Arrows In Your Quiver: A Biblical Guide to Raising Children With Purpose

Psalm 127 gives us a powerful picture of parenting:

Children are arrows, parents are warriors, and God is the One who builds the home.

In this episode, we explore what this metaphor means for everyday family life — and how it shapes the way we raise, guide, and eventually release our children.

🌿 In this episode we explore:

• What “arrows in your quiver” really means

• How Psalm 127 shows God’s design for family and community

• Why parents carry both responsibility and blessing

• The partnership between the parent and God

• The warrior and bow imagery behind shaping a child’s life

• The five foundations every child needs:

– True salvation

– Dedication

– Godly values

– Fear of the Lord

– Belonging

• How to trust God when the time comes to release your “arrow”

Whether your children are young or grown, this message will encourage you, strengthen you, and remind you that you are not building alone.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction & Welcome

00:00:52 Arrows in the Quiver – What Does It Mean?

00:01:55 Psalm 127 Explained

00:04:49 God’s Design for Family & Community

00:10:37 Parenting as a God-Given Responsibility

00:15:50 The Warrior, the Bow & the Values We Instill

00:18:22 Five Foundations: Salvation, Dedication, Values, Fear of the Lord, Belonging

00:27:23 Releasing Our Children & Trusting God

00:29:30 Final Encouragement & Outro

📖 Scriptures Mentioned

Psalm 127

Psalm 128

Proverbs 22:6

Malachi 4:6

Acts 16:31

🌿 Explore more resources: fruitfulfig.ca/links

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God entrusted us with His children — but learning to live that truth is one of the hardest parts of parenting. In this week’s episode, my mom shares a deeply personal message about surrender, trust, and releasing our children into God’s care, whether they are still under our roof or grown and living across oceans.

Through Scripture, real stories, and her own journey of letting go, she reminds us that:

• Our children belong to God first

• We are stewards, not owners

• God has a unique plan for each child

• His love and protection go far beyond ours

• Trust grows when we surrender fear

If you’re a parent navigating worry, fear, overthinking, or the ache of letting go, this episode will meet you with peace and encouragement. God sees your heart. He sees theirs. And He never lets go.

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Scriptures in this Episode

Psalm 139

Psalm 127

Deuteronomy 6

Proverbs 22

Ephesians 5

Jeremiah 29:11

Romans 8:28

1 Samuel 1

Psalm 103

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Episode Chapters

00:00 — Intro & Welcome

00:38 — God Entrusted Us with His Children

01:20 — God Formed Our Children

02:01 — Parenting as Stewardship

03:33 — The Struggle of Letting Go

05:56 — The Motorbike Story

07:58 — Children Are God’s Heritage

09:42 — Training Them in Love

10:58 — God’s Plan for Their Future

13:34 — Accountability Before God

23:58 — Hannah’s Surrender

25:38 — When Children Face Trials

26:15 — Scriptures to Hold Onto

26:39 — Final Encouragement

27:10 — Outro

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Listen, Follow & Connect

Full episode library: https://fruitfulfig.ca/podcast

Recommended tools & resources: https://fruitfulfig.ca/finds

Join the community: https://fruitfulfig.ca/links

Appreciating Family Members: Why Gratitude Matters in Your Home

Verbal appreciation is more than politeness — it’s a spiritual discipline that strengthens relationships, builds trust, shapes behavior, and creates a healthy family culture.

In this episode, Lynette Steyn-Laurens shares ten practical ways to speak life into your home through intentional gratitude.

💡 Key Ideas

• Specific appreciation strengthens connection

• Written notes make love tangible

• Trust grows when families communicate openly

• Gratitude encourages positive behavior

• Healthy homes require healthy conflict resolution

• Children copy what they see — not just what they’re told

• Family traditions create belonging

• Emotional intelligence can be taught

• Appreciation builds resilience

• A Christ-centered home begins with your priorities

📖 Scripture

Genesis 18:17–19

Philippians 2:1–2

Proverbs 22:6

1 Timothy 5:8

Colossians 3:20

1 Timothy 3:5

Genesis 2:24

🙏 A Prayer

“Lord, help our homes become places of appreciation, peace, and nurturing love.

Teach us to speak gratitude and build each other up daily. Amen.”

