Category Archives: Spiritual

Gary LeVox Debut Solo Album and Giveaway #GaryLeVoxMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

I love inspirational and meaningful music. I love so many Rascal Flatts songs for that reason. Did you know that Gary LeVox, the lead singer and co-founder of Rascal Flatts just debuted his solo album, ONE ON ONE?  This venture merges 2 of Gary’s biggest passions, music and faith! Gary sings a duet with his daughter Brittany LeVox on a song called While I Wait that is just precious and heartwarming. ONE ON ONE was released by Big Machine Records and features artists like MercyMe, BRELAND and more.

You can feel really good about purchasing this album for another reason because $1 of every purchase goes to fight human trafficking through the Tim Tebow Foundation. 

When asked about the role God has played in his musical journey, LeVox said, “I feel like God graced us with a platform where we can not only touch people’s lives through music, but by being men of God offstage too,” explained LeVox. “At those times when we are with fans that are going through something like cancer, it is so wonderful to not only sing for them but to hold their hand and pray with them. I want them to know that they have a friend in me. I’m not just some guy on the stage. I feel like Christ has put me in this position because He knew I could handle the obligation, which often means taking the time to lift someone up in prayer.”

Stream ONE ON ONE now and get a copy of this awesome EP at https://garylevox.lnk.to/OneOnOneMI!

GIVEAWAY:

Capitol Christian Music Group is sponsoring a GIVEAWAY on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky winner will win an autographed 8″ by 10″ Poster. Thank You To Capitol Christian Music Group for sponsoring this Giveaway. Open to US Residents Only. Enter below for you chance to win. Good Luck!!! #GaryLeVoxMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

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Exclusive Interview with Rosemarie D’Alessandro – Mother of Joan D’Alessandro the 7-Year-Old Girl Scout Murdered by Teacher Neighbor

We had a great, nearly 3-hour interview with the inspirational Rosemarie D’Alessandro. We filmed it live and you don’t want to miss a minute. Rosemarie took unspeakable tragedy and turned it into Joan’s Joy.

Joan’s Joy Foundation was created to keep the children of today safe by remembering Joan. Rosemarie lobbied for Joan’s Law and Paula’s Law which deny parole to convicted murderers who sexually assaulted their minor victims.

Please visit JoansJoy.org to learn more. The interview below is a must see.


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“More For Mom: Living Your Whole and Holy Life “

Overwhelmed is a word that many mothers are well acquainted with. There was a time when I would utter that word daily to express how I was feeling. However, our society makes us feel that we should not be feeling that way. It tells us we should be able to have it all and tie it up in a bow. That just is not reality, and leaves many moms feeling that they are alone and failing. The most important thing to know, is that you are not alone and you are a great mom.

When life seems to be coming at you faster than you can handle, there is a way to reset your spiritual and emotional health.  More for Mom will encourage women to stop believing the lie that more is needed from them, and start living with the truth that more is available for them.

"More For Mom"

With real-life talk, humor and convicting biblical truths, Kristin Funston helps hard-working mamas to look at each day and each facet of their life to discover what happens when they believe God has more for them than what they think the world needs from them.

And what He has available is a whole and holy life, just waiting to be claimed–a salvation and day-to-day reality complete just as it is. The pieces of each mom’s life–the work life, mom life, social life, etc.–are mended together through Christ to complete her one whole life, set apart because of Him.

This book is a stepping stone to help working mothers reset their spiritual and emotional health, habits, and relationship with God. There are performance pressures at work, home, and mind-sets that affect a mom’s ability to feel complete and live more closely aligned with God. This book includes the beginning steps for moms to walk in wholeness and holiness by asking God for more.

About the Author

Kristin_Funston

With a passion for writing, Kristin Funston encourages women in a way that is relatable and practical, with a healthy dose of humor. She is a member and employee of Hope Presbyterian Church and works as the Marriage and Family Coordinator and a leader in the women’s ministry. She is also a regular contributor to multiple blogs including The Better Mom, City Moms Blog, TODAY Parenting, and Scary Mommy. Funston resides outside of Memphis, TN with her husband and three daughters. She has a master’s degree in Communication Studies from New Mexico State University. You can find out more about her at KristinFunston.com and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.


