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

Scriptures Mentioned:

Jeremiah 15:16

Psalm 119:32, 36

Jeremiah 9:23-24

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

2

exhausting agains of cooking and laundry,

and the difficult agains of discipline.

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So much of what we do

as mothers is on repeat.

4

So what if we woke up with clarity,

knowing which agains we were called

5

to, and went to bed believing we

are faithful in what matters most?

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We believe God's Word is

the key to untangle from the

7

confusion and overwhelm we feel.

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Let's look up together to embrace a

motherhood full of freedom and joy.

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I'm Stephanie and I want to welcome

you on behalf of interested ministries.

10

This is the again podcast and

we're in the middle of a series on

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untangling, biblical motherhood.

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Today, we're talking specifically about

untangling our priority to God's word.

13

And we know that it is

difficult as mothers,

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but this episode, Is full of practical

tips about how you can make that happen.

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And If you don't already have.

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A plan in place for making

sure that the Lord has the

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priority of time in your life.

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Then

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we hope that you're inspired

to turn over a new leaf.

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And to seek the Lord.

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Faithfully.

22

And today's episode I'm joined by

the incredible Jen Frackman she and

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I will talk about what it looked like

for us to be faithful to the Lord.

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As our children were babies.

25

And toddlers,

26

and later on in the episode, we

discuss how it's transitioned as our

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children have gotten to be older.

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We understand that a lot of

you almost are on a mission.

29

We hope that you're able to listen

to the, get to know you questions at

30

the beginning, but if you just need

to hop to that practical wisdom.

31

You can skip about the first 10 minutes

of this episode and then dig in with us

32

as we talk about digging into God's word.

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Jen: Okay.

34

Stephanie, I'm going to start

off asking you a question today.

35

Great.

36

This is a fun one.

37

What is your ideal retirement age?

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How would you like to spend

your time in retirement?

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Steph: I don't think about the

age very much, but I definitely

40

think about what I want to do.

41

And my dream is to.

42

Design my own tiny house and drive

it to whichever child needs me.

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

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

44

your driveway, not, not in your space.

45

I could come make meals and then

I'll just come over here and just.

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Just let me know what you need from me and

then if one of them has surgery, then I

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drive to them and travel around like that.

48

I really like that idea.

49

My husband is like yeah,

you can do that by yourself.

50

So , I understand.

51

That's fine.

52

He'll maintain home base.

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So we still have.

54

A place to host them.

55

So, that's my vision.

56

I've always loved places that

are utilized well in tiny places.

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I dream of making spaces efficient

and, maybe I don't really want to

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live like that all the time, but.

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Well intentioned, well used

spaces are very exciting to

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Jen: me.

61

I love that.

62

I love that.

63

I agree with that, actually.

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And I think that it makes

it fun for a season.

65

And you wouldn't be

living that way every day.

66

Right.

67

Just while you're going to visit the

68

Steph: grandbabies.

69

Yes.

70

I like that.

71

and then I would just love to continue

to encourage others to follow the Lord.

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So whatever doors the Lord opens

for that, that would be exciting.

73

If I can stop and speak at a church

in between my driving calendar or

74

something and travel, see new things.

75

That's

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Jen: sweet.

77

Pull your little house

up into the parking lot

78

of the church.

79

Exactly.

80

I think Eric and I have talked a

lot about Retirement, because he

81

works in finance, so he has to

talk about retirement with people.

82

And I definitely know that we don't

want a typical retirement, where,

83

you know, you retire and you go golf

every single day of your life, and you

84

don't do any responsible thing again.

85

Right.

86

We don't want that.

87

We want to be highly involved

in our grandkids lives.

88

We want to be...

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Giving back and serving in the church and

just not getting paid for different things

90

but I think that that's more Biblical too.

91

If you think of Biblical retirement,

retirement is not in the Bible.

92

Right.

93

You work and you stay faithful

throughout the end of your days.

94

Yes.

95

So I think retirement in America is

very different than anywhere else and We

96

definitely don't want the typical American

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Steph: retirement.

98

Yes,

99

Jen: that's beautiful.

100

I don't know about the age, because I

don't know that it would change that much.

101

It's just that instead of going

into the office every day, Eric

102

would, you know, not be doing that.

103

Since I don't work outside the home,

it would be him retiring because

104

you don't retire from being a mom.

105

Right.

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But definitely being more in the

service role, as opposed to getting...

107

The daily

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Steph: office payment.

109

Absolutely.

110

Oh, that's beautiful.

111

Yeah.

