Girls To Grow - Page 4 of 179 - Nurturing moms in their walk with God

How to Pray for Our Families in Times of Temptation

April 20, 2017 by Tracey 6 Comments

Has something ever come to your mind, seemingly out of nowhere, that you felt the need to pray for immediately?

I’m not saying that happens to me often, but one afternoon recently, I just felt like I should pray for my husband and children in that moment. I wasn’t sure exactly why, but I took the time to pray right then. I don’t have an exciting story of an averted disaster to share (and I’m okay with that!), but I’m confident that no prayer is ever wasted.

As I was praying that afternoon, I specifically asked for them to have victory over temptation. I realize that I don’t know all of the temptations my family members may face on a daily basis, but I have no doubt that sin is always trying to find a way into our lives.

Yes, my husband is a Godly man, but I don’t doubt for a minute that he struggles with certain issues. Yes, my children attend a Christian school, but I’m under no illusion that they are free from the appeal of sin in that environment. I certainly know areas where I’m frequently tempted to give in to what my flesh wants to do instead of doing what I know to be right.

As wives and moms, we can have a powerful ministry of prayer in this area. God has not left us to struggle alone here! If those we love are saved, the Holy Spirit lives inside of them. He is available to guide them when they encounter temptation. He can give them power to come through to the other side, still right in their walk with God.

Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that “…we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” We can’t fight that battle alone. Each one of us needs God’s help.

So how can we pray for those we love when it comes to temptation? Let’s look at three words that can help us in this area.

1. Protect. Ask God to protect them from temptation. Matthew 6:13 is part of the Lord’s prayer, which is given as a sample prayer for us as believers. It says, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…” Let’s pray that our husband and our children will be protected from sin.

It can feel like we’re surrounded by temptation. Yet the Holy Spirit Who lives inside us can draw our attention away from it. He can guide my husband away from a certain situation or keep my children from seeing something that could negatively affect their minds.

2. Proclaim. Pray God’s Word over an area of sin you know they struggle with. I John 4:4 says, “…greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (I can’t read that verse without automatically switching into singing mode!) We know that Jesus got the victory over Satan’s temptation in Matthew 4 by using God’s Word. That certainly makes this a method we should follow!

If my daughter struggles with lying, I can pray Ephesians 4:25, asking God to help her put away lying, and speak truth to others. And to make this personal, when I see a chance for pride to take over in my own life, I can pray Colossians 3:12, asking God to help me put on humbleness of mind, meekness, and longsuffering.

3. Provide. Ask God to provide a way of escape. God promises to do this in I Corinthians 10:13. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

God is faithful! He will provide a way out of our temptation. We just need to look to Him for help, and rely on His strength to overcome.

A prayer for our families

Dear God,

Protect my family from temptation today. Don’t allow sin to draw their hearts away from you. The power of the Holy Spirit that lives inside each one of them is greater than the power of their flesh. May they use that power to say “no” to sin.

Whatever temptation they face today, please help them to see the way of escape that you provide. Lord, for those times when they’re overcome and they do sin, help them to immediately seek forgiveness. Don’t let any sin get a permanent foothold in their life.

And Lord, remember me, too. I know all too well my weaknesses, and how often I give in to temptation. Help me, also, to use your Word to keep me from sin, and let me recognize the way of escape.

Yet when, like Paul in Romans 7, I find myself doing those things I don’t want to do, and see how wretched I am, let me praise God that there is grace and forgiveness at the foot of the cross.

May we have the ministry of prayer for our families in the area of temptation today!

God Has a Purpose for You Today

April 18, 2017 by Tracey 6 Comments

“Every morning that the sun rises and you get to rise? That’s God saying He believes in you, that He believes in the story He’s writing through you. He believes in you as a gift the world needs.” ~Ann Voskamp in The Broken Way

God is writing a story through me and through you.

We may be in different chapters of life. Our circumstances aren’t likely the same. Yet God has each of us here today for a purpose, and He has a plan for us to fulfill that will bring glory to Him.

It’s not an oversight on His part that we are alive. Each day, God places the people in our lives that He would have for us to influence. He allows situations to unfold that cause us to rely on Him. Our faith then grows, day by day, as we see God’s faithfulness to us revealed.

