Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’ve been married to Daniel for nearly 14 years and we have 4 boys: Luke and Zach (who are twins), Seth, and Ben. I’m a writer and Bible teacher, but the majority of my time is spent serving my local church in Little Rock, AR (Immanuel Baptist Church) as the Discipleship Content Director. I love thinking about discipleship and education in the local church and how we can make disciples who love God’s word and love to make him known.  

When did you first start writing?  What do you enjoy about it?

I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. English was my favorite subject in school, and I naturally gravitated towards anything that let me use my words. But I first came to see that writing was something I could do when my freshman English teacher told me I was a good writer. At the time I was majoring in elementary education, but after that class I switched to English and never looked back. I process life through writing, so writing is where I feel like I’m able to clarify and express what I think and feel. But I also love writing because it helps me formulate what I think about something. I really enjoy the challenge of communicating complex ideas in ways that are enjoyable to read and stir people to love God.   

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

Ever since I had my first kids, the challenge of time has made writing especially difficult. I simply don’t have enough time in the day to write like I want to. Now that I work full time, I do a lot of writing for my church, but not as much for other outlets. So again, time is the great challenge. I’m a finite being, so my limitations regularly make writing difficult for me. I suppose I will get to a different season of life and will find new challenges to writing, but right now, time is my greatest struggle.

What led you to write Promises Kept: 5 Old Testament Covenants and How Christ Fulfilled Them?

I’ve always loved the Old Testament, so when I started thinking about a Bible study it made sense to write about the Old Testament. But I first learned how the whole Bible fit together when I was in seminary. I remember being blown away by the ways that the promise of a Messiah was fulfilled in the New Testament. I wanted to give women tangible ways to read their Old Testament and see how it was part of the larger story God is writing of redeeming a people for himself. I think women sometimes shy away from the Old Testament because they don’t know how to make sense of it. My hope for this study is that it would remove some of the barriers to understanding what God is doing in the covenants in the Old Testament. 

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

My hope is that women will walk away from this study first with literacy tools for studying the Bible for themselves. But I also hope they will walk away with an understanding of how the Old Testament covenants are building on one another and find their fulfillment in Christ. 

How has writing this book affected your own life?

I’ve been really struck by how patient God is with fulfilling his promises. The Old Testament spans so many centuries, and yet God’s promise was never lost. He kept carrying it forward, through struggle, exile, rebellion, and calling his people back. God plays the long game with his promises, and he doesn’t keep time like we do. When I look at how long it took for him to fulfill these promises, I’m reminded that he is a God who is always working, even when it feels like he isn’t. It encourages me to trust him even in the years of waiting for him to act. And what’s even more encouraging, is that I live on the other side of the New Covenant, so the greatest promise he made (to send the Messiah) has already been fulfilled. How much more can I trust him for every other thing I’m waiting for resolution on? 

For a sneak peek, here are some quotes: 

“The Bible is one big story, but that is easy for us to forget because it is filled with so many different books and genres. There are different characters. Stories within the story. It is hard for us to see how Leviticus has anything to do with 1 Samuel. I mean, does it? This study is designed to help you see how the story unfolds, so you have some hooks to hang your understanding of the Bible on. It’s also designed to help you see how you are deeply connected to this one story. If you’re trusting in Christ, it is your story too.”

“Christ is the perfect and better Adam. He is the man who followed God’s word without fail. He is the God-man who can deal with our sin once and for all. The story ends with tragedy, but hope breaks through. Redemption is on the horizon.”

“What the Law could not do, Jesus did once and for all (Rom. 8:3-4). If we only had the Mosaic Covenant, we would be crushed under its expectations. But it was never meant to crush us. It was meant to lift our gaze and stir our longings for the Messiah who could keep the law perfectly. There are two types of people–law keepers and law benders. But the Bible tells us they are the same. The ones who think they keep the law are fooling themselves. The ones who don’t even try are killing themselves.” 

Here’s what others are saying:

“Promises Kept walks you through the big picture of God’s redemptive story in a way that will lead your heart to worship as you stand in awe of his faithfulness.”
–Ruth Chou Simons, Wall Street Journal bestselling author, artist, and founder of gracelaced.com

“Jesus’s life and teachings are constantly calling back to the Law and the prophets in the most subtle and breath-taking ways, but we will miss all that is happening before our very eyes unless we have teachers to guide us. Thankfully, Courtney Reissig is just such a guide, illuminating the beauty and the depths of God’s Word in both accessible and practical ways. This is a wonderful resource!”
–Sharon Hodde Miller, Author of The Cost of Control: Why We Crave It, The Anxiety It Gives Us, And The Real Power God Provides

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

Taking a nap! But in all seriousness, I love a long run on spring or fall day in Little Rock. And then I’d also like to sit and read uninterrupted after the run. 

Courtney is a writer and Bible teacher living in Little Rock, AR. She is the author of numerous books and bible studies, including Teach Me to Feel: Worshiping Through the Psalms in Every Season of Life and Promises Kept, 5 Old Testament Covenants and How Christ Fulfilled Them.. Courtney and her husband are the proud parents of four sons and together they serve at Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, AR where she is also the Discipleship Content Director. You can find more of her writing at her website:. www.courtneyreissig.com or follow her on Instagram.

5 Puritan Women releases February 7th and you can pre-order here today.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m an author and editor who works for Crossway and loves books! I have a BA, MA, ThM, and PhD in historical theology and have specialized in Puritan spirituality. My husband and I live in my little hometown of Tsawwassen, BC (just outside Vancouver), where the sun is always shining and the air smells like salt water and trees. Our main hobbies are reading together and talking about theology, history, the Bible, and life. Thankfully we also enjoy exercising, otherwise I’m sure we’d become real bumps on a log! Singing, organizing, hanging out with my family, and mentoring young women are also some of my favorite pastimes.

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

I have loved writing since I was a child, but I really hit my stride in university when I started to write longer papers and realized how exhilarating it was to do research. By far, my favorite thing about writing is how it makes me feel close to the God of truth and beauty and fellowship, as well as to other people (especially as an introvert). I never know where researching and writing about a particular subject will take me, but it is always more exciting than I originally thought it would be and it always has a positive impact on my spiritual life, mental health, and relationships. 

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

The initial act of writing comes very easy to me, and it’s often harder for me to not write than to write when I feel I have something to say! However, the act of rewriting can be a real slog. I take a lot of comfort from the fact that this is a normal human experience that everyone goes through and doesn’t mean I am a bad writer, though I often feel that way when I reread my own work. The upside about this being a hard thing to do is that, in the end, I feel a great sense of accomplishment and have further refined the thoughts in my own brain, which makes for a richer life existence. It also reminds me of the value of my work as an editor when I think about how useful it is to authors to have a fresh set of eyes and new energy brought to something they have already sunk countless hours into and may feel too tired to keep fine-tuning.

What led you to write 5 Puritan Women: Stories of Faith and Love?

When I first discovered Puritan women, I was so awestruck by what I read that I immediately started adding the information to my lectures on the Puritans that I was giving at the time in various ecclesial and academic settings. When I did this, I was pleasantly surprised to see so many others finding value and meaning in their stories and wanting to know more. However, whenever I was asked what they could read to keep learning, I was a bit stumped as to what to recommend because there were no popular-level books on these women, only academic works that were steeped in technical language, didn’t really encourage a devotional experience, and even had some ideological errors in them. The more time went on, the more I realized that a fun, devotional book on these women really should be written and that I would do a good job of it because it fit perfectly into my area of expertise (Puritan spirituality) and used my favorite method of research and writing (studying theology by doing a deep dive into the life and writings of a particular person in history for the purpose of drawing closer to God and his creation).

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

I hope that readers will see the Puritans as empathetic, moderate, and reasonable (rather than harsh, extreme, and ridiculous, as they are too often understood) and feel like they find a friend or see their own stories in the stories of these women. There are so many diverse things to learn from each of these women’s lives, and if is often what we bring into it as individuals that affects what we take out of it, so I’m not sure there’s one particular message! But if I had to narrow it down, I guess I would say it might be something like, “Loving and being close to God and others is the point of being a Christian, and to get the really magical parts of this, you have to do a lot of ordinary life things like spiritual practices.”

How has writing this book affected your own life?

Reading the writings of these women has changed my life in so many ways, and it would probably take a whole book to tell all those specific stories (some of which are a little too personal to share!). But one general thing it has done is helped me mature as a woman by showing me that well-rounded Christians are both gentle and strong, humble and confident, innocent and shrewd. In the past, only the first set of virtues (gentleness, humility, and innocence) were emphasized to me by the Christian leaders in my life, and I found it very easy to cultivate them because of my naturally quiet disposition. But without the others (strength, confidence, and savvy), I became an unbalanced person, which led me to fall prey to predators, make unwise life decisions, and allow sin to turn me into someone I didn’t want to be. Low self-esteem had a horrible effect on my life and made me a worse Christian, and I was surprised and happy to find that these women gave me a needed corrective by showing me that it is a balance of love with justice that characterizes the Christian life, not just one or the other. 

For a sneak peek, here are some quotes:

“In my own story, I have seen again and again how God providentially uses whatever I’m currently reading to teach me a specific lesson or give me a specific comfort I desperately need at that exact moment. I hope (even expect!) that the same will happen to you as you encounter the writings of these fellow believers who came before you and recorded their testimonies of love not only for their earthly families but also for their spiritual family—including you.”

“What makes the love of God really beautiful is that it is not a feigned, forced kind of love, solely based on duty and propped up by one’s own feelings and actions. Rather, it is genuine and reciprocal, in that because God loves us first and his love is so entrancing, it draws us to him and fills us up, making us instinctively yet willingly love him in return”

Here’s what others are saying: 

“In 5 Puritan Women, Jenny-Lyn de Klerk introduces us to five faithful saints who have gone before us. As you get to know these women through the pages of this book, you will feel as though you have met five new friends. Through their words and stories, they will instruct, strengthen, and encourage you in your faith. So grab a warm drink, sit down with your new friends, and let them spur you on to love God and live a faithful, beautiful life.”
–Courtney Doctor, Coordinator of Women’s Initiatives, The Gospel Coalition; Bible teacher; author, From Garden to Glory and In View of God’s Mercies

“At some point, someone somewhere must have convinced me to believe the Puritans were boring. But as it turns out, that person was dead wrong. In 5 Puritan Women, Jenny-Lyn de Klerk shakes the dust off the stories of five women we never should have overlooked. Their remarkable strength, distinct personalities, and substantial faith offer women today an unexpected and delightful inheritance that can impact the way we express and enjoy our faith today.”
–Caroline Saunders, author, The Story of Water; The Story of Home; and Good News

“We are all prone to stereotypes and misunderstanding, but part of loving our neighbors—even dead ones!—is seeking to understand them on their own terms so that we can better appreciate and learn from them. Jenny-Lyn de Klerk has written a book about five Puritan women who faced real challenges in a real world with their real God. What she also helps us (both men and women) learn from these godly mentors is significant. I’m only sad it has taken us this long to hear from these too-often-forgotten saints.”
–Kelly M. Kapic, Professor of Theological Studies, Covenant College; author, You’re Only Human

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

Curled up under a blanket on the couch with a book in hand (and not a soul in sight to interrupt me, unless they wanted to discuss said book!)

Jenny-Lyn de Klerk (PhD, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the author of 5 Puritan Women: Stories of Faith and Love (Crossway, 2023) and has contributed to the The Essential Lexham Dictionary of Church History (Lexham, 2022). She works as an editor at Crossway and has several degrees in historical theology, specializing in Puritan spirituality. You can follow her on Twitter @puritanjenny.

God Is Still Good releases on January 17, 2023. You can pre-order it today!

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your writing journey?

As a child, I wanted to be three things when I grew up: a mom, a missionary, and a writer. Four decades later, I love seeing how the Lord has blessed those desires and how they intertwine with one another!

Today I’m a mom of five children, ages 5 to 16. My husband Scott is a pastor, and it’s a joy to serve together in ministry through our church. As an author, I write mostly for other moms, pointing them to Jesus and encouraging them with the gospel—but I try to do so with a mission mindset, writing in a way that is hopefully accessible even to the mom who is newer to Christianity.

Is writing ever difficult for you?  How so?

Writing can be difficult for a host of reasons, but writing God Is Still Good: Gospel Hope and Comfort for the Unexpected Sorrows of Motherhood brought particular challenges. The suffering of motherhood is a painful topic, and each mom’s story is unique. I wanted to write with sensitivity and nuance, while also being real and honest about the hardships moms face. 

Sharing some of my personal motherhood sorrows also meant being vulnerable. Though I hope telling my story establishes trust with readers, doing so provokes lots of emotions. As grateful as I am for the opportunity to testify to God’s goodness in the book, I still live in the middle of motherhood (with all its struggles), and as much as anybody else, I need the Holy Spirit’s help to depend on the Lord and cling to the same hope and comfort that I offer readers.

What led you to write God Is Still Good: Gospel Hope and Comfort for the Unexpected Sorrows of Motherhood?

God met me in his word following the diagnosis of three of my children with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, a serious genetic condition that can impact the liver and lungs. My senior pastor’s wife knew my story, and she asked if I would consider talking to some of the other moms in my church about trusting God in trials. I later turned that message, birthed with agonizing tears as I relived the painful parts of my story and recalled God’s faithfulness, into an article about suffering in motherhood for The Gospel Coalition.

Those opportunities highlighted two things. First, I realized that there was so much more to say and write about this topic than could fit into a 40-minute talk or 1000-word article. Next, the heart-felt response from women showed how needed this message of gospel hope and comfort for the sorrows of motherhood really is. 

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

Through his word, God offers real hope and comfort even for the most heart-wrenching parts of motherhood.

Motherhood doesn’t always deliver what we hope, and it frequently delivers hurts we don’t expect.

Motherhood doesn’t always deliver what we hope, and it frequently delivers hurts we don’t expect. Whether you and I endure hardship in our own bodies or as moms caring for children facing difficulties, our afflictions are real and our pain is worthy of grief. 

But God is still good. He really is, no matter what. Even when circumstances look nothing like we imagined, God remains the same, and we can trust him. He is our true hope and comfort for the unexpected sorrows of motherhood, and his word provides a framework that both explains our suffering and helps us combat common temptations and lies that travel with it. 

How has writing this book affected your own life?

Walking through hard things with our kids can be consuming and isolating, and it’s easy for lies about ourselves, our children, our circumstances, or even God to get stuck on repeat in our heads without even realizing it. In my rough motherhood seasons as well as the unremarkable ones, I need to remember what’s true, and writing this book helped me to do that. 

I’m excited to include a Lie and Truth chart that lists ten common lies that a hurting mom can be tempted to believe along with a list of biblical truths to combat them, and I hope this encourages moms to open their Bibles and discover truth to fight the lies they’re tempted to believe.

For a sneak peek, here are some quotes:  

“I’ve learned for myself that motherhood is much more than suffering, but it’s not less, and there’s a particular kind of suffering that moms experience. Maybe you’ve been walking on a difficult path for a long time, or maybe you’re just starting out. … Through his word, God offers real hope and comfort even for the most heart-wrenching parts of motherhood. This hope is more than wishful thinking because it is grounded in God’s past, present, and future faithfulness and anchored in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Similarly, God’s comfort is more than sympathy—it offers courage and strength to the afflicted.” Pages 17-18

“Jesus is a Savior who is familiar with sorrow and ‘acquainted with grief’ (Isa. 53:3). He wants to walk with us—and he is able to help us persevere by faith, with grace—even on difficult paths we never would have chosen. When we walk with the Lord, these off-road trails aren’t ends in themselves. They aren’t just painful parts of our motherhood journey. They too are part of our journey heavenward.” Page 27

“God is still good—for us—in our present challenges. Through Jesus, the Lord isn’t far off but with us, in all his glorious goodness, in our kitchens and carpools and medical appointments. He doesn’t go on vacation when our trials come; he’s with us when we answer the phone calls that make our bodies shake. He isn’t taking a nap or scrolling the internet when a child falls down the stairs, flips a bicycle, or crashes a car. He’s right there with us, his hand holding ours (Ps. 139:10), when we wonder whether a child’s mental health will improve or worsen. He is with us, and he is good.” Page 91

Here’s what others are saying: 

“This book is a lifeline for every mom who has ever felt alienated by the advice to ‘savor the season’ or defeated by the encouragement to ‘enjoy every moment’ of raising her kids—whether because of hard diagnoses, neurodiversity, complicated births, illness, loss, or just the average Tuesday. With gentleness and vulnerability, Katie Faris not only offers suffering mothers validation and permission to grieve their hardships but she also equips them to see their circumstances through the lens of Scripture, renewing their hope and confidence in God’s goodness to them even and especially within the suffering with which they have been entrusted.”

-Abbey Wedgeworth, mom of three; author, Held: 31 Biblical Reflections on God’s Comfort and Care in the Sorrow of Miscarriage

“Katie Faris shows us that parenting is not a pain-free experience, nor should that be our goal; it is a deep dependency on Christ. His strength is made perfect in weakness, and he is forming us through our grief and painful parenting experiences. Be encouraged: the gospel does indeed offer hope, comfort, and purpose in our journey.”

-Julie E. Lowe, Counselor and Faculty Member, Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation

“God Is Still Good helps moms to remember what our sorrows can help us to forget: we’re neither alone nor without hope in Christ. In this book, Katie Faris serves readers as a conduit of God’s comfort—a sympathetic sister who, as a result of her own painful trials in motherhood, has learned to lean on sustaining grace in the midst of desperation, grief, and disappointment. If you’re a weary mother in need of encouragement—wondering how you’re going to make it through the troubles of today—then the practical wisdom in this book is especially for you.”

-Christine Chappell, author, Help! My Teen Is Depressed and Help! I’ve Been Diagnosed with a Mental Disorder; Host, Hope + Help Podcast; certified biblical counselor

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

Our family loves day trips to the Jersey shore. You’d find me walking on the beach or sitting by the water, wiggling my toes in the sand and reading a good book while my husband and children play nearby. 

Katie Faris is a pastor’s wife and mother to five children—who also loves to write. She is the author of God Is Still Good: Gospel Hope and Comfort for the Unexpected Sorrows of Motherhood (TGC/Crossway, 2023), He Will Be Enough: How God Takes You by the Hand through Your Hardest Days (TGBC, 2022), and Loving My Children: Embracing Biblical Motherhood (2015). She worships at Sovereign Grace Church in Marlton, New Jersey. Learn more at katiefaris.com, or follow her on Facebook or Instagram.

Like Me releases on January 10, 2023, and you can pre-order a copy here!

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m Laura and I live in central Iowa with my husband and three children. I’m the cofounder and executive director of Risen Motherhood, a ministry that helps moms connect their faith to their motherhood. I spend most of my days writing and running the ministry, then hanging with my kids and husband when they’re home.

When did you first start writing?  What do you enjoy about it?

Recently when I was looking for an old photograph, I stumbled across a first-place award from AT&T that I won for a story I wrote in first grade. “Makenzie’s Dog Goldie” wouldn’t be a bestseller today, but it was fun to read back through one of my first children’s stories and see that even in elementary, I was writing books for children. I’ve always loved stories—the way you can get caught up and live in another land, another life, for a few minutes or for hours and hours is fascinating to me. I love how writing can paint such vivid pictures in your mind, expose you to things you might never encounter in your day-to-day, and preset ideas and concepts in a way someone might not be able to articulate, but when they read it, they know it’s exactly what they would say.  

Is writing ever difficult for you?  How so?

Absolutely. I often think of writing like exercise, if I haven’t been writing for a while, I’ll need to spend time getting back in shape in order for good work to come out. For example, if I’ve just been doing one form of writing for a while, like poems or microblogs, I know that longer-form writing will be tough if I haven’t been practicing it. It’s like only doing strength training, then heading out to run a 5k. Can you do it? Probably. But you might be struggling by mile 2 because you haven’t been doing any cardio. Remembering that it’s okay to “get in shape” for certain types of writing has been helpful for me to not set my expectations so high as I transition between projects, or get bummed when I have an off day and I can’t find the words. 

My mom goes into my brother’s room. She whispers, “God made you, God loves you, God is kind to you.

What led you to write Like Me: A Story About Disability and Discovering God’s Image In Every Person? 

Five years ago my daughter was diagnosed with Rare Chromo, a genetic disease that is incredibly rare. So rare, in fact, that as far as we know, there is no one in the world with what she specifically has. That sent us on a journey of discovery to understand how exactly it would affect her life (because the doctors didn’t know) and for our family to learn what it’s like to have a family member with disabilities. As she’s grown, I’ve seen what a joy and delight she is, and how God has a beautiful plan for disabilities. I’ve also seen how many questions able-bodied children have about disabilities and I wanted to write a picture book that took away the mystery, showing children how they can be friends with someone with disabilities. Like Me follows a sibling of a child with disabilities as he goes through his day, and helps kids recognize that while someone might act, move, or speak differently from them, there is still a sameness between them, which is the foundation for friendship. There are still shared feelings, interests, hobbies, and more—and when we look closely, we can learn a little bit about God in every person we meet.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

My prayer for Like Me is that children will discover what a privilege it is to know another person—no matter what they look like or how they act—discovering the deep, transcendent connection they share because we were all made in the image of God. I hope it will foster conversations in families about how they can not only be kind and compassionate towards those with disabilities, but they can also learn what inclusion and true friendship looks like.

How has writing this book affected your own life?

This book is 100 percent a day-in-the-life of the Wifler family. I wrote it quickly, in a 2 hour nap-time window in the middle of a cold January day. It just poured out of me because it was simply putting my life and my heart on the page.  There’s a scene in the book where they all go outside sledding, and from the older brother getting a new sled for Christmas to coming in for hot cocoa, it is almost word-for-word what happened the day before. If anything, writing this book simply made me more resolved to advocate for children with disabilities, and help able-bodied children see how they can not just tolerate children with disabilities, but include and be friends with them. 

I don’t always understand what the kids are saying or why they act the way they do. Mom says it’s because God made everyone unique. We all give him glory in different ways, and if we look closely, we can learn a little bit about God through each of them.

For a sneak peek, here are some quotes:

“My brother is so excited for candy and sweets, he shouts and celebrates. We’re not sure what he’s saying, but my mom always tells me we don’t have to understand his words to understand what he means. We all know my brother is happy, so we cheer along with him.”

“I know my brother’s mind thinks differently than mine does and it’s not his fault. Mom always says he just wants to be like me, to be included and have fun.”

Here’s what others are saying:

“Laura has given us something delightful, a wonderful story about a day in the life of two brothers and a tool to help our children understand how we are all different and we are also the same. Like Me will serve all families, churches, and kids as they learn to view children and each other the way God does.”

—Trillia Newbell, author of God’s Very Good Idea and The Big Wide Welcome

“Beautifully illustrated and charmingly written, Like Me offers an honest glimpse into a day in the life of a child with disabilities. Through this tender and grace-filled story, Laura Wifler reminds us to celebrate the uniqueness of all of God’s children—a perfect read for any family wanting to instill empathy and compassion into their children.”

—Ashlee Gadd, founder of the Coffee + Crumbs blog and author of The Magic of Motherhood: The Good Stuff, the Hard Stuff, and Everything In Between

“This lovely book reminds readers young and old that we all share the story of struggle, and because of that, even more deeply, we share the breathtaking reality of hope.”

—Katherine and Jay Wolf, authors of Hope Heals and Suffer Strong

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

I’d probably go on a run or a hike in the woods. Then, after a shower, curl back up on the couch to write. 

Laura Wifler is the cofounder and executive director of Risen Motherhood, cohost of the podcast, and the coauthor of Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments. She also wrote To the Cross I Cling, an e-book reflecting on mothering a child with a disability, and the award-winning children’s book, Any Time, Any Place, Any Prayer. Laura, her husband, and her three children live in central Iowa. You can find her on Instagram @laurawifler, or at laurawifler.com.

The older my children get (and the farther they move away), the more thankful I am to see them participating and enjoying the fellowship of the church. I know it’s their home away from home, filled with people who love Jesus and share that love with each other. This new book helps parents communicate to young children the priority of the church in a fun and inviting way, in hopes that when they are older they will continue to value the fellowship of other believers in the church.

Meg is Not Alone releases today (and would make a wonderful Christmas gift!), and you can order a copy here!

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, especially since you’ve written a kids’ book. Do you read a lot of kids’ books?

I’m a mom of four kids, three teenagers and one 5-year-old, so I’ve been reading kids’ books for many years now. I’ve finally gotten my 5-year-old on a timer before bed—I’ll read as many books as I can in 15 minutes, but then we have to call it quits. (Otherwise, I start falling asleep!) We have some that she requests frequently, but I try to mix it up with fresh titles from the library.

What led you to write Meg Is Not Alone?

For a long time, I had been wanting to write a book about the church for kids. I have a book for adults (A Place to Belong: Learning to Love the Local Church) that came out a few years ago, but kids are also such an important part of most congregations. And as we see research coming out that younger generations are generally less inclined to commit to church, it seems especially important to teach our kids when they are young about the value of the church.

I wanted to write a book about the church for kids, but I also wanted to make sure it was an engaging book—a funbook, even. I wanted kids to not only think, “the church is important” but also, “the church thinks I’m important” and “the church is where I want to be.”

One day, I thought of something that had happened to me when I was a little kid. My parents mistakenly left me at church after a Sunday service. Dad thought I was with Mom; Mom thought I was with Dad. When I discovered I was alone, the church members surrounded me, comforted me, took care of my needs, and reconnected me to my parents. I remember that day being the first time I realized the church was there to help me. Previously, I saw the church as being for my parents; afterwards, I understood the church was for me.

With that true story in mind, I wrote Meg’s story.

As we see research coming out that younger generations are generally less inclined to commit to church, it seems especially important to teach our kids when they are young about the value of the church.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

I hope kids (and the grown-ups who read to them) will learn that the local church is a place to go for help—no matter how old you are.

How has writing this book affected your own life?

I’ve always had a heart for the kids in the church—I can’t hear them recite a memory verse or sing a song without crying—but writing this book has made me even more aware of our need as a congregation to affirm the value of the kids in our midst and to show them that the church has a place for them.

Is there anything about the book that you think will surprise kids?

All I can say is, keep your eyes out for Arlo.

(If you’ve read the other books in the TGC Kids series, you’ll know what I mean. If not, you should also get Betsy Howard’s Arlo and the Great Big Cover-Up and Polly and the Screen Time Overload.)

Here are some endorsements:

“One of the biggest blessings of the church for my children is not just the other kids but the other adults. They get to watch many examples of godliness and aren’t restricted to me and their mom. ‘Kids, look at what Christlike love can look like in her and her, and in him and him.’ This is the story of Megan Hill’s tender and sweet book.”

―Jonathan Leeman, Editorial Director, 9Marks; author, Rediscover Church and One Assembly

“Meg Is Not Alone shows how the body of Christ points to our good Father, even when we feel alone. With a captivating narrative that people of all ages will enjoy, this story communicates how we can express comfort and care, just as Christ has done for us. I can’t wait to read this book again and again with my own kiddos!”

―Hunter Beless, Founder, Journeywomen; author, Read It, See It, Say It, Sing It

“We can drag our kids to church kicking and screaming (and sometimes we might have to), but ideally we help them learn to love church and choose to be there. This delightful book is a tool that can help. In a beautifully simple story, Meg Is Not Alone paints a picture of the church as family. In a world of loneliness and fear, the local church is a haven of diverse, supportive, hope-filled community. This book reminds us of that.”

―Brett McCracken, author, The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World and Uncomfortable: The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community

Writing this book has made me even more aware of our need as a congregation to affirm the value of the kids in our midst and to show them that the church has a place for them.

When will Meg Is Not Alone be coming out?

It releases on November 29, 2022.

The book arrived early (if you know anything about book publishing, you know that never happens!) and so it’s available for people to order for Christmas. I’m really excited to think about kids finding Meg under the tree or getting a copy from their Sunday School teacher—and realizing how important they are to the church.

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

I’m a huge thrifter and there’s this amazing thrift store, The Blessing Barn, that is about an hour from my house. It’s a thrift store, but it looks like an Anthropologie inside—the woman who designs the displays is so clever. I’ve gotten art, décor, furniture, clothes, all kinds of cool things. And it supports the mercy ministry of a church, so I feel like it’s actually virtuous to shop there. (Wink.)

Megan Hill is the managing editor for The Gospel Coalition. She’s the author of several books for adults, including A Place to Belong: Learning to Love the Local Church, and a new book for kids: Meg Is Not Alone. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and four children where they belong to West Springfield Covenant Community Church (PCA).

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Sure. I’m a single mom of two teenage boys living in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. I teach math at our local community college and help my parents out on our family farm. I have two boys, two dogs, and three cats. There are a lot of moving parts to my life!

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

I started writing when I was teaching a class called Practical Theology for Women in Seattle, Washington and was asked to record my lectures. For the first time, I wrote out extensively what I was teaching of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. Those notes eventually became my first book, published when my boys were quite young. Writing at that stage of life felt like adult conversation in my head even if I was rarely able to have adult conversation in person at the time.

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

Writing was difficult when my children were small and still is now, primarily because it is very hard to find the quiet space I need to think clearly and put words on paper. Now that my teenagers sleep late on the weekends though, I have more quiet time in the mornings to write. But as the responsibilities of raising small children have lessened in the home, my responsibilities have grown in my job outside of the home. It is work to balance writing with the needs of my sons, my job, and my church. When writing butts up against my other responsibilities, it is usually writing that has to give. I’m sure I’m not alone in that predicament.

When we look at the cross, we have a choice between defensiveness, self-condemnation, or humility. Humbly facing the weight of our sin is the response that sets us down the path to true reconciliation with God and others.

What led you to write I Forgive You?

The Good Book Company approached me with the concept for the book, and I knew immediately it was something I should take on. My pastor had just finished a sermon series on the life of Joseph that focused on repentance, repair, forgiveness, and reconciliation. I resonated with much in Joseph’s life (and Judah’s) and found the sermon series incredibly helpful for processing the ways I have been sinned against as well as the sins I have participated in that have harmed others. It was helpful to go through those concepts in more depth for my own study in preparation for the book.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

I hope readers come to realize that forgiveness and reconciliation are two different concepts in Scripture. Forgiveness is something any of us harmed by another must soberly consider, and it does not rely on the remorse of the offender. Reconciliation though involves repentance and repair of the offender as well as the grace of the one harmed. Many leaders confuse those two, pressing those harmed to accept an abuser back in their life with no evidence of repentance, setting them up for future harm. This is a costly error.

How has writing this book affected your own life?

I read a lot from Desmond Tutu’s The Book of Forgiving as I researched this topic. Though I disagree with him about several theological issues, particularly the pervasive depravity of humankind, I found his exhortations on how to treat our enemy very helpful. He argued that dehumanizing our enemy actually dehumanizes us as well. I have thought a lot about this when I am tempted to mock or excoriate someone who has harmed me or someone else that I love. There is a way to stand up against the evil an abuser is doing and also hope for their repentance and genuine change. Vengeance is a hamster wheel of harm that God asks us never to participate.

For a sneak peek, here are some quotes: 

“Our forgiveness of others isn’t fundamentally about them. It doesn’t flow from how they have responded to their sin against us. It flows from how God has responded to our sins against him.”

 “Not every relationship will be reconciled. It is possible to forgive those who do not see their need to be forgiven. It is possible to let go our need for revenge or payback and release the debt owed us by the one who harmed us.  But full reconciliation requires more. The foundation has to be repaired.”

“The words ‘I forgive you’ are not synonymous with reconciliation with the one who wronged you. But those words do equip you for peace within yourself in a way that little else can.”

Forgiveness costs the one who forgives, not the one who harmed. It costs them the satisfaction of retribution. It costs them the possibility of recouping their losses. It is lopsided. It is not fair. But it is godly.

Here’s what others are saying:

“From the first page to the last, I read this book with a lump in my throat and sometimes tears in my eyes. I experienced what I think most readers will experience as they read it—a connection to its stories and truths as one who has both resisted extending forgiveness and needed to be forgiven. While admitting that it might take time and will likely be messy and complex, Wendy makes the miracle of grace required for forgiveness, confession, repentance, and release seem possible. This is the hope we all need to take a step forward.” 

—Nancy Guthrie, author and Bible teacher

“This is an honest book. Alsup is not writing an abstract treatise on forgiveness and reconciliation, but has rather interwoven the deeply personal threads of her own story with a profound and extended meditation on the life of Joseph and his protracted reconciliation with his brothers. If you’ve been wounded and need a patient friend on the fragile path of redemption, I would highly commend I Forgive You.” 

—Alasdair Groves, Executive Director, Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF)

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

You would find me sitting on my screened porch staring at the 300 year old live oak tree that anchors our farm. I love the peaceful sounds of birds, dogs, and the occasional coyote I can hear from my porch. It is my happy place that reminds me of the Garden of Eden.

Wendy Alsup is a mom, math teacher, and author. She is the author of Companions in Suffering: Comfort for Times of Loss and Loneliness and Is the Bible Good for Women? Seeking Clarity and Confidence through a Jesus-centered Understanding of Scripture, and I Forgive You: Finding Peace and Moving Forward When Life Really Hurts.She blogs at www.theologyforwomen.org.

]]> https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/melissa-kruger/sneak-peek-interview-trillia-newbell-2/ Tue, 18 Oct 2022 09:00:14 +0000 https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/?post_type=melissa-kruger&p=529635 I always like to know a little something about an author before I sit down to open up his or her book. Today, I’m excited to interview my dear friend Trillia Newbell about her new book, 52 Weeks in the Word: A Companion for Reading through the Bible in a Year. I love Trillia’s heart behind this book—her goal is to help believers be in the Word on a daily basis. This book will guide you, encourage you, and support you as you dig deep into God’s Word. 52 Weeks in the Word releases on November 1, and you can pre-order a copy here!...]]> I always like to know a little something about an author before I sit down to open up his or her book. Today, I’m excited to interview my dear friend Trillia Newbell about her new book, 52 Weeks in the Word: A Companion for Reading through the Bible in a Year. I love Trillia’s heart behind this book—her goal is to help believers be in the Word on a daily basis. This book will guide you, encourage you, and support you as you dig deep into God’s Word. 52 Weeks in the Word releases on November 1, and you can pre-order a copy here!

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I became a Christian at the age of 22. The Lord was kind to give me friends who helped me navigate my new faith and I began a lifelong journey of knowing and loving my Lord.

I’ve been married for 19 years to my best friend, Thern. We have two children. Although I do a lot of writing, I have the joy of helping other writers as the Acquisitions Director at Moody Publishers.

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

I began writing seriously in college. I wrote for my college newspaper. Then after my first child was born, I became a freelance journalist for my local paper. After a few years of writing faithfully as a journalist, I realized that what I really wanted to do was write from my Christian perspective. I started an online webzine, then started blogging, and the rest is history.

One of God’s sweetest gifts, besides Himself, is His Word. Scripture is God-breathed. Are we treasuring it?

What I enjoy most isn’t actually the writing process, although there are aspects of it that I enjoy. What I enjoy most is the thought of serving others through the craft of writing. If one person is encouraged, inspired, comforted, or even challenged by my writing, then it’s worth it. I long to serve the Lord and others through my work.

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

I laughed when I read the question. If anyone ever answers “No” please tell me all their secrets! Yes, it is. I think it’s hardest when I don’t have a clear direction for a tradebook (or as I like to call them, “chapter books for adults”). I find writing Bible studies and kids’ books to be easier and a lot of fun. Once I know where I’m going, the hard part is sitting down and physically writing. Writing takes a lot of time. Finding the time to write is likely the hardest task at the moment. So, when I do have the time it seems to flow.

What led you to write 52 Weeks in the Word?

I have written two Bible studies (one on Romans 8, the other on Hebrews 11). I’ve received such encouraging feedback from readers. However, one thing that surprised me was how hard it was for people to get through the assigned Bible reading. It was repeated that the studies required a lot of reading. What I realized is that although I love writing Bible studies, people aren’t truly in the habit of just reading the Bible. We’ve seen the statistics that the majority of people who own a Bible do not read it. 52 Weeks in the Word is a Bible reading accountability tool to help people get in the Word and Lord willing, stay in the Word.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

Ultimately, my hope is that as people read God’s Word, they will grow more in love with the Savior and eager to learn more about Him.

The goal of 52 Weeks in the Word isn’t to win some race or prize; we don’t earn more favor before the Lord. The goal is Bible reading. It is a journal, a cheerleader, and a guide to help you continue reading. I am your Bible reading accountability partner here to help you get in the Word, stay in the Word, and gain biblical literacy.

Any time spent in God’s Word is never wasted.

How has writing this book affected your own life?

Every time I read God’s Word I realize just how much I still need to learn! It was no different working on this project. I learned a great deal about how it all is one grand story. I knew that in theory and would have likely been able to share evidence of it. But there’s something different about reading through the whole Bible and pausing to consider why I should keep reading and what I’m learning. I wrote 52 reflections that I hope will inspire and encourage readers along the same lines.

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

Hanging with my family. I love slow weekends exploring our little town with them. They are my favorite people.

Trillia Newbell is the author of several books including A Great Cloud of Witnesses, Sacred Endurance, If God Is For Us, Fear and Faith, and the children’s books, Creative God, Colorful Us and God’s Very Good Idea. When she isn’t writing, she’s encouraging and supporting other writers as the Acquisitions Director at Moody Publishers. Trillia is married to her best friend, Thern, they reside with their two children near Nashville, TN. You can find her at trillianewbell.com and follow her on instagram at @trillianewbell.

Empowered and Equipped releases on November 1, and you can pre-order a copy here!

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Julia Higgins and for the last four years, I have served as assistant professor of ministry to women at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS). I also wear a few other hats at the seminary, like assisting the provost of our institution as associate dean of Graduate Program Administration, as well as serving on the leadership team for the Society for Women in Scholarship. My position provides many opportunities to serve and teach female students and it is my desire to encourage women to grow in Bible knowledge and theology so they can disciple women in the church well.

I am married to Tony Higgins, who serves as a biblical counselor and executive director of Bridgehaven Counseling and Associates. We are members of The Summit Church in the Raleigh/Durham area, where we serve in various ministries like the prayer team and the kids’ ministry. We absolutely love living in North Carolina—our home is about two hours from the East Coast and its beautiful beaches and about two hours east of the Blue Ridge mountains. It’s a wonderful part of the country to call home, although I do miss my home state Alabama! I am originally from Tuscumbia, a small town that is near the Tennessee River and right next to the more well-known town of Muscle Shoals.

When did you first start writing?  What do you enjoy about it?

My official introduction to writing was a summer class I took with a friend when I was about 10 years old. It was a creative writing class that launched me into the world of poetry and stories. Since that time, I have always enjoyed writing, and I have to give a shoutout to all the English teachers I had in school, from about 7^th grade onward, who really instilled a passion for both reading and the art of crafting words and sentences to convey deep meaning. During my time in college, I majored in English Literature and minored in history, so the majority of assignments were written ones, and I found that, even at a state school, my bent in writing was towards assessing poetry, plays, or stories in light of the Gospel, the story of God, and what his word says about life. I found joy in making connections and distinctions between the Christian worldview and the worldview presented in literature. Yet, as I grew older and attended seminary, I began to realize that my skills could be put to use for academic writing, and this is a skill I am honing, even now. So, whether is it creative writing or academic, I love the intentionality that is required when writing, and the act of forming thoughts into meaningful phrases that have the ability to touch another person intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually.

The task of teaching the Scriptures brings with it a very serious warning: those who do so will be judged strictly. Therefore, we should determine to understand doctrines of the faith, so that we are equipped to teach well.

Is writing ever difficult for you?  How so?

In one sense, writing is difficult but in another it is not. It is not hard for me to put words on a page—I follow a few steps to simply get words on a page when given the opportunity to write an article or presentation. The first step I take as an academic writer is to formulate an outline and if the outline doesn’t come easily, I rely upon mind-mapping to brainstorm ideas, which helps me to produce a logical framework in outline form. This process helps to prevent writer’s block so that a blank page isn’t scary.

The part of writing I do find difficult is related to time management and allowing enough time for editing and rewriting. To get something on the page might be easy, but does it flow well? Does it make sense? Are the sentences in the right order and is the paragraph effective with a topic sentence and supporting sentences? Am I writing in the active voice and have I left time to edit out wordiness? These questions must be answered but if I don’t leave enough time to answer them, I cause unnecessary difficulty for myself.

What led you to write Empowered and Equipped: Bible Exposition for Women Who Teach the Scriptures?

My students. I wrote this book for them and with them in mind. I teach a course at Southeastern entitled Bible Exposition for Ministry to Women. One of the core competencies we want to develop in every study at SEBTS is a high view of the Scriptures and the ability to exposit the Bible well. That’s why every degree at our school requires a Bible exposition course. Students can choose from a general course on Bible exposition taught by various professors, or, if they are called to minister to women in the local church, they may take my class. We want to prepare students for the various ministry contexts they might find themselves in. Offering an exposition course geared specifically for those called to teach in gender specific learning environments serves our students well because they have greater course options related to their callings.

After teaching Bible Exposition for Ministry to Women for a few years at SEBTS, I realized that the entirety of the textbooks I was requiring were written with a particular audience in mind: men who are called to the pastorate. While these books are excellent resources, they don’t speak to other learning environments in the church, such as small groups and gender specific classes. I began to look online and saw a gap in the literature for female Bible teachers and wanted to better equip them with an academic work for their specific ministry context. Thus, the audience of the book extends beyond my students. I desire for the book to equip female Bible teachers in the church who may not have the opportunity to attend seminary.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book? 

The central message of the book is summarized in the title—Empowered and Equipped. The first word speaks to the fact that women, alongside their brothers in Christ, have been given the spiritual gift of teaching for the edification of others in the church. The third word, equipped, follows. If women have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to teach, then we must equip them for the task. I hope that women of the church will find a foundation for teaching the Bible, understanding its nature, storyline, and genres, which will lead to a process of interpreting the Bible accurately, resulting in the practice of teaching it correctly. So often the modern reader goes to the Bible with certain questions in mind—for instance, what does this text mean for me? What does it say about me? Or, how do I obey this text? Instead, we want to train teachers of the Word to first ask, what does the text say? What did mean for the original audience? What does it teach us about our Triune God? After prioritizing those questions, they may then move on to ask questions of application and implementation.

The second section of the book, then, deals with practice. It will push readers to develop messages and curriculum based upon their exegesis of the text. The second section also deals with the life of the teacher (as it relates to spiritual disciplines), doctrinal teaching, and contexts where women teach. The chapter on doctrinal teaching in particular challenged me. Writing that chapter brought greater clarity in understanding Trinitarian theology, which in turn has increased my own practice of teaching the Bible. Before writing it, I heavily emphasized Christ-centered teaching; now, I make sure to consider the way a passage not only points to God the Son, but to God the Father and God the Spirit.

For a sneak peek, here are some quotes: 

“Some may conflate the spiritual gift of teaching with the office of pastor/elder and draw a false conclusion that only men are to exercise the gift of teaching. While qualified men are responsible to teach and oversee the local church, that does not negate the fact that both men and women are given the spiritual gift of teaching.”

“The Bible is the most fascinating book that has ever been penned because it unveils a transcendent, powerful, holy, and righteous God. It reveals an infinite God to a finite people. According to his grace and by his divine initiative, he has chosen to reveal himself by imparting the written Word through the Holy Spirit, and he has preserved and used his words to show himself to his people for thousands of years. He employs the Scriptures to call us to salvation, to sanctify us, and to bring joy to our hearts as we traverse various trials of life.”

The church (indicating both men and women) is commanded to go and make disciples, or learners of the doctrines taught by Jesus. If women are to be on mission, fulfilling this calling and command of the Lord Jesus, this assumes they must both be taught and be teachers.

Here are some endorsements: 

If you are serious about learning to teach the Bible, this is the book you need. Julia Higgins has written the most comprehensive, systematic, and accessible book I’ve seen on the topic. She steers her readers through each step needed to faithfully interpret, apply, and teach a passage. I will not only use this book as I help others learn to teach, I will return to this book again and again to sharpen my own skills and grow as a teacher of God’s Word.

—Courtney Doctor, author and coordinator of Women’s Initiatives, The Gospel Coalition

This is the book I’ve been hoping someone would write—a solid resource for women who want to be equipped to examine, understand, and exposit the Bible faithfully and soundly. 

—Nancy Guthrie, author and Bible teacher

Finally, a serious resource for women who want to grow in their gifting as Bible teachers. This book is both scholarly and readable. It is a trustworthy guide for anyone who wants to learn the tasks of faithful interpretation and formational exposition.

—Leigh Swanson, Executive Vice President, Reformed Theological Seminary Orlando

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

If it’s a Saturday in the fall, you’d find me and my husband watching SEC football. We’re a house divided—War Eagle and Go Dawgs!

Julia B. Higgins (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is assistant professor of Ministry to Women and associate dean of Graduate Program Administration at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. Julia is co-editor of The Whole Woman: Ministering to Her Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength and author of Empowered and Equipped: Bible Exposition for Women Who Teach the Scriptures. She is married to Tony, executive director and staff counselor at Bridgehaven Counseling and Associates. They reside in the RDU area and worship at The Summit Church.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I am a Bible teacher and author based in Dallas, Texas. I grew up in a Christian home, but it wasn’t until my college years that I began to understand the gospel fully. At this time in my life, I was hungry to grow spiritually, but I didn’t know how. This led me on a quest to learn more about my faith and the Bible, which eventually brought me to seminary. My journey of discovery formed a deep conviction within me that everyone should have access to the tools and resources they need to grow deeper in their faith. 

The Lord grew this conviction through my time on staff at two different churches in Dallas. I served as the Single Life Coordinator at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship and the Institute Classes and Curriculum Director at The Village Church. Both roles helped me learn what it means to guide and resource people in their discipleship journey.  

I loved what I learned so much that in 2021 I stepped away from vocational ministry to form an organization that helps believers grow spiritually as disciples of Jesus. So, most of my time is spent writing articles or books, speaking at conferences, training leaders, and consulting with different churches to help them create pathways for discipleship and theological education.

When did you first start writing?  What do you enjoy about it?

I started writing a few years ago during my first job in ministry. At that time, I was writing shorter articles that I would publish on my blog or through my church. I enjoy writing because it allows me to communicate deeply about a specific idea. The writing process forces you to be clear, which isn’t always easy.  But, as I wrestle with my thoughts, eliminating what is unnecessary and expanding on what is good, I am able to create something that can substantively connect with the reader.

Writing also allows me to create beauty with my words. For me, each writing project is like a blank art canvas. I usually know a little bit about what I want the “canvas” to look like. But, the writing process, full of brainstorming, research, and outlines, sort of takes on a life of its own. As I work through my ideas and discover new information, the art piece begins to form. I honestly love this part, seeing words, sentences, and paragraphs work together to communicate truth with beauty. 

Is writing ever difficult for you?  How so? 

Oh yes! One reason it is difficult is because I’m a perfectionist. I spend too much time on the front end editing my words instead of just pushing through to create a first draft I can then go back and edit. 

It’s also hard because I’m a slow writer. It takes me a while to get into the “zone” where the words start to flow quickly.  When I started writing, I would feel like the difficulty of writing meant that I wasn’t a good writer. But then I learned I wasn’t alone in my “slow writer” struggle.  After talking with and studying the writing process of some of the great authors of our time, I realized most of them don’t write great content quickly. Their success was connected to finding a process that worked for them and sticking to it. So, I’ve tried to do the same. 

What led you to write From Beginning To Forever? 

In my life, I’ve had a few moments that have significantly marked my spiritual growth journey.  One of them was the first time I learned about the metanarrative of Scripture. Even though I grew up in church, it wasn’t until my time in seminary that I learned how all of Scripture tells one unified story about God’s work of redemption and restoration. I still remember the “ah-ha” moments when the light bulbs went off in my mind. I gained new clarity about the Bible and a much-needed conviction on how the gospel connected with my everyday life. 

The truth is, the whole of Scripture is preoccupied with trying to return to life with God as it was in the garden of Eden and the fulfillment of His garden plan for the world.

Eventually, I was able to teach a class at The Village Church on the topic for several years. With each new group of students, I saw how many were overwhelmed by Scripture, unsure of how to tackle the books that were hard to understand. Others knew how to dig deep into a particular book of the Bible, but they couldn’t grasp how that one book related to the rest or pointed to Christ. Yet, but the end of the semester, they would gain a clarity and confidence about the Bible that transformed their faith. 

I wanted to write this book to share that same truth and experience with other believers. I want to help them understand and love their Bible as they see how it gives us a beautiful vision of who God is and what he calls us to be and do in his world. 

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

I hope readers will see how all 66 books combine to form one unified narrative about God’s redemption, seeing the eternal significance of what God is doing in the world and how he invites us to be a part of it.

I also hope that by the end of this study, readers will understand how the entire story of Scripture helps us know who God is, who we are, and what we are called to do in His world. The goal is not just for them to know facts but to study information that will transform their motivation for living and their love for God.

How has writing this study affected your own life?

Writing the book was definitely a labor of love! It forced me to synthesize a lot of information in a way that was clear and accessible. But, the process significantly refined my ability to see Scripture comprehensively, weaving together the topics of biblical truth, theology, and spiritual formation. 

Personally, it has provided me with a consistent source of hope and encouragement. No matter where I am in Scripture, I always find myself focusing on what God is doing at that point in redemptive history. The bigness of God’s work in the world overwhelms me in all the best ways. It also leaves me in awe of who He is and how, through Christ, He graciously allows us to be in relationship with Him! 

For a sneak peek, here are some quotes: 

“The truth is, the whole of Scripture is preoccupied with trying to return to life with God as it was in the garden of Eden and the fulfillment of His garden plan for the world. If we don’t see the story through this lens, we are going to pursue some lesser narrative. For example, we might reduce the Bible to a set of encouraging quotes or Christian living advice. While the Bible provides both encouragement and advice on how to live well as a Christian, it does so much more! Specifically, the creation account shows us what life on earth should look like. In other words, it shows us shalom—how we should live in community with God, each other, and all of creation.”

I hope readers will see how all 66 books combine to form one unified narrative about God’s redemption, seeing the eternal significance of what God is doing in the world and how he invites us to be a part of it.

“The kingdom living that Jesus talked about was much different than the values of the world in which Jesus lived. In Jesus’s upside-down kingdom, to be first to was to be last, to be greatest was to be the least, and to be exalted was to be humble. The most vulnerable, marginalized, and overlooked members of society were not cast aside but welcomed into the kingdom.  Jesus got in a lot of trouble during his time on earth because He hung out with sinners and outcasts. He rejected the elitism and legalism of the Jewish religious leaders. True kingdom living was characterized by a love for a God that was evidenced by a self-sacrificial love for one’s neighbor (Matt 5:43-45).”

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

You would find me in a museum, at a play, or at a concert! I love art, music, and history. So, an afternoon where I can listen to great music or spend time wandering through a museum would bring me so much joy! 

Joanna Kimbrel’s retelling of the book of Romans is done with the precision of a theologian and the understanding of a beloved school teacher. The Greatest Hero faithfully introduces children to the problem of sin and the hope of the gospel with a beautiful combination of truth and grace. This book is an excellent and needed explanation of the deep truths of Paul’s letter to the Romans—it’s insightful for both parents and children alike. You can pre-order a copy of The Greatest Hero here!

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I live in Georgia with my husband, Chad, and our two girls, where I work from home as a content coordinator for The Gospel Coalition. I fell in love with God’s Word in high school and have known I want to share it with others ever since. I’m a Bible teacher and author with a passion to share the beauty of Scripture with others. You can also find me cooking up fun dinners in my kitchen or singing loudly in my car.

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

When I was in elementary school I wrote a fantasy novel (no, it was not good, and no, I don’t still have it), but I really started writing in my early twenties. After a few years of teaching high school English and Bible, I started working from home writing Bible studies. I’ve been writing through various platforms ever since.

I love the written word, and it’s often how I communicate most effectively. I appreciate how the nuance of a single word can change the meaning of an entire page—how it can express so much with so little. Through writing I have the opportunity to share what God has taught me, and by his grace, encourage others to turn to Jesus.

But instead of fighting against us, the greatest hero fights for us. He changes us from bad guys to good guys, from enemies to family.

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

That’s an easy YES! I love writing, but I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent staring at a blank page, trying to write that one sentence that I can’t seem to get out of my head and onto paper. Writing is both deeply creative and intellectually demanding. We pour ourselves out in our writing, and while some days it seems to flow freely, others it feels like shaking a few small drops from an empty bottle. I struggle with feeling like the words aren’t quite right, and my perfectionist tendencies often keep me from writing down a sentence that isn’t just how I want it. Writing is a gift, but it’s also really, really hard.

What led you to write The Greatest Hero? 