112

I love that the Lord gave you both

that conviction and then gives him

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an opportunity to speak, thought

provoking questions to people

114

planning that season of their lives.

115

Yeah.

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That's a really neat avenue

of influence that he has.

117

Yeah, very true.

118

When I was in college, I went to a

conference for Campus Crusade and

119

John Piper was the speaker and he had

just written Don't Waste Your Life.

120

And so all of these college students

are there and he starts preaching

121

about how one of the worst things in

our culture is the idea of retirement.

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Yeah.

123

And I thought for a little bit, Does he

know he's talking to college students?

124

That's the furthest thing from our mind.

125

But as I processed it, I thought that's

really neat that we got that word before

126

we could even start planning our careers.

127

You know?

128

Betsy's first lesson in Entrusted

actually reminds me a lot of that message.

129

It's the introduction to entrusted,

but she's giving the charge for the

130

older women to pour into the younger

women and to not take a break.

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You know, when you're in that

last band of life that you are

132

prayerful and that you are serving

the Lord in different ways, right?

133

I Actually now love that she set the

study up that way to say, no, this

134

is where we're going long term and,

and to have a perspective of your

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whole life, your whole motherhood.

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Instead of just eyes down, head down.

137

This is where I am right

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Jen: now.

139

Yes, agreed.

140

I loved how she did that in the study.

141

I, I think that was super

amazing to listen to and to

142

watch and to study through.

143

Like, oh wow, this is the

full life perspective.

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Steph: Right.

145

I loved that.

146

Yep.

147

Jen: Alright.

148

Next question for you.

149

Is there a place you feel most

at home, rooted or centered?

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Steph: I grew up in Wisconsin and I love

the beauty of creation and some of the

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most powerful times I've had with the Lord

are just enjoying the majesty of creation

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but one of the most comforting places for

me that I've ever done that is my parents

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built a home on a lake in Wisconsin.

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Well, it was across the street from a

lake, so you could see the lake from

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the front of the house, but in the

back, there was a pond and little beach

156

and even though my parents moved in in

September when I went off to college.

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You wouldn't think it would still have

felt so much like my home, but it was.

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And it was a really special

place to come back to and my dad

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passed away about 12 years ago.

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And that was the place where I could

still feel like I was close to him.

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My had to sell it two years

ago we were thankful that the

162

Lord allowed us to enjoy it for.

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That many more years, but it was hard

to shut the door because I could still

164

see where my dad sat and it was home

and it was safe for me, you know?

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Now I would probably say the chair

I sit and have my quiet time but.

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I'm still replacing that

one, how about for you?

167

Do you have a spot?

168

Jen: Well, mine's not

as spiritual as yours.

169

The first thing I'll tell

you, the first thing that came

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to my mind was Hobby Lobby.

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Oh, that's great.

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I get in there and I just feel happy.

173

Sure.

174

There's like creative stuff.

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There's home decorating things.

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There's arts and crafts.

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I can do floral design.

178

I mean, anything that

I love to do is there.

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So there's one.

180

Yes!

181

Okay, that's great.

182

But I definitely, also,

there's a song out.

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I think it's by John Reddick.

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I don't remember.

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But it says, I want to go to church.

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Oh.

187

And I have loved that song.

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And there have been so many times

in my heart where I'm Having a bad

189

day or something and that song will

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

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I want to be in church right now.

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Like I love being in church.

192

I just love it I love being with believers

and I love worshiping the Lord and

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song and Being filled and there's just

something about being in church that I

194

just love so I would say Being in church

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Steph: more often.

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Laughing Laughing I

don't know what that is.

197

That's great, well yes,

in His image, and yes.

198

That's awesome.

199

That's great.

200

Alright, here's one for you.

201

Okay.

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Name a place in your life where you've

seen little by little progress add up.

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Jen: Ooh.

204

We are part of a CC community, which

is Classical Conversations, and the

205

very first year that we were part of

it, I didn't know anything about it.

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I literally joined the community because

I loved the people there, and so I

207

didn't know anything that we were in for.

208

And I remember the first

couple of weeks being like, oh.

209

There's a lot of memory work here,

and they're singing everything.

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And then, they started singing this

thing that they called the timeline song,

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and I didn't know that by the end of

the year, my children were going to be

212

singing this 12 minute song from memory.

213

Of literally the timeline song that

went from creation to present day.

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And so, little by little by little,

every week, we'd go back and they

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would learn a little tiny bit of it.

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And then we'd add on, and a little

tiny bit more, and by the end that

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we'd know this whole timeline song.

