Tricia Goyer HomepageTricia Goyer

Living God’s Word One Step at a Time

You are here: Home / Archives for guest post

guest post

by 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!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

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

by 5 Comments

Expert Advice Featuring Rachel Dodge + A Giveaway!

Welcome to our new feature: Expert Advice, where we feature the amazing experts from the Write That Book Club with Tricia Goyer! If you’ve ever wondered about the expert advice our leaders provide, now’s your chance to learn more about the group experts you can connect with as a member of Write That Book Club.
In this episode, we’re featuring Rachel Dodge. Rachel is the bestselling, award-winning author of The Anne of Green Gables Devotional: A Chapter-By-Chapter Companion for Kindred Spirits and Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen.
Her newest book, The Little Women Devotional: A Chapter-by-Chapter Companion to Louisa May Alcott’s Beloved Classic, released December 1, 2021. Learn more about what Rachel brings to the table and be sure to stay tuned to the end of this post for a chance to enter to win a signed copy of The Anne of Green Gables Devotional: A Chapter-By-Chapter Companion for Kindred Spirits plus a bookmark and sticker!

… [Continue Reading]

by 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!

Faith and Science with Dr. Fizzlebop giveaway

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*

a Rafflecopter giveaway
*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.

Faith and Science with Dr. Fizzlebop giveawayAbout 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.

You might like this post as well:

https://triciagoyer.com/how-to-get-your-kids-to-pay-attention-while-you-homeschool/

 

by Leave a Comment

5 Ways to Instill Godly Wisdom in Your Kids and a GIVEAWAY

Here are 5 Ways to Instill Godly Wisdom in Your Kids and a GIVEAWAY for you. 

5 Ways to Instill Godly Wisdom into your Kids. Plus a Giveaway!

5 Ways to Instill Godly Wisdom in Your Kids and a GIVEAWAY

The world is full of messages, media, and mixed information.  This can make it difficult for kids to decipher what is true and right versus what just looks attractive and popular.  When reminding your children to make good choices in the mix of a lot of influences, we can always look at what Solomon says in Proverbs.  Solomon was a prime example of someone who asked for godly wisdom. When Solomon followed God’s voice, He was blessed, creative, and abundant.  When he didn’t listen to God’s voice, he made wrong decisions, passed on difficulty, and abandoned God’s heart for him.

We can teach our kids important lessons on godly wisdom by learning from Solomon’s life, both in his victory and also in his struggles.  Here are 5 simple ways to instill godly wisdom in your kids that can encourage, support, and keep them accountable to living a life that reflects Jesus.

  1. Take a walk through Proverbs with your kids. Proverbs is full of the Godly wisdom that Solomon heard from the Lord.  In short sentences and verses that are truthful, creative, blunt, and sometimes comical, Solomon gives practical and applicable advice to readers, no matter the age. Reading one Proverb a day could change a child forever and will help instill godly wisdom in your kids.
  2. Tell your kids the truth. Kids value being told the truth. When seeking to connect with your child about godly wisdom, be sure to include examples of where you learned by doing what was right and also how you learned by making mistakes.  When children have real-life examples of success and failure, it brings them clarity and connection.  It also shows them that mom and dad are normal people who are trying to listen and follow God, too.

  3. Practice slowing down. Life is busy, and sometimes it can be easy to make a choice that isn’t best simply because we’re in a rush or trying to get a quick fix. Instead of living in constant motion, look at areas in your life where you might be able to practice more minimalism or presence.  Wisdom is often most valuable when it can be instilled with simplicity.  

  4. Remember that wisdom brings confidence. It’s not always easy to do the right thing when the crowd may be doing the wrong thing.  Remind your kids that knowing what God says is right will always be right. God’s Truth doesn’t change, and so no matter what others say or do, we know that God is faithful to those who love Him and walk in His ways.  As they see this lived out in their own lives, it will encourage them to continue in godliness and will help instill godly wisdom in your kids. 

  5. Pray with your kids, and ask God for wisdom.  It doesn’t have to be complicated or overflowing with prose. Simple prayers are wonderful prayers.  Taking the time to pray with your kids and asking for wisdom together is one of the best ways to connect with God and each other.

 

Sarah is a wife and homeschool mom to three kids while also working as an artist, author, and voice actor.  Her writing and doodling can be found in her books, “40 Days to a Joyful Motherhood” and “Solomon Says Devotional”,  while her voice is found in several commercials, children’s books, and audiobooks. She loves encouraging women and kids to embrace self-care, utilize their gifts, and become leaders in the community around them.

