Hope and Healing for Moms

Tuesday, September 26, 2017 The Divine Center of Simplicity– the First of the Outward Disciplines (The Discipline of Simplicity, Part 1) Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:30 (JB) God made man simple; man’s complex problems are of his own devising. Devotional: ‘Tis a gift to be simple ‘Tis a gift to be kind ‘Tis a gift to smile and to share a happy mind ‘Tis a gift from the Father as we go on our way With a joyful smile at the start of the day ‘Tis the gift to be simple ‘Tis the gift to be free ‘Tis the gift to come down where you ought to be And when we find ourselves in the place just right ‘Twill be in the valley of love and delight.               -Shaker hymn “It is time we awaken to the fact that conformity to a sick society is to be sick. Until we see how unbalanced our culture has become at this point, we will not be able todeal with the mammon spirit within ourselves nor will w...

Monday, September 25, 2017 The Song of Creation—Studying Nonverbal “Books”  (The Discipline of Study, Part 6 of 6) Scripture: Isaiah 55:12 (NIV) You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Devotional: In this final section on the discipline of study, Pastor Foster outlines many areas of nonverbal study we can embrace. My favorite is the study of nature. The song of Creation is a beautiful one to me. As a musician, I see God’s creation as His symphony. There are times I look past what He has made, and forget that taking the time to ponder and appreciate His incredible works is a spiritual practice. Pastor Foster refers to the study of creation as “reverent observation.” God loves His creation, and desires that we also love and embrace it. There is an intimacy to be found with Him as we study. “Of this much we can be sure: if we love the creation, we...

Friday, September 22, 2017 Carving Space (The Discipline of Study, Part 5) (Inspired by Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster) Scripture: Psalm 119:114 MSG You're my place of quiet retreat; I wait for your Word to renew me. Devotional: Today’s passage in Celebration of Discipline is on the creating of space in our schedules to concentrate on study, and in particular planning a concentrated, phone-free period of time away from the home to study. There are times as I study the books that the Lord lays on my heart that I am tempted to skim past parts that I’m not ready for, or ready to share about. Today was one such day. This is not because I don’t agree with the precious Pastor Foster, but in fact because I feel so often overwhelmed by the suggestion he puts forth. I share this with you because I feel the Lord is impressing on me that I need to be open and honest with you about the real struggles that we can all relate to. As moms and dads, and per...

Thursday, September 21, 2017 Studying Books – “The Rules” of Learning to Study (The Discipline of Study, Part 4) (Inspired by Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster) Devotional: In today’s section on study, I appreciate how Pastor Foster breaks down the basic rules of studying a book. When embarking on the discipline of study, the rules as he shares are: Intrinsic rules (belonging naturally; essential to the nature of the book): ·        Understanding what the author is saying ·        Interpreting what the author means ·        Evaluating – whether we believe they are right or wrong Extrinsic rules (not part of the essential nature; coming or operating from outside): ·        Experience (personal, life) ·        Other books (especially the Bible) for comparison ·        L...

Wednesday, September 20, 2017 Four Steps and a Heart Check (The Discipline of Study, Part 3) (Inspired by Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster) Devotional: It’s important to take the time to lay a foundation for what study involves. The four steps as presented by Pastor Foster are: 1.        Repetition: science has confirmed that the centuries old practice of repetition of a subject will train the mind and cause ingrained patterns to be set. God’s design is that when we repeat a subject, we are likely to reach understanding. 2.        Concentration: In a world centered on distraction, a one-thing focus and intention to concentrate on a subject at hand, such as we are in this study of Celebration of Discipline, is a needed remedy for fragmented lives. 3.        Comprehension: John 8:32 says we shall KNOW the truth, and the truth will make us free. It isn’t enough to hav...

Tuesday, September 19, 2017 Learning to Think Like God (The Discipline of Study, Part 2) (Inspired by Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster) “…the mind will always take on an order conforming to the order upon which it concentrates “What we study determines the kinds of habits that are formed….” .” – Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline, the Discipline of Prayer Scripture: Deuteronomy 11:18 (NKJV)   “Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. Psalm 119:11 (NIV) I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Proverbs 7:2-3 (NIV) …keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Colossians 3:16 (NIV) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, s...

