A Joy Filled Home

By Nicole VanGelder

The Beauty of Chaos

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I used to believe that in an ideal world, my house would be clean and orderly, almost always. I would have more money in the bank and life would have a nice rhythm with only good interruptions (think: travel). 

I still enjoy a clean and orderly house (on the rare occasion it happens, at least). And, I certainly wouldn’t turn down more money in my account if it were offered! However, I no longer believe that this is what an ideal world looks like. In fact, it may sound crazy, but I wouldn’t choose it even if I could. The reason for this is because I believe wholeheartedly that an ideal life is a life lived with people. And, anytime people are involved, so is a certain level of chaos.

It is uncomfortable, irritating, frustrating, and stretching to the point of actually breaking, for your life to be lived in close connection with others. (This is particularly true if they are little people that are born without boundaries or even the most basic of manners!) Nothing has stretched my character the way that being a wife and mother has—not to mention my comfort level. And by no means is this a reflection on my family! Instead, life with them has exposed the real me: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

But, the miraculous thing is that this exposure has been the very thing that has brought me life! I have been found wanting so many times. There are many instances where I have fallen short. Yet, life goes on. Daily life and the demands of it don’t stop. This requires me to move past my shortcomings and keep going. As a result, I grow. 

Some days, I have had a harder time with this than others. But, I love my family. I sincerely want to be a positive force in their life. I want my marriage to thrive. I want my home to be a place of love and peace and joy. Because of this, even when my weaknesses are exposed, or I don’t know how do keep going, I can’t quit! Instead, I have to dust myself off and try, try, again. This can be a very humbling experience. But, I’ve also learned that it is the very place where the most beautiful things happen. 

For example, I am confident of my husband’s love for me. Not because our life together has been perfect, but rather the opposite. He has seen me at my lowest, at my worst, and yet, he loves me. We have lived through both triumph and tragedy, joy and deep pain. We haven’t always responded well. Yet, it is perhaps the hard times that have forged our connection the strongest. We’ve failed each other in countless ways—but, we’ve never actually failed, because we never quit! Instead, we have chosen to keep going. In the process we’ve learned countless lessons, yes—but, none more important than the truth that love really does win the day if you just keep choosing it. At the start of our journey, I couldn’t have imagined how pure and deep my love for this man would grow to be. And, it isn’t done growing, yet! I am sincerely thankful each day for our journey together. My heart truly overflows with love.

Living with kids, in the close confines and chaos of family life, has also changed me more than I could have guessed it would. Don’t get me wrong, I still have some growing to do. (Okay, a lot of growing to do!) There are days when the chaos of a family of ten gets to me. I still sometimes fantasize a little about a real life “Baileywick”* to come and bring order and a little magic to our life. But, I also find that my heart gets joy out of some of the very things that I used to fight against. Some of this is because I have actually grown. But, my perspective has grown too. The way I see has changed. I know that the days of my family existing under one roof are numbered. I know that being involved in the process of my children’s daily life is a privilege, a true honor. I understand that external messes are much more easily cleaned up than then internal ones caused—even unintentionally—by a mom with the wrong priorities. I also know that if I don’t embrace the chaos of life with them now, I very well may not be invited to be a part of their lives later—and I desperately want to be a valuable part of their lives, always!

Proverbs 14:4  says: “Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.” (NASB) Obviously there are many applications to this. But the basic truth remains the same: Life is cleaner, and easier to manage when there is less in it. The downside is that there is less in it. 

Another version of this verse reads: “The only clean stable is an empty stable. So if you want the work of an ox and to enjoy an abundant harvest, you’ll have a mess or two to clean up!” (TPT) 

If this was specifically about family life it would probably read more like this: An empty house is clean. But, a home filled with people is rich; not in money, but in life—and messes!

Family life really is rich. Yes, it is messy. But, if it is done well, it overflows with love, joy, laughter, safety, growth, kindness, and so much more. 

Today’s Prayer: 

Father, thank you for the journey. Thank you that you are with me helping me to grow so that I can be more like You and live the life I was created for. Thank you for my family. Help me to see them like you do. Give me grace for the messes of life together and eyes to see the beauty in the chaos. Thank you that you love me in spite of my messiness. Help me to love my family in that same way. Thank you for the honor of being a part of their lives. Help me to treat them accordingly and to order my days according to those things that are truly important. Amen. 

 

*Bailywick is the butler on the show Sofia the First. 

Family Easter Week Bible Readings & Activities

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Dear Friends,

I hope that this Easter week is a special one, and that these days leading up to Resurrection Sunday are filled with a renewed wonder at just how good the Lord really is!

During 2020, I put together some simple devotionals for families of our church to do together in the days leading up to Easter. (Note: They do not cover, or even attempt to cover, all of the events leading up to the death and resurrection of Jesus.) They are simple but I hope your family enjoys them together! (Don’t feel pressured to do them all! Instead, pick and choose what best fits your family and the time you have.)