How sweet and comforting to know that, in the words of one of my mom’s favorite songs, “…His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” [Civilla D. Martin, 1905]

God is writing a story with our lives. We are here to make a difference.

Ann Voskamp, in The Broken Way, goes on to say,

“Before you blink and your one life’s a tendril of smoke, a memory, a vapor gone, know this: you are where you are for such a time as this – not to make an impression, but to make a difference. We aren’t here to one-up one another, but to help one another up.“

We are here to make a difference.

Some people make a louder, more visible difference. They have a larger platform, an unmistakable talent. Yet no matter what our sphere of influence today, we can make a difference. Maybe we meet a simple need in the life of our child, or do some small task that makes our husband’s day a bit easier. Our difference-making doesn’t have to be big to be valuable.

Sometimes I’m guilty of wanting to make an impression. “What does she think about me?” I might wonder. “Does this outfit look okay?” “Did anyone notice how I just helped out around here?” So then I have to ask myself, “Is my ministry truly focused on others or is it about me?” With the Holy Spirit’s help, I can keep my attention where it should be. I can learn to truly care about others.

Let compassion rule my life.

I like what Jude 22 reminds me of. “And of some have compassion, making a difference.” At the heart of making a difference is a concern for others, a sympathy for what a friend or neighbor is going through. Having that as my focus leads me to find ways of encouraging and blessing them.

The prior verse, Jude 21, gives the foundation for my compassion “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Remembering God’s love for me and His mercy in saving me, I can extend the same love and mercy to the people in my life.

So wherever you are today, don’t feel insignificant. Even if the hours ahead are filled with simple, everyday tasks, know that God has you here for a purpose. There is a reason He’s placed you where you are. The story He’s writing with your life isn’t finished yet. He has more for you to do – more people to reach, more love to give, more prayers to pray.

May God grant us His help to live with compassion, and make a difference in some way today.

Who Was at the Tomb that First Easter Morning?

April 13, 2017 by Tracey 2 Comments

Some years Easter slips up on me. Maybe it’s because the date is different from year to year. Also, spring break at my girls’ school isn’t tied to Easter. While we have a few traditions that involve baskets and chocolate bunnies, I want to always, always keep the focus at this time of year on Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

My favorite Easter passage is Matthew 28:1-8.

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

There are so many players here – the women, the angel, the keepers, the disciples. I love to think about how the scene unfolded from each of their perspectives.

Let's look at several groups of people who were at the tomb that first Easter morning.

The Women at the Tomb

First we meet the women, feeling sorrowful, coming to anoint the body of Jesus. They’d seen Him heal physical bodies, heard Him tell men and women that their sins were forgiven, felt the love and compassion He’d offered. Mark 16 tells us that this group came very early in the morning, wondering how they were going to get that big stone rolled away from the entrance of the tomb.

Yet when their eyes first glimpsed the empty spot where His body had been, what were their thoughts? I would imagine there was confusion, dismay, maybe a glimmer of hope as the angel reminded them of Jesus’ words about rising again. Talk about going from sorrow to joy in a moment of time! According to verse eight above, their joy was mixed with fear. And with turmoil in their hearts, they left the tomb at a run.

The Angel of the Lord

Next on the scene we meet the angel. What a privilege it must have been to make the triumphant descent from heaven, roll the stone back from the tomb, and be the one telling the glorious news of the resurrection to those who loved Jesus the most. “He is not here: for He is risen…” Which angel wouldn’t have wanted that job – to share Christ’s victory over death with the world!

The Keepers of the Tomb

What about the keepers, who actually saw the angel, felt the earthquake, and passed out in fear?! This job was unlike any they’d ever been assigned before! Later in the chapter, we read that they were bribed to tell a lie about what had really happened to Jesus’ body. Yet how often in the years following did they relive that morning in their minds? Did any one of them ever come to accept the Messiah as their own Savior?