218

And I was floored!

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I could not believe that that

little bit each week added up to

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the whole timeline of creation

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Steph: to now.

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

reference, but a great memory for

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me is your family presentation when

your husband's saying your family's

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timeline, like fearlessly belted out.

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It was so sweet.

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It was very,

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Jen: very funny.

228

Quite the surprise to all of us.

229

Like, oh, you're right.

230

We do have a

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Steph: timeline.

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It was great.

233

He didn't care about,

the melody it was fun.

234

What about you?

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I have to say God's word and

studying that for many years.

236

Even though I've really grown in

faithfulness, but I see how it's built

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up and I've delighted in it for a long

time, but I, have seen, even in this

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recent season where I feel sometimes

that my chest is going to burst, during

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my quiet time, just the joy of the Lord.

240

And it's become what sustains

me on a day to day basis.

241

There are some circumstances I don't

think I could be faithful to the Lord

242

in this season unless I had the joy that

he's giving me right now from his word.

243

It's my favorite part of my day

244

and, to have those seeds of

walking with the Lord for a long

245

time of Oh, I love that verse.

246

And, to look back through your Bible

and see the things you've underlined.

247

That would be it for me.

248

So in entrusted, there's actually a

whole lesson about the authority of

249

God's word and how important that is.

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And Betsy wrote this study 20 years

ago, and of course, that's always been

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important, but I think now when moms are

being inundated with so many cultural

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trends and deceptions, to be grounded

in the word is of paramount importance.

253

And yet it's really hard

as a mom to do that.

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Sometimes it feels so much easier to,

catch a little break and scroll Instagram

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or social media for a little while.

256

The enemy can get such a foothold

there, we have a guest speaker this

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month at our church he's one of our

elders, but he's a phenomenal preacher,

258

and he gave the coolest analogy.

259

He said that his daughter's

on a soccer team.

260

And her team was playing as their

warm up song Elements by Toby Mac.

261

And the other team was playing

Beat It by Michael Jackson.

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And he said, I love Beat It.

263

I did a choreographed

dance to that in college.

264

I love that song.

265

But of course, I know Elements well.

266

And so I said to my daughter, I think

the daughter that was sitting in the

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stands with him, what song do you hear?

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And she said, I hear Elements,

and he said, I can't hear

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it, I only hear Beat It.

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Because he knew that song so well.

271

He had focused on it for

decades, and he knew the melody,

272

and he couldn't not hear it.

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Interesting.

274

So he challenged us.

275

As new creations in Christ,

what are we meditating upon?

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Can we hear the soundtrack of God's word

in our lives continually playing or is the

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world playing in our minds all the time?

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Jen: That is amazing.

279

Isn't that great?

280

That is very cool and so powerful.

281

And I love that one song.

282

I would love to hear that one song.

283

Right, I

284

Steph: know, me too.

285

But it was neat because it's

not like Beat It is a bad song.

286

Right, no, no.

287

And I think that fits

perfectly then, right?

288

Because so much of what we're taking

in Our heart is to learn more about how

289

to mother well, or, or to be a great

follower of Christ but all of these

290

messages are coming in and we don't always

have the time to process them well, if

291

we're not really rooted in his word.

292

Very true.

293

If you could just take us back to,

when you first became a mom and

294

your children are little and you're

not sleeping well, what did it look

295

like for you to be in the word?

296

Yeah,

297

Jen: good question.

298

Those were hard, hard

times to be in the word.

299

They were desperately needed

and desperately wanted.

300

I feel that I can put myself right

back in those situations and I can

301

feel my heart aching to have them.

302

No one interrupting me and to have like

uninterrupted quiet time with the Lord

303

for extended periods and didn't always

happen that way but I wanted it to.

304

So when my kids were babies I, well first

of all I am NOT a morning person and

305

so I tried a number of times to wake up

before them to set my alarm early and

306

Without fail, every single time that

I would do that, I would be tiptoeing

307

down the stairs, and a baby would cry,

or a child would wake up, and I would be

308

instantly angry, because I was like, no,

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

309

and it would just feel so discouraging,

and it seemed like anytime that I would

310

try to wake up early to do it, a kid

would wake up earlier than me, so I,

311

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

gonna give you my firstfruits and the best

312

of my time And so what is my best time?

313

Well that very first morning nap Was

my best time and I committed to just

314

any time that the kid was in bed.

