Bible Study

October 29, 2021 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Let’s Talk About Family Devotions and Truth-Telling!

What do you think of when you hear the words: family devotions? If you’re new to my podcast or the Christian faith, you might have no idea what that means. Does it mean that family members spend time sharing about how much they are devoted to each other? If that were the case, my younger kids would either make it a joke or make it a fight. “I AM more devoted than you! No, I am!”

Or maybe you’ve been around church for a while, and you know that the term family devotions means that you should gather your kids together daily to read God’s Word—or a devotional book—and pray, but in reality, it just doesn’t happen. Life is busy, right? So for many years, whenever I heard the term “Family devotions,” I felt guilty. I never thought I was doing enough.

Yet, what is required? What is important?

As we’ll talk about on this podcast, parents are the primary spiritual influence on their children. What we do DOES make a difference, but before we jump into talking about being a faith-focused parent, or about family devotions, I want to talk about truth-telling. Mainly, I want to chat about our kids. How do they KNOW that the grace and sacrifice of Jesus are enough? More than anything, I want to focus on our kids, knowing that.

Here’s an email that I received recently through my website. I’ve edited it down, and I won’t share any details, but I think the heart of this teen girl’s message is essential:

I’m a teenage girl who’s grown up in a Christian home, but I’ve never had a personal relationship with God myself. It’s not that I hate God; in fact, I want to know Him. But, almost a year ago, I just started feeling worried about not knowing God. Now I feel anxious all the time about not knowing God, and I want to get to know Him better and become a Christian, but I don’t know how … I keep on praying and telling God that I need Him, asking Him to help me, that I want Him to take away my sin, but nothing ever changes. I don’t know if I’m just not sincere enough? That I don’t fully understand how to come to faith? That I’m not truly sorry for my sin? The Bible says that only God can save us, not we ourselves, so how do I come to believe? Would you please pray for me and pray that God would work mightily in my life to bring me to Him?

My heart just broke when I read that. So this is what I wrote back:

Thank you so much for your message. I remember feeling the same way. However, there is a significant shift from “wanting to do the right thing and being a good Christian,” to truly understanding that God loves me completely.

The truth is that I felt like this for a very long time. For so, so long, I tried to make God happy and do everything right. It’s very, very hard. It wasn’t until the last seven years that I truly felt loved by God. I remember one day, after having a hard day with kids, I had a HUGE pile of laundry. I was overwhelmed and stressed out, and I felt like I wasn’t doing anything good enough. Then, at that moment in my laundry room, I felt God speak to my heart. “I love you just as much with this large pile of laundry and when you feel you’re not doing anything right.” That moment was the beginning of understanding how crazy God is about me.

More than anything, a relationship with God takes faith. It’s trusting that from that, you’re already completely loved and accepted. I’m praying that God will speak to your heart. Maybe read through the Psalms and allow those words to speak to you? Know I’m praying too!

If you’re a parent, grandparent, or mentor, this note probably caused you to pause. I felt the same. Sometimes we are so diligent about teaching our kids about God that we forget to remind them how much God adores them. Also, we are good about teaching our kids about the rules, but sometimes we forget to share about grace. The good news is, no matter where you are or how old your kids are, TODAY is a day you can share the Good News of Jesus with them.

Today, I’m talking to Michael Kelley, the author of the family devotional book The Whole Story for the Whole Family. I LOVE this devotional, but I want to make sure to emphasize something Michael said as we chatted:

“Having a family devotion lays the groundwork so you can have more spontaneous conversations all throughout the day.”

Friend, don’t feel guilty if you haven’t gathered your family around you to read God’s Word or a devotional in a while. Instead of feeling guilty, I hope you walk away from this podcast feeling inspired, knowing that whatever steps you take, you are leading and influencing your children in unique ways and wonderful ways. So don’t make this an item on your to-do list. Instead, ask God to help you lead your children to Him so that they may know Him, accept Him as Lord of their lives, and live in the confidence in their relationship with Him for all of their days.

I know you’re going to enjoy this podcast!

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Scripture to ponder

If you do not stand firm in your faith, then you will not stand at all. Isaiah 7:9

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Mentioned in This Episode

The Whole Story for the Whole Family | Michael Kelley
Deuteronomy 6:6-9

Who is Michael Kelley

Michael Kelley is a husband and father of three who lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where he serves as the Sr. Vice President of Church Ministries for LifeWay Christian Resources. He is also the author of Wednesdays Were Pretty Normal: A Boy, Cancer, and God, Boring: Finding an Extraordinary God in an Ordinary Life, and Growing Down.

Walk it Out #113: Stop Calling Me Beautiful with Phylicia Masonheimer

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Stop Calling Me Beautiful with Phylicia Masonheimer

This week, I’m interviewing my good friend Phylicia Masonheimer.

My life was changed in 1979 when my mom and my grandma found Jesus. I don’t remember what weekends were like before that time, but after they were all about attending the little white church on Highway 97 in Weed, California.

I remember going to church Sunday mornings, Sunday nights, and Wednesday nights. When I got older I’d alternate between sitting in the service and helping in the nursery. I memorized Bible verses to earn prizes from my Sunday School teacher’s prize box. (Margo’s my friend on Facebook now, and she’s still always telling me when I’ve done a good job!)

