A Bible Reading Plan for Little Ones {Minding our Mouths}

It's that time again- a new month is upon us, so I've got a new Bible reading plan for you to print and share with your family. This month we are focusing on our mouths and the words that they speak. I've culled 20 short passages from the Old and New Testaments {some are only a verse or two}, all about our mouths- what they are for and aren't for, how we can use them to glorify God, and how God helps us with this task.

These short readings are perfect for family worship time with small children {mine are 4, 2, and 6 months}. We like to read them over meals- keeping little hands and mouths busy so that it is easier for them to listen.

Some of the principles to focus on and discuss with your kids as you read include:

• God made our mouths, and He can help us to use them rightly!
• Our speech can and should glorify God
• Our words come from our hearts, so change in speech begins with change in heart
• Words can hurt
• Words can help
• Be slow to speak, and don't talk too much

If you use one of my plans with your family, I'd love to hear what you thought of it! Preparing these plans takes a good chunk of time each month, and I'm really wanting to improve their quality. I want them to be as user-friendly and as much of a blessing as possible! Shoot me an email at thepurposefulwife@gmail.com. Or a comment is fine too.

You can access this month's plan right here.

You might also be interested in Tips for Reading the Bible to Small Children.

Happy Bible Reading!

If you like this plan, I think you would like my new ebook! It's called Read the Bible to Your Kids: A Year of Simple Plans to get into the Word Together. 

I've created 13 topical, month long plans with passages from both the Old and New Testament. The passages are short {for short attention spans!}, and the PDF file can easily be printed off for you to check off boxes as you read.

It's a great, simple solution for families who want to build Word-centered solutions. You can find out what people are saying about it, the topics the plans cover, and download your copy for only $4.99 right here.

A New Laundry System for Us

The links below are affiliate links- which means that if you make a purchase through them, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. Thanks for supporting The Purposeful Wife!

For my entire married life, I've had a laundry day. One day each week in which I did it all. Of course when my first daughter came along she had this little projectile vomiting habit that meant I did random loads of laundry as necessity demanded... but still, the bulk happened all in one day. We added our son two years later, and still laundry day held fast.

This worked swimmingly until baby number three cane along. For some unknown reason my nice tidy laundry day became unmanageable. I had endless overflowing baskets of clean laundry sitting wrinkled around the house. We would fish for sundry clothing items as we needed them, strewing piles of once clean laundry across the floor.

Next week's laundry day would come all too quick and I'd still have a pile of wrinkly unfolded clean clothes from last week.

I don't know what it was about that third baby, but it was the straw that broke this laundry woman's back.

My old stand by system just wasn't working for me, and I needed something that did work. Because drowning in piles of clean wrinkly laundry isn't the way I want to go.

I remember Fly Lady saying "a load a day keeps Mt. Washmore at bay," and so I decided to give it a try. Praise the Lord, it works marvelously for me!

I bought a laundry sorter that holds four loads- one for whites, one for lights, one for colors, one for darks, and I use our old hamper for towels and jeans. As dirty clothes are shed, I sort them accordingly.

Now each morning, usually as close to first thing as possible, I pick whichever bag is the fullest and throw it in the wash. Ideally I have the load washed, dried, folded and put away by lunch time... but sometimes I only get to folding and putting away after the kids are in bed for the night.

It's a beautiful thing.

I don't know how long it will work for me. But I'm no longer drowning in piles. We have clean laundry exactly where it should be when we need it {usually...}. And it requires very little thought or effort on my part.

What works for you when it comes to laundry? Has your system changed over the seasons of life?

Want to Make Over Your Evenings?

The links below are affiliate links- which means that if you make a purchase through them, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. Thanks for supporting The Purposeful Wife!

If you follow me on Facebook, you might have noticed a few posts about Crystal Paine's {a.k.a Money Saving Mom} new course, Make Over Your Evenings. Even if you didn't see my posts, chances are good that you saw some of the blogosphere buzz about it. Through 14 short videos, daily projects, and accompanying workbook, Crystal walks you through how to make the most of your nights.

With my new push to get to bed earlier and set a strong evening routine in place, it couldn't have been a more timely release!

