The Intentional Parents Podcast

We’re back with part two of our conversation on sex in marriage, this time getting into some of the hidden blockers of desire, along with a few practical ways to start moving past them. The goal isn’t just more sex, but a relationship where intimacy actually feels meaningful again.A lot of what gets in the way isn’t obvious. Small, unresolved tensions can build up over time and create distance, even if nothing major is “wrong.” When those things go unaddressed, it’s hard to feel close in any sense.On top of that, seasons change, but expectations don’t always keep up. Different life stages, stress, and even things like hormones can all affect desire. If those realities aren’t talked about, it can lead to frustration or quiet disappointment that slowly chips away at connection.And then there’s what a lot of couples experience at some point: slipping into more of a roommate dynamic. Life inevitably gets full, attraction can fade or shift, and responsibilities and tasks can replace relationship and intimacy.The good news is this stuff isn’t permanent. With some intention and healing, things can shift and grow in a healthy direction.Practical Rhythms to Try:Take 10 minutes to have a “state of us” conversation, asking each other: “How can I show up for you today?” and “What is one thing I can do that will make you feel loved?”Repair within 24 hours.Rebuild playfulness.Listen to Part 1, “Sex in Marriage: Communication, Connection + Healing Past Wounds Around Intimacy”: YouTube, Spotify + Apple PodcastsScripture Mentioned: Hebrews 12:15, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 + Colossians 3:12Submit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Sowing a Hidden SeedJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brookmosser@emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily DevotionalRaising Passionate Jesus FollowersThe Intentional Film Series

In this episode, Brook and Diane share a candid conversation about their overlapping journeys of healing from trauma, exploring what it means to grow emotionally and relationally. Reflecting on the “narrow way,” they talk about how true healing requires humility, acknowledging the need for God, confessing weakness, and recognizing there is always room to grow. Diane opens up about carrying pain into adulthood and how obedience shifted from rule-following for safety to a pursuit of freedom and intimacy with God.They also dive into the challenge of addressing the ways we’ve hurt others, especially within family. Diane reflects on her upbringing in a home marked by anger and emotional distance, while Brook shares how he’s intentionally inviting his children into his own healing process through honesty and repair. Together, they emphasize breaking generational patterns by creating space for open conversations — with both children and parents — without blame or cancellation.The episode highlights the role of the Holy Spirit as central to healing, alongside the practical help of therapy. Diane shares how her recent ADHD diagnosis brought clarity to her past and helped her confront false beliefs about herself. As they close, both point to simple, consistent practices that sustain their growth — time with God, prayer, and staying connected to trusted community — highlighting the reality that healing is a lifelong journey best walked with others.Scripture Mentioned: Matthew 7:13-14 + Genesis 1-3Submit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Sowing a Hidden SeedJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brookmosser@emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily DevotionalRaising Passionate Jesus FollowersThe Intentional Film Series

In this meaningful conversation, we sit down with Katherine Wolf, whose story has deeply impacted our lives and understanding of faith and suffering. At 26, Katherine experienced a massive brain stem stroke that nearly took her life. Now, 18 years later, she lives with significant disabilities, yet continues to live with purpose, joy, and a resilient faith. She shares the long journey of learning to believe that even in hardship, “the boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places,” and how her early years were marked by deep struggle before discovering a renewed sense of calling.Katherine reflects on holding both joy and pain at the same time, and how suffering can shape not only us, but our children and families in meaningful ways. We talk about marriage in the midst of hardship, which includes choosing to come together as a team, extending grace, and recognizing the sacredness of caring for one another. She also speaks to grieving unmet expectations, embracing the life in front of you, and trusting that God’s presence, not a perfect life, is what defines true goodness.This episode is a powerful reminder that our pain is not wasted. Through honest perspective shifts and a deep dependence on Jesus, Katherine points us toward a hope that heals and a life that is still, even now, full of purpose.Katherine Wolf: Hope Heals: Instagram, Books, Camps + Retreats, Speaking + PodcastScripture Mentioned: Psalm 16:6, Acts 13:36, Matthew 7:24-27, Psalm 84:11, Romans 8:28 + 2 Corinthians 4:8-9Books Mentioned: Treasures in the Dark by Katherine Wolf + Domestic Monastery by Ronald RolheiserSubmit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Sowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Motherhood Retreat: April 23-25, 2026 in Franklin, TNJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brookmosser@emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily DevotionalRaising Passionate Jesus FollowersThe Intentional Film Series

So many parents carry an unspoken “I should…” list: “I should be more patient, more present, doing more, doing better.” In a world full of parenting advice and constant input, it’s easy to feel like we know so much and yet, still aren’t doing enough. In this episode, we talk about how that pressure often leads to shame and guilt, and why it matters to understand the difference: guilt says “I did something bad,” while shame says “I am bad.” One leads us toward repentance and growth, while the other keeps us stuck, isolated, and disconnected.We explore how shame has been part of the human story since the beginning, and how it still shows up today in the subtle lies we believe about ourselves as parents. But instead of striving for perfection, we’re invited into dependence, trusting that God meets us in our weakness, just as He did with Moses. We also talk about practical ways to respond when shame creeps in: quieting the noise, getting honest about where our expectations come from, pursuing vulnerable relationships, and practicing repair when needed.At the end of the day, parenting isn’t about getting everything right. It’s about walking in faith, holding onto hope, and learning to love our kids well, even in our imperfection.Brook’s Interview on the Open Spaces Podcast: YouTube, Spotify + Apple PodcastsScripture Mentioned: 2 Corinthians 7:10, Genesis 3:9-11, Hebrews 11:24-28 + Hebrews 10:23-24Submit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Sowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Motherhood Retreat: April 23-25, 2026 in Franklin, TNJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brookmosser@emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily DevotionalRaising Passionate Jesus FollowersThe Intentional Film Series

In this spontaneous conversation from the Bless God Summit, Brook sits down with magician Dustin Tavella — best known for winning America’s Got Talent — to hear the powerful and inspiring story behind his life, faith, and calling.Dustin shares about his difficult childhood, marked by addiction and instability in his home, and the couple who stepped in to love and invest in him consistently. Through their presence, he encountered a God who cares personally and pursues the heart, not just circumstances. That experience sparked a transformation in his entire family, leading to restored relationships and a new direction.Throughout the conversation, Dustin reflects on how God uses the things we love to serve others, from launching a homeless ministry that grew into the D PLUS Project, to discovering magic as a way to connect with people and share hope. He opens up about seasons of financial struggle, anxiety, miscarriage, and the journey of adopting their son, all while learning to trust God’s redirection in moments that didn’t go as planned.From early rejection on America’s Got Talent to ultimately winning, Dustin emphasizes that true success wasn’t the platform; it was the daily choice to say “yes” to Jesus. His story is a reminder that following God isn’t complicated: it’s about loving people well, embracing the unseen moments, and trusting that even the detours are part of a greater story. The episode closes with Dustin performing a mind-blowing magic trick, highlighting the beauty of play, joy, and meaningful connection.Scripture Mentioned: Matthew 13:1-23, 1 Corinthians 10:23 + John 2:1-11Submit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Sowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Motherhood Retreat: April 23-25, 2026 in Franklin, TNJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brookmosser@emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily DevotionalRaising Passionate Jesus FollowersThe Intentional Film Series

Is parenting harder than it used to be? In many ways, yes. Today’s parents are navigating a faster, louder, more complex world than generations before us — marked by decision fatigue, rising costs, less community support, and the constant mental load of trying to care for both our kids’ emotional needs and our own. Add in technology, shifting family dynamics, and the pressure of “intentional parenting,” and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.But these challenges aren’t excuses; they’re the context we’re parenting in. And the good news is that God meets us right here, not in our perfection but in our limits. His strength shows up most clearly in our weakness. Parenting isn’t about getting everything right. It’s about humility, repair, and learning to depend on Him. In our moments of distress, we’re invited to release the burdens and anxieties we were never meant to carry alone.We also talk about practical steps: starting small instead of waiting for a full “village,” and learning to regularly release fear. Thankfully, we’re not doing this alone — God is with us, strengthening and sustaining us in the middle of it all. Parenting today may be hard, but He has already provided the help we need.Scripture Mentioned: 2 Corinthians 12:8-10, Psalm 55:22, Isaiah 66:2, 1 Peter 5:7, Psalm 61:2, Isaiah 41:10-13Submit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Sowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Motherhood Retreat: April 23-25, 2026 in Franklin, TNJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brookmosser@emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily DevotionalRaising Passionate Jesus FollowersThe Intentional Film Series

In this episode, Brook and Elizabeth sit down for an honest conversation about sex, intimacy, and connection in marriage. We begin with a few updates — including reflections from the Fatherhood Retreat, the upcoming Intentional Motherhood Retreat, and an update on Elizabeth’s back surgery — before diving into the topic.Just as the gospel reminds us that we are fully known and fully loved, marriage invites that same kind of vulnerability. Yet many couples carry shame from past experiences, including sexual abuse, pornography, cultural messages, or purity culture wounds, and those things often affect intimacy in marriage.We also discuss some of the common differences between men and women. Many men tend to feel emotionally connected after physical intimacy, while many women need emotional connection in order to feel open to physical intimacy. For many moms especially, exhaustion and constant demands can make intimacy feel like one more need to meet. Often, simple shifts in communication and care can make a significant difference.Throughout the conversation, we emphasize that intimacy is not just about physical consumption or emotional communication alone — it’s about a deeper connection where emotional, spiritual, and physical intimacy work together. That requires honest conversations, clear expectations, and a willingness to serve one another rather than compare our marriage to outside expectations.We close with a few practical invitations for couples this week: have one calm conversation about sex, initiate non-sexual affection, and spend time praying together. Husbands might also ask their wives a simple question: “What helps you feel safe with me?”If this conversation was helpful and you’d like to hear a part two on this topic, email us at [email protected] Mentioned: Genesis 2:25, 1 Corinthians 7:4 + Ephesians 5:22-33Submit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Sowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Motherhood Retreat: April 23-25, 2026 in Franklin, TNJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brookmosser@emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily DevotionalRaising Passionate Jesus FollowersThe Intentional Film Series