The Greatest Hero is a retelling of the book of Romans in chapter book form for elementary grade kids. I’ve noticed a gap in the world of Christian children’s literature for this age group, which is why Kaleidoscope produces these books that fall somewhere between a children’s Bible storybook and a straight up Bible translation. The book of Romans is so rich, and offers Paul’s most in-depth gospel presentation. The truths in this book are life-changing, and I want to come alongside parents, mentors, and children’s ministry leaders to help them introduce these topics to children and deepen their discussion around them. My prayer is that kids and adults alike will look forward to each new chapter of this book and grow in their understanding of and love for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

In short, I want them to see the gospel. The book’s title comes from the idea presented in Romans that Jesus is the greatest hero who comes to save us from our sin. All of us sin and are condemned to death. Our sin makes us enemies of God—the villains. But in God’s amazing grace and kindness, he sent the most amazing hero the world has ever seen—his very own Son—to save the villains. When we believe in Jesus and trust in him to save us, we are declared righteous as God’s children, and we will live forever with him. That’s good news!

How has writing this book affected your own life?

Writing this book was an invitation for me to slow down and return to the simplest (and in some cases most complex) truths of the gospel. As I read, studied, and prayed through all 16 chapters of Romans, God revealed sin in my own heart, brought me to repentance, and caused me to rejoice in Christ’s redemption in new and deeper ways. The gospel really is good news, and it really does change everything. The process also challenged me to put myself in the world of a child and learn to explain things in a way curious little minds can understand. That practice has had a big impact on the way I interact with my own kids.

Don’t get lazy or stop caring—be excited to serve the Lord! Jump for joy because God gives you hope, be patient when life is hard, and never stop praying.

For a sneak peek, here are some quotes: 

“Think about the incredible things God made—all the planets and stars in outer space, the taste of warm chocolate chip cookies with ice-cold milk, dragonflies and deserts and dinosaurs—there had to be someone even more amazing to make all those amazing things! That somebody is God, and everybody knows it! God shows Himself in the things He made—it’s undeniable!”

“So listen up, villains! (Yes, I’m talking to you—and me!) The greatest superhero of all time, Jesus Christ, came to save you. He is the real good guy, but He became like a bad guy—like you and me—so we can be called good guys if we have faith in Him. Do you believe that? Have you trusted Him to give you righteousness? To justify you? To save you? Can you believe the good news?” 

“We can’t be saved by working hard enough. So what are we supposed to do? We need grace. Grace is when God gives us a good gift that we don’t deserve. We deserve the opposite! We deserve wrath, but God gives us love. We deserve death, but God gives us life.” 

“Many scary things can happen, but God is bigger, better, and stronger than them all. No matter what happens, nothing can take you away from God’s love.”

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

In a rocking chair on the porch of a secluded cabin overlooking the mountains.  Temperatures in the sixties, some hot tea, and my Bible. 

Joanna Kimbrel serves as content coordinator for The Gospel Coalition. She is a Bible teacher and writer with a passion for sharing the beauty of God’s Word with others. She is author of The Greatest Hero: The Book of Romans (Kaleidoscope, October 2022). Joanna and her husband Chad have two daughters and are members of Sojourn Community Church in Woodstock, Georgia. You can follow her on Instagram.

This 8-week, virtual cohort will equip you with tools to help you understand and communicate God’s Word. Space is limited, so register today! 

With your registration you will receive:

• Teaching from experienced Bible teachers, including Courtney Doctor, Julia Higgins, Kristie Anyabwile, and more
• A free book bundle of Empowered and Equipped by Julia Higgins and Literarily by Kristie Anyabwile
• An opportunity to teach a passage of Scripture and receive peer feedback
• Live Q&A with TGC staff members and guest teachers every week
• Connection and fellowship with other Bible teachers in your small group
• Free and recommended resources to continue growing as a Bible teacher

Here are the registration details:

• Thursday mornings (8-10 PST; 9-11 MST; 10-12 CST; 11-1 EST) from September 29th through November 17th
• $285 registration fee
• Attend meetings live via Zoom
• Registration opens July 15th and closes September 16th (Registration is limited to the first 200 women, so plan to register soon!)

This cohort is something we have been dreaming about and working on for a long time, and we are so excited to invite you to participate. Feel free to pass this information on to other women who share a desire to teach God’s Word. We would love to have you join us!

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I just turned forty. I’ve been married to “Pastor Kyle” for almost half my life. We have five kids and two dogs. Our 17-year-old daughter and four boys (ages 15, 13, 11, and 6), keep our house filled with signs of good, loud, and hilarious life, music, singing, movie-quoting, and laughter. Meanwhile, seventeen years into parenting, I still crave the elusive privilege of stillness, reflection, and deep thought.

I am a lover of place, rootedness, and stability. But I know this because God has called me to more change and moving than I’d planned for. We’ve worked in a rural Texas town, in Houston, and for the past seven years our family has lived in Baltimore, Maryland where my husband pastored a small church plant. Each season of ministry has been sweet and stretching; each filled with many opportunities for self-examination and dependence on Christ. Through these uncomfortable seasons of change, upheaval, and grief, I’ve learned how to rely on God as my ever-present help in times of trouble. When I hold fast to him, I am never rootless or unmoored.

This spring our family enters another season of change as we just moved home to Texas where my husband will pastor a church east of Dallas. As we settle into a new town and church community, I am grateful and eager to launch this new book because my days will be filled with opportunities to speak of God’s mercies, sharing how Christ has sustained me in seasons of plenty and want. Encouraging others in Christ, encourages me.

Christ is the strong word that rings true in our discouragement. He offers believers better encouragement, by offering us himself.

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

I earned my undergrad degree in communication but always hated writing. I preferred speaking, teaching, acting, radio. Anything but sitting still and writing. Instead, I stumbled into writing when I begrudgingly took up blogging as a young mom in 2011. I felt called to ministry through discipleship and Bible teaching, but I didn’t know how to begin doing “the real work of ministry” outside of my home, while still being faithful to raise my four babies. So, I decided to start a blog I called “Worship Rejoices,” and to write “when sleeping children permit.”

To my delight, God opened additional doors and I began writing for The Gospel Coalition, Desiring God, Revive Our Hearts, and other online platforms. As I formed friendships with other like-minded writers, we encouraged and cheered one another on toward faithful stewardship. One of those encouragers happened to be you, Melissa!

One afternoon after talking to you and confessing my own fears and insecurities, you spurred me to take courage and pitch my book idea. In God’s kindness, it ultimately led to publishing my first book, “Growing in Godliness: A Teen Girl’s Guide to Maturity in Christ,” with Crossway in 2019. Now I’m delighted to have the opportunity to work together as I publish my second book. I’ve blossomed as a writer, largely because of the encouragement I’ve gained from a number of faithful encouragers within this ministry world.

My favorite part about writing is meeting and forming real-life friendships with other writers and thinkers. These relationships help me better understand God, myself, and others. It’s such a privilege to see and hear so many stories of how God is at work in his people, throughout his church and to be tasked with the work of carrying on the gospel message.

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

Yes! I think my question would be, “Is writing ever easy for people?” Writing has never been easy for me. I could talk, listen, and verbally process all day long. But sitting down to write and concisely organize my thoughts continues to be painful even years into writing. I’ve sort of made peace with the fact that this is the toilsome labor I’m called to and it’s ok if it feels like the ground is fighting against me.

Working through writer’s block or difficult seasons has strengthened me; the struggle is what helps me become a better writer. Adversity is a necessary part of God’s training and equipping. It’s how God strips and sanctifies me. As I’ve been forced to be still and wait on God, I’ve learned to depend on his grace. As I’ve prayed for God to open doors, provide opportunities, and use my work for his purposes, I’ve learned to look for God’s gifts of mercy. In the search for his help, I’ve found fellowship in holding his right hand.

The best way for me to stay engaged in the discipline of writing is to continue to show up and write. Even when I’m nervous. Even when I wonder if it’s terrible. Even when I don’t feel like I’m succeeding. And then, to trust the Lord to plant and sow seeds wherever he pleases. Sometimes I get to catch a glimpse of the fruit, sometimes I don’t. In plenty and in want, I aim to work diligently with increasing skill and to surround myself with other writers who nourish my soul and cheer me on to greater kingdom service.

What led you to write A Better Encouragement: Trading Self-Help for True Hope?

We need more than cliche one-liners we find on Instagram posts or on hand-painted signs we hang in our hallways. We need more than the comfort of empty words.

The trust is a little embarrassing. But honestly, I was discouraged. I noticed that a lot of women, myself included, are desperately seeking attention and affirmation from one another because we’re weary or weighed down by guilt and shame. I noticed how many friends on social media seemed to post and repost sentiments that seemed like shallow counsel and comfort for the heart of a Christian. I started to ask the Lord if we were missing the point of encouragement.

What did Paul mean when he instructed believers in the New Testament to “encourage one another like this?” Countless stories throughout Scripture helped me to understand my own need for God’s help and comfort. Through writing this book, God has taught me to long for better encouragement for my own heart and to ensure it’s what I’m providing in order to strengthen the hearts of others.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

Every Christian faces opportunities of discouragement. When we do, where do we turn? As followers of Jesus, we need to know what to do and where to turn for words of encouragement that do more than just make us feel better temporarily. We need promises that actually help because they are filled with truth and hope.

Where does your help come from when you feel like giving up hope? What do you do when someone assures you “You’ve got this,” and you know they’re wrong?

Christians need a dependable source of better encouragement. We need more than cliche one-liners we find on Instagram posts or on hand-painted signs we hang in our hallways. We need more than the comfort of empty words.

God’s promises are capable of providing believers with more comfort than fleeting warm fuzzy feelings. Christ is the strong word that rings true in our discouragement. He offers believers better encouragement, by offering us himself. Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, our hearts are filled with practical encouragement that enlivens our hope in each and every discouragement.

How has writing this book affected your own life?

The biggest shift has been that I am far more careful about how I encourage others. I regret how many times in the past I’ve spoken well-meaning, but totally untrue words and sentiments of comfort or help, because I knew they were the words of encouragement the recipient craved. When I depend on Scripture to speak a better word of encouragement, I’m able to offer stronger counsel.

When I’m given an opportunity to speak words of comfort or help into someone’s life, I’m learning to pause and silently plead with the Spirit for his wisdom. I quietly search Scripture for words of grace that might give strength or speak peace. I try to remove my own agenda and speak words that point to God’s promised good, his presence, his nearness, and his help.

Lindsey Carlson is a pastor’s wife, a mother of five, and a native Texan. She enjoys writing, speaking, teaching women the Bible, and making disciples that grow by God’s grace. She is the author of Growing in Godliness: A Teen Girl’s Guide to Maturing in Christ. To find more, visit LindseyCarlson.net.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m a true Midwesterner, born and raised in the town of Normal, Illinois (yes, it’s a real place!), and although my husband and I have moved around a lot in our 15 years of marriage, we’re now in Michigan and couldn’t love it more. Michael is a pastor and I wear several hats—I’m a pastor’s wife, homeschooling mom of two, and author. I also teach and coach female Christian writers! I love mentoring and discipling women, both in the local church and through my work as a writer.

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

I started writing as a child, and I’ve never stopped! From the start, writing was a way for me to process life, and I still remember my childhood diary that had a lock and key to keep my thoughts safe. As I grew in my faith, writing remained a joy but also became a discipline that helped me grow in my relationship with the Lord through journaling, prayer, and reflection.

These days, writing is my profession, but it remains my passion. Whether it’s with paper and pen or the clack of keys on my laptop, writing is the clearest way I work through my faith. I love studying the Word of God and then writing about how the truth of the gospel transforms our daily lives. My hope is that my words both encourage and challenge my readers to draw close to Christ himself.

Unfulfilled longings are meant to draw us to the One who will fulfill every longing and fill every empty cup.

What led you to write The Path to Peace?

Our family was walking through a very challenging season of church hurt, job loss, and transition, and I was deeply impacted by Hebrews 11. The Biblical men and women who continued following God “by faith” when they had no clarity about their immediate future (or the timing of the coming of the Messiah) both encouraged and challenged me. As we faced our own trials, I read, over and over again, that although the Biblical saints faced great troubles, they kept obeying God, following him, and trusting him. They were steady—even peaceful—in the midst of suffering.

In light of the lives of these saints, I became keenly aware of how greatly my circumstances had been shaping my sense of peace—or lack thereof. I longed to grow in the spiritual discipline of trusting the Lord and walking in his unshakeable peace, regardless of what was going on circumstantially. The Path to Peace was born out of the Biblical study that undergirded my own growth. My hope and prayer is that it will help readers find firm footing in the Word and experience Christ’s peace in their situations, as well.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

The world’s version of peace relies on easy circumstances and a lack of emotional distress. But the peace that Jesus offers his followers relies on only one thing—Christ himself.

Christ is the true source of the peace that our souls crave, and he has already given us the promise of his peace in the middle of our trials and fears through the presence of his Holy Spirit: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).

Because of what Jesus has already accomplished through his life, death, and resurrection, his peace is available to us, no matter what we face. We have peace with God; we can also have peace in whatever trials come our way. The Path to Peace offers readers a clear, Biblical route to walk in that peace through Scripture, story, and reflection.

How has writing this book affected your own life?

Well, I will say that writing a book about peace during an international pandemic—combined with a cross-country move and new pastoral position for my husband—offered countless opportunities to practice what this book is proclaiming!

The peace that Jesus offers his followers relies on only one thing—Christ himself.

It was God’s gift to me, because spending the better part of two years studying Biblical peace has been an immense treasure for my own soul. Now, I’m quicker to recognize when I start looking for peace from my circumstances rather than from Christ—and I’m much more aware of my need to turn to his Word for his comfort and assurance. And, perhaps because of the Biblical study I’ve done for this book, I more fully understand that much of life will always be hard. Yet in every situation, God’s presence, truth, and comfort will more than supply all of our needs in Christ Jesus. Yes, we will face trouble—but we can take heart, because Christ has overcome the world.

Here’s what others are saying: 

“Ann’s gentle and authentic voice welcomes readers as she points them to truth. I’m grateful for Ann’s work for the kingdom through her faithful writing that points to Christ.” —Emily Jensen, co-founder of Risen Motherhood and coauthor of Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments.

“The Path to Peace will be a balm to your soul, a beacon of hope, and a declaration of God’s loving-kindness that never fails for his people.” —Gretchen Saffles, bestselling author of The Well-Watered Woman

“Ann Swindell’s exuberant retellings of biblical narratives will capture your interest and lead you back to the Scriptures.”
—Megan Hill, editor of The Gospel Coalition, author of Patience: Waiting with Hope, pastor’s wife

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

One of two places: Either exploring a new lakeside Michigan town with my family (preferably in the summer), or sipping Earl Grey tea and reading a book. Either sounds delightful to me!

Ann Swindell is the author of the new book The Path to Peace: Experiencing God’s Comfort When You’re Overwhelmed. She writes for The Gospel Coalition, Risen Motherhood, Deeply Rooted, and other ministries. Ann is the owner of Writing with Grace and holds an MFA in creative nonfiction writing. She lives in West Michigan with her pastor husband and two kids, and you can connect with her online at AnnSwindell.com.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m married to my best friend, Trey, and we live in Pittsburgh with our two daughters Verity and Clemence. I’ve lived in ten cities across three continents over my lifetime and I anticipate more moves ahead of us as the Lord calls. I am currently the Managing Director for the Center for House Church Theology and the Content Director for China Partnership. I first went to China almost twenty years ago as a college student and have been drawn to serve there since. I believe the future of the evangelical church is in China and we have much to learn from our Chinese brothers and sisters.

When did you first start writing?  What do you enjoy about it?

I started writing in college, but my real love for writing began when I was living in China. It was my primary way of processing before the Lord the injustice and suffering I saw in our city. Writing allowed me to cry out to God and also share with others back home what I was seeing and experiencing. I learned that writing powerfully shaped my own spiritual growth and motivated others to care and pray for these issues that were far away from their daily realities. Most of my writing and editing serves to give voice to believers in other countries who might never be heard without their voices being translated and published. That’s why I chose to compile this book of translated evangelistic sermons preached by Chinese house church pastors through the pandemic. This book doesn’t contain much of my own writing apart from the introduction, but I love being able to share the powerful and beautiful words of others! 

The need for the gospel was greater than the need for security

Is writing ever difficult for you?  How so?

I’ve found that my own writing goes quickly, but editing is more challenging as it takes time and consideration to keep the integrity of the author’s original work. Since this book was edited from raw translation, it took even more effort to make sure the prose was beautiful and winsome for the reader. But it’s been rewarding to hear how this book has already been moving for people who might not have heard these voices otherwise.

What led you to compile Faith in the Wilderness: Words of Exhortation from the Chinese Church? 

I was in Malaysia helping staff an international convention of church leaders, many who were from the Chinese house church, when the pandemic hit in 2020. In the days leading up to the convention, it became apparent that thousands of house church leaders would not be able to leave China. This was devastating for many Chinese Christians who probably never worshipped openly and publicly like they would have been able to in Malaysia. The leadership boldly and surprisingly decided to livestream the convention into China, an unprecedented decision that went against many security plans. Their motto was “Let the Light shine in the darkness!” The need for the gospel was greater than the need for security, therefore, thousands across China watched the livestreams as the pandemic broke out.

When the convention ended, the Chinese leaders who preached faced returning to a country in turmoil. Nevertheless, they all agreed that the public preaching had to continue. The pandemic wasn’t a time to hide, it was the time to evangelize. The same group began hosting public, online evangelism meetings where thousands listened across China. I quickly realized these sermons needed to be translated for the global church. Our brothers in China had great courage and wisdom to evangelize at the height of the pandemic. Their understanding of the gospel, deep love for Jesus, understanding of suffering in light of eternity, and burning desire to preach to their fellow Chinese led me to compile this book. I hope it is just as convicting and encouraging for all who read this book.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

I hope readers will encounter the gospel message with fresh eyes and be comforted by the testimonies of faithful men and women who have endured suffering and persecution for the sake of Christ. This book is filled with pastoral care as the messages were originally intended to minister to those in China who are weary of suffering. I hope people learn from the testimonies about persecution, realizing what it truly means to be a Christian witness. I hope these sermons help people process and reflect on their own experiences and losses during the pandemic, ultimately pointing them to Christ. Even though these messages were preached for an audience on the other side of the world, I hope readers see they are still relatable. I hope they are challenged by the testimonies of faithfulness despite suffering and sorrow, strive to follow in these brother and sisters footsteps, and keep their eyes on what lies ahead “on the other side of the sea.”

How has working on this book affected your own life?

Working on this book was a lifeline for me while my family endured a very difficult time due to the pandemic. We were living in Europe at the beginning of 2020 for my husband’s research when the pandemic broke out. His program was abruptly shut down and we had to sell our possessions or leave them behind in four days in order to get one of the last flights back to the US before they banned international travel. We were displaced for a year and a half, but our gracious extended family let us live with them while we got back on our feet. It was a traumatic and humbling experience for me, totally out of my control.  Working on this book during that time deeply impacted my experience of suffering. It challenged my understanding of the Christian life and what it means to be united to Christ. I gained a better eschatological perspective for suffering by “walking the way of the cross.” Many American Christians often struggle to embrace suffering because we live with abundant comfort compared to other parts of the world. Therefore, we need voices from those places to teach us faithfulness in the face of hardship. This certainly has been true for me and I am forever grateful for the privilege of sitting at their feet during a difficult season of suffering.

Many American Christians often struggle to embrace suffering because we live with abundant comfort compared to other parts of the world. Therefore, we need voices from those places to teach us faithfulness in the face of hardship.

For a sneak peek, here are some quotes:

“Being a Christian in this world is simple. It is service and worship, prayer and thanksgiving, without regard for our own lives. Only when you stop worrying about your life can you live out your faith in this deadly world. Those who are afraid of death and care about this life too much do not dare to serve the Lord.” – Simon Liu

“The Christian’s hope lies in this: we are not stronger or purer than others. Instead, rather than believing in ourselves, we believe in Jesus, who upholds us when we fall, who comforts us when we give up, who strengthens us when our strength is drained, who loves us when we are in pain, who does not give us up even when we are hopeless about ourselves.” – Guo Muyun

Here’s what others are saying:

“I cannot recommend this wonderful collection of sermons enough. Its exhortation to all who read can be summarized by one sentence in the second sermon: “Christians are those who worship God without regard for their own lives.” May this characterize the way all of us live! Rising out of the soil of suffering, these sermons brim with biblical wisdom, gospel clarity and comfort, and unquenchable Christian hope. Feed yourself on the riches here; you will be thankful that you did.” —Paul Tripp, Pastor, Speaker, Author, Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn’t Make Sense

“Faith in the Wilderness is a timely resource for Christians in the freer world, marking a significant moment in church history. Saturated with knowledge of endurance under cultural and political hostility, our Chinese Christian family has delivered much more than a rich repository of scholarship; they’ve given all Followers of the Way reflections on survival and flourishing to help shape the next generation of global Christians into the image of Christ.” —K.A. Ellis, Director, The Edmiston Center for the Study of the Bible and Ethnicity

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

I would go for a walk in Frick Park, one of Pittsburgh’s many wonderful city parks, and then I would hit up one of the art museums. With a good coffee in hand of course!

Hannah Nation received her Master of Arts in Church History from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Nation currently serves as the Managing Director of the Center for House Church Theology and as the Content Director for China Partnership.

If you pre-order the book today, you will receive 5 free videos of Hunter and her kids modeling the Scripture memory method described in the book! I love the way Hunter is so joyful as she teaches God’s Word to her children. Her delight is contagious—and our kids can learn so much about God by witnessing our affection for him. These fun, scripture memory videos are designed to offer additional support to families that may need a little extra help getting started. They are available to anyone who pre-orders the book before April 19, 2022.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m Hunter Beless, the happy wife of Brooks, my friend and confidant of the past decade. God has sustained us through eight years of military service, seven moves, and the birth of our three, beautiful children, Hadley (7), Davy (5), and Bo (3). I spend the bulk of my days homeschooling and learning alongside our kiddos, but in the fringe hours, I sneak into my closet to write and share conversations for the Journeywomen podcast. When I’m not homeschooling, writing, or podcasting, I love camping, hiking, and snuggling up with a good book.

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

As a newly married couple, my husband left for an intense military training program called Ranger School. During that time, Brooks could only communicate via snail mail, so I started blogging to update our family and friends on his progress. Through that little blog, the Lord provided opportunities to write for other publications, which encouraged me to continue writing on the intersection of life and theology. Putting pen to paper has become an incredibly helpful tool as I seek to apply the truths of Scripture to my everyday life.

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

I often find myself paralyzed by perfectionism—grammatically, theologically, and artistically. When I feel that way, I ask myself, “What if it’s not only about getting things right, but about knowing, loving, and worshipping God through this process?” The Lord uses writing to help me know more of who he is and to grow in my ability to communicate truths from his Word. That makes the wrestle to worship him with the words I write well worth it!

By seeking God through his Word, the Spirit sanctifies us and brings a deeper understanding of and intimacy with God.

What led you to write Read it, See it, Say it, Sing it: Knowing and Loving the Bible?

As a mom who loves and recognizes the power of God’s Word, one of my main goals is to instill in my children a mutual love for their Bibles. Most Christian parents know the importance of teaching their children to read and study the Word, but devotionals and scripture memory often result in grumbling and complaining. It can fast become a chore, far from the delight that we envision.

This reality sparked a desire for a resource designed to equip parents to teach their children the importance of Bible intake and scripture memory in a fun way that kids enjoy and understand. What if we convinced our children of their need for God’s Word by encapsulating the truth in a memorable and entertaining way? Read it, See it, Say it, Sing it! does just that, enabling parents to teach their children the importance of God’s Word by using a catchy beat, truth filled rhymes, and a memorable method of review that the whole family can practice together.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

My prayer is that reading Read it, See it, Say it, Sing it! will help children and parents understand why the Bible is so vital to the Christian life. We want our kiddos to rehearse the truths of God’s Word because it helps them see Jesus, because it’s the only book that has the power to transform their hearts, because it helps them fight sin, because it comforts their hearts and reminds them of God’s promises, and because it will help them know and love God more. That’s my heart behind the book – to help both children and their caregivers understand why Scripture is so important to us, encouraging them to reach for it however they can, whenever they can.

How has writing this book affected your own life? 

Our study of God’s Word ought to lead to true, heart transformation and life change. Nobody has a clearer picture as to whether that’s true in my life than my own kids. Writing this book challenged me to read, see, and say the truths of God’s Word in a way that truly sings of the glory of God every day, just like Deuteronomy 6 describes—when we sit in our house, when we walk by the way, when we lie down, and when we rise—all the time!

After all, our physical and spiritual existence came into being by God’s Word, and we continue to be upheld by it today. When we’re immersed in it, we begin to think, act, and become more and more like Jesus. By seeking God through his Word, the Spirit sanctifies us and brings a deeper understanding of and intimacy with God. The God of the universe—who knows the number of hairs on our heads—speaks to us through His Word! There are truly no better words by which we seek to live.

We want our kiddos to rehearse the truths of God’s Word because it helps them see Jesus, because it’s the only book that has the power to transform their hearts

Here are some endorsements: 

“This delightful, imaginative, engaging book is one that children and those who read to them will enjoy hearing over and over.  And each time it is read the wonder and beauty of God’s Word will go deeper and deeper.” —Susan Hunt, former Coordinator of Women’s Ministries for the PCA and author of several books for women and children

“There can be no more important thing in a child’s life than for them to grow to know, understand, and love not only the Word of God but also the saving grace of the God of the Word. Read it, See it, Say it, Sing it! puts a tool in the parents’ hands that helps them encourage this in their children’s lives. I highly recommend this book to moms and dads who want to pass their love for God and His Word to another generation.” —Paul David Tripp, author of New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional and Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family

“Read it, See it, Say it, Sing it! is a helpful reminder to all ages that we will grow when we rehearse the truth of God’s Word. This resource is a treasured gift for not only your children’s hearts and minds, but yours too!” —Ruth Chou Simons, Mom to 6 boys, founder of GraceLaced, and bestselling author

“Hunter skillfully engages kids with a rhyme that sticks and gets them excited about the value of God’s Word. We can’t wait to read this with our own kids, using it as a tool to help them incorporate scripture in every part of life! In a world of filler words, kids need a rhyme like this in their heads and hearts.” —Emily Jensen and Laura Wifler, cofounders of Risen Motherhood

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

Call me predictable, but I love nothing more than immersing myself in a good book, especially God’s Word. As a mom of three, young kiddos, I miss being able to sit and study the Bible for hours on end. If I had a chance to do whatever I wanted for an afternoon, it would certainly be to pull out my trusty ESV Study Bible, colored pencils, and a notebook, and to seek to know and love God more through his Word.

Hunter Beless is the founder and host of Journeywomen, the author of Read it, See it, Say it, Sing it: Knowing and Loving the Bible, and a homeschooling mama who loves doing ministry in her local church context. Hunter and her husband, Brooks, have three amazing kiddos who memorize Scripture way faster than their mama! When they’re not reading, seeing, saying, or singing the Bible, you can find the Beless family camping, riding bikes, or snuggling up with a good book.

In the season of motherhood, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and discouraged as we focus our gaze on our never-ending-always-growing list of things to do. Kristen’s refreshing new book invites moms to look up from their daily task to the loving work of Christ on our behalf. Her words warmly point us to Jesus, helping us to follow in his example of humility as we serve our families. I know this book will be such an encouragement! You can pre-order Humble Moms today.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? 

I am a pastor’s wife of eight years, a mom to two little ones (4yo and 2yo), a writer, and a speaker. I’ve had the great privilege of authoring Humble Moms and Fight Your Fears, coauthoring Hope When It Hurts, and editing TGC’s 12 Faithful Women. I also just finished writing a board book series for young kids—a blast! Brad and I are members at The Orchard in Chicagoland, where he is a campus pastor. 

A fun fact: I got my BFA in Music Theater. I love singing, reading, cycling, eating out, traveling, meeting friends, and a lazy afternoon at home with my family.

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it? 

Ten years ago—I was pursuing performing arts in New York City (an extremely hard industry and lifestyle), and I needed an outlet. So I started a blog, reflecting on what I was reading in God’s Word each morning. The writing bug bit me, and I couldn’t stop. For me, writing is a useful way to think—and I love to think—and an enjoyable way to communicate. Writing is also a way to express beauty, and I love creating beautiful rhythms through words and sentences (which, for me, is similar to writing and listening to music). Most importantly, it’s one way God weaves his truth into my soul and teaches me who he is. I often say that if God hasn’t written something on my heart, then it’s probably not worth writing about. 

Jesus’s joy is to serve his people—the high and holy God of all drawing near to us—and our privilege as moms is to constantly receive from him as we serve our kids.

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

Yes! Writing can be difficult for me. The common idea that writing is easy and just “happens naturally” is a misconception. Like any other work, writing is hard and is laced with both joy and futility. So, like any other work, it requires focus, commitment, and (sometimes) slogging. 

My two main difficulties related to writing are life-season and chronic pain. I stay home full-time with my kids, making writing time hard to come by, so I have to be laser-focused when it comes. I also struggle with pain in my hands and arms, which can make typing hard (thank God for dictation software!). But when I’m discouraged, I just keep writing, even if it’s the next sentence or paragraph. 

Hard things are often worth doing, and God has always been faithful to use the difficult discipline of writing in my heart. 

What led you to write Humble Moms? 

As a mom of two young kids, I have come to the end of myself so many times and wondered how to find the strength to keep going. Motherhood is not for the faint of heart! It requires endurance—but I wasn’t satisfied with just gritting my teeth and “getting through” it. I want to enjoy my kids and enjoy serving them, but I often wonder how that’s possible when my tendency is to grumble about the seemingly mundane work I’m doing.

I needed this book, so that’s why I wrote it. I need my eyes fixed on Jesus, who came not to be served, but to serve (Matt. 20:28) and whose heart is gentle and lowly (Matt. 10:28). It is only as we gaze at him, his perfectly humble heart and servant-hearted work, that we will be changed into his image. It is only as we come to him, needy and dependent, that our hands and our hearts will increasingly become one in this thing called motherhood. 

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

Jesus’s joy is to serve his people—the high and holy God of all drawing near to us—and our privilege as moms is to constantly receive from him as we serve our kids.

How has writing this book affected your own life?

As the day gets going and the needs start rolling in—as my lower back starts hurting and the kids start crying all at once and there isn’t enough of me to go around—I’m learning a fresh, joyful reliance on God’s moment-by-moment grace to sustain me. I’m learning not to look too far ahead (I can’t, or I’ll crumble) and to take a deep breath. I’m learning to cry, knowing Jesus cares for me and feels compassion for me, that he knows what it is to be weak and to do something hard. I’ve also learned more about the beauty of his church; so I’m more likely to pick up my phone and text friends for prayer—and I am reminded that Jesus is also praying for me right now in heaven. That gives me strength. 

At the end of the day, mama, it’s not you that keeps the world spinning. It is Christ.

And honestly, some days I collapse onto the couch at night not even sure how I got through, and feeling discouraged that I didn’t consciously think about God that day (“Have I learned anything?!”). But I know God thought about me, cared for me, and carried me. I know he is actively serving and loving me, remaining faithful, even when I am faithless. Humble and needy is the best place we can be as moms. 

For a sneak peek, here are some quotes: 

“No bad day of motherhood—no angry meltdown toward your kids, no attempts to escape from your circumstances, no wayward worship or mishandled thirst—will shut off the fountain of rich mercy and grace that is in Jesus. Quite the opposite: your thirst for him causes his plentiful provision and lavish grace to overflow to you exactly when you need it.”

“Jesus frees you, Mom, from attempting to be your own Savior, and he frees you from the impossible task of saving your children.”

“You have been bought at the cost of the Good Shepherd’s life who became your sacrificial lamb. His blood makes good on his promise. And if he went that far, would he now leave you to figure out this motherhood thing on your own?”

“Jesus’s deep affection for you fuels his attentiveness to you; he can’t possibly leave you to yourself and your own resources.”

Here are some endorsements:

“In Humble Moms, Kristen Wetherell offers us not only an excellent resource but also a lifelong pattern for motherhood: first, look at Christ, and see who he is and what he’s done. Then, as his beloved, consider how emulating him through service to our kids is worship. Every mom who longs to love God and her children well should read this book!” —Christine Hoover, mom of three boys and author of How to Thrive as a Pastor’s Wife

“I’m so grateful for the way Humble Moms invites weary moms to gaze on Jesus, embrace his humility, and ultimately be refreshed for the task of motherhood. Kristen points us beyond the things we do and helps us think about who we are—being made more and more like Christ.” —Ruth Chou Simons, Wall Street Journal bestselling author, artist, and founder of gracelaced.com

“Kristen wrote a book about motherhood by writing a book about Jesus! By taking moms on a deep dive in the Gospel of John, she invites readers to be satisfied with Christ. Moms will walk away with a deeper understanding of humility and a roadmap for serving like Christ in their own lives.” —Emily Jensen, cofounder of Risen Motherhood, coauthor of Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

It would be summertime in June, a lovely 72-degree day with blue skies and a slight breeze, and you would find me reading a book in my front yard, next to my husband, while watching my kids play in the grass.

Kristen Wetherell is a pastor’s wife, mother, and writer. She is the author of Humble Moms and Fight Your Fears, coauthor of the award-winning book Hope When It Hurts, and editor of 12 Faithful Women. She also enjoys teaching the Bible to women at conferences and retreats. Read Kristen’s writing on her website and connect with her on Instagram.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Currently, I live in my home state of Colorado with my family. My husband and I just celebrated 23 years of marriage and we have four daughters who are now teens and young adults. Our family has spent many years doing missions and church planting in Japan and the Czech Republic. Our current church plant, Redemption Parker, just turned five years old, which is a huge gift! In the past six years, since our return from overseas, I have been writing, speaking, and podcasting in hopes of encouraging women in their love of Jesus and growing a biblical worldview. A couple other fun facts: I’m just shy of 6’ tall, and my 6’ 5” husband is the skilled and generous chef in our family.

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

With an English teacher for a mom and an attorney for a dad, I think I was bound to become a communicator and passionate advocate for truth. I was the editor of my high school newspaper and went to college to pursue journalism. But it wasn’t until we hit the mission field that I became focused on communicating the truths of God and what he’s doing around the globe. I longed to give our friends and family back home a glimpse of God’s goodness on the other side of the world. It was through newsletters and blogging about God’s faithfulness that I really gained a desire to write more about Jesus and a Christian perspective on global events and cultural trends. My sweet spot in writing is applying theology to anthropology—discerning and sharing what the Bible has to say about what’s happening here and now.

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

Yes, absolutely! As a Christian writer my biggest fear is unintentionally misrepresenting our God or his Word. That (good) fear can immobilize me. I try to mitigate it by reading and studying deeply and inviting plenty of theologians and mature believers to edit my work as I go. My second biggest fear is unintentionally wounding the reader. Because I often write about controversial cultural topics, I am gravely aware that even if my motives and words are good, sometimes they will wound. I pray about this every time I write, and I invite frequent feedback from trusted sources. And finally, writing is just hard work. It takes discipline to sit down and put pen to paper in a winsome and helpful way. This too requires prayer and accountability, plus careful scheduling so that I can be faithful to God’s call on my life.

What led you to write Cultural Counterfeits?

I have been in women’s ministry for over 20 years. It has been one of the greatest privileges and joys of my life. In that time, I have seen (and experienced myself) the harm caused by cultural counterfeits—these are the idols of our age that promise identity, life, and freedom, but ultimately deliver exploitation, enslavement, and even death. This book seeks to do two things: pull back the facade on the empty promises of our age and to show women and girls that we were made for an abundant and very good life in Jesus.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

My greatest hope for this book is that readers will come to the end of it with an unshakable belief that we were made for so much more than this world has to offer. While the idols exposed make for some very heavy reading, the immeasurable grace and mercy of our God is poured out on every page as well. There’s both truth and grace in this book. More than anything, I want women and girls to see that we have a Father who loves us unconditionally and lavishly. As in the parable of the Prodigal Son, he is watching us, even now, while we’re a long way off, and is eager to run out to us, embrace us, and bring us home to his feast (Luke 15:11:32).

What’s real is that we have a good God, and he stands ready to heal. Let’s go home, friends. Life was meant to be so much more. A feast awaits. There will always, always be a place for us at our Father’s table.

How has writing this book affected your own life?

Writing Cultural Counterfeits has affected me in two ways. First, I have grown in my awe and gratitude of God’s mercy and goodness. Nothing is beyond his forgiveness, and nothing can separate us from his love. More and more I realize I am made for home—and home is where my Father is. Secondly, being immersed in the sociological data covered in this book has made me more vigilant and aware of the pitfalls of this age when it comes to myself, my daughters, and other women I love. These idols are tenacious and antagonistic, and with God’s help, I want to stand strong against them and help others do the same.

For a sneak peek, here is a snippet from her book:

“Through Jesus we have so much more than we could have ever dreamed, so much more than we deserve.

Home is a person. His name is Jesus.

Human well-being requires harmony with reality. East of Eden, we’ve been seeking and striving after meaning and significance. Like the Prodigal, we’ve sought it out in a far country: outward beauty and ability, cheap sex, abortion, and changing identities on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. But we’ve been left hungry, exhausted, and homeless by these empty promises of our age. Like the older brother, we’ve sought identity and peace through right behavior, exalting the good gifts of marriage and motherhood way beyond their rightful place. These empty promises have left us angry, disappointed, and unsatisfied because they haven’t delivered what they said they would. We’ve missed out on harmony because we’ve rejected reality.

What’s real is that we have a good God, and he stands ready to heal. Let’s go home, friends. Life was meant to be so much more. A feast awaits. There will always, always be a place for us at our Father’s table” (pgs. 197-198).

Through Jesus we have so much more than we could have ever dreamed, so much more than we deserve.

Here’s what others are saying:

“In Cultural Counterfeits, Jen Oshman addresses some of the most significant and sensitive issues of our day with a combination of informed integrity, biblical insight, and godly compassion. In these pages you will find a winsome call away from the world’s false promises and toward what is real, true, and beautiful.”

– Nancy Guthrie, Bible teacher; author, Even Better than Eden

“This book is provocative in all the right ways. Jen Oshman wants to ensure that women don’t settle for less than God’s good and glorious intention for their life. Jen takes on some of the most pressing issues of our day, boldly proclaiming biblical truth while overflowing with gospel grace that soothes the sinner’s heart and breaks the Pharisee’s pride.”

– Trevin Wax, Vice President of Research and Resource Development, North American Mission Board; author, This Is Our Time

“Women are confronted with all sorts of ideas in today’s culture. It’s hard to know what is true and what truth is to be believed. Jen Oshman unpacks the most common ideas women face with care, research, and a more beautiful vision of God’s plan for us. Jen has years of experience as a ministry worker of the gospel, as a student of the word, and as a mom of daughters. As a mom of sons and as someone who ministers to women, I’m thankful for her work! This is a book I plan to give to the women I minister to, and I hope you will do the same.”

– Courtney Reissig, author, Teach Me to Feel and The Accidental Feminist

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

In an alpine meadow, high in the Rocky Mountains, with my friends and family, enjoying a lavish picnic and tons of laughter.

Jen Oshman has been in women’s ministry for over two decades as a missionary and pastor’s wife on three continents. She’s the mother of four daughters, the author of Enough about Me: Find Lasting Joy in the Age of Self (Crossway, 2020) and Cultural Counterfeits: Confronting 5 Empty Promises of Our Age and How We Were Made for So Much More (Crossway, March 2022), and the host of All Things, a podcast about cultural events and trends. Her family currently resides in Colorado, where they planted Redemption Parker, an Acts29 church. Jen’s passion is encouraging women in their love of Jesus and growing a Biblical worldview. You can find her writing and podcast at jenoshman.com.

The book of Romans offers a beautiful and thorough presentation of the gospel. It’s rich with theological insights as it highlights the holiness and mercy of God in response to our sin. Courtney walks us through this sometimes intimidating book of the Bible in a way that makes it accessible to someone who is new to Scripture, insightful for the seasoned Bible reader, and transformational for all. You can purchase her new study today.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I am the wife of Craig, mother of four adult children, mother-in-law to two amazing women, and, my very favorite, “CC” to five precious grandchildren. 

Craig and I had the unique privilege of attending Covenant Seminary together in St. Louis. We graduated with our Master of Divinity degrees in 2013. Since then, I have written four Bible studies: From Garden to Glory: A Bible Study on the Bible’s Story, Steadfast: A Devotional Bible Study on the Book of James, Remember Your Joy; Salvation Stories in the Old Testament (co-authored with you, Melissa!) and, the latest, In View of God’s Mercies: The Gift of the Gospel in Romans.

I currently serve as the coordinator of women’s initiatives for The Gospel Coalition. I love Jesus, God’s Word, and his people. I also love (to a lesser degree) my goofy dog, Walter, pizza, store-bought birthday cake, and sitting on my porch with good friends. 

When did you first start teaching the Bible? What do you enjoy about it?

I didn’t become a Christian until my early twenties, but early in my faith God gave me a hunger for his Word. I was eager to share all I was learning with others. In my late twenties, a pastor asked me to co-teach a Wednesday night class with him. I was terrified, but he did three things that were so helpful: he met with me to make sure I understood the lesson; he gave me the opportunity to teach; and he gave me constructive feedback. To this day, I seek to do the same for younger teachers.

After that, I began teaching women’s Bible study in my local church and speaking at retreats. One of the beautiful things about teaching is how much I learn and grow in the process. Some of my favorite moments are watching women’s excitement as the light bulbs come on, just like they did for me.

Is writing ever difficult for you? What is important to keep in mind when writing a Bible study?

Writing is always difficult for me! Even though I’m an author (only by God’s grace!) I really don’t consider myself a writer. I don’t process my thoughts through journaling and I’m not a trained writer. When I sit down to a blank page, my stomach actually hurts. I wonder how in the world I will ever have enough words to fill that one page in a way that is helpful for others. But God has taken those blank pages and those stomach aches and turned them into something that, I hope, points us back to him.

The first piece of advice I would offer someone wanting to write a Bible study would be this: let your readers see the results of your work, not all the sweat it took to get there. Meaning, we can discover so many fascinating tidbits along the way, and the temptation is to share every one. But we serve our readers best when we prayerfully discern what is the most helpful. 

My second piece of advice is to have good friends read your work and give you good input along the way. My dear friend Bunny reads everything I write and offers constructive feedback before I send it anywhere. 

What led you to write In View of God’s Mercies: The Gift of the Gospel in Romans? 

The book of Romans is considered by many to be the most significant of all Paul’s letters. Many scholars will go so far as to say it is one of the most significant books in the New Testament and maybe even in all of Scripture! And I have long loved Romans. So, when Lifeway presented me with the opportunity to write a Bible study on it, I jumped at it. 

My hope for this study is that it will prove to be an accessible tool that helps us all dive into this remarkable book. Because of the richness and depth of what Paul wrote in Romans, it is a vastly important part of Scripture for every believer to study—and it would be my joy and privilege to be part of how you engage with this beautiful book!

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from this study?

God’s glorious gospel of grace doesn’t just change your eternal future; it changes your present reality. Meaning, God’s salvation isn’t only for the age to come. God saves you now—today. Today you have hope. Today you have peace. Today you are loved. Today the Spirit and the Son pray for you. Today God is working all things for your good and his glory. We look forward to that glorious day when we will see him face-to-face, but he has also drawn near to us through his Son today. 

God’s glorious gospel of grace doesn’t just change your eternal future; it changes your present reality.

How has writing this book affected your own life?

His salvation is deeper, wider, higher, stronger, and better than we’ll ever be able to understand.

Studying Romans has caused me to marvel even more at the gospel message. Or maybe more accurately, I have marveled more at the God who gives us the gospel message. His salvation is deeper, wider, higher, stronger, and better than we’ll ever be able to understand. It is marvelous and mysterious, and it caused Paul to burst forth in praise saying, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?’ ‘Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?’ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen” (Rom 11:33-36). May it have the same effect on all of us. 

For a sneak peek, here are some quotes: 

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

We have a new porch swing that is to be delivered in the next few weeks. It’s the size of an actual twin bed, complete with a mattress and pillows. We are going to hang it under a covered porch, so whether it’s rainy or sunny, hot or cold, I hope that is exactly where you will be able to find me just about any day of the week.

To hear more about this new study, make sure to watch this video of Courtney talking about her heart behind In View of God’s Mercies:

Courtney Doctor is an author, Bible teacher, frequent conference and retreat speaker, and periodic blogger. She received an MDiv from Covenant Theological Seminary in 2013 and is the author of From Garden to Glory: A Bible Study on the Bible’s Story (2016); Steadfast: A Devotional Bible Study on the Book of James (2019); and In View of God’s Mercies: The Gift of the Gospel in Romans (2022). She currently serves as coordinator of women’s initiatives for The Gospel Coalition. Her greatest desire in all of this is to faithfully study, apply, and teach the word of God and help others do the same.

God has blessed Courtney and her husband, Craig, with four wonderful children, two amazing daughters-in-law, five sweet grandchildren—and their much-loved, goofy dog, Walter.

If you’re active in helping lead a women’s ministry in your local church, we’ve created this Women’s Ministry Leadership Cohort to provide a space where you can connect with other women, share ideas, and hear teaching that pertains to your work in the church. Below you’ll find a few more details about what to expect.

What is a Women’s Ministry Leadership Cohort?

Our Women’s Ministry Leadership Cohort exists to come alongside women’s ministry leaders in the local church through training, resourcing, and fostering a community of support. Our time together will include teaching, small group discussion, and prayer. There will be no homework, but we will provide a variety of recommended resources you can use. 

Our sessions together will include topics like:

• The Why’s and How’s of Women’s Ministry
• How to Facilitate Small Groups
• Sabbath Rest in Ministry
• The Use of Scripture in Life-on-Life Ministry

Why Should I Join?

Women who lead women’s ministry in a local church often feel isolated and under-resourced. We’ve seen great benefits from helping form connections between women’s ministry leaders around the country, as well as providing further equipping and resourcing. 

When Will They Meet?

Our next cohort will meet from January 11–March 1 once a week on Tuesday mornings for two hours via Zoom. Times are as follows:

EST: 11am-1pm
CST: 10am-12pm
MST: 9am-11am
PST: 8am-10am

How Do I Register?

Registration is now open! Spots are limited, so be sure to register soon. The registration fee is $250/person for an eight-week course.

If you’re interested in joining a cohort, but the logistics of this training don’t work for you, please fill out this form and we will let you know when we schedule our next cohort. 

We hope you’ll join us and we look forward to partnering with you as you serve your local church! 

Recommendations from our first WMLC

When I was invited to join the church staff as the director of women’s ministries, I felt quite “out of my depth.” The TGC Women’s Ministry Leadership Cohort is one of the ways God has provided help. Being able to discuss Scripture, share ministry strategies, and pray with other women’s ministry leaders is a gift that proves God is equipping us to do the work he calls us to do.

Heather English | Director of Women’s Ministries  at The Orchard 

TGC’s Women’s Ministry Leadership Cohort gave me the refreshment, encouragement, and comradery I needed. Each week we gained practical, biblical training and engaged with sisters who understand the unique roles and responsibilities given to women’s ministry leaders. I highly recommend that women serving in a local church engage in all that these cohorts provide. You will be nourished and trained, and will gain a tribe of new friends who “get it.”

Kristie Harrick | Women’s Ministry Director at Briarwood Presbyterian Church

Written with compassion, honesty, humility, and biblical wisdom, it’s clear Ruth understands the demands women experience, as well as the pressure we put on ourselves. This book is a needed (and welcome) word of refreshment, reminding us of who God is and what he has already accomplished for us in Christ. If you’re weary of the try-harder-do-more-it’s-never-enough hamster wheel of life, I encourage you to read this book! It releases October 12 and you can pre-order it now.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I live in western Colorado with my husband Troy and our six boys (ages 8 to 19). I’m an author of a few books, speaker, and the founder of GraceLaced.com, through which I get to share products that feature my artwork and inspire people with beauty and truth.

What led you to write When Strivings Cease? How is this book different from your other books?

When Strivings Cease is really the backstory—the full story—of how God’s grace changed my life. I’ve written and painted my way through several devotional-based books (GraceLaced, Beholding and Becoming, and Foundations) that serve to help readers engage more deeply with God’s Word, but this is the first time I’ve shared about my Asian-American story and how God rescued me from a life of striving and performance with His unmerited favor.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from When Strivings Cease?

I long for readers to stop asking the question, ‘Am I enough?’ and to find that God truly is.

My hope is that readers (whether they are new or seasoned in their walk with Christ) would rethink their obsession with approval and fear of never measuring up, and discover anew what God meant for us to receive through the grace of God. I long for readers to stop asking the question, “Am I enough?” and to find that God truly is. My prayer is that readers would see self-help (and the striving that results from it) for what it really is—a dead end street that won’t save or satisfy.

How has writing this book affected your own life?

Writing a book about our cultural addiction to approval, belonging, and self-striving—and how God’s grace through Jesus is better than our very best efforts—is ultimately convicting and humbling. You can’t delve deep into the good news of the amazing grace of God without reckoning with the depth of sin that makes his rescue just that sweet.

For a sneak peek, here are some quotes:

“We might not say we believe a Jesus-plus-our-efforts idea of the gospel, but when we place our performances on the pedestal of personal progress, we’re not relying on the grace of God. We’re worshiping the gospel of self-reliance.”

“Your welcome was never, and is never, dependent on you.”

“God wants our true worship, not our perfect performance.”

“We can’t know freedom if we expect grace to make us merely better, rather than completely new.”

“God’s grace is a life raft, not a cruise ship.”

Here’s what others are saying:

“When faced with our self-worth deficit, we are often told to choose between two seemingly conflicting paths: self-acceptance or self-improvement. Ruth invites us into an understanding of how grace shapes the Christ-follower through both surrender and growth. These are not theological abstractions for her, but hard-won truths borne from her own tenderly told story. When Strivings Cease invites us to learn how grace frees us from the terrible treadmill of earning approval and sets us firmly on the path of growing in Christlikeness.”

—Jen Wilkin, author and Bible teacher

“Freedom. Freedom from self. Freedom from striving. Freedom from guilt. Freedom to truly live and enjoy God.

As I turned the pages of When Strivings Cease, the word freedom repeated in my head like a mantra—Ruth is marching us toward freedom in Christ.

Through biblical teaching and vulnerability, Ruth helps us understand grace and the real Jesus we all long to know. I’ll be returning to this book for years to come, and so will you.”

—Trillia Newbell, author of God’s Very Good Idea, Sacred Endurance, and If God Is for Us

“When Strivings Cease is a breath of fresh air. Ruth is not only a wonderful storyteller, but she is remarkably open about her own journey and struggle with performing for God. I could relate to her experience on so many levels and appreciate the focus on God’s grace and sufficiency. I hope you will read this book, share it with others, and be encouraged to find your ultimate identity in Christ and his grace.”

—Sean McDowell, PhD, Biola University professor, speaker, YouTuber, and author

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

I love this question as my answer has changed over the years. These days, there’s no place I’d rather be than exploring the mountains in our area with my boys—walking through wildflowers, discovering alpine lakes, and taking in God’s handiwork, which humbles me as I seek to reflect him through creativity. An afternoon spent this way is always good for my soul.

Ruth Chou Simons is a bestselling and award-winning author of several books—including GraceLaced, Beholding and Becoming, and Foundations. She is an artist, entrepreneur, and speaker, using each of these platforms to spiritually sow the Word of God into people’s hearts. Through her online shoppe at GraceLaced.com and her social media community, Simons shares her journey of God’s grace intersecting daily life with word and art. Ruth and her husband, Troy, are grateful parents to six boys–their greatest adventure.

It releases on September 1st, along with its accompanying Any Time, Any Place, Any Prayer Coloring and Activity Book. You can pre-order it today!

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m Laura Wifler, wife to Mike and mom to my three, wild and wonderful children: Eli (8), Colette (6), and Eden (4). I’m an author, podcaster, and the co-founder and executive director of Risen Motherhood, a ministry for moms to grow in the gospel. 

I live in central Iowa surrounded by cornfields, gravel roads, and sunsets the color of orange sherbet. It might not be on your top vacation list, but if nothing else, come visit to see the stars at night. They’ll blow you away. 

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

When I was 8, my parents gave me a little red and blue diary with a gold lock. I hid the key under my bed and wrote my innocent secrets on its pages. Over time, I wrote more and more, eventually starting a blog in 2010. Through it all, I loved the ability to capture and tell stories, to make someone feel joy, sorrow, surprise, or tension. The power of the written word stunned me then, and it’s something I’m struck by to this day. 

