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Podcast: Living Inspired: Courtney Joseph

Living Inspired ~ Thursday 3CT (10/10/13)

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

 This week on Living Inspired, please welcome mommy-blogger and author of new book, Women Living Well, Courtney Joseph. 

If you’re reading this after 10/10/13 you’ll be able to find this show . . . and all my shows in the archive section.

For your chance to win a copy of Courtney’s new book, Women Living Well, leave a comment below. Winner will be announced on Friday on the winner page.

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

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More about Courtney: Courtney Joseph has been married to her high school sweetheart for 16 years and classically educates her son and daughter at home.  Courtney is a graduate of the Moody Bible Institute with a degree in Evangelism and Discipleship.  After over a decade of leading women’s Bible studies, mentorships and workshops in her local church, she decided to move her ministry on-line at WomenLivingWell.org and WomenLivingWell.tv.  Courtney’s passion to see women living well through discipleship in God’s Word, led her to co-found the rapidly growing, on-line Bible study community at GoodMorningGirls.org.  There thousands of women globally, join together daily, to dig into their Bibles through on-line devotionals, videos, free Bible reading plans and tech-based accountability groups. Courtney’s first book titled Women Living Well: Finding Your Joy in God, Your Man, Your Kids and Your Home is available now in bookstores or amazon.com.

More about Women Living Well: Women desire to live well. However, living well in this modern world is a challenge. The pace of life, along with the new front porch of social media, has changed the landscape of our lives. Women have been told for far too long that being on the go and accumulating more things will make their lives full. As a result, we grasp for the wrong things in life and come up empty.

God created us to walk with him; to know him and to be loved by him. He is our living well and when we drink from the water he continually provides, it will change us. Our marriages, our parenting, and our homemaking will be transformed.

Mommy-blogger Courtney Joseph is a cheerful realist. She tackles the challenge of holding onto vintage values in a modern world, starting with the keys to protecting our walk with God. No subject is off-limits as she moves on to marriage, parenting, and household management.

Rooted in the Bible, her practical approach includes tons of tips that are perfect for busy moms, including:

Simple Solutions for Studying God’s Word
How to Handle Marriage, Parenting, and Homemaking in a Digital Age
10 Steps to Completing Your Husband
Dealing With Disappointed Expectations in Motherhood
Creating Routines that Bring Rest
Pursuing the Discipline and Diligence of the Proverbs 31 Woman

There is nothing more important than fostering your faith, building your marriage, training your children, and creating a haven for your family. Women Living Well is a clear and personal guide to making the most of these precious responsibilities.

Purchase a copy here.

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Mama, Get Yourself a Thinkin’ Chair (Plus a Giveaway)

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Today, from 5:30 – 6:10 a.m. I had time to think. I think throughout the day, but usually I’m thinking about things like what to make for dinner, if I should fold the laundry or load the dishwasher first, and what I could possibility do to entertain three very active kids—all under the age of six. But while their soft breaths still punctuated the warm air of their pre-dawn room I sat in my thinking chair and pulled out my Bible. I need that time, I’ve realized, to think about extraordinary things.

This morning I read about Jesus being from Nazareth. As one commentary said, “Nazareth was they type of place no one wanted to admit was their hometown.” I understand that now as I’ve been working with Teen Moms in inner-city Little Rock.

When I tell others about our group they get excited, “Oh, that’s so cool, It’d love to help. Where do you meet?”

“Our church is one corner of an old Walmart building on the corner of Colonel Glen and University,” I reply.

After that, the look on their face changes. “Oh, that’s nice. Well, I’m not sure if my husband will let me go down there.”

Very few volunteer want to come help in “that” part of town. Of course, that’s where the teen moms are. That’s where many needy people are.

Do you have the courage to go where God calls you to reach people for His Kingdom? @TriciaGoyer

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So, when I was thinking of this, I thought of story after story in the Bible where God used the lowly and despised to do amazing things. David was a stinky shepherd, Rahab a prostitute, the disciples were fisherman, and the Samaritan woman—whose testimony impacted a whole town—had a bad reputation.

And as I thought about this, I thought about my own life. I was a teenage mom. I got the comments and the stares. I felt ashamed and abandoned, yet look what God did!

