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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
God is not Punishing You for Your Past Sins

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?

Forgiven and Set Free

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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:

Walk it Out With Tricia Goyer

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

 

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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.

How To Walk Out Your Healing
How To Walk Out Your Healing

 

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!

Author Tricia Goyer shares the captivating story behind her book From Dust and Ashes

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

Tricia Goyer Walk it OutYou’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
  2. Create space and craft purpose
  3. Give generously without question
  4. Be vulnerable
  5. Truly love your family
  6. 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!

 

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It’s Time to Get Creative, Mom.

 

 

It's Time to Get Creative, Mom.
It’s Time to Get Creative, Mom.

 

It’s Time to Get Creative, Mom.

As a writer, I know all about creativity. I know how essential it is to be creative. I know how fun it can be. I also know what it’s like to be at a loss for creativity. Even as a mom, creativity is important. Combine the needed creativity for being both a mom and a writer . . . well, it’s tough to come by.

  • When there are people and paperwork and piles to manage…
  • When I look around my house and see the walls that need to be painted and the cupboards that should be organized…
  • When my inbox is cluttered with notes I need to answer about work stuff and volunteer stuff…
  • When output is more than input…
  • …my creativity well often runs dry.

What can you do when you need an extra “spark” of inspiration?

Here are a few things I do.

Call a funny friend.

Sit outside. Breathe in fresh air.

Listen to birds sing. Watch busy ants.

Open a book of poetry or rent an audio book of poetry from the library. Absorb the symbolism and fresh word combinations.

Open a cookbook to a random page, then go shopping for the needed ingredients. (And then cook it!)

Go to YouTube.com and watch old dance numbers like this one.

Visit Etsy and take their taste test. This is one of my favorites. I love the fresh colors, textures, and ideas.

Play with Visuwords. Follow word trails and see where they lead you.

Have a visual feast on iStock Photo. (It’s also a great place for gathering inspiration for novel settings and characters or blog ideas.)

Pray and thank God for His creativity. Thank Him for your favorite places, people, tastes, and the beauty of nature.

Read your favorite Bible verses in a translation or paragraph you normally don’t read. Here is my favorite Bible verse in The Message (Zephaniah 3:17): “Don’t be afraid. Dear Zion, don’t despair. Your God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you back, he’ll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs.”

Write a greeting card verse and e-mail it to a special person. Or better yet, browse creative sites (like MarthaStewart.com) for card ideas and make your own.

Sometimes what we need is simply a break in our day from the mundane tasks of life.

These tips are perfect for breaking up a routine. Who knows? You might end up inspired to finish writing that blog or to tackle that inbox.

Prayer

God, thank you for being the source of all creativity. Allow today to be inspired with fresh ideas and new creativity.

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

Looking for More Ways to Get Creative?

Check out my book Balanced: Finding Center as a Work-at-Home Mom!

More Resources

A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas by Warren Berger

Creativity by Matthew Fox

Creative Block: Get Unstuck, Discover New Ideas. Advice & Projects from 50 Successful Artists by Danielle Krysa

Creativity Workout: 62 Exercises to Unlock Your Most Creative Ideas by Edward De Bono

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6 Ways to Find Joy in Your Day {Printable!}

6 Ways to bring joy to your day

6 Ways to Find Joy in Your Day {Printable!}

As a homeschooling mom, I’ve had kids at home for 32 years. This means noisy days, busy days, and these kids-are-giving-me-a-headache days.

I’ve been homeschooling for 28 years and still have another seven years to go! Does that seem overwhelming? It would have been if I hadn’t discovered something amazing: JOY!

Over the last year, God has spoken to my heart and encouraged me to find joy in everyday living.

Joy, even though the laundry is piled high.

Joy, even though the kids are cranky.

Joy when work deadlines are pressed.

Joy when I have a headache when my feet hurt, and when I just want a nap. (Which happens often!)

But how do you find joy in your day?

 

Here are 6 ways … and a Scripture verse for each!

1. Thank God for each new morning.

A thankful heart goes a long way. Daily when I wake God, instead of looking at everything I have to do, I thank him for who I am and what I have.

Thank you, God, that I’m your daughter, and I have a place in your eternal home.

Thank you, God, that I’m a wife and mother.

Thank you, God, for the pile of laundry and all the clothes you’ve provided for us.

Thank you, God, for the dishes still in the sink from last night. We went to bed with full bellies.

Printable Scriptures - TriciaGoyer.com

2. Turn on worship music.

I love listening to worship music as I read my Bible and journal in the morning. I put on popular Christian songs as we homeschool. I also listen to Christian music as I write. I love using apps like Spotify or Amazon Prime Music to help me find great music. I also sing along! Singing songs of joy helps sorrows (and frustrations) to disappear!

