Today’s Great Giveaways!
Mama Needs a Time Out! By: Heather Riggleman
Need a time-out from your kids and a moment or two with God?
Filled with mirth and encouragement, this inspirational devotional leads you through the names of God as you march through the trenches of motherhood.
Generation Next Marriage By: Tricia Goyer
A marriage book for today’s couples!
In Generation NeXt Marriage, Tricia talks about our marriage role models, our struggles, and what we’re doing right as a generation. The book also offers creative ways to hold our marriages together.
NIV Busy Mom’s Bible
Packed with one-minute thought starters and featuring the entire Old and New Testaments of the most-read, most-trusted NIV Bible, plus relevant and encouraging thoughts for the day, this is spiritual fuel for your busy mom-on-the-go lifestyle.
HOW TO ENTER: SUBSCRIBE TO WEBSITE, COMMENT ON BLOG, SHARE FB POSTS, TWEET, RETWEET & COMMENT ON BLOG (NEW SUBSCRIBERS WILL RECEIVE OUR NEW BOOK, “FACING OUR FEARS – 31 STORIES FROM M.O.M.”)
TIME WITH HIM
Good morning, God. I just—Hang on.
Mommy will be up in just a minute!
God, I just want to than–
NO! You cannot just eat eggs from the carton.
God I just want thank you and ask that you are with me today.
I’m coming, the baby is NOT allowed to play with the toaster!
In the realm of motherhood, we learn about sacrifice and being on our toes. Day in and day out, we are focused on their well-being, their manners and their happiness. Sometimes we become a little too focused. We forget about our own needs or if we try to take care of ourselves, the guilt screams at us.
At least that is totally where I am. I’ve been so busy taking care of them and trying to balance my work (a.k.a. writing), that I neglected my heart. Over time, it has become calloused and unfeeling. I’ve been crabby and sullen, like I’m walking around with something eating at my heart and doesn’t exactly make me the best mother.
I’m honestly amazed at how quickly our hearts wither when they aren’t tended to or watered. For me the tending and watering comes from spending time alone with God. Just like our kids who thrive on our attention, our spirits are the same way. We thrive when we spend a few moments each day alone with the lord. It seems so silly because our spirits aren’t as tangible to us as our physical needs are. It’s easy to tend to our little ones, they surround us and we know they need nurtured; but somehow we don’t apply it to ourselves. 
Take for example this morning’s prayer, granted it was barely audible, let alone understandable, but God gets my heart. As the day continued, God gently reminded me, he is here with me–just like he is for you. By the time nap time rolled around, I couldn’t wait to dig into a few nuggets of scripture and just BE. As in being alone with God. My life depends on these moments.
You know–the world tells us that dependency on someone or something is a sign of immaturity. But in God’s Kingdom, it’s a sign of maturity–to depend on him each and every day. How quickly we forget that as we encourage our children to become independent from us.
Are you taking a time out with God? If not what are your reasons? Have you noticed how thirsty your spirit is? If you’re too busy or you aren’t sure how to tend to your soul, here are a few tips how.
- Keep your Bible, devotions, and journal by your bed. You’ll see them when you wake and before you go to bed. Both are ample opportunities to spend time alone with God.
- Rise early. In the summer my kids sleep in, which gives me time to wake up, grab a cup of coffee and read a short devotion.
- If you’re new to reading the Bible daily, YouVersion.com has several reading plans. One of them will fit your lifestyle.
- Read the devotion Jesus Calling. At the end of each daily devotional are scriptures, look them up and write them out under the devotion.
- Join an online Bible Study. Good Morning Girls is a great one, they offer daily devotions, and a way to create a group of friends to discuss one to two verses daily.
- Read Mama Needs A Time Out, each chapter offers insight to your mothering heart and unveils a different character of God. And really–we need time out, we need alone time, we need God time.
- Get a child’s devotional, read it to them at breakfast. You and your children will learn to dig into God’s word daily!
I am here and so can relate to finding the time with two little one’s and a hubby that works on-call 24/7.
I am an email subscriber!
These are all great ideas. I am involved with Hello Morning and Good Morning Girls and My own Bible study at home!
I posted the giveaway on fb.
I tweeted about this giveaway!
Thank you Karen! You’re AWESOME!!
Carving out time to spend alone with God has become a necessity to me. If I skip a day, I feel lost, hurried and stressed. I have three little boys ages 9, 7 and 5 so I know how hard it is to find the time. But for those getting started, try five minutes in the morning. Shut your bedroom door and pray that the Lord blesses your to do’s for the day. That the necessary things get done. That you feel at peace with what you accomplish. It will be so much easier to lay your head on that pillow at night knowing God helped guide your day. Mommy’s need a time out and why not spend it praying over your day.
Amy I so totally get that. I’ve found the earlier I rise, the better. Otherwise, I wait until the evening and am up late. My world isn’t has peaceful until I’ve centered myself on Him.
Keep posting ladies and tell us what you thought about this morning’s devotion.
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I would love to win this ~ especially the Bible ~ good idea! Hosting a baby from Africa right now ~ and don’t get as much time for devotions I’m sad to say! : (
I commented and am a follower on Twitter.
I have wanted this book for a long time.
M. Waters
Wow so glad I found your website. Thank you for the resource they came at just the right time. Blessings
It is so hard to find time with God and with my hubby as a homeschooling mama of 3 and a birth doula and. I try to wake up early, before the kids to steal a few precious moments, but always seem sabotaged by an earlier than usual riser or a long night with the baby.
This Momma sure does need a time out after several long nights with a teething baby, I feel like I start each day behind on chores and lacking patience for my toddlers with my tired heart. I plead all night long that the Lord would change my heart and fill me with joy, so that I might be able to fulfill this calling of motherhood with some shread of Grace. Thank you for these words this morning, I needed them.
Also I shared your link on facebook!
I shared this on my Facebook. I would really love to win these, they look great.
As the Mom of 3 boys I am always looking for some time alone to refresh my spirit. It is amazing how quickly my heart becomes parched as the day goes by but then spending time with God either in His word or worship and my heart is rehydrated once again.
These giveaways are just so awesome. Thank you very much!! I have shared on FB and tweeted. I’m also an email subscriber.
Loved the opening…..reminded me of my daily routine!
LOL, that is what my days are like EVERYDAY.
Thanks for sharing this. I sooooo needed to hear. Been feeling a little on edge lately and knew I needed to do something.
I have the Busy Mom’s Bible and it’s wonderful! Great giveaway.
I just subscribed to the website!! I am trying to take advantage of any time alone with God…it doesn’t have to be the same time daily or a certain amount of time. I want to teach my kids do it is easier for them as they get older to carve out time daily.
Thanks for subscribing Tara! Excited about about being able to have this 2 weeks of giveaways!
Love hearing how you are looking for ways throughout the day to slip away and get some time with God. Also love hearing your heart to teach your children! AWESOME!
Thank you for your uplifting messages. I signed up for your emails.
I have so enjoyed this..what an amazing movement..all the books would be a blessing..God knows the need! Praise Him! I have bee looking over the busy Mom’s Bible and how amazing!
sounds like a book I need to read!