Category: Devotion for Women

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Devotion for Women ZZ

Look at me

‘But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer.’ Psalms 66:19(NLT)

by Karolyn Dicken

A few weeks ago, our oldest (my bonus son) looked at me and said, “Mom, I know you have a lot going on and you’re taking care of a lot of different things, but I just don’t feel like you really listen to me.”

Wow. Talk about a punch in the gut! His comment really struck me because I knew it was true—sometimes, I do have a hard time listening to him. I’m a talker, but his daily word count even puts me to shame! And so much of what he talks about I really don’t understand; video games, for example. However, here we are, with a thirteen-year-old son desperate to talk and connect with us, and I’m choosing to feel inconvenienced or bothered by that? How selfish of me! 

So for the past several weeks, I’ve chosen to really connect and truly listen. To make eye contact when he speaks. To turn towards him. To set my phone aside—even purposefully leaving it in a separate room, so I don’t get drawn in. I’ve asked questions related to what he’s talking about, even though sometimes I’m sure I sound completely ignorant! I’ve purposefully done this with our younger two as well. I’ve heard it said that we need to listen when they’re talking because even though it seems like small stuff, it’s the big stuff to them. And we always want them comfortable sharing any of the stuff that’s going on in their lives.

More than that, if I want to reflect our Creator, isn’t He intent on choosing to listen to us? About our trivial fears, our large concerns, our worries, our celebrations. He cares. He listens. He engages. He pursues and responds. I want my children to know and trust that about Jesus, so I’m trying to become more like Him. In Psalm 66:19 we learn that God attends to the voice of our prayers, that He is present, listens to, and gives care and attention to our voice. I want to do that more consistently with my children. 

QUESTION TO PONDER In what areas has the Lord been nudging you to become more like Him?

WHAT’S NEXT Prioritize connection this week. Work on making eye contact when your kids (and your husband) are talking to you. 

from Encouragement For Bonus Moms

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Devotion for Women ZZ

Competition

‘Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.’ Ephesians 4:29(NLT)

by Danielle Novotny

Today’s devotion is geared towards all the moms who are dealing with split homes: bonus moms and biological moms alike! I have some questions for you: What have you done to accept the other parents’ involvement in your kiddos’ lives? Have you done something you’re not proud of towards the other parents? What can you do to have a positive impact in your blended family life?

Let’s take a minute to talk about a sticky subject in split homes: Competition. 

Why do we compete? I have talked to so many moms (bonus and biological) about this subject. Most share the sentiment, “Why is it always a competition for our children’s love?”

Let’s stop competing and putting the kids in the middle of a loyalty war—it’s uncomfortable for everyone. Children need to be able to love ALL of the parents involved. Make it a point to talk positively about the other parent. Children should never know about any issues you’re facing behind the scenes—it’s not their burden to carry.

I was a stepchild growing up; I had two homes. I am now a stepmom and a biological mom. We have 50/50 custody of both girls. I know what it feels like as a child growing up in that environment, and so I can understand the impact our children have from living in two homes. As a mom or a stepmom, what impact do you want to have? Are you teaching them how to love, and are you encouraging them to love others? 

What can you do this week to show appreciation to ALL of the parents involved in your kids’ lives? Put your differences aside for ONE week. Send a quick text or send them a card in the mail and tell them something they’re doing right. Next, tell your children what you appreciate about the other parent(s) involved. You have no idea how much these children love you all. Let’s be intentional in our interactions,  regardless of how the other person is acting.

Have grace for the other mom (biological or stepmom). Acknowledge them. Encourage them. Be kind. Remember, you are all their parents. Your child(ren) love you. Give them the space to do just that. You are making an impact.

QUESTION TO PONDER Have you tried to compete with the other parents involved in your situation? 

WHAT’S NEXT Write down 3-5 things that you enjoy about the other parents involved in your kids’ lives. 

from Encouragement For Bonus Moms

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Devotion for Women ZZ

God Knows

‘God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude A river brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Most High. God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed. From the very break of day, God will protect it. The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble! God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts! The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude Come, see the glorious works of the Lord : See how he brings destruction upon the world. He causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude’ Psalms 46:1-11(NLT)

by Karolyn Dicken

In this broken and messy world, God knew.

God knew that we’d be raising these stepkids, our “bonus children,” and prepared us to be able to invest in their lives. Whether it’s for a season while you’re fostering, the rollercoaster amidst the pursuit of adoption, or the back-and-forth of a blended family, God knows.