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“Parenting First Aid” For When You Feel Like You Are Failing

Do you struggle with parenting your children? That’s a silly questions because we all do at some point. Some days we can feel like we are on our last nerve or dangling at the end of our rope. At times when you feel you are failing at raising your children, you need a pep talk and some insight. Cue Marty Machowski’s, Parenting First Aid and brew a cup of tea.

Parenting First Aid

This uplifting and faith-strengthening devotional book for parents,  will help to encourage you in the midst of  your trials. Full of Scripture, testimonies of faithful parents, and insightful meditations, Parenting First Aid equips moms and dads to run to God and trust his ability to do what they can’t.

Parenting isn’t getting any easier, especially with the introduction of insta-porn on electronic devices, the ease of access to drugs, and the ever-increasing blurring of sexuality. This useful resource is for the weary and overwhelmed parents struggling with their children’s choices, and the culture that wars against their souls.

For families with small struggles or weighty parenting trials—such as children involved with drugs, sexual sin, and teenage rebellion—Parenting First Aid is full of personal, real testimonies of God’s faithfulness to those experiencing hardship.

The easy-to-use format provides encouragement to turn to God in the midst of family difficulty. While God does not promise happiness and ease in parenting, all can find comfort in God and peace beyond understanding through the Scriptures and meditations found in Parenting First Aid.

About the Author

Marty Machowski is a Family Life Pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, where he has served on the pastoral staff for more than twenty years. Marty leads Promise Kingdom, the gospel-centered children’s ministry of Covenant Fellowship. He and his wife Lois and their six children reside in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

He is the author of The Gospel Story Bible, Long Story Short, Old Story New, the Gospel Story Curriculum, Prepare Him Room Advent curriculum and devotional, Wise Up family devotional and curriculum, Listen Up family devotional and curriculum, Dragon Seed, and The Ology.

I was provided with a copy of this book to facilitate my post. As always, my words and views are 100% my own.


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Important Ways You Can Give Back to Your Community

Giving Back, Community, Doing Good

Have you ever wished you could do more to help others out? That is a feeling that many people share. The problem is, many want to help those less fortunate, but don’t know where to start.  Randy Lewis, author of “No Greatness Without Goodness,” believes that everyone—including businesses—are responsible for making the world a better place. Furthermore, according to a study conducted by Harvard Business Review, “happier people give more and giving makes people happier, such that happiness and giving may operate in a positive feedback loop (with happier people giving more, getting happier, and giving even more).”

Fortunately, you don’t have to travel far and wide or donate to organizations that you don’t fully trust in order to give back. You may be able to find some opportunities right in your backyard. Here’s a few ways you can get started with giving back to your community:

 

Donate Some Items

Many families in neighborhoods around the world struggle to support their daily lives. When you donate household goods, you’re helping another family create a better home and environment for their children. Comb through your house and put a sticky notes on everything you don’t use or need. This could be anything from an old coffee maker to a pair of shoes.

Once you’ve gathered all the items you no longer need, you can choose to donate it to local organizations or host a yard sale and donate the proceeds to a local charity. Alternatively, you can consider hosting your own clothing or food drive, and donate the items you receive in bulk.

Giving Back, Community, Doing Good

Visit a Senior Center

Visiting an assisted living home is a great way to give back to the community and make a difference. Many seniors are forgotten or don’t have families of their own to keep them company and spend quality time with them, and visiting them enhances their quality of life, giving them something to look forward to.

Just like everyone else, seniors need some compassion and company too, especially those who don’t have family members to visit them. Many senior homes have programs and events that create the perfect opportunity for you to get involved. If you aren’t sure what to expect, you can visit the home ahead of time by scheduling a tour and letting the admin team know that you’re interesting in doing a volunteer visit. You can even come up with your own ideas and pitch it to the senior home in question. For example, why not gather a few friends and have a game night at your senior center?

