I witnessed a car accident last week and that experience has stuck with me. There are a couple thoughts from it that I want to share with you. Thanks for listening! Learn more about me at https://www.lyssastoyko.com/ Want to say hello? Follow me on Facebook and Insta @lyssastoyko Email me at [email protected] Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thanks!

Meghan Price joins me today for a conversation about hosting through Safe Families for Children. That organization provides an alternative to foster care that supports families through short-term placements. Listen in as Meghan shares about the continued relationship that her family has been able to build with one of the children that she hosted years ago, and the ways God has grown her family through that experience. Interested in learning more about Safe Families? Visit their website at https://safe-families.org/ Learn more about me at https://www.lyssastoyko.com/ Want to say hello? Follow me on Facebook and Insta @lyssastoyko Email me at [email protected] Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thanks!

School is upon us once again! Whether you are sending your kiddos to public or private school or embarking upon another year of homeschooling, this is a time of transition for many families. Or maybe some other event has caused your family routines to be thrown off a bit. We all go through times when we need to recalibrate and figure out what we want our days to look like. Joining me for this episode is Rachael Link, a mom of four and a homeschool mom, and a dear friend. She has some great suggestions for how to establish structure that help both us and our kids enjoy our days more. Learn more about me at https://www.lyssastoyko.com/ Want to say hello? Follow me on Facebook and Insta @lyssastoyko Email me at [email protected] Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thanks!

This episode wraps up our Summer with Encanto series. What does it mean that you are "more than just your gift"? That "the miracle is you, not some gift, just you"? Our identity is more than our looks, our likes, our personality and our skills. Our identity is rooted in the work and person of Jesus Christ. Let's take some time together to look more closely at what that means. Verses Referenced: Mama, you bear God’s image:  So, God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27   Mama, you are known by God: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14-15 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up;     you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down     and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue,     behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before,     and lay your hand upon me. Psalm 139:1-5 So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” Genesis 16:13 Mama, you are loved fully by God: For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10 that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 Mama, he died because he loves you But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10 Mama, you are forgiven and redeemed If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14 …as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Psalm 103: 12 Mama, you are his child See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are…1 John 3:1 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8:14-17 Mama, you are safe with him God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea. Psalm 46:1-2 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one. John 10:28-30 The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. Nahum 1:7 Mama, you are empowered and equipped by him His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 2 Peter 1:3 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 Learn more about me at https://www.lyssastoyko.com/ Want to say hello? Follow me on Facebook and Insta @lyssastoyko Email me at [email protected] Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thanks!

My favorite of the all the mothers in this series, Jochebed's story is short but powerful. It is full of faith, strength, courage, and hope. Her life and actions set in motion the rescue of God’s people from Egypt and the creation of the nation of Israel. I wish more was included in the Bible about this amazing mother or that I could have tucked into a corner of her home to watch and listen and learn from this woman of faith. My prayer is that you will be inspired by her too. Learn more about me at https://www.lyssastoyko.com/ Want to say hello? Follow me on Facebook and Insta @lyssastoyko Email me at [email protected] Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thanks! Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.

The question “What else can I do?” takes our children on a journey of discovery, of failure and success, of experimentation, of creativity and imagination, of mind work and heart work. What a wonderful question to teach our children!  Learn more about me at https://www.lyssastoyko.com/ Want to say hello? Email me at [email protected] Follow me on instagram @lyssastoyko Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thanks!

Is your family like the Family Madrigal, where certain topics are simply off limits? Or are you actively working to create a culture of openness and dialogue that gives your children space to process and formulate a biblical worldview? Today we chat about ways that we can create that culture of saftey in our homes and how to engage our children in the tough conversations. Learn more about me at https://www.lyssastoyko.com/ Want to say hello? Email me at [email protected] Follow me on instagram @lyssastoyko Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thanks!

Join me as we look at probably my least favorite of all the Moms in the Bible stories....Leah and Rachel. It is so full of jealousy and discord that it makes me feel a little sick to my stomach. God wants so much more and better for us than what Leah and Rachel settled for!!! David speaks to that in Psalm 16, so lets study that to grab hold of what God is offering to us today. The story of Leah and Rachel can be found in Genesis 29:1-35:20. Verses mentioned: Proverbs 14:30--A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh,     but envy makes the bones rot. James 3:16--For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. Zephaniah 3:17--The Lord your God is in your midst,     a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness;     he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Psalm 16-- Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. 2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;     I have no good apart from you.” 3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,     in whom is all my delight. 4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;     their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out     or take their names on my lips. 5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;     you hold my lot. 6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;     indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. 7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;     in the night also my heart instructs me. 8 I have set the Lord always before me;     because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;     my flesh also dwells secure. 10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,     or let your holy one see corruption. 11 You make known to me the path of life;     in your presence there is fullness of joy;     at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Learn more about me at https://www.lyssastoyko.com/ Want to say hello? Email me at [email protected] Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thanks! Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.

Like Luisa in Disney's Encanto, we can struggle under the pressures and expectations of our lives. We join with her in asking, "But wait, if I could shake the crushing weight of expectations, would that free some room up for joy or relaxation or simple pleasure?" And the Lord says a resounding, "YES!" Verses mentioned: Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." 2 Corinthians 12:9 "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 3:5 "Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God," Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 22: 36-39 “'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?'” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. nd the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’" 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." Romans 8:1 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," The story of Jesus sleeping on the boat is found in Matthew 8:23-27 and Mark 4:35-41. Learn more about me at https://www.lyssastoyko.com/ Want to say hello? Email me at [email protected] Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thanks!

Meredith joins me today as we hear a little of how her family became the Stiles 7 and ways that friends and family can support foster and adoptive families in their journeys. We can all do something to love and care for these kiddos and their families. Learn more about me at https://www.lyssastoyko.com/ Want to say hello? Email me at [email protected] Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thanks!