When I was engaged to be married, I was admittedly even more excited about the idea of becoming a stepmom than a wife. Being a teacher with a background in Special Education, I understood children. I really thought I could parent better than I could “wife.”

As life would have it, parenting my ‘bonus’ son has proven to be the most rewarding, humbling, and difficult challenges I’ve ever been a part of. But, God knows. He knows that my attempts to parent my son well, keeps me in pursuit of Him—the only source of constant peace amongst the chaos, confusion, and mess.

God knows—He knows my desire to be a kind and gentle mother to him and our two other children. God knows how desperately I fail time and time again. And, yet, there He is. Waiting. Encouraging. Leading. Guiding. Forgiving. Restoring.

In my attempts to do more, I’m often reminded of Psalm 46:10a, “Be still, and know that I am God.” God is our help and will give us the grace, wisdom, and knowledge to pour into these children in this season—whether that’s days, months, or years.

Sometimes, though, it might just be that we need to be still and trust that He is God so that He can continue to work on their—and our—behalf. Friend, rest in the Lord and His great love for you and your family today. You can trust Him to take care of you and work in ways you never thought possible. God is faithful and will help you. 

QUESTION TO PONDER In what areas do you need to be still and allow the Lord to work on your behalf?

WHAT’S NEXT Call a friend and pray together over a situation where you’re having a hard time trusting the Lord.  If she doesn’t answer, go to your journal and write it all out! 

from Encouragement For Bonus Moms

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Devotion for Women ZZ

The Ministry of a Christian Stepmom

‘Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.’ Philippians 2:2-5(NLT)

by Deb Weakly

Mothers are important; we mold the hearts and minds of the next generation. This is true of not only birth and adoptive moms, but also ‘Bonus Moms’ (stepmoms, foster moms, and caregivers in any capacity). 

My parents divorced when I was young, and my dad remarried. My Dad had full custody of me, so I lived with him and my stepmom full-time. These short years became one of the most difficult seasons of my life. My parent’s recent divorce had left me feeling wounded and broken. Furthermore, my stepmom didn’t want me, so I never felt loved and accepted living in her home. They divorced a short time later, and I felt relieved.

After their divorce, my dad dated a delightful woman named Sharon. Though they never married and were only together for a short time, I will always remember Sharon for the way she loved me like a daughter and taught me much about life. She helped me learn all about how to apply cosmetics, and she even hosted my friends for sleepovers. Sharon was a delightful cook and loved to decorate. She was a beautiful example of a sweet mother-figure who chose to invest her life into a defeated young girl. 

My dad later married a kind woman named Jean. My children know Jean as Nanny, and she loved them like her own grandchildren. Jean was just what I needed as an adult stepchild. She loved my dad well and took care of him until the end of his life. I will always be thankful for my sweet stepmom, Jean.

As a stepmom, you have the God-given potential to make an enormous difference in the lives of your stepchildren. I fervently believe this is a ministry given to you by God to show His love to your potentially wounded stepchildren.

I don’t know your situation: The children’s mom may be fantastic, and if so they are blessed. On the other hand, the birth mom might be as mine—a broken woman who struggled to be the mom I needed because of her deep wounds that resulted from the divorce with my dad. She was also an alcoholic and later remarried a horribly abusive man. My poor mom then had big issues because of my stepdad. I couldn’t see her or stay with her because of him. This all left me feeling like an orphan from the time I was ten years old. 

Sadly, at the age of 20, I became truly motherless when my mom died. As you can imagine, I felt lost and alone. Looking back, I see God’s goodness because He gave me my stepmom, Jean, and my mother-in-law, Joan, who both became sweet mother figures to me. They helped me feel loved and not so alone. They both were there for me in the day-to-day issues of life and also the big events that would have been heart-breaking to go through without a mom: my graduation from college, our wedding, and the birth of each child. I needed a mom during these seasons and I am so thankful the Lord gave me Jean and Joan and also other godly mentors along the way. 