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

I can’t remember where I heard this advice, but someone once told me: “Go where the words are.” When writing is difficult for me, it’s usually because I’m trying to write something that’s not ready to be written yet. As a writer, I often have several assignments to work on, in addition to all the things I simply want to write about. I’ve learned that if the words aren’t coming, it’s usually best to take a break on that particular project and, instead, write what’s ready. 

Some days it’s a blog post. Other days it’s several microblogs for Instagram, or even a children’s picture book! Of course, discipline is still necessary, but allowing the ebb and flow of creativity and writing to naturally take its course has helped significantly ease my frustration when the words won’t come. 

What led you to write Any Time, Any Place, Any Prayer? 

For a long time, one of the most frequently asked questions we received at Risen Motherhood was, “How do I teach my children how to pray?” As a mom to three children, I know firsthand how much a Christian parent longs to see their child have authentic, honest communication with God. I wanted to write a book to provide children with a theology of prayer that walks through the story of Scripture, looking at the concept of prayer from the start of the Bible until the end. 

The book looks at prayer in each part of the gospel story—Creation, Fall, Redemption, and New Creation—and shows how God has always made a way for his people to talk with him. Children will see there’s a reason why prayer is sometimes awkward or hard, but because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, those of us in Christ have the Holy Spirit to help us pray about anything on our hearts. And as believers, we have a great hope to look forward to when we will someday speak with God face-to-face! 

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

My prayer is that every child and adult will discover what I have found—that prayer is a beautiful gift from a loving God. It’s a privilege and joy to talk with him any time, any place, about anything!

How has writing this book affected your own life?

I’m consistently taken aback by how similar I am to my children when it comes to prayer! Like me, sometimes they don’t want to pray, they feel embarrassed to pray, they don’t know what to pray about, or they even get bored during prayer. Like me, they bring a mix of motivations, assumptions, questions, and knowledge to prayer. As adults, we’re just much better at hiding it. 

As I worked on this book, the same truths I want to impart to the readers impacted me: God loves talking with his people, and there is nothing that should stop us from coming before the Father with confidence and trust. We are saved by grace, and we pray by grace. 

For a sneak peek, here are some quotes:  

“Many years ago – nearly as long ago as you can
go – two people lived with God in a beautiful garden. 

They were Adam and Eve, and they were friends with God. 

They could talk with him about every thought they had. 

Every question they wondered. Every feeling they felt.

They told him anything, anytime.”

“God’s people prayed many times – millions and billions of times – until one day, God the Father sent his Son, Jesus, to earth. 

Jesus invited people to be his friends. 

Because he was God, talking with him was like being back in the garden! It was awesome! 

And because Jesus was a man, he understood his friends’ feelings and their questions about living in a world spoiled by sin. 

Jesus talked with his Father, any time, any place, any prayer. He told God how he felt, what he needed, and what he was thinking.” 

Here are some endorsements: 

“In this accessible resource, kids and families will learn together that God desires to enjoy fellowship with us through prayer. . . . This book shows just how simple it is to talk with God because of what Jesus has done.”

— JT English

“This beautifully written and illustrated book has a simple message but is chock full of gospel and theology, offering us a simple, child-friendly biblical theology of prayer. Both the words and illustrations help us to see that people of every age, ability, era, and ethnicity can talk to God any time, in any place, with any prayer.” 

— Kristie Anyabwile

“What a needed reminder for all of us, young and old alike.”

— Ruth Chou Simons

When will Any Time, Any Place, Any Prayer be coming out?

The book releases September 1, 2021. But you can pre-order the book, along with its accompanying coloring and activity book, today!

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

Depending on how much brain power I had that day, it would be a toss up between writing or reading. Either way, I’d have some sort of drink in-hand, and I’d be cozied up on a couch in our home library. It’s not epic, but there’s something grounding in its simplicity. 

Laura Wifler is the co-founder of Risen Motherhood and serves as the executive director and co-host of the podcast. She is the co-author of the bestselling book, Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments, and the author of the forthcoming children’s book, Any Time, Any Place, Any Prayer (September 2021). Laura, her husband, and her three children live in central Iowa. You can find her on Instagram or at www.laurawifler.com.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? 

My name is Clayton Greene. I live in Durham with my wife, Kristen, and two girls, Cara and Susan. I’m a physical therapist turned executive pastor and church planter, and I currently serve as the director of Summit Collaborative, a family of churches. Oh yeah, on the side I run Advent Blocks with my friends Chris, Brian, and Lindsey. 

Can you tell us the story of why you created Advent Blocks? 

The idea began in 2018, when our daughter Cara said, “Mom and Dad, you say that Christmas is all about Jesus, but it feels like Christmas is all about presents.” In 2019, after trying to find a tangible, Bible-based guide that made our family excited about Jesus throughout December, we created Advent Blocks. 

My friend Chris is a published author, so I called him. He started writing, and I started cutting blocks in my garage. Then, five families in 2019 somehow exploded to 5,000 in 2020. 

How do you use Advent Blocks? Is there a guide or devotional to help? 

Advent Blocks comes with 27 wooden blocks and a 25-day Bible-based guide that is meaningful for kids ages 3 through 13 (but teenagers and parents love it, too). Before December, you line up the 25 blocks in order and place the star block on the first block and the earth block on the last one. 

Each day, you read the story and rotate that day’s block so the image is revealed. Then you move the star block one space to the right, resting on top of that day’s image—and one step closer to the earth block. Turning the block brings excitement, and the moving star gives a visible demonstration of Jesus coming to the world. 

Christmas Eve is the big reveal. When you turn all the blocks for a final quarter-turn, you see the theme of the whole guide in simple words on the blocks—Emmanuel, God with us! 

What’s the central message you hope people will take away from Advent Blocks? 

Emmanuel, God with us! The remarkable element of Christmas is that God has come to earth. But what is uniquely celebrated at Christmas isn’t actually a new thread in the biblical story. 

For people in Scripture, an experience of God’s presence changes everything. At the same time, there’s also a strong sense of longing, a desire for God’s presence to be tangible and permanent. With Advent Blocks, we tried to capture both elements—the beauty of and the longing for God’s presence—by walking through various stories in Scripture. 

The pulse of the guide is to invite people into the sense of longing for God during the Advent season, just like God’s people felt leading up to the birth of Jesus. 

How have Advent Blocks helped your family celebrate Christmas? 

It’s a joy to see our girls get as excited about Advent Blocks as they do about their presents (at least it’s close now). Every day they ask to turn the block and look forward to the reading. 

And one of our favorite parts is the nightly refrain, the rhyming end to each story the kids start saying—and praying—throughout December. It becomes so natural, they almost yell it on Christmas Day! 

For a sneak peek, here’s a video that explains more: 

Here are some endorsements: 

“Advent Blocks were a brilliant resource that helped our church family engage with The King is Coming . . . and also engage with our local community in sharing that story.”

— Dave Currie, associate minister, Knock Presbyterian Church

“Advent Blocks provided our families a beautiful way to celebrate the season of Advent. The book is rich and right-sized for children, and the blocks are sturdy and visually appealing. Thanks for making a great resource that is sure to become a treasured tradition!”

— Julie Wilding, Next Gen ministry director, The Village Church

“We wanted a resource for our families that tangibly pointed to Jesus, not just on Christmas Day but for the whole Advent season. Advent Blocks helped us accomplish that goal.”

— Josh Navey, kids pastor, Summit Church

How do I get this for my whole church? 

Sign up for our local church program.

We believe discipleship rhythms begin in the home but should be done together with the whole church. Save your families some money, and save yourself a ton of time. You can plan your whole church’s Christmas in just 10 minutes! 

How can I order a set? 

If you want to purchase a set, visit AdventBlocks.com to pre-order. (They’ll ship in October.) 

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you? 

I’m currently trying to train for a triathlon (but it’s too hot for that in the afternoon). Aside from that, I’m probably reading a book or playing DOS (a game similar to UNO) with my girls. 

The Greene family lived in Wilmington, North Carolina for four years, where Clayton was the executive pastor of The Bridge Church. They now live in Durham, North Carolina, where Clayton is the Summit Collaborative director and an elder at The Summit Church’s Downtown Durham campus. Kristen is an in-house lawyer at a clinical research company in the Triangle and claims all creative elements of Advent Blocks as her own. 

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m like the female version of Buddy the Elf. I’ve also been called a psalmist. I love sitting in God’s Word and letting the music come out. I am a seven on the Enneagram. I love to have a good time. More recently, though, I’ve been on a path of learning to sit with sadness and sorrow as I learn to lament and grieve.

I’ve found God in both places in the full spectrum of what it is to be human, which is to experience both joy and sorrow, beauty and brokenness. And I’m grateful for that. 

When did you first start writing music? What do you enjoy about it?

I first started writing music in high school. One of the first songs I ever wrote was a Psalm I was just singing. Whenever I’ve read Scripture, it has made me want to sing. I’ve done that since I was a high school kid. I was also like a bad version of Taylor Swift in college because I was having my heart broken, and I was working that out in song. 

In all seriousness, songwriting has always been like breathing to me. It has been a very safe place where I process both joy and sorrow. Co-writing is one of my favorite things because it’s a way to move through very deep and beautiful waters with people who you may not even know. I love that songwriting tends to create and cultivate authentic community, which is a core value of mine. I love that it cultivates both community and beauty at the same time. 

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

There are days that it is. Sometimes it just feels like you can’t quite say what you need to say in the way you want to. I’ve learned from Anne Lamott that it’s really OK to have a terrible first draft. As I’ve written more and more, I’ve become more comfortable with writing the average song because sometimes you have to write the average one to get to the excellent one. 

I’m not scared to experiment and to play with that draft. I was also an English major, so editing is very much a comfortable space for me. I grew up in a very communal family, and everybody’s ideas were welcome in songwriting. So I feel collaborative in songwriting. Sometimes I won’t write something I love, and that’s OK—I’ll try it again tomorrow.

What led you to write your new album Canyon?

To be human is to be broken. I spent a lot of my life trying to pretend I wasn’t broken, trying to ignore some of the deepest wounds in my own story and some of the deepest wounds in the world around me. But what I encountered as I began to lean into these broken places was the nearness, kindness, and empathy of God, who sent his Son to break for us so we could know our brokenness is never the end of the story. 

Canyon is a record about the current of love that runs through our deepest places of pain and reminds us there is an ever-present river of love and peace that will carry us when it feels like we can’t carry on any longer.

What’s the central message you hope listeners will take away from your album?

I want listeners to know there is hope even in the most hopeless places and that light is stronger than darkness. I want them to know it’s OK to lament because Jesus is a man of sorrows who laments alongside us.

I hope these songs echo from the deepest valleys to the highest mountain tops to remind every beating heart we are not alone and our brokenness and suffering never has the final word because of who Jesus is and what he did for us. God is there in the beauty and brokenness. 

How has working on this album affected your own life?

I made this album in a really integrated way because my kids were home from school thanks to COVID. Just as joy and sorrow are integrated into the gospel story, I believe work and play, as well as work and family, can be integrated. And that realization has been a really beautiful thing for me. 

Also, one thing that comes up a lot in this album is breathing. That’s something I’m learning to do. Breathing is a superpower. Sometimes all I can do is breathe, and taking that moment to be still may just be the same thing as crying out to God. I believe he meets us in this place. 

For a sneak peek, here are some lyrics:  

There’s a river running through my deepest sorrow
There’s a river running through my deepest pain
There’s a river running through every dream that never came true
Made me a canyon, but there’s a river running through  

– chorus from “Canyon”

If you want to cross over this great divide
If you long for a day that doesn’t feel like night
If you’re searching for answers that you cannot find
Build a bridge, build a bridge to the other side 

– chorus from “Bridge”

Pinpricks of glory strung out across the sky
Memories of darkness undone by the light
Reminding me you are right here by my side
You’re here by my side 

– “Constellations”

When will Canyon be coming out? 

Today!  June 25, 2021.

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

You’d find me near the water with friends and maybe paddle boarding!

“A deeper sorrow, a higher hope; to be broken is to be human,” Ellie Holcomb says to sum up the content of her latest album, Canyon, the third full-length solo project from the singer-songwriter. For eight years, she recorded and toured full-time with her husband’s band, Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors, before stepping off the road when her first child was born. Her solo debut, As Sure As The Sun (2014), landed her a Top 10 hit at Christian radio with “The Broken Beautiful” and a GMA Dove Award for “New Artist of the Year.” Her critically-acclaimed sophomore LP, Red Sea Road, followed in 2017. In subsequent years, Holcomb has released two children’s books—each with a companion EP of original music written specifically for kids, the second of which earned her a Dove Award for “Children’s Album of the Year” in 2020.

The FAITHFUL Project encompasses a book, album, podcast, ticketed livestream event, and multi-city tour, telling the story of God’s faithfulness to women throughout Scripture to the present day. The album FAITHFUL: Go and Speak will release April 30, and the FAITHFUL book will release on May 1, 2021. To celebrate the launch of this project there will be a ticketed livestream event presented by Compassion LIVE on May 1, 2021. 

I hope you enjoy hearing from Sarah Kroger, Ginny Owens, and Sandra McCracken below about their experiences and hopes for this amazing project. 

Can you tell us a little bit about yourselves?

I (Sarah Kroger) am a worship leader, songwriter and artist currently living in Nashville. My parents were both in music ministry from the time I was born, so I’ve been involved in church music since before I can remember. I knew I had a gift for music from the time I was young, but singing in front of others terrified me. 

I went on a retreat when I was in high school and one of the youth ministry leaders shared something from stage that had a profound impact on me. He said, “If you have a gift that you know is from God and you aren’t sharing it, you’re denying the glory of God within you.” That was it for me. I knew that I was allowing my fears to get in the way of sharing the gifts God had given me. 

Slowly but surely, I started saying yes to leading worship at our church services and youth group meetings. Over time I became more comfortable with singing in front of people, and that gift has grown exponentially. I lead worship and share music with people for a living—something I never could have anticipated as a shy high schooler. Now I can’t imagine doing anything else. 

I (Ginny Owens) have loved singing and playing piano for as long as I can remember. I lost my eyesight at age three due to a degenerative eye condition, and music has always helped me process the world and work out how to find hope in it.

When I graduated from Belmont University in Nashville, I thought I was headed for a career as a high school choral conductor, but God apparently had other plans. I like to say I was the only person in Nashville who wanted a teaching job and ended up with a record deal. I’ve been writing and recording music ever since.

I’ve also just written my first solo authored book, Singing in the Dark: Finding Hope in the Songs of Scripture. In it, I explore several songs, prayers, and laments from the Bible, and I share my personal testimony along the way. I pray this book will help readers cultivate their own “songs” of hope.

Three years ago, I abandoned the comforts of Nashville for the adventures of New York City, where I’m in my final year of a Master of Biblical Studies at seminary. I’m not sure which was the greater challenge: learning Hebrew or learning to navigate the subway. But I’m having a blast.

I (Sandra McCracken) am a songwriter and musician living in Nashville with my husband and three children. Over the years of my music career, I’ve spent time touring, writing, recording, producing, leading songwriting retreats, and leading worship. I’ve loved being part of the TGC community for quite a few years at the conferences, and through writing and music.  

As a songwriter, my 14 or so albums have been influenced by old hymns and by Scripture. I love to write simple folk songs and new hymns that give voice to lament and hope. 

What do you enjoy about music and songwriting? 

I (Sandra McCracken) love how music can connect us beyond what words alone can do. Music is a way by which our memories join, giving us a shared history and a soundtrack. Songs can help us understand one another. We’re more alike than we realize. And even though we might not feel like it at times, the songs we sing together remind us we’re not alone.

I (Sarah Kroger) love the collaborative aspect of co-writing. Everyone brings something different to the table. You rely on each other’s strengths and learn from one another’s perspective. It never ceases to amaze me how you go from starting on a blank page at the beginning of a session and leave with a new piece of art. You definitely have to have thick skin and learn how to be detached from your ideas, but I think more than anything I’ve done cowriting has made me stronger as a writer. 

The first song I (Ginny Owens) remember writing came to me one night after bath time when I was seven:

“Don’t forget the water,
Don’t forget the soap,
Don’t forget the bathtub or you’ll have to give up hope.
Don’t forget Christ Jesus,
He who cleansed your soul,
‘cause He’s the only one
Who can make you whole.”

I thought it sounded just like the Amy Grant songs I liked. No one else agreed. So I decided It was best to keep my songs to myself after that. Songwriting became, and is still, one of my favorite ways of journaling. Sometimes songs are the conversations I’m not yet brave enough to have, but usually writing them helps me find the words to say. I’m so thankful for this means of creative expression.

What led you to be part of the FAITHFUL Project? 

Funnily enough, the seed of this idea came about in a meeting several years ago, when David (my manager) and I (Ginny Owens) were dreaming about what it would look like to create an event where gospel-centered, female artists gathered to do a series of concerts together.

I thought it might be impossible to pull off, but David pursued the idea. He connected with Keely Scott from Compassion International, who jumped into the project, adding her brilliant idea to include authors as well as songwriters. A few years later, here we are. I couldn’t be more excited about how it all came together, and I’m very thankful to have been a part of it.

I (Sandra McCracken) was invited to join these retreats by some longtime friends, and I got to meet a number of new friends when we gathered. This collaboration was a timely encouragement (even before COVID, but especially during 2020) to gather and study the women of Scripture with other women. Personally, I was adjusting to new creative rhythms after having a baby, and little Sam was even able to come along for some of the writing sessions in the early months of his life.  

My label, Integrity Music, asked me (Sarah Kroger) early on if I’d be interested in being a part of this project. When I heard what the lineup was going to be, I was intimidated. Who was I to be a part of such an incredibly talented group of women? But from the moment I stepped into the first day of the writing camp, I felt welcomed and seen. 

Being a part of FAITHFUL has been incredibly redeeming for me. Working in a male dominated industry, I’m used to being the lone woman in the room. This project was filled with women from start to finish: female authors, female songwriters, an all-female band for both the album and the livestream recording. FAITHFUL is a glimpse into what sisterhood should look like—celebrating each person’s unique voice and lifting one another up, rather than competing to be heard or tearing one another down with petty gossip. 

Edith Stein once said, “A woman’s soul is fashioned as a shelter in which other souls may unfold.” I hope the women who encounter this project would feel their soul, with all its baggage, has found a safe place to unfold. I hope they feel invited into this circle of sisterhood and inspired to start their own circles in their community. 

What’s the central message you hope people will take away from the book, the album, and livestream event?

The FAITHFUL Project is an exploration of God’s faithfulness in the stories of women throughout Scripture and in our own lives. I (Sarah Kroger) think we often get the definition of faithfulness mixed up. Faithful means “remaining loyal and steadfast,” but sometimes we assume it means God should be our genie, doing things the way we want, on our timeline, in the ways we expect. 

God is faithful. Period. And because he’s faithful to us, we’re safe to put our hope in him. We don’t have to know the answers. We don’t even have to know the road. We just have to learn, day by day, how to rest in the embrace of a loving Father who’s always at work for our good. I hope this project ultimately helps people see God’s faithfulness at work in their life. 

I (Ginny Owens) pray people will be mesmerized by the stories of the women of Scripture and astounded by the many ways their narratives intersect ours. I hope they’ll be moved by how God colored their lives with his love and faithfulness, changing them, and using them to accomplish his purposes—just like he does with us today. Ultimately, I hope listeners and readers will be inspired to explore for themselves these stories in Scripture.

I (Sandra McCracken) agree. The stories we find in Scripture are often gritty and relatable. God’s people keep forgetting him, getting lost, and trying to find their own way. But through the accounts of these women in Scripture, we see over and again this God who is faithful. 

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

I (Sandra McCracken)  would probably kick off my shoes and walk through a creek, or wander in a field somewhere out in the open.  

You would probably find me (Sarah Kroger) reading a good book on a beach somewhere in Florida with my husband beside me. 

You would find me (Ginny Owens) traversing Central Park, reveling in the unique presence of nature, eavesdropping on the endlessly fascinating people wandering around, and enjoying the talented buskers, while pontificating about life and solving the world’s problems with a good friend. Oh, and I’d probably be nursing some kind of veggie juice with kale, ginger, and cayenne pepper. (Yes, I’m that weird person.)

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

God has called me his child, and so I am! I grew up in a Christian home and came to know Christ as my Savior at a very young age.

I’m also a child to earthly parents. My mom and dad divorced when I was in my early 20s, and I struggled to know how to honor them in light of all that had occurred. God graciously led me to a church where I learned that the gospel—the good news that Jesus died for our sins—wasn’t just for my initial salvation. It applied to every area of my life, including my relationship with my parents. For the first time, I began to see how I could love and honor my parents because Christ had first loved and honored me. 

I’ve been married to my high school sweetheart, Dan, for 11 years, and we are parents to three wild and wonderful little boys (plus a little one on the way). Our family attends Crossway Community Church in Bristol, Wisconsin where I serve alongside the women’s ministry teaching team.

In addition to teaching, I love to proclaim God’s marvelous works through writing. In my pockets of free time, I write for online publications like Desiring God, Risen Motherhood, and The Gospel Coalition. 

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

My first writing memory dates back to second grade when I composed a school song for the Spring Bluff Bobcats. I still remember the words, but I’ll spare you the tune! 

Shortly after graduating from college, I started a blog called Daughter Redeemed where I processed through what God was teaching me through marriage, my parents’ divorce, and life. A few years later, a gal from our church approached me and asked if I’d be interested in writing and editing some articles for her business—a website for moms. I wrote about everything from milk allergies to miscarriage. It was a great gig, but after awhile, we both started to notice that I cared more about giving moms gospel encouragement than about giving them potty training tips. With her help, I decided to submit a few articles to Christian online publications, and that’s where I’ve been focusing my creative energy ever since.

I especially enjoy writing for adult children and helping them learn how to love and honor their parents well. It’s always rewarding (and humbling!) to hear how God has used something I’ve written to spur on fellow believers towards obedience. 

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

I think the hardest part about writing on the topic of honoring our parents is making sure I’m honoring my own parents with my words and tone. I’ve grown a lot in this area—learning how to share parts of my own story without sharing too much of theirs. One of the reasons I wanted to write this book in particular was because it allows me to minister to adult children in light of my own experience while still maintaining a degree of privacy out of respect for my parents.

What led you to write 5 Things to Pray for Your Parents?

Like I mentioned earlier, God taught me a lot about honoring my parents while I processed their divorce. He accomplished much of my heart change through the discipline of prayer. As I prayed for my parents using Scripture as my guide, God trained my heart to align with his and helped me to see my parents through his eyes and not my own. I’ve experienced the power of praying for my parents on a personal level and want to help other adult children experience it too. I believe God has so much goodness for us and our parents if we humble ourselves and pray. 

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

My hope is that this book will help readers to pray rich, intentional prayers for their parents using Scripture as their guide.

As Christians, God commands us to be devoted to prayer and to honor our parents. When we honor our parents by including them in our prayers, we obey both commands which is doubly pleasing to God.

The command to honor our parents also comes with a beautiful promise: “that it may go well with you” (Eph. 6:3). My prayer is that readers will reap this blessing as they come before God with prayers that change things for an older generation.

How has writing this book made you think or act differently about your topic?

Writing this book gave me more compassion, understanding, and respect for my elders. Before I started writing, I surveyed several parents of adult children and asked them what they would want their grown kids to pray about. The most repeated prayer requests included growing in wisdom, finding joy in the midst of aging, caring for older parents, fighting against loneliness, finding purpose in retirement, reconciling with their kids or other family members, and finishing the race well. Reading through their responses made me realize that our parents are facing big, hard things and really do need us to pray for them! 

Also, there’s a section in the book for adult children to pray for their own hearts towards their parents. Writing those prompts helped me see some of my blind spots and led me to repentance. The prayers of thanksgiving and praise also stirred my affections for my own parents and for my Heavenly Father. 

For a sneak peek, here are two prompts to help you pray for your parents and your own heart towards them:

Pray that God would satisfy their souls.

“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love” (Ps. 90:14).

The world offers our parents a smorgasbord of goodies that promise to satisfy them. They’re told that this cruise, this magic pill, this retirement village will make them happy, but the Bible says that true satisfaction comes from God. Pray that your parents would be satisfied in him and that they would know his unfailing love day by day.

Ask God to help you be patient.

“Love is patient” (1 Cor. 13:4).

Sometimes it’s hard to be patient with your parents. Maybe they’re forgetful or slow-moving. Perhaps they hold to different political beliefs or parenting philosophies. If you’ve been impatient with your parents, turn away from your sin and turn toward your Father who is endlessly patient with you. Ask him to help you joyfully bear with your parents, even when it’s hard.

Here are some endorsements: 

“I grew up knowing that my parents prayed for me every day, but it took me a long time to realize I could (and should) pray for them too. This book is a wonderful guide to help me see how to do that in a way that is rooted in Scripture and honoring to them.” 

— Barnabas Piper, author, Hoping for Happiness

“Mining the riches of Scripture, Stanley guides us to intercede for our moms’ and dads’ greatest needs and to consider our own duty to love and honor them. As you seek to glorify God as the son or daughter he’s called you to be, this book will be an excellent resource.” 

— Megan Hill, Editor, The Gospel Coalition, author, A Place to Belong: Learning to Love the Local Church

“Scripture-saturated, accessible, soul-stirring, and convicting. I recommend this practical aid to young and old as a thoughtful encouragement in a duty we too easily neglect: praying for our parents. Whether you’re on good terms or painful, whether they’re believers (yet) or not, spending time praying for them through this guide will warm affections, encourage repentance, and implore God to do what only he can.”

— Greg Morse, staff writer, DesiringGod.org

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

You’d probably find me walking with my boys beside our neighborhood pond and looking for frogs. Watching them delight in God’s creation is one of my greatest joys as a mom. 

Chelsea Stanley is the author of 5 Things to Pray for Your Parents (The Good Book Company, May 2021). She is a wife, a mother, and a member of Crossway Community Church in Bristol, Wisconsin where she serves alongside the women’s ministry teaching team. Connect with her at www.chelseakstanley.com.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Like all women, I wear many hats. I’m a wife, a mom, a daughter, a sister, a big dreamer, Bible teacher, and business owner. But most importantly, I’m a follower and friend of Jesus. I live in Atlanta with my husband, Greg, and our two sons, Nolan and Haddon. I love going on adventures with my family, gardening, cooking tasty meals, baking chocolate chip cookies, painting, reading good books, and teaching women to know and love Jesus.

I’m the founder of the global online women’s ministry Well-Watered Women where our mission is to create Bible study tools and resources that will help women read the Word with Christ at the center and apply the gospel to everyday life. Some of these tools include the Give Me Jesus quiet time journal, Bible studies, guided Scripture journals and now, The Well-Watered Woman book. 

As a wife and mama, I have learned firsthand that just because your hands and days are full doesn’t mean your heart has to be empty. Through Christ, we can live a fruitful, well-watered life right where our feet are planted.

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

I have always loved the art of stringing words together in creative ways. When I was in elementary school, I was always coming up with songs and poems, and imagining short stories. In middle and high school, I had an English teacher who made us flex our writing muscles every week through writing essays, stories, and poems with titles he provided for us (which wasn’t always easy, but it helped me think outside the box!). My senior year I had to write a novel over the course of the year, and that sparked a desire in me to continue writing words that could impact someone’s heart for Christ!

In college, I dreamed of writing a book for girls encouraging them to wait on the Lord and live faithfully for him. I actually wrote that book after I got married and submitted it to a publisher, only to receive a rejection letter. I self-published it, and that is how I got started writing and sharing without fear!

For the past six years I’ve been writing and sharing online through different mediums—articles, blog posts, Bible studies, social media, and video teaching. Over the years, God has continued to keep the message of the well-watered, gospel-driven life as the central theme of all I write and teach about. Though it took me about two years to actually get to the writing part because it wasn’t the right season, God brought it to completion.

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

Depending on the season (and even on the day), I either have too many words to share, or no words at all. I started journaling in middle school and found the act of journaling as a space to process my thoughts, record prayers, and write down ideas. Journaling is usually where my initial writing process begins, and God has used it to stoke the fire in my heart to write content that will point to Jesus. 

I have found that creative ideas and inspiration often don’t come when I sit down to write, but rather when I am living everyday life—caring for my children, having coffee with a friend, connecting with my husband, running errands, etc. In those moments, I jot down any creative spark, idea, or thought on the Notes app on my phone to pull out at a later time.

There are seasons, though, when I go through a writing dry spell—my journals remain blank and the cursor on the screen blinks on an empty page. Most often those seasons are refining, preparation seasons. During these times God calls me to set my pen aside, seek him, and trust him to provide the fuel to write again when the time comes!

What led you to write The Well-Watered Woman?

I wrote this book for the woman who wants more of Jesus in her everyday life because, to be totally honest, I am that woman! I’m the woman who has run tirelessly in a race for a prize that is out of reach and unsatisfying.

But I am also the woman, by God’s unmerited grace, who aches to spend my brief, numbered days here on earth chasing Jesus, the only prize worth pursuing in this life (Ps. 90:12; Phil. 4:12).  

I have been the dried-up woman, and because of Jesus, I am the well-watered woman . . . and so are you. This book will take you on a journey from the dried-up life to a well-watered life that is abundant, whole, and free in Christ! This is the life he came to give, and this is the life he equips you to live. 

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

My hope is that women will close this book and open their Bibles, not just once but every day. I hope they will be set free from unrealistic expectations they’ve placed on their spiritual growth and walk with God to pursue him freely and fully right where they are. I want to show women that following Jesus isn’t a three-step program; it’s a lifestyle and it’s the road to full joy in our lives.

How has writing this book made you think or act differently about your topic?

Writing a book revealed my frailty, inconsistencies, and total dependence on God. The humbling process shined a spotlight on my soul, showing me how in-progress I am as well as how beautiful, sustaining, and real the gospel is in every moment. I’ve always struggled with a desire for perfection, and as I studied the well-watered life made possible through Christ, God brought great freedom and understanding to my heart. 

For a sneak peek, here are some quotes: 

“Dying to yourself doesn’t mean missing out on true life; it means embracing life as it was always meant to be—worshiping God, serving others, and living for his glory. Dying to yourself isn’t the loss of who you are as a person; it’s discovering who you were meant to be—a servant, a sacrifice, and a recipient of God’s grace.” 

“Worldly comforts always fail us. Bigger homes, softer beds, nicer clothing, and overflowing bank accounts will never be true comfort when suffering strikes and all of life swirls around us. It’s a dead end. Jesus came and showed us the way of the Cross, which leads to eternal comfort. Though the cross of Christ is not comfortable, it is comforting, and that’s what we truly long for.”

“God’s Word isn’t just for the seasons when life is going well; it’s for the seasons when life seems unbearable too. It’s for the times when suffering sucks the joy right out of you. It’s for the times when sorrow steals your passion for life. It’s for the times when loneliness leaves you feeling isolated. It’s for the times when exhaustion leaves you discouraged. It’s for the times when anxiety causes you to tremble in fear and doubt. Miraculously and graciously, God’s Word is the way those unbearable seasons become bearable . . . because God’s Word bears us up.”

Here are some endorsements: 

“For years, I’ve watched Gretchen lead and lean into the mission of encouraging women to dig deeply into the Word of God. I’ve seen her model it, share vulnerably through difficult seasons, and consistently point others to God’s faithfulness. God’s written a story in and through her that is not about her, but about God’s tending and care. And through these pages, Gretchen will lead us again and again, back to the only source for life and godliness—the living water of God’s Word.” 

— From the foreword by Ruth Chou Simons, author of Gracelaced and Beholding and Becoming, founder of GraceLaced.com 

“Over the years, Gretchen has been a gift to us. Her honesty, vulnerability, and commitment to follow Christ in life and ministry has encouraged us in our own. The Well-Watered Woman is an overflow of Gretchen’s life and a new beginning for any soul that feels barren, parched, or unsatisfied. Gretchen’s story and words will cause you to love God more and stir your affections for him.” 

— Emily Jensen and Laura Wifler, coauthors of Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments; co-founders of the Risen Motherhood ministry 

“We all know that beautiful, flourishing gardens—and lives—don’t just happen. Gretchen combines rich, biblical insight with transparent glimpses into her own journey to help dry, parched souls become thriving, life-giving springs. You will find great hope and encouragement in this book as you encounter Jesus in a fresh way.” 

— Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, author and founder/teacher of Revive Our Hearts

“If you’re weary of the try-harder, do-more, be-better pressures of daily life, don’t miss Gretchen Saffles’s new book. Gretchen writes with warmth and humility, graciously illuminating our need for the good news of the gospel. This book overflows with scriptural truths that will refresh your heart, nourish your soul, and point you to Jesus.” 

— Melissa Kruger, director of Women’s Initiatives for The Gospel Coalition and author of Growing Together: Taking Mentoring Beyond Small Talk and Prayer Requests

When will The Well-Watered Woman be coming out? 

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

You’d find me with my family enjoying God’s creation outdoors on a hike or bike ride, or in our backyard while my boys laugh and play games while I dig in the dirt and tend to our garden!

Gretchen Saffles is passionate about encouraging and equipping women to drink deeply from the well of God’s Word and find their identity and purpose in Christ. She is the author of The Well-Watered Woman: Rooted in Truth, Growing in Grace, Flourishing in Faith, and the founder of Well-Watered Women, an online ministry that reaches women worldwide with the hope of the gospel. As she shares from her life experiences, Gretchen writes with authenticity and boldness, encouraging women to seek Christ right where they are and live in his abundance. Gretchen lives in Atlanta with her husband, Greg, and two sons, Nolan and Haddon. You can follow Gretchen on Instagram, and you can follow Well-Watered Women on Instagram and Facebook.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Like a lot of women, I wear many hats. I am a wife and mom. My husband and I will be married 25 years at the end of this year. We have two teen boys, one of which is a homeschooler, and the other attends a hybrid Christian school.  

I serve on the PCA’s national women’s ministry team, helping develop our conferences and resources for ministries in our denomination. I’m the editor of our ministry blog, enCourage, and I’m also an advisory board member at Covenant College, my alma mater.

My professional background is in counseling, and I have a counseling license in the state where we live. I’m currently working with my church on developing a counseling ministry at my church. I’m a writer, retreat speaker, and author of several books, including A Heart Set Free: A Journey to Hope Through the Psalms of Lament, Idols of a Mother’s Heart, and A Holy Fear: Trading Lesser Fears for the Fear of the Lord. And, of course, my most recent: Tell God How You Feel. 

What do you enjoy about writing? 

I love digging into one topic, exploring all that Scripture has to say about it. The process encourages my own heart. In addition, writing has combined two loves: theology and counseling. I love helping readers see how the gospel intersects with their daily life, bringing hope and life to the brokenness of our fallen world.

What led you to write Tell God How You Feel? 

My first book was A Heart Set Free: A Journey to Hope Through the Psalms of Lament. It’s about the difficult and hard emotions of life and how God’s Word shows us what to do with those emotions—specifically to bring them to him through the process of lament. The book goes through those psalms. This children’s book is inspired by that book.

We learn at an early age how to deal with emotions. Sometimes, we learn they are bad and to stuff them down or ignore them. We might develop poor ways of dealing with them, such as eating when we’re stressed or attempting to control all the details of our life. Instead, I want children to learn to bring their sadness, their fears, and their hurts to the Lord, and this book helps them do that. It gives them a beginning understanding of the psalms of lament. 

Who is it written for? How do you hope it is used? 

Tell God How You Feel is a discipleship tool for parents to use with their children. Emotions are not easy to talk about for most of us. As parents, we often have difficulty identifying and verbalizing our own emotions, so when our children are feeling sad or worried, we’re uncomfortable navigating that with them. This book is designed to help parents have those discussions with their children using stories of other children who are feeling sad, lonely, or afraid. 

The book focuses on one family with a brother and sister. There are separate stories about these siblings facing difficult situations. For example, in the first story, Mia is afraid of a thunderstorm. Her parents talk with her about her fears and share with her about the fear David felt in the Bible. They teach her how David prayed to God when he was afraid, and they help her do that too. 

The other stories focus on sadness, loneliness, rejection, and even gratitude. At the end of each story there are questions parents can ask their children to help them talk further about their emotions and learn to lament to God all that they feel. It is ideal for children 4–8 years old.

How was the process of writing a children’s book different from writing your other books? 

This is my first children’s book, and it was a fun change to think about the topic of lament from a child’s perspective. I especially enjoyed the process of selecting the illustrator. The publisher had various illustrators pitch illustrations, and we selected the one that best fit the story. It was fun to see how each of these illustrators interpreted the stories I wrote. Once we chose Lisa Flanigan as the illustrator, I enjoyed watching the illustrations progress. I’m thankful she understood what I wanted to accomplish with this book. 

What is your hope for Tell God How You Feel? 

My hope is that parents would find it to be a useful tool to help children learn to identify what they’re feeling and learn to talk about it. I hope they learn that God wants to hear from them; he wants them to pray and tell him how they feel. I hope they grow up knowing God is their refuge in times of trouble. And as they mature, I hope they learn to see the Psalms as a book which speaks to all the emotions they feel—a book which points them to the truth about who God is and what he has done. 

For a sneak peek, you can access a sample of the book here. 

Here are some endorsements: 

“Children are often unsure about what to do with their emotions. Whether they are feeling happy or sad, peaceful or anxious, angry or joyful, they can learn healthy ways to share their emotions with God. Christina Fox’s new book, Tell God How You Feel, is a wonderful book to help parents and children discuss their feelings, as they consider the ways people have prayerfully talked to God all throughout Scripture, especially in the Psalms. This book is a wonderful way to talk with your children as you help them learn to talk to God.”

—Melissa B. Kruger, author and director of Women’s Initiatives for The Gospel Coalition

“Tell God How You Feel is unique and badly needed. Many children’s books deal well with particular emotions, but no book I’ve ever seen gives children such a clear, concrete, relatable framework for dealing with any and all emotions by engaging their Heavenly Father with the weights and dreams in their hearts. Illustrated in an ethnically inclusive, warmly inviting style, Tell God How You Feel fills a vital niche in nurturing a living faith in our children.”

—Alasdair Groves, Executive Director of CCEF

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

The perfect afternoon would include a hike in the woods, followed by a trip to my favorite antique shop. And a stop at a coffee shop is a must as well!

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m wife to Jon, mom to Jael, and church member at Living Faith Bible Fellowship in Tampa, Florida. I’m also an assistant editor at TGC, as well as an author and spoken-word artist. So, happily, most of my work revolves around words.

I’m Filipina, Puerto Rican, and Jamaican, so I’m designed for tropical climates and beach trips. 

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

Thankfully my mom made it a point to keep my writing assignments from grade school, as well as the notes I’d write to her—reminding her with very specific instructions to sign my school papers and place them back into my backpack (and to zip up the backpack when she was done). I’ve always had an inclination to bring clarity (and specific direction, apparently) through my words. When class was over and the other kids ran off to recess, I wouldn’t leave my seat until my writing assignment was completed and satisfactory to my own standards. 

I sometimes don’t enjoy writing. It can feel something like experiencing labor contractions—interrupting my thoughts and other responsibilities until a piece is finally birthed. Or it can feel like tumbleweed blowing through the empty, dusty road of my listlessness. Other times, though, it’s a six-foot wave of thrilling inspiration I have to catch before it’s gone. 

Ultimately, I most love having written, not always the writing itself. 

What led you to write Love Gave? 

Love Gave is the sequel to my first children’s book, Love Made. Whereas Love Made poetically retells the story of creation through a Trinitarian lens, Love Gave continues the biblical story by introducing sin, the incarnation of Christ, and the good news of his death and resurrection—all through that same Trinitarian lens.

I wanted to help children hear the gospel message in language they can understand and enjoy. It gives me goosebumps to think about the children and adults who will unintentionally memorize the poetic content of this book, which is the gospel—the greatest news in history. 

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

I want little (and big) readers to appreciate how radically God loves them—enough to send his Son to pay for their sins! Or as I say in the book:

“Jesus died and rose again

to take away all our sins

and make us His

forever friends.”

How has writing Love Gave changed your own practice?

Writing Love Gave helped me better appreciate the simplicity of the gospel message. While the gospel is complex and deep, studied by people much smarter than me, it’s also simple enough for my 5-year-old to grasp it. The gospel is so simple (and so humbling) that we, in a very real sense, have to become like children to truly believe and appreciate it. And perhaps that’s one of the most profound things about it. 

Writing, memorizing, and even performing Love Gave has allowed me to communicate the gospel message in a way that my daughter and her friends can enjoy it, interact with it, and even recite it back to me. That’s one of the benefits of employing art (in this case, poetry by me and gorgeous illustrations by my friend Rommel Ruiz)—it makes the communication of truth digestible, emotive, and, well, fun. 

For a sneak peek, here is the book trailer for Love Gave (featuring some adorable kids from Quina’s church):  

Here are some endorsements: 

“A God-exaltingly clear and beautiful presentation of the gospel that every child needs. And some grown-ups, too.” 

— Ruth Chou Simons, mom of 6, bestselling author of GraceLaced and Beholding and Becoming

“We’re grateful for this powerful and poetic gospel presentation. We pray that little readers everywhere will follow the thread and receive the gift of grace!” 

— Emily Jensen & Laura Wifler, coauthors of Risen Motherhood: Gospel-Hope for Everyday Moments 

“There is no greater mission field than the little hearts of our children. Their souls our strongest stewardship and their joy our reward. And books like Love Gave equip us for that gospel task. We are always in need of this kind of faithful, creative, and impactful gospel reading for our little ones. Quina’s work is a gift to our homes—and we are glad.”

— KB, Christian recording artist 

“We Christian parents long for our children to believe in Jesus. Love Gave by Quina Aragon makes it easy for us to share the gospel with them. Thank you, Quina, for helping us love our kids so meaningfully!”

— Ray Ortlund, Renewal Ministries, Nashville

“This little book beautifully and biblically explains the gift of salvation. Love Gave shows children their need for Jesus and just how much he really loves them. I want every kid I know to read it!”

— Hunter Beless, host of the Journeywomen Podcast

When will Love Gave be coming out?

Love Gave releases on February 2, 2021. But if you pre-order it now, you can get a free audio download of the book at LoveGaveBook.com.

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

You’d definitely find me at the beach swimming, playing volleyball, eating snow cones, and chasing my daughter. 

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I live in Raleigh, North Carolina with my husband Joel. We’ve been married six years. Through him, the Lord is fulfilling Joel 2:25 in my life—restoring the years the locusts have eaten. I have two 20-something-year-old daughters, Katie and Kristi, who are both back in North Carolina again, which I’m enjoying.

The most unusual thing about me is the wide-ranging types of suffering I’ve been through. I’ve endured 21 childhood surgeries, years of living in the hospital, verbal and physical bullying from classmates, multiple miscarriages, losing a child due to a doctor’s mistake, being diagnosed with a debilitating disease which is likely to leave me a quadriplegic, chronic pain, betrayal, abandonment, unwanted divorce, and single-parenting angry adolescents—all of which have given me a firsthand understanding of grief and loss. 

Several years ago I realized that having these varied types of suffering was a gift—perhaps a gift wrapped in black, but a gift, nonetheless, that I needed to steward. And it was from that realization that I began writing. 

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

I started a blog in 2013 and, by God’s amazing providence, began writing regularly for Desiring God in 2014. Before that, I mainly just wrote an annual throw-everyone-under-the-bus Christmas letter in which I roasted everyone in the family, including myself (a little different genre than my current writing about meeting God in suffering). 

Writing about the way I’ve encountered Christ in my pain has been life-giving to me, especially when I hear how others benefit from what I’ve been through. Writing also helps me understand myself and process what’s going on in me. 

What led you to write Walking Through Fire? 

I wrote Walking Through Fire because when I was really struggling, I wasn’t interested in reading theology. I wanted to be shown, not told, what it was like to meet God in suffering. Stories reach a different part of us and cement truth in unique ways. I’m hoping that through this memoir, people will more fully understand what it’s like to know Christ in their trials. Since God met me and changed me in breathtaking ways through the pain in my life, I want this memoir to help others experience that also. 

The Message paraphrase of 1 John 1:2–4 explains it well: “The infinite life of God himself took shape before us. We saw it, we heard it, and now we are telling you so that you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his son Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: we want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy.” 

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

When everything is taken away from us, God’s presence, which is more precious and more powerful than our pain, remains. Sensing that God is with us, coupled with knowing that God is always for us, takes away the fear in suffering. I want readers to lean into God, to trust that God is writing a good story with their lives, and to see that what God gives us in suffering is more than he ever takes away.  

How has writing this book affected your own life?

It has reminded me of what I know to be true. It has helped me trace God’s hand through all the events of my life, which has only caused me to fall more deeply in love with Jesus.

For a sneak peek, here are some quotes:  

“I no longer contrast joy with sorrow because I have found they can coexist. It is purposelessness, not sorrow, that squelches joy. When we begin to understand God’s purpose—begin to glimpse him working for our good—we can experience true joy even inside our sorrow.”

“Many spend their lives worrying, endlessly asking ‘what if the worst happens?’ That question only breeds fear. Rather than asking unanswerable questions, we can turn our doubts into declarations. Even if the worst happens, God will not change. God’s grace will be sufficient. God will carry us. And he will never leave us.”

“Giving my cruelest suffering to God has softened me. It has worn off the sharp edges of my critical and judgmental spirit and drawn me to the Lord. That process didn’t happen overnight. Truthfully, it took closer to ten thousand nights. But I learned that Jesus is enough. I don’t need to prove myself to others, to measure up to their expectations, or to define myself by their words. My identity is in Christ.”

Here’s what others are saying: 

“Here is a true story that shows how God can turn tragedies into remarkable triumphs of faith and endurance. So, be inspired by Vaneetha’s extraordinary story, and rest assured that the same God who sustained her will uphold you through every heartache and hardship!”

— Joni Eareckson Tada, Joni and Friends International Disability Center

“I know of no other book that more engagingly and graphically presents the deep heartaches of life in this fallen world and the comforting glory of the presence, power, and promises of the Redeemer.”

— Paul David Tripp, author of New Morning Mercies

“I have endorsed many books over the years, but I don’t recall reading one from start to finish the day it arrived. It held me all the way. Beautifully done.”

— Randy Alcorn, New York Times bestselling author of Heaven

“This book beautifully and honestly tells a story of deep loss and redemption, and it is a must-read for anyone who has ever wrestled with the question of why a good God would allow such suffering in this world.”

— Natalie Grant, recording artist, author, and philanthropist

When will Walking Through Fire be coming out?

It will be released on January 19, 2021. However, if you pre-order before then at WalkingThroughFireBook.com, you will get several bonuses, including a link to immediately stream the entire audiobook read by me and a digital download of a musical album around themes in the book.  

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

In a local coffee shop meeting with an old friend, laughing and having a deep conversation about what God is teaching us. 

Vaneetha Risner has written two books, Walking Through Fire: A Memoir of Loss and Redemption as well as a devotional, The Scars That Have Shaped Me, both of which encourage readers to turn to Christ in their pain. Vaneetha and her husband Joel live in Raleigh, North Carolina where she writes regularly for Desiring God and her website, vaneetha.com. 

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? 

I’m first a wife and mom of three boys in kindergarten, first, and second grades. Our family lives next door to my parents on a hobby farm in the suburbs of Minneapolis, where we steward horses, beef cows, and fainting goats. In the midst of raising kids, I make time to write and recently became the content director for Well-Watered Women, an online ministry that creates resources and offers content that encourages women to dig deeply into God’s Word.

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it? 

I’ve always loved to write, but I saw myself first and foremost as a teacher. This led me to pursue a degree to teach English to middle-school students. After having three kids in three years, I found my overactive brain was easily distracted by my phone as I did the physical work of mothering three little boys. To steward my time more wisely, I decided to combine my love of teaching with my love of words, and that gave birth to my first book, Unsupermommy.

I love how writing lets me connect with other women and with God. It keeps me accountable, reminding me to consider how God is using my circumstances to draw me near to him, even when I’d prefer to skim across the surface of life. I’m bad at learning lessons, but when I write down the lessons I am learning about God, they become cemented in my heart.

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so? 

I like to think of writing as a combination of creative inspiration and hard work. Usually the idea comes naturally, but translating that idea into an article or book that will connect with the needs of other women and bring them to the gospel is always a challenge.

What led you to write Motherhood Without All the Rules? 

I wrote my first book, Unsupermommy, on finding God in our weakness in the early years of motherhood. Once I had finally passed the survival stage of parenting, I found that I really wanted to grow as a mom. But I started trying to sanctify myself with my own teeth-grinding grit instead of relying on an active relationship with God. I had begun to adopt society’s system of standards to live out godly motherhood instead of doing the hard and holy work of walking with God. No wonder it wasn’t working. 

I can’t exhibit the fruit of the Spirit in relating to my children without being in the Spirit. I can’t demonstrate the gospel to my children when I’m not living in it myself. Motherhood Without All the Rules is my attempt to help moms like myself reorient our thinking around the gospel in the places that the world’s thinking has subtly crept into our hearts.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book? 

We don’t grow as moms by controlling our circumstances, proving our own strength, or following all the rules. We only grow in godly motherhood through an intimate relationship with our triune God.

How has writing this book affected your own life? 

While writing this book, I was increasingly convicted about underlying sins that I had been failing to repent from. Instead, I would recognize the problem, then try to do better by my own power, continuing in bondage to sin. 

I’ve discovered that repentance is the beginning of the gospel in my heart. It is the process of correctly identifying my sin before a holy God and accepting the work of Christ to wash away my sin and free me from bondage to it. It brings connection to the Holy Spirit, who helps me walk in freedom. 

For a sneak peak, here are some quotes:  

“As the perfect parent, God knows so much more than we do about discipline. He perfectly understands the necessity of boundaries, truth, and withholding good things for better ones. Because He loves us, He allows discomfort for the goal of growth. He is not afraid to make hard decisions so we might mature in holiness. In God’s kingdom, we don’t deserve comfort and ease, and He is actually too kind to give them to us. When we are comfortable and capable, we rarely grow. In our discomfort, we discover the joy of completing a marathon of sacrifice and discipline instead of a vacation in the muck of our heart’s earthly desires.”

“What is particularly problematic about living for the kingdom of mom is that it gets the purpose of motherhood all wrong. God made you a mom not because He knew you would be awesome at it, but because motherhood is one of the ways God uses to teach you your need of Him and grow you in knowledge of Him. This purpose for motherhood transforms your motives from serving and glorifying yourself to knowing God through the good work He has given you to do. Godly motherhood is the fruit of God’s work within you. Instead of starting with who you want to be and what you want to do, begin with who Christ is and the work He has already done.” 

Here’s what others are saying about Motherhood Without All the Rules: 

“Maggie Combs has thrown a lifeline to moms everywhere. With wisdom and vulnerability, she tackles some of the most popular, but unhelpful, clichés offered to moms today—and shows, instead, how to trade those “stressful standards” for the truth, help, and freedom of the gospel. Motherhood Without All the Rules: Trading Stressful Standards for Gospel Truths will encourage you, challenge you, help you, remind you, instruct you, and, most of all, point you to Jesus.”

Courtney Doctor, Coordinator of Women’s Initiatives, The Gospel Coalition

“As mothers, we so easily lose track of the simple gospel meant to fuel and sustain us. That’s why I’m grateful for this resource! Maggie addresses the cultural messages in which we swim these days, pulling down false narratives and erecting beautiful God-oriented truths in their place. Read and let your heart be settled.”

Christine Hoover, author of With All Your Heart and Messy Beautiful Friendship

“In Motherhood Without All the Rules, Maggie offers moms tangible gospel hope through sharing her experiences and struggles in motherhood and pointing moms to Jesus. She reminds us that the pressure is off to be the perfect mama, because we have the perfect Heavenly Father guiding us and providing for us. Instead of living for the kingdom of ourselves where we are the ‘queens’, Maggie offers us another kingdom to live for—the kingdom of God ruled by our good and gracious King. This book is for all moms, and I guarantee, after reading these pages, you’ll be refreshed and reminded of God’s great grace and the freedom he freely gives.”

Gretchen Saffles, Founder of Well-Watered Women

“Tired of spinning your wheels? In Motherhood Without All the Rules, Maggie Combs helps moms unhitch from burdensome motherhood maxims and mantras and paves the way forward with grace-fueled obedience. With the help of Maggie’s disarming personal anecdotes, poignant observations, powerful biblical teaching, and practical action steps you’ll learn how to recognize and let go of (sometimes sneaky or subconscious) stressful standards and embrace the freedom and joy Christ offers to you in motherhood.”

Abbey Wedgeworth, author of Held: 31 Biblical Reflections on God’s Comfort and Care in the Sorrow of Miscarriage 

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you? 

In the winter, I’d be curled up in a slant of sunlight with my Kindle. In the summer, I’d be at our cabin, surrounded by my large family, talking and laughing as we play in the lake together.

Maggie Combs is the author of Motherhood Without All the Rules: Trading Stressful Standards for Gospel Truths. When motherhood overwhelmed her, God drew her closer to him through writing her first book, Unsupermommy. It is her joy to disciple women in her local church, through her writing, and as content director for Well-Watered Women. Find more gospel hope to unburden your soul at www.maggiecombs.com or on Instagram and Facebook.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. I’ve been married to George for almost 24 years now. We met my freshman year at Covenant College. We have two boys, ages 13 and 16, both whom I’ve homeschooled for many years (they are both now in a hybrid/homeschool school setting). 

I have my master’s degree in counseling psychology from Palm Beach Atlantic University and a counseling license in my state. My passion is to help women see how the gospel intersects with their daily life, bringing light and life to the darkness of life in a fallen world. 

I’m a writer, blogger, and retreat speaker. I’ve written several books, including A Heart Set Free: A Journey to Hope Through the Psalms of Lament, Idols of a Mother’s Heart, and my latest, A Holy Fear: Trading Lesser Fears for a Fear of the Lord. I serve on the PCA’s National Women’s Ministry Team and edit our ministry blog, enCourage. I’m also an advisory board member at Covenant College. 

Currently, I’m in the planning phase of developing a counseling ministry for my church. 

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

Like many other writers, I loved writing as a child and wrote for the school newspaper and my church’s newsletter. I rediscovered this love as a young mom when I needed a way to process all the swirling thoughts, emotions, and challenges of motherhood. What I love most about writing is zeroing in on one topic and exploring its depths. It never ceases to change me.

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

Finding time is difficult! The past few years have found me spending my days as the family Uber driver. It’s hard to have blocks of time to write when you always have to pick someone up or drop someone off! I find myself constructing a piece in my mind while I drive, hoping I remember at least some of it so I can later write it down.

What led you to write A Holy Fear? 

My interest in the topic began with a conversation I had with a relative when we talked about the fears of life. I share about this conversation at the beginning of the book. I’ve had many fears in my life, and I wanted to understand the fear of the Lord and how it relates to our other fears. 

“Do not fear” and “Fear the Lord” are both common commands found throughout the Bible, and though they are different, they do have a relationship. One is greater than the other. One imprisons us; the other frees us. One makes everything in life great; the other makes God great. 

This world has much to fear, and the Bible acknowledges that. But it calls us to something greater in the face of our fears—to Someone greater. In writing A Holy Fear, I wanted to help my own fearful heart—and that of my readers—to see God as greater than all that we fear.  

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

A Holy Fear helps readers understand what the fear of the Lord means, what it looks like in our lives, and how it relates to our lesser fears. It’s a systematic theology of sorts on the fear of the Lord. My hope is that readers walk away seeing God as greater.

How has writing this book affected your own life?

The word of God changes and transforms us as we read, study, and meditate upon it. As I studied the fear of the Lord throughout the Bible, I couldn’t help but pause and worship the Lord for who he is and what he has done. 

Like the prophet Isaiah and the apostle John, the more I dwelled on this topic, the more I found my heart prostrate before the Great I AM. Studying the fear of the Lord helped shape my heart to respond to fearful circumstances with a holy fear. 

For a sneak peek, here are some quotes:  

“Fearing the Lord doesn’t mean you will never again feel any fearful emotions in the face of troubling circumstances. Rather, the fear of the Lord is the posture of your heart in the face of life’s fearful situations.”

“If you want to know the fear of the Lord, look to Jesus, the ultimate God-fearer who perfectly feared the Lord in our place.”

“But as we grow in the fear of the Lord, our hearts yield a harvest of trust. We find ourselves looking ahead to the future with expectation and anticipation, wondering what our great God has in store for us. We know that whatever it is, it will be for our good.”

“When we dwell on who God is and what He has done, our fear of Him disarms our lesser fears.”

Here are some endorsements: 

“As human beings we all have our fears and are all motivated by our fears. In their own way our fears drive us and direct us. What Christina Fox does so well in this book is address the facts of our fears, diagnose the source of our fears, and prescribe the solution to our fears. As you read her book you will come to see that the cure to our fears is fear, for the problem at the heart of each human being is not that we fear, but what we fear. Or, better said, it’s who we fear.”

 — Tim Challies, blogger, Challies.com

“In our modern vernacular, fear of the Lord sounds anything but good. It doesn’t sound life giving. It evokes thoughts of cowering in dismay in the shadow of something terrible. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, so it’s gravely important for believers to understand what God does, and does not, mean by the phrase. Christina leads us through Scripture to understand the phrase as God uses it. Christina is an able guide, and the reader will benefit from her thoughtful and thorough look at Scripture on fearing the LORD.” 

— Wendy Alsup is a mom, math teacher, and author of Companions in Suffering: Comfort for Times of Loss and Loneliness

“We all struggle with fear and need to embrace the truths captured on these pages. Christina’s clear and relatable words invite us to look past our fears and towards the Lord’s love for us. She gently teaches us how to embark on a journey of growing in our reverence and awe of the Lord, so we can find comfort in him.”

—D arby Strickland, CCEF counselor, teacher, and author, Is it Abuse? A Biblical Guide to Identifying Domestic Abuse and Helping Victims

When will A Holy Fear be coming out? 

November 28, 2020, but you can preorder it now. 

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

Some of my favorite things to do are exploring antique shops, hiking in the mountains, or kayaking. 

Christina Fox received her undergraduate degree from Covenant College and her master’s degree in counseling from Palm Beach Atlantic University. She writes for a number of Christian ministries and publications, including TGC, Revive Our Hearts, and Ligonier Ministries. She is the author of A Heart Set Free: A Journey to Hope Through the Psalms of Lament, Closer Than a Sister: How Union with Christ Helps Friendships to Flourish, Idols of a Mother’s Heart, Sufficient Hope: Gospel Meditations and Prayers for Moms, and A Holy Fear: Trading Lesser Fears for a Fear of the Lord. Christina serves on the advisory board at Covenant College and on the PCA’s National Women’s Ministry Team as regional adviser of the Southeast. She is also the content editor of their ministry blog, enCourage. She prefers her coffee black and from a French press, enjoys antiquing, hiking, traveling, and reading. She lives in Greater Atlanta with her husband and two boys. You can find her at www.christinafox.com. 

I opened these Prepare Him Room: 25 Days to the Heart of Advent devotional cards from Ruth Chou Simons at Gracelaced and I was so excited—they are perfect for the Advent season! They’ve already sold out of the boxed set, but the cards are still available. Each card has a Scripture reading, short devotional thought, and a question to consider as you reflect on God’s Word. These cards would be great for family devotions around the table or to accompany your personal devotions during Advent. These are what I’ll be using each day in December to help me pause and wonder at the greatest of gifts.

Advent Blocks are a new resource I’m planning to use with my family this year. There’s a block for each day through Christmas, as well as a devotional guide to read with your family each day. This is such an easy and meaningful way for families to spend time each day focusing on Jesus during Advent. This short two-minute video explains how to use the blocks and why this family developed them:

Music is another resource that stills my soul and focuses my mind on what’s important. I find that when I’m cooking in the kitchen, having songs playing helps me worship in the midst of chopping onions and cleaning the dishes. This year, I’ve already been listening to Caroline Cobb’s new album, A Seed, A Sunrise on repeat. The full album releases on November 20, but the video of my favorite song, “Comfort, Oh Comfort,” is already available. It’s based in part on one of my favorite verses, Isaiah 58:11, which is a needed word of hope in 2020:

And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

Take a moment to sit and enjoy the video—it’s beautiful:

A few years ago, I enjoyed using Amy Gannett’s Bible study, Grafted In: An Advent Study of the Family Tree of Christ. It offers 25 days of Scripture readings, responsive prayer points, insightful theological commentary, and questions for reflection that explore the members of Christ’s family tree. It’s a great study to use, with a beautiful layout. Amy writes, “Matthew 1 lays out the family tree of the Messiah. In the litany of names we see the powerful and gracious work of our God. For generations, he faithfully pointed his people towards the coming of his Son, Jesus. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ this Advent season, join us in exploring the members of Christ’s family tree. There will familiar characters and names we have never heard, and each one will poignantly remind us of this truth: through Jesus Christ, we have been grafted in to the family of God.”

Last year I really enjoyed using Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth’s book, The First Songs of Christmas: Meditations on Luke 1 & 2. Her devotional considers the various songs recorded in Scripture about Jesus. These songs turn our eyes off ourselves and onto the greatness of God, as the description notes, “These five (or six) songs, the original songs of Christmas, are different from many of the ones that get the majority of airplay this time of year. They are not self-centered; they are God-centered. They speak less to what Christmas does for us and more to what Christmas reveals about the greatness, glory, and goodness of God. They unfold His redemptive plan for the work and His eternal purpose for the ages.”

If you’ve enjoyed New Morning Mercies, you’ll enjoy Paul Tripp’s book Come Let us Adore Him: A Daily Advent Devotional. (It’s half-off in the TGC bookstore) One feature I appreciate about this devotional is that it has questions at the end of each day to ask children. The study could be used on your own, but it would also be a great book to use for family devotions for middle- or high-school students. Here’s the description: “The wonder and awe of the Christmas season can easily get overshadowed by lights, tinsel, bows, and paper―not to mention last-minute trips to the mall and visits to the in-laws. In all the hustle and bustle, we often lose sight of what’s most important. This book of daily readings for the month of December by best-selling author Paul David Tripp will help you slow down, prepare your heart, and focus on what matters most: adoring our Savior, Jesus.”

Last, (but not least!) our family uses a Jesse Tree every December. It’s as much a part of our family tradition as decorating the tree or singing Christmas carols. I’ve shared about how my friends organized a Jesse Tree party to create the ornaments, and we used The Advent Jesse Tree: Devotions for Children and Adults to Prepare for the Coming of the Christ Child at Christmas by Dean Lambert Smith. Another excellent Jesse Tree devotional option for families is Unwrapping the Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp. A few years ago, I used her book The Greatest Gift for my personal devotions and really enjoyed it.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourselves?

Chris grew up in Budapest, Hungary, and came back to the United States to attend Kansas State University. After graduating, he joined staff with Cru to do campus ministry at the University of Missouri. While directing the ministry, he earned his MDiv from Covenant Theological Seminary. In his spare time, he also enjoys his Chemex, cooking, and watching football.

I (Elizabeth) graduated from Miami University, where I studied comparative religion. I’m a mom to four little girls, and my world revolves around lovies, princess dresses, and wiping little hands. I’m that loud-yelling soccer mom who loves to bring artistry into motherhood through making birthday cakes and coordinating Disney Halloween costumes. 

And maybe this is obvious, but we both really love our neighbors. It looks different for both of us because we’re wired very differently, but our neighbors are some of God’s best gifts to us.

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

I (Elizabeth) needed a creative outlet when our girls were babies, so I started blogging about five or six years ago while Chris was writing academic papers for seminary. About three years ago, we started writing together in a small, windowless room in the back of our church. It was there that we spent countless hours hashing out this book.

We both really enjoy the research part of writing and the chance to stop and refine what we think and believe. We’re passionate about equipping and discipling believers, so we love that writing gives us the chance to do that in a broad way.

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

Clearly marriage and parenting four young children didn’t have enough challenges, so as gluttons for punishment we decided to write a book together. Yes, it’s difficult. Getting feedback from an editor can be hard enough, but then imagine that editor is your spouse! It adds a whole other dimension to the writing process, but it’s also a lot of fun and worth all the “lively discussions.” 

What led you to write Placed for a Purpose? 

We spent 17 years doing campus ministry, which we now affectionately call “the microwave.” In that context, we had four years with our students, and life change happened fast. Meanwhile, God began to do some really special things in our neighborhood, and we found it difficult to translate what we’d learned from the campus ministry into our world of neighboring, which felt more like a crock pot––low and slow.

We wondered: How should we respond when we see brokenness and isolation in our neighborhood? Are certain topics and activities more spiritual than others? What’s the difference between having ultimate motives and ulterior motives with our neighbors? We were used to talking to college students where topics of faith and Jesus typically came up much quicker, but these neighbors were our adult peers, and we wrestled with the fact that relationships just moved slower. 

Through Chris’s time in seminary, we realized we needed to broaden our view of what counted as redemptive work and what it meant to have gospel-motivated conversations with our neighbors. So initially we wrote it to ourselves as everything we wish we’d known eight years ago.

We chose a format that could be easily used and discussed in a small-group setting with hope that it will encourage other believers with purpose, patience, and great expectancy, knowing that God is at work through small, mustard-sized interactions. 

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

It’s hard to love your neighbors if you don’t know your neighbors. We feel the disconnect between wanting our neighbors to know Jesus but not knowing their names. This book helps bridge that gap by providing a sustainable vision for the “low and slow” lifestyle of neighboring, and it offers practical steps for building meaningful, gospel-motivated relationships with our fellow image bearers next door. 

How has writing this book affected your own life?

Writing this book has helped us grow in humility to receive from God through our neighbors. It has boosted our patience with them, knowing that God works over time. It has emboldened us to take risks in conversations that match the spiritual pace with which they’re moving, and it has sparked creativity for both of us to live out our unique personalities in ways that reflect God in our neighborhood.

But probably the biggest impact the book has made on both of us has been the surety it has developed in us that God is at work in our neighbors’ lives, he cares about each step in their journey, and we are free to enjoy the process with them.

For a sneak peek, here are some quotes:

“When we reduce the parable of the Good Samaritan to an example story, we remove the heartbeat of what it means to prove to be a neighbor. In order to become a neighbor to those around us, we need a heart change that only comes from embracing and experiencing the gospel. We show mercy because we have been shown mercy. We love because he first loved us—not from a place of vain superiority but of humble gratitude and responsibility. The power to love our neighbors isn’t found in the command to do so, but instead it is found in Jesus.”

“When we forget that our neighbors are glorious ruins, it is easy to do one of three things: When we see only glory, we envy them. When we see only ruin, we judge them. When we don’t see them at all, we ignore them. Jesus saw his neighbors as they truly were, made in the image of God, yet broken because of the fall. . . . Across that fence, your neighbor carries with him both that glory and ruin—a glory which motivates our respect and a ruin which motivates our compassion.”

“So, just as there are times to speak directly, there are also times when we are called to engage in conversations where the gospel sleeps quietly in how you handle your anxiety, experience grief, talk about the ups and downs of the stock market, or walk through seasons of singleness, infertility, and parenting. Don’t be troubled when all is not said, and seeds lie dormant and underdeveloped. In that dissonance, pray! Pray knowing that God is at work and that “the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed.”

Here are some endorsements: 

“If you’ve ever had the desire to see God work in and through you right where he has you, then Placed for a Purpose is the perfect practical and heart-engaging guide.”
David Robbins, President and CEO of FamilyLife

“When you read Placed for a Purpose, you will find yourself wanting to create margin in your life so you can be more present with the people who live right outside your front door.”
Dave Runyon, Co-author of Art of Neighboring

“This book could radically change the way we view and engage our neighbors.”
Courtney Doctor, Coordinator of Women’s Initiatives, The Gospel Coalition, Author of From Garden to Glory: A Bible Study on the Bible’s Story

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

If we weren’t also with our neighbors, we’d at least be doing something outside with our kids. We love admiring the trees we planted five years ago, hanging at the pool, and doing s’mores and steaks over our little, portable fire pit.

Chris (MDiv, Covenant Seminary) and Elizabeth McKinney live in Columbia, Missouri, with their four daughters and a Pomeranian. They work for Cru City and serve as associate staff at their church, The Crossing. They write, speak, and are passionate about helping people love their next-door neighbors. You can find them at Placedforapurpose.com.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m a delighted follower of Jesus, and I try to take him seriously and take myself un-seriously. I married the guy I started dating at 16 years old. Early on, Luke shared with me his desire to do ministry, but I didn’t think it’d work out—because I thought pastors were supposed to love to wear ties and always drove the speed limit. 

As it turns out, tie-love is not a prerequisite for the pastorate, and we’ve been in local church ministry for 13 years now. We have three kids, and it’s my joy to spend my days with them! On the side, I write, teach, and teach writing.

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. When I was in the third grade, I wrote and illustrated a book called Danny Dumptruck and the Bully for a school assignment, and I genuinely believed it would change the world. 

In the climactic scene, Danny finally has the ear of his bully (Billy the Bulldozer, naturally), and appeals to him with, “Do you want peace in America?” The earnest, over-the-top dialogue and the bully’s resulting transformation are hilarious to me now, but at the time I was convinced it would stir the souls of my readers. In many ways, I’m the same as third-grade Caroline—I still hope my words will be used by God to change hearts and bring peace!

I love writing because it helps me slow down and process the world around me. Sometimes I’m processing an embarrassing moment or a funny thing my kids did, and I sit at my laptop enjoying laughs I might’ve missed. 

Other times, I’m processing a sin God revealed, a wound I didn’t realize I’d endured, or a concept that pricked my heart as I read my Bible. Writing is my opportunity to be still and remember who God is and how he is at work in the actual fabric of my life. Then, when appropriate, writing gives me the opportunity to serve by inviting others into those places of laughter, conviction, healing, and learning.

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

Is there anything worse than being trapped in an inspiration desert under a looming deadline? Moments like this force me to depend on the Lord, to adjust my prayers to align with Psalm 138, asking God to exalt above all things his name and his Word. It’s easier to accept my own lacking words when I remember God’s Word lacks nothing, will never return void, and is my very life.

What led you to write Better Than Life: How to Study the Bible and Like It?

When it comes to training up the next generation, it’s easy to urge young girls to read their Bibles without equipping them to do so. Other times, we’re faithful to equip them, but we do it dryly, perhaps inadvertently putting stumbling blocks in their way. 

In my mind, failing to offer both clear equipping and also genuine delight seems fundamentally at odds with our commissioning to make disciples by teaching them (Matt. 28:19–20) and at odds with the beauty of the gospel.

Better Than Life is my attempt to offer girls both equipping and excitement for the Bible! At a birthday party, I never hand out the cake forks with a frown. I hand them out excitedly because I know the fork is the tool for feasting, and I’m eager for our party guests to feast. That’s my same posture in this study. I’m offering girls a “fork” to help them taste and see that the Lord is good and that his Word is sweeter than honey.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

In the study, girls learn and practice a tried-and-true Bible-reading recipe that I’ve tried to make accessible and memorable. My hope is that a year after participants complete the study (or 30 years later!), they will open their Bibles and think, I know what to do, and I know it’ll be worth doing, because this Word is my very life.

How has writing this book affected your own life?

I wrote the manuscript in an unexpected season of transition that made me cling to God’s Word in a new way, further convincing me of its life-giving nature and of any resource that will help others approach it. 

The experience prompted me to marvel over the way God sows and reaps, producing fruit in a current season from a previous season’s planting. What a joy—during a time when I struggled to remember what I ate for lunch—to experience the fruit from that months-ago deep dive into Psalm 63 and the years of inviting women over to learn to study the Bible! 

I prayerfully hope Better Than Life will equip girls today to persevere in tomorrow’s foggy, fraught seasons.

For a sneak peek, here are some quotes:

“When I learned how to study the Bible, I found that I truly liked to study the Bible . . . structure led to delight, and I have not been the same since.”

“Here’s a fun fact: the Latin root of the word ‘study’ is ‘zeal,’ and zeal means ‘eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something.’ The words ‘eagerness’ and ‘ardent’ here imply a warm enthusiasm—as in ‘I want to know this! I want to do this!’ Who would’ve thought that the word ‘study’ contains ingredients less like the stuff you’d find in a classroom and more like the stuff you’d find at a pep rally?”

“Part of our work as Christ-followers is to protect our appetite for Him by putting to death lesser cravings and daily yielding our hunger pangs to Him, knowing that only He can satisfy.”

Here are some endorsements:

“If you’re intimidated by the thought of chipping away at a book as long and robust as the Bible in order to live in light of its truths, this is the study for you! Through winsome instruction and memorable methodology, Caroline Saunders encourages young women to feast on God’s Word and delight in its truths. Better Than Life is exactly the resource I want to use with girls I mentor as well as my own daughters someday!”

— Hunter Beless, Founder and Executive Director of Journeywomen

“Better Than Life by Caroline Saunders is so much more than a Bible study and a set of Bible study tools. It is a mindset that will help girls learn how to delight in God and His word, setting them up for a lifetime of studying Scripture with confidence and understanding.”

— Ben Trueblood, Director of Student Ministry for LifeWay Christian Resources

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

I’d love to go to a magically uncrowded amusement park in great weather with family and friends, and ride roller coasters and eat lots of food without one interfering with the other. Wouldn’t that be fun?

Caroline Saunders is a writer, pastor’s wife, and mother of three who loves serving women and girls through writing, through her church, and through a parachurch women’s ministry she started with her best friends called Story & Soul. Her LifeWay Girls study Better Than Life: How to Study the Bible and Like It released fall 2020. Find her writing and resources at WriterCaroline.com and on Instagram @writercaroline.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I am a wife to Matt and mama-discipler to Moriah (8), Haven (6), Shalom (4), and Moses (2). When I am not writing, my joys include worship dance, mindful exercise, Bible study, quality time with girlfriends, strong coffee, and exotic teas. I am passionate about pursuing biblical justice and stewarding my biracial/bicultural realities for God’s glory.

This is your first children’s book. What led you to write Like God? 

My daughter Moriah was the inspiration behind Like God. I am—like so many other mamas, aunties, and “grammas” out there—constantly searching for ways to teach the little ones in my life about big theological truths they can grow into, while doing so in ways that really resonate with them. 

Art resonates with Moriah, so while her siblings napped, we sat at the table, colored, and talked about how big God is. Connecting a big mountain with its big God really stuck with her. She started to make the Creator-creation connection on her own with other nature elements on the page. 

“The sky is everywhere . . . like God!” Seeing her light up over the attributes of God, by observing them in creation and then coloring her connection, made me light up over it too!

When she thought creating a book would be fun, I ran with it. I just didn’t realize how far we would run with it! It started with stapled, homemade versions of the book. Then I thought I’d surprise her with a photo book of her compiled “Like God” sketches. 

After a bit of market research, I couldn’t find any literature on this Romans 1:20–22 premise that was presented in developmentally appropriate ways for ages 2 to 6 in particular.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book? 

Nature tells us about God! Romans 1:20–22 teaches us that creation is the common grace that has been revealing God’s divine and eternal attributes to everyone, everywhere since the beginning of time. Nature is the loudest, most visible, constant way that God says, “Here I am! I am not hiding! See who I am!” (see also Ps. 19:1–6).

How has writing this book affected your own life? 

The process of making the book has deepened my wonder and awe of God. Meditating on the scriptural attributes of God and translating that into creative direction filled my heart so many evenings to overflowing. 

Though Romans 1:20–22 is the central message, Psalm 8:3–4 is where the message leads me and, I trust, will lead the reader: “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers . . . what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” The final spread in the book has no words and seeks to communicate this message of worship through the illustration alone. It has led me to the conviction that I must open the natural world to my kids, even as I open the Bible to them. 

I have also been indelibly struck by the psalmist’s prophetic words in Psalm 8: “Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands” (Ps. 8:5–6). 

I was so struck by the dignity and authority assigned to me by my Creator that I literally went on Amazon and purchased a $50 crown. It sits by my bedside, and every so often, I wear it around the house, declaring, “I’m a daughter of God, co-heir to Jesus, a little lower than the angels.” I’ll say this to my children while I’m washing the dishes or something else mundane. 

For a sneak peek, don’t miss the promo video:  

When will Like God be coming out and where can we get a copy? 

Like God is available now at LikeGodBook.com. You can also follow us on Instagram @likegodbook or Facebook “Like God Children’s Book.” You can use the hashtag #likegodbook on any social media platform. 

We have a free downloadable coloring book version of the book on the website. We’ll also have future giveaways, discounts, and fun gift bundle options coming closer to the holiday season, so follow us!

How did your daughter respond when she saw the book for the first time? 

The boxes of books arrived while Moriah was gone. I was actually braiding my friend’s hair when the boxes showed up, so my hands were full of grease. My friend had no idea what was happening, but I started ripping open the boxes right then and shouting, “It’s here! Thank you, Jesus!”

I was so excited when Moriah and the rest of my family walked in the door an hour later (to a box covered in grease stains). I had my phone video recorder going, and I handed her the book. She sat down on an armchair and just stared at it. She kept turning it over and over in silence. 

Mind you, the whole concept-to-publishing process took two years. She went from kindergarten to second grade in that time frame! I think it was so surreal for her to be holding it, she had no words.  

Alyssa Miller is an editorial director and freelance Christian-thought writer. She has guest published on The Witness: A Black Christian Collective and Desiring God Ministries, and she has project-collaborated with CRU and The Gospel Coalition, among others. She is the mother of four beautiful children and soulmate to Matthew. They reside in the land of 10,000 lakes. Like God is her first published children’s book.

Moriah (8 years old) is the oldest of four children. When she isn’t creating stories, crafting, or coming up with new hairstyles, she is holding down the third grade, learning piano, perfecting her chess game, or playing on the block. Like God is her first published work.

We have many words to describe what many of us long for: an example to follow—someone to embody the truths of the gospel so we can learn from their faithful living. We want someone who will speak truth, share godly wisdom, and be a listening ear when we feel at a loss of where to turn or what to do.

To help us catch a vision for the importance of spiritual mentoring, I’ve asked a variety of women a few questions about mentoring and over the next couple of months, I’ll share our interviews. Today, we’ll hear who mentored Courtney Doctor and learn that sometimes you find a mentor when you didn’t even know how much you needed one.

Today, we’ll hear who mentored Courtney Doctor and learn that sometimes you find a mentor when you didn’t even know how much you needed one.

Here’s my interview with Courtney Doctor.

Who spiritually mentored you in the faith?

My first spiritual mentor was a dear woman who babysat my children. I was in my 20s, had two small children, and decided to go back to school. We put an ad in the paper for a babysitter and proceeded to interview applicants.

The minute Jean walked in the door, my husband and I knew she was the one we should hire. We could tell she would be nurturing, instructive, patient, and wise with our boys. What we didn’t know was that she would speak gospel truth to all of us and call me to a deeper faith and closer walk with the Lord.

Jean would regularly stay and talk with me even after her time watching my children was over. Her conversations were intensely purposeful as she asked me about my day and then proceeded to point me to certain Scriptures (which were new to me). She would explain how they spoke into my challenges and questions. She showed me that the Scriptures were truth and life for me.

Jean regularly prayed for me and would frequently come back the next day with a long letter she had written to me addressing some of the things I had shared. The letters were full of Scripture. They were a display of her love for me and her desire that I know God more.

I never asked Jean to mentor me. I didn’t even know what that was. But God knew I needed an older woman in my life who could teach me the Word of God in practical ways, point me to Jesus, and give me a vision for what a faithful woman of God looks like. God used the fact that I needed a babysitter to bring me that woman.

God knew I needed an older woman in my life who could teach me the Word of God in practical ways, point me to Jesus, and give me a vision for what a faithful woman of God looks like.

What did you learn from her life and example?

Jean modeled an intense love for Jesus and his Word as well as what it looks like to speak bold, gospel truth to someone. Her willingness to challenge me in different areas of my life ended up being one of the most powerful tools of God’s grace for me.

She had no interest in nominal or lukewarm faith, and her example spurred me on to want what she had. Jean’s love for Jesus was so evident, and I wanted my love for him to be like hers. I learned what it looks like to pray immediately about everything and anything.

I watched her care more about my walk with the Lord than her own needs. She had to be tired after watching my two children, yet she would stay and talk. She surely would have preferred to have her evenings to herself, yet she would invest time and energy into writing me letters.

The fact that she was technically working “for” me never hindered her from calling me out and challenging me. She modeled a life consumed with love for her Savior and the desire to see others know him too.

If a younger woman desires a mentoring relationship with an older woman, how would you advise her to find a mentor?

First and foremost, look for a woman who displays godliness in her life! Look for a woman who loves Jesus, knows his Word, and pursues holiness in her speech, conduct, relationships, and service to others.

First and foremost, look for a woman who displays godliness in her life!

Look for a woman who is easy to talk with, who you enjoy spending time with, and who you are willing to share your struggles with. Look for a woman who will invite you into real relationship and is willing to open her life to you. And always look for a woman who knows God’s Word and is not afraid to speak gospel truth to you.

As you begin to prayerfully identify a woman you would like to have as a spiritual mentor, you’ll most likely need to ask her if she’s willing. It’s helpful to be clear and specific in your request.

For example, are you asking her to meet with you once a month, once a week, or on an as-needed basis? Do you want to work your way through a book of the Bible, learn to pray, or create a space to just talk about aspects of your life (i.e. career and calling, marriage, ministry, parenting, and so on)? Are you hoping she will come to your house, invite you to hers, or meet somewhere else? These are good to spell out in the beginning so that you are on the same page and minimize the possibility of misunderstanding and hurt feelings.

It’s extremely helpful to identify an end date so that it isn’t awkward when it comes time for the relationship to move from a formal mentoring relationship to an informal friendship. For instance, you might say, “Would you be willing to meet with me for this school year, twice a month from 1–2:30 p.m. at my house, to pray with me and read the book of Ephesians together?”

And let me encourage you. In my 30s, I asked two different women—women I admire greatly—to mentor me. They both said they would pray about it (which they did), and then came back and told me they didn’t feel called to do what I had asked.

Admittedly, I was sad, a bit discouraged, and even a bit embarrassed. But God showed me that I could still glean from their godly examples by watching them. I did, and what I saw were women who poured themselves out in exceptional ways to others.

One was a Bible teacher, and I observed how diligently she studied and prepared. The other was a woman who, with her husband, walked away from an extremely successful corporate career to minister to “the least of these.” I benefited greatly from their lives, ministries, and examples. And I learned it’s okay if God leads the women we ask to tell us, “No,” or, “Not right now.”

Why is discipleship in the local church context so important for spiritual growth?

Real discipleship has to occur in the context of real relationship. If I’m discipling someone, she needs to be able to observe how I respond when I’m tired, when I’m cut off in traffic (not my best moments), and when my dog comes in the house with mud all over his feet.

Real discipleship has to occur in the context of real relationship.

She needs to be able to watch how I talk to my husband, my children, and guests in my home. We all need to be able to observe if someone’s life matches their doctrine—if how they live validates what they profess to believe. No one will do this perfectly, but knowing and being known by each other is a vital aspect of mentoring.

We’re unable to have this with the women we only “follow” on social media. Wisdom can still be gained and biblical truth can still go forth, but that is not the same thing as a discipleship relationship.

There are many women with large social media platforms who live lives that match what they profess to believe. Many of these godly women love Jesus, love his Word, and seek to faithfully live out the ramifications of their faith. But if you aren’t able to sit in their kitchens, ride in their cars, or share their pews, then they are not your spiritual mentors. Find women with whom you can share daily life.

What particular piece of wisdom or advice do you hope to pass on to younger women in your life?

I want my younger sisters to know that time in God’s Word is vital. Both career and children require early mornings, but making the time to read, study, and apply God’s Word is one of the most essential parts of your life in Christ.

I want my younger sisters to know that time in God’s Word is vital.

We often tell younger women not to worry about finishing their Bible study homework or not to be legalistic about their time in the Word. While these are both well-intentioned pieces of advice, I think it’s more important to ask our younger sisters, “How can I help you spend time in the Word?”

Can an older woman watch your children for a few hours a week, or can you trade afternoons with another mom so that you each can have some solid time to study God’s Word? Can you carve time out over your lunch break at work?

Ask others to pray that you will creatively and intentionally make the time to read, study, and apply God’s Word. It really is your very life (Deut. 32:47).

Courtney Doctor is a Bible teacher, conference and retreat speaker, author, wife, mother, mother-in-law, and “CC” to four darling grandsons. In 2013, she received a master of divinity degree from Covenant Seminary, where she now serves as a visiting instructor in communications. She is the author of From Garden to Glory: A Bible Study on the Bible’s Story and Steadfast: A Devotional Bible Study on the Book of James. She currently serves as the coordinator of women’s initiatives for The Gospel Coalition.

I have a new book, Growing Together: Taking Mentoring beyond Small Talk and Prayer Requests that releases on June 9. It’s not primarily a book about mentoring, but a book that two women can use in a discipleship relationship to help discuss a variety of topics. It’s meant to be one way to get the conversation started, but by no means is it the only way to mentor. If you’re looking for a place to begin, I hope it will be a helpful resource.

Other posts in this series:

• My New Book: Growing Together
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Hunter Beless?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Karen Hodge?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Trillia Newbell?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Christine Hoover?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Emily Jensen?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Shar Walker?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Megan Hill?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Laura Wifler?

We have many words to describe what many of us long for: an example to follow—someone to embody the truths of the gospel so we can learn from their faithful living. We want someone who will speak truth, share godly wisdom, and be a listening ear when we feel at a loss of where to turn or what to do.

To help us catch a vision for the importance of spiritual mentoring, I’ve asked a variety of women a few questions about mentoring and over the next couple of months, I’ll share our interviews. Today, we’ll hear who mentored Laura Wifler and learn the value of having a multitude of spiritual mentors through life’s different seasons. 

Here’s my interview with Laura Wifler.

Who spiritually mentored you in the faith?

When I think about my spiritual mentors, I’m deeply grateful to say that the list is long. I’ve had both formal and informal discipleship relationships, and each one has been unique. The great thing about mentorship is that it doesn’t have to be complicated or formal—it’s simply teaching others what God has taught you. 

It doesn’t have to be complicated or formal—it’s simply teaching others what God has taught you. 

I’ve met with women formally for long seasons to study a specific topic or passage of Scripture, or to pray together. But I’m grateful my discipleship hasn’t been bound to that. There have been countless women over the years that I’ve learned from informally as we’ve lived life side-by-side. 

Everything from how to discipline my children when I’m stuck, to reorienting my perspective around the gospel when I’m feeling grief or guilt, to making schooling decisions, and even identifying various herbs in a garden (as there are countless gospel-truths to be drawn from getting your hands into the earth).

What did you learn from their lives and examples?

The women who have invested in me have one thing in common: they love Jesus more than life. Regardless of their age, stage of life, where they live, or how their days are made up, they have shown me what it looks like to lay down their lives for the sake of the gospel. 

I have yet to meet any mentor that has it all right, but that’s part of the appeal—their authentic, joyful humility. They are more occupied with the glory of Christ than their own, and they are willing to freely give what God has given them. They, like Paul, have simply said, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1).

If a younger woman desires a mentoring relationship with an older woman, how would you advise her to find a mentor?

Proverbs tells us to seek after wisdom like silver or a hidden treasure (Prov. 2:4). So while this isn’t popular advice given to the person looking for a mentor, it’s frequently advised for a reason: just ask! But what I’ve found is many older women don’t feel equipped to be a formal mentor. It can sound daunting and time-consuming at first. 

Particularly if your church doesn’t have a formal discipleship program you can get involved with, consider praying for and finding individual women whom you respect in a specific area and ask them to meet you for council on one topic. 

Consider praying for and finding individual women whom you respect in a specific area and ask them to meet you for council on one topic. 

Perhaps you respect her children, so you can ask her about discipline strategies. Maybe you love hearing her pray in Bible study, so invite her to meet up to discuss how she’s grown in prayer. 

Making a specific request helps that woman know what to expect, and a shorter time frame is often something they can more joyfully commit to. And who knows? Maybe over time you’ll both find it organically become something more.

Why is discipleship in the local church context so important for spiritual growth?

The internet can’t see your real life. While articles and social media can be immensely helpful for broad principles and application, they can’t see how we parent, what kind of employees we are, what our specific sin tendencies are, where we have spiritual blinders on, or how we really just need a hug in the midst of our grief. 

Humans are complicated. We often need conversation and an inviting smile to truly process through life and gain a gospel-centered vision for it. Flesh-and-blood discipleship helps us grow in specific, tangible ways that the internet ever could.

What particular piece of wisdom or advice do you hope to pass on to younger women in your life?

Don’t believe the lie that you need to find one formal spiritual mentor in order to grow in godliness. Life is full of transitions, and seasons change. There isn’t one single person that can meet you in every stage with every need. Thankfully, that’s why God gave us the body of Christ—different people all gifted in different ways, working together. 

There isn’t one single person that can meet you in every stage with every need.

Even if you go for a season without a wiser woman in your life, remember that all wisdom is found in the fear of the Lord (Prov. 2:5). He promises to give wisdom if you ask (James 1:5). If you are in Christ, he who started a good work in you will carry you to completion (Phil. 1:6).

Laura Wifler is the co-founder of Risen Motherhood and currently serves as the executive director and co-host of the weekly podcast. She is the co-author of the book Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments. Laura, her husband, and her three children reside in central Iowa. You can find her on Instagram, @laurawifler.

I have a new book, Growing Together: Taking Mentoring beyond Small Talk and Prayer Requests that released on June 9. It’s not primarily a book about mentoring, but a book that two women can use in a discipleship relationship to help discuss a variety of topics. It’s meant to be one way to get the conversation started, but by no means is it the only way to mentor. If you’re looking for a place to begin, I hope it will be a helpful resource.

Other posts in this series:

• My New Book: Growing Together
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Hunter Beless?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Karen Hodge?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Trillia Newbell?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Christine Hoover?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Emily Jensen?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Shar Walker?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Megan Hill?

We have many words to describe what many of us long for: an example to follow—someone to embody the truths of the gospel so we can learn from their faithful living. We want someone who will speak truth, share godly wisdom, and be a listening ear when we feel at a loss for where to turn or what to do.

To help us catch a vision for the importance of spiritual mentoring, I’ve asked a variety of women a few questions about mentoring, and over the next couple of months, I’ll share our interviews. Today, we’ll hear who mentored Megan Hill and learn that you don’t always need a mentorship label in order to be discipled in the whole life of faith.

Here’s my interview with Megan Hill.

Who spiritually mentored you in the faith?

When I was a newlywed and young mom, I was mentored by an older woman in my church named Carol. Carol lived right around the corner from me for many years, and we would get together once a week for a time of prayer.

I estimate that we spent close to 500 hours praying together over the course of a decade.

We typically met at her house on Tuesday mornings at 10 a.m. When I arrived, we would talk briefly about various prayer requests—personal needs, yes, but also wider concerns for the local church and for the church throughout the world. Then, we prayed together for about an hour.

By the time I moved away to another state, I estimate that we spent close to 500 hours praying together over the course of a decade. We never called it a mentorship, and we certainly didn’t plan to spend 10 years praying together. We just prayed one Tuesday morning at a time, and week-by-week, I learned about the life of faith.

What did you learn from her life and example?

Although it sounds simple—meet together, pray, go home—those hours with Carol instructed me in the whole Christian life. By her obvious faith in the God who hears, she encouraged my own faith. By her use of Scripture in prayer, she taught me to plead with God for the things he has promised. By her holy desires, she shaped my own desires.

By her repentance, she taught me what it means to confess and forsake sin. By her thanksgiving, she taught me how to rejoice. By interceding alongside her, I grew in Christian love for her and the people for whom we prayed. I wanted Carol to mentor me because she was a woman of prayer, but I came away from our times with so much more than a lesson in prayer.

If a younger woman desires a mentoring relationship with an older woman, how would you advise her to find a mentor?

I would look for a woman who loves Christ’s church—and it may not be the woman who is the most vocal or the most obvious. It will probably be the woman you never think about because she’s in the kitchen wiping down the counters after the fellowship meal.

Look for the woman who faithfully attends prayer meetings, who volunteers in the nursery without being asked, and whose Bible looks like it has been through a war.

Lend a hand. Listen to what she says and, most importantly, watch what she does and how she does it.

Don’t ask her to be your mentor. (That may be too intimidating for a woman like her.) Instead, ask her if you can help her wipe down the counters, or if you can sit next to her in the prayer meeting, or if you can go with her when she visits the church widows.

Follow her around. Lend a hand. Listen to what she says and, most importantly, watch what she does and how she does it. Ask her to pray for you. Ask her to pray with you. Even if you never get around to calling it “a mentoring relationship,” you will be discipled in the whole life of faith. 

Why is discipleship in the local church context so important for spiritual growth?

Discipleship in the local church is vital first of all because God commands it. The exhortations for older women to teach younger women by their example and words (Titus 2:2–5), for believers to admonish one another in the Word of God (Col. 3:16), and for God’s people to be constant in prayer together (1 Thess. 5:17) are all commands that were given to local churches and to us in the local church today. The primary context of discipleship in Scripture is the local church.

When one part of the body is being built up and edified, all the parts are blessed.

Local church discipleship is also important because, in the local church, we have a responsibility for one another. Just like a biological body, where each part depends on the other parts, Scripture describes the church as an interconnected, spiritual body (1 Cor. 12:12–26). When one part of the body is being built up and edified, all the parts are blessed.

This contrasts sharply with an online culture where we may certainly learn helpful information from other people, but where—for the most part—we have no ongoing investment in one another’s spiritual health.

What particular piece of wisdom or advice do you hope to pass on to younger women in your life?

Committing to the church is always worth it. I have a new book about the local church, and I wrote it with younger women in mind.

The testimony of the Scripture is that the church is the place of God’s blessing.

The local church doesn’t always look like much. It’s made up of ordinary people engaged in predictable practices week after week. It’s sometimes awkward and sometimes disappointing. It can be hard to commit. But the testimony of the Scripture is that the church is the place of God’s blessing.

I want the young women in my life—starting with my own 3-year-old daughter!—to embrace the privilege of belonging to Christ’s body, the church.

Megan Hill is the author of A Place to Belong: Learning to Love the Local Church (Crossway, 2020), Contentment: Seeing God’s Goodness (P&R, 2018), and Praying Together: The Priority and Privilege of Prayer in Our Homes, Communities, and Churches (Crossway, 2016). She is an editor for The Gospel Coalition, and her writing has appeared in various publications, including Christianity Today, The Washington Post, Today in the Word, Reformation 21, Focus on the Family, Desiring God, and Tabletalk.  A pastor’s wife and pastor’s daughter, she lives in Massachusetts with her husband and four children, where they belong to West Springfield Covenant Community Church (PCA).

I have a new book, Growing Together: Taking Mentoring beyond Small Talk and Prayer Requests that released on June 9. It’s not primarily a book about mentoring, but a book that two women can use in a discipleship relationship to help discuss a variety of topics. It’s meant to be one way to get the conversation started, but by no means is it the only way to mentor. If you’re looking for a place to begin, I hope it will be a helpful resource.

Other posts in this series:

• My New Book: Growing Together
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Hunter Beless?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Karen Hodge?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Trillia Newbell?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Christine Hoover?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Emily Jensen?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Shar Walker?

We have many words to describe what many of us long for: an example to follow—someone to embody the truths of the gospel so we can learn from their faithful living. We want someone who will speak truth, share godly wisdom, and be a listening ear when we feel at a loss of where to turn or what to do.

To help us catch a vision for the importance of spiritual mentoring, I’ve asked a variety of women a few questions about mentoring and over the next couple of months, I’ll share our interviews. Today, we’ll hear who mentored Shar Walker and learn that discipleship is more than just sharing what we know—it’s about sharing our lives with one another.

Here’s my interview with Shar Walker.

Who spiritually mentored you in the faith?

Gail was the type of woman who wouldn’t just say, “I’ll pray for you,” and walk away only to think about the next item on her to-do list. She would take your hands in hers and ask if she could pray with and for you right then and there.

At the time, she was a grandmother of two and a former nurse, and I was single and in my 20s. While a lot of young moms understandably had little time to give to invest in younger women like me, Gail had an abundance of time she was generous with.

Our time together varied. I usually went to her house where we drank tea. Sometimes it was structured, and we studied God’s Word together. Other times it was more informal and fluid and she let me talk and ask questions, or we’d cook together or go on a walk. Our time together always incorporated prayer.

I got to see Gail in a lot of different contexts. If we weren’t at her house praying, we were serving together at a weekly potluck where we engaged people in the community and built relationships. We also went to the same Bible study and prayer groups.

What did you learn from her life and example?

If Gail taught me anything, she taught me how to pray and how to train my first response in times of anxiety or crisis to be prayer before flying into “fix it mode” (my natural instinct).

I learned a lot from Gail by watching her life and through formal teaching. Because she invited me into different aspects of her life, I saw how she responded in situations of stress. I watched her respond to life’s mishaps in ways that honored God.

There’s something comforting about the slow, steady plodding of older saints.

She also formally taught me and others. One season she led a small-group discussion on prayer and spiritual warfare—a topic I was more likely to ignore than over-emphasize.

Perhaps Gail’s greatest gift to me was her steady faithfulness to walk with God for decades. There’s something comforting about the slow, steady plodding of older saints. She also gave me a picture of what discipleship, advancing the kingdom, and raise up laborers could look like when I’m in my 60s.

If a younger woman desires a mentoring relationship with an older woman, how would you advise her to find a mentor?

Find contexts in your local church where you can get to know women who are in different seasons of life than yourself. Spend time observing their life as much as possible. There are likely many women in your church who have lives worth emulating, we just need to be intentional about getting around them long enough to see it.

A brief word of advice: don’t discredit women who are retired or older. They’re a wellspring of godly wisdom and love, and they often have more time than women in other seasons. And to the older saints, I pray you know how much your younger sisters in Christ need you.

A brief word of advice: don’t discredit women who are retired or older.

If you find a woman who you would like to mentor you, ask her to hang out. Develop a friendship. Invite her to get coffee or tea or for brunch and ask her about your life. How long has she been a Christian? If she’s married how did she meet her spouse? What’s something hard she’s had to trust God with? You can slowly build a relationship over time before asking her to mentor you.

If you’re desiring something more formal, share with her that you value her walk with the Lord and you’d love to have a regular space where you could learn from her both formally and informally. At this point, it’s helpful to be clear about your desires. I imagine some women may not have a category for what you’re desiring and expecting. Perhaps start by asking if you could meet up once a month or every other week to study God’s Word and pray.

Why is discipleship in the local church context so important for spiritual growth?

We can’t have the full and abundant life Christ desires for us (John 10:10) outside of intimate relationships with other believers. If we relegate spiritual growth to going to church and Bible study and listening to Christian podcasts, we’ve mistakenly assumed growth is solely equated with obtaining knowledge. In this case, we stunt our development, and we’ve missed out on one of God’s greatest gifts to us—his people.

Articles and social media are great avenues for obtaining information. But growing spiritually is so much more than gathering correct doctrine—it’s right doctrine married to godly living in community with God’s people. The knowledge we obtain about Christ’s goodness is always meant to change us. The people on the other end of the articles, podcasts, and social media channels can’t tell you when you’re wrong. They can’t tell you how to walk in wisdom in your particular situation. We have an embodied faith where we thrive when we’re with people, in person.

Discipleship isn’t just sharing what we know, it’s sharing our lives and who we are in Christ (1 Thess 2:8).

Discipleship is a primary way we grow in spiritual maturity.

Discipleship is a primary way we grow in spiritual maturity. To know other Christians and be known by them gives us a context to learn, develop, question, wrestle, and be corrected. In these relationships we experience that, as my pastor says, “The church is not like family, it is family.” Discipleship isn’t about knowing more, it’s about being known more.

What particular piece of wisdom or advice do you hope to pass on to younger women in your life?

There isn’t a Christian “type.” While it’s common to hear God is conforming us into the image of himself, I’ve subtly (and wrongly) assumed he’s making us all the same. Perhaps it’s more accurate to say he’s making us a more Christ-like version of ourselves. While it’s tempting to put too much stock in personality (especially today), learning ourselves is a way we learn of God. As Augustine said, “Grant, Lord, that I may know myself that I may know thee.”

In knowing ourselves and God, we’ll inevitably see how unlike him we are. May we savor the cross in these moments. Sometimes sanctification can really hurt—Jesus calls it pruning for a reason (John 15). It can feel like it’s killing us. It’s not though. It’s refining us, and he’s with you in the process and so are his people (if you let them). Always stay closely tethered to his Word and his people.

Always stay closely tethered to his Word and his people.

Be humble, and always be a learner of God and others. If you can look back can see the ways your thinking has changed about a particular situation, you’re likely growing. Surround yourself with a few trusted, godly men and women who are a safe place for you to learn, to struggle, and who will give you honest correction when necessary.

SharDavia “Shar” Walker lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and son. She works on staff at the North American Mission Board (NAMB) as the senior writer. Shar is a writer and speaker and is pursuing a MA in Christian studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She loves getting lost in a good story (historical fiction is her favorite genre), watching the show Survivor, hand lettering, movies, and all things chocolate. You can find more of her writings at sharwalker.com.

I have a new book, Growing Together: Taking Mentoring beyond Small Talk and Prayer Requests that released on June 9. It’s not primarily a book about mentoring, but a book that two women can use in a discipleship relationship to help discuss a variety of topics. It’s meant to be one way to get the conversation started, but by no means is it the only way to mentor. If you’re looking for a place to begin, I hope it will be a helpful resource.

Other posts in this series:

• My New Book: Growing Together
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Hunter Beless?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Karen Hodge?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Trillia Newbell?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Christine Hoover?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Emily Jensen?

We have many words to describe what many of us long for: an example to follow—someone to embody the truths of the gospel so we can learn from their faithful living. We want someone who will speak truth, share godly wisdom, and be a listening ear when we feel at a loss of where to turn or what to do.

To help us catch a vision for the importance of spiritual mentoring, I’ve asked a variety of women a few questions about mentoring and over the next couple of months, I’ll share our interviews. Today, we’ll hear who mentored Emily Jensen and learn that discipleship relationships can take on many forms. While the method or location may vary, there’s one common ingredient: availability.

Here’s my interview with Emily Jensen.

Who spiritually mentored you in the faith?

When I consider mentors in my life, a multitude of women come to mind. Some met me formally and consistently, some passed along a quick word of wisdom in an informal setting, some displayed a picture of godliness as they endured suffering and grew in maturity, and many others taught me without realizing it through their writing and speaking. 

More often than not, these women have simply blessed me with their loving availability.

While mentors have served me with intentional times of prayer and Bible reading, more often than not, these women have simply blessed me with their loving availability. This availability—as they’ve shared the Word and their heart for the Lord in Bible study settings, around their dinner table, in the church lobby, at coffee shops, and in my backyard—has fanned my flame of faith. 

What did you learn from their lives and examples?

As I’ve identified mentors, I’ve been continually drawn to women who aren’t just hearers of the Word, but who are doers (James 1:22). This doesn’t mean that they are perfect, but that their lives are consistently marked by joy, humility, and fruitfulness, especially through suffering. 

This doesn’t mean that they are perfect, but that their lives are consistently marked by joy, humility, and fruitfulness, especially through suffering. 

Additionally, I’ve found myself drawn to women who are strong in areas where I feel particularly weak. When it comes to things like generous hospitality, industrious service, and prayer, I need extra instruction and encouragement. While having a mentor with similar life circumstances or personality can provide an instant bond, their Christlike character is what’s essential.

What has surprised me the most over the years are the types of things I’ve learned from mentors. It ranges from how to bake a great batch of cinnamon rolls (not essential to gospel growth, but helpful for loving my breakfast-gobbling family) to how to wait for God to work in someone’s heart. 

Many times the lessons and questions have overlapped, weaving a lovely tapestry of the spiritual and the practical working into my heart as we’ve walked, or cleaned, or made a meal. 

If a younger woman desires a mentoring relationship with an older woman, how would you advise her to find a mentor?

This can feel like such a daunting question, and it’s been an obstacle for me at times. With everyone seeming so busy, asking, “Will you be my mentor?” can be intimidating. 

While formal mentoring is fantastic and it’s okay to ask that question, it’s not the only option. It’s also okay to ask a godly woman to meet and talk about one specific area of gospel application. (Then see where that leads!) 

You could start with something like, “My husband and I are having a hard time deciding what schooling choice to make next year. Would you be willing to listen and help me think through some of my fears?” That’s a question many women can joyfully answer, “Yes!” to. 

Some of the biggest decisions I’ve had to make in my adult life have been helped along by one-time informal conversations with wise women who knew me and were available to process the Scriptures. While everyone struggles against sin, we want to hear from women who won’t just commiserate with us but point us to Christ and help us follow his ways. 

Why is discipleship in the local church context so important for spiritual growth?

God’s words aren’t meant to be impersonal principles that inspire us from afar; they judge the thoughts and attitudes of our individual hearts (Heb. 4:13). We’re supposed to live according to them in our specific context and life circumstances (Ps. 119:9). 

While Bible teachers, writers, and Christian thought leaders can share principles from posts and pulpits, they can’t stand in your kitchen and help you apply it when your three year old kicks you in the shin and runs away. In order to thoughtfully discern God’s will and work in our own lives, we need people who love him, know us personally, and are committed to our spiritual health as part of our local church. 

