Welcome to Day 3 of the Ultimate Blog Party being sponsored by 5MinutesForMom. If you’re visiting here for the first time, stay a little while and explore. I blog about marriage, parenting, faith, living with less, adoption and more! My blog can also be found on the Hearts at Home website.
We have three winners from yesterday’s discussion and giveaway. Congrats to:
- Nicole (Indulgentaromas.com)
- Gail (gjordon35)
- Logan Goodin (Barton4mail)
I’ll be sending each of you an email with instructions on how to get your Living With Less So Your Family Has More book.
Today’s discussion and giveaway will center around my book Real Moms…Real Jesus. Several years ago I decided to read through the biographies of Jesus which are the first 4 books of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
As I was reading through the stories of Jesus’ life, I began to see Him through different eyes. You see, when Jesus lived on this earth He was fully God and fully man. Up until this point in my life, I had really only paid attention to the “fully God” part of Jesus’ life: his miracles, his sinlessness, etc.
On this read through the Bible, I saw Jesus’ “fully man” part of his experience. There are several places in the Bible that say that “the crowd pressed into Jesus.” “Wow!” I thought. “That’s my life as a mom! My children are always pressing into me.” Then I read the story of when the disciples got scared in a boat because a storm blew in…and they woke Jesus up! “That’s my life!” I thought. I’d certainly never thought that Jesus would understand interrupted sleep. But He does!
As I read more and more experiences that Jesus had that were similar to my experiences as a mom, I found myself seeing Jesus as a Friend who understands. It completely transformed my relationship with Him!
I knew that I had to share what I’d learned and that’s why I wrote the book Real Moms…Real Jesus. Today I’m giving away 2 copies!
To enter the random drawing, you just have to participate in today’s discussion. Let’s learn from each other: What is one thing you do to nurture your spiritual walk?
I’ll start…I have a basket in my living room where I keep my Bible, my devotional, and a prayer notebook. I try to sit down each morning, even if it’s just for a few minutes, to get my mind and my heart centered on Truth.
When my kids were little, I kept a Bible in every bathroom. Since it was unrealistic that I could have much “quiet time,” in that season of my life, I took advantage of the few moments I had each day in the bathroom!
I am doing a Lent Bible Study with my kids this year for the first time. It’s been a refreshing way to look at several stories in the Bible!
One thing I’m doing currently is having regular visits with a Jehova’s witness. (She’s been coming to my my house for over a year now, but our in-depth meetings have been taking place over the last couple of months). Knowing what I believe and proving it to someone else are two different things. I love how much I’m being challenged in my walk. When she leaves I find myself tearing into my Bible thinking this is what I’m going to share with you next time! She’s very good at twisting things around and asking challenging questions and it makes me feel so much closer to my Jesus because we’re on the same team.
I go to Latin Mass & try to go to conferences where I can get large chunks of info since ongoing study is difficult.
I wake up early every morning to pray and do my Bible study. Some days I miss it, and I can tell. That has been such an awesome part of my day for the last few months!
I’m so excited to share this! I am doing Wendy Pope’s online bible study using the NLT Chronological Bible. So each night I read the next day’s reading and pray about it. The next morning I get my cereal and coffee and I go to her website, listen to her Vlog for that day, read through the other’s comments and then add my own. In this way, I am ending each day and beginning each day with God’s Word. I met Wendy Pope at the 2011 National Hearts at Home conference! So thankful that God has led me to her bible study! I hope others will see this post and come check out her (FREE) online daily bible study.
I volunteer at my church whenever I can, as well as help with my daughter’s youth group activites. It’s great to see our church community come together and make each Mass a special experience!
I also have a “Devotion Basket” that I use. It has my journal in it as well as some prayer books if I need some inspiration. As I read, I journal how I feel God wants me to apply His Word to my life and my prayers for the day. I also am memorizing the book of Colossians over the course of the year. I keep my current memory verse on my calendar/lesson plans so I can refer to it daily.
I have attempted to read “The One Year Bible” multiple times….as a busy wife, Mom and working outside the home fulltime…I have failed miserably as many times as I started. My hubby bought me a Kindle and I downloaded “The One Year Bible”…I have yet to miss a day this year!! It works with my schedule to always have it available when I have the time….have also downloaded a daily devotional and other study guides. Sometimes I read “Wee Ones’ Bible Stories” for a quick emotional lift to my day…..for me, technology has assisted me in my spiritual journey. Wishing alll a blessed Sunday.
DonnaB,
I’ve tried to read the One Year bible as well and struggled with it. Then I got the One Year Chronological bible (NLT). I like the way it is organized so much better.