My dear friend, if you are reading this devotional, then it probably means you are a ‘Bonus Mom’ of some kind: a stepmom, foster, or any other type of mom. Please, please, please don’t ever underestimate the power of your ministry to your bonus children. You will never replace their mom, but you can be a positive role model and someone who is always there for them to show them the love of Jesus. Sweet Mom, your mothering matters. Never give up on your calling or your bonus kids. The Lord is with you and will help you to love them like Jesus and hang in there when the times get tough. You and God can do this!! He will help you!

from Encouragement For Bonus Moms

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Devotion for Women ZZ

Dare to Dream

‘Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. ‘ Ephesians 3:20(NLT)

‘For the word of God will never fail. ”’ Luke 1:37(NLT)

‘“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”’ Mark 9:23(NLT)

‘God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.’ 1 Thessalonians 5:24(NLT)

By Meagan Witt

I used to pride myself on being a realist, someone who wouldn’t dare spend valuable time dreaming. However, that was life before Jesus, and of course, our Savior is much too kind to allow us to live a life without dreams. 

In fact, sweet mama, did you know that Jesus Himself put those dreams deep inside your heart? You know, the dreams you wouldn’t dare say out loud, the ones you brush to the side and say to yourself…“impossible.” Luke 1:37 tell us, “For nothing is impossible with God.” 

In Jeremiah 29:11 God tells us, “‘For I know the plans I have for you’ declares the Lord ‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” He is telling us that nothing is impossible with Almighty God and reminding us that His plans for us are good and infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, and hopes. 

You see, those big dreams we have, He gave them to us. I like to call them “God dreams” because they are dreams so big that if God isn’t in them, we will fail. That’s how we know they are from Him. Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, says, 

“The first thing God does to build your faith is to give you a dream. When God wants to work in your life, He’ll always give you a dream—about yourself, about what He wants you to do, about how He’s going to use your life to impact the world.”

If we look to God’s Word, we see Him giving His people dreams to stretch their faith again and again. God gave Noah the dream of building an ark, Joseph the dream of being a leader who would save his people, and Abraham the dream of being the father of a great nation. That is just to name a few. God uses dreams. 

I once heard Christine Caine say that, “Life is too short, the world is too big, and God’s love is too great to live an ordinary life.” Sisters, know this. Believe this. How different might our world look if we as women of God stepped out in bold faith, believing that the One who gave us these beautiful, scary, big “God dreams” would be faithful to complete them? And what if the generation behind us saw their mamas doing just that? After all, Meg Meeker says that “the most powerful way to teach a daughter how to enjoy her life and find her true purpose is to let her see her mother do the same.”

What’s Next?

Believe, sweet mama. Grab hold of these dreams and don’t let anything or anyone shake them from you. Remember, they are from your Father. Keep in mind the children in your home who are watching you. Step out in bold faith, and ask God daily what the next step will be toward your dreams.

Know This: All of us at the Help Club for Moms are believing with you. We are asking God to stir up “God dreams” in His daughters. We believe He will not only stir up dreams, but He will also be faithful to bring them to fruition.

from The Wise Woman Enjoys Part Two

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Devotion for Women ZZ

Keeper of the Chocolate

‘Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.’ Psalms 90:14(NLT)

‘Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. ‘ Colossians 3:12(NLT)

By Heather Doolittle 

While contemplating the wide-eyed wonder and belly laughs of childhood, I realized I hold a very important position as a mother: the keeper of the chocolate, the planner of parties, and basically the facilitator of joy. It seems unfair that I hold this power in my family. I know that if any of my children had this right, they would exercise it freely—sweets and roller coasters for everyone! 

When the Bible tells us women will be saved through childbirth, does that saving grace come in part through the rose-colored glasses with which children show us the world (1 Timothy 2:15)? God is exponentially better, His love immensely greater than we could possibly fathom, and small children seem to inherently get it. 

However, I’ve often missed small opportunities for laughter and fun in a quest for order and efficiency. How many times have I singled-handedly squelched my children’s joy? Denied a dip in the stream to avoid scrubbing mud from their clothes, refused a chance to paint a masterpiece to prevent paint-covered fingers and walls. There is a time and place for everything; I am certainly not suggesting you live as a slave to every whim of your child. It’s all about finding the proper balance. 

I resolve to become more like a child, as Jesus instructed His disciples—to laugh and love with abandon, leaving my cares to my Heavenly Father. Isn’t that how God intends for us to live? Surely He derives pleasure from witnessing His children delight in small gifts, just as we do with our little ones. 

