I have several friends who are teachers, and it's amazing how drastically things have changed in the last 10 years. When my oldest was tiny, there were a few friends who could afford to have an iPad for their kid, but generally, they were like computers. For adults, but occasionally, kids had them. It was still surprising to see kids on an iPad at restaurants. Now, even young kids have their own iPads, and elementary kids have smartphones. We allowed our son to join a construction day camp this summer, and I was shocked when my son came home talking about all the kids his age sitting around between turns and on the bus playing games on their phones.

I really appreciate how Greta has thought through the challenges this new normal brings and how parents can handle it with wisdom and grace. Greta is a homeschool mom and a very popular homeschool conference speaker. I can't wait to tap into her wisdom today!

I don't want to be one of those people that rails against technological change and social media. Each development provides new ways of showing wisdom. What unique challenges have you seen while raising kids both before and after the evolution of smartphones?

I know every family is going to feel differently about how they choose to use technology, but we can be inspired by the choices other people make. What have been your family's boundaries around phone usage?

You can find Greta Eskridge's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"It's Time To Talk to Your Kids About Porn"⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or find her

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Helping you love Jesus and disciple your kids ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Or get access to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Additional study resources here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch

*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest

I put a lot of time into preparing our hearts for Christmas, but often I just let Easter sneak up on me. If I'm honest, I don't really know how to go from the twinkle lights of Christmas into the darkness of winter, and think ahead to spring and the celebration of resurrection. I get a little closer every year, but culturally, we aren't given a template for what this looks like, so it really feels like swimming upstream. Every year, about this time of year, sickness after round of sickness keeps hitting and I'm really tired. I had decided I was going to coast into the season leading to Easter, when I saw the title of Elyse's book pop up in my inbox. It felt like a sign to reconsider.

Last year I attended my first-ever Ash Wednesday service and shared about it. I was shocked and discouraged to have a lot of negative comments on that post. People assumed we were veering away from "normal" Christianity. So, before we get started, Elyse, can you tell us about the practice of Ash Wednesday and the faith roots, and what denominations practice it? How does this holiday help us to bridge from winter to Easter?

I've come to really love Advent practices. Remembering who we wait for and how long Israel waited has given me a lot of peace in the brokenness of the world. What have Christians traditionally remembered and what spiritual disciplines have they attempted to cultivate between Christmas and Easter?

One thing I love about your work is the way you always circle back to grace. How do we keep these practices from feeling legalistic?

If shame starts to creep up... maybe we intended to celebrate differently this year, and it's just not going to happen. How does thinking of Jesus as the "friend of sinners" cover or remove that shame?

You can find Elyse Fitzpatrick's ⁠⁠⁠⁠"Friend of Sinners"⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ or go to her website.

JOIN US: ⁠⁠⁠Around Our American World ⁠⁠⁠for family-style learning!!

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Helping you love Jesus and disciple your kids ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Or get access to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Additional study resources here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch

*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest

I have to start this interview with a confession.

The other day, I was scrolling social media and saw the cutest pair of gingham socks. They had that little ruffled top. I went from not knowing I needed ruffle gingham socks to clicking "add to cart" faster than you can say "Bob's your uncle." Before you start shutting down my inbox with emails asking for the link to the socks... You should know right before I hit "checkout," I felt my heart pull in that familiar way. I suddenly remember the sock drawer I couldn't close this week, I had to pull some socks out and store them in a different drawer. I have a feeling I'm not the only person who's had this happen this week. We live surrounded by ads. It's constantly pointing out what we don't have.

It seems that, as the church, we have "pet sins" we like to talk about and some that fly under the radar. What brought the sin of overconsumption to your attention?

Why, as Christians, do you think we want to consume so much? I use the word consume because it can be stuff, food, experiences, trips, etc.

Why is it important for our faith to pause before we hit the payment button? Does that change if we can afford it, or if we are putting it on a payment plan? How does buying everything we want impact our faith?

Where do we find simplicity in the Bible? Why do you think it's something that matters?

What do we find in Jesus that we can satisfy deeper than the dopamine hit of having a new package arrive?

What are some habits that build resiliency and Christ-like formation to replace overconsumption with?

You can find Elizabeth Woodson's ⁠"Habits of Resistance: 7 Ways You're Being Formed By Culture and Gospel Practices to Help You Push Back" ⁠ or follow her on Instagram

JOIN US: ⁠⁠Around Our American World ⁠⁠for family-style learning!!

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Helping you love Jesus and disciple your kids ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Or get access to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Additional study resources here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch

*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest