Episode Summary In this episode, we sit with one of the most tender and often misunderstood names of God: Emmanuel, God with us. For many of us, “God with us” sounds beautiful… but feels far away, especially when grief, loneliness, shame, or exhaustion are pressing in. Instead of offering explanations or tidy theology, this episode makes space for honesty, lament, and presence. We explore how Emmanuel did not begin in the manger, but in the cry of an enslaved people where God first revealed ...
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Episode Summary In this episode, we sit with one of the most tender and often misunderstood names of God: Emmanuel, God with us. For many of us, “God with us” sounds beautiful… but feels far away, especially when grief, loneliness, shame, or exhaustion are pressing in. Instead of offering explanations or tidy theology, this episode makes space for honesty, lament, and presence. We explore how Emmanuel did not begin in the manger, but in the cry of an enslaved people where God first revealed ...
Episode Summary In this episode, we sit with one of the most tender and often misunderstood names of God: Emmanuel, God with us. For many of us, “God with us” sounds beautiful… but feels far away, especially when grief, loneliness, shame, or exhaustion are pressing in. Instead of offering explanations or tidy theology, this episode makes space for honesty, lament, and presence. We explore how Emmanuel did not begin in the manger, but in the cry of an enslaved people where God first revealed ...
The moment my hand met the cold stone in Nazareth, the story shifted from stained glass to skin. We meet Mary not as a distant icon but as a teenage girl in a small, ordinary room whose life was interrupted by impossible news and who chose to treasure and ponder rather than shut down. That posture becomes our guide for Advent, a way of holding confusion without losing the thread of hope. I share the journey from jet lag to the Church of the Annunciation, down into the grotto that tradition ...
The holidays can feel like life on fast-forward: bright, loud, and strangely thin. We’re told to be present and grateful, yet our minds race and our senses pull inward to cope. This conversation slows the moment down and shows a kinder way forward—how quiet noticing interrupts overwhelm and makes room for gratitude that actually sticks. We begin by naming what’s real: December pressures the nervous system to scan for problems, not beauty. From there we explore a gentler practice of attentio...
Light in the Low Places | Advent Series Episode 1 Scripture: Isaiah 9:2, 6–7 Advent is beautiful, but it can also feel heavy. If you’re stepping into December already tired, carrying invisible weight, or feeling like wonder is out of reach, this episode is a gentle place to land. In this first week of the Advent series Light in the Low Places, Julie invites you into a slower, more honest kind of preparation, one that welcomes your grief, exhaustion, longing, and hope. Together we explore wh...
Remember when play came naturally? When laughter flowed freely with your little ones? Then something shifted. The sidewalk chalk disappeared, games became "dorky," and eye rolls replaced giggles. What happened to that sacred sense of wonder we once shared with our children? This episode explores the beautiful tension of parenting older kids while trying to maintain—or recover—our capacity for sacred play. We dive into the neuroscience behind why imagination fades (it's called synaptic pruni...
SHOW NOTES: https://parentforward.com/sacredplayseries-sacredimagination/ The spiritual life of children doesn't look like adult faith—it's wilder, more embodied, and deeply imaginative. When my daughter gathered her stuffed animals and announced "Jesus is here and we're going to listen with our hearts," I realized she wasn't just playing—she was creating sacred space in her own intuitive way. Decades of research by experts like Catherine Stonehouse and Scotty May confirm what many parents ...
What happens when a parent chooses to be ridiculous on purpose? Something sacred emerges in those unguarded moments of laughter and play. Through a story about a tension-filled dinner transformed by an impromptu Sound of Music performance, we discover how play creates connection beyond what words could achieve. That moment of shared silliness didn't just lighten the mood—it created a sanctuary where everyone belonged, where even a resistant three-year-old found her way back to joy. We've b...
SHOW NOTES: https://parentforward.com/sacredplayseries-playisholy/ Remember when laughter came easy? When joy didn't need a reason? Somewhere along the way, most of us traded imagination for efficiency and forgot how to play. This profound loss isn't just about missing out on fun—it's about missing a sacred pathway to spiritual formation. When my daughter asked me to pretend to be a baby bunny, I froze. The request seemed trivial, even inconvenient. Yet in that moment of hesitation, I recog...
Parenting isn't just about raising kids; it's about being spiritually formed through the mess, beauty, and everyday moments of family life. We explore how shifting our focus from behavior management to spiritual formation can transform both our parenting approach and our own relationship with God. • Many parents today feel pressure to parent perfectly while maintaining their identity, marriage, and sanity • We often parent from fear and performance rather than connection • The key to raisin...
Forgiveness in parenting isn't just about cleaning up after mistakes – it's where transformation begins for both parent and child. When we mess up and repair with our children, we're creating holy moments that reshape relationships and model God's grace. • Perfectionism isn't the goal – being a "formed parent" willing to repair connection is what matters • Research shows rupture and repair cycles actually strengthen emotional bonds • When parents apologize, it signals safety, worth, and unc...
Parenting doesn't have to be about getting everything right—it can be about being present in the moment with our children. Julianne Luce explores how shifting from perfection to presence can transform our parenting approach and build stronger neurological connections with our kids. • The overwhelming pressure parents feel to get everything right • How fixating on control often disconnects us from our children • A personal story about choosing presence over fixing problems • Research showing...
Lying often reveals what our children are trying to protect through fear, confusion, or attempts to preserve connection. This episode explores how to create a family culture where truth is safe to tell and honesty is consistently invited. • All kids lie at some point, regardless of their character • Children's dishonesty usually grows from fear or self-protection • Approaching lies with curiosity instead of control opens doors for real conversation • Developmentally, younger children blur i...
Raising spiritually resilient kids isn't about having all the right answers or preventing doubt. It's about creating relationships where questions are welcome and faith feels real, not forced. • Nearly two-thirds of young people leave church after high school, often returning after a season of questioning • Research shows the strongest predictor of lasting faith is having adults who walk with them through doubt • Parental faith that's lived out authentically matters more than theological kn...
Parent Forward reimagines parenting through spiritual formation, creating space where your soul and your child's are truly seen. This podcast moves beyond tips and formulas, offering a place to slow down and listen deeply to your child, yourself, and God who is forming you through this journey. • Invitation to move beyond behavior management to soul formation • Weekly exploration of topics like responding to lying, repairing after parenting fails, and attuning to your child's heart • Focus ...
Episode Summary In this episode, we sit with one of the most tender and often misunderstood names of God: Emmanuel, God with us. For many of us, “God with us” sounds beautiful… but feels far away, especially when grief, loneliness, shame, or exhaustion are pressing in. Instead of offering explanations or tidy theology, this episode makes space for honesty, lament, and presence. We explore how Emmanuel did not begin in the manger, but in the cry of an enslaved people where God first revealed ...
