Nothing seems to challenge us to conform to the image of God like being a parent. I think the preteen years are the worst. The kids are a hormonal mess. They can't remember what they're doing, they bicker non-stop, and if you call them down about the slightest thing, they completely lose it in a shower of accusations. How on earth do you deal with …

I tell my kids this until the day they leave the home. When we become disgruntled over petty things like weather, fairness, or material possessions, our remembrance of what true blessings are has slipped far from our focus. We use the word blessings so freely and loosely in our culture today, and yet do we truly understand what it means to live the…

He looked at me imploringly with his chocolate brown eyes and said, “Mom what if it's not true? What if God isn't real?” My heart broke a little bit with these questions while simultaneously being grateful for my son's honesty. I breathed a prayer as I sought to give him an answer knowing full well my words would not be enough. But when my words ar…

Having a loving heart usually involves doing what is hard. In Matthew 5:46, Jesus gives us a challenge: “if you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” In what way is God asking you to do the …

We live in a world where people are longing to feel valued. The wild events of this year have made that clear. As humans, we want to know we matter. We want others to treat us in ways that communicate value. We want to feel worthy, loved, important. But people can never make us feel truly valued. That’s because they don’t know us the way God does. …

My children have no fear of scarcity. No thought for where they'll sleep at night. They don't question it—they know it: the snack jar will be filled, the dinner will satisfy, and no matter the wrong done, they can snuggle up under my arm at night. Why? Because that is all they've ever known. Knowing our goodness enables them to trust they'll always…

Moms today invest a lot in cultivating lifelong skills and music politics, hobbies, and talent. What if we used those outlets as venues for wise friendships? What if we invested as much in ensuring a child finds and walks with wise friends so they'll become wise? How can you help your children have opportunity for wise friendships? Listen to today'…

"It seems unfair that there are people who might abuse their own bodies and make all kinds of bad decisions, yet somehow live a really long life. It just seems wrong that some really evil people get to enjoy this life while some really good people have to suffer so much." I can recall countless conversations around our family table or at my childre…

What does it mean to dwell? It certainly means to live, to occupy a house or apartment, but we also use the word to mean to point attention toward. If you dwell on something, you focus on it steadfastly, not wavering or casting about for something else. But why should we? Because He makes clear the path of life, helping us to know where we should s…

As moms, one of the most common phrases we use is probably, “pay attention!” We want our kids to pay attention to what they are told to what they do, and to what is going on around them. When we remind our children about the value of being aware, of listening well, of paying attention, it's for their good. Jesus's words to his disciples were rooted…

It's hard to admit we need help. Coming to the end of ourselves humbles us. It goes against our self-reliant culture. We want to power, hustle, and fight our way through the hard things. We are proud—we've got this. And yet, sometimes it's not the big thing that humbles us, but the smallest. What has God used to humble you lately? Listen to today's…

The enemy is so crafty! He whispers in our ear, causes us to make a subtle shift in focus, and we find ourselves forgetting about God's ability to do more than we can ever imagine. We end up striving and focusing on our limited ability and desire to try and control what happens in the lives of our children. The only thing in life that we can contro…

There is one thing in our lives that holds great power that can be easily used for both great good and great evil. I have seen it bring people together and tear others apart. I have used it for both wonderful and terrible purposes. It is something none of us can escape. I'm talking about the power of the tongue. Words can harm, but words can also h…

Don't you love to see your child excel at what he or she is good at and then receive recognition for it? I do. My boys love sports and music, and you better believe I am the loudest person there to celebrate a good hit, a three-pointer, or a song well played. In fact, sometimes I have to reign myself in and remember that things like sports and musi…

Where we look matters. Today, Erin H. Warren is helping us learn the importance of keeping our minds on Christ. There's much at stake if we don't, and it's a skill every believer can learn. Do you find it hard to keep your mind on Christ when the world around you seems to be closing in? God wants our whole hearts, not because He's selfish or thinks…

Have you wondered how to love your children biblically and effectively? The world often defines love in a way that is completely different from God's definition. Today, Connie Albers is teaching us exactly what God's way looks like. If you're wondered how to love your children effectively... If you aren't sure what biblical love really is... If you…

Do you ever look at someone and think they must be much farther along than you are? I do that often on social media, but I'm learning that we all stand on level ground. We all need the wisdom of God. If I have not been at the feet of Jesus, seeking him in his word and asking him for wisdom, I have very little to offer anyone. ~ Gina Smith If we wan…

When faced with a dilemma that requires careful handling and wisdom, do we cast about for a solution within our own ability? Or do we immediately acknowledge we don't have the answer, and call on the one who is wisdom from the beginning? I couldn't dream up half the parenting situations I find myself in. I don't mean simply discipline wise. Even wh…

Only one out of twenty Christians have family worship together. Does your family? "Mom, Dad," he said, "don't ever stop reading the Bible to my siblings." He went on to explain that a few of his Christian friends at college were able to examine things by the word of God. Although most were raised in Christian families, they were mostly clueless abo…

Why do we so easily forget that his presence has the power to destroy doubt and give us power over our problems? It is easier to trust when we seem to have nothing to fear. When I spend time talking to my kids about the presence of the Lord in their lives, I find myself pointing them to things around them that they can see, hold, and be aware of to…

Can we stand firm in the face of flattery and corruption? Flattery can mesmerize us. It tells us what we want to hear, and it’s certainly easier to listen to than criticism. Flattery shows favor and approval, something we all long for. In today's scripture, a prophecy from the book of Daniel, we see the foretelling of a king who will rise and fall …

