Episode 7

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Published on:

20th Sep 2023

Untangling Our Commitment to The Word: Practical Ways to Prioritize Time with The Lord

We know we want to. We know we should. We know it will make us better mothers. But HOW do we find time to read when we are continually serving and being interrupted? Join Jen and Steph as they share what worked best in their homes to develop patterns of faithfulness in The Word. Listen in and learn how to model one of the most important disciplines we can have as Christian parents. (This episode corresponds with Lesson 1 of Entrusted with a Child's Heart.)

Scriptures Mentioned:

Jeremiah 15:16

Psalm 119:32, 36

Jeremiah 9:23-24

Transcript
Steph:

They're the joyful agains our children shout on the swings, the

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exhausting agains of cooking and laundry,

and the difficult agains of discipline.

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So much of what we do

as mothers is on repeat.

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So what if we woke up with clarity,

knowing which agains we were called

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to, and went to bed believing we

are faithful in what matters most?

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We believe God's Word is

the key to untangle from the

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confusion and overwhelm we feel.

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Let's look up together to embrace a

motherhood full of freedom and joy.

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I'm Stephanie and I want to welcome

you on behalf of interested ministries.

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This is the again podcast and

we're in the middle of a series on

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untangling, biblical motherhood.

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Today, we're talking specifically about

untangling our priority to God's word.

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And we know that it is

difficult as mothers,

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but this episode, Is full of practical

tips about how you can make that happen.

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And If you don't already have.

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A plan in place for making

sure that the Lord has the

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priority of time in your life.

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Then

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we hope that you're inspired

to turn over a new leaf.

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And to seek the Lord.

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Faithfully.

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And today's episode I'm joined by

the incredible Jen Frackman she and

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I will talk about what it looked like

for us to be faithful to the Lord.

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As our children were babies.

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And toddlers,

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and later on in the episode, we

discuss how it's transitioned as our

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children have gotten to be older.

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We understand that a lot of

you almost are on a mission.

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We hope that you're able to listen

to the, get to know you questions at

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the beginning, but if you just need

to hop to that practical wisdom.

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You can skip about the first 10 minutes

of this episode and then dig in with us

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as we talk about digging into God's word.

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Jen: Okay.

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Stephanie, I'm going to start

off asking you a question today.

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Great.

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This is a fun one.

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What is your ideal retirement age?

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How would you like to spend

your time in retirement?

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Steph: I don't think about the

age very much, but I definitely

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think about what I want to do.

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And my dream is to.

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Design my own tiny house and drive

it to whichever child needs me.

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If one son's wife has a baby, I'm going

to be here for a month, but I'll be in

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your driveway, not, not in your space.

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I could come make meals and then

I'll just come over here and just.

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Just let me know what you need from me and

then if one of them has surgery, then I

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drive to them and travel around like that.

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I really like that idea.

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My husband is like yeah,

you can do that by yourself.

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So , I understand.

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That's fine.

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He'll maintain home base.

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So we still have.

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A place to host them.

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So, that's my vision.

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I've always loved places that

are utilized well in tiny places.

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I dream of making spaces efficient

and, maybe I don't really want to

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live like that all the time, but.

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Well intentioned, well used

spaces are very exciting to

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Jen: me.

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I love that.

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I love that.

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I agree with that, actually.

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And I think that it makes

it fun for a season.

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And you wouldn't be

living that way every day.

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Right.

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Just while you're going to visit the

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Steph: grandbabies.

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Yes.

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I like that.

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and then I would just love to continue

to encourage others to follow the Lord.

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So whatever doors the Lord opens

for that, that would be exciting.

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If I can stop and speak at a church

in between my driving calendar or

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something and travel, see new things.

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That's

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Jen: sweet.

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Pull your little house

up into the parking lot

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of the church.

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Exactly.

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I think Eric and I have talked a

lot about Retirement, because he

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works in finance, so he has to

talk about retirement with people.

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And I definitely know that we don't

want a typical retirement, where,

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you know, you retire and you go golf

every single day of your life, and you

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don't do any responsible thing again.

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Right.

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We don't want that.

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We want to be highly involved

in our grandkids lives.

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We want to be...

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Giving back and serving in the church and

just not getting paid for different things

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but I think that that's more Biblical too.

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If you think of Biblical retirement,

retirement is not in the Bible.

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Right.

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You work and you stay faithful

throughout the end of your days.

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Yes.

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So I think retirement in America is

very different than anywhere else and We

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definitely don't want the typical American

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Steph: retirement.

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Yes,

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Jen: that's beautiful.

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I don't know about the age, because I

don't know that it would change that much.

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It's just that instead of going

into the office every day, Eric

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would, you know, not be doing that.

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Since I don't work outside the home,

it would be him retiring because

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you don't retire from being a mom.

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Right.

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But definitely being more in the

service role, as opposed to getting...

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The daily

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Steph: office payment.

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Absolutely.

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Oh, that's beautiful.

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Yeah.

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I love that the Lord gave you both

that conviction and then gives him

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an opportunity to speak, thought

provoking questions to people

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planning that season of their lives.

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Yeah.