Giveaway

This book is to help assist you as you seek to instill godly wisdom in your kids…

If we could give our tweens one tool to mold them into strong, faithful adults, what would it be? The wisdom of the Bible. Thankfully, this wisdom is easily accessible in the book of Proverbs, written by King Solomon, the wisest man to ever live.

Solomon Says Devotional Book Cover

Solomon Says Devotional: 100 Days of Wisdom from the World’s Wisest King by Amy Parker and Sarah Humphrey offers growing, impressionable minds one hundred devotions based on priceless wisdom that is straight from King Solomon himself. This devotional:

  • is written for children ages 8 to 12.
  • begins with a passage from Proverbs and provides a practical and culturally relevant perspective.
  • offers engaging examples that help readers see how King Solomon’s ancient wisdom applies to today’s world.
  • provides short prayers and simple activities so readers can apply the teachings to their own lives.

This resource is perfect for:

  • birthdays, holiday gift-giving or as an addition to your home library
  • parents and children to read together
  • Sunday school discussions and small group activities
  • creating meaningful conversations about the wisdom of the Bible

By offering the Proverbs in an engaging form and by showing practical ways to apply them, Solomon Says Devotional invites kids to see how ancient wisdom is still helpful, intriguing, and essential in their modern world.

Sarah and Amy are giving away a copy of this fantastic book to TWO of our readers! Enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

5 Ways to Instill Godly Wisdom in Your Kids and a GIVEAWAY

by Leave a Comment

How to Keep Love Alive with a House Full of Kids

How to Keep Love Alive with a House Full of Kids

Wondering How to Keep Love Alive with a House Full of Kids? It’s possible! After three decades of marriage, John and I have made our relationship a priority. There are no shortcuts to marital intimacy. But if you make the effort and take the time to keep connecting, you can stay close to your spouse–even with 10 kids and grandma in the house. Let me share what’s worked for us in this post.

 

How to Keep Love Alive with a House Full of Kids

 

 

 

How to Keep Love Alive with a House Full of Kids

Marriage is a challenge. Having time for intimacy with your spouse can be too. John and I have been married thirty-one years, and the priorities we’ve created to “keep love alive” have benefitted our marriage.

The closeness we’ve established has provided us with a habit of drawing close, even during challenging times in our lives. It hasn’t been easy to take time for each other, but it’s been worth it. Here are ways you can also keep love alive with a house full of kids.

1. Set boundaries.

I was an eighteen-year-old teen mom when John and I started dating. Our newlywed years included a toddler! Since I was a single mom at first, Cory was used to sleeping in bed with me, but things had to change once I got married. John and I set up boundaries right from the beginning.

  • No kids in our bed.

  • When our son was old enough to try to open the bedroom door, we locked it.

For me—and many women—feeling the freedom to be intimate with your spouse is important. We can’t relax if we worry a child is going to walk in at any moment! A few years in, John and I even started sleeping naked. Without that layer of clothes, a sense of closeness is fostered, even on nights when we go straight to sleep.

2. Keep distractions at bay.

Within three years of marriage, John and I had two additional kids. More kids mean more distractions and work, which also could have meant less time together. So we developed positive habits to ensure our evenings provided space and time for togetherness.

  • We always go to bed at the same time. And we try to make that not too late.

  • We never put a television in our bedroom. I insist on this. I’m not a TV person, and I know it can be a bad habit to have it on and miss moments of connection and intimacy. . .

Read the rest of this article at The Better Mom How to Keep Love Alive with a House Full of Kids

by Leave a Comment

Mom, Your Life Matters. You Matter.

“Mom, your life matters, you matter,” I told them. The words were barely out of my mouth when I heard the sniffles and saw women quickly wiping away the tears that managed to escape. My words hit a tender part of their hearts—and maybe yours, too. Today I share what God says about Mothering and how you can feel His delight in you.

Mom, Your Life Matters.

Recently, I spoke at a women’s conference, encouraging moms. While I wanted to encourage moms to be all that God created them to be, there was another part of my message that resonated even more. “Mom, your life matters, you matter,” I told them. The words were barely out of my mouth when I heard the sniffles and saw women quickly wiping away the tears that managed to escape. My words hit a tender part of their hearts—and maybe yours, too.