I've already posted about why I believe nights are the most important part of your day, and I thoroughly enjoyed Crystal's Make Over Your Mornings class that she released last year.

I'm getting ready to go through Make Over Your Evenings, and was wondering... is anyone interested in doing it with me? We could make it a group thing- starting next Monday, each week night I would post on the day's material as a check in. Participants could post their progress, what they are learning, and areas they need accountability in each night in the comments section. 

It would take a little over two weeks as we'd take weekends off. 

Who's in?!?

If a handful of you would like to join me then I will proceed with blogging through it. If no one speaks up, then I will just quietly work through it on my own- so please do let me know if you're interested! Mutual accountability {yes, even online} can be extremely helpful for reaching goals and making personal progress. You can purchase the course here for $17 {Crystal offers a 100% money back guarantee within 30 days if you aren't satisfied}. 

I'd love to have you join me!

In the spirit of full disclosure, you should know that I received my copy of Makeover Your Evenings as an affiliate. I did purchases Makeover Your Mornings last year with my own hard earned cash, and found it to be very beneficial. 

Upping My Bible Study Game

The links below are affiliate links- which means that if you make a purchase through them, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. But you should know that I am an avid believer in reading for free through your local library. Thanks for supporting The Purposeful Wife!

I grew up as a Pastor's kid. In high school I was president of the Christian Club, worked as a Bible camp counselor, and went on mission trips. After graduation, I attended a whopping four years of Bible college earning a Bachelors in Bible. My life has been, in many ways, saturated by the Scriptures.

And yet.

I can't say that serious Bible study is a part of my current, every day life. I read through the Bible every year, oh yes I do. Most days find me with my Bible cracked open for at least a quick read. Making printable monthly Bible reading plans has meant a lot of time spent with my concordance. And reading through Tim Challies' 2016 Reading Challenge has meant I'm picking up Bible book commentaries and other theological works.

Bible study can be confusing. If I read a commentary alongside my daily Scripture reading, does that count as personal study? Or if I work through a study book with the women's group at my church? So many tools and resources... and the idea of studying the Bible can become overwhelming. Where does one even begin?

Recently a bookish pal loaned me her copy of Jen Wilkin's Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both our Hearts and Minds. It was excellent- well written, completely relate able, absolutely doable.

Jen begins with a look at some of the bad habits Christians tend to have when it comes to reading their Bibles. She gently corrects them, then points us to a better way. Her plan for studying the Scriptures with the 5 "P's" {Purpose. Perspective. Patience. Process. Prayer.} certainly isn't easy; but it is doable.

I love how Jen openly acknowledges the difficulty we as women will have with making time for serious Bible study in different seasons of our lives. Raising small children, caring for elderly parents, bouts of illness, etc, can make it tough to be a diligent student of Scripture. But by God's grace, she challenges us to be faithful with the little moments we do have. She also equips us with a solid set of steps to follow. No wondering where to begin or what to do next!

If, like me, you struggle to know how to study the Bible for yourself... if you rely too heavily on the interpretations of other Bible readers... if you breeze through difficult passages and just hope to figure it out some day and "trust the Lord" in the meantime... I think you'll find this book to be a true blessing.

How many times have I looked to a commentary or listened to a sermon to understand an incomprehensible passage? I listen and think "oh! That makes sense!", but one week later still couldn't explain it satisfactorily, let alone remember the offered explanation. Truly studying Scripture out for myself is the only way to properly digest it and come to a place of better understanding.

With a large book and an infinite, incredible God to ponder, I'll never have the entire Bible mastered. But this invitation to swim out into the deeps has challenged me to make a beginning and just jump in.

Here's to many beautiful endeavors at knowing and loving God more through the study of His Word.

Guidelines for Talking About My Husband

Our culture is rife with husband bashing. Moms nights out are notorious opportunities for women to complain about their husbands. T.V. shows often treat dads as the dummies and moms as police patrol, keeping both kids and husband in line. I've heard my fair share of husband complaints at play dates, the grocery store, and the park.

