“When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children , she envied her sister. ‘Give me sons, or I will die!’ she said to Jacob. Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, ‘Am I in God’s place, who has withheld children from you?’” “Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb. She conceived and bore a son, and said, ‘God has taken away my shame.’ She named him Joseph: ‘May the Lord add another son to me.’” Genesis 30:1-2, 22-24 Being a Leah by name, I have always admired Leah in Genesis for so many reasons. Not saying she was perfect, but the lessons she learned have been lessons I’ve needed to return to time and time again. But recently I’ve had this command roll around in my head – Don’t have a Rachel attitude! For a couple years I thought that I may not be able to have children naturally. But last summer God, through a rare change in my body, allowed me to get pregnant with our BEAUTIFUL (seriously, I don’t think there has ever been a cuter baby and I’m not biased… obviously I am) daughter, Ruth. I remember two weeks after she was born I told Malcolm, “I want 20 more just like her!” Since then I keep seeing this attitude in my heart coming out – I want more! Where did this come from?? I remember a couple years ago praying, “Even just one, God? At least one baby and I’ll be satisfied.” Now I’m expecting to be given more?? Granted, Ruthie is a gateway baby. But even then, shouldn’t my heart be satisfied in Christ alone? Friends around me are getting pregnant, and I have to admit I’m a little jealous. JEALOUS! I JUST had a baby less than 6 months ago and I’m jealous?? I started reflecting on this, and I thought of Rachel. She was so jealous of her unloved sister and desperate to be satisfied with becoming a mother. “Give me sons or I will die!” she exclaimed. Then God blessed her with a son after years of waiting. And what does she name him? Joseph – the Lord will add. In my brash youth (which, I admit, I’m still pretty much in – so I guess I should say in my MUCH brasher youth) I thought, “I will never be like Rachel! I will thank the Lord for all the blessings He gives.” But here I am, in my brash youth saying, “Thanks Jesus! I expect you’ll add more arrows to our quiver.” (Referencing Psalm 127) I’m not saying we shouldn’t expect God to give us good things, because we certainly should (James 1:17, Romans 8:28). What I am saying, however, is not to look for our satisfaction in receiving these blessings, but to be satisfied by the Blessing Giver! We don’t deserve these blessings, but God gives them because He is our Good and Perfect Father. Just like how we would want our kids to be grateful for what has been given to them instead of yelling, “Gimme gimme gimme!” God wants us to be grateful for what we are given, and ask to be satisfied in Him. God is showing me my Rachel attitude – and it’s really the same attitude I’ve had all along! I really wish I would have this whole contentment thing down by now… #lifelesson (I suck at hashtags… so that was a joke… you can laugh too if you’d like). Lord Jesus, Please show me my Rachel attitudes! Show me my discontentment and how I’m not allowing You to satisfy the deepest part of my soul. God, help me to trust and rely on You for the future. Thank you so much for the precious gifts You’ve already given me! I am so grateful to have such a caring, compassionate, and patient Father.
