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Free Chapters on Women in the Bible!🙌

Linsey Driskill

I’m excited to share this with you! This is awesome! Focus on the Family is giving away three chapters of my Mother-Daughter Devotional book about women in the Bible for FREE! You can find them in this interview (The book is for 6-10 year old girls). Enjoy! ❤️🙌 Interview with 3 FREE chapters!

You can find my book at the following places online (and soon to be in Mardel’s Bookstore!): Amazon,  Barnes & Noble,  ChristianBook.com,  Books-A-Million,  Target,  &  Focus on the Family

How the book works:
❤️ Focus on the “Words for your Heart” verse that week
❤️ Read the interactive story for that week
❤️ Read the prayer together at the end of the story (I usually have my daughter read the prayer)
❤️ You have all week to do the simple Daughters in Action prompt & Creative Fun Activity which help you connect with your 6-10 year-old daughter & the Lord.

This book is a 40-chapter devotional you can do at your own pace. You could do several chapters a week or just one, and you can pick what activities you’d like to do, or do them all. You could use it as a 40-Day Devotional if you don’t do the activities and only read the stories of women in the Bible (but the fun activities are so fun and help grow your faith). I pray this book helps you draw closer to Jesus and your daughter.

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I love these words by singer, Matt Maher…

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In case you missed last month’s post: “Small Things are Big Things to the Lord”…

I was at a store yesterday waiting for a cashier. An employee yelled to the other employee, “You got a customer at the front!” She yelled back angrily, “They can wait!” I was kind of surprised. And honestly, a little annoyed as I thought it was pretty rude. As she came to the counter she was talking on her phone to a friend venting about how a cashier didn’t show up and she had to do everything. I started to feel bad for her, and noticed she was fully overwhelmed. 

I told her I was so sorry that the person didn’t show up and how tough that must be (while she was still on the phone). Then she told her friend she had to go. Maybe when she saw I wasn’t mad but sympathetic she decided to get off the call? I told her how I had just been to a similar store to theirs, but left and came to this one because it was much cleaner and better organized. She let out a deep breath. 

Then she apologized to me for venting in front of me on the phone. I told her that I had just finished venting with a friend about something too and that sometimes we just need to. She said she doesn’t usually do that in front of customers, but that she was left to unload all the frozen foods alone while still being the cashier and that she just couldn’t do it all. She said she was fixing to cry and I could see the tears coming. I told her she’s doing a great job and that I’d pray for her. She said, “Now that’s what I need. That will help. Thank you.” As the line grew longer behind me, I told her again, “As soon as I get in the car, I‘m going to pray for you.”

There are other times I’ve been in a similar situation and have stayed frustrated, not giving as much grace, but this time I was able to see the reward of giving grace. I really believe that is what God means when He says to love our neighbor. To see through the exterior to the heart. To give grace when it’s needed. What’s going on with them – are they broken, struggling? God longs to lift people up in their heartache and exhaustion. 

While I’ve heard people talk often about wanting to do “big things for God”, I am convinced that in the Lord’s eyes, “small” things are big things. I think we can get caught up in thinking we have to do big deeds or have huge accomplishments to share God’s love, but as Mother Teresa says, “We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.” 

It’s sometimes in a smile or a few kind words that we share the love of Christ.

My response to the cashier was a “small thing”. But I believe the small things are big thing to God. How can we be people who spread God’s love and give grace in “small” ways? It doesn’t mean we can’t have expectations, but it does mean we ask the Spirit to lead us, and when we sense brokenness and someone crying out, that we take a moment to show them God’s love. 

God gives us grace All. The. Time. Let’s do the same with those around us. Don’t underestimate how powerful “small” things can be to others and to the Lord. 

Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” – Jesus

In the kingdom of God, small things are big things. Go love the Lord, your family, and those around you in “small” ways today. ❤️

“Small Things” are Big Things to the Lord

Linsey Driskill

I was at a store yesterday waiting for a cashier. An employee yelled to the other employee, “You got a customer at the front!” She yelled back angrily, “They can wait!” I was kind of surprised. And honestly, a little annoyed as I thought it was pretty rude. As she came to the counter she was talking on her phone to a friend, venting about how a cashier didn’t show up and she had to do everything. I started to feel bad for her, and noticed she was fully overwhelmed.

