When There’s Nothing Left to Give

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You may recognize this quote by Anne Frank.

My husband and I can testify to this truth when it comes to our finances. We’ve always given to others through tithes and offerings and missionary support. And even when it seems we’ve had little to give, we’ve always had enough to keep giving.

But lately this quote has been rolling around my mind not in regards to finances, but motherhood.

Between my toddler-chasing and baby-rocking and home-keeping and writing and ministry commitments my hands are absolutely full. I mentor a few young women, I answer a ton of emails, I teach, I volunteer, I participate in moms groups… The list goes on.

Just like you, I givegivegive.

There’s nothing “special” about my giving. I give because I’m a mother and that’s what we do.

And although I know it’s a part of the package, it can be draining, overwhelming, and disheartening when I feel like there is no balance to the giving and receiving.

Some days I want to give up all the giving!

But then the Giver whispers in my ear: You will never run out if you draw from the Source. Receive me as you give to them.

It’s true that you need to be filled up in order to pour out.

But it’s also true that you need to pour out in order to be filled.

Jesus said that it’s better to give than to receive.

He modeled that when he broke bread with tax collectors and extended kindness to prostitutes. He gave to them with no expectation of gaining something back. (Jesus didn’t do trades.)

The incredible thing is that when he gave himself to them, they gave themselves back to him.

Even his death – the ultimate act of giving – was to pave the way for him to receive us.

In his giving, he received.

And in my giving as a mother, I receive too. It’s just that sometimes I let thoughts of the sacrifice get in the way of understanding the reward.

You can’t get poor from giving.

Take heart mamas, you are receiving as you give. Maybe, like me, you just need to be reminded to remember.

Dear friends, do you ever get tired of giving? How do you remind yourself to remember?

Adriel Booker

Adriel Booker is a writer, speaker, and difference-maker living Down Under with her love (and two littles) where they serve in full-time ministry and full-time parenting together. She writes at The Mommyhood Memos, where she's passionate about encouraging and empowering women.

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What to expect when you are THAT mom

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I would never let my child behave that way, I thought to myself as  I was trying to buy groceries.  The mom checking out in front of me struggled as her toddler threw a complete fit. The screaming felt like nails on a chalkboard.

Why doesn’t she just…

Fast forward a decade, I was a mom with two kids under the age of 3 with one on the way.  As I was checking out at Target, my 18 month old son had lost it. Completely lost it.  There was kicking, screaming, tears–it was a full on fit.  I was THAT mom. I could feel the stares.  I could hear the voices of disapproval.  I was embarrassed and there was nothing I could do to control the situation.

My younger self judged THAT mom. My older self now had a different perspective, a more gracious and understanding one because I was THAT mom.

Before becoming a mom, I read all the books and made the best of plans, trying to figure out what to expect and how to be prepared for motherhood. Then reality set in. No one can adequately prepare you for this journey. Here is what to expect,

 You can expect to get lots of advice, some appreciated and some not needed.

You can expect to be surprised, by yourself, by others, & by your children.

You can expect your plans to be constantly changing, and your to-do lists constantly growing.

You can expect to learn a lot and realize just how little you really know.

You can expect that you will need God’s grace more than ever.

 

We’ve all been there. Maybe it wasn’t the check out line with the screaming child, but we’ve all found ourselves in a more contradictory situation than we would have expected.  We’ve all been THAT mom.

The mom running late, or the mom who forgot her kids lunch,

or the mom with the rebellious child, or the mom who loses her temper,

the mom who needs grace more than another opinion or judgemental stare.

Maybe the next time you stand behind the screaming child,  you will be able to offer grace.

Or the next time you find yourself judging another mom or discussing differences of opinions, you will speak words of grace.

Most importantly though, I hope the next time you find yourself feeling inadequate, at a loss, misunderstood, or merely exhausted, you will find grace.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Our hope is to not be, yet another voice that is telling you how to be a mom.  Grace for moms is a place for you to be encouraged, be challenged, and join in on the conversations, all the while knowing, “It’s Ok, you’re covered.”

