Mother Inferior

Is Parenting Our Highest Calling? 9 Parenting Myths Exposed

I recently "met" a wonderful author, a friend of a friend, who emailed and offered to send me her book so I could look over it. And I was blown away. It was so freeing! :)

I've read a lot of parenting books, and this is one of the best--and most biblically-based--I've come across. I'm excited to share it with you. Leslie Leyland Fields is the author, and I spoke to her so she could explain why she believes parenting is NOT our highest calling. :)

Q: What caused you to write this book?

A: This book came out of a deep sense of guilt and failure as a parent.  It felt to me that parenting well, and specifically parenting well as a Christian mother,  had become impossible. There was not only pressure from the culture at large to be a perfect parent, but there was so much pressure from the church. The messages---both implicit and
explicit---were that if you weren’t devoting yourself 150% to your children, if you weren’t having devotions every morning or night with them, homeschooling, taking them to every event at church, etc!! that you weren’t being a godly parent, and your child wouldn’t turn out well. The standards have risen so impossibly high! And if I could just do all those things, I was promised a peaceful, happy home as well. That if I did everything right, my kids would be happy all the time, I’d be completely fulfilled, all that. Those wonderful, sweet, peaceful times do come, but it’s not really an accurate picture of our day to day lives. There’s a lot of heartbreak and hurt in raising children. A lot of sheer perseverance, when very little emotion comes back to you.

One day I had a meltdown after a very hard week with my six children and cried out to God, “God, what do you know about parenting?”  And suddenly the obvious came to me: not only is God our own father who parents us, but He was the father of Israel, whom He calls, “my first born son.” And I thought about that relationship, what God’s parenting life was like, and suddenly I saw it!  The heartache, the hurt, the risk of love, the cost of love . .. . and I thought of the families in the Old Testament, all their struggles.  I realized these cotton-candy versions of the perfect Christian home today are mostly fabrications.  And I realized then that God had so much to say to us about parenting than most of us had realized, through the entire OT.  I suddenly felt like God really did  understand. And I suddenly realized as well that I had absorbed a bunch of myths and misconceptions about parenting that weren’t  biblical at all. Once I began really studying the whole of
Scripture on the topic of family, I was shocked at what I found.

Q: You talk about the 9 parenting myths in the book. Can you elaborate on one or two, just to give my readers an example of what you're talking about?

A: The first myth in the book is that “Having children will make you happy and fulfilled.”  We do this---we entice couples into having children by promising happiness and fulfillment and blessing. This message comes mostly to women, I think.  But there are a couple of problems with this. God doesn’t promise us this. There’s on ly one verse in the Scriptures that equates children with happiness. (“Blessed is the man whose quiver is full . ..”.)  Children are here not to fulfill our needs and purposes, but to fulfill God’s.  So we can opt out of the mommy wars, which right now are fighting over this very issue of fulfillment.  If you’re feeling fulfilled then, gosh! Parenting is so worth it!! If you’re not feeling fulfilled,” Darn, parenting is so not worth it!”  But the worth and value of parenting has nothing to do with our own fluctuating feelings of fulfillment!

The second myth I’ll mention, the title myth, that “Parenting is your highest calling.”  Scripture makes it clear that our highest calling is to love and serve God first. “You shall have no other gods before me.” We have tended to make our family a god, an idol in this age, I think. Jesus does not mince words but addresses this in a number of places, the
most direct in Mt. 10:37: “Anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”  Wow!! We haven’t paid attention to that at all!  And it’s not a single aberrant verse. Jesus goes out of  his way to redefine, to enlarge the family to the family of God, to the kingdom of God. We’re so focused on the kingdom of our family, we
neglect the kingdom of God.

All of this sounds a little threatening to us at first, but wonderful things happen when we focus on loving God first. We can resist the constant temptation to see our children as extensions of ourselves, which gets us into a lot of trouble! We can resist the temptation to find our identity, significance and purpose through our children instead of through Christ. When we get this order right—loving God first—we have so much more love—the right kind of love!-- to offer our children. We have less pride, more understanding and patience to offer. Our children are freed as well from a burden they weren’t meant to bear. We no longer need to look to them to provide what only God can provide!

