A Joy Filled Home

By Nicole VanGelder

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

by

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?

by

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!)

by

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.

A Devotional for Moms: The Fruit of the Spirit

by

Verse Highlight: Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

The Message: “But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way.”

TPT: “But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.“

Dear Moms, 

I am writing this a couple of days after I got home from a short trip. As a mom, leaving is the worst. Not only is there the emotion of it, but there are also so many details that go into planning for it! Then there is the transition of returning home. Usually, it requires a little bit of time to kind of get things “back on track” once you get back. All in all, it can be a lot to manage. On top of all of this is the lack of sleep, etc. that often occur (both to those traveling and those at home). So it is no surprise that people can sometimes get a little out of sorts during these times, and this time—it was me. 

My trip went well and the kids were well cared for I was gone (my husband and two oldest kids were with me). I was looking forward to getting home and being with all the kiddos again, but once I was I found myself not quite myself. I found myself getting more easily agitated. I knew that I was wrong, but I still had a hard time getting out of it. 

Now, there are a lot of possible reasons for why I was feeling like this. And, I’m sure they all contributed to this! But, the main problem was something else entirely. It was my lack of connection spiritually.

I spent years religiously trying to grow in the fruit of the Spirit by my own power. It doesn’t work—at least not long term. I have tried changing schedules and systems to keep things orderly and running well. This usually works for a while! As long as everything is going according to plan, there is peace and joy. The problem is when something stops working. When a child (or husband😉) doesn’t cooperate with the plan. When an illness or other uncontrollable event occurs. Then the peace goes away. Frustration mounts. Fruit displayed in our lives that we have grown by our own power is only good while our lives stay under control. When that control is disrupted—yikes! Let’s just say, it does not bring out our best. 

But, here is the good news: The fruit of the Spirit is just that—fruit produced by the Holy Spirit. He creates it. (The Lord is our gardener!) This is amazing news because it is not determined by our circumstances or our own strength. Instead, it comes though our connection with Him! When I am connected to Him my priorities and values change—they become heavenly in nature. Dirty dishes or sick kids, or other “not according to plan” moments don’t phase me. (Well, maybe sometimes for a moment.😅) 

So, the next time you are feeling overwhelmed, impatient, generally “out of sorts” I want to encourage you: it isn’t because of the dishes. Or the mouthy or crying kid. It isn’t because of your spouse or your job. Sure, these may be contributing factors. There may even be adjustments that need to be made. But, you should start by reconnecting your heart with the Father’s and inviting the Holy Spirit into your moment. If you allow Him room to produce the fruit of heaven in you, He will! 

Being a mom isn’t easy. It is demanding and there are ample opportunities for our worst to be brought out of us. But, I guarantee that the Lord is with you! He loves you and is so proud of you. Not only is He cheering you on, but He is with you in it. Comforting and empowering you to be a mom in His image, creating a life and home full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Action Step: Stop and take a deep breath—in and out. Again. And again. As you do, invite the Holy Spirit to fill you. This may sound like a silly exercise, but it’s amazing how impactful slowing down and connecting our heart to His is! When you do this regularly, you will find His fruit growing in your life.*

*I also encourage time in the Word and prayer, too! 

Two(ish) Minute Daily Marriage Boost Challenge: Day Nine Questions

by

In Mandy Len Catron’s Modern Love essay, “To Fall in Love With Anyone, Do This,” she refers to a study by the psychologist Arthur Aron (and others) that explores whether intimacy between two strangers can be accelerated by having them ask each other a specific series of personal questions. The 36 questions in the study are broken up into three sets, with each set intended to be more probing than the previous one.

The idea is that mutual vulnerability fosters closeness. To quote the study’s authors, “One key pattern associated with the development of a close relationship among peers is sustained, escalating, reciprocal, personal self-disclosure.” Allowing oneself to be vulnerable with another person can be exceedingly difficult, so this exercise forces the issue.

The final task Ms. Catron and her friend try — staring into each other’s eyes for four minutes — is less well documented, with the suggested duration ranging from two minutes to four. But Ms. Catron was unequivocal in her recommendation. “Two minutes is just enough to be terrified,” she told me. “Four really goes somewhere.”

Set I

1. Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?

2. Would you like to be famous? In what way?

3. Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why?

4. What would constitute a “perfect” day for you?

5. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?

6. If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?

7. Name three things you and your partner appear to have in common.

8. For what in your life do you feel most grateful?

9. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?

10. Take four minutes and tell your partner your life story in as much detail as possible.

11. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

Set II

13. If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?

14. Is there something that you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven’t you done it?

15. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?

