Want to win $200 or tickets to see Moms’ Night Out (plus copies of Moms’ Night Out [the novelization] and Moms’ Night Out and other things i miss)? Keep reading!

This post is part of the No More Frumpy Mommy Moms’ Night Out Challenge, happening now through May 22. YOU can join, too! You might win $200 or tickets to see Moms’ Night Out if you participate! Are you participating and want to leave your link to today’s challenge? Read through this post, then link up at the bottom! Here are the other challenges:

1. Easy Hair by Tricia Goyer — What’s your secret to easy, no-fuss hair?
2. How to Get to Church on Time (with Kids) by Tricia Goyer — What tips do you have for getting your family to church on time?
3. A Fast Recipe that Doesn’t Include Chicken Nuggets by Kerri Pomarolli — What’s your go-to, easy recipe?
4. Fun Ways to Exercise with Your Kids by Tricia Goyer — How do you involve your kids in your exercise routine?
5. Take Time for Mom-Friends by Kerri Pomarolli — What’s your favorite way to spend time with your mom-friends?
6. Simple Makeup for Busy Moms by Tricia Goyer — What are your favorite tips for no-fuss makeup?
7. A Fast Recipe that Doesn’t Involve Fish Sticks by Tricia Goyer — Share your easy, go-to recipe for your family!
8. Quick Cleaning Tips by Kerri Pomarolli — What are your quick cleaning tips for busy moms?
9. Finding Time to Follow Your Dreams by Tricia Goyer — How do you make time to follow your dreams?

Finding Time to Be Quiet before God by Kerri Pomarolli

“Be still, and know that I am God.” ~ Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

One of my goals I have never truly met is mastering the art of “quiet time with God.” I meet these women who seem so put together and happy, as if Jesus and the angels themselves got them out of bed with praise music. When I ask them what their secret is, most of them say, “Quiet time with the Lord.” Some of them say, “Zanex!” I don’t judge.

I’ve been trying to master this illusive quiet time. Yes, this might be the only time I’m not physically being pulled in fifty different directions but these are not my best moments. I’m cranky because I usually wake up with some kind of ache from a ridiculous new workout routine I’ve tried. I’m half asleep because I’ve been awakened three times during the night for no good reason except imbalanced hormones or restless children that need water.

By my bed, I have:

1. The Bible I’ve owned since third grade.
2. The Bible translated into a novel.
3. Two books about living a more prosperous life in Christ.
4. One book on the power of a praying mom and the power of a praying parent.
5. Four magazines.
6. A wrap thing I was going to wear to make my stomach skinnier.
7. Mom’s One Line a Day Journal which hasn’t been written in for more than six months.
8. My CD player with praise music.
9. Twelve pieces of paper with daily mantra prayers I’m supposed to say for my family.
10. My cell phone with includes four Bible apps, but more importantly my emails and my Facebook.

Do you want to guess which one I’m reaching for first?

Yes, number ten! If you think I’m a horrible, put this book down and go read something by another famous author. Now for the rest of you heathens, let’s work on this together.

It’s not for lack of trying that my “quiet times” seem to fail. I just can’t shut off all the loud noises in my head. I try to pick up the Bible and start reading. I’ll get into a chapter about King David and that will remind me of Lucy’s play date with David Gurman and the fact that we need to buy a birthday present for his brother. Then the mental roller coaster has taken off, and I try to get back to my daily meditations with God. I pull out a prayer. I start pleading the blood of Jesus over my family and that reminds me there was laundry left in the washer overnight and I wonder if I’ll have to do the whole load over again. At this point at least one child needs my attention and only half of my family has been prayed over before I need to get out of bed. I pray to God to help me make it through one more day. I thank Him that I’m alive and that I’m healthy. I try my best to pray for the people on my prayer list, especially those I promised I’d be interceding for and all those others who catch my heart. I think of my friend Janine in Africa, who is literally rescuing babies out of trash cans, and I look at the pictures of her beautiful babies on my phone screen and for a moment I am calm and God leads me to pray for that child who is surviving against insurmountable odds. I pray for Janine and her staff and thank God for her selfless devotion to saving these kids. I thank God that my kids are not laying in a garbage dump.

As I walk into the girls’ room, I’m greeted by the biggest smile you’ve ever seen from my baby, Ruby Joy. My prayer doesn’t really end; it just gets louder with giggles and squeals and morning songs and dances. Maybe it’s not so bad after all, and maybe God sees my heart more than the preciseness of my morning routine. I talk to Him throughout my day and never miss a chance to pray if someone needs it. So come to think of it, maybe my quiet time is a little louder than others, but I love the Lord with all my heart. I couldn’t make it through this motherhood jungle without Him. And one day when my kids are gone and there are no squeals to wake me, I will sit quietly with my Bible and I will scream loudly, “GOOOOOD, I miss my kids and the chaos!”

Take a MOMENT to think about . . .

What does your daily routine look like? How much of it includes time with God?

Are there any changes you want to make? Ask Him to help you.

Lord, thank You for looking at my heart and knowing it is pure. Thank You for creating me to praise You through chaos and always know I can turn to You for guidance. Amen.

I have a few books on sale right now! Generation NeXt Marriage is $2.99. You can also get my four World War II novels in the Liberators Series for $13.99.

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No More Frumpy Mommy Challenge Link-Up

Link your blog post with the corresponding challenge so others can see your progress and I can stop by your blog to give you some encouragement.

• To link up your blog, copy the URL of the exact post and paste it below.
• To link up to your Facebook status, click on the time of your status, which will send you to your status’ URL. Then copy the URL and paste it below.
• To link up a tweet, click on the tweet itself, which will send you to your tweet’s URL. Then copy the URL and paste it below.