Series

Giveaway: New Book For KidsApr 25 2013 10:24 am
A Few Things…Apr 24 2013 10:56 am
Thanks to so many of you who sent in thoughts about their mom for our Mother’s Day contest. We look forward to sharing our favorites with you real soon.And
Two Early Summer ReadsApr 18 2013 10:36 am
With warmer weather on the way I start anticipating one of my favorite outdoor activities—reading. On summer evenings, Steve and I love to sit in our old and uncomfortable
Never the Same AgainApr 10 2013 7:05 pm
“Preaching should make such a difference to a man who is listening that he is never the same again. Preaching in other words, is a transaction between the preacher
Worthy of HonorApr 9 2013 2:46 pm
Before we move on in our little “Timely Cautions” series, we want to encourage you to encourage your pastor. We presented this as our first topic because we believe
A Testimony: Grateful for My Pastor’s SermonApr 8 2013 1:39 pm
So how did you benefit from your pastor’s sermon yesterday? One girltalk reader wrote in to tell us how:I’m a 20 year old student at the University of Arkansas.
How to Get the Most Out of PreachingApr 3 2013 9:10 am
I was running errands with my kids yesterday, and playing our favorite in-the-car game: Ask Mommy 100 Questions Before We Get Home. In between the usual “What’s for dinner?”
Sunday Morning RealityMar 26 2013 8:12 am
It was raining buckets Sunday morning, and I woke up late because one of my children had kept me up during the night.As I reheated my coffee—which had already
Reasons to RejoiceMar 25 2013 8:32 am
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” Philippians 4:4 “Before you existed, God decided to set His affection upon you. Jesus lived a life of moral
Prepare Your Heart For Holy WeekMar 21 2013 12:46 pm
Speaking of pastors, the men who serve our church, Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville, have provided us with some wonderful encouragement and resources to prepare our hearts for Easter.
Caution: Don’t Neglect Your Pastor’s PreachingMar 20 2013 8:53 am
Our first caution may surprise or confuse you; it may seem irrelevant or uninteresting. But it isn’t a paid political announcement. No pastors asked us to drum up support
Danger Ahead: Timely CautionsMar 19 2013 9:31 am
The beautifully illustrated children’s version of Pilgrim’s Progress is aptly named “Dangerous Journey.” And so is the Christian life. “Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come”
Book Review: The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely ConvertMar 5 2013 9:26 am
What Our Kids Are Listening To Right NowFeb 26 2013 9:20 am
Jonathan Park Radio DramaAll the boys in our family have recently spent hours listening to the action-packed Jonathan Park radio drama adventures. From the website: The adventures follow Jonathan
Gospel-Centered Counsel for MomsFeb 13 2013 10:30 am
“I feel like such a failure. I’m a horrible mom and a terrible wife. I’m exhausted, depressed, and overwhelmed.” Sound like a mom you know? How would you counsel
A Gospel-Centered Mom Looks Both WaysFeb 11 2013 9:37 am
A few months ago, when the weather was mild and our kids were playing together at a park, Janelle and I chatted about writing a few mothering posts for
Q&A: How Do You Focus on One Thing?Jan 28 2013 9:23 am
Karissa wrote in with a great question:In a recent post you talked about “picking one thing” and being consistent about it in the discipline of a toddler. I guess
Just Choose OneJan 24 2013 9:37 am
Over the last few months Hudson has crossed that threshold from baby to toddler. His speech has taken off, his comprehension level is higher. He’s not my baby anymore. But
Mothers, Servants, and God’s Saving PowerJan 17 2013 8:05 am
We cannot save our children. Which is why, when I see a rebellious teenager of Christian parents, my first thought is not, “Wow, those parents did a really bad
Go Forward in Gospel-Centered MotheringJan 16 2013 8:31 am
If you only ever buy, read, and re-read one book on parenting, let it be J.C. Ryle’s Duties of Parents. It is short and sweet—just the right length for
Target the Heart In TimeJan 15 2013 8:17 am
Targeting our children’s hearts is a very important goal in gospel-centered parenting. Ultimately, I want my children to understand that their hearts are sinful and that they need a
5 O’ Clock Club Membership GuidelinesJan 14 2013 6:49 am
It’s been so exciting to have so many of you join us for the 5 O’Clock Club! I especially love it when you post a picture or a verse
Early Morning Memories [Archives]Jan 9 2013 8:04 am
~Found this one in the archives the other day. From a grown up daughter of a mom who rose early to seek God. Hope it encourages all of you
“Real Simple” MotheringJan 8 2013 7:21 am
Whenever I get overwhelmed and mothering seems as complex as a calculus problem, my mom always helps me put things in perspective. “Gospel-centered mothering at this stage is simple,”
Not Too Late: Join the 5 O’Clock Club FB PageJan 7 2013 5:44 am