READING ONE:

Read: Mark 11:15-18

Note: This reading can be startling because it seems to be a moment of uncontrolled anger. However, Jesus may have been angry, but He hadn’t lost His temper! He had already been in Jerusalem and knew what was happening. When He took this action He did so because He was seeking to protect people from the exploitation of the religious leaders. His desire is, and always has always been, to remove the obstacles that separate people from entering into true worship and prayer–and true relationship with His Father. So, the best way to apply this reading may be to simply ask the question if there is anything that is getting in the way of your family (together or individually) spending time in connection with the Lord. If there is, remove whatever the obstacle is! (I suggest not using the same methods Jesus used in this passage though!) 😉 Then, commit to spending a short time together in prayer each day this week.

Optional Activities: 

1. In the days of Jesus, the temple played an important part of worship for the Jewish people. Today, we have the joy of being able to worship Jesus in a different way.  So, throw a family worship party! Some suggestions: put on some music and dance before the Lord; try painting or drawing as an act of worship; praise the Lord with your words during a time of prayer, etc.

2. Do some coin rubbings. This is a simple activity that you should have all the supplies for easily on hand. Find a variety of coins, some paper, and some crayons or pencils. Put the coins under the paper and rub the crayons back and forth over it until the image of the coin appears. As you do this, ask your kids why they think Jesus was so angry and the moneychangers. (They were exploiting people and interfering with their ability to worship God. They were being greedy. They were misusing God’s House.)

3. Look up the what the temple looked like in the day of Jesus. (You should be able to find this with a simple internet search.)

4. And, just for some fun that isn’t directly related to the lesson:Here is a Paper Doll Coloring Page created by my daughter, Eliana. Color, cut out, and have fun getting her dressed up for Easter!

READING TWO:

Read Mark 11:20-26

Discussion Questions:

1.  What does Jesus command in this passage? (To have faith in God.)

2.  According to this passage, what is the result? (That you will be able to pray without doubt.)

3.  This passage also talks about forgiveness. How important is it to forgive?

4.  How do you think faith is connected to forgiveness? (For example: we receive forgiveness through faith. Since we have received such great forgiveness for the Lord, how could we not forgive others?)

6.  Can you think of a time you were forgiven by someone? Or, can you think of a time when you’ve had to forgive someone? How did it feel?

*This would be a perfect opportunity to take some time to release forgiveness over others as needed, as well as to receive forgiveness.

Optional Activities:

1. Taste test: Find an assortment of both sweet and bitter foods to taste test. Have some fun tasting them, and point out that not only do we need to forgive because the Lord commands it, but unforgiveness is bitter. It will make us sick if it stays inside of us too long. But, giving forgiveness freely is sweet. To take this lesson a little further, have fun making some spring themed sugar cookies.

2.  Prayers of Faith: Find a jar or a box and some notecards or small pieces of paper. Have each person write down a prayer request that they have. (They don’t need to share it with anyone else.) As a family, prayer over the requests. Keep the jar over the next year & whenever a prayer is answered, make sure to keep track of that, too!

3.  Here is a fun Bunny Coloring Page. Do your best to find the five eggs that are hidden in it!

READING THREE: 

Read Mark 12:41-44. 

This time of year, when we remember all that Jesus has given to us, it is important to take some time to consider our attitude in return. After all, how can we, who have received so much, not be generous in response?

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your most valuable possession? Is it easy or difficult to share? How about your favorite dessert? Is that easy or hard to share? What is something you have a difficult time sharing?

2. Is it easier to share with your friends than with a stranger? Why/why not?

3. The Lord is very generous with His kids. Why do you think that is?

4. What might make it easier for you to share with others?

5. What is something of value that you can offer God?

Optional Activities:

1. Brainstorm ways your family can practice generosity towards others. Then make a plan for putting one or two of those ideas into practice.

2.  Practice Secret Generosity. Over the rest of this week, each person in your family should look for ways to be secretly kind and generous to one another. Then, at the end of the week, talk about the experience. Even without sharing specifics (although that is okay, too), discuss the impact on your home. How did it feel to do kind things for others? Was there a difference in the atmosphere in your home? Encourage your family to make this a normal practice.

3.  Spend some time in prayer thanking the Lord for His generosity towards you. Be specific. Make a list and post it someplace you can see it to remind yourself everyday to be thankful.

4.  Make one of the favorite desserts mentioned during the discussion questions as a special treat. Make an extra to deliver (while keeping your distance!) to a neighbor or friend.

READING FOUR:

Read John 13-14. 

Note: If you have smaller children, you may want to only read John 13:1-30. After you read through the last supper that Jesus had with His disciples, the best activity I can suggest is to actually take communion as a family. Click here to watch a video to help walk you through this process, then gather the needed elements (and your family!) and do as Jesus commanded.

