Raising Children Who Love God

Dr. Rita Hernandez
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Education for Kids

Do you long to raise children who truly love God, not just kids who go to church, but children who make Him the center of their own lives? Welcome, mom. You're in the right place. Raising Children Who Love God is the podcast for the Christian mom who wants to disciple her children at home without a seminary degree, a perfect plan, or an extra hour she doesn't have. Hosted by Dr. Rita M. Hernández, educator, author, mama, and grandma. Each week brings simple, practical, faith-centered encouragement to help you build faith, identity, and purpose in your children's hearts, one ordinary moment at a time. Raising kids who love God isn't simple, but it can be done. You don't have to have it all together, and you don't have to do it alone. You just have to start. Topics include family devotions, Scripture memory for kids, faith at home, biblical identity, intentional Christian motherhood, and discipling children through every stage. New episodes every Tuesday. Grab your free resources and explore the full discipleship pathway at 4thisgeneration.com. Raise them rooted.

  1. 4d ago

    Family Interview Series: Rita Mar A Legacy of Generosity, Faith & Intentional Love

    There's something truly lovely about sitting across from a daughter who carries your own name. This week, I get to do exactly that. In this heartfelt conversation, I sit down with my daughter Rita Mar, and we talk about the things that get passed down in a family- not the stuff, but the character. We reflect on our journey together, the challenges and the joys of motherhood, and the legacy of love and generosity that has moved through our family across the generations. Rita Mar and I get honest about what it really means to parent on purpose and how the everyday, intentional choices shape a child's character long before they can name what's happening. We share personal stories about generosity as a way of life, the growth that comes through hard decisions, and why none of us were ever meant to walk out our faith alone; we need community. In this episode: How intentional parenting quietly shapes who a child becomesGenerosity as a family legacy, and how it builds characterThe personal stories behind our family's valuesMaking faith-rooted choices in the real decisions of lifeWhy community is essential to a growing faithNo formula, no perfect family, just a mother and daughter telling the truth about love, faith, and what we hope keeps getting handed down. It's not simple, but it can be done. 🦃 This Thanksgiving, disciple your kids through the season: the BIG Family Gratitude Challenge is a month-long journey through Scripture: coloring, mazes, and journaling that build grateful hearts. Get it at 4thisgeneration.com or the Amazon link in my bio. New episodes every Tuesday. Follow so you never miss one. Equipping moms. Discipling children. Impacting generations. Chapters 00:00 A Journey of Motherhood and Growth12:01 The Impact of Family Legacy23:56 Generosity and Faith in Action26:51 Acts of Generosity and Character Building30:03 Navigating Life Decisions and Values36:55 Spiritual Journey and Faith Choices46:12 The Role of Community in Faith49:44 Parenting with Intentionality and Faith

  2. Sep 29

    Episode 12: A conversation With My Son Ariel.

    Some children come to us through our bodies, and some come to us through God's perfect planning. Ariel came to us at one year old, and from the very beginning, this boy has astounded us with a faith like no other. In this week's family interview, I sit down with my youngest, Ariel, and we talk about all of it: a little bit of his adoption story, the remarkable faith he's carried since he was small, and the winding, God-guided road of figuring out who he is and what he's called to do. If you've been with me a while, you'll remember Ariel as the little boy on the parachute in Cabo who told me he had no problem trusting God; it was his daddy he wasn't so sure of. That's Ariel. Bold, funny, and sure of the Lord. We talk about growing up in our home, the influence of his siblings and our church, and how faith shaped his identity and every major decision, including the twists and turns of career and marriage that only made sense looking back, once you could see God's hand in them. In this episode: Ariel's adoption story and the faith he's had since he was littleHow family, siblings, and church shaped who he becameRaising a child with ADHDDiscovering his gifts and calling: the God-guided, unexpected pathFaith and identity: letting God, not fear, lead the big decisionsTrusting God's timing when the plan doesn't look like you thought it wouldThere is no formula here, just a mother and her son, telling the truth about a life led by God. It's not simple, but it can be done. 🦃 This Thanksgiving, disciple your kids through the season: the BIG Family Gratitude Challenge is a month-long journey through Scripture: coloring, mazes, and journaling that build grateful hearts. Get it at 4thisgeneration.com or the Amazon link in my bio. New episodes every Tuesday. Follow so you never miss one. Equipping moms. Discipling children. Impacting generations.