I love thinking about our monthly potluck fellowships and numerous women’s events during the year. There were visiting evangelists and Saturday teas. Bible study was often held at my Grandma’s house, and every Sunday I received a hug from the older saints at church and sometimes a peppermint from a jacket pocket. I grew up knowing I was loved and that I was special … well, until I strayed far from God and stopped going to church in my teen years. It’s then I felt both unlovable and ashamed. I didn’t have the “Victory in Jesus” that we used to sing about every week growing up.

I am so THANKFUL for the foundation of faith in my life, but my struggle came when I didn’t know what to do with the sin that weighed me down. As a pregnant teen, these same saints showed me to the love of God and I felt welcomed. Because of their love, I dared to believe that God loved me, too.

Yet, the burden of sin never fully went away until I took on my faith as my own. As much as those Christian men and women showed me they cared, I needed to know how much God cared—and how much He forgave—even more. The truth is, there are many people in the church today who hear all about how special they are—about their beauty and worth—yet they live without victory in their lives. Maybe you understand?

In this week’s Walk It Out Podcast, I interviewed my friend Phylicia Masonheimer. Her book Stop Calling Me Beautiful began as a viral blog post by a similar name. It was a short post and pointed out that Christian women are weary of hearing these same messages about beauty and identity without any real practical application from Scripture, and no actual victory in their lives.

“We are told, in Scripture, that His yoke is easy and to take heart, for He has overcome. So why aren’t these things becoming reality for most Christian women?” Phylicia asks. Phylicia argues this is because we’re teaching a “half gospel”—one that skips the hard parts about sin and walking out our faith and focuses only on beauty and identity.

“I sought God to find peace or to get away from the effects of my sin,” writes Phylicia. “I followed Him, but mainly as a means to an end, and my spiritual life reflected that. When I began searching for God for God’s sake, I discovered the kind of spiritual walk Jesus came to initiate.”

I know you’re going to enjoy our talk!

Who is Phylicia Masonheimer?

Phylicia Masonheimer teaches Christian women how to apply faith to the realities of life. She is a blogger, podcast host, and speaker. Her writing focuses on overcoming sin and difficulty by the power of a maturing personal relationship with God. Phylicia lives in northern Michigan with her husband and children.

You can order Stop Calling Me Beautiful HERE.

About the Book:

“If you’re tired of surface-level teaching and shallow faith, this book will ignite a fire in your soul for a deeper walk with Jesus and draw you into the depths of the Word.”
——Gretchen Saffles, founder of Well-Watered Women

Why We Need Jesus More Than Compliments

“You’re a beautiful daughter of the Most High King.” And it’s true. But it’s not the whole truth. The beauty of being God’s daughter has backstory.

If you’re tired of hearing the watered-down Christian teaching and hungry for a deeper spiritual life—one that gives real answers to your hardest questions—Stop Calling Me Beautiful teaches you how. You will learn

how to pursue the truths of who God is and who you are in relationship to Him
how to study Scripture, and how your view of God determines how you face life’s challenges
how legalism, shallow theology, and false teaching keep you from living boldly as a woman of the Word
how to experience God’s presence in painful circumstances

Jesus doesn’t offer a powerless salvation. He makes your brokenness part of His whole redemption story—if you allow Him to. Don’t settle for a feel-good faith. If you want victory over insecurity, fear, shame, and the circumstances you are facing, it’s time to embrace Jesus. All of Him.

Walk It Out Scripture

Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness. 1 Peter 2:2-3

Connect with Phylicia Masonheimer

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May 28, 2020 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Walk it Out #103: Moving Past Your Past with Kasey Van Norman

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Moving Past Your Past with Kasey Van Norman

People like to say, “You are not your past” … but it’s not like we can forget it. And when our minds are filled with our mess-ups, can we trust God to lead us back, in order to move us forward?

Part of the “moving back” for Kasey Van Norman, included being open and honest about very hard things in her life, including a difficult childhood and committing adultery in her marriage.

Today on Walk it Out, I’m excited to be chatting with Kasey, author of the book and study, Nothing Wasted: God Uses the Stuff You Wouldn’t.

If you feel stuck in the past and ready to move forward with God’s help, this episode is for you.

But first … my gut-honest story

The high school classes of 2020 feel cheated right now, and I understand. I too missed out on my Senior Year. Yet while a pandemic halted their world. An unexpected pregnancy halted mine. I found out I was pregnant in October and finished out the football season as a cheerleader. (Getting bus-sick on away games was NO fun.)

When word got out about my pregnancy, and my boyfriend moved on to a new girlfriend, I decided to drop out. I dropped out of high school and finished working on my credits at home. I also dropped out of life and spent most of my days in bed, sleeping them away, as a baby grew within me.

Unlike the class of 2020, there was a graduation ceremony at Weed High. (Yes, that was the name of my high school!) I came out of seclusion to walk during the ceremony with my class. Looking back, I’m proud of that girl. In a school and a town where everyone-knows-everyone, I thought more about making my soon-to-be-born baby proud, than worrying about people’s gossip.

You see, it was during my pregnancy that I decided to turn over my life to God and ask Him to take the reigns of my life. I hoped He’d do a much better job than I would … and I haven’t been disappointed!

Laying in bed pregnant, feeling ashamed and alone, I dared to believe that God had a good future planned for me.