The Disciples

Then there are the disciples, every one of whom fled when Jesus was taken as a prisoner in the garden of Gethsemane. But now they hear from the women that Jesus is alive, that an angel told them He is risen. Likely their initial reactions mirrored those of the women. Fear. Hope. Joy. We know there was a healthy dose of disbelief, since Luke 24:11 says, “And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.” However, we read that Peter and John took off at a run to the tomb, desperate to confirm or deny the tale that these women told.

The Risen Savior

Then there’s Jesus, the One Who died for the sins of the world, for yours and for mine. How thankful we are that Jesus wasn’t in the tomb that morning!! He gained the victory over death that day. Because of His resurrection, all who trust in Him have that same glorious victory.

So what is our response to Easter this year? As Christians, let’s be filled with the same joy that those women felt when they realized that the Messiah was alive. There’s no angel to proclaim the news to us, but we have the written Word of God and the Holy Spirit to proclaim in our hearts the truth of the resurrection.

Over this weekend especially, I want to meditate on the love that drove Him to the cross, the sacrifice of Himself He willingly made, the power He demonstrated in His resurrection, and the place of honor He now inhabits in heaven. Because of Jesus, I can live forever.

Praise God; He is alive!!

Of Bands, Birthdays, Tears, and the Value of Time

April 10, 2017 by Tracey 6 Comments

Since it’s been almost a week since I posted on the blog, I just wanted to share some thoughts – and hopefully some encouragement – today.

I thoroughly enjoyed attending the national fine arts competition for the first time! My girls’ school won first place in band! Here’s a video of one of the songs they performed. (My 16-year-old is on the left in the back row. She plays percussion, and is on the cymbals for much of this song. My 14-year-old plays the tenor saxophone, and you have no hope of seeing her as she’s seated directly in front of the director!)

Friday was my birthday. I purposely had no expectations. I knew it was going to be a regular day, filled with errands of all sorts, and generally catching up from being out-of-town the last few days. And it was a perfect day. Why? Because I chose to celebrate the little things.

~ an early morning “happy birthday” text from my older daughter, who was in the midst of packing up to leave the college campus where she’d stayed for the competition

~ a nice morning walk

~ a Starbucks drink and a good podcast while I ran errands

The value of time, on a birthday and beyond

A coconutmilk mocha macchiato

~ a totally unexpected birthday card from this sweet friend and blog reader

~ family time shooting baskets on the new basketball hoop in our backyard

~ many precious birthday wishes from family and friends

~ our family back together under one roof Friday night

And then I cried a little…I was listening to an episode of the Family Life Today podcast in the car on the way to get my girls from school. The hosts were talking specifically to parents of seniors in high school. Now my daughter’s only a high school sophomore. Yet knowing how fast the last two years of high school have gone, I feel like she’ll be a senior in the blink of an eye.

If you’d like to know what brought tears to my eyes, here’s a link to Preparing Your Teen for the Future. Around the 14-minute mark, Dennis and Barbara Rainey talk about a poem that was read during a special graduation service at their church. Below the podcast episode, you’ll see a graphic you can click to download and read “With These Hands.” While the poem is good on its own, hearing the Raineys read it aloud just about did me in!

I’ve read blog posts before about how someone does random acts of kindness for other people on their birthday. I think that’s a great idea, and maybe one that I’ll try someday! But this year, I chose to focus on the ordinariness of the day, the health I’ve been blessed with, and that I get to do all the little normal, every day tasks that I so often take for granted. God is good all the time. All the time, God is good.

And finally, I think I’ve gotten a little perspective lately from a chapter on time in Ann Voskamp’s book The Broken Way. She says,

“We all get one container of time – but no one gets to know what size that container is…Take your one container of time and believe it contains exactly the time you need for a meaningful life.”

And then there’s this…

“Your time is limited – so don’t limit your life by wanting someone else’s.”

And maybe the best of all…

“You have only one decision every day: how will you use your time?“

Time is a resource that we can never get more of. I show who and what I love by the way that I spend that time. May we challenge ourselves to make the most of today and of every day we’re given!

How We Can Fight Our Fear of Getting Bad News

April 4, 2017 by Tracey 4 Comments

Have you ever been afraid that you were about to get some bad news?

That’s certainly been the case for me – and more than once!

One of those times was near the end of my pregnancy with our youngest daughter. The results from a couple of tests I’d had done made me think something might be wrong with our baby. We weren’t strangers to this particular type of fear; our first baby was stillborn due to a birth defect, and I’d also had a miscarriage prior to this pregnancy.

In the midst of my worries about what I might hear at my next doctor’s appointment, God, as always, proved Himself faithful. I came across this verse in my daily Bible reading.

“He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.” ~Psalm 112:7

If we look back at verses 5 and 6 in that chapter, we see that the “he” the Psalmist refers to is the good and righteous man. If we are walking with God, we don’t have to be afraid of hearing bad news. Instead, we can rest in knowing that whatever God allows to come into our lives, He can give us the strength to handle it.

Notice that it doesn’t say we won’t get bad news. None of us are exempt from the trials of life. It just says that we don’t have to fear it.

And why don’t we have to fear getting those “evil tidings?” It seems like it’s part of our human nature to anticipate the worst at times, to allow ourselves to dive headlong into worst-case scenarios. Fear and worry are powerful foes.

The second part of the verse above says we don’t have to fear those evil tidings if our heart is fixed on God and we’re trusting in Him. In other words, if I’m confident in the goodness of God and assured of His love for me, I don’t have to worry about all those “what-if’s”

This reminds me of another verse, Isaiah 26:3.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.“

What causes my heart to be fixed on God? How can I keep my mind stayed on Him? I think these three ideas will help us in that area.

Know God.

I can’t fix my heart on God and totally trust Him if I don’t know Him. I have to learn about His character and realize that He is trustworthy. That naturally leads to the second thought.

Know His Word.

The Bible is where I learn about God. I claim His promises, I read about His qualities, I see how He faithfully worked in the lives of others.

Trust God

Both verses above use the word trust. Trust is an act of my will. I must choose to believe in the goodness of God. I have to be willing to put my confidence in Him.

We can fear bad news on so many fronts. For instance, my fears now are quite different from what they used to be. Now they run along these lines. What diseases might old age bring to my husband and myself? Will God protect our daughters from all of the dangers there are as they gain new freedoms like driving? Will our girls continue to make good decisions after they leave our home?

So it’s back to God’s Word I go, back to fixing my heart on Him and keeping my mind stayed on Him. Satan would like for me to live in the grip of worry and fear, but God wants me to live in the freedom that comes when I fully trust Him. I can continue to claim Psalm 112:7 in each situation, and be thankful for the peace I find there.

As far as the situation I referred to at the beginning of this post, and the bad news I was anticipating about our baby – other than my needing a C-section due to her being a large baby (I guess 9 pounds, 1 ounce was a big baby for me!), everything turned out just fine.

Are you facing a particular situation that has an unpredictable outcome? I pray that you will find comfort by focusing on God’s character, meditating on His Word, and trusting Him to do all for His glory and your good.

[Just so you know, I won’t be around on the blog much over the next few days. It’s the final week of fine arts competition for my girls, so I’m off to watch them compete. I hope to share a video or two and some pictures on Instagram, if you follow me there. Have a great week!]

Saturday Salutes

April 1, 2017 by Tracey 2 Comments

Eileen has 12 Easter Crafts that You Can Make with the Same Bunny Template. These are really cute ideas! Julie also has 12 Easy Cross Crafts for Easter.

I came across these Aussie-Inspired Dresses for Girls and was immediately a little sad that I can no longer dress my girls in these clothes. (That ship sailed long, long ago for us!) The dresses featured in that post are a little pricey, but I thought H&M had some cute styles that were a little less expensive. (I was in their outlet store this week, and the mom checking out in front of me bought a sweet little dress for her infant daughter.)

Lori lists 5 Things Your Teen Needs from You.

Broghan says I’m Praying for the ‘Someday Girl’ Who Will Take My Place as #1 in my Baby Boy’s Heart.

