun and lively interview with Larry Roberts from the recent Spark Media Conference in Nashville, TN. Hear more about her background, how the podcast started, her passion for Christian apologetics, her two miraculous trips to the maternity ward in her 40s, and more than you ever wanted to know about Nashville hot chicken. What do Christian apologetics and Nashville hot chicken have in common? Tune in to find out.Resources Cited:https://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2016/10/01/why-nashville-anderson-bourdain-parts-unknown-sot.cnnFollow Catherine:https://catherinesegars.com/https://www.instagram.com/catherinesegars/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What Every Parent Needs to Know about the Prodigal Child – Episode 26*CONGRATULATIONS to CHRISTIAN PARENT/CRAZY WORLD for being named the 2022 Best Kids and Family Podcast by Spark Media.* https://bit.ly/3qmrx1K Catherine brings some much-needed truth to our perspective on parenting in this episode of CPCW by discussing what is the parent’s responsibility, what is the child’s responsibility, and what is God’s responsibility. By addressing the four stages of a child’s development, Catherine delineates the proper role of the parent throughout your child’s life. And Catherine will share what is the greatest question you could ever ask your child. The fact is, some kids are hardwired to do things the hard way. They are made to push the boundaries. By examining God’s response to the wandering child in Scripture, we can gain clarity, insight, direction, and hope as parents in our pursuit of godliness ourselves. RESOURCES MENTIONED:“What Every Parent Needs to Know about the Prodigal Child” https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/what-every-parent-needs-to-know-about-the-prodigal-child.htmlChrist-Centered Parenting by Russell Moore and Phillip Bethancourt: https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/christ-centered-parenting-bible-study-book-P005790851SCRIPTURES CITED:The Prodigal Son: Luke 15The Fall: Genesis 3PODCASTS REFERENCED: Episode 4: “Is Christianity Just a Religion of Do’s and Don’ts”: https://www.lifeaudio.com/christian-parent-crazy-world/is-christianity-just-a-religion-of-dos-and-donts-episode-4Episode 12: “What To Do if Your Child Walks Away from the Faith”: https://www.lifeaudio.com/christian-parent-crazy-world/what-to-do-if-your-child-walks-away-from-the-faith-episode-12Episode 14: “How To Battle for Your Kids in Prayer”: https://www.lifeaudio.com/christian-parent-crazy-world/how-to-battle-for-your-kids-in-prayer-episode-14Follow Catherine:https://catherinesegars.com/https://www.instagram.com/catherinesegars/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Catherine continues in a series on truth by examining another way that the enemy is attacking the Christian faith and the next generation. In this episode, Catherine connects the dots between a prominent philosophical movement and the current state of gender and sexuality in our culture. The influence of nominalism has led not only to the denial of universal truth, but the denial of universals in reality. This denial is having a tremendous impact on society and our children, especially in the area of sexual identity and gender.The Christian faith is not a nominalist doctrine. It is a faith that supports universal concepts in reality—universal truth being chief among them. As parents, we need to teach our kids that Jesus is truth and truth is universal, and therefore there are universal truths all around us. There are trees and clouds and cats and dogs. There are boys and girls. These aren’t just names that we’ve forced onto things and people—they are truths that correspond to reality, the reality that God created. Equally true is the fact that there is a God who loves us no matter what we believe or what we do. And because God loves us, He wants us to walk in the truth. Because when we don’t walk in the truth, we hurt ourselves and others. We must teach our children what is true, and we must teach them to love like Jesus. Don’t forget to leave a review of CPCW on both Apple Podcasts and Spotify!WORK CITED:Drag Quest Story Hour: https://www.dragqueenstoryhour.org/Does Scripture Oppress or Liberate Women?: https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/women/does-scripture-oppress-or-liberate-women.htmlC. K. Chesterton Quote: https://bit.ly/3vphIU1Episode 11: What Does It Mean to Speak the Truth in Love?: https://bit.ly/35oUaUuJohn 8:32WORKS CONSULTED:Socratic Logic by Peter KreeftIs It Possible to be a Christian and a Modern Feminist?: https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/women/is-it-possible-to-be-a-christian-and-a-modern-feminist.html19th Amendment: Women’s Suffrage, History.com: https://www.history.com/topics/womens-history/19th-amendment-1Domestic Violence in the United States, Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/law/crime-and-law-enforcement/domestic-violenceTrans Athletes Like Lia Thompson are Destroying Women’s Sports, New York Post: https://nypost.com/2022/01/26/trans-athletes-like-lia-thomas-are-destroying-womens-sports/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Catherine continues in a series on truth with this second installment, which identifies the leading way that the enemy tricks Believers. Truth is the central issue of the Christian faith—it is the primary reason Christ came to earth, and yet nearly half of all born again Christians do not believe in universal truth. The enemy has a plan to twist and contort the truth, and in this episode, Catherine examines his tactics by peering into his playbook. She will take you on a tour of history, literature, current media trends, and even a classic hymn, all the while using theological truth as our guide to uncover the enemy’s greatest weapon of mass destruction in our lives. Teach your children to see what the enemy is doing. Let your home be a place where truth reigns supreme.SPARK MEDIA FAN AWARDS: Nominate CHRISTIAN PARENT/CRAZY WORLD for a Spark Fan Award in the categories of “Best Female Podcast” and “Best Solo Podcast.” https://www.sparkmedia.ventures/site/awardsDon’t forget to leave a review of CPCW on both Apple Podcasts and Spotify!WORKS REFERENCED:CW Article: “What is the Biggest Threat to Our Faith and Our Culture Today?”: https://bit.ly/3GNOeRPChristian Headlines: “58 Percent of Americans Believe Moral Truth ‘Is Up to Each Individual,’ New Poll Finds”: https://bit.ly/3uOXy5C1984 by George OrwellCNN Story: “Fiery But Mostly Peaceful Protests After Police Shooting”: https://bit.ly/3Bm3wfeThe Federalist: “Death Toll Rises to Estimated 30 Since ‘Mostly Peaceful Protests’ Began”: https://bit.ly/36eS4XBMartin Luther: “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”: https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/886 SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:John 18:37John 8:44Genesis 3:1, 4John 3:5Matthew 26:65Acts 6:11Follow Catherine:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catherinesegars/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodfaithandculture/Episode Image Credit: Getty/z_wei Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this episode, Catherine identifies the greatest threat to our faith and our culture today. That threat involves an attack on something that is so central, so foundational to our faith, that to attack it is to attack the very core of who we are as Christians. Truly, it is an attack on Christ Himself. This threat is leading to an erosion of both our faith and our culture, and it is leading to the massive youth exodus from the church that we have been trying to assuage since episode 1 of this podcast.But first, Catherine asks this question: “Why did Jesus come into the world?” The answer to that question is central to our faith, and it shows us why the biggest threat to our faith and culture is what it is today.Nominate CHRISTIAN PARENT/CRAZY WORLD for a Spark Fan Award in the categories of “Best Female Podcast” and “Best Solo Podcast.” https://www.sparkmedia.ventures/site/awardsResources Cited:“What is the Biggest Threat to Our Faith and Our Culture” https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/what-is-the-biggest-threat-to-our-faith-and-culture-today.htmlFocus on the Family: The Truth Project (Digital, Small Group Curriculum CDs): https://bit.ly/35wGUNjChristian Headlines: “58 Percent of Americans Believe Moral Truth ‘Is Up to Each Individual,’ New Poll Finds”: https://bit.ly/33XVA81Christian Headlines: “Record Low 6% of Americans Adhere to a Biblical Worldview, New Study Shows”: https://bit.ly/3KUaOLMCultural Research Center: “American World Inventory 2020—At a Glance”: https://bit.ly/3ubjureHouston Chronicle: “Evangelical, Fundamentalist, and Born Again Aren’t the Same”: https://bit.ly/3ISr7XKScriptures Referenced: John 18:37Genesis 3:1John 1:1, 14John 14:6Hebrews 13:8Malachi 3:6Numbers 23:9Deuteronomy 30:19-20***Follow Catherine:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catherinesegars/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodfaithandculture/Episode Image Credit: Getty/Svitlana Tytska Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This is Catherine’s most practical podcast yet. In this insightful episode, Catherine helps you leave behind the old and embrace the new in 2022 with a “Dashboard for Life,” which is a report card containing 13 gauges on how to improve in the new year. Catherine walks you through how to examine your faith life, your marriage or dating life, your family life, and nine other areas by offering simple, everyday guidance on how to make effective and lasting change. This powerful tool for self-assessment will help all of your relationships, especially your parenting relationships. But most of all, it will help improve your relationship with God, and when that relationship is better, all of your relationships are better. NOW, with each and every one of these gauges, don’t just write something down on how to improve. Our methods, our remedies often fall short. Ask God. And listen to His prompting. See what He has to say. Because He has the remedy that really works.To get the “Dashboard for Life” Report Card, subscribe