Q: I think your book is going to give freedom to a lot of mothers and fathers. How have you found freedom in your own parenting journey?

A: Oh my goodness, where do I start?? I start with getting up in the morning with sense of possibility and hope and freedom, that this parenting work is not all about me, nor is it all about my children. It’s about God and what He’s doing in my little world and in the vast
world beyond the walls of my house. I’m not filled with self-condemnation any more. I ‘m freed from a kind of works-righteousness  I was wrapped up in---trying to work and earn my kids salvation and sanctification rather trusting God with that work. I really thought I had to be Jesus to my children---not understanding that I don’t do the work of Jesus in my children’s lives, I do the work of a parent, which is to point my children to Jesus.  I have a much more biblical understanding of the family and what God is about in the larger
family of God.  I almost can’t describe to you the all the ways these fuller truths from God’s word have changed my life. Most of all, I have been freed from misconceptions that have blinded me to God’s amazing grace for mothers and fathers. It was so much more about me, and now it’s so much more about God.

THANKS, Leslie. And thanks to all of you who read this far. Be sure and check out Leslie's book and grab a copy for yourself--or a mom you know who needs more grace (Jesus!) and less stress and pressure.

How to Write an Offensive Christmas Newsletter

The world is divided into two camps: those who love Christmas newsletters, and those who despise them. I'm in the first group. But the people who hate them have probably been subjected repeatedly to irrirating letters, which are about as fun as a toddler on Red Bull.

So in the spirit of Christmas giving, I'm going to list a few pieces of advice to heed as you're penning your latest end-of-the-year roundup. Follow these tips at your own risk.

• First, list everything each of your flawless family members accomplished this year. Go heavy on the accolades, adjectives, and aimless chatter. Example: Stacy knitted forty-four caps for homeless veterans, gave her liver to a stranger, and was elected president of every club she's a member of. Oh, and she also played Moonlight Sonata in G at the local nursing home for Aunt Betty's birthday on March 31, to a standing ovation (well, those who could stand, did.)
• Include a paragraph about your or your children's pets--especially their health problems. Example: Our daughter's basset hound, Henry XIII, nearly lost his life to a bad case of pneumonia. Thankfully, our local vet--what a hero!--was able to intubate him in time. We almost lost our precious granddog!
• Speaking of health issues, list in excruciating detail your family's medical history. Example: Don suffered a ruptured colon in January and had to get a colostomy bag. Boy, was I tired of cleaning that thing after a week. Thank God, he's fine now. But Ellen (our college freshman) came down with Swine Flu in September and had to come home for a week. And I must say, her snot was as colorful as her wardrobe--those crazy kids!
• When it comes time to talk about your own comings and goings, really pile it on. And don't forget the false humility. Example: Though I was busy enough with my full-time job at the local non-profit (for which I won the local television station's "Woman of the Year" award--can you believe it?!), I also served as room mom for all three of my children, treated my husband to home-cooked dinners each night, and fired our cleaning lady. Somehow, my daily 5:30 a.m. spinning class at the Y (can you say COFFEE?) has given me the energy of four women. I also started clipping coupons, and the money we're saving on groceries has helped to fund an orphanage in Haiti. But it's all in a day's work, and I feel blessed to have such great kids and a supportive hubby.

And last, but not least:

• Include tons of photos--black and white, color, sepia, and the kids' school pictures (the tiny ones). And ask for pictures and updates from your friends. In fact, insist on it--and threaten to strike them from your Christmas list if they don't comply.

Thankfully, no one in my circle sends me horrible newsletters. In fact, I enjoy (almost) all of them! I love catching up with people--after all, Facebook statuses only go so far. Just remember these tips, because if you don't, you might find your newsletter at the bottom of someone's trashcan. 

And now, I must go take care of my kitten's overactive bladder issue. Happy Holidays!

Adventures in Missing the Point

A rare-for-me rant, which I began earlier this week when I was tired and cranky...

--When the coach of a little boys' football team berates his players with rough language, shouting, and threats...he's missing the point. It's a game, mister. And why in the world are elementary kids playing tackle football, anyway?!