Printable Scriptures - TriciaGoyer.com3.  Ask God to remind me what His kingdom is all about.

In life, I want to be comfortable. I want my house to be Pinterest-worthy. I want my kids to shine. But when I think about God’s kingdom, He helps me understand Kingdom Work. Opening my door to neighbors. Sharing God’s truth with young moms. Calling a friend who’s going through a hard time. Playing a board game with my kids instead of putting away the laundry. The Kingdom is about people and hearts–not tasks!

Printable Scriptures - TriciaGoyer.com 4. Seek the Holy Spirit.

When did I ever start thinking that I have to handle life alone? God has given us His Holy Spirit to fill, work through, and give us peace. Stopping to pray and ask for God’s Holy Spirit to help me makes a huge difference. The Holy Spirit gives me joy when I have none.

The Holy Spirit gives me joy when I have none. @TriciaGoyer

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Printable Scriptures - TriciaGoyer.com

5. Join the kids in praising God.

The best thing about having three little kids is that they LOVE to praise God. We have “Jesus dance parties” often. We put on kids praise song, clap our hands and dance and sing. They love it, and seeing their joy makes me more joyful.

Printable Scriptures - TriciaGoyer.com

6. Thank God for troubles.

The honest truth is that without troubles, I wouldn’t need God. If everything went smoothly in life I wouldn’t pray or praise as often. When I thank God for troubles, I remind myself that He has everything in control. As the Scriptures say, troubles are an opportunity for joy!

Printable Scriptures - TriciaGoyer.com

I hope you print and use these Scriptures in your day. I’ve found them very helpful.

Download here.

How about you? What do you do to find joy in your day? What’s your favorite Scripture about joy?

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, today I pray for my friend. I pray that she may find joy in you. I pray that Your Word will draw her heart to you. I thank you for your Holy Spirit that can plant joy deep in our hearts, even when there are struggles all around.

More Resources

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Caring For Yourself as a Mom

Caring For Yourself as a Mom

Apple Podcast | Spotify | Google Podcast

There are so many challenges when it comes to being a mom. We become exhausted and wonder if we’re doing anything right. Have you ever found yourself on a negative thought cycle? I know I have.

Today’s guest Kari Kampakis teaches us how to “mother” ourselves so we can better care for others. In fact, it’s not going to get any easier. The older we get the more caregiving we’ll do as our parents and grandparents age. (I know that first hand with my 92-year-old grandmother living with us!)

As exhaustion seeps deeply into our homes, time with God and healthy lifestyle rhythms can restore us. Moms, rather than keep up an old pace that you’ve outgrown, give yourself grace. Take time to nourish your body, mind, and soul. Don’t run yourself so hard during the day that you have nothing left to give when your kids come home from school.

Also remember, your core identity—the one that runs deeper than your identity as mother, wife, sister, friend, daughter, colleague, boss, etc.—is that you are a child of God. Remember what He thinks of you! These are just a few things we’ll be talking about. I know you’ll be encouraged by today’s podcast!

If you are enjoying the show, I have a quick favor to ask! If you haven’t yet hit the subscribe button and left a rating and a review on iTunes, please take a moment and do so! I love reading your reviews and it keeps the algorithms happy so new listeners can find the podcast as well!

Mentioned in This Episode

More than a Mom | Kari Kampakis
Liked | Kari Kampakis
10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know | Kari Kampakis

Connect with Kari Kampakis

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

See Tricia’s Favorites here!

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Merry Bells Bring Families Together

Holidays bring families together. But that doesn’t always mean everyone is interacting. With all the technology at our fingertips, it’s often easier to “veg” out on our phones than pursue meaningful activities together. But that’s exactly what makes memories and why we should find more ways to connect–with Merry Bells!

 

Merry Bells Bring Families Together

I’m always looking for fun things to bring our family–and yours!–closer together. There’s are just so many things competing for our time. We really have to make the most of the special moments we have together. 

Merry Bells was created to bring family and friends together through handbell music in a fun and positive way and our family loves them! Their beautiful, custom handbell set includes a popular 30 Christmas Song play-along set. The 8-note diatonic handbell set comes in a sturdy box with an easy carry handle and foam inner lining that will keep your bells in great condition for years of fun. 

Merry Bells Bring Families Together

Imagine your family enjoying the melodies of the season played on these wonderful bells and laughter and smiles as everyone connects and plays the songs you love together. What great holiday memories you’ll have for years to come! And right now you can get an amazing discount and CYBER MONDAY DEAL!