on Catherine’s website: https://catherinesegars.com/OTHER RESOURCES MENTIONED:Chris Hodges’ Sermon, The Best Teacher, Dec. 26, 2021: https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/the-best-teacherFinancial class: Financial Peace University: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/ramseyplus/financial-peaceThe One Year Bible: Paperback: https://bit.ly/34RK7GZEbook: https://bit.ly/3A4yesOBible Reading Plans: https://bit.ly/3FzgdUMLife Application Bible: https://bit.ly/3A5iPINEpisode 17 of our show - “How To Discover Your Purpose in Life,” https://www.lifeaudio.com/christian-parent-crazy-world/how-to-discover-your-purpose-in-lifeSpiritual Gifts & Personality tests:https://giftstest.com/ http://www.humanmetrics.com/personalityScriptures mentioned:Psalm 100:4; Psalm 51:10; Romans 8:28; Proverbs 29:18; 2 Corinthians 10:5Episode Image Credit: Getty/gvardgraph Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The Hallmark Channel has found a cash cow with their Countdown to Christmas, attracting around 80 million viewers during the 8-week event. These films are a cultural phenomenon. Why are they so popular? After all, they are predictable and a little cheesy. Why do we love them so much?Catherine has a theory on that, which is both enlightening and entertaining. The answer is very significant both culturally and spiritually. In this episode of CHRISTIAN PARENT/CRAZY WORLD, Catherine identifies what we are really looking for when we imbibe hours of this fluffy, feel-good entertainment. And then she points us towards what we really need.ARTICLES REFERENCED:“Why Are So Many People Obsessed with Hallmark Movies?” https://bit.ly/3swRhdL“Hallmark Christmas Movies: Five Reasons To Be Careful”: https://bit.ly/3E7qPJK“Should Christians Be Concerned by the LGBTQ Direction in Hallmark Movies?”: https://bit.ly/3e7wWDl“How Should Christians Talk to Their Kids about LGBTQ Issues?”: https://bit.ly/3EeMTSP“Is It Possible to Be a Christian and a Modern Feminist?”: https://bit.ly/3Ee14azSTATISTICS MENTIONED:“How Hallmark Takes Over Your TV Every Christmas” by Emily VanDerWerff, Vox https://bit.ly/3H06cB6“Why Netflix Is Making Hallmark Christmas Movies” by Caroline Fox, Screenrant https://bit.ly/3GVQHKr“The Impact of Coronavirus on Cable TV is Mixed” by Brad Adgate, Forbes https://bit.ly/3padw76PODCASTS & BLOGS REFERENCED:CPCW Episode 13: “Four Types of Prayer Every Believer Should Know”: https://bit.ly/30Hpz2a“I Want to Live in a Hallmark Film”: https://catherinesegars.com/2019/11/26/i-want-to-live-in-a-hallmark-film/***Follow Catherine:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catherinesegars/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodfaithandculture/Episode Image Credit: Getty/Svitlana Tytska Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Culture swings on a pendulum between two extremes, and the enemy is very adept at using these extremes to his advantage. He is masterful at hiding our vices, and using a complementary virtue to reinforce what is our greatest area of weakness, as a culture and as individuals. In this episode, Catherine shows how culture how ebbs and flows between these two extremes throughout history. Then she identifies what is the greatest virtue of our culture and how the enemy is using that virtue to lead us astray.Resources mentioned:The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis: https://bit.ly/3GEdNF9Audio version from Focus on the Family: https://bit.ly/3IJP8kuThe Unfortunate Tale of the Witch of Pungo: https://bit.ly/3ymyNNFC.S. Lewis quote: https://bit.ly/33g0jB0Wisdom from Lewis (The Gospel Coalition): https://bit.ly/3Gw5dbAHedonsim (Philosophy Terms): https://philosophyterms.com/hedonism/Scriptures Referenced:Exodus 32 (The Golden Calf)2 Kings 17:33-41***Follow Catherine:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catherinesegars/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodfaithandculture/Episode Image Credit: Getty/Flash Vector Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

HOW DO YOU LIVE BIBLICALLY WHEN EVERYONE AROUND YOU ISN’T? Or a lot of people around you aren’t. In other words, how do you live a counter-cultural life? Good question, huh? We are in the middle of a series on how to be a counter-cultural Christian. In this episode, Catherine offers six guidelines to help you and your kids swim upstream in our downstream culture.At the end of life, all that matters is our faithfulness to God. Did we stand strong? Culture is always flowing downstream. Always has been. Always will. Did we go with the flow, or were we determined to swim the other way?If we want to swim upstream, we need to:(1)Know the Word(2)Find encouragement in those who swam upstream before us.(3)Question everything.(4)Expect opposition and even persecution.(5)Listen intently for God’s voice.