It’s a phrase we share over coffee, in a text, or at the park, “Find your identity in Christ!” But do we really know what it means? In this episode, Emily and Laura interview Jackie Hill Perry. Since coming to know Christ at the age of 19, amidst struggles like gender confusion and same-sex attraction, Jackie has been compelled to share the light of gospel truth through teaching, writing, poetry. Today she’s a wife to Preston and mom to Eden and Autumn and just like the rest of us, sometimes she still struggles to remember her identity in Christ in motherhood. Whether you listen to this one while cleaning the dishes or driving to the office, know that God created us as his image bearers, which means every aspect of our lives is lived for his glory.

When we ask for questions from the RM community, they range from the super practical to the thought-provoking and theological, which makes the AUA show something really special. In this one-hour episode, Laura and Emily answer listeners’ questions from what they cook for dinner and their daily routines, to short anecdotal examples of how they approach discipline and what they value about their friendship. They even touch on one of our most frequently asked questions: how do you approach intimacy in the little years? We hope that as you listen in, you’ll see that the gospel truly does impact every aspect of motherhood, and we’re all learning with you.

Parenting alongside your husband can sometimes feel overwhelming. We want to be intentional, but it can seem like we have wildly different plans than our spouses! In this episode, Emily and Laura give a nod to Valentine’s Day by diving into a marriage topic: unity with our husbands. Even though we have differences, God has joined us in marriage for his mission in our homes and has equipped us to do it together. Through Christ’s perfect record, we can humbly forgive one another, refocus on our mission, and live in unity with our husbands every day.

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 to our children, exposing them to different people with joy and transparency. The gospel speaks a better word than our culture — affirming that all people are made in the image of God and deserve to be loved as such.

As moms, we spend a lot of time thinking about sleep, like, “Will I get to have it?” and “I can’t sleep – I have too much to do!” From tiny baby bellies to late-night toddler questions, we sacrifice our sleep out of love and service to Christ through caring for our families. In this episode, Laura and Emily discuss how the gospel gives hope to the weary, sleepy mom (most of us, right?). In light of God’s promises to us, we no longer worship sleep as an idol or ignore our need for rest. Instead, Christ has freed us from either extreme, offering us true rest and hope in himself. We may be tired, but we can trust him with our needs.

As mommas, we all fall short of the glory of God. What we need when that happens is 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, your true identity is secure in Christ – offering peace, hope, and joy in every moment.

What a year 2017 has been – God is so good! Whether you’ve been with us for awhile or just recently started listening, we’re grateful to have spent the year learning to deeply study scripture together! It takes practice to grow in biblical literacy, but our prayer is that we would all find our truest delight in knowing God through his word. In this episode, Emily and Laura wrap up the year by looking back at our 2017 theme, lessons learned, and favorite shows. We also share our 2018 theme! Let’s finish this year well mamas, and head into the next year with our feet firmly planted in the gospel as we bring grace into our homes and our children’s lives!

When urgent needs and love for our littles abounds, it’s easy to become all-consumed by the role of motherhood. Without even realizing it, we can start to define ourselves by how we’re doing, letting our joy be found in the relative success of earthly ability instead of the secure anchor of the Savior. In this episode, Emily and Laura revisit the concept of identity and motherhood, encouraging moms to define themselves in Christ. As sinners, our success can’t be found in any earthly role or relationship, but only through our eternal hope in the Savior himself.

Any mom who reads to her children knows that you wouldn't start a storybook right in the middle! If you skipped the first half, your kids would miss important aspects of the plot and the character development. Instead, you would 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 make a case for the Old Testament, citing eight reasons why it really matters! Processing the entire bible in light of the cross is critical for mom (and her kiddos) to rightly understand God's epic redemption story.

We know we should be grateful for the gifts God has given us in motherhood, but instead, we find ourselves battling discontentment, anxiety, and stress over our inability to keep up with even the simplest tasks. In this interview, author Hannah Anderson, talks about her book "Humble Roots," offering an opportunity for weary moms to rest as they accept their limitations and let God be God. She 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 instead of God's plan us. This conversation is candid, challenging, and leaves much to be considered...don't miss it!

Is there hope for developing a personal understanding of the bible in the season of young children? In this special interview, author and bible teacher, Jen Wilkin, shares her passion for biblical literacy, encouraging moms to stay committed to gaining a firsthand knowledge of their sacred text. Jen also gives practical examples of what this might look like, offering encouragement to set aside larger blocks of time, get involved in a structured study with accountability, and consistently consume the word whenever and wherever you can. If you haven't been sure about how an understanding of scripture impacts your spiritual life or your role as a mom, you'll be so challenged and encouraged by this interview!

With nearly-unlimited resources for motherhood, it can be difficult to figure out what's helpful and what subtly distracts from our primary mission as moms. Even in the Christian resources, there are great nuggets of truth, stirred together with potentially dangerous theology. How can we safely get the help we need for motherhood without deviating from the path of truth? In this episode, Emily and Laura discuss the common fears and missteps moms face as they navigate resources, and offer gospel-principles for "finding the meat and spitting out the bones". Because ultimately, when we are familiar with biblical truth we can be wise and discerning instead of scared and gullible.