Attention Christian mothers...I Need Creative Ideas!!

God Bless you A. for wanting to get back on board. Devotions are always hard to find time for in the normal sense. Children, homes, hubby's, errands etc..
With God anything & everything is possible.
There are several online Devotionals you can sign up for and have delivered to your inbox daily. One I like very much is http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/

There is one called Girlfriends In God.
Daily -Equipping women for their journey to the heart of God.

I find this so much more personal and inspiring. I used to read through the Bible in a year with a chart. Well I got stuck in a rut doing that. I bought devotional books for women. I have books galore. I have been involved in Friendship Bible Coffee studies weekly with other women.
I came to the Lord 38 yrs ago this Easter SONday. I have tried and done just about every type of Devotional, journaling you can think of.
If you sign up for the Crossroads women's devotional, read them when they come in. Open a word page and title it words of God to my heart. Each day Pray, Lord allow me to receive that which you have for me this day. Then make a note of what the devotional that day said to your heart and spirit.
It will bless you abundantly. You might even encourage a good friend to sign up and share your thoughts and feelings with them daily through email or how ever you like to visit.

I hope this has given you some idea's or inspired you to take a step forward by "faith we receive".
"The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I
need to know."

God Bless you
K. Nana of 5

"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power,both now and ever". Amen.
Jude 1:24-25

3 moms found this helpful

A., I could have wrote this! I've tried just about everything to no avail. I feel like God is at the bottom of the pile when it comes to priorities and yet I pray every night about it and try and change that.

One thing I try and do is respond when I'm being woke up in the night. I figure if I am waking up extra to go to the bathroom or having odd dreams or the cats knock something over, God wants me to talk to him. So I go with that :)

Otherwise, I've been trying to give up more tv, keep the house cleaner etc. While cleaning house I've been downloading MP3 audio books and listening to Christian books like books on prayer or even Christian fiction. I figure anyway I can keep my mind and heart on him, he'll know that I WANT more.

S.

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Hello A.. I see there are several ideas here. I just had one book to add. Shepherding a Childs Heart (Tedd Tripp) is an EXCELLENT book I have read. There is a "Parents Handbook" in addition to the book that is a devotional. I have not gone through the devotional yet as I am finishing up another book but I did order it. A trusted friend of mine highly reccomends it. I got it on eBay for like $10. Good luck and God bless you.

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One of my friends recently asked me if I pray. It shocked me, because we've known each other for almost 20 years! That's how private I am when it comes to my relationship with God. My answer to her was: I don't think of it as prayer...I think of it as an ongoing conversation which never ends.

To help me focus, during naptime, sometimes I light a candle &/or grab a book (like the Purpose Driven Life or the Shack) & then just think thoughts. No tv, just soft music (which I use for naps anyway). I also receive daily devotionals thru several different Enewsletters. Hope this helps.

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Hi. I too struggled for a while, and being exhausted from lack of sleep makes morning devotionals hard for me too. I started soing two studies a day though. The first, is acctually a book...The Complete Guide to the Bible by Stephen M. Miller. It really has made the Bible come to life. Knowing the History and how it ties to today's world makes it make sense. (And I hate history and reading both). It is layed out in a very easy to read and understand format. It also has great illistrations. Cost at the book store was $19.97. The other study I do with my husband since he often works 12-16 hour days, and depending on the week sometimes 7 days a week. (Military life). It is called Daily Marriage Builders for Couples by Fred and Florence Littauer. We read it in bed before going to sleep. After being married for 7 1/2 years, we are getting a chance to know each other better every night. It is a great conclusion to our days. It takes less than 10 minutes to read, but discussions have lasted anywhere from 5 minutes to 2+ hours. It has been a great addition to our lives. In what ever you choose, keep praying together as a family and as a couple. Your son will see what is important in your life and will make it a priority in his life too. J.

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Ha Ha! I know how you feel. I have felt this way before. I dont feel like a have a lack of the lord in my life, because I hold him close and he is always there, all day everyday.
BUT I do feel a strong need to take my children to church, there are quite a few things I still need to learn so I feel, how will I teach me kids if I dont know....thats where the church thing comes in for me. Plus there are so many great programs for the kids and getting to know your neighbors and good people you want to surround yourself with. This is why I feel I need to go, and have this guilty cloud over my head for not going....I WILL, WILL!!!
I know a lot of people have journals, but I think its just whatever works for you, if you feel like its a chore, its probably because it is. I dont have a journal, and call me crazy but I talk to God in my mind all day!! I dont have time to write that down!

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Hi A.,

I too struggle sometimes like you. I am certainly not a morning person. But I try really hard to get up about 30 minutes before my kiddos get up and spend time with the Lord. I find that when I do spend time with Him in the morning my day goes so much smoother and I am the mom that I want and desire to be with my children. We go to Lakeland Community Church and we had a sermon a few weeks ago that really touched my heart. Our pastor simply said that we need to "Live in a God Bathed world" I am not perfect when it comes to having quiet time in the morning by any means... I slept in this morning :( but when I miss my time with God I try to pray a few minutes before I get the kids up. I also constantly listen to K Love (97.3) in the car and contemporary christian music on yahoo radiocast. I try to surround myself with Worship music and I find that it keeps my heart and mind on God. There have been mornings when I am doing my quiet time that my 4 1/2 year old comes down and asks what I am doing. So I involve her in my quiet time. She is learning what it is and what it means, how to pray to God, it is really incredible! Anyway, try try try to get up just 30 minutes earlier in the morning. You will feel so much better when you have even just 30 minutes with your Father in Heaven! Try to live in a God Bathed World! Your children will see God shine through you and others will too! Thank you so much A. for giving us all a chance to have some fellowship on mamasource!!!!