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That's a really neat avenue

of influence that he has.

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Yeah, very true.

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When I was in college, I went to a

conference for Campus Crusade and

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John Piper was the speaker and he had

just written Don't Waste Your Life.

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And so all of these college students

are there and he starts preaching

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about how one of the worst things in

our culture is the idea of retirement.

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Yeah.

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And I thought for a little bit, Does he

know he's talking to college students?

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That's the furthest thing from our mind.

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But as I processed it, I thought that's

really neat that we got that word before

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we could even start planning our careers.

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You know?

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Betsy's first lesson in Entrusted

actually reminds me a lot of that message.

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It's the introduction to entrusted,

but she's giving the charge for the

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older women to pour into the younger

women and to not take a break.

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You know, when you're in that

last band of life that you are

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prayerful and that you are serving

the Lord in different ways, right?

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I Actually now love that she set the

study up that way to say, no, this

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is where we're going long term and,

and to have a perspective of your

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whole life, your whole motherhood.

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Instead of just eyes down, head down.

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This is where I am right

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Jen: now.

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Yes, agreed.

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I loved how she did that in the study.

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I, I think that was super

amazing to listen to and to

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watch and to study through.

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Like, oh wow, this is the

full life perspective.

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Steph: Right.

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I loved that.

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Yep.

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Jen: Alright.

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Next question for you.

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Is there a place you feel most

at home, rooted or centered?

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Steph: I grew up in Wisconsin and I love

the beauty of creation and some of the

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most powerful times I've had with the Lord

are just enjoying the majesty of creation

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but one of the most comforting places for

me that I've ever done that is my parents

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built a home on a lake in Wisconsin.

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Well, it was across the street from a

lake, so you could see the lake from

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the front of the house, but in the

back, there was a pond and little beach

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and even though my parents moved in in

September when I went off to college.

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You wouldn't think it would still have

felt so much like my home, but it was.

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And it was a really special

place to come back to and my dad

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passed away about 12 years ago.

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And that was the place where I could

still feel like I was close to him.

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My had to sell it two years

ago we were thankful that the

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Lord allowed us to enjoy it for.

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That many more years, but it was hard

to shut the door because I could still

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see where my dad sat and it was home

and it was safe for me, you know?

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Now I would probably say the chair

I sit and have my quiet time but.

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I'm still replacing that

one, how about for you?

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Do you have a spot?

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Jen: Well, mine's not

as spiritual as yours.

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The first thing I'll tell

you, the first thing that came

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to my mind was Hobby Lobby.

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Oh, that's great.

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I get in there and I just feel happy.

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Sure.

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There's like creative stuff.

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There's home decorating things.

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There's arts and crafts.

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I can do floral design.

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I mean, anything that

I love to do is there.

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So there's one.

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Yes!

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Okay, that's great.

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But I definitely, also,

there's a song out.

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I think it's by John Reddick.

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I don't remember.

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But it says, I want to go to church.

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Oh.

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And I have loved that song.

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And there have been so many times

in my heart where I'm Having a bad

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day or something and that song will

come on and I'm like, yes, I do

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I want to be in church right now.

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Like I love being in church.

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I just love it I love being with believers

and I love worshiping the Lord and

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song and Being filled and there's just

something about being in church that I

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just love so I would say Being in church

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Steph: more often.

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Laughing Laughing I

don't know what that is.

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That's great, well yes,

in His image, and yes.

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That's awesome.

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That's great.

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Alright, here's one for you.

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Okay.

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Name a place in your life where you've

seen little by little progress add up.

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Jen: Ooh.

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We are part of a CC community, which

is Classical Conversations, and the

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very first year that we were part of

it, I didn't know anything about it.

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I literally joined the community because

I loved the people there, and so I

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didn't know anything that we were in for.

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And I remember the first

couple of weeks being like, oh.

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There's a lot of memory work here,

and they're singing everything.

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And then, they started singing this

thing that they called the timeline song,

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and I didn't know that by the end of

the year, my children were going to be

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singing this 12 minute song from memory.

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Of literally the timeline song that

went from creation to present day.

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And so, little by little by little,

every week, we'd go back and they

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would learn a little tiny bit of it.

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And then we'd add on, and a little

tiny bit more, and by the end that

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we'd know this whole timeline song.

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And I was floored!

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I could not believe that that

little bit each week added up to

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the whole timeline of creation

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Steph: to now.

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It's amazing, and it's such a great

reference, but a great memory for

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me is your family presentation when

your husband's saying your family's

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timeline, like fearlessly belted out.

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It was so sweet.

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It was very,

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Jen: very funny.

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Quite the surprise to all of us.

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Like, oh, you're right.

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We do have a

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Steph: timeline.

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It was great.

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He didn't care about,

the melody it was fun.

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What about you?

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I have to say God's word and

studying that for many years.

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Even though I've really grown in

faithfulness, but I see how it's built

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up and I've delighted in it for a long

time, but I, have seen, even in this

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recent season where I feel sometimes

that my chest is going to burst, during

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my quiet time, just the joy of the Lord.

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And it's become what sustains

me on a day to day basis.