16. What do you value most in a friendship?

17. What is your most treasured memory?

18. What is your most terrible memory?

19. If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? Why?

20. What does friendship mean to you?

21. What roles do love and affection play in your life?

22. Alternate sharing something you consider a positive characteristic of your partner. Share a total of five items.

23. How close and warm is your family? Do you feel your childhood was happier than most other people’s?

24. How do you feel about your relationship with your mother?

Set III

25. Make three true “we” statements each. For instance, “We are both in this room feeling … “

26. Complete this sentence: “I wish I had someone with whom I could share … “

27. If you were going to become a close friend with your partner, please share what would be important for him or her to know.

28. Tell your partner what you like about them; be very honest this time, saying things that you might not say to someone you’ve just met.

29. Share with your partner an embarrassing moment in your life.

30. When did you last cry in front of another person? By yourself?

31. What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?

32. If you were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? Why haven’t you told them yet?

33. Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and pets, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why?

35. Share a personal problem and ask your partner’s advice on how he or she might handle it. Also, ask your partner to reflect back to you how you seem to be feeling about the problem you have chosen.

*Printed from The NewYork Times website, Jan. 9, 2015.  A few questions were edited out. 

A Devotional for Moms: The Sacrificial Nature of Love

by

Verse Highlight: Ephesians 5:1-2 “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.” (NLT)

Dear Moms,

I cringe a little when I remember some of the internal struggle I went through while I was pregnant with my youngest. After our second youngest had been born, we mostly thought that we were done. We had seven children (& miscarriages!) and had begun to feel like that season of our family life was coming to an end. We went ahead and added two dogs to our brood and began settling into a new phase of life—one that was absent of pregnancy and newborns and all that went with that. However, when I felt the prompt of my heart that perhaps we weren’t done after all, I listened. I prayed about it. I asked the Lord to speak to my husband, if this was indeed the case. And He did! In a very specific & miraculous way. (Through a prophetic word given by a stranger while he was in another state.) So, it wasn’t a surprise when I found out that I was pregnant. However, it was a surprise when I miscarried. There was grief, of course. Yet, it was different somehow. I grieved but with a deeper peace, and trust, and hope. I was able to worship the Lord wholly even as I was miscarrying—not in spite of what was happening, as had been the case in previous situations. Instead, I was truly trusting Him and captivated by His goodness and beauty. It’s hard to put into words how special this time was, even in the midst of grief. At the other side of it, it truly felt like closure and healing to pain of my journey to motherhood. 

So, when I later became pregnant again, I was a little caught off guard. It wasn’t that there wasn’t any joy in it. But, I felt unprepared. And, as my pregnancy progressed the weight of the cost of adding a baby to my life caused pain and fear because I had already begun to dream and plan for life after babies. It all came to a head in Hawaii. I was in Maui with Jamey. He had surprised me with a trip for our twentieth anniversary. (I found out the next day I was pregnant.) By the time we went, I was six months pregnant and everyone thought we were there on a “baby” moon. I look back now and see it’s silly, but at the time, I hated each time someone made that comment! I was there on a romantic trip! But, my pregnancy had changed so much of it! It wasn’t fair! So it was that towards the end of the trip, we were sitting eating lunch on a balcony overlooking the ocean—on an absolutely beautiful day!—but I was in tears, pouring out the pain of having to give up my plans that didn’t include a newborn. And, looking ahead at the future and doing the math of just how long it would be until I didn’t have a small person who needed me. It suddenly felt like my whole life had been swallowed up, and I would never be my own again!

I think most moms have been there, at least for a moment here or there. As I write this, I have a three year old that is the absolute apple of my eye. I cherish her. I cherish my moments with her. I often wish I could slow down time and have more time with her in these special days! So, when I think back to my fears, I am so very thankful to the Lord! His goodness gave me this precious girl as a gift, even when I couldn’t receive her as a gift at first. 

What does this have to do with today’s devotional? Because today’s devotional is about the sacrificial nature of love. Love is complicated. It is so beautiful and it makes us feel so good. When we love someone, we get joy by giving to them. It doesn’t really make sense. Yet, love is more than that. Pure love costs us. It sacrifices self for the sake of another. And, sometimes this is painful. 

There is a story about David in 2 Samuel 24 (or 1 Chronicles 21). David has sinned before the Lord and is  needing to offer a sacrifice to Him. While he is buying the the land on which he will offer the sacrifice, the man who owns it offers to give David the land for free. In this exchange, David makes the famous statement, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which cost me nothing.”