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When my little girl almost 2 years old, I picked up The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones. The first time we sat down to look through it, we read not one story but the prologue, Chapter 1 and Chapter 2! I instantly fell in love with this book because it seemed to wrap up all the stories of the Bible into one big, true story! Of course it began as the Bible actually does with Adam and Eve's sin in The Garden. Because of their sin, God has to separate them from Himself. I can almost hear God's voice, "Before they left the garden, God whispered a promise to Adam and Eve: 'It will not always be so! I will come to rescue you! And when I do, I’m going to do battle against the snake. I’ll get rid of the sin and the dark and the sadness you let in here. I’m coming back for you!' And he would. One day, God himself would come.” When you flip over to page 182 of The Jesus Storybook Bible, you see the fulfillment of God's hoarsely whispered cry... "And there, in the stable, amongst the chickens and the donkeys and the cows, in the quiet of the night, God gave the world his wonderful gift. The baby that would change the world was born. His baby Son. Mary and Joseph wrapped him up to keep him warm...and they gazed in wonder at God's Great Gift, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. Mary and Joseph named him Jesus, 'Emmanuel'--which means, 'God has come to live with us.' Because, of course, he had." When sin entered the world, it was like the heavy fog, the suffocating heat of darkness settled over the hearts and lives of mankind. It's something I don't think I really saw clearly until I was older and had experienced and brushed up against real evil. But God knew---at creation--that sin would darken his lovely world and the hearts of his children. And each Christmas, I'm blown away by the light imagery in the Bible. Isaiah's prophecy, Zechariah's song, Simeon's prayer and of course, Jesus' declaration all show the Light that was promised had come into the dark world. God's plan, his mission was to rid the world of this darkness. God promised that Eve's son would crush the head of the serpent, the one who introduced the darkness to the world. And on the day we call Christmas, that plan was set into motion. Jesus' birth was the first step to the Cross. The Jesus Storybook Bible continues the story of God's secret rescue plan when Jesus died on the cross, "The full force of the storm of God's fierce anger at sin was coming down. On his own Son. Instead of his people. It was the only way God could destroy sin, and not destroy his children whose hearts were filled with sin. Then Jesus shouted in a loud voice, "It is finished!" And it was. He had done it. Jesus had rescued the whole world." Our sweet baby Jesus would one day be a broken and bruised man giving his life for his friends. The happy, coziness of Christmas doesn't compare or line up with the grief and heaviness of Good Friday and the thought of Jesus' death. But, it's what I want to remember. I want to look at Christmas as a stepping stone to God rescuing the whole world. I want to help my children see that Christmas isn't simply remembering the gift but it's a call to become a herald of that gift! Family idea: Make a manger-and-cross gift and open it on Christmas day! Pray and thank God for the indescribable gift of Jesus! All quotes taken from The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones.
About AmandaAmanda White is a stay-at-home mom of two who blogs at ohAmanda.com and is the author of Truth in the Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands. In her former life, Amanda was a Children’s Pastor — overseeing, organizing and developing ministry for kids in nursery through middle school, but now that she is a mom, her “skills” are used up on her kids! If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right. Sharing this over at these awesome blogs Not long ago I was reading a story out of Club House Junior magazine with my kids where an eight year old girl started serving the homeless in her community. By the time she was ten she started a foundation and now at the age of eighteen the foundation has raised over three million dollars to reach out and serve the homeless. How does a child, or anyone really, have that much of a drive and determination to serve others? Jesus gives us a clue in Matthew 9:36, "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them,1 because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." Compassion. Compassion is a beautifully motivating thing. I drives and moves us to act. But there is a crazy thing about compassion. It can't be conjured up on our own. We can't force ourselves to feel compassion. So where does compassion come from? How do we get compassion? It's by seeing. Jesus saw the people and therefore had compassion which therefore led Him to act. The little eight year old girl was moved to serve the homeless because she saw a homeless man eat out of the trash and was compelled. And with that feeling of compassion she took a tiny step rather than pushing it out of mind and heart. Sometimes I go about motivating my kids backwards. Let's make bracelets to sell to give the money to give to _______. I try to motivate them by let's do something fun for a good cause which is not bad, it's just not driven by compassion. It's almost like it skips the heart. So what do we do to grow in compassion and help others grow in compassion? We see, we put ourselves in positions to see what is around us and we observe. And we pray, "Lord, help me to see this/these people the way you do." How can you become more observant of what's going on around you?
About LauraLaura, the founder of Missional Women is married and has five kids, two of whom are adopted. Laura and her husband have been missionaries to college students for 13 years serving with Master Plan Ministries where she is the Women's Development Coordinator. Laura has authored 5 books, including an award winning 12 week Bible Study on First Samuel, Beholding Him, Becoming Missional, Reach; How to Use Your Social Media Influence for the Glory of God, and A Devotional Journey through Judges, a devotional to accompany the free online Bible study at TheBookofJudges.com. You can find her on facebook, twitter, pinterest, youtube, instagram, periscope, blab and her author site. If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right.