In this follow-up episode on anger, the four of us sit down to respond to your honest, relatable questions — especially where anger shows up in parenting, marriage, and our own personal healing. We start with a common parenting struggle: when it feels like kids only listen after we get angry. We talk about identifying what’s underneath that reaction, learning to respond calmly, and following through with consistency. Sometimes that means creating space, by either separating kids in conflict or stepping away yourself, so you can respond with clarity and calmness instead of raw emotion.We also address the discouragement of slow growth. When it feels like “one step forward, ten steps back,” it’s easy to lose heart, even in prayer. But real transformation takes time. Prayer is never wasted; it’s like small, faithful deposits that eventually lead to lasting change. We also explore how anger directed at us can leave deeper wounds, and what it looks like to begin healing by finding safety in God, telling the truth about our story, and grieving what was lost.In marriage, we talk about the challenge of responding to a spouse’s anger without taking it on ourselves. We can’t control one another, but we can choose compassion, wisdom, and healthy boundaries. And for those navigating anger in young children, we highlight how normal those big emotions are developmentally, and how creating structure, paying attention to triggers, and patiently training over time can make a meaningful difference.Finally, we touch on engaging with anger from our families of origin. Healing doesn’t require cutting people off, but it does require forgiveness and bringing our pain to Jesus, who understands and cares deeply for us.Scripture Mentioned: Proverbs 4:7, Galatians 6:1-6, Hebrews 3:12, James 1:20, 1 Peter 3:1-2, Matthew 6:9-15, Isaiah 53:3 + 1 Peter 5:7Submit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Sowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Motherhood Retreat: April 23-25, 2026 in Franklin, TNJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brookmosser@emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily DevotionalRaising Passionate Jesus FollowersThe Intentional Film Series

This week, all four of us sit down for an honest and hopeful conversation about anger — where it comes from, why it’s such a universal part of being human, and how pain so often fuels it. We share a few personal updates on what we’ve been up to, including an update on Elizabeth’s health, and then dive into the reality that simply being alive gives us plenty of opportunities to feel angry. Anger is something everyone experiences, but it’s often a secondary emotion pointing to deeper pain beneath the surface.We talk about how hiding anger in shame can actually enslave us to it, while bringing it into the light opens the door to real transformation. Rather than just managing our anger, we explore the hope that Jesus can actually heal us from it. We discuss how anger can be generational, how we’re raising kids in an increasingly angry culture, and the different ways anger shows up — from explosive reactions to simmering resentment to an underlying critical spirit. We also reflect on righteous anger, the need to hold both justice and mercy together, and what this looks like, especially in motherhood.We then turn to practical ways to engage our anger by slowing down to ask why we’re angry, inviting God to show us what needs healing or repentance, and taking responsibility for how we move toward repair. We talk about how anger is often a response to feeling threatened, the power of confession and bringing our struggles into the light, and the slow, faithful work of healing through the Holy Spirit. We end with real hope, as Diane shares how the anger she struggled with early in marriage and parenting no longer has the same hold on her by God’s grace — reminding us to be patient with ourselves and trust that anger can be transformed as we walk the path of humility and healing.Scripture Mentioned: John 17:20-23, Micah 6:8, Psalm 97:2, Proverbs 25:23, Proverbs 4:5, Genesis 4:6, Jonah 4:4, 1 John 3:12, James 4:1-3, James 5:16, Psalm 139:23-24, Romans 2:4, Galatians 5:22-23 + Exodus 34:6-7, Psalm 107:1-2 + Romans 8:29Submit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Sowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Fatherhood Retreat: February 19-21, 2026 in Costa Mesa, CAIntentional Motherhood Retreat: April 23-25, 2026 in Franklin, TNJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brookmosser@emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily DevotionalRaising Passionate Jesus FollowersThe Intentional Film Series

This episode features five of our most-listened-to moments from 2025. These conversations clearly resonated with listeners and sparked meaningful reflection for parents trying to follow Jesus in everyday family life. We reflect on how pride shows up when we’re corrected and how parenting gives us daily opportunities to model humility, drawing from Scripture to show why God consistently meets humility with grace and makes it the starting point of a usable life. We also talk about emotional intelligence, learning to name what’s happening inside us without letting emotions rule us, and how many of us are developing these skills in adulthood because they weren’t modeled for us growing up.We explore the tension between wanting to shield our kids from pain and learning to trust God with their formation, emphasizing the importance of repair, helping our kids make sense of emotional pain, and trusting that God is present and purposeful even in what we can’t control. We unpack the biblical call to discipline as loving training rather than punishment, why passivity and harshness both exasperate our children, and how rupture and repair are central to healthy parent-child relationships. Finally, we reflect on daily spiritual habits, letting go of legalism, and forming simple, life-giving rhythms with God — following Jesus’ example of regularly withdrawing to meet with the Father, not out of obligation, but out of relationship.These clips are taken from our five most-loved episodes of 2025. To hear the full episodes, click on your podcast platform of choice below.5 Necessities to Being a Calm, Regulated Parent in the Midst of Chaos + the Power of Meekness and Humility (Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTube)Unlocking the Power of Emotional Intelligence In Ourselves and In Our Kids (Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTube)Being Emotionally Present with Toddlers Amidst Responsibilities, Dealing with Overstimulation as a Parent + Shielding Kids from Emotional Pain (Q+R) (Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTube)Tools of Discipline: Gentle Correction, A Loving Rebuke, Patient Instruction and Encouragement (Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTube)Daily Habits, Formation, Why Did God Create My Kids, and Authority (Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTube)Scripture Mentioned: Ephesians 4:2, Matthew 11:28-30, Numbers 12:3, 1 Peter 5:5, Genesis 50:20, Genesis 39:21, Romans 8 + Psalm 91, Ephesians 6:4, Proverbs 29:17, Hebrews 12:11 + Ephesians 1:15-20Books Mentioned: Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon, Streams in the Desert by L. B. Cowman and James Reimann + Edges of His Ways by Amy CarmichaelSubmit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Sowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Fatherhood Retreat: February 19-21, 2026 in Costa Mesa, CAIntentional Motherhood Retreat: April 23-25, 2026 in Franklin, TNJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brookmosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily DevotionalRaising Passionate Jesus FollowersThe Intentional Film Series

During the Intentional Motherhood Retreat 2025, Elizabeth sat down with her older brother, John Mark Comer, for a deeply honest and encouraging conversation about spiritual formation in the thick of motherhood. For so many mothers, life feels crowded with the dailyness and busyness of caring for little ones, making it easy to believe the lie that we must do more or try harder to grow spiritually. But what if spiritual formation isn’t something you add to your already overloaded life — what if it’s already happening?John Mark and Elizabeth explore how every mom is being spiritually formed through the ordinary moments of motherhood, becoming a certain kind of person through how she lives, responds, and loves. Drawing from Dallas Willard’s teachings on practices of engagement vs. abstinence, they talk about removing rather than adding — taking an honest audit of your life and recognizing that so much of motherhood is already shaping your soul. They discuss the difference between active and passive spirituality, the surprising ways pain and sacrifice become places of growth, the generational shift in how we view parenting, and what it means to join Christ in His suffering. They also reflect on Jacques Philippe’s idea of “choosing what you have not chosen” and learning to respond to life’s constant interruptions with consent rather than contempt.Ultimately, this conversation is an invitation back to relationship — with God, with others, and with your own soul. It’s about noticing and naming what you’re feeling, staying responsive instead of reactive, and returning again and again to the cross in the ordinary rhythms of your day.Submit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Sowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Fatherhood Retreat: February 19-21, 2026 in Costa Mesa, CAIntentional Motherhood Retreat: April 23-25, 2026 in Franklin, TNJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily DevotionalRaising Passionate Jesus FollowersThe Intentional Film Series

In this episode, Brook and Justin sit down with Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, one of the most trusted and influential spiritual voices of our time, and someone whose work we deeply admire and return to often. A Catholic priest, theologian, and author, Fr. Rolheiser has spent more than 50 years teaching and writing about prayer, vocation, and the interior life, helping countless people understand how God meets us in ordinary, everyday faithfulness.Now 78 and a cancer survivor of more than a decade, Fr. Rolheiser reflects on this current stage of life and what it means to finish well. Drawing from his framework of getting your life together, giving your life away, and giving your death away, he shares wisdom shaped by experience, suffering, and surrender, reminding us that the way we die is the spirit we leave behind.Much of the conversation centers on restlessness, particularly in midlife. Fr. Rolheiser explains that our restlessness is not something to eliminate but a sign that we are “built too big for this world.” Rather than escaping it, he invites us to listen for what God may be teaching us through it, especially as parents learning to integrate spiritual life with ordinary responsibilities.We also explore ideas from his book, Domestic Monastery, where daily obligations — alarm clocks, mortgages, and kids’ schedules — become monastic bells calling us to faithfulness. Parents, he says, don’t raise kids; kids raise parents. The episode closes with reflections on surrender without passivity, responsibility without control, righteous anger, and the quiet power of fidelity. His final encouragement is simple and enduring: stay with your commitments, just show up for prayer, and trust that God is at work in your staying.Ronald Rolheiser: Website + Books (New Book: Insane for the Light: A Spirituality for Our Wisdom Years)Scripture Mentioned: John 21:15-19, Mark 15:37 + John 4:21Books Mentioned: Domestic Monastery by Ronald Rolheiser, Sacred Fire by Ronald Rolheiser, Finding God at Home by Ernest Boyer Jr. + Naming the Whirlwind by Langdon GilkeySubmit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Sowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Fatherhood Retreat: February 19-21, 2026 in Costa Mesa, CAIntentional Motherhood Retreat: April 23-25, 2026 in Franklin, TNJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily DevotionalRaising Passionate Jesus FollowersThe Intentional Film Series