When I chose to trust, I also chose to let go of shame and fear. Walking across the stage, in front of our whole town—nearly nine months pregnant—was evidence of my choice.

We all know what it’s like to be broken, right? I’m not the only teenager pregnant at her high school graduation. And you’re not the only one with secrets and regrets either.

“Shame is ultimately the belief that we are unlovable,” writes Holley Gerth. “And because of this, love is the only way to break the shame.”

At age seventeen, I dared to believe Jesus loved me, and that changed everything. And then the women from my mom’s Bible Study—who reached out to me in the middle of my mess—showed me that my life still could be good. When they opened up to tell me, “I’ve messed up, too, but look what God has done,” it gave me hope.

There are two important aspects of telling our stories and being hope-givers to others: 1) Our confession breaks the chains with us, and 2) Our testimony allows others to believe that “all things made new” can be available for them, too.

Not that any of us have “arrived.” If we’re breathing we’re still the main character in a still-being-written story. Yet hope reminds us that even though there are parts of our past that we wished could be different, God can use those parts for our ultimate good.

And that’s my long introduction to this episode, giving you a glimpse of why Kasey’s message is so important to me. As Kasey shared her truth, her words resonated within my soul. Moving past her past has transformed Kasey’s life, just as it’s transformed mine.

And this is the hope we want to offer to you.

Who is Kasey Van Norman?

Kasey is a professional counselor, Bible teacher, and the author of the books and study series, Named by God and Raw Faith. She writes and teaches about the love that redeemed her life from the shame of past infidelity, and strengthened her through a life-threatening cancer diagnosis.

Kasey is the founder of Northway Farms — a non-profit serving homeless women in her community. She travels and teaches thousands each year as a ministry even speaker. She lives in Texas with her husband, Justin, and their two children, Emma Grace and Lake.

You can order Nothing Wasted HERE.

About the Book:

We all have past experiences we wish we could redo, undo, or hide altogether. In Nothing Wasted, counselor and teacher Kasey Van Norman shares how God revealed his specific plan for her life through the most unlikely, embarrassing, and painful seasons of her past. Her vulnerability invites you to discover God’s personal and purposeful design for your future, not in spite of your story, but through it.

What if the pain and mistakes of your past are exactly what God wants to use to redeem your future?

A difficult childhood, public infidelity, and a fight with cancer – Kasey Van Norman has walked a rocky road of regret and loss. Shockingly, God would take her back to move her forward, uprooting her undealt-with wounds, secret shame, and intimacy-sabotaging patterns of behavior. No longer running from her past, but instead, allowing herself to be defined by it, Kasey discovered a God more intentional and loving than she’d ever believed him to be. Today, she shares the truth that no part of our life story is wasted – but purposefully designed and used by God to shape who we are meant to be.

With vulnerability, sound doctrine, and humor, Kasey unfolds the brokenness in her own life, reminding us that a holy, sovereign God lovingly works, not in spite of our past, but through it.

In this book, Kasey invites you to look at the most unlikely, shocking, and painful experiences of your past in order to embrace them as the necessary setup for your future. No experience or relationship has been a mistake. You are no mere byproduct of random events, and you do not need a do-over! Join Kasey, and take God up on his offer to weave together every confusing, disjointed scrap of your past in to his beautiful story of redemption.

Because with God, nothing is wasted.

Walk It Out Scripture

Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish. Isaiah 46:9-10 NLT

Resources, books, and links mentioned in this episode:

Connect with Kasey Van Norman

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July 13, 2017 by Tricia Goyer 20 Comments

A Super-Simple Way to Effectively Study the Bible with Your Kids! {Guest Post by Amber Lia}

Make sure to enter below for your chance to win a copy of Study Buddy!

The church service ended and we made the mad dash to all four classrooms to pick our four sons. My husband Guy and I divide and conquer. After our third son was born, we realized that man to man combat would need to be replaced with zone defense. Now that we have four kids, we are seriously outnumbered. Even something as routine as picking them up from Sunday School classes requires a game plan.

In the car ride home, the boys shared small fragments of what they could remember from the Bible lesson. Often, a truth really sinks in and it’s a total joy to hear about it, but over the last year I began to feel a conviction that the disjointed way I approached teaching my kids about the Bible was not cutting it. Deuteronomy 6:-7, says, “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” This wasn’t happening as much as I wanted it to.

I needed something I could do with my kids that was engaging and fun—and that didn’t feel overwhelming to me as a mom! I just couldn’t find that resource for doing a Bible study my kids would love. Over the course of several months, God prompted my heart to craft it for them, so I spent a good while studying and writing a Study Buddy Bible Study Guide. I began with the book of Proverbs and then moved on to writing a study for Psalms.

Then, I tested it out on my kids ages 5-10. I couldn’t believe it. The time was the most special family time we had ever had. Truly. The boys begged me for more and I was certainly not going to disappoint them. God was working in their hearts, and mine!

And now, the first topic in the series is available for parents like you too—just in time for summer!