(6)Maintain an ETERNAL MINDSETIf we can do these things, and if we can teach our kids to do these things, we will be swimming the right way. RESOURCES MENTIONED:Keys for Kids: Website: https://www.keysforkids.org/Daily Devotional: https://www.keysforkids.org/Programming/Keys-for-Kids-Daily-Devotional/Read-ListenThe Jesus Storybook Bible: https://amzn.to/3D4GPeUApologia What We Believe Series:Who Is God? And Can I Really Know Him?: https://bit.ly/314vUFnWho Am I? And What Am I Doing Here?: https://bit.ly/314jzAZWho Is My Neighbor? And Why Does He Need Me?: https://bit.ly/3D4FHI8What On Earth Can I Do?: https://bit.ly/3lktucqThe Bible Project: Website – https://bibleproject.com/How To Read the Bible (videos): https://bibleproject.com/explore/how-to-read-the-bible/Article on Yeonmi Park: “Columbia student who escaped North Korea says she sees similarities in the US”: https://bit.ly/3I4MVzF“Only One Life” by C.T. Studd: https://bit.ly/3d2puZG***Follow Catherine:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catherinesegars/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodfaithandculture/Episode Image Credit: Getty/Jorm Sangsorm Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

If we are going to swim God’s direction in this downstream culture, people will think that we are odd. They will have all kinds of choice words to describe us. We need to have this expectation in life, and we need to give our kids this expectation as well. If our children stay true to God’s Word and God’s standard, our culture will not celebrate them. In fact, our culture will accuse and may even cancel them. Other Christians may accuse and cancel them. But that’s ok. We stand in good company when we are accused and canceled for our faith. This episode is the first in a series on being a counter-cultural Christian. In order to do that, we need to (1) stay grounded in the Word, and (2) draw inspiration from those who swam upstream before us. In this first installment, Catherine gives some practical tips and lots of Biblical inspiration to help us swim upstream in our downstream culture.PODCASTS REFERENCED:CPCW 4-part Worldview series – you can find all the episodes at https://www.lifeaudio.com/christian-parent-crazy-world/episodes Episode 6: Why You Should Teach Your Kids About Other WorldviewsEpisode 7: What Other Worldviews Are Competing for Your Kids’ FaithEpisode 8: What Sets the Christian Worldview Apart from Other WorldviewsEpisode 9: How Does the Christian Worldview Create a World We All Want To Live In?Episode 4: Is Christianity Just a Religion of Do’s and Don’tsSCRIPTURES REFERENCED:Hebrews 4:12 Proverbs 14:12RESOURCES FOR SCRIPTURE SONGS:Catherine Segars’ Website: Resources : https://catherinesegars.com/resourcesEsther Mui: Scripture Songs for Worship: http://www.scripturesongsforworship.com/Seeds Family Worship: https://bit.ly/2YOHnrpThe Corner Room: https://bit.ly/3CckdJ2Sherri Youngward: http://www.sherriyoungward.com/King Things: https://bit.ly/3qzp5Wy The Bigsby Show - Books of the Bible Song: https://bit.ly/3kAQWC0The Bigsby Show - 12 Disciples Song - https://bit.ly/2YOI9EPASL Page on Handspeak (motions to aid in Scripture memory): https://www.handspeak.com/word/ARTICLES REFERENCED: “Factose Intolerance,” by Cheryl Lowe, Memoria Press: https://www.memoriapress.com/articles/factose-intolerance***Follow Catherine:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catherinesegars/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodfaithandculture/Episode Image Credit: Getty/PeterHermesFurian Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Do you know that you have a purpose in life? Like beyond parenting. Beyond what you do for a living, even, perhaps. Beyond paying the bills and doing the chores and feeding the kids. You have a purpose in life. Something that God created you to do before you were ever born. God has a very specific part for you to play in the grand story He is writing throughout all of historyIn this podcast, I’m going to talk about how to discover why you were born. I will give you the Five P’s of finding your purpose.Discovering your purpose in life really does tie into your parenting in a big way. Because when your kids see you living your purpose in life, they are going to be inspired to live out theirs. The majority of people live and die without ever discovering their purpose in life, the reason God created them. Isn’t that sad. But what is even more sad is that the majority of Christians, the majority of people who know the God who created them with a purpose to fulfill for His Kingdom, they never discover that purpose is either. They never realize why they were put on this earth. How sad is that? It is tragic, really.The 5 P’s to Your Purpose:People who fulfill their God-given purpose in life are people of prayer.They are people who plant themselves in Christ’s body, in the church. They are people who allow God to prune them without losing their faith.They are people who persevere. And all the while, they never stop praising God. The question is not “Do I have a purpose?” Scripture is clear—you do. The question is, then, “Will I discover God’s purpose for my life?” And then, “Will I fulfill God’s purpose for my life?” Or…“Will I usurp God’s purpose for my life with my own?”I encourage you to fulfill your purpose by praying, planting, allowing God to prune, the persevere, all the