In today’s episode, we sit down with new friends we have a lot in common with: Addison and Juli Bevere of At Home with the Beveres. We talk about life, ministry, parenting four kids, and what it means to steward faith across generations in a world where the gap between young and old can feel wider than ever. Addison and Juli share honestly about the beauty and challenges of being part of a multigenerational ministry legacy, what they hope to pass on to their kids, and what they’re committed to redeeming. We talk about humility, how true formation often happens through difficulty, and how brokenness can deepen love, wisdom, and compassion.We also dive into the heart behind Addison’s 40-day prayer devotional, born out of a season of anxiety and sleeplessness. Together, we explore why prayer can feel like pressure and performance for so many people, and how God invites us into something far more relational, grounding, and life-giving. A place where prayer is not as another task but the thing that centers everything else. And finally, Addison and Juli open up about their marriage in this season, sharing both joys and honest struggles, including the ways grief has shaped their relationship. It’s a hopeful, vulnerable conversation about family, faith, formation, and encountering God in real life.At Home with the Beveres: Instagram, YouTube, Spotify + Apple PodcastsScripture Mentioned: Genesis 18:18-19, Psalm 68:6, Psalm 127:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Romans 12:12, Ephesians 6:18, John 16:7, Hebrews 4:16, Hebrews 2:17, Hebrews 5:5, Hebrews 9 + 10, Psalm 142:2Books Mentioned: Words with God + Words with God Prayer Journal by Addison BevereSubmit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Sowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Fatherhood Retreat: February 19-21, 2026 in Costa Mesa, CAIntentional Motherhood Retreat: April 23-25, 2026 in Franklin, TNJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily DevotionalRaising Passionate Jesus FollowersThe Intentional Film Series

In this episode, we sit down for a “co-pod” with Dave Barnes and Jon McLaughlin from the Dadville podcast for an honest, funny conversation about parenting, podcasting, and why intentionality matters in the first place. We share the heart behind Intentional and Intentional Fatherhood, getting back to the basics of why we do this work and what we hope it creates. Along the way, there’s plenty of laughter and a shared acknowledgment that none of us have this figured out. Intentionality isn’t about getting it right all the time — it’s about consistently showing up in small, ordinary ways, even when things feel messy or overwhelming.Dave and Jon tell the story of how Dadville began, how the show has grown and changed over the years, and what it’s really like behind the scenes of hosting a long-running podcast. Together, we talk about the importance of repair in relationships, how owning our mistakes can actually deepen connection, and why keeping the lines of communication open with our kids matters more than almost anything else.We also wrestle with the downside of intentionality — when information turns into pressure and fear starts to drive our parenting. Grounded in Jesus’ words from Matthew 18:1-5, the conversation keeps circling back to the simplicity of “becoming like little children.” The question underneath it all is this: do our kids know our heart? At the end of the day, this episode is about helping our kids know they are deeply loved — and learning to lead from love rather than fear.Dadville: Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTubeDave Barnes: New Music on Spotify + Apple MusicJon McLaughlin: New Music on Spotify + Apple Music / Tour with Ben RectorScripture Mentioned: Matthew 18:1-5Submit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Sowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Fatherhood Retreat: February 19-21, 2026 in Costa Mesa, CAIntentional Motherhood Retreat: April 23-25, 2026 in Franklin, TNJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily DevotionalRaising Passionate Jesus FollowersThe Intentional Film Series

In this end-of-year episode, we reflect on 2025 and look ahead to 2026 through the practices of reflection and projection, rooted in Scripture and focused on formation rather than pressure or performance. We revisit meaningful moments from the year, both personally and within Intentional, including the Motherhood Retreat, Intentional Fatherhood, and the launch of Sowing a Hidden Seed. Reflection helps us tell the truth about our lives with God, while projection invites us to trust Him with that truth as we move forward, anchored in the hope of Hebrews 11:1.The conversation explores Scripture’s repeated call to remember, naming remembrance as an active, embodied practice that leads us toward gratitude, courage, and faith rather than fear. Remembering is not only about the past, but about how the past shapes the present and forms the future — helping us remember, return, and reorder our lives. Elizabeth shares openly about living with chronic pain, reflecting on how the most difficult season of her life has also been deeply formative, and how remembering past suffering can give us hope for what God is able to do with our current and future pain.Drawing on Dallas Willard’s wisdom, the conversation turns toward projection: how we look ahead to 2026 through simple, faithful habits. Faith is described not just as belief, but as action: praying bold, repeated prayers, reading Scripture regularly, and obeying what God commands us to do. The episode closes with a prayer over you, reminding us that unoffered prayer is the greatest tragedy, that prayer moves the hand of God, and that we are invited to partner with Him through both reflection on where we’ve been and projection toward where He is leading us.Prayer:God, as we stand at the edge of this year, we slow ourselves before you. We look back over 2025 with honesty, joy, the loss, the prayers answered and the prayers still open. Help us notice where you were faithful, even when we didn't see it at the time. Let remembrance form trust in us. As we step into the new year, we lean forward with hope. Teach us to pray without giving up, form our habits — not just our intentions — and help us act as though your kingdom is real, because it is. We release what we cannot carry forward. We receive the grace we will need for what lies ahead. Make us people who remember well and hope faithfully. Amen.Scripture Mentioned: Hebrews 11:1, Luke 18:1, Romans 8:22, Romans 8:26-27 + Hebrews 11Book Mentioned: The Circle Maker by Mark BattersonSubmit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Reclaimwell Prayer Challenge: This January, we invite you to do one simple thing: pray for your child every day. Use your own rhythm or Intentional’s 31-day devotional, Sowing a Hidden Seed, as a helpful guide. The book includes a daily verse, a quote and a prayer on topics like mental health, shame and discernment, plus you’ll receive five bonus days on your child’s digital redemption. Sign up for Intentional’s daily “verse of the day” text and spend just 5 focused minutes in prayer. Download the Reclaimwell app and join the challenge!Intentional’s Year-End Match Campaign: Every $25 equips a family for a full year of spiritual formation. All gifts given through December 31 are matched up to $200,000. Make a donation to double your impact!Sowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Fatherhood Retreat: February 19-21, 2026 in Costa Mesa, CAIntentional Motherhood Retreat: April 23-25, 2026 in Franklin, TNJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily DevotionalRaising Passionate Jesus FollowersThe Intentional Film Series

In this special end-of-year episode, we’re joined by our two oldest kids — Duke (16) and Scarlet (13) — for an honest, funny, and unfiltered conversation about what it’s really like to be a teenager right now. From public high school to middle school in a Christian co-op, they share what daily life looks like in their worlds, complete with sibling jokes, family banter, and plenty of real-life messiness.We talk about the unique pressure of growing up as the kids of parents who lead a family ministry — the sense of being watched, the expectation to perform, and how that shapes their experience. Duke and Scarlet also open up about social pressures, anxiety, comparison, cancel culture, gossip, and the high standards — especially for girls — around appearance and image, even beyond social media. Throughout the conversation, we return to deeper truths about identity, insecurity, and remembering that we are God’s beautiful handiwork.We also discuss technology and social media, including how boundaries around technology have affected them and what’s been most helpful from a parenting perspective. The episode wraps up with a lighthearted bonus question: what they love and don’t love about each of us as parents — a reminder that our family is far from perfect.Our hope is that this conversation encourages you to keep showing up with humility, curiosity, and trust in God’s steady work in your family. Merry Christmas!Books Mentioned: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan HaidtSubmit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Intentional’s Year-End Match Campaign: Every $25 equips a family for a full year of spiritual formation. All gifts given through December 31 are matched up to $200,000. Make a donation to double your impact!Sowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Fatherhood Retreat: February 19-21, 2026 in Costa Mesa, CAIntentional Motherhood Retreat: April 23-25, 2026 in Franklin, TNJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily DevotionalRaising Passionate Jesus FollowersThe Intentional Film Series

In this episode, we sit down with our dear friend Joey Odom of Reclaimwell for a timely and challenging conversation about reshaping our relationship with our phones. Reclaimwell exists to help people put technology back in its proper place, and Joey shares his own story of struggle and growth, along with honest examples of both failure and success. He names the urgency of our moment, reminding us that the opposite of hope isn’t hopelessness, but resignation — and that without action, distraction quietly forms our lives.Joey explains why our phones have such a powerful grip on us, highlighting the “PID Loop,” where proximity leads to interaction, interaction to dependence, and dependence back to constant proximity. With most of us (91%!) living near our phones at all times, the solution sounds simple but feels difficult: put the phone down. Like Jesus’ teachings, it’s straightforward, yet costly. Rather than relying on willpower, Joey invites us to shape our environments and remove shame from the conversation.We explore practical ways to reduce proximity, including spending intentional time away from your phone each day, aligning with your spouse around sacred times and spaces, and implementing simple practices like a date-night phone swap. The conversation names distraction for what it is: anything that gets in the way of our intentions, and connects it to Scripture’s call to remove what hinders love. Joey frames our phones as modern “digital thorns” that choke out intimacy through constant worry, striving, and pleasure. The episode closes with a compelling vision of presence as witness — preaching the gospel not just with words, but by being fully present and off our phones in order to notice and tend to the world around us.Scripture Mentioned: Matthew 5:30, Matthew 13:1-23 + 1 Corinthians 13:13Submit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Intentional’s Year-End Match Campaign: Every $25 equips a family for a full year of spiritual formation. All gifts given through December 31 are matched up to $200,000. Make a donation to double your impact!Download the FREE Reclaimwell App + Join Our Prayer Challenge in JanuaryPurchase the Aro BoxSowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Fatherhood Retreat: February 19-21, 2026 in Costa Mesa, CAIntentional Motherhood Retreat: April 23-25, 2026 in Franklin, TNJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily DevotionalRaising Passionate Jesus FollowersThe Intentional Film Series