And because a chocolate-peanut-butter combination is basically one of my love languages, here’s a recipe for Peanut Butter Cup Blondies.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Just a Few More Miles on the Car

March 30, 2017 by Tracey 4 Comments

Two weeks ago, I drove my teenage daughters to their school at 5:30 in the morning. They wanted to ride a bus with their friends to the state fine arts competition. I raced back home, ate a quick breakfast, then started my own hour-and-a-half drive to the competition. The odometer clicked along as I drove down the interstate…putting just a few more miles on the car.

That car takes us to basketball games, school concerts, piano recitals, and school plays. The miles are racking up, evidenced by my feeling like I have that vehicle at the dealership for regular maintenance every few weeks. Where will it take us next? I think college visits are lurking in our future.

But I wouldn’t miss these miles for anything because it means we are there for our daughters. I don’t want them to just tell me about that free throw shot they made; I want to see it, and celebrate with them. It’s not enough to just hear how they missed some key notes in that piano duet; I want to be there to commiserate, then encourage them to move on to the next event. And it takes putting a few more miles on the car to be present for those moments.

Am I going to have a meltdown if I have to miss a game? No. Things happen. But I want our daughters to know that in our world, being there for them is important.

Being present with your child, involving yourself in what they enjoy, is a huge relationship builder.

You may not be in the season of putting those miles on the car. For you, it may be celebrating that new puzzle he finally put together by himself or hanging that picture she colored on the refrigerator. Perhaps you’re cheering from the sidelines of a local soccer game where all the five-year-olds cluster around the ball. Maybe you sit in the stands at a Tee Ball game where the kids in the outfield are aimlessly picking flowers.

But whatever your child is doing these days, be present in it with them. Look up when she calls you to see how high she’s going in the swing. Really notice when he connects the train tracks in a new way. Because we’re building relationships. We want our kids to know that we’re going to be there every step of the way, win or lose, succeed or fail.

Is it always easy or convenient? No. I’m finding it is easier in these days to make time for all those things since the physical demands of parenting are less. But when you have younger ones to take care of or housekeeping chores that keep piling up, it may not seem worth the time to stop what you’re doing and focus on what they’re doing.

Yet how much does it mean to our children to gain our approval, to know they have our full attention? Or, in this stage of mine, to know that they can look up in the stands and see me there, or if they’re up on the stage, that they can spot me in the crowd.

I’m nearing the tail end of this active parenting stage. Is there one kindergarten field trip I regret attending? No. Is there one piano recital I wish I would have skipped? Not hardly.

I know you moms that read here. You’re the ones who already go out of your way to support your child, encourage him, be there for her. And isn’t it fun when the game or the concert or the play is over, and you can talk about the highlights and laugh (maybe not in that moment, but later) over the miscues?

Before we wrap up, let’s talk about what this post is not.

It’s not a guilt trip. Goodness knows we’ve all been on enough of those.

It’s not a “Look at me! Aren’t I the perfect mom because I attend all my kids’ activities?!” I’ve been blessed with parents who set the example in this area. I have a husband who works hard and manages money well so that I don’t have to work outside the home, which gives me the time to do all the things. I’ve been granted the health and strength to make this process work.

Lastly, this isn’t a license to obsess over every move my kid makes, or to relive parts of my own childhood through my children’s accomplishments. It’s simply a reminder of the importance of building relationships. If you don’t have kids, apply this to your marriage or your friendships. Be present when you’re with that person. Practice enjoying what brings them pleasure. Celebrate their wins and grieve with them in their losses.

But back to us moms…On those occasions when you wonder if it’s worth it to read one more book aloud or exclaim over one more Lego creation or take another long drive to watch that kid play (or sit on the bench) in a game, remember our goal. We’re building a relationship with that child that will last a lifetime. And the time to invest in that relationship is now. You can’t go back and do it all over again.

And do you know what happened last Friday, the final day of my girls’ spring break? That 16-year-old and her sister, they got in the car and drove off on their own to meet friends at the ice skating rink while I stayed at home. And just like that, it’s my girls – not me – putting just a few more miles on that car.

How to Develop a God-Honoring Thought Life

March 27, 2017 by Tracey 6 Comments

Thoughts run through my head every minute of every day…unless I’m sleeping. Lately, I wake up in the middle of the night and lay in bed for an hour or two, with thoughts just racing through my mind.