while praising God. And as you do this, you will be modeling for your kids how to fulfill their purpose in life too.SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:Jeremiah 1:5Isaiah 49:1-2Psalm 139:13-17Ephesians 2:10 Isaiah 46:10-11Proverbs 25:2Psalm 92:12-13John 15:1-2Psalm 144:1OTHER SOURCES REFERENCED:John Bevere Devotional“Jobs Are Hard” videoThe Road Not Taken by Robert Frost Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The more your kids understand their God-given purpose in life, the more likely they are to stay grounded in their faith into adulthood. As parents, we have this incredibly unique position in our kid’s lives. We are literally front row center for most of the first two decades. We are, hands down, the most important influence on our kids during their formative years. We have not just the ability, but the responsibility to uncover those spiritual gifts in our kids’ lives, and to cultivate them. You could say that we are the chief gardener in their lives. How well those little seeds do is, in a large part, up to us.“God gave you your kids for a reason, your specific kids. That’s because you hold the key to unlocking who God created them to be.”***Tips for Cultivating Your Child’s Spiritual Gifts:1. What do you see in your child’s life that isn’t like your other kids, or other peoples’ children? When you see a gift – feed it. Call it out and encourage it. Water that gift and watch it grow.2. Don’t compare your parenting or your kids to other kids. God specifically chose you to parent your children. What your kids need is quite simple: they need you. And God will meet all the needs you have as you parent them.***Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Pass the Baton (blog): https://catherinesegars.com/2020/12/11/pass-the-baton/Blogcasts at CatherineSegars.com: https://catherinesegars.com/category/blogcast/The Mere Mother Blogcast on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3PXxZ9OEvangeline’s Faith Testimony in Episode 14: https://bit.ly/3BjI5xMSing to Me (blog post): https://catherinesegars.com/2020/03/07/sing-to-me/***Scripture Mentioned in This Week's Episode:Jesus at the Temple: Luke 2:41-52; Philippians 4:19***Follow Catherine:Instagram | FacebookEpisode Image Credit: Getty/Olha Khorimarko Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

When you step out with God in prayer, you need to expect opposition from the enemy. That’s because prayer changes history. Your history, your child’s history, human history.***Resources:Read my article on this topic on Crosswalk.comGod Is Good, But This Isn’t: Blogcast Recording | Article.Take Heart: 100 Devotions to Seeing God When Life's Not Okay***Scriptures to Pray When You Go to Battle in Prayer:Jeremiah 24:7John 8:31-32 2 Corinthians 3:16-172 Peter 3:9 Exodus 23:25-26Galatians 3:29 Matthew 6:10Romans 8:28Whatever happens in this life, it won’t happen because I didn’t pray with faith. Whatever doesn’t happen in this life, it won’t fail to happen because I didn’t pray with faith. Because I didn’t fight, because I didn’t take the authority that God has given me, those keys, and use them to speak forth what I believe is His will here on earth. HERE’S THE BOTTOM LINE when it comes to prayer. Our faith in prayer must not be in a certain outcome—now we may be praying for a particular outcome. Our faith must be in God regardless of the outcome. ***Follow Catherine:Instagram | FacebookEpisode Image Credit: Getty/Yelyzaveta Hryhorieva Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Get close to God. Seek His face. Declare who He is. Exclaim His goodness. Ask for direction. Request what you need. And command His will to be done here on earth in your life as it is in heaven. Pray some bold prayers. Scriptures referenced:James 1:5Philippians 4:6-7Psalm 37:4Psalm 144:1-2Article referenced:Is God Still Speaking to Us in Dreams, Even Today?Read my article on this topic on Crosswalk.comTeaching referenced:8 Steps to Find Redemption after Loss***Follow Catherine at https://catherinesegars.com/Episode Image Credit: Getty/Yelyzaveta Hryhorieva Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

I love apologetics, explaining the faith and equipping parents to help their children stand strong in the faith. But there comes a time in life when we need to stop explaining and start exercising – we’ve got to start walking out all that we know.In this episode, we will cover:1. The four types of prayers we should be praying when we are in a battle for one of our kids2. The greatest impediments that keep us from being effective in our prayers.