There is something about love (and worship and service) that is much more precious when it comes at a cost. Our Father in heaven was willing to offer the sacrifice of His own Son because of His love for us. If love cost Him that much, I don’t know why we would ever believe that it doesn’t cost us, too!

Motherhood is amazing. Our children are a gift that add great joy to our lives. But, they are not in our lives to serve us. Instead, we have been entrusted with them and it is up to us to love them with the same love type of love that the Lord loves us with! This love empowers them and believes in them and treats them with kindness. This type of love will create a home that is safe and filled with joy and hope and heart connection. But, this does not come free. 

The Message version of the Bible says Ephesians 5:1-2 like this, “Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.” 

I love this: His love was not cautious, but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something but to give everything. 

This is what love looks like. Any other version is a cheap knock off. 

When I look back to the inner pain and struggle that I had before my youngest was born, I am so thankful for the process the Lord took me through, A lot of ugliness came out of me. Though I had trusted Him so well in the miscarriage I had shortly before, I struggled to trust Him with my future as a mom of eight. The truth is that I didn’t want to. I wanted to do things my way. I didn’t want to sacrifice my plans. 

This process mirrors other struggles I’ve had. Though it embarrasses me that after all the times the Lord has proved Himself good & faithful to me I still fail to trust Him sometimes, I am so thankful for the process of surrender because it has helped me to learn how to love. (Real love—the kind that is eternal in nature!) It isn’t that I am there yet, I am still on the journey. But, at least now I recognize the value. I understand that there is nothing greater I could do than lay down my life for another. 

There is nothing greater that any of us can do. 1 John 3:16 says we know love because of what Jesus did. The NLT version says it this way: “We know what real love is because Jesus gave up His life for us…”

We know real love. The kind of love that is deep and wide and eternal in nature. We’ve been loved like this—we are loved like this! So, we don’t have to offer anything less to those around us. True love, real love, is not selfish in nature. It looks out for the interests of others & willingly pays a price in service and care of them. 

Moms—you’ve got this. Your love is more valuable than you know and no sacrifice is wasted! The love you offer will not just shape the world you (and others!) live in here, but it will live on into eternity. 

Action Step: Spend some time in prayer, processing love! Receive love from the Lord first. Then, ask Him to help you to love unselfishly. It may be that there is some correction or mindset/heart change that needs to happen during this time! As it does, trust Him! Say yes to His ways! After this, go about your day with a changed & lightened heart, filled with “real” love for those around you. 

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

by

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/ 

A Devotional for Moms: Grace & Wisdom

by

Verse Highlight: 

Proverbs 4:6-9 “Never walk away from Wisdom—she guards your life; love her—she keeps her eye on you. Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom! Write this at the top of your list: Get understanding! Throw your arms around her—believe me, you won’t regret it; never let her go—she’ll make your life glorious. She’ll garland your life with grace, she’ll festoon your days with beauty.” (The Message)

Here is the sam passage in the NASB: “Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you.“The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding.“Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her. “She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty.”

Dear Moms, 

I said to my husband just the other day, “I think I’m starting to get this whole motherhood thing down.” I was saying it tongue in cheek, but there was also a grain of truth to it. It was tongue in cheek because I have actually learned a thing or two in the past nineteen years (thankfully!!), but also because I recognize that I am not quite there yet. My motherhood journey is not over and I have a feeling that I will be growing and learning, being refined, for all of it! 

Sometimes I’m learning because I am actually encountering a new situation, one that I’ve never faced before. In those moments, even if I have head knowledge, experiencing it personally is a whole different thing! (For example, it’s helpful to learn what to expect during childbirth, but no matter how much you learn about it, actually going through it is a much different experience for most of us!) Other times I’m learning a lesson I’ve already learned! This is because I have known something in part, but never actually put it into practice. 

It doesn’t really matter why I need to learn, the important thing is that I do. It’s also important that I recognize this. When I recognize that I am not perfect, my journey not yet complete, I remain teachable. I seek wisdom and understanding. This is put in practice this way: I pray & ask the Lord what to do. I ask Him to teach me. I listen for His voice. I spend time in His Word with an open heart and mind. I ask questions and learn from others. And so on. 

It also looks like this: Change. Repenting for areas I haven’t lived wisely. Sometimes this requires apologizing to my kids or others and then learning new values and behaviors. Even good change can be painful because it stretches you. It requires proaction and practice. You can’t be lazy. This is why, by the way, that wisdom is all too often rare. (You’ll notice in the passage above that it requires action on your part!)

