God

August 21, 2023 by Tricia Goyer 2 Comments

God is Not Punishing You For Your Past Sins

Do you feel that God is punishing you for your past sins? I used to feel the same way. Read on to see how the Lord taught me differently.

God is Not Punishing You For Your Past Sins

The other day I was mindlessly scrolling my Facebook feed when a headline caught my eye: “Toni Braxton Once Believed God Gave Her Son Autism Because Of Her Past Abortion.” My heart clenched as I read that—not only because of Toni’s pain and shame, but because of my own.

As a fifteen-year-old young woman, I found myself pregnant.

Overwhelmed with despair and seeking advice, I went to a Planned Parenthood clinic. The “counselor” looked across the table and focused on my eyes. “You’re young. You have your whole life ahead of you. An abortion is the best choice.”

“But . . . what about the baby?” I’d asked.

“It’s not a baby,” she told me. “Right now it’s just a few cells. The doctor’s just scraping them out.”

I bought into her lie and I scheduled an abortion, even though deep down, I knew it was a baby. I knew if I didn’t intervene, I’d be holding a child in my arms in seven months. And that scared me, too.

Later, I was horrified to find out that not only did those “few cells” have a beating heart, but little arms and legs and lips and tiny ears. Knowing that, the shame pressed down even more and I walked through life feeling numb, unable to face the truth of my decision.

Then I found myself pregnant again at age seventeen.

This time I was determined to carry my child. (I found out later that many young women who’ve had an abortion have another baby within a few years. It’s an “atonement child” of sorts.)

It was during this second pregnancy that I turned my life over to God. I prayed, “God, if you can do anything with my life, please do.” God has done amazing things. He gave me a beautiful son, and later brought me a wonderful Christian husband. Everything was going well in my life, but I still was ashamed of my past. Few people knew about my abortion, and I was sure they’d hate me if they found out.

A few years after John and I were married, I found out I was pregnant. I was so excited to have a baby with my husband. Finally, I’m doing things right. Yet a couple of months later I woke up in a pool of blood, and I knew two things:

First, I’d lost my baby.

And second, God was punishing me for my past sins, for my abortion.

Looking back, my heart aches for the young me, a woman who still didn’t understand God’s complete forgiveness. I saw God as a stern judge who was weighing all my deeds and found me wanting.

For years I felt my abortion was too much for God to forgive. I had a hard time forgiving myself. It was only when I attended a Bible study and worked through the book Forgiven and Set Free that I realized Jesus’ death covered all my sins. Who was I to say my sin was greater than His sacrifice?

The freedom I’m walking in today comes from understanding who God is. My sin was horrible, yes. I’ll always regret not having that child, discovering who he or she is, and spending this life together. Yet, I’m thankful for the eternity to come. I’m thankful that in God’s eyes I stand clean before Him, as white as snow.

God is not a God who is punishing you for your past sins!

There are natural consequences for our sins—pain and shame and regret were some of the consequences I faced—yet God offers forgiveness and grace. These are not dependent on who we are but on who He is.

As Romans 8:1-2 says, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.”

Maybe you’re like me. Maybe you are carrying around the pain and shame from past sin. And maybe you’re thinking God is punishing you for your past sins. If so, then do two things:

In your mind’s eye, go back to that moment of your sin. See your sin, and then look to your right hand. Picture Jesus standing there. There’s isn’t a look of anger in his gaze, but one of compassion. He is there waiting for you to turn to Him and find Him so you’ll have real, abundant life. He’s been there all along, and He’s waiting for you to give Him your whole heart.
Picture Jesus on the cross. See Him there. Know His sacrifice is enough. Pray and thank Him for that.

My prayer for you today, friend, is that you will find freedom in Jesus Christ that you’ve never known before. I pray you will begin to understand the breadth and length and height and depth of God’s love – not only for mankind but also for you. Trust Him in that; discover that truth for yourself today.

It’s my prayer for Toni Braxton, too. That Jesus will meet her wherever she is, just as He met me.

Have you met with Jesus? I would love to talk with you!

~Tricia

Further Resources:

Women often pack their lives with family, friends, and faithful service, yet still end up feeling empty and unfulfilled. In Walk It Out, Tricia Goyer demonstrates to women that walking out the mandates of Scripture allows God to spark passion and mission within them.

Whether believers realize it or not, God intended for them to do what the Bible says: adopt the orphan, take the gospel into all the world, and care for the needy. These are mandates that point believers down the path of true living and eternal life.

Sometimes those steps are easy, but many times they require a move outside of what feels safe or secure. When women stop focusing on their own dreams and purposes, and instead focus on God’s dreams and purposes, everything changes. Go to: Walk It Out

August 14, 2023 by Tricia Goyer 1 Comment

Homeschooling Success Can Be Yours Today!

Believe me when I tell you – homeschooling success can be yours. Let me tell you how I made it work for our family and how you can, too!

Homeschooling Success Can Be Yours

18 (short!) years. That’s all I had. And with some of my adopted kids joining our family late in life, I knew I had even less than that with them. I wanted to pack my children’s lives with meaning. I wanted to give them the best life I could. Because someday, I want to stand before God and be able to say I had done all I could to raise my children to love and follow Him.

But something was holding me back. As I lay awake at night, it was like a weight sitting on my chest… the possibility of homeschooling.

I realize now, that weight was fear. I was scared that homeschooling would require me to kiss my dreams goodbye. That if I homeschooled, my kids would emerge into adulthood as weird, socially awkward creatures that people would roll their eyes at and say, ” Oh, they must have been homeschooled.” Most of all, I was afraid homeschooling would turn my life upside down.

In many ways, it did.

My dining room table was suddenly taken over by books and papers, and my thoughts became consumed with worries about curriculum, homeschool co-ops, and conferences. I worried, “Am I even qualified to do this?” My school-aged kids were home all the time, so I had no time for myself.

But as the days passed into months, and months to years, I started to notice a few things:

My kids were playing outside when other kids were stuck at their desks all day.

My kids truly loved learning and viewed the world as their classroom. They loved the Lord and were excited to serve Him.

These kids raised at home weren’t socially awkward – in fact, they loved talking to adults and could strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere.

I felt like I knew my kids – really KNEW them.

I was confident I could give them each the individual attention they needed to be successful. Homeschooling had made it possible for me to reach them despite their different levels, abilities, and challenges.