 

 

What have you learned to expect as a mom? How are you struggling to find grace?

Kristy Chowning

Kristy Chowning is a mom of three little miracles. She is co-founder of Grace for Moms, a homemaker, and a 'retired' nurse practitioner.

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Launch Party Giveaway Winners!

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Friends,

We want to thank you for making our launch party so much fun. It’s been so wonderful to converse with you all in the comments of our posts. We hope to continue the interaction and encourage one another in the months to come.

You can find the winners for each giveaway on that day’s post, with the exception of the grand prize winner. Because we used all entries cumulatively, we chose that winner from all days entries using Random.org.

Our winner for the $100 Spa Finder gift card is…

Shelby Marks

Congratulations Shelby and everyone else who won one of our great prizes. We are so thankful to all of the ministries, bloggers, authors and artists who supported this launch by allowing us the privilege of sharing their resources with you.

We look forward to much more fun to come at Grace for Moms!

Jessica Wolstenholm

Jessica Wolstenholm is co-founder of Grace for Moms. She is passionate about writing words of grace for moms and moms-to-be. Co-author of The Pregnancy Companion book, she also blogs about TTC, infertility & pregnancy at ThePregnancyCompanion.com

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Rest for Your Weary Soul {Spa Finder Giveaway!}

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“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (KJV)

A few years ago I started meeting with a spiritual direction coach. Some might call her a counselor. I surely wanted to. Because I wanted her to counsel me and tell me what to do. But this amazing woman couldn’t do that. . .wouldn’t do that. Her heart was to help me find a place of rest and comfort for my weary soul. . .

a place that is right next to the Giver of Rest, the Prince of Peace.

She often gave me scripture reading exercises. In all of my 30+ years of living (most of them with Jesus in my heart), I never studied the Word this way – so personally. This particular time, she instructed me to read Matthew 11:28-30.

“Read it through 3 times slowly, noticing if any words or phrases stand out to you. If they do, just stop and listen. At the end of the reading, picture Jesus standing before you, place your burden in his arms. Let him carry it for you. Notice what you are feeling. If you find yourself taking it back, then give it back again. Be gentle with yourself through this process.”

And so I did. The Word came alive to me like it never had before as I pictured Jesus standing there, taking my weariness into his arms, carrying every burden. How had I missed this opportunity before? To physically give it all to him? I read the verses in The Message that day. . .

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

Wow. If ever the son of God was speaking straight to my mother heart, it was in these verses. At the time, I was struggling to become pregnant again. I was in the process of asking the Lord why in regards to my infertility journey. And then I read, “I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.” My infertility was not ill-fitting. It was exactly what he knew would be. He had created me to walk through that journey, for his purposes. But it was a burden, nonetheless, and this did not surprise him. He was always ready and willing to carry it for me.

Mamas, whatever it is that burdens your days. . .toddler tantrums, financial hardship, marital struggles, a stressful job, family drama, prodigal children, never.ending.laundry. . .your circumstances are not ill-fitting. He knew you would be right where you are. He’s standing right there with you, ready to take the burdens of your weary soul into his arms if you’ll let him.

“Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. . .Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Sure, a day at the spa every now and then will do wonders for our weary souls. But we are invited to walk with Jesus daily; keeping step with the rhythms of his grace. And that, my friends, has more lasting effect than any 90 minute hot stone massage. It’s a life-giving and life-sustaining “real rest.”

What are some ways you have found effective to find rest in the savior?

Today is the last day of our 12 Days of Giveaways! We are thrilled to be giving away a $100 Spa Finder gift card today to one person who surely needs physical rest for their body. You may enter below but remember, each entry for giveaway days 1-11 (which will remain open until midnight, Friday) will be another entry for the Spa Finder prize. So make sure you go back and check out all of our giveaways for the week!

It has been so much fun to get to know many of you this week through your support and comments. We look forward to many grace-filled conversations that will happen in this space. Thank you for getting us off to a great start!

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*I just love how literal the British are. I found that to be the case many times as I read the signage around London. This picture is no exception. Since we don’t always have the writing on the bench, we are left to follow the leading of Jesus in finding rest for our weary souls. We’re in good hands.