But, the good news is this: the effort is worth it! When you put forth the effort, you will change. And, not only that, but your life will change! For the better! And, more good news? The Lord will give you wisdom! (See James 1:5.) Earthly wisdom can be helpful, but heavenly wisdom? That is of incomparable worth. Not only will that change your life, but it will impact the world because the seeds of heaven are contained within it.

I don’t know what you specifically need wisdom for today. Maybe you are a new mom, facing the challenges of of motherhood for the first time. Trying to figure life out as a mom—while you are exhausted—can feel overwhelming. Maybe you are facing an entirely different challenge as you are learning what motherhood looks like as you experience an “empty nest” for the first time. Or, perhaps it is one of a billion other things that face moms. I don’t know, but I know there is something because your journey isn’t over yet either! And, the best news of all? The Lord knows and He is with you!

Today’s Action Step: 

First: Pray! Ask the Lord for wisdom. Welcome Him into your heart and life to teach and guide you. Repent in any area where you haven’t been teachable. Ask the Lord to give you one specific action step. This could be a way to seek wisdom, or it could be a specific action step of wisdom to take in the area you have been needing wisdom. (Make sure to spend some time listening!)

Then: Act! It is important to not put this off. Acting on what the Lord says as soon as possible is often key to actually putting His wisdom into practice. 

Finally: Repeat this daily, as often as needed. 

Be encouraged! The Lord is not far off. He is with you and He has all the wisdom you could possibly need. No situation you are facing is even a little bit difficult for Him. As you seek wisdom, not only will you find it, but you will find Him. So, take heart! Gather your courage, and let the Lord give wisdom and grace to your day.

 

Family Devotional: Through the Bible Series: Genesis

by

This devotional is not created to replace a Bible Reading plan or your personal daily connection time with the Lord. Instead, they are meant to be a short, easy time of connection between both your family and the Lord. If you’d like, read the entirety of the scripture focus as a family. You can do this out of a “regular” version of the Bible, or you can find it in a Children’s Bible. In either case, I encourage you to find a version that you are comfortable with and is easy to understand for you and your children. If your children are old enough, have them read along in their own Bibles! If the reading is too long, you can do the devotional by reading only the verse highlight instead.

Also, it can be helpful to reiterate the value for the Bible each time you read from it, as well as ask the Lord to speak to you and help you to understand and know Him. You can do this through a simple prayer like this, “Thank you Lord for giving us your words in the Bible. We know that your words are true. Please help us to understand them. Help us to know you and your ways and live according to them. Amen.”

Scripture Focus: Genesis 4

Verse Highlight: Genesis 4:6 “Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” (NASB) 

Introduction Questions: Have you ever done something wrong because you were mad about something? Did that make you feel better or worse? How do you get out of an “angry mood”? What about when you do something good? How does that feel? Does it make you want to do more good things?

Discussion: It is easy to mistakenly believe that God stopped relating with Adam and Eve after they had to move out of the Garden of Eden. But, we know that this isn’t true because their sons knew the Lord! They knew Him to the point that Cain wasn’t surprised that God was speaking to him.  So, it would seem like this story should be a happy one. Unfortunately, it isn’t. It is actually very sad. 

Cain and Abel offered sacrifices to the Lord—which is good. But, something about Cain’s offering wasn’t as pleasing to the Lord as Abel’s offering and this made Cain angry! It wasn’t Abel’s fault that his offering was accepted and Cain’s wasn’t, but he still bore the brunt of Cain’s anger. In fact, he paid for it with his life. This is the problem with anger! When you allow anger to be in control of your actions, it hurts! It hurts you, it hurts the people around you. Unchecked anger can be very destructive! But, there is good news: we don’t have to give it control! 

The Lord, in His kindness, tried to help Cain. “Why are you so angry?” the LORD asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” (Genesis 4:6 NLT) 

When we don’t do things right, it is easy to get angry. It’s silly because we are the ones at fault, but in our anger we get mad at those around us! And if we act in anger, we make a big mess! But, the good news is that the Lord is kind to us, just like He was to Cain. He gave us the Holy Spirit to teach and correct us! If we pay attention, He will let us know that we are starting to think or do things that aren’t right. When that happens, it is up to us to choose to listen and change our behavior. 

Cain could have simply made a new sacrifice, one that was acceptable to the Lord. He should have done this. But, instead, he allowed the anger he had inside to sit and simmer until he did something even worse. Unfortunately, this is usually what happens when we don’t make things right—things get worse. But, if we “subdue” it—by choosing to do what is right!—than it no longer has control. Instead, we do. When we do what is right (even before we might “feel like it”!) it brings us freedom from the messes of sin. 