Julie
We do not get KLOVE radio where I live, but I get it online. When I am doing anything, dishes, cooking, cleaning, reading, I have KLOVE on. The songs remind me that God loves me and has a great plan for my life. It encourages me to keep believing and being thankful.
Good strategy, Christy!
I try to get to church services as early as I can so I can enjoy the entire time of worship, because that truly builds me up. I also have started my kids this Lent with compassion journals, where each day they write about something they did for someone else without being asked (ages 6 & 8)
I have “Quite Time” with Jesus. We meet in our special place—the living room. We have sometimes have silly or serious conversations; sometimes I cry and he just holds and comforts me. Some days I just sleep in our special meeting place and He just stroked me head and wraps His mighty arms around me. This is the best way to nurture my spiritual walk with Jesus! 🙂
I surround myself with Christian friends. It is amazing to me how much easier it is to have faith and be committed to God when you have friends with a like mindset and goals.
Oh my goodness, I couldn’t agree more!! I was just talking with my girlfriends about this on Friday!
I surround myself with Chhristian friends. I particpate in any Bible studies my church offers. I read my Bible in the morning and before I go to bed, I also keep a journal with me at all times to write down whatevert I am thinking and to right prayers down throughout the day.
I listen to the audio Bible and sermons while I’m cleaning the house. Helps me to look forward to that time.
I LOVE this book and always tell my friends that need to to read it.
I listen to podcasts (sermons or programs like Focus etc) on my ipod while doing house work. The volume is still low enough to be able to hear and respond to my young kids and it is easy to push the pause button as needed 🙂
To fill my spiritual life I attend MOPS, participate in twice month Bible study and lead a mom’s Bible Study twice a month. I am actually looking for our next book study and this is one of the book’s I am considering. I would very much enjoy having it to read and look over and then share with my Bible study group.
I take a college class that requires a 2 hour drive each way every Thursday. I use the peace and quiet to reflect on my busy week, and pray (with my eyes open of course). I feel refreshed and revived. Sure I could listen to my favorite songs on the radio or CD, but I can do that at home in my kitchen. Pouring my heart out to Jesus, and listening for his voice is so much easier when I don’t hear “Mom, Mom, Mom” is the back ground. 🙂
I love this book as well! I always try to keep praise music on in the house whenever I have the time to listen to it. I also have time each morning with the Lord before the day begins. When I miss it, my day suffers greatly!
Jill, this is one of my all-time favorite books. We used it once for our bible study in mom’s group, and then I read it again several months later, and it hit me both times, although my life was in different places each time.
To help nurture my spirtual walk, I have my quiet time each morning, and I also take part in a mom’s ministry at church, where we read through a Christian book each semester and apply the truths we learn to our own lives as moms. I also do an online bible study I found at http://www.youversion.com. It’s a great site– it lets you chose a study that focuses on what you need, and for the length of time you choose!
Sunny, I love hearing that!
As a busy wife, mom and working outside of the home I find it hard. But one thing is I go to Mom to Mom each Wednesday night at our church while the kids are at Awana. I get to connect with other moms as well as grow as a woman of God. I also only play K-Love. We have it on in the car and as an app on the iphone for in our house I can blast from the speakers! It amazes me how much my kids love it too!
I love spending my morning with P31’s email and Wendy Pope’s weekly bible study. I have been doing this for several months and love it.
I pray while I’m doing work. When folding laundry, I pray for the person I’m folding the laundry for. Or I pray for my attitude and perspective as I’m folding the millionth piece of clothing knowing it’s just going to need to be washed and folded again in a few days. In this season of my life where I have a lot of very young ones demanding my time & attention, I focus on simple character traits or fruit of the Spirit I want to have in my life, and then I meditate on that virtue while asking Jesus to teach me more about applicable ways to implement it into my daily schedule and life to walk out before my family.
I began a prayer journal last fall and it’s truly been a blessing to me..it’s as if I am writing love letter to my Daddy. I also have joined a small group of 3 incredible women that attend my church and we have encouraged, cried, strengthened, prayed and shared in each others lives. I try to have my quiet time anytime I have a little time to myself,( i have three kids 9,6,3) so it’s not always at the same time, but Im beginning to realize that I can’t breathe without it. And Worship..Oh how I love to worship and sometimes my time spent with God is just that, Worshiping. He is transforming me and giving me a relationship with Him that I have never had before!
I attend Community Bible Study weekly, which has been so great for me and my kids. it is so challenging! Also, each day I try to start my day with a prayer that goes something like this, “Show me, Lord, what you are doing today that you want me to be a part of.”
I subscribe to Upper Room Daily Reflections by email. I also teach Sunday School. I love how preparing a lesson lifts me up and gets me excited to share Jesus with the kids!