Sharing this over at these awesome blogs. I always get farsighted and nearsighted confused. I think it's because I've been both at different times in my lives. In first grade I got my first pair of glasses because I couldn't read close up (farsighted) but by the 4th grade my eyes had changed so much I couldn't read a word on the chalkboard (nearsighted). My husband is farsighted in life. Not his eyes, his whole life--he loves thinking and planning about the future. He sees 30 years from now almost more clearly than he sees 30 minutes from now. I want to be like him sometimes. I get caught up in the urgent and mommy-my-finger-hurts-now and forget (or choose to forget?) the big things that God has for me, the important calling He has on my life. In Upside Down Prayers for Parents, Lisa Tawn Bergren (one of my heroes) prays that her children would be "farsighted--able to see where our God is leading us." For each of us this leading may look different---but it's also the same---God is calling us as Matthew 28 says to "make disciples". Making disciples might seem like something too far away to even think about seeing. Maybe your circumstances (job, age, stage of life, finances or fill-in-the-blank!) keep you from using our "beautiful feet" (Romans 10:15) to go into all the world. Or maybe you are in another part of the world and are feeling like your feet aren't doing much--that they aren't beautiful at all. Sometimes the thought of making disciples and reaching the far corners of the earth is overwhelming. It seems too big and bright to even look at--close up or far away! Instead of the sense of sight, let's talk about the sense of smell. In 2 Corinthians 2:14-15, Paul writes, "But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing," (emphasis mine) Did you see it? We are a fragrance of the knowledge of Christ! We are an aroma of Christ! And even more than that Christ himself leads us and spreads the fragrance! Christ leads and we get to simply follow. As we use our eyes to stay focused on Him (whether farsighted or nearsighted) the world will be attracted to the fragrance and aroma of Christ surrounding us and spreading throughout the world. Family idea: Grab all the yummy smelling lotions you can find in your bathroom cupboards. Let your kids choose one or two to rub on their hands and feet. Talk about how when we walk by other people, they will notice the aroma we're wearing. Explain that we want our lives to be a lovely aroma pointing people to Christ. Our "beautiful feet" can also have a beautiful smell! About Amanda Amanda White is a stay-at-home mom of two who blogs at ohAmanda.com and is the author of Truth in the Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands. In her former life, Amanda was a Children’s Pastor — overseeing, organizing and developing ministry for kids in nursery through middle school, but now that she is a mom, her “skills” are used up on her kids! If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right. Sharing this over at these awesome blogs With five kids and another on the way, I don't have much time to do things I love. I can't remember the last time I got to play volleyball, go to a movie or even be comfortable because my body has been taken over with a giant baby sitting on my bladder. I don't get to sit cozy with a book by a fire hardly ever, go leisurely shopping, have a picked up and clean house or even shower that often really. Most of my days consist of training and disciplining kids, changing diapers, and picking things up non-stop. If I'm lucky I actually get to go to the bathroom without a scream erupting where I wonder who bit who and who or who punched who or wondering if it could actually be possible someone needs to go to the hospital. Kids are exhausting. Yet God says they are a blessing. So what really makes them a blessing? Is it that they "help" around the house, which really is harder work in training and helping them to do a job than actually doing it myself. Or maybe it's the cute things they say. But from what I've discovered so far that is from age 2-4. Then they just start saying how much they hate this and that and seem to be able to complain about the sky being blue. If that were it surely God would have said, Children are a blessing for a couple of years and after that, well, stick it out. No, there's got to be more to it. Being an only child I think it took five kids for it to finally sink in, to realize the blessing is the friction, the hard, the iron sharpening iron. The inconvenience, discomfort and dying to myself and my pleasure for the sake of another, that is the blessing. Perhaps the biggest reason kids are a blessing is because they force us to die to ourselves. {Tweet this} They cause us live as though life isn't about us and our pleasure and comfort. For unless a seed falls to the ground and dies it cannot bear fruit. "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." John 12:24 Demanding our way, our pleasure, our conveniences is not the abundant life. Jesus came to give life to the full but it happens His way, not ours. Full, abundant life comes when we die to fighting for our "rights" and living for another, for another kingdom and by that God is glorified and we are most deeply satisfied.