Recently I've become frustrated with Berenstain Bear books for this very reason. I remember them fondly from childhood and tend to consider them wholesome children's literature... but has anyone else noticed the tendency of Papa Bear to act just like one of the cubs, while Mama Bear reigns as the far wiser head of the family?

One of our biggest opportunities as wives to meet our husbands need for respect is in the way we talk about him when he isn't around. How we speak about their dad in front of our kids is a crucial opportunity to inspire their own respect, or conversely, lack of respect, for their father. Our words about the man in our life truly matter.

To counter my own tendency towards sinful husband bashing, I try to pass my words through this filter:

Help with Habit Formation {Going to Bed Early}

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Of all the habits I'm seeking to develop this year, going to bed earlier has got to be the most difficult. I want to get more sleep at night- I really do- especially since I rarely get to sleep through an entire night {I'm looking at you, my 3 children 4 and under}.

But I also cherish kid-free time at night with my husband. Once I've crashed on the couch with Niall, Netflix, and a snack, it is really hard to get up again. Even when I'm tired and our show is finished, I often find myself stuck there, mindlessly browsing my phone because getting up and ready for bed just sounds like too much work. Very pathetic, I know. But very true.

I recently sat down and drew up a serious, strategic battle plan for making my desire a reality. Of all the habits I need to change, this would be a significant, keystone one- if I could just get to bed earlier, a lot of other complications in my life would clear up. When I go to bed earlier, I'm able to get up earlier. When I get up earlier, I get so much more done and just plain feel better. We're four and a half months into this new year, and it's time to batten down the hatches and make it happen.

For developing these practical steps towards habit formation, I am highly indebted to Gretchen Rubin and her book, Better Than Before- a wonderful book all about habits, happiness, and human nature.

1. Keep a Record. As Rubin is so fond of saying, we manage what we monitor. I keep a bullet journal to track my calendar, daily schedule, and to do's; so I've also put a little monthly habit tracker in there. If I go to bed on time, the next morning I get to color in the box. Theoretically a pretty chain of colors should inspire me to keep the chain unbroken.

2. Set an Alarm. I'm setting an alarm for nine each night to remind myself that it's time to begin winding down and heading towards my bedroom for the night. This is an hour before I want to turn the lights out, so it gives me plenty of time.

3. Get Ready for Bed Early. As soon as I get my kids down for the night, my goal is to brush my teeth, wash my face, and get into pajamas. Then I'll tie up whatever lose ends there are around the house, or watch t.v. with my husband. That way it should seem a bit mentally easier to get off the couch- with most of the getting ready for bed done, there are less steps to take from the couch to my bed.

4. Be Accountable. Accountability is highly effective for me. I need to get one, preferably two, friends to check in with on a daily basis. If I know that someone is expecting a text from me the next morning giving an exact time I shut off the lights, I will feel more of a push to follow through. Especially if they are developing the same habit! Knowing my faithfulness can encourage them in their progress provides extra motivation.

5. Frame it Positively. Early lights out can feel like a bummer- less kid free time at night. But if I think of it as MORE SLEEP! HOORAY! I hope that will encourage me to persevere :).

6. Crash in Bed, Not on the Couch. It's way easier to achieve lights out on time if I don't have to switch locations. Once I'm ready for bed and the day's work is done, I want to habitually hang out in my bed instead of the couch. I can read there, or watch a show on the laptop with Niall. Honestly we generally have self-control to turn off a show when we're done watching what we set out to watch. It's the whole getting up once it's done thing that is hard for me.

7. Reward for Consistency. I haven't figured out what exactly yet, but I'd like to reward myself for little milestones. Like if I go to bed on time every night for a week, I can enjoy an early Saturday morning coffee out... or something like that. An early Saturday morning might not seem ideal, but if I've been consistently going to bed earlier, it will be- feeling more energized earlier in the day is a natural benefit of going to bed earlier.

8. Make Screens Inconvenient. My phone and laptop can be definite hurdles to shutting down in a timely fashion at night. After my head to bed alarm goes off, I will plug them in to charge in the living room, then head to my bedroom and stay put. If they are less convenient to access, I'm less likely to get stuck on them.