READING FIVE:

Read John 20-21

The reading today is all about the resurrection of Jesus! If your children have never prayed to receive Christ, this is the perfect opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus with therm. After today’s reading, simply ask your children if they understand why the death and resurrection of Jesus is so important. Explain that because Jesus died and rose again, those who believe in Him and receive Him as their Savior have the opportunity to live with Him forever in heaven someday, and also walk with Him here on earth!  You can ask if they have ever asked Jesus into their hearts / if they have ever accepted Jesus death and resurrection as payment for their sins and made Him their personal Lord and Savior. If they haven’t, and would like to, simply lead them in a prayer like this: “Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross as payment for my sins. I believe in you and receive you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you for coming into my heart and giving me life now and in eternity. Help me to walk with you and learn your ways. Amen.” If your children pray this prayer, make sure to celebrate big!

Optional Activities:

1. Jesus is ALIVE! So, celebrate with a time of prayer/worship. Thank Jesus for the cross and all that He has brought into your lives. Let the joy of that fill your hearts and homes with excitement as you celebrate together.

2. Here are some coloring sheets of the cross (from which Jesus has risen!!) Cross_Coloring_Page  Cross_Coloring_Page 2
Cross_Coloring_Page 3

3. Play pin the tail on the bunny. Here is a template to use: Pin_The_Tail_On_The_Bunny_ 2.

4. Celebrate the empty tomb! First, colorJesus’s_Tomb. Then, color and cut out Jesus’s_Tomb 2 (including the “arm”). Finally, cut on the dotted line on the coloring page and slide the “arm” of the rock into the slit on the coloring page. Now you can open the tomb and celebrate that it is empty!

5. Color the Easter Eggs: Easter_Egg Coloring Sheet 1  Easter_Eggs 2  Easter_Eggs 3

A Devotional for Moms: Wearing the Armor of God

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Verse Highlight: 

Ephesians 6:10-18 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,”

Ephesians 6: 11-18 (The Message) “And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong.   So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.”

Ephesians 6:11-18 (TPT) “Now my beloved ones, I have saved these most important truths for last: Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you. Put on God’s complete set of armor provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies of the accuser! Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage. Because of this, you must wear all the armor that God provides so you’re protected as you confront the slanderer, for you are destined for all things and will rise victorious. Put on truth as a belt to strengthen you to stand in triumph. Put on holiness as the protective armor that covers your heart. Stand on your feet alert, then you’ll always be ready to share the blessings of peace. In every battle, take faith as your wrap-around shield, for it is able to extinguish the blazing arrows coming at you from the Evil One! Embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies. And take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken Word of God. Pray passionately in the Spirit, as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times. Pray the blessings of God upon all his believers.”

Dear Moms,

A life of faith requires…well, faith. Though the Lord is real and very present in our lives, living according to faith means putting stock into things that aren’t always visible to the naked eye. Most of us practice our faith easily during times of great importance or struggle in our life—for example, even people who have never prayed before tend to do so naturally during times of great tragedy or trouble! And, if we are in the habit of attending a regular church service (something I highly recommend, by the way!!) we find ourselves “practicing” our faith during those corporate experiences. Both of these are good things! But, they aren’t enough to sustain your faith or your life. Daily life is the place where faith solidifies and deepens. It is where intimacy with the Lord is sustained. 

One key to seeing your faith come to life is proactively applying “truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation” each day, in moments both big and small. It can be easy to miss this in the busy nature of daily life with kids. Your kids are right there, placing demands on you. (Along with laundry, cooking, cleaning, paying bills, and so on.) It can be overwhelming! Did you know, though, that sometimes the emotional toll you are feeling is not actually because you are overworked or too tired?

Yes, those things do affect our emotional, mental, physical and spiritual well-being. But, as believers, we actually have the ability to rise above and live according to a greater reality. There is abundant grace, peace that passes understanding, and unquenchable joy available! It is possible to display patience, kindness, and all the other aspects of love in our daily lives in increasing measure. In fact, not only is it possible, but it is the natural course of a life of faith. 

So, what if this isn’t happening? Well, it could be that you have simply disconnected your heart from the Lord’s and you need to stop, repent and reconnect. Or—and most likely—it is a combination of things, with a key one being that you have been influenced by outside sources and you haven’t even realized it. The schemes of the devil are sometimes obvious—war, tragedy, disease, and do on. But, the ways that he can infiltrate our lives are often unnoticed. We feel overwhelmed, agitated, hopeless, stuck…etc. We don’t realize that our thoughts aren’t ours and make choices that end up being based all on lies! 

The good news is that we don’t have to live like this. Instead, the Lord has equipped us to overcome the enemy and his slander! Our job is to learn to use the weapons we’ve been given! As you put these into practice each day, you will find that your heart changes, your mindset shifts, and the atmosphere of your home grows more peaceful and loving!

