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© 2025 This Devoted Life
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What started as a Saturday morning coffee date turned into a podcast where we discuss our faith, family, finances and so much more!
In a world that is encouraging you to “live your truth” and to “follow your heart,” we want to encourage you to live Devoted to THE Truth. The Bible has a lot to say about how to live a victorious Christian life, and we want to share practical insight in how to apply those truths to your life as we endeavor to apply them to our own lives as well.
We are passionate about building and growing the nuclear family, as well as sharing our expertise and experience with finances, homeschooling, and over 70 years of combined biblical knowledge.
Join us as we live… This Devoted Life!
James and Shanda
42 Episodes
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Faith doesn't have to take a summer vacation. When our four-year-old surprised us by announcing the summer solstice meant "the days are getting shorter," it sparked an important realization: summer presents both challenges and opportunities for keeping our children's faith formation active. Summer spirituality doesn't require complicated systems or rigid schedules. Simple family worship nights happen organically in our home when my husband grabs his guitar and the kids collect makeshift inst...
The statistics are staggering: one in four American children grow up without a father figure, leading to profound consequences in education, poverty rates, and even incarceration. But behind these numbers lies a deeper truth about God's design for fatherhood that our culture often overlooks or undermines. In this Father's Day special, we unpack the biblical blueprint for fatherhood that stands in stark contrast to popular media portrayals of dads as incompetent bumblers. Drawing from scriptu...
The spiritual practice of spring cleaning reveals the powerful connection between our physical spaces and our inner lives. As James and Shanda explore in this enlightening conversation, decluttering isn't just about managing possessions—it's about creating space for what truly matters. Drawing from biblical foundations, they examine how ancient wisdom about cleanliness in Levitical law reflects God's care for both our physical and spiritual wellbeing. From the purification rituals after chil...
A 12-year-old boy's conversation with his favorite author becomes a masterclass in creative purpose and vocational calling. When young Dawson sits down with children's writer S.D. Smith, their exchange transcends typical author interviews, revealing profound truths about how faith shapes our creative pursuits. Smith captivates us by comparing writing to the athletic "flow state" – that magical zone where challenges stretch us without overwhelming us, creating a sanctuary where time slows and...
"All of life is a battle against fear. We fight it on one front and it sneaks around to our flank." These powerful words from SD Smith's Green Ember series perfectly capture the heart of our conversation with the beloved author whose rabbit-centric adventure stories have sold over a million copies and captivated families worldwide. Sam Smith joins us to share how what began as bedtime stories for his four children transformed into a literary phenomenon that helps shape children into "childre...
The divine moments hidden in motherhood's chaos come alive in our conversation with Whitney Newby, founder of Brighter Day Press and author of "Lift Your Eyes." Whitney's transition from nurse to entrepreneur reveals how unexpected detours can become our greatest purpose. When the pandemic halted her nursing career in 2020, Whitney transformed her family's morning time routine into resources that now serve countless homeschool families. The business has flourished to where her husband left h...
When longtime friends reconnect after seven years, the conversation flows effortlessly from educational philosophy to practical motherhood wisdom. Join Shanda and her special guest SarahRuth Owens (@kindletogetherness) as they share insights gleaned from their weekend at a Charlotte Mason homeschool conference in Tennessee. SarahRuth reveals how her family "flipped the script" on traditional roles, creating a lifestyle where both parents actively participate in their children's education and...
Have you ever felt that nagging guilt when your homeschool motivation wanes as the weather turns nice? Or when your spiritual disciplines take a backseat during busy parenting seasons? Our conversation with Elizabeth Santelmann offers refreshing perspectives on finishing the homeschool year strong while nurturing your spiritual life. Elizabeth, a homeschooling mother of three boys, author, curriculum creator, and host of the Sunshine in my Nest podcast, brings authenticity and biblical wisdo...
Marriage conflict – it's the reality every couple faces, but few know how to navigate effectively. In this candid conversation, we pull back the curtain on one of the most requested topics from our listeners: how to handle disagreements in marriage with biblical wisdom. What truly lies at the heart of marital discord? The scripture points clearly to selfishness and pride as the root causes of conflict. We share a personal story about a recent disagreement that could have festered but was qui...