I wish I could say that all – or even most – of those thoughts were good and profitable. Or, as the verse above says, acceptable in the sight of God.

However, my mind often goes in an unwanted direction. Last week, my dad shared a conversation he has with the Lord when that happens. He tells the Lord, “God, you know that’s not what I want to be thinking about. That’s my flesh acting up.” We need to realize that the wrong thoughts we have come from our flesh. From there, we can consciously seek the Holy Spirit’s help in replacing them with good ones.

My thoughts can take me lots of places I don’t want to go. When I compare myself favorably to someone else, it leads to pride. Shame and guilt appear when I think about a past sin. Envy comes when I’m preoccupied with what someone else has that I don’t. Focusing on my husband’s faults makes me ungrateful, concentrating on difficult circumstances brings self-pity. Bitterness creeps in when I think about how someone mistreated me. Fear and worry are just waiting to attack my mind.

None of those thoughts are acceptable in the sight of God. So how can I develop a thought life that pleases Him? Here are a few ideas.

Philippians 4:8 is the ultimate litmus test.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Any thoughts that fall into these categories will be acceptable in God’s sight. When you find your mind being occupied with a certain subject, see if it falls in line with this list.

2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to capture every thought and bring it into obedience to Christ.

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

That’s quite a task! If I let my thoughts run rampant, they’re probably not going to end up somewhere good. I Peter 1:13 says we are to “gird up the loins of your mind.” We have to be aware of what we’re allowing to run through our minds, and take action if we need to change our thought pattern. Ask for Holy Spirit sensitivity to recognize when your thoughts are taking you to a wrong place.

Romans 12:2 encourages us to renew our minds.

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Our mind is renewed by being in God’s Word. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God…is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Reading and studying the Bible will reveal to me my wrong thoughts.

Proverbs 4:23 is a warning to guard what enters my heart and mind.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life.”

I recently wrote about ways that we can guard our heart. What we allow into our lives is going to effect what we think about. We need to protect our minds from influences that will tempt us to sin.

Proverbs 23:7 reminds me that what is in my heart flows into my thoughts and results in my words and my actions.

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he..”

What I think about will impact what I say and how I act. Having my thoughts aligned with God’s Word will lead me to do and say things that will be honoring to God.

Let’s quickly list a few ways to cultivate good thoughts.

God has redeemed us from the power of sin, which includes freeing our minds from wrong thoughts. May He Who knows all our thoughts empower us so that our thought life is pleasing to Him.

Saturday Salutes

March 25, 2017 by Tracey 4 Comments

I didn’t mean to be absent from the blog for so long, but it’s been a busy week and a half around here!

Last Thursday and Friday, my daughters went to a state fine arts competition with their school. It was fun and exhausting all at the same time, but I’m happy to report that their school did very well! In fact, my 10th grader will be going to the national competition in a couple of weeks as part of the handbell choir and a ladies’ vocal ensemble, and both girls will be participating in the band competition.

Thought I’d share a couple of videos from the competition with you! Here’s my 16-year-old competing in the “sacred piano duet” category. (She’s the one on the far side of the piano.) They got second place.

Obviously, neither of my daughters are in this men’s group, but it was a favorite performance for all of us. Seven of the guys are in my daughter’s sophomore class.

This past week was our spring break. We were with my family in Virginia for part of the week, and had a wonderful visit! We always feel spoiled and so loved when we’re there. It’s a blessing to be able to catch up with my parents, brothers, sister, in-laws, nephews, nieces, and the church family there.

All that to say that I haven’t been on the internet much lately, so I only have a few links to share today.

Sarah lists 7 Things We Get When We Rely on God’s Strength.

I’m going to have to make these Shortcut Cherry Pie Bars soon!

My mom took us to The Egg and I Restaurant on Wednesday. If I had one of these near me, I think I’d be in there at least once a week. I got the Strawberry Banana Waffle, and it was so light and delicious! There’s like ten other things on the menu I’d like to try. (Thanks to my brother for finding this place first!)

And my laugh for the week…

Hope you have a great weekend!