It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s also one of the most stressful. In our Christmas episode, we explore how to foster peace — not striving for perfection, but accepting the Spirit’s invitation to enter the season with intention, humility, and grace. The holidays can stir up dysregulated kids, busy schedules, grief, and unrealistic expectations, so we walk through the acronym PEACE as a reminder of how we might bring peace to our families this season.We start with Presence, setting aside our phones to be fully available to the people in front of us. Engagement draws from Philippians 2:2–4, reminding us to stay curious, humble, and willing to disagree without being disagreeable. Affection encourages slowing down to show loved ones that they matter, while honoring different comfort levels with touch.Compassion and Care helps us look beyond outward behavior to the burdens others may be carrying; instead of asking “What’s wrong with them?” we ask “What might they be walking through?” And with Empathy, we practice feeling with others rather than trying to fix them, living out 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 as those who comfort because we’ve first been comforted by God. Anchored in Scripture, we remember that Christ, the Prince of Peace, is the one who makes true peace possible.Prayer from Amy Carmichael:Love through me, love of God.Shine through me, joy of God.Speak through me, word of God.Flow through me, peace of God.Scripture Mentioned: Psalm 26:2-3, Philippians 2:2-4, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Colossians 3:15 + John 14, Isaiah 9:6Submit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Reclaimwell: Download the free appIntentional’s Year-End Match Campaign: Every $25 equips a family for a full year of spiritual formation. All gifts given through December 31 are matched up to $200,000. Make a donation to double your impact!Sowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Fatherhood Retreat: February 19-21, 2026 in Costa Mesa, CAIntentional Motherhood Retreat: April 23-25, 2026 in Franklin, TNJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily DevotionalRaising Passionate Jesus FollowersThe Intentional Film Series

In this episode, all four of us respond to your questions on marriage, parenting, and discipleship. We begin with a listener who feels stuck navigating a blended family and a husband who wants another child while she feels content with their current season. We talk about honoring both present realities and future hopes, acknowledging the unique weight moms carry, communicating clearly, and seeking unity through prayer and counsel. We reference passages like 1 Corinthians and Ephesians 5 to remind couples to love well, listen well, and move forward on the same page.We also tackle the challenge of parenting kids with very different personalities. Rather than trying to change them, we encourage learning from each other as parents, recognizing differences as gifts, and affirming each child’s place in the family.Finally, we revisit a previous comment about being a better follower than leader and explore why followership matters deeply in your spiritual walk. Before building influence, we must learn to listen, serve, and follow Jesus faithfully. As Mark 8 reminds us, leadership grows out of surrender — those who follow well are the ones God often entrusts to lead.It’s a concise but meaningful conversation packed with encouragement and practical wisdom.Scripture Mentioned: 1 Corinthians 1:10, Ephesians 5:25-27, Mark 8:34-35 + Luke 18:15-17Submit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Intentional’s Year-End Match Campaign: Every $25 equips a family for a full year of spiritual formation. All gifts given through December 31 are matched up to $200,000. Make a donation to double your impact!Sowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Fatherhood Retreat: February 19-21, 2026 in Costa Mesa, CAIntentional Motherhood Retreat: April 23-25, 2026 in Franklin, TNJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily DevotionalRaising Passionate Jesus FollowersThe Intentional Film Series

In this episode, we explore what Scripture really means when it calls us to leave and cleave. Leaving isn’t just moving out, it’s a purposeful, decisive shift of loyalty and identity so a new family can truly become one. This kind of separation can feel confusing or even painful, especially for parents who have spent years nurturing their children. But leaving is not rejection; it’s the healthy foundation God designed for a flourishing marriage. We look at what this requires; physically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially, and how both parents and adult children can navigate these transitions with grace together.From that foundation, we move into the biblical command to honor our parents. We clarify what honoring is, and just as importantly, what it’s not. It isn’t blind obedience or ignoring unhealthy patterns. Instead, honor means giving weight and dignity to the person and the role, even when it’s challenging. We offer six practical ways you can live into honoring your parents today!Six practical ways to honor your parents:• Speak with kindness and dignity• Appeal rather than criticize• Speak the truth in love• Express gratitude for what they did right• Forgive ongoing or past wounds• Seek to understand their storyWhether you’re forming a new family or parenting adult children of your own, this conversation offers a hopeful, grounded path toward healthier relationships across generations.Scripture Mentioned: Genesis, 1 thessalonians 2:7-8, Ephesians 1-4, Proverbs 1:23+31, Proverb 15:1, 1 Timothy 5:1, Ephesian 4:15, Colossians 4:2-4, Luke 4:22Submit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Sowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Fatherhood Retreat: February 19-21, 2026 in Costa Mesa, CAIntentional Motherhood Retreat: April 23-25, 2026 in Franklin, TNJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram:@intentional_parents @brook_mosser@emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily DevotionalMerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

In this episode, we explore the growing “aura farming” movement — the cultural pressure to project effortlessness, curate our image, and step into our “main-character era.” While the world urges us to amplify our greatness, Jesus invites us into something entirely different.We look at Jesus’ call to become like children in Matthew 18:1–5, a posture marked by humility, dependence, and openness. Aura farming pushes us to present ourselves in a certain light, but spiritual formation pulls us into honesty, groundedness, and a truer way of being. Drawing from Henri Nouwen’s reflections on the Church’s long struggle with relevance, power, and success, we examine the deeper tension between cultural curation and kingdom transformation.From there, we walk through five practices that help move us from aura farming to the way of Jesus. We choose hiddenness over hype, leaning into quiet righteousness rather than performing for others. We pursue honesty and vulnerability, acknowledging that beauty and pain often coexist. We embrace slowness instead of the spectacular, allowing our souls to catch up with our schedules. We cultivate childlike dependence by asking for what we need rather than proving we can manage everything on our own. And we trade curation for authentic presence, resisting the urge to hustle for attention and choosing instead to simply be where we are.As we navigate new seasons — in which the old ways of striving may no longer work — we return to Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11:28 (MSG): “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.”Scripture Mentioned: Matthew 18:1-5, Matthew 6 + Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)Submit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Sowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Fatherhood Retreat: February 19-21, 2026 in Costa Mesa, CAIntentional Motherhood Retreat: April 23-25, 2026 in Franklin, TNJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

In this episode, we’re talking about one of the biggest parenting challenges today — raising kids in a digital world. Many of us have overprotected our children in the physical world but underprotected them in the digital world. To help you add some guardrails, we share the practical tools and boundaries our family uses around technology — from phones and iPads to TV — and the eight foundational rules that guide us. We’re not speaking as experts, just practitioners learning through trial and error.We start with the “why.” The data is clear about what technology is doing to us — especially our kids — and now it takes courage to respond wisely. Parenting in this area isn’t black and white, but it’s possible to approach it with grace and hope. In our home, that looks like saving smartphones for older teens, starting with basic phones, keeping devices out of bedrooms overnight, and using contracts and monitoring tools to stay accountable.Technology is always changing, which means our family’s digital rules should too. In fact, it’s okay to adjust your strategy along the way. Above all, we want our kids to grow into freedom — not be thrown into it. As parents, we can lead with empathy, stay connected, and offer a safe place for our kids to learn how to navigate the digital world with maturity and wisdom.Books + Resources Mentioned: Gabb PhonePinwheel PhoneThe Anxious Generation by Jonathan HaidtRefurbished Phones: Back MarketThe Mossers’ iPhone ContractParental Controls: Life360, Bark, Canopy, Screen Time + iPhone settings like locking apps and setting up downtime10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World by Jean M. Twenge, PhDThe Opt-Out Family by Erin LoechnerThe Hang 10 MovementProtect Young EyesGreta EskridgeSubmit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Sowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Fatherhood: Website, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTubeMotherhood Retreat 2025: More Info + Purchase TicketsJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

Recorded live at the Intentional Motherhood Retreat in Portland, Oregon, this special Q+R features our entire Intentional team, with Joey Odom of Reclaimwell guiding the conversation as we move from humor to depth. From lighthearted moments — like where Diane and Elizabeth’s pant suits came from — to honest questions about self-care, marriage, grief, and limitations, this episode captures the heart of our weekend together.Together, we reflect on the generational swing from overextending ourselves to idolizing self-care, inviting us instead to pursue soul care — a rhythm of rest and renewal with God that enables us to love well. We also share wisdom for marriages: that husbands and wives are both called to lay down their lives in love, not through grand gestures but through small, consistent acts and words that build one another up.We speak tenderly about grief and child loss, pointing to the reality that while suffering is never good, God meets us in it. Grief and joy can coexist, and community is where we help one another carry both. The conversation closes with reflections on social media boundaries and discerning our limitations, reminding us that humility and dependence on God are where true peace and growth begin.Scripture Mentioned: Acts 20:35, Ephesians 5:22-33, Isaiah 53:3, Psalm 116:15, Romans 8:28-29, Luke 16:10, Philippians 1:4-6, 2 Corinthians 10:13, Philippians 1:12 + Psalm 131:1-3Book Mentioned: A Grace Disguised by Jerry L. SittserSubmit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Intentional Fatherhood Retreat: February 19-21, 2026 in Costa Mesa, CAIntentional Motherhood Retreat: April 23-25, 2026 in Franklin, TNSowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Fatherhood: Website, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTubeJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

Note: This episode contains mature themes that may not be suitable for younger listeners. Please use discretion.This week, we’re joined by our new friends Jeff and Jourdan Johnson, hosts of the Open Spaces Podcast. They share their remarkable story — a journey marked by honesty, redemption, and deep faith. Jeff opens up about his decades-long battle with same-sex attraction and how bringing his struggle into the light marked the beginning of real freedom. From childhood trauma to seasons of breaking up and coming back together, their story is one of radical acceptance, surrender, and the relentless kindness of God.After years of wrestling with faith and learning to let go of control, Jeff and Jourdan eventually got married and are now raising three children together. Their relationship stands as a living testimony that vulnerability truly leads to freedom. Jeff describes it as a daily surrender — dying to himself, trusting God’s goodness, and finding hope in the truth that even in life’s “unfinished symphony,” God is still writing a story of redemption.In a cultural moment filled with confusion and competing messages about sexuality, Jeff and Jourdan share how important it is for parents to speak about these topics early and without fear — to create space for honesty, and even share their own stories, so their kids know they’re not alone. Through Open Spaces, Jeff and Jourdan invite others to bring hidden struggles into the light, reminding us that God can use even our deepest brokenness and pain for His glory.Open Spaces: Website, Instagram, YouTube + Contact (with Questions)Scripture Mentioned: Romans 8:28Book Mentioned: Wrestling with God by Ronald RolheiserSubmit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Intentional Fatherhood Retreat: February 19-21, 2026 in Costa Mesa, CAIntentional Motherhood Retreat: October 23-25, 2025 in Portland, ORSowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Fatherhood: Website, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTubeJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

