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A Unique Mother’s Day Gift for Moms With Daughters
Mother’s Day is coming soon. Perhaps there’s a mother in your life who is hard to buy for. If so, I invite you to check out this unique Mother’s Day gift for moms with daughters. A Unique Mother’s Day Gift for Moms With Daughters Two years ago, our then-11-year-old daughter, Bekah, saw a mother-daughter devotional written by an older mother-daughter pair sitting on our kitchen table. “We should write a mother-daughter devotional!” she declared. “That sounds great, babe. Brainstorm some ideas, and we’ll get started,” I suggested. I suspected Bekah would write a few devotions and lose interest. Our Mother-Daughter Tween and Teen Girl Devotional Book Much to my surprise,…
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Five Practical Tips for Struggling Moms and Weary Women
Throughout the past 13 years, I’ve spent most of my time caring for our children. As we push through the end of another long winter, I hope to offer a few encouraging words for struggling moms and weary women who are wondering how to uncover the joy and peace they long for. I pray these words will bless and encourage you. Encouragement for Struggling Moms and Weary Women A friend recently sent me a text that went something like this: “No one tells you how hard motherhood actually is!” I immediately called her so we could talk in real-time. We talked about the difficult newborn days when we thought we’d…
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A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 60 Devotions for Teen Girls
Do you want to help your pre-teen or teen daughter connect with God while growing closer together? Last year, my pre-teen daughter Bekah and I coauthored a mother-daughter devotional together called Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith. This powerful book is packed with 60 devotions for pre-teen and teen girls and moms to read together. Devotions for Teen Girls Bekah and I are here to share a devotion with you today. Today’s devotion is written in the same style as the book. If you enjoy it, consider grabbing a copy of Girl to Girl for the special mothers and pre-teen or teen (or…
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3 Concrete Ways to Help Your Children Grow Spiritually
The pewter light of dawn spills through the curtain, and I gather our three children in the living room for morning devotions. I have great ambitions to help these little ones grow in their faith. Sadly, our devotional time often feels like a failure. Like me, you might want to help your children grow spiritually. However, teaching our little ones to walk with God can be challenging. Most mornings, I have to break up at least two arguments about who is going to sit in the recliner. The youngest two children often end up rolling around on the floor making animal noises. I generally cannot get through more than 30…
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Showing God’s Love When People Interrupt Your Plans
Imagine you’ve reached the end of an especially grueling day. Your to-do list was long, the needs surrounding you were never-ending, and you’re exhausted. You want nothing more than a hot meal and a soft bed. The last thing you want is a lesson on showing God’s love it doesn’t come easily. You pull into your driveway expecting a quiet house; instead, you discover a relative visiting with her children. They are on their way home from vacation and are hoping to share a meal and spend the night. Regardless of how much you love your family, embracing the unexpected visit probably feels challenging. Showing God’s Love When You’re Weary The…
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8 Back to School Prayers for Parents
The wiry branches of our poplar tree nod in the breeze, and I brace myself for the coming change. These leaves will soon begin to wither beneath the late-summer heat. At the same time, our family will shift into new rhythms as another school year greets us. As I watch the poplar prepare for autumn, I pull out my list of back to school prayers for parents. I wrote these prayers a few years ago, and every year, I use these prayers to pray our kids into the new school year. Back to School Prayers for Parents May these prayers richly bless your family today and in the months to…
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When Enjoying Motherhood Doesn’t Come Easily
Morning dawns with humidity hanging thick and heavy like a rain-soaked curtain. I’m tired after thunderstorms kept the youngest awake in the night, and I don’t want to face this day. These are the days when enjoying motherhood doesn’t come easily. I arise from bed, and in the first moments of the day, nothing goes smoothly. Children argue over who gets to pick the TV show, complain about my choice of cereal, and grumble about why the milk tastes funny. I don’t dare tell them that we ran out, and I pulled the emergency rations of dehydrated milk from the tin in the cupboard. Lord, help us all. It’s not…
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Two Unique Mother-Daughter Gifts for Mother’s Day
Springtime has finally come to our world, and a chorus of birdsong greets us with the dawn of each new day. For our family, this season includes long hikes over rolling hills of wildflowers and quests for frog eggs and red-spotted newts. It’s also the season for celebrating our mothers. This year, I’m excited to share two unique mother-daughter gifts for Mother’s Day. 2 Thoughtful Mother-Daughter Gifts 1. I Love You, Mom: Cherished Word Gifts from My Heart to Yours About a year ago, I discovered a book that changed my life. I Love You, Mom: Cherished Word Gifts from My Heart to Yours by Blythe Daniel and her mom Helen…
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Permission to Be Where You Are
I didn’t think I needed to read a book called Growing Slow. If you’ve been reading my words for any amount of time, you know how often I write about slowing down and cultivating rhythms of rest. I thought I was an expert at slowing down. But then I picked up Jennifer Dukes Lee’s book, and her words stopped me in my tracks: “We need permission to be where we are.” I wonder if you need this too: Permission to be where you are. Permission to Be Where You Are “Yes,” I whispered out loud the instant my eyes scanned the words. I do need permission to be here—right here,…
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8 Life-Changing Prayers for Your Daughter
Last night, I followed my daughter through a withered field of wildflowers as dusk chased us toward the forest. Often, I silently pray for her as we walk along this trail. I pray for her friendships, her faith, her worries, and her dreams. I pray for God to guide our conversations and unite our hearts. Like me, you might want to pray life-changing prayers for your daughter, but you don’t always know what to pray. Whether your daughter is two or sixty-two, here are eight biblical prayers for your daughter. 8 Powerful Prayers for Your Daughter 1. Pray that troubles and difficulties lead her to rely on Christ. Our daughter…