You DO Matter

As moms we’re often so busy comparing ourselves to others we forget that we’re important—that we matter just as we are. Our worth as women goes beyond what we do. We are worthy beyond what we can accomplish. We forget how much we are loved by the Creator of the universe. We forget that deep down to the core Jesus loves us, just as we are and right at this moment.

You matter because you’re designed by God.

God created you and He loves you. He smiles when He sees you. It doesn’t matter to Him how much you’ve accomplished today. His love is not dependent on that what you do or don’t do.

For most of my life, I had a hard time understanding that my worth wasn’t based on works. During my growing up years, I thought I had to be “the good kid” to earn God’s love. It was only as I really messed up (time and time again), that I realize God’s love doesn’t depend on me, but rather on Him. His love is an outpouring of His greatness and not on my goodness, and I’m so glad for that.

Take a moment and picture yourself sitting next to Jesus. Imagine Him looking at you with love in His gaze. He’s not concerned about your to-do list. He’s not worried if you weigh more than you wish or have more debt than you should. He loves you simply for you in this moment. “You matter,” He whispers, hoping it will penetrate to you heart.

You matter because God has good plans for you.

“God gives his children tasks to complete. Even in Eden he assigned the first man and woman the job of tending a garden,” writes Judith Couchman in her book, Designing a Woman’s Life. “But understanding our significance before we attempt accomplishment anchors the soul in an order uncommon to this world. First, we embrace our innate worth, then we pursue our unique purpose. After this, we tackle our work.”

Feel as if you’re not living up to your potential? Jesus can help you become more of the person he designed you to be. With Jesus’s wisdom and guidance, you can become the best version of yourself. You don’t matter because of what you do. Jesus’ love isn’t dependent on your works, but He does long to work alongside you.

Take a moment and imagine the good work God has planned for you. Instead of looking ahead toward the obstacles, glance over to the side. Jesus is there, ready to take every step with you and help you along the way.

You matter today.

Out of all the people on this earth God chose you to parent your children in this time in history. Your children will have a lot of friends, mentors, and teachers but you are their only mom. It’s easy to focus on your flaws, but your child sees something different. Your child loves you because you are you. Believe that you matter today.

Take a moment and imagine all you have to do for the rest of the day. How would all that you do change if you understood that God has given you today with your children … and with Him. Picture Jesus in the rest of your day and into tomorrow. Do you see the message in his gaze? “Today is what matters. You matter today.”

 When I speak with women these messages are often the ones they need to hear. Maybe you needed these words, too. If these truths haven’t penetrated your heart go back and read them again. Sometimes it takes a while for the truth to sink in, but once it does the truth will change everything. It matters.

 

 

This post originally appeared on The Better Mom blog here: Mom, You Matter

by 1 Comment

4 Ways YOU Can Bring God Glory | Kristen Tiber

These 4 Ways YOU Can Bring God Glory from Kristen Tiber will help you focus on making an impact for the Kingdom where you are today. Your message matters and you can bring His hope to a hurting world. Let Kristen’s words encourage you in this guest post.

4 Ways YOU Can Bring God Glory

Have you ever thought about the great heroes of our faith only to be left feeling a little insignificant? After all, did you care for the poor by the thousands, preach on the world’s stage or stir revival in the hearts of a nation? When we compare ourselves to some of those great men and women throughout history, it can be tempting to think that we have to accomplish huge feats and be at the center of attention in order to bring God any glory. But that couldn’t be further from the truth! God’s eyes are on you and His heart is for you. No life is too small to make an impact for the Kingdom and bring glory to the Father!

But how do we do it? What are some ways we can live our lives in order to bring Him glory? Believe it or not, it can be pretty simple. Not necessarily easy, but simple.

4 Ways YOU Can Bring God Glory

 

1. Be obedient.

Our culture doesn’t like the idea of obedience and coming under someone’s authority. However, a life lived under the authority of God not only brings blessing to the follower, but it also brings glory to God. When we abide in His ways, when we walk according to His laws, we are showing the effect of what He has done in our lives. As followers of Christ, we need to pursue what His Word says and not what our feelings try to dictate. He and His Word are the standard, and our obedience becomes a witness to those around us.
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they may accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:12

2. Be patient.

Patience has become an abnormal practice for the world in which we live. With the incredible advances in technology, we don’t really have to wait for much. Whether it is our Amazon delivery, our quick Google searches, or our Instant Pot dinners, we have grown accustomed to the instantaneous and immediate. However, Scripture tells us that patience is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and as we bear fruit, we show ourselves to be His disciples, bringing glory to the Father (John 15:8-11).

