Wire Talk with Karen Stubbs

Summer brings more snacks, more messes, and more opportunities to teach our kids valuable life skills! Today Karen and Emily are talking about why building a strong work ethic starts at home and why moms should avoid overfunctioning for their children, plus Karen gives practical ideas to teach age-appropriate responsibility. We hope this conversation will encourage you to play the long game this summer as you prepare your kids for real life!
Episode Recap:
You don’t have to be the one cleaning all the messes this summer (1:50)
Helping around the house instills confidence in kids (3:15)
We want to raise contributors, not consumers (5:00)
Teach your children to go the extra mile (8:10)
What are good kids' chores at each stage of development? (12:00)
How do you handle kids who push back on doing chores? (18:50)

Scripture:
Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV) "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

Discussion Questions: 
How were chores and household responsibilities handled in your home growing up? Are you mimicking that environment or handling the workload differently in your own home? 
Are there areas where you might be "over-functioning" for your children? What is one responsibility you could begin transferring to them this summer?
Which age-appropriate chore or life skill would be most beneficial for your child to learn right now? What would the training phase look like?

Resources:
Register for the SOAR Conference today. 
Become a WT+ Insider today! boaw.mom/insider

Want More of This Conversation?
During Wire Talk+, Karen and Emily get real about how chores work in Emily’s houses and Karen demonstrates how to fold a fitted sheet! Don’t sleep on becoming an Insider - learn today!
Head HERE and join us for the full conversation.

Summer is a perfect time to help our kids learn to look beyond themselves. In this episode, Karen and Emily share simple, practical ways families can serve together, whether that’s visiting a nursing home, helping with food recovery, serving on a mission trip, or just paying attention to the needs around you. We hope this conversation encourages you to start small, think intentionally, and discover how serving others can grow your family's faith this summer!
Episode Recap:
Snack time strategies for summer (2:00)
Serving with your kids can feel daunting (3:52)
Start small wherever you are (5:36)
Organizations like Lighthouse have opportunities for your whole family (13:17)
When you open your eyes, you’ll start to see opportunities everywhere (15:55)
Pray and ask God to show you ways to give back with your kids this summer (18:00)

Scripture: Philippians 2:3–4 (NIV)
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

Discussion Questions: 
What opportunities already exist in your community for your family to serve together?
What keeps your family from serving more often, and what’s one small step you could take this summer?
Karen talks about how serving helps us get outside our own "bubble." Where might God be inviting your family to lift your eyes beyond your bubble this summer?

Resources:
Register for the SOAR Conference today. 
Second Helpings Atlanta
Lighthouse Family Retreats
Become a WT+ Insider today! boaw.mom/insider

Want More of This Conversation?
During Wire Talk+, Karen shares a personal story about taking Abby on a mission trip to China when she was just 9 years old - you never know how God is going to use your kids in service! 
Head HERE and join us for the full conversation.

We’re kicking off a brand-new summer series today! All month long, we’ll be talking about how to make the most of the new rhythm summer brings to your home. In this episode, we’re talking about simple, practical ways moms can grow spiritually alongside their kids. We hope this conversation encourages you that you don’t have to do this perfectly to take meaningful steps of growth toward Jesus together as a family.
Episode Recap:
Whether you look forward to summer or dread it, try to enjoy it! (2:00)
You do not have to entertain your child all summer long (4:14)
Which kind of summer mom are you? (7:15)
You want your kids to see Jesus shining through you to your kids (11:35)
Let your kids see your real struggles (appropriately) (14:00)
Pray BIG with your kids (17:00)
Walk your kids through unanswered prayers when you are praying together (20:31)
Model humility and repentance (22:00)
What does this look like at different ages? (25:30)

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:6-7(NIV)
“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Discussion Questions: 
Which part of this conversation felt most challenging to you: praying big, modeling repentance, letting your kids see your struggles, or something else?
Which one of these do you feel like you’re already doing? 
How can you create small, intentional spiritual rhythms in your home this summer without putting pressure on yourself to “do it perfectly”?
What is one practical step you could take this week to help your kids see authentic faith lived out in everyday life?

Resources:
Pick up a copy of Karen’s devotional to read this summer
Register for the SOAR Conference today. 
Snag How to Teach Your Kids the Bible and work through it with your kids this summer! 
Become a WT+ Insider today! boaw.mom/insider

Want More of This Conversation?
During Wire Talk+, Karen and Emily answer listener questions about kids pushing back against going to church and asking big questions about God.
Head HERE and join us for the full conversation.

As we wrap up our Mothers of the Bible series, we’re looking at one of the most complicated and heartbreaking stories in Scripture: Bathsheba. Her life was marked by loss, pain, shame, and circumstances she never would have chosen, yet God was still at work redeeming her story. In this episode, Karen and Emily talk about how our worst moments do not define us, how God meets us in brokenness, and why it’s never too late for redemption.
Episode Recap:
Soar is coming up in September - join us and see Karen live! (4:00)
What we know of Bathsheba’s story begins with David’s lust (6:54)
Bathsheba becomes the mother of Solomon (11:12)
Bathsheba was not in control of what was happening to her (12:35)
God is in the business of redemption (14:00)
Our worst days or seasons do not define our identity (16:00)
No one is too far gone for God to use in His story (18:19)
Do not let Satan convince you that you are unworthy (19:20)

Scripture: Matthew 1:6 (NIV)
“David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife…”
Discussion Questions: 
Have you ever felt defined by a mistake or painful season in your life?
What parts of Bathsheba’s story stand out to you the most, why?
Is there an area of your life where you struggle to believe God can bring redemption?
What does it practically look like to separate your identity from your past?

Resources:
Register for the SOAR Conference today. 
Snag How to Teach Your Kids the Bible and work through it with your kids this summer! 
Become a WT+ Insider today! boaw.mom/insider

Want More of This Conversation?
During Wire Talk+, Karen and Emily share a family story that illustrates the importance of bringing our sin into the light and allowing Christ to redeem our past.
Head HERE and join us for the full conversation.

Naomi’s story is one of grief and disappointment, but ultimately, it’s about redemption. Today on Wire Talk, Karen and Emily continue our Mothers of the Bible series by looking at how God was working behind the scenes even when Naomi felt abandoned and bitter. If you’re walking through loss, broken relationships, or a season that feels nothing like the life you imagined, we hope this look at the life of Naomi reminds you that God is not absent and He is still writing your story.
Episode Recap:
This week we’re looking at Naomi’s story (1:26)
When this story begins, Naomi is living through one crisis after another (3:00)
Naomi’s outlook on her future was bleak (7:30)
God works to weave a thread of redemption through Naomi’s life (13:42)
God never abandons us even when it feels like He has (15:33)
We are not writing our own stories (18:19)

Scripture: 
Ruth 4:14 (NASB) “Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel.”

Discussion Questions: 
Have you ever gone through a season where disappointment or grief changed the way you viewed your life or even God?
Are there losses or disappointments you’ve tried to “move past” without honestly grieving them?
Is there a story you’re currently telling yourself that may not actually be true? (“God has forgotten me,” “Things will never change,” etc.)
Which truth from Naomi’s story do you most need to hold onto right now:
It’s okay to grieve
Your perspective isn’t always accurate
God is still writing your story

Resources:
Register for the SOAR Conference today. 
Become a WT+ Insider today! boaw.mom/insider
Snag How to Teach Your Kids the Bible and work through it with your kids this summer! 

Want More of This Conversation?
During Wire Talk+, Karen shares more personally about seasons in her own life that didn’t turn out the way she expected and how God redeemed her disappointment.
Head HERE and join us for the full conversation.