Giving Back, Community, Doing Good

Serve at a Food Kitchen

Food kitchens aren’t just popular during the holiday season. In many neighborhoods around the world, people rely on them for daily meals. According to DoSomething.org, 1 in 6 Americans face hunger. Furthermore, more than 1 in 5 children are at risk for hunger; for minorities, the statistics are even worse.

The USDA defines “food insecurity” as the lack of access or inability to feed all household members at all times. Households with children are significantly more likely to experience food insecurity than those without. If you do a little research, you’ll find that there’s likely a food donation center not too far away. Contact your local food kitchen about what you can expect as a volunteer, what you can do to prepare, and whether you can bring anything to aid the process.

Soup kitchens and food donation centers rely on people who are able to donate their time, and you’ll meet many interesting people, from those that you serve food to, to the other volunteers helping beside you.

Giving Back, Community, Doing Good

 Visit a Homeless Shelter

Like a soup kitchen or food donation center, a homeless shelter is a good way to gain a deeper understanding of how other people live, and to make a contribution to their lives. Research homeless centers in your area; you may have to travel a bit more to find the nearest center, but it will be well worth your time.

One thing you may learn about being in a homeless shelter is that many of the preconceived notions you have about homeless people are wrong. As you learn about different people and start to hear their stories—especially if you come back time and time again—you find out that there are many reasons people end of homeless. Some people had no family to guide them, while others were hardworking people who lost jobs and were never able to pick themselves back up. The more you work with homeless people, the more likely you are to learn gratitude and humility.

Giving Back, Community, Doing Good

This is a collaborative guest post. The views and ideas expressed are not necessarily those of Mommy Ramblings.


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“Truth Matters: Knowing God And Yourself”

Does truth matter? Andrew Petiprin argues that Truth (with a capital T) not only matters, but grounding your life on the ancient truths of the Bible is the way to a better life. Check out his book Truth Matters: Knowing God And Yourself.

Truth Matters: Knowing God and Yourself

Discovering the true answers to the age-old questions, Who is God? and Who am I? will help us flourish. These questions are always connected to our beliefs what we put our faith in. True faith is not a vague belief in a higher power. It is faith in the God who has revealed himself in specific ways in the Bible as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The life of Christ is there. The church is there. Forgiveness is there. Resurrection, eternal life, and everything else is there. Truth Matters champions the authentic teachings of the Christian faith as the best means of human flourishing. Along the way, readers will learn how doctrine was debated and decided. Doctrine develops, but Truth never changes.

The purpose of doctrine is to make Truth clearer than before, because our lives depend on it. Orthodox Christian doctrine simply paves the way for a better life (both now and forever) than any alternative. It is the only balm for our wounds during inevitable times of distress, and it is also the joy of our hearts in times of blessing. It keeps us from thinking too highly of ourselves by instilling in us an infinite worth given by an all-loving God.

Truth Matters: Knowing God And Yourself   is a good choice if you want to learn more about Christian doctrine and how it can help us lead a more fulfilling live. If you find yourself confused this book may help to clear things up for your especially if you are a new Christian.

I received this book at no cost to facilitate my review. My words and views are 100% my own.


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Mack Brock “Covered” CD Available March 22nd #MBCoveredEP #FlyBy

 

 

 

CD will be released on March 22nd and contains the following tracks:

  1. I Am Loved
  2. After Me
  3. Still In Control
  4. King in Heaven
  5. Covered

Worship leader Mack Brock walked away from a high profile position at one of the nation’s biggest megachurches to follow God’s call for his life. In an interview with The Christian Post, Brock, who led worship at Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, for a decade, describes what it was like for him to resign to embark on a solo music career.Brock was leading worship and producing albums for Elevation Worship when he felt God was leading him elsewhere and he was obedient.

You can  pre-order for the EP and get the single “I Am Loved”.

There will be a lyric video live day-of release (3/8), HERE

Follow Mack on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

#MBCoveredEP #FlyBy

 “Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing the product/product information. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did/will receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.


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Child Proof: Parenting By Faith, Not Formula

If you browse self-help parenting books, you are sure to see titles like, 5 Easy Steps to this or 3 Weeks to that. Literally thousands of books promising you results if you follow a precise formula. Do they work? That is debatable, and given how many new titles join them each year it does not look favorable.