God Bless you!
M.

A.,
I am a little different than you, that having kids has in some ways made my spiritual life stronger, as someone mentioned, it's much like an ongoing conversation, in the shower, while I'm driving and the kids are distracted, bits here and there. I don't have many ideas, but mostly what I wanted to say is that it's great to try and add, but remember this is the time in your life that the needs of your kiddo comes first, it really won't be very long until you have more time and energy to spend on this. I really think of my actions toward my kids (most of the time!) as my homage to God. Being a good mom is prayer! I don't mean to discourage you from finding more devotional time, I just mean to say you might not be as "dry" as you think.

K.

I don't have any real ideas. but I what you to nkwo you are not alone. let me know what ideas you get. maybe we both can us them. Where area do you live in if you don't mine me asking??? What and where do you go to church. if is so hard as moms. that is what Satan wants. hang in there. keep in touch what you try :)

I am sorry that I do not have any ideas...I am a 60 year old mom who never had a quiet time until my 5o's!!!! I do not know how I got thru w/o them before! I am praying that someone will have a great "doable" idea for you so that your spiritual life is not longer "dry". Remember, it will be a wonderful example for your children to see their mom spending quality , regular time with the Lord. Let them know what you are doing, that it is very important to you and that you need this time with God to pray for them! They will know how to do it in their life and maybe not have to write Mamasourse!!!! This is a great opportunity for you to witness to your kids and probably their friends as well someday. AND you will have the most intimate relationship with our Lord ever! I envy the fact that you are so concerned with this now...it will pay off is so many ways in the future. See you in heaven!!!

S. goebel

Hello! I am struggling as well, and I'm reading a fantastic book called "A Woman After God's Own Heart" by Elizabeth George. She talks about how important it is to find that quiet time every day, but also about how we need to be rooted in God. Those roots can sustain us when we simply aren't able to have a quiet time (and with a toddler that can happen!). It outlines a plan for how to go about improving your devotional times. Good luck!

A.,
Thank you, so very much, for your post. You know how God has a plan? Well I have been really struggling with myself. I believe so strongly in God, but I've been lax, not going to church and doing what I need to do. I have been pondering what I really need to do and trying to understand what's been holding me back. I want to get closer to Him, and your post has inspired me and given me a bit of that kick that I really needed. Your "dry" spell has been a blessing to me, how ironic!! LOL The advice you have received has been like a balm to my spirit...ahh the wonders of how He works. He has used your struggles to bring me closer, so thank you again for your post. God Bless you and all that have responded!

I am not a Christian, and I don't even know exactly what it is you want to be doing, but I'm sure it is like exercising, spending time with husbands or friends, housecleaning, etc. in that you have to make time for it or it won't happen. It is easy to put things aside when we have kids because they are so demanding, but if this is important to you, you simply need to make the time. Some new books/groups might provide temporary inspiration, but the bottom line is that you need to commit and make it happen. Good luck!

Hey A.,

It's great that you're heart is seeking God and communion with him. Being a mom to young children can be exhausting and time consuming. I have a baby about the same age as yours as well as two other kids in school. It doesn't get easier! Don't be so hard on yourself. You are in a season now of self sacrifice as you raise a young child. Baby steps.

This year our church challenged us to read through the One Year Bible. It's great because it is broken down into daily readings that take about 15 minutes. Some days I just get through it. Others it amazes me that I saw something in a story that I never saw before. It helps that my husband is reading too. Sometimes we read at the same time and then we can discuss if afterwards if we want. God's word is powerful and full of truths that have changed my perspective on things. I hope you can find the time, but when you can't, just make it up the next day. Kind of like any other disclipine.

Blessings!

Hi, I know this is not exactly what you are looking for, but this is what works for me, but it is hard to explain. Basically I turned all the time into devotional time. OK, I'm not perfect at it, but I just try to get better all the time. I pray all day long with little prayers straight from my heart. I praise Him constantly for my beautiful children; for the opportunity to hug them, comfort them, teach them, for sending a bird we can look at and enjoy together; for a sunset; for the snow; for the rain; to be able to clothe and feed them; for patience when I need it; just everything. Sometimes the prayer is as simple as "thank-you", and sometime much more than that. Before I go to bed each night I make a very simple journal entry, takes no more than 5 mins, and once a month I spend a little more time with special events of the month in a journal I hope to share with the kids some day (that's what motivates me to actually do it). The only book I have time for anymore is the Bible, and if I don't have time for reading a lot, I still read just one paragraph, it keeps me at least in the habit without being overwhelming. Don't worry, the day will come all too soon when the children will be grown and you will have nothing but time. Just trust Him that right now you are where God needs you most, and that means more than all the devotional time in the world.