God has given us this awesome world in which to live, and I intend to bask in the beauty of it. I pray He will open my eyes as I study my children, and help me to see all that is beautiful and precious—that He will teach me to immerse myself in pure, exuberant joy as I learn to live and love as God’s holy and dearly-loved child (Colossians 3:12). I want to take my family alongside me as I bask in God’s abundant love, goodness, beauty, and grace every day and emanate sincere, abundant joy all my life (Psalm 90:14).

What’s Next?

Resolve to see the world through the delighted eyes of your sweet children instead of forcing them to see our tiresome, grown-up world. Look for the simple blessings in your life. Give thanks aloud and rejoice; ask your children to do the same.

from The Wise Woman Enjoys Part Two

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Devotion for Women ZZ

The Power of Our Testimony

‘And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ‘ 1 John 5:11(NLT)

‘And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.’ 1 Corinthians 2:4-5(NLT)

‘Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord .”’ 1 Corinthians 1:26-31(NLT)

By Rae-Ellen Sanders  

Praise God, He has called each of us to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ! Have you ever wondered where your life would be now if you didn’t ask Jesus into your heart? What paths would you have chosen to walk down? As Christians, we have had the most remarkable transformation happen in our lives when the blood of Jesus washed us clean. What an exciting privilege we now have to tell others our salvation story. 

Recently, in my small group, I shared my testimony. It had been a while since I told anyone how the Lord grabbed a hold of my heart and turned my life around. I was anxious to expose my personal history, even in front of loving friends. I had made bad decisions and my previous worldly sin made me embarrassed and nervous. What I realized is that my friends were scared too. With God’s help, the eight of us shared our stories that day. We were all astonished at how unique our lives and experiences were, and how God reached down from heaven to save us with His amazing grace! 

A paradigm shift happens in our soul when we have a life-changing encounter with the Lord. We should be so joy-filled and in awe that Jesus forgave our sin, that we share the Good News with everyone we meet! Broadcasting what Jesus has radically done in our lives is worth getting excited about! So why don’t we do it at every opportunity? Many will agree that it is NOT easy! It takes time and courage to review our lives and openly share our transformation with others. The enemy of our souls also wants to keep us chained in shame. Be encouraged, moms, that 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 will exhort you to trust in the Lord’s power when stepping out in faith! 

When we act in obedience, we will not only glorify God and influence others, but we will also allow our testimonies to become great examples for our children. Speaking about our past compared to our lives lived in victory will illustrate God’s work within us and instruct our children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6)! Ultimately, God uses our conversion story to help others put their trust in Him. 

What’s Next?

Salvation creates a transformation in us. When we tell of what God has done, we gain boldness that will propel us to share the Gospel more. The more we talk about Jesus at home, the easier it is to talk about Him with others. Look for opportunities to share the love of Jesus by sharing your testimony and encouraging your children to share Jesus with their friends too!

from The Wise Woman Enjoys Part Two

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Devotion for Women ZZ

Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself

‘Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.’ Psalms 90:12(NLT)

‘We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. ‘ 2 Corinthians 10:5(NLT)

By Deb Weakly

For the past year, I have had a little handwritten sign inside my teacup cabinet that reads, “What would I do if I only had one year to live?” I like to keep this thought in front of me each day as I grab my china teacup for my morning time with God, and then get ready for my day. 

When I see this little sign, I ask myself some questions: How would I live my life today if I only had one year to live? Who or what would be most important to me? Would I choose to overlook offenses or give grace? Would I choose to love well? 

I think about these questions a lot. To be honest, I can frequently wake up with negative thoughts about someone or something and it can steal my joy for the day right off the bat. Pondering these questions helps me to “check myself before I wreck myself,” and helps me get my day off to a more positive start. 

Instead of dwelling on negative thoughts and becoming grouchy, anxious, or needy, I pray and practice 2 Corinthians 10:5b by “…taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” I give that negative, toxic thought to Jesus and ask Him to help me think a true thought about the person or situation. This one habit has helped me to catch myself before those thoughts run their course for the day and affect my relationships with others. I can ask Jesus to help me to choose to live and love in the power of the Holy Spirit. This one little habit has increased my joy tremendously. 

I don’t always do this perfectly, but I do keep trying. I figure if I can check myself 300 days out of the 365 each year, then I am doing a whole lot better than if I didn’t try to change my thoughts at all. I love how Dory the Fish says: “Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming.” I keep trying to do better each day, and not give up even if I don’t always do it perfectly. 