Not only that, but I found I did have time for myself – time to write and publish books, serve moms in my community, and host a podcast.

So, I guess you could say that homeschooling did turn our lives upside down. But, 10 kids and many years later, I realized the truth:

Homeschooling didn’t turn our lives upside down. It turned our upside-down lives right-side-up.

Now, I want to offer the same gifts to YOUR family: the rich gifts of home education.

Homeschooling Success Can Be Yours!

They say bravery isn’t the absence of fear, it’s moving towards the thing you fear anyway. Maybe you’ve got fears, concerns, and questions. I’m here to tell you that’s OK. In fact, it’s actually very normal.

“For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?”

Luke 14:28

You are right to consider the cost, and that’s exactly why I designed the Homeschool Success Course with you in mind. I know the cost and I know that the gift of a homeschool education to your children and your family is worth it. And I’m here to help you!

I’ve put my heart and soul into developing a course for you that outlines the most important aspects of homeschooling:

Creating a positive home environment where your children will thrive and learn.
Inviting your kids to join you on their education journey.
Understanding the basics of homeschooling laws and what it really takes for your kids to graduate and go on to college.
Discovering your gifts as a homeschooling teacher.
Finding extra help for special-needs kids.
… and more!

Homeschooling Success Can Be Yours

You can bypass the stress, confusion, and exhaustion I experienced in the early years. You can skip straight to the meaningful, fun adventure that comes with schooling your kids at home! Because I care, I’ve compiled my best tips and tricks, making it easy for you to give your family the rich gift of homeschooling.

Don’t Wait!

You can proceed confidently and wisely. You can start your homeschooling journey with an entire toolbox of knowledge and inspiration.

Can you imagine what life will be like when you create a positive homeschooling environment where your children thrive and learn? And where you feel peace as a homeschooling mom?

Let me show you how! Learn more about The Homeschool Success Course now!

July 19, 2023 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

How to Walk Out Your Healing

The way you walk out your healing can affect not just your own life, but also the lives of your children. Facing our past mistakes and finding forgiveness and healing in Christ is so important. Today, I share I found healing through walking out my faith and how that affected our family.

Walk Out Your Healing

When my daughter was 13, I called her “mini-me.” When she answered the phone, people often thought it was me. Leslie has the same tone as me, and her voice carries the same inflections. Even though she had her own collection of CDs, she would often rifle through mine because she liked that music, too. She learned to put on makeup by watching me, and when she would see me engrossed in a good book, she would naturally want to read it. Even now that she is a grown adult, I see so much of myself in my daughter. She has many of my same convictions… And also some of my hang-ups.

When our kids are toddlers, we think it’s so sweet when they pick up a block and place it to their ear like a cell phone. But the older they get, the more they’re mimicking matters, and if they aren’t dealt with, the rock-solid bad habits in your life will most likely be theirs, too.

Walk Out Your Healing

In those days when you were slaves of sin, you weren’t concerned with doing what was right. And what was the result? It was not good, since now you’re ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.

Romans 6:20-22 NLT

What I love about that scripture is the fact that Paul isn’t trying to play down the past. Instead, he reminds fellow believers that what matters is what we are now free from the power of sin and slaves of God.

The word free here means “to liberate,” and this word has special meaning to me personally. Several years ago I wrote my first novel, From Dust and Ashes. It’s about liberation from a Nazi concentration camp from the points of view of both an American G.I. who opens the camp gates and a prisoner inside. To write the book, I interviewed both veterans and survivors alike. I also attended a ceremony in Austria organized by the survivors to celebrate their liberation 60 years after the fact!

Walking In Freedom

These men and women — prisoners of the Nazis – had been near death, oppressed, and hopeless. Yet their victors came to open the gates and offered them not only hope but a future too. Once they walked from those gates, they were prisoners no more. They were liberated. They might revisit those times of bondage in their mind, but they no longer had to live behind the barbed wire. They did, however, have to realize their freedom and live in it, no longer behaving as if they were still in bondage. Likewise, if we don’t know the joy of true freedom in our hearts, how do we expect to lead our kids in the same freedom?

Kids go where we take them, they have no choice. How sad it would be if our own inner struggles pulled our kids back to our own past issues… Merely because we ourselves have not yet fully realized our freedom in Christ.

Walk Out Your Healing

It’s taken me years to deal with some of the issues from my past. I’ve attended Bible studies for women who’ve had abortions. I helped start a crisis pregnancy center in our community. I’ve spoken at purity retreats for young women. And I’ve mentored teen moms. For me, healing from my past involves helping others who face the same struggles. My heart is renewed when I help others find hope.

The additional benefit is that my children now have a mother who has wholeness in Christ. They’ve heard about my mistakes, and they’ve seen me reaching out. They’ve also gained conviction in these areas, following what I say . . . and what I do.

Now, it’s your turn. How have you walked out healing in your life? What has God done to liberate you from your past? Share your testimony with me in the comments!

Walk It Out

You’ve heard the phrase Trust God. It’s easy to say but can be hard to do. But what if you did it. What if you did the things that God asked you to do and solely relied on Him? Women often pack their lives with family, friends, and faithful service, yet still feel empty and unfilled. Bestselling author Tricia Goyer has been where you are. She gets it and knows that the only way to live a fulfilling life is to walk it out with God.

Walk It Out: The Radical Result of Living God’s Word One Step at a Time is a resource that teaches women how walking out the mandates of Scripture will allow God to spark passion and mission within them. Goyer teaches women, of all ages, how to:

1. Use your healed heart to love and serve
Create space and craft purpose
Give generously without question
Be vulnerable
Truly love your family
Do the work that God has given you to do

This book is for women:

struggling with anxiety or depression
feeling like they lost their way and are living by comparison
who feel like they’re never enough and always too much
searching for ways to develop a closer relationship with God
raising families while facing crossroads

Sometimes the steps we take in our faith are easy, but many times they require a move outside of what feels safe or secure. When women stop focusing on their own dreams and purposes, and instead focus on God’s dreams and purposes, everything changes. Get your copy of Walk It Out today!

May 8, 2023 by Tricia Goyer 8 Comments

How to Trust God

She didn’t expect life to turn out like this. For the last few years she’d grown in her trust in and relationship with God. She’d been a strong support for her family. She’d thought she’d done everything right . . . but had God even noticed? Standing at her brother’s funeral she didn’t think so. Surely God could have stopped this tragedy. Didn’t Jesus care?