Author Julie Lowe, an experienced children and family counselor provides a different principle to her book, Child Proof. Child Proof is not a book about moving things out-of-the-way for your new baby but one that demonstrates how parenting with biblical wisdom is best for a pro,active rather than reactive approach to parenting.

Child Proof

Julie is an adoptive and foster mom who applies the CCEF model of biblical change, and uses Scripture and biblical wisdom to teach parents how to know their children and specifically love them with the love of Christ.  As a freedom-over-formula parenting book for parents of all ages, Child Proof provides biblical insight and encouragement for readers who want to parent by faith.

Every family is unique, which is why Child Proof explores the need for parents to cultivate personal and intimate care for their children as modeled in God’s individual, personal, and fatherly care to his children. This parenting book lays a foundation of parenting by faith and progresses by teaching parents how they can know their own children well and parent accordingly. By discussing particular issues parents might have in family life, Lowe demonstrates how parenting formulas aren’t the answer, and parenting with biblical wisdom is best for a proactive rather than reactive approach to parenting.

Through Lowe’s personal and professional experience, parents as well as those helping parents—pastors, counselors and counseling students, youth workers, and churches—will discover gospel-centered application rather than formulas for the ideal family, equipping parents to be experts at knowing their own children so they can know Scripture and live it out personally in their homes.

 

About the Author

Julie Lowe is a faculty member at CCEF. She holds an MA in counseling from Biblical Theological Seminary. She is a licensed professional counselor with over 18 years of counseling experience. Julie is also a registered play therapist and has developed a play therapy office at CCEF to better serve families, teens and children Julie and her husband, Greg, have six children and serve as foster and adoptive parents.

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my post. As always, my words and views are 100% my own.

 

 

 


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“Grit & Grace : Devotions for Warrior Moms” Book Tour & Giveaway

This post is sponsored by Harvest House Publishers.  As always, my words and views are 100% my own.

Grit and Grace Blog Tour

 

Motherhood Requires Grit and Grace

New devotional book offers moms of young children encouragement and spiritual nourishment

If you’re a mom, you have probably felt like you were failing at some point or another in your parenting life. I think we can all relate to days that almost everything seems to be going wrong. When your toddler has a major meltdown in the middle of a store, when you are running on empty and still have a full list of things to do or when you compare yourself to the supermoms who seem to have it all together, it is easy to think we have failed. However, the truth is, you are good enough and you are doing the best you can. If you need encouragement and support, there is a book called Grit & Grace and it is full of devotions for warrior moms like ourselves.

This refreshing collection of 90 daily devotions comes from two moms who’ve found themselves face-to-the-floor in need of encouragement and now offer it to you. Through humor and vulnerability, these short messages of truth remove the filters of perfection clouding your vision and bring clarity to your purpose as a mom. As you read the Scripture and prayer that accompany each day’s message, you’ll discover more fully who you are in Christ and how to raise your children to reflect His love to the world.

The book is filled with chapters written by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin and Gretta Kennedy that will relate to many aspects of your life as a mom. When you are feeling low, picking up the book and finding out you are not alone is very comforting as is reading the prayer at the end of the chapter. It gives e the ability to forgive myself and start anew. It is a beautiful thing to know we can always do better with God’s Grace.

Hang in There, Mama!

For those moments when you think you’ll never live up to the Supermoms around you—when you’re elbow deep in the grind of diapers and laundry and peanut butter sandwiches—you need a good dose of Grit and Grace. In giving yourself grace, you will find you have even more grace to give from the One who is present in your life right now and in every moment.

An Interview with Suzanne Hadley Gosselin and Gretta Kennedy, authors of Grit & Grace: Devotions for Warrior Moms

Grit & Grace

Suzanne Gosselin

Q: How did the two of you team up to write Grit & Grace?