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There are some circumstances I don't

think I could be faithful to the Lord

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in this season unless I had the joy that

he's giving me right now from his word.

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It's my favorite part of my day

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and, to have those seeds of

walking with the Lord for a long

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time of Oh, I love that verse.

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And, to look back through your Bible

and see the things you've underlined.

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That would be it for me.

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So in entrusted, there's actually a

whole lesson about the authority of

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God's word and how important that is.

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And Betsy wrote this study 20 years

ago, and of course, that's always been

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important, but I think now when moms are

being inundated with so many cultural

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trends and deceptions, to be grounded

in the word is of paramount importance.

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And yet it's really hard

as a mom to do that.

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Sometimes it feels so much easier to,

catch a little break and scroll Instagram

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or social media for a little while.

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The enemy can get such a foothold

there, we have a guest speaker this

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month at our church he's one of our

elders, but he's a phenomenal preacher,

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and he gave the coolest analogy.

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He said that his daughter's

on a soccer team.

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And her team was playing as their

warm up song Elements by Toby Mac.

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And the other team was playing

Beat It by Michael Jackson.

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And he said, I love Beat It.

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I did a choreographed

dance to that in college.

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I love that song.

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But of course, I know Elements well.

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And so I said to my daughter, I think

the daughter that was sitting in the

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stands with him, what song do you hear?

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And she said, I hear Elements,

and he said, I can't hear

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it, I only hear Beat It.

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Because he knew that song so well.

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He had focused on it for

decades, and he knew the melody,

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and he couldn't not hear it.

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Interesting.

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So he challenged us.

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As new creations in Christ,

what are we meditating upon?

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Can we hear the soundtrack of God's word

in our lives continually playing or is the

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world playing in our minds all the time?

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Jen: That is amazing.

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Isn't that great?

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That is very cool and so powerful.

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And I love that one song.

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I would love to hear that one song.

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Right, I

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Steph: know, me too.

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But it was neat because it's

not like Beat It is a bad song.

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Right, no, no.

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And I think that fits

perfectly then, right?

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Because so much of what we're taking

in Our heart is to learn more about how

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to mother well, or, or to be a great

follower of Christ but all of these

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messages are coming in and we don't always

have the time to process them well, if

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we're not really rooted in his word.

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Very true.

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If you could just take us back to,

when you first became a mom and

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your children are little and you're

not sleeping well, what did it look

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like for you to be in the word?

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Yeah,

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Jen: good question.

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Those were hard, hard

times to be in the word.

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They were desperately needed

and desperately wanted.

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I feel that I can put myself right

back in those situations and I can

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feel my heart aching to have them.

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No one interrupting me and to have like

uninterrupted quiet time with the Lord

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for extended periods and didn't always

happen that way but I wanted it to.

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So when my kids were babies I, well first

of all I am NOT a morning person and

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so I tried a number of times to wake up

before them to set my alarm early and

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Without fail, every single time that

I would do that, I would be tiptoeing

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down the stairs, and a baby would cry,

or a child would wake up, and I would be

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instantly angry, because I was like, no,

I'm awake early to do this, this is mine,

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and it would just feel so discouraging,

and it seemed like anytime that I would

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try to wake up early to do it, a kid

would wake up earlier than me, so I,

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gave that up and said, okay Lord, I'm

gonna give you my firstfruits and the best

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of my time And so what is my best time?

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Well that very first morning nap Was

my best time and I committed to just

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any time that the kid was in bed.

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I Would go to my Bible and I would

open it up and I felt as though I had

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a ticking time bomb that was waiting

to go off at any moment, but I remember

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very Clearly, I remember praying, Lord,

you know how long I have here, would

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you please quicken your spirit to me?

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Would you quicken whatever it is that

you want me to hear from your word and

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just help me to enter quickly into the

throne room and hear something from you?

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You know when this child is going to

wake up and when I'm going to need to

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go and my heart wants to meet with you.

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Make it be real and strong.

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It's a beautiful prayer.

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And I feel like he, he often

honored that and, and would

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give me something of benefit.

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Now there were definitely times where I

would read, especially if I was in the

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chapter of like, I don't know, judges.

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Those were

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hard, but.

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I think that's the beauty of God's Word.

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It's living and active, sharper

than any two edged sword.

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And so, even if I was reading

something about judges, the Lord

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just still was like, You were

with me, and that's what matters.

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And He would fill me, even in reading

the names of all these judges.

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Absolutely.

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Steph: Yes, I can relate for sure to

being frustrated that they woke up.

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And I, like you, not as

much of a morning person.

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. I was just so excited to be a mom, that

I couldn't wake up from my alarm clock,

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but I could just hear my son, just a tiny

noise, and I was up, and, and so I felt

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release, that's okay, that this is what

it's gonna look like, that'll be the first

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thing I do, I'll nurse him but I did that

with the Lord often, thank you for this

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blessing of this child or praying for him.

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And sometimes reading the Bible on

my phone would help me be faithful,

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but it wasn't my favorite way.

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And I think I let a standard.

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Of, Oh no, I really want to be, at

my Bible with my colored pencils

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and digging in and it doesn't

really count unless I'm doing that.