The Study Buddy Bible Study series is for every parent who wants their child to develop the life-long habit of studying Scripture. Full of simple yet practical applications, this study on the book of Proverbs focuses on 20 key verses about wisdom that teach kids how to use good judgment on a daily basis. Designed to take just 10 minutes a day, this collaborative study is a wonderful way to reach your child’s heart without being overwhelming. Each day includes:

– A verse from God’s Word to study
– Space to write and commit Scripture to heart
– A big idea to remember
– Several interactive questions for reflection
– Parent/child questions to spark lively conversation.

This study guide doesn’t follow a “teacher-student” format — instead, you’ll learn side by side, as Study Buddies!

This Proverbs study covers ideas like protecting your heart, doing good to others, taking care of animals, avoiding gossip, not starting a fight, and obeying parents. It’s ideal for ages 7-12, but can be adjusted for younger kids too.

You can grab your own copy here on Amazon!

I’m so grateful for Sunday School, but there is nothing better than being the one to teach my kids and grow alongside them. I hope that becoming your child’s Study Buddy blesses you deeply as it has done for me.

Are you looking for a way to develop the life-long habit of studying Scripture in your child? Check this out on @TriciaGoyer!

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More about Amber: A former high school English teacher and best-selling author, Amber is a work-at-home mom of four little boys. She and her husband, Guy, own Storehouse Media Group, a faith and family-friendly television and film production company in Los Angeles, CA. When she’s not building sand castles with her boys on the beach in Santa Monica or searching for Nerf darts all over her house, you can find Amber writing here to spur others on with biblical truth and practical insights!

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September 8, 2015 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

The Power of Digging Deeper into God’s Word | ‘That the World May Know’ with Ray Vander Laan

What I didn’t learn in Sunday School

I grew up in church, but I learned very little about the Bible during those early years. My Sunday school teacher was awesome. I enjoyed the lessons and learned Scripture verses. And while I could tell you that David toppled Goliath, and Sarah laughed when she was told she was going to have a child, I didn’t understand how the Bible was put together as one cohesive story.

I discovered my lack of understanding one year after I was married. John and I signed up for Bible school classes, and before the class started we took a quiz to see how much we knew. I discovered it was very little. I couldn’t tell you if David lived before Abraham or vice versa. During the months of Bible classes I learned so much. I understood the Bible more, and I fell in love with God more, too. I craved spending time in God’s Word.

To understand Bible you need to read the Bible. You also need to understand how the parts make the whole, and sometimes this means turning to wise people for help.

Lately, my family has been working through That the World May Know® DVD series with Ray Vander Laan. His newest DVD is Israel’s Mission. Ray believes that to more greatly understand and appreciate the Bible, one has to have a sense of the land and the culture from which it sprang.

The more fully we can appreciate the times and places of the Bible, the better we can respond to the Word of God. Check out this video and stop by the website to learn more about the series:

We’ve used his material as a family and in small group settings and have learned so much. The message Ray Vander Laan emphasizes is simple, yet powerful. He encourages us to bring lost sheep back into the Father’s loving arms, while further understanding the lands and times of the Bible. (I would LOVE to go on one of RVL’s trips!).

From 9/2 – 9/18, you can enter to win the 13-DVD set of That the World May Know®! Click here to learn how you can enter to win the series for your family, small group, or church.

Isn’t that amazing that God will accomplish all He wants to do in you as you dig into His Word?!

Discover the power of digging deep into God’s Word with @RVL_ON’s ‘That the World May Know’ series!

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July 26, 2014 by Tricia Goyer 2 Comments

Hope For Bible Study Newbies (Who Want to Train their Kids Well)

I’m not sure I should admit this, but as much as I loved Women Living Well, I felt a twinge of jealousy as I read chapter two. Unexpected emotions rolled around in my gut as I read about how Courtney’s mother sat down with her in fourth grade and taught her how to have a quiet time. I almost couldn’t relate to the picture of a young Courtney, with blonde pigtails no less.

Spending time with God and receiving notes of encouragement from my mother wasn’t my story. My mother was great and we went to church, but I honestly can’t remember one time during my 4th-grade-year (or 5th, 6th, 7th…) sitting down with my Bible or even connecting with God beyond church or vacation Bible school.

I loved Jesus, I did. I grew up going to church, well mostly. My mother and grandmother both became Christians when I was in second grade. I remember the happy day when they were baptized, but I also remember the challenges that came as they tried to live out their faith.

God showed up! He met me. He taught me. He teaches me still… @TriciaGoyer

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When I was in fourth grade, my mother and grandmother had only been Christians a few years and everyone else in the family was still on a journey. (Some of those family members are journeying still.) We didn’t have Christian books around the house and Bible study wasn’t something I witnessed. Our lives centered around my parents’ friends and new movies on HBO–movies I’d sneak and watch through the crack in my bedroom door.

Why am I confessing this? Because even though my childhood didn’t look like Courtney’s, so much more of chapter two looks like my life. Like Courtney, I draw peace, hope, and nourishment from my time with God. As a mom of six children (three of them six-years-old and younger), I sneak out of bed early and PRAY–pray that no one wakes up too soon. I need God, and my day is so much better when I make time for Him.

Unlike Courtney, no one taught me how to have a quiet time. Instead, I figured it out myself as a pregnant teenager who’d just given her life to God. And you know what? God showed up! He met me. He taught me. He teaches me still…

(Read the rest of this article on Time-Warp Wife)

Prayer

Jesus, thank for guiding us and teaching us. On the days when it all seems so unfamiliar and overwhelming, you are there. Teach me to listen to your voice and absorb your teachings.