Suzanne Hadley Gosselin (SHG): I was in the throes of raising three young children who were 5, 3 and 18-months old, and it occurred to me one day that I was depleted in every way, but especially spiritually. I found that ironic, since my husband is a pastor and I’m a Christian writer. I had many spiritual resources easily accessible to me, and yet I was still struggling. I also realized that it wasn’t good because in this season of raising young children I really needed Jesus, arguably more than ever.

Around that same time, I had a conversation with my 3-year-old daughter about how I could no longer fit into my “fanciest dress” (my wedding dress) because I had gotten bigger when I had babies. Her reaction floored me. Her eyes sparkled and she said, “Was I one of the babies in your tummy that made you get bigger?” My daughter could see the beauty in something that I had allowed to make me feel like a failure. I realized, then, that God uses these years to teach mamas so many wonderful truths through their children.

Meanwhile, God was laying it on Gretta’s heart to encourage moms of young children. Gretta studied women’s ministry at Multnomah where we met and were college roommates and had a knack for connecting with women and meeting them where they’re at. We were talking on the phone one day and realized that God had given us the exact same vision to provide digestible devotions for moms of young children to encourage and strengthen them in their role as mothers. That’s when the idea of Grit & Grace was born.

Q: Who did you write Grit & Grace for? What stage of motherhood will get the most encouragement from reading your book?

SHG: We wrote Grit & Grace for moms of young children. We’re looking at the season that encompasses babies, toddlers and early elementary school. Many times, if they have multiple children, mamas are navigating all of these stages at once. While the stories focus on the young children years, the truths from God’s Word apply to mamas (and even grandmas) at all stages. We have had Grandmas comment that they feel encouraged to show greater intentionality toward their grandchildren.

Q: What does it mean to you to have grit and grace?

Gretta Kennedy (GK): Having grit is pushing through the hard stuff of motherhood with determination and laser-focus on the end goal of raising children who love and serve Jesus. Having grace means realizing that God offers you peace, rest and help in this season and as well as being kind to your children and especially yourself!

Q: Can you describe the format of the book? How much time does each devotional take to read?

SHG: Grit & Grace is a 90-Day devotional, and our concept was to provide quick-read nuggets of truth for busy mamas. These devos should take no longer than five minutes to get through, and the Scripture passage is included so you don’t even have to go find your Bible. The idea is that these can be read in the tiny spaces in a mama’s day—while the kids are napping or she’s nursing the baby. Each daily devotion includes a true story of motherhood and delves into a spiritual truth that was learned through the experience. Each devotion also includes a prayer to allow busy moms to respond the devotion in the moment.

Q: When is the best time for you to do your own devotions? Early in the morning, during nap time or after the kids are in bed?

GK: The few times I was able to sit down and actually read my Bible when the kids were little, I found that naptime worked best for me. I was never awake enough in the morning, then I’d be completely exhausted at night. During the time my kids were tiny, I often felt like a failure in this department. That’s when I learned my devotional time needed to be throughout the day. I wrote verses on notecards and put them up in the kitchen cupboards. I played worship music all day long. I wrote messages on my bathroom mirror. Those were the ways I found I could consistently have my quiet time. Mommy brain is pretty mushy, so I took it in little spurts. I recited the same verse over and over and eventually, those were the sweetest messages I got from God.

SHG: I do best when I have devotional time interspersed throughout the day. I like to pray and listen to worship music while I’m loading the dishwasher. When I want to go a little deeper, I usually dig in after the kids have gone to bed. Like Gretta, I have often felt like a failure in this area. I want to be an amazing mommy, but I neglect the One who can help me. One of the reasons I wanted to write a devotional like this was to help exhausted moms like me, who couldn’t seem to find the time and space for daily devotional time.

Grit & Grace

Gretta Kennedy

Q:  Before you had children, what did you expect motherhood to be like? What surprised you most when you became a mother?

GK: I did a lot of babysitting as a kid and young adult, so I at least knew that kids aren’t perfect, and taking care of them can be pretty tiring. But the thing that surprised me the most was the huge responsibility of motherhood. I was the one who needed to be the expert on my child. No one else would know her like I did. Also, being a mother is totally different from being the babysitter! I was responsible for everything…not just this little person. The house, the food, the everything…oh yeah, and the children.

SHG: I have worked with kids since I was a teen. In fact, I met my husband when he struck up a conversation with me about children’s ministry. I always assumed I’d take to motherhood like a fish to water. I was wrong. The stress of being a mom revealed many of my weaknesses, such as being unskilled at managing our home and all the little demands of motherhood. It also revealed my selfishness as I was pushed to put others before myself again and again.  

Q: What was one of the biggest pressures you felt as a new mom? In what ways did you feel insecure?

GK: I wanted to do everything right and have the perfect child. I wanted to be super mom. I wanted to be super wife. And I think that pressure came from within me, not so much from outside influences. I quickly learned that I was human and  couldn’t do it all…especially maintain a clean home, serve a healthy dinner on time, and be everything my husband needed as well. It was impossible. I had to find a different and new rhythm and realistic expectations.

SHG: I struggled with not feeling cut out for motherhood. I was awkward interacting in mom circles, and I didn’t feel as knowledgeable as other moms. I kind of bumbled through the daily mechanics of caring for children. In my 10-year career as an editor at a major Christian organization, I had felt competent every day and received steady praise for my contributions. For the first time in my life, I felt like I wasn’t “good” at my job and though my babies were adorable, they didn’t offer me the kudos for my work I’d received in the workplace. I compared myself to the super-moms around me and saw myself coming up so short. As a perfectionist, it was an adjustment to find that, in some ways, I wasn’t a natural at being a mom. God had to take me on a very specific journey of accepting who He made me to be and realizing that He had teamed me up with my kids, with both my strengths and weaknesses in mind. That was powerful.

Q: Suzanne, you write that your spiritual life took a hit after you became a mom. In what ways?

SHG: Spiritual disciplines have always been an area of weakness for me. Even before kids, I struggled to meet with the Lord at a consistent time each day. However, I did find time to get in the Word daily and received consistent spiritual input through working at a Christian organization, being plugged in at church and attending multiple Bible studies during my single years. I had my first child a year and a half after I got married and decided to stay home. I quickly became isolated and overwhelmed and struggled to find time to even crack open the Bible. I felt too tired to pray. I realized many of the struggles I was experiencing, such as a negative view on life, conflicts with my husband and anger toward my children were the bad fruit of a life that wasn’t connected to the True Vine. But it was more difficult than it ever had been to sit at Jesus’ feet and be refreshed by Him.

Q: Gretta, you write about losing your identity when you became a mom. Was it something you realized all at once or was it gradual? What would you like readers to realize about their true identity?

GK: I had quite the cool job before I became a mom, and I loved what I did. A young newlywed and capable and trusted in an outdoor adventure-based ministry, I found great fulfillment in my marriage and career. When our daughter was born, my life was consumed with her. Being a good mom and knowing my daughter’s every need became my top priority, and I genuinely loved it. But around the 6-month mark, it dawned on me that every conversation I had with others always revolved around mom life. It no longer mattered what I did prior to becoming a mother, and no one really cared anymore about my relationship with my husband. It was all about my daughter. I had become just a mom.

I really struggled with that because I felt there was so much more to me, but none of that mattered anymore. “Mom” was it for me from here on out. Then God reminded me very clearly that titles are not my true identity. My identity needs to be found in him alone because that will never change. So truths like “daughter of the King” and “chosen” and “forgiven” became the identities I tried to focus on. This is so important for moms to remember. The little children years are so demanding that we can forget how God sees us. We are so much more than moms. We are redeemed! We are gifted! We are loved! If we can keep our identity centered as God sees us, then as we go through changes in life, our foundation won’t be shaken and we will be more free to live as God truly intended.

Q: What are some of the topics you cover in the devotionals?

SHG: We talk about perfectionism, comparison, joy, gratefulness, fear, rejection, weariness, calling, tenacity (grit) and hope (grace). Our subtitle is Devotions for Warrior Moms, and that is how we view mamas. They are on the front lines guiding their children to God’s truth and aiming them at the target—Jesus. Grit & Grace talks about the gamut of emotions mothers of young children face, both good and bad.

Q: Do either of you have a favorite devotional in the book?

SHG: My favorite devotional is titled “(Gingerbread) Man Down.” I talk about how my daughter accidentally broke two gingerbread men ornaments that had been a gift from a coworker. They had sentimental value, and I yelled at her when she broke them. A few weeks later, she presented me with a new gingerbread man ornament. It was gaudy and glittery and painted with bold colors. She told me, “Mommy, this gingerbread man is even more beautiful than the ones I broke.” In the devotion, I talk about how that is what God does for us. He fixes our broken places and gives us something more beautiful than what we started with.

Q: As your kids have started to grow up, what are some of the things you miss about having kids at the youngest stages?

GK: I miss the simplicity of sitting on the couch and reading stories, the chair in the kitchen while they help mix ingredients, and the funny ways the kids pronounced words and phrases!

SHG: Mine are still pretty young, but with the older ones, I miss their absolute need and dependence on me…just wanting to be with me every second for no apparent reason. Isn’t that a picture of my Heavenly Father and me? I am absolutely dependent on Him and should crave to be with Him every day. And I miss all the kisses and hugs. My 2-year-old is still the best at those!

Q: If moms only take away one thing from reading Grit & Grace, what do you hope they learn?

SHG: We hope they will feel encouraged and empowered that God has chosen them for their specific children. They are called to this. There are so many sweet moments that come along with the difficult ones. As one pre-reader said, “Grit & Grace is helping me treasure hunt for grace in the challenging moments of motherhood and remember to savor the sweet moments I want to be etched deep into my heart forever.” Yes. That.

Grit & Grace


Fellow Grit & Grace Warrior Moms can connect on Facebook , Twitter  and Instagram . Learn more about Gosselin at www.suzannegosselin.com. She can also be found on Facebook , Twitter  and Instagram . Keep up with the Kennedy family’s adventures at www.travelingislanders.com and on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .

Check out my video below:

Giveaway:


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“Day-by-Day Chronological Bible” Giveaway

The new year is underway, many people have decided to make changes in their life. Embracing their spiritual side is something many want to do. One way to do that is to read the Bible.

However, many people are unfamiliar with the stories of the Bible and how they fit together into the grand narrative of God’s World. God gave us the Bible to reveal truth about himself and about our lives, and he wants to draw us into the ongoing story of what he is doing in the world.

Day-by-Day Chronological Bible

I just received a beautiful Day-by-Day Chronological Bible with a Leathertouch cover. It arrived in a very nice box perfect for gift giving. I really am impressed with how this Bible make it easy to start on a weekly reading plan.

The CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible features a clear narrative approach to the Bible. Arranging the complete text into a fresh chronological reading plan with daily readings guided by D. George Guthrie.

In this plan, the books chapters and verses of the Bile are thoughtfully arranged so readers can track the story of Scripture, day by day , from beginning to end, understanding the flow of events and ow the grand narrative of Scripture applies to everyday life.

Day-by-Day Chronological Bible

Unlike other chronological Bibles, this arrangement is not date specific, so you can begin the reading plan at any point in the calendar year.

The CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible features a clear narrative approach to the Bible, arranging the complete text into a fresh chronological reading plan with daily readings guided by Dr. George Guthrie

Features Include:

  • 52 weeks of readings (six readings per week) in chronological order
  • Scripture presented in three main acts (God’s Plan for All People; God’s Covenant People; God’s New Covenant People) and seventeen total scenes
  • An introduction for each act and scene to orient the reader to its importance in the grand story
  • Single-column text with plenty of space for taking notes
  • Concordance
  • Smyth-sewn binding
  • Presentation page
  • Full-color maps

The CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible features the highly readable, highly reliable text of the Christian Standard Bible® (CSB). The CSB stays as literal as possible to the Bible’s original meaning without sacrificing clarity, making it easier to engage with Scripture’s life-transforming message and to share it with others

Giveaway:

LEV3L Digital is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win their own Day-by-Day Chronological Bible! Thank you to LEV3L Digital for the review Bible and for sponsoring this amazing giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US Residents.

Day-by-Day Chronological Bible Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget. Good Luck!

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