The Lord is with you, mama! He loves you. He loves your kids. You might not realize it, but He has given you all you need to overcome the enemy and stand firm! So, whatever you are facing this week, trust that He has already prepared you for victory!

Action Step: Put on the Armor of God (Daily)

Reread the passage from Ephesians above. As you do, practice “putting it on”. For example: “Thank you, Lord, that you have equipped me with truth. Help me to know You and Your ways, and to recognize the deception of the enemy so I don’t fall for his schemes.” 

Do this line by line, putting it into a prayer in your own words.  (I encourage you to use different versions   to get the most full expression of the passage) Do it every morning this week. Then, at the end of the week, take note of the result and celebrate any victories that occurred! 

You’ve got this, mom! You were created for victory, so don’t be discouraged! Keep on going and you will experience it in your life and home—your kids will, too.

Family Devotional: Through the Bible Series: Genesis 12-21 || Abraham

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See previous devotionals for tips as to how to open up your devotional time in prayer, etc. For today’s devotional, I do encourage you to find the most complete account of Abraham’s life in a children’s story Bible to share if possible. Otherwise, you can focus on the portions shared in the Verse Highlight. I do recommend looking them up in a translation that will be easy for your kids to follow along with and understand. (If you are interested, you can find a chart that correlates different Bibles with reading levels: https://kidsministry.lifeway.com/2012/08/07/choosing-a-childs-bible-1/ .) 

Scripture Focus: Genesis 12-21  Hebrews 11

Verse Highlight: Genesis 12:1-5 “Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.’ So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan.”

Hebrews 11:8-16 “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEASHORE.

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.”

Introduction Questions: What is the most amazing gift that you can imagine receiving? What if I told you that you were going to receive it on your next Birthday? Would you be excited? Would it be hard for you to be patient until your birthday came? What if you waited and when your birthday finally came, you found out that it wasn’t going to be your gift this birthday—but for your birthday fifteen years from now? Would you still be excited to receive it? 

Discussion: The Lord gave Abraham and Sarah a great promise. This promise was so big, that it would affect the whole world! That’s pretty awesome! There was a catch, though. 

Abraham and Sarah had to wait a long time before the promise would come true. And, a lot would happen as they were waiting. For example: he moved to a different country because of a famine; he fought in a battle to rescue his nephew Lot; he had a son named Ishmael (that was not the son that God promised); he helps Lot escape the destruction of the city he lived in; etc. 

Even once Abraham and Sarah had their son Isaac fifteen years after God first gave them the great promise, the promise wasn’t fulfilled. It was still just starting to be fulfilled. In fact, it is still being fulfilled! This is because you and I and everyone who knows the Lord is considered heirs of Abraham. And, God is known as the “God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob”.

There are a lot of lessons we can learn from Abraham and Sarah, but one important one is this: Patience and faith go hand in hand. When we trust the Lord, it means that we trust Him indefinitely. We don’t need to understand when or why or how. Instead, we simply need to do our best to trust Him, follow Him, and live faithfully. 

The Lord is faithful and His promises will always come true—just like they did for Abraham and Sarah. 

Closing Activity: Spend some time thanking the Lord for His faithfulness. Think of specific times He has been faithful to you or others (even Biblical people) and praise Him for His goodness! Then pray for your family to both see God’s faithfulness personally and to trust the Lord and live faithfully for Him. 

Bonus Activity: Sing Father Abraham

“Father Abraham had many sons… I am one of them and so are you, so let’s all praise the Lord.”

Uhh, what? This was a song many people sang as kids without any idea of what it meant.  (Myself included!) Hopefully the lesson today helps to clear that up! Remind your kids that because of God’s faithfulness to Abraham, everyone who is part of God’s family is part of Abraham’s family, too—even you! Then, have some crazy fun singing (make sure to do the actions!) the “Father Abraham” song together. Remember: the goal is to have fun, so you may need to set aside your pride in order to have some silly (and perhaps silly looking) fun together. Bonus points for group laughing fits!

You can find the song with lyrics & motions here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASXowiv3FAc

A Devotional for Moms: Rejoice • Pray • Give Thanks

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Verse Highlight:

1 Thess. 5:16-17  “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (NASB)

“Let joy be your continual feast. Make your life a prayer. And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.” (TPT)

“Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.” (The Message)

Dear Moms, 

It stinks, but cheerfulness is a choice. This is not what you want to hear the morning after you’ve been up all night with a fussy baby or when you are trying to make your finances work—not to mention trying to navigate any number of tragedies that life throws at you!

Yet, there is no asterisk. No exceptions. Rejoice always. Choose joy. Be calmly cheerful. Always. How is this possible? And, why is it important? 

