COURAGEOUS PARENTING

The enemy has used Halloween to create confusion, division, and even desensitize God’s people from evil! Hear me out, it’s something many churches don’t take a hard stance on. We understand that taking a stance against participating in Halloween in the traditional sense will likely cause you to experience persecution. 
In fact, you may be fearful of causing division in your marriage, in your family, with your friends, and even in your church community! We get it because we have been there. There was a time over 23 years ago when we walked through this exact same crossroad with our conviction. In fact, I remember being told by a pastor’s wife and a large group leader that I was being too ‘black and white.’  Yes, I received persecution from church leadership! Over the years, God continued to grow our conviction, and even prompted more and more scripture to become illuminated in regards to calling evil what it is and seeing one of the greatest deceptions in the greater church which we believe has impacted why so many young people are leaving the faith/church by 18! We must live what we believe, like the disciples, follow Jesus and be willing to suffer and be persecuted for it. 

Let’s just read the Bible together, see what God has to say about things that are often associated with the American holiday of Halloween which obviously stems from pagan roots, urban legends, and plays a strong role influencing the culture of American stores, decorations, and traditions from the end of July- Oct! You cannot deny scripture, yet so many christians will just take the easy road and call names like “legalistic” or “judgmental” in their defense of participating and condemning those who simply have an honest conviction by the Holy Spirit! 

Join us for this timely episode where we dive deep into what to teach your children and how to equip them to discern spirits, call evil evil rather than good, and how to reclaim October 31st as a “day the Lord has made.” As Christians, we must be challenged to grow in our understanding of how the Word of God applies to our every day life. If you are not being exhorted or challenged to grow by the leadership in your church, then you have hit a lid in growth. If you are a leader in your church, I exhort you to rise up, “Awake O, Sleeper and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Eph. 5:14 

Leaders will be held accountable by God for what they teach. That applies to leaders in a church as well as each of us who are parents. What we teach is not just what we say, it’s not just listening to what the Pastor preaches, it’s also about living out what we say we believe by what we do. Please read James 3:1!

If you are struggling with holding on to your traditions, fun childhood memories, to the point of even being willing to create division with a spouse who doesn’t want to participate, we must exhort you that you likely have made an idol out of Halloween. 

Definition of Idolatry according to Webster’s 1828 dictionary:
: the worship of a physical object as a god
: immoderate attachment or devotion to something

If your devotion and personal attachment to this holiday or traditional practices of it are causing division in your marriage, family, friendships, and community, you have made it an idol. 

We know what God’s word says about idols. The triune God alone deserves that pedestal in our life. 

Pumpkin Gospel Object Lesson Handout

Scripture Verses for Handing out Candy

Other Podcast Episodes and Articles we have done on this topic: 
When they Knock, Will You Answer - Courageous Mom 
Redeeming Halloween Resources - Courageous Mom 
Engaging But Not Encouraging Halloween- Courageous Mom
Should Christians Celebrate Halloween Ep. 39
Navigating Halloween as a Christian Parent - Ep. 372
The Desensitization of Evil- Hold the Line on Halloween Ep. 317

🔔 Subscribe for more episodes on raising faith-filled kids in a hostile culture.
📖 Get the Courageous Parenting book: becourageousministry.org/book
🤝 Companies we love and use:
Previnex vitamins the Tolpins use and love, get 15% off using code CP15 at previnex.com
 REDEEM™ HealthShare from Samaritan Ministries: https://hubs.ly/Q04n6bxv0
 CTC Math: https://ctcmath.com/

“Homeschooling is not an experiment, like many like to call it; historically homeschooling has been one of the oldest forms of education.” Whether you homeschool and have been for many years or are in the process of deciding if you want to, this episode is sure to be an encouragement from two homeschool veterans, Angie Tolpin and Jennifer Pepito. Jennifer has homeschooled her 7 children over the past 30 years and Angie has been homeschooling her 9 children! 

There are so many lies and struggles that homeschool parents face, especially as they are just getting started. 
“I am not educated enough to homeschool my children.”
“What if my children become socially awkward and they have a hard time making friends.”
And then there are the lies we struggle with in the midst of the journey such as:
“I am not doing enough.”
“My child isn’t getting it, am I failing him/her?”
“My child is not loving a specific subject, maybe it’s because I am not a good enough teacher?”

We must take EVERY thought captive to the obedience of Christ in all things and realize that these are all thoughts that every homeschool parent has been tempted to believe. But instead of just believing them and quitting, let’s seek God’s will, be encouraged by one another to grow, get better, and to rise up and become the parent He calls us to be, all while trusting in a sovereign God will cover us and our homeschool with grace and mercy. His grace is much greater than any mistake or shortcoming we have as parents. 