Have you believed the lie that you have to be enough? That you carry the full weight of the way your children will turn out? How many times a day do you catch yourself thinking about what a failure you are, or how your one big mess-up will probably land that child who watches everything you do straight in the counseling chair a bit later in life? I…

Do you struggle with humility? Maybe, like me, you are uncomfortable feeling dependent. Humility is the default mode in God's Kingdom. Beginning with the moment we come to him through faith by grace, and nothing we do, we humble ourselves (Ephesians 2:8-9). But as we embrace a Christ like humility and allow the Holy Spirit to weed out our pride, we…

“Rather train yourself for godliness; For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come" (1 Timothy 4:8). Somewhere along the way, the Christian life gained a reputation for being shiny, easy, and perfect. “If you just give your life to Jesus, every…

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:24-25). We know the story from beginning to end. We know Christ has promised to come back. We can wait with anticipation for his return. God is working in us and through us t…

“I set my face toward the Lord God to seek by prayer and supplications with fasting and sackcloth and ashes" (Daniel 9:3). Confession isn't my first go-to in prayer, but I know it's a crucial part of how God works in me and is necessary for true change. God's kindness leads me to repentance, and when I confess my sins to Him, He promises to forgive…

“I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness" (Ecclesiastes 7:25). When I consider the idea of turning our hearts to wisdom, I imagine setting off on a treasure hunt with wisdom as the prize. In Ecclesiastes, we are told that Solomon…

“Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few" (Ecclesiastes 5:2). Why do we pontificate and act as if we know so much when we really don't? It's not just in parenting. We do the same thing in many areas of life. We think we have solut…

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27). Sometimes we complicate things that scripture makes clear. Our real life, the gritty of every day, creeps onto the scene of what we believe to be true—what we know full well when we sit in…

"...but Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way" (Daniel 1:8). Have you ever been in the middle of an ordinary situation, whether all alone or perhaps at a more social event, and sensed God's quiet voice nudging you in one way or another? Maybe…

“Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright" (Proverbs 20:11). The best tool for teaching a child is God's work in us. They watch as we work and listen as we speak. They see as we feel and hear us respond. They take note how we serve and tune into our tone. God's work in a mother is the pattern for the …

“Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, ‘Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!’ So Shadrack Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, and governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bod…

“And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, ‘Which commandment is the most important of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and…

You've probably seen the meme that says, “I love Jesus and I cuss a little!” It's meant to be funny, but is it funny when held up to the measuring stick of God's word? The words that we choose to speak reflect what is in our hearts. Just choosing to eliminate words from our vocabulary is not the answer. We need to evaluate and find out why those wo…

“But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her’” (Luke 10:41-42). Most of my life, especially since becoming a mom, I have been in what feels like a constant rotation of busyness, overwhelm, anxiety, and …

“And they went and woke him, saying, ‘Save us, Lord; We are perishing.’ And he said to them, ‘why are you afraid, O you of little faith?’ Then he rose and rebuked to the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm period and the men marveled, saying, ‘What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him'" (Matthew 8:25-27). I need t…

“This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith" (1 Timothy 1:18-19). We may not know why bad things happen to us, but it's important to stay true …

“Then Daniel went to his house and informed his friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, about the matter. So that they might request compassion from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon" (Daniel 2:17-18). Over the years, having a group of friends I…

“And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, ‘You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.’ But he denied it, saying, ‘I neither know nor understand what you mean.’ And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed'" (Mark 14:66-68). Whatev…

“But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart" (Luke 2:19). Mary the mother of Jesus, began to store up her experiences with Christ and ponder them in her heart long before she knew what he would do for the world. She didn't know that she would be able to live with resurrection power because of her son, but she chose to hold …

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). John 3:16 is probably the most well known bible verse of all time. Children memorize it. Street corner preachers put it on signs. Quarterbacks write it on their eye black. Most of us can easily rattle it o…

“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the son of man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘You are Christ, the son of the living God.’…

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin" (Psalm 51:1-2)! On the cross, Christ absorbed all the sin of the world into his own body. Like a sponge, he soaked in every iniquity from time past to time future. …

“But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head" (Psalm 3:3). In a time of danger, David believed in the power and desire of God to be the shield he desperately needed. The opposition said, “there is no salvation for him in God,” but God's peace proved them wrong. How have you experienced unfairness or disgrace? What wo…

"Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly" (Proverbs 14:29). The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. It doesn't even produce godliness in our kids. In fact, this week's passage tells us that when we rush to anger, we are exalting foolishness. Uggg. You know what it looks like. …

"The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters" (Psalm 23:1-2). As a mama investing daily into her children, I grow weary and worried in the journey. I watch my children making choices and know that although I can lead them in the way they should go, it's only the Good Shepherd wh…

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment" (1 Timothy 6:17). How can we live in this world but never lose sight of God as our provider? How might we teach our children to do the sam…

"...and they were all amazed so that they questioned among themselves saying, 'What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him'" (Mark 1:27). When was the last time you were amazed? Truly, think about it. It's tricky isn't it? I know I've been amazed by how quickly my house can get messy or how th…

"Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven, that's why she loved so much. But the one who is forgiven little loves little" (Luke 7:47). Whether you grew up in the church or not, we all have been forgiven much. Verses like Galatians 5:16-21 make it pretty clear that God sees sexual immorality, drunkenness, jealousy, and selfish ambition…

“But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts" (1 Thessalonians 2:4). When our eyes are heavenward, we can trust and rest in God's goodness despite our circumstances. We can know God's ways will prevail, not man's. We can be assured he is using our c…