The “she” I’m talking about is Martha in the Bible. She’d seen Jesus heal, yet when her family needed his touch, Jesus was a no-show. Most of us know the biblical story about how Jesus finally showed up a few days later and called Lazarus from the grave. It was a healing they hadn’t expected, and I can guess that Martha went to sleep that night with a new sense of trust. Maybe Jesus knew what He was doing. Maybe she could truly trust Him after all.

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this, Martha?” John 1:25-26

Jesus has asked me the same things many times—not with an audible voice, but in my spirit.

Do you believe? Do you trust me?

Do you trust I gave your child a strong will for a reason?

Do you trust this cross-country move is best for your family?

Do you trust I can do the work through you when you can’t imagine doing it yourself?

Do you trust this personal struggle of yours will be for your benefit—to cause you to turn to me, to need me, to surrender to me?

Do you trust?

In our lives, trust comes when we can’t see how God is going to bring any good out of the mess we’re in . . . and He does. Trust comes when our heart is breaking and Jesus shows up.

“Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Song of God, the one who has come into the world from God.” John 11:27

Martha believed in her mind. But after she embraced her warm, fleshly, laughing brother, trust moved to her heart.

In my life there was a moment when I was seventeen and pregnant, when Jesus showed up in my depressed state and gave me a glimmer of hope. Deep inside I knew that He would be there for me.

Many, many times over the years He’s shown up again in dark moments. As I watch Him transform rejection, pain, hopelessness, and worry into avenues to extend His love and grace to me and to others, my trust grows.

Learning to trust reminds me of the broken, hurting children we’ve invited into our home over the years. John and I are a constant presence guiding them, loving them, embracing them, discipling them, and sharing our lives with them – but trust didn’t happen in one day, one week, or even six months.

Trust has grown when our children discover layers of love, grace, and help in everyday challenges. When they mess up, feel stuck, or find themselves overwhelmed, they’ve discovered we’re still there. And we’ll continue to show them how to do life in a loving, healthy way.

The only way to learn to trust God is to face each dark situation knowing that Jesus WILL show up. It may not be when we expect, or how we expect, but we can expect Him.

And when Jesus shows up, He’s going to behave in a way that’s different that we believe He will. He’s not going to give us what we think we need, but what we really need. Mostly, He’s going to give us Himself.

“If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says God, “I’ll get you out of any trouble. I’ll give you the best of care if you’ll only get to know and trust me. Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times; I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party. I’ll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16 (The Message)

How have you learned to trust God in your life?

Additional Resources:

Want to learn more about soul care and having a Happy Heart? Heart Happy: Staying Centered in God’s Love through Chaotic Circumstances will inspire you to stay tethered to the Lover of your soul. By taking time to make your heart happy in the Lord, you’ll grow closer to the Heavenly Father, fostering true transformation from the inside out. Peace and joy can be yours—no matter what life dishes up.

Building up Your Faith When Your World is Falling Apart — Tricia chats with author Michele Cushatt about making sure your faith is strong when times are hard.

July 29, 2022 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

When the Story That Brought You Shame Becomes Your Life-Impacting Testimony

Have you ever wanted to have a life-impacting testimony as a Christian? But maybe you felt that your story was only one full of guilt, shame, and mistakes? Today I want to tell you about how my story, which brought me great shame, actually became my life-impacting testimony.

When the Story That Brought You Shame Becomes Your Life-Impacting Testimony

It was a simple, Thursday Bible Study, in a small California town. I sat there with six young moms from my church. At the time John and I had been married three years, and we were the parents of a preschooler and a toddler. I’d dedicated my life to God when I was pregnant with Cory at age seventeen, and I prayed for a future husband. God had brought me John, who loved Cory as his own. And now we had a baby together.

Yet while everything looked happy on the inside, I carried within a deep chasm filled with pain, shame, and regret.

As I sat in that Bible Study, the other women talked about abortion. My chest grew tight, my heart pounded, and a large border grew in the pit of my stomach. I was certain they’d hate me if they knew that I’d had an abortion at age fifteen. Even though I looked as if I fit in with these church women, everything within me told me I didn’t. I mean, what about my testimony?

I certainly didn’t have a life-impacting testimony, in fact, I didn’t feel like I had a testimony at all!

Many years prior, I’d prayed and asked God to forgive me for my abortion, but I couldn’t forget … and I couldn’t forgive myself. I was acting the part, but I felt like a traitor. Looking back, I can easily spot the accusations and the lies. The enemy of my soul hissed that I didn’t belong–with God or these women. It didn’t take much to convince me that it was true. And so I sat silent as they talked, sitting face-to-face but feeling a sea of pain-blocking my friends from getting close. I had made bad decisions, and I’d carry the pain forever … or so I thought.

My life remodeled into a Life-Impacting Testimony

Just a few years later, I sat in another Bible Study. We were in Montana then, and I had three kids, all six and under. Tears streamed down my face, and lightness and joy flooded my heart. I had shared about my past and my sinful decisions, and these women embraced me. They cried with me. It wasn’t a different state or church that had changed things. It wasn’t different women that had made the difference … it was me. I finally had shared the truth of what I’d done, as painful as it was. They understood my pain because each of them had also made the decision to have an abortion. Confessing to each other, and seeking to accept God’s forgiveness, was something we were doing together. When I shared my story the chains of darkness that had held me captive released, giving me freedom. The story that had brought me shame had become my life-impacting testimony.

Each of us carries pain. Sometimes it’s due to our bad decisions. Sometimes it’d due to others’ bad decisions, And sometimes the pain is there because we live in a broken world and bad things happen to good people.

How the pain got there isn’t as important as what we choose to do with it. We can either live under pain, shame, and regret. Or we can choose to lift up our dilapidated hearts to Jesus and ask Him to do some remodeling work within our souls.

When we choose to seek healing, we’re not only doing it only for ourselves. Our families and friends benefit too. When we seek healing we’re choosing to offer our whole selves to God and to others.

What we can learn from Paul and Bathsheba

There are many examples of those in the Bible who allowed their lives to be remodeled by God. Paul was one of them. A former persecutor of Christians, he became a disciple and an evangelist. His “after” looked nothing like his “before.” Paul acknowledged his sin, but he also embraced his forgiveness. He didn’t carry his burden of shame. Instead, he used his story to remind others that God can forgive anyone and remodel anyone. Paul set himself up as proof.