315

I Would go to my Bible and I would

open it up and I felt as though I had

316

a ticking time bomb that was waiting

to go off at any moment, but I remember

317

very Clearly, I remember praying, Lord,

you know how long I have here, would

318

you please quicken your spirit to me?

319

Would you quicken whatever it is that

you want me to hear from your word and

320

just help me to enter quickly into the

throne room and hear something from you?

321

You know when this child is going to

wake up and when I'm going to need to

322

go and my heart wants to meet with you.

323

Make it be real and strong.

324

It's a beautiful prayer.

325

And I feel like he, he often

honored that and, and would

326

give me something of benefit.

327

Now there were definitely times where I

would read, especially if I was in the

328

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

329

Those were

330

hard, but.

331

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

332

It's living and active, sharper

than any two edged sword.

333

And so, even if I was reading

something about judges, the Lord

334

just still was like, You were

with me, and that's what matters.

335

And He would fill me, even in reading

the names of all these judges.

336

Absolutely.

337

Steph: Yes, I can relate for sure to

being frustrated that they woke up.

338

And I, like you, not as

much of a morning person.

339

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

I couldn't wake up from my alarm clock,

340

but I could just hear my son, just a tiny

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

341

release, that's okay, that this is what

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

342

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

with the Lord often, thank you for this

343

blessing of this child or praying for him.

344

And sometimes reading the Bible on

my phone would help me be faithful,

345

but it wasn't my favorite way.

346

And I think I let a standard.

347

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

my Bible with my colored pencils

348

and digging in and it doesn't

really count unless I'm doing that.

349

And it took me a while

to give myself grace

350

That's what it looked

like when they were babies.

351

And then.

352

I always made my children have a quiet

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

353

So right after lunch, I'd put them down

for their rest time or nap time and

354

then I would spend time in the Word.

355

But when it's not right away for me,

it's easy for other things to, Oh,

356

I could be doing dishes or should

check this email so that helped me be

357

faithful for years, but I did have to

fight the temptation of seeing things

358

around me that needed to be done.

359

Jen: Agreed because there's always

things it's never ending right?

360

There's always gonna be something that's

gonna pull you towards that I remember

361

when my kids were babies and Wanting more

time and I couldn't have it I would have

362

my Bible open on the counter and as I was

cleaning I would read A verse, and let

363

that just flow over me, and read that,

and meditate on it, and think about it.

364

I would have worship music playing,

or something so that I could

365

be singing the praises to Him.

366

Anything that I could do to turn

my affections to the Lord, turn my

367

heart towards Him, and be sensitive

to His leading and His Spirit.

368

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

369

I don't know when this started, but

I have done it for a very long time.

370

Before my feet hit the ground in

the morning, right away when I wake

371

up every morning, I quickly ask,

Lord, fill me with your Holy Spirit.

372

Give me your wisdom.

373

Order my day.

374

Reorder my heart.

375

Because we wake up and

our heart is disordered.

376

And I don't want to

have a disordered heart.

377

I want it to be ordered rightly

and I want him to order my day

378

for me because I have plans.

379

Yeah, that's right.

380

But I want to be sensitive to his

plans and so I just say those things

381

just as a constant reminder to me that

like I'm submitting my day to you.

382

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

you, what you want to have for me today.

383

Steph: Can you say that one more time?

384

That's so beautiful.

385

Jen: Lord, fill me with your Holy

Spirit, give me wisdom, order

386

my day and reorder my heart.

387

And those are the four things that I'm

like, I just, I want to make sure if

388

I do anything that this is happening.

389

Steph: Oh, that's so beautiful.

390

Jen: I also remember

having a prayer book, but.

391

I currently have the

book Every Moment Holy.

392

It's a beautiful liturgy book.

393

But there was a different one that I

had and I can't remember who wrote it.

394

But it did have different

beautiful prayers in it.

395

And I would have that out on the counter.

396

And now that my kids are older and I

have Every Moment Holy, I will have

397

that out on the counter as well.

398

And so, if we're having a hard

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

399

Fighting children.

400

I can read that.

401

And sometimes it just helps me in

those moments to be like, Okay,

402

this is holy work that we're doing.

403

And even in the fighting, the

Lord is calling me into his word,

404

into his day, into the way that

he is sanctifying me as a mom.

405

Right.

406

And those prayers just help me so much.

407

And they're so beautiful.

408

Way more beautiful than

anything I could write.

409

Right?

410

Yes,

411

Steph: I love, great men and women of

the faith that write these powerful

412

words or praying through scripture

413

Jen: I also remember

when they were babies.