Jennifer Pepito has just launched an incredibly encouraging book with practical insights on homeschooling and the historical relevance in deep diving into the past of some influential leaders in our world’s history and seeing not only how they were also homeschooled, but the depth of relationship that was developed with their parents that contributed in making them who they are and helping them to accomplish all they did. This is one of those must have books to read and reread with friends who are also thinking of homeschooling or who have been and just need a little reminder of just how powerful it is what they are doing! 
🔔 Subscribe for more episodes on raising faith-filled kids in a hostile culture.
📖 Get the Courageous Parenting book: becourageousministry.org/book
🤝 Companies we love and use:
Previnex vitamins the Tolpins use and love, get 15% off using code CP15 at previnex.com
 REDEEM™ HealthShare from Samaritan Ministries: https://hubs.ly/Q04n6bxv0
 CTC Math: https://ctcmath.com/

Do you really trust God? Are you allowing Him to guide your decisions? Are you willing to obey Him even if it’s a riskier path? 
Too many Christians crave and pursue safety, but that’s not the example our children need to see. You could train them up in all the right things, but if your example doesn’t shout loudly in support of the words you teach, wisdom will likely be discarded in their futures.

Be inspired to fully hear from the Lord and obey His guidance for your most important decisions. If your decisions fall in line with normal Christianity don’t be alarmed if the fruit of your legacy down the road is diminished. There’s no time to spare as we encourage and lead our families. They must see courage under our feet not just hear it from our lips. Equipping confident Christian Children for unprecedented times takes a path most Christians aren’t willing to walk down because it’s a path the leaves comfort and pursues righteousness that other Christians will mock.

🔔 Subscribe for more episodes on raising faith-filled kids in a hostile culture.
📖 Get the Courageous Parenting book: becourageousministry.org/book
🤝 Companies we love and use:
Previnex vitamins the Tolpins use and love, get 15% off using code CP15 at previnex.com
 REDEEM™ HealthShare from Samaritan Ministries: https://hubs.ly/Q04n6bxv0
 CTC Math: https://ctcmath.com/

How much better could your marriage be? In this episode, the Tolpins reveal two things most marriages miss, even the good ones, and each share an area they've been personally working on to strengthen their own marriage of 27 years.
Isaac and Angie know this firsthand. They have nine children, three of whom are launched, thriving, and married with children of their own. They're authors, podcasters, and Isaac is a pastor while also running Be Courageous Ministry. They live on a homestead in the mountains of Idaho, and after 27 years, their marriage is thriving stronger than ever, with a heart for helping other marriages thrive too.
🔔 Subscribe for more episodes on raising faith-filled kids in a hostile culture.
📖 Get the Courageous Parenting book: becourageousministry.org/book
🤝 Companies we love and use:
Previnex vitamins the Tolpins use and love, get 15% off using code CP15 at previnex.com
 REDEEM™ HealthShare from Samaritan Ministries: https://hubs.ly/Q04n6bxv0
 CTC Math: https://ctcmath.com/

While Isaac and Angie are celebrating their 27th Wedding Anniversary they have spent some time reflecting and auditing their legacy and family culture and have some insights to share with you that might make you think and evaluate the power of legacy beyond habits on a more simple level of practicality that can influence even the way you decorate your home and what you prioritize in meditating on. You can learn a lot by walking through antique shops, when you are willing to ask yourself the good, hard questions and even ask questions about the current generations, their stance on “things” as well as their connectedness to family and faith. It’s worth a listen and may even get you excited about learning about your own family and what you can do to cultivate special memories to leave with your children about their childhood home they grow up in! 

Topics covered: 
What God’s word commands us to teach our children and how to diligently do that
The power of dedicating and claiming your home for the Lord and inviting the Holy Spirit
How scripture and visuals of Christ, the parables, psalms, and other biblical truths can help plant the word on your children’s hearts and minds
How you decorate your home impacts other people and stirs powerful conversations
Your Home can point your children to Christ and build a culture- what culture is being built by what you value and prioritize?
Scriptures used in this episode: Duet. 6:5-9; Isaiah 55:10-11; Joshua 24:15; Eph. 6:10-20

🔔 Subscribe for more episodes on raising faith-filled kids in a hostile culture.
📖 Get the Courageous Parenting book: becourageousministry.org/book
🤝 Companies we love and use:
Previnex vitamins the Tolpins use and love, get 15% off using code CP15 at previnex.com
 REDEEM™ HealthShare from Samaritan Ministries: https://hubs.ly/Q04n6bxv0
 CTC Math: https://ctcmath.com/