Well, first of all, I want to clarify something. The Lord is not ignorant of the pain of your life. And, it isn’t that He doesn’t care! He cares deeply! He cares about you and the issues that you face—both the big tragedies and the rubs of daily life. In fact, He doesn’t just sympathize with us from a distance. He truly understands! As Hebrews says, “We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all..” (Heb.4:15 The Message)

The Lord understands. He doesn’t grow angry at our tears. He wipes them from our eyes—and even cries with us. But, in the midst of that, He also call us higher. 

Let’s look again at Hebrews. This time the whole verse and the one after: “We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.” (Heb. 4:15-16)

When Jesus was on earth, He experienced all that we experienced! There is one big difference though—He responded without sin. Because of this, we can too. 

It isn’t that everything will be easy. It isn’t that we won’t experience frustration or difficulties or pain. But, even in the midst of all of that, we choose how we respond. We can choose to rejoice, pray, and give thanks. 

Rejoice. Be glad. Choose joy. This isn’t just an outward, fake smile. This isn’t pretending that everything is okay. This is actually a reflection of your faith. You are glad, full of joy, because your faith won’t allow anything else. Your faith knows that God is good. Your faith sees beyond the current moment. You faith trusts that the Lord will prevail and your life will display His goodness and glory! Dwell on this and it won’t be long before your emotional state matches your mindset. God is good and this is reason enough to rejoice!

Pray. Let your life be a prayer. Stay in constant connection with the Lord. Talk, yell, cry. Listen. Shape and be shaped by the reality of heaven touching earth through your prayers. 

Give thanks. Thankful for what? Well, you could start by being thankful for Jesus. Thankful that He understands. That He is with you and He cares. Thankful that He freely gives mercy and grace in abundance. Start by being thankful about that and you may be amazed at how many other reasons you find through be thankful after. 

God’s will for us is to trust Him. To stay connected to Him and live according to a higher reality. So, today, I encourage you to do just that. 

Action Step: Rejoice, Pray, and Give Thanks!  

Whatever your day holds, make a purposeful choice to do these things. If you face trials, tragedies, or frustrations, don’t deny your experience! But, instead of growing angry or defeated, pause. Go to the Lord for the grace you need. Then choose joy. Pray. Be thankful. As you cultivate these values and responses in your heart, you will find it impact the atmosphere in your home, too. As a result, your home will become a safer (and more fun!) place to be.

A Devotional for Moms: A Good Work

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Verse Highlight:

Philippians 1:6 “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (NASB)

Amplified Version: “I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].”

Dear Moms,

I like to plan. I don’t really like to commit to the plan, necessarily, but I like there to be a plan, even if it is just in my head. And then I like for things to go according to plan—unless I am the one who has dictated otherwise. I like a clean house. I like it when children obey immediately every time. I like it when we get in a really good day of homeschool and are still done early! I like it when everyone is healthy and when every one gets along (no bickering) and when there are periods of quiet in the house (because people are all quietly behaving themselves). I could go on, but you get it. 

And, thankfully, most days do go well! But, rarely do they go completely according to plan. And, the truth is they aren’t meant to! Life is not an artificially scripted experience. And, thank God for this!

Life is a journey where the Lord leads, guides, teaches, corrects, comforts, and loves us as we grow. It is on the journey that maturity and completion come. 

Biblically speaking, perfection means “completion, finished, accomplished, fulfilled, to bring to an end” etc. It is what something becomes as it grows & matures—it’s end state. But, to grow & mature you must, well, grow & mature! You must go through process. And, process is often messy. It rarely goes according to plan. But, if you embrace it, you will find joy in its beauty, even in the midst of the messiness!

Understanding this is essential because it will allow you to make room for the journey—yours, your kids’, and everyone else’s! No longer will you be defeated if a day doesn’t go according to plan. Instead, you will see it as an opportunity for growth & grace to win the day. 

There is a key to success: Trust God. Put your faith in Him, and not in a generic way. Put your journey in His hands. After all, He is the one that will bring you to your finished state. The Voice Bible says that God “will not stop in mid-design but will keep perfecting you ”. I love that because it indicates that there is a plan. It just may or may not match yours. 

This is good news for you because it takes the pressure off! You don’t need to aim for perfection. You don’t need to panic if things don’t go according to plan. And, you aren’t even ultimately in charge of the “grand plan”. This is good news for you personally because you can have confidence that the Lord is with you & will equip you & help you to grow to maturity. You don’t need to be put off by your lack, or messy (even ugly) parts. Instead, trust Him to lead you, guide you, and finish the work He has started in you as He does. (This doesn’t mean you don’t have a part to play, by the way. You will find that following Him is very good, but often not easy as it requires you to do things His way—which requires a lot of growing & stretching as you change to be like Him.)

This is good news for your kids too. First because it makes room for a household that celebrates growing instead of perfection. And, secondly, because it means the Lord can be trusted with their journey, too. This takes the pressure off of you & them. Instead of needing to micromanage, worry, and control their lives, you are free to stay an engaged & loving parent who is partnering with the Lord in their lives. This doesn’t make parenting easy. But, it does remove the wrong type of pressure, leaving room for more freedom, joy, and love in the journey. 