For instance, when we struggle with the question of school choice, the “from afar” principles and posts can help us get started. But it’s the godly woman who knows our actual children, our husband’s work schedule, and the makeup of the schools in our particular community who can really help us pray about and process the details. 

A local mentor can dig in, ask the penetrating questions, bring us a meal, and give us a big hug.

When we’re not sure whether to increase our income-producing work hours or when we need help grieving a child’s diagnosis, a local mentor can dig in, ask the penetrating questions, bring us a meal, and give us a big hug. After all, we’re not just digital women, we’re embodied women.

We need to see each other living like Christ “in real life” to learn to do it ourselves. It’s why I finally figured out how to make cinnamon rolls when I did it beside a woman in her kitchen instead of just watching a video of a stranger on Google. At the same time, she encouraged me to keep writing about Christ, and we stopped to pray together. That’s an experience the Internet can never produce. 

What particular piece of wisdom or advice do you hope to pass on to younger women in your life?

It’s hard for me to imagine what I have to pass on to younger women at this point, but I pray that God uses me as a spiritual mother or spiritual big sister to others! I’d love to be known for holding fast to the gospel without wavering and serving the Lord with a glad heart—in my church, in my home, and in the world. 

We hold fast because he holds us.

And I hope I can tell other women to rely on Jesus for everything because he’s the founder and perfecter of our faith. We hold fast because he holds us.

Emily Jensen is the co-founder of Risen Motherhood, and she currently serves as the content director. She isthe co-author of the book Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments. Emily, her husband, and their five young children reside in central Iowa. You can find her on Instagram @emily___jensen and Twitter @emjensenwrites.

I have a new book, Growing Together: Taking Mentoring beyond Small Talk and Prayer Requests that released on June 9. It’s not primarily a book about mentoring, but a book that two women can use in a discipleship relationship to help discuss a variety of topics. It’s meant to be one way to get the conversation started, but by no means is it the only way to mentor. If you’re looking for a place to begin, I hope it will be a helpful resource.

Other posts in this series:

• My New Book: Growing Together
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Hunter Beless?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Karen Hodge?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Trillia Newbell?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Christine Hoover?

We have many words to describe what many of us long for: an example to follow—someone to embody the truths of the gospel so we can learn from their faithful living. We want someone who will speak truth, share godly wisdom, and be a listening ear when we feel at a loss of where to turn or what to do.

To help us catch a vision for the importance of spiritual mentoring, I’ve asked a variety of women a few questions about mentoring and over the next couple of months, I’ll share our interviews. Today, we’ll hear who mentored Christine Hoover and learn the importance of pursuing time with an older woman and coming with prepared questions.

Today, we’ll hear who mentored Christine Hoover and learn the importance of pursuing time with an older woman and coming with prepared questions.

Here’s my interview with Christine Hoover.

Who spiritually mentored you in the faith?

When we talk about discipleship or mentoring, we often think of formal meetings or relationships curated by the local church within a designated discipleship ministry. I do think there is a place for this within the local church, but I’ve found that the most spiritually meaningful relationships in my life have been informal. Two such relationships come to mind: my relationships with Claire and Kathy. 

When we first planted our church, it was full of younger women. Many of them looked to me for discipleship. Claire was the only woman older than me, so I asked her to coffee and came loaded with questions about ministry, family, parenting, and friendship. 

This became a routine. Every month or so, we’d get together, catch up over coffee, and I’d pull out a question about something that had been nagging at me. As our families spent time together, Claire modeled everything she was sharing with me. 

Kathy is someone with similar passions and gifts who is further down the road of life. As soon as I met her, I knew I’d found a kindred spirit. She’s not a woman in my everyday life, but anytime I’m around her, I take everything in—how she leads, how she teaches, how she handles difficult situations, and how she ministers to other women. Kathy and I have never had a formal mentorship, but she has affected my life through her example.

Through these two women, I’ve learned volumes about theology, spiritual disciplines, church community, ministry, marriage, parenting, and God himself.

If a younger woman desires a mentoring relationship with an older woman, how would you advise her to find a mentor?

First and foremost, commit yourself to the local church. Commit to being at church on Sundays, and attend what is offered that will allow you to develop connections with other women. As you do, you’ll have the opportunity to observe other women. 

You’ll likely be drawn to specific women because of their character, faithfulness, service, relationships, or simply your comfort level with them. These women are potential mentors. 

First and foremost, commit yourself to the local church.

Prayerfully consider inviting one of them to meet for a walk, coffee, or lunch. Get to know that woman you respect. As your friendship with her grows, consider asking her to meet with you in a more formal mentoring relationship. 

Sometimes the word “mentoring” or “discipleship” is scary to women, even women who are mature in the faith. Consider using less formal language. Ask her if she will study the Bible with you or pray with you at regular intervals. 

Why is discipleship in the local church context so important for spiritual growth?

Discipleship is different from any other type of learning, because it is active learning. If I hear a sermon, I can listen passively and, even when convicted through the proclamation of that Scripture, I can resist following through with what I’ve heard. I may have questions or doubts about what I’ve heard but nowhere to work through them, thus missing an opportunity for growth.

Discipleship is never passive learning.

Discipleship is never passive learning. Being in a discipleship relationship means we’re faced with truth and application of that truth in specific areas of our lives. Alongside fellow believers, we learn to live the truths we’re learning. This is how God designed us to grow—in relationships with one another.

What particular piece of wisdom or advice do you hope to pass on to younger women in your life?

I want younger women to know that pursuing time with an older woman and coming with prepared questions are two of the most important things you can do as you pursue spiritual growth. Many faithful older women are busy doing what God has called them to do, but when younger women initiate and show purposeful intention, older women notice and will joyfully come alongside them. 

Think of discipleship as a mutual relationship. Let initiation, question-asking, prayer, and encouragement flow in both directions.

Think of discipleship as a mutual relationship. Let initiation, question-asking, prayer, and encouragement flow in both directions. Older women want to learn from younger women too.

Christine Hoover is a pastor’s wife, mom of three boys, host of the By Faith podcast, and author of several books. Her latest offering is With All Your Heart: Living Joyfully Through Allegiance to King Jesus. Previous books include Messy Beautiful Friendship and Searching for Spring. Christine has contributed to The Gospel Coalition, For the Church, and Christianity Today. Originally from Texas, she and her family live in Charlottesville, Virginia, where they planted a church in 2008. Find Christine at her home online, www.christinehoover.net.

I have a new book, Growing Together: Taking Mentoring beyond Small Talk and Prayer Requests that releases on June 9. It’s not primarily a book about mentoring, but a book that two women can use in a discipleship relationship to help discuss a variety of topics. It’s meant to be one way to get the conversation started, but by no means is it the only way to mentor. If you’re looking for a place to begin, you can preorder now. To read more, here’s the initial article in this series.

Other posts in this series:

• My New Book: Growing Together
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Hunter Beless?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Karen Hodge?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Trillia Newbell?

We have many words to describe what many of us long for: an example to follow—someone to embody the truths of the gospel so we can learn from their faithful living. We want someone who will speak truth, share godly wisdom, and be a listening ear when we feel at a loss of where to turn or what to do.

To help us catch a vision for the importance of spiritual mentoring, I’ve asked a variety of women a few questions about mentoring, and over the next couple of months, I’ll share our interviews. Today, we’ll learn who mentored Trillia Newbell and consider the importance of looking for a mentor in the local church.

Today, we’ll learn who mentored Trillia Newbell and consider the importance of looking for a mentor in the local church.

Here’s my interview with Trillia Newbell.

Who spiritually mentored you in the faith?

It’s interesting because I imagine when you ask this question you might have in mind the Titus 2 relationship of an older woman mentoring a younger one. I’ve had plenty of those relationships, but I’d venture to say that my mentoring relationships haven’t been isolated to age. For example, when I first became a Christian, a woman my age mentored me. We eventually became dear friends, and the relationship changed, but at first it was very much a discipler/disciple type relationship. She taught me about the Scriptures. I watched her life and grew in my understanding of grace. She refused to gossip, so I learned quickly what a true friend looked like.

I’ve also had the beautiful older woman/younger woman relationships. Much of those relationships happened in the context of a living room conversation, washing dishes, or popping in for a visit. Rarely have I had formal mentors where we met up to speak and I asked questions. But I say rarely because I’ve also had those relationships, and they have been a gift. Just recently I emailed a small group of older women for advice on one of my kids.

So, my relationships have looked like all of the examples you could imagine. We’ve met up for coffee, spent time in the Word, folded laundry together, shared meals, and so much more. It’s been a blessing to have had many women in my life who have been mentors. And each one has been different.

Why did you want that particular woman to mentor you?

When I’ve pursued a mentoring relationship, I haven’t had a certain category in mind except that they are often but not always older than myself. But much of what I look for is experience and faithfulness. They don’t have to have a master’s in theology (most people don’t!), they don’t need to be in full-time ministry (again, most people aren’t!), but I do desire some sort of experience in whatever it is I’m hoping to learn from them. For example, I have a woman I reach out to often about motherhood. She’s a grandmother! She has several grown children. It makes sense to ask her questions about my teens. Although I’m sure that I could glean wisdom from a new mom—they were teens themselves once—it makes the most sense to go to a seasoned mom. Same with marriage. When I’ve suffered, I typically talk to someone who has suffered too.

If a younger woman desires a mentoring relationship with an older woman, how would you advise her to find a mentor?

I’d start by saying identify who it is that you hope might mentor you. Think local church and community. It’s wonderful if we admire someone from afar and learn from her, like (name your favorite author), but the women who will serve you best are likely right beside you in the pews. Look around and see who might be there.

The women who will serve you best are likely right beside you in the pews. Look around and see who might be there.

Most people simply don’t ask. So, I’d encourage her to identify a woman and ask. I do know of a friend who was rejected once. There are a number of reasons why someone may choose not to meet or would feel uneasy with the idea of a mentoring relationship. But most don’t mind and would be honored to serve in this way. We just need to ask.

Why is discipleship in the local church context so important for spiritual growth?

The letters in the New Testament are mostly written to local churches. In order to obey much of what God teaches, it’ll be walked out in a local church context. Local is how we can best exercise all of the “one anothers” we find in the Scriptures. I am not saying that discipleship outside of the confines of the local church is sin—by no means—I’m saying it seems like it’s where the Lord directs us most often. Local communities typically know us best. It’s where we will grow and unfortunately, it’s often where we sin the most and have opportunity to repent. It’s where relationships flourish. So, local ministry is important.

Reading articles is helpful, but it should be in the category of learning and growing so that you can love God and your neighbor more effectively. Articles are wonderful tools for thinking and gathering ideas. But there is no substitute for the local church and no substitute for Bible reading. They are a tool, a gift even, but not the best at discipling long-term. Discipleship is about relationship. Articles can’t produce that.

And same with those you follow on social media. They are limited people. I don’t care how friendly the man or woman you follow is on social media, she or he cannot serve you long-term if they are involved in their local communities. She may be able to engage from time to time, maybe you will develop a real, lasting relationship. But there’s no way she can be faithful to thousands of strangers. That doesn’t mean her love is not genuine, but your expectations should be low and measured. Don’t seek discipleship from random social media friends.

I’d like to say one more thing about that. In our celebrity culture, the problem with hoping for a mentor who is “popular” could be a sign of our unfortunate elevation of people based on social media followers. It’s an insult to our local church saints, many of whom are likely godly people, walking out their faith in private. Let’s evaluate why we desire certain people. There are loads of caveats and “but also” that could be said, so don’t take this as a law. We all need wisdom here.

What particular piece of wisdom or advice do you hope to pass on to younger women in your life?

In all seriousness, I could write a book on what I’d hope to pass along. Every time I look at my daughter I think of things I hope she knows. So, I’ll sum it up: ask God to help you love him with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. Ask Jesus to help you abide in him all the days of your life.

Ask God to help you love him with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. Ask Jesus to help you abide in him all the days of your life.

If the Lord answers those prayers, all the other stuff I might say will be answered, too.

Trillia Newbell is the author of several books including Sacred Endurance, If God Is for Us, and the children’s book God’s Very Good Idea. Trillia is married to her best friend, Thern, and they reside with their two children near Nashville. You can find her at trillianewbell.com and follow her on twitter at @trillianewbell.

I have a new book, Growing Together: Taking Mentoring beyond Small Talk and Prayer Requests that released on June 9. It’s not primarily a book about mentoring, but a book that two women can use in a discipleship relationship to help discuss a variety of topics. It’s meant to be one way to get the conversation started, but by no means is it the only way to mentor. If you’re looking for a place to begin, I hope it will be a helpful resource.

Other posts in this series:

• My New Book: Growing Together
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Hunter Beless?
• Growing Together: Who Mentored Karen Hodge?

We have many words to describe what many of us long for: an example to follow—someone to embody the truths of the gospel so we can learn from their faithful living. We want someone who will speak truth, share godly wisdom, and be a listening ear when we feel at a loss of where to turn or what to do.

To help us catch a vision for the importance of spiritual mentoring, I’ve asked a variety of women a few questions about mentoring and over the next couple of months, I’ll share our interviews. Today, we’ll hear who mentored Karen Hodge and learn that everyone is always simultaneously an older and younger woman to someone. 

Here’s my interview with Karen Hodge.

Who spiritually mentored you in the faith?

My first encounter with Susan Hunt came one afternoon over a desperate phone call to the PCA Women’s Ministry office. I was a 29-year-old pastor’s wife. My husband and I were trying to plant a church, and I was looking for a ten-step starter kit to build a stellar women’s ministry from the ground up. 

Spiritual mothering: When a woman possessing faith and spiritual maturity enters into a nurturing relationship with a younger woman to encourage and equip her to live for God’s glory.

Since that kit did not, and still does not, exist, she offered something far superior that day. There were no formulaic answers, but rather an invitation to build a relationship. I was speaking to the woman who wrote the book on “spiritual mothering.” 

She listened and prayed with me. Over the next 23 years, she has embodied her definition of “spiritual mothering,” which reads, “When a woman possessing faith and spiritual maturity enters into a nurturing relationship with a younger woman to encourage and equip her to live for God’s glory.” She continues to enter in, and she has patiently nurtured me. 

What did you learn from her life and example?

We all know Titus 2:1, 3–5 encourages older women to teach and train younger women. That command means more than just educational teaching; it means to show or unpack. What does it look like for sound doctrine to lead to sound living in our marriages, churches, workplace, and communities? 

Even though we have never lived in the same town, Susan has always made herself accessible to me. That access has included her husband, Gene, children, grandchildren, church, and spiritual children. They let me see the shape of godliness in the highest highs and the lowest lows. In all of these settings, what I’ve observed is no dissonance. There is consistency and transparency. 

She has had one drumbeat in her life. Many may say the beat sounds like women’s ministry, biblical womanhood, or spiritual mothering. Oh, those things are part of the music, but the downbeat is covenant. 

Her words and actions are given to unpacking the content of the covenant and what it looks like lived out in the context of community. She trains me to think biblically and live out those truths covenantally or in relationship with others. 

A spiritual mother also sees a daughter not for who she is but what she can become.

Most importantly, she has shown me and countless other women that whether you trace covenant through the pages of Scripture or you observe its influence throughout a 20-plus-year relationship, every thread should showcase the person and work of Jesus. 

A spiritual mother also sees a daughter not for who she is but what she can become. For many years, Susan served as the coordinator for women’s ministry in our denomination (PCA). I now have the privilege to serve in that role. Since that first phone call, she has been “spiritually nudging” me to walk by faith and not by sight. 

She has challenged me to move out of my comfort zone to lead, write, and teach. And she has been “spiritually fanning” my gifts and graces (2 Tim. 1:6). Now I get the joy of being a steward. A steward is a spiritual daughter, entrusted with something of great worth, who has the opportunity to invest it for the kingdom. 

If a younger woman desires a mentoring relationship with an older woman, how would you advise her to find a mentor?

I love being a “hinge,” connecting people to one another. Over the years, I have sought to cultivate organic church cultures where spiritual mothering can flourish rather than programmatic mentoring pairings. I think everyone is always simultaneously an older and younger woman to someone. 

I think everyone is always simultaneously an older and younger woman to someone. 

Older women are often afraid to pursue relationships with younger women because they feel they have nothing to offer. Younger women are afraid to seek out older women for fear of rejection. As my friend Tami Resch says in these cases, “It is always better to be more curious than certain.” 

When we start with a humble heart and an earnest curiosity, it allows God to set the expectations for these potential relationships. Here are some of the questions I have tried to ask myself and others over the years. 

• Am I available and teachable?
• Do I have a margin in my life to cultivate new relationships?
• In what ways am I seeking to move toward spiritual maturity?
• Am I listening to those in my circle of influence with the ears of Christ?
• Am I actively praying for divine opportunities to encourage and equip younger women?
• Am I relying daily on God’s strength to cultivate and maintain these relationships?
• Am I willing to lay aside any personal agenda so I might seek God’s best for new relationships?
• Am I seeking to root my life and relationships in sound doctrine?
• Am I willing to wait on God’s perfect timing to bring the relationship together?
• Have I considered my expectations concerning this relationship, and do I know how to express them?

Why is discipleship in the local church context so important for spiritual growth?

Paul wrote the following verses to a young church plant, and they are much like the words he wrote to Titus as he planted the church in Crete. “So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us” (1 Thess. 2:7–8). 

These verses aim to build a healthy church, not just to encourage women and men to connect. It is the content of the gospel lived out in the context of relationships. Life-on-life discipleship is essential for Christ’s life to be formed in us. 

The gospel, not another person, is to be the central focus of our relationships.

This verse points to the why (purpose) and the where (proximity). The gospel, not another person, is to be the central focus of our relationships. It is the good news we seek to share rather than sage advice. And the impact is found in proximity. We are called to share our very lives. 

It is a call to die to comfort and convenience—relating to others as a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1). This posture invites a nearness that echoes Paul’s relational heartbeat to spiritual children: follow (or imitate) me as I follow Christ (1 Cor. 11:1).

What particular piece of wisdom or advice do you hope to pass on to younger women in your life?

Spiritual mothering and gospel friendships are sacred and holy work. When Susan and I wrote Life-giving Leadership together, we discovered this definition of leadership, which gives a trajectory for our relationships. A leader is someone who goes in front of or beside another person to get them to an intended destination. 

Older woman, what is your intended destination? Younger woman, who are you following? Sometimes we are the older women just a few steps ahead of someone. Other times, we are gospel friends who are walking side-by-side on a journey. 

Discipleship is walking this journey in front of or beside each other sharing our very lives and the gospel until we get Home.

For the believer, the trajectory of this path is heaven. Discipleship is walking this journey in front of or beside each other sharing our very lives and the gospel until we get Home. It is seeking every day to live the content of the gospel in the context of our relationship. It is walking together, trying to keep in step with the Spirit. It is the high and holy privilege of participating with the Holy Spirit to prepare others for eternity. 

Karen Hodge serves as the coordinator for PCA women’s ministry, where she seeks to connect women and churches to one another and to sound resources. She is also having the time of her life serving alongside her husband, pastor, and best friend, Chris, as they plant King’s Cross Church in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Chris and Karen have two adult children, Anna Grace Botka and Haddon Hodge. She is the host of the enCourage podcast and along with Susan Hunt, authored Transformed: Life-taker to Life-giver and Life-giving Leadership.

I have a new book, Growing Together: Taking Mentoring beyond Small Talk and Prayer Requests that released yesterday. It’s not primarily a book about mentoring, but a book that two women can use in a discipleship relationship to help discuss a variety of topics. It’s meant to be one way to get the conversation started, but by no means is it the only way to mentor. If you’re looking for a place to begin, I hope it will be a helpful resource!

Other posts in this series:
My New Book: Growing Together
Growing Together: Who Mentored Hunter Beless?

We have many words to describe what many of us long for: an example to follow—someone to embody the truths of the gospel so we can learn from their faithful living. We want someone who will speak truth, share godly wisdom, and be a listening ear when we feel at a loss of where to turn or what to do.

To help us catch a vision for the importance of spiritual mentoring, I’ve asked a variety of women a few questions about mentoring, and over the next couple of months, I’ll share our interviews. Today, we’ll learn who mentored Hunter Beless and how she looks for spiritually mature mentors who humbly and faithfully live out God’s Word. We share a common passion for encouraging mentoring in the local church, and I highly recommend her series on discipleship at the Journeywoman Podcast.

Here’s my interview with Hunter Beless.

Who spiritually mentored you in the faith?

I’ve had the gift of learning from a host of mentors in different seasons of life. Each one of those relationships looked different, but all of them included the basics of the Christian life. 

These mentors have taught me to love the Word by treasuring it themselves.

These mentors have taught me to love the Word by treasuring it themselves. They’ve taught me to pray by praying with me. They’ve taught me to show value to others by engaging me with intentional questions. They’ve loved me, served me, and shared their lives with me. 

As they’ve done this, the Lord has used their own personal hardships to remind me to persevere when I face struggles of my own. I watched one mentor process the loss of her son, another face marital struggles, one walk through infertility, and another live with a debilitating, chronic illness. 

I think it’s helpful to note that they didn’t count these difficulties as disqualifying them from being able to teach and encourage me. Instead, they humbly acknowledged their hardships, offering a tangible picture of what it looks like to look to the Lord in faith. 

What did you learn from their lives and examples?

“For it is no empty word for you, but your very life!” (Deut. 32:47). This is a phrase I heard often from Joyce Lasse, one of the many women the Lord used in my journey. 

She’d place her palm firmly on the cover of her Bible, speaking with the confidence one can only possess after having walked a lifetime with Jesus. Joyce shared not only the gospel with me but also herself in such a way that I truly became an imitator of her and of the Lord Jesus.

It’s been a decade since we did life together, but I’m still gleaning from the way she loved her Bible. She spoke about it with hunger, reverence, and awe. She adored it, craved it, meditated on it, prayed it, and saturated herself with it. And this was evident, not only when she quoted the Bible, but in the way that she lived life and loved others. 

We didn’t spend the bulk of our time talking about my problems and how to fix them. Instead, we wondered at the Word.

Joyce knew the struggles I faced at the time, but we didn’t spend the bulk of our time talking about my problems and how to fix them. Instead, we wondered at the Word. We prayed the Word together. We dug into it, asked questions, and sought answers. I was young enough to be her daughter, but she treated me like a friend.

I wanted Joyce to mentor me because she genuinely loved the Word of God. I could see that she loved it because she was always directing me there. The way she loved the Word and lived it out in her everyday life was congruent with what Paul lays out in Titus 2:3–5 when he says that older women are to be reverent in the way they live, not slanderers, not addicted to wine, able to teach with is good, sensible, pure, working at home, kind, and subject to their husbands. All of those characteristics are nestled under the exhortation to teach sound doctrine, which gives our mentors the foundation from which to train us as younger women.

If a younger woman desires a mentoring relationship with an older woman, how would you advise her to find a mentor?

First, ask the Lord to open your eyes to women in your proximity who can come alongside you in your season and cheer on the work of the gospel in your life.

In her book Spiritual Mothering Susan Hunt says, “The method used to identify the older women in a local congregation is based on spiritual maturity [. . . ] Those who manifest the Christian virtues given in Titus 2:3 are to be viewed as the mature women in the congregation. The character of Christ qualifies a woman to be a spiritual mother. This has nothing to do with biological birthing. It has everything to do with a knowledge of sound doctrine that produces faithful living.” 

So, we’re looking for someone who is spiritually mature—not just by getting older and growing in life experience (though that does help), but by spending time in God’s Word. Like my college mentor, Joyce, you’ll find that spiritually mature women consistently direct you back to God’s Word. 

Once the Lord gives me eyes to see a woman like that, I approach her by saying something like, “Hey! I’ve noticed you’re really good at asking intentional questions both of the text we’re studying and of other women in our Bible study! Can I come over and help you fold laundry and hear about how you developed that skill?” A humble inquiry about a specific attribute can lighten the unnecessary pressure that women often feel when they hear a well-intentioned question like, “Will you mentor me?” 

I’ve found no better place to get to know the most devoted followers of Jesus than serving in the nursery and helping set up coffee.

I’ve found no better place to get to know the most devoted followers of Jesus than serving in the nursery and helping set up coffee before women’s Bible study. Get involved and look for women who you desire to learn from. Ask them to boldly speak truth into your life. 

If the answer to the question, “Who can mentor me?” isn’t super clear, I’ve found that asking a pastor or the elders of your church can be helpful. If there isn’t anyone in your church who qualifies as spiritually mature, keep praying and seeking out mentorship from books written by Christian women or from mentors in the past as you continue searching for someone who is in your proximity. 

Why is discipleship in the local church context so important for spiritual growth?

As disciples, we grow as we study the Word in the context of Christian community. We also grow by witnessing the lives of members in our community. We can learn what it means to be submissive to our husbands by studying Ephesians 5, but it’s really helpful to be in each other’s homes and see the way that those biblical convictions flesh themselves out in the marriages of those we know and love. This is the stuff you can’t really witness through the screen of your iPhone.

As disciples, we grow as we study the Word in the context of Christian community.

In Christian community, we welcome one another not only to do Sunday morning things but Monday through Saturday things too. As we do that, we strive to live life under the authority of the Word of God, ever being reformed by the Word and sharpening one another to live in submission to it and to one another. It’s pretty organic stuff. 

We see this in the life and ministry of Jesus with his disciples!.They did synagogue stuff together, but they also ate together, went fishing, went to a wedding, prayed together, and evangelized. Doing life together under the Word of God offers a tangible picture of what we believe actually being lived out in everyday life.

What particular piece of wisdom or advice do you hope to pass on to younger women in your life?

Our generation is able to take in lots of information as a result of technology. We’re being encouraged to learn and to grow in our theology, which I love. But while we’re striving to love God with our minds, we face the temptation to look down on older women who might not be as quick to defend their doctrine and theology. 

We might write them off as not having the “sound doctrine” Paul encourages in Titus 2 because they aren’t able to defend their soteriology at the drop of a hat. My prayer is that we will have humble hearts, and that we will be quick to listen and slow to speak. We have much to learn from the women who have weathered many seasons of life and remained faithful.

On the flip side, humility also encourages us to go about the business of sharing our messy lives with others with the hope of training them in godliness, regardless of how much head knowledge we maintain. 

Humbly going about this work looks like acknowledging that we won’t go about it perfectly.

I personally spend too much time questioning whether or not I am capable of leading. Humbly going about this work looks like acknowledging that we won’t go about it perfectly. This causes us to graciously receive correction and trust God when he says that he delights in using broken vessels to accomplish his purposes for his glory. 

Hunter Beless is the founder and executive director of the Journeywomen Podcast. She believes God has called her to seek after those whom he has awakened to guide them back to their Heavenly Father. Hunter exercises this God-given design through her roles as a wife, mama, and podcast host. Though they stumble often, she and her husband Brooks strive to display God’s covenant-keeping love through their marriage and oneness. They have three children and love journeying through life together for the glory of God.

I have a new book, Growing Together: Taking Mentoring beyond Small Talk and Prayer Requests that releases on June 9. It’s not primarily a book about mentoring, but a book that two women can use in a discipleship relationship to help discuss a variety of topics. It’s meant to be one way to get the conversation started, but by no means is it the only way to mentor. If you’re looking for a place to begin, you can preorder now. To read more, here’s the initial article in this series.

However, I know my time apart from others has made me long all the more for time together. I’m looking forward to being able to grab a friend’s hand in prayer and not feel like I need to immediately go and wash my hands. I want to go for a walk with a friend in person and not awkwardly try to keep six feet of distance at all times.

‘Growing Together’ is meant to be one way to help women go deeper in their relationships.

I also want to be purposeful about going deeper in my friendships. I’m hoping for more than surface-level, catch-up conversations. I want to hear what my friends are learning, how they’re growing, and what they’re thinking about God. These social-distancing days have made me look forward to gathering with others in life-giving ways.

Hope of Growing Together

Growing Together was written with the hope of deeper, more purposeful relationships in mind. In the ten years I worked in women’s ministry, I regularly heard from women who desired a spiritual mentor. They wanted to grow in their faith and were looking for someone to help guide them. At the same time, I heard from older women that they wanted to invest in younger women, but felt unsure or ill-equipped. They didn’t know what to do or what questions to ask.

The good news is that there’s no set formula for spiritual mentoring. Mentoring can look vastly different in different seasons of life and between different people. Growing Together is meant to be one way to help women go deeper in their relationships. It’s not primarily a book about mentoring, but a book that two women can use in a discipleship relationship to help discuss a variety of topics. It’s meant to be one way to get the conversation started, but by no means is it the only way to mentor.

If you’re looking for a place to begin, I hope it will be a helpful resource. Growing Together releases on June 9, and you can preorder now.

Format of Growing Together

The first two chapters briefly explore the concept of mentoring, provide scriptural examples of mentoring, and offer practical considerations about developing a mentor relationship. These two chapters set the foundation for the discipleship relationship so that both participants have similar expectations as they begin.

Discipleship is how the early church began and it is how the church will continue to thrive.

The next nine chapters provide a curriculum of sorts to help guide your time together. Entire books have been written on each of these topics, so these chapters are intended to help start the conversation, not cover the topic fully. Since these are introductory-level chapters, an appendix provides further reading for each topic if you want to dive deeper into one particular subject.

To encourage balanced spiritual growth, these chapters are arranged in a way to help foster a person’s relationship with God, the church, and the world.

The goal is to cycle through each of these areas on a rotating basis. Topics about our relationship with God (Bible reading, prayer, and contentment) are interspersed with chapters about living in community as believers (church, family, and service), as well as with chapters about our engagement in the world (evangelism, temptations, and discernment). The hope is that balanced discipleship will lead to growth in each of these important areas.

Each of these chapters follows a general pattern:

• Wisdom for Life: What does the Bible say about this topic? Why is it important?
• Wandering in Unbelief: Why do we struggle to follow God’s teaching in this area?
• Walking by Faith: How do I live these truths in light of the gospel?

At the end of each chapter, there are questions to discuss together, as well as resources for each topic. These chapters are meant to be a springboard for conversations that center on spiritual growth.

Challenge of Growing Together

Life-on-life discipleship is slow and faithful work. Jesus spent the majority of his ministry years investing in 12 disciples. They ate together, traveled together, and did ministry together. Discipleship is how the early church began, and it is how the church will continue to thrive. We may not have opportunity to travel the world, but we can choose to invest in others one life at a time. And, then we can encourage others to do the same.

So, my challenge for you today is a simple question, “Who will you disciple in the coming year?” Start with prayer, asking God to guide you. And, then go forth, making disciples, teaching them to obey all that Jesus has commanded. Don’t wait for a less busy season. Today’s the day: “Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest” (John 4:35).

My challenge for you today is a simple question, “Who will you disciple in the coming year?”

Over the next two months, I’ll share a variety of interviews with women about the women who have mentored them in the faith. Their stories exemplify the importance and uniqueness of these life-giving relationships.

I hope that we’ll soon be meeting up at coffee shops, going on walks, and sharing meals—together. I also hope that we’ll use these moments to encourage one another as we grow in faith alongside one another.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I belong to West Springfield Covenant Community Church (PCA) in West Springfield, Massachusetts. I’m a pastor’s daughter and a pastor’s wife, and I’m an editor for The Gospel Coalition. I bake cookies and watch British television in my spare time, but I’m also currently the homeschooling mother of four kids, three of whom usually go to school—when there’s not a pandemic.

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

I remember writing stories in my middle-school English classes and reading them aloud to my parents. I wrote my first piece as an adult about 10 years ago, which led to regular opportunities to write in the areas of Christian living, practical theology, and cultural commentary. 

For me, writing is a chance to learn. I might not otherwise force myself to research and think rigorously about a subject—but if I commit to writing about it, I need to make sure I understand it myself.

This is your third book. Does writing get easier with each book? 

In some ways, writing does get easier. With each project, I have a better sense of the process—what I need to do in terms of research, organizing, drafting, and editing. But each sentence still needs to be crafted in a way that’s fresh, helpful, and true. And because I write primarily about theological and biblical themes, I’m always struggling to make my language as precise as possible. That doesn’t get any easier. 

What led you to write A Place to Belong? 

I really love the church, but I’ve also had the same experiences as everyone else who commits to a particular congregation: life in the local church is often unremarkable, frequently awkward, and sometimes even painful. I wrote this book to explore how what the Bible says about the church shapes our experiences of belonging to the church. When we understand and believe that the church is God’s good design for his people, we can love it better. 

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

Even though the local church is often outwardly unimpressive, belonging to the church is one of the greatest privileges and highest joys of the Christian’s life. 

How has writing this book affected your own life?

It’s strange to publish a book about the loveliness of the gathered church at the precise moment when all local churches have ceased to gather! Spending every Sunday on my own couch in my own home has sharpened my love for the church, and I hope that when we can be together again, I won’t take our gathered presence for granted. 

It has also reminded me that everything that is true about the church—for example, we are the beloved, the saints, brothers and sisters, partners in the gospel—is still true, even when we can’t be physically together.

For a sneak peek, here are some quotes:  

“Whether your church gathers in America or Azerbaijan, whether it has ten or ten thousand members, whether it hosts dozens of activities or simply meets on Sundays to worship, the same biblical truths should define it, and the same biblical truths will foster your delight in the fundamental loveliness of Christ’s gathered people. When we take seriously what God says about his church, it will shape our experience of belonging there.”

“As we walk in love for the local church, our love models the love of God himself. There was nothing lovely in us that caused God to love us, and so we don’t wait for God’s people to seem attractive in order to love them. If God in his sovereign good pleasure has set his love on these people from eternity past, uniting them to his Son and gathering them into his church, then it is our privilege to love them too.”

“In the local church, we are a gathering of people whom God called. These are the people who—like us—were once were dead, enslaved, and condemned and are now alive, freed, and adopted. These are the people who understand what it is like to hate sin, to love Christ, and to strive to be more and more like him. And these, then, are the people with whom our lives are inseparably linked.”

“We take our place in Christ’s family by taking our place in the local church. Whether your congregation is small or large, urban or rural, generations-old or brand-new, it is no ordinary gathering. Every week, you worship alongside men, women, and children whom Christ calls his brothers and sisters and mothers. Together, you are the family of Jesus.”

Here’s what others are saying about A Place to Belong:  

“A thousand messengers point us to the good news of a personal relationship with Christ, but this book contains something precious: the good news of a corporate one. Megan Hill has written a love song for the church, a celebration of the communion of saints in all its present practicality and all its future glory. Her message stirred me to greater love for the fellowship of believers and greater longing for the day when Christ and his bride are at last fully and finally united.” 

— Jen Wilkin, Director of Classes and Curriculum, The Village Church; author, Women of the Word; None Like Him; and In His Image 

“This book is positively, intelligently, and helpfully countercultural. It pushes back on our individualism, cynicism, and consumerism and winsomely calls us to invest our lives—indeed find our lives—in something we may be tempted to think is simply not worth the trouble—the local church.” 

— Nancy Guthrie, author, Even Better than Eden: Nine Ways the Bible’s Story Changes Everything about Your Story 

“Megan Hill’s love for the church and her Savior shines on every page. She possesses an uncommon gift for engaging illustrations and applications. Her theology of the church is biblical, and her instruction winsome as she clarifies what it means for the church’s members to share in each other’s gifts and graces. Readers will find themselves thanking God for his gift of ‘a place to belong.’” 

— Charles M. Wingard, Dean of Students and Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary; author, Help for the New Pastor: Practical Advice for Your First Year of Ministry 

“Megan Hill encourages us to think biblically about the church rather than just experientially or emotionally. This book celebrates our ‘blessed belonging’ that is our privilege as God’s covenant people. It is also an accessible tool to prepare us as his bride as we await our bridegroom’s return.” 

— Karen Hodge, Coordinator of Women’s Ministries, Presbyterian Church in America; coauthor, Transformed: Life-taker to Life-giver and Life-giving Leadership

What are you going to do when the pandemic is over?

I’ve really missed singing with my church family, so I’m going to host a hymn-sing. We’ll pack as many people as we can into our living room, pass around hymnals and lyric sheets, open all the windows to the cool night air, and sing together until we go hoarse. 

Megan Hill is the author of three books, including A Place to Belong: Learning to Love the Local Church, which released in May. A pastor’s wife and pastor’s daughter, she serves as an editor for The Gospel Coalition and lives in Massachusetts, where she belongs to West Springfield Covenant Community Church (PCA).

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m a Christian, wife, mom, and theologian. I just love a flat white in one hand and a book in the other! 

I’m married to a fellow bibliophile, Tom, who I met at a theological college more than a decade ago. Tom serves as the ministry director for the Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches, and he’s involved in pastoring pastors and supporting churches in the U.K. 

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

I read a lot as a child, and my reading has always turned into pen-on-paper. I remember writing “novels” when I was young. They were nothing profound like the juvenile literature of Jane Austen. They were just half-finished stories. 

I always wanted to be a writer—to create something from nothing with words. It really is grace upon grace that I can now serve the Lord in this way.

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

Every book has its own difficulties, and each one always surprises me. How can I make this book even more accessible? How can I powerfully illustrate this God-truth? What should I include? What should I not include? Writing is just as much about what you don’t say as it is what you do say. I always struggle with that.

George Orwell once described writing a book to be “a horrible, exhausting struggle” rather like a long “bout of some painful illness.” I know what he means! It gives you such joy but is a hard slog, like pregnancy. 

It’s the mental obsession and ill-timed waves of inspiration that possess you. I think C. S. Lewis understood this when he said, “I was with book, as a woman is with child.”

What led you to write The Good Portion: Salvation?

Kate MacKenzie of Christian Focus emailed me one day and asked me to be a part of The Good Portion series. I replied, “A theological series for women, written by women? I’m in!” I’m so excited to be a part of a project that doesn’t water down doctrine for women but serves a meaty steak course. 

Christian women don’t want to be intimidated by theology, but they don’t want to be patronized either. We must present doctrine in a God-glorifying way, so it can be, in the words of Wayne Grudem, “lived, prayed, and sung!”

A driving force behind my reading and writing was to better understand my salvation in Christ. Again, Lewis said that many times he wrote first for himself in order to better understand a topic. I, too, write to consolidate, to make sense of things, to deeply etch them in my mind. If someone publishes, or reads, or benefits from this too . . . well, that’s a big bonus! 

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

I want them to know that salvation in Christ is not a mishmash of complicated theological concepts; it is a person—King Jesus! And gloriously, we are saved by means of an awesome, unbreakable union with him—the second member of the Holy Trinity. Wow!

How has writing this book affected your own life?

I have learned so much. As I wrote, I spread some of the generous bounty of salvation in Christ before me, like a pirate captain, eyes popping, gloating over the treasure spilling out of his cabin. 

I know now, more than ever before, what it means that “God has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 1:3). As the song “Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me” says, “There is no more for heaven now to give.”

One of our professors at Bible college once told us we need to dance in the kitchen over our salvation. Exploring these doctrines, the flesh and bones of salvation, has given me more to dance about!

For a sneak peak, here are some quotes:

“Biblical doctrine is not safe. It is not comfortable. You can’t conquer it all. Doctrine is dangerous because it is mysterious, mighty truth about a God far bigger than we can comprehend. . . . But it is magnificent!”

“Sin spread from a garden in Eden across the globe, in the hearts of men and women. It is a universal disease. You and I don’t need to look far to see the mess of humanity. We are all infected . . . With the arrival of sin came a disturbing new development for humanity—death. And with this, an invention that the earth had not seen before—the grave.”

“Salvation in Christ is an epic rescue mission . . . Christ enters into our perilous situation, wraps Himself around us in saving spiritual union, and hauls us out to safety. Here the second person of the Holy Trinity delivers a “live-bait rescue” at Calvary, bearing the sin of the world in His body, dying a bloody death on a Roman cross. Christ is not a partial rescuer. He is not distant. Jesus accomplishes a true save! It is the rescue of rescues!”

Here’s what others are saying:

“Excellent stuff . . . Bursting with comfort and joy, here is good news for all who feel that life has sapped their spiritual energy. Natalie Brand writes with freshness and vim, acting as a friendly guide to the alpine wonders of our salvation.”

— Michael Reeves, president and professor of theology, Union School of Theology, Oxford, England

“Natalie Brand has produced an outstanding book, an excellent basis for a study group. A theologian in her own right, Dr. Brand has a thorough grasp of the panorama of salvation and its constituent elements. She writes in an engaging manner: clear, incisive, and highly accessible. Her illustrations are superb and illuminating. Buy it, read it, and use it!”

— Robert Letham, Union School of Theology, Bridgend, Wales

“The glorious doctrines of grace sparkle through the pages of Natalie Brand’s book on Salvation, revealing the radiance of our magnificent Savior, Jesus Christ. After all, salvation is not only about our rescue from death, darkness, and despair, but union and communion with the One in whom all our desires and longings are overwhelmingly filled.”

— Aimee Byrd, author of Housewife Theologian, Theological Fitness, and No Little Women

Natalie Brand (PhD, Trinity St. David) is adjunct lecturer in historical and systematic theology at Union School of Theology in Bridgend, U.K. She is also author of Complementarian Spirituality: Reformed Women and Union with Christ (2013) and Prone to Wander: Grace for the Lukewarm and Apathetic (2018). 

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

My family has lived in the Middle East for almost eight years, although we never set out to be cross-cultural church planters. I used to envision at this point in my life I would be a U.S. senator or governor—or at least attempting to be one. I was serving as the chief of staff to a senator when my husband, Josh, and I could no longer resist the urge to put all our energy into local church ministry. 

After seminary, friends of ours told us about an Arab sheikh who gave a plot of land on the Arabian Peninsula for the Christians in his emirate to have an evangelical church building. It was an incredible opportunity for a gospel presence in the Middle East. 

So we moved hemispheres and cultures, planted a church with people from dozens of nations, built a church building, and are now raising our five children in a multicultural context in the Arab world. We still love keeping up with the American political scene, but we do so safely from 7,000 miles away. 

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

Writing is worshipful to me. I enjoy the work that goes into taking a theological concept that, at first, may seem dry or inconsequential, and then making it sing. The art of writing to me is similar to what artists must feel when they begin to add color, shadows, and dimension to a rough sketch, or what musicians feel when they add chords and harmony to a melody. I cannot draw or sing, and I don’t know that I always succeed at getting the reader to worship with me, but I love the challenge. 

At one point in my political career, I was a communications director in the Senate, where I regularly had to communicate succinctly what was often complex legislative initiatives. Writing for me now is similar, but so much more rewarding.

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

I have five children aged 1 to 12 whom I’m currently homeschooling. Finding the time just to take a shower every day can seem like an insurmountable challenge. Finding a quiet space to think and write only comes with significant amounts of planning and preparation. And coffee. That’s why it took me years to finish The Good Portion: Christ. That, and the fact that one of my daughters spilled orange juice on my computer when I was about halfway through writing. My computer died, and I lost a lot of my work. 

My children are an obstacle to writing, and certainly to writing well. But I also find my children to be my greatest inspiration. I write with them in mind. I want them to one day worship as they read The Good Portion: Christ. I pray they will be able to teach the glorious truths of the person and work of Christ to their own children and grandchildren.

What led you to write The Good Portion: Christ?

I absolutely love The Good Portion series of books written by women with women in mind. When I agreed to write the book, I had no idea that its release date would coincide with an epidemic that would be threatening the physical and economic well-being of the entire planet. 

I couldn’t have imagined the anxiety, loneliness, and stress that would lie as a heavy blanket on women all over the world. And yet, had I known this information in advance, I wouldn’t have written on a different topic. Studying Christology is one of the most practical things we can do at any time, but certainly in light of the sobering questions of illness, death, suffering, and disparity. 

We should be looking long and hard at the Lord Jesus Christ. In our suffering the power and sufficiency of the grace of Christ is put on display (2 Cor. 12:9). In the incarnation we see God himself understands our needs and has come near to our brokenness. At the cross and resurrection we find tangible hope and confidence in the face of fear and anxiety.

Studying theology is one of the most practical things women at every age and stage of life can do, and yet so often we don’t. When trying to juggle families, jobs, the glass of orange juice that just spilled on our computer, or trying to find peace in the midst of a worldwide epidemic, we don’t often reach for a book on doctrine. But we should! 

Our doctrine directly affects the way we approach each of these things. It provides a framework of truth that we can apply in every situation. It affects our worship and our joy. This series of books is accessible and written especially for women who don’t have seminary degrees but desire to grow in their knowledge and love for the Lord.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

Jesus asked Peter the most important question anyone will ever answer: “Who do you say that I am?” Our answer to that question has eternal implications, and I can’t think of a better use of our time than trying to respond to it in truth. The goal of the book is to provide a biblically accurate and compelling answer. 

The first half of the book looks primarily at who Jesus is—his divinity and his humanity—and the fact that he is both at the same time. Enveloped into these chapters is immediate application of these doctrines for our lives as women. 

The second half of the book looks at what Christ accomplished and how he did it, and it ends with a meditation on the too-often-neglected doctrine of our union with Christ. My desire is that as women read this book, they will know Jesus more fully, which should inevitably result in a more sincere worship and more earnest love for him. 

I’m so encouraged by joy-filled, theologically sharp women who are teaching the next generation of women who Jesus is and what he has done. This book is not intended to replace the role of pastors, elders, and the local church. But I hope it is one resource to help equip women to grow in their knowledge and love of the Lord Jesus Christ.

How has writing this book affected your own life?

A fresh understanding of the divine Lord taking on human flesh, never to depart from it again, has deepened my prayer life. Understanding more deeply God’s plan from the beginning of time to punish my sin through a substitute has led me to trust his plans for my life, especially in the face of these uncertain and unexpected days. 

Thinking about the believer’s privilege of being united to Christ has brought freedom and joy to me, emboldening me to share Christ with those who need hope. It has given me a greater confidence in God’s love for me. It’s hard to think of an area of my life that hasn’t been affected by a deeper knowledge of my Savior. 

The time I spent studying Christ and writing this book was like training for a marathon. It was often hard work, but I feel so much better prepared to run the difficult race before me.

For a sneak peak, here is an excerpt from The Good Portion: Christ:

“Because the first man failed at his task to truly be human, the Bible speaks of the need for a ‘Last Adam’ or ‘Second Man’ (1 Cor. 15:45- 57). Jesus is that Second Man. He is the Last Adam. Their similarities are many: they both had miraculous beginnings, being specially created by God Himself. Both were created innocent, perfect, and without original sin, the only two humans ever born outside the bondage to sin. Both served as representatives of humanity. Both were rulers who were given dominion over creation. And, in both, a deep sleep produced a beautiful bride. (Through Adam’s sleep, God opened his side and created Eve; through Jesus’ death, blood and water poured out of His side, His beloved bride, the church, was born.) Both Adam and Jesus were tested, but one disobeyed while the other obeyed. Adam’s disobedience brought death and curse on all of humanity. Jesus’s obedience brought life and righteousness for all who believe. One obeyed the serpent; the other crushed his head.”

Here’s what others are saying:

“In this careful biblical and theological study of who Jesus is and what He has done for us, Jenny explains the glory of the incarnation and the power and wisdom of the cross that will serve the church well. If you want to grow in your knowledge, love, and trust of Jesus, then this book is a must read. My hope is that it will be used in many churches so that women and men will become better equipped to proclaim Christ and the unsearchable riches of the Gospel.”
— Stephen J. Wellum, professor of Christian theology, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky

“Jenny Manley has produced a gift. This is a treasure trove of rich reflection on the most important figure in history. From beginning to end, Jenny uncovers the beauty and relevance of Christ’s person and work. I know Jesus more truly, and love Him more deeply, because I read this book. Get two copies, read it with a friend, and marvel together at our King of glory.”
— Matt Smethurst, managing editor, The Gospel Coalition, author, Before You Open Your Bible: Nine Heart Postures for Approaching God’s Word

“I can’t think of a more eternally-significant question to ask oneself than the one Jesus asked Peter: ‘Who do you say that I am?’. Where can we find the answer to such a massive question? How will we know that what we think about Jesus is based on truth? Jenny knows that God’s Word alone is where we can find the answers. Her writing is faithful to Scripture, expertly organized, and worshipful. This book is an excellent resource for anyone seeking to know more about who Jesus is.”
—Gloria Furman, author, Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full 

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

I live in a place with an average yearly rainfall of about three inches and a place where the temperature exceeds 100 degrees every day for at least six months out of the year. I dream about cold, rainy days. What we are doing wouldn’t matter if it’s with the six people I love the most in the world—as long as it requires a sweater and an umbrella.

A former chief of staff in the U.S. Senate, Jenny now happily lives on the Arabian Peninsula, where she serves in an international church with her husband—Josh, a pastor—and their five children. Helping women from all over the world study Scripture in a Christ-exalting, God-glorifying way is one of her greatest joys. She contributes to The Good Portion blog along with other joy-filled, theologically sharp women.

Yet somehow it changes everything.

I know it sounds simplistic, but those family devotions are some of the most meaningful parts of our day. We talk about God, his Word, and our needs. I hear about my daughter’s math test that she’s concerned about or my son’s paper that’s due. It’s an opportunity to take the time to ask one another, “How are you doing?” We also pray for missionaries, as well as needs in our church and world. It’s our time as a family to listen to God through his Word and speak to God through prayer.

Let me be clear. We miss days. Sometimes we’re rushing around the kitchen packing lunches and running late. We’re not perfect in our family devotional times. However, it’s the pattern of our home.

I know many family routines are in the midst of upheaval right now. Sports practices are canceled. School has gone online. Rather than play in the neighborhood or gather at a coffee shop, kids are meeting up on FaceTime (and we’re actually encouraging it). In the midst of so many regular activities ending, there are new opportunities to connect with one another as a family.

There’s no better time to start family devotions together. Pick a time (there are a lot of options right now) and add it to your routine. If you have older children, I know it can feel uncomfortable to begin, and your teenagers might not love the idea. Give it a try. Start by reading a psalm and praying together. Or use a devotional of some sort to help guide you.

If you have younger children, let me encourage you, establish these routines into your home in the early years. It’s worth it! Our teenagers come to the table expecting family devotions because we’ve been doing them since they were young. It’s like brushing their teeth or taking a shower. It’s just part of our daily routine.

If you’re looking for ideas to help, here are some resources that we’ve found useful. I also asked some friends for books they’ve used and shared how we do family prayer. Don’t wait, begin today!

Toddlers and Preschoolers

• The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones
• The Child’s Story Bible by Catherine Voss
• The New City Catechism for Kids: Children’s Edition (Right now the first five lessons from the teaching curriculum are free! Teaching the catechism is a great way to introduce children to biblical truths and ideas.)

At this age, I’d keep it simple. Read a Bible story, ask a question or two, and pray. Work on one memory verse or catechism question for the week. Over time those small deposits will make a huge impact.

Preschool and Early Elementary

• The Big Picture Family Devotional by David R. Helm
• Big Picture Bible Crafts by Gail Schoonmaker (Right now, the PDF of this book is free from Crossway.)
• God’s Story: Bible Coloring Book  (This is supposed to be a supplement to Sunday school curriculum, but it is great for Bible study at home. Each coloring page has questions, prompts, and activities on the back. You can photocopy them to reuse or just tear them out of the book. It’s designed for ages 3 to 8.)
• Line Upon Line(Volume 1) and Line Upon Line (Volume 2) by F. L. Mortimer (This is perfect for that age gap between picture-book Bible story books and older children, around 1st or 2nd grade. The stories are written in accessible language, but they are also full of biblical language and really point kids to the Bible.)
• Wondrous Works of God: A Family Bible Story Book by Starr Meade
• What Every Child Should Know about Prayer by Nancy Guthrie
• ESV Holy Bible for Kids

Elementary to Early High School

• Family Worship Bible Guide by Joel Beeke (This has family worship discussion questions for every chapter of the Bible, so it’s great for families who are simply reading the Bible together and want to extend the time with some discussion or reflection. This is good for elementary and older.)
• The Ology by Marty Machowski
• One Year of Dinner Table Devotions and Discussion Starters by Nancy Guthrie
• Training Hearts, Teaching Minds by Starr Meade
• God’s Mighty Acts in Salvation by Starr Meade
• Exploring Grace Together by Jessica Thompson
• Foundations: 12 Biblical Truths to Shape a Family by Troy and Ruth Chou Simons

Middle and High School

• Read the Bible together. (I highly recommend Jen Wilkin’s article on this topic.)
• New City Catechism Devotional
• 31-Day Devotionals for Life (These are on a variety of topics that are really helpful to discuss as a family. We are currently using Jim Newheiser’s devotional on Money and I also highly recommend Megan Hill’s devotional on Contentment.)
• Voices from the Past: Puritan Devotional Readings by Richard Rushing (These daily devotionals provide a wonderful introduction to a variety of Puritan authors.)
• New Morning Mercies by Paul Tripp
• Daily Light (This devotional is my favorite. These daily readings of Scripture were originally compiled by Samuel Bagster in the mid-1800s, Crossway offers these online for free.)