414

In the car, I would have the audio

version of the Bible, and often

415

it was somebody with an Australian

accent because it's so beautiful.

416

I feel like my kids were

like, who's talking?

417

So I would be quiet and listen to it.

418

But that was another way that I

could have scripture pouring over me.

419

Even if I didn't have the moment to

spend quietly, I could still hear his

420

word and be reminded of his truths.

421

And I remember also when they

were toddlers, as they were

422

playing on the ground quietly, I

would read the Bible over them.

423

And whatever it was that I needed to read,

I would just read it aloud over them.

424

And that was a way for me.

425

To be able to get it.

426

I could hear myself saying it and my mind

was focused and yet they were hearing

427

it as well It was really a sweet thing.

428

Yes For those times where I couldn't

trust them to be playing alone right

429

away from me where I could sneak away I

would just read it over them and it was

430

it was very sweet You do those things

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

431

in the word, you know, you want to have

that epic Awesome moment with the Lord,

432

and it doesn't always happen, but if

you love the Lord with all your heart,

433

and all your soul, and all your mind,

and all your strength, you're gonna do

434

those things to desire that, that help

435

Steph: you to get into the Word.

436

Yes, and He, if we really press

into Him, He makes a way, right?

437

So often we think this problem

isn't solvable, and if we

438

really give Him a moment.

439

Okay, Lord, what can I do?

440

Is there anything here, you know?

441

Jen: Yes.

442

Yeah.

443

I'm reminded of the verse in

Luke that talks about denying

444

yourself and taking up your cross

daily and following him and how.

445

Every single day, it's important that

we're in the Word and that in Jeremiah

446

15, 16 it says, Your words were found

and I ate them and they became to me

447

a joy and the delight of my heart.

448

And I just love how God's

Word truly does become that.

449

When you are faithful, year after

year, day after day, month after

450

month, whatever, all those things

adding up like you said earlier.

451

It does become the desire.

452

Mm-hmm.

453

, it's something that you're not

just doing to check it off.

454

You actually need this, like

that, that stay at home.

455

Mom who wrote that?

456

Yes.

457

Him.

458

Lord, I need the every hour.

459

I need the Yes.

460

She knows.

461

She knows what's up, , right.

462

She knows that she needs to be filled

with the Holy Spirit and needs the filling

463

of his word and how often we need that.

464

I'm also reminded of the verse that

says, Today if you hear my voice,

465

like there's so many reminders in

scripture that we need him not only

466

daily, but we need his word daily.

467

And I think sometimes as moms, we feel

that it's something we need to check off.

468

But even in that, if we do

that, if we Get in His word.

469

It ends up not being as

much of a checklist thing.

470

It becomes something that we

crave, that we truly delight in,

471

and it becomes our daily bread.

472

Jesus is the bread of life.

473

It's, it's something that

we need to sustain us daily.

474

Mm hmm.

475

Steph: Absolutely.

476

And when you're in that season,

477

you're constantly giving of yourself.

478

It's such a sanctifying time.

479

I think the reliance upon the Lord is

so strong that we need those verses to

480

cling to, to guide our heart's desires.

481

Right.

482

And Psalm 119 is just such.

483

A powerful chapter.

484

The whole thing is about the Lord's word.

485

Verse 32 says, I will run in

the way of your commandments

486

when you enlarge my heart.

487

So that's a prayer that I've prayed

before like God enlarge my heart.

488

I am struggling to have a desire for

your word or, or even to obey you in

489

something, but I know that you want

me to, and if I submit myself to

490

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

491

And then verse 36 says, incline

my heart to your testimonies

492

and not to selfish gain.

493

So those are two that I really love

from the chapter, to have a desire,

494

to be shaped by the word of God is

something that the Lord loves and.

495

It seems like it's becoming

more and more rare these days.

496

In Jeremiah 9, 23 through 24, it

says, Thus says the Lord, Let not

497

the wise man boast in his wisdom.

498

Let not the mighty man boast in his might.

499

Let not the rich man boast in his riches.

500

But let him who boasts, boast in this,

that he understands and knows me, that I

501

am the Lord who practices steadfast love,

justice, and righteousness in the earth.

502

For in these things I delight.

503

Declares the Lord.

504

I mean, we're being given permission to

boast that we understand and know God.

505

Wow.

506

I feel, you know.

507

Yeah.

508

But that the Lord would

delight in us knowing his true

509

character, his true goodness.

510

Yeah.

511

And we're, we're invited

in that, that's cool.

512

What a charge, right?

513

Yeah,

514

Jen: absolutely.

