A Book List to Equip Word-Centered Moms
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I’m a mom with four kids eight and under. I desperately long to build a Word-centered home for my kids.
I want them to be saturated in the Scriptures, bursting with knowledge of who God is and what He does. I want to read, pray, and memorize the Bible with them, little as they may be.
Sometimes my reality seems incompatible with these lofty ideals. Little sleep, lots of messes, and all of the chaos can crowd out my best intentions for being a woman of the Word. I believe that the quest to know the Lord and introduce Him to my kids is worth the fight, however. These are a few books that are equipping and encouraging me to be a Word-Centered Mom.
Together: Growing Appetites for God by Carrie Ward
This book is mercifully short for busy moms! It details how one mom began reading the Bible, chapter by chapter, to her three small children. It took them seven years, but they made it through the entire Bible together! I’m so inspired by her stories of how consistent Bible reading changed her and her family. Her advice for navigating difficult passages and energetic kids is also extremely helpful. Together is a book I keep returning to and rereading for help and encouragement.
Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin
This is the perfect, basic starting place for learning how to study the Bible for yourself. 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 time we do have. In Women of the Word, Jen equips us with a solid set of steps to follow. No wondering where to begin or what to do next!
Read the Bible to Your Kids by Rachel O’Neill
If you are ready to start reading the Bible to your kids but feel overwhelmed and just aren’t sure where to begin, this might be a good resource for you. I’ve created 14 month-long, thematic, Bible reading plans that pull short passages from both the Old and New Testaments. I wanted to read the Bible to my kids but couldn’t find the resource I was looking for, so I made it for myself and other parents. Read the Bible to Your Kids is a simple starting place for daily family Bible reading.
Christ in the Chaos by Kimm Crandall
The best way for me to build a Word-centered home is to be a Word-centered woman myself. If I’m not basking in the truths of God’s grace daily, I will not be able to impart them to my kids. This (also mercifully short) book really knocked the wind right out of me. I am a sinner who will never be the perfect mom, and my kids are sinners who will never obey me perfectly.
Christ in the Chaos will help you to truly understand who you are, as a sinful mom, but more importantly, as a redeemed child of God. There is an index of grace-filled Bible verses in the back to help you meditate on these life-giving truths every day. Writing them out and placing them around your home is a great way to renew your mind!
The Hardest Peace by Kara Tippets
What do you do when your life suddenly becomes a worst-case scenario? Walk with this young pastor’s wife and mother of four as she comes to The Hardest Peace–reconciling God’s goodness and sovereignty with her terminal breast cancer. Kara’s story reminds me of why I am so desperate to faithfully impart God’s Word to my kids: life is a vapor, and I’m not sure how much time I have (or they have) left. I want to be faithful today. Now is the time, today is the day of salvation.
Moving in Close by Christy Fitzwater
Join Christy as she takes your hand and shares how to connect with God through His Word with her signature warmth and humor. The chapters are short and there are plenty of practical tips you can plug-in and apply right away.
Center Your Heart in His Word
Christian moms have a high and noble calling. To train up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord is no small task. Fortunately, we’re also equipped for the task by a gracious God who has given us His precious Word. I hope these resources encourage you as you seek to center your heart and home in His Word!
For His Kingdom,
Rachel O’Neill
Here at Club31Women, we recognize that not everyone has the same taste or point of view on books, music, or movies, but we offer these short reviews for your consideration. Our hope is that you will find something new and wonderful on this list of recommended resources!
~ Club31Women
Rachel O’Neill is the wife of Niall and mom to three girls and a boy. She loves good books, coffee with just cream, and chocolate. She’s thankful that God’s grace covers her sins and that His sovereignty gives compelling purpose to all of life. When she’s not hunting down sippy cups, reading aloud, or trying to keep her attitude under the influence of the Holy Spirit, she blogs at The House O’Neill.
100 Words of Affirmation Your Son/Daughter Needs to Hear
Matt and Lisa Jacobson want you to discover the powerful ways you can build your children up in love with the beautiful words you choose to say every day–words that every son and daughter needs to hear.
These affirmation books offer you one hundred phrases to say to your son or daughter – along with short, personal stories and examples – that deeply encourage, affirm, and inspire.
So start speaking a kind and beautiful word into their lives daily and watch your children–and your relationship with them–transform before your eyes.