--When mommy bloggers criticize the best-written book I've read in a LONG time (and I read a lot), about a painful and faith-building journey the author took with her family, simply because the author, Hope Edelman, had a nanny, they're missing the point.

I'm so tired of mommy wars. Can't we all agree to disagree? There are lots of ways to raise great kids, and just because someone doesn't do it "your" way doesn't make them wrong!--

--When the media bashes the overworked and underappreciated army for not seeing that a certain soldier's mental health was iffy, I think they're missing the point (consider this thought-provoking article). 

--When book publishers care more about fame/platform/visibility than craft and skill, they're missing the point. It makes me crazy when people like Joe the Plumber get book deals! Who's next, the balloon boy's parents?

--And last but not least, when we as Christians look down on people like John and Kate or Carrie Prejean (and when the media skewers them because they claim to be Christ-followers), I definitely think we're missing the point. Why do we put people on a pedestal so quickly, just because they claim to follow Jesus? Why do we elevate them to the status of spokesperson if they say they don't believe in abortion or gay marriage? Shouldn't we be a little more discerning as to who we look up to? I'm just sayin'....

Okay, I spewed and I feel better. :) What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with me? When do you or I totally miss the point?

From Pain to Pearls: A Movement is Born!

  
Have you heard of the Pearl Girls? It's a book (with contributions from Robin Jones Gunn, Debbie Macomber, Melody Carlson and Shaunti Feldhahn, among many others), a blog, a way to raise money for charity, and more. Founder Margaret McSweeney says:

"With His love and grace, God covered the unexpected pain in my life of becoming an adult orphan and transformed this pain into a pearl. Each of us has been touched by God's gift of love and grace, and it's a gift that I want to share with others. That's why I am launching Pearl Girls. Actually, my very first gift from my parents was a pearl. The gift of my name. Margaret means "precious pearl." So perhaps this is what I was always supposed to do. My heart's prayer is that Pearl Girls will be a blessing to others - to the women who contribute their literary talent to the Pearl Girls projects; to the readers who are inspired and comforted by the life experiences shared through these projects and to the women and children who will benefit from the proceeds given by Pearl Girls to various charities. "

Margaret doesn’t keep a penny of any proceeds from the first (and any subsequent) Pearl Girls books.  100% of the royalties go directly to two charities:

WINGS (women in need growing stronger). The proceeds will help fund a Safe House in the Chicago suburbs. It costs $50 a night to provide safe shelter for a woman and her children. During this economy, WINGS is receiving even more phone calls for a safe place to stay. Already, the Pearl Girls have provided 60 nights with the advance royalties!

Hands of Hope. The proceeds will help build wells in Uganda for school children. Can you imagine a child at school without a water fountain in the hallway where he or she can grab a quick sip of water in between classes on a hot day? These children have to drink from puddles and other water sources which carry diseases and parasites.  It costs $12,000 to build a well in Uganda. Already, the Pearl Girls have provided funds to build ¼ of a well!

Margaret says, "After the first Pearl Girls tea in Atlanta, I went to my brother, Claude's home to help sort through our parents' boxes in his basement. It was an emotional experience and tedious process to discover what was in each box, to decide what to do with each item and to discard those belongings which we needed to let go. After several long hours of sorting, I received an incredible hug from heaven - a confirmation that Pearl Girls is something that is meant to be. I discovered a three strand necklace of painted pearls belonging to my grandmother from the early 1900s! Isn't that amazing?"

She adds, "Inspired by the many women who opened their lives and shared their stories in Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace, we have created sister site, Post-a-Pearl. A place to continue the connection and encouragement the book began. I hope you will take the opportunity to connect through the Post-a-Pearl site. We are all Pearl Girls! Please post your own Pearl story and reach out to share your journey with others. Collaborating is an important purpose of Pearl Girls. We connect to make a difference in the world." Interested in becoming a part of the movement? You can find all the info and instructions on the Post-a-Pearl website.

Wanna know more? Read an excerpt of the book here. Watch the video here. Or buy the book and make a difference here.