You’ve got this mama! No matter where you’re at, its never too late to trust the Lord. So take a deep breath & trust that the Lord’s grace will carry you & your kids as you learn, grow, and love each other this week.

Action Step: Make Room for Perfection.

As said above, perfection is completion. It is a result of maturing. Maturing happens because of process. Your kids will mature as they are given more opportunity & responsibility. You will mature as you learn, grow & change, too. So, this week: make room for growth. Find one practical way to make space for both you & your kids to grow! 

For example: Give your children a new chore to do. This may be something they do with you or something you show them how to do & then trust them to do on their own. The important thing is to allow them to grow into it. Don’t be so concerned with the lack of immediate perfection. Instead, celebrate their progress. Guide them, but give them room to grow & mature in doing it. 

For yourself, it may mean being honest with yourself (& others). Give up the pressure of having to look like you have it all together. If there is an area of struggle, be honest about it! Ask the Lord to help teach you first & formost—and then actually follow Him as He leads in that area. Also, you may want to have a conversation with your spouse or others where you share your struggle, admit that you are messy in this area & are processing it with the Lord. Ask them simply to give you space and grace as you go. You may be amazed at how giving yourself permission & making room for the process will actually lead you to an increased maturity in an area. 

Family Devotional: Through the Bible Series: Genesis 11 || The Tower of Babel

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See previous devotionals for tips as to how to open up your devotional time in prayer, etc. For today’s devotional, I do encourage you to read the scriptures below in their entirety. If you have younger kids, you may want to find a Children’s Bible to read from. I also encourage you to get a Bible that your kids can read along with, if they are able. Many find the New International Readers Version and Contemporary English Version helpful for kids. (If you are interested, you can find a chart that correlates different Bibles with reading levels: https://kidsministry.lifeway.com/2012/08/07/choosing-a-childs-bible-1/ .) 

Scripture Focus: Genesis 11:1-9; Matthew 17:14-20

Verse Highlight: Genesis 11:6 “The LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.”

Matthew 17:20 “…truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.“

Introduction Questions: If you could be a superhero, who would you be? What superpower would you most like to have? Why? 

Discussion: A lot of people like to watch superhero movies, especially if they are about people who seem to be “normal” people, but you then discover they can do something that is impossible for everyone else. It’s fun to imagine what it would be like to have a superpower of your own! Part of the reason why that is so fun is because it is not based in reality so people can fantasize about what it might be like. The truth is that it is not possible for us to be superheroes like in the movies. However, did you know that we do get to do things that are impossible? 

The two stories we read today were very different from each other, but they have a common theme. In the first one, the Lord says that the people on earth will find nothing they purpose to do impossible. Isn’t that kind of hard to imagine? He sees that they are united in purpose and are able to accomplish anything. That’s amazing! But, it wasn’t good. Why do you think it was a problem? 

In the next story, it seems like the opposite thing is happening from the first story. In the first story, God steps in and actually prevents people from being able to do what they are working on doing. In the second one, Jesus is instructing people in the opposite way. He tells them that even a little bit of faith will make nothing impossible for them! What is the difference? 

There are actually several differences in the settings & circumstances of these two stories. But, one of the biggest is this: Who people are partnering with. 

When the people were building the Tower of Babel, they were working to accomplish a goal of their own, entirely separate from God. But, when Jesus is instructing His disciples, He is talking about how the Kingdom of Heaven operates. You can access the impossible if you have faith, but it isn’t about doing the impossible. Jesus isn’t saying that if you have enough faith you can fly or have x-ray vision! He is talking about having faith in God. God does lots of things that are impossible for man to do. He can do that because He is God! But, because we know Him, He invites us to join Him! That means that we get to do impossible things, too. But, not just any impossible stuff. We get to do the impossible stuff that is part of His Kingdom. What kind of stuff is that, do you think? (Think of what kinds of miraculous stories are in the Bible: people being saved, healed, and set free; miracles of provision; etc.)

The key to this is to have faith. Stay connected to the Lord. See what He is doing. Learn His ways and the ways of the Kingdom of Heaven. Then, stir up your faith and move some mountains!

Closing Activity: Spend some time sharing some of your favorite testimonies. These can be personal testimonies, testimonies you have heard from others, or Biblical stories. Try to have each person share. Then, share about people or situations you know that need a miraculous breakthrough. Finally, spend some time praying in faith! (Make note of any action step ideas that the Lord brings to mind during this time. He may provide an opportunity for you to step out in faith, along with praying.)

Bonus Activity: Build a Tower. 

The way you do this will depend on the age of your kids and the number of people in your family. If you have small kids, simply have fun building a tower all together using blocks or other material you have on hand. (For a fun twist, you could use marshmallows or another food item and then have one as a small treat.) If you have older kids you could do a contest to build the tallest or prettiest or sturdiest (etc.) tower. You could use blocks or toothpicks or a combination of other building materials. 