About LauraLaura, the founder of Missional Women is married and has five kids, two of whom are adopted. Laura and her husband have been missionaries to college students for 13 years serving with Master Plan Ministries where she is the Women's Development Coordinator. Laura has authored 5 books, including an award winning 12 week Bible Study on First Samuel, Beholding Him, Becoming Missional, Reach; How to Use Your Social Media Influence for the Glory of God, and A Devotional Journey through Judges, a devotional to accompany the free online Bible study at TheBookofJudges.com. You can find her on facebook,twitter, pinterest, youtube, instagram and her author site. If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right. Sharing this over at these awesome blogs. Do you want to read more posts like this when you're on the go? As well as get exclusive access to monthly challenges, Bible reading plans, and discipleship foundations? Take Missional Women on the go with our app--free for our readers, don't miss out! My husband and I have been trying to have children and have been struggling. We’ve prayed, I’ve seen doctors and done all kinds of tests, I’ve done all I can to lose weight the past few years and have the healthiest diet imaginable to better our chances. Then this summer I had two miscarriages; it was devastating and heartbreaking. The suffering was so painful that honestly all I wanted to do was hide away from the world. To be honest the last thing I wanted to do was to be missional in any way. I was suffering, struggling, angry, and wresting God with many doubts and questions. Through it I learned that as we wrestle with God he remains faithful. It’s like a child wrestling with their father and eventually the child grows weary and finds that they fall not into arms that are rough and careless but arms that are gentle and sympathetic; arms that want to hold you through it. As I came to the point of resting in God’s gentle arms I wrote in my journal, “God is my Comforter and it moves His heart that we are struggling over not being able to have a baby right now. He is near, nearer than I even know. In His sovereign time, in His sovereign way, He has a plan. Time alone is not the healer of all things; God through time is the True Healer. I feel comfort knowing my hurt matters to Him. Our desire for a baby is a godly desire because He is the one who creates and loves life. Thank you for being God even through my struggles.” Staying missional through the suffering of infertility and miscarriage is hard. I know the tendency to want to run away. I know it can be hard to want to be around other women who are moms. I know how easy it is to feel envious of moms. I know how easy it is to resent the season you are in while wanting to be in the season of motherhood. Yet God has shown me to take heart and continue entrusting my soul to a faithful Creator while doing good (1 Peter 4: 19). It’s refreshing to realize that it’s okay to admit you are hurting and yet you can keep trusting God, being vulnerable with others, and reaching out to a broken world in need. If you are struggling with infertility or the pain of a miscarriage I encourage you to not carry this burden alone. Find a Christian woman you trust and share this hurt and ask for prayer (Galatians 6:2), and also seek ways to reach out to others in their personal struggles. For me being missional focused even through my hurt this summer started with praying for all the children of the mom’s I know and investing in the lives of people around me. Who is someone you know who is suffering? I encourage you to pray about how you can be present with them through their hurt. One of the most impactful things for me was a friend who bought me a beautiful bouquet of roses and another friend who just listened and cried with me.
About HopeHope grew up as a small town girl from Montana with a big heart for Jesus to be known to the world. She moved to Colorado in 2005 to attend college at Mesa State College. Hope has a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism and worked in local television for a few years after graduation. In 2011 she had the opportunity to travel to 11 countries around the world on a mission trip and gained a larger perspective and appreciation of the world. In 2012 Hope married her college crush Forrest and they joined staff for Master Plan Ministries. She is currently on staff reaching out to college students at the college she had once attended herself; now known as Colorado Mesa University. If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right. Sharing this over at these awesome blogs.