In this special episode, we’re sharing a powerful recorded teaching from Diane and Elizabeth at our 2024 Motherhood Retreat. This session dives deep into our God-given desire for connection — the longing to be seen, soothed, safe, and secure — and how that shapes our relationships with one another.Our female relationships can often feel complicated, yet Scripture reminds us that we were created for blessing and belonging. From Genesis to 2 Corinthians, we see that God blesses us so that we might bless others — calling out the good we see in our children, our husbands, our friends, and others we come in contact with.Diane and Elizabeth walk us through what it looks like to cultivate a culture of encouragement: getting curious about what gets in the way (old hurts, insecurities, or fear), learning to speak life over people, and practicing the language of encouragement in everyday moments. Through passages like Proverbs 27:17 and John 1:35–51, we see the power of vulnerability and how Jesus models truly seeing others for who they are.When we learn to see others as God sees them — and to speak that truth out loud — we participate in His work of building one another up. As Proverbs reminds us, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Our words matter. They shape the culture of our homes, our friendships, and the next generation.Scripture Mentioned: Genesis 1:27–28, Genesis 1:22, Genesis 2:3, Genesis 5:22, Genesis 9:1, Genesis 12:2–3, 2 Corinthians 1:3–4, Proverbs 27:17, John 1:35–51, Romans 12:10, Proverbs 18:21, Proverbs 16:24Submit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Sowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Fatherhood: Website, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTubeMotherhood Retreat 2025: More Info + Purchase TicketsJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

In this Q+R episode, we’re tackling your questions about parenting through some of the more complex seasons — from helping phone-free tweens stay connected to navigating sibling rivalry and reflecting on what we might have done differently with our younger kids.We start with communication and technology, sharing practical ways to help teenagers connect with friends without giving them full phone access. From using your own devices intentionally to trying creative tools like the Gabb Watch, Gabb Phone, or even a landline, we talk about modeling healthy communication in a digital world.We also look back on the preschool years and what we’ve learned since — how much those little minds absorb, and how we wish we’d focused less on behavior and more on heart formation. Rhythms like reading Scripture at meals (1 Timothy 4:13) and recognizing the difference between willful disobedience and emotional dysregulation have shaped how we parent now.Finally, we dig into sibling rivalry and the hope that our kids will one day be close friends. We share thoughts on speaking that vision over them, teaching repair in relationships, and remembering that these seasons ebb and flow. Proverbs 31:26 reminds us that “the law of kindness” should guide our words — especially when helping our kids learn to love each other well.Scripture Mentioned: 1 Timothy 4:13 + Proverbs 31:26Submit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Sowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Fatherhood: Website, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTubeIntentional Fatherhood Retreat: February 19-21, 2026 in Costa Mesa, CAMotherhood Retreat 2025: October 23-25, 2025 in Portland, ORJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

In this episode, we dive into what it looks like to raise kids in today’s clickbait culture. With endless information at our fingertips, outrage-driven headlines everywhere, and our children frequently walking through traumatic national events, it can be hard to know what’s real, what matters, and what doesn’t. No matter how many boundaries we put in place, outside voices are loud — and that makes it more important than ever to raise critical thinkers who can stand against the noise.Together, we explore what Scripture says about having a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7) and why this matters so much in a world full of half-truths and emotional extremes. We talk through how to help our kids not just think with the masses, but instead form opinions rooted in reality and truth. This means giving them space to wrestle, normalizing curiosity, and asking good questions to help them develop discernment and wisdom for themselves. It is an ongoing process — one that requires conversation after conversation, guided by the Holy Spirit.We also look at practical tools: delaying social media use (based on Jonathan Haidt’s brilliant research), talking openly about tragedies and current events, and modeling what it looks like to think critically and empathetically. Along the way, we highlight how teaching kids to sit in the tension, see the gray, and understand others’ stories helps them grow in empathy — and ultimately shapes them into leaders with their own convictions.You’ll also hear about the “3M Parent Trap” (model, mimic, mad) from Joey Odom and the importance of relying on God’s Spirit to do what we cannot in our own strength (1 Peter 1:14). Because without His power, all of this falls flat.We wrap up with a look ahead to our upcoming episode: what to do when the time finally comes to give your kids technology. If you have questions or ideas you’d like us to cover, email us at [email protected] Mentioned: 2 Timothy 1:7, Proverbs 14:15, Philippians 1:9-10, Romans 12:2 + 1 Peter 1:14-16Submit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Sowing a Hidden SeedMotherhood Retreat 2025: More Info + Purchase TicketsIntentional Fatherhood: Website, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTubeJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

In this Q+R episode, we dive into some real-life questions about family patterns, parenting decisions, and initiating difficult conversations.First, we talk about the fear of repeating unhealthy family patterns. How can we learn from our past while creating a different path for our own kids? And what do we do when we notice ourselves falling into the same habits? We share how naming those fears — sometimes even out loud to our kids — can strip them of their power. Recognizing patterns is half the battle, and when we fail, honesty and apology go a long way.From there, we explore the hard but necessary work of saying no to even good things in order to live more Spirit-filled lives. Whether it’s homeschooling or another pursuit, it’s not always a black-and-white issue — it’s about prayerfully discerning our true capacity. God often uses our kids to bring hidden struggles to the surface, and part of leading them well is letting them see us wrestle with weakness and lean on Jesus.Finally, we answer a question about starting conversations with parents who don’t understand or accept the idea of breaking generational patterns. We talk about starting with curiosity — inquiring about their story — and then sharing honestly about what we’re noticing in ourselves and what we don’t want to pass on to our kids. We talk about the difference between being peacekeepers, who avoid conflict, and peacemakers, who bring truth with gentleness. Honoring our parents doesn’t mean we can’t have these conversations; it means we approach them prayerfully, carefully, and with grace.Throughout these responses, we explore how honesty, grace, and intentional choices can help us break old patterns, lead our kids well, and walk more faithfully in the freedom God offers.Scripture Mentioned: Ephesians 6:2-3, Psalm 138:3, Psalm 131:1-2, Hebrews 12:1-3 + Hebrews 12:7-11Previous Episode Mentioned: Breaking Generational Patterns, Knowing Your Story, Healing Family Wounds, Finding Freedom, and Passing On Faithfulness (Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTube)Submit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Motherhood Retreat 2025: More Info + Purchase TicketsSowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Fatherhood: Website, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTubeJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

This week, all four of us sit down for an honest and emotional conversation about trauma and crisis — how to respond when it strikes, and how to navigate it as a family. The reality is that at some point in life, you will walk through seasons of pain, and the question becomes: how do we carry each other’s burdens as Galatians 6:2 calls us to? Together, we share raw, personal stories of both acute trauma and ongoing struggles, reflecting on how presence in the middle of crisis can bring healing even when it can’t remove the burden. Simply being seen and acknowledged matters deeply.We talk about the power of prayer, the importance of lowering expectations for those in crisis, and how fumbling words are always better than silence. Scripture reminds us of the value of deep, intimate knowing — taking extra steps to learn, acknowledge, and show up for others in their suffering. Drawing from our own mistakes, we also warn against having a savior complex or tying everything up with a bow.Practically, we encourage families to get good at asking for help, develop a care team, guard their energy, and be honest about where they’re at so they can know what they specifically need in hard seasons.Phil closes the conversation with Scripture, reminding us of Galatians 6:5 and Psalm 46:1 — that each one shall bear his own load and pointing us back to the truth that God is a very present help in times of trouble.Scripture Mentioned: Galatians 6:2, Matthew 7:12, Romans 15:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:14, Psalm 139:1, 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5, Galatians 6:5, Psalm 46:1 + Colossians 1:24Previous Episode Mentioned: Tragedy, the Most Beautiful Women in the World, and Children with Special Needs: The Story of Birdie James (Spotify + Apple Podcasts)Book Mentioned: A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows through Loss by Jerry L. SittserSubmit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Sowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Fatherhood: Website, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTubeMotherhood Retreat 2025: More Info + Purchase TicketsJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

In this episode, we explore how generational sin, trauma, and family stories shape who we are — and how God invites us into healing and freedom. Scripture reminds us in Numbers 14:18 that the effects of sin can ripple through generations, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, those patterns don’t have to define us.We talk about epigenetics — how experiences like stress and trauma can actually impact us on a biological level — and why understanding our parents’ and grandparents’ stories matters. Context doesn’t excuse the harm done, but it helps explain it, leading to empathy, compassion, and deeper healing. When we begin naming the wounds, lies, and patterns we’ve inherited, they start to lose their power over us.We also unpack what a healing apology looks like, why repentance is essential, and how God can redeem even the darkest parts of our stories (Romans 8:28). While the pain you’ve experienced may not be your fault, your response is your responsibility — and it’s never too late to choose a different path.The good news is that just as trauma can be passed down, so can faithfulness. Each generation has the opportunity to take intentional steps toward freedom, wholeness, and hope.Scripture Mentioned: Numbers 14:18, Romans 8:28, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 3:13, Psalm 32:5 + Psalm 51:1-4Previous Episode Mentioned: Generational Trauma, Wounded Parts and How Trauma is Passed Down Interview with Sally Lemos, MS, LPC (Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTube)Book Mentioned: Forgive: Why Should I and How Can I? by Timothy KellerSubmit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Sowing a Hidden SeedIntentional Fatherhood: Website, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTubeMotherhood Retreat 2025: More Info + Purchase TicketsJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

