Advertise on podcast: The Better Part - Intentional Living for Christian Moms with a Bible-Loving Catholic Mama

Submission can be a scary word for a lot of wives. In this episode, Jenna shares about her experiences with submission in marriage and how it has been a surprise blessing to her and her family. She speaks on how she shows respect to her husband and how even in the hardest instances of submission, it is better to be wrong together than right apart. She encourages listeners to consider how they respect their husbands and how submission can be a blessing to their marriage too. Resources: Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson EggerichsEphesians 5:21 - 33

In this episode, Jenna shares her thoughts about spiritual warfare, emphasizing the importance of discernment in recognizing spiritual influences in our lives. Jenna cautions against hastily attributing challenges to spiritual forces without prayer, advocating for a balanced approach to understanding both divine guidance and everyday obstacles.

In this episode, Jenna shares personal updates as she approaches the end of her pregnancy and reflects on her journey with prayer and holiness. She discusses the distractions that can arise in both prayer and the pursuit of holiness, emphasizing the importance of God's grace and encouragement found in scripture. Jenna's insights aim to inspire listeners to navigate their own struggles with faith and personal growth, knowing that even "a bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick He will not quench." Isaiah 42:3.

In this episode, Jenna explores the biblical figures Lois and Eunice, who played a significant role in instilling faith in Timothy. She emphasizes the importance of nurturing faith in children through everyday conversations and integrating scripture into daily life. The discussion highlights practical ways to encourage faith-based discussions within families, drawing inspiration from the teachings of Deuteronomy and the impact of parental guidance on children's spiritual journeys. Podcast Interview with Christian Smith: https://www.churchleadership.com/podcast/how-parents-pass-religious-faith-to-their-children-featuring-christian-smith/ Lost in Translation by Christian Smith: https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Transition-Dark-Emerging-Adulthood/dp/0199828024

In this episode, Jenna discusses the biblical character Abigail from 1 Samuel 25. She highlights Abigail's unique qualities, her bravery, and her diplomatic approach in a tense situation with David. Jenna draws parallels between Abigail's story and the importance of humility and understanding in modern conversations, especially in the political sphere. She encourages listeners to engage in civil discourse and to see the dignity in others, regardless of differing opinions.

In this episode, Jenna delves into the stories of Leah and Rachel from Genesis, exploring themes of love, approval, and personal transformation. She reflects on Leah's struggles with her husband's preference for her sister Rachel and how Leah ultimately finds solace in her relationship with God. Jenna also shares her own experiences with social anxiety and the desire for approval, encouraging listeners to seek God's love over the validation of others.

In this episode, Jenna shares her personal journey as she approaches motherhood while exploring the complex stories of Rachel and Leah from the Bible. She delves into the themes of motherhood, personal fulfillment, and the generational wounds that affect family dynamics. Through Rachel's struggles with infertility and her eventual motherhood, Jenna reflects on the societal pressures and personal aspirations that many women face today. The conversation encourages listeners to find joy and meaning in their daily lives, emphasizing that small acts of love and faithfulness can have a profound impact. Read more about this story in Genesis 29-31 and get ready for next week when we discuss Leah!

In this Episode, Jenna Scott delves into the characteristics of the Proverbs 31 woman in the second part of the passage, emphasizing her strength, dignity, and the importance of serving her family. She reflects on the heart behind the actions of this ideal woman, discussing the balance of confidence and reverence for God, and how this relationship influences her ability to serve without anxiety. The conversation encourages listeners to prioritize their families and recognize the value of their contributions, even when they go unnoticed.

In this episode, Jenna discusses the significance of Proverbs 31, focusing on the ideal wife and her contributions to the household. She contrasts this with the harsher views presented in Sirach 25, emphasizing the value and impact a wife has on her family. Jenna reflects on her own experiences and the importance of uplifting her household, while also acknowledging the challenges of balancing responsibilities. This episode encourages listeners to strive for the ideal wife as depicted in Proverbs 31, recognizing the worth of their contributions, no matter how small.