Due to popular demand, their Black Friday Special extends through Cyber Monday, Nov 29th and you can get 10% OFF with the code GOYERDISCOUNT

For each Bell Set you buy, you may claim a free DVD, Digital Download Set, or a Bell Chart Set of your choice!

The more Bell Sets you buy the more free items you get!

Don’t forget to use the code GOYERDISCOUNT to get your special discount!

 

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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

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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

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Read Across America 50 Books for Families

In honor of Read Across America I’m sharing my favorite 50 Books for Families. These books have been enjoyed by our family for decades and I hope your family enjoys them as well. Happy reading friends!

 

Read Across America 50 Books for Families

One of my favorite times of the day is when I get the kids settled in a night and it’s time to read. Bedtime reading has been a tradition that we’ve done for the last 20+ years. We make sure all electronics are turned off, the kids get ready for bed, and we sit down as a family to read. It’s amazing how many wonderful books we get to share as a family!

In honor of Read Across America, here’s a list of 50 picture and chapter books to go through as a family!

Picture Books

1) I’ll Love You Forever by Robert Munsch

2) Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman

3) Night Night, Sleepytown by Amy Parker

4) The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes and Louis Slobodkin

5) The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden and Garth Williams

6) Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger

7) Miss Suzy by Miriam Young and Arnold Lobel

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8) The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster and Jules Feiffer

9) If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff and Felicia Bond

10) The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak

11) The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski and P.J. Lynch

12) The Monster at the end of this Book by Jon Stone and Michael Smollin

13) The Big Picture Story Bible by David R. Helm and Gail Schoonmaker

14) Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

Read Across America 50 Books for Families

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15) Silly Sally by Audrey Wood

16) Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

17) You Are Special by Max Lucado and Sergio Martinez

18) Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton

19) Bombus the Bumblebee by Elsie Larson, David & Helen Haidle

20) The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord

Read Across America 50 Books for Families

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21) Tikki Tikki Tembo by Ariene Mosel and Blair Lent

22) Could Be Worse by James Stevenson

23) When We Were Very Young by A.A. Milne

24) The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White and Fred Marcellino

25) Was it a Good Trade? by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers and Irene Haas

26) Louise the Big Cheese and the Back-To-School Smarty-Pants by Elise Primevera and Diane Goode

27) Jeremy: The Tale of an Honest Bunny by Jan Karon and Teri Weidner

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28) A Porcupine Named Fluffy by Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger

29) Let Papa Sleep by Emily Reed

 

Chapter Books

30) Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder

31) The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom and Elizabeth Sherrill

32) Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham

33) Johnny Tremain by Esther Hoskins Forbes

34) Black Beauty by Anna Sewell51sf-qyial

 

35) The BFG by Roald Dahl

36) Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

37) The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

38) Prayers that Changed the World by Tricia Goyer

39) The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare

40) The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

41) Savvy by Ingrid Law

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42) Heidi by Johanna Spyri

43) Watership Down by Richard Adams

44) Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

45) The Giver by Lois Lowry

46) Gone-Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright and Joe & Beth Krush

47) Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

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48) Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

49) The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks

50) The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare

What are your favorite books to read aloud as a family? Share in the comment section below!

Reading For Homeschool Success

Reading is a part of educational success and Homeschool Success can be yours with my Homeschool Success Course!

Before, homeschooling was about choosing a better educational choice for your children. But now, there’s so much more at stake, including the HEALTH of your family.

Public and private schools are doing their very best balancing teaching kids at school during a world-wide health crisis, while also figuring out virtual learning. It’s a big challenge. During this time in history, everyone is just trying to figure out what’s best. I’m here to help you figure out homeschooling quickly and start meeting the educational needs of your kids immediately!

The truth is–YOU ARE YOUR KIDS BEST OPTION! 

Do you want to give your kids a private education but without the endless screen time, complications, and lack of individuality that comes with a public school e-learning alternative?

You’re invited to join a growing movement of parents who want to give their children something better and something deeper.

–A deep love for learning.

–A deeper, more comprehensive education.

–Depper family relationships.

Together we can build the homeschool life you dream of! Get the Homeschool Success Course here : Homeschool Success

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Bible Journaling for Future Generations

Several years ago I began Bible Journaling for Future Generations of my family. Today, I want to share with you how I created these keepsake Bible’s. God’s Word is the foundation for my parenting and my life. I want to make sure I take every opportunity to share His wisdom with those He has entrusted to me. You can do the same! Let me help you with these tips for creating your own Bible Journal for Future Generations.