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And it took me a while

to give myself grace

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That's what it looked

like when they were babies.

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And then.

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I always made my children have a quiet

time, even if they weren't going to nap.

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So right after lunch, I'd put them down

for their rest time or nap time and

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then I would spend time in the Word.

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But when it's not right away for me,

it's easy for other things to, Oh,

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I could be doing dishes or should

check this email so that helped me be

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faithful for years, but I did have to

fight the temptation of seeing things

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around me that needed to be done.

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Jen: Agreed because there's always

things it's never ending right?

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There's always gonna be something that's

gonna pull you towards that I remember

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when my kids were babies and Wanting more

time and I couldn't have it I would have

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my Bible open on the counter and as I was

cleaning I would read A verse, and let

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that just flow over me, and read that,

and meditate on it, and think about it.

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I would have worship music playing,

or something so that I could

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be singing the praises to Him.

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Anything that I could do to turn

my affections to the Lord, turn my

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heart towards Him, and be sensitive

to His leading and His Spirit.

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And one thing that I did, I've always...

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I don't know when this started, but

I have done it for a very long time.

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Before my feet hit the ground in

the morning, right away when I wake

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up every morning, I quickly ask,

Lord, fill me with your Holy Spirit.

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Give me your wisdom.

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Order my day.

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Reorder my heart.

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Because we wake up and

our heart is disordered.

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And I don't want to

have a disordered heart.

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I want it to be ordered rightly

and I want him to order my day

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for me because I have plans.

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Yeah, that's right.

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But I want to be sensitive to his

plans and so I just say those things

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just as a constant reminder to me that

like I'm submitting my day to you.

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And I want, I want to do what is right for

you, what you want to have for me today.

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Steph: Can you say that one more time?

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That's so beautiful.

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Jen: Lord, fill me with your Holy

Spirit, give me wisdom, order

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my day and reorder my heart.

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And those are the four things that I'm

like, I just, I want to make sure if

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I do anything that this is happening.

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Steph: Oh, that's so beautiful.

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Jen: I also remember

having a prayer book, but.

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I currently have the

book Every Moment Holy.

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It's a beautiful liturgy book.

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But there was a different one that I

had and I can't remember who wrote it.

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But it did have different

beautiful prayers in it.

395

:

And I would have that out on the counter.

396

:

And now that my kids are older and I

have Every Moment Holy, I will have

397

:

that out on the counter as well.

398

:

And so, if we're having a hard

day, I'll go to the one about...

399

:

Fighting children.

400

:

I can read that.

401

:

And sometimes it just helps me in

those moments to be like, Okay,

402

:

this is holy work that we're doing.

403

:

And even in the fighting, the

Lord is calling me into his word,

404

:

into his day, into the way that

he is sanctifying me as a mom.

405

:

Right.

406

:

And those prayers just help me so much.

407

:

And they're so beautiful.

408

:

Way more beautiful than

anything I could write.

409

:

Right?

410

:

Yes,

411

:

Steph: I love, great men and women of

the faith that write these powerful

412

:

words or praying through scripture

413

:

Jen: I also remember

when they were babies.

414

:

In the car, I would have the audio

version of the Bible, and often

415

:

it was somebody with an Australian

accent because it's so beautiful.

416

:

I feel like my kids were

like, who's talking?

417

:

So I would be quiet and listen to it.

418

:

But that was another way that I

could have scripture pouring over me.

419

:

Even if I didn't have the moment to

spend quietly, I could still hear his

420

:

word and be reminded of his truths.

421

:

And I remember also when they

were toddlers, as they were

422

:

playing on the ground quietly, I

would read the Bible over them.

423

:

And whatever it was that I needed to read,

I would just read it aloud over them.

424

:

And that was a way for me.

425

:

To be able to get it.

426

:

I could hear myself saying it and my mind

was focused and yet they were hearing

427

:

it as well It was really a sweet thing.

428

:

Yes For those times where I couldn't

trust them to be playing alone right

429

:

away from me where I could sneak away I

would just read it over them and it was

430

:

it was very sweet You do those things

as a mom sure, you know, you want to be

431

:

in the word, you know, you want to have

that epic Awesome moment with the Lord,

432

:

and it doesn't always happen, but if

you love the Lord with all your heart,

433

:

and all your soul, and all your mind,

and all your strength, you're gonna do

434

:

those things to desire that, that help

435

:

Steph: you to get into the Word.

436

:

Yes, and He, if we really press

into Him, He makes a way, right?

437

:

So often we think this problem

isn't solvable, and if we

438

:

really give Him a moment.

439

:

Okay, Lord, what can I do?

440

:

Is there anything here, you know?

441

:

Jen: Yes.

442

:

Yeah.

443

:

I'm reminded of the verse in

Luke that talks about denying

444

:

yourself and taking up your cross

daily and following him and how.

445

:

Every single day, it's important that

we're in the Word and that in Jeremiah

446

:

15, 16 it says, Your words were found

and I ate them and they became to me

447

:

a joy and the delight of my heart.

448

:

And I just love how God's

Word truly does become that.