Jessica Wolstenholm

Jessica Wolstenholm is co-founder of Grace for Moms. She is passionate about writing words of grace for moms and moms-to-be. Co-author of The Pregnancy Companion book, she also blogs about TTC, infertility & pregnancy at ThePregnancyCompanion.com

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A Reachable Heart: CD Bundle {Giveaway}

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Today I have the great privilege of sharing another song with you because our giveaway is a whole bunch of awesome CDs! I mean. . .a bunch! Don’t forget to enter to win at the bottom of this post, k?!?!

When I first heard the song, Unreachable by Dara Maclean, I thought it was a great song with a great sound and a great message. . .that didn’t really pertain to me because it was seemingly about a sinner who is lost and has not yet found grace. But as the song continued to play over and over in my car for weeks (as most songs and albums often do which, BTW, completely annoys my music-loving husband) I began to hear it differently.

Are you unreachable? I heard the Lord whisper one day.

What do you mean? I thought. I’m right here.

I know where you are, he explained – even though he didn’t have to. You don’t have to be far away to be unreachable?

And my mind immediately went to every.single.thing that comes between me and my relationship with him. All of the clutter and the noise rendering me completely and utterly unreachable.

Sin takes many forms. I may not be struggling with an obvious vice that is wedged between me and my salvation. It’s the less obvious, everyday sins that often cause us to be out of reach.

But as the song so beautifully expresses, not one of us is truly unreachable. Whether our sin is glaring or deeply hidden in our heart, “love will go the distance, wherever {we} are.” His love reaches out, stretched as far as it needs to go, to grab hold of our heart.

“Just take the hand of grace.

Your sins have been replaced,

By something beautiful.

You’re not unreachable.”

- Unreachable, Dara Maclean

Friends, have you felt unreachable? Or is the thought of being unreachable convicting to you because you didn’t even realize you had positioned your heart so far from him?

I encourage you all to go here and listen to the whole song. Let the truth of its words speak healing to those places where you thought you’ve been unreachable. And may you fully grasp just how close he is. . .

Always.

Our giveaway for today is a whole bunch of amazing CD’s courtesy of Word Records! This 13 CD bundle (I told you there were a whole bunch!) includes Dara Maclean, Group One Crew, For King and Country, The Reckoning, Francesca Battistelli, Pure NRG, Sidewalk Prophets, Big Daddy Weave, Meredith Andrews, Girls of Grace, Jason Castro, Point of Grace and Mark Schultz. You do not want to miss your chance to snag all of this great music! Don’t forget you can still enter all of our 12 Days of Giveaways until midnight on Friday, May 25th at which time we’ll choose a grand prize winner (from all days entries) for the $100 Spa Finder gift card. Take a moment to register with Rafflecopter and you’ll be set up to enter all of our giveaways.

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Photo courtesy of Creative Commons (JoelMontes)

Jessica Wolstenholm

Jessica Wolstenholm is co-founder of Grace for Moms. She is passionate about writing words of grace for moms and moms-to-be. Co-author of The Pregnancy Companion book, she also blogs about TTC, infertility & pregnancy at ThePregnancyCompanion.com

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The Queen of Ethiopia: Saving Savvy Book {Giveaway}

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My work and travel has afforded me incredible opportunity.

I’ve stayed in five star hotels and I’ve stayed in straw-thatched shacks.

I’ve sat with senators and I’ve sat with gypsies.

I’ve dined on fine china and I’ve dined on palm leaves.

I’ve traveled in limos and I’ve traveled next to chickens (and motorcycles) packed into over-crowded buses.

In all of my years – from Malaysia to India, from Egypt to Poland – the most beautiful people I’ve met have something in common:

They are generous.

It’s not a generosity that has to do with the display of money, it’s a generosity of spirit.

I was a 24-year-old single girl when I first went to Ethiopia for a pastoral visit to one of our teams in the north. In order to reach them I had to spend a night in transit in the capital city where a local family hosted me.