Let’s play a game!

My book The Kissing Bridge is a featured item in Barnes & Noble through August 18th! Next time you’re at Barnes & Noble, snap a photo of the book and post it on social media with the hashtag #iSpyTriciaG – You’ll be entered to win a $25 Starbucks gift-card and 5-book prize pack!

Only those in the US are eligible to win. Keep your eyes peeled for the winner announcement on August 19th!

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July 2, 2014 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Bible Study Brainstorm: 7 Ideas for Busy Moms

Do you need a Bible Study Brainstorm in this season? I completely understand and I’m here to help! These 7 ideas will help you make time for pouring God’s Word into your parched soul. Be blessed, Mom!

Bible Study Brainstorm:

7 Ideas for Busy Moms

There being sixteen years between babies, I had forgotten a lot. Right after I adopted my younger children a couple years ago I began to remember. I remembered that I can’t even take a shower without peace, let alone get an hour of Bible Study prayer and journaling that I was used to.

If you want time to study God’s Word but don’t find it possible with little ones…

Here are 7 ideas for spending time with God.

1. Have Scripture emailed to you.

For many years I read through the Bible on a reading plan. Here are some plans that get emailed to you. You can chose to read the whole Bible through the year, but I’d recommend starting with the New Testament first. Also, if you get behind, don’t let the emails pile up. Delete the old ones and get back on track. It’s about reading God’s Word and spending time with Jesus … no guilt allowed!

2. Keep a Bible open on the kitchen counter.

Yes, it might acquire spaghetti sauce stains, but I don’t think Jesus will mind. If it’s there and open you can read God’s Word and whisper thoughts and prayers to Him as the bread is toasting or the pasta is boiling. God’s ears are attuned to kitchen prayers just as much as ones whispered on your knees in a quiet morning.

3. Watch Christian sermons on YouTube.

Some of my favorites are videos of Francis Chan and Beth Moore. They are wonderful teachers who bring God’s Word to life! I’ve pulled them up on my computer while I’m folding clothes instead of turning on TV shows–much more uplifting!

4. Keep a devotional book in your bathroom.

One of my favorites is Nothing is Impossible by Women of Faith. I’ve discovered I can read a devotion and meditate on the Bible Scripture verse it in the time it takes to blow dry my hair.

Get more Bible in your day: Keep a devotional book in your bathroom. @TriciaGoyer

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5. Have a Bible Study time with your kids.

For years I used Keys for Kids. It’s online and it’s FREE. The best part is the kids loved it and they kept me accountable!

6. Ask your husband to be your Bible reading partner.

Many years ago John and I started reading the Bible together before he goes to work. We read though the Bible, but we don’t try to stick to a Bible reading plan. (Tried that and it just stressed us out!) Instead, we just keep a bookmark in the Bible and pick up where we left off last time. We each take a turn reading a chapter out loud if we have time. If not we split a chapter and each read half. We don’t stress if we can’t get it in, but we enjoy it when we do. It also gives us great topics of conversation throughout the day.

7. Join a Bible Study.

I know, I know this can be a challenge, but it can also be a great joy. In the past, I’ve joined Bible Study Fellowship. They provide great studies and have an amazing children’s program. Not only do the moms get to hear God’s Word, but the children do too. There is weekly homework that takes 15-20 minutes a day on average. I fit this in by waking up earlier than normal or by asking my husband to watch the kids for a few minutes. It’s hard for him to say no when I tell him I need to study the Bible!

If you’re looking for an online study, check out Good Morning Girls. Good Morning Girls exists to inspire, encourage and equip women all over the world to get into God’s Word through their online community. Good Morning Girls has multiple online Bible studies, resources and videos created with YOU in mind and all for FREE!

Those are some things I’ve done. Now … what about you? What are your favorite ways to study the Bible?

June 27, 2014 by Tricia Goyer 3 Comments

The Desire to Be Seen

Years ago I attended a national mothering conference. A lot of women had gathered together to have fun, bond with friends, and learn how to be better mothers. Unfortunately I didn’t attend with other women.

The truth was I’ve never felt so alone in my life.

I had a hotel room to myself. I sat alone during the speakers’ presentations, among 5,000 women. I remember looking around and thinking, “Nobody knows me. Nobody understands.” They didn’t know who I was. They didn’t know about my life or about my children or my ministry.

It made me think about our desire to be known. We want to feel appreciated. If we’re attending a Bible Study or we’re taking our child to a new school we don’t want to be the one that nobody knows.

It made me think of a woman in the Bible who thought she was alone. Abraham’s concubine, Hagar, had a son named Ismael and when she was sent into the desert with her son she had no one who cared for her–at least that’s what she thought. She carried much when she left Abraham’s tent. She carried the harsh words of her mistress, weighing deep in her heart. She also was weighed down with worries about her son. How would she find food and water? How would they survive?

Yet God saw her.

He reached out to Hagar and show her His love. She cried to Him with thanksgiving.

“You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me” (Genesis 16:13).

I don’t know about your life today. I don’t know if you’re alone … or if you feel alone even as you’re surrounded by people. Maybe you woke up today without having anyone you looked forward to seeing. But God sees you, even though you may feel like you’re alone, like I did in that crowd of women. God is there. God cares.