9. Healthy Treat of Reading in Bed. I love the luxury of reading in bed... like, really, really love it. Again, it's something that flows naturally out of following my bedtime prescription. If I get in bed shortly after nine, I have a whole hour before lights out that I can spend just reading, snuggled under the covers. Which will probably also contribute to feeling more rested.

10. Consider it Obligation to my Family. When I'm tired and cranky, I'm not a naturally sweet wife and mommy. In fact, under those circumstances my natural, ugly tendency to yell, lose my temper quickly, and speak unkindly to my kids and husband comes out in full force. If I view an early bedtime as an act of sacrificial love for my most important loved ones, I hope it will inspire me to follow through.

11. Implement a Nightly Routine. Routines are wonderful things- when we develop wholesome routines, we don't have to think about doing what we ought to anymore. We just do it. My routine has already been kind of covered in pieces here- get ready for bed as soon as kids are tucked in, finish up housework, then read in bed til lights out.

12. Make my Bedroom a Nicer Place to be. Keeping my bedroom neat, tidy, and cozy will make it a more appealing place to be at the end of a long day, thus encouraging me to head there sooner. I'm concentrating extra efforts on putting clothes, jewelry, and other assorted items away immediately, as opposed to letting piles collect on the floor and other surfaces. I'd also like to make a few more efforts in the decorating department.

Theoretically and hopefully, setting all of these structures into place will assist me as I seek to go to bed earlier, habitually. I'm printing this out on pretty paper, committing to review it every night... so I'll let you know how it goes. I'd love to hear your hints and tricks for getting to bed on time, and developing any new habit in general.

When You Need A Lift in Your Motherhood

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This year I'm on a quest to read 12 new-to-me parenting books, one each month. I'm calling it "continuing education" for my job as a mom {thanks for coining that term, Cindy R.!}. In January I read Withhold Not Correction, in February The Faithful Parent, and then last month, Sally Clarkson's Mission of Motherhood.

Sometimes parenting can feel burdensome. Not that the children themselves are burdens- but the weight of being responsible for the shaping of a tiny human is A LOT. The work is constant, the sleep not so much, and the pressure of it all can be intense.

Not only must I keep them fed, relatively clean {let's not get too crazy here folks}, clothed, etc; I'm also responsible for teaching them all about the Lord, manners, social skills, and how to be hardworking, well-rounded adults. It's no small task.

Once you get into the nitty-gritty everyday reality of parenting, a lot of those preconceived ideals you had about raising children also go out the window. I can't tell you how many things I said I would "NEVER" do as a mom that I've had to eat my own words on. While a lot of that is unrealistic ideas hitting the cold hard pavement of reality, some good and truly worthy ideals are let go of because it's simply hard to carry them through when you are exhausted and overwhelmed.

For example, I really don't want my kids to watch t.v. every day. While we've slacked a lot on this ideal, especially in more trying seasons, I still believe that it's a worthy ideal. I want my children spending their days digging in the dirt, breathing in fresh air, and using their minds creatively. I want them to read a lot, to be able to work through their share of wholesome "boredom," and to nurture face-to-face relationships. So it's an ideal that, to me, is still worth fighting for, however much I may let it slide at times.

All this to say, The Mission of Motherhood was a huge pick-me-up in my mothering. Sally's words breathed fresh inspiration into my heart. All of a sudden I felt excited, hopeful, and enthusiastic about mothering the children the Lord has given me. She has a gift for encouraging moms to give the best of themselves with zeal and energy. I found myself rediscovering some of my old ideals, dusting them off and giving them renewed attention.

Not to say it is easy. Every few chapters I'd start to think, were Sally's children just far easier going than mine? Did she have the one-in-a-million, perfect family, while I am doomed to a more hopeless reality? But then she would say something that acknowledged the reality of temper tantrums, strong-willed kids, and the exhaustion known only to parents... and I'd realize, "No- she really gets it." And maybe she writes so strongly optimistically because she knows we are experiencing enough of the difficult stuff, and need brighter thoughts to build us up.