3. Examine and align the desires of our hearts.

What are the desires of our hearts? What is the motivation behind those desires? As believers, it would be good to take time to reflect on what it is we want and what it is that God may want for us. And on those occasions when our desires don’t line up with His, we would be wise to yield to God’s desires and plans for us. After all, the One who died for us, certainly has our best interests at heart. When we are walking in the path He has for us, we will give Him praise and glory!

4. Believe and trust God through times of suffering.

Throughout the New Testament, glory often appears alongside suffering. Paul connects the two ideas in his letters, and Peter often reminds his readers of coming glory in the midst of their suffering. And we also know Jesus experienced great suffering on the cross to be followed by His glorious resurrection. When we go through a season of suffering, we can find hope that not only will God infuse it with purpose, but also that we have a future glory to look forward to. (See Romans 8:16-18.)

When we can put the name of Jesus and His renown above our own wants and desires, above our own inclinations – when we can get through seasons of suffering with an expectation of how God will use it – we will see that the life of one person can indeed bring much glory to God, no matter how big or small.

Enter to win a copy of Greater Glory: Living Your Life to the Glory of God *Open International* Physical copies to be shipped to US addresses only*

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Kristen Tiber is an author, speaker, and women’s Bible study teacher. Currently, she and her husband, Dan, teach the high school Sunday school class at their church have enjoyed doing so for the last eight years. Kristen is a homeschooling mom to her two kids, Peter and Anna. A forever student of the Word of God, Kristen desires to see Jesus’ name and renown lifted up. She is passionate to see others grow in their love for Jesus and His Word. Her books include Teach Me To Serve, At The Well and Greater Glory. Kristen can be found at KristenTiber.com, where she encourages others to live with purpose in all seasons of life.

website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

More about Greater Glory: Living Your Life to the Glory of God

What does it mean to live for God’s glory?

Let’s find out together!  

Many people today will tell you that purpose is found in following your heart. Your career, relationship status, goals, and hobbies all center around discovering what you want and what makes you happy. But the Bible tells us that our purpose isn’t found inside ourselves. True purpose that will give us the greatest delight and satisfaction, that has the power to change the trajectory of our lives, is found in bringing God glory.

Join Kristen Tiber as she takes a fascinating look at the glory of God. As Kristen traces God’s glory chronologically through the Scriptures, you will look at: What is glory? How was it manifested? And what does it matter to us? You’ll discover meaningful purpose in your experiences and learn how YOU can bring God greater glory through your obedience, your patience, the desires of your heart, and your suffering.

This five-week women’s Bible study includes:

  • Individual daily assignments in the Greater Glory workbook
  • Free access to online, weekly Bible study videos streamed through www.KristenTiber.com
  • An optional Leader’s Guide for group study

This study can be used as an individual Bible study for women or for small groups.

Most women’s Bible study material today is geared for small groups in the church setting.  And while small groups wonderfully encourage fellowship, growth with others, and accountability, the price of the accompanying Bible study videos makes it near impossible for an individual to participate in the study alone.  Greater Glory is a 5-week Bible study workbook for small groups or the individual studying on her own.  Videos are free and accessed through www.KristenTiber.com.

Purchase a copy here.

by Leave a Comment

5 Keys to Making Space for Life-Giving Relationships

These 5 keys to making space for life-giving relationships can help you find balance when relationships seem off-center. There is a way to retain friendships but support the time constraints we need to foster our own inner peace and nurture those most important to us. This week we welcome Emily Grabatin to the blog to share how to build space for those life-giving relationships in your life and you can enter below for a chance to win a copy of Emily’s book Dare to Decide!

5 tips for making space for life-giving relationships

5 Keys to Making Space for Life-Giving Relationships

I felt worn out.

I had spent most of my life content as an introvert with a couple of close friends and plenty of solitude. Now I felt like Miss Popularity, whose schedule was packed with coffee dates, volunteer commitments, relationship drama, helping friends move, and Friday night invitations, plus wrangling the three-hour time zone difference to call my parents. Interactions that had once made me feel alive and purposeful now stirred an inner war between my needs and others’ expectations.