Even though you may feel like you’re alone, God is there. God cares. @TriciaGoyer

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Prayer Request…

I’m still in Africa right now! Please join me in praying for the children around the world and especially in Africa. Please pray for the provision of the children affiliated with Awana Clubs International. Pray that their needs (emotional, physical, financial, and spiritual) be met, and especially pray their desire to be seen will be satisfied by knowing that God is there.

If you feel led to donate to Awana efforts in Kenya, please visit www.awana.org/donate

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.

Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my email updates, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or Instagram.

November 25, 2013 by Tricia Goyer 2 Comments

Podcast: Living Inspired: Gwen Smith & Mary Southerland | Dr. Reggie Anderson

Living Inspired ~ Thursday 3CT (11/28/13)

To listen to the interview: go here and click on the player in the upper right corner of the screen.

This week on Living Inspired, please welcome authors of new book Knowing God by Name (Multnomah Books, 2013), Gwen Smith and Mary Southerland and author of Appointments With Heaven (Tyndale, 2013) author Dr. Reggie Anderson.

If you’re reading this after 11/28/13 you’ll be able to find this show . . . and all my shows in the archive section.

For your chance to win a copy of Knowing God by Name or Appointments With Heaven sign up below. Winner will be announced on Friday on the winner page. Winner will be announced on Friday on the winner page.

Due to shipping cost, giveaway open to US residents only

More about Gwen and Mary: Gwen Smith, author, speaker, worship leader, and award-winning songwriter, has been featured on major television programs. Mary Southerland is an international speaker and author of books that help women who struggle with stress and depression, offering a weekly online Bible study to 17,000 subscribers. Along with co-author Sharon Jaynes, Gwen, and Mary share Girlfriends in God online devotions, read daily by over 500,000.
Connect with the Girlfriends in God: Website, Blog, Twitter
More about Knowing God By Name:
Redeemer. Healer. Provider. How will you encounter God today?
In ancient times, names held power and significance, representing a person’s future or personality. Throughout Scripture, God reveals His complex character by identifying Himself by different names—names that shed light on who He is and how we should relate to Him. In this engaging book, the popular Girlfriends in God devotional team introduces you to forty of those names, each of which invites you to glory in a different aspect of our amazing God.
In each day’s reading you’ll encounter personal, inspiring stories and biblical truths that lead you to a deeper understanding of who God is and what He does on your behalf. You’ll be fed with Scripture that you can apply to your unique circumstances. And most important, as you come to know Him by name, you’ll draw closer to God and learn to trust Him more fully.
Each of the eight weeks concludes with a reflective study and action steps to encourage further prayer and dialogue between you and God—and also with your girlfriends, prayer partners, or small group. Special features include journaling pages and a pronunciation guide for God’s Hebrew and Greek names.
Begin today with Knowing God by Name—and grow closer to the One who knows you by name. Knowing God by Name is available right here on our website or you may purchase your copies by clicking on the one of the online retailers below.
Purchase your copy here.

More about Reggie:
Dr. Reggie Anderson has practiced family medicine for over twenty-five years and recently was awarded The Frist Humanitarian Award by the Centennial Medical Center in Nashville. A graduate of the University of Alabama Medical School, Reggie is a physician with the Frist Clinic. He also serves as chief of staff of TriStar Ashland City Medical Center and is medical director of three nursing homes. Reggie and his wife, Karen, have four adult children and reside on a farm in Kingston Springs, Tennessee.
Connect with Reggie: Website
More about Appointments with Heaven:
Meet the country doctor who visits the front porch of heaven . . . and witnesses what awaits us there.
When a patient first asked Dr. Reggie Anderson to sit at her bedside as she passed from this life, something miraculous happened. As he held her hand, the veil between this world and the next parted . . . and he received an astonishing glimpse of what awaits us in heaven.
Little did he know this was just a foretaste of what was to come—a lifetime of God-given “appointments with heaven.” Join Reggie as he shares remarkable stories from his life and practice, including the personal tragedy that nearly drove him away from faith forever. As he reveals what he’s seen, heard, and experienced of the afterlife, we’ll learn how we can face the passing of our loved ones with the courage and confidence that we’ll see them again; discover what might happen when we expect the miraculous; and prepare for our own appointment with heaven.
Soul-stirring and hope-filled, Appointments with Heaven is a powerful journey into the questions at the very core of your being: Is there more to life than this? What is heaven like? And, most important: Do I believe it enough to let it change me?
Purchase your copy here.
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September 12, 2013 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Living a Grace-Filled Life

Every Sunday we have a small group that meets at our house. I count these people among my closest friends, and they love me for me—not for anything I’ve accomplished in life or anything I strive to accomplish. They are my cheerleaders and my inner circle. They also tell me what I need to hear even when I don’t want to hear it! (Now those are good friends!)

This is our second “small group” of friends. When we left Montana I hated leaving our small group behind. I STILL count those people my dearest friends. What a good God that He doesn’t take away from my friendships. Instead, when we moved to Little Rock, He added to them.

Can you approach every situation full of grace, or do you struggle with it like @TriciaGoyer does?