This week we talk about Miriam, Moses and Aaron's sister who helped lead the Israelite nation from exile in Egypt and through the desert. Miriam was a powerhouse woman who was courageous in Egypt, a leader for the people, and a steady force along with Moses and Aaron. Miriam is also known for her story in Numbers 12 when she and Aaron (who were grumbling about Moses and complaining about his position as leader of the trio) got mightily told off by God and she consequently was given leprosy for seven days. In this episode I reflect on why Miriam was the one to receive the physical punishment and how we find ourselves in the same sin as Miriam in our lives. Though we may know a lot about those we spend time with, we will never know them as God does. We can trust His will for them (and us), and we should never cease praying for one another as we continue on the journey. Please pray for me! I will pray for you too!

Continuing on to learn from women in the Bible, we look at Hannah, who appears in the beginning of 1 Samuel. Hannah is a beautiful example to us of faithful femininity. In her anguish of not having children, she bears her soul before the Lord in the temple and beseeches Him to grant her a child. In an exchange she offers to give her child right back to Him. When God does grant her the child she desires, she follows through with her promise and gives up the one thing she always wanted. I am grateful to Hannah for her example of detachment and reflecting on her helps me to call out what idols are in my life. I encourage you to take Hannah's story to prayer and consider what would be the most difficult thing for you to give up, should God ask. This might be an idol in your life that you need to offer to God and ask Him to help you overcome it. **CORRECTION** A psalm to pray to claim God is king is psalm 93, not psalm 91 like I mistakenly say in this episode!

The most relatable woman with the least relatable story: Queen Esther! Esther was given a role she never would have predicted and followed God's voice by simply following the guidance of her cousin, Modecai. She went through times of doubt and fear, yet eventually chose to put her life on the line for her people. Sometimes God speaks to us in small ways that we may overlook. Esther reminds us that God can speak through trusted family and friends and that we only have the job of being faithful. When we are overwhelmed with our responsibilities as mothers, wives, etc. we can look to Esther to know that God can make our small, flawed efforts extraordinary. He only needs our "yes!"

Today we think about Anna, the prophetess who got to witness the presentation of Jesus at the temple. This holy woman does not have much about her in the Bible, but we can tell that she was a prayerful woman who, though she had experienced hardship, never gave up on seeking God. She was granted the gift of meeting Jesus and proclaiming His identity to those around her. May we all have enough openness in our hearts to welcome whatever God puts in our way and to have the relationship with Him that we may recognize Him when we see Him. Anna models a life of prayer that molded her relationship with God. If you have had trouble hearing God's voice in the past, check out The Lila Rose Show episode 218 where Jonna Schuster lays out a methodical way of prayer and hearing God's voice in various ways.

I'm starting a new solo series about women from the Bible! Learning from them--their wisdom and their mistakes. Today we talk about one of my very favorites, Martha. She gets a bad rap sometimes, because she comes to Jesus complaining about her sister, Mary, but I believe that Jesus' love for Martha comes through in the story as He invites her to not worry so much about solving problems and to simply come and be with Him. In this episode I share ways that I relate with Martha and how Jesus is currently inviting me to choose "the better part" by simply choosing Him. Let us not get so focused on the specific problems in our lives that we miss the ultimate solution--God Himself. Join me in future weeks for reflections on other amazing women of the Bible.

For our last episode of the series, Stefani Blackwell and I go through eight different topics that (although sticky) didn't warrant a full episode. Many of these topics are more about personal preference as a parent as opposed to moral issues, so we simply share about how we have handled them in our homes without giving straight opinions on a "right" way to do them. Now that we have larger families (and older kids), we take many preferential things less seriously than we did when our kids were younger and that is a big relief! We also discuss that these topics are so much easier to handle when you are in a good place in your marriage. We give a few helpful hints, but encourage you to check out the marriage series I did last spring on The Better Part. Check out all episodes beginning "marriage," for MUCH more marriage discussion.