515

What did your quiet time look

when your kids had started to

516

get older and maybe weren't in.

517

nap times.

518

What did your quiet time look like

or what does it look like now?

519

Sure.

520

Steph: So I still make them do the

afternoon rest time because it's

521

just such a good reset for everybody.

522

But now, when my kids, When the

last one stopped nursing was

523

when I could make a transition.

524

I felt because she started to sleep

a little later and then she didn't

525

wake up needing me immediately.

526

I think that's kind of when it made this

shift where I could wake up a little

527

earlier and she'd sleep a little later and

the Lord just kind of provided the way.

528

So I would come down quietly

and stir my quiet time and this

529

is even so sweet of the Lord.

530

I've never been able to

drink coffee my whole life.

531

I'm very sensitive to caffeine, but

When I started, I went back to school

532

to get my Master's in Counseling and

At that time, all of a sudden, I was

533

able to drink a little bit of caffeine.

534

And I would get excited to wake up and

have my coffee and my time with the Lord.

535

The best part of waking up!

536

Yeah, right!

537

So, He made it easier for me, and

I just was like, Thank you God, you

538

knew I had a heart to do it, and

you're providing more of a way now.

539

So, I still only have a

couple ounces, and then fill

540

it with milk, and then just...

541

Like a little bit of creamer, so

then I sit and I, , get all my

542

things out and start my quiet time.

543

And as my kids come down, which my oldest

is a very early riser and he often beats

544

me, but he'll, do something peacefully,

play with our bunny or, read the word

545

for himself as my kids come down, they

will come over and I'll give them a

546

hug, and talk to them for a second.

547

But then they know they need to

play quietly or read their Bibles

548

and that they're not really to

interrupt me unless it's an emergency.

549

Especially as a homeschooler,

they're like, if mom's not

550

giving us a checklist, let's

551

Jen: run with it.

552

So they're like, okay,

553

Steph: So they play pretty well and so

yes, they each just kind of come down

554

and they know they'll read the word a

little bit on their own and then play.

555

I'm so grateful because it was a

challenge to get to, having it right away

556

in the morning, and it took a long time

for me to be really faithful in that,

557

Jen: I feel like now that my kids are

older as well, if the Lord wakes me

558

up earlier where I don't hear them all

of our kids, their bedrooms are on the

559

second floor, and Eric and my bedroom

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

560

hear them coming down and I've woken

up early, I can just, Just sit in my

561

chair, right by my bed, quietly, and,

and do my devotions, and often times

562

I will still get it done first thing

in the morning, and I'm always amazed,

563

like, wow, this is what this feels like.

564

Yeah, right.

565

But, if they wake me up, which often

does happen, because my kids are way

566

more morning people than I am um, I still

just do it right after lunch, and they

567

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

568

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

after lunch and I am going to go

569

and do my devotions and Since they

were very little, I was like, unless

570

you are bleeding or dying, you

may not, you may not interrupt me.

571

I am promising you I will be a better

mommy when I come back out these

572

doors, so you want me in that room.

573

Right.

574

Yes.

575

And I just take it very seriously, I

trained them to let me have this time.

576

And I, I'm very diligent to

try to not take too long.

577

Sure.

578

But.

579

I'm like, you know, this is very

important, and you can wait, and you

580

can wait, you can do your own tying

of shoes, or what not, that can wait,

581

Steph: And sometimes it seems

insurmountable, but if we actually

582

take the time to train them, it's

amazing how well they adapt to...

583

The system that we set in place, right?

584

Yes.

585

Yes.

586

And so and I think adjusting our

expectations for what the training

587

process might look like it might be

really defeating the first couple days

588

but maybe just try it for five minutes

the first day or ten minutes and

589

then build it and if we're consistent

they often adapt to that structure

590

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

proponent for Just reading the Word.

591

Getting in, and you and

your Bible, and a notebook.

592

I've gone through different devotional

Bible studies before, and they can be

593

wonderful, but I feel like the greatest

depth that I've walked in my relationship

594

with the Lord has come from being in the

Word and reading His Word for myself.

595

My mentor taught me years and years

ago Her Bible study and I kind of took

596

it and adapted a little bit and what I

do for mine is I take a blank notebook

597

and I put the day and the date and the

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

598

thankful for and I'll just bullet point

things that I'm thankful for and then

599

I have a portion that that says Please

forgive me for, and I'll confess things

600

that need to be forgiven, and ask him

to forgive my heart in these areas.

601

And then I have a portion where

I literally label it quiet.

