Life Over Coffee With Rick Thomas

Too often, parents with sinning children focus too quickly on the disruptive child as they overlook their reactions to their disappointing child. Here are two questions that will help you avoid this parenting problem: How would you describe your relationship with the Lord? How are you practically living that relationship out daily inside your home? Read, Watch, or Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/day-11-easy-way-to-disqualify-yourself-as-a-parent/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Shows Main Idea – When someone experiences deep betrayal at the hands of Christians, it can shake their faith to the core. They may wonder how God could allow such evil, why He did not intervene, and why those who did wrong seem to have escaped justice. These are honest struggles, and they should not be dismissed with shallow responses to hurtful people. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/ep-542-when-christians-fail-you-trusting-god-in-the-aftermath-of-betrayal/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Mable couldn’t get a handle on her insecurity. Burdened by a failed marriage, teenage children in rebellion, and too many relational conflicts to count, she was frustrated, angry, and bewildered at how the same old things kept happening to her. Though she recognized she had a lifelong problem with anxiety, fear, and insecurity, she did not understand it or why it had such a stranglehold on her life. Read, Watch, or Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/day-10-fussy-parents-make-insecure-children/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

A right heart attitude will create the right behaviors, but knowing and obeying all the rules does not mean the heart is good or even agrees with the actions. From the inside out is the Bible’s way to parent children, not merely outward assessments. Though regulations will give you the desired behaviors you pray for when your kid is young, those rules cannot change your child’s heart. Read, Watch, or Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/day-9-give-your-child-fewer-rules-and-more-attitude/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

We were sitting at an intersection when our then 6-year-old daughter said, “Daddy, that Blues Clues paw print is orange.” This instance was the second time it happened with our children. Blues Clues was a once-popular kid’s program about a dog named Blue who would leave his paw print in different places during the show. Read, Watch, or Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/day-8-dad-youre-the-first-picture-your-child-will-see-of-god-the-father/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

I had a conversation with our son when he was younger, sharing with him how he would be my replacement. It was a sobering thought. One day, our son will grow up and become a practical demonstration of what I have modeled for him. The good and the bad of my life work together to bring shape to his adult life. Read, Watch, or Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/day-7-your-words-shape-your-childs-life/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Shows Main Idea – Bradley Pierce is the president of the Foundation to Abolish Abortion, a constitutional attorney with nearly two decades of experience advocating for the right to life and has been instrumental in drafting legislation across more than 30 states to protect these vital rights, including numerous equal protection bills aimed at abolishing abortion. Rick had the privilege to interview Bradley his advocacy for the unborn, as well as fighting for the rights of Christians across America. Bradley is keenly aware of these vital matters and is able to break them down in a way few others can. Show Notes: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/ep-540-bradley-pierce-fighting-for-the-pre-born-in-post-roe-america/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

You can only help a child if he wants help. If your child is not serious about change, your care for him will have a limited impact. Your primary parental role is waiting on the Lord as He brings your child to an end of himself. Read, Watch, or Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/day-6-before-you-can-help-your-child-you-must-wait/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Jesus was clear when He said that you must follow Him if you want to walk in the light. The opposite is also accurate: if you do not follow Him, the only option is dark. Every relational construct has followers and leaders, which begs the question, who is the head of your home? Read, Watch, or Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/day-5-the-orientation-of-the-home/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Christians enjoy and benefit from the gospel because of forgiveness (See Romans 10:9, 13). For example, we confessed our sins and requested forgiveness, and our kind Lord forgave us. Confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation are the stepping stones to happiness (Deuteronomy 33:29). If you want a happy home, you must imitate God at this crucial point (Ephesians 5:1). Read, Watch, or Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/day-3-non-negotiable-first-step-to-build-a-happy-home/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Shows Main Idea – Parenting & Pornography is a masterclass-style video series developed by Into The Light Ministries. Its purpose is to equip parents with biblical tools to nurture children of integrity who embrace God’s design for sexuality while resisting pornography. This series is free for families and churches, offering a theologically rich, practical, and gospel-centered approach to addressing sensitive topics in a family context. Show Notes: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/ep-538-jacob-valk-parenting-and-prnography-the-masterclass/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Quality parenting, strong marriages, marital unity, biblical marriage, communication in marriage, teamwork in parenting, spiritual leadership, Christian parenting, family dynamics, relational health. The Bible is not a parenting book, which is why it gives so little parenting advice. It is a relationship book. Rather than providing you with parenting tips, it provides you with a plethora of information about how to have great relationships within any community construct, whether it’s marriages, families, churches, businesses, friends, or neighbors. Read, Watch, or Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/day-2-quality-parenting-comes-from-good-marriages/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