Another joy-increasing habit I have been doing for years is praying Psalm 90:12, asking Jesus to teach me to number my days so I can go about my day in His wisdom. When we live each day as if our days are numbered, we live with purpose and joy. 

Sister, our lives are so short, and the Lord wants us to live them to the fullest with His Spirit leading the way. So how about you? Would you like to live each day with more joy? Try checking yourself first thing in the morning and also asking Jesus to teach you to number your days. These little habits can help you to savor your days and live each day as if you only had a short time on this earth.

What’s Next?

Count your days! I once heard of a man who wanted to appreciate his life and decided to number his days. He counted up how many Sundays he had left if he lived to be 85 years old, and bought that number of marbles and put them in a jar. Each Sunday, he took out a marble to remind him that he had just lived one week of his life. He spoke at our church about how this habit changed him and helped him to appreciate his life more. I think it would affect our lives too!

from The Wise Woman Enjoys Part Two

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Devotion for Women ZZ

The Wise Woman Enjoys Part Two – Day 6

‘For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. ‘ Philippians 4:13(NLT)

Hello Friend, 

These golden days of summer are so beautiful as your children desperately soak up the last rays of warm sun on their skin, the cool evenings playing outside until the sun sets, and each free minute doing the things they love most. But even beautiful things can stretch long and wear a mama clean out. Are you there yet? Are you ready for a little time off from the long loveliness of summer? 

I feel as if I am daily needing a reminder that this time with my kids is so precious. They are only young once. The continual stream of pillow forts, mud tracked into the house, sticky fingerprints on the windows, and perpetual requests for snacks will quickly pass before these boys of mine will stand taller than I and won’t need me in the same way they do now. 

I want to finish well. I want to finish this summer in a way that will bring glory to my Savior. How can I wake up to God’s calling on my life in these last days of sunshine and freedom before the school year begins again in earnest? How can l walk through these days with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)? 

I can wake up each day, ready to live for Jesus as a mom! I can lovingly make special plans that I have put off all summer and take joy in spending time playing with my boys. I can pray aloud with them during moments of conflict, that God will give them (and me) a spirit of peace. I can use patience when dealing with the messes and kindness in my words to my children. I can show them a picture of goodness in the decisions I make and faithfulness as I spend daily time with the Lord. I can respond with gentleness and self-control when I am frustrated. I can serve the Lord in these days with my children. 

And if I can do it, sister, you can do it too, because with God’s strength all things are possible (Philippians 4:13). He is carrying you through these last days of summer with your children.

So much love to you! 

Tara Davis and the Help Club For Moms Team 

from The Wise Woman Enjoys Part Two

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Devotion for Women ZZ

Intentionality With Television

‘And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.’ Deuteronomy 6:6-9(NLT)

By Rachel Jones

Summertime and TV-watching go hand-in-hand. Kids are home all day, so the television can very quickly become the babysitter. After all, it surely keeps the children occupied and quiet so you can get a few things done! I totally understand that mamas, as I currently have four young children in my home. However, I think we all know this isn’t best for them. 

What if, instead, we created an environment in our homes where television watching could actually provide something positive? My heart wants to show you that with some intentionality, TV can become an excellent learning experience for your family. It can also become a special time to share something together, create memories, and cuddle on the couch. 

Today’s verse in Deuteronomy says to “teach them diligently.” In my opinion, that can happen all day long if we take advantage of the openings our children give us. Proverbs 23:26 says, “my son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways.” Our children are waiting to be instructed by us and here are some suggestions on how to use TV to make that happen: 

1. TV can be a great conversation starter. “…Bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4b). Some topics are not easy to discuss with kids, particularly with pre-teens and teens. Bringing up hard subjects can often turn into awkward moments. However, by choosing programs that address sensitive topics and by following His instruction, you will have the open door to train your child in the instruction of the Lord. 

2. TV can be educational and fun! In our home, we enjoy cuddling up together to watch a show where something new is being exposed or taught to our children. As the parents, we intentionally choose certain shows beforehand. We then watch together, laugh together, and discuss anything new we saw or learned. Watching quality television creates great memories! 

3. TV exposes our children to different cultures. Many TV programs can be powerful tools in teaching our children about new cultures and their lifestyles and traditions. Documentaries or dramas filmed in other countries can also help our children feel empathy for those living in poverty, or develop curiosity about their traditions. 

What’s Next?

from The Wise Woman Enjoys Part Two