Guest Post: Great Tax Tips from Mary Byers

I recently became a blogger for "Making Work at Home Work." Each month, I'll post a fabulous article to help my fellow Work-at-Home moms. This one is from the blog network creator, author/speaker Mary Byers. Enjoy!

"The number one rule for moms who work at home is this: Do not mingle your personal and business finances. Open a separate checking account for your business. And, if necessary, secure a separate credit card so that you can keep your personal and business-related expenses separate. Deposit all of your income in the checking account. Pay all of your expenses out of the checking account. When you do, at the end of the year you’ll have an accurate record of income and expenses.

   Check with your bank before your open your checking account. They may require proof that you’ve filed a “Doing Business As” form with your local or county government. Your banker may also be able to alert you to other regulations specific to your area.

   I personally believe it’s essential to stay on top of your business’ finances on a monthly basis. Though it’s not my favorite chore, I use a simple software program to track income and spending. I can compare this year’s figures to last year’s to find out how I’m doing comparatively as well as monitor my year-to-date performance. There are many easy-to- use software programs on the market (such as Quicken and Quick Books) that make it possible for business owners to track and access their financial data.

   In addition to inputting my financial data, I take time to organize my expense receipts each month. It takes less than a half hour to file them but doing so insure that my end-of-year tax preparation will run smoothly. Plus, I’ll have necessary proof if I’m ever audited.

   Once your recordkeeping is in order, you should take the time to learn what’s allowable as an expense deduction for you as a self-employed individual. The more you deduct, the less your profit. The less your profit, the less you pay in taxes. The less you pay in taxes, the more you keep for yourself.

According to the Internal Revenue Service, “To be deductible, a business expense must be both ordinary and necessary. An ordinary expense is one that is common and accepted in your field of business. A necessary expense is one that is appropriate and helpful for your business. An expense does not have to be indispensable to be considered necessary.”

The challenge in determining what’s deductible is that it differs based on your occupation. Day care providers can write off the cost of toys they buy for their charges and a computer game designer can deduct the cost of purchasing competing games for review and critique.

   If you’re interested in learning more about deductible expenses, consider picking up a copy of June’s Walker’s Self-Employed Tax Solutions. It’s an excellent resource, as is June’s website at www.junewalkeronline.com. Her blog is worth subscribing to if you’re interested in learning how to keep more of what you make.

   Of course, if you’re uncertain as to whether something is deductible, check with your personal tax advisor. And if you don’t have one, get one. I personally waited too long to do this and wish I would have done it sooner.

   Here’s how to make the most of your deductions:

Know what’s deductible. Take the time to learn what’s deductible. You may be surprised by what you can write off. For example, authors and playwrights may deduct the cost of the plays and movies they see if they are doing so to better learn the craft of plot, story and character. If you conduct business on the way to or from your family vacation, you may be able to write off a portion of your travel expenses.

If in doubt, ask. This is where a tax reference book or good accountant comes in. While it may be easier not to ask, doing so may well cost you money that would be better placed in your retirement account or a child’s college fund.

Realize that small deductions add up. My bank is 5.6 miles away. With the current IRS standard mileage deduction of 50.5 cents per mile, every trip to the bank for a business related transaction results in a deduction of $2.83 (50.5 cents x 5.6 miles). Last year alone my mileage deduction totaled $1,971. (I record each trip in a mileage log in order to provide documentation for the IRS.) Remember, deductions decrease taxable income, and lower taxable income means paying less tax.

Keep your receipts. Develop a simple record keeping system that’s easy to use. You’ll need to keep your records for seven years after the relevant tax return is filed. (Though the receipts only need to be kept temporarily, you should keep your tax returns forever.)

   If you need help developing a working system, get it. Though recordkeeping and taxes can be both tedious and boring, they represent an area in which solo-preneurs can make a huge difference in the bottom line. You owe it to yourself and your family to excel in this area. If you’re intimidated or uncertain in this regard, make a commitment to learn what you need to know--starting today."

Author, Speaker Mary Byer's created this program after the release of her book, Making Work at Home Work: Successfully growing a business and a family under one roof, to help other Work at Home Moms (WAHM) conquer some of the struggles that she herself has been through. Mary says, "I feel really privileged that I was able to write this book. I wrote it with Work at Home Moms in mind. There are so many unique challenges about working at home that only another work-at-homer can understand!" I would like to encourage you to explore their website for some great advice and some much-needed encouragement. If you would like to become a Making Work at Home Work blogger, go here.

Mary Byers is the author of Making Work at Home Work: Successfully Growing a Business and a Family Under One Roof. You can learn more about work at home successfully by subscribing to Mary’s free blog at www.makingworkathomework.com or go to www.theworkathomegirls.com.

Interview with Christian Suspense Author Sara Mills

This interview ran on Monday on Cara Putnam's blog. She and the rest of us in the Christian Authors' Network just learned that Sara Mill's husband died of a heart attack on Tuesday. He was young-- 40--and we are so grieved for Sara and her children. If you like fiction, especially suspense, please follow the links at the end of this post to buy one or both books.

Q: Miss Fortune and Miss Match are delightful books set in NYC in 1947. Tell us how you got the idea for Allie and these books...

A: I got the idea for Miss Fortune in the middle of the night, when all good ideas come to me. One sleepless night I was watching The Maltese Falcon and I started to wonder how different the story would be if Sam Spade had been a woman. She'd never have fallen for Miss Wunderly's charms and lies. She'd have been smart and tough and she would have solved the case in half the time it took Sam because she wouldn't spend all of her time smoking cigarettes and calling her secretary Precious.

The thought of a hard-boiled female detective got my mind whirling.

I paused the movie and sat in my darkened living room thinking about how much fun a female Sam Spade could be. Intrigued but not yet ready to dash to my computer, I changed disks and put on Casablanca (my all time favorite movie ever). The sweeping love story, a tale full of hard choices and sacrifice was what finally made the whole idea click in my mind. If I could just combine the P.I. detective story of the Maltese Falcon with the love story from Casablanca, and make Sam Spade more of a Samantha, I could have the best of all worlds.

Q: These books are so good, I wish I'd written them. How did you set the stage to capture that gritty PI feel without being dark?

A: I find that a lot of PI stories are gritty and dark, focusing on the worst of the humanity, and while I wanted the Allie Fortune mysteries to be exciting and tension-filled I didn’t want them to be stark and hopeless.

One of the things I tried to do to counteract the darkness was to give Allie a multi-layered life. She has cases, relationships, friends and family, all of which I hope combine to make the stories textured, rich and full of life.

Q: Allie is a character I'd love to have coffee with. What did she teach you while you wrote these books?

A: Allie was a great character to write. One of the things I learned from her was that human relationships (man/woman, mother/daughter, friends) are complicated and full of unspoken rules and expectations. Allie is a rule-breaker at heart and it complicates her life on a regular basis. One of the storylines I loved most is Allie’s relationship with her mother and how it grows and changes and how it’s shaped her.

Another dimension of Allie’s character that really taught me a lot was her willingness to do whatever was needed to help those she loves. There is no price on that kind of friendship and it’s a characteristic I’d like to see more of in myself. Okay I admit it, I’ve got a bit of a friend-crush on Allie. LOL.

Q: One last question: If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would that be and who would you take with you?

A: If I could go anywhere right now I’d head to Monterey, California (I’m writing a book set there right now) and I’d plant myself on the beach with a notebook, writing my story as the waves crashed. Sounds like my idea of heaven on earth. There’s something about the wind-shaped Cypress trees and the crash of the surf in Monterey that calls to me. I don’t know why, it just is.

Miss Fortune, Allie Fortune Mystery Series #1 By Sara Mills / Moody Publishers In 1947 Allie Fortune is the only female private investigator in New York City, but she's kept awake at night by a mystery of her own: her fianci disappeared in the war and no one knows if he's still alive. Until Allie finds out, she will have no peace. When there's a knock on her office door at four in the morning, Allie suspects trouble as usual, and Mary Gordon is no exception. Mary claims someone is following her, that her apartment has been ransacked, and that she's been shot at, but she has no idea why any of this is happening. Allie takes the case, and in the process discovers an international mystery that puts her own life in danger. Meanwhile, the FBI is working the case as well, and she is partnered up with an attractive, single agent who would be perfect for her under other circumstances-if only she knew whether her fiance was still alive.

Miss Match, Allie Fortune Mystery Series #2 By Sara Mills / Moody Publishers FBI agent Jack O'Connor receives a letter from Maggie, a woman he used to love, saying she's in trouble in Berlin. The FBI refuses to get involved, so Jack asks Allie Fortune to help him investigate. Allie and Jack pose as a missionary couple who want to bring orphans back to the United States. A child finds important documents that everyone in the city - Soviets and allies alike - want for themselves. Maggie refuses to tell Jack what the documents are, saying if things go wrong, they are better off not knowing. Through the course of the search, Allie's past is brought back to her, half a world away from home.

Gaining Endorsements: "Writer Mama" Blog Tour and Giveaway

I'm thrilled to be part of the book tour for the book Writer Mama: How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids by Christina Katz. When the book first came out, I bought and devoured it. It's practical, fun, and easy-to-read. If you're a mom and want to write professionally (or already do), you need this book!

Christina is celebrating the two-year anniversary of her book by going on an online tour. So here's the highly informative next installment of the Writer Mama story from Christina:

Getting Endorsements

"Once you are waiting for your book galley for final review, you’ll want to obtain endorsements. Endorsements lend credibility to a first time author. Some folks think that book endorsements are no longer necessary but I believe they are more important than ever.

Book blurbs set your book apart from the glut of information out there and earmark it as worthy of a busy reader’s time. With more information streaming at us daily, we all need more help than ever sorting through our infinite choices. Endorsements do the heavy reading and sorting for us. And when they come from names we trust, we are more likely to plunk down the ten or twenty bucks on a book.

You don’t want to solicit random endorsements for your book. Ask well-known experts on similar topics instead. The more known your book endorser, the bigger boost to your credibility, don’t just ask everyone you know who you think would take the time to read your book and give you a blurb. Think carefully about which authors are respected in your field and approach them in a formal manner.

I strongly recommend Gregory A. Kompes e-book, The Endorsement Quest, as a guide to walk you through the endorsement identifying and soliciting process. Kompes’ book describes the process in overview and then outlines step-by-step how to go about soliciting the best endorsements for your book.

I referenced The Endorsement Quest for both of my books. Like most steps in the book-writing process, you will be surprised how many feelings are stirred up when the time comes to ask for endorsements. You might feel like you are “bothering” people. Or feel badly about asking for their time when you know how busy they are.

Keep in mind that most authors and experts are very busy but if they feel that your book is in their topic of interest, they will likely agree to endorse it. And if they say “No,” just remember that you will likely be asked to endorse books some day, and sometimes you will say yes and sometimes you will say no, depending on many factors. Don’t take no personally. Just keeping asking until you get the number of endorsements you feel are appropriate.

In harkening back to the mamas I asked to endorse Writer Mama, I believe that almost all of them said yes. And out of all of the endorsements I requested, only one was not used. For Get Known, I asked bigger names for endorsements, and not surprisingly received a few rejections. But I’m so happy in both cases that I dared to stick my neck out at a vulnerable time because all of my book endorsers have become allies. We have become valuable members of each other's networks."

 

Thanks for the great advice, Christina!

Today's Book Drawing: To enter to win a signed, numbered copy of Writer Mama, answer the following question in this blog's comments:

For some of you this might be premature, so let's dream big. Who would be your ideal book endorsers and why would they be appropriate for your book topic and audience?

Thanks for participating! Only US residents, or folks with a US mailing address can participate in the drawing. Please only enter once per day.

Where will the drawing be tomorrow? Visit http://thewritermama.wordpress.com/ to continue reading the rest of the Writer Mama story throughout March 2009!

And here's the skinny on the book. I highly reccomend it!