The parenting goal is to release your child into adulthood as an individual living under God’s authority for His glory. This parenting process happens in three stages: Dependent Stage—0 to 2, Interdependent Stage—2 to 22, and Independent Stage—22+. Read, Watch, or Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/day-1-parenting-from-zero-to-adulthood/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Biblical parenting incrementally releases children from your rules and authority while placing them under the most influential governing dynamic known to humanity—to love God and others supremely. If your child’s heart is motivated and governed by those two truths, and you help him to embrace that kind of affection for God and neighbor, you will serve your child well. Read, Watch, or Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/day-4-two-rules-every-parent-must-teach-their-children/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Marriage counseling has historically been the most common type of counseling I have done, which makes sense because the marriage relationship is unique in that there is not supposed to be an escape clause. Marriage is for life. This fact makes marriage the perfect context for relationship sharpening. There are times when counseling is essential because of the fallenness of the couple and the need for community. If your marriage is bad, you more than likely are doing some of the following things. These are some of the most oft-repeated mistakes I have seen in poor marriages. Read, Watch, or Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/ten-tips-to-kill-your-marriage/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Some husbands and wives can have a hard time putting a broken marriage back together. Typically, expectations and disappointments create a backlog of unresolved conflict. Unforgiveness sets in, the death toll to any relationship. When a couple gets to this point, pride becomes the unscaleable wall between them. They have lost the vision of Christ and His church in their union. I’ve developed this reflective study to help a couple in this situation to tear down that seemingly insurmountable wall. Read. Watch, or Listen:https://lifeovercoffee.com/here-is-practical-help-to-restore-a-broken-marriage/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

The cross of Christ has wonder-working power. It can change you and your relationships, but the process is not a passive “let go and let God” exercise. If Christ’s cross is not a practical governing reality in our relationships, we will hurt those we love the most. Though the cross of Christ is not the whole gospel, it’s a poignant reminder of the sacrifice needed to sustain a relationship with someone. Read, Watch, or Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/something-must-come-between-us-or-were-going-to-kill-each-other/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

No human has absolute authority over another. This perspective should be common sense, but it’s not for everyone, including Christians. A dictatorial husband and father can put wives and children in a difficult spot, which begs the question that folks have asked me for decades: “Do you think it’s right to correct my authoritarian husband?” This chapter will be instructive and directive for those in this type of relationship. Read, Watch, or Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/do-you-think-its-right-to-correct-my-authoritarian-husband/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Shows Main Idea – EMDR stands for Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy. Though it has been around for decades, it has gained a lot of momentum within Christian circles in the past few years. In this episode, Rick interviews Dr. Rhenn Cherry, a professor at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He explains the history, the suggested benefits, and how the Bible has more effective answers. Watch or Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/ep-535-understanding-emdr-with-dr-rhenn-cherry/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

Sexual intimacy is one of the quickest indicators that reveals how a couple is doing in their marriage. Why? Because it is the most physical and intimate thing they will ever do together. It is different from talking, dating, dinner, or a movie. Sex requires more. Sex demands more from two people. You can do many things as a married couple and even pretend to get along, but sex is the litmus test that reveals the authentic reality of your covenant. Read, Watch, or Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/sex-for-a-woman/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.