They insisted I sleep in the master bedroom – a queen-size bed all to myself – when I knew it meant displacing mom, dad, and baby to the living room floor. As embarrassing as it was for me, I understood that to suggest another arrangement would be offensive. So—as graciously as I knew how—I said thank you.

I won’t go into all of the details of the rest of my stay, but let’s just say they treated me like royalty. Literally.

I felt like the Queen of Ethiopia.

The extravagance this small family showed me was humbling. And inspiring.

This little story mirrors a thousand more that I could tell you about the ways I’ve experienced generosity. (Not only in far off places, but even here in my own home – my husband is incredibly generous.)

It also mirrors another little story about a woman who dropped two copper coins into an offering (Luke 21). This nameless hero was praised by Jesus, not for what she gave, but for how she gave it.

She gave out of her lack, out of faith, and out of an absolute desire to bless God himself.

And this is how generosity works its way into our hearts – one copper coin, one small choice at a time.

Next time that offering plate gets passed in front of you, or you receive an email from a friend doing a walk-a-thon for charity, or you get a letter from a teenager wanting to go on a missions trip, why not think about being generous instead of just thinking in terms of dollars and cents?

Your generosity might be in the form of a check, but it might also be in the form of a letter of encouragement, a commitment to pray, a backpack or pair of running shoes you’re no longer using, or a verbal affirmation that you believe in their call to go and do something important.

I don’t want to “just” be a giver. I want to be a generous giver.

Dear friends, tell us an inspiring display of generosity that you’ve been witness to lately. How did it make you feel?

{Jess} Our giveaway today is courtesy of my friend Kelly at faithfulprovisions.com Kelly’s book, Saving Savvy is a wonderful resource for anyone wanting to save money and live generously (and aren’t we all?!) You definitely want to enter to win this amazing tool and you must check out her blog faithfulprovisions.com for daily, practical help with managing your household finances in a way that will allow you to give, give, give! Don’t forget you can still enter all of our 12 Days of Giveaways until midnight on Friday, May 25th at which time we’ll choose a grand prize winner (from all days entries) for the $100 Spa Finder gift card. Take a moment to register with Rafflecopter and you’ll be set up to enter all of our giveaways.

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Adriel Booker

Adriel Booker is a writer, speaker, and difference-maker living Down Under with her love (and two littles) where they serve in full-time ministry and full-time parenting together. She writes at The Mommyhood Memos, where she's passionate about encouraging and empowering women.

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Finding Freedom from Fear: Spirit-Led Parenting {Giveaway}

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For years, I found security in rules and guidelines. As a relentless perfectionist, clear instruction manuals and answers gave me precious assurance that I could get everything right.

Then I became a mother, and my baby did nothing by-the-book. Even more unnerving? I couldn’t follow the rules either. The charts and schedules I desperately wanted to obey became hopelessly at odds with what my heart was saying. So I concluded that I was failing. If my heart led me off the beaten path, it couldn’t be right. It certainly couldn’t be God. Could it?

Out of that initial crash of fear and disillusionment, I found myself on a journey that would shape not only my outlook on parenting – but my spiritual life as well. The Lord gently scooped me up and set me back on my feet, whispering the truth that every child is created with beautiful uniqueness and He is faithful to give perfect wisdom to every parent. . .that there was staggering freedom to be found in letting go of my pursuit of the “right way” to be led by the Holy Spirit toward the right way for my family. And that along the road, I could find myself drawn more deeply than ever into the ways of Christ.

What I didn’t know then was that others were discovering this too. God would cross my path with another new mom and bond us as friends and heart sisters.  And what He was doing in our lives would eventually become our book: Spirit-Led Parenting.

I’m learning daily what it means to be led by the Spirit in my mothering. Goodness knows I don’t have it figured out! What I have learned, though, is that it is a far sweeter pursuit to seek His perfect plan and perfect peace than to try in vain to achieve perfection on my own.  He knows my children, He knows me.  He knows I will mess things up from time to time. And He is faithful to gently point me back toward the path He’s prepared.