 

Writer Mama, How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids by Christina Katz (Writer's Digest Books 2007)

Kids change your life, but they don't necessarily have to end your career. Stay-at-home moms will love this handy guide to rearing a successful writing career while raising their children. The busy mom's guide to writing life, this book gives stay-at-moms the encouragement and advice they need including everything from getting started and finding ideas to actually finding time to do the work - something not easy to do with the pitter-patter of little feet. With advice on how to network and form a a business, this nurturing guide covers everything a writer mama needs to succeed at her second job. Christina Katz is also the author of the newly released Get Known Before the Book Deal, Use Your Personal Strengths to Grow an Author Platform (Writer's Digest Books 2008).

Thanks, and have a groovy day!

My New Book is Here!

  This volume is a collection of a month’s worth of devotionals based on the lives of 24 biblical moms like Mary, Rebekah and Rachel. Each meditation includes scripture and a brief biography, along with thought-provoking application questions and inspirational takeaways.

 

I learned so much while writing this book! It was a challenge and a joy. I'd never realized that biblical moms struggled with the exact same issues facing moms today. Rachel, Hannah and Sarah dealt with infertility. Eunice was a single mom. Eve lost a child, and Naomi lost a spouse. Leah felt unloved, Hagar felt rejected, and Job’s wife felt abandoned by God. I’m honored to share their stories. My goal with the book is to point mothers to the God who longs to meet them in the midst of their circumstances, just as He did for moms in the Bible.

 

Would you consider telling your women's ministry director, MOPS coordinator, and pastor about Mothers of the Bible? Barbour, the publisher, is offering it as a "value" book with a great price so that ministries and churches can buy it in bulk for their members.  

 

Thanks--and have a blessed day!

My Friends are Cool! :)

I wanted to let you know about some neat things happening with some writer friends. First, Debbie Williams, a fellow Texas Hill Country speaker/author, has started a new branch of her ministry. God has called her to take her "Pray with Passion" conference to every state, regardless of whether the inviting church can afford to have her. This incredible journey is detailed here. Check it out and see if your ministry or church might be willing to invite Debbie to speak. She's an awesome woman of God, and I can't wait to see what God does with this new venture.

Second, Tekeme Studios is running an unbelievable promotion on blogs and websites. They are a great firm, and they've partnered with my friend Mary DeMuth to offer 50 percent off website design and 75 percent off blog design when you buy a copy of Mary's book on Postmodern Parenting (it's an incredible book, I've read it!). You can get details here. This is an amazing deal for custom, professional work!

And finally, my dear friends Leslie Wilson and Brenda Nixon, as well as fellow mom-author Trish Berg and two other women, have a Christmas gift book that was just released by Leafwood Press. It looks gorgeous, and I can't wait to read it! :) They have a really neat "God" story of how the book came together, and I've posted all the info, including a delicious-looking toffee recipe on my "Just for Writers" blog. (I was supposed to be part of their blog tour in September, but I got shingles. Yuck!)

Have a great day, and do say a prayer for me, if you would, that my shingles will leave soon. They're not fun!

Moms in the Bible

I've been quiet for awhile because my kids were starting school, and I was finishing up the devotional book Barbour hired me to write about moms of the Bible. Whew! I sent in the completed manuscript today. And it feels soooo good!

I learned a LOT while writing the 31 devotionals, some about pretty obscure biblical moms. It was challenging, inspirational, and encouraging. In fact, I'm going to start offering a program for MOPS and other moms' groups about what moms can learn from moms in the Bible. So if you're a mom group in the San Antonio/Austin/Kerrville area and need speakers, let me know if you're interested in the topic and I'll send you some information.

Here's a little preview from the book's introduction:

"Moms in the scriptures dealt with issues, just like moms today. Rachel, Hannah and Sarah struggled with infertility. Eunice was a single mom. Eve lost a child, and Naomi lost a spouse. Jochebed gave up her child, and Pharoah’s daughter adopted him. Hagar felt rejected, Leah felt unloved, and Job felt abandoned by God. These biblical moms teach us how God desires to love, guide and comfort us. Just as He did for moms in the Bible, He meets us in the midst of our circumstances, proving that we don’t have to do the “mom” thing alone. As we read and meditate on the Word of God, He promises to give us the wisdom, patience and peace we need."      

The book comes out in March, I believe. I'll keep you posted! :)