Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. – Psalm 143:8
I admit that I just barely survive mornings.
I have always looked at those who rise with a smile, look like a supermodel by 8 a.m., have lunches packed, snack bags assembled and permission slips signed while possessing an uncanny ability to know just where all of the hats and mittens are located in her home.
I want to be her. Really. I do.
But just as I heard on “What’s In The Bible?” the other day, you can’t change God’s own nature and I’m pretty sure that being a woman who is not a fan of mornings is within my nature. It’s an essential part of who I am.
OK, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit but you get my drift.
I read about things I should do each morning and I reign in that slightly insane part of me that thinks just for a glimmer of a moment that MAYBE, just MAYBE, I could implement this newly-found plan into our already hectic mornings.
I picture a Norman Rockwellian moment where we are all peacefully eating breakfast. No one is talking, crying, or screaming, no orange juice is being spilled across the table, and all children are listening intently to their mother reading a morning devotional to get their day started on the right foot. The reality? Our table is often covered by at least one spill in the and it’s pretty much guaranteed that someone will cry, another will announce an injustice against him or her, and another will be searching frantically for lost shoes.
I want to model a quiet time for my children but the reality is, my quiet time is after they’re all in bed. They don’t ever see it. And I like it that way if truth be told. It’s MY time with HIM.
This month, Tommy Nelson Publishing sent us 100 Read and Sing Devotions and I have to admit that I wasn’t necessarily as excited to delve into it as the Heaven Is For Real For Kids book that came along with it.
Oh, how I underestimated it’s worth.
It’s great.
The devotionals are short but rich – just perfect for a morning of spilled orange juice and lost shoes.
Not to mention that we in the Snapp Family are all quite musical – we love it and most of us have a melody floating through our heads at all times.
I originally thought it would appeal most to my youngest love who is three and it did – but my six year old and my four year old liked it, too.
Each short devotionals coordinates with a song on the CD that accompanies the book. The melodies are a perfect mix of classic hymns (which I love for my children to know) and traditional Sunday school songs they are familiar with but love and could listen to repeatedly.
To enter to win a copy of this useful family faith-builder, please leave a comment and tell me – what would you do with this devotional? What would be your goal? To complete it in a year? To read at least three a week? Do share! Mr. Random Generator will pick a comment number on Wednesday at 9:01 p.m. Eastern Time and I’ll announce the winner on Thursday.
Here’s to a no-spill morning kind of week to you all…
As a ‘non-morning’ person also, I feel your pain…lol. I would love to get all things done by noonish and have the rest of the day devoted to fun, but I am so much less stressed to take it slow in the mornings.
I currently do “Keys for Kids” by Focus on the Family for our devotions (with my little ones, the big ones have their own devotion books). We all love these devotions, but the thought of having music to go along with the lesson is so exciting for me. My kids love music and it would be great to have them learning their lesson set to music. I still remember verses from songs learned when I was small. Thank you for the opportunity to win :)
OUR FAMILY LOVES THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I haven’t heard of this book but by the way Natalie described it, it sounds perfect for my current life style. As a new mom I find myself being so exhausted in the morning & then too in the evening. A short but rich devo. would be great for my short & exhausted attention span. :) I would hope that I could use it at least 3 times a week if not more! :)
I wish there would have been a book like this when my kids were young. If I won this book I would give it to my daughter to use for her son (our first grandchild). He is a little young (2 1/2 months) right now, but I think it would be a great way to start teaching him not only the Bible but to develop a habit of reading the Bible.
I read with my son each night. This would be a nice addition to our prayer time. Like you, I want them to see quiet time in action (I am a 5:30 in the morning girl but I in no way look like a supermodel by 8:00!). This is a useful tool to helping them see what that time looks like and showing them that they can take other books and turn them into devotionals.
I have two littles, ages 5 and almost 4. We find it extremely difficult to get everyone on the same page with devotions and prayer time, especially since my hubby is a non-believer. My 5yo would gladly sit and read the Bible with me for hours, watch Veggie Tales all day, and do Christ-centered crafts. The 4yo…not so much. He can sit through one (very) short story and then he’s done. I think the music would get him much more involved!
I have a 3 and 5 year old and they would absolutely love this! I have been doing little mini quiet times with them here and there, but nothing regular, my goal is to do it consistently a few times a week, and I think this book would really help!
Thanks!
Angie
I’m that mommy you described above…except that I don’t ALWAYS rise with a smile..perhaps “survivor” would be a better description of my look by 8 a.m., I sometimes misplace papers that need to go to school, and Sophie sometimes goes without a snack at school, and although I possess an uncanny ability to know just where all of the hats and mittens are located in my home, I have a Hatmittenshoe Monster that eats things from the places I keep them and vomits them out in random unknown places around the house. Yep, that’s me to a T. Which is EXACTLY why we do our devos with the kids before bedtime. ;) We’ve been looking for a new devotional to try out, as the 75th time through the Veggie Tales Storybook Bible is getting quite redundant. Music is also a part of our daily lives, and I love the idea of playing the corresponding song in the morning over breakfast. :D
You are in good company. I’ve never met “that mo
” and I know many amazing women.
Oh how our mornings drive me insane! It is difficult to get my kiddos out of bed. They love music and crave family time. My hope would be to use it on Wednesday mornings at first to get over that “hump” in the week and build more days in one by one. For us we just need a kick start and this might be the perfect thing!
Oh how our mornings drive me insane! It is difficult to get my kiddos out of bed. They love music and crave family time. My hope would be to use it on Wednesday mornings at first to get over that “hump” in the week and build more days in one by one. For us we just need a kick start and this might be the perfect thing!
I have been wanting to start a family devotion time and just haven’t made the time to do it. This sounds like a great book to use!!