***The Four Types of Prayers:1. Declarative Prayer2. Exclamatory Prayer3. Interrogative Prayer4. Imperative Prayer ***Scriptures referenced:James 1:5Phil. 4:6-7Matthew 16:19 Matthew 18:18Luke 10:19Mark 11:23John 14:122 Chronicles 16:9Matthew 13:58***Read my article on this topic on Crosswalk.com***Books referenced:Intercessory Prayer: How God Can Use Your Prayers to Move Heaven and Earth by Dutch Sheets, pg. 23 & 29.Confronting the Powers by C. Peter Wagner, pg. 242.The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson***Follow Catherine at https://catherinesegars.com/Episode Image Credit: Getty/siraanamwong Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We spend a lot of time worrying that our children will leave the faith in college. But statistics show that children are more likely to leave the faith before they leave the nest.In this episode, Catherine covers:1. What is to blame when your child walks away from the faith (and what NOT to blame).2. A battleplan for going to war for your child’s faithArticles and Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Read Catherine's accompanying article on Crosswalk: https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/what-to-do-if-your-child-has-walked-away-from-the-faith.htmlAlready Gone: Why Your Kids Will Quit Church And What You Can Do To Stop It by Ken Ham, Britt Beemer, and Todd Hillard (pgs. 31-32)Fasting: Opening the Door to a Deeper, More Intimate, More Powerful Relationship with God by Jentzen Franklin.Praying Circles Around Your Children by Mark Batterson.House of Miracles by Brandon Lake.***Scripture Referenced in this Episode:The Good Shepherd & the lost sheep: Luke 15:3-71 Peter 5:8 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”The Armor of God: Ephesians 6:10-20 Exodus 17:8-16: Israel’s battle with Amalekites.***Quotes on prayer:J. Edwin Orr “History is silent on revivals that did not begin with prayer.” The Great Oswald Chambers called prayer "the greater work."W. Clement Stone: “Prayer is man’s greatest power.” Watchman Nee: “Our prayers lay the track down through Gods power can come. Like a mighty locomotive, his power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails.” ****Follow Catherine at https://catherinesegars.com/Episode Image Credit: Getty/Qvasimodo Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We have all heard at some point to “speak the truth in love." But how exactly do we do that? Where in scripture are we instructed to do so? In this episode, we are going to break down this popular saying and discuss how to humbly lead others to the truth. Our goal should not just be to speak the truth, but that our expression of truth is effective and genuine. Resources Mentioned:Article: The Danger of Speaking Truth without Love by Catherine SegarsScripture Referenced:Paul’s admonition to speak the truth in love: 1 Corinthians 13Zacchaeus’ story: Luke 19The woman at the well: John 4The woman caught in adultery: John 8"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 NIV)Paul’s admonition not to judge the world: (1 Corinthians 5:12).Follow Catherine at https://catherinesegars.com/Episode Image Credit: Canva Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Our social and political landscape is incredibly contentious. We need guidelines to help us and our kids navigate these treacherous waters. In this episode, we discuss how to talk about sensitive topics with our kids, telling them the truth – which is often offensive -- but with love. How do we do that? I’ve got 6 guidelines.Read the article that goes with this episode.GUIDELINES:1. Listen. Really listen.2. Respect other people’s beliefs. Don’t ridicule3. Don’t assume a motive. Challenge methods, not motives.4. Be more concerned about people than your position.5. Speak in love while never denying truth.6. Recognize that what people need most is not an argument, it is an experience with God.Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. (Matt. 7:12)***Resources and Articles Mentioned in This Episode:The “love” chapter: 1 Corinthians 13The Danger of Speaking Truth without LoveC.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity" BroadcastC.S. Lewis' conversion from atheism to Christianity C.S. Lewis quote on his encounter with God at Oxford***Follow Catherine at https://catherinesegars.com/***Episode Image Credit: Getty/Gvardgraph Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This episode is the culmination of all the hard work we have done in the last three episodes! We are going to look at why the other worldviews we’ve looked at begin to fall apart because they don’t accurately explain and represent reality.Resources and Articles Mentioned in This Episode:1. Eric Metaxas interview with John Smirak2. John Smirak article: Is the Woke Cult Just a Spastic Reaction to Darwinism?3. Christian Headlines article on Richard Dawkins, Atheist Richard Dawkins Says Its 'Wise and Sensible' to Abort Babies with Down Syndrome, Serious Disabilities4. Five Worldview Comparison Chart from Xenos.org5. Postmodernists deny that there "are objective, or absolute, moral values.”6. William Wilberforce’s Christian faith and crusade to end the slave trade.7. The testimony of John Newton8. Martin Luther Kings’ 'I Have a Dream' Speech“***Follow Catherine at https://catherinesegars.com/***Episode Image Credit: Getty/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Natasha Crain expertly challenges us: Instead of asking if a worldview is religious or non-religious, we should ask – from where does this worldview get its authority?Research and Resources That Went into This Episode:Natasha