602

And I'm just quiet before the Lord

for a brief moment, to just, if he

603

has anything he wants to lay on my

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

604

And I'm not asking for anything,

I'm just enjoying his presence.

605

And so I'll do that for as

long as the Spirit leads.

606

And then...

607

I have a please section, things that

I'm pleading for him to please do.

608

Things that are in my heart that

I need to just lay at his throne

609

and be like, I need you to do this.

610

Because I can't, I can't control

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

611

But these are the things I need help from.

612

And so that's my please section.

613

And then, after I've done

that, then I read one chapter.

614

Every day, one chapter a day.

615

And I have gone through the Bible

multiple times by doing that, because

616

each chapter eventually, little by little,

you're going to get somewhere, right?

617

And as I read that chapter, the first

time around I'll read it and I'll

618

underline anything that sticks out to me.

619

And for instance, one time I was

reading and it said how Jesus...

620

Healed the blind man and he spat on

the ground and he put the mud on his

621

eyes and he said what do you see?

622

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

kind of blurry and and then he did it

623

again and he could see perfectly and

in the margin of my Bible I wrote why

624

wasn't it done perfect the first time

I'm curious everything Jesus does does

625

is done perfectly the first time right?

626

and so in my Next section on my

journal I'll have prayers that

627

I pray that are specifically for

the scriptures that I just read.

628

And I will pray things like Lord

help me to understand your word

629

or God I'm confused why wasn't

this happening or whatnot.

630

Sure.

631

But most often it's a prayer of like

for instance, this morning I was reading

632

in Ezekiel and it's constantly, Son

of man say this, Son of man say this.

633

And so today what I got out

of it was, Lord help me.

634

To say faithfully what you call me to say.

635

He said what you told him

to say, exactly how it was.

636

And so, whatever that scripture

is, I will pray it, and it has

637

revolutionized my prayer life.

638

There are things that I have prayed for

that I would never have prayed on my

639

own, but because it was in scripture,

and I was praying the scripture back,

640

and making it personal in my life,

I've prayed for things, and people,

641

and for my children, that I would

never have thought to pray, ever.

642

But, the way that the Lord laid it on my

heart, by just reading that chapter, and

643

saying, and I'm pretty diligent about

being, I want to write out something.

644

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

in Judges, or, you know, somewhere.

645

I don't know, Judges is

getting a bad rap for this.

646

But sometimes it's a little hard,

but I try very hard to put something

647

from the Scripture in that prayer.

648

And then I just close it off.

649

with praying and, and sometimes if

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

650

read the lyrics of a song or something

that, or I'll even sing a song from

651

Spotify by myself just quietly and then

by that time my kids are needing me.

652

Right.

653

It has been so beautiful and I love it.

654

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

655

Alone time.

656

I need time with the Lord.

657

Right.

658

And I feel so filled

659

Steph: by that.

660

Definitely.

661

It's so great.

662

Yes.

663

And sometimes the routines

are so fruitful, right?

664

When we know what to expect.

665

When you're not waking up thinking,

Where am I going to read today?

666

Yes.

667

Or what am I going to do?

668

Yes.

669

Or

670

Jen: flipping your Bible open and being

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

671

Steph: read.

672

Right, right.

673

Which the Lord can move through that.

674

Yes.

675

Often it's the day in day out

faithfulness, the again and again,

676

right, that we see he meets us in that.

677

I love to share what I

learn from God's word.

678

I will be sitting in my chair

and like, who can I tell?

679

I took a spiritual gifts test

recently and one of those.

680

That was one of the questions and I

was like, yes, I've always been that

681

way and when I'm in a small group and

I can share that with other women,

682

that's been really fruitful in my

life and having that accountability

683

to be steadfast and keep going.

684

There's the abide study method

that's so helpful, to read through

685

once and look for observations and

next part to interpret those things.

686

And then the next step is

to make application for it.

687

And I loved doing that recently.

688

That was a really exciting way

to dig in and notice patterns.

689

And wow, that word came up a lot or just

to notice different things in scripture.

690

I love that.

691

And often the Lord would.

692

Put a chart on my mind, like I need

to make this chart or, it keeps saying

693

up to Jerusalem, but that was South

694

.

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

695

are these miracles happening so I

could see different connections.

696

So sometimes.

697

The Lord leads me to make something

visual to solidify what I'm

698

learning and it's this statistic.

699

If we write something down,

we're 42 percent more likely

700

to remember it, I think.

701

I think that's it.

702

It's pretty high.