Another person in the Bible that tugs at my heart is Bathsheba.

While many preachers have accused her of being a harlot, there is no evidence in God’s Word to that fact. What we do see is someone who was abused by a man in power, and who lost a husband and a child. None of this was in her control. If anyone had the right to live bitter and angry, it would have been her, yet when we see her years later Bathsheba is bold. She reminds her husband King David that he promised that their son Solomon would be king. And her son Solomon not only took the throne, but he was also the wisest king who ever lived. Bathsheba could have hidden herself away and got stuck her pain, who wouldn’t do that? Yet somewhere in the arch of her story, she began to see a new picture of what her future could be.

This wasn’t the life she’d chosen, but she trusted that God could bring good out of pain.

Walk it Out Podcast

Last week I released a podcast with Natalie Chambers Snapp, and we talked about Bathseba’s story … and how her story can apply to ours. Natalie’s book, The Bathsheba Battle, sheds new light on this familiar story, by telling it from this woman’s point of view.

The Bathsheba Battle- for your life-impacting tesimony

And, as she walks you through Bathsheba’s story, Natalie addresses some of the common responses to life’s disappointments, offering encouragement and practical help for sorting through suffering as well as moving forward on the healing journey.

I love this quote from Natalie’s book,

“When we keep our pain in the dark, we give the enemy the reigns. But when we surrender that pain in the light, we give the reigns to God.”

Sometimes the pain comes from our choices. Sometimes the pain comes from the choices of others or because this world is just stinking hard.

And this quote from Strong, Brave, Loved by Holley Gerth speaks directly to this too. (See, I told you I was reading this book during my morning quiet time!)

“And the enemy is not ourselves. There’s a reason we use the phrase “beating ourselves up.” When we think the problem is us, we become harsh toward our own hearts. But our primary battle isn’t against any person–including ourselves. And the lies we hear have the same sources as the first lie spoken to Eve in the Garden. If you are a woman in this world, you are at war. It is not optional. And while you may not go roaring into battle, at the very least you need to know basic spiritual self-defense.” –Holley Gerth

To have our life remodeled, we need to start by having our thoughts remodeled, remodeled with a foundation of God’s forgiveness, and remodeled with a shield of faith that combats the enemy’s lies. Is it time to allow God to remodel your heart and life? The answer to that question is … yes! You will never regret opening up your heart to Him.

But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. Philippians 3:13

If you’re ready for some reconstruction, and to turn your shame into a life-impacting testimony, here are some of my posts to get you started.

To Read:

Part 1 and 2 of my abortion story:

How To Be Transparent

Learning To Face The Truth

If you question if God can still use you, and truly give you a life-impacting testimony I promise He can.

To Listen To:

Writers Wednesday

You can also read about how one of my friendships led me to become a writer. Yes, it is worth opening our hearts! If you haven’t seen it yet, Cindy’s Writer’s Desk post is not one to miss!

Most of all, I want to encourage you to share your truth. Feel free to reply to this email and write a note to me. I promise I’m the only one who reads it. Don’t let the enemy hold you in chains any longer.

Has this encouraged you in any way? I would love to hear your story.

~Tricia

These are some books I have written that might bless you as well:

My Life Unscripted

Young people (and old) learn the importance of “scripting” their own responses BEFORE challenging life-situations arise so they are able to think about, pray about, and consider how to face these situations before the scene begins. By contrasting real-life with TV or movies, teens will understand they don’t have to get caught up in the drama. My Life Unscripted

Praying For Your Future Husband

From when we were small girls, most of us dream of “The One,” our future husband. We think about what it would be like to be a bride. We wonder who that special guy is and when we’ll find him. The great news is that what you do now can make a difference in your life and the life of your future husband! Praying For Your Future Husband

Walk It Out

Sewn With Joy

Can I work in a woman finding forgiveness into an Amish novel? Oh yes, I can. 😂Joy Miller wanted nothing more than to be a wife and mother—especially now that her relationship with Matthew Slagel, the bishop’s son, was deepening. But when a television crew rolls into Pinecraft, Florida, to film a new show about the Amish, tension threatens to rip apart their relationship…and the entire Amish community. Sewn With Joy

June 13, 2022 by Tricia Goyer 1 Comment

Re-Awaken Your Dreams, Mom

Is it time to reawaken your dreams, Mom? You don’t have to sacrifice the dreams of your heart. You can pursue the things God placed in your heart while serving Him and your family. I know, because I’ve done it, and you can too!

Re-Awaken Your Dreams, Mom

What dreams did you have as a child? Did you want to be an astronaut? A doctor? A marine biologist? While some of those dreams may have been inspired by popular movies (hello Free Willy!), we can look back at our childhood to discover some of our hidden talents and design. Have you ever considered these questions: Who did God design you to be? How well are you living that design?

Is it time to reawaken God’s dreams for you?

Let’s start by considering what you enjoyed during your earliest years. Who were you like as a child? What did you like to do? I was a library nerd. In fact, I discovered going to the library could be dangerous. Once I had checked out so many books at the library that I crashed because the books on my handlebars were so heavy!

Think back to when you were between the ages of 10 and 12. What did you love doing? What brought you true joy?

Here are some things I loved:

• Drawing.

I loved drawing. specifically drawing and naming my future family. I wanted eight kids: two boys and six girls. (God gave me three boys and seven girls!)

• Watching other families.

I remember one moment when I saw a large family at the beach playing together. There were kids in their twenties down to toddlers. I was drawn to their joy and relationship.

• Reading.

I loved going to the library and reading piles of books. Especially drawn to Little House on the Prairie books and books on Helen Keller.

• Spending time at my grandparents’ house.

One of my favorite things was sitting next to my grandpa and watching Lawrence Welk. Seeing my grandma cooking delicious food. Enjoying meals around the dinner table with the television off. Enjoying their organized and peaceful house.

• Being at church and feeling part of the church body.

I love feeling like the older people at church were my extended family. I loved how my Sunday School teacher cared about me.

Re-Awaken Your Dreams, Mom

The funny thing is that when I took the time to think about what I loved, I realized the things I was drawn to then are things I love now. I write books. I have a large family. My grandma lives with me, and I love serving in church.