Motherhood done well calls for all of us- our time, attention, striving, and focus. Sally paints a beautiful picture of the fruits of such whole-hearted endeavors. If you need a solid dose of inspiration in your motherhood, I would highly recommend this book.

The Biggest Problem in My Marriage

It's not our financial situation.

It's not the differences in our opinions of how we should raise our children.

It's not the fact that he doesn't listen particularly well when he's sitting in front of a screen.

Or even that we still haven't perfectly nailed the whole communication thing.

It isn't sex.

It isn't either pair of in-laws.

And it isn't about roles and who does what in our relationship.

Gratitude for His Constant Goodness

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"'O that man would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men' (Psalm 107:8). Gratitude is the return justly required from the objects of His beneficence; yet is it often withheld from our great Benefactor simply because His goodness is so constant and so abundant. It is lightly esteemed because it is exercised toward us in the common course of events. It is not felt because we daily experience it." A.W. Pink, The Attributes of God

I'm fairly certain that not a day of my life has gone by in which I haven't committed the sin of complaining. I complain when my food doesn't quite suit my present cravings. I complain when the weather isn't ideal. I complain that my kids didn't sleep well, that my house is an impossible disaster, that I don't have enough money or time or freedom to do as I please.

Oh yes, complaining and I are familiar companions.

This sin that we've deemed as "respectable" {check out Jerry Bridges excellent book, Respectable Sins}- it's the same sin that God hated so much in the Israelite's that He struck them down in the wilderness for it. Because complaining is really, at its roots, an accusation that God isn't good, that He really doesn't know what is best for me. Or if He does, He is withholding it. Complaining in its true colors is blasphemous heresy.

The truth of the matter is that we are surrounded by the manifold goodness of God on a daily, moment-by-moment basis. As I sit and type there is snow falling in April. The temptation is to complain that it shouldn't snow in April! Doesn't God know that it is Spring already??

But really, the view I am enjoying from my comfortably heated home is stunning. The cup of coffee with real cream I'm drinking is a luxury. The mess on the floor surrounding me is a sign of God's abundant provision for our family, and all of the fun and liveliness that my precious children bring into our home. I don't feel these blessings as I ought to because I daily experience them.

His goodness is constant and abundant, and as I take the time to notice and thank Him for it, everything changes. My heart, my soul, my mind are all renewed, my perspective shifts, and joy replaces the bleak grumblings. How good God is- when we fulfill our duty of ascribing to Him the thanks and praise He justly deserves, He rewards us with deep and sweet happiness. Yet again, more goodness.

May the Lord cultivate in us thankful hearts. May we stop taking His many blessings for granted, and give Him the daily praise and thanks He so righteously requires.

I'm beginning {almost} every Monday morning of 2016 with words from a "great mind"- encouraging quotes from believers who have finished the course before us, running well to the end. My prayer is that they will give both you and me the boost we need to start our week both hopeful and fixed on Jesus.

1st Quarter Reading {2016}

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I've seen several bloggers share what they read each quarter, and I thought that would be a fun way to give you a peek at what's been on my nightstand of late. So far this year I've managed to finish 16 books- which is pretty good for me! Setting weekly goals is helping immensely {though I'm not super strict or regimented about them- if I can squeeze in 30 pages a day, I'm happy}, as well as working my way through this reading challenge with a couple of buddies.

Here's my list so far:

Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl. Hilarious and fascinating. I started this one with my mom as a read aloud over New Years, and we were both enchanted. I loved this peek into a world I'll never otherwise experience- the life and disguises of a New York Times food critic.

Withhold Not Correction by Bruce A. Ray. A sobering and helpful, Biblically-grounded look at child rearing. I wrote more in detail about it here.

Emma by Alexander McCall Smith. I hate to admit it, but Emma is my least favorite Austen novel. I love the characters and love the plot line, but find the pages of dialogue to be tedious at times. I'm looking at you, Ms. Bates. I enjoyed the first half of this modern retelling more than the second half. A fun and lighthearted read, perfect for a weekend breeze through.