703

And so, and even a goal, if

you write it down, you're much

704

more likely to achieve it.

705

So The times when I don't just read

it, but I also record something.

706

I agree very much that

that's been really fruitful.

707

And it's

708

Jen: also biblical.

709

There's a verse that says that we need

to share all the things that we have

710

learned with those who are in leadership.

711

Like, there is a verse that

says that we are to share what

712

we have learned with others.

713

And I love

714

Steph: that.

715

Yes.

716

So that's cool that you do that.

717

Another thing I've really loved doing

in my quiet time is following the color

718

coding system of Get the Word Out.

719

Get the Word Out is a Bible study.

720

Method that was developed by Betsy

and David and the subtitle is

721

Developing a Devotional Lifestyle.

722

So the color coding system is 14

colors and each one of them means a

723

different thing and I found this was

so helpful for me especially as a young

724

mom when I've got You know, wandering

mind and so much is going on around

725

me to actually stop and think, okay,

well, what color would this verse be?

726

And that one, Oh, that verse

really stood out to me.

727

And it's going to be green.

728

Cause it's about the character

of God, but what is it saying

729

about the character of God?

730

And it really led me.

731

Through keeping my mind focused on

it and, and thinking deeply about the

732

scripture and not just, checking it off.

733

I've loved that.

734

And then I was in a Bible study for a

couple of years where we used a couple

735

of the tools from Get the Word Out.

736

One is an SPCA.

737

Which stands for Scripture,

Principle, Conviction, Application.

738

You would pick a scripture that

you loved from the week's reading.

739

We were all reading through the

Bible chronologically together.

740

But you'd pick a scripture, and

then you'd say, Okay, what is the

741

principle behind this scripture?

742

What is God saying to his people?

743

And then, based on that principle, you

say, Okay, well I have this conviction.

744

Based on that principle.

745

And then you develop

an application for it.

746

And it was so amazing to see all of the

women would show up and have completely

747

different SPCAs is like the word of

God, wherever we were at in our lives,

748

different scriptures were coming SPCAs.

749

we didn't even have chit chat time.

750

It would just be like, let's open

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

751

And I knew them so well and we knew

how to pray for each other so well.

752

So I'm just going to mention that so

that when Get the Word Out is released

753

soon that you'll be watching for it.

754

If you're needing a little

accountability in the word, we

755

would encourage you to find someone

that can stay the course with you.

756

And when we know someone's going to

check in with us, it just really helps.

757

And if you're finding that you need more

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

758

Recommend reading Psalm 119.

759

I'm gonna read a couple of those verses

blessed are those whose way is blameless,

760

who walk in the law of the Lord.

761

Blessed are those who keep his

testimonies, who seek him with

762

their whole heart, who also do

no wrong, but walk in his ways.

763

You have commanded your

precepts to be kept diligently.

764

Oh, that my ways may be steadfast

in keeping your statutes.

765

Then I shall not be put to shame, having

my eyes fixed on all your commandments.

766

I will praise you with an upright heart

when I learn your righteous rules.

767

I will keep your statutes.

768

Do not utterly forsake me.

769

When I read those verses,

my heart is transformed.

770

And those desires become my desires.

771

And so I love, praying

God's word back to him.

772

As you were saying, and seeing how

much God's word matters to him.

773

He chose to communicate

to us through his word.

774

And so we need to be seeking him here.

775

As I said earlier, nature is a

beautiful way to connect with God

776

and there's music and there's.

777

Many beautiful ways that we can

feel close to the Lord, but he has

778

elevated his name and his word.

779

We are to find him and to seek him

there, even when it's difficult.

780

We hope we've given you some

practical ways to do that today,

781

and we encourage you to not give up.

782

It's so worth it.

783

We know you're busy, Mama, so

we are truly grateful you joined

784

us for this episode of Again.

785

If you're looking for more information

about building your home on the

786

foundation of Jesus Christ, head to www.

787

EntrustedMinistries.

788

com to learn more about our study for

moms, Entrusted with a Child's Heart.

789

This scripture saturated study

has blessed families around the

790

world, and we want it for you, too.

791

Before you go, I want to pray

this benediction over you

792

from 2 Thessalonians 1, 11 12.

793

We're rooting for you.

794

To this end, we always pray for you,

that our God may make you worthy of His

795

calling, and may fulfill every resolve

for good, and every work of faith by

796

His power, so that the name of our Lord

Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in

797

Him, according to the grace of our God.

798

And the Lord Jesus Christ.

799

Amen.

800

Until we meet again.