Crain’s Website: https://natashacrain.com/Crain’s podcast that asks, “From where does this worldview get its authority?”Debate between Alan Dershowitz and Alan Keyes on religions role in society (quoted material starts around 32:00)https://www.c-span.org/video/?159474-1/organized-religion-debateSlaves Sold by African Rulers and Tribal Merchants:https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zxt3gk7/revision/7https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NXC4Q_4JVgArab-Muslim Slave trade:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OdIqeWkhHUhttps://jcpa.org/article/the-arab-muslim-slave-trade-lifting-the-taboo/https://jtf.org/10-facts-about-the-arab-muslim-enslavement-of-black-people-not-taught-in-schools/Follow Catherine at https://catherinesegars.com/Episode Image Credit: Getty/Qvasimodo Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today, we’re getting brainy. But we’re also going to have a lot of fun. The subject of worldviews can be overwhelming and confusing. But you and your kids are going to need to understand these concepts. I break down each main worldview in easy-to-understand terms and have a ton of resources to help you explore and explain these worldviews to your kids.When it comes to worldviews, the question we have to ask ourselves is: “Which worldview best represents and explains reality?” We don’t want our kids to believe the Christian faith just because we told them to, but because they have investigated other worldviews and believe Christianity is the best explanation of reality.We want our kids’ beliefs to be:Sound, Logical, Cohesive, Coherent, and ConvincingWhen you combine all of that with a personal relationship, your kids will have a really solid faith. If you missed Episode 6, be sure to go back and check it out.So, what are the various worldviews?1. Naturalism 2. Pantheism3. Theism or Monotheism4. Spiritism and Polytheism5. Postmodernism6. Pluralism7. Moralistic Therapeutic DeismMORE RESOURCES ON WORLDVIEW:- Xenos.org article, “Five Worldviews,” by Dennis McCallum: https://www.xenos.org/essays/five-worldviews - Chart on worldviews: https://rw360values.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Six-Worldviews.pdf- Cheat sheet on existentialism: https://www.dummies.com/education/philosophy/existentialism-for-dummies-cheat-sheet/- MIT Physicist Ian Hutchinson quote on scientism: https://www.ligonier.org/blog/what-worldview/- Pew Research Center statistic on belief in God: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/04/25/key-findings-about-americans-belief-in-god/- Ligonier Ministries article “What is a Worldview” by James Anderson: https://www.ligonier.org/blog/what-worldview/ FOLLOW CATHERINEhttps://catherinesegars.com/Episode Image Credit: Getty/Benjavisa Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Some might argue that we should simply teach our kids the principles of the Christian faith and ignore other worldviews. Isn’t knowing the truth enough?Catherine doesn’t think so. We want our kid’s faith to be challenged. Resistance creates strength. Lack of resistance creates a wimpy, flabby faith.In this episode, she will give you FIVE reasons why we want to teach our kids other worldviews. You can read the article that accompanies this episode here.Resources Mentioned:Mama Bear Apologetics: Empowering Your Kids to Challenge Cultural Lies, by Hillary Morgan Ferrer, states: “Most studies indicate between 45%-48% of youth leave the church after their freshman year in college and never return” (pg. 27)Bible Verses Referenced:“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8Jesus told us to be “be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16The Great Commission: Matthew 28:18-20“I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” 1 Corinthians 9:22-23The Athenian Altar to the Unknown God: Acts 17:22-34Follow Catherine at https://catherinesegars.com/Episode Image Credit: Getty/lemono Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

If we want our kids to stand strong in their faith, we need to have real answers to some of their hardest questions about God and His Word.Why did God use men to write his book? In this episode, Catherine unpacks this question and the powerful, life-altering answer. The fact is: that God used the men and women he did to write the Bible and share the gospel should give us incredible hope for our own lives.Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Intercessory Prayer: How God Can Use Your Prayers to Move Heaven and Earth by Dutch SheetsBible Verses Discussed in This Episode:2 Chronicles 16:9; Matthew 13:54-58Find Catherine at https://catherinesegars.com/Episode Image Credit: Getty/Daseugen Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