This week, we are releasing one of the most-loved episodes from our Intentional Fatherhood podcast, all about knowing your story, facing generational sin, and trusting God to bless what’s broken.Note: This episode contains mature themes that may not be suitable for younger listeners. Please use discretion.We are storied people, living within the grand narrative of the kingdom of God. And as a father, you need to know your story. Not just the highlights or heroic moments — but the whole of it. The truth is, your past shapes your present: in your work, your marriage, your friendships, and your fatherhood. To lead well, you must face the story that formed you — including both your own childhood and the generations that came before.In this powerful episode, Justin and Brook look back to move forward. Together, we explore how our family of origin — with all its beauty and brokenness — deeply influences the families we are building now. Brook opens up about the story he comes from: one marked by abuse, secrecy, and chaos. He shares honestly about the slow and painful work of healing, and how unaddressed generational sin began to surface in his own work, relationships, and family — which nudged him toward the hard work of transformation.Justin shares a different story: one of inherited blessing, and how he nearly squandered it. But ultimately, he chose to surrender and let God build something new from the foundation he was given.Together, we reject the lie that we’re doomed to repeat the past — that we’re destined to become our fathers or perpetuate the cycles we grew up in. Through grace and intentionality, there is a better way. God longs to redeem what’s been broken and restore what’s been lost.This Spirit-led conversation offers practical steps for examining your story, seeking help, and moving toward healing. It’s an invitation to believe in the promise of Joel 2:25: “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten.”Scripture Mentioned: Joel 2:25-26, Romans 8:28 + Matthew 25:14-30Books Mentioned: The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction by Justin Whitmel EarleySubmit Questions: Send a voice recording to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Intentional Fatherhood: Website, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTubeSowing a Hidden SeedMotherhood Retreat 2025: More Info + Purchase TicketsJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

As the school year begins, we’re diving into the hopes, pressures, and rhythms of this season. We start with the myth of “you only get 18 summers,” a phrase that can put unnecessary pressure on parents. Instead of viewing time with our kids through a lens of scarcity, Scripture reminds us that God’s kingdom is one of abundance (2 Corinthians 9:8).We also explore the power of words in shaping our children’s sense of identity. Casual comments like “I can’t wait for my kids to go back to school” may seem harmless, but they can unintentionally communicate feelings of shame, insecurity, or being unwanted. Proverbs 12:18 reminds us that words carry weight — they can wound or they can heal. Instead of viewing the school year as an escape from our kids, we can reframe it as a hopeful new season and an opportunity to speak life over them.From there, we turn to routines — how to set clear expectations, build in patience, and ease our families back into structure. Jesus Himself modeled rhythms that were not rigid but rooted, often withdrawing to pray in lonely places (Luke 5:16). As parents, we can create steady but flexible rhythms with tools like chore charts, gentle reminders, and spiritual practices at the center.Finally, we talk about the trap of comparison. Looking at how others parent or how other kids are doing can rob us of joy and presence, yet Galatians 6:4 calls us to focus on our own race with gratitude and faithfulness. This episode is an invitation to step into the school year without fear, but with hope — speaking life, embracing rooted rhythms, and staying present to the abundance God has placed right in front of us.Scripture Mentioned: 2 Corinthians 9:8, Proverbs 12:18, Luke 5:16 + Galatians 6:4Sowing a Hidden Seed: 31-Day Prayer Devotional by Brook MosserMotherhood Retreat 2025: More Info + Purchase TicketsIntentional Fatherhood: Website, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTubeJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

Parenting can feel confusing. Many of us grew up in homes focused on rules and behavior, while today, there’s more awareness around emotions and connection. Both matter — but what do we actually do about our kids’ behavior? In this episode, Brook, Elizabeth, and Diane talk about what discipline really is, why it’s important, and how to approach it with wisdom and love.Discipline isn’t punishment — it’s training and guidance. Our conversation touches on how approaches to parenting have shifted over the decades, what the Bible says about discipline, and how to walk the line between too much and too little. We also talk about why each child is different, how parenting changes as kids get older, and how to handle it all with grace rather than anger.Along the way, we share four simple tools of discipline: gentle correction, loving rebuke, patient instruction, and encouragement. These give parents practical ways to guide their kids and build trust along the way.At the heart of this episode is hope. None of us get discipline right all the time, but it’s an important and biblical part of parenting. With God’s wisdom and a posture of grace, you can begin to discover what healthy discipline looks like for your family.Scripture Mentioned: Ephesians 6:4, Proverbs 29:17, Hebrews 12:11, Ephesians 1:15-20 + 2 Timothy 4:2Previous Episode Mentioned: Procedural Memory: How God Redeems Reflexes, Rewrites Patterns and Renews the Mind (Spotify + Apple Podcasts)Books Mentioned: Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Also available in audiobook!) + Sowing a Hidden SeedSubmit Questions: Send a one-minute voice memo to [email protected], mentioning your name and where you’re from.Intentional Fatherhood: Website, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTubeMotherhood Retreat 2025: More Info + Purchase TicketsJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchBlogThe Intentional Film Series

This week, all four of us sit down to respond to your thoughtful questions about parenting and marriage.We start by exploring what to do when your parenting style differs from your spouse’s. Differences don’t have to be a problem — in fact, they can be a gift. But what about when the stakes are high, like deciding on the best schooling option for your child? We share how to find unity in your approach without erasing your unique perspectives.Next, we wrestle with this challenge: when your child is hurting, how do you tell the difference between their pain and your own emotional response? And more importantly, how do you carry both with grace? This leads to a conversation on communication, repairing relationships, and allowing spiritual formation to shape the way we respond in the moment — offering the same comfort God gives us.Finally, we talk about the beauty and challenge of change in marriage. Over a lifetime together, you will inevitably be married to different versions of your spouse — and they to you. How do you support each other’s growth, let go of the past, and move forward together?Parenting and marriage are both marathons, not sprints — and we hope this conversation encourages you to lean into the differences, tend to the pain with compassion, and keep choosing each other in every season.Scripture Mentioned: 1 Corinthians 1:10, 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, Exodus 34:5-7, Colossians 3:12, 1 Peter 3, Galatians 5:22-23, Romans 15:7, Ecclesiastes 4:9 + 1 John 3:2Sowing a Hidden Seed: 31-Day Prayer Devotional by Brook MosserIntentional Fatherhood: Website, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTubeMotherhood Retreat 2025: More Info + Purchase TicketsJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

It’s no secret that we live in an anxious world — and we are raising an anxious generation. One in eight kids will be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, and that number is rising.So how do we parent through this? What exactly does anxiety look like in our kids? How do we recognize it — especially when it hides under the surface? What tools can we use to respond? And what hope does Scripture offer us along the way?In this episode, we’re not speaking as experts or clinicians, but as parents — daily practitioners walking through anxiety with our own children. We explore the truth that anxiety, left unchecked, tends to grow over time. We talk about the two most common responses parents fall into: demanding and protecting, and how neither is helpful in equipping your kids with the tools to face anxiety as they mature.If you’ve ever felt stuck in a cycle of accommodation — trying to prevent every trigger or meet every need — we offer some honest reflections and a few practical steps to shift that pattern. We also share how we’re learning to spot anxiety in our kids and walk with them through it — not around it.Above all, we look to God’s Word, where we’re reminded again and again: Do not fear. Not because fear is never present, but because His presence meets us in it.At the heart of this conversation is a call to slow down. To truly see our kids — not just their behavior, but what’s driving it. Slowing down allows us to meet them where they are, build resilience together, and remind them they’re not alone. With God’s help, our kids can develop the courage to face their fears — and even experience freedom in the midst of anxiety, not just from it. That kind of growth is slow, often messy, but deeply meaningful — and one of the most rewarding parts of parenting we’ve encountered.Scripture Mentioned: Exodus 4:1-7, 1 Kings 19, Matthew 1:18-25, Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 41:10Books Mentioned: Soul Keeping: Caring For the Most Important Part of You by John Ortberg, Raising Worry-Free Girls: Helping Your Daughter Feel Braver, Stronger, and Smarter in an Anxious World by Sissy Goff + The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan HaidtSowing a Hidden Seed: 31-Day Prayer Devotional by Brook MosserIntentional Fatherhood: Website, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTubeMotherhood Retreat 2025: More Info + Purchase TicketsJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

We’re thrilled to introduce Sowing a Hidden Seed — a 31-day prayer devotional for parents faithfully planting spiritual seeds in their children’s lives, even when the fruit feels far off. Each day features Scripture, a meaningful quote, and a guided prayer, with flexible themes you can make your own.Right now, Sowing a Hidden Seed is available exclusively to monthly donors who give $25 or more. As a nonprofit, Intentional relies on monthly giving to sustain this work — it makes resources like this possible and helps us equip families everywhere to raise children with intention. This devotional is our way of saying thank you — a small gift to express our deep gratitude for your ongoing support.In this episode, we share the heart behind the devotional and talk about how to foster a culture of prayer at home. We discuss the power of praying with and for your children — not perfectly, but consistently — and address the barriers that often hold us back, such as busyness, shame, or feeling inadequate.You’ll also hear simple, practical ways to make prayer a natural, life-giving rhythm in your home. Because it’s not about eloquence or intensity — it’s about showing up, day after day, with a posture of surrender.As Walter Wink reminds us: “History belongs to the intercessors, who believe the future into being.”Learn more about Sowing a Hidden Seed and become a monthly Legacy Builder here.Questions: Email us at [email protected] Mentioned: Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Psalm 116:1-2, Proverbs 18:21 + Ephesians 3:20Episode Mentioned: The Boring Years, Spiritual Formation in the Shadows, Beneath the Routine, and Praying the Ordinary (Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTube)Intentional Fatherhood: Website, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTubeMotherhood Retreat 2025: More Info + Purchase TicketsJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