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🎧 Listen on all platforms

Spotify → The Fruitful Podcast

Apple → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fruitful-podcast/id1849316505

Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ad1d6732-68ec-4de4-8e94-90bb4ba75623

Audible → https://www.audible.ca/pd/B0FY5V39YD

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@Fruitful_Fig

🌐 All links → https://fruitfulfig.ca/links

☕ Support → https://BuyMeACoffee.com/FruitfulFig

⸻

🙌 Credits

Thank you to JustGospel Radio for broadcast permission.

#TheFruitfulPodcast #FamilyAppreciation #ChristianParenting #FruitfulFig

Keeping Your Children Rooted in Faith & Church Community

What helps a child stay connected to a church community once they grow up and make their own choices?

In this conversation, Lynette Steyn-Laurens explores why church involvement matters for a child’s spiritual, moral, and emotional development — and what truly helps them stay rooted long after they leave home.

From spiritual growth and moral foundations to belonging, friendships, and purpose, this episode shares both the benefits of raising children in a church community and five practical habits that increase the likelihood of lifelong connection.

Whether you’re raising toddlers or teens, these principles offer guidance, encouragement, and a reminder that strong roots begin at home — and are strengthened in community.

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Key Themes

• ​Why church community matters for children
• ​Faith as emotional strength in difficult seasons
• ​Spiritual and moral development
• ​Belonging, friendships, and accountability
• ​Why many young adults drift from church
• ​Five research-supported habits for building lifelong roots
• ​The role of mentors and multi-generational faith
• ​Balancing home discipleship and church involvement

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Scripture

Proverbs 22:6 — “Train up a child in the way he should go…”

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Credits

Host: Chéri-Lynn Roodman

Guest: Lynette Steyn-Laurens

Originally aired on JustGospel Radio — shared with permission.

Listen to all episodes → fruitfulfig.ca/links

Support the podcast → BuyMeACoffee.com/FruitfulFig

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Tags

Christian Parenting, Family Faith, Church Community, Children and Faith, Raising Kids, Discipleship, Christian Mom, Christian Family, Fruitful Fig, The Fruitful Podcast, Lynette Steyn-Laurens, Biblical Parenting, Spiritual Growth, Christian Living

Finding Time for Bible Study (When Life Is Full)

When life feels packed from sunrise to sunset, how do you make time for God’s Word?

In this episode, Lynette Steyn-Laurens (with co-presenter Malefa) shares insights gathered from seventeen listeners — parents, students, professionals, and pastors — on the creative ways they weave Scripture into their days. From early-morning anchors and lunch-hour chapters to audio Bibles, journaling, and prayer walks, these stories prove that Bible study isn’t about perfection — it’s about priority.

Host: Chéri-Lynn Roodman

Guest: Lynette Steyn-Laurens

Co-presenter: Malefa

Originally aired on: JustGospel Radio — shared with permission.

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💡 Key Ideas

• ​ You make time for what matters — let Scripture stay at the center.
• ​ Small, steady moments can build a lifelong rhythm of faith.
• ​ Audio Bibles, verse reminders, journaling, and prayer all count as study.
• ​ “Children copy & paste what they see” — model daily time with God.
• ​ Try the 15-minute rhythm: Read (5) • Reflect (5) • Respond (5).
• ​ Bible study isn’t a box to tick — it’s a conversation that continues all day.

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📖 Scripture

Psalm 119 : 105 — Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Luke 5 : 16 — Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Colossians 3 : 16 — Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.

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🙏 A Prayer

“Lord, help us find sacred minutes in ordinary days.

Turn commutes into communion, chores into worship,

and quiet moments into encounters with You.

Keep Your Word alive in our hearts and homes. Amen.”

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🎧 Listen & Links

Spotify → search The Fruitful Podcast

Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fruitful-podcast/id1849316505

Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ad1d6732-68ec-4de4-8e94-90bb4ba75623

Audible → https://www.audible.ca/pd/B0FY5V39YD?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=podcast_show_detail

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@Fruitful_Fig

🌐 All links → https://fruitfulfig.ca/links

☕ Support → https://BuyMeACoffee.com/FruitfulFig

⸻

🙌 Credits

Thank you JustGospel for broadcast permission.

Thank you Lynette and Malefa — and every listener who shared their Bible-study story.