I knew I had to figure out how to reprioritize my time spent with people, but I felt stuck. The thought of disappointing or offending someone felt exhausting.

One night over dinner with a friend, I blurted, “I have too many people in my life. I don’t know what to do.”

It turned out she had a process for how she managed her relationships. Knowing this gave me permission to design my own framework for being intentional about the people in my life.

Several years later, as I was juggling motherhood, a full-time job, and getting serious about purpose coaching, I came across Tricia Goyer’s book, Balanced. I realized all over again how life-giving it is to create a filter for what gets your yeses or nos.

Here are five principles I have found useful in becoming more intentional about my relationships:

5 Keys to Making Space for Life-Giving Relationships

  1. Believe there’s a different way.

I could slip into a persevering mode, waiting for life to go back to “normal”, or I could use that sense of striving to remind me I need a fresh approach. Talking to my friend and reading the stories in Tricia’s Balanced helped me see other ways to live out the different facets of my calling.

 

  1. Clarify your values.

I made a list of the people in my life, as well as what I received from and gave to that relationship. Considering where I felt conflicted, I identified my values behind these interactions, such as responsibility and servant-heartedness. While identifying my values was helpful, it wasn’t enough. I had to define what living them out looked like to me. For example, for years I agreed to help anyone who asked. Once I had more demands on my time, I planned to stay at the end of events to help clean up, and chose to help certain people in ways that freed them up to do what they were called to do.

 

  1. Recognize the types of relationships you need.

Living a purpose-filled life means ebbs and flows of giving and receiving, nurturing and learning, solitude and interacting. When I felt overburdened, I made a second list to understand why—a list of the kinds of life-giving relationships I needed. Starting with my relationship with God and myself, I added others such as come-as-you-are friends, family, collaborators, new connections, mentors, and those I mentored. Making this list helped me realize I was giving more than receiving, and clarified the dynamics I needed.

 

  1. Create a framework.

To help instill these boundaries in my life, I created an ideal schedule of time-blocks designated for each relationship type.  When peers would ask to invite me to coffee their product party, I now had the language to decline or defer without feeling guilty or rude. This framework also gave me a way to check how “balanced” I was each week.

 

  1. Invite God to lead.

While a framework is a helpful tool, it’s meaningless without aligning it to God’s purposes. To avoid falling into people-pleasing or rule-following ruts, I continually have to ask Him, is this someone You want me to make room for? Or is this someone You want to guide elsewhere? It would also be easy to use it as an excuse to exclude the people who annoyed or drained me. Living a purpose-filled life means welcoming opportunities to strengthen my character or show God’s hope and love — and asking him God to help mature me.

 

5 Keys to Making Space for Life-Giving Relationships

People are the treasure of heaven. When circumstances shift, it’s time to get intentional about who we give our time and attention and to explore fresh approaches to doing so. Thankfully, we have a God who guides us beyond our understandingbeco. He becomes our strength even when we have little to give.

5 Keys to Making Space for Life-Giving Relationships

If you’re ready to move forward in your calling join Emily as she shares stories of when she needed peace, clarity and courage at life’s crossroads. If you have felt paralyzed from the fear of the unknown, being misunderstood and making the wrong decisions, you’ll find gentle grace and encouragement within the pages of this book. Through thought-provoking questions and practical strategies, you can design your meaningful life one small dare at a time.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Emily Grabatin infuses hope into dormant and God-called dreams. Through coaching, writing and leadership development, she helps individuals recognize who they are, uncover what makes them feel alive, and streamline their focus so they can flourish.

The greatest gifts Emily has received have been from individuals who saw her potential even through seasons of restlessness, burnout and wandering.  She appreciates people holding a space for her to discover her own answers and step out into her calling. Now she’s passionate about offering that gift to others.

 

For more information on Emily, visit the Dare to Decide website where you can receive a free chapter.

 

by Leave a Comment

2020 is Just a Chapter of Our Stories | Bonnie Clark

Enter to win a copy of Taste Your Words!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
2020 is Just a Chapter of Our Stories. But with perseverance, we can lean into what God has for us in this season and not survive–but thrive. Today our guest Bonnie Clark shares how God is moving in her through the challenges of this year.

2020 is Just a Chapter of Our Stories

 

2020 has been a strange chapter in history for sure. The changes—some possibly permanent, the missed opportunities, our uncertain future. We’re all struggling in different ways. It seems unreal what is happening in our communities, and country and in our small world.

