S Club Mama

The most formidable sin any of us will find lurking inside is all of our false identities. God urged the Israelites to not have any other god before him. This was no joke. Foreign gods ran rampant all around them. Yet they had the living God, who rescued them from Egypt and parted the Red Sea, dwelling among them in a pillar of fire and a cloud filling their tabernacle!!! One would think that their identities were surely set in stone - people of God. via wallpapercreations That's not what we see in the Scriptures, is it? We see them continually turning away from their Lord (my son would remind us that this is cycle of apostasy), pursuing a human king, worshipping idols, persecuting the Lord's prophets because they cannot see the sin in their own lives. As a Christian, I can often judge the Israelites on their wandering hearts. Then when I look at my own heart, I can see it there, too. I set my identity in Christ...but is it in Him alone? We are called to forsake all ...

  The other day I was doing a Sydney Cummings workout video on YouTube, when she said something that really struck me. She said that "location doesn't dictate your goals." She was talking about fitness, but I believe it applies to spiritual goals, too.   My goals for my children and myself haven't changed from before COVID-19. I still pray the same things:   -for my children to surrender to and love the Lord   -for my children to love others (starting with their siblings)   -for my children to kill the idols and sin in their lives   -for them to trust and obey (their parents and the Lord)   -for them to have security   My goals for myself haven't changed. I still pray the same things for myself:   -to focus on Christ   -to choose the pleasure of humility   -to take my thoughts captive and renew my mind   -to practice stillness and silence (much more difficult but maybe more important right now)   -to keep my ...

via Flickr   The ESV version of the Bible translates Proverbs 22:9 like this: "Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor."   I thought of Christ when I read this. He had a bountiful eye. He saw his bounty in his relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He did not keep that to himself but saw us in our sin and came for us - to share his heirship with us (Romans 8:17).   What do we do with this knowledge, this privilege? Do we store up our bounty for ourselves? Yesterday, I shared the verse about not storing for ourselves treasures on earth. This is along the same lines. We cannot keep this to ourselves - this love, this amazing grace!   Are we hoarders? Do we hoard our time? Do we hoard our stuff? Do we hoard our talents? What does that look like, in this season of social distancing, to use those things for our neighbors?   A friend of mine shared a video on Facebook about how to motivate children. As...

  My grandma recently was admitted to a rehab/assisted living/nursing home. I was on the phone with her the other day and she was telling me how she would probably be there the rest of her life. She, of course, was upset by this but understands that it's safer for her to be in the nursing home. She told me of a sign in the entrance of the home that says to the workers arriving, "this is not just your workplace, this is their home." I love that sentiment to remind them to help the residents be at home.   Last weekend, one of our pastors gave a sermon about this world not being the home of Christians. Our home is in heaven. It got me to thinking about my own home here on earth. I want it to be a place that we love to be (hence why I painted the walls colors I love instead of maintaining neutral walls), that my family feels safe and secure.   Right now, our world doesn't feel safe or secure. It's changing every day with regulations and the availability of product...

  Last week, I was reading in Acts 24:22-27. Paul is under house arrest under the authority of Felix, the governor (I won't pretend to understand their government back then). If you read, Felix heard the truth from Paul's lips many times for TWO YEARS. He was "alarmed" after "reason[ing] about righteousness and self-control the coming judgment."   Did that alarm lead him to repent of his sin's or even reflect upon them? Nope. He told Paul, "Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you." THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY!   This was also not his only opportunity as Felix "sent for [Paul] often and conversed with him."   People, we cannot be blind to opportunity set right in front of us! Jesus is coming back - the Bible says "soon." And, granted that God's eternal "soon" is different than my own, it doesn't change the fact that none of us know the hour He will return. We cannot delay a l...

via Biblia.com   Mario Andretti (NASCAR driver) has been quoted as saying, "Don't look at the wall. Your car goes where your eyes go." I remember hearing this first during driver's ed the summer I was 15. I honestly think of it each time I pass someone on the road, especially semis. I definitely do not want my eyes to go there! Emily P. Freeman has a podcast episode about this very thing.    In my every day life, my focus is too often on my comfort. I knuckle it through to naptime/bedtime/the weekend/vacation/date night/retirement. I look to just make it to my next break - to quiet time, to rest, to doing what I want to do.    Are we as Christians called to just make it in this life? Is that what we see in Jesus' life on earth? No. He was focused on his mission - the cross and ultimately, the resurrection. But he did not rush. Often times he did things that others with him thought away from his mission. Think of when Jairus came to him and wanted him to...

    I went to bed last night with the song "Take Heart" from Seeds Family Worship in my head. It's from John 1 16:33, "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."   And don't we find ourselves in troubles right now? Our lives have been affected in various ways. Some of you have canceled plans to go visit relatives or get away for awhile on spring break. You may now be working remotely or your job may be gone. Maybe you're out of toilet paper or eggs or milk. Your gym classes or your prom has been canceled.   What will next week look like? What will tomorrow look like? We don't know. But we know that in this life, we who are believers have been promised troubles. Not the same troubles, not to the same degree troubles, but troubles.   Some of you may be bitter about your troubles. And your troubles look bigger and more overwhelming than your ne...

