When My Imperfect Parenting Meets God’s Perfect Love

Don’t you love how God teaches us through our experiences? Recently, I had the honor of meeting and working with another mother for a few hours. This woman was about 20 years my senior, and we had a wonderful time talking about our children. As she talked, she began to cry about the choices one of her children was making. I was moved by this, encouraged her as best I could, and prayed with her. Later, as I was reflecting on our conversation, I began to think about a lie that I have believed for most of my parenting years. It …

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Happy Mother’s Day from the Throne

“What do you really want for Mother’s Day?”my ten-year-old daughter, Lizzy, asked as I stashed the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher and scrubbed drizzles of spilled milk off the kitchen counter.  I glanced up at the clock, down at my ratty pajamas, and over my shoulder at the toddler who had just waddled into the room with a saggy diaper. Church would begin in ninety minutes, and chances were strong that we’d be late. Again. My husband was already at work, and two of my kids were out in the yard getting their church clothes dirty as I chased down …

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Feasting on God’s Word

“I don’t like food; I LOVE it. If I don’t love it, I don’t swallow!”  -Anton Ego Ratatouille I am not as fastidious as Anton Ego and his love for good food. But I have noticed something about my appetite. The more I eat healthy food and drink water, the more I want healthy food and the less allure junk food holds. However, the more I eat junk the more I crave junk. And it isn’t only true in my physical appetites. It is true in how I treat the Word of God. When I get by on a steady diet …

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8 Tips for Moving Quiet Time from “Want To” to “Get To”

Mom, when was the last time you had an unhurried quiet time with your heavenly Father? For many moms today that sounds great, but unrealistic. While we all know that consistent, quality time with God is necessary to develop intimacy, life often gets in the way. We oversleep from exhaustion. Or the kids wake early. Or the phone rings. Most Christian women express a desire to spend regular time with God. Yet often something breaks down between the “want to” and the “get to.” Desire for a daily quiet time is not enough. Whether you’re a young mom, emptynester, or …

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Keep Telling Family Stories

“Grammie, who are the people in that picture frame?” my ten year-old granddaughter, Katelyn, asked as she and her seven year-old sister climbed into sleeping bags to spend the night in the loft at our house. Katelyn was pointing to black and white pictures of my grandparents and my parents, all who died before she and her sister were born. As I tucked the girls in and explained who each person was in the picture, Katelyn whispered in my ear, “Wasn’t your dad murdered?” Katelyn’s mother, my daughter, never knew her grandfather—my dad. My father was a California highway patrolman …

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Raising People Is Hard Work

I used to think that babies were hard. My first two kids came along 16 months apart from each other, and I lived in a mild state of panic and reaction for a good two years that completely exhausted me. I loved every precious minute of it, but I was flat out tired. My husband and I talked about wanting six children. Then we had two. Enough said. Eight years after my second child was born, we had a…. surprise. I found out I was pregnant, and (I’m going to be honest here, no judgment) was depressed about it for …

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Free MOM Printables (Print your own cards for the moms you love)

Sometimes it’s hard to find a card that says what you want it to say. That’s why we’ve provided some printable to make it easy peasy to print them out and give to your moms, your sisters, your aunts, your sister-moms, and all the moms in your life. A little special something to let them know that they help you be a better mom, that you’re glad you’re doing the mom life with them, that you are better together. And a little something special for your mom to remind her that she’s amazing, that you are thankful for the way …

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Better Together Conference HIGHLIGHTS

What happens at a Better Together Conference? Since a picture is worth a million words…. Stephanie Shott, Melinda Means, Debbie Taylor Williams, Christen Price “Better Together” is the name of The Mom Initiative Conference that we are hosting in churches across America.  When I think of 2 moms who model being “Better Together,” I think of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Elizabeth. They were better together! After the angel announced to Mary that she had been chosen to give birth to the Messiah, she went to see Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John. Together they celebrated. “Blessed are you …

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How My Daughter Shattered My “Comfortable” Faith

I grew up going to church and learning about God. Maybe partly because of that, I spent years taking my faith for granted. The kind of Christianity I pursued was soft and comfortable. Pleasant enough, but not particularly bold or especially memorable. I went to my Christian conferences. Did my ladies’ Bible Studies. Led a “good” life. I talked about faith — with people of faith. I passionately shared my convictions — with those who agreed with me. I loved God. I felt strongly about my beliefs. But my people-pleasing nature resisted the idea of making too many waves. Of risking that …

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