Also, 2020 re-awakened my love for art and cooking. Painting and drawing are relaxing and give me a chance to breathe. I also love keeping a comfortable home and trying new recipes. True joy is found when my family is sitting around the dinner table. I love family time, togetherness, and seeing all ages interact.

I’ve realized over time that focusing on the things that brought me joy from my earliest ages is what brings me joy now because that’s part of who God made me to be. What about you? Are you living who God designed us to be? If not, here are some ways to do that.

1. Delight in your design.

Too often we look at what we’re NOT, and we forget to focus on who we ARE. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago,” (NLT).

And Psalm 100:3 says, “Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture,” (NLT).

Look at this we see that God’s will for our lives is living out the person He designed you to be.

2. Nix the lies that hold us back.

Lies such as, “I’m not smart enough,” or “I don’t have enough time to focus on things I like.” We may have made mistakes and believe we aren’t allowed to try again. We may believe that God has dreams for everyone else, except us.

What lies have held you back from who God designed you to be? It’s time to reawaken your heart. Take time to write down lies, and then combat them with God’s truth. Don’t listen to the negative thoughts that hold you back.

3. Depend on God.

If God designed you for a purpose, then know He is there to help. Job 33:4 says, “For the Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” Just as God gave you life, He will breathe His inspiration into you.

Today you can fulfill God’s will when you dare to become the person God made you to be. Turn your heart to God and place yourself in His hands. Ask Him to reawaken your heart to the things He put there. Place your design into His hands, and ask Him to guide His steps. He will be faithful to do it!

Re-Awaken Your Dreams, Mom

Are you struggling to balance your dreams and your life as a wife and mom? I understand! That’s exactly why I wrote

Balanced: Finding Center as a Work-at-Home Mom

Are you a work-from-home mom that feels stressed, overwhelmed, and overextended? Working moms are simultaneously raising kids, juggling a career, and taking care of family responsibilities. Some days can feel like Groundhog Day or an endless list of to-dos. Believe it or not, it’s not supposed to be this way. It is possible to create an environment that includes priority, structure, and balance.

Bestselling author, homeschooling mom, and work-from-home expert Tricia Goyer isn’t perfect, but she’s developed a system that works, and she shares all of her knowledge in Balanced: Finding Center as a Work-at-Home Mom. Inside you’ll find tips and strategies that actually work.

You’ll learn how to:

Create focus themes for your family
Prioritize your schedule
Use your job, so it also benefits your kids
Stop comparing yourself to other moms
Organize your home to fit your needs
Do the inner work, so you can truly understand what balance looks like

Balanced is perfect for Christian women of all ages. It doesn’t matter if you’re a new mom or a seasoned mom, women will discover a wealth of information in this resource.

If you’re looking for a simple how-to manual with outlines, or if you’re not willing to do the spiritual work to impact your life, then this book isn’t for you. But if you’re willing to learn from your mistakes, try a new balancing methodology, and trust in God, this self-help book will be a lifesaver for you!

This post originally appeared on The Better Mom.

May 30, 2022 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

The Power of Stories-Honoring Memorial Day

There is power in stories, I know because there are stories that have changed my life–I turned them into novels. These stories of bravery came from men and women who faced the horrors of war. When you read my historical fiction novels, I hope they give you a new understanding of the men who fought in World War II and their courage, honor, and sacrifice.

If you know a veteran, you can help keep their memories alive this Memorial Day by listening to their stories. Maybe it will change your life as well.

A Time To Remember

In 2000, I got my idea for what came to be my first historical novel, From Dust and Ashes. Wanting to know more about the stories of 23 men who liberated Mauthausen concentration camp, I contacted the 11th Armored Division who put me in touch with six of the veterans. These men then invited me to attend the 59th reunion of their division. I wasn’t expecting that at all. Although, I thought they’d point me to a good research book or allow me to interview them over the phone. I felt SO unworthy to meet with these men. Unfortunately, I knew very little about WWII, and I didn’t want my inexperience to show. Not to mention the $1000+ for airfare, hotels, rental car for a book I didn’t have a contract to write.

I urged a friend to go with me, and I’ve been so thankful we went. The men were caring and opened their hearts to me. They shared stories with me that they hadn’t shared with anyone before. They laughed, cried, took my hands, and thanked me for caring about their story. As I left, they hugged me and kissed my cheeks. I had changed their lives as well.

When it came to writing my novel, I wasn’t writing about fictional characters. I was writing pieces of Charlie’s story, bits of Arthur’s experiences. The memories that made LeRoy cry made it into my book. The snapshots that Tarmo carried around in his mind for 60 years transformed into scenes in my novel (and the novels to follow!).

I get many letters from readers who say that my novels come to life on the pages–that’s because the men’s experiences came to life to me as I looked into their eyes and saw glimpses of young heroes. Also, the following year I went to Europe and walked the streets of the SS housing with a man who’d been nine-years-old when the camp opened near his home. Again, I “saw” the story in his eyes as he shared–this time from someone on the outside.

There was an added benefit to this diligent research that I didn’t expect. After my second novel Night Song came out I received a letter from a veteran. He made a list of twenty minor research points that I’d gotten right, and then he asked, “One thing I didn’t understand was the faith element of this story. Can you tell me more about your faith in God?”

YES!

Because I had done the research, I’d was able to share about my Jesus with a veteran who has since passed away.

Reach out to a veteran today and listen to his or her story! #memorialday @triciagoyer

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The Power of Stories

Although many of the heroes I met have since passed away, their stories live on. LeRoy, who I mentioned above, had told me about opening the gates to the concentration camp at Mauthausen and seeing the masses of thin, skeletal figures. He also told me about an orchestra of prisoners who were playing the Star Spangled Banner for their liberators. Those prisoners survived because they were musicians and the Germans loved music.

That story became the inspiration for my novel Night Song.

A Night Song of Hope

Night Song tells the little-known, but true story of the orchestra started by prisoners in Hitler’s Mauthausen death camp. This courageous orchestra played the American national anthem as Allied troops arrived to liberate the camps.

Around the orchestra story, the fictional stories of a beautiful member of the Austrian resistance, the American GI who loves her, and a young prisoner who fakes his way into the camp orchestra in a desperate attempt to stay alive, are woven together.

Unforgettable Stories

Although many have since passed, these stories–and the men who lived them–will forever hold a part of my heart. Their responses to Night Song encouraged me that I had told a story that would help others to know the struggles and strengths of the brave men and women of The Greatest Generation.