In case you missed it, at the end of last week we launched a new 5 O’ Clock club Facebook page. A simple page with a simple goal: to
52homeJan 3 2013 8:45 pm
Come and join us at the 5 O’Clock Club! 52home
{NEW} 5 O’Clock Club Facebook PageJan 3 2013 3:08 pm
Whenever I have been a complete slacker and need to rejoin the 5 O’Clock club, I’ll ask my mom or sisters to keep me accountable. We’ll call or text
That Crazy 5 O’Clock Club (Again)Jan 2 2013 9:07 am
Last night, before trudging upstairs to our loft bedroom, my husband and I placed an old fashioned alarm clock, set for 5 o’clock a.m., in the narrow hallway between
A Mother’s Large CareerNov 15 2012 6:09 pm
A couple more brilliant quotes from G.K. Chesterton on motherhood. We’ve posted them before but they are worth a reread: “[Woman is surrounded] with very young children, who require
Not Her BestNov 14 2012 4:20 pm
As mothers we can sometimes feel overwhelmed because we think that, in addition to being an amazing mom, we should also be exceptional at something else, distinguishable from all
Momentary MotherhoodNov 13 2012 2:02 pm
It is easy to become distracted by the constant demands of motherhood, but we must not lose sight of this fact: Our children are only young for a very
How To Be a Happy MomNov 12 2012 3:55 pm
I once talked to a woman who told me how she used to always be overwhelmed and unhappy as a mother. She was so burdened by the constant demands
When You Feel Like A FailureNov 5 2012 7:23 pm
I once saw a Family Circus cartoon that showed three children leaning on the edge of their parents’ bed, watching them while they slept. The caption underneath was one
Reality MotheringOct 31 2012 4:05 pm
So often, we moms evaluate our own mothering by our worst days and compare ourselves to other moms on their best days. But both measurements are wrong and can
The Online MomOct 25 2012 7:06 pm
Before we get to some more specific thoughts on gospel-centered parenting, we want to talk about a few sources of discouragement for moms. Unruly children aren’t the only cause
Gospel-Centered Parenting For Real LifeOct 17 2012 2:08 pm
My son, Hudson, will be two in November, and while he brings his family tons of joy, his sinful nature is on full display. He has mastered the art
Conclusion: Our Connected HeartOct 8 2012 9:05 pm
So how did your Less for More challenge go? It’s been great to hear how you have benefited from less social media and more time in God’s Word. I
Our Morning “Briefing”Oct 3 2012 3:20 pm
One of my favorite parts of our morning routine is when CJ and I grab our coffee and sit for ten minutes on our tiny enclosed patio, listening to
The Best Subject of All Our [Online] ConversationSep 25 2012 5:00 pm
“f you are in company, let your time be spent in that conversation that profiteth: let it not be about your dressing, your plays, your profits, or your worldly
Walk to RestSep 24 2012 4:39 pm
How do we find rest for our restless souls? True rest is not found in an afternoon at the spa, or by curling up in front of the TV,
How to Use Social MediaSep 20 2012 7:27 pm
“Those who have received the gospel, are to live according to the gospel…. If we are idle, the devil and a corrupt heart will soon find us somewhat to
Staying BusySep 19 2012 12:47 pm
What does it look like to be busy with our own business? We find the answer in the verses immediately preceding 1 Timothy 5:13. Instead of meddling, we are
Minding Our Own BusinessSep 18 2012 10:47 am
“Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.” 1 Timothy
The Case of the Vanishing BusybodySep 17 2012 12:51 pm
Whitney Carpenter is on the case: “I am suspect that the neighborhood busybody, the beloved stock character of film, television, and literature, is going extinct. That familiar face, leering
Not Only IdlersSep 12 2012 3:36 pm
“Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.” 1 Timothy
Less for MoreSep 11 2012 11:22 am
“What is the best thing in life, bringing more joy, delight and contentment than anything else? Knowledge of God…[It] provides at once a foundation, shape and goal for our
A Social Media ChallengeSep 10 2012 7:49 am
Last week we tweeted a social media question: Has our appetite to know about people eclipsed our appetite to know about God? Here’s one way to tell: if you
What Killed the CatSep 6 2012 1:56 pm
“Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.” 1 Timothy
How to Learn to be LazySep 5 2012 11:30 am
“Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.” 1 Timothy 5:13
Beware the Internet IdlerSep 4 2012 6:31 am
“Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.” 1 Timothy
From the E-Mail Bag: Turning to God’s Word FirstSep 3 2012 9:34 am
Girltalk has always been an extension of our mother-daughter conversations, and we benefit even more when you join in. A great example is this email from Kim who was challenged by
An Online Check-UpAug 30 2012 3:40 pm
In today’s health-conscious culture we carefully monitor our diets. We count calories and cut carbs and buy organic, because as everyone knows, you are what you eat. But how