Prayer Cards

I write prayer lists on note cards for Monday through Friday that we use for the year, following this format (it helps us to purposefully pray for others):

• One family member: This person gets to share their specific requests on that day. We also pray for special needs in our community and world.
• A missionary we support.
• A ministry we’re involved in.
• One leader: We pray for our governing officials, bosses at work, church leaders, school principals and coaches.

The family member whose day it is to pray for shares, and then the person to the right of them prays for their requests, along with everything else on the card. So, over the course of the week, everyone in the family is prayed for, and everyone prays.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m married to Kyle, who pastors the church we planted in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2008. We have three boys, who are 16, 14, and 12, and I’m really enjoying parenting teenagers. In addition to writing, I’m passionate about studying and teaching the Bible, gospel community, and local church ministry.   

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

I started writing when I was a little girl, although it was never a conscious dream of mine to become a vocational writer. I did, however, always enjoy creative writing assignments in school and dabbled in writing in the early years of marriage, but becoming a writer felt like a far-fetched idea.

When my children were young, I began experiencing a strong compulsion to try my hand at writing and to learn all I could about the craft. My husband encouraged me to take one to two hours out of the week when he wasn’t working, head to a coffee shop, and write. So I did and, even though my writing was terrible, the compulsion only grew.

When I write and put words to what God has taught or is teaching me, it feels like a response of worship back to him. There is such joy in sharing what God has shown me and discovering that others connect with him through my own expressed thoughts and experiences.

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

Although I enjoy writing and am compelled by God to continue writing, it’s never been easy for me. I don’t think it is for anyone!

One of the difficult parts of the actual writing process is waiting for the ideas, thoughts, and words to come together—taking the long view of a project rather than panicking that I only managed to write a small portion of my daily word goal.

A writer’s audience is so often unseen and “somewhere out there” that it’s easy to lose sight of what success is or what results I’m working toward. I’m always fighting to remember that I’m writing as an offering to the Lord and to trust him to use what I’ve offered in whatever way most glorifies him.

And finally, on a day-in, day-out basis, I’m constantly looking for ways around the isolation that easily creeps into a writer’s life. I’m learning to seek out a sense of team, whether it’s cheering on another author, connecting with writing outlets, or using my God-given abilities within our local church.

What led you to write With All Your Heart?

In the past few years, I’ve experienced what I would call a wilderness period. Much like God took the Israelites into the wilderness for a time, he’s taken me through an extended time of uncertainty. And just as the wilderness exposed the hearts of the Israelites, God used that period to expose my heart. Specifically, he uncovered the people and things I was, in my uncertainty, turning toward for help and provision instead of him. I saw that my heart was divided in ways I’d never recognized before.

At the same time, in my personal Bible study I was reading through the book of Matthew and began noticing how much Jesus referenced the kingdom of God. It’s actually what he talked about more than any other subject. I took careful notice of what he said this kingdom is like and puzzled over what exactly he meant by his famous words, “Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you” (Matt. 6:33).

My imagination was stirred as I connected the kingdom of God to my own circumstances, because I began asking myself, If Jesus is my king, and he is, what kind of king is he and how am I meant to respond to him? Knowing I have a king and am a part of a kingdom led me to the language of allegiance and challenged me to consider all the subtle allegiances vying for my heart and mind, things like control and comfort.

I wrote With All Your Heart because I wanted to bring the kingdom of God to the heart level and challenge readers to consider where their hearts are divided in allegiance.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

False kings make promises to us of security, peace, and happiness, but they don’t keep their promises. They only take, and there are no exceptions to this rule.

But Jesus is a king who gives! Giving allegiance to him means we come under his blessing and provision within the kingdom of God. In other words, he gives us his allegiance in return. This truth makes my heart burst with joy, and I’m thrilled to get to share this message in detail in With All Your Heart.

How has writing this book affected your own life?

Writing this book has caused me to think about what I do and why I do it in terms of allegiance. For example, when I realize I’m comparing myself with others or I’m frustrated I’m not getting a response I’d like from another person, I’m learning to stop and consider where I’m bowing in allegiance. Do I expect achieving what that person has or receiving a specific response from someone is going to give me what these things seem to promise? Is this about my kingdom or God’s kingdom? I’m learning to apply the kingdom of God, so to speak, and remember that I have a king who readily and willingly gives to me the sense of security and approval I’m looking for.

For a sneak peek, here’s what others are saying about With All Your Heart:

Through vulnerable stories and candid confessions, Christine’s words had us nodding along. But she also gently beckoned us to evaluate our affections, giving Christ our full allegiance—the only one who can truly satisfy. These pages are truth-filled and encouraging! We’re grateful for this book. — Emily Jensen and Laura Wifler, cofounders of the Risen Motherhood ministry and coauthors of Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments

Christine Hoover has served us well in tackling the important topic of the kingdom of God. In With All Your Heart, Hoover graciously helps us see how our allegiances with lesser things, lesser kingdoms keep us from true worship. As we fix our eyes on Jesus Hoover “calls us out to a greater kingdom and greater king.” You will be challenged and encouraged to draw near to Jesus through the pages of this book. ― Trillia Newbell, author of Sacred Endurance, If God Is for Us, and God’s Very Good Idea

Once again, Christine has pulled up a seat, opened her heart, and welcomed us into the very front row of her tensions. In a self-sufficient, driven culture we would much rather disengage, preserve our energy, and focus more on ourselves than lean into the tensions of growing pains. She challenges us to not only recalibrate our hearts with the kingdom of God but first start by openly confessing our desires to please ourselves more than pleasing the very God who saved our wretched souls. As a pastor’s wife, church planter, and a woman familiar with the exact struggles Christine has openly shared with us, I am deeply convicted and challenged to rethink and reassess my desires and priorities. This book will encourage, admonish, and lovingly remind us to realign our allegiance to King Jesus. — Elicia Horton, coauthor of Enter the Ring: Fighting Together for a Gospel-Saturated Marriage

Christine Hoover is a pastor’s wife, mom of three boys, host of the “By Faith” podcast, and author of several books, including Messy Beautiful Friendship and Searching for Spring: How God Makes All Things Beautiful in Time. She’s also contributed to The Gospel Coalition, Desiring God, For the Church, and Christianity Today. Originally from Texas, she and her family live in Charlottesville, Virginia, where they planted a church in 2008. Find out more about Christine at her blog.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I currently live in St. Louis, Missouri, with my husband, Craig, and our “old-man” German Shepherd, Fritz. We moved here in 2010 to go to Covenant Seminary together and stayed after we graduated in 2013. We have four adult children, two daughters-in-law, and four little grandsons! I love my family, coffee, horses, good books, and time with friends. One of my greatest joys in life is studying and teaching God’s Word in the local church and wherever else he may send me.

Why did you write Steadfast?

Every two years The Gospel Coalition hosts a conference for women. The main teaching sessions  at the conferences always center around a book of the Bible. The 2020 conference will focus on the book of James. So we thought it would be helpful to have a Bible study to offer the women attending the conference as either a way to prepare before they come or as a way to continue studying after they go home. It is designed in such a way that the videos of the keynote teaching sessions can accompany the study if a church would like teaching videos. But you don’t have to attend the conference to use the study! We already know of several churches that will be using the study for their spring women’s Bible studies. My hope is that Steadfast provides a rich and reliable study on the book of James and the Lord would use it to cause us all to be more faithful doers of his Word. 

Steadfast is a Bible study on the book of James. Can you tell us about the format?

I’m really excited about the format! I think it will both help us in our understanding of James as well as solidify good Bible study skills. Each chapter is broken down into five days worth of work. Day 1 is always observation. We’ll spend time just reading the text and asking good questions about what we see. Day 2 will be spent interpreting the text and thinking about what it means. Day 3 will send us into the whole counsel of God’s Word as we seek to understand how other Scriptures—both Old and New Testament—help us interpret James. On Day 4 we’ll pay attention to what this passage teaches us about how we are to respond. And Day 5 is a short reflection on some aspect of that week’s passage. We’ve included a memory verse for each week and small-group discussion questions at the end of each chapter. 

How do you hope readers will respond as a result of doing the study?

James is extremely practical. He meets us in the routine moments of our day. He meets us in our suffering, our illness, and our poverty. He confronts us in our speech, our wealth, and our pride. He instructs us when we lack the wisdom to know what to do next. James speaks into these real, daily struggles by offering short commands (more than half of the 108 verses in the letter are commands!) on how a Christian should live. 

Our response as we read, study, and apply the book of James should be two-fold. First, as we look honestly in the mirror James holds up, we’re to ask ourselves if we are only hearers of God’s Word or if we are, in fact, doers of it (1:22). We’re to ask questions such as: Is my life characterized by living works of faith? Do my actions, words, and works reflect what I profess to believe? Do I do the good I know I should be doing? Am I humble? Do I love others the way I should? Am I steadfast in prayer?

As the answers to those questions become clear, we realize we don’t (and can’t) do all the Lord requires us to do. We try to obey and repeatedly fail. We strive to live up to the standards James has set out and consistently fall short. As we try and fail, however, we become increasingly aware of our need for Jesus—the One who was perfectly obedient in every way. 

Therefore, our second response should be to rest in the finished and complete work of Christ—the One whose genuine faith, perfect obedience, and steadfastness through trials has earned our salvation. He is the One who was perfectly steadfast under trials (1:12); he is the One who perfectly kept the whole law (2:10); he is the One who has pure religion (1:27); he is the One who perfectly submitted himself to God (4:7); and he is the One who humbled himself and whom God exalted (4:10). Studying James should make us long for and love the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ: that we belong—body, mind, and soul—to our faithful Savior and then respond with obedience born out of gratitude and love.

How has writing this book affected your own life?

In writing this study, I have become even more convinced and convicted that care of the poor, the marginalized, the oppressed, and the vulnerable is a defining mark of a follower of Jesus. In the first chapter of his letter, James exhorts us to be doers and not just hearers of God’s Word (1:22). Just five verses later he says that true religion is to take care of the orphan and widow (1:27). And these two things cannot be separated; my obedience to God in how I care for the orphan and the widow is of great importance. 

For a sneak peak, here are some quotes:  

“Our merciful acts to others reveal that we’ve been the grateful recipients of a greater mercy.”

“True faith results in works of obedience, the pursuit of holiness, the cultivation of Christ’s likeness, and acts of mercy.”

“Humbling ourselves helps us see our sin more accurately, and seeing our sin more accurately humbles us.” 

“Often, we want to know God’s hidden will for the future, while we walk contrary to his revealed will in the present.”

“God is not limited by our limited faith.”

Here’s what others are saying:

I can’t wait to use this study of James with a group of women from my church! Courtney has put together well-worded questions that will help us think deeply about the text as well as keen insights and challenging applications. 

— NANCY GUTHRIE, author and Bible teacher

Steadfast is an exceptional study that’s easy to follow and allows for a deep dive into the book of James. Courtney Doctor not only guides us in our understanding of the text, she’s written short prayers for every day as well as prompts to memorize Scripture. As we learn to ask the hard questions about our walk with the Lord and obedience to Christ, she reminds us that our steadfastness rests on his. I highly recommend Steadfast for personal or group study. 

— TRILLIA NEWBELL, author of the study If God Is for Us, Sacred Endurance, and God’s Very Good Idea. 

Courtney Doctor’s devotional Bible study on James has a theological depth, personal winsomeness, and practical value that sets it apart from ordinary devotional studies. Many of us know Courtney Doctor as a teacher who is both warm and deep. Those who study with her will see that those traits also manifest themselves in this God-honoring, disciple-making book.

— DAN DORIANI, professor of theology and VP of Covenant Theological Seminary

James compares hearing God’s Word and not acting on it to looking in a mirror and forgetting what we have seen. Courtney Doctor’s Steadfast devotional forced me to keep looking back at the text and not to forget or be unmoved by it. I saw new things in familiar texts and was changed. I recommend it highly.

— REBECCA McLAUGHLIN, author of Confronting Christianity:  12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

It depends on the weather. If it’s nice outside, I would love to be on a walk with a friend. If it’s rainy or cold, then I’d love nothing more than to be wrapped up in a blanket reading a good book, with a cup of coffee in my hand. But my dream afternoon, regardless of the weather, would always be spent on the back of a horse!

Courtney Doctor (MDiv, Covenant Theological Seminary) is coordinator of women’s training and content for The Gospel Coalition. She is a Bible teacher, conference and retreat speaker, and author of Steadfast: A Devotional Bible Study on the Book of James and From Garden to Glory: A Bible Study on the Bible’s Story. She also serves on the advisory board of Covenant College. Courtney and her husband, Craig, have two sons, two daughters, two daughters-in-law, and four amazing grandsons. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

We’re Emily Jensen and Laura Wifler. We’re actually sister-in-laws! (Emily is married to Laura’s brother.) We live about two miles apart in central Iowa, and about four years ago, we started the Risen Motherhood podcast together. Today it’s expanded into a non-profit ministry that includes weekly articles, social media platforms, equipping tools, and recently, our new book, Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments. Emily has five children and Laura has three, so most days you can find us juggling school drop-offs, making lunches, and squeezing in writing projects and podcasting where we can.

When did you first start writing?  What do you enjoy about it?

Laura: Like many young girls, I remember being given my first diary. At the time, I never wrote anything my parents didn’t know, but I hid it between my mattress and boxspring anyway. I don’t know how many journals I filled, but eventually I went electronic, launching a blog 2010. It was the cool thing to do, and I joined countless number of other people processing their thoughts for the world to see. And that’s why I enjoy writing. Not because the world sees it (most of it they don’t), but because it helps me process my thoughts. I write because I want to know. To understand. To take the jumbled mess in my brain and heart and sort it out through paragraphs and periods. And in my better moments, it’s a form of worship—no matter the topic, writing somehow always ends up reminding me of God’s goodness and plan.

Emily: Similar to Laura, my writing finds its root in journaling and eventually led to blogging. I not only appreciated the process of putting my feelings on paper, but in school, I enjoyed every type of writing project. In hindsight, what I liked about school papers and essay tests is the same thing I love about writing today—taking nebulous ideas, organizing them, and delivering them to the reader in a meaningful and persuasive way. Before putting my faith in Christ, this ability was limited to research reports on assigned topics. But now, I get to mine the depths of Scripture and display the riches of Christ to serve people searching for hope and truth.

Is writing ever difficult for you?  How so?

Laura: Absolutely! Everyday there are a host of things that tell me I shouldn’t write (even in secret), like it’s an honor I don’t deserve. Self-judgment, self-criticism, and self-protection are all voices that clog my writing and make the process difficult. It’s a constant battle for me to remember my role is to simply be faithful to the message God has laid on my heart and write from a place that remembers I can trust God to care for my words better than I ever could.

Emily: Like any craft, a writer can always improve. Where a painter approaches the canvas to put marks that the average bystander won’t notice, the writer frets over the smallest word choice and punctuation mark. This “craft” mentality is good when it drives me to God’s Word in humility, throwing me at the mercy of his help and motivating me to press on in faithfulness. But it can also be a hindrance when I become self-focused and ever-worried that my ideas could be more clear, more true, and more helpful. As Laura said, writing is an exercise in trusting the Lord.

What led you to write Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments?

Studies, online forums, articles, and even Facebook posts show that modern moms are stressed, tired, and overwhelmed. Through our own experiences and the greater Risen Motherhood ministry, we’ve seen how culture’s mixed messages about what makes a “good mom” confuse and burden women as they try to sort out the truth. Our hope with this book is to continue the message we share through the ministry, showing moms that scripture provides timeless principles for their questions about motherhood—bringing worship, hope, and freedom to every moment of their day.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

Our hope is for moms to understand the true gospel and be able to apply that truth in their own life. The good news of Jesus Christ is powerful. It transcends time, culture, method, and circumstance. When moms look to Christ repent and put their faith in Christ, they are a new creation. With the help of the Spirit, there is hope and freedom, even in the most mundane moment. We want moms to see that a gospel-life isn’t limited to Sunday morning or the perfect quiet time—it’s for every moment, and it’s for them.

How has writing this book affected your own life?

We’ve learned so many things through the process of this book, but two things really stand out. First, believers never outgrow or move beyond our need for the gospel. As we grow in our knowledge and love of God, we also grow in our awareness of sin and brokenness. We need to continually rehearse these ancient but relevant truths to help us—when we despair on a Wednesday afternoon, when we’re in the doctor’s office or the school pick-up line, when we’re awake in the middle of the night or we’re facing a tough parenting decision. God wants us to look to him in the midst of all of it, remembering his grace and holding fast to his future promises.

Additionally, we’ve seen the paradox of the gospel. It’s simple enough to share with a toddler, but deep enough for countless dissertations. For weary moms, this can be frustrating. We want an easy answer—something we don’t need to think about so much. But at the same time, we love the idea of belonging to someone and something more epic than ourselves. God continually meets us with simple, consistent truth that requires us to come to him because we can’t understand on our own.

For a sneak peak, here are some quotes from the book:

“Mom, don’t underestimate what God is doing in this season. While you are busy washing tiny hands and feet in the bathtub, you can love God and become well-versed in his ways. While you are making snack plates and having picnics in the living room, you can expand your theology. While you are out on a run or playing ring-around-the-rosy, you can deepen in your love of Christ’s work on the cross. While you are heading to work, you can apply the gospel to your circumstances. You don’t have to wait for an easier season, when your kids are older or even out of the house. You don’t have to become a 10,000-hour expert this year, but by God’s grace, you can grow and you can change.”

“It might be mundane to fold laundry, but it’s extraordinary to do it patiently with joy and a heart of love. It might be mundane to sit on the couch and read another book to a whiny 4-year-old, but it’s extraordinary to show kindness and mercy to an undeserving sinner. It might be mundane to fill the fridge with groceries, but it’s extraordinary to praise God for his provision. Our everyday moments might be ordinary, but when we accomplish them while displaying the fruit of the Spirit, they reflect our extraordinary Savior.”

Here’s what others are saying about Risen Motherhood:

“Laura and Emily offer us a framework for motherhood that transcends time and culture but that also faithfully addresses us in the here and now. I’m thankful for this hope-filled book.” — Jen Wilkin

“Risen Motherhood will inspire you towards Bible reading, rest in the Savior, and joy—shored up by gospel truth—for the little years.” — Trillia Newbell

“The wisdom they have to offer in the pages of this book is seasoned and scriptural.” — Nancy Guthrie

“I’m delighted to say that for as long as I’ve followed Emily’s and Laura’s work I have benefitted from it.” — Tim Challies

Popular singles were available on a record for $0.99. I would save my allowance and buy the latest Top 40 hit on record, bring it home, and immediately play it on my portable record player. It was housed in a box that looked like a small suitcase, covered in a late-’70s pattern of muted mustard and rust. I set the record on repeat and played that same single over and over. Until I saved enough to buy a new one.

The things we love we set on repeat—whether it’s a song, a favorite movie, an enjoyable activity, or even a daydream. We mull over and dwell on what is important to us. We know lyrics by heart and memorize pop culture trivia facts. We schedule our daily routines around what we cherish most. In turn, these things shape our hearts and our lives.

Out of all the things we set on repeat, the one thing we need repeated most in our heart each day is the gospel.

The Gospel Is for Every Day

It can be easy to think of the gospel as an important truth for our salvation—that moment where we trusted in Christ as our Savior—and not realize its significance for the whole of our life. We know we need salvation from our sins. We know we need reconciliation with God. We know we need Christ’s sacrifice on the cross to free us from slavery to sin. But what about in the day to day? What does the good news of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection mean to the daily life of a mom?

Consider the things a mom does on a typical day. Perhaps she wakes up before everyone else and prepares for the day. Maybe she packs lunches for the kids or prepares homeschool lessons or sends off some last-minute emails before heading to work. Maybe she and her husband tag-team waking up the kids, getting them breakfast, and taking them to school. It may be that she spends the day at work, in and out of meetings, while also trying to check in with the pediatrician about her little one’s chronic ear infections. Or maybe a typical day involves running errands all morning with one kid in the front of the cart and another in the back while somehow also managing to squeeze groceries in among all the moving body parts.

In all that a mom does each day, wherever she spends it, the gospel has a lot to say to her. The truths of what Jesus did for her in his perfect life, sacrificial death, and triumphant resurrection intersect with every moment of her life. It shapes her activities, labors, conversations, and even the challenges she faces. The sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice for her carries her through her weaknesses, temptations, and sins. It gives her hope in her motherhood, both in the joys and in the sorrows, in the mundane and in the hard.

The truths of who Jesus is and what he has done for moms doesn’t only affect us in eternity (and that’s a big thing!), it also affects our life in the here and now. And that’s why we need the gospel set on repeat.

The Gospel on Repeat

Since becoming a mom, I’ve found myself forgetting things. I call it having “mommy brain.” I’ve forgotten doctor’s appointments, only remembering when I receive a call from the doctor’s office wondering why I didn’t show. I often walk into a room and forget why I’m there. I put cereal boxes in the fridge and return juice to the pantry. And I always call my kids by the wrong name.

Humans are prone to forgetfulness. Putting clothes in the dryer and forgetting to start it can be irritating. Doing an entire grocery store run only to forget the one thing we needed may even be funny. Neither is as detrimental as forgetting the good news of the gospel or as harmful as failing to live out the gospel in our lives. Mommy forgetfulness pales in comparison to gospel forgetfulness.

As moms whose hearts are prone to forgetfulness, we need to remind ourselves of the gospel on a regular basis. We need to remember the good news until it saturates our hearts and becomes our personal anthem. Some people call this “preaching the gospel to yourself.” This simply means reviewing and reminding ourselves of who Jesus is and what he came to do. It’s appropriating the gospel to our lives. It’s setting the gospel on repeat.

What might that look like?

When we’ve sinned against our children, we remind ourselves that we have a great Savior who lived the life we could not live. We rejoice over his perfect record credited to us. We remember the death he died to pay for our sin. We pray and repent for our sins, asking God to forgive us because of Jesus’s sacrifice for us. We take great hope in the fact that because he ascended into heaven, he stands before the Father interceding for us.

When we face hardship or trial in our life or in that of our child’s life, we remember our Savior who left the riches of heaven to live in this fallen world. He knew what it is to be hungry and homeless, for he never had a home of his own. We remember the loss and grief he felt when his friend Lazarus died and the rejection and abandonment he experienced when his disciples left him when he needed them most. We remember his temptation in the wilderness where he never gave in to Satan’s offerings. Most of all, we remember the suffering he faced for us at the cross. Because he conquered death and rose from the grave, we know that suffering will have an end.

When life as a mom is busy and hectic and overwhelming, we remember our Savior then too. Because we are united to him by faith, he is our strength in all things. He sustains us with his Word. He gives us grace to endure. He is our peace in the chaos. Because he went to great lengths to rescue and redeem us from sin, we know he is with us in whatever we encounter in our day.

Whatever is happening in our life as a mom, whether we are wrangling our kids into the car, washing dishes, paying bills, or heading to work, the gospel is applicable. It matters to our life. In both the big and small things, it shapes who we are. Moms, we need to set the gospel on repeat, remembering who Jesus is and what he came to do.

Note: This post is a modified excerpt from Christina’s new book, Sufficient Hope: Gospel Meditations and Prayers for Moms, published with P&R.

Christina Fox serves on the PCA’s national women’s ministry team and is the editor of their enCourage blog. She is a writer, speaker, and author of several books, including Closer than a Sister, Idols of a Mother’s Heart, and Sufficient Hope: Gospel Meditations and Prayers for Moms. You can find her at www.christinafox.com.

It’s a question I’ve been asked at about the exact pace my oldest daughter’s been asked, “Where are you going to college?” (I’m thankful her answer is UNC!)

The answer to the question directed my way feels more complicated. I’m not sure what to say, and I’m not sure how to feel. Most days I vacillate between gratitude and grief. In some ways, her graduation this week is a continuation of everything I’ve been experiencing since I gave birth more than 18 years ago. Motherhood feels like an extended journey of letting go.

Grief of Letting Go

She first began leaving on October 30, 2000. After 36 hours of hard labor, she traveled from the safety of my womb and started her own journey. We watched her for hours with delight and marveled at every single finger and toe, smile and tear.

Soon, she began to crawl, then walk, and then run. With each step, she gained independence and I lost a little more control. She learned to talk, exert her opinion, and make her own friends. Preschool for a couple of hours led to elementary school that lasted for eight hours. Middle-school sports made the time away even longer. High school added extra hours of studying, more sports, and then, at 16, the ability to drive. With each passing stage, she’s been gone a little longer and the letting go a little harder.

I somehow lost parts of her along the way. I get glimpses of who she used to be when I hold someone else’s baby or read a book with a toddler, but it’s accompanied by a strange feeling of loss. Where is my baby? My 2-year old? My kindergartener? She was here just a minute ago and now time has taken her away. I’m left wishing there was a way to bottle certain moments and memories so I could once again share a morning with Emma at age 3 or 5 or 11.

The grief doesn’t hit me during the special moments. I’ve smiled joyfully through all the final events: the last volleyball match, the last soccer game, the last awards ceremony. I expected tears and busily attended these events without much emotion. Rather, it’s been typical of grief. Like a snake in the summer grass, it strikes when I least expect it. A couple of weeks ago, I opened TGC and noticed a new song by Caroline Cobb for Mother’s Day. In the middle of my workday, I sat at my computer sobbing as she sang:

Little fingers they run / Through my hair / A tiny head on my shoulder /
When you reach for my hand / Just to know I’m there /
The things I’ll miss when you’re older

A few days later, I was wandering the grocery store and noticed a mom distracted by her list while her little girl chatted away in the shopping cart. All of the sudden, the tears welled. Where is my little girl? How can it be that the little years are already over? Does that mom know just how special that mundane moment is? Can I have one more grocery run with a little one in my cart?

There are so many moments I can’t get back. So many days that once seemed never-ending now feel like the blink of an eye. Yet, in the midst of the grief of what was, I find gratitude overwhelming me with the joy of what is.

Gratitude of Gain

I haven’t just lost my cuddly baby with chunky thighs and infectious laughter. I’ve gained a daughter taller than myself with a heart for Jesus that overflows to every person she meets. While we used to look at her in wonderment of what she’d become, we now look at her in amazement of who she is—which happens to be a much kinder person in every way than either of her parents. We fully recognize that what her genetic code didn’t offer her, the Spirit produced in beautiful ways. I look at her and see answers to 19 years of prayers. God has worked in her in ways that make my heart overflow with gratitude at his goodness.

Yes, I will miss her at the table for devotions every morning. I’ll miss being the first one to hear about her day. I’ll miss processing life with her. I’ll miss making Saturday morning scones in the kitchen while she and her Dad watch Premier League Soccer in the other room. I’ll miss her warm smile and the way she lights up a room. I’ll miss walking by her room and it being a complete mess. I’ll miss having our family together every day as the usual part of our lives rather than a special occasion.

I’m glad I’m going to miss her—it’s a sign of the joy she’s brought to our lives. I’m also excited for her. I can’t wait to see her make new friends, learn from her studies, and grow in her relationship with God. Each of our children’s lives is like watching a story unfold. I’m thankful to have a front row seat.

How am I doing?

I’m writing with tears of grief and gratitude. I’m sorrowful, yet rejoicing.

Motherhood is a journey of letting go. I’m so very thankful for the journey.

From the moment I took a positive pregnancy test, I’ve been a praying mom. The wonder of motherhood made me feel like there was way too much under my control (How can one child require so much every day?) and at the exact same time that I was powerless to control anything (Why can’t I get her to sleep?). Seeing the reality of my limitations opened me up to prayer in new ways. I prayed for my children to eat, to sleep, and to make it to the potty in time. Prayer became a lifeline in the midst of many days when I had no idea what I was doing.

As I was busy praying for the mundane things of my day, I also knew I needed to be praying for my children’s larger spiritual and emotional needs. I wanted to pray Scripture for my children, but often in the hustle and bustle of life, my spiritual prayers were reduced to “Please let them know you, Lord” and “May they glorify you in all they do.” While these are good things to pray, I knew the prayers of the Bible asked for even more: wisdom, discernment, strength, courage, understanding, spiritual prosperity, contentment, power over sin, and abounding hope.

So, when The Good Book Company approach me about contributing to their “5 Things to Pray” series, I said an enthusiastic “Yes!”  Even though I’d been planning to take a writing break, I loved the simplicity of this series and wanted this book for my own prayer life. Time and again, I tell other parents that the most important thing I prioritized in motherhood is time in the Word and time in prayer. I’d already written Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood to help busy moms find time to be in the Word, so 5 Things to Pray for your Kids felt like the perfect accompaniment to help moms (and myself) pray the Word.

Each section of 5 Things takes a passage of Scripture and suggests five things to pray in a particular area of your child’s life—there are more than 100 ideas on what to pray for your kids and your parenting, from toddlers to teens and beyond. Since I received my copy, it’s been sitting beside my Bible and I’ve been using it daily to help me pray for my own children.

Our prayers are are powerful and effective. God can use them to work in our children in ways beyond our imagination. One of my favorite things about this project was that my daughter was asked to write the foreword. I cried thankful tears as I read the ways God worked in her own life through prayer. Our God is so good to hear our prayers, therefore: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). May he do more than we hope or imagine!

Here’s a video of me talking a little more about this book. I hope you’ll find it a helpful tool as you pray for your children.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I live in Tampa, Florida, with my husband, Jon, and our 3-year-old daughter, Jael. We serve as small-group leaders at our church, Living Faith Bible Fellowship. I was born in the Philippines and raised in Orlando, Florida, which is where I first heard and believed the good news of Jesus through a friend in high school. Since then, I’ve found that when I’m processing the lessons God is teaching me, it often comes out in poetry. Since the Lord saved me, I’ve written and performed poetry for various events as a ministry to point people to him. I copyedit and write as well. I really enjoy studying and teaching God’s Word, and I’m thankful to sometimes express the overflow of that through creative projects like spoken word videos and now children’s books.

What led you to write Love Made?

My good friend Nicole happened to be pregnant at the same time as me, so she asked me to write and share a poem about children at her baby shower. I originally told her, “No,” because I didn’t have any poems about that topic. But on the morning of her baby shower, I was spending some time in prayer. In my prayer, God reminded me of the love union of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Spirit) that existed even before creation, and which overflowed (in a sense) to make creation. Connecting that reality to the joy of parents who welcome a baby into their lives really affected my heart, and out came a poem that I titled “Love Made.” The poem is how I imagined telling my child about the nature of God, the creation story, and how loved she is by God and by her Papa and Mommy. Fast forward a few years, and now this poem has turned into a children’s book that I hope will encourage children, parents, and even those who aren’t parents.

This is your first children’s book. How was this process different than other creative projects you’ve worked on?

This one was different because I really didn’t imagine myself writing a children’s book as I was writing this poem. I wrote this poem in one sitting right after I finished praying that morning, and I ended up reading it at my friend’s baby shower that same day. Tear-filled men and women approached me afterward to share how the poem affected them. I then decided to pursue creating a colorful animation video for the poem, which my friend Chris Powers from Full of Eyes ministry did for me. So I thought that was that, and I moved on to other projects. But near the end of 2016, when my daughter turned 1 year old, I prayed about possibly looking into writing children’s literature in the new year. Shortly after that, a literary agent reached out to me because he had seen the animation video we did for the poem. That all led to this wonderful opportunity to see my poem turn into a children’s book with Harvest House. As I think of the process of creating this book, I realize that it was really birthed out of prayer pretty much every step of the way.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

God is, and has always been, love. And out of that love, he created you and me. Love made you. No matter the moral failures of your parents, no matter your social standing, no matter what people say about you, God made you out of love. And he made you in his image so that you can partake in the love of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit that has always existed. Only through faith in Jesus, God the Son, can we truly experience and share the deep, deep love of God. I pray that this book helps people long for a deeper fellowship with the God who made them out of love.

How has writing this book affected your own life?

Writing this book has caused my heart and my lips to praise God with greater joy. He didn’t have to create me, but he lovingly did. God didn’t need to make creation because of some sort of lack in himself. He is self-sufficient and has always existed in a perfect, unified community of love as the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. Yet he graciously chose to make me so that I can know him and get enveloped into that unified community of love through faith in Jesus. I mean, wow! It just makes my heart soar to think about love being the driving force behind creation and salvation (re-creation). This has made me more eager to share the gospel with others, because I want everyone to know and experience the love of God. And it has made me appreciate my precious daughter even more because the inexplicably deep affection I feel for her is just a drop compared to God’s bottomless ocean of love for me in Christ.

How did your daughter respond when she found out you were writing a book for children?

When my daughter first saw the original animation video we did for this poem, her eyes were glued to the screen the whole time as she saw the bright colors and heard my voice. My eyes, of course, were filled with tears. I’m so excited to see how she will react to the book once she sees that some of the illustrations look a bit like “Mommy” and “Papa.”

Here’s a video of Quina talking about Love Made (don’t miss it, her daughter is so cute!):

Quina Aragon is an author and spoken word artist who resides in Tampa, Florida, with her husband, Jon, and 3-year-old daughter. Jon and Quina are members of Living Faith Bible Fellowship, where they serve as small-group leaders. Her first children’s book, Love Made: A Story of God’s Overflowing, Creative Heart, released February 5 with Harvest House. Quina’s articles, poems, and spoken word videos have been featured on The Gospel Coalition, Risen Motherhood, Journey Women, and The Witness: BCC. She blogs at her website, QuinaAragon.com, and you can learn more about her book at LoveMadeBook.com.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

My vocation can be summarized in one word—books. Much, if not most, of my time is devoted to writing and editing. And all this involves God’s Word. I love Bible teaching almost as much as I love Bible learning, and I am blessed with many opportunities for both.

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

I began writing when I was about 8 years old. I’ve always known I wanted to write, and I am so thankful that God turned that dream into concrete reality. Time flies while I am writing, as is usually true when we’re doing something we love, right? And I am most comfortable communicating through a keyboard.

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

Of course! Every writer lives for those hours when thoughts flow beautifully onto the page, but so often the reality is quite different. There are numerous frustrating times when getting out just one decent sentence takes 45 minutes. So for the most part, writing requires discipline, like pretty much everything else worth doing. It also requires time. But unless one is in the midst of raising small children or serving as a round-the-clock caregiver, time can typically be found somewhere during an average week. I am often told, “I plan to write when I finally have time,” but the truth is, if we wait to have more time, it’s likely we’ll never write. It’s amazing how much can get written in just a few hours each week.

What led you to write Flourish?

We can all recognize those secular remedies for life’s problems that have become routine fare in evangelicalism—books, podcasts, articles, and so on. But what we don’t see as easily is how much we are all being shaped by it. And by “shaped,” I have in mind our understanding of Christian discipleship. So many of us have come to believe that our faith walk is synonymous with self-improvement. We’ve forgotten the words of Jesus, who taught that the call to faith is a call to die, not to improve. We mistakenly think that Jesus died on the cross to give us a better self-image and success in all we do in life. Then when things don’t work out as we believe they will, our faith gets shaken, and some simply walk away from the faith altogether.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

It’s my desire that together we would all grow in our ability to discern good teaching from bad, sound doctrine from flimsy, and truth from error. Such equipping strengthens our faith because we come to know the real God and his overarching plan. The better we know him, the better prepared we are to recognize those faith-crushing misconceptions.

How has writing this book affected your own life?

The topics covered in Flourish affect all of us. Those topics include our tendency to love ourselves at the expense of others, to use God rather than serve him, and to pursue pleasure rather than holiness. I wrote the book not because I’ve figured it all out but because I share in the struggle. We’re all in this together. As to how writing the book has changed me . . . I keep going back in my mind to the chapter “Free from Self-Indulgence.” I have sought to identify what can sometimes feel like an irresistible pull to excess—to worship the idol of comfort. I mean, who among us doesn’t crave a comfortable life? I certainly do. But life in Christ frees us. In Christ we are no longer compelled to bow down to the comfort god. Instead, as Scripture shows us, we can enjoy God’s creation gifts and point to his goodness as we do.

For a sneak peak, here are some quotes from Flourish:

For the self-conscious:

“What do people think of me?” By means of our clothes, our weight, our gym routine, the interior of our home, the behavior of our children, and even how we birth our children, we are so easily driven by a craving for an acceptable answer to that question. But in Christ, we are called to ask a different question: What do people think of Christ? When we are driven by a concern for how people perceive him, we can live free from the bondage of what people think of us. One of the most amazing aspects of being united to Christ by faith is that he actually becomes our very identity, but not until we grasp this truth can we enjoy the freedom of self-forgetfulness.

For the self-indulgent:

“If we walk by the Spirit, if we are willing to forgo what we’ve come to rely on for comfort—and willing, for a time, to experience the discomfort that happens in the letting-go process—our cravings to indulge will diminish. The Spirit leads us out of ourselves so that we are no longer preoccupied with how we feel, what we want, and what we think we need, and as we grow, we begin to see that self-preoccupation is what imprisoned us all along.”

For the victimized:

“Grasping the magnitude of sin—both ours and others’—is vital to getting unstuck from past trauma and flourishing as disciples. One way to strengthen our understanding of sin is to realize that Jesus himself was a victim of sin, and we are the ones who victimized him. All sin deserves death, and Christ experienced this in full on the cross, but the horrendous death he suffered was for our sin, not his own. If we miss this, we’re likely to become bitter, angry, depressed, discouraged, or downright hopeless. We can flourish instead when we understand that Jesus ‘did’ victimhood for us. When he was scorned, mocked, and rejected by loved ones, he didn’t grow bitter. When he faced the anguish of the cross, he didn’t sink down in despair. When he grew weary from the endless demands on his time and energy, he didn’t insist on personal space. When he saw people he loved suffer from the sins of others he loved, he didn’t lash out. Instead he prayed. He sought his heavenly Father. He forgave. He healed. He loved. And he grieved.”

Here’s what others are saying:

“As someone who deals in words all day and every day, I’m always fascinated to see how they come and go, how they ebb and flow. Recent years have brought us countless articles, books, podcasts, and conferences based on the word flourish. ‘Follow this program,’ they say, or ‘switch to this diet,’ or ‘become more mindful,’ and ‘you’ll finally flourish in your life and in your relationships. Guaranteed!’ In this book, Lydia Brownback looks for and finds what I’m convinced is the true key to human flourishing. Her solution is infinitely better because it is based on an infinitely better source—the enduring, infallible Word of God.”

Tim Challies, blogger, Challies.com

“Lydia Brownback is an author to be trusted. She writes with lucid insight and biblical discernment. The result is a book that is truly helpful— a book that avoids contemporary fads and points the reader repeatedly to the sufficiency of Christ. She takes on common destructive states of mind that often hinder Christians from walking in the freedom that is theirs by grace. I suppose the highest recommendation I can give to this book is that it is one I will be encouraging the congregation I serve to read.”

Todd Pruitt, Lead Pastor, Covenant Presbyterian Church, Harrisonburg, Virginia; Cohost, Mortification of Spin

“What if the pathway to true flourishing is not what our instincts assume? What if the siren calls of society and culture are misleading us? What if real flourishing makes foolish the wisdom of the world and turns today’s prevailing solution on its head? What if self-focus leads to losing the life that really matters, and focusing outside ourselves leads to finding it? Lydia Brownback has a beat on the answer. There is a true flourishing, and it may not be what you think—and it is better than what we dream. This is no shallow guide to ‘flourishing’ when all in life is well. Brownback wants to get us ready to truly flourish—when all around our soul gives way.”

David Mathis, Executive Editor, desiringGod.org; Pastor, Cities Church, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; author, Habits of Grace

“In a world where seemingly every voice whispers, ‘Think about yourself,’ this book is an invitation to something better. With biblical clarity, Lydia Brownback exposes the pervasive lie of self-focus and points us to a more abundant life. Whether you find yourself shackled to the self-centered spirit of the age or mentoring someone else who is, Flourish will open the prison door and let in the warm light of Christ.”

Megan Hill, author, Contentment and Praying Together; Editor, The Gospel Coalition

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

Depending on the weather, either reading on the beach or baking in the kitchen.

Lydia Brownback (MAR, Westminster Theological Seminary) is passionate about promoting biblical doctrine with a high view of God. She is the author of several books and a speaker at Christian conferences and events. Lydia holds a MAR in biblical studies from Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia). More information about Lydia can be found at lydiabrownback.com.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I grew up in Maryland, in the suburbs outside Washington, D.C. In undergrad, I went to Covenant College (Go Scots!) and then went on to get my master’s in counseling at Palm Beach Atlantic University. I live in the Atlanta area with my husband of almost 22 years and our two boys. I spend my days homeschooling and chauffeuring my kids around from one place to the next. I serve on the national women’s ministry team for the PCA and as the editor of the enCourage blog. I also enjoy serving Covenant College in my role on the advisory board there. A few of my favorite things are writing, coffee, reading, antiquing, hiking, and traveling.

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

I loved writing as a child and still have most of my stories and poems from that time. I was also involved in the school newspaper; I served as editor for my high-school paper. In high school, I mostly wrote poetry. It served as an outlet for a difficult and emotional season of life. As to the writing I do now, that grew out of blogging, which I started right after my oldest was born. Before my son was born, I worked as a psychotherapist and wanted to find a way to use those skills in some way, even though I had transitioned to being a stay-at-home home. Blogging became a way for me to encourage other women (and myself!) to live out the gospel in whatever our circumstances.

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

Sometimes I wonder if I have a limited amount of creativity and when it’s used up, I have nothing to say. I sit at my desk and stare at a blank screen. That’s when I know I need to go out and live life for a while before I try writing again. Sometimes it’s challenging finding the time to squeeze in writing with all the other responsibilities I have at this season of life. Rather than having designated days or chunks of time, I often write during pockets of time, such as during my son’s sports practice.

What led you to write Idols of a Mother’s Heart?

When my kids were little, I hosted a discipleship group with other young moms in my home. We read books together, prayed together, and encouraged one another. One of the books we read was Tim Keller’s Counterfeit Gods. As we read it, I couldn’t help but apply it to my life as a mom. I thought through the idols he discussed and related them to motherhood. I wrote an article about it for Desiring God, which ended up in a book they published, Mom Enough. I thought there was more there for me to explore on the topic, so I wrote a book on it.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from Idols of a Mother’s Heart?

We were made to worship God alone, but because of the fall, our hearts are prone to wander. As moms, we often look for life and hope outside of God. We search for it in a change of circumstances, a well-ordered routine, or successful children. This book helps moms look at and evaluate the idols they worship, see their need for Jesus, and turn to worship God alone.

How has writing this book affected your own life?

Was this book ever hard to write! I was convicted throughout the writing process as I saw the ways in which I worship idols such as children, comfort, control, approval, or parenting success. But I was also encouraged as I looked at what the gospel had to say and was reminded that my meaning, purpose, identity, and value are found in Christ alone.

For a sneak peak, here are some quotes:

Moms, we have significant value and worth. But it’s not based on what we achieve. It’s not about our success as a mother. It’s not about how well our children turn out. Our worth is grounded in who Christ is for us, and what He accomplished on our behalf.

The truths of the gospel, of who Christ is and what he has done, are our confession of hope. They are our security; they anchor us in the storms of life and in the chaos of motherhood.

Here’s what others are saying:

“Page by page, Christina Fox peels back the layers of a mother’s heart, helping her pluck out idols until there is nothing left but the grace of God. Idols of a Mother’s Heart is a convicting surgery of the soul, as Fox delicately deals with our rogue, wild hearts, continually pointing us back to the transforming work of Jesus Christ—the only one worthy of our worship. With penetrating questions, humble honesty, and gospel freedom on every page, this book will not only stretch and challenge a mother, but point her to the joy and satisfaction found in her Savior alone.”

—Laura Wifler, co-founder of Risen Motherhood

“I always enjoy reading what Christina Fox writes. Her books are thoughtful, clear, practical, and full of the riches of Scripture. Idols of a Mother’s Heart is no different. With gentle precision, Fox exposes the lesser gods that take up residence in our hearts. And, with wisdom born of personal experience, she helps readers tear them down—so that Christ might have his rightful place. Mothers, if you want to learn to hate sin and love Christ, this book is for you.”

— Megan Hill, author of Praying Together, editor for The Gospel Coalition, writer, speaker, pastor’s wife, mother of four

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

First stop would be my favorite local coffee shop. Then I’d explore an antique shop. And maybe top it off with a hike around a park near my house.

Christina Fox received her master’s in counseling from Palm Beach Atlantic University. She is the editor of enCourage and writes for a number of Christian ministries including Revive Our Hearts, Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, and TGC. She is the author of A Heart of Set Free, Closer than a Sister, and Idols of a Mother’s Heart. You can find her at www.christinafox.com.

Daily Light is one of my all-time favorite devotional books to give. It’s great for teenagers, graduates, spouses, parents, new moms, friends . . . really anyone who wants to have a devotional that is all Scripture. To read more about why my copy is like an old friend, I wrote about it here.

I love this Scripture journal set from Crossway so much—I keep telling everyone about it! Mine is black, but now they have one in various colors. I love that I can bring just one book of the Bible with me as I study, with plenty of room for notes and writing all over the text. When we’re studying a book of Bible at church, I bring the selected book, and I have all my sermon notes in one place. It’s such a great way to have personal study and sermons all in one place. I only wish I’d had these years ago!

Please don’t judge this book by the cover. I know it may look like a typical women’s devotional, but this is no Chicken Soup for the Soul type of book. These devotionals are excerpts of writings from 12 women who lived during the 16th to 20th centuries in both Great Britain and America. It’s excellent. The biblical truths they share are still relevant today. A friend gave me a copy this year, and it’s my favorite new find.

I’ve enjoyed this book of Puritan devotions for years. If you’ve never read the Puritans, this is a wonderful way to enjoy their writings in manageable, daily readings. I find each sentence to be carefully written and each thought to be expressed with profound insight and wisdom. This devotional is great for both men and women—I highly recommend it.

I’ve had this edition of Morning and Evening (edited by Alistair Begg) by my desk for the past couple of years. It’s full of wisdom, biblical truth, and needed encouragement. This version is updated and more accessible and makes for a great gift.

I know I’ve recommend this book before (and I think at this point I’ve given it to every one of my friends), but it’s such a wonderful book to give as a gift. Every person I’ve given it to has loved its combination of truth and beauty. Ruth’s website has so many things I love—you can find more of her artistic verses, gifts, and books at Gracelaced.

If you’re looking for a good book for your kids, I love God’s Very Good Idea, by Trillia Newbell. The illustrations are fun and inviting, and the message is so needed. It’s great for kids moving out of the board book stage, but not yet ready for chapter books (around ages 3 to 7).

The Radical Book for Kids is one of my all-time favorite kids books. Champ Thornton masterfully weaves together theology, biography, biblical truths, practical application, and interesting activities all in a book that is visually appealing and easy to read. I recommend this book for youth, parents, and new believers of all ages—it is a treasure trove of biblical insight and understanding. I like to read and learn from it too!

Another book I’ve been giving to my friends with young children is this new book by Nancy Guthrie, What Every Child Should Know About Prayer. It helps explain what prayer is, how and why we should pray, and the things we can pray about. It’s a gift to teach our children how to pray, and this book is a wonderful guide.

This year, I’m planning on reading through the Bible in year. I decided to give this ESV Journaling Bible to myself as a gift so that I can record all my thoughts/questions/insights while I read and have a full year worth of Bible reading notes all in one place. Each page has ample space for notes, and I’m looking forward to getting started and having a place to record what the Lord is teaching me. There are multiple versions of these, with lots of different types of covers (in case yellow floral isn’t your thing!).

As a woman in ministry, it’s easy to feel weighed down by everyone’s needs and expectations. For years, I succumbed to the lie the at as a woman on staff, it was my job to be there in every crisis, to arrive early and stay late at every social event, and to be on call whenever someone needed me. Even on vacation, I remember spending an hour on the phone with someone struggling through a problem, while my family was sun-screened and ready, waiting for me finish.

It might look beautiful to attend to every need and attempt to please everyone, however it’s just as dangerous as a tree laden with ice. The weight of attempting to meet everyone’s expectations is not a burden we’re created to bear. It’s too much. Jesus—and Jesus only—is the shepherd of his sheep. He is sufficient in all the ways we are insufficient. By reflecting on the truth of God’s character we’re freed from the lie that we must meet everyone’s needs and expectations.

God Is All-knowing

One of the ways I unnecessarily burden myself in ministry is wrongly believing that I need to know what is happening with the women in my church (or at least know everyone’s name!). However, it’s simply an impossible task to know everyone and everything going on in their lives. The good news? God knows! Psalm 139:1-4 tells us:

O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.

God knows exactly what is going on in the lives of the women in your church. He neither slumbers nor sleeps. He will help, support, and sustain both you and the women you care about. He knows each woman by name and is so intimately involved that he knows the number of hairs on her head.

Free yourself from the expectation of knowing everything going on with each woman—trust that the Lord knows their story and rest in him.

God Is Everywhere

I believe in the ministry of presence. I know it matters to be with people in both joys and sorrows. But the reality for each of us is that we can only be in one place at a time. We’re limited. To fully be present with one person means I must miss being present with others. However, God is not limited. He is everywhere. Psalm 139:7-10 reminds us:

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

Not only does God intimately know every woman in your church, he is with them at every moment. Your inability to be physically present may be the very thing that allows a woman to draw near to God in a way she’s never done before.

Rest in the reality that God is with his people. He is the one presence needed at every gathering—you are not!

God Is All-Powerful

One of the most difficult realities of ministry is our powerlessness. There are so many marriage difficulties, health issues, financial problems, and emotional struggles. I so desperately desire to rescue others from their trials. I want just the right words to say to make everything better. But, I don’t have them. Most days I feel powerless. However, God is all-powerful. Psalm 68:35 rejoices:

Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!

God is the one who has the power to strengthen his people for whatever they face. God is the one who sustains, encourages, and provides. And he is the one who gets all the glory! While we are powerless to change most things, we are invited to pray to our God who is Lord over all things. He can work in ways we can’t imagine. Our greatest resource is not our abilities, wisdom, or strength, but our prayers that reach the throne room of our all-powerful God.

Rest in him as your pour out your cares and concerns before God in prayer. He hears you, and he is able.

I still struggle at times with my failure to meet other people’s needs and expectations. However, I’ve found the more I reflect upon who God is, the more I can let go of pleasing others. I have one person I’m serving, one master I’m responsible to: God. As Paul wrote, “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Gal. 1:10).

As we seek to serve Christ, it may mean that we let others down or fail to meet everyone’s needs. That’s OK. Just like a tree can’t bear the weight of too much ice, we aren’t made to carry the weight of the church on our shoulders. Christ will tend and care for his people in all the ways we cannot. He’s knows all things. He’s everywhere. He’s all powerful. Trust in him as you spend your life loving others.

Author’s note: This article is an excerpt from a free ebook, “10 Truths to Set Leaders Free.” You can download it for free here.

Between sobs and hiccups, she looked up at me with distrust brewing and said, “Mommy, why didn’t God protect me? Doesn’t he know everything? Can’t he do anything? Couldn’t he have kept me from falling?”

It was 3 p.m. on a sunny afternoon and all of the sudden I struggled to explain the problem of evil, the truth of God’s sovereignty, and the question of God’s goodness. We never know the circumstantial classrooms the Lord will provide us to teach biblical truths to our children—it could be skinned knees, broken hearts, or monsters under the bed in the middle of the night. Regardless of what we think about ourselves as theologians, every mom is teaching her child about God every day.

The question isn’t whether or not we’ll have the opportunities to teach our children. The question is: How do we prepare our minds to answer difficult theological questions when they arise? Even if you’ve never spent a day in a seminary classroom, you’re the seminary professor in your home. As parents, we lay the foundation—through both our words and actions—for our children’s understanding of Christianity. How can we faithfully teach profound truths in simple ways?

Love the Lord

Before Moses instructed the Israelites to teach their children about God, he gave them this command: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deut. 6:5). Our affection, delight, and devotion are to be focused fully on God. (Even though as parents it’s always tempting to pour out all that affection on our children.) We’re to love him, pursue him, seek him with everything that’s in us.

And, how do we do that? Moses told them in the next verse: “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart” (Deut. 6:6). We can’t faithfully teach our children what isn’t true of ourselves. God’s Word in our heart prepares us to share Jesus with our children. Read his Word, study his Word with others, listen to sermons—do whatever you can do to get God’s Word in your mind, so it can grow affection for the Lord in your heart. If we want his truth to be on the tip of our tongues, we need his Word implanted in our minds.

And, let me encourage you—you don’t have to enroll in seminary to study God’s Word. Over time, reading the Bible will grow your understanding and insight. Start today. Even in the busyness of motherhood, give yourself 20 minutes a day to read the Bible. You can do it, I promise! Put down your phone, turn off Netflix, leave the dishes in the sink, and drink in some true refreshment for your soul.