“After nearly 60 years, I was transported back to Mauthausen, remembering the days when I delivered the daily ration of bread to the dying. The author has the uncanny knack of recreation, and I found myself remembering everything, including the smell.”
-Charlie White, 11th Armored Division Veteran

“Night Song is filled with many details that are exactly how they were during my military career. Though I am a compulsive reader of WWII, I learned things I did not know!”
-Wilfred “Mac” McCarty, 11th Armored Division Veteran

“Well researched and historically accurate! As a member of D-Troop, 41st Calvary Squadron, 11th Armored Division, whose men liberated Mauthausen, Gusen I and Gusen II Concentration Camps on May 5, 1945, I highly recommend this book.”
-Charles Torluccio

If you have a veteran in your life … today is the perfect day to reach out–to listen to his or her story. Don’t let the stories die, when you have a chance to make a difference.

To read some of their stories, click here.

Right now you can buy Night Song –and all my other historical fiction-– for 50% off using code: 50-50 and get FREE SHIPPING on orders over $50! Hurry–sale ends 5/31!

May 13, 2022 by Pamela Black Leave a Comment

Help and Healing From Porn

Many need healing From Porn in the Czech Republic and, if you know me, you know that half of my heart is in there. From my first visit in 2000, I felt connected to the country in a way that I cannot explain. I have prayed for the Czech people since that time, and God has answered these prayers in amazing and unexpected ways. In addition to now having Czech family members, God has birthed an amazing ministry there to help people who are addicted to porn find freedom. How amazing is God?!

Pete Lupton is a director of an NGO in the Czech Republic called NePornu (“no to porn”). This organization focuses not only on raising awareness of the dangers of pornography, but also helps people struggling with porn addiction, their partners, parents, or church leaders. Please read Pete’s story and consider donating to this amazing ministry. Pete is a family friend, and I’m honored to know him! Every small gift can make a HUGE difference to men and women coming to freedom!

Help and Healing From Porn in the Czech Republic

TG: Pete, what led you to start the NePornu project?

I myself used to be addicted to porn. I come from a broken family with lots of issues including domestic violence and alcohol addiction. So when I discovered porn around the age of 11, I got hooked up pretty quickly, since it was a form of escape from the reality that I experienced at home.

Then I became a Christian at the age of 15 and realized that I am actually addicted to porn, so I tried to quit. But I felt really alone within the church and I was afraid to talk about this issue, so I kept on struggling myself for about 10 years.

When I finally got free, I also got the opportunity to start this project. And from the start, I knew that our main slogan has to be “You are not alone in this!”

TG: Ok, and what did actually help you get free from your addiction?

Well, I tried everything and nothing worked. Looking back I can see that the main problem was that I was trying to keep it a secret from everyone. And this may surprise you, but the breaking point actually happened after one of your seminars that you taught with your husband and that I attended with my wife here in the Czech Republic. You talked a lot about honesty in marriage, and so on the way back home I confessed to my wife that I was addicted to porn. So thank you for that!

Later, I started an accountability group with some men in our church, and that helped as well. Suddenly, all the things that didn’t work before started working. I limited my access to porn, I worked on recognizing my triggers, I started working on creating healthy habits, and so on. But since anonymity is considered one of the main problems behind porn addiction, being open about it with my wife and friends was the most important step towards freedom.

TG: How do you specifically help people addicted to porn?

Raising awareness is a big part of the process because many people are still not aware that one can develop an addiction to porn. So, we write articles, publish life stories of people struggling with this issue, and make podcasts.

We’ve also created a number of online courses for people addicted to porn on how to overcome the addiction. We also have an online course for spouses on how they can deal with the information that their partner is addicted to porn, and how they can possibly help them. We have an online course for church leaders on how to open this topic within the church.

For your readers, it might be especially interesting that we have an online course for parents on how to open this issue with their kids.

As for the help itself, we offer main online coaching through emails, and we are working on local support groups called Pornoholics Anonymous. Our main goal is to help the addicts be set free, and we try to accompany them on their journey towards freedom. Not to mention, that everything we do is free for our clients.

TG: As a NGO, what are your current needs?

We are always looking for new e-coaches (volunteers) that would help our clients, but they would have to speak Czech 🙂

However, as a NGO, we raise funds to cover everything that we do. The budget for this year is 66,000 USD, and we still need to raise about 20,000 USD to cover the whole budget. This also includes the process of translating Good Pictures, Bad Pictures books into Czech, which will help the parents to open this topic with their children.

If someone would like to support us, here are ways to do it:

Donate through JARON Ministries International (especially for US citizens)
Donate through Darujme (especially for EU citizens)
Donate directly to our Czech Bank account:
- IBAN: CZ27 2010 0000 0026 0174 5437
- BIC/SWIFT: FIOBCZPPXXX

Help and Healing From Porn in the Czech Republic

Thank you for taking the time to learn about what NePornu is doing in the Czech Republic to aid those who need help and healing from porn. Together, we can make a difference and bring the light of Christ to those struggling with porn addiction.

Also, want a wonderful way to connect with your spouse and foster healing? Download and print this Couples Bible Reading Plan.

April 12, 2022 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

5 Ways to Keep Your Sanity on the Sabbath

These 5 Ways to Keep Your Sanity on the Sabbath can help you refocus. The Sabbath is ordained by God as a gift and a blessing. So why don’t we receive it as such? If the Bible admonishes our rest, why aren’t we resting? Today, Marilyn Jansen shares how we can sit a spell with God and experience the Sabbath anew!

5 Ways to Keep Your Sanity on the Sabbath

The seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work.

EXODUS 20:10

My husband surprised me with a gas double oven a few years ago. The baker inside me danced a jig. I had visions of sheet pans full of cookies, roasting turkeys with all the fixins, and dozens of loaves of bread. It had five racks and two temperature zones and gleamed like a new penny.

Hot diggity dog!

Other women want shoes or spa treatments or new outfits. I want gadgets, appliances, and cookbooks. My kids complain that I have more gadgets than sense. The aebleskiver pan, pizzelle maker, and raclette would agree! A few of these gadgets take careful practice to use correctly. It is very important to read directions.

When the oven was installed, I immediately curled up with a cup of coffee and the manual. Amid the technical specs and directions for the steam self-cleaning option came information for using the Sabbath mode.

