On My Knees by Jane VanOsdol

On My Knees
by Jane VanOsdol from OnlyByPrayer.com

How many times have you as a mother been certain that your child would never move past his current stage, and that you were doomed to live out the rest of your days forever stuck where you were, a? la Ground Hog Days?

Well, I’ve felt like that many times in my kids’ lives. When my son was a toddler, trips to the store became a battleground as he often threw tantrums when he didn’t get what he wanted. Discouragement set in after one particularly bad trip when he and the whole cart tipped over– in front of a group of managers-in-training! I was certain I was the poster child for the “how to handle the hysterical mother” lesson that day. Read more

Making Your Quiet Times Happen this Year – Even When You Can’t Get Up in the Morning by Jennifer Schwilling

Reading the Bible and praying more is right at the top of Christian womens’ goals and resolutions lists, up there with getting organized and losing weight.  Unfortunately, just like organizing and weight loss aspirations, our best plans and intentions to have daily devotions or quiet times tend to fizzle a few weeks into the year.  What happens?  We’re convinced of the value of spending time getting to know our God through His word.  We’re convinced of the power of prayer in our lives and others’.  How does something this important and desirable keep slipping through the cracks in our days?

One of the ways we unintentionally keep something from happening is making it too difficult or complicated.  Do you admire a friend who is able to read her Bible an hour or two a day?  Or a friend who studies Greek daily?  A favorite author who writes about watching the sun rise as she prays over her day?  All of these things may be good, but do they work for you at this point of your life?  Maybe you have three small children running around and 1 – 2 hours of uninterrupted reading time just isn’t going to happen.  Maybe you are anything but a morning person.  In your mind is anything less than your “ideal” quiet time not worth doing?  In other words, are you making it more difficult than it needs to be?

All you really need to have your quiet time are three things:  A time, a place, and your “stuff” Read more

Our Easy Family Bible Reading Plan by Cindy Rushton

Bible Reading. Sound tough? Do you really want to instill the habits of daily Bible Reading and quiet times with your children, but have NO IDEA of where to begin or what to do? Well, here is a little bit of help!

• Pray…Never begin a time of Bible Study on your own! As everyone settles in for read alouds, go to the Lord in prayer! Ask Him to teach each of you. He will be faithful to meet you every time you come to Him!

• Review from your last reading… As we read through our Daily Bible Reading, we begin by reviewing the passage from the day before. I allow our children to do this. They love this!

• Read aloud from the Bible! Yes, directly read from the Bible. Choose YOUR FAVORITE version. Begin wherever you prefer. Need suggestions? We recommend beginning in the book of John or Psalms. Proverbs can also be a great place to begin.  As for versions, we use a wide variety of versions.  Since my children have gotten older, we often read the same passage from different versions. Talk about enriching our reading and discussion! We begin anew each year reading through the Bible. Each day we read the passage that leaves off from the day before until the “story” or section ends.  Some sections are not as friendly for making a “story.” We read until we get to a good stopping place. The next day we pick up where we leave off.

• Narrate the story or discuss the principles from Scripture…This is simply letting the children re-tell what the passage is about. If it is not a passage that is easily shared in a story, then let them share their insights into the passage!

• Discuss ideas, any questions, and any difficult words. Look up any new places on a map. This is WHY you should read/study Scripture WITH your children. This is when you will share insights with one another… glean deeper truths from Scripture…really search for more than the casual glance at Scripture!

• Mark your daily reading in your Daily Bible Reading Log. We designed a Daily Bible Reading Log for our children to see HOW MUCH they were (and weren’t reading!!) each year! It has been awesome to see how much Scripture we are reading together, individually, and even in our church studies. If you need a log that is ready for your family to use, check out our pricelist. They are wonderful!

• Pray… Finally, end your Bible Reading time in prayer. Ask God to really work in your lives to make your study applicable in your lives!