449

:

When you are faithful, year after

year, day after day, month after

450

:

month, whatever, all those things

adding up like you said earlier.

451

:

It does become the desire.

452

:

Mm-hmm.

453

:

, it's something that you're not

just doing to check it off.

454

:

You actually need this, like

that, that stay at home.

455

:

Mom who wrote that?

456

:

Yes.

457

:

Him.

458

:

Lord, I need the every hour.

459

:

I need the Yes.

460

:

She knows.

461

:

She knows what's up, , right.

462

:

She knows that she needs to be filled

with the Holy Spirit and needs the filling

463

:

of his word and how often we need that.

464

:

I'm also reminded of the verse that

says, Today if you hear my voice,

465

:

like there's so many reminders in

scripture that we need him not only

466

:

daily, but we need his word daily.

467

:

And I think sometimes as moms, we feel

that it's something we need to check off.

468

:

But even in that, if we do

that, if we Get in His word.

469

:

It ends up not being as

much of a checklist thing.

470

:

It becomes something that we

crave, that we truly delight in,

471

:

and it becomes our daily bread.

472

:

Jesus is the bread of life.

473

:

It's, it's something that

we need to sustain us daily.

474

:

Mm hmm.

475

:

Steph: Absolutely.

476

:

And when you're in that season,

477

:

you're constantly giving of yourself.

478

:

It's such a sanctifying time.

479

:

I think the reliance upon the Lord is

so strong that we need those verses to

480

:

cling to, to guide our heart's desires.

481

:

Right.

482

:

And Psalm 119 is just such.

483

:

A powerful chapter.

484

:

The whole thing is about the Lord's word.

485

:

Verse 32 says, I will run in

the way of your commandments

486

:

when you enlarge my heart.

487

:

So that's a prayer that I've prayed

before like God enlarge my heart.

488

:

I am struggling to have a desire for

your word or, or even to obey you in

489

:

something, but I know that you want

me to, and if I submit myself to

490

:

you, you're going to grow that in me.

491

:

And then verse 36 says, incline

my heart to your testimonies

492

:

and not to selfish gain.

493

:

So those are two that I really love

from the chapter, to have a desire,

494

:

to be shaped by the word of God is

something that the Lord loves and.

495

:

It seems like it's becoming

more and more rare these days.

496

:

In Jeremiah 9, 23 through 24, it

says, Thus says the Lord, Let not

497

:

the wise man boast in his wisdom.

498

:

Let not the mighty man boast in his might.

499

:

Let not the rich man boast in his riches.

500

:

But let him who boasts, boast in this,

that he understands and knows me, that I

501

:

am the Lord who practices steadfast love,

justice, and righteousness in the earth.

502

:

For in these things I delight.

503

:

Declares the Lord.

504

:

I mean, we're being given permission to

boast that we understand and know God.

505

:

Wow.

506

:

I feel, you know.

507

:

Yeah.

508

:

But that the Lord would

delight in us knowing his true

509

:

character, his true goodness.

510

:

Yeah.

511

:

And we're, we're invited

in that, that's cool.

512

:

What a charge, right?

513

:

Yeah,

514

:

Jen: absolutely.

515

:

What did your quiet time look

when your kids had started to

516

:

get older and maybe weren't in.

517

:

nap times.

518

:

What did your quiet time look like

or what does it look like now?

519

:

Sure.

520

:

Steph: So I still make them do the

afternoon rest time because it's

521

:

just such a good reset for everybody.

522

:

But now, when my kids, When the

last one stopped nursing was

523

:

when I could make a transition.

524

:

I felt because she started to sleep

a little later and then she didn't

525

:

wake up needing me immediately.

526

:

I think that's kind of when it made this

shift where I could wake up a little

527

:

earlier and she'd sleep a little later and

the Lord just kind of provided the way.

528

:

So I would come down quietly

and stir my quiet time and this

529

:

is even so sweet of the Lord.

530

:

I've never been able to

drink coffee my whole life.

531

:

I'm very sensitive to caffeine, but

When I started, I went back to school

532

:

to get my Master's in Counseling and

At that time, all of a sudden, I was

533

:

able to drink a little bit of caffeine.

534

:

And I would get excited to wake up and

have my coffee and my time with the Lord.

535

:

The best part of waking up!

536

:

Yeah, right!

537

:

So, He made it easier for me, and

I just was like, Thank you God, you

538

:

knew I had a heart to do it, and

you're providing more of a way now.

539

:

So, I still only have a

couple ounces, and then fill

540

:

it with milk, and then just...

541

:

Like a little bit of creamer, so

then I sit and I, , get all my

542

:

things out and start my quiet time.

543

:

And as my kids come down, which my oldest

is a very early riser and he often beats

544

:

me, but he'll, do something peacefully,

play with our bunny or, read the word

545

:

for himself as my kids come down, they

will come over and I'll give them a

546

:

hug, and talk to them for a second.

547

:

But then they know they need to

play quietly or read their Bibles

548

:

and that they're not really to

interrupt me unless it's an emergency.

549

:

Especially as a homeschooler,

they're like, if mom's not

550

:

giving us a checklist, let's

551

:

Jen: run with it.