  Time together gives us ample time to overflow our mouths. Even just a few hours can reveal so much about what we have been putting into our hearts. I always have at least one child home with me, so this is not a new norm for me, but for many of us, it's just a different time. Even if I'm used to it, I'm not used to my children being home under these uncertain circumstances.    And so what do we do when our mouths overflow isn't what we want it to be?    Prayer. Too often this is not my default as it should be. Only the Holy Spirit can help me overcome my mouth...ultimately, my heart. James says that no man can tame the tongue, so why do I always look to my own effort?    Flee. 2 Timothy 2:22 says to "flee the evil desires of youth." While it may not specifically be talking about this type of sin, I believe it's wise to flee from evil in all forms. This may mean fleeing the room when your child isn't listening and you're going to ...

How can you not be tempted by a book with that title?! And tempted in a good way because family devotions are a good, godly thing! But, let's be honest, they can get to be dull. And frustrating (probably for kids, but definitely for parents). Have you ever sat your kids down and have this grand plan in your head of how they are going to revel in your wisdom and worship songs, just raising their hands singing to the Lord. No? Just me? Moving on... Anyway, Tim Shoemaker's The Very Best, Hands-On, Kinda Dangerous Family Devotions brings you an answer to the dull. The 52 devotions found in this book can be called many things but not dull. They are activities that get your kids involved and center around Christ. image via Baker Book House My family hasn't had the book long so we haven't done many of the devotions...in fact, we've done one. It was "Christianity and the $2 Bill;" the theme: "A true relationship with Christ changes everything and sho...

My family loves Duck Dynasty. It's been awhile since we watched it (always re-runs for us on an app or something), but we enjoy the laughs. They don't take themselves too seriously and they pray on television - big plus for us! Are there any other recent ones that do that without mocking Christians?  My husband and I have read almost all the books published by the adults of the show. He really enjoys Phil's books. I have liked all the ones I've read! Since our big boys (ages 9 and 11) enjoy the show, I thought Duck Commander Happy, Happy, Happy Stories for Kids by Korie Robertson and Chrys Howard (her mom) would be great for us! We were just finishing up Bob Goff's Love Does for Kids devotional. My kids loved that - my 3-year-old daughter asked to "read Bob" constantly. I was hoping for the same with this devotional.  image via Book Look What I like about this book: Like I said, I like the Duck Commander family. I like what they stand for (Jesus)...

It's almost Christmas, I know - 7 days! - but I needed to let you know about this book. Bob Goff is a lawyer, an human rights activist, an author, and seems to be a really great guy. He loves Jesus, his wife Sweet Maria, and many many others. If you haven't read his first book, Love Does , get yourself to a bookstore or Amazon and purchase that (or do like I do and borrow from your local library). I haven't read his second book, Everybody Always , but I have no qualms in recommending it. Goff is a reputable person. Sweet Maria Goff (found under Maria Goff) also has a book I'm hoping to find under the tree this year, Love Lives Here . So now that you are fully understanding how much I enjoy reading the Goffs, let's introduce your kids. image via BookLook Bob Goff and his daughter, Lindsey Goff Viducich, have written Love Does for Kids . It's full of short stories (dare I say devotionals?) for kids that take them with the Goff family on adventures - riding a ...

Rest. It's something mamas dream of. Or at least I do. I'm sitting here, fully into my third trimester on my fifth pregnancy. I have three children here (almost 11, almost 9, almost 3) and one waiting in heaven with Jesus. And it's June, which is when virtually every activity known to summer vacation ends up being scheduled: art camp, swim team, swim lessons, VBS. I also make my older boys do homework during nap time (yeah, I'm mean). I've read approximately one chapter of a book in these past three weeks. I've watched approximately half a tv show during the day during that same time frame. I'm lucky no one follows me to the bathroom (mostly). I could use a nap most days but that's not happening any time soon, unfortunately. There's always something to be done (usually laundry). However, even in this busy season of life, this full life that I scheduled single-handedly (I've made notes for how to do this better next year), I need rest. When I te...

Squirt, my 8-year-old son, loves science. He wants to be a scientist when he grows up, we do science experiments when I have all the ingredients, and he (usually) listens when I tell him something science-related. I thought of him immediately when I got the chance to read "Indescribable: 100 Devotions for Kids About God and Science" by Louie Giglio. It is based on his popular messages "Indescribable" and "How Great is Our God." image via BookLook I am all about mixing my kids' interests and God. Anything to draw them closer to Him and teach them more about Him. "Indescribable" did not disappoint. The devotions were just over a page each with a "Be Amazed" fact portion about something science related (dinosaurs or weird sea creatures). I'm always amazed when I go outside at night (or very early morning) to see the stars. I just cannot comprehend how that could be random; it's too beautiful, too perfect, too created. ...