Bible Journaling for future generations

Bible Journaling for Future Generations

I am the mother of ten children and two grandchildren. As a mom and grandmother, I want to pass on a heritage of faith, but for so long I didn’t know how I could do that. I didn’t have time to sit down with each person and have a one-on-one Bible Study. Instead, I decided to share my faith through written notes and prayers within my Bible.

Each year I buy a blank Bible, and through the year I write notes and prayers for one member of my family. Last year I filled a Bible for my 27-year-old son. This year I’m doing the same for my 24-year-old daughter. Each day that I sit down to read and pray, I write the date, and I highlight a specific Scripture passage. Then, in the margins, I write a personal note or story. Some days I share about my faith walk. Other days I write about moments when I’ve seen God work in my child’s life. I don’t worry about trying to sound wise or eloquent. Instead, I write plainly, as if I was sitting across from my son or daughter and sharing what was on my heart.

Bible Journaling for Future Generations

On the journalized pages, I also include a prayer. I pray the Scriptures, and I also pray about whatever my child is facing during that time in his/her life. I don’t always have the time to write a thought or prayer every day, but I commit to be faithful and do so as much as possible.

This year, I gave my son his Bible on his birthday, and he’s told me numerous times how much it means to him. My hope is that my words and prayers are something that my son can turn to throughout his life and even become a keepsake to pass on.

I’ve found the best Bibles to use are journaling Bibles. I plan to buy a new one every year until every family member has one. It may seem strange to pass on a “used Bible,” but I know these Bibles will be forever cherished because they were written in, prayed over, and adorned with my tears.

10 Tips for Bible Journaling for Future Generations

These 10 tips will help you in starting your own Bible Journaling.

  1. Pray about who would be blessed to receive a Bible with your notes and prayers. Bible Journaling for future generations

  2. Buy a Bible designed for note-taking, or if you prefer not to write in your Bible, select a journaling notebook.
  3. Gather pens, highlighters, and colored pencils that won’t smudge.

  4. Keep the supplies in a convenient location where you have your Bible study.

  5. Decide when you want to present the gift. Then determine if you have the time to read through the Bible, read selected books of the Bible, or focus on favorite verses to share.
  6. Each day, write the date in the margin of the selected passage or in the journal notebook.
  7. Spend time in prayer, asking God to show you verses that will be meaningful to your child or grandchild.
  8. As you read, highlight specific verses or write them in your notebook.

  9. If you have an artistic flair, sketch a design to emphasize a keyword or meaningful phrase, or use colored pencils to add your personal touch to your handwriting. Bible Journaling for future generations

  10. Remember, the most important part of journaling is letting your family hear you speak God’s Word into their life, so simply notes and prayers that come from your heart.

Originally published in Mature Living, January 2017

 

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Keep Praying for Your Future Husband

Even if you feel as if God isn’t listening, I want to encourage you to keep praying for your future husband. Maybe you started praying in your teens and you’re in your 20s, 30s, or 40s now. Perhaps you’ve started to believe that your prayers are doing NOTHING. Sometimes it may seem like that’s true, but it’s not. Your prayers are working … but in ways you may not see for years and years to come. Let me encourage you today!

 

 

Keep Praying for Your Future Husband

Robin Jones Gunn and I wrote the book Praying for Your Future Husband a few years back, and one of our favorite things is receiving letters from women of all ages. Some of these letters include wedding photos! And many more of these women simply thank us for encouraging them on the journey.

With Valentines Day is approaching I wanted to speak to those who may still be feeling lonely. The holiday of red roses and boxes of chocolate can be one of the most difficult days for those who long for love. But, Dear One, find peace in this–God hasn’t forgotten you. He is holding your sweet heart in His tender hands and in the perfect time He will bring you the love you desire. Even if that time seems it will never come, don’t lose hope. Don’t despair in the wait.

If you’re still waiting … then keep praying! Here’s some encouragement for you to do just that:

Keep Praying for Your Future Husband

Robin:

robin_pic_aboutPrayer is an extraordinary mystery.

This sacred privilege of communicating with our heavenly Father is more than a cozy, open invitation to come to Him anytime, anywhere. Even though His ears are open to the cries of His children 24/7, prayer is more than that. Prayer is also an act of obedience. We are exhorted to pray for others and to pray without ceasing.

Neither Tricia nor I pretend to have prayer all figured out. What we do know is that God hears. He sees. He knows. And He cares more than we can ever comprehend. And most important of all, God answers prayer.

Perhaps you’ve noticed that the way God answers prayers often isn’t what we expect. We look back years later and see that what God did was oh so much better than what we first envisioned when we sent our heartfelt requests heavenward. He created us, and He desires the best for us. God always gives His best to those who leave the outcomes with Him.

