Have you ever wondered why we experience fear in the first place? In this episode, we’re going back to our roots! Laura and Emily examine fear through the gospel lens—creation, fall, redemption, consummation—reminding us that our fears have an explanation. It hasn’t always been this way, and because of Christ, it won’t be this way forever! If you’re new here or been with us since the beginning, we hope you’ll be encouraged to see your fears in light of the greatest story—God’s story. Note: We kn...
Feb 10, 2021•28 min•Ep. 182
Motherhood offers no shortage of reasons to fear, which is why we’re doing a deep dive into the topic in this mini-series. In the first episode in this 7-episode series, Laura and Emily talk about some of the fears they’ve faced in the past year. Not all fear is bad though, so they give us examples of different types of fear and talk about the best kind—the fear of the Lord. If you find yourself in a state of fear, you’re not alone. Let’s fight our fears together with the truth of God’s word. __...
Feb 03, 2021•25 min•Ep. 181
As moms, we all fall short of the glory of God day after day. So we need to preach the gospel to ourselves again and again. But how do we actually do that? In this episode, Emily and Laura share how reminding yourself of the gospel is an important part of the Christian walk—but it requires some practice. To preach the gospel, we have to know the gospel. It’s the only thing that keeps us from being defined by the time we yelled in the car or hid in the pantry stress-eating dark chocolate. Momma, ...
Dec 16, 2020•27 min•Ep. 180
There’s just something about music that helps us remember things we’ve learned in a way that other methods can’t match! In this episode, Emily and Laura celebrate our opportunity to worship God through song. No matter what our singing voices sound like, we can all benefit from remembering God’s goodness and faithfulness through shared songs in the Christian faith. By inviting these moments of worship into our homes, we’re able to experience the joy of knowing God and resting in his promises as a...
Dec 09, 2020•25 min•Ep. 179
Can a mom really develop a personal understanding of the Bible in the season of young children? In this episode, Emily and Laura chat with author and Bible teacher, Jen Wilkin, about her passion for biblical literacy. Jen encourages moms to pursue a firsthand knowledge of scripture and gives practical examples of what this might look like. She offers encouragement to set aside larger blocks of time, get involved in a structured study with accountability, and consistently consume the word wheneve...
Dec 02, 2020•35 min•Ep. 178
One of the most exciting things we can teach our children is that Jesus came to earth as a tiny baby and that he’s coming back as the King. This past-and-future perspective is at the heart of the Advent season as we celebrate what has happened and wait expectantly for what is to come. In this episode, Emily and Laura explain the meaning of Advent, share ways to celebrate, and encourage moms to find freedom in the Christmas season. Instead of running into the holidays with added pressure of one m...
Nov 18, 2020•23 min•Ep. 177
It’s natural to prefer spending time with moms who share similar parenting values, lifestyle choices, and special interests with us. On the other hand, most of us can instantly think of a mom we avoid, because she makes us uncomfortable with her views in a gray-area of motherhood. These feelings beg the question, “How should we love and interact with those who do motherhood differently than us, especially when those differences breed difficulties?” In this episode, Emily and Laura apply the gosp...
Nov 11, 2020•27 min•Ep. 176
At R|M, we love sharing great resources! In this all new episode, Emily and Laura share a Top 10 List of best products to encourage and equip us in our relationship with the Lord along with gift ideas for kids and some of their personal favorite books. As much as we love these beautiful, intentional, and creative resources, we hope they ultimately point you to Christ and his word. Resources can be helpful, but only God’s word is essential. We’re grateful to Operation Christmas Child for helping ...
Nov 04, 2020•32 min•Ep. 175
Moms know that you don’t start reading a storybook in the middle! If you skip the first half, your kids miss important aspects of the plot and the character development. Instead, you start at the very beginning and view all of the parts as a whole. But for some reason, when it comes to the Bible, we often toss that concept aside and go straight for the easier-to-understand New Testament books. In this episode, Emily and Laura discuss the importance of reading the Old Testament, citing eight reas...
Oct 28, 2020•24 min•Ep. 174
We know we should be grateful for the gifts God has given us in motherhood. But instead, we may find ourselves battling discontentment, anxiety, and stress over our inability to keep up with even the simplest tasks. In this episode, Emily and Laura talk with author Hannah Anderson about her book Humble Roots . Hannah applies gospel-truth to challenging topics like postpartum body image, vocational or ministry calling, and dealing with the temptation to live for our ideal version of motherhood in...