552

:

So they're like, okay,

553

:

Steph: So they play pretty well and so

yes, they each just kind of come down

554

:

and they know they'll read the word a

little bit on their own and then play.

555

:

I'm so grateful because it was a

challenge to get to, having it right away

556

:

in the morning, and it took a long time

for me to be really faithful in that,

557

:

Jen: I feel like now that my kids are

older as well, if the Lord wakes me

558

:

up earlier where I don't hear them all

of our kids, their bedrooms are on the

559

:

second floor, and Eric and my bedroom

is on the main floor, and so if I don't

560

:

hear them coming down and I've woken

up early, I can just, Just sit in my

561

:

chair, right by my bed, quietly, and,

and do my devotions, and often times

562

:

I will still get it done first thing

in the morning, and I'm always amazed,

563

:

like, wow, this is what this feels like.

564

:

Yeah, right.

565

:

But, if they wake me up, which often

does happen, because my kids are way

566

:

more morning people than I am um, I still

just do it right after lunch, and they

567

:

know that, you know, That's my time.

568

:

I'm like, you're going to pick up

after lunch and I am going to go

569

:

and do my devotions and Since they

were very little, I was like, unless

570

:

you are bleeding or dying, you

may not, you may not interrupt me.

571

:

I am promising you I will be a better

mommy when I come back out these

572

:

doors, so you want me in that room.

573

:

Right.

574

:

Yes.

575

:

And I just take it very seriously, I

trained them to let me have this time.

576

:

And I, I'm very diligent to

try to not take too long.

577

:

Sure.

578

:

But.

579

:

I'm like, you know, this is very

important, and you can wait, and you

580

:

can wait, you can do your own tying

of shoes, or what not, that can wait,

581

:

Steph: And sometimes it seems

insurmountable, but if we actually

582

:

take the time to train them, it's

amazing how well they adapt to...

583

:

The system that we set in place, right?

584

:

Yes.

585

:

Yes.

586

:

And so and I think adjusting our

expectations for what the training

587

:

process might look like it might be

really defeating the first couple days

588

:

but maybe just try it for five minutes

the first day or ten minutes and

589

:

then build it and if we're consistent

they often adapt to that structure

590

:

Jen: In my devotional time, I'm a huge

proponent for Just reading the Word.

591

:

Getting in, and you and

your Bible, and a notebook.

592

:

I've gone through different devotional

Bible studies before, and they can be

593

:

wonderful, but I feel like the greatest

depth that I've walked in my relationship

594

:

with the Lord has come from being in the

Word and reading His Word for myself.

595

:

My mentor taught me years and years

ago Her Bible study and I kind of took

596

:

it and adapted a little bit and what I

do for mine is I take a blank notebook

597

:

and I put the day and the date and the

time at the top and then I put what I'm

598

:

thankful for and I'll just bullet point

things that I'm thankful for and then

599

:

I have a portion that that says Please

forgive me for, and I'll confess things

600

:

that need to be forgiven, and ask him

to forgive my heart in these areas.

601

:

And then I have a portion where

I literally label it quiet.

602

:

And I'm just quiet before the Lord

for a brief moment, to just, if he

603

:

has anything he wants to lay on my

heart, or say to me, I'm just quiet.

604

:

And I'm not asking for anything,

I'm just enjoying his presence.

605

:

And so I'll do that for as

long as the Spirit leads.

606

:

And then...

607

:

I have a please section, things that

I'm pleading for him to please do.

608

:

Things that are in my heart that

I need to just lay at his throne

609

:

and be like, I need you to do this.

610

:

Because I can't, I can't control

it, I can't see a way out, what not.

611

:

But these are the things I need help from.

612

:

And so that's my please section.

613

:

And then, after I've done

that, then I read one chapter.

614

:

Every day, one chapter a day.

615

:

And I have gone through the Bible

multiple times by doing that, because

616

:

each chapter eventually, little by little,

you're going to get somewhere, right?

617

:

And as I read that chapter, the first

time around I'll read it and I'll

618

:

underline anything that sticks out to me.

619

:

And for instance, one time I was

reading and it said how Jesus...

620

:

Healed the blind man and he spat on

the ground and he put the mud on his

621

:

eyes and he said what do you see?

622

:

And he was like, I don't know It's

kind of blurry and and then he did it

623

:

again and he could see perfectly and

in the margin of my Bible I wrote why

624

:

wasn't it done perfect the first time

I'm curious everything Jesus does does

625

:

is done perfectly the first time right?

626

:

and so in my Next section on my

journal I'll have prayers that

627

:

I pray that are specifically for

the scriptures that I just read.

628

:

And I will pray things like Lord

help me to understand your word

629

:

or God I'm confused why wasn't

this happening or whatnot.

630

:

Sure.

631

:

But most often it's a prayer of like

for instance, this morning I was reading

632

:

in Ezekiel and it's constantly, Son

of man say this, Son of man say this.

633

:

And so today what I got out

of it was, Lord help me.

634

:

To say faithfully what you call me to say.

635

:

He said what you told him

to say, exactly how it was.