Not So HelpfulAug 29 2012 5:01 pm
A while ago I told my husband that whenever I went to a particular online parenting forum, I came away feeling anxious about our children. He simply (and wisely)
Q&A: “God comes first, but then?”Aug 28 2012 2:30 pm
Angela writes: I have read your posts about distractions on the Internet. You were talking about priorities. And we all know how important it is to set priorities in our
The (Online) Snare of CompareAug 22 2012 2:48 pm
If you identified with Peter in last week’s post, and find yourself tempted to sinful comparison—especially when using social media—then let me encourage you to watch (or re-watch!) Mom’s
WSJ: “Are We All Braggarts Now?”Aug 20 2012 3:01 pm
Last week, while we were talking about the temptation to compare ourselves to others when using Facebook or Twitter, Elizabeth Bernstein of the Wall Street Journal was examining the
“Seeing” the FollowersAug 16 2012 3:28 pm
“Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them…When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it
Are We Connecting?Aug 15 2012 2:32 pm
Social media is great because it allows us to “stay connected” with family and friends, right? Let’s reconsider that assumption for a moment: How much of your social media
What If We Made Your Browsing History Public?Aug 14 2012 5:25 pm
We’ve talked a lot about the Internet and our priorities, our time, and our homes. But the temptations don’t stop there. We must not only be watchful over how
Changing Our Online HabitsAug 13 2012 1:18 pm
Emma and Jennie wrote us to tell us how they are applying our current series on the Internet: Jennie: I wanted to thank you for the current series on
Don’t Forget to RememberAug 2 2012 8:05 pm
So how do we maintain a clear biblical vision of motherhood that helps us resist distraction? It’s simple really. We need to have a routine whereby we regularly return
Too Busy Not to Check FacebookJul 31 2012 7:08 pm
I once heard a woman—some time management expert I think—suggest that the reason some office workers check their email compulsively is because they don’t know what to do next. Without a
First Things FirstJul 26 2012 9:32 pm
If less important activities are infringing upon more important priorities, we need to make a change. But what does this look like? Does this mean that moms can’t have
A Question of PrioritiesJul 25 2012 10:20 pm
So how do we know if we’re distracted or focused on the right things? We need to determine biblical priorities for our season, and then consistently evaluate whether or
Your Inbox, Our Blog, and the Laundry PileJul 24 2012 9:44 am
In a recent note, Heather describes a scenario most of us can probably relate to: Dear Girltalkers, I am so so grateful that you have brought up the
A Mother’s MissionJul 18 2012 1:56 pm
Mothers are responsible to mold and shape lives; to raise children who, in the words of G.K. Chesterton, “require not so much to be taught anything as everything.” “I
Is Anyone Home?Jul 17 2012 6:55 pm
“My mother was always there, but never there.” This quote has haunted me for years, in a good way. I can’t find the original source, but it is what I
A Cheap Substitute?Jul 12 2012 3:26 pm
Recently, Karen wrote in response to the post, “Because We Want To”: As I read it I thought, “Yes, people are like this, restless and wanting diversion from reality.”
Choosing One ThingJun 19 2012 8:50 pm
Searching for—and finding—satisfaction in God, instead of in online diversions, is simple, really. We must choose to close the laptop or shut off the smart phone, and we must choose to daily seek God
Our Search EngineJun 14 2012 4:02 pm
When we go online we are searching for something. It may be an email or the latest news or a DIY decorating project. But quite often there is more
Different, Yet the SameJun 12 2012 2:39 pm
At bedtime lately, I’ve been enjoying a little light reading (on my Iphone!) with the free download of the Agatha Christie mystery novels. In Murder on the Links, the famous
Because We Want ToJun 7 2012 7:46 am
Why do our lives—which should be simpler and easier—seem all the more complicated? Centuries before the Internet, Blaise Pascal answered that question: Our lives are busier because we want them
Where Did the Time Go?Jun 6 2012 1:12 pm
Not that long ago my mother kept in touch with friends and family via a telephone tethered to the wall in the kitchen. She bought the longest cord
Facebook, Friendship, and the Local ChurchJun 5 2012 1:04 pm
The messages from Next are online and I’m working my way through all of them. I love how the Internet makes it possible for a thirty-something mother of four
First ThingsJun 4 2012 10:45 am
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? Stumble to the coffee maker? Brush your teeth? According to a 2010 study, at least one
Heather Platt Interview, Part ThreeJun 1 2012 1:14 pm