Read Books

Another way to grow in theological understanding is to read theologically rich books. It’s even better if you can discuss difficult topics with others. The book that helped me in the particular dilemma my daughter was facing was Suffering and the Sovereignty of God by John Piper and Justin Taylor. I studied this book with a group of girlfriends, and we wrestled together with the problem of evil. Learning from the wisdom of others helped me answer my daughter as she thought through these same theological struggles from the perspective of a 6-year old. If you’re looking for a book to help you grow in theological understanding, J. I. Packer’s Concise Theology is a great place to begin.

Seek Help

One thing I’ve learned from being married to a professor who is also a pastor is how much he enjoys helping others think through their theological struggles (that’s why he went to school for so long!). People from our church regularly call him or email him to ask him how to think about a particular topic. Even teenagers have called him to ask their theological questions. He’s glad to help them.

When your child (or teen) is asking you questions, and you’re not sure how to answer them, it’s okay to say, “I’m not sure, let’s ask Pastor Joe.” Doing so helps our children realize that having doubts or questions is normal. We don’t have to have all the answers, but we can help lead our children to the best people to help them with their questions.

Lay Early Foundations

As my daughter sat in my lap that day, I reminded her of the story of Adam and Eve and how sin entered the world. We talked about how God made everything good, but now it’s broken because of sin—things don’t work like they should, and pain is part of our world. We also talked about how Jesus came to fix all the broken things, including our sinful hearts. And that one day, he’ll take us to a new heaven and a new earth where there’s no more pain, no more tears, and no more skinned knees. We may not know why he doesn’t always rescue us here, but we can trust that he has a rescue plan coming.

That small conversation was the result of years we’d spent reading Bible stories together. She already knew about Adam and Eve and the garden of Eden. She knew about Jesus. From her catechism, she knew that God sees all things and knows all things and that “God can do all his holy will.” The small ways we teach our children in song, story, and Scripture memory prepare us (and them) to apply theology in reality of their lives. Teaching proactively provides the foundation so we can “talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise” (Deut. 6:7)

At the beginning of the 19th century, Pastor John James preached these words on the importance of motherhood: “All should realize the sublime idea that their houses are the schools for eternity; their children the scholars; themselves the teachers; and evangelical religion the lesson.”

I’ve never needed theology more than in the season of motherhood. We have eternal truths to teach eternal souls—may we be women who read, women who learn, and women who love God with all our heart, soul, and strength.

The series is available now for purchase on DVD or CD, as a digital download, or as a Ligonier Connect course. A complementary study guide is also available.

It consists of eight 23-minute videos that cover the following topics:

• Biblical Contentment
• Defining Contentment
• The Source of Contentment
• The Enemy of Contentment
• What Causes Discontentment?
• Patterns of Discontentment
• An Example of Contentment
• Cultivating Contentment

You can watch the first lesson for free here or see a glimpse of what the series is about in the video below. You can also read this article about why I think the topics of contentment and joy are so important in the church today. I hope this series will help clarify the ways we think about contentment, as well as help us fight the sin of coveting so that our lives joyfully proclaim gospel hope to the watching world.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I live in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwest Virginia with my husband, Nathan, and our three children aged 9 to 14. Nathan pastors a small country church, and I split my time between helping him, caring for our family, and writing and speaking.

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

I didn’t start writing seriously until my early 30s, which was about seven years ago. Growing up, I loved books and ideas, but never attempted writing anything besides school assignments and the occasional essay competition (which I entered invariably for the prizes). My senior year of college, I took a writing class because I enjoyed the professor, and one day, he casually mentioned that students getting below a certain average might need to reconsider their hopes of a writing career. It took me off guard because I was getting well above that average and had never even considered writing as a profession. Until that moment, I simply didn’t have category that included both “Hannah” and “writer” in it.

I enjoy writing because it gives me permission to get lost in my thoughts and chase an idea down to completion. So much of daily life is composed of what Tish Harrison Warren calls “the liturgy of the ordinary”—that necessary, albeit never ending, work of keeping ourselves and those we love alive. Writing, by contrast, gives me the chance to work on projects that have a definite beginning and end. I also like the clarity that writing brings. If there’s something I don’t quite understand, I’ve discovered that the surest way to figure it out is to write about it.

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

For me, the most difficult part of writing is being honest. It’s not that I’m tempted to write things that are untrue; it’s that writing provides an unusual opportunity for self-awareness and reflection. When you put words down on a paper and read them back to yourself, you have to ask, “Do I really believe what I’ve just written? Is this truth in both fact and expression?” So writing has a way of uncovering your insecurities, doubts, and prejudices, and when it does, you have to decide what to do with them. Are you going to face them and deal with them? Or are you going to simply barrel through and write whatever will garner affirmation and applause? For me, writing is a significant part of God’s sanctifying work in my life, and it can be tempting to bypass it. But when I let it do what it’s supposed to do, it also keeps me honest.

What led you to write All That’s Good: The Lost Art of Discernment?

I don’t know about you, but I’ve found the digital age extremely disorienting. At first, the internet was a welcome source of information and connection. Eventually, it opened a way for me to work from home. But things have changed dramatically in the last decade, and today the online experience feels like a constant cycle of disinformation, relational conflict, and image crafting—all things that hinder good decision making.

I don’t think the digital age has made us any more or less gullible than previous generations; but we do have to grapple with more information than they did. And we’re doing it in an environment that prioritizes trending movements over trusted institutions and celebrity voices over trained professionals. In other words, while our lack of discernment is not unique in history, the need for discernment might be.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

Learning to make wise decisions cannot be separated from becoming wise people. Too often we approach the topic of discernment as if it were a matter of simply learning the right steps, staying within certain tribal boundaries, or finding the “truer” facts. But discernment is more about becoming the kind of people who can make good decisions because we are being made good by God. Or as Romans 12 puts it, discernment comes from having our minds renewed and transformed.

Also, I want readers to see discernment as a fundamentally hopeful process that’s predicated on God’s goodness. After all, we can only learn the difference between good and bad if we believe goodness exists in the first place. To be truly discerning, we must start with a belief that God is good, that he made the world good, and that despite our sinfulness, he has not abandoned us.

For a sneak peak, here are some quotes from the book:

In 1 Timothy, Paul writes that “everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer” (4:4 ESV). Paul is not suggesting that we can indulge in anything we want as long as we pray over it; he’s teaching how a posture of thanksgiving and submission to God’s Word puts us in a place to know God through His gifts. From this posture, we acknowledge that all good things come down from Him, that without Him, we would have nothing. We submit ourselves to His plans and purposes for our lives, even if they run counter to what the world tells us will bring happiness. And we confess that He is our ultimate good.

Designed to live in community, human beings process information and come to decisions in what Alan Jacobs calls “necessarily, thoroughly, and wonderfully social” ways. This can be hard to admit, especially for those of us who like to imagine ourselves independent thinkers. We can see how other people are influenced. When they offer an opinion, we think to ourselves: Well, of course, you think that. Just look where you get your news. Look at what church you go to. Look at your family background . . . But when we have an opinion, somehow we believe we reached it independently, through nothing but sheer, unassailable logic.

The truth is that the leaders we follow, the communities we’re part of, and the organizations we support all play a role in shaping the decisions we make. That’s why Proverbs predicts that “the one who walks with the wise will become wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm.” . . . The fact that discernment comes in and through community also means that we should be suspicious of people who refuse to submit themselves to the accountability of community or who posture themselves as having a corner on truth. If someone is teaching or saying something that no one else is, there’s usually a reason for that. And it’s rarely good.

Here’s what others are saying about All That’s Good:

“I’ve always seen discernment as a basically negative thing: make sure you don’t embrace something bad. Hannah Anderson has convinced me that it is a positive thing: make sure you do embrace what is good. This book, like the biblical text it centers on, is good, true, honourable, excellent and praiseworthy. Buy it, read it, and think about such things!”  – Andrew Wilson, Teaching Pastor at King’s Church London

“Once again, Hannah Anderson has written a book that not only points readers toward the good, the true, and the beautiful, but is all of these things as well. This book recovers life-giving, joy-generating applications of the Christian faith that have been lost for generations to the spirits of fear and enmity that have come to define the relationship of many believers to God’s good world. Anderson’s reminder to “taste and see” the goodness of God all around us is a welcome invitation for us all.”  – Karen Swallow Prior, author of On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books

“When the topic of discernment arises, I get nervous. Maybe you do, too. Many of us have been on the receiving end of the well-intended comments of others, offered in the name of godly discernment. With the Bible as her steady guide, Hannah Anderson points us toward good definitions and good practices to help us obey the command to be people who know how to discern rightly. I’m so grateful for this clarifying book.”  – Jen Wilkin, author and Bible teacher

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

The older I get, I want to be at home more and more. So you’d probably find me in my kitchen trying out a new recipe, watching a favorite movie with my kids, or reading in quiet chair. Or napping. There’s a good chance you’d find me napping.

Hannah Anderson is an author and speaker who lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Her previous books include Made for More: An Invitation to Live in God’s Image and Humble Roots: How Humility Grounds and Nourishes Your Soul. You can find more of her writing at sometimesalight.com, hear her on the weekly podcast Persuasion, or follow her on Twitter @sometimesalight.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your writing?

I live in Massachusetts with my husband and four kids. I’m a pastor’s wife and a writer; I also edit for The Gospel Coalition. My first book, Praying Together, was an encouragement to practice corporate prayer—praying with others in our homes and communities and churches. This book, Contentment, is a bit different. It’s a 31-day devotional, designed to be used by people who want to cultivate contentment in their lives.

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

As a pre-teen, I used to write notes to my parents and leave them on their bedside tables for them to find. I’d write to them about things I found difficult to discuss face-to-face. Writing those notes helped me to formulate my thoughts more clearly and allowed me to talk about them in the way I wanted—not stumbling over myself.

I also write out my prayers during my personal Bible study. Again, writing out the things I am bringing to the Lord gives me clarity—what am I actually asking God to do, and is it biblical?

In the same way, writing articles and books is a way for me to think deeply about ideas and theological truths and then attempt to communicate them in a way that clear and helpful to others.

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

Yes, writing is difficult for me! Especially because I write primarily about what the Scripture teaches, I feel an immense burden to be precise with my language. A misplaced word or a sloppy phrase can turn a sentence with good intentions into heresy. For that reason, I’m an incredibly slow writer, and I always run everything by several people who are better theologians than I am. But, hopefully, that means that the things I publish are as true as I can make them.

What led you to write Contentment: Seeing God’s Goodness?

I have been interested in the subject of contentment for many years. Puritan Jeremiah Burrough’s The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment made a big impression on me when I was a college student. He has several sections that I “preach” to myself often! Later, I taught two different book studies on The Envy of Eve, which continued to remind me of the importance of contentment at a time when my children were all very young and my life seemed to be limited in some ways. Writing this book, then, was just an opportunity to build on the work of others.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

The subtitle of the book is “Seeing God’s Goodness,” and that’s intentional. It’s only when we look away from ourselves and our own circumstances that we can lay our eyes—and our hearts—on what truly satisfies: God and his good purposes. When we are totally taken up with God, we have no room for discontent. I hope that people will come to this book looking for help for themselves and turn the last page finding that their vision for God and his glory has been expanded.

How has writing this book affected your own life?

When you write a book, you end up reading it at least five or six times in its entirety. Between writing, revising, editing, and correcting page proofs, I’m sure I have read this book more than anyone else ever will!

With Contentment, it seemed that each re-read coincided with a particular set of challenging circumstances in my personal life. One time, I was reading the manuscript at the same time as I was preparing my house to welcome another family for a month. Every speck of dust and streaky window was an opportunity for anxiety—but reading each Bible text reminded me to trust in God’s goodness and not my own decorating chops. Another time, the edits arrived just when we had received some difficult news from our extended family. And, again, the words of Scripture were just what I needed to remind me to trust in the Lord.

I worked on this book through a leaking roof, fresh parenting challenges, an extended trip out of the country, preparations for a new school year, and notification that one of my writing projects had been unexpectedly cancelled. With each circumstance, I had to remind myself of the truth I wrote: “The secret of contentment is not in having ‘enough’ money (or status or relationships or education). Rather, the secret of contentment is placing our ultimate hope in something secure: The Lord will never leave us or forsake us; he is our help, so there is no reason to fear.”

For a sneak peak, here are some quotes from Contentment:

The good news of the gospel is not simply that Christ tells us how to be content but also that Christ is powerfully at work in us to bring us to contentment.

How can we be content when the roof is still leaking and the kids still need new backpacks? How can we pray for the spread of the gospel when the cancer is spreading deep in our own bones? Jesus tells us two precious truths: God knows exactly what we need, and God has the power to satisfy every righteous desire.

Biblical thanksgiving is not merely false cheer slapped on the surface of otherwise bad circumstances. Biblical thanksgiving is our acknowledgment that God is accomplishing his eternal purposes, even when we cannot clearly see what he is doing.

Here’s what others are saying about Contentment:

Those of us who continually study contentment do so because we, like many others, have not fully “learned to be content in any and every circumstance” with the apostle Paul. Armed with the sword of the Spirit—the Word of God—Megan Hill has given us a wise and beautifully written daily devotional to help us attain this important Christian virtue. Its practical insights and applications, its simplicity and depth, its conviction and comfort will make this a daily devotional that I will return to often in my ongoing struggle for the great gain of godliness with contentment.

— William Barcley, Senior Pastor, Sovereign Grace Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, North Carolina; Author, The Secret of Contentment

Our hearts are often prone to discontent. We want what others have and think that our lives would be better if only that one thing would change (and that one thing sometimes varies from week to week). Megan Hill’s new devotional helps readers to see the source of discontent and paints a picture of biblical contentment rooted in the gospel. Contentment: Seeing God’s Goodness helps those who are longing to shed the weight of discontent by pointing them to the soul-satisfying contentment found in Jesus Christ.

— Christina Fox, Counselor; Author, A Heart Set Free

Megan Hill exposes the lie that seduces so many of us, demonstrating that a change in our circumstances will not improve our lives. With clear, practical, biblical reflection, Hill leads us to the greener pastures of Christian contentment. But she doesn’t simply tell us to “stop our complaining”; she tells us to embrace Christ, the suffering yet contented Savior. I am glad for this resource that teaches us to live his life of holy, surrendered desire.

— Jen Pollock Michel, Author, Teach Us to Want and Keeping Place

“Be content.” “Pursue contentment.” “Repent of discontent.” We’ve all heard the exhortations and rebukes. We all agree with them. “But how?” we cry. How do we get there? Megan Hill comes to the rescue with a practical daily devotional full of how-to’s and why-to’s. But, more importantly, she shows that the remedy for discontent lies ultimately not within the “how” and “why” of a daily technique but in the “who” of a daily relationship with Jesus Christ.

— David Murray, Professor of Old Testament and Practical Theology, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary; Author, The Happy Christianand Christians Get Depressed Too

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

After my childhood in Connecticut, these last few years in Massachusetts have been a fun chance to discover and re-discover interesting spots in New England. On a free afternoon, my husband and I will typically pack up the baby and head out for a historic house, an unexplored museum, or an old cemetery with noteworthy graves. And, of course, we’ll have lunch and maybe—if I’m lucky!—ice cream at a roadside farm stand.

Today, in the church there are similar calls to tear down walls and open gates. Many wonder, “Who are we to declare someone outside of Christianity or judge someone else’s faith?” Lines that once clearly signified orthodox Christianity have grown blurry. Some view those who hold to historical Christianity as being on the wrong side of history. They claim an open table, where all invited and welcomed—no need to be anything other than exactly who you are. Just believe.

These phrases about tearing down walls and wide-open tables in the church have hints of truth, which makes the precarious lie hidden beneath them so much more difficult to detect. Jesus did invite all to believe (John 3:16), but he also gave warnings for us to consider seriously.

The Path Is Narrow and Hard

In Matthew 7:13-12 Jesus instructs, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

Jesus wasn’t a proponent of “easy believism” or the health-and-wealth gospel. He preached a narrow gate and hard path for his followers. While Jesus invites all to come, those who find the narrow gate are few. The path is difficult. Those on the path carry crosses and deny themselves (Luke 9:23). They forgo sin (1 John 3:7-9). They walk by the Spirit (Gal 5:16). We must carefully explain what we mean by a wide-open table when Jesus himself claimed a narrow gate and difficult path.

Some Mistakenly Think They’re Christians

After directing his listeners to the narrow path, and warning against false prophets, Jesus warned about professions of faith devoid of good fruit:

So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matt. 7:17-23)

Just as the disciples looked at one another in sorrow after learning that one of them would betray Jesus and asked, “Is it I, Lord?” (Matt. 26:22), I read these words with sober reflection and want to ask Jesus, “Is it I, Lord?” Have I professed faith and somehow missed a real relationship with Jesus? I don’t think it’s a bad question to ask. Jesus gave warnings so we don’t rest on false assurances.

We express faith in day to day walking by the Spirit—bearing the fruit of righteousness and putting off the lawless deeds of the darkness. Jesus freely justifies all who call on his name in faith. True faith is alive, powerful, and transformational.

Commentator Matthew Henry explained his concern this way:

We are too apt to rest in a bare profession of faith and to think that this will save us; it is a cheap and easy religion to say, “We believe the articles of the Christian faith;” but it is a great delusion to imagine that this is enough to bring us to heaven. . . .You may as soon take pleasure in a dead body, void of soul, or sense, or action, as God take pleasure in a dead faith, where there are no works.

A lack of good works may indicate a lack of saving faith. It is kindness and concern—not a desire for exclusivity—that causes a believer to question the faith of someone living in opposition to God’s Word. We desperately want all to have faith in Jesus. However, faith in Jesus leads to a life transformed by Jesus—any other message isn’t gospel truth. It’s precisely because we don’t want someone to miss the feast that we look for signs of faith.

Consequences Are Dire

It’s somewhat surprising, but more than anyone else in the Bible, Jesus talks about hell. Of the 14 verses that specifically mention hell, 12 of them are spoken by Jesus. He warned against the dire consequences of sin, but had particularly harsh words for those who lead others into sin:

Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. (Mark 9:42-45)

This may not be the verse you share tomorrow on your Instagram feed. But these are the words of Jesus. He’s good and true. He wants a better life for us (one of freedom and fullness) than the chains of sin we’d mistakenly chose for ourselves. We—particularly those who teach and lead others—should listen to his warnings and heed his voice.

Jesus offers the best news the world has ever received. We don’t change the message (or leave off parts that seem unpalatable) because they are hard or might make someone feel excluded. If we hide or gloss over certain things Jesus said, we need to ask an important question:

Are we inviting people to a table that Jesus isn’t sitting at?

Is the biblical Jesus the one you’re inviting people to, or is your version of Jesus just a spiffed up version of you? Jesus—the biblical Jesus—is the better feast. And, he invites everyone:

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Is. 55:6-7)

Come to his table freely—without money and without cost. Your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

The tears began to flow, so I nuzzled into my sweatshirt that was acting as a makeshift pillow, not wanting my husband to see me crying. I knew this move was difficult for him too, precisely because it was difficult for me.

Identity Lost

Over the next weeks and months, waves of insecurity would overtake me with the simplest of questions: “What do you do?”

Honestly, I had no idea. Unanchored from what had shaped my sense of identity, I felt lost. I wasn’t a missionary. I wasn’t a mother. I didn’t have any role other than being a wife. And, most days I didn’t feel like I was doing a great job at that either. I’d been defined by my job, ministry, and deep-rooted friendships. Now, I felt alone and purposeless, unsure how to answer the question, “Who am I?”

Perhaps you’ve experienced a similar situation. Unwanted circumstances often expose the places we’ve anchored our identity outside of Christ. While I felt lost, it was actually the Lord directing me to find something better, something secure—an anchor that held fast regardless of circumstances and seasons. I was finding my identity in doing. He wanted me to find my identity in being. Rather than find significance in what I was doing for God, I needed to experience the freedom of finding my worth in what God had done for me.

The question I needed to answer most was not “Who am I?” but “Who am I in Christ?”

Identity Found

I still need reminders. It’s easy to fall back into old patterns, forgetting the good news of my identity in Christ. That’s why I’m excited to share with you about a new book we’ve been working on over the past few months at TGC. It’s called Identity Theft and it released at TGCW18 last week (and it’s available on Amazon). It’s a multi-authored volume, and the purpose of the book is threefold:

• Expose the false lies we often believe about our identity.
• Illuminate the truth of who we are in Christ.
• Consider what it means to live a transformed life.

Some of my favorite authors agreed to write on this topic, and together they’ve filled this book with wisdom and truth. Here’s a list of the authors and their topic:

Chapter 1 Jen Wilkin—Free: Rescued by Grace

Chapter 2 Hannah Anderson—Reflection: Made in God’s Image

Chapter 3 Courtney Doctor—Child: Beloved by the Father

Chapter 4 Melissa Kruger—Saint: Redeemed by the Son

Chapter 5 Jasmine Holmes—Fruitful: Filled with the Holy Spirit

Chapter 6 Megan Hill—Member: Connected to the Church

Chapter 7 Trillia Newbell—Beautiful: Clothed in Splendor

Chapter 8 Betsy Childs Howard—Servant: Reaping a Reward

Chapter 9 Lindsey Carlson—Worshiper: Shining Brightly in the Darkness

Chapter 10 Jen Pollock Michel—Citizen: Longing for Home

I hope this book will be a faithful reminder of what God has done for us in Christ. I encourage you to grab a friend and go through the discussion questions together. Memorize the verses and fortify your mind with the truth of God to help you fight the lies of the enemy. Remember who you are and live in the freedom of what Christ has done for you.

For more, here’s a trailer about the book:

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I grew up in Minnesota and emigrated with my husband to Canada more than 40 years ago. I am a widow now, and live in the mountains of the Yukon, which is the Canadian territory right next to Alaska. It’s a beautiful place in the summer, with long days and perfect weather. It’s beautiful in the winter, too, but the days are short, it can be extremely cold, and eight months of snow on the ground is more than anybody needs.

My four grown children all live close to me, which means my four young grandchildren are nearby, too. This is a blessing I don’t take lightly, and one I know won’t last forever.

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

I wrote a lot as a child, but then set writing aside when I finished school and had my children. I took it up again 15 years ago when my husband died. It was a way to process what had happened and fill my suddenly empty days. In 2004 I started a blog as an outlet for my writing, and since then I’ve written almost daily. As I’ve taken on other writing projects, my blog has been neglected, but I still write something somewhere almost every day.

I’ve discovered writing is an excellent way to learn, and this is the reason I keep at it. The things I understand best are the things I’ve struggled to explain in writing.

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

Writing is always difficult for me. I fuss over every sentence. I know writers who routinely write a few thousand words a day, but 700 or less is typical for me. Since I’m usually refining my thoughts on a subject as I go, and not simply putting down what I already know, I’m a slow writer.

I find rewriting and editing much easier and more enjoyable than the initial writing phase. Still, editing can be a painstaking process, too. It’s a bit like putting together a large jigsaw puzzle—moving sentences, changing words, adding illustrations—but at least by this point I know the pieces are there, and if I keep plugging away, I’ll have something in the end.

What led you to write The Good Portion: God?

Many years ago, I started writing a series of blog posts on the attributes of God. As I wrote them, I discovered I loved writing and learning about God. Over the years, I’ve re-written those old posts a few times, and also expanded my writing to other areas of doctrine. Along the way, I became eager to share my love of Christian doctrine with other Christian women. When I was asked to write this book on the doctrine of God for The Good Portion series, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for me to put my experience to good use. I would be doing something I loved for a cause I believed in.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

Most of all, I want each reader to catch a glimpse of God’s glory. I pray she sees his beauty as she explores who he is and what he has done. And as she reads, I hope her heart begins to sing his praises.

How has writing this book affected your own life?

I’ve been writing about God and his works for 15 years, but I learned even more about him as I wrote this book. And as my knowledge grew, my love grew deeper, too.

Here are a few quotes from the book:

“Some say the study of God—or theology—can be a hindrance to living faith. Too much head knowledge of God, they argue, can lead to a cold heart before him. This much of their argument is true: there are some who acquire knowledge about God but have no true love for him. But the root of the problem isn’t knowledge. After all, don’t we need to know something about another person before we can truly love them? Could a wife love a husband she knew nothing about? And assuming he’s a man of good character, doesn’t she love him more as she grows to know him better over time? It’s the same with love for God. We must know about him to love him. Knowledge of God isn’t a hindrance to living faith, but the beginning of it. Knowing too much about God isn’t what causes cold hearts, but cold hearts develop when we don’t follow the truths we learn back to the face of the living God.”

“The first step to being satisfied with the gifts God has given us is to acknowledge them. We tend to take his generosity for granted because he is constantly providing for us from his abundance. We may commute to work, for instance, without considering that it is only because our good God is protecting us that we arrive safely. Or we may take a daily shower without acknowledging that God is the one who keeps the water pipes and the water heater working. But neither safe travels nor warm showers are automatic. They are both good gifts from God, gifts that some women won’t receive today. When we remember his kindnesses to us—his big gifts and his small ones—and receive them with thanksgiving, we will be more content with what we have and less envious of his gifts to others.”

Here’s what others are saying about The Good Portion: God:

This is an outstanding and accessible treatment of the attributes of God. I hope it will reach a wide readership and stimulate and interest in exploring the depths of the Christian faith.
—Robert Letham, professor of systematic and historical theology, Union School of Theology, Wales

In this vigorous yet accessible conversation about God, Rebecca Stark seeks to equip women to know their Creator more deeply. Aiming to reveal God in all his glory, this in-depth volume (and series) is a rare find amongst the plethora of publications available for ministry to women. I highly recommend this book as a tool for women-to-women mentoring and group discussion.
—Margaret Köstenberger, associate professor of theology and director of women’s programs, Shepherds Theological Seminary, Cary, North Carolina

We don’t need a feminine doctrine of God, and Rebecca Stark does not give us one. She presents to us the good portion that both men and women so desperately need, a robust introduction into theology that will lead the reader to adore, delight in, and praise God for who he is and what he has done.
—Aimee Byrd, author of Housewife Theologian, Theological Fitness, and No Little Women

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

I’d be sitting on my front porch, enjoying the sunshine, reading a good book, and watching the world go by. Or maybe I’d be walking with my grandchildren and the dog to the pond behind my house.

Rebecca Stark lives in Yukon, Canada, near her four grown children and four young grandchildren. She writes regularly at the group blog Out of the Ordinary, and hopes to resume regular posting at her personal blog, Rebecca Writes, soon.

I always like to know the reason for a book, so I thought I’d share a little bit about how this book came to be written. In a similar way to Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood, this new book came about because of a friendship.

Beginnings

Nine years ago, I was walking along the streets of Prague, Czech Republic, with my friend Shanna. Our main goal was shopping—we were on the hunt for a pair of perfectly fitting jeans. While that didn’t happen (does it ever?), we did share some rather hilarious moments in the dressing room. Nothing bonds a friendship like laughing uncontrollably while trying to squeeze into jeans next to each other.

As we roamed the streets, our conversation quickly shifted to our personal lives. Shanna lives in Prague with her husband, Phil, and their three children. They moved there 13 years ago—far from family and friends—to plant a church and share their faith with others. Even though Prague has a rich Christian history, it’s currently one of the most atheistic cities in Europe. (The picture with my kids is in front of a statue of John Huss, a reformation leader who was martyred for his faith.)

Shanna was hoping to gather on a regular basis with some women she’d met through her children’s school to study the book of Philippians together. However, she couldn’t find a study she thought would work for those in her group. She casually looked over at me while we were getting in the car and asked, “Will you help me? Will you write some questions on the book of Philippians for me?”

I wasn’t really sure what type of questions I might come up with, but I said yes. How could I not? She’d moved her entire family overseas to share Jesus with others. I figured I could spend some time writing up a few questions for her group of women.

As it turned out, I couldn’t just write a few questions. I wrote an entire study. And the more I studied, the more I came to love the book of Philippians. Her simple request is the reason In All Things came to be written.

Connections

It’s always interesting to me how the Lord weaves parts of our story together without us knowing what he is doing. I didn’t realize at the time how much the book of Philippians would intersect with my studies on coveting and contentment. While coveting is what happens when our desires sour, contentment flows from our desires being set upon the right and best thing: Jesus. And, it’s in Philippians where we see so beautifully how Paul’s life was fixed on one grand desire:

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Phil 3:7-11)

At the same time the Lord was weaving together what I was studying, he was also weaving together my friendship with Shanna. Even though we live so far apart, our shared ministry lives bonded us together. (If you’re ever in Prague, join them for worship at Faith Community Church.)

Each summer when they’d come home for a visit, we’d spend equal parts laughing and crying. The verse we repeated back to one another in difficult times was Isaiah 58:11: “And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”

Life is full of scorched places. Shanna and I have walked through them together. We’ve seen the Lord satisfy our desires in places of longing, hardship, betrayal, and pain. He has allowed joy and grief to walk side by side and both be true—not in opposition to one another.

Conclusions

Studying Philippians has shown me that joy isn’t something we produce on our own. It’s not the result of an easy and care-free life (those don’t exist on this side of heaven). Joy is a Spirit-filled assurance of God’s goodness and grace that overflows into satisfaction and delight.

Paul’s contentment in all things was sourced by God’s sufficiency in all things:

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:11-13)

I hope you’ll find In All Things helpful as a resource, but in reality, it’s just a tool pointing to the real treasure: God’s Word. In Philippians, we find a joy different than what we usually expect. It’s not like earthly happiness. Paul’s joy is abounding. It’s secure. It’s unshakeable.

And, the good news? We can have it too—in all things.

• To read more (and see how the book is structured), here’s a sneak peek for chapter 1.
• If you’d like to listen along, we taught In All Things in our Sunday school class this spring. The outlines and recordings can be found here.

Interested in Seminary?

Can we have lunch together?

I’d love to have the opportunity to meet you. All the details are below, including the link for how to register. And, best of all, it’s free!

Space is limited, so register as soon as you can. Here are the details:

Why the Church Needs More Female Theologians: A Lunch Conversation with Mike & Melissa Kruger (FREE)

Friday, June 15 I 12:00pm I 209 Workshop Room

Reformed Theological Seminary invites you to join Mike and Melissa Kruger for lunch and a conversation about women in the church, seminary, and ministry. In addition to serving as the President of RTS-Charlotte, Mike is a pastor, author and professor. Melissa serves as the Women’s Ministry Coordinator for her church and also writes, teaches and blogs for TGC. Lunch will be provided for all who sign up by June 14. Register here.

Hope to see you there!

This spring I had the pleasure of getting to teach through the book in our women’s Sunday school class at church. (If you’d like to use the lessons as you work through the book, you can find our audio and teaching outlines here.) I began our time studying together explaining why joy is a topic that is bigger than our own personal satisfaction or happiness. A Christian’s joy is rooted in theological understanding that overflows into our daily living. It affects the watching world, the church, and is important to Jesus.

The World

A joyful heart shines the truth of what we believe to the world. It matters. Christians are not immune to hardship, trial, and suffering. However, we experience them differently than others do. We have hope in the darkness. Peter instructed, “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”

It’s interesting, isn’t it? A Christian’s hope shines to the watching world in such a way that we need to be prepared to defend our hope! We should expect and be ready for instances where people approach us, asking, “Why are you so hopeful?”

Pastor and theologian D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote of the need for this type of joy and hope as a witness in the world:

If ever the world needed the witness and testimony of Christian people it is at this present time. The world is unhappy, it is distracted and frightened, and what it needs is to see stars shining out of the heavens in the midst of the darkness, attracting the world by rebuking that darkness, and by giving it light, showing how it too can live that quality of life.

Couldn’t the same words be said of the world today? Let us not follow the cultural descent into despondency. Our theology—our understanding of God’s redemptive plan—allows us to hold joy and sorrow side by side and not be in opposition to one another. We can mourn circumstances that are hard and at the same time rejoice in a God who works all things for good.

A few months ago, I listened to a podcast with Joni Eareckson Tada. When Joni was a teenager, she was paralyzed from the shoulders down in a diving accident. She described those who suffer in profound ways—yet still have hope and joy—as “spectacles of glory.” They’re like the burning bush Moses saw and was confused by—how could the bush be on fire, and yet not consumed? The bush was a spectacle of glory, something that made you turn and look in wonder.

Joni explained that Christians who suffer faithfully shine the light of Christ in a way that is perplexing to the watching world. They simply don’t understand how a person could be joyful, patient, and kind in the midst of such hardship. Profound suffering opens us up to be a spectacle of glory for all the world to see the beauty of Christ in us. It demonstrates we have something greater than this world. We have Jesus, and can proclaim with the psalmist, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).

The Church

When Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church, he shared with them his concern for their well-being. He knew they had suffered greatly, and he was deeply concerned about their faith, so he sent Timothy to check on them. Timothy returned with the positive report that Thessalonians were standing firm in love, hope, and faith. In the midst of his own suffering, Paul was encouraged:

In all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith.  For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God. (1 Thess. 3:7)

The Thessalonians’ contentment in hardship and struggle encouraged Paul in the midst of his own suffering. As we stand firm in hope, rejoicing in the Lord, the church is encouraged. Our joy in the Lord stirs up fresh courage in others, blessing our brothers and sisters in the faith.

Jesus

On the night before he died, Jesus shared a final meal and conversation with his disciples. Though they didn’t understand that Jesus was about to die, Jesus knew his time was short.

The apostle John recorded much of their conversation. Jesus comforted his disciples and encouraged them to not be troubled. He assured them that although he was going away, he would come back for them. He told them that if they loved him, they would obey him. He explained that the Spirit would come and dwell within them and be with them always.

And then Jesus explained why he was telling them all these things.

Jesus was on his way to the cross. He was preparing to endure unimaginable pain. At this moment, what was on his mind? What goal prompted his last words to those he loved? He told them: “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11).

Jesus was concerned about our joy.

At the height of his own agony, his love desired our joy. It’s unbelievable, isn’t it? For the joy set before him, Jesus endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2). And Jesus wasn’t hoping for us to have a little bit of happiness. He wants us to have fullness of joy—overflowing, abundant. Our joy matters to Jesus.

Our joy matters for more than ourselves. It causes the world to question, the church to rejoice, and is the hope of our Savior. It’s a good thing to pursue.

In All Things walks through the book of Philippians and focuses on the difference between worldly happiness and biblical joy. I hope it’ll be a resource that leads you to the fount of all joy, and offers refreshment in the journey. If you’d like to have a sneak peek at the first chapter, you can find it here.

A day after the article posted, a friend asked me, “Have you had similar experiences in ministry?” I immediately responded, “Absolutely.” I’m sure most women in ministry have felt the discomfort Moore mentions of being an “elephant in the room with a skirt on.” And most of us have experienced more overt expressions of dismissal or devaluing of our labors. It’s a difficult topic for most women in ministry to discuss because often the individuals involved are known to others. My husband has lovingly listened on difficult days and heard me when I haven’t felt the freedom to talk with anyone else.

At the same time (and as Moore mentions as well), I’ve also enjoyed the pleasure of working side-by-side with men as co-heirs in the gospel. These men have done small but significant things that have spurred me on in ministry and allowed me to experience the blessing of working together as sisters and brothers in our shared kingdom efforts. I know some men may have read Moore’s article and wondered, What can I do to encourage my sisters? While this is by no means an exhaustive list, here are four ways my brothers have supported me and loved me well as we serve together.

1. Ask Questions

One of the simplest ways men have encouraged me is to ask questions about ministry endeavors. They’ve been interested in the work I’m doing (and I hope I’ve shown the same interest in the work they’re doing). They’ve faithfully asked: How’s your Bible study going this year? Who’s in your church small group? Are you helping with vacation Bible school? Where do you enjoy serving in the church? How’s the registration going for the retreat? Which Sunday school class are you attending? What are you learning?

Asking questions provides opportunities to hear what the Lord is doing among his body. It demonstrates an expectation that everyone is serving in some way and communicates—just by showing interest—that everyone’s labors matter. One easy way to care for women in your small group or under your care as a pastor or elder is to ask questions (and follow-up questions) about their service in the church or community.

2. Provide Encouragement

It’s vital for us all to hear words of encouragement. Paul instructed the Thessalonians to “encourage one another and build one another up” (1 Thess. 5:11). Women often serve in areas less seen or noticed by others but essential for the life of the church. Offering words of thanks, support, and encouragement helps women know their efforts are seen, especially by those in leadership positions.

Just last week a pastor I respect took the time to approach me and offer words of encouragement about my writing. His words to “please keep writing” spurred me on in my efforts to write this post this morning.  A few words offered in support can produce years of faithful ministry. Perhaps today, consider a few women you can spur on to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24).

3. Seek Input

On a regular basis my male colleagues at TGC email asking for my advice on an article, ministry idea, or content for an upcoming conference. I seek the same input from each of them. Our mutual respect for one another’s ministry gifts and perspectives allows us to work together as a team. Even though we live all over the country and only see one another a few times a year, laboring with them is a joy.

Brothers show value for the ministry of their sisters by seeking their advice and input. While certain men may serve in leadership roles that women don’t, it doesn’t mean we operate in separate ministry spheres. A woman might not preach or lead a Sunday morning worship service, but she can be sought out for her perspective on sermon illustrations or ways to improve the worship service. She might not serve as an elder, but she can offer wisdom and advice on how elders can shepherd the women in their care. Just as it wasn’t good for Adam to be alone in Eden, we need men and women laboring together in kingdom efforts. As men and women serve together on committees, in small groups, or on staff teams this type of collaboration can flourish.

4. Prayerfully Support

One of the ways men value the ministry of women is through their faithful prayers. When events are happening in the church, knowing that both men and women are participating through prayer encourages everyone involved. Taking the time to pray for one another unifies the church and shows value to every member of the body.

A few years ago, as I was preparing to go to a church for a women’s retreat, the pastor emailed me directly, letting me know they’d all been praying for the event. His time in prayer and his time communicating with me demonstrated how much he valued the event and the ministry of the women in his church. Spending time on our knees in prayers for both men and women’s events communicates love, appreciation, and value to each ministry and member serving in various ways.

Work as One Body

I’m thankful for the many men who have encouraged, supported, and valued me as a sister in Christ as we’ve served together. My hope is that we work together as one body, valuing each part as vital, knowing that we are unified in Christ in a beautiful way:

But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Cor. 12:24-27)

Whatever our service, whatever our role, the Father has good works prepared in advance for those who love him. Men and women are both vital in the work of the church. May we serve together, rightly reflecting the beauty of our differences while working together toward one unified goal: glorifying God in all things.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I was raised in a Chicago suburb in an Italian Catholic home. I attended predominantly Catholic schools, and I am named after the rosary. (I like to think of my first name as a useful icebreaker for a Reformed Presbyterian pastor’s wife.) After my conversion to Christ at the age of 36, which I wrote about in The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert: An English Professor’s Journey into Christian Faith, I lost everything but the dog. One of God’s greatest blessings to me is my husband, Kent Butterfield, pastor of the First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Durham (North Carolina), our children, our church, and our extensive, joyful, and diverse family of God.

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

I first started writing as a child, trying to make sense of the anger, unpredictability, and drug and alcohol abuse in my home. Writing forces me to hold on to some things and to say goodbye to others. Writing is my filter for memory. Writing helps me craft beauty out of pain.

The kind of writing that I do is this: book writing, combining memoir with applied theology.

I also enjoy personal correspondence (of the hand-written vintage) and book reviewing. I don’t have a blog, and I don’t have a social media presence for a reason: I don’t trust myself with any writing medium that values rash impulsivity.

I read more than I write. My usual book chapter ratio is 25:1—25 books read for every one chapter written. I am an avid re-reader of good books, so this number includes many more “re-reads” than first reads.

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

Book writing is consuming for me and is very difficult—both for me and on those around me. I write books between 4 and 6 a.m., and like other writers who work in the dark of early morning, my writing tends to come out raw and unfiltered and frightening. Like Frankenstein’s Creature, my first drafts lack skin to cover all of the internal organs. (I wrote my doctoral dissertation on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818), so Frankenstein and Shelley are touchstones for me.) Writing is difficult because it exposes my weaknesses and vulnerabilities.  When I finish a writing session, I am often filled with panic and anxiety. I think: “What kind of idiot would write a book like this?” Oh yeah. Me.

While I was writing The Gospel Comes with a House Key, a friend from church asked me how the writing was going. I said, “As long as I wake myself up before REM, I feel like I could write the perfect sentence.” He looked at my like I had lost my mind and said, “If I woke up before REM, I think I could commit the perfect murder.” So there you have it. Writing books makes me loopy. And it wears me out.

What led you to write The Gospel Comes with a House Key: Practicing Radically Ordinary Hospitality in our Post Christian World?

The gospel is not welcome in our secular society. Our neighbors do not think they need saving from their sins; they believe they need saving from us—their Christian neighbors. The temptation is to hide from all of this mess, and to wait until it blows over. But this will not blow over without Christian obedience. The Bible is clear about its hospitality commands: “Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison as though tin prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body” (Hebrews 13:1-3). But how do we find strangers, prisoners, orphans, widows, and unbelievers willing to gather at our home for dinner and devotions? The Gospel Comes with a House Key explains how.

The Gospel Comes with a House Key is meant to encourage Christians to both:

1. Build up a strong Christian practice within the walls of your home (Bible reading, family devotions, prayer, a commitment to church membership to the point where your unbelieving neighbors “taste and see that the LORD is good”—Psalm 34:8—through the church community gathering in your home and making life messy and beautiful and full) and

2. Invite unbelieving neighbors into your home for table fellowship in a regular, almost daily way, casting invitations widely (we sometimes invite everyone in our neighborhood of 300 houses—I explain in the book how this all comes together) and regularly (for example, every Thursday night is an open house/open Bible study for our church family and neighbors, called Soup and Prayer, where I feed people a simple meal at 6 and Kent leads us through the Parables of Jesus at 7, all followed by group prayer where almost all of the Christians at the table—or tables—pray aloud). Both the “wide” and the “regular” are lost biblical traditions. A wide invitation makes everyone feel valued, even the people who can’t come. And the regular invitation helps people whose lives are riddled with addiction and violence. Some of your neighbors simply can’t commit to a dinner invitation the Tuesday after Memorial Day because they don’t know if they will be sober or safe. But a regular Thursday night thing is doable—they can come on the fly if they are free from the tendrils of sin and danger.

We know we live in a post-Christian world in no small part through the sexual revolution and its proliferating and mandated alphabet soup lists, all pointing to a new and dangerous definition of personhood, one that is on a collision course with the gospel. In fact, personhood—who a human person essentially and ontologically is—is the most misunderstood and important issue facing both the church and the world today. Today, image of God has been swapped out by “intersectionality”—the new form of identity politics that defines personhood by how many victim statuses you can claim. While intersectionality is neither biblical nor rational, both the world and some segments of the church—those especially smitten by the oxymoron “gay Christianity”— have fallen hard for this.

Either we are created in God’s image, male and female, with a soul that will last forever and a body that will either be glorified in eternity in the New Jerusalem, or suffer for eternity in hell, or we are created in our own personal and sexual desires. You can’t have your identity in your sexuality or in your victimhood and have it in the image of God at the same time. It’s one or the other. And getting this question wrong has the weight of eternity behind it.

Where else but the Christian home can we start to have such deep and weighty conversations with people? Where else but a Christian home can the Bible become the mirror into which we read ourselves, our God, and our eternity? Where else but table fellowship can we move beyond the platforming of ideas and into genuine dialog with people with whom we disagree? Where else but at your table can you say (as Ken Smith said to me 20 years ago): “to a Christian what is true determines what is ethical and valuable, and not the other way around.” Because I was saved by God’s grace working through the hospitality ministry of my Christian neighbors, Ken and Floy Smith, I understand from the other side of the fence why hospitality to strangers—even those strangers who are hostile to Christianity—is a gospel necessity, good for both the lost and the saved, for the world and the church.

What is the central message you want readers to take away from your book The Gospel Comes with a House Key?

That the purpose of hospitality is to meet strangers and make them neighbors, and meet neighbors, and by God’s grace, walk with them into the family of God. Home-based table fellowship and hospitality is our best weapon in a post-Christian world, but our idols of personal comfort, professional achievement, and material acquisition stand in the way. To our shame, we often care more about our cream colored carpet or our privacy than the souls of our neighbors. And whether we like to hear this or not, holding such attitudes is a dirty, rotten sin.

How has writing this book affected your own life/changed your own practice/made you think or act differently about your topic?

Ever since the publication of The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert, people have asked me to explain how Ken and Floy Smith became my friends, how I entered their house and their world, and how I came to faith when it meant losing everything. People want to know how I left my lesbian partner and my tenured job and all of the perks of fulfilled acquisition, achievement, and comfort. When I share all of the tireless and daily ways that Ken and Floy Smith, and the members of the Syracuse Reformed Presbyterian church, helped me, spent time with me, listened to my concerns, answered the phone when I was in crisis, drew me into their home and families for dinners and holidays and everything in between, I am met with a blank stare. This is too hard. This is too much. This asks too much of me, they offer to me in defeated whispers.

Good Christians tell me that what Ken and Floy did was just too hard—invite the enemy and stranger into your home, family, and eternity in Christ. Too often Christians walk away from my life—and the lives of countless others—like the rich young ruler walked away—not wanting to even think about the comforts and boundaries and time and money that a person could lose in seeking out a person like me. So, in some way, this book is my way of saying to my Christian friends that we all need to stop playing church. We need to stop pulling out Jesus like a prop for Lord’s Day morning. If we really believe that we live in a post-Christian world, and that perhaps sooner than you think, we could be living like the early church in Rome, then it is time to change our practices. Hospitality is spiritual warfare. And this is war. So, in many ways, this book is my clarion call. It has made me more confident that real Christian vitality is found at home—leading faithful lives, by God’s grace, and seeing our union with Christ for what it is—the dynamic power to love our enemies and winsomely but boldly share the gospel in word and deed.

For a Sneak Peak, here’s a quote:  

“In post-Christian communities, your words can be only as strong as your relationships. Your best weapon is an open door, a fresh pot of coffee, and a box of Kleenex for the tears that spill”  (page 40).

Here’s what others are saying: 

“Artfully woven into the fabric of who we are, each of us possesses an urgency to be included, an ache to be known, and a longing to be welcomed. In this book, Rosaria describes how the good news of the gospel not only meets our deepest needs but transforms us into cohosts who invite others to meet Jesus. Rosaria Butterfield’s enthusiasm for the unparalleled expression of hospitality—the Son of God on the cross drawing all men to himself—is what energizes her to practice radically ordinary hospitality and invite us all to do the same. This book will stir your imagination to generate creative ways to incorporate radically ordinary hospitality into your own life as well.”

— Gloria Furman, author, Missional Motherhood and Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full

“One of the hallmarks of the people of God is supposed to be hospitality. But in an age of commuter churches, towns disemboweled by shopping malls, and lives that are overscheduled and full of ceaseless activity, hospitality is something which, like true friendship, is at a premium. In this book, Rosaria Butterfield makes a bold case for putting hospitality back into the essential rhythm of the church’s daily life. She sets the bar very high—and there is plenty of room here for disagreement on some of the proposals and details—but the basic case, that church is to be a community marked by hospitality, is powerfully presented and persuasively argued.”

—Carl R. Trueman, William E. Simon Visiting Fellow in Religion and Public Life, Princeton University

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

Walking at the Eno River State Park with my dogs, husband, children, and neighbors, counting sleeping painted turtles sunning on the water’s rocks, admiring the newly arrived Indigo Buntings, listening to a chorus of American toads, tree frogs, and spring peepers, and marveling at God’s creation.

Rosaria Butterfield (PhD, Ohio State University) is an author, speaker, pastor’s wife, homeschool mom, and former tenured professor of English and women’s studies at Syracuse University. She is the author of The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert and Openness Unhindered.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m a mom to four delightful adult children, and I’ve been married to Jeff for a quarter of a century this June. I’m the director of classes and curriculum at The Village Church, where I have served on staff for six years. I love teaching the Bible, and I’m an advocate for the life of the mind in the community of faith. I believe right thinking begets right feeling, which begets right doing. I want to help others think rightly about the God of the Bible so that their love for him and obedience to him would grow.

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

I’ve always written, but not consistently until I started blogging in 2008. I started the blog as a way to teach what I hadn’t had time to cover during the meeting time of the Bible study I was leading in my home. I never intended to be a writer, though I had always enjoyed writing. It’s probably more accurate to say I’m a teacher who uses the media of writing and speaking to communicate my message. Everything I write is overflow from something I’ve taught in spoken form. I love writing because of its precision. Unlike speaking, I can choose and arrange every word. It’s a much more arduous process than speaking (for me), but it’s satisfying when I finally finish a piece and know I have communicated the way I intended to.

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

Writing is never not difficult for me. I write short books because I am short on words. I envy my writing friends who can sit down and craft a piece in an hour. In my experience editing others, I find there are two general categories of writers: those who write a stream of thoughts and sort them out during the editing process, and those who agonize over every phrase up front and over every suggested edit on the back end. I’m definitely the second writer. Once I settle on a personal example or good illustration for what I want to say, I can usually start the flow of words. But I’m the tortured soul mumbling in a bathrobe, crazy-haired and wandering aimlessly in my yard on writing days.

What led you to write In His Image?

A couple of years ago, I wrote a book on how God is not like us. It described his incommunicable attributes, those things that are only true about God and cannot be true of us. It was an exploration of his transcendence, and of how we try to rival God instead of reflecting him as we were created to do. In His Image is a follow-up book in which I examine what it means to reflect God by imitating his communicable attributes—holiness, love, justice, mercy, and so on. Both books together paint a picture of who God is, and of who we are to be as his image-bearers.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

I want readers to change they way they think and speak about the will of God for their lives. I believe that God’s communicable attributes answer with clarity and finality what God wants us to do by showing us who God wants us to be.

How has writing this book affected your own life?

I’ve been meditating on God’s attributes for about 20 years now, ever since I was first introduced to them in the writings of R. C. Sproul and Arthur Pink. They revolutionized the way I read the Bible. I now read looking for what the text is teaching is true about God before I look for any personal application. John Calvin noted that there is no true knowledge of self apart from the knowledge of God. Learning who God is has helped me understand my sin with greater sorrow, my salvation with greater joy, and my savior with greater reverence and adoration.

For a sneak peak, here’s an excerpt:

For the believer wanting to know God’s will for her life, the first question to pose is not “What should I do?” but “Who should I be?” Perhaps you’ve tried to use the Bible to answer the question “What should I do?” Facing a difficult decision, perhaps you’ve meditated for hours on a psalm or a story in the Gospels, asking God to show you how it speaks to your current dilemma. Perhaps you’ve known the frustration of hearing silence, or worse, of acting on a hunch or “leading” only to find later that you apparently had not heard the Lord’s will. I know that process better than I’d like to admit, and I also know the shame that accompanies it—the sense that I’m tone-deaf to the Holy Spirit, that I’m terrible at discovering God’s will.

But God does not hide his will from his children. As an earthly parent, I do not tell my kids, “There is a way to please me. Let’s see if you can figure out what it is.” If I do not conceal my will from my earthly children, how much more our heavenly Father? His will does not need discovering. It is in plain sight. To see it we need to start asking the question that deals with his primary concern. We need to ask, “Who should I be?”

Here’s what others are saying about In His Image:

“In His Image is an invitation to become like the God we worship, to see his characteristics become true of us, the people he has created and redeemed. Jen Wilkin’s work provides a solid and accessible overview of a crucial part of Christian theology. Any believer who reads this book will benefit from its truth.”
—Trevin Wax, Bible and Reference Publisher, LifeWay Christian Resources; author, This Is Our Time: Everyday Myths in Light of the Gospel

“I have one big problem with this book: people will assume it’s only for women. This couldn’t be further from the truth! God has given Jen Wilkin the gift of making big truths easily understandable, which is great news for a person of average intelligence like myself. All who desire to increase their knowledge of and passion for God should read this book. All who desire to grow in holiness and be conformed to the image of God need to add this to their library. I highly recommend it.”
—Stephen Altrogge, author, Untamable God; creator, The Blazing Center

“This book is for everyone who stresses over her decisions, constantly wondering whether or not she’s in God’s will. Jen Wilkin graciously turns these questions upside down by encouraging us to know and behold the character of God, allowing that to inform and transform our actions as image bearers. In His Image presents a biblical and practical explanation of God’s communicable attributes that anyone can grasp, enjoy, and apply!”
—Emily Jensen, Cofounder, Risen Motherhood; Cohost, Risen Motherhood podcast

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

You would find me in my flower beds with dirt under my fingernails and a clown-faced, crazy pug making my gardening efforts near impossible.