#TheFruitfulPodcast #FindingTimeForBibleStudy #BibleStudy #QuietTime #FaithInAction #ChristianMoms #ChristianDads #Discipleship #JustGospelRadio #FruitfulFig

Faith is learned best by example. In this episode, Lynette Steyn-Laurens reflects on what it really means to teach a child about God — and why it begins with your own walk of faith. From sharing daily testimonies and visible prayer, to hands-on moments like the “Armor of God” craft, this conversation is full of practical, heartfelt encouragement for families who want to make faith real at home.

Host: Chéri-Lynn Roodman

Guest: Lynette Steyn-Laurens

Originally aired on: JustGospel Radio — shared with permission.

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💡 Key Ideas

• Faith starts with you — your children will mirror what they see, not just what they hear.

• Share small daily testimonies of God’s goodness and provision.

• Let children see you pray and study Scripture.

• Make faith tangible — use creative activities like the Armor of God to teach spiritual truth.

• Model Christ-like love, forgiveness, and service in family life.

• Use tools like the SOAP method (Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer) to help them grow.

• Trust God with their choices — your job is to teach faithfully and pray consistently.

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📖 Scripture

• Proverbs 22:6 — Train up a child in the way he should go.

• Psalm 127:3–4 — Children are a heritage from the Lord.

• Ephesians 6:4 — Bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

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🙏 A Prayer

“Lord, help us live our faith so that our children may see You in us.

Make our homes places where prayer, worship, and love for You are natural and joyful.

Teach us to teach them — with patience, creativity, and grace. Amen.”

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🎧 Listen & Links

• Spotify → search The Fruitful Podcast

• Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ (search Fruitful Podcast)

• Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ad1d6732-68ec-4de4-8e94-90bb4ba75623

• YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@fruitfulfig

• 🌐 All links → https://fruitfulfig.ca/links

• ☕ Support → https://BuyMeACoffee.com/FruitfulFig

⸻

🙌 Credits

Thank you JustGospel for broadcast permission.

Thank you Lynette for your wisdom and heart for families.

TheFruitfulPodcast #TeachingYourChildAboutGod #FaithfulParenting #ChristianMoms #Family #BibleStudy #ParentingWithPurpose #JustGospelRadio #FruitfulFig

What if motherhood is less about ownership and more about stewardship? Lynette Steyn-Laurens unpacks the privilege and responsibility of raising God’s children—modeling love, respect, wisdom, and practical life skills they’ll need when we aren’t there.

Takeaways

• Children mirror what they see; consistency beats speeches.

• Moms (and dads) model God’s love in everyday moments.

• Equip kids for faith, feelings, and practical life—early.

• Biblical portraits: Mary’s obedience, Jochebed’s courage.

Scripture: Psalm 127:3–5; Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 5:16; Ephesians 6:1–3; Luke 1; Exodus 2.

Reflect

• What “copy & paste” habits are your kids seeing this week?

• Where can you swap lecturing for modeling?

• What one practical skill or faith habit can you teach this month?

Prayer

“Father, these are Your children. Strengthen us to love like You, teach like You, and send them into Your purposes. Amen.”

Links

All links & socials: fruitfulfig.ca/links

Support the podcast: BuyMeACoffee.com/FruitfulFig

Credits

Originally aired on JustGospel Radio — shared with permission.

The Fruitful Podcast — Episode 01: “Forgiveness Is Not Forgetting”

Host: Chéri-Lynn Roodman

Guest: Lynette Steyn-Laurens

Co-presenter: Malefa

Originally aired on JustGospel Radio — shared with permission.

This first episode is close to my heart. It features my mom, Lynette Steyn-Laurens, in one of her original JustGospel Radio conversations — heartfelt, Spirit-led reflections on what forgiveness truly means.

Thank you to JustGospel for the opportunity and permission to share, to my mom and Malefa for the recording, and to the Lord for the power of forgiveness.

And thank you, listener, for sharing in our stories and being part of this launch. 🌿

May this conversation help you find forgiveness at the Cross — and the courage to forgive those you haven’t yet forgiven.

🔗 Related blog post: fruitfulfig.ca/blog/forgiveness-is-not-forgetting

💜 Explore more: fruitfulfig.ca/links

☕ Support: BuyMeACoffee.com/FruitfulFig

#TheFruitfulPodcast #Faith #Forgiveness #ChristianPodcast #FruitfulFig #Family #Healing #FaithInAction #JustGospelRadio #PodcastLaunch