Living Intentionally

Why My Grandma Was GreatJan 23 2013 8:21 am
I was twenty-one years old and still living at home when my mom had hip surgery. Grandma came to stay and help out for a week or so. Of
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
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
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
How To Keep Going Through PainDec 3 2012 8:43 am
Sinclair Ferguson offers some wise advice in his comments on Psalm 55 in his book Deserted by God: “Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and
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
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
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
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
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
A Blessed IssueJul 18 2011 9:59 pm
“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.” Psalm
What’s Next?Mar 9 2009 9:17 am
Last week we wrapped up our “Best Deals for the Single Season” series within a series. Tomorrow we’ll tackle the issue of time (or lack of time) for moms
Best Deals of the SeasonJan 19 2009 2:49 pm
If it’s true that our lives are made up of God-ordained seasons, and that each season holds out many opportunities—or to use our shopping analogy, bargains—but that only some
God of Our SeasonsJan 16 2009 4:15 pm
Scripture provides ample evidence that God sets the boundaries for each season. God determines when one closes and a new one begins. He is in complete charge and sovereignly
Changing SeasonsJan 15 2009 4:32 pm
Think back five years ago. Was your life different from the way it is now? Maybe you weren’t even a Christian at that time. Perhaps you have since gotten
Good or Best?Jan 14 2009 5:04 pm
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” Ephesians 5:5-16The phrase, “making the
Look CarefullyJan 13 2009 5:57 pm
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” Ephesians 5:5-16 Look carefully. It’s
Life’s Best BargainsJan 12 2009 2:49 pm
We women take our shopping seriously—especially in these tough economic times. We scour the Sunday paper for coupons and sales. We haunt thrift stores. We track down bargains better
That We May GrowJan 9 2009 2:27 pm
Prayer. Preaching the gospel to our souls. Reading. Rising early. These are our simple goals for growth. Yet we cannot fulfill any resolution apart from the grace of our
Growing in Rising EarlyJan 8 2009 4:08 pm
This year, with God’s help, I am going to rejoin The 5 AM Club. Yes, I confess that I let my membership lapse for a while. Two moves threw
Growing in ReadingJan 7 2009 4:26 pm
Starting the New Year with two kids has me wondering what I did with all my time when I only had one. Accomplishing anything more in a day than
Growing in the GospelJan 6 2009 5:10 pm
One of the ways I want to grow this year is in preaching the gospel to myself every day. Milton Vincent, author of A Gospel Primer for Christians: Learning
Growing in PrayerJan 5 2009 4:19 pm
Last Monday afternoon Kristin brought our favorite Greek salads to Mom’s house and we sat around her kitchen table for the afternoon—you guessed it—talking. At our request (or more
Not Just Another Christmas ListDec 18 2008 4:20 pm
A few years ago we compiled a list of attitudes that should characterize our heart this Christmas. Since I need the reminder, I thought you might benefit too. THE
Take FifteenDec 3 2008 3:44 pm
"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,
Surviving the SeasonDec 2 2008 5:39 pm
Last Monday I went to the craft store in search of Thanksgiving stickers for the nieces and nephews. It was still three days until Thanksgiving, but the harvest decorations
Shopping for Time QuestionsJun 20 2008 6:25 pm
We finished writing our most recent book, Shopping for Time, about a week before Tori was born last year. Ironically, we ran out of time to include questions for
“Setting Our Minds on Things Above in Summer”Jun 16 2008 2:46 pm
A final word on summer, from John Piper: “Don’t let summer make your soul shrivel.” The danger with all our summertime ideas (even the more ‘spiritual’ ones) is that
A Really Important SummerJun 3 2008 4:49 pm
Sellers of deck furniture and lemonade try to entice us with images of a long, lazy summer. And while summer can be a restful season to the glory of
So Worth ItMay 16 2008 4:38 pm
As a young bride, I came across some wise counsel that has served me well through the years. Essentially, it was this: it’s often hard to do important things,
WaitingSep 25 2007 4:08 pm
A few weeks ago when I posted about a small difficulty, a kind friend sent me this meditation by Paul Tripp on Psalm 27: “Wait for the Lord; be
Are you in Training?Sep 4 2007 4:07 pm
Last night was girl’s night out. Over dinner at a sidewalk table (for which we waited, like hungry vultures, for forty-five minutes) our conversation bounced from one topic to
Shopping for TimeJul 3 2007 2:53 pm
Today, we’re pleased to announce that our little book, Shopping for Time has been released. We are so grateful to God for the opportunity to partner with the wonderful
Unwelcome TasksMar 8 2007 3:57 pm
Our friend, Valori, sent us another quote about redeeming the time that was just too good to keep to ourselves. So here it is for your benefit as well:
Unspeakable PeaceOct 4 2006 2:07 pm
“In all your ways acknowledge him.” Proverbs 3:6 It’s a familiar verse. One we are often quick to quote and slow to apply. And yet, if obeyed, it can
Always in a Busy SeasonOct 3 2006 5:33 pm
Yesterday Mom talked about the challenges of the busy fall season. As a mom with young kids, I feel like I’m always in a busy season—spring, summer, winter, or
A Busy Woman’s Survival ManualOct 2 2006 5:48 pm
Whew! After devotions, exercise, grocery store run, beds made, dishes done, house straightened, laundry underway, Chad homeschooled, soccer carpool completed, editing project for my husband finished—I can finally attempt
Your Dream HouseSep 20 2006 5:11 pm
Speaking of dream houses, do you (like me) find yourself desiring what you do not have? You may be longing for the day when you can move away from
My Dream HouseSep 19 2006 5:11 pm
Chad and I went to the dentist this morning. What was I thinking scheduling a dentist appointment the day after coming home from a getaway with my husband?! Talk
Because They Did It FirstAug 22 2006 4:44 pm
You’ll have to pardon me. I don’t have a lot to say these days about anything except surviving morning sickness. I know there are big things going on in
A Little Baking TrialAug 14 2006 12:07 pm
I tried a new recipe this weekend – Chocolate Fudge Layered Banana Cake. Part way through making the cake I discovered I had underestimated the amount of bananas needed
A Senior ChallengeJun 26 2006 12:22 pm
Congrats to all of you who graduated this month! Every May our youth ministry has “Senior Challenge Night.” On this evening the graduating seniors get a chance to publicly
Q & A - A Holy LongingMar 1 2006 8:11 pm
Several of you have kindly asked how I am doing in the midst of all the excitement surrounding Caly’s birth. As long-time readers may remember, I first posted back
Bye Bye TearsJan 18 2006 2:53 pm
My husband recently found me on the living room couch in a puddle of tears. Granted, pregnancy had me crying over spilled soup recently, but these tears revealed a
Carefully Considering Our Relationships Pt. 2Jan 17 2006 5:21 pm
OK, have you got your “Relationship List” in hand and are you ready to proceed with our little exercise? After we’ve thanked God for the blessing of family and
Carefully Considering Our RelationshipsJan 16 2006 1:00 pm
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16 This verse could
Accountability SheetJan 13 2006 12:48 pm
Hey! Just wanted to take a minute to piggy-back on something we talked about yesterday regarding the spiritual disciplines. I mentioned that my discipleship group and I kept track
Planting a SeedJan 12 2006 9:46 am
Hey everyone, I’m liking this “highly effective” thing. It’s how I like to think about myself: “highly effective.” But when I dare to look at the “seven habits” (check
Seven Habits of Highly Effective WomenJan 9 2006 8:39 am
Last week we talked about three biblical truths related to time management and organization—the source of our justification, the source of our ability, and the source of our motivation.
Time Management for the Glory of GodJan 6 2006 9:08 pm
As Christians we must keep a close watch on why we do what we do. This applies to how we manage our time and organize our world. Thus, the
Time Management and DependenceJan 5 2006 1:47 pm
Not only do I have a tendency toward legalism (see yesterday’s post), I can often submit to the sin of self-sufficiency—living independently of God. I will go about my
Time Management and JustificationJan 4 2006 4:52 pm
In yesterday’s post, we informed you that we will be talking about time management and organization this month. We also referenced 3 all-important truths we must keep before us
Staying CurrentSep 27 2005 6:06 pm
Being a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a homemaker, a homeschooling teacher, a church member, a friend…I can identify with Nicole’s “busy season” (or probably more accurately, “busy life”)
A Matter of MinutesAug 8 2005 12:46 pm
Maybe it was reflecting back on family nights last week. Or possibly it was attending my nephew’s wedding this past Saturday. But for whatever reason, I have been thinking
So Much to DoJul 14 2005 3:40 pm
“What do I do when there is so much that needs doing?” It’s a question I’ve been asking myself a lot lately in the midst of the countless chores
Message LinkJul 13 2005 7:53 pm
Hey all. Just in case you were wondering, the audio message that I mentioned in my last post (“In Every Season of Life”) can be found by clicking here.
Personal RetreatJul 12 2005 10:30 pm
Yesterday, Mom encouraged us to run our race for the glory of God (Heb. 12:1-2). One key aspect of running the race is to live intentionally. And a simple,
Running the RaceJul 11 2005 12:52 pm
My friend Sandra Groveman asked how she could pray for me. “You know that this is a season of transition for C.J. and me,” I began. Yes, she knew.
Thank You LuncheonJun 28 2005 2:50 pm
On Sunday, I hosted a luncheon for twelve women in my church (Covenant Life Church, Gaithersburg, MD) who have faithfully and sacrificially served in the Titus 2 Women’s Ministry
InterruptionsJun 21 2005 11:17 am
I wanted to get up early, but C.J. encouraged me to stay in bed a little longer. I had been up quite late the night before. He thought I