Family Meeting

Thomas Osterkamp
  • 4.9 (30)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Weekly

The Family Meeting Podcast is a podcast all about family relationships. Our goal is to help you have the family dynamic that you have always wanted. Thomas and Lysandra invite you to be a part of their family. They pull back the curtain on their family life to share practical tips and advice on everything from marriage, parenting, sex, and everything in between. For helpful posts, videos, podcast show notes, or to book them to speak at your next event, go to www.familymeeting.org.

  1. 6d ago

    FMP 311: How to Help Your Child Overcome Fear of the Unknown

    What do you do when your child is afraid of something that hasn't even happened yet? A new school. Moving to a new place. Trying out for a team. Going to college. Meeting new people. Changes in the family. Sometimes the biggest fears our kids face aren't about what IS happening. They're about what MIGHT happen. In Episode 311 of the Family Meeting Podcast, Thomas and Lysandra Osterkamp discuss how parents can help children face the fear of the unknown without dismissing their feelings, feeding their anxiety, or teaching them to avoid everything that makes them uncomfortable. Fear often grows in uncertainty. As parents, our job isn't to guarantee our children that everything will work out exactly the way they want. We need to help them develop the confidence, resilience, and faith necessary to face situations when they don't know what will happen next. In this episode, we discuss: How to help your child identify what they're actually afraid of. The difference between preparing your child and feeding their fear. Helping kids separate what they know from what they imagine might happen. Why constantly rescuing kids from uncomfortable situations can work against them. Practical ways to build courage, confidence, and resilience in your child. How faith can help children face uncertainty and fear. Your child will face situations you cannot control. You won't always be able to remove uncertainty. You won't always know what's coming next. And eventually, your child will face situations without you standing beside them. The goal isn't to raise children who never feel afraid. The goal is to raise children who know what to do when they ARE afraid. Instead of always removing the scary thing, help your child learn how to face it. Subscribe for weekly conversations on marriage, parenting, and faith. Bonus Resource: Send an email to info@familymeeting.org for our Facing the Unknown: A Parent and Child Conversation Guide. For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting

    FMP 311: How to Help Your Child Overcome Fear of the Unknown

  2. Sep 2

    FMP 310: Sex Killers - 5 Things That Are Killing Intimacy in Your Marriage

    What is killing the sexual intimacy in your marriage? For many couples, intimacy doesn't disappear overnight. It slowly gets pushed aside. Resentment builds. Schedules get packed. Phones get more attention. Conflict goes unresolved. Emotional connection begins to disappear. And eventually, what happens outside the bedroom starts affecting what happens inside it. In Episode 310 of the Family Meeting Podcast, Thomas and Lysandra Osterkamp discuss five common sex killers that can damage physical and emotional intimacy in marriage: bitterness, busyness, technology, unresolved conflict, and emotional neglect. In this episode, we discuss: How bitterness and resentment affect sexual intimacy. Why busyness can slowly push your marriage to the bottom of your priorities. How phones, screens, and technology compete for your spouse's attention. Why unresolved conflict often follows couples into the bedroom. How emotional neglect creates physical distance. Practical ways to protect and rebuild intimacy in your marriage. A healthy sex life isn't only about what happens in the bedroom. How you speak to each other matters. How you handle conflict matters. How much attention you give each other matters. Whether your spouse feels emotionally connected to you matters. If physical intimacy has become difficult, infrequent, or nonexistent in your marriage, don't only focus on sex. Look for what may be happening underneath the surface. What is creating distance between you? What resentment hasn't been addressed? What conflict hasn't been resolved? What has become more important than your relationship? And when was the last time your spouse genuinely felt pursued by you? Whether you're currently struggling with sexual intimacy or simply want to protect the connection you already have, this episode will help you identify some of the biggest threats to intimacy and begin doing something about them. Subscribe for weekly conversations on marriage, parenting, and faith. Bonus Resource: Send an email to info@familymeeting.org for our Marriage Intimacy Killers Assessment. For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting

    FMP 310: Sex Killers - 5 Things That Are Killing Intimacy in Your Marriage

  3. Aug 26

    FMP 309: How to Forgive Yourself After Failing Your Spouse

    Have you ever looked back at something you said or did to your spouse and thought, "I don't know if I'll ever forgive myself"? Maybe you lost your temper. Maybe you lied. Maybe you were unfaithful. Maybe you neglected your marriage or made a decision that deeply hurt the person you promised to love. Your spouse has forgiven you. God has forgiven you. But you still can't seem to forgive yourself. In Episode 309 of the Family Meeting Podcast, Thomas and Lysandra Osterkamp talk about how to move beyond guilt and shame after failing your spouse and how to embrace the forgiveness and grace Christ offers. There is a difference between taking responsibility for what you did and allowing what you did to define who you are. Genuine repentance acknowledges the seriousness of our failures, but shame can keep us trapped in mistakes that God has already forgiven. In this episode, we discuss: Why you may struggle to forgive yourself even after receiving forgiveness. The difference between conviction and condemnation. How guilt and shame from your past can continue hurting your marriage today. Why accepting God's grace doesn't mean minimizing what you did. How to take responsibility without allowing failure to become your identity. Practical steps for rebuilding trust after hurting your spouse. How repentance should lead to change rather than endless shame. Biblical truth about forgiveness, grace, healing, and new beginnings. How to move forward after you've seriously failed your spouse. What it looks like to receive the forgiveness Christ offers. Your worst mistake doesn't have to become your identity. You can't change what happened yesterday. You can take responsibility for it. You can repent. You can seek forgiveness. You can make restitution where necessary. You can learn from what happened. And by God's grace, you can become a different spouse moving forward. If you've confessed your sin and received God's forgiveness but continue punishing yourself for what you've done, this conversation is for you. Whether your failure happened recently or years ago, Episode 309 will help you confront shame, accept forgiveness, pursue healing, and move forward with humility and a renewed commitment to love your spouse well. Bonus Resource: Send an email to info@familymeeting.org for our Moving Beyond Guilt: A Biblical Guide to Accepting God's Forgiveness. For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting

    FMP 309: How to Forgive Yourself After Failing Your Spouse

  4. Aug 19

    FMP 308: Teaching Your Kids to Think Biblically

    Your kids are being discipled every day. Movies. Music. YouTube. TikTok. Social media. Influencers. Television. Video games. Friends. Culture. Every message they consume has the potential to shape what they believe about truth, relationships, sexuality, identity, success, morality, and God. The answer isn't simply keeping your children away from every message you disagree with. You need to teach them how to evaluate those messages for themselves. In Episode 308 of the Family Meeting Podcast, Thomas and Lysandra Osterkamp discuss how parents can teach their children to filter the messages they receive through the truth of Scripture. Instead of only asking, "Is this appropriate for my child?" Christian parents also need to teach their children to ask, "Is this true?" We talk about how to use movies, television, music, social media, and other forms of entertainment as opportunities for discipleship. Your children need to learn how to recognize the worldview behind the message, compare it with what Scripture teaches, reject what is false, and hold on to what is true. In this episode, we discuss: Why parents need to help children develop biblical discernment. How media and entertainment influence your child's worldview. Teaching kids to recognize the message behind the entertainment. How to compare cultural messages with biblical truth. Why simply banning media doesn't teach discernment. Using movies, music, and social media to start meaningful conversations. Helping children develop a biblical worldview. Preparing your kids to evaluate messages when you aren't there to do it for them. You won't always be standing beside your children when they encounter a message that conflicts with Scripture. The goal is to raise children who know God's Word well enough to recognize what is true, identify what is false, and make wise decisions for themselves. Subscribe for weekly conversations on marriage, parenting, and faith. Bonus Resource: Send an email to info@familymeeting.org for our The Biblical Media Filter: 10 Questions Every Family Should Ask. For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting

    FMP 308: Teaching Your Kids to Think Biblically

  5. Aug 12

    FMP 307: Why Every Healthy Marriage Needs Honest Feedback

    Can your spouse tell you the truth? One of the greatest indicators of a healthy marriage isn't how rarely you disagree. It's whether you can lovingly receive honest feedback without becoming defensive. In Episode 307 of the Family Meeting Podcast, Thomas and Lysandra Osterkamp discuss why every healthy marriage needs honest feedback. You'll learn why defensiveness damages connection, how humility strengthens trust, and practical ways to create a relationship where both spouses feel safe enough to speak the truth in love. If you want a stronger marriage, don't avoid difficult conversations. Learn how to use them to build greater intimacy, trust, and lasting connection. In this episode you'll discover: Why honest feedback is essential for a healthy marriage. How defensiveness keeps couples stuck. Practical ways to receive correction with humility. How to create emotional safety for honest conversations. Biblical principles for speaking the truth in love. Simple habits that help couples grow together instead of apart. Whether you've been married for one year or forty, this conversation will help you build a marriage where both spouses continue to grow. Subscribe for weekly conversations on marriage, parenting, and faith. Bonus Resource: Send an email to info@familymeeting.org for our Receiving Feedback Without Becoming Defensive Self-Assessment. For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting

    FMP 307: Why Every Healthy Marriage Needs Honest Feedback

  6. Aug 5

    FMP 306: Sadfishing: When Social Media Turns Pain into Attention

    Is your child sharing their struggles online… or looking for validation through social media? A growing trend called sadfishing has changed the way many children and teenagers express emotional pain. Some posts are genuine cries for help. Others become a way to seek attention, approval, or sympathy from an online audience. As parents, how do we respond with both compassion and wisdom? In Episode 306 of The Family Meeting Podcast, we discuss what sadfishing is, why it's becoming more common among children and teens, and how parents can help their kids process emotions in healthy ways instead of searching for validation online. In this episode, we cover: What sadfishing is and why it's on the rise. The difference between asking for help and seeking online validation. How social media can reinforce unhealthy emotional patterns. Why children and teens are especially vulnerable to digital approval. Practical ways to help your child process emotions in healthy ways. How to create a home where your child feels safe enough to share their struggles. Biblical principles for finding identity, hope, and acceptance in Christ instead of social media. Your child's greatest need isn't more likes. It's knowing they are deeply loved, genuinely heard, and unconditionally accepted. When your home becomes the safest place to talk about difficult emotions, your child will be far less likely to seek validation from strangers online. Subscribe for weekly conversations on marriage, parenting, and faith. Bonus Resource: Send an email to info@familymeeting.org for our Helping Your Child Navigate Social Media And Emotional Health Guide. For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting

    FMP 306: Sadfishing: When Social Media Turns Pain into Attention

  7. Jul 29

    FMP 305: God's Gift To Your Marriage

    Did you know God has uniquely gifted you to strengthen your marriage? Every follower of Christ has been given spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit. While we often think about using those gifts in the church, God also intends for them to impact the people closest to us, especially our spouse. In Episode 305 of The Family Meeting Podcast, we explore how discovering your spiritual gifts can transform your marriage and help you love, serve, encourage, and strengthen your spouse in ways only you can. In this episode, we cover: What spiritual gifts are and why every believer has them. The difference between spiritual gifts, natural talents, and personality. How to identify your unique spiritual gifts. Practical ways to use your gifts to bless your spouse every day. How different spiritual gifts complement one another in marriage. Biblical teaching on serving one another through the power of the Holy Spirit. God didn't give you your spiritual gifts just for Sunday mornings. He gave them to help you build a Christ-centered marriage every day of the week. When you understand how God has uniquely designed you, you'll stop comparing yourself to others and start intentionally using your gifts to love your spouse in meaningful ways. Subscribe for weekly conversations on marriage, parenting, and faith. Bonus Resource: Send an email to info@familymeeting.org for our Discover Your Spiritual Gifts for Marriage Assessment. For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting

    FMP 305: God's Gift To Your Marriage

  8. Jul 22

    FMP 304: Every Child Needs to Hear These Words

    What are the words your children hear from you the most? Correction? Instruction? Or affirmation? Before Jesus performed a single miracle or preached a single sermon, God the Father publicly declared, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17) Those words affirmed Jesus' identity before His ministry ever began. What if our children regularly heard those same kinds of life-giving words from us? In Episode 304 of The Family Meeting Podcast, we discuss the incredible power of parental affirmation and why every child needs to hear, "Well done. I'm pleased with you." In this episode, we cover: Why affirmation is essential for a child's emotional and spiritual development. What we can learn from God's words to Jesus at His baptism. The difference between affirming your child's identity and praising their performance. How your words shape your child's confidence and self-worth. Practical ways to intentionally encourage your children every day. Biblical principles for speaking life into your family. Your children will hear many voices telling them who they are. Make sure the loudest and most consistent voice is yours. Your words have the power to build confidence, strengthen relationships, and point your children toward the unconditional love of their Heavenly Father. Bonus Resource: Send an email to info@familymeeting.org for our Speaking Life: 30 Words Every Child Needs to Hear Guide. For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting

    FMP 304: Every Child Needs to Hear These Words
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4.9
out of 5
30 Ratings

About

The Family Meeting Podcast is a podcast all about family relationships. Our goal is to help you have the family dynamic that you have always wanted. Thomas and Lysandra invite you to be a part of their family. They pull back the curtain on their family life to share practical tips and advice on everything from marriage, parenting, sex, and everything in between. For helpful posts, videos, podcast show notes, or to book them to speak at your next event, go to www.familymeeting.org.

Information

  • Creator
    Thomas Osterkamp
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    311
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2020 Thomas Osterkamp
  • Show Website
    Family Meeting

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