It’s like we’re living in a movie.

But even in the middle of this crazy year, I know deep in my heart that this is all part of our story. It’s part of my story because I am on this earth “for such a time as this” and recently, although I feel like they have missed out on so much, I’ve realized that 2020 is also a part of my children’s story too.

The writer in me has always loved a good story, and one that has always fascinated me is the story of the Titanic: The tale seems unreal. The ship was “unsinkable” and yet it went down in just a few short hours after hitting an iceberg in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean taking many lives with it to the bottom of the sea. The whole thing was like a bad dream that had come true.

But for me, what draws me in and still fascinates me to this day, are the incredible true stories within the story, of the people who were on the ship.

There were men who courageously and chivalrously ushered “women and children first” to safety.

There were men who cowardly dressed as women to get access to the lifeboats.

Wives chose to die with their husbands rather than be separated from them.

Musicians played to calm the crowd and then the music faded with their lives.

And there was a captain who valiantly went down with his ship.

Each person, through their individual choices, became a character in the story that we still tell today. There were victims and villains and victors.

AND HERE WE ARE.

The reality of Covid-19 on the world will one day be a story that we tell.

I’m not suggesting that this ship is going to sink. I’m quite hopeful that Covid-19 will go away, but the stories we tell about it will live on forever. What part are you playing in the story? What character and role have you assumed without even realizing it? Are you modeling courage and perseverance for your children?

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”- Shakespeare

2020 is just a chapter of our stories and the mission for a Jesus follower has not changed. It’s only become amplified. We are called to be a part of the story and to point people to the Storyteller.

Character is revealed in times of trial. So, who do you want to be? Who are you becoming during the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020? What will be your story?

I want to be the Unsinkable Molly Brown. Who according to many accounts urged the rowers in her lifeboat to go back and rescue more people who were drowning in the dark sea. I want to be fearless with my words and actions. I want to try to help others from going under.

Buildings may be closed, but now we get to be the real church. We can show the world that “we are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair.”

We can live with a spirit of peace and not fear.

Schools look different for our kids, but THIS is real school. We can teach our children to love and be kind to EVERYONE especially those who think, act, or look different from you. We can learn to taste our words and bring life and encouragement to those who are really struggling. Let’s allow kind words to be nourishment and compassion be our teachers in this shared human experience.

Kind words are like honey, sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. – Proverbs 16:24

 

2020 is Just a Chapter of Our Stories

We won’t all come out of this unscathed, but we can move forward with a deeper sense of awareness, gratitude, and faith. Heroic. That is the story I want to tell. I will not be pulled under by fear. I will create a story with my children that is worth telling. One of trust and truth and unsinkable faith.

The Storyteller invites us into the unfolding story of history. Let’s choose our part well, for ourselves and our children.

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life so that you and your descendants might live!” – Deuteronomy 30:19

 

Bonnie Clark loves books that make her laugh, cry, or think for a long time. She has always enjoyed words and writing, but she has a special affection for picture books. Weekly trips to the library with her kids is one of her favorite things to do, and even though her older two are on to chapter books, they still enjoy listening to mom read a picture book.

When Clark isn’t writing and raising her kids, she does yoga, reads books, and drinks lots of coffee. Her favorite place in the world is ANY beach. She lives in Canton, Georgia, with her husband and their three children.

Learn more at bonnieclarkbooks.com or follow her on Facebook (Bonnie Clark Author), Twitter (@bonclark), Instagram (@bonnieclarkbooks), and YouTube (Bonnie Clark Books). 

More about Taste Your Words:

Teach kids about the power of words and the importance of kindness with this charming picture book that cleverly illustrates why we should think before we speak.

Amera’s having a bad day. Her best friend ruined her cupcake and they both said mean things. When Amera brings her bad mood home with her, her mom tells her to “taste her words.” Amera’s mean words taste like rotten eggs, spoiled milk, and lemons! As Amera realizes that her mean words make her feel bad and others feel worse, she starts saying the kindest, sweetest words she can find.

This picture book is an excellent resource for parents who want to teach their kids to think before they speak. With humorous text and lively illustrations, Clark and Bright make it easy for even the youngest children to understand the power of their words.