I wouldn’t trade the messy journey for neat instruction lists. Not anymore.

 Do you struggle with the fear of failure in motherhood?  What has helped you to find freedom? 

{Jess} Mamas, we are so excited to be offering a giveaway today of Laura’s book, Spirit-Led Parenting. As you can probably tell from the heart of her post, this is not your regular “how-to” baby book. Laura and her co-author Megan, lead readers on a wonderfully freeing journey of learning to seek the Lord and his spirit’s leading as we navigate the waters of motherhood. You do not want to miss an opportunity to get this book into your hands. Not a mama to an itty bitty one? Then enter to win this book for a friend or family member who is expecting. It will be one of the best gifts she receives! Don’t forget you can still enter all of our 12 Days of Giveaways until midnight on Friday, May 25th at which time we’ll choose a grand prize winner (from all days entries) for the $100 Spa Finder gift card. Take a moment to register with Rafflecopter and you’ll be set up to enter all of our giveaways.

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Laura Oyer

Laura Oyer is a Midwest-dwelling wife and mother of two. She blogs about the real and ridiculous things of life and parenthood at InTheBackyard.net, and is the co-author of Spirit-Led Parenting:From Fear to Freedom in Baby’s First Year.

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Song Story: Take My Hand {Autographed Music Giveaway}

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One of the heaviest questions of the Christian faith has got to be why God allows bad or hard things to happen to his people. We ponder this conundrum as we watch others walk through heart-wrenching times but the question truly challenges our limited understanding when we ourselves are facing difficulty or great loss.

I came head to head with this question a few years back when I suffered a third miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy, losing twins I had conceived after trusting God for conception. Not only could I not understand why he would allow something so hard to happen to us, I begged to know why it had to happen again. . .in such a horrible, life-threatening way.

If he knew how badly this reality would hurt me, then how could he let it be so?

About the same time, I was working with an amazing new songwriter who writes songs that express experience way beyond her years. She is incredibly anointed and talented and I know you will fall in love with this woman upon listening to her music. Her name is Lindsay McCaul. She’s spent the better part of the last year on tour with a little band called, Casting Crowns. Ever heard of them? Lindsay’s music is as joyful as it is thought-provoking. . .but I’ll spare you the music review. You’ll have your chance to be introduced to Lindsay through our giveaway for today!

When I first heard the song, Take My Hand, I thought it was pretty and I understood why everyone thought she was the next big thing. But it wasn’t until I played it in the car, driving home from work (this is where I did my best listening) that it arrested me. Drawing on the story of Peter being called out on the water by Jesus, Lindsay paints a beautiful picture of the uncertainty we are often called to. Like Peter, I knew the Lord had called us out on the journey of faith, trusting him for another child despite my physical limitations. I knew that he called us. But why would he ask me to take that step of faith, only to be tossed and turned by the wave of loss?

Didn’t you know that I’d be scared.

Couldn’t you see I was unprepared.

I’m not asking for reasons you hold or the safety of land.

I just need you to take my hand.

- Lindsay McCaul, Take My Hand

I think my favorite thing about the song is that it doesn’t end with a nicely tied bow of certainty and resolve. It’s simply a question. . .from a weary heart to her merciful God. We don’t need Lindsay to tell us. We all know that he does and he will always take our hand.

As I drove home that night with the song on repeat, weaping with honest tears and calling out for my Heavenly Father to take my hand, he did just that. And he led me out into the sea of faith. Seven months, several fertility treatments and one miraculous story later, I became pregnant with my now 10 month old son. He held my hand the whole way through that storm.

He never lets go.

As a mom whose baby is just beginning to walk, I reach my hand out constantly to steady and guide my little one. Each time I do I am reminded of how the Lord steadied me throughout my journey.

Friend, is he asking you to step out onto the water? Are you scared? Are you unprepared? Ask him to take your hand. He is waiting with mercy and grace.