Do you want to read more posts like this when you're on the go? As well as get exclusive access to monthly challenges, Bible reading plans, and discipleship foundations? Take Missional Women on the go with our app--free for our readers, don't miss out! Dear Mom who’s trying to make it, Did you know you are a superstar? No, you really are. You may be covered in your child’s favorite breakfast, desperate to get the house in order, scrambling to get dinner together, and overwhelmed with the never-done job. To escape, you dive into the never-ending hole of the internet. Scrolling through Pinterest, you find a post that sparks your interest. This is it. This will make you more organized, more satisfied, more patient, more, more more...or will it make you less?. In pulling yourself together, are you pushing your children away? “Leave me alone, I’m trying to organize this.” “Leave me alone, I’m trying to write this post”. “Leave me alone, I’m trying to create this delicious meal (and you’d better like it!)”...”Leave me alone, I’m trying...I’m trying….I’m...dying…” In our fast paced, instantly gratified society we desperately want to “make it”. There’s a longing inside us to be noticed. Maybe it’s a compliment on your meal or your creativity. Perhaps it’s a struggle to be heard, typing your heart and soul on a blog only to have a handful of reads. And there’s the desire to be the best: read the most books, know the most information, have the best body, DIY your entire life, be the better wife, mother, friend, daughter… There’s nothing wrong with succeeding or improving your life. The internet can be a helpful resource. But too many of us mamas are exhausted, running after the next big thing. What about today’s big thing? This week I had ten children over to play. Watching kids running around the backyard while sipping tea with a friend, I realized I’ve already made it. These kids think I’m a superstar. Each morning they crave time with only me. And for the rest of their lives I’m the one who’ll have an impact on them. I look back on my 36 years of life and see all that God has done and I’m astonished. In His grace He brought me close to Himself. “But now in Christ Jesus you who were formerly far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Eph. 2:13 You are noticed. “How precious are Thy thoughts to me, Oh God! How vast is the sum of them!” Ps. 139:17 You’re near to God and He notices you. With every diaper changed, every dish washed, every toy picked up...He notices you. Your children also notice. They are slowly learning to serve, slowly learning to love. You are heard. “Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplication. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped” Ps. 28: 6-7a. You always have God’s ear. He’s present and ready to listen. Your children also hear you, internalizing every word. They hear when you blow up and apologize later. They hear the lessons, over and over, on how to treat each other. Through you they are developing a heart for reconciliation.They hear when you read to them...not realizing they’re creating a story of their own they’ll one day tell the world. You’ve already “made it”. Regardless of how your house looks, how your children behave, how much you read, how talented you are...it’s not about you. Although it’s true that you are already a Superstar to your children (remember there is only one Mama to them and that’s you!), if you are in Christ you are “seated with Christ in the heavenly places” Eph. 2:6b. About Taylor
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Sharing this over at these awesome blogs. When J and I found out we were expecting our first child, we were filled with so much anticipation, nervousness and excitement about what it would mean for our lives. We knew, without a doubt, that many things would change, and they most certainly have. However, one thing I never expected was how much baby C would affect my spiritual life. Being a mother has caused me to look at my actions so much more closely, because I now have a small person who is learning everything about the world from me, and watching my every move more attentively than anyone ever has before. Her very existence challenges me to chase after God all the more, and to live a life worthy of imitation. As C’s existence is challenging me to live a more Godly life, I also see my failures even more clearly. This was never more true to me than recently. We had been thinking about getting C an ExerSaucer or a bouncer, and had been looking online at the many options available. I had found a super fancy one that supposedly goes from 0-24 months and has all kinds of bells and whistles. It was ridiculously expensive, but I can justify almost any purchase, especially when it comes to the baby. We had talked about it and thought we might pick up the exersaucer when we were in America this summer. Two or three days after we were researching and price comparing, a nice lady from J’s school emailed me and said that she had an ExerSaucer