This morning, the more I sat and thought, the more I became thankful of what God has done in my life. The more I thought, the more I became excited about what God was going to do with the teen moms I mentor. I also got excited about what God was going to do with my kids, especially those adopted from the foster care system. I can’t wait to be a witness to God’s handiwork!

And by 6:11 when my kids woke up, I was a new kind of mom. Why? Because I was able to think of God’s amazingness.

I was full of love, joy, and thankfulness, and all because I took time to think—time to read God’s Word and ponder God’s work.

Busy, Mom? Get a thinkin’ chair! @TriciaGoyer

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Mama, every mom needs a thinking chair, because the truth strengthens weary limbs as effectively as remembering the goodness of God. Nothing gives me eagerness for my day as I step out with expectation of what God can do. When I think on God early, I remember to watch for Him throughout the day.

I know it’s hard to take time to think, but it’s so important. I promise you it’s worth giving up even twenty minutes of sleep. Maybe it won’t be 5:30 – 6:10 a.m., but think of a time. And then find that chair and settle in. Your whole day will be different, guaranteed.

 

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I have five copies of Generation NeXt: Parenting to give away to five readers this week! Comment on this post with your email address and answer me this: What truth is strengthening your weary mommy limbs this week?

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9 Points Moms Should Remember

Playful mother and son

1. You matter. Being a good mom is important, especially for the impact you have on your child. You are significant, not because of what you do, but because of who you are.

2. You are wonderful. When you see yourself as God sees you, you don’t have to worry about an identity crisis. You are his child. You have amazing strengths that are unique to you.

3. You can succeed. When you take time to explore your dreams and dare to grow by trusting God to help you, you become more of the person he designed you to be. You also become a gift to those around you, including your child.

Moms, when the going gets tough, remember these 9 points! @TriciaGoyer

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4. You are loved. Intimacy means connecting with someone who touches your heart—through communication, time spent together, and love shared. True intimacy is found when you connect with those who appreciate you for YOU.

5. You are smart. We receive instruction from school, through special training, and from life. Focus on being instructed by those who want you to succeed and are willing to help you.

6. You can’t do it alone. Every mom needs a support system–friends, parents, teachers, and mentors. Also, if we ask for his help, God never makes us struggle alone. His help may bring another person into our life. It may be giving us the courage to deal with our bad habits or to get out of a destructive relationship. His help may be providing the strength to go to attend school, to work, and to take care of a baby. Jesus is available 24/7. Just ask.

7. You need to recharge. We can’t work 100% of the time. Everyone needs to enjoy life and rest. When God created the world, he worked for six days, then rested on the seventh. He didn’t need to take that long. He didn’t need a day off. He did it as an example for us. God created within us the need to balance our work with rest. This includes a physical breather—actually setting aside a day for recreation. We don’t need to feel guilty for the way we were made. Taking time for recreation is just as important as taking time to meet our other needs!

Are you a mom? Here are nine points you should remember. @TriciaGoyer

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8. You can’t do it all. Perspective means focusing on what will last—especially our family and relationships. They are the things we will never regret giving our time, energy, and love to. Focus on those.

9. You matter. Everyone needs to feel that what they do is important. If you ever doubt if you are important, just look into the face of your child. No one can take your place!

 

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God Doesn’t Expect You to Be Mother Teresa

I’ll admit it: I’m not a very compassionate mom. My kids have to beg for a band-aid, and most of the time when they get hurt my response is, “Come here, give me a hug. See? All better!” (As if those words would make it so.)

Of course there are times when a band-aid wasn’t enough. Like the time my son needed stitches on the back of his head after slipping in a parking lot, or the time my daughter broke one elbow and sprained the other on a trampoline. I was no Mother Teresa then, either, but I did get my kids to the ER without too much panic so others could bandage them up.

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Compassion isn’t something that comes natural to me. It’s something I’ve asked God to help me with. How?

  • I pray for compassion. I’ve asked God to give me a tender heart.
  • I seek to be empathic. I try to see the world through my kids’ eyes and pray for their unique needs. Even though their needs may seem small to me, I pray God will help me imagine being in the other person’s shoes
  • I look to the “deeper” need. My child may not really need a band-aid, but he or she does need to be cuddled, cooed over, and cared for with tenderness.
Lacking compassion? Sometimes I do as a mom. I’ve asked God to help, and here’s how:

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Read the rest of my tips on Hope for the Weary Mom!