Monday, September 18, 2017 (The Discipline of Study, Part 1) (Inspired by Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster) Scripture: Romans 12:2 (NIV) Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Philippians 4:8 (NKJV) Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. John 8:32 (NKJV) “…And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Psalm 119:103 (NKJV) How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Devotional: Today I feel so excited to share on one of my favorite subjects-the study of the Word of God! In my early days as a returning believer, I attended a full t...

Friday, September 15, 2017 Final Thoughts on Fasting (The Discipline of Fasting, Part 7 of 7) Devotional: Today as we complete our look at the chapter on fasting, I am humbled and filled with gratitude that the Lord waits so patiently and faithfully for us to come to obedience to His desire for us to fast. It can be so hard to embrace fasting as a way of life when we are surrounded by this culture of feasting and instant gratification. I had a heartfelt and beautiful conversation with a lovely young lady yesterday about the subject of seeking the Lord in fasting, and the passion and joy of that interaction inspired me afresh to reintroduce my regular practice of a 2-meal, 24-hour weekly fast. I want to let you know I share this with you not to gain approval, but because you are my tribe—and because I want to lead by example in this most challenging of the disciplines, and to share this with you is to seek true accountability and transparency. I do not expect any of you to do w...

Wednesday, September 13, 2017 Keeping Our Balance and Gaining Freedom  (The Discipline of Fasting, Part 6) (Inspired by Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster) Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 1 Corinthians 9:25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Colossians 3:5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Devotional: How beautiful is today’s passage on the discipline and balance of fasting. Pastor Foster says it best: “Fasting helps us keep our balance in life. How easily we begin to allow nonessen...

Tuesday, September 12, 2017 Fasting is Feasting…on the Word of God! (The Discipline of Fasting, Part 4) (Inspired by Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster) Scripture: Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Colossians 1:17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. John 4:32,34 32  But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” 34  “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Devotional: I am deeply encouraged by today’s passage on the feast of fasting on God’s Word! If I am not intentional, I can easily forget that my sustenance comes from the Word of God. It occurs to me that I may not have shared with you my journey with food. I come from a family of people who have unhealthy relationships with food. It is something we all de...

Monday, September 11, 2017 Fasting Facilitates Transformation (The Discipline of Fasting, Part 4) (Inspired by Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster) Scripture: Psalm 69:10 ...I humbled my soul with fasting…. Devotional: In my time of study today, I loved the passage on personal transformation that Pastor Foster shared. As I studied the Scripture he suggested, I was moved deeply at the parallels to the struggles many of us with children with strong wills experience. Psalm 69 takes us to the place of David’s great struggles with his enemies. His deep despair at times mimics the cries of mamas and dads I get the pleasure of walking with through this challenging journey. I have included the full Psalm at the end of the devotional today, and I strongly encourage each of you to read it, and turn it into a prayer that applies to your own challenging situation. The beautiful thing about David’s life was his vulnerable heart to cry out to God with all his stuff. He was not af...

Monday, September 4, 2017 The Fasted Life (The Discipline of Fasting, Part 1) (Inspired by Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster) Devotional: As I continue to study Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster in preparation for our time of encouragement and prayer, I was surprised to struggle for inspiration to share about fasting. As a reborn believer who returned to Jesus about 17 years ago, in some ways I tend toward a young perspective on the Christian walk. In my early days fasting was slightly foreign to me. As a child I would witness my mom taking part in occasional, quiet fasts. She would sip Constant Comment tea and bouillon, and in her discreet way set a gentle example for the now-me of ways to honor the Lord in fasting, but I didn’t really understand then. I did have many examples of fasting believers when I returned to the Lord, but as with much of what I ingested early on, my inner perfectionist was a bit fixated on the “rules,” and I feel I lost the...