A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg. Based on good recommendations from some of my favorite book bloggers, I had high expectations for this one. I was disappointed. It wasn't what I expected at all- her time in Paris was only a small percentage of the book. I had a hard time connecting with Wizenberg on a personal level, and I think that's why this one just didn't do it for me.

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt. Middle School fiction isn't usually my genre of choice, but I loved this book! Schmidt is hilarious, heartbreaking, and deeply profound as he tackles the Vietnam war, family troubles, and the manifold difficulties of being a junior high boy. Plus it made me want to read Shakespeare. No small feat.

These is My Words by Nancy E. Turner. I really and truly loved this fictional diary of a pioneer woman in the Arizona Territories. It tracks her life from the teen years into middle age. A really beautiful story that has stayed with me for well over a month. My only disclaimer is that life was really rough in Arizona at that particular point in American history- there is a rape scene in the book that I found deeply unsettling.

Life and Letters of "Stonewall" Jackson by his wife. The character of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson deeply challenged me in my faith, and was remarkably compelling. My first real exposure to the Civil War since high school was also fascinating. At times it gets a bit slow, but if you push through it will be rewarding.

The Faithful Parent by Martha Peace and Stuart Scott. I loved this book, mostly for its understanding and explanation of our children's spiritual condition. For a more thorough review, click here.

The Lake House by Kate Morton. Kate Morton has truly mastered the art of spinning suspenseful stories, stories that keep you guessing to the end. I really enjoyed this book, up until the last unbelievable 5 or 10 pages. On a slightly more philosophical note, I'm bothered by the lengths our society is able to go in justifying adultery, in making it seem perfectly reasonable...and thus, excusable. I was also deeply interested in Morton's exploration of the complicated nature of mother/daughter relationships.

Having a Martha Home the Mary Way by Sarah Mae. Inspirational and enjoyable. I love Sarah Mae's ability to empower women with purpose and hope in their homemaking.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. I was deeply drawn in by the characters and intricate, interconnection of the various plot points. Ultimately I ended dissatisfied with all of the unresolved, unknowns... but I guess life can be kind of like that sometimes. Which is maybe part of his point.

The Cross Centered Life by C.J.Mahaney. Simple and sweet encouragement to keep the Gospel central in our lives.

The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson. This book breathed new life into my motherhood. Very inspiring, very refreshing. Hope to write a full post on it soon!

The Romanov Sisters by Helen Rappaport. Seeing this on the library shelf brought back my childhood obsession with the family of Russia's last czar, and I knew I had to read it. This author is so talented- her history reads more like a novel. Very good.

Being Mortal by Atul Gawande. A very important book on aging and terminal illness by a surgeon and professor at Harvard medical school. I'm so glad I read this now, while my parents are still young and no family members are terminally ill. But at the same time it was mildly depressing to read right before turning 30, ha ha.

The Attributes of God by A.W. Pink. Each attribute comprises just a few pages, so I found this to be a wonderful addition to my morning devotional times. It also compliments this month's family Bible reading plan ;).

What have you read so far this year? Let's make the comment section a highlights reel!

Observing the Christian Sabbath {Part 4: Practical Application}

So far in this Sabbath series, we've covered:

• Biblical reasons for observing the Christian Sabbath 
• My personal story of how I came to this position
• A Biblical understanding of what the Sabbath is for

Today is the last post in the series. I'm going to briefly give you a picture of what Sunday's look like in our home, then provide a few suggestions which will hopefully be helpful to moms of little ones, seeking to find rest and spiritual refreshment within the unrelenting demands of motherhood.

As I mentioned in the last post, because believers today are no longer under the ceremonial law, there is no longer a black and white list of dos and don'ts for exact Sabbath observance. Practical application is going to look a little different in different homes. Developing your own personal convictions and practices will come as you seek the Lord through prayer, His Word, and counsel with other wise believers.

My desire with this post is to give you a helpful starting place for structuring your own day of rest and worship.

A typical Sunday morning at the O'Neill's house starts with getting ready for church. Most Saturday nights I lay out everyone's clothes, pack the diaper bag and Bibles, take my own shower, and prep the next day's meals so the day is as easy as possible. All I have to do in the morning is dress myself, feed everyone, and dress the kids.