636

:

And so, whatever that scripture

is, I will pray it, and it has

637

:

revolutionized my prayer life.

638

:

There are things that I have prayed for

that I would never have prayed on my

639

:

own, but because it was in scripture,

and I was praying the scripture back,

640

:

and making it personal in my life,

I've prayed for things, and people,

641

:

and for my children, that I would

never have thought to pray, ever.

642

:

But, the way that the Lord laid it on my

heart, by just reading that chapter, and

643

:

saying, and I'm pretty diligent about

being, I want to write out something.

644

:

I mean, sometimes it's hard, when I'm

in Judges, or, you know, somewhere.

645

:

I don't know, Judges is

getting a bad rap for this.

646

:

But sometimes it's a little hard,

but I try very hard to put something

647

:

from the Scripture in that prayer.

648

:

And then I just close it off.

649

:

with praying and, and sometimes if

I have an extra time I'll, you know,

650

:

read the lyrics of a song or something

that, or I'll even sing a song from

651

:

Spotify by myself just quietly and then

by that time my kids are needing me.

652

:

Right.

653

:

It has been so beautiful and I love it.

654

:

It is like, oh, I don't need.

655

:

Alone time.

656

:

I need time with the Lord.

657

:

Right.

658

:

And I feel so filled

659

:

Steph: by that.

660

:

Definitely.

661

:

It's so great.

662

:

Yes.

663

:

And sometimes the routines

are so fruitful, right?

664

:

When we know what to expect.

665

:

When you're not waking up thinking,

Where am I going to read today?

666

:

Yes.

667

:

Or what am I going to do?

668

:

Yes.

669

:

Or

670

:

Jen: flipping your Bible open and being

like, Well, this is where I'm going to

671

:

Steph: read.

672

:

Right, right.

673

:

Which the Lord can move through that.

674

:

Yes.

675

:

Often it's the day in day out

faithfulness, the again and again,

676

:

right, that we see he meets us in that.

677

:

I love to share what I

learn from God's word.

678

:

I will be sitting in my chair

and like, who can I tell?

679

:

I took a spiritual gifts test

recently and one of those.

680

:

That was one of the questions and I

was like, yes, I've always been that

681

:

way and when I'm in a small group and

I can share that with other women,

682

:

that's been really fruitful in my

life and having that accountability

683

:

to be steadfast and keep going.

684

:

There's the abide study method

that's so helpful, to read through

685

:

once and look for observations and

next part to interpret those things.

686

:

And then the next step is

to make application for it.

687

:

And I loved doing that recently.

688

:

That was a really exciting way

to dig in and notice patterns.

689

:

And wow, that word came up a lot or just

to notice different things in scripture.

690

:

I love that.

691

:

And often the Lord would.

692

:

Put a chart on my mind, like I need

to make this chart or, it keeps saying

693

:

up to Jerusalem, but that was South

694

:

.

And then I, made a map of Israel at the time and then wrote in where

695

:

are these miracles happening so I

could see different connections.

696

:

So sometimes.

697

:

The Lord leads me to make something

visual to solidify what I'm

698

:

learning and it's this statistic.

699

:

If we write something down,

we're 42 percent more likely

700

:

to remember it, I think.

701

:

I think that's it.

702

:

It's pretty high.

703

:

And so, and even a goal, if

you write it down, you're much

704

:

more likely to achieve it.

705

:

So The times when I don't just read

it, but I also record something.

706

:

I agree very much that

that's been really fruitful.

707

:

And it's

708

:

Jen: also biblical.

709

:

There's a verse that says that we need

to share all the things that we have

710

:

learned with those who are in leadership.

711

:

Like, there is a verse that

says that we are to share what

712

:

we have learned with others.

713

:

And I love

714

:

Steph: that.

715

:

Yes.

716

:

So that's cool that you do that.

717

:

Another thing I've really loved doing

in my quiet time is following the color

718

:

coding system of Get the Word Out.

719

:

Get the Word Out is a Bible study.

720

:

Method that was developed by Betsy

and David and the subtitle is

721

:

Developing a Devotional Lifestyle.

722

:

So the color coding system is 14

colors and each one of them means a

723

:

different thing and I found this was

so helpful for me especially as a young

724

:

mom when I've got You know, wandering

mind and so much is going on around

725

:

me to actually stop and think, okay,

well, what color would this verse be?

726

:

And that one, Oh, that verse

really stood out to me.

727

:

And it's going to be green.

728

:

Cause it's about the character

of God, but what is it saying

729

:

about the character of God?

730

:

And it really led me.

731

:

Through keeping my mind focused on

it and, and thinking deeply about the

732

:

scripture and not just, checking it off.

733

:

I've loved that.

734

:

And then I was in a Bible study for a

couple of years where we used a couple

735

:

of the tools from Get the Word Out.

736

:

One is an SPCA.

737

:

Which stands for Scripture,

Principle, Conviction, Application.

738

:

You would pick a scripture that

you loved from the week's reading.

739

:

We were all reading through the

Bible chronologically together.

740

:

But you'd pick a scripture, and

then you'd say, Okay, what is the

741

:

principle behind this scripture?