Ever caught yourself thinking, "I'm such a bad mom"? That heavy feeling of mom guilt is exactly what we're unpacking in this raw, honest conversation. What began as a late-night confession in our bedroom became this episode aimed at both encouraging you and helping us process our own struggles with feeling inadequate as parents. Mom guilt manifests in countless ways—comparing ourselves to seemingly perfect mothers on social media, struggling with work-life balance, losing patience with our c...
When it comes to navigating the complex world of health and nutrition, the journey often feels overwhelming. How do we sift through conflicting information and find a balanced approach that works for our families? Join us for an honest conversation as we break down key insights from Paul Saladino's appearance on the PBD Podcast, discussing everything from the influence of pharmaceutical companies on our healthcare system to practical steps anyone can take toward better health. We're no...
We explore the transformative power of thankfulness, sharing biblical insights and practical ways to cultivate gratitude in everyday life. From discovering rainbows in soap bubbles to understanding how thankfulness centers our relationship with God, this devotional unpacks how gratitude shifts our perspective from circumstances to God's unchanging goodness. • Discussing the challenge of listing 1,000 things to be thankful for from Ann Voskamp's book "1,000 Gifts" • Examining Psalm 106:1 and ...
Gratitude transforms not just our outlook but our entire lives—yet finding reasons to be thankful during difficult seasons requires intentional practice. In this heart-stirring episode, we explore how 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 offers a deceptively simple formula for Christian living: rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in everything. We share powerful stories of gratitude in seemingly impossible circumstances, including Corrie ten Boom thanking God for fleas in a concentratio...
James and Shanda introduce their new "Devoted Devotional" series focusing on applying biblical truths to everyday life, diving into what Scripture teaches about social media use and intentional living in a digital world. • Shanda shares her experience taking a three-month social media break and the impact it had on her perspective • Implementing boundaries such as "no social media before noon" helps maintain focus on family and priorities • James discusses removing social media apps from his...
In this episode, we dive into the vital role that godly friendships play in our spiritual journey. How do our closest relationships shape our faith? What qualities should we look for in friends who will encourage, uplift, and challenge us in our walk with God? Join us as we explore biblical wisdom on friendship, share personal stories, and discuss practical ways to build and nurture meaningful, faith-centered connections. Listen now and be inspired to surround yourself with the kind of friend...
We are starting something new! We wanted to do a mid-week "mini" podcast that focuses heavily on God's Word and what he has to say about varying topics. Today, we are talking about how you can spot the counterfeit ideologies that the world will throw at you. Let us know what you think about these new mini episodes! Verses: 2 Timothy 3:16 - "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" Hebrews 4:12...
Shanda has been reading a couple books by Donald Whitney that give practical ideas for deepening your prayer life and help you give your children vision for the future God has for them. Our purpose here on earth is to become more Christ-like, and these few tips can help us look more like Christ. Here is what you can expect in this episode: 0:50 – God gives your kids gifts and passions 4:10 – Praying the Bible Book 6:11 – Does prayer feel boring to you? 9:10 – One solution to a boring prayer l...
It's been a while! But we are back and ready to share what God has been doing in our lives the past few months. We are in a new season of life and a new season of the podcast. We hope you will join us in the coming weeks to learn alongside one another and to deepen our relationship with Christ. Here is what you can expect in this episode: 0:40 – We’re back! Entering into a new season of a podcast and life! 5:40 – James turned 40! Is it possible to surprise him? 15:18 – Is this the best day of...
1Small habits yield big change! As someone who is not a naturally tidy person, I (Shanda) share five small tips I have learned to help keep a tidy home. As a busy mom to 4 kiddos, I know how valuable time is! So I'm sharing the things I do in my own home that help me create a haven for my family. We are not minimalists, nor do we expect our home to be pristine, but these simple habits have helped lay the foundation for a tidy home. Affiliate Links: How to Manage Your Home without ...
We received great feedback from our last episode on family finances! You can find that episode HERE. One of our listeners asked, "Can James share some ways to supplement our family finances apart from our day jobs?" So in this episode we attempt to answer that question with practical examples. James also recently read a book called Die with Zero. This book really challenged him to think and re-evaluate some financial goals. We discuss the book and how it has impacted our lives so far. Quote...
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