 

Another, even more amazing mystery is that, when we pray for someone else, we change. All of us were made to be loved, to give and to receive love.

Keep Praying for Your Future Husband

When your heart connects through prayer to the One who is the source of true love, you’ll find that praying for your future husband will wondrously result in your heart being changed. And when your heart is changed, your life is transformed.

What sort of changes will God bring about in your future husband’s life as a result of your praying for him now? We don’t know.

Keep Praying for Your Future Husband

As you pray for him, what sort of changes will God initiate in your heart? We don’t know that either.

But we do know one thing:

God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It’s a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God. It’s a good thing when you’re young to stick it out through the hard times. When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions: Wait for hope to appear (Lamentations 3:25-29, The Message).

Keep Praying for Your Future Husband

It’s a good thing to quietly hope for help from God! @robingunn

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Keep Praying for Your Future Husband

Tricia:

Screen Shot 2015-07-20 at 9.41.44 AMI love that last line: “Wait for hope to appear.” Isn’t that what you need most when you’re still praying for your future husband, especially when so many of your friends are married and have children?

Perhaps you’ve prayed and prayed, but God hasn’t answered. Your prayers seem like bulbs planted in a winter garden. Each time you check for results, all you see is barrenness, debris, and frost. You doubt the warmth of your faith when you first planted the prayers in a season of light and hope.

Patience, dear God Lover. Nothing is wrong with your prayers. Leave all of them safely hidden with the Lord. Hold fast to the hope that He has heard and is at work in the garden of your heart.

One bright spring morning you will be stunned when you see what God’s resurrection power has done with those requests you buried so long ago.

 

 

Keep Praying for Your Future Husband

Keep Praying for Your Future Husband

What is it that the Lord is asking you to work on in your life during this season? Please don’t compromise your standards. Don’t start making excuses to justify why you’re settling for actions or relationships that you know in your heart aren’t what you want your life to be about.

How can you change that destructive behavior today? What are the new choices you need to start making?

Most importantly, be at peace. See this time as an opportunity for God to develop His patience in you. And don’t forget: Love is patient.

Will you get married one day? Statistics say that you will. We all know that staying married is a whole lot more important than just getting married. How you spend this stretch of waiting and allowing God to develop His patience in you will only benefit you during the difficult times that all married couples go through.

And just as there are two people in every marriage, there are two people who are learning patience as they wait for each other. If you’re having a hard time, your future husband most likely will, too. Your prayers will make a difference.

How do I pray for God to develop patience in my future husband?

Pray: He will turn to God and that God’s peace will help him to be inwardly calm and willing to wait.
He will have a quiet and steady faithfulness to God.
He’ll be content in every state he finds himself in.

Pray: His eyes will be focused on things to come, rather than things he wished he had now.
He will not push for answers before the time is right.
He’ll trust God’s sense of timing.

Pray: He will be reminded of all the times God has been patient with him and he waits with hope and expectancy.

Of course, as you pray these things for your future husband, be sure to pray the same for yourself. Patience is like holding a closed bud of promise in your hand. Imagine that closed, white rose in your mind. Consider allowing each petal to unfold slowly, in its own way. Can you see the beauty of each stage? Can you see God’s hand wrapped around yours, watching the unfolding with you?

Keep Praying for Your Future Husband

Patience is like holding a closed bud of promise in your hand! @TriciaGoyer

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Keep Praying for Your Future Husband

Will your love story come true? For many of you, it will. Concerning your future husband, it could be in the near(er) future, or like some, it could be years in the distance. It could be a quick romance or a slow falling in love. It could be exactly like you pictured it or like nothing you ever dreamed. But when the day comes that your story is celebrated by your closest friends and family, you’ll know that every prayer was worth it. And you might even wish you’d prayed more because prayers are the first gifts you give to your future husband. Gifts that heaven participates in giving.

While we can’t guarantee every one of you will have that type of love story, there is another type we do believe will take place. Everyone, everywhere, can have a beautiful love story with her God. It begins the moment you look into His eyes, realize how much you are loved, and give your love and commitment in return.

While we cannot guarantee your prayers will lead you down the aisle to a waiting mate, we do know that every prayer whispered is precious to God. None of them are wasted. While we hope your prayers for the man of your dreams come true, we know that your prayers bring you closer to the God of your eternity. And seeing the love in His gaze is the most beautiful love story of all.
If you are to be committed to anything, be committed to preparing your heart for God’s — in this way — and in every other aspect of your life. The love you’ll experience will be life-changing, and the celebration in eternity is one to look forward to with all your heart.

Still praying for that future husband? Don’t give up! @TriciaGoyer

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