Oct 21, 2020•37 min•Ep. 173
Evangelism is an essential part of the Christian life—so why does it feel so overwhelming and awkward? Maybe you worry you’ll say the wrong thing or offend someone. But when you think about it, is there anything better or more beautiful than sharing Christ? In this episode, Emily and Laura discuss some common pitfalls we experience in evangelism and the gospel hope that drives us to try again. From the people in our homes to those we see in our communities, we can share the greatest news of Chri...
Oct 14, 2020•29 min•Ep. 172
Scroll through Pinterest or eavesdrop in a coffee shop and you might see or hear something along the lines of, “All I need is a whole lotta of Jesus and a little bit of coffee/tacos/Netflix/sleep.” While it’s usually said in jest, we all have little crutches that we tend to rely on when we’re in survival mode. In this episode, Emily and Laura talk about potential crutches in motherhood like wine, shopping, or social media. While these things may make us feel good temporarily, only Christ is the ...
Oct 07, 2020•27 min•Ep. 171
The daily hardships of motherhood weigh on us—difficult decisions, potty training, sleeplessness, and more. But sometimes we experience deeper, more profound suffering that makes us cry out, “Why God?” In this episode, Emily and Laura offer gospel encouragement for those in the midst of deep suffering. Suffering is different for everyone, but scripture offers unshakeable hope in every situation. Since God didn’t excuse himself from suffering, one day—through Christ—our suffering will give way to...
Sep 30, 2020•26 min•Ep. 170
Kids say the darndest things sometimes, don’t they? Maybe it’s a comment about someone’s hair while you’re in line at the grocery store or they ask a question about someone’s dialect when you have a neighbor over for dinner, but no matter where it happens, it’s normal for children to show curiosity about God’s diverse design. In this episode, Trillia Newbell joins Emily and Laura to share practical ways we can explain God’s very good idea about diversity to our children, exposing them to differe...
Sep 23, 2020•35 min•Ep. 169
You know that little voice in your head? The one that pipes up when you feel guilt over letting your kids eat too many cookies or sets off an internal alarm when you watch something questionable? All of us have one, but it’s not necessarily the Holy Spirit. What is it exactly? In this episode, Emily and Laura explore the topic of personal conscience. God gave us a conscience to help discern what’s right and wrong in the everyday “gray” areas of life. While it can be dulled by sin, God can recali...
Sep 16, 2020•28 min•Ep. 168
Parenting alongside your husband can sometimes feel awkward and bumpy. We want to be intentional, but it can seem like we have wildly different styles and strategies than our spouses! In this episode, Emily and Laura dive into the topic of marital unity. Even though we have different upbringings, personalities, strengths, and weaknesses, God has joined us in marriage for his mission. He designed for us to do it together! Through Christ, we can have humility, forgive one another, refocus on our m...
Sep 09, 2020•25 min•Ep. 167
Even when it seems like you've done everything right as a mom, inevitably, things still don't go as planned. Someone disobeys, comes down with a fever, talks back or leaves their toy on the ground for you to step on, and in no time...you blow it. Your hopes for a near-perfect day are dashed, leaving you wondering if there's even any point in trying. On today's episode, Emily and Laura talk about those bad moments and how we’re tempted to let them dominate our whole day. But we don't have to get ...
Sep 02, 2020•22 min•Ep. 166
Whether we’re answering a hard question, navigating a public meltdown, or wading through a sibling conflict, as moms, we’re well-acquainted with the benefits of pausing to consider the best next steps. Reflecting instead of reacting can help us keep our eyes on the gospel. In this episode, Emily and Laura reflect on five years of the podcast and share a big announcement about some exciting changes on the horizon for Risen Motherhood! But one thing that will never change is our passion for bringi...
Aug 26, 2020•34 min•Ep. 165
As much as we may desire to live with eternal purpose and become more like Christ, some days we’re doing well just to keep the diapers changed—much less figure out how we can change. In this episode, Emily and Laura get practical about how we change into the image of Christ. Drawing from David Powlison’s book, How Does Sanctification Work? , they unpack five things that contribute to our growth in godliness. God is changing us and using our lives for something that matters as we live faithfully ...
May 06, 2020•27 min•Ep. 164
As you make the meals, change the diapers, settle the arguments, and fold the laundry day after day, do you ever wonder if any of it really matters? With so many immediate needs in front of us, it can be easy to lose sight of our eternal purpose. In this episode, Emily and Laura discuss some simple (yet profound) truths that help clarify our destination and goal as believers in Christ. When we remember that we’re being conformed to the image of Jesus and one day we’ll dwell with him for eternity...