We get home from church between 12:30-1. I heat up leftovers for lunch- no cooking enables me to rest from my normal work. Our two older kids used to take naps after lunch, so Niall and I took them too. Unfortunately now they are bigger and have mostly outgrown naps. Since they both sit in service with us, I don't feel good about making them do their typical week day quiet time either. Kids need to get their energy out at some point! This is a new challenge for us.

Some weeks Niall and I take turns napping. I lay down while he plays with the kids, then he wakes me up at a pre-determined time and we switch. I let the kids go out on our enclosed porch at the back of the house and close the door so I can read my Bible, study, or read another Christian book in quiet while they play. When they are bored of that, I set them up with art supplies and play either the Audio Bible for them, or a playlist of Hymns on Spotify.

Then we feed them a quick dinner and get ready to go back for evening service. By the time we get home from this second service, it is past bed time and we rush to get all of the kids down for the night. At which point Niall and I conclude the day, make a quick dinner, and enjoy a show on the couch before going to bed ourselves.

"Sabbath" for us is a day that we take a break from screens. We don't use our phones {apart from Skyping with long distance family} or turn on the t.v. {until the kids are in bed after evening service}. Occasionally we will spend the afternoon with folks from church- either hosting them for lunch, or going to another home. Sometimes we might visit someone in the hospital or a nursing home.

Between morning and evening services, we really don't have a lot of time to be bored, as I so feared before adjusting our lives to the weekly rhythm of Sabbath.

To boil it down, here are some practical ways a mom can "rest" on the Sabbath. Yes, you will still be disciplining, refereeing, training, and meeting the needs of your children. But these little tricks really make me feel rested at the start of each week:

• Cook ahead of time. This is a big one for me! I try to cook enough on Friday and Saturday so that meals on Sunday are just a matter of reheating. We've also recently instituted a tradition of muffins for breakfast Sunday mornings. I make the batter the night before, and just pop them into the oven first thing for a warm and yummy, extra special breakfast just for the Lord's Day.

• No housework. I don't do dishes or laundry or any other housework on Sundays. I don't go grocery shopping either. This requires strategic planning, and due diligence on Saturday especially. But it is totally worth it! Sure, Monday morning is usually spent getting everything in order for a new week, but the rest I had the day before equips me for facing the disaster. Institute a paper plates on Sunday policy to give yourself more leeway.

• A different agenda. Every day but Sunday, I have a to do list driving me. In between sibling conflicts and potty trips and blowing noses or instructing a child, I'm tackling as many to do's as I'm able. On Sundays, rest and worship are my only agenda. That means if the kids are playing nicely for a few minutes, I pick up theological reading I struggle to get in the rest of the week. Or I pray or read my Bible or just sit. Sure, I might not get many uninterrupted moments- but the ones I do get are spent with a specific purpose.

• Swap naps with your spouse. This might not work in every house- for example, a pastor's wife might have to diligently protect her husband's time between multiple Sunday services- but its at least worth asking your spouse about. If both husband and wife can catch a few minutes in bed while the other spouse keeps them quietly occupied, everyone wins. 

• No screens. A common thread in our culture is the overuse of technological devices. Laying down my phone, turning off the computer and television for one day, is so helpful in our home! It curbs addiction- we are comfortable when we don't have access to a screen, because we are used to not having them every single Sunday. It helps us to reconnect with the most important people in our life, to spend quality, distraction free face-to-face time. 

• Center kid time on the Word. I want the Lord's Day to be a meaningful, God centered day for my children as well as myself. Mothering is the one job in my life that I don't get a weekly Sabbath from! Sometimes it can feel frustrating to never get a break. To curb these feelings in my heart, I really attempt to spend focused Word time with my kids on Sundays. While they color their pictures from Sunday School, I talk with them about what they learned or play the stories they heard in church from the audio Bible. When they are clambering for some attention, we snuggle up on the couch and read Bible story books. We might go for an afternoon walk to burn some energy and talk about God's hand in the creation around us. If I'm intentional about the time I spend with them, I'm less likely to get discouraged. 