  3. Sep 22

    Episode 11: Interview With My Kids - Victoria Ysabelle

    The conversation between Dr. Rita M. Hernandez and her daughter Victoria covers the joy and laughter Victoria brought to their lives, the surprise of her arrival, the impact of growing up in a Christian family, and the intentional approach to discipline and character building. The conversation covers Vic's upbringing in a Christian home, his faith journey, and the transfer of family traditions to his own home. It also delves into a significant health scare and the impact of these experiences on his faith and parenting style. Takeaways Joy and laughter in the familyThe intentional approach to discipline and character building Family traditions and faith played a significant role in Vic's upbringing and continue to influence his parenting style.Vic's health scare and his encounter with God had a profound impact on his faith journey and relationship with God. Chapters 00:00 The Joy and Laughter Victoria Brought18:18 The Surprise of Victoria's Arrival26:43 Growing Up in a Christian Family32:39 Intentional Approach to Discipline and Character Building36:21 Upbringing in a Christian Home38:27 Journey Towards Surrender to Jesus43:16 Encounter with God and Health Scare57:36 Parenting and Family Traditions

  4. Sep 15

    Episode 10: Interview With My Kids - Leon Avram

    Summary In this episode, I interview my son Leon about his faith journey. He is a worship pastor at Saddleback Church, and he shares insights on growing up in a Christian home, overcoming doubts, and embracing God's call. Discover how intentional parenting, spiritual experiences, and God's faithfulness shaped his path. Key topics Leon’s childhood and growing up in a Christian home His spiritual doubts and journey to faith The role of parents and spiritual mentors Experiences that deepened his faith, including international trips The importance of intentional discipleship and prayer His calling to ministry and becoming a worship pastor The impact of spiritual experiences and community Lessons learned about faith and character development Sound bites "God’s faithfulness through every season" "My faith journey was a rollercoaster" "God used community to shape my faith" Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Leon and his faith background 00:04 Growing up in a Christian home and early memories 00:31 Spiritual warfare and childhood experiences 02:55 Leon’s doubts and struggles with faith during adolescence 03:01 His journey to accepting Jesus and baptism 03:34 The role of family and church in his faith development 03:47 International trips and spiritual growth in Australia and London 03:51 His calling to ministry and the process of becoming a pastor 03:54 The importance of prayer and community influences 03:58 Overcoming pride and internal struggles 04:07 God’s faithfulness and the journey of character building 04:12 Passing faith to the next generation and discipling children

  5. Sep 8

    Episode 9: The Treasure of Years: Generational Wisdom & the Grandmother Hypothesis

    Science recently spent decades trying to prove something the Bible said all along: older women are not meant to fade into the background, they're essential. In this episode of Raising Children Who Love God, Dr. Rita explores the "Grandmother Hypothesis" and the deep, biblical treasure of accumulated years, and sets the stage for something she's never done on the show before. You'll hear the fascinating research from anthropologist Kristen Hawkes and the Hadza people of Tanzania, where grandmothers proved vital to their families' survival, and why God designed this hand-off of wisdom from the older generation to the younger (Titus 2). Dr. Rita shares her own four-generation story: a grandmother who lived to 97, a mother who is 82, and the wisdom she's still gleaning today. And she offers real hope to the woman who never had a mother or grandmother, because our God is a family-maker who can send the very person you need. In this episode: The Grandmother Hypothesis: how science confirms the value of accumulated yearsWhy wisdom is accumulated, not downloaded, and why your mistakes are never wastedLearning first from the Word of God, unabridged, not the "itching ears" version (2 Timothy 4:3)God's design for older women to pour into younger ones (Titus 2)Hope for the mom who never had a mother or grandmother; God can fill that voidA look ahead: a six-part series interviewing Dr. Rita's grown children, starting next week Scriptures: 2 Timothy 4:3 • Titus 2:3–5 • Psalm 92:14 The treasure was never in having arrived, it's in the years, and a teachable heart. It's not simple, but it can be done. Free gift: Download ROOTED: 7 Scriptures Your Child Needs to Know The Word-first foundation everything in this episode is built on. (Comment or text ROOTED, or visit 4thisgeneration.com.) New episodes every Tuesday. Follow so you never miss one; the family interviews start next week. Equipping moms. Discipling children. Impacting generations.

  6. Sep 1

    Episode 8: When You Walk by the Way: Weaving God Into Everyday Family Life

    Discipling your children doesn't only happen in the scheduled family devotional; it happens in the car, at the sink, in the checkout line, and on vacation. In this episode of Raising Children Who Love God, Dr. Rita shares how to weave God into the ordinary moments of everyday family life, straight out of Deuteronomy 6. From a grandmother who asks God where her keys are, to a little prayer framed on a childhood bedroom wall, to Scripture painted around the borders of her kids' rooms. Dr. Rita shows how the smallest everyday habits plant faith that lasts a lifetime. And she tells the now-famous family story of her youngest son, Ariel, a terrified little boy talked into parasailing in Cabo, and the hilarious, heart-melting thing he said on the way back to shore that revealed a faith deeper than anyone knew. In this episode: Why most discipleship happens in the unscheduled moment, not the planned one (Deuteronomy 6:6–9)How to make God a natural part of ordinary conversation, the good days and the hard ones"When you rise": the power of putting God's Word where your children can't help but see it"Write them on your doorposts": a simple idea for surrounding your kids with Scripture at homeThe Cabo parasailing story, and what it taught Dr. Rita about seizing everyday momentsWhy you don't need a curriculum to disciple your children, you need a conversationScripture: Deuteronomy 6:6–9 Put God in the everyday, and don't be surprised by what He lets you discover in your children's hearts. It's not simple, but it can be done. 🌱 Free gift: Download ROOTED: 7 Scriptures Your Child Needs to Know. A simple way to "write them on your doorposts" and put God's Word in front of your children every day. visit 4thisgeneration.com New episodes every Tuesday. Follow so you never miss one. Equipping moms. Discipling children. Impacting generations.