"My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers has been on my night stand for a few years now. It's been pivotal in challenging me deeper into my faith. Since I've read most of it now, I thought I'd look for another devotional to do the same. "Devotions for a Deeper Life" by Oswald Chambers seemed like the next best thing. image via BookLook Many of these devotions were pulled from articles in God's Revitalist from God's Bible School and College in Cincinnati, Ohio where Chambers taught for six months in 1906. I have not gotten through all of this book as it's a devotional, meant to be read day by day. However, these have not been as challenging to me as those written in "My Utmost for His Highest." I'm not really sure why and perhaps as I lean more into it, they will begin to challenge me more. What I do like about this devotional is the suggested reading from Scripture and Prayer Thought at the bottom of each day...

I love the idea of starting your day in Scripture and/or prayer. The Bible says His mercies are new every morning and so it just makes sense to start your day that way. However, as much as it makes sense, I fail to do that most mornings. It just doesn't work with the way I'm built and my schedule. Generally, I like to get up in the morning to work out so that is kid-free time. And then the chaos of mornings before school starts. Then it is generally mid-afternoon before I get a chance to sit down.  However, I like that this book "Five Minutes with Jesus: A Fresh Infusion of Joy" by Sheila Walsh are ones that I can really read with my kids. It's not meant to be a children's devotional but I have found that it works for us. We have been reading this at breakfast - it's quick and still spiritually deep so it's perfect for us right now at the stage we're in. image via amazon.com It is usually a page and a half devotional and then a page (5 m...

In my last post, I said I'd been looking for a good family or kid devotional forever. I believe I found my favorite one in "I Am: 40 Reasons to Trust God" by Diane Stortz. The illustrations by Diane Le Feyer are enough to shout about. They are just beautiful. Great colors, great art. You could frame these and put them on your walls, they are so pretty. I do love the cover a ton because it sparkles! image via Amazon.com Now, the content. No one reads a book entirely for the pictures, but luckily, the content is wonderful, too. This devotional centers on the names of God and it uses these names (among others): Creator, The Lord My Rock, I AM, Holy One, Jealous God, The Lord of Heaven's Armies, Immanuel, Teacher, Bread of Life, Christ, Friend, and King of Kings. The format is telling the name of God (God All-Powerful/El Shaddai), then a verse. Followed by a paraphrased story from chapters in the Bible (El Shaddai is from Genesis 12-21) that's 2-4 pages long....

I've been on the look out for a good family or kid devotional for many years. Some are plain bad. Some are too short and not deep enough. Some are over their heads! I was really feeling good about "The Bible is My Best Friend Family Devotional" because it's written by Sheila Walsh. I have heard Sheila talk and really believe her heart for Jesus. We took a dive into this devotional. And we gave it a really good shot. Our problem was not the content. It's good stuff in here. It's a weekly devotion, so you'd think we could squeeze it in. And we can! I just don't know when. During the week is hard because when Big A comes home, it's supper, showers, bed. On weekends, we just are either busy or lazy. Sundays include church for all morning and naps or quiet times. Seriously, it's just a scheduling problem. But this post is about the book, not my lack of organization. image via Amazon.com "The Bible is My Best Friend Family Devotional...

Simple Grace is a new Christian magazine designed for women and "was created from the desire to seek God's heart on a daily basis; the core of the magazine is a short, daily devotional that addresses everyday problems we all face - plus it has content that all of us can relate to including interviews with well-known personalities and a media guide." image via the Simple Grace website What I like: I love the size of this magazine/devotional. It's small like Reader's Digest so it's easily carried around in my van or purse or diaper bag. It would be great to take this along and read it before I pick my kids up from school! I haven't done that yet but it'd be a good way to get my head on straight with the Lord before the chaos of after school erupts. I like the section about social media where an author or someone asks a question on Facebook or Twitter of their fans. In the issue I read (August 2015), Karen Kingsbury asked her Facebook fans "...

Confession: we have more children's devotionals than we've read or are likely to read. Wow. Good to get that off my chest. Now, I didn't buy all of these devotionals so it was never my intention to have this many. We are also not consistent in reading devotionals - we've tried breakfast time, after school, bed time and we just haven't found a time that works for us. However, do not let our lack of diligence keep you from continuing to read this review of "I Can Learn the Bible" by Holly Hawkins Shivers. The subtitle of the book is "52 Scriptures Every Kid Should Know." Now, I believe this is a subjective look because there are SO many verses from the Bible kids (and adults) should know. image via BookLook Part of my family's problem with devotionals has been the format of the devos. Usually there is one verse and then a story to go along with maybe a little blurb at the end a la Aesop's Fables. The lesson. The format is just one o...

Devotionals are a wonderful way to start my day, reaching out to the Lord in thought and prayer, getting insight from seasoned Christians in areas like parenting, marriage, or life. I had high hopes for this "Once A-Day Devotional: Nurturing Great Kids" by Dan Seaborn devotional. It just did not meet my needs.  image via amazon.com The devotional itself is set up nicely. You can use it chronologically or whenever you want (has dates and Day 1, Day 5, etc). There's a Scripture verse at the start to tie in the lesson, then the lesson, a parenting principle, and points to ponder. These are half-page devotionals so they take no more time than to eat your cereal in the morning. I just did not feel like there was much depth to these devotionals. For another season in my life, they may have been great. Just for now, though, I'm looking for more than what seems like common sensical lessons. I also greatly wanted more Scripture than just one verse at a time.  Fo...