If you've never set aside the weekly Christian Sabbath but you'd like to start, the change might not be as drastic as you fear. If you're anything like my husband and I were before we did, it will probably be radically refreshing compared to your current worn-out and overbooked condition! 

First, identify areas of work you can set aside for a day {mine for example are food prep, dishes, shopping, and other housework}. The key is to prepare as much as possible ahead of time. Plan to pick up that emergency gallon of milk or package of diapers Saturday afternoon. Plan your meals ahead of time. Try to tidy your home Saturday night before bed so the next day is relaxing and not stressful. Then, purpose to fill your day with rest and spiritual refreshment. Include your kids as much as possible- the Sabbath is for the whole family!

I hope this series was helpful for those of you asking me about the topic. If you have any questions that I haven't answered, hit me up with an email {thepurposefulwife@gmail.com} or leave them in the comments. I'll do my best to respond promptly! Thanks. 

Observing the Christian Sabbath {Part 3: Philosophy of Application}

We've discussed why believers should observe the Christian Sabbath. I've shared the story of how my husband and I came to this understanding. Today I'd like to look more specifically at application.

 Practically speaking, how can one observe the Christian Sabbath? Especially for moms, how can we make the Sabbath a day of worship and rest when we are still so busy with our every day work of child rearing?

First, let me clear the air a little bit. There is this common idea of "sabbathing" that Christians like to toss around- a day of leisure and rest and pleasure, which can be scheduled at one's own convenience.

Rest is only half of the Biblical equation of Sabbath. The Day was also, primarily, intended for worship. We take a day away from our normal work, responsibilities, and pleasures {check out Isaiah 58:13-14}, for rest, yes, but more significantly, for the spiritual refreshment that comes from worship.

Also note that we aren't intended to pick the day ourselves. In the Old Testament, God clearly instructed His people to observe it on Saturdays. Because of Christ's Resurrection on the first day of the week, and because of the apostolic example, Christians now keep it on Sunday's.

In our culture it's becoming increasingly popular for churches to hold extra services on Saturday evenings or at other times. More convenient for members, and that way we can check the box for church attendance each week, easy-peasy.

I normally don't take rigid stances on this blog, in order to preserve a gracious spirit of unity... but this time I just have to say it. Worship isn't about us. It isn't about our convenience or what fits most nicely into our schedules. There is a New Testament precedent set that Sunday is the Lord's Day, and that that is the day believers are to meet in their local assembly. Our Savior laid down His very life for us, shed His precious blood... is it really too much to give Him one day?

With that ground covered, let's briefly take the positive tour of what the day is for, Biblically. We've already mentioned rest and worship. From the corrections Jesus made in the Gospels, we can also draw the conclusions that Sabbath is for acts of necessity {Jesus' disciples picking heads of grain} and acts of mercy {Jesus healing}.

Necessity means that Christian medical professionals, law enforcement, and a few other key positions will have to work the occasional Sunday. It means that if your pipes burst on a Sunday morning you will be compelled to drop everything else and take action immediately. Didn't Jesus say if you're donkey falls in a ditch on the Sabbath, you are going to have to get it out? Moms still have to feed their families, change diapers, and keep their little ducklings in  row.

Mercy means that the Sabbath is an excellent day to visit folks in the hospital or nursing home or prison. You can honor the Sabbath by writing letters of encouragement to the struggling, or helping your neighbor if their pipes burst. The Sabbath was made for man, man wasn't made for the Sabbath.

Because we no longer live under ceremonial law, we don't have a black and white list of do's and don't as believers seeking to honor the Lord's Day. We rely heavily on these principles laid down by our Lord Jesus, and form our own personal convictions through much prayer, study of the Word, and seeking the counsel of our Elders and other wise believers.

Because this post is {once again!} getting far lengthier than the average blog reader's attention span can manage {myself included!}, I'll call it quits for now and pick up again next week. Promise!

Stay tuned for the specifics of how we spend the Lord's Day in our home, and ways a busy mom can cut herself a little slack despite the constant demands of child rearing. And then I promise to lay this lengthy series to rest. Bear with me. Ha ha.