  7. Aug 25

    Episode 7: According to Their Bent: Discipling Each Child the Way God Made Them

    No two children come to God the same way. If you have more than one child, you already know it in your gut — one talks your ear off while you coax three words from the other; one feels everything, the other shrugs and moves on. So why do we keep trying to disciple them all the same way? In this episode of Raising Children Who Love God, Dr. Rita unpacks one of the most freeing truths in Christian parenting: God didn't make your children the same, so you're not meant to reach them the same. Rooted in Proverbs 22:6 — training a child according to his bent — she walks through the different ways children come to faith, the mother's real job (getting to know each one), and the three non-negotiables every child needs, no matter their design. In this episode: Why one-size-fits-all discipleship isn't a failure — it's a mismatch with how God made your childThe difference between a label you impose and a bent God wove in (Proverbs 22:6)Five ways children come to God: the reflector, the matter-of-fact believer, the questioner, the feeler, and the doerYour real job: getting to know each child — and why you must stop comparingThe three non-negotiables every child needs: knowing God, anchoring on His Word, and building a prayer lifeSame destination, different roads: freedom in the how, firmness in the whatPraying for wisdom for the specific child in front of you (James 1:5)Scriptures: Psalm 139:13–14 • Proverbs 22:6 • James 1:5 Get to know the child God actually gave you. It's not simple, but it can be done. 🌱 Free gift: Download ROOTED: 7 Scriptures Your Child Needs to Know. The same foundation for every child, and each one will make it their own. (Comment or text ROOTED, or visit 4thisgeneration.com.) New episodes every Tuesday. Follow so you never miss one. Equipping moms. Discipling children. Impacting generations.

  8. Aug 18

    Episode 6: That Is So Not You: Separating Your Child's Behavior From Their Identity

    One of the most common mistakes Christian moms make is turning a child's behavior into their identity: "you're such a liar," "you're so lazy," "why do you always...?" We don't mean to. It slips out in the hard moments. But children believe the names we give them, and they grow into whatever we keep speaking over them. In this episode of Raising Children Who Love God, Dr. Rita shares a three-generation moment in the car, the day her young daughter called her a liar and her own grandmother gently taught a better way, and unpacks one of the most important shifts you'll ever make as a mother: learning to separate what your child does from who your child is. Because behavior is something we do, not something we are and that means it can change, mature, and grow wiser. In this episode: Why labels, even the "nice" ones like the shy one or the smart one, become a script your child lives outThe identity that belongs at the center: a child of God, deeply loved (1 John 3:1)How God Himself does this, calling Gideon a "mighty warrior" while he's hiding in fearThe reframe to practice: "You told a lie" instead of "You are a liar" and the powerful "that is so not you"Why Proverbs 6:20–22 is first a call to the parent, not just the childThe prayer to pray over your children: "Lord, remind them that they are Yours."Scriptures: 1 John 3:1 • Judges 6:12 • Proverbs 6:20–22 Watch your words, my friend, you're writing a name your child will wear for life. Make it the name God gave them. It's not simple, but it can be done. 🌱 Free gift: Download ROOTED: 7 Scriptures Your Child Needs to Know every one speaks to who your child is in God. (Comment or text ROOTED, or visit 4thisgeneration.com.) New episodes every Tuesday. Follow so you never miss one. Equipping moms. Discipling children. Impacting generations.

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About

Do you long to raise children who truly love God, not just kids who go to church, but children who make Him the center of their own lives? Welcome, mom. You're in the right place. Raising Children Who Love God is the podcast for the Christian mom who wants to disciple her children at home without a seminary degree, a perfect plan, or an extra hour she doesn't have. Hosted by Dr. Rita M. Hernández, educator, author, mama, and grandma. Each week brings simple, practical, faith-centered encouragement to help you build faith, identity, and purpose in your children's hearts, one ordinary moment at a time. Raising kids who love God isn't simple, but it can be done. You don't have to have it all together, and you don't have to do it alone. You just have to start. Topics include family devotions, Scripture memory for kids, faith at home, biblical identity, intentional Christian motherhood, and discipling children through every stage. New episodes every Tuesday. Grab your free resources and explore the full discipleship pathway at 4thisgeneration.com. Raise them rooted.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Rita Hernandez
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Dr. Rita Hernandez