Need more help? Don’t miss our Half Off Sale! Everything is half off. Look for our Organized Mom Super Set or our Quiet Times Seminar Set. You will get even more help! Check out our sale here: CLICK HERE

Secrets to Help You Stay Focused in 2009 by Cindy Rushton

Anybody else battle with distractions and interruptions? Do you want to stick to the things that are on your heart, yet realistically battle with staying focused?

Oh! I TOTALLY relate! In fact, the past few months, my heart-cry has been to stay focused. Everywhere I have turned, I have heard messages on staying focused…saw articles on being focused…and talked with my friends about being focused. As a result, I have found a few great secrets that have really helped me to stay focused on the most important things in my life and get more done at the same time. Want to know those secrets? Well, let’s dig in…

BEGIN EACH DAY WITH A QUIET TIME…

I know what you just thought…”BUT! Cindy, that gets me off track for the day!”  Read more

Let’s Make a Memory…Over Tea! by Cindy Rushton

A cup of tea???

Tea…What comes to your mind?

As I think back over the years since that first cup of tea, I think beyond the various types of tea…the beautiful tea rooms and homes that have welcomed me for the ritual…the unique cups and teapots, each with its own story…all those details blur. But, one thing brings me back to “tea” over and over again…relationships! Relationships forged over moments shared over a cup of tea. Sweet, sweet memories that forge forever relationships.

My very first memories of tea were on the front porch,truly Southern Style with Iced Sweet Tea. There was never a meal served or a family gathering without plenty of Iced Sweet Tea. Just visiting Mamaw, I could always expect a big, tall glass of Sweet Lemon Tea whether we were working in her kitchen or swinging on the front porch enjoying her flowers and sweet conversation.

Read more

Give Your Children God’s Word FOR THEM!

The Bible is one of the most popular selling books in all of history. It has been translated into more languages than any other book. Even today it is being translated into many different languages for people all over the world to read. The most incredible thing is that the Bible is not being translated into many different translations and versions just for children. Using different translations and versions can assist in teaching kids about the Bible and introducing them to God so they can pursue their own personal relationship with Him.

Please don’t think I am “downing” my Bible growing up. I loved it. It was very, very precious to me. I just remember how tough it was for me to read and study it. I was very bright, but the translation that was used most often during my childhood was the King James Version. As a kid, reading the King James Version was quite hard and frustrating. All of the formal language (thee and thou…shouldst and didst) got in the way and distracted me from the message. Read more

I Think I Am Solar-Powered…. I NEED The Son!!! by Elisabeth Rushton

I have always loved being outside and in the sun! I do not know exactly why, but I do!!

Hot weather. No prob! “The hotter the better” is always my mind-set!

Now getting a sun tan isn’t just about “ME” though. When I am suntanning, I usually do my quiet time, work on articles, read through and do my school work and copywork. I love that time to just have time to meditate on God’s Word and pray (talk) to Him!! Something about that time takes my focus off of the busyness, the pressures, and everything else that life can bring my way…and turns my complete focus upon Jesus. Read more

Daily Manna by Cindy Rushton

Now it came to pass, as they went, that He entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard His Word. But Martha was cumbered about (distracted with) much serving, and came to Him, and said, Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful; and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Luke 10: 38-42

Does this passage remind you of the typical mother? Open to the Lord. Right in touch with Jesus. In the home busy serving. Going to Jesus with the struggles that inevitably come with complete devotion to the call of womanhood.

Of all of the many wonderful things we may do in life, there is no greater call than that call of serving God in our homes. I do not struggle with temptations to go my own way…be my own person…have riches or fame…or get away from the “drudgery” of womanhood for that illusive life out in the world. No. My struggles seem to mount as I try to serve those so dear to me with all that I have—my whole heart, soul, and mind. Read more

Lord, I Want to KNOW What Love Is…

Let’s go back in time… Well, not that far…only to 1984!  (No comments from the very young bunch here!)

1984 was a year that made history! Did you know that?

Do you know what the single greatest event of 1984 was?  I met my prince charming—my Harold! I am sure that December 22, 1984 there was a huge tremble throughout the whole world…the stars shined more brightly than ever before…the flowers smelled more aromatic than ever…and I found my man! Read more