I told her I was sorry that the person didn’t show up and how tough that must be (while she was still on the phone). Then she told her friend she had to go. Maybe when she saw I wasn’t mad, but was sympathetic, she decided to get off the call. I told her how I had just been to a similar store to theirs, but left and came to this one because it was much cleaner and better organized. Relief washed over her.

Then she apologized for venting in front of me on the phone. She said she doesn’t usually do that in front of customers, but that she was left to unload all the frozen foods alone while still being the cashier and that she just couldn’t do it all. She said she was fixing to cry and I could see the tears coming. I told her she’s doing a great job and that I’d pray for her. She said, “Now that’s what I need. That will help. Thank you.” As the line grew longer behind me, I told her again, “As soon as I get in the car, I‘m going to pray for you.”

There are other times I’ve been in a similar situation and have stayed frustrated, not giving as much grace, but this time I was able to see the reward of giving grace. I really believe that is what God means when He says to love our neighbor. To see through the exterior to the heart. To simply give grace when it’s needed. What’s going on with them – are they broken, struggling? God longs to lift people up in their heartache and exhaustion.

While I’ve heard people talk often about wanting to do “big things for God”, I am convinced that in the Lord’s eyes, “small” things are big things. I think we can get caught up in thinking we have to do big deeds or have huge accomplishments to share God’s love, but as Mother Teresa says, “We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.”

It’s sometimes in a smile or a few kind words that we share the love of Christ.

My response to the cashier was a “small thing”. But I believe that small things are big thing to God. How can we be people who spread God’s love and give grace in “small” ways? It doesn’t mean we can’t have expectations, but it does mean we ask the Spirit to lead us, and when we sense brokenness and someone crying out, that we take a moment to encourage them.

God gives us grace All. The. Time. Let’s do the same with those around us. Don’t underestimate how powerful “small” things can be to others and to the Lord.

Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” – Jesus

In the kingdom of God, small things are big things. Go love the Lord, your family, and those around you in “small” ways today.

A Good Routine this Fall

Linsey Driskill

God, let me never quench my kids’ creativity. Even though I’m hurdling and ducking under ropes and lights to vacuum, my kids are getting older, and when I see these moments of creativity still, like making a balloon volleyball court out of lights, bricks, an old crib mattress, haha! and all the rest, it’s just awesome.

They teach me about the opportunity I have to enjoy, to relax, and to still have fun. Life is so hard sometimes, and it can be so easy to sit in that. Sometimes we need to. But let’s not forget to come up for air, and to enjoy the silly, the fun, the simple things of life too, like made-up volleyball courts, blasting music when we’re finally getting around to vacuuming, being goofy with our kids, and just talking with them and enjoying them.

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If you’re looking for a fun devotional about women in the Bible to do with your 6-10 year old daughter, you can find my book at the following places (and soon to be at Mardel’s Bookstore!): Amazon,  Barnes & Noble,  ChristianBook.com,  Books-A-Million,  Target,  &  Focus on the Family

How the book works:
☀️Read 1 story a week
☀️Focus on the “Words for your Heart” verse that week
☀️You have all week to do the simple “Daughters in Action” prompt & “Creative Fun” Activity which help you connect with your daughter. ❤️

It’s a 40-week devotional you can do at your own pace. You can pick and choose which activities you’d like to do, do them all, or it can be a 40-Day Devotional if you don’t do the activities and only read the stories of women in the Bible. 

I love this sweet pic of a mom & daughter reading through my devotional book together. 😊 Now is a great time to get in a habit of seeking the Lord together! 

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I pray that your week is led by the Lord, filled by Him, and that you are able to BE in today. And, I pray that the Lord meets you right where you are.

Hugs,

Linsey

We have a whole lot of this in our home…

Linsey Driskill

We sure have a whole lot of forgiveness in our house. We are so in need of the Gospel. Of His forgiveness. 

I think sometimes we can get this image in our heads that other families have it all together – that there is only stillness and perfection and peace. 

But, when you put a whole bunch of humans in a house who fall short, that’s just not the case. Yes, there can be a whole lot more peace when we have