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Wondering what’s up next for me? My book A Christmas Gift for Rose releases soon. You can pre-order it here!

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Dear Weary Mom, Find the Joy

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I’ve been changing diapers for twenty-four years. My oldest son is twenty-four, and the youngest of my kids is two years old. That’s many years of tantrums and defiant “no’s,” of not getting enough sleep and picking up toys, lots of toys. That’s many years of feeling run down and tired. It’s enough to make me weary.

Yet there is a reason my husband and I decided to adopt three little ones because along with the hard stuff, there is joy, too. And that’s the important thing . . . to focus on the joy. And sometimes that means hunting it down.

Yes there are tantrums, but there are also tickles. There are smiles that (can) beat out the tears. And even on weary days it’s important to focus on the bright spots, and often this starts with my thoughts.

Read the rest of this blog here!

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Teen Mom: Make Good Choices

Trust you can make good choices, mom.
Teen moms have already started taking responsibility. They can take more.

You’ve made good choices already … trust that you will make more.

Teens make good and bad decisions every day. Lots of them. Most aren’t as visible as teen pregnancy. Perhaps you think it’s unfair. Your choice is leading you to make choices you weren’t prepared for.

You may not have been prepared to be a teen mom, but you can be a good one. By choosing to have your baby you’re already taking responsibility. You’re choosing life for your child—you’re trying to do your best.

You may not have all the knowledge, resources, and wisdom, but look around for someone to help you find what you need. You’ve made good choices already, teen mom … trust that you will make more.

Read the rest of this post over at Nicole O’Dell’s blog!

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10 Rainy Day Activities

Whether there are thunderstorms pouring outside, snow is falling in the middle of winter, or it’s the heat of summer and your kids are bored, these 10 rainy day activities are sure to spawn some creative play. Enjoy!

 

Whether there are thunderstorms pouring outside, snow is falling in the middle of winter, or it's the heat of summer and your kids are bored, these 10 rainy day activities are sure to spawn some creative play. Enjoy!

10 Rainy Day Activities

1.      Stage a circus. Help your kids pick their own roles and find their own props, then give them 15 minutes to come up with a show for you. Better yet, put various roles into a hat and let them draw: lion tamer, clown, acrobat … each requires creativity and imagination!

2.      Turn your bathtub into a water play center. Fill the tub and give your kids boats, dolls, funnels, or balls. Lay towels down on the floor and dress them in their swimsuits. For older kids give them tin foil and assign them the task of creating the best kind of boat.

3.      Share your favorite childhood stories. No, I’m not talking about books … rather tell your kids about the things you did and saw and enjoyed when you were young. My kids love hearing about a time before home computers, DVD players, and microwaves!

10 Rainy Day Activities

4.      Create a relay race. Come up with different “challenges” such as carrying peanuts with chopsticks or picking up cotton balls with a spoon (blindfolded of course). Encourage your kids to come up with their own challenges, too.

5.      Have a dance party.

10 rainy day activities

Use Pandora.com or YouTube.com to come up with different songs from various cultures and/or generations. Match your dancing to the music in tone and feeling. Who knows, your kids might discover 80’s songs are cool after all!

6.      Creative Painting. Get out the paper and paints but leave the brushes in the drawer. Instead find other things to paint with—corn cobs, cotton balls, paper cups, marbles, and more!

10 Rainy Day Activities

7.      Learn to juggle. Practice with balls or even socks. See who can juggle the best or come up with the best tricks!

8.      Become a movie producer.

10 Rainy Day Activities

Create a list of one-minute dramas for your kids to act out. Tell them they have to act without props (similar to charades). Pretend to videotape them … or if you can, record them and watch later. Sample dramas:

  • chick hatching
  • surfer catching a big wave
  • mother wolf teaching her pup to hunt
  • an astronaut exploring the moon
  • making a snowman
  • riding a rollercoaster

9.      Become ambidextrous. See how many things you and your child can do with their opposite hand. Or if you’re really brave … with their feet!

10.  Re-write your favorite Bible Stories as if you and your child were the main characters. Make sure you use your five senses. What would Daniel have smelled in the lion’s den? How did the sun feel, beating down on Moses as he wandered through the desert?  After you’ve completed a story, call a grandparent or special friend to share it over the phone.

10 Rainy Day Activities

These rainy day activities are sure to bring some smiles and laughter. What are some of your favorite indoor activities?

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