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In Montana, one of the studies we went through was the DVD study for What’s So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancey. It was a great study that has led to deep study and lots of commentary. It was also a study that stretched me. In doing that study I realized there were lots of areas that I needed to work on being more grace-full. I do great with people who like me and believe the same as I do. I have a harder time with people who don’t value my opinion or who actively oppose my point of view. (I know, it’s hard to believe. . . .)

Looking back I could see clearly that God prepared me THEN for what He had for me NOW. In Little Rock there are far more people different from me than similar to me. We’re attending a multi-ethnic and multi-economic church in the inner city. I greet both homeless people and U.S. senators during the meet-and-greet at church. It’s awesome, amazing, and stretching. My grace has grown as I’ve been kicked out of my comfort zone!

When it comes to grace, there is one key place we need to look for inspiration. As the well-loved Bible verse 3:16 says, “For God so loved the WORLD that WHOSOEVER believes …” Lately, I’ve been praying God will help me offer the grace of God to whosoever He brings in my path. And I’m also praying He reminds of this before I disgrace myself!

When it comes to grace, there is one key place we need to look for inspiration. @TriciaGoyer

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Here’s a quote by George Mueller that compliments this thought.

A Christian is a mind through which Christ thinks; a heart through which Christ loves; a voice through which Christ speaks; a hand through which Christ helps.

That’s what I want to be: mind, heart, voice, hand . . . and pen.

And even as I type these words I’m thinking about what the next ten years will hold for me and my small group. In my weakness by God’s grace abound!

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20. Lord, I’m so thankful that you saw me and showed compassion for me when I was a long way off! May I continue to reach out to others and show compassion to those who are still “a long way off,” and may my compassion draw them closer to You!

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September 9, 2013 by Tricia Goyer 4 Comments

Podcast: Living Inspired: Brenda Garrison | Marion Stroud

Living Inspired ~ Thursday 3CT (9/12/13)

To listen to the interview: go here and click on the player in the upper right corner of the screen.

This week on Living Inspired, we will be chatting with two inspirational authors— Brenda Garrison author of Love No Matter What (Thomas Nelson, 2013) and Marion Stroud author of It’s Just You and Me, Lord (Discovery House Publishers, 2012).

Sign up below for your chance to win one in three copies of Love No Matter What or one in five copies of It’s You and Me, Lord. Winners will be announced on the winners page on Friday, September 13th.

*Due to shipping costs, winners in US only.

If you’re reading this after 9/12/13 you’ll be able to find this show . . . and all my shows in the archive section.

More about Brenda:Brenda Garrison is an enthusiastic and authentic speaker and author. She ministers to women in all stages of life but especially to moms—encouraging them by keeping it real and based on God’s Word. Brenda speaks at retreats, workshops, professional groups and government agencies that work with families. She is the author of three other books including Queen Mom: A Royal Plan for Restoring Order in Your Home and Princess Unaware: Finding the Fabulous in Every Day. Brenda is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Ministry Leadership with a Concentration in Women’s Ministry at Moody Bible Institute. She and her husband, Gene, are the parents of three young adult daughters and live near Metamora, lll. Brenda Garrison is an enthusiastic and authentic speaker and author. She ministers to women in all stages of life but especially to moms—encouraging them by keeping it real and based on God’s Word. Brenda speaks at retreats, workshops, professional groups and government agencies that work with families. She is the author of three other books including Queen Mom: A Royal Plan for Restoring Order in Your Home and Princess Unaware: Finding the Fabulous in Every Day. Brenda is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Ministry Leadership with a Concentration in Women’s Ministry at Moody Bible Institute. She and her husband, Gene, are the parents of three young adult daughters and live near Metamora, lll.

Connect with Brenda.

More about Love No Matter What: Parents and kids will never agree on everything. So what can Mom and Dad do when a child’s decision—whether a matter of preference, spirituality or morality—is something they think is totally wrong? Preventing these “mistakes” that often surface once a child is away at college is impossible, and how parents respond will either build a wall or a bridge between them and their child. In Love No Matter What: When Your Kids Make Decisions You Don’t Agree With, Brenda Garrison and her daughter Katie share what worked and didn’t work as Katie made poor decision after poor decision in her teens. Katie’s choice to move out at 18, use her college money to fund an apartment, and later, briefly live with her boyfriend, initially crushed Brenda. But in hindsight, Brenda realized that imperfect families are the norm and that neither she nor Katie had it all wrong; they were simply fallen beings in need of grace. In addition to Brenda’s thoughts, the book shares what Katie has to say about her decisions. In sections called “Katie’s Thoughts,” she shares exactly what she was thinking when she made certain decisions, how she viewed her parents at the time, and what she learned. Brenda’s goal is not to turn readers into perfect parents; those don’t exist. She wants to equip parents with basic truths about how to love their children, listen to them, and understand them. “You can’t fix or save your child,” says Brenda, “and it is not your responsibility to do so….I wanted to fix Katie, but she didn’t need fixing. She needed to be heard and understood.”

“This book is truly a gift to struggling parents. And really, doesn’t that include us all?”

—Mark Atteberry, award-winning author of Dream and The Samson Syndrome

“Brenda Garrison knows how to make sense of the difficult scenario parents find themselves in when they lock horns with children who are bent on doing life their way. Brenda and daughter Katie speak from years of personal struggle. Through their relationship and stories of others, you will learn how to effectively and lovingly relate in your own.”