742

:

What is God saying to his people?

743

:

And then, based on that principle, you

say, Okay, well I have this conviction.

744

:

Based on that principle.

745

:

And then you develop

an application for it.

746

:

And it was so amazing to see all of the

women would show up and have completely

747

:

different SPCAs is like the word of

God, wherever we were at in our lives,

748

:

different scriptures were coming SPCAs.

749

:

we didn't even have chit chat time.

750

:

It would just be like, let's open

up, let's dig in, share your SVCAs.

751

:

And I knew them so well and we knew

how to pray for each other so well.

752

:

So I'm just going to mention that so

that when Get the Word Out is released

753

:

soon that you'll be watching for it.

754

:

If you're needing a little

accountability in the word, we

755

:

would encourage you to find someone

that can stay the course with you.

756

:

And when we know someone's going to

check in with us, it just really helps.

757

:

And if you're finding that you need more

of a desire for the word, I would...

758

:

Recommend reading Psalm 119.

759

:

I'm gonna read a couple of those verses

blessed are those whose way is blameless,

760

:

who walk in the law of the Lord.

761

:

Blessed are those who keep his

testimonies, who seek him with

762

:

their whole heart, who also do

no wrong, but walk in his ways.

763

:

You have commanded your

precepts to be kept diligently.

764

:

Oh, that my ways may be steadfast

in keeping your statutes.

765

:

Then I shall not be put to shame, having

my eyes fixed on all your commandments.

766

:

I will praise you with an upright heart

when I learn your righteous rules.

767

:

I will keep your statutes.

768

:

Do not utterly forsake me.

769

:

When I read those verses,

my heart is transformed.

770

:

And those desires become my desires.

771

:

And so I love, praying

God's word back to him.

772

:

As you were saying, and seeing how

much God's word matters to him.

773

:

He chose to communicate

to us through his word.

774

:

And so we need to be seeking him here.

775

:

As I said earlier, nature is a

beautiful way to connect with God

776

:

and there's music and there's.

777

:

Many beautiful ways that we can

feel close to the Lord, but he has

778

:

elevated his name and his word.

779

:

We are to find him and to seek him

there, even when it's difficult.

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:

We hope we've given you some

practical ways to do that today,

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and we encourage you to not give up.

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It's so worth it.

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We know you're busy, Mama, so

we are truly grateful you joined

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us for this episode of Again.

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If you're looking for more information

about building your home on the

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foundation of Jesus Christ, head to www.

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EntrustedMinistries.

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com to learn more about our study for

moms, Entrusted with a Child's Heart.

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This scripture saturated study

has blessed families around the

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world, and we want it for you, too.

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Before you go, I want to pray

this benediction over you

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from 2 Thessalonians 1, 11 12.

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We're rooting for you.

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To this end, we always pray for you,

that our God may make you worthy of His

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calling, and may fulfill every resolve

for good, and every work of faith by

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His power, so that the name of our Lord

Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in

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Him, according to the grace of our God.

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And the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Amen.

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Until we meet again.

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About the Podcast

Again
Biblical Motherhood Untangled
So much of what we do as mothers is on repeat. Join us to redeem this repetition and untangle from the confusion and overwhelm of parenting. We'll follow the Agains in the Bible to focus on the things that matter most. Let's look up together to embrace a motherhood full of freedom and joy! This podcast is sponsored by Entrusted Ministries.

About your host

Profile picture for Stephanie Hickox

Stephanie Hickox

Stephanie has always delighted in God’s Word and in sharing it with others. Whether it is equipping mothers and leaders through Entrusted with a Child’s Heart, inspiring students when teaching at homeschool co-ops or children’s ministry, or homeschooling her own children, Stephanie’s life mission is to encourage others to follow faithfully and joyfully after Jesus—especially if they hold her favorite job title: mom.

Betsy Corning wrote Entrusted with a Child’s Heart in 1999 in response to the needs she saw in families as she and David counseled young parents just a few years behind them. Entrusted has been taught in hundreds of churches nationwide, been translated into several foreign languages, and has made its way around the world. More recently, Betsy received her Masters in Biblical Studies from The Master’s University and is developing a new Bible Study program called Get the Word Out. Her passion for God’s Word, discipleship, and teaching biblical principles as they apply to family life has remained strong to this day. One of the greatest blessings in Betsy’s life are her three grown children, their spouses, and ten grandchildren that keep her constantly in touch with every age and stage.

Jen Freckman Is an incredible wealth of wisdom. She will tell you a natural remedy for just about anything! She is also a voracious reader and she is just overflowing with quotes and guidance that she's encountered through reading and being faithful. She delights in her children and is a devoted mother. She is also an amazingly creative problem solver! Her solutions to manage her home and guide her children are inspiring.

Emily Deyo is such a treasure. She is an incredible encourager and servant-hearted woman. When she has the mic in front of her, so much value comes out! She is a wordsmith and her heart consistently beats for how she can encourage and serve others. She is a truly loving and attentive mother.

Join Betsy, Emily, Jen, and Stephanie as they share the wisdom only Scripture and on-the-job training can provide to help untangle the joyful calling of motherhood.