that she was finished using and wondered if we would like to have it. My first reaction was gratitude and awe that God had provided us an ExerSaucer for free! However, when it got dropped it off, my ugly, sinful nature showed its face. THIS ExerSaucer wasn’t good enough for OUR baby. It is pretty basic, and has almost no special features. It was dingy and faded. I didn’t really even want it. A more logical side of myself caused me to keep it and for a couple weeks it set in the corner of C’s room. One day, I pulled it out and decided to try it out. C’s face lit up when I placed her in it. She smiled and laughed as she played with the various toys on it. I was so humbled by her child-like innocence and joy as she explored the world. I was challenged by her to approach the world in the same way she does - thankful and joyful for what God has blessed me with. I think this may have something to do with Christ’s teaching in Mark 10:13-16. Some children had been brought to Jesus for a blessing, but the disciples rebuked them because they were concerned they would bother Jesus. Christ responds saying, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Jesus knew that we would be prideful and think we were too good for his free gift of grace, just like I thought I was too good for a used ExerSaucer. He knew we would need to humble ourselves like little children in order to receive His gospel. It amazes me that I am blessed to not only be C’s mother, getting to nurture her and teach her, but at the same time, she is edifying and teaching me how to better live my Christian life. My prayer is that I would be a good student of the lessons God is teaching me through her. About MelanieMelanie and her husband Joel live and do ministry in Bangkok, Thailand. She is mommy to baby Claire and a graduate of Denver Seminary with a degree in Intercultural Ministry. She enjoys traveling, reading and discussing theology, and spending time with her family and friends. She loves the adventure that comes with living every day in another culture. If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right.
Sharing this over at these awesome blogs. Books are my love language. Is that a thing? If someone has a new baby, gets engaged, has a major life event or generally crosses my path with a similar interest to me, I the need to give them a book. All those pithy little sayings about books, "A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one." (George RR Martin) and "Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination and the journey. They are home." (Anna Quindlen) are totally true for me. I have traveled the world and through time with a book open in my lap. I've been reading books to my kids since they were infants and desperately hope they fall in love with reading as I have. Reading is more than an escape or the way to live another adventure. Books help explain new ideas, show new places and form new thoughts. I have tried to surround my kids with books that help them see this huge world God made--and to love the people in it. By reading these books (and others) we've been able to have conversation about how God loves every one of us, how we can tell others about Jesus and I hope it's helped to ignite a passion for missions in their hearts. Here's a few of our faves: 1. Ruby Slippers School by Stacy Towle Morgan These are chapter books for new readers that tell the story of homeschooled sisters who follow their parents around the world meeting new people and solving mysteries. In each story, they learn about the culture and make a new friend. We love these because they put a face on people in far away country and help my kids see how God and Christianity is perceived in other places. For example, in their Egyptian adventure the kids learn about the hardship of a Muslim becoming a Christian. 2. Missionary Stories Of course biographies of real missionaries are a must-read! We have several of Barbour Publishing's Heroes of the Faith which are perfect for bedtime stories. If you have a new reader who wants to experience the story for themselves, Heroes for Young Readers by YWAM are short books with simple text and great illustrations. 3. Adventures in Odyssey Imagination Station by Paul McCusker These are the Christian version of Magic Tree House, I think. In them, two cousins travel through time to solve a giant mystery. Sometimes they are experiencing a famous historical event like the Revolutionary War, other times they are meeting a historical character like Leif Ericsson. In each story (ok, each one I've read--my daughter has read all 16...), there's teaching of how Christianity was in that time and place. {You can get a free PDF version of book 1 on my blog!} 4. African Heartbeat by Barb Christing This is a picture book from World Vision about a little girl in the United States who sponsors a child and gets to see how much it changes both of their lives. It's a great look at child sponsorship and an easy way for our kids to see what small monthly giving can do. You might not sponsor through World Vision, but look into the organizations you do support and see if they have any resources for children. Even their websites sometimes have special sections to help kids understand their ministry. 