—Mark Gregston, Author and host of Parenting Today’s Teens

“Brenda speaks to parents right where they’re living—desiring to be a positive influence in their kids’ lives but pulling out their hair because of their kids’ decisions. Parents will wish they had read this book sooner.”

—Cindy Willison, Ministry services leader at Southland Christian Church, Danville campus

Purchase your copy.

More about Marion: Marion Stroud has been a bookworm since she memorized the rhyming couplets of the Rupert Bear stories when she was three years old. Marion always wanted to be a writer but trained initially to be a physical therapist. As soon as Marion “retired” from physiotherapy to have her first baby, she decided to fulfill two ambitions at once: to become a mother and a writer. She now has five adult children, seventeen grandchildren from ages eighteen months to nineteen years, and twenty-four published books to her name, many of which have been translated into up to fourteen different languages. Living in Malaysia as a child gave Marion a heart for people from different nations. She works with Media Associates International to mentor and encourage writers in countries where little Christian literature is written or published. Until retire a year ago, Marion served in Britain as a Justice of the Peace, which is a lay magistrate. Marion and her husband love entertaining, walking, reading, and traveling. They are active in the church they helped to found more than thirty years ago. They also lead a small group where they offer pastoral support, and together learn more about living out their faith in daily life.”

Connect with Marion.

More about It’s Just You and Me, Lord: There’s a lot to be said about women and their relationships, responsibilities, and concerns. It’s Just You and Me, Lord offers heartfelt prayers to inspire and encourage women readers no matter where they are in life’s journey. Addressing common issues and providing practical prayers, Scripture, and quotes, the author encourages readers to express honest and heartfelt communication with God. From personal prayers to prayers about family, friends, and the world, this inspirational resource helps women of all ages to genuinely connect with God, talk with Him about their concerns, and build and maintain a strong prayer life. Addresses Different Seasons, Responsibilities, and Concerns of a Woman’s Life Features Prayers, Scripture, and Quotations Relevant to Everyday Common Issues Helps Women Build an Honest, Genuine Prayer Life

Purchase your copy.

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Bible Study

Let’s Talk About Family Devotions and Truth-Telling!

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Scripture to ponder

Mentioned in This Episode

Who is Michael Kelley

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Special thanks to the October sponsors

Stop Calling Me Beautiful with Phylicia Masonheimer

Who is Phylicia Masonheimer?

You can order Stop Calling Me Beautiful HERE.

About the Book:

Walk It Out Scripture

Resources, books, and links mentioned in this episode:

Connect with Phylicia Masonheimer

Connect with Tricia

Special thanks to this week’s sponsor

Moving Past Your Past with Kasey Van Norman

Today on Walk it Out, I’m excited to be chatting with Kasey, author of the book and study, Nothing Wasted: God Uses the Stuff You Wouldn’t.

But first … my gut-honest story

Laying in bed pregnant, feeling ashamed and alone, I dared to believe that God had a good future planned for me.

“Shame is ultimately the belief that we are unlovable,” writes Holley Gerth. “And because of this, love is the only way to break the shame.”

Not that any of us have “arrived.” If we’re breathing we’re still the main character in a still-being-written story. Yet hope reminds us that even though there are parts of our past that we wished could be different, God can use those parts for our ultimate good.

And this is the hope we want to offer to you.

Who is Kasey Van Norman?

You can order Nothing Wasted HERE.

About the Book:

What if the pain and mistakes of your past are exactly what God wants to use to redeem your future?

With vulnerability, sound doctrine, and humor, Kasey unfolds the brokenness in her own life, reminding us that a holy, sovereign God lovingly works, not in spite of our past, but through it.

Because with God, nothing is wasted.

Walk It Out Scripture

Resources, books, and links mentioned in this episode:

Connect with Kasey Van Norman

Connect with Tricia

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Make sure to enter below for your chance to win a copy of Study Buddy!

What I didn’t learn in Sunday School

From 9/2 – 9/18, you can enter to win the 13-DVD set of That the World May Know®! Click here to learn how you can enter to win the series for your family, small group, or church.

Hope For Bible Study Newbies (Who Want to Train their Kids Well)

Prayer

Bible Study Brainstorm:

7 Ideas for Busy Moms

If you want time to study God’s Word but don’t find it possible with little ones…

Here are 7 ideas for spending time with God.

1. Have Scripture emailed to you.

2. Keep a Bible open on the kitchen counter.

3. Watch Christian sermons on YouTube.

4. Keep a devotional book in your bathroom.

5. Have a Bible Study time with your kids.

6. Ask your husband to be your Bible reading partner.

7. Join a Bible Study.

Those are some things I’ve done. Now … what about you? What are your favorite ways to study the Bible?

The Desire to Be Seen

The truth was I’ve never felt so alone in my life.

Yet God saw her.

Prayer Request…

Living Inspired ~ Thursday 3CT (11/28/13)

To listen to the interview: go here and click on the player in the upper right corner of the screen.

**Due to shipping cost, giveaway open to US residents only**

Living Inspired ~ Thursday 3CT (9/12/13)

To listen to the interview: go here and click on the player in the upper right corner of the screen.

*Due to shipping costs, winners in US only.

Due to shipping cost, giveaway open to US residents only