This week, Brook sits down with Andrew Damazio — pastor of Rose Church in Portland and author of My Heart Hurts: A Guide to the Theology of Pain and Suffering.After walking through deep, personal suffering — often multiple losses at once — Andrew emerged with a burden to help others navigate pain with both truth and tenderness. When enduring pain, he was either approached with a highly theological response void of care or a purely pastoral response void of biblical truths. What he wanted — and what he needed — was both.In My Heart Hurts, Andrew brings together sound theology and sincere pastoral care — offering not quick fixes, but a framework for walking through pain with both hope and honesty. Still in the midst of grief after the loss of his father and while walking with a close friend through their own suffering, Andrew speaks not from theory, but from lived experience.In our conversation, Andrew shares his story of growing up as a third-generation pastor’s kid, coming to faith in adolescence, and eventually stepping into ministry. We talk about the difference between suffering in circumstance and suffering in perspective, the way ancient Christians expected suffering while modern believers often try to avoid it, and how we’re prone to unintentionally strip the humanity from Jesus in our search for tidy answers.This is not a conversation that ties everything up neatly. Instead, it's an invitation to sit in the tension — to look honestly at pain, and to find Christ in the middle of it. Whether you're in a season of sorrow or simply preparing for the reality of life in a broken world, this episode offers wisdom, comfort, and the kind of truth that holds up under pressure.Andrew Damazio: Rose Church, Rose Church Podcast, InstagramScripture Mentioned: Matthew 26:36-46, Luke 22:44, John 21:1-14, 1 Kings 17:1-6, 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, 1 Peter 1:5, James 5:16 + 1 John 1:9Book Mentioned: My Heart Hurts: A Guide to the Theology of Pain and Suffering by Andrew DamazioIntentional Fatherhood: Website, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTubeMotherhood Retreat 2025: More Info + Purchase TicketsJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

This week, Brook sits down with Tyler Staton — pastor of Bridgetown Church in Portland, author, husband, and father of three boys — for a profound, powerful conversation about mortality, margin, weakness, and prayer.Tyler shares his journey through an unexpected and grueling cancer diagnosis, offering a raw look into the spiritual refinement that comes when you’re suddenly faced with your own limitations and mortality. As he puts it, “You don’t know the prayers you’ll pray until someone says, ‘We don’t know whether you will live or die.’”Through that crucible, Tyler discovered that suffering can be an invitation — a call to live fully present, to reorder your life around what matters most, and to let go of the pressure to make everyone happy. He shares the practical steps he took to prioritize his family, build in margin, and live more intentionally on the other side of crisis.We also explore how his wife walked through the experience in her own way, and how childhood narratives around strength and weakness shaped his ability to be vulnerable. Tyler reflects on the beauty of being met in weakness — how vulnerability creates space for others to come close in love.Finally, we close with a rich conversation around prayer — specifically, how we can guide our children into a vibrant, Spirit-filled prayer life. Tyler offers a simple and powerful framework for praying with and for our kids, reminding us that they may be far more spiritually attuned than we often realize — and how we might inspire them to “carry the fire.”Books Mentioned: Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools + The Familiar StrangerTyler Staton: Website, Instagram, 24-7 Prayer + Bridgetown ChurchIntentional Fatherhood: Website, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTubeMotherhood Retreat 2025: More Info + Purchase TicketsJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

This week, all four of us sit down for another Marriage Q+R, diving into your questions about navigating tension and other difficult dynamics in marriage.We talk through when it might be wise to extend forgiveness face-to-face versus process it privately, and explore the nuance between sin in thought and sin in action — while remembering that all sin must ultimately be brought before God.We share practical ways to re-prioritize your marriage in the midst of busy seasons, especially when kids, work, and other relationships start to crowd out your connection.We also tackle the challenge of navigating disagreements about your children’s commitments — from extracurriculars to therapies — and how to unify around your family’s core values.Finally, we close with a tender conversation about how to bring your children into the broken parts of your own family story — honoring the truth while walking in wisdom toward those still living and involved.Whether you're in a season of clarity or conflict within your marriage, we hope this episode gives you language, encouragement, and direction for the road ahead.Scripture Mentioned: Matthew 5:23-24, Ecclesiastes 1:9 + Proverbs 25:11Previous Episode Mentioned: Hopelessness, Bitterness, Simmering Resentment, Passive-Aggressiveness, and Everyday Forgiveness in Close Relationships (Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube)Submit Questions: [email protected] Fatherhood: Website, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTubeMotherhood Retreat 2025: More Info + Purchase TicketsJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

Fresh off the Intentional Marriage Retreat, we sit down for a special Q+R episode — answering your thoughtful questions about marriage. In this conversation, we discuss a variety of topics with a special focus on one overarching theme: growing in spiritual connection with your spouse.We talk about how to nurture spiritual intimacy in your marriage by creating space for regular, meaningful conversations about your faith. We also tackle some of the more challenging dynamics: how to lovingly invite your spouse to reflect on unhealthy patterns even if there is resistance, how to encourage a reluctant husband to step into spiritual leadership, and how to navigate past wounds together with grace.This episode offers practical tools and biblical perspective for deepening spiritual connection, healing past pain, and becoming more of who God created you to be — together. Whether your marriage feels strong or strained, there’s wisdom here for every couple walking the journey of faith together.Scripture Mentioned: Proverbs 16:20-21, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, Ephesians 4:29, Psalm 139:23, Proverbs 16:24, 1 Peter 3:1-4 + Ephesians 5:33Intentional Fatherhood: Website, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts + YouTubeMotherhood Retreat 2025: More Info + Purchase TicketsJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

Do you ever feel stuck in a reactive cycle as a parent — responding in ways you wish you wouldn't, again and again? Like Paul in Romans 7:15, you might find yourself saying, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”Here’s the good news: you’re not broken — you’re patterned. And patterns can be healed.In this episode, we unpack what it means to be shaped by behavioral patterns, where they come from, and how they show up in our parenting and marriage. We explore the early steps toward recognizing and healing these patterns, and how God’s redemptive work can bring real change.Through scripture, personal stories, and practical steps, we guide you toward deeper awareness — and point you to the healing that leads to freedom and greater connection in your home.We also make an exciting announcement on the podcast today: Intentional Fatherhood is officially launching on Friday, June 13! In the meantime, visit the website, follow @intentionalfatherhood_ on Instagram, and subscribe to the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Steps for Experiencing Healing From Patterns:1. Name the story2. Grieve the loss of what should have been but wasn’t3. Invite Jesus into that wound4. Practice new patternsReflection:Reflect on one pattern that shows up often in your marriage, parenting or friendshipQuestion:What is that pattern protecting you from and what is it trying to say?Prayer:Ask Jesus to help you be curious and kind about your story.Scripture Mentioned: Romans 7:15, 1 Corinthians 11:1, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Romans 7:14-18, Romans 7:22-25, James 1:19-20 + Isaiah 53:3Motherhood Retreat 2025: More Info + Purchase TicketsJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

This week, we’re getting honest about our inadequacies as parents — when all we can say is, “I can’t.”Inspired by The Fellowship of the Withered Hand, a concept from John Ortberg’s Steps, we explore how embracing our weaknesses can actually be a gateway to deeper healing and growth. Rather than hiding our shortcomings, what if we brought them into the light — to both God and to trusted community — and found strength in surrender?Rooted in the story from Mark 3 where Jesus heals a man’s withered hand, we talk about the courage it takes to stretch out the broken parts of ourselves. As parents, that might mean owning our impatience, our fears, or the lies we tell ourselves about needing to have it all together.Because the truth is, we all have withered hands. The question isn’t if we’re broken — it’s whether we’re willing to hold out our hands for healing.Steps to Addressing Our Inadequacies:Admit: Acknowledge that you have “withered hands” and name what they are.Invite: Ask God for help in your weaknesses.Release: Let go of control over your shortcomings and the outcomes of them.Remember: You are not alone in this journey!Questions to Ask Yourself:Where in my parenting do I say, “God, I can’t?”What would it look like to make prayer my first parenting move — not my last?Prayers to Pray:God, what keeps me from admitting my weaknesses? What shame is hurting me and keeping me from admitting?God, point me to the books, podcasts, teachings and people you want to use to speak into my life.Books Mentioned: Steps: A Guide to Transforming Your Life When Willpower Isn’t Enough by John Ortberg + Soul Keeping: Caring For the Most Important Part of You by John OrtbergScripture Mentioned: Mark 3:1-6, Matthew 5:3, 1 Corinthians 10:12, Isaiah 66:1-2, Psalm 8:4, Mark 5:25-34, Matthew 8:23-27, Hebrews 4:14-16, 2 Corinthians 12:10, Matthew 7:7, 2 Corinthians 12:5, 2 Corinthians 12:9 + James 5:16Motherhood Retreat 2025: More Info + Purchase TicketsJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting PDFFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

This week, all four of us sit down for a meaningful conversation about everyday forgiveness — small, often-overlooked moments of hurt that show up in our closest relationships and call for repair. Whether it's with a spouse, parent, friend, or coworker, these minor offenses can quietly accumulate and widen the distance between us — unless we learn to close the gap before it becomes a chasm.Diane shares a personal story of a generational pattern of unforgiveness in her family of origin and how it shapes the way she responds to hurt. We each reflect on how unforgiveness can quietly manifest in our lives — as self-pity, hopelessness, bitterness, simmering resentment, passive-aggressiveness, or even “scanning for rejection.”Turning to Scripture, we explore powerful examples of radical forgiveness — including some of Jesus’ final words on the cross — and what it means to forgive not just once, but “seventy times seven.”Drawing from our own relationships, we talk about why forgiveness becomes easier when we understand a loved one’s story and emotional triggers. We also offer three practical ways to express everyday forgiveness and return to a truth we’ve seen time and again: rupture and repair build resilience.Forgiveness isn’t a one-time act — it’s ongoing, relational, and essential. Tune in to discover how you can begin practicing this spiritual rhythm in your daily life.Scripture Mentioned: Ephesians 4:32, Psalm 23, Matthew 6:9-13, Philippians 4:6, Psalm 119:11, Hebrews 12:15, Matthew 18:21-22, Luke 23:34, Acts 7:54-60, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Romans 12:18Motherhood Retreat 2025: More Info + Purchase TicketsJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