The oven has a Sabbath mode! During the Sabbath, or Shabbat, some Jewish people refrain from any kind of work. That means they cannot turn on the oven or the lights or touch any of the buttons. They take their day of rest seriously. To help the Jewish community stay true to their beliefs, many appliances offer this option.

The instructions for using the Sabbath mode require a whole page of explanation. It is very detailed. The instructions for the Sabbath in the Bible also take up a lot of space. The Old Testament repeats the requirement many times: The seventh day is holy (Genesis 2:3). Take a rest (Leviticus 16:31). Do no work (Exodus 20:10). And, “You shall kindle no fire throughout your dwellings on the Sabbath day” (Exodus 35:3, nkjv). That explains the Sabbath mode.

5 Ways to Keep Your Sanity on the Sabbath

If the Bible admonishes our rest, why aren’t we resting? The oven has a mode, a setting, a predetermined way of behaving. Once set into motion, the programming takes over. Maybe that is what we need: A setting for rest. A predetermined behavior that we can’t turn off. A mode for following the Word of God.

Surely, if an oven can do it, we can. But how? How do we keep our sanity and keep the Sabbath in the middle of this very real, very demanding life? Although there are no magic solutions that fit every life, here are five ideas that might help.

1. If you have younger children, set aside a selection of toys that only come out on your Sabbath day.

Make sure these include toys that keep their attention longer than thirty seconds. When my kids were young this gave me time to enjoy a scone (try the James Earl Scone recipe in my book) and a cup of tea.

2. Pre-make or preorder food for the Sabbath.

You can do that a week or more ahead of time. During the week, when I am making a dinner our family, I often double it. I put one meal in the freezer. Then Saturday, I put that meal in the fridge to thaw. I throw it in the crockpot before church so I can nap Sunday afternoon. Napping is good for my soul—and everyone else’s.

3. Set your electronic devices to turn off at a certain time on the Sabbath and stay off for at least an hour or two.

Some routers can be set to shut down for certain hours. Or set a weekly alarm to remember to turn the internet off. I set alarms on my phone, tablet, and computer to turn things off because I’m the one who needs the extra push. Wordle is a temptress.

4. Start a Monday cleaning routine so you can let things slide a little on Sunday.

Or if you are like me, you might let them slide into Tuesday or Wednesday. Don’t obsess over picking up or doing dishes or whatever it is you feel pulled to do. It may take a little time to relax and let that go. Keep at it. Through prayer, meditation, or simply taking a bubble bath, you can retrain your brain to put rest first.

5. Get everyone in your household to participate in stress-reducing activities.

Maybe a journal or coloring book—a journal with wide lines or a coloring book and crayons for small kids, a diary with a lock or an adult coloring book for teens, a very masculine leather journal for men. Then set a timer and let everyone write, draw, color, paste, copy, or drool on their own book. It may only last five or ten minutes at first. But with practice and persistence, this time can become something the whole family will love.

And if you need something baked on the Sabbath, come on over, my oven has you covered.

Right now you can enter to win a copy of Come Sit a Spell!

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5 Ways to Keep Your Sanity on the Sabbath

Marilyn Jansen has been writing and creating since she glued dandelions into her first book at age four. She is a budding photographer who takes way too many photos of seen but under-appreciated things. Because she has been an editor in Christian publishing since 1998, her haphazardly stacked collections of books threaten to take over her home. As co-owner of Nashville Cooks, Marilyn writes about Music City’s diverse food scene and contributes recipes inspired by those menus. She has three adult children and lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

Her book Come Sit a Spell takes you back to a time when people’s lives were real and raw, where folks lived lives full of love hard-worn. It gives readers that feeling of home that they often don’t realize they are looking for. Through her personal reflections on growing up in the Missouri Ozarks, she reminds us that God’s love comforts and guides us even when the pantry is empty. These stories, based on memories from three generations of kitchens, come fully baked with recipes that just about anyone can master, and ingredients that are staples in almost every cupboard. Come Sit a Spell is about people and food—not the glamorous kind, but the everyday, love-’em-with-all-you-got kind that is the foundation of country homes across America.

You can reach her at her website at www.marilynjansen.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/dotcommom/, or at Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dotcommom61/.

Soon to be at tiktok @marilynsjansen

April 4, 2022 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Your Guide to Finding True Happiness

Today I’m sharing your guide to finding true happiness. If you’re anything like me, you’ve struggled with this. What is true happiness? Where does it come from? Let’s look at what God says about finding true happiness, friend.

What True Happiness Is and Is Not

Looking back at my childhood, I can’t say we were a happy family. My mom, stepdad, brother, and I co-existed. We rarely had family dinners around a table. Instead, dinner was served on the kitchen counter, and we sat in front of the television. Most of my family didn’t bother attending my science fair or seeing me cheer. It just wasn’t important. But, of course, that meant that I wasn’t important.

At the time, I believed that to be “happy,” I needed the attention and approval of others.

Finding True Happiness

I do remember a few fun family vacations. Once, my grandparents joined us. We went to the Ice Follies and the zoo, but those moments were like sparkling moments set among the mundane. It wasn’t until I was an adult with my children that I realized how different things could be. We enjoy family meals almost every night and spend time at the lake or going on evening walks. We serve in church together, which is a lot of fun.

Yet no family can be happy all of the time.

Our family has faced the deaths of loved ones, and we’ve had times of hardship and struggle. Yet, even then, we still have each other. My husband, kids, and I have an underlying contentment and connection—happiness even—during hard times. Realizing this, I began to understand that true happiness isn’t about what we have or do. True happiness is about where we are walking. Who we are walking with.

Do you want to know this type of happiness—a deeply settled feeling that tells you all is well, even during the chaos or pain of life?

Finding True Happiness

It wasn’t until I understood the truth about “happy” that I saw why things were different in my home than in the one I grew up with. True happiness stems from the internal, not the external, and it’s found throughout the Bible. Happy is translated as blessed, and the root is “to be straight.”

So to be truly happy is to get our hearts “straight” or “right” in the Lord.

“Happy are those who fear the Lord, who greatly delight in his commandments,” we read in Psalm 112:1 (NRSV). The whole chapter is so beautiful I’m going to share it here:

Happy are those who fear the Lord,

who greatly delight in his commandments.

Their descendants will be mighty in the land;

the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Wealth and riches are in their houses,

and their righteousness endures forever.

They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright;

they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.

It is well with those who deal generously and lend,

who conduct their affairs with justice.