One of the main reasons young people are leaving the faith is because they are growing up in a legalistic faith. They approached their faith as a list of do’s and don’ts. Their relationship with God was a checklist, a duty.In this episode, Catherine unpacks what the rules in the Bible are all about, why they are important, and how we sometimes misunderstand what they are about. The rules aren’t about pleasing God. God’s rules are given as a way to approach us.Scripture Referenced in This Episode:The tree of knowledge of good and evil: Genesis 2:15-17The Parable of the Lost Sheep: Luke 15:1-7The Parable of the Lost Son: Luke 15:11-32Resources Mentioned in This Episode:Church of the Highlands: Freedom CurriculumLiving in the Tree of Life, Jan. 17, 2021, Chris Hodges, Church of the HighlandsEpisode Image Credit: Getty/Maliha Majeed Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In the last episode, we talked about what our kids need for an authentic faith. We concluded that we need to teach our kids how to wrestle - how to contend - for their faith. One of the primary reasons cited for this youth exodus by Tom Bisset in his book Why Christian Kids Leave the Faith is surprisingly simple: “They left because they never personally owned their faith.” In other words, their faith was an offshoot of their parent’s spiritual journey. Like Esau, who didn’t value the birthright his father wanted to bestow, these kids never found a personal faith. They never wrestled with God like Jacob did. They never contended with the ideas of men and women. They never learned how to overcome. And when faced with worldly ideals backed by popular secular ideology, the faith of these young people couldn’t stand.In this episode, Catherine shares 7 steps parents can take to help their kids begin to wrestle with their faith.Be sure to check out Catherine's accompanying article: Christian Kids Are Leaving the Faith. What Can We Do About It?Episode Image Credit: Oleksandr Pupko Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The key to an authentic faith? Wrestling. In this episode, Catherine walks us through the story of Jacob and how, through his wrestling, his faith became his own.A new LifeWay Research survey says Two-thirds of young people say they stopped regularly going to church for at least a year between the ages of 18 and 22.Why Christian Kids Leave the Faith by Tom Bissett. In that book, he gives the top four reasons. Scripture Covered in this Episode:Esau despises his birthright: Genesis 25:19-34Jacob takes Esau’s blessings: Genesis 27Jacob wrestles with God: Genesis 32:22-32Be sure to check out Catherine's related article: Christian Kids Are Leaving the Faith. What Can We Do About It?Find Catherine at https://catherinesegars.com/ Episode Image Credit: Getty/SurfUpVector Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

An astronomical number of Christian young people are leaving the faith after they leave the nest. A recent New LifeWay Research survey shows that two-thirds of Christian youth stop attending church for at least a year between the ages of 18 and 22.A study from the Assemblies of God shows that “at least half and possibly over two-thirds of Christian young people will step away from the faith while attending a non-Christian college or university.” A similar study from the Southern Baptist Convention “indicates that they are currently losing 70-88% of their youth after their freshman year in college.”In her recent book, Mama Bear Apologetics, Hillary Morgan Ferrer offers a somber reality when it comes to our Christian teens and twenty-somethings: “Most studies indicate between 45%-48% of youth leave the church after their freshman year in college and never return.” (pg. 27)If the massive youth exodus we are experiencing in the church doesn’t concern us as parents, it should.In this inaugural episode of CPCW, Catherine breaks down what is happening to youth in our churches, so we as parents can understand how to counteract this trend.See Catherine’s supplemental article on Crosswalk: “Christian Kids Are Leaving the Faith. What Can We Do About It?” https://bit.ly/3rNY5lj RESOURCES REFERENCED:“Most Teenagers Drop Out of Church When They Become Young Adults,” Lifeway Research: https://bit.ly/3T6FAV8 “Young adults are dropping out of church in large numbers, survey finds. This is Why.” USA Today: https://bit.ly/2DdLlw8“Mama Bear Apologetics: Empowering Your Kids to Challenge Cultural Lies” by Hillary Morgan Ferrer: https://bit.ly/3ys5Bq3 “You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving the Church… and Rethinking Faith” by David Kinnaman: https://bit.ly/3EqFXpd “Are Young People Really Leaving Christianity,” Cold Case Christianity: https://bit.ly/2S0fM1M; (This resource contained the following referenced studies: Assemblies of God Study by Dayton A. Kingsrite, 2007; Southern Baptist Convention Data T.C. Pinkey’s remarks to the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, Nashville, Tennessee, 2001; Southern Baptist Council on Family Life report to Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, 2002)“The Tops Reasons Young People Drop Out of Church,” by Griffen Paul Jackson, Christianity Today: https://bit.ly/2MS0OFk “Why Christian Kids Leave the Faith” Tom Bisset, Discovery House Publishers (1992). https://amzn.to/3fUSM11 Find Catherine at https://catherinesegars.com/ Episode Image Credit: Getty/Aleksei Morozov Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.