We conclude our conversation with Heather Platt talking about motherhood, marriage, and missions. (Catch up on the conversation: bio, part one, part two.) What do you enjoy most about
Heather Platt Interview, Part TwoMay 31 2012 8:08 am
Today we are excited to continue our conversation with Heather Platt about how God used Hurricane Katrina to bring the Platts to Brook Hills, and about adoption, being a
Heather Platt Interview, Part OneMay 30 2012 7:47 am
Today we welcome back Heather Platt for part one of a three-part interview. Can you tell us a little about your parents, your siblings, your growing up years? I
Girl~to~Girltalk: Heather PlattMay 29 2012 7:16 am
It’s been a few years, but we’re excited to bring back our girl~to~girltalk interview series. In the past, we’ve been privileged to give you a glimpse into the lives
Our Connected HeartMay 23 2012 1:23 pm
One of the mistakes we make when we go online is to assume that because it is virtual, it is unrelated to virtue. That because things are out there on the
Is Google Making Us (Spiritually) Blind?May 21 2012 1:07 pm
I became nearsighted in high school around the time I started using a computer for hours every day at work. I don’t know if there’s a connection between the
Line it UpMay 17 2012 1:53 pm
“But everyone else is doing it!” What mom hasn’t been on the receiving end of this argument from a child? And what mom hasn’t o-so-cleverly retorted: “If everyone else
How’s Your Time Trending?May 15 2012 10:07 am
“One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove that prayerlessness is not from lack of time.” ~John PiperWhen was the last time you told
FAM Club TestimonySep 14 2011 8:33 pm
With school starting and daily schedules getting more regular, fall is a great time to consider joining the FAM club. We got this encouraging email from a club member
How to Stay Awake During PrayerJul 27 2011 1:53 pm
--from the archives Dawn’s kids aren’t in The 5 O’Clock Club anymore: Thanks so much again for answering my mail about the 5 O’Clock Club. Things have been going
A Husband Joins the 5 O’Clock ClubFeb 17 2011 3:34 pm
I love this email from Holly: I wanted to share with you how joining the 5 O’clock Club has benefited both me and my husband. I recently joined in
Early Morning MemoriesFeb 8 2011 2:28 pm
For almost thirty years now, my dear friend Nancy has inspired me by her passionate, faithful, practice of meeting with God each morning. So I wasn’t surprised when, last
For Sleepy SinnersFeb 1 2011 3:48 pm
You keep sending us so many inspiring 5 O’Clock Club testimonies, we just have to keep posting them. This one is from Kat: As I write, I am wrapping
From the MailbagJan 13 2011 2:14 pm
For all you new 5 O’Clock Club members, here’s some encouragement from Marcia, a veteran early riser: And of all the wisdom shared in Feminine Appeal, one of the
Fighting Laziness + Pursuing HolinessJan 4 2011 12:53 pm
This morning we received an email from one new club member, Kristin. Here’s a snippet: Today is the second day for me in the 5 AM Club. By God’s
Early Morning GraceDec 30 2010 3:58 pm
Here’s a 5 O’Clock Club testimony from the archives. Read to the end if you (like me!) have trouble getting out of your warm bed each morning: As a
Two FAM Club StoriesDec 29 2010 10:08 pm
The FAM Club is all about praying and fasting one meal a week for the salvation of family members—whether they be children, parents, siblings, nieces or nephews. To encourage
A 5 O’Clock Club StoryDec 28 2010 7:17 pm
In preparation for the new year, we want to introduce you to Julie, a long-time member of The 5 O’Clock Club. See if you can relate to her experience:
Join our Clubs in the New YearDec 27 2010 8:41 pm
Because this is the time to start to thinking about New Year’s resolutions, we want to remind you about our clubs. The 5 O’Clock Club is for those who want
A Good Time to JoinJun 15 2010 2:30 pm
The beginning of summer might seem like an odd time to remind you about the 5 O’Clock Club. But if “Jesus Christ is the refreshing center of summer,” what
An Encouraging ReportMar 22 2010 12:21 pm
Over the weekend we reached a milestone: 1000 members of The 5 O’Clock Club. Our 1000th member was Julie from Elmwood Park, IL. We didn’t offer a prize because
In Time for EasterMar 9 2010 5:56 pm
This informative post comes to you courtesy of my daughter MJ, who stayed in Children’s Ministry this past Sunday for the entire service! Miracles still happen.As I was sitting
Praying WorkMar 8 2010 12:40 pm
Nicole’s post from last week reminded me of what my long-time friend Nancy Loftness calls “praying work.” Nancy’s a woman who loves God’s Word, loves to pray, and deeply cares
How to Stay Awake During PrayerMar 4 2010 4:50 pm
Great news—Dawn’s kids aren’t in The 5 O’Clock Club anymore! Thanks so much again for answering my mail about the 5 O’Clock Club. Things have been going better. Thanks
What God Has DoneFeb 26 2010 1:31 pm
Sunday concludes our 28-day challenge for the 5 O’Clock Club and the FAM Club. As of today, we have 959 members of The 5 O’Clock Club and 378 members