For the righteous will never be moved;

they will be remembered forever.

They are not afraid of evil tidings;

their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord.

Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid;

in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.

They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor;

their righteousness endures forever;

their horn is exalted in honor.

The wicked see it and are angry;

they gnash their teeth and melt away;

the desire of the wicked comes to nothing.

Finding True Happiness

What is true happiness? To be truly happy is to get our hearts “straight” or “right” in the Lord, and then all good things stem from that.

If your heart longs to be happy, it’s time to turn to Jesus. With Him is true happiness is found.

Heart Happy shares how I went from hurting and struggling through chaos and disappointment to living in the abundance of joy Christ died to give me. I want the same for you, friend. That’s why I share from my heart about how He walked alongside me through my pain and helped me see that He was ready and willing and ABLE to handle all my fears and doubts. He could take all the crazy and heal my heart from the inside out, so I could smile again. And He wants to do the same for you.

Join me in finding your Heart Happy life today!

Looking for more on how to find true happiness?

In this talk with my friend Rebekah Hargraves we chat about her book Lies Moms Believe … and wow, there are a lot of them! And you know what? Those lies can keep us from finding true happiness in Christ! I know you’re going to love my conversation with Rebekah. We share the lies that we often have to dig out of our hearts.

Listen here https://triciagoyer.com/lies-moms-believe-and-how-to-refute-them/

December 15, 2021 by Tricia Goyer 2 Comments

When Families Learn Together

When Families Learn Together they grow together. And there’s something magical about the moment your child understands something about God and His creation on a deeper level. That’s why I’m excited to help you grow your family’s faith and knowledge with the help of Brock Eastman, AKA Dr. Fizzelbop. Make sure you read through to the end and enter the giveaway to win your own copy of Faith and Science with Dr. Fizzlebop!

When Families Learn Together: Ideas for Fun, Educational Family Time

There is just something fizztastic about the “Aha!” moment! Maybe it’s because everything finally clicks into place. Maybe it’s because what was murky before is now clear and easy to see. Or maybe it’s because our brains are wired for discovery by a God who loves to be discovered.

Whatever the reason, an “Aha!” moment can be made even more satisfying when it is shared with others. As a parent, you have the ability to create “Aha!” moments for your kids every day in every way because our world is ripe for discovery. Psalm 19:1 tells us, “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship” (NLT). The world around us is literally shouting and pointing back to the God who created it. All we have to do is look.

Here are some ways you can create and take advantage of “Aha!” moments through having a family devotional time with your kids!

Families Learn Together Through:

Create time to spend with the Creator.

Life can get busy, and we can make a million excuses for why we don’t have time to sit with God and be still, but the truth is, we need quiet moments to spend together with God, both alone and in community with others. Your family is a mini-community, with a culture, experiences, and ways of being all its own. What if as part of your family culture you set aside time each day or week to spend it with the Creator?

Choose a Format that takes into account your children’s ages and readiness to learn.

Thirty minutes is a great amount of time for younger kids, allowing you to read a story from Scripture, talk about it, put it into practice, and then pray together. With older kids, focus on a discussion format where you can talk and ask questions.

Remind your family that we all learn from one another.

As a parent, allow for your kids to teach you something about Jesus too! You might be surprised by the “Aha!” moments you have as your child makes connections you’ve never seen before!

Read a story from Scripture together.

Act the story out or take turns reading it. Or read from a storybook Bible and then from your family’s favorite Bible translation. As you finish the story ask these questions:

1. Where did God show up in that story?
2. How was God interacting with humans in the story?
3. What did you discover about God?

Do an activity related to the Scripture together.

You can find fun science experiments in my book Faith & Science with Dr. Fizzlebop. They are easy to try, and they relate to stories from Scripture!

Always allow for questions.

Never be afraid to say, “I don’t know the answer to that question, but let’s see what we can find out together!” Allowing your child to ask good questions helps their faith to form and grow. When kids are given answers too soon, it actually slows down the truth internalization process. However, if your child has the chance to explore and discover the answer with you, that creates space for the Holy Spirit to do His transformative work!

Pray together.

Take turns praying for one another. Have your kids pray for you as you pray for them. Ask the Holy Spirit to take what you’ve discovered from Scripture and do a work in your lives.

Family learning time may look messy, but the key is to stick with it. Using a book like Faith & Science with Dr. Fizzlebop is a great way to stay guided in your discovery of the next “Aha!” moment for your entire family.

Enter to win a copy of Faith and Science with Dr. Fizzlebop*

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*Due to shipping costs, can ship to a US address only.

Faith and Science with Dr. Fizzlebop

Brock Eastman, Dr. Fizzlebop’s alter ego, is passionate about marketing and storytelling. His desire to show kids how faith and science connect is the driving force behind his Dr. Fizzlebop persona. He writes feature stories and the Dr. Fizzlebop recurring column for Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. magazines. He is also the co-host of the Story Biz podcast and the host of Tyndale Kids’ Virtual Summer Camp. In fall ’21, he will be launching the Fizzlebop Labs YouTube series.

Besides creating a crazy, fun science devotional, Brock has written and sold over 150,000 copies of several books and series, including the Quest for Truth series, Daddy’s Favorite Sound, Mommy’s Favorite Smell, Bedtime on Noah’s Ark, the Sages of Darkness series, and Showdown with the Shepherd from the Imagination Station series. He currently resides in Colorado and loves cooking, doing puzzles with his wonderful wife, and reading stories to his four kids each night.

About Faith and Science with Dr. Fizzlebop

Faith and Science with Dr. Fizzlebop features 52 easy experiments kids and parents can do together once a week or at their convenience. Each experiment will have a how-to video featured in the free Fizzlebop Labs web series launching in fall ’21. Building on Dr. Fizzlebop’s desire to show kids how faith and science connect, each experiment connects to a devotional that allows kids to go deeper and learn about God’s amazing design for everything around them.

On average, each experiment takes 5 to 10 minutes and the devotional is an additional 5 minutes.

Our expert and guide, Dr. Phineas Einstein Fizzlebop, is a bit quirky and maybe a little cheesy at times, but he is passionate about three things: God, science, and fizz―and all come together wonderfully at Fizzlebop Labs. Guest scientists (families) will journey through the Bible in an extravaganza of experiments and Bible studies full of fun, facts, and fizz.

Purchase a copy HERE.