Our giveaway for today is a bundle of really great music! Today’s winner will receive an autographed Lindsay McCaul CD, an autographed Brandon Heath CD, a Mikeschair CD and a Caleb CD (Caleb is Steven Curtis Chapman’s sons, their music is amazing!) I know you will incredibly encouraged by all of this great music. Don’t forget you can still enter all of our 12 Days of Giveaways until midnight on Friday, May 25th at which time we’ll choose a grand prize winner (from all days entries) for the $100 Spa Finder gift card. Take a moment to register with Rafflecopter and you’ll be set up to enter all of our giveaways.

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Jessica Wolstenholm

Jessica Wolstenholm is co-founder of Grace for Moms. She is passionate about writing words of grace for moms and moms-to-be. Co-author of The Pregnancy Companion book, she also blogs about TTC, infertility & pregnancy at ThePregnancyCompanion.com

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5 Good Things: Praise Baby {Giveaway}

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I have introduced a new concept to my children.

Gratitude.

Apparently they are feeling the need to complain about almost everything lately and I have had just about enough. I could pass out from the stench of the attitudes in our house right about now.

So, I’m bringing out the big guns. Something my mama taught me! {insert evil mastermind laugh} Whenever I complained about something as a child, my mom would stop me in my tracks and make me list off a whole bunch of good, positive things about the object of my complaint.

I hated it.

Her magic number was 10, so I ended up choking out 10 positive things about southern gospel music, about the weather, about what she made for dinner…

But through all my hating, those confessions-by-the-tens trained my mind and then my heart. I started watching what I said so that I didn’t have to sit in the penalty box and reverse my stinky attitude. I learned to just choose a good attitude up front. And then I started saying positive things because my mother had given me a new habit.

And I felt happier. Because what is in your heart comes out of your mouth and then becomes your reality.

My kids are getting a new habit! Since they are young (7 and 4), I am only requiring 5 good things whenever I arrest them for complaining. And so far, it has been EXTREMELY difficult for them! But we’re doing it. Slowly, but surely, I will train them to choose the positives over the negatives. The world is full of negatives. We can all see them. But a person who can see the positives will rise above and be free from the shackles of the kingdom of this world.

My turn. . .

1. The IRS is here to better my country.
2. Without the IRS, there would not be a system in place to account for taxes in our country.
3. There are some Christians who work for the IRS.
4. The IRS provides jobs for people who need jobs.
5. The IRS keeps other companies in business, like paper and ink manufacturers.

Being positive is closely related to being thankful, and thankfulness is the beginning of worship. You can train your kids to be worshipers of the Living God 5 good things at a time!

Your turn. . .

What are some ways you are teaching your little ones about worship? Or better yet, maybe you need an attitude adjustment like I did about tax season. Perhaps you need to list 5 good things. . .GO!

{Jess} Our giveaway for today comes from one of my absolute FAVORITE new mom tools. Praise Baby CDs and DVDs have been such a blessing to me and my kids. They’ve been around for a few years but they are just as powerful as when I first heard them. Think Baby Einstein meets your Sunday morning worship service! The arrangements are sweet and peaceful and the songs are so powerful. If you want to nurture a worshipping heart in your child, start with Praise Baby CDs and DVDs! Today we have 4 Praise Baby CD/DVD combos to give away!! Winners will receive either a “Praises and Smiles” CD/”Born to Worship” DVD combo or  “Born to Worship” CD/”Praises and Smiles” DVD combo (there are 2 of each combo). Don’t forget you can still enter all of our 12 Days of Giveaways until midnight on Friday, May 25th at which time we’ll choose a grand prize winner (from all days entries) for the $100 Spa Finder gift card. Take a moment to register with Rafflecopter and you’ll be set up to enter all of our giveaways.

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*Photo courtesy of Creative Commons (hedvigs)

Crista Ashworth

Crista Ashworth is a thirty-something wife and mom who is passionate about Jesus. She is a newbie homeschooler on top of the other million things she does as a mom. She considers herself a professional laugher, a foodie and a covert operative for the Kingdom. You can also find Crista writing regularly at Destiny in Bloom online magazine and on her personal blog Dishes and Diapers.