A Devotional for Moms: Are Your Eyes Light?

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Verse Highlight:

Matthew 6:19-24 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” (emphasis mine)

The Message “Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being. Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have! You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and Money both.”

Dear Moms, 

I have read Matthew 6 and the chapters around in countless times, yet they continue to both challenge and deeply encourage me! I encourage you take time to read them too! But, for the sake of this devotional though, we are going to focus mainly on the above verses. 

These verses are speaking about storing treasure in heaven rather than on earth and then there is a seemingly random passage about eyes. What? How does this fit? What does one have to do with the other?

Our eyes are so important. What we see helps to shape the way we see and understand the world around us.  This is why it can be so damaging for kids (and us!) to watch things that are immoral or even simply without context or understanding. Is is important that we are thoughtful with what we allow before our eyes. But, it is also important that we train our eyes in how to see. 

Have you ever noticed that different people experience the same circumstances differently? It is amazing how this happens! But, we all know this is true. We all have someone in our life somewhere who constantly sees things from a negative point of view. (If you don’t, there is a good chance that you are this person!) This isn’t actually a bad thing. God wired people differently and certain personalities tend in this direction—which means that there is good reason for it. 

However, it also means that you may need to work harder than others to train your eyes in how they see. And, the truth is, this is something we all need to consciously do because the way we see determines the light we carry. And, if the light inside of us is dark, how great is the darkness! This is because we are the source of the darkness and we don’t even realize that what we are seeing is darkness! We think it is what light looks like!

And, the cost of our eyes being dim is great. We practice righteousness for the applause of man instead of heaven. We focus on the wrong things & become consumed with the cares of this world. We worry and strive and end up hating and despising the very One we think we are serving. 

Yikes! But, there is good news. It is this: we get to control how we see. We can train our eyes to see with light. The question is how do we do this? 

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” Matthew 6:34 The Message

One way we train our eyes to see correctly is by focusing on what God is doing right now. And if you can’t see what He is doing it’s because you haven’t been paying attention. So, today, I want to invite you to open your eyes and see. He is with you! Stop, take a deep breath and close your eyes right now, just for a second. 

Did you feel His Presence? If not, try it again (and again!)—however long you have to try before you do. It might just be a glimpse of Him, but that’s all you need. It’s the start. Recognizing that God is with you and looking for Him, straining to see what He is doing—it will change the way you see. Rather than lack, you will see an opportunity for Him to provide. Rather than stress, you will lean into His grace. Rather than fear, you will find His unshakable love. 

I don’t know what you are facing today. I don’t know what this season of motherhood looks like. But, I do know that the Lord is with you. He loves you. He loves your kiddos. So, let this thought strengthen and encourage you today. No matter what is happening in your world and the world in general, the Lord is near and if you open your eyes to it, you will be filled with wonder, belief, and light as you see all that He is doing. 

You’ve got this, Mama! And, more importantly, He’s got this. And He’s got you, too. Just open your eyes and see. 

Action Step: One way to train our eyes is by praying the Lord’s Prayer regularly. (I’ve mentioned this in previous devotionals.) So, I encourage you to pray this prayer each day. 

Matthew 6:9-13 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. ‘Give us this day our daily bread. ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]”

As you pray it, change it into your own words so you are processing—and believing—the words you are praying! You will be amazed at how these simple words will change the way you see and grow faith in your heart. 

A Devotional for Moms: Love Believes the Best (in You!)

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Verse Highlight: 1 Corinthians 13:7 “[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (NASB)

New Living Translation: “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 

The Passion Translation: “Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.”

Dear Moms,

1 Corinthians 13 gives us quite a list about love. It’s kind of like a recipe. These things make up love. And, like most recipes, all of the ingredients are important! If you take one out or try and substitute it for something else, the end product won’t be quite the same. It won’t be as good. All the ingredients are important, but perhaps the one that amazes me the most is the one above. I wonder how many of the other ingredients flow from it. 

Belief indicates trust. It is about having confidence in something in such a way that you place trust in them. This kind of belief is not a mild “this could happen”. It isn’t an idle hope. 

Think for a moment of the people in your life that have believed in you—truly believed. These type of people tend to be rare. I had a teacher once that saw more in me than I saw in myself & took the time to speak to me about the possibilities for my future. She spoke in a “if you pursue this, you will be successful” type of a way. Not a “maybe or could”. Jamey & I have had the amazing privilege of having older people come into our lives in a similar way at various times in our life. They would encourage us and add strength to us by the faith they placed in us. This is a remarkable thing! It marks you and changes you.

Do you know that the Lord looks at you & believes in you? Think about this: the Lord loves your children. He created them. They are, in fact, His children. Yet—He gave them to you!

