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. 21h ago

    Episode 17 - The Four Pillars of Discipline: Why Discipline Isn’t Punishment (A Biblical Framework)

    Say the word “discipline,” and most of us flinch; we picture the consequence, the battle, the part of parenting we dread. But what if we inherited the wrong definition? In Scripture, the word doesn’t mean “punish.” It means to set straight, to gently put a child back on the path. It is, at its root, an act of love. In this episode of Raising Children Who Love God, Dr. Rita hands you a completely new way to see discipline, a God-given pattern drawn from 2 Timothy 3:16 and Proverbs 3. And she draws a firm line: this is not trendy “gentle parenting,” no endless explanations, no negotiating with your toddler, no letting feelings run the home. It’s loving authority: the road between harsh punishment on one side and permissive, feelings-led parenting on the other. You’ll learn the four pillars: Teach, Instruct (model), Correct (coach), and Discipline (keep the boundary), and the single most common mistake that turns discipline into a battle. In this episode: Why discipline and punishment were never the same thing (Proverbs 3:11–12)Why this is not gentle parenting and the “two ditches” every parent must avoidThe foundation under it all: disciplining by God’s Word, not your own made-up rules (Proverbs 3:5–6)The four pillars: Teach, Instruct, Correct, Discipline, and what each one meansThe mistake almost every tired parent makes: jumping straight to the consequenceThe real goal: shepherding your child’s heart, not just their behaviorBecause a child doesn’t yet know what’s best for them, and that’s exactly why God gave them you. It’s not simple, but it can be done. 🎓 Want the step-by-step? Dr. Rita’s Four Pillars of Discipline mini-course walks you through each pillar: how to apply it at every age, the words to say, and how to troubleshoot when it’s hard. Coming in January 2027. Join the waitlist now at 4thisgeneration.com for first access and the best price. 🦃 And grab the BIG Family Gratitude Challenge for a Scripture-filled Thanksgiving - 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. Takeaways Discipline is an act of loveFour pillars guide effective parenting Chapters 00:00 Redefining Discipline06:54 The Four Pillars of Discipline09:02 Teaching and Modeling Behavior10:51 Correction and Maintaining Boundaries13:07 The Heart of Discipline15:30 Practical Application and Resources

  2. Oct 27

    Episode 16: What My Six Children Taught Me. Lessons From Interviewing My Grown Kids About Faith

    For six weeks, I did something I’d never done on this show: I sat down with each of my six grown children and asked them to tell the truth about what it was really like to grow up in our home, the good, the hard, and the mistakes. What I heard changed me. And when I listened to all six conversations together, the same threads ran through every single one. In this episode of Raising Children Who Love God, Dr. Rita pulls those threads out and lays them on the table for the mom still in the thick of it. Six completely different children, and the same handful of truths underneath all of them. Studies say two out of three kids raised in Christian homes walk away from the faith. By God’s grace, all six of hers love the Lord today. This is what made the difference, and what you can start doing in your home this week. In this episode: Why faith has to stop being yours and become theirs, and how to prepare the ground for that momentThe surprising reason her kids never experienced church as a burdenDiscipline children remember as love, not punishmentWhy even the “good,” well-behaved child may be carrying hidden weightHow God sent the right people her kids needed, answered prayer, every timeThe one thing that held through every mistake: unconditional love and God-given purposeIt was never about being a perfect mother. It’s about a foundation that holds, even through the hard years. It’s not simple, but it can be done. 🦃 This Thanksgiving, disciple your kids through the season: the BIG Family Gratitude Challenge: a month-long journey through Scripture with coloring, mazes, and journaling. 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 generation Chapters 00:00 The Emotional Journey of Parenting02:15 Understanding the Foundation of Faith07:09 The Role of Tone in Faith09:51 Discipline as Growth, Not Punishment11:53 Recognizing Hidden Struggles13:51 The Impact of External Influences15:41 The Core Truths of Unconditional Love

  3. Oct 20

    Episode 15 - A Conversation With Yael about Faith, Autism & the Light at the End of the Tunnel

    Some of our children are born knowing exactly who they are, and it takes the rest of us a little while to catch up. That was my Yael. In the final episode of our family interview series, I sit down with my fourthborn, Yael, strong-willed and brilliant from the time she was a toddler, working puzzles at three and praying on her own at four. She also carried chronic illness from the time she was a baby, with eight surgeries before she was six, and years of questions no doctor could answer, until, as an adult, she was finally diagnosed with autism, and so much of her life suddenly made sense. This is a tender, honest conversation about raising a child who doesn’t fit the mold, and the grace it takes to let her be exactly who God made her. Yael opens up about growing up feeling different, the social pressure that overwhelmed her, and how she came to a place of real acceptance: “God accepts you, and now I have to accept myself.” And I confess the ways Yael, without ever knowing it, reshaped my own understanding of prayer, grace, and faith, including the Sunday morning God stopped me and asked what mattered more: the dress she wore, or whether she’d still want to go to church at twelve. If you’re raising a neurodivergent child, or a child who doesn’t look like the others, this one is for you. There is light at the end of the tunnel. In this episode: Yael’s story: strong-willed, gifted, and different from the very startChronic illness, medical trauma, and a faith that held through all of itA late autism diagnosis, and the freedom of finally understanding herselfLetting go of man-made rules to protect a child’s heart (the dress story)The night God corrected how I was praying over my daughterA word of hope for parents raising neurodivergent children in the faithAcceptance: “God accepts you, now I can accept myself”This is the final episode of our family interview series, and what a gift it has been to open our family table to you these past weeks. No formula, no perfect family. Just 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 builds 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.

  4. Oct 13

    Episode 14: Raising a Grieving Teen in Faith: My Daughter Priscila's Story

    In this tender conversation, I sit down with my oldest daughter, Priscila, who came into our family at fourteen after the sudden loss of her mom, my dearest friend. Together we look back on the night everything changed, the promise I made at the hospital, and the years of discipleship that followed. We talk about helping a grown-up-too-soon teenager learn to be a child, the hard conversations that built her identity in Christ, and what it means to hold joy and grief at the same time. Priscila also shares honestly about drifting from church as a young adult, how God restored her faith and marriage, and the lessons she now carries into raising her own children. This is a story of God's faithfulness through every season. Takeaways In seasons of loss, children need stability and adults who point them back to God.Discipleship starts with observing your child closely and praying for wisdom to know their heart.Joy and grief can live side by side, and God uses both to shape our character.Staying connected to a church family protects our faith when life gets hard.Trusting God with some areas of our lives isn't enough. He wants all of it.Parenting adult children takes a new kind of wisdom, knowing when to step in and when to wait.Chapters 00:09 Welcome, Priscila04:22 Meet Priscila08:07 The Night Everything Changed10:44 A Promise at the Hospital14:34 How Her Mom Came to Jesus17:09 Growing Up at the School18:59 Learning to Be a Child Again21:53 Hard Conversations That Built Identity27:15 Holding Joy and Grief Together29:33 A Teenager on Fire for God31:02 Called to Christian College and Counseling34:49 Stepping Away from Church37:00 Finding a Church Home and Restoration39:13 Leaning on Our Own Understanding41:41 Expectations That Weigh Women Down45:10 Learning to Parent an Adult Child46:23 Grandchildren, Gratitude, and Goodbye

  5. Oct 6

    Episode 13: 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

  6. 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.

  7. 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

  8. 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

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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.

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