This week, we’re thrilled to welcome back our dear friend A.J. Swoboda — author, professor, theologian, lay pastor, and fellow podcaster — for an honest conversation about what it means to parent while carrying our own scars. Like physical ones, emotional scars tell the story of pain endured and healing found.We talk about the reality that many of us are giving our kids something we never received — emotional health, spiritual guidance, or intentional presence. While that’s a beautiful gift, it can also bring up unexpected feelings of shame or even jealousy as we confront the gaps in our own stories.We discuss some practical tools for parenting with scars, including Jon Tyson’s Primal Path, a discipleship program for fathers and sons. We also reflect on how our children often become the ones who draw our scars into the light, asking questions that push us to face painful parts of our past.Ultimately, we highlight the fact that healing is a slow, intentional process — and how parenting through our scars invites both challenge and redemption. We found our conversation with A.J. to be rich, emotional, and full of hope — and we think you will too.Book Mentioned: His Face like Mine: Finding God's Love in Our Wounds by Russell W. JoycePrevious Episode Mentioned: Procedural Memory: How God Redeems Reflexes, Rewrites Patterns and Renews the Mind (Spotify + Apple Podcasts)Scripture Mentioned: Genesis 2:24A.J. Swoboda: A Teachable SpiritSubversive Sabbath Other BooksWebsiteSlow Theology PodcastNewsletter InstagramMotherhood Retreat 2025: More Info + Purchase TicketsJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

Do you ever catch yourself wishing away the ordinary, mundane days of parenting — those moments that feel repetitive, exhausting, or spiritually dry? Maybe you carry guilt for not “praying enough,” or wonder when you’ll ever have space for deep spiritual encounters again.In this week’s episode, Brook and Elizabeth invite you to reimagine what prayer looks like in the midst of diapers, dishes, and daily routines. They explore the idea of praying the ordinary — cultivating an inner posture of attentiveness, availability, and surrender in even the most mundane moments.Drawing from real-time personal experiences, they share how to incorporate breath prayers into your day, practical ways to invite God into the small things, common obstacles to practicing ordinary prayer — and how to overcome them.With honesty and hope, Brook and Elizabeth remind us that you are never too ordinary for the presence of God. He delights in showing up in the unnoticed spaces, and there is a heavenly reward for living in righteousness and rejoicing in the ordinary.Breath Prayers You Can Borrow:Inhale: “Lord, you’re my strength.” Exhale: “Help me love with patience.”Inhale: “You know my child.” Exhale: “Better than I do.”Inhale: “Father, shape my heart…” Exhale: “…to reflect yours”Inhale: “I surrender control.” Exhale: “I trust your care.”Inhale: “Come, Holy Spirit.” Exhale: “Guide my parenting today.”Scripture Mentioned: Colossians 3:17, Genesis 1:26-28, Revelation 3:19-20, Psalm 23 + Romans 12:1Books Mentioned: Prayer by Richard Foster, Domestic Monastery: Creating Spiritual Life at Home by Ronald Rolheiser, The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence + Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life by Tish Harrison WarrenMotherhood Retreat 2025: More Info + Purchase TicketsJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

This week, Brook sits down once again with author, professor, theologian, lay pastor, and podcaster A.J. Swoboda to talk about the importance of having a teachable spirit in today’s world. Centered around his latest book, A Teachable Spirit, this episode invites listeners to see teachability not just as a personality trait, but as a deeply spiritual discipline.We begin by naming a sobering truth: “We have become a culture that demands repentance but shames people who actually do it.” In response, A.J. points us to a better way — the way of Jesus — urging us to become teachable people rooted in humility and grace.Starting with the definition of a teachable spirit, we explore the role of humility, the difference between teachability and impressionability, how we remain teachable in marriage and parenting, the value of repair with our kids, and the gift of childlike faith — pointing out the countercultural idea that “things are better when kids are in the room.” A.J. also previews the groups in his book that we must learn how to learn from: experts, the dead, strangers, culture, children, and more — even when it's uncomfortable for us as Christians.Ultimately, we land on the “why” behind it all: why is this posture essential to the mission of the Church? A.J. ends with a moving picture of extreme humility and teachability — carried all the way to our last dying breath.Our conversation is full of humor, vulnerability, depth, insight, and, of course, humility. If you’re longing to grow — or simply wondering what it means to become a more teachable person — don’t miss this one.A.J. Swoboda: A Teachable Spirit, Subversive Sabbath Other Books,Website,Slow Theology Podcast,Newsletter InstagramScripture Mentioned: 2 Peter 3:16, Daniel 1, Genesis 2:20-24, Matthew 19:13-15, Luke 6, John 7 + Matthew 16Motherhood Retreat 2025Join Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

Do you ever find yourself at a loss when it comes to disciplining your children as they move beyond the toddler years? Do you wish you could instantly curb the pushback, mood swings, and moments of disrespect?This week, we discuss our Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting resource, which reframes how we respond to our children’s behaviors by emphasizing both correction and connection.After all, God has hard-wired us all for connection — and this should dictate how we relate to our kids, no matter the circumstances. Looking to Jesus as the model for demonstrating both kindness and firmness, we emphasize not only the importance of each, but also the order in which we respond to outbursts or misbehavior.We explore the two extremes we often see in parenting: 1) the authoritarian, emotionless “because I said so” style focused solely on squashing the behavior and 2) the overemphasis on emotional validation without any sense of firm boundaries or consequences.So how do we strike that balance? Tune in to find out!Scripture Mentioned: Romans 11:22, Romans 2:4, Proverbs 3:11-12, Proverbs 22:6, John 1:14, Psalm 94:19, Proverbs 15:1 + 4, Proverbs 29:17 + Matthew 11:28Motherhood Retreat 2025: More Info + Purchase TicketsBottom-Up vs. Top-Down Parenting ResourceForest Home Family Camp: Week 6 (All four of us are speaking!)Join Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

This week, Brook sits down with actor, author, and producer Kirk Cameron for a powerful conversation about faith, marriage, and what it means to live as a man of God.While many remember Kirk from his prominent roles in the Growing Pains TV series and the Left Behind films, his story goes far beyond the screen. He shares how a shift from atheism to Christianity as a teenager altered the trajectory of his life, leading him to become a devoted husband, father of six, and now a grandfather.We talk about Kirk’s new kids’ show, Iggy and Mr. Kirk, streaming on BRAVE+, created to offer low-stimulation, character-focused content in a world full of noise.Kirk also shares rich wisdom on marriage, describing it as “a school you enroll in to learn how to die to yourself.” He challenges the cultural narrative that marriage is about happiness, reframing it as a path to holiness and covenantal love. Kirk dropped this memorable alliteration when it comes to marriage: “If you focus on rights, you’ll promote rebellion. But if you focus on responsibilities, you create the conditions for revival.”The episode closes with a meaningful reflection on biblical manhood — how to model it for our sons, even if we didn’t have it modeled for us. Kirk points to meekness as a defining trait: strength and power, willingly submitted to the authority of God.This episode is packed with truth, encouragement, and clarity for anyone striving to live and lead with purpose. Don’t miss it!Kirk Cameron Resources: Iggy and Mr. Kirk, BRAVE+ Streaming Platform + WebsiteMotherhood Retreat 2025: More Info + Purchase TicketsMarriage Retreat: SOLD OUTJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

This week, we explore procedural memory — the unconscious, long-term memory that drives us to perform actions automatically. Shaped by childhood experiences and behaviors modeled by our parents, procedural memory often feels like running on autopilot or slipping into default mode, especially in how we respond under pressure. It’s that reflexive reaction, internal or external, that surfaces when we’re provoked — sometimes leading to an action you once promised yourself you’d never repeat, perhaps because it’s something you watched your parents do.Once we define the concept, we unpack how to break harmful procedural memory patterns and how, in turn, we can form healthier reflexive habits. While acknowledging our shortcomings and the reality that we will inevitably pass down some forms of negative behavior to our children, we quickly reach a place of incredible hope.We examine the process of transformation and redemption outlined in Scripture, drawing from the hopeful call in Romans 12:1-2 to offer ourselves as living sacrifices and be transformed by the renewing of our minds.By sharing personal stories of generational healing and redemption within our own family, we testify to the ways God has reshaped our hearts and minds, unveiling His power, patience, and grace in the process.This episode is packed with practical tips, scriptural truths, raw vulnerability, and radical hope.Prayers to Pray:“God, help us unlearn what hurt us and relearn what heals us.”“Help us live in ways that our bodies, our families and our children will remember as love.”Scripture Mentioned: Romans 12:1-2, Hebrews 5:14, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 1:17, Romans 5:8, Psalm 118:27, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Philippians 4:9, Matthew 12:34, Romans 7:15-20, 1 John 3:19-20, Romans 8:1, Romans 8:6, Genesis 50:15-21, Romans 5:10, Motherhood Retreat 2025: More Info + Purchase TicketsMarriage Retreat: SOLD OUTJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series

This week, Elizabeth and Diane make an exciting announcement: The Intentional Motherhood Retreat is BACK for 2025 — this time, in Portland, Oregon from October 23-25! They discuss what the retreat is all about, why you should come, and what to expect if you haven’t been before.As retreat speakers and hosts, Elizabeth and Diane reflect on the deep connections, vulnerability, and transformation experienced in past years — building anticipation for what’s to come in 2025.This retreat is for women who desire to be mothers some day, all the way to grandmothers, and everyone in between — mothers of babies, toddlers, young children, teenagers, and adult children. This intergenerational gathering is a chance for all ages and stages of mothers to learn from one another, encourage each other, and simply be together. Because motherhood isn’t meant to be done alone.The late Dallas Willard said “Spiritual formation…can’t be a private thing… It is a matter of whole-life transformation. You need to seek out others in your community who are pursuing the renovation of the heart.”And that is exactly what we are going to do together. So come join us October 23rd through 25th for the Intentional Motherhood Retreat in Portland. We can’t wait to see you!Scripture Mentioned: Colossians 2:2-3Motherhood Retreat 2025: More Info + Purchase TicketsMarriage Retreat: SOLD OUTJoin Our Legacy BuildersWatch on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram: @intentional_parents @brook_mosser @emosserFREE Text Message Daily Devotional MerchGrab a Copy of Our Book:Raising Passionate Jesus Followers (Now available in audiobook!)BlogThe Intentional Film Series