I am very busy raising three boys, working full time, and taking classes. So I condense breakfast and dinner with bible study. We read a bible verse at the table that the kids understand and each take turns discussing how it makes us feel!
Right now I am reading through Proverbs and have asked some friends to read it with me to keep me motivated. I am also trying to post a short piece on each chapter on my blog, and trying (thus unsuccessfully) to get others to post their views on Proverbs.
Jill,
I am over from UBP11. I am so excited I found your site. I actually won this book from Shari Braendel at What to Wear Wednesdays. My plan is to start reading your book this week while we are on Spring Break. My children are young so I rarely have time to sit and do a long bible study. I am going through Wendy Pope’s Read the Bible Through study online. Each morning I listen to her vlog and while I am sitting in carline I read the passages for the day.
Mary
Mary, welcome! That’s so fun that you won the book from Shari Braendel!
i follow the daily office and compline with @Virtual_Abbey on twitter @_eHope
beautiful to be praying deeply meaningful scripture & prayers with others around the world…
I try to spend ten minutes a day working on my Bible self-study. I have been blessed with mentors who taught me how to study the Word for myself instead of being ultra-dependent on some kind of formal study group. Sneaking in those ten minutes is hard with caring for two little people, but it is invaluable to know that I can still be engaged in God’s Word, growing and learning.
I keep a devotional in my sons room so that as I am in there nursing at night (which is one of the few times I am able to sit still long enough) I can use that time to connect with the Lord.
With a busy life of two daughters and working outside the home, I needed a reminder to pray. I put a little sticker in the car, on the computer, on the cell phone, etc. When I see the sticker, it reminds me to say a prayer to God thanking him for the many blessings I have in my life
I also have a basket in my living room with devotional books and my Bible, which I read whenever I get a chance – early in the morning, or while my daughter is napping. I also enjoy listening to sermons online at oneplace.com or on my iPhone. It’s a great encouragement throughout the week, and something I can do while doing other things around the house or driving.
I like to teach my children about Jesus, I was not fortunate to grow up in a home where religion played a major role. I want different for my children, when I focus on teaching them it is amazing how much I am learning right along with them.
I subscribe to several Christian blogs (like this one!) that gives me nuggets of wisdom and things to think about during the week. It’s rare that I have time to read a book from cover to cover, but I can make time for a short blog every day.
lately i haven’t been doing much and i can tell. my temper is short and my mood is foul.
I have verses on my kitchen sink shelf, in my bathroom, on my android phone I get a verse of the day– so I always have scripture to meditate on all around….
I also choose to read christian life type books for my pleasure reading instead of christian fiction in my season of young children where life doesn’t allow alot of reading time….
I also try to get in the Word several days a week in a real study in addition to all throughout the day meditation…
Something that I have found that helps me is I have spiral bound index cards that I have the days of the week on, for each day I have a specific thing to pray for. I also use this to write down scriptures that really stood out to me when I read it. Then I go back through and read those scriptures as I do my Bible study.
I participate in a mom’s Bible study that provides childcare for the little ones. I have a Bible verse screensaver on my phone to help me learn more Bible verses, and try to work on a Bible verse with my children from their devotional. i also try to “pray through the day>”
I strive to have a mentor, someone who has “been around the block” with Jesus more times than I have. A christian wife, mama, and daughter of the King.
I usually have the Christian radio station on, plus I get the opportunity in the evenings to check my daily email devotions from Proverbs 31 and emails like yours help keep me connected. With younger kids, I haven’t found a good time for devotional times, but work it in where I can.
With two little ones under 5 quiet time is tough to find. Two times I sneak away during my day…first, while I am getting ready in the morning I find a spot in my closet to do my daily Bible study from BSF. This is a time my kids are usually content to hang out on my bed and watch a little morning TV before we get going on our day. By the time nap time comes in the afternoon I am always ready for another quiet time with God. I use Proverbs31 online daily devotions. I try to do this before I take a look at my to-do list that is often calling my name. I love these times in my day and always notice the days that I am “too busy” to fit this time in.
I can’t believe I missed the first 2 days of giveaways… in trying to limit my computer time during UBP11… my regular subscriptions have been neglected!! 🙂
So glad to see you joining the party!!
I have been struggling in the spiritual nurture lately!! I am getting back on track tomorrow with Psalms… there is something about the Psalms that applies to every situation I find myself in!!
I am memorizing one scripture verse a week with my boys to help nurture my walk as well as theirs.
I make SURE my kids take naps, that allows me a consistent time for devotions. Even if they can’t sleep they have to stay in their rooms and quietly read.
When I’m in a slump, I turn on some rockin’ music I know is written from the Word. I clean my house and sign my heart out for Jesus. A clean house and a clean soul!
I try to wake up early everyday and get some “alone” time in before the day gets started!