Jen Wilkin is an author and Bible teacher from Dallas, Texas. She has organized and led studies for women in home, church, and parachurch contexts. Her passion is to see others become articulate and committed followers of Christ, with a clear understanding of why they believe what they believe, grounded in the Word of God. She is the author of Women of the Word and None Like Him. You can find her at JenWilkin.net.

How will we educate our child? 

Let me begin by saying that having educational choices to navigate is a blessing. Many parents must both work full time to support their family or are raising their child without the support of a spouse. Often, the only option available is public school. So, when you find yourself struggling between the various options, it’s good to remind yourself, It’s a blessing that I have this decision to make.

Free to Choose

That doesn’t mean the decision is easy. It’s difficult and sometimes overwhelming to sort through the possibilities. Most of the time, we’re considering three options: public school, private school, and home-schooling. Every option has potential pitfalls, as well as advantages to consider. Each child is different and every family unit has a unique set of circumstances influencing their decisions. Therefore, it’s important to remember the wisdom Romans 14 offers on disputable matters: “So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother” (Rom. 14:12-13).

I have friends whom I respect and admire that have made each of these educational choices (in some families they’ve switched between the options at various stages). Our goal is not to do what those around us are doing. Our goal is to thoughtfully consider what the Lord would have us to do. This process takes time. It takes time in Scripture, listening to the Lord. It takes time in prayer, asking the Lord to guide us. It takes time in fellowship with others, seeking wisdom and advice from those who have gone before us.

Parents Always Teach

Whatever decision you make, it’s important (and sobering) to remember that you are the greatest influence in your child’s spiritual development. Whatever educational option we choose, every Christian parent is instructed to train his or her child about God (Deut. 6:4-10). Each day, in the way we live, the way we speak, and the habits we display, our children are learning what it means to follow Jesus. More important than the school choice we make, it’s always good to consider, What is my life teaching my child about God? What theology am I living before my family from day to day?

We are always teaching our children. It’s a wonderful and weighty privilege. May we declare with confidence:

We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments. (Ps. 78:4-7)

Advice from Others

If you’re in the process of making the school decision, I’d encourage you to tune in to the recent podcast series at Risen Motherhood with Laura Wifler and Emily Jensen. They interviewed Jen Wilkin about her choice to educate through public school, Irene Sun about home-schooling, and I had the pleasure of chatting with them about our decision for private Christian education. I’ve listened to all of them, and I learned so much from each of these women as they shared about their decision-making process.Emily and Laura have also compiled a wonderful list of resources to help as you weigh educational options. They’ve collected multiple articles to read about each option, as well as other related resources. One of my favorite items is their Educational Questionnaire. It has so many helpful questions to consider—from your personal motives and fears to your life circumstances and individual needs of your child. It’s so helpful. It made me wish Risen Motherhood existed when I had young children—they have so many excellent podcasts on a variety of topics!

As you weigh all the options, I encourage you: Read the Bible. Pray for wisdom. Listen to advice. Most of all, trust the Lord with your children. He alone can open hearts. He alone can save. Cry out to him, for he is able.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I am married to Kyle, who is the lead pastor of a church we started in 2008 in Charlottesville, Virginia. We have three sons together, one of whom is well into teenage-hood and one who is preparing to join him, so we’ve entered into fun and daunting new territory as parents.

I’m passionate about words, people, and the gospel, so I feel right in my sweet spot of ministry when I’m able to combine those passions in any sort of way, such as through writing, Bible teaching, leadership, or discipleship. I especially love when I’m able to use my gifts within our local church, Charlottesville Community Church.

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

I’ve always enjoyed writing, but it was not until my early 30s that I actually began to acknowledge to myself not only a love of a writing but also a compulsion to do it. However, desire alone does not a good writer make. Once I finally gave myself permission to use spare moments for writing, I spent years writing words I hope no one ever sees. I discovered almost immediately, however, the joy in writing. When I think about and write truths about God, about our humanity, and about how those fit together, it feels as if I’m worshiping God, as if I’m made to serve him in this way. Writing is my offering to God, a return to him of what he’s given me.

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

Oh yes, absolutely! I think of writing as a form of wrestling. Wrestling with images and truth and insecurities; trying, in the midst of all those things, to get words on a page that may or may not mean something to someone beyond myself. I try not to panic or think too much about the process, but rather simply get words out and evaluate or edit later. Otherwise, I’d spend all my writing hours in the fetal position on the carpet, crying hot tears, searching the classifieds for mindless work, and trying every which way to slip from under the weight of any deadline I’m under.

I’ve embraced how much of writing involves waiting. Waiting for the precise word to pop in my head. Waiting for the story I must tell. Waiting for the puzzle pieces to fall together in a clear picture. Waiting for the message or the imagery that makes my heart pump hard, affirming I’m on the right track. Waiting on God when I much prefer plowing ahead with my own rants and careless words. It’s certainly not passive waiting; I’m thinking constantly, attempting to hold thoughts in my head until I can stop the car at a red light and spill them into my Notes app, catching stray thoughts in the margin of my prayer journal, and, yes, sitting down to stare at the computer when I’m not sure where I plan to go with my words. Waiting is active business. Like wrestling, it will make you sweat.

What led you to write Searching for Spring?

When we look around at our world (and, if we dare, into our own hearts), we can so easily despair at what we find: broken relationships, difficult obstacles, and excruciating pain. So when we read verses like Ecclesiastes 3:11, which says, “God makes everything beautiful in its time,” we wonder how and when this will come true. Can God truly make all things beautiful? And, if so, can he do it in our lives?

These are big-picture questions we all at some point ask. The idea for this book was birthed out of conversations I had with a friend about her own difficult circumstances. Her questions and doubts forced me to “try on” my beliefs about God and his character within her trial and find out if they held up. I needed to know what true hope I could offer her and, in turn, myself.

I discovered that this life is a type of winter. There are some things that will remain unfixed for a time. One is what we’ve known all along: “In this world we will have trouble.” We don’t want to accept that, even though they are Jesus’s words. We have trouble acknowledging we can’t and won’t avoid the harsh cold in this world and within our own hearts.

And so, searching for spring is really an analogy for our search for God’s redemptive work, where suffering and death become fruitful life. Using Ecclesiastes 3 and the changing seasons as a framework, I invite readers to join me in my own treasure hunt for beauty in both familiar and unexpected places. I wrote this book for my friend and for everyone else who is in the midst of suffering, who finds their faith withering, or who is questioning whether God is at work—or even present—as they wait for something in their lives to become beautiful.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

God’s work is redemption, and everything he’s doing is hurtling us toward that end. The difficulty, of course, comes in waiting for that end. I hope that readers come away from Searching for Spring having learned to trace the pattern God’s laid out for us in Scripture on how to wait by faith.

This is the pattern: look back and then look forward.

In the Old Testament, God repetitively required his people to build altars, to recall to their children stories of his acts, and to celebrate feasts that marked his miracles. Over and over, he said to them, “Look back. Remember.” They were to remember how God made freedom from slavery and provision from lack. Why? So they’d trust him in their present circumstances, their present winter.

Later in the Old Testament, God’s refrain through the prophets then became, “Look forward.” They were to look forward to a perfect deliverer and forever rescuer, when God would make beauty from their ashes. Why were they to look forward? So that they might trust him with those ashes in their present state.

In the New Testament, the same pattern emerges. After the Gospels, the writers continually point back to the death and resurrection of Christ and then forward to his future coming, all so that we’d look at the past with gratefulness and awe, the future with faith, and the present with eyes wide open to hope.

In our waiting, we lace our tears with joy instead of despair when we do what all of God’s people since God’s people were have done in their own winters: we follow the pattern. We look back. And we look forward.

That’s what I most want readers to know and remember and practice.

Here’s what others are saying:

“Too often, the ugliness of sin and the brokenness of our world cause us to lose sight of the beauty of our God. Searching for Spring reminds us of this beauty, of the wonders of God’s creation, and Christ’s promise to make all things new. Read and wonder as Christine Hoover teaches us to see the beauty and hope ever-present amid the pain.”

— Russell Moore, president, The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission

“Of all the things that can scuttle our faith, forgetting the goodness and beauty of God must top the list. In Searching for Spring, Hoover calls us to encounter a God whose heart beats with goodness and beauty–a God who persists and insists on ‘making all things beautiful in their time.’ This is a book that you will want to read slowly, allowing its hope-filled message to saturate the corners of your weary, doubting soul.”

— Hannah Anderson, author of Humble Roots: How Humility Grounds and Nourishes Your Soul

Christine Hoover is a pastor’s wife, mom of three, and the author of several books, including The Church Planting Wife and Messy Beautiful Friendship. Through her blog, Grace Covers Me, she enjoys encouraging others to apply gospel truths to their honest thoughts, especially in the areas of grace, community, ministry, and friendship. Her work has appeared on The Gospel Coalition, Desiring God, and For The Church. Christine and her family live in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Dear God, I prayed, all unafraid
(as we’re inclined to do),
I do not need a handsome man
but let him be like You;
I do not need one big and strong
nor yet so very tall,
nor need he be some genius,
or wealthy, Lord, at all;
but let his head be high, dear God,
and let his eye be clear,
his shoulders straight, whate’er his state,
whate’er his earthly sphere;
and let his face have character,
a ruggedness of soul,
and let his whole life show, dear God,
a singleness of goal;
then when he comes
(as he will come)
with quiet eyes aglow,
I’ll understand that he’s the man
I prayed for long ago.”

At times, God’s answer to our desperate cries is no.

Why God?

We may never understand on this side of eternity the reasons God answers no when we so desperately long for a yes. Sometimes I cannot comprehend how his promises align with the circumstances my loved ones and I face. I’ve come to learn the problem is my limited understanding, not the truth of God’s promises. Theologian J. I. Packer offers the following insights:

Perhaps he means to strengthen us in patience, good humor, compassion, humility or meekness . . .  Perhaps he has new lessons in self-denial and self-distrust to teach us. Perhaps he wishes to break us of complacency or undetected forms of pride and conceit.  Perhaps His purpose is simply to draw us closer to himself . . . Or perhaps God is preparing us for forms of service of which at present we have no inkling.

I’ve seen the Lord teach me these very lessons by withholding the things I wanted so much. And, yet, when a new “no” is given, I stumble around in the darkness of my understanding, wondering again what the Lord is doing and why he withholds the yes I believe I so desperately need.  It’s tempting to believe the lie that a yes from God confirms his blessing, while a no is a form of punishment or heavenly disapproval. Or perhaps, we wonder, does God even hear our desperate cries?

Do You Hear Me?

Last week in Bible study, we read this verse from Hebrews: “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence” (Heb. 5:7).

I paused and really considered this verse for perhaps the first time. Jesus—always perfect, always righteous—offered up prayers and supplications. He cried out with tears. He was heard!

And, the answer he was given? No.

It doesn’t seem to make sense. God heard Jesus’s cries and tears. He heard his beloved, perfectly obedient Son. Yet Jesus still suffered and died. He wasn’t rescued from the cross. And God does not always rescue us from the trials we face.

When God says no, we often wonder if we’ve got a bad connection: “Can you hear me?” “Can you hear me now?” This passage reminds us that God hears our prayers. In Christ, we’re heard because we share in his righteousness. God’s not deaf to our cries, pleading, and longing. But, sometimes, for reasons that we may not understand, his good purpose is to say no.

Do You Care?

The book of Hebrews not only reminds us God hears us, it also reminds us we have a Savior who cares: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).

Suffering was a painful prospect for Jesus. It wasn’t any easier for him than it is for you or me. Luke tells us Jesus prayed, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me” (Luke 22:42). He offered up loud cries and tears along with his prayers and supplications: “And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:44)

Jesus heard God’s painful answer, no. His experience doesn’t harden him to our pain in some “I’ve had it way worse than you” type of comparison, but helps him enter into our pain. His humility allows him to understand our humanity. We can cry out to him with tears, knowing he meets us with sympathy and love.

Better Yes

God is shaping and fashioning us for something far greater than we may have imagined. We’re content with an easy life. He wants to make us holy, to shine like stars in the universe (Phil. 2:15, NIV). Even when I resist his process, I can trust and believe his purposes are for my good. C. S. Lewis opens the doors to our imagination with this reminder:

Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what he is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently he starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is he up to? The explanation is that he is building quite a different house from the one you thought of—throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but he is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it himself.

God’s no to our prayers is always a yes to his providential purposes. We can hold fast to him, knowing that he hears us, he cares for us, and he is always at work. He does not forget us or fail us just because he tells us no.

1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Thanks, Melissa! I’m grateful for all the wonderful connecting you do with so many different women. Some of your readers might know me through my role as TGC’s director of women’s initiatives from 2010 to 2017; now I’m enjoying serving TGC in an editorial/advisory capacity. I’m 62 and relishing this stage of life, as God keeps lighting up the path ahead. My husband, Niel, and I have the joy of spending a lot of time in Indonesia, where God’s hand is evident on all sides. Niel is working with a group of Indonesian believers who are planting Christian schools throughout that country. We love time there, time with children and grandchildren at home in the Chicago area, and regular time also with my mother, who lives in Pennsylvania. I’m always working away on various writing/speaking projects and preparations, mostly in the context of teaching and training women in the Scriptures.

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

I always loved reading and writing, and I’m grateful for parents and other people in my life who consistently encouraged those interests. My dad read the Bible out loud to us every night, which I think shaped my love of words and the Word. A few wonderful teachers along the way helped awaken me to the delight of words well put together; one high-school English teacher with a beautiful British accent changed my life by reading lines of poetry out loud, slowly, again and again. (People often mention those key teachers in their lives—so here’s a plug for the crucial vocation of teaching, especially teaching a love for and care with words!) There’s just nothing quite like the satisfaction of “a word fitly spoken” (Prov. 25:11).

Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

Yes! Writing is almost always hard work. I don’t think too many writers live out that myth of seeing beautiful words just flow onto the page. The most challenging part is starting anything—whether a book or a chapter or an article. Once you start, and once you’ve labored long enough to get clear on what you really want to say, then momentum tends to build, and the process gets a bit easier and more fun. I always try to break at a place where the next sentence is ready and bursting, so that when I return it’s easier to keep going. But then of course there’s the challenge of going back to edit and discovering at least half of it needs a redo. (And, for me, the word count usually needs to be cut in half!)

What led you to write Women and God?

When The Good Book Company asked me to write a book about God’s view of women, I surprised myself by saying yes. Much of my writing has been in the area of expositional Bible study—and that area remains my passion. This topic, however, is one that comes knocking at all of our doors, and it’s crucial to think it through, to be ready to talk about it, and not just to accept but to celebrate God’s goodness to women. Of course, if we try to approach this topic apart from ongoing study of the Scriptures, book by book, we’ll get nowhere. However, in the context of such study, this topic lights up. The trajectory of the Bible’s themes about God’s female image bearers is amazing and beautiful. I’m glad I said yes to exploring them in this book.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

I hope readers will gain an even deeper conviction of God’s goodness in his creation and care of his female image-bearers. The world is full of voices that question this goodness, in all sorts of ways. How important to look directly into God’s inspired Word to discern his heart and mind in relation to women. This is not a “how to” book, but it’s a “see and celebrate” book: it points to God’s own revelation of his redeeming love in Christ for the human beings he created.

Many women I talk with are wondering how to explain from the Scriptures the goodness of God toward women. Some doubt this goodness. Others almost despair at the thought of passing on the Bible’s teaching about male and female to a younger generation seemingly so unprepared to listen or to call the teaching good. We might wish we could distill it all into an attractive formula.

This book gets at God’s goodness to women by watching it unfold through the biblical story from beginning to end. It’s tempting these days to imagine we can address hard questions with short, sound-byte answers. But the premise of Women and God is that biblical light on difficult issues breaks through as we take in the revelation of Scripture’s whole story of redemption, starting in Genesis with one man and one woman and culminating in the new heaven and earth with the church as the bride of Christ. The book only just scratches the surface of the story—but I hope by God’s grace I’ve scratched the surface in a way that will encourage many to dive down deep.

How has writing this book affected your own life/changed your own practice/made you think or act differently about your topic?

Here’s a rather random smattering of my takeaways:

* We all know the first three chapters of Genesis are foundational to our understanding of everything. But I think I had forgotten how absolutely magnificent they are! I went back to find the argument, and I rediscovered a narrative of the most amazing order and beauty.

* I came away grateful for every little bit of past Bible study that contributed to my work on this topic, but longing for more—longing to be richer in the stores of Scripture we need to interpret Scripture.

* Deborah is amazing. For some reason I’d seen her from a distance. She shines even brighter when you get close and really hear her sing.

* The topic of gender roles in the church is not self-contained. And it doesn’t just need cultural context and cross-references, although those help. It ultimately needs to be not an argument but a God-provided resolution to the revelation that began in Genesis 1.

* I know this even better now, and I want to know it better: the gender-related questions we struggle with all land right at Jesus’ sfeet. How Jesus loves me, how he loves his church, and how we love him is at the heart of all the Bible’s teachings on male and female, the church, singleness and marriage, and on and on. This book gets into a lot of practical issues, but the issue that makes the life-and-death difference is that of believing and trusting Jesus our Redeemer and our Lord.

For a sneak peak, here’s a quote from the book:

The subject of women and God is not just theoretically crucial; it’s personally crucial, for both women and men. I deal with it all the time, both privately and publicly—in my family and church life, in ministry as a Bible teacher, and regularly in conversations with other women:

What does it mean for me that every human being is created in the image of God? How should I process those Old Testament passages where women are so mistreated? Why should I or shouldn’t I teach this church class, or take this course of study? How do I deal with the charge that teaching submission leads to abuse of women? What does my faith have to do with my longing for children, or my having children, or my losing children…?

This book does not ask or answer all the possible questions; it does seek to address some of the hardest ones, by pointing us to listen well to God’s voice.

Here’s what others are saying about Women and God: 

Warm, engaging, inviting, articulate, and convincing, Women and God:  Hard Questions, Beautiful Truth models how Christians can face this world’s hard questions about gender and sexuality with the gospel’s beautiful truths. Reading this book feels like a long conversation with a safe friend, steaming mug of tea in hand. Kathleen proclaims gospel light without erasing her readers’ diverse points of view or lived experiences. You will find no platitudes, no clichés, no tired defenses of priggish moralism. Instead, you will find Jesus, the Word made flesh, arms open. As we face a new post-Christian world, we need this book.  — Rosaria Butterfield

I hope that many readers . . . will take the time and invest the energy to listen carefully and respectfully to Kathleen, a woman who has a keen mind, a heart devoted to Scripture, and the courtesy to treat other viewpoints fairly even while she marshals the evidence that supports her understanding of key passages and themes. She does not duck the “hard questions,” and she is swayed by “beautiful truth.” — D. A. Carson

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

Talking with a friend over coffee or tea . . . out walking . . . playing with granddaughters . . . reading a novel that I don’t usually have time for!

Kathleen Nielson (PhD, Vanderbilt University) is an author and speaker who loves working with women in studying the Scriptures. After directing The Gospel Coalition’s women’s initiatives 2010­–2017, she now serves as senior adviser and book editor for TGC. She and her husband, Niel, make their home partly in Wheaton, Illinois, and partly in Jakarta, Indonesia, where Niel leads a network of Christian schools and universities. They have three sons, two daughters-in-law, and five granddaughters.

Consider your ways.You have sown much, and harvested little.You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. (Hag. 1:5-7)

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Eph. 5:15-17)

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. (Col. 4:5)

Reflect—Consider 2017

1. As you look back at 2017, how do you see the Lord’s work in your life?
2. Is there a particular Bible verse or passage the Lord used to minister to you this year?
3. What sermon, book, or person spoke truth into your life in a profound way?
4. Where did you see the Lord using your gifts to serve others?
5. In what ways did you waste time, money, talents?
6. What was your deepest struggle this year?
7. What was your greatest joy?

Refocus—Consider 2018

Bible Reading

I find it helpful each year to plan what I hope to study for the upcoming year. Sometimes, I choose a Bible in the Year Plan, other times, I choose to study a few books in-depth. Whatever you decide, take an hour or so to research the various options. Making a plan helps tremendously. Here are a few articles about why it’s so important (and links to multiple Bible reading plans):

• 8 Benefits of Bible Reading
• 7 Specific Benefits of Reading the Bible in a Year
• 6 Possible Objections
• My Favorite Bible Reading Plan
• Bible Reading Plans for 2018

1. How do you plan to study the Bible this year?
2. What study guide or reading plan will you use?

Bible Memory

I know I need to memorize Scripture on a regular basis. Yet I’ve never established a regular habit of memorizing long passages. This year, after reading this article I’m hoping to work at memorizing Philippians. I’ve studied it for the past year working on my new devotional, In All Things, so I’m hoping familiarity with the text will help.

I like to use cards when I memorize, and I’ve found this tool so helpful. It prints out whatever verses you want to memorize, with the reference on the front. If you prefer a digital format, this app looks like a good one. And, if you want to try to memorize a chunk of Scripture this year, this article and this article both offer helpful ideas and tools.

1. What verses would you like to commit to memory this year?
2. Is there a friend or family member who could memorize with you?

Prayer

If we spent as much time on our knees in prayer as we do on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, what might the Lord do in our midst? Our God can solve what we cannot even begin to comprehend. He is able. May we cry out to him. Some questions to consider:

1. How can you set aside time for prayer each day? When is the best time for you to pray?
2. How can you incorporate Scripture more into your prayer life?
3. What keeps you from prayer?
4. Who can you pray for specifically this year to come to faith?

Fighting Sin

Hebrews warns, “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God” (Heb. 3:12). The world, the flesh, and the Devil seek to harden our hearts by fostering unbelief in God’s goodness and sovereignty in our lives. Unbelief wells up into idolatry and our idolatry leads to disobedience. As Thomas Brooks notes in Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices, “Sin is of an encroaching nature; it creeps on the soul by degrees, step by step, until it has the soul to the very height of sin.” Some questions to consider:

1. What sin are you currently struggling with on a regular basis?
2. What methods (prayer, confession, accountability) can you employ to help you fight sin in your life?
3. How would you describe your affection toward God? (Warm, Vibrant, Joyful, Cold, Indifferent, Disappointed, Angry)
4. What ways can you seek to foster a greater affection for God in the New Year?

Ministry

We’ve each been given a purpose, a mission. The Great Commission is for all believers: Go and make disciples (Matt. 28:18-20). We’re also to use our unique gifts to serve the church (Rom. 12:3-8). Each believer has good works which God prepared in advance for them to do (Eph. 2:10).

1. Who can you seek to share the gospel with this year?
2. How can you use your gifts to serve your church?
3. Who could you disciple in the faith this year?
4. In what ways can you be a loving neighbor to your community?

Odds and Ends to Consider

1. Is there someone you need to spend more time with in the coming year? Or, perhaps, someone you need to spend less time with?
2. How would you describe your social media use? Is it keeping you from face-to-face relationships, fostering discontentment, or eating away time that could be spent on other things?
3. Is your giving (time, money, service) generous? Is it sacrificial? Is it cheerful?

May we live as faithful witnesses of the best Good News ever to be given:

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. (Titus 3:3-8, italics added).

During my first three months of marriage, I worked through her study Loving Your Husband. I’ve used her study Becoming a Woman of Grace multiple times to disciple other women or in Bible studies. And if you’re feeling like life has become too complicated and your to-do list much too long, I highly recommend Becoming a Woman of Simplicity as a way to reflect upon what truly matters. She’s written multiple studies on a variety of biblical topics, that are accessible to women who may never have studied the Bible, but also in-depth and thoughtful for women who have walked with the Lord for years.  I’m thankful for her faithfulness to encourage women in the Word, and I asked her if she’d be willing to write a guest post at Wit’s End. Her insights are a helpful reminder to enjoy moments of stillness and biblical meditation in this busy season.

The following article is a guest post from Cynthia Heald.

Imagine this fictional, yet convicting, email entered your inbox:

A woman driver was in an exceptional hurry and was tailgating the car in front of her. The car she was following could have proceeded through the yellow light, but stopped at the crosswalk. The woman, extremely frustrated, repeatedly honked her horn, waved her hands, and screamed in frustration. A policeman, who was in the car behind her, observed her antics, got out of his car, tapped on her window, and asked her to follow him to the police station where she photographed and fingerprinted. After checking her credentials, the policeman apologized for his mistake by saying, “When I pulled up behind your car and observed your behavior, I noticed your ‘What Would Jesus Do’ bumper sticker, the ‘Choose Life’ license plate holder, the ‘Follow Me to Sunday School’ bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish symbol on the trunk, so naturally I assumed you had stolen the car.”

Of course I smiled at this scenario, but I also cringed at the truth this story was meant to communicate. Certainly, we never know who might be observing us. Recently I was interacting with an employee at a drugstore. While doing so, I noticed a woman waiting nearby. I thought she wanted to ask a question of the person I was talking to, but instead she approached me and asked, “Are you Cynthia Heald? I’m doing one of your studies.” After visiting with her, I  prayed, “Oh, thank you, Lord, that I was nice to the clerk!” Our interactions with others can speak volumes about what we truly believe.

Growing in Christlikeness

At the beginning of each new year I choose a verse of Scripture to pray over and meditate on every day for the next 12 months. My purpose is to ask God to weave this truth into the fabric of my life. I can testify to the sharpness of the Word in discerning the thoughts and intentions of my heart. I could write a spiritual history of my life by reviewing the passages of Scripture I’ve reflected on for more than 25 years. The majority of verses seem to all address the tongue! My husband is especially pleased when he knows I’m praying verses like: “Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them” (Ephesians 4:29 NLT). Although I never fully master these verses, the Lord assures me that they are now dwelling in my heart and can be used to teach, rebuke, correct, and train me in righteousness.

This year my verse is, “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6 NLT). I’m challenged by the profound simplicity of this verse. There’s no need to spend hours of study in trying to understand what this verse is saying. Daily as I pray for the Lord to mold me into his image, I am becoming more mindful of responding as Christ would respond. I realize that I must intentionally choose to exemplify the fruit of the Sprit in my home, in the marketplace, church, and neighborhood. I consider—does my life refresh and encourage others? As Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Give everyone a drink of water.”

Setting My Heart

Reflecting on a specific verse for a period of time is one way for me to set my heart to obey scripture. Since it is uppermost in my mind, I’m more purposeful throughout the day. Did the cashier at the grocery store experience kindness from me? At the restaurant, was the server aware of my gentle and quiet spirit? At the wedding could others discern a joy and peace in my spirit? In my conversation with my husband did I speak with gentleness and self-control? If I am in a hurry and have to wait at a red light, am I patient?

I remember someone saying, “Since God is our father and we are his children, he would like for us to have a strong family resemblance to him.” As a young disciple, my mentor gave me this challenge in living the Christian life: “Within 15 minutes of someone meeting you, they should sense that there is something different about you.” Of course the difference is Christ living in us and our choice to treasure his Word in our hearts. By the power of the Spirit, the more the Word dwells in us, the more we will live in a way that reflects God’s character.

We join with the Psalmist in this hope and pursuit: “Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11 NASB).

Cynthia Heald is the author of the Becoming a Woman series of Bible studies. She and her husband, Jack, are full-time staff with The Navigators in Tucson, Arizona.

For today’s topic, I’ve asked Courtney Reissig, Jasmine Holmes, Wendy Alsup, and Betsy Howard to share their answer to this question: What’s your favorite Christian biography?

These are some of my favorite biographies as well. I hope you’ll pick one up and be encouraged!

These Strange Ashes: Is God Still in Charge? by Elisabeth Elliot

This year, I’m using a new study from Amy Gannett called Grafted In: An Advent Study on the Family Tree of Christ. I noticed it on her new website, along with some other great items. So, I thought I’d ask her to share a little bit more with us about the study and why she wrote it.

In addition to this study, if you’re a podcast listener, I’d also recommend listening to Jen Wilkin, J. T. English, and Kyle Worley discuss Matthew’s genealogy on the Knowing Faith Podcast. It would be a great way to begin a study on Jesus’s family tree.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m the wife and ministry partner of a wise and wonderful husband, Austin. Together we are working toward church planting in North Carolina the next few years, and we currently call eastern North Carolina home.

I’m also a Bible teacher and writer with a particular passion for in-depth Bible study. After studying biblical exposition and women’s ministry at Moody Bible Institute and getting my master of divinity (and meeting Austin) at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I set out to create studies and tools that would encourage believers to grow in biblical literacy. I teach Bible study and teaching workshops (called Take Root Seminars) and keep a blog that focuses on practical theology and daily Bible study.

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

I am something of a chronic student-teacher. I’ve always enjoyed the classroom or a good book, but what excites me most about learning something new is sharing it with others. In my early 20s, writing became a way for me to process what I was studying in my theology and Bible classes. In seminary, I started to write regularly on my blog about theology, discipleship, and Bible study. I haven’t stopped since!

What led you to write Grafted In: An Advent Study of the Family Tree of Christ?

Something I love most about studying the Bible is identifying themes that run all the way from Genesis to Revelation. One of these themes is God’s constant and faithful intentionality to bring outsiders into his family. I wanted to write a study that would trace this theme, uniquely, in the family line of Christ, and remind us that through Jesus, many who were outside the family of God—including us—have been grafted into his family tree.

What do you hope people will gain by focusing on the genealogy of Jesus during the season of Advent?

I hope that we will be reminded of our God’s character—particularly his kindness and power. The study highlights members of Christ’s family tree. Some are characters we are familiar with—Abraham, David, Mary and Joseph—but others are a bit unexpected (and even unsavory). We don’t talk much about Judah and Tamar, Rahab, Jesse, or Bathsheba, but each and every story proclaims God’s grace in bringing those who are outside the family of God in.

As Gentiles, we were once outside of the family of God, too. But in Christ, as Paul says in Romans 11, we have been “grafted in” to God’s family tree. I hope that through this genealogical study we will see God’s lavish grace in making us his sons and daughters. In Christ, God didn’t just add us to the “nice list,” but welcomed us into the very family of God.

How has writing this devotional affected your faith and changed how you celebrate Christmas?

Personally, it has been a sort of detox for me. During the holiday season (Advent in particular) it is easy for me to focus on myself—on what the Word says to me, how God views me, and what he has done for me. But studying the genealogy has helped me shift my focus. As I have studied the many members of the family tree of Christ I have seen how each and every story points directly to the power and kindness of God. Throughout the study we’ll ask fewer questions about what these stories mean to us, and more questions about what these narratives teach us about God. And, by his grace, we will see that every line of the genealogy proclaims God’s character—his steadfastness, authority, love, and generosity. This is the light in which I want to observe Advent!

The last day of the study looks at our inclusion in the family tree of Christ. And I think it is appropriate that it is both last and also not the primary focus of the study. It has been personally helpful to me to situate my inclusion in God’s family within the metanarrative of God’s invitation to the nations. It gives me perspective and keeps God’s character, rather than myself, at the forefront of the Advent season.

I really enjoy how you made the devotional beautiful to look at, as well as full of important truths. Tell me a little bit about why you chose this format.

I designed the study this way in part because wanted the study to visually reflect the beauty of Matthew 1. Matthew one is packed with rich truths that point us to the glory and beauty of our God, and I wanted the study to embody and celebrate that.

I also designed the study this way because I wanted it to invite the reader into God’s Word and to make the study feel accessible. At times, there is a false dichotomy between studies that are beautifully designed and studies that dig deeply into God’s Word. While writing the content for this study I was aware that it could potentially be intimidating for some, particularly on the days we do some work with the original Greek. I hoped that the design would serve as an invitation, reminding us that God’s Word is for us and our study.

How can we get a copy of Grafted In?

The study is available both in print and in digital formats, and both can be purchased through www.amygannett.com/study. For small groups wanting to do this study together, a free five-week group guide can be found on my Facebook page.

Can you tell us about a few of the other items you have on your new website?

My new website is the new home to my same old blog, as well a few new projects like the Advent devotional. You’ll find a few art prints that correlate with the study, and (my personal favorite) a new line of discipleship tools for kids, called Tiny Theologians. The first product in this line is a set of theology ABC cards that teach kids the basics of the faith and how they are rooted in God’s Word.

In addition to the print devotionals, my website will offer digital Bible studies for believers wanting to grow in biblical literacy and study the Bible on a daily basis. This is a great option for those who want to be students of the Word but don’t necessarily want to write in a workbook every day. The first study in this monthly subscription will be Grafted In, starting December 1, and in January we’ll be studying the book of Jonah (which I’m personally excited about!).

My new website also has information on Take Root Seminars. These are one-day training workshops on how to study and teach the Bible. Women’s ministries or churches can find out information on how to host a seminar or browse recommended resources for equipping believers with biblical literacy skills.

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

Austin and I are both introverts, so on any given free afternoon you would find he and I enjoying a good pour-over coffee and talking about anything and everything. We just really like hanging out together, whether that is reading on the couch, hiking with our golden retriever, or watching a good show (right now, we can’t get enough of Stranger Things).

I can’t believe I burned the special cinnamon chip toast.
I was distracted because I was also making the hot chocolate, tea, and coffee.
If someone would help me, then the toast wouldn’t have burned.
I haven’t even had a moment to sit down since I woke up.
I’m always trying to make everyone else happy; does anyone notice?
Now I have to start breakfast all over.
I guess it’s vacation for everyone else but me.

We were in the midst of the beautiful North Carolina mountains, staying at a home generously offered to us for a weekend getaway. On the drive up we stopped at an orchard and enjoyed perfect weather while apple picking with the kids. Providentially, our trip away fell on the weekend after my latest book project was completed. During a busy two weeks of editing, I had been waiting and longing for this moment.

Grumbling and Guilt

And yet, surrounded by good things, I found myself grumbling and complaining. These inward rumblings overflowed into a sour attitude toward my family. Annoyed glances silently spoke soliloquies, and sharp tones attended my words like unwelcome guests at a dinner party.

In the midst of counting my bitters, there was also a quiet assault of guilt intermingled with my murmurings. What exactly does it take for you to be happy? Is burnt toast enough to rob you of your joy? Don’t you know how many people would love to be here right now with their families?

Both the murmuring and also the guilt left me worn and weary. After breakfast I slipped away to my room. I shut myself in with my Bible and my journal and prayed. In the presence of the Lord my heart softened. The accusing voice of guilt was silenced by the tender welcome of my Savior.

Putting on Praise

Instead of counting my bitters, a new dialogue of thanksgiving began:

Thank you, Lord, for this time away with my family.
Thank you that each of them is here with me in this moment.
Thank you that I am healthy and able to cook for them.
Thank you for a beautiful view and time to sit and enjoy it.
Thank you for using burnt toast to reveal my need of you.
Thank you for your Word that reminds me of the truth I need.
Thank you for your tender mercies, they are new every morning.

Counting my blessings refreshed and revived my soul. These new thoughts accompanied me while hiking, playing games, and preparing meals for my family.

Psalm 50:14-15 encourages, “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you shall glorify me.” And Hebrews 13:15 commands, “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.”

Preparing for Thanksgiving

As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, it’s easy to fall into the same grumbling and guilt cycle. We become Martha-like, busy with preparations and focused on all there is to do. Trying circumstances, unmet expectations, and relational disappointments tempt us to begin counting our bitters. We overflow with frustration and impatience to those around us. The celebration we hope to enjoy becomes impossible when our hearts are overtaken by murmuring and discontent.

We may have a beautiful table, but we’re sitting at it with a bitter heart.

Thankful hearts don’t happen naturally. We can always find something (or someone) that’s not quite right or good enough. It’s helpful to remember that thankful hearts aren’t the fruit of perfect circumstances or people. A thankful heart is the fruit of time spent with the Lord. As we first give thanks to him, we abound with love, joy, patience, and kindness to others (Gal 5:22).

There’s only one way to get that type of meal—by abiding in the Vine (John 15:1-5). Perhaps in the midst of cooking the turkey, setting the table, and cleaning our homes, we need to step away from all the planning, serving, and even enjoying the people we love so that we can have time to prepare our hearts.

As we quiet our hearts before the Lord, offering up the sacrifice of praise for his goodness in our lives, we prepare our hearts to experience the joy of giving thanks. Counting our blessings instead of counting our bitters allows us to to experience the truth of Proverbs 15:15: “The cheerful of heart has a continual feast.”

I’m hoping for that type of feast this week. Happy Thanksgiving!

Observing my little plant’s eagerness for the sun, I began to reflect upon the hope of keeping a vibrant, healthy faith. How do we nurture a lifelong desire for spiritual growth? How do we thrive in a world that is often darkened with sin and parched by lack of true refreshment?

DELIGHT IN THE WORD

Psalm 1 uses the image of a tree planted by a stream of water to describe a man who delights in God’s Word. The tree yields fruit in season and does not fear the drought because it’s planted by an external stream. If we want a well-watered faith, we need God’s Word in our lives. Hearing the Word preached, reading it for ourselves, studying it carefully, and meditating on it day and night sustains our soul through life’s various seasons.

Without the nourishing effects of God’s Word, we quickly become dry, withered branches. In contrast, by abiding in Jesus through time in his Word, we bear much fruit.

OBEY GOD’S COMMANDS

Not only are we instructed to read and study God’s Word, we are commanded to do what he says. In Matthew 7, Jesus tells the story of two builders. He told his listeners that everyone who hears his words and obeys them will be like a man who built his house upon a rock. When the storm winds beat upon the house, the house continues to stand.

In contrast, the foolish man hears Jesus’s words and fails to do them. He is described as a man who builds his house upon the sand. Ultimately, his house will not withstand the storms of life. Obeying God is a vital part of walking by faith. As we live by his Word, we increasingly experience the reality that he means us good, not harm.

SEEK COMMUNITY IN THE CHURCH

Just as my plant needs both water and sunlight, we need both communion with God and community with one another. Paul uses the imagery of a body to describe the unity among believers. We need one another to function properly. I need the love, care, spiritual wisdom, correction, and encouragement that other believers provide within the church context. To attempt a life of faith apart from the church is like placing my plant in a dark room. It will quickly wither and die. We need the radiance of Christ that shines from other believers so we don’t lose heart.

The Spirit makes us alive and works in our lives through the Word, obedience, and the fellowship of the body. Just like my plant that reaches for the sun, may we actively turn our hearts toward Christ, finding nourishment and strength as we abide in him.

This article originally appeared in Tabletalk magazine.

Disheartening conversations. Division within the body of Christ. Fear for my husband’s safety as he drives. Family members facing heart-wrenching trials. Friends suffering physically, emotionally, spiritually. Strained relationships. And those are just my more immediate concerns.

There’s the global persecution of Christians, terrorism, natural disasters, mass shootings, and more. Oh yeah, and my own struggles with idolatry, apathy, and distrust of God’s goodness.

Has anyone else felt like the darkness—both within and without—might just consume you lately?

True Light

Last year I studied the Gospel of John in my Bible Study Fellowship group. One of the themes is light versus darkness.

In John 1, Jesus is referred to as “the true light, which gives light to everyone” (John 1:9). He is “the light [that] shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). Yet when the true light came into the world, the world didn’t recognize him, nor his own people receive him.

Why did the majority of people reject Jesus? John tells us: “the light has come into the world, and the people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil” (John 3:19).

People may have loved the darkness, but the darkness couldn’t overcome the light. Jesus didn’t come in vain. “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13). Surrounded by the darkness of this world, Jesus transformed children of darkness into children of light. He promised that “whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Dark Night, Dark Day

Fast forward to the night before his death. After Jesus washes Judas’s feet and shares a meal with him, Judas leaves to betray Jesus for the price of a slave. “So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night” (John 13:30).

A dark night indeed.

On the same night Jesus is betrayed with a kiss, the rest of his friends abandon him (Matt. 26:56). Fully aware his friends were about to fail him, Jesus offers them words of comfort: “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Overcome the world? Really? The next day, Jesus was nailed to a cross, consumed by physical and spiritual darkness (Matt. 27:45-46).

But it is there—in midday darkness, suffering the greatest injustice of all time—that Jesus was actually defeating the darkness of this world (Mark 15:33-34; Acts 2:36; Is. 53:3-10). This is why he could call the cross—the very tool used to shame and punish criminals—his glory (John 13:31-32; Heb. 12:2).

Jesus bore our darkness in his body and faced the wrath of God on our behalf (2 Cor. 5:21; Romans 5:9; Is. 53:10). On that third day he rose in victory over our sin, death, Satan—all the darkness (Col. 2:13-15). Jesus overcame the darkness.

In the Light, We Overcome

What does this mean for us here and now? In his epistle, the apostle John tells us: “Everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5). This means that if you’re in Christ, you’re in the light—the very light who overcame all of the world’s darkness. 

Because Jesus overcame all that darkness for us, we too will overcome the world and all its darkness.

Right now we face trials of all kinds: tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, the sword (Rom. 8:35). “As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’” (Rom. 8:36) Yet because we are in the light himself, we know that “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37).

We pray now for deliverance, protection, healing, and all kinds of help. Amazingly, we often see God answer with a resounding, “Yes!” to our persistent prayers. But we don’t get to say what God knows is best for us here and now. Sometimes he says, “No,” and in his providence the cancer stays, the slander persists, the violence attacks.

We look to him, we cry out to him, and we trust in him—even as the darkness closes in. Whether on this side of eternity or the other, he will make right every wrong (Is 61:11; 2 Cor. 4:17). No darkness can thwart the amazing plan of God to bring us safely into his kingdom, be it through many tribulations (2 Tim. 4:18; Acts 14:22).

Because of Jesus, we can and will overcome the darkness, both within and without. In him, life will swallow up death (1 Cor. 15:51-57). In him, light will consume the darkness (Rev. 21:23-25). We may feel overwhelmed by the darkness, but it will never consume us.

The light is our hope, and he is risen. So we will rise.

“And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.
By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it,
and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there.” (Rev. 21:23-25)

Quina Aragon is a wife, mother, and artist who enjoys copyediting, creating spoken-word videos, and writing for her personal blog and The Witness. She lives in Tampa, Florida, and is a member of Living Faith Bible Fellowship.

Jesus also instructed his disciples, “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down” (Luke 21:34).

Three Questions is a series designed to put forth a few questions once a month. They can be used for personal reflection or perhaps as a way to spur on meaningful conversation in an accountability or small group. November’s theme is gratitude.

November’s Theme: Gratitude

1. Why is gratitude an important quality in the Christian life? In what ways do you struggle to be thankful?

2. As you consider God, what are three aspects of his character that make you thankful?

3. What are three ways you can actively show gratitude to God today? What does it look like to live a life of thankfulness in your heart to God?

Verses for Further Consideration 

Psalms 30:11–12 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

Philippians 4:4–7 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.  Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.  The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication  with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Col. 3:15–16 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Col. 4:2  Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Romans 11:33–36 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Her hands shook even as she clenched them in her lap, and her speech was studded with obvious uncertainty. Though she sat only inches from me on my living room couch, she was a world away, tucked behind walls of self-protection and shame. Bravely and plainly she broke the silence: “I have to tell you something. The other night, I was raped.”

She was the first woman under my ministry care to courageously share with me her experience as a victim of sexual assault. I was young, inexperienced in ministry, and though I knew the weight of what had just been entrusted to me, I was unsure how to navigate it wisely.

Months after walking through the public and private process of healing with her and an older, wiser ministry team member, I remember naïvely thinking that the scenario would be unique among my ministry experiences.

I was wrong.

Though she was the first woman to share her experience as a victim of sexual assault with me, she was by no means the last. Over the last several days, the #MeToo hashtag has lit up our screens with seemingly endless testimonies of sexual assault. Initiated by activist Tarana Burke more than 10 years ago, and recently popularized by actress Alyssa Milano, the #MeToo campaign has brought to light the countless number of women and men who have been sexually assaulted, harassed, and victimized.

And victims of such abuses are not just on Twitter, but are sitting in our pews, in our women’s ministries, and on our leadership teams (perhaps, like myself, you can also say #MeToo). As women called and positioned to minister to women in our local congregations, the #MeToo campaign can shape our women’s ministries in three powerful ways.

Be aware.
One in six women is the victim of an attempted or completed rape, and women compose 90 percent of all rape victims each year. While this statistic alone is staggering, the #MeToo campaign has revealed the pervasiveness of sexual aggression, objectification, and harassment as the shared female experience. And while women do not seem as surprised as our male counterparts by the testimonies—or, by the sheer number of them—most women’s ministry discipleship programs and curriculums don’t address the topic often, if at all.

Our women’s ministries are full of women who, perhaps like ourselves, have been assaulted, harassed, and victimized. As such our ministries need to be safe spaces for women to share their experiences and hear the shame-shedding truth of the gospel. As the discipleship home for many victims of sexual violation, the #MeToo campaign reminds us we need to practice awareness in this area—to intentionally and strategically speak to the subjects of shame and justice in our teaching, and to guard our ministries against insensitive or trivializing comments. As we cultivate ministry spaces where women can share vulnerably, honestly, and without fear of dismissal, we open the door for the Lord to do a mighty work of healing.

Be encouraged.
Though sexual assault among women (and men) is rampant, the Lord’s arm is not shortened. The #MeToo campaign has put on display for us the prevalence of human fallenness, and it is easy to be overwhelmed by the testimonies and by the number of testimonies. Yes, the sinfulness and brokenness of humanity is pervasive—but so is God’s grace.

Through the #MeToo campaign, the table has been set for God to do a powerful act of healing and restoration—including in our women’s ministries. The gospel of Jesus Christ, the core conviction that binds our ministries together, speaks to the heart of sin, shame, and our need for a Healer. As women positioned to speak into the lives of the women under our ministerial care, we have the privilege of telling women about God our Defender (Psalm 121), El Roi who sees us (Genesis 16:13), and our Good Shepherd (John 10:11-18).

We are called and enabled to hold out before all our women the character of the God we serve and the hope of his saving power. By his Spirit, the Lord can use broken vessels like me and you to walk women toward healing and restoration as we proclaim the gospel of grace and truth. So, be encouraged, sister; the Lord is at work. He is at work in and through you as you care for the women entrusted to you.

Be prepared.
Too many #MeToo testimonies have two components: the occurrence of assault or harassment, and the mishandled response (or, worse: those who tried to cover it up). This is a timely reminder our ministries need a plan of action for when sexual assault is brought to our attention. Now is the time. Gather with your ministry team and pastors and make a plan that details how your ministry will respond when similar situations are brought to your attention. Reach out to any local shelters and women’s services, familiarize yourself and your ministry team with their services, and, where it is helpful, include their contact information in your plan. Consider the character of our God—his justice, kindness, gentleness, and truthfulness—and pray that your plan might reflect his character.

Then, document the plan, distribute the plan, and, when necessary, implement the plan. (And, if you aren’t currently dealing with this in your own church—good! Now is the perfect time to craft an objective course of action).

Sisters in ministry, we have the unique call to lead women into deeper fellowship with our God and with each other. Let us respond to each and every #MeToo testimony brought to us with the compassion of Christ and the hope of the gospel—that our women might flourish and God might be glorified.

I always like to know a little something about an author before I sit down and open up his or her book. Today I’m interviewing my friend Christina Fox about her newest book, Closer Than a Sister: How Union with Christ Helps Friendship to Flourish. Her book is a welcome invitation to seek meaningful and life-giving relationships in the church. Christina helps us understand our need for community, the various ways we support and encourage one another, and the challenges we face as we build fellowship with one another. If you long to be a better friend and grow lasting friendships, Closer Than a Sister is a book you’ll want to read!

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I was raised in Maryland, outside of Washington, D.C. There’s nothing better than a table covered in newspaper, a bucket of crabs, and a mallet!

I went to Covenant College for my undergrad, where I met my husband. I then went on to get my Master’s in Counseling Psychology. I am licensed as a counselor but spend my days homeschooling our two boys, ages 9 and 12. When I’m not homeschooling, I write, blog, and serve as editor of the PCA women’s ministry blog, enCourage. I also serve on the advisory board at Covenant College. In my local church, I teach women’s Bible study and serve in children’s and youth ministry.

I love coffee. And reading a good book. Our family loves to travel and explore new places. We also love to go hiking together.

When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?

I started writing as a child. I wrote for the school newspaper, entered poetry competitions, and wrote fictional stories. (Believe it or not, I still have most of my writings from childhood!) I’m a thinker by nature. I tend to mull over things so writing has always helped me to process what I’m thinking. It’s how I reflect on what God is doing in me and the world around me. Writing is a way to magnify God’s goodness and faithfulness in my own heart and for those who read it. Lastly, writing is also a creative outlet for me.

 Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?

Sometimes I feel like I only have a certain amount of creativity in me and when I’ve used it up, there’s nothing left. For example, after I’ve spent months working on a book, I am spent. I can’t think to even write a blog post. There have also been times when I think I’ve covered every topic I could possibly write about. Then I ask an editor for topic ideas and they inevitably think of one I haven’t written on. So while there’s nothing new under the sun, I guess there are always different angles and fresh voices to speak into a topic.

What led you to write Closer Than a Sister: How Union with Christ Helps Friendship to Flourish?

The topic of community and relationships in the church is very near and dear to me. The people God has placed in my local church, wherever I have lived, have helped me, nurtured me, discipled me, and journeyed with me through the challenges and trials of life.

These days, community and friendship is hard to define. Social media and technology makes it even more nebulous. What we often experience and describe as community is far different than what the early church experienced.

In Closer Than a Sister, I wanted to encourage women to cultivate the community God created through the life and death of Jesus Christ. Its premise is that we are united to Christ through our justification and united to one another through our adoption. God has created a family for us in the church, making the other believing women in our church closer than a sister.

In the book, I unpack the characteristics of community (friendship) in the local church by looking at the early church. I explore what I refer to in the book as “sisterhood” and what it looks like, namely that sisters serve one another, mourn for each other, rejoice together, exhort one another, disciple one another, and grow together. I also talk about ways to cultivate these relationships as well as facing common challenges to sisterhood, such as conflict in the church.

What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?

I want readers to remember that because they are united to Christ, they are also united to one another in the church. Our union with each other is eternal. Let’s seek to live out that union in our relationships with one another in the church.

How has writing this book affected your own life?

When I first proposed the topic to my publisher, I was a member of the church I’d been at for almost two decades. But when I signed the contract to write the book, I had moved to another state. Ironically, I wrote the book while being “community-less.” We were at a new church and starting all over again. I had to live out what I was writing about; I had to cultivate community. What I wrote in the book became more real to me because of it.

For a sneak peak, here are some quotes from Closer Than a Sister:

“What a unique community we get to be a part of! Like different colored threads, we are woven together to create a beautiful tapestry. My strand crosses with a sister in my church and our strands connect to your strand across the miles. We are knit together and part of the same whole.”

“Sin is deceitful and blinds us to the truth so we need others who will point out that truth to us. A sister-friend in the Lord who spots sin in our life and exhorts us to turn back to God is a good friend.”

“Helping our sisters in Christ isn’t simply a nice thing do. It’s not just a good deed done out of the kindness of our heart. It’s a natural overflow of our connection to one another in Christ—originating in our union with Christ himself.”

Here’s what others are saying:

Jen Wilkin wrote the foreword to Closer Than a Sister. Here’s part of that foreword:

“In Closer Than A Sister she offers insight into how we can weave the cords of our friendships to last through any season. Like all good gifts, Christian friendship is to be sought and stewarded with wisdom and grace. The benchmark of lesser friendships will not do. You hold in your hands a primer on how to weave (and allow yourself to be woven into) that blessed tie that binds.”

—Jen Wilkin, author None Like Him

“Christina Fox has written a beautiful and helpful book outlining a biblical definition of friendship, bringing in the familial language of scripture (“sister-friend”), showing us the Bible’s definition of friendship, and pointing us towards the one Friend who will never leave us or forsake us. If you want to become a better “sister-friend” or find yourself longing for a friend, this book will encourage your soul.”

—Courtney Reissig, author Glory in the Ordinary

“True side by side friendship is both a gift and a calling for Christians, yet it remains elusive and intimidating for many women. Here’s a book that will encourage you in the beauty of Christ-centered relationships, and challenge you to take faith-driven steps of love in friend-ing others. Closer Than a Sister comforted me with the depths of Jesus’ friendship for me, and compelled me outward with a renewed desire to be a godly friend to others.”

—Ellen Mary Dykas, Women’s Ministry Director, Harvest USA; Author, Sexual Sanity for Women: Healing from Sexual and Relational Brokenness and Sex and the Single Girl: Smart Ways to Care for Your Heart

“In Closer than a Sister, Christina Fox has painted a picture of biblical, God-honoring relationships among women in the church. She has then used that picture as a template to suggest how women can, because they are in union with Christ, live out this picture practically and by faith. Her honesty, transparency, and centeredness in God’s Word make this a helpful read.”

—Chris Larson, President and CEO Ligonier Ministries

If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?

Browsing antique shops!