Purchase a copy of Taste Your Words here!

by 1 Comment

How to Stop Comparing and Walk in Freedom

The older I get the more I realize how important it is to know how to stop comparing and walk in freedom. Life is short and God has called us to so many things. This guest post from Shannon Popkin will help you focus on the freedom we can gain in Me-free living.

 

How to Stop Comparing and Walk in Freedom

By Shannon Popkin

 

I came running home after school, crying so hard I could barely talk. My mom dropped everything, and through my hiccupping sniffles, I told her my third-grade woes.

It had been a standardized testing day. As the teacher passed out tests, she had given all the smart kids a red test booklet, but I got a blue one—just like the rest of the class.

For a while now I had been worried that my placement in our school’s gifted program was a fluke. I was pretty sure I wasn’t as smart as the others, but since I loved the program so much, I kept my suspicions to myself.

Today, however, the truth had come out.

The teacher knew. The whole class knew. And I knew. I wasn’t one of the smart kids, and I had a blue booklet to prove it. Oh, the humiliation! I wanted to shrivel up, hide, and never go back. I just knew that all the kids were whispering to each other and telling their moms, “Shannon got a blue booklet!”

Looking back, my third-grade angst seems rather pitiful and absurd. Why was I so worried about being exposed as average in a room filled with other kids with blue booklets? Why was I shrinking in shame, convinced that all eyes were on me? But then, I could ask similar questions about the angst I feel today. Why do I worry about being exposed as a less-than-perfect mom? Or a middle-aged woman who struggles with her weight? Or a writer who’s less than perfect?

Since childhood, my heart has been aching to know one thing: How do I measure up?

Do you struggle with this as well? On social media, in your neighborhood, at church or even at a stop light, do you glance sideways and compare?

How to Stop Comparing and Walk in Freedom

When Jesus came, walking in sandals on dusty roads of Galilee, he encountered people who struggled with the same measure-up comparison we do. There were puffed up Pharisees, disciples elbowing past each other, and tax-collectors who could barely lift their heads. Everybody wanted to be first and despised being last. Yet Jesus doesn’t respond like I expect, saying, “Y’all need to stop comparing!” Instead Jesus told comparison stories—like the one about the good Samaritan or the wise and foolish builder. And he compared people in real life, like when he told Martha that Mary had chosen what was better, or when he said the widow who donated two coins had given the most. Jesus used comparison words and stories constantly, but always with a twist.

Jesus’s way of comparing was upside-down from how things stack up in the world.

 

In his kingdom, the last will be first. The greatest among us is the servant. The one who humbles herself will be exalted. In his kingdom, people aren’t rewarded for rising above, but rather for stooping to serve. The great ones aren’t those who push ahead, but rather those who put others first.

So as Jesus encountered people who were steeped in me-focused comparison, he kept inviting them to come be part of the kingdom of the me-free. Whether they were filled with angst because they didn’t measure up, or pride because they did, Jesus just kept opening wide the gate to the kingdom and saying, “Come follow me.” Still today, Jesus invites us to detangle ourselves from the comparison stress of the world and live as he did—emptying ourselves of status, pouring our lives out, and laying our lives down.

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul extended the invitation of Jesus to a new group of people—inviting them to the same me-free living that Jesus had modeled. He wrote,

“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:3-7 ESV).

When I enter a room full of people with the measure-up mindset of the world, I constantly glance sideways, worried about how I measure up. I posture or project a certain image. I shrink back or avoid vulnerability. No matter which way I turn, I’m obsessing with me-focused comparing which is thoroughly exhausting. But when I have me-free mindset of Jesus, I step into that same room free of worry, pride, and stress. I’m able to simply focus on the other people in the room; to really see them and open my life to them. I’m free to wonder if perhaps God placed me there with a purpose.

Perhaps I have something I’m supposed to give!

Friends, what if it doesn’t matter whether we have a red or blue test booklet? What if it doesn’t matter how big our house is or what size jeans we wear? What if the woman with the perfect-looking kids is missing the point by trying to outdo everyone, and the one with the failing marriage is nailing it with her extravagant humility? And what if the thing that does matter is using what we’re given—our smarts, our bank account, or our physical self—to lean down and lift others up?

This me-free living which Jesus invites us to is what restores our freedom, confidence, and joy.

 

How to Stop Comparing and Walk in Freedom

 

 

 Do you compare yourself?