Closing Activity: Ask each other if there is a specific area where you have been struggling to do the right thing. If someone has something to share, spend time together talking about what “right” action they could take to make sure they aren’t giving sin control. Then, pray as a family, thanking the Lord for the Holy Spirit and asking Him to guide and correct and comfort you.

Bonus Activity: Note: This activity can be messy! I suggest having a baking dish to “catch” the overflow, as well as to do this someplace that a mess won’t be a problem. 

In today’s devotional, we learned about how sin and anger can make a mess if you let them sin inside of you. We are going to do an activity to sho an example of what this is like: 

Get a glass and fill it about half full with vinegar. Then add a squirt of dish soap into it. Finally, add a heaping spoonful of baking soda. Then, watch what happens!
This is what sin and anger can be like if we allow it to remain in our hearts and lives. It overflows and makes a mess! But remember—it doesn’t have to be like this! Instead, we can choose to listen to the Lord and do good. After all, this is a fun activity, but not a fun way to live!

A Devotional for Moms – Accessing Grace Through Prayer

by

Verse Highlight: 

Matthew 15:29-31 “Departing from there, Jesus went along by the Sea of Galilee, and having gone up on the mountain, He was sitting there. And large crowds came to Him, bringing with them those who were lame, crippled, blind, mute, and many others, and they laid them down at His feet; and He healed them. So the crowd marveled as they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.”

Dear Moms, 

I am in awe of Jesus for so many reasons, but the fact that He was continually interrupted and pulled on by people who needed things from Him and He never lost His mind? Well, that is certainly a wonder. At least to me. I love my kids. All of them. More than I ever knew was possible. My heart feels like it has literally grown because of them! It is almost overwhelming sometimes. But even with all of that being true, I sometimes just want to say, “Leave me alone! Don’t touch me! I don’t know! Please just be quiet!” even when they are not doing anything at all except simply trying to be with me. In those moments I know that they are not the problem, but I still struggle to respond to them with kindness. Most—if not all—moms can identify with moments like this. (I may even know a mom that used to “hide” for a moment of quiet in her closet. I know this, because it was me!*)

It can be difficult to have the unending pressure of someone else needing you—especially if they aren’t considerate of even your basic needs! That is why it is so amazing to me that Jesus would look at the crowds of people interrupting His life with such compassion and care. Always. How did He do this? And, can we be like this too?

I do think that there is a key to this: Jesus spent a lot of time in prayer. He would go off by Himself & spend time with His Father. And while I think these times contained talking, listening, and probably just being with the Father, we do have a blueprint for creating the same type of experience in prayer. 

Matthew 11:1-13 “It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” And He said to them, “When you pray, say:

‘Father, hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

‘Give us each day our daily bread.

‘And forgive us our sins,

For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

And lead us not into temptation.’”

I learned this prayer when I was young, and the older I get, the more I understand the wisdom it contains. If I shape my prayers—and my life—by these principles, the more connected I am to the Father and the more I change to be like Him. (Just recently I’ve started praying this each night with my youngest girls and it’s been amazing!) So, let’s take some time to ponder these words. 

Give us each day our daily bread  = Thank you Lord, that you provide everything we need each day! That means there is no reason to worry or try to make our own way. Instead, we can trust confidently in your care for us and ability to provide all that we need every single day!

Forgive us our sins = Forgive me, Father for all the ways I have failed and fallen short. Thank you for the mercy and grace you extend to me every single day.

We forgive everyone who is indebted to us = Right now we forgive everyone who has wronged us and extend them mercy and grace. We trust You to cover and make things right and we completely release the need for justice, knowing you bring good out of every situation on our behalf. 

Lead us not into temptation = We trust you to lead me on the path we should go. We ask you to help us to know you and your ways, that we may live according to them all of our lives.

Do you see how letting these words into your heart could change the way you see? Do you feel the hope in them? They lead us into rest because we are free from sin, bitterness and worry! Instead, we have received forgiveness, offered it to others & been reminded that God is our guide and Provider. From that position, it becomes so much easier to respond to others with grace, compassion, and genuine love and care! 

Today’s Action Step:

Pray! Take time to pray the Lord’s Prayer. You can use your own words or the ones above. The important thing is to allow the meaning of the Words to connect deep inside of you and to connect your heart with the Lord in the process. 

May these words be filled with life and refreshment for you, and may these days be filled with great joy and love!