Apr 29, 2020•24 min•Ep. 163
Read alouds aren’t just for our little ones. We can find great encouragement and joy in having the word of God read over us and explained. So in this special episode, Emily and Laura invite John Piper to read and reflect on what he considers to be the greatest chapter in the Bible, Romans 8. As he walks us through this incredible passage, John Piper connects its themes of suffering and loss to motherhood, encouraging us that no matter how deep the waters of our suffering, God’s unshakeable love ...
Apr 22, 2020•18 min•Ep. 162
All moms have important work to do—work in the home, the community, and the church. But income-producing work can bring unique challenges. So, in this episode, Emily and Laura invite four women to share about what they’ve learned as they balance work and motherhood, seeking to honor God and serve faithfully in every sphere of life. No matter what kinds of work we do, we can reflect the image of God who is always at work in the world and in our lives. We’re grateful to Crossway for making this we...
Apr 15, 2020•18 min•Ep. 161
Motherhood comes with lots of hard things—but by God’s grace, those very things can bring fruit in our lives. In this episode, Emily and Laura interview Jani Ortlund about some of the hard things she faced as a mom of young children, like fatigue, fear, and finances. Jani is a writer, speaker, and podcast host who ministers alongside her husband, Ray. She is a mother of four and grandmother of fourteen who remembers well the challenges of the little years. In the midst of the hard, she encourage...
Apr 08, 2020•39 min•Ep. 160
When we say, “The gospel changes everything,” we mean everything ! Even the way we think about makeup. Whether you’re a mom who loves it or hates it, wears it or doesn't, exploring our thoughts and feelings about makeup opens a window into our beliefs about beauty and identity. Join Emily and Laura in this episode for some fun conversation and gospel application as they consider how we can rightly enjoy beauty and be good stewards of our bodies, while ultimately finding our identity in Christ. W...
Apr 01, 2020•26 min•Ep. 159
Whenever we ask the R|M community for questions, they range from lighthearted and practical to thought-provoking and theological, which makes the AUA show something special. In this one-hour episode, Emily and Laura answer listeners’ questions from how to survive motherhood without family support and how to protect children from negative influences, to how they maintain privacy for their families on social media and what their quiet time looks like. We hope as you listen, you’ll see how the gosp...
Mar 25, 2020•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 158
The Bible is the timeless word of God, but finding time to study it as a mom of young children can feel nearly impossible. Does it count as a quiet time if we’re surrounded by noisy children? How is it possible that no matter how early we wake up for Bible study, our children seem to wake up earlier? The little years bring real struggles for spending time in God’s word, but there’s hope! In this special bonus episode, Emily and Laura share a chapter from their book, Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope...
Mar 18, 2020•19 min•Ep. 157
On one hand, we may feel like we’re never alone as moms—even going to the bathroom often becomes a family activity! On the other hand, motherhood can feel lonely and isolating. Caring for our families often leaves little time and energy for nurturing our friendships. But we’re not meant to live in isolation—we need friends who point us to Christ and encourage us in our mission! In this episode, Emily and Laura invite four women to share their thoughts on navigating friendship in the busyness of ...
Mar 11, 2020•15 min•Ep. 156
Prayer seems like one of the most basic parts of the Christian life, but it can also be one of the most confusing. What exactly is prayer? What should we pray for? Are there things we shouldn’t pray for? How do we teach our kids to pray? In this episode, Emily and Laura discuss these questions and more with Kristie Anyabwile. Kristie shares from her wisdom and experience, encouraging us to go boldly and confidently to the Lord in prayer. We don’t have to do it perfectly, because we have a perfec...
Mar 04, 2020•38 min•Ep. 155
If the word “discipline” makes you feel confused, discouraged, or even defeated, you’re not alone! As our children transition from sweet, snuggly babies into tantrum-throwing toddlers, we can see that they need discipline, but knowing how to discipline is a different matter. We may wonder whether there’s a “right” way or a “Christian” way to discipline. We may even find ourselves wishing someone would just give us a cheat sheet with all the answers! In this episode, Emily shares some of her expe...
Feb 26, 2020•30 min•Ep. 154
Busy. Distracted. Overwhelmed. Worn out. Are these the inevitable characteristics of motherhood? Or is there another way? In this episode, Laura shares her journey from “hurry sickness” to rest. She helps clarify the biblical practice of Sabbath and explains how orienting one day of the week toward rest and worship can change all the other days. Even moms can find Sabbath rest as our hands do good while our hearts rest in the gospel! We’re grateful to Bethany House Publishers and Kristen Whether...
Feb 19, 2020•23 min•Ep. 153