Top 10 Podcasts for Christian Women to Listen to in 2017

March 16, 2017 by Tracey 4 Comments

If I share a story or a nugget of wisdom with someone in my family, chances are good that I’ll start the conversation with, “So, I was listening to this podcast…” And, hypothetically speaking, that may lead to a bit of eye-rolling from certain teenagers!

You can find a podcast out there for any topic you’re interested in. I’ve developed quite a list that I listen to on a regular basis. Since I have an iPhone, I subscribe to my favorites in iTunes so that they automatically download to my podcast app when there’s a new episode.

I listen to podcasts while I’m working around the house, when I walk for exercise, and in the car. I realize that, depending on your stage of life, you may not have as much quiet time as I do right now. In that case, shorter podcasts might be the way to go. Most of the ones I listen to range from 20 minutes to roughly an hour. Sometimes I have to break the longer ones down into two listening sessions. You can also increase the playback speed of a podcast, which would get you through more episodes in a shorter amount of time.

At the moment, the ten shows listed below are my favorites. When new episodes show up, I scan the title and description to see if it’s a topic that interests me. If not, I just delete that episode. I don’t feel obligated to listen to every single one (nor do I have the time to do that!) Therefore, I can’t say that I endorse all episodes of any podcasts, but overall, I really enjoy those that I’ve listed.

1. The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey. Jamie seems very relatable and down-to-earth. She sounds like someone you’d love to have as a friend, and I’m sure she’s lots of fun to hang out with! She’s also a great interviewer, and usually has guests with interesting stories or helpful information to share.

2. The Big Boo Cast. This podcast is purely for entertainment purposes! Melanie and Sophie just make me laugh. They’re likely to talk about college football, beauty products, fashion, and whatever is currently going on in their lives. If you’re not sure if you would enjoy their podcast, just check out their blogs at Big Mama and Boo Mama as their podcast is in the same tone as their blogs. Again, I don’t endorse 100% of the content, but do enjoy their bi-weekly (or so) podcasts.

3. Grit ‘n’ Grace: Good Girls Breaking Bad Rules. Amy and Cheri are “recovering perfectionists” who share their struggles and point us to ways we can grow in our faith. Sometimes they have guests, and other times it’s just the two of them encouraging listeners on a particular topic.

4. Parenting Today’s Teens with Mark Gregston. This is a one-minute podcast on weekdays, and a half-hour podcast on Saturdays. I enjoy the practical advice Mark gives; you can tell he’s had a lot of experience dealing with teenagers!

5. Clutter Free Academy with Kathi Lipp. This one isn’t totally about decluttering your home, though it wouldn’t bother me if it was, as I like being challenged in that area! Kathi talks with her co-host or other guests about clearing out the clutter in every part of your life, not just in your actual house.

6. Family Life Today. Dennis Rainey and Bob Lepine offer helpful resources and practical ideas for building families. They cover a wide-range of topics, all geared toward encouraging and equipping Christians in their husband/wife and parent/child relationships.

7. Inspired to Action. While Kat hasn’t been podcasting as frequently lately, when she does, I enjoy the guests she has. Kat’s also a good interviewer, and usually highlights content to encourage and inspire moms.

8. The Mom Hour. Sarah Powers and Meagan Francis co-host this podcast and offer tips and tricks they’ve put into practice in their own lives. Between the two of them, they have children in nearly every age range, so I like the sensible advice they share.

9. The Dave Ramsey Show. Dave broadcasts all three hours of his daily show on a podcast. It’s rare that I get through all three, but I usually listen to at least one hour. While I’ve read most of his books and know all about the money principles he teaches, I like the daily motivation to stay on track financially.

10. Focus on the Family Daily Broadcast. I definitely pick and choose episodes here, depending on the topic of the day. As you’d expect, those that focus on improving your marriage and guests who tackle parenting strategies get listened to regularly.

Bonus podcast: Christy Wright’s Business Boutique. If you’re a woman with a hobby you’d like to turn into a business, or if you already have a small business, I think you’ll find Christy’s podcast extremely helpful and inspiring!

If you have a favorite podcast, please let me know in the comments. I’m always looking for new listening material!