On social media, in the neighborhood, at church, or the school drop-off lane, do you push yourself to prove that you measure up, then feel ashamed when you don’t? Measuring yourself against others isn’t healthy. And it isn’t God’s plan. In fact, the way of Jesus is completely upside down from this measure-up world. He invites us to follow him and be restored to freedom, confidence, and joy.

Join me as—with humor and straightforward honesty—I share what I’ve discovered about my own measure-up fears and get-ahead pride in this six-week study. Together, we’ll explore the conversations Jesus had and stories he shared with people who—like us—were comparing themselves.

Let’s leave measure-up comparison behind and connect with those around us by choosing Jesus’s me-free way of living: lifting others up and pouring ourselves out

Shannon Popkin is a wife and mom, a writer and speaker, a small group leader, and Bible teacher.

She shares her life with Ken, who–after 23 years–still makes her laugh every day. Together, they live the fast-paced life of parenting two college-aged kids and a teen.

As a mom, she loves cheering her kids on from the sidelines and taking pictures of them (can you hear them groaning?). They love to open their West Michigan front door to family and friends and are deeply invested in their local church. She’s delighted with every opportunity to invite women to live like God’s word is true.

Connect with Shannon at https://www.shannonpopkin.com/

by Leave a Comment

It’s Not the Amount of Words You Write | Mary DeMuth

My friend Mary DeMuth has learned that It’s Not the Amount of Words You Write, but following the leading of the Spirit to speak life into others. She is an amazing artist and shares with us how God used her obedience to bless a broken relationship and bring healing.

My friend Mary DeMuth shares how sometimes it's not the amount of words you write, but the responsiveness to the Spirit. We hope you are inspired!

It’s Not the Amount of Words You Write that matters; it’s your responsiveness to the Spirit by Mary DeMuth

To say I had difficulties with my in-laws would be an understatement. Things got so bad right when we were first married (nearly 30 years ago now!) that we had to separate in order to heal. Since then, it’s been a rough slog toward reconciliation, isolation, and trying to repair what had been broken. Even after all that, our relationship felt tenuous.

A couple years ago, I thought about my husband’s parents and their three adult kids. All three had maintained longterm, supportive marriages. It was then I felt that familiar nudge of the Holy Spirit to write a note to my in-laws.

Truly, I only wrote about two small paragraphs, maybe 50 words. In it, I conveyed something to the effect of, “I wanted to thank you for the example your marriage has been to all of us. You should be proud of the legacy you’re leaving.”

About a year after that, the card memory long forgotten, I found myself in their town with a free couple of hours. I surprised them with a call and asked if we could meet for dinner.

“Come over to the place first,” my father-in-law said.

It’s Not the Amount of Words You Write | Mary DeMuth

There, they took me on a tour of their tidy home (I hadn’t seen their new place yet). They had a hallway with a bend in it where a small round table sat, adorned with a table cloth. “Come see this,” he said.

 

My friend Mary DeMuth shares how sometimes it's not the amount of words you write, but the responsiveness to the Spirit. We hope you are inspired!

Together, they pointed to the top of the table where a candle, a dried rose in a vase, and the card I sent them stood.

“We read it all the time,” he said. “Thank you. It meant so much to us.”

Standing there in the bend of the hallway, I sensed God tell me that those fifty or so words were some of the most important ones I had ever written.

I’ve written 43 books, but that Holy-Spirit prompted card became pregnant with purpose and kingdom significance.

My encouragement to you: listen to the voice of the Spirit when He prompts you to send a card to someone. It may just change the landscape of someone’s life forever.

…

I have designed cards just for this type of purpose in my Etsy shop. Click here to see my greeting cards.

 

My friend Mary DeMuth shares how sometimes it's not the amount of words you write, but the responsiveness to the Spirit. We hope you are inspired!

 

I also designed 31 Scripture art cards for you to slip into a note to a friend. They boast Scriptures from the Old and New Testament. Use these square (unfolded) postcards to help your kids memorize Scripture, or send them to a struggling loved on. Find them here.

My friend Mary DeMuth shares how sometimes it's not the amount of words you write, but the reponsivemenss to the Spirit. We hope you are inspired!

Mary DeMuth is an international speaker and podcaster. She’s the novelist and nonfiction author of over thirty-six books. You can find out more about Mary at PrayEveryDay.show, MaryDeMuth.com, WeToo.org, WriterMastermind.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my newsletter, check out my podcast, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, or Instagram.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Read full privacy policy here.

Verified by MonsterInsights