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Are You Really Going to Wear That? The No Brainer Wardrobe {Giveaway}

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The Emperor's Spring Collection I’ve found that simplicity and fashion are just as much about what’s not in your closet as they are about what is in it.

A couple of years ago we were putting our house on the market, and two of my very dear friends came over and helped me go through every single item in my closet. It was both freeing and humbling. There’s nothing like seeing your friend’s horrified expression to make you realize you’ve held on to an item of clothing for far too long. Out went the teal ski suit–along with several other items. There was one dress in particular that I planned to hang on to forever. I had bought it for my grandmother’s funeral seven or eight years earlier. It was a black double-breasted suit dress thing that seemed classic and was just hanging there waiting for the next relative’s funeral. My friend took one look at it and said, “This looks like something the director of an orphanage would wear. ” I’ll admit that it was a fairly agonizing decision, but it eventually went into the garage sale pile. So now, if a family members dies, I’m going to have to go shopping, but at least I won’t look like I got somebody to cover for me at the orphanage.

I let go of a lot of things I’d been hanging onto that day, and there’s not one thing that I regret setting free. Some items of clothing were still cute, but I had just stopped wearing them. Those I was able to pass on to one of the friends who selflessly helped me to clean out my closet. We just happened to be the exact same size – that of a pre-pubescent 12-year-old girl – and there’s not that many of us. A few months later, after I had moved away, she sent me a picture of herself in one of the sweaters I had given her with the caption, “I feel like I’m getting a hug from you today!” What an amazing thing that something I no longer needed could be a blessing to someone else.

When we moved from Oklahoma to Colorado, God gave me another sweet friend right across the street who is also the same size as me. Just to make sure I hadn’t forgotten the lesson, God reminded me of it again. I did Beth Moore’s study of James that spring, and when discussing James 5, Beth says this,

“Several sources suggest that the sin of hoarding is more than just having. It’s having without using. The wickedness accelerates in the waste. In part, hoarding means withholding what we don’t even use from others who’d treasure it.”

Ouch. That stung a little when I read it.

She goes on to suggest that unless our lives are truly lean when it comes to possessions, that we should consider giving something away every time we get something new. She also clarifies that this isn’t about legalism or self-loathing, it’s really only about living God’s royal law: Love your neighbor as yourself.

Passing on clothing, magazines, and random decorating accessories to my sweet friend and neighbor has brought me so much joy. She loves to get them, and now I love to give them. She’s so thankful that it makes me want to run back to my closet and see what else I can give away. I still have a long way to go, but I can see that my years of hoarding up possessions are coming to an end.

Fashion, or looking and feeling great in your clothes, is so much easier and simpler when you open your closet, and you only see the things you really love and feel good wearing.

It also helps that there’s enough room to actually see what’s in there. I’ve found that I also feel much better about buying something new when I’ve given away what I didn’t really need.

So grab an honest friend, and grace your closet and your life with simplicity. I promise you won’t regret it.

Friends, what ways have you found to simplify what’s in your closet?

{Jess} Our giveaway today is from one of the most adorable girls I’ve ever met. Hayley (aka The Tiny Twig) is passionate about helping women simplify their lives. Her awesome ebook The No Brainer Wardrobe is our prize for today! You do not want to miss your chance to get this no-nonsense plan for creating a no brainer wardrobe! Hayley is as sweet as she is beautiful so she’s also offering a coupon code for anyone interested in purchasing the ebook now. Use code get50 at checkout here. Don’t forget you can still enter all of our 12 Days of Giveaways until midnight on Friday, May 25th at which time we’ll choose a grand prize winner (from all days entries) for the $100 Spa Finder gift card. Take a moment to register with Rafflecopter and you’ll be set up to enter all of our giveaways.

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*Photo courtesy of Creative Commons (gfpeck)

Jenni

Jenni McCadams is an Air Force wife and mother of three boys, ages 11, 7, and 5. She lives in beautiful Colorado Springs, Colorado where Jenni is also a portrait photographer. Jenni strives to live out the mission statement of her local church, "to compassionately sail through a turbulent culture toward a deeper amazement of God's grace."

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