On occasion, I have left my kids with others while Jamey & I have been out of town. It is always a difficult process. Even though we have amazing people in our life—that love our kids & I know will do great with them—it just isn’t the same. Eight kids (well, less that need watching now) is a lot to manage. Bed times & meals & routines—there are a lot of details! What happens if they get sick? Or something happens? It can be stressful!

In fact, there are many more opportunities to go than Jamey & I take simply because it is so costly to leave. Yet, the Lord willingly gave us His kids! 

He trusts us to take care of them. To love them. To nurture them. To teach them & guide them. He trusts us to lead them to Him. This must mean that He sees more in us than we often see in ourselves. 

God isn’t reluctant with you. He wholeheartedly believes in you. He is with you on your journey, equipping & teaching you—correcting when needed—but mostly? Mostly, I think, He is cheering you on. If you listen, you can hear Him.

The Lord trusts you, so you should believe the best in yourself too! And, you should trust Him, too. Trust that He is with you. Trust that He knew what He was doing when He created you. And, trust that it was not an accident when He gave you His children to be yours. 

“Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.” Let the Lord’s love be your safe shelter. As you do, you will become a safe shelter for your kids (and others!) too.

Action Step: Train your brain! It may seem silly, but I want you to repeat the following words to yourself, “The Lord loves me. I am His beloved. He knows me, trusts me & believes the best in me. He is with each moment of the journey. I can trust Him & believe the best about myself, my life, and my future.”

The Lord is cheering you on, and so am I! May you encounter the Lord & His love for you this week bringing healing, refreshment, and great joy.

Family Devotional: Through the Bible Series: Genesis 6-9 / Noah

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See previous devotionals for tips as to how to open up your devotional time in prayer, etc. 

For this devotional, I do encourage you to read the story of Noah from a Children’s Bible if you are able. Otherwise choose several passages to read, so that the main parts of the story are shared: There was great evil in the land, but Noah found favor with God. Noah obediently made the Ark as God instructed. When it was time, Noah & his family, plus two of every kind of animal entered the ark & God shut the door after them. They were safe on the ark during a flood that brought destruction & changed the world forever. After the rain stopped they remained in the ark until the waters subsided. When they got off of the ark, they worshipped the Lord. The Lord instructed them to be fruitful & multiply, filling the earth. And then made a covenant to never again cut off all people & animals or destroy the earth with a flood. He then gave the rainbow as a sign of the covenant. 

Scripture Focus: Genesis 6-9

Verse Highlight: Genesis 6:8 “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.”

Introduction Questions: What does it mean to be good? to have integrity? (Adjust the wording of the question depending on the age of your kids.) Can you think of someone you know (or know of) that you would consider a man/woman of “integrity”? What about them makes you say that? 

Discussion:  In The Message version of the Bible, the beginning of the story of Noah reads like this: “GOD saw that human evil was out of control. People thought evil, imagined evil—evil, evil, evil from morning to night. GOD was sorry that he had made the human race in the first place; it broke his heart. GOD said, “I’ll get rid of my ruined creation, make a clean sweep: people, animals, snakes and bugs, birds—the works. I’m sorry I made them. But Noah was different. GOD liked what he saw in Noah. This is the story of Noah: Noah was a good man, a man of integrity in his community. Noah walked with God. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.” (Genesis 6:1-10)

It is hard to imagine a world like this. In fact, let’s not even try. We know that evil is in the world. But, instead of looking at the evil, let’s look at something else: Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. He walked with God. The Lord looked at Him and smiled. 

Do you know that we get to live like that, too? 

Psalm 5:12 says, “Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”

When we put our faith in Jesus, we become righteous. That means that we have God’s favor around us all the time, like a shield. Do you know what a shield is for? It’s used for protection. Also, shields were often decorated to identify people individually, or recognize them as a part of a military unit.* If we apply this to this verse, then the Lord’s favor protects us & also identifies us! It is part of who we are as His children, His friends, His family! What affect do you think that this has on our lives? 

God’s grace and goodness is with us. It surrounds us and tells others who we are and whose we are! Since this is true, we don’t ever need to be afraid of darkness or evil! Because no evil can overcome the goodness of God! So, instead of worrying, we get to celebrate. And that is what we are going to do right now. 

Closing Activity: As a family, make a list of the ways you have seen God’s favor on your lives. Make sure to include “small” things, too! Then, pray out loud together, each taking a turn to thank the Lord for a specific way His kindness has been shown to them. This is also a good time to give any specific worries or fears to the Lord and replace them with confidence in His protection and Presence in your life. 

Bonus Activity: Take paper or perhaps a paper grocery bag & cut it into the shape of a shield. Then, make a “family crest of God’s favor”. Let each person add something to the design / help to decorate it. Then hang it up someplace this week to remind you that God’s favor is with you! 

*More information on shields can be found here: https://www.mylineage.com/family-coat-of-arms-explanation/