5. Operation Christmas Child: The Story of Simple Gifts by Franklin Graham We are big Operation Christmas Child fans in this house and even though this book is not designed for kids, my kids have loved it! It's full of short stories of how God has used the simple shoebox gifts to influence kids around the world for Jesus. Again, look at the organizations you support and love--they may have all kinds of stories and resources to read as a family. Just as I hope my kids love to read books about pioneers crossing the prairies and soldiers winning battles and kids going on adventures, I hope they see books as a way to discover God's world. I pray the stories we circle around will pull tethers deep in their heart to people across the globe. After all, isn't that what God did? Gave us His story in the Bible so we could know Him and tell others of His love, too? What books give you a heart for God's people? About AmandaAmanda White is a stay-at-home mom of two who blogs at ohAmanda.com and is the author of Truth in the Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands. In her former life, Amanda was a Children’s Pastor — overseeing, organizing and developing ministry for kids in nursery through middle school, but now that she is a mom, her “skills” are used up on her kids! If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right. Sharing this over at these awesome blogs.
Unplug. It's become a bit of a buzzword lately. With phones constantly in our hands and screens in every area of every place, it's obvious that we need untethered time. Our brains, our spirits and even our eyes need a break! We have a new computer at home. Well, it's kinda new. We've had it about a year and it's just now to the point where it's accumulated a lot of music and downloads. Sometimes that little twirling ball of death just spins and spins promising it's loading new information but never delivering. The only option at that point is to turn the whole thing off. One of my heroes, Robin Jones Gunn noticed the same thing in her life and asks, "How is it that a freaked out electronic device that has no soul, can demonstrate the art of resetting by shutting down and pausing before it restarts and yet I resist the same simple process?" Turning off your smart phone for a day or going without a podcast while folding clothes or even just driving to the store without the radio on may be hard for you. Sometimes I don't want to get alone with my thoughts because to-do lists and regrets and questions and problems creep up. The distraction of technology does just that--distracts me from contemplation. Unplugging can bring quiet. But at times we need more than quiet. We need to unplug from distractions and immediately plug into the breath and heart of Father God. As we sit in His presence--totally quiet, totally alone--He meets us. He can fill us with a loud understanding of what He has for us--for those to-do lists, regrets, questions and problems. A few days ago, I sat on my couch while the kids were sleeping and my husband was working out (it was as alone as I can get). I read a few verses in the Bible and then I closed my eyes, opened my hands and just sat there. I didn't listen to the birds or the cards whizzing by, I consciously asked God to be with me in my silence. It was the easiest thing and in those very few, very normal minutes, God poured in some creativity I'd been needing. I jotted down a list of a few things to write about--added them to a list that had been dry and empty for weeks before. Unplugging is great. It's needed. But plugging into our Heavenly Father and His Holy Spirit? Even better. Your quiet times with God will become fill-er-up times so you can pour energy, creativity and love into the other areas in your life. Family Idea: Literally unplug every electronic item in your house (maybe not the fridge!). Have everyone sit silently and see if they can tell a difference. Is it quieter? Darker? Read Psalm 130:5-6. Then have everyone sit quietly again and listen to the Lord. Discuss what it's like to listen not to the quiet around you but to listen to God. Talk about or write down the things each person felt or heard from the Lord. (Any and all answers are a-ok!) Encourage your kids to spend time everyday waiting quietly before the Lord! About AmandaAmanda White is a stay-at-home mom of two who blogs at ohAmanda.com and is the author of Truth in the Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands. In her former life, Amanda was a Children’s Pastor — overseeing, organizing and developing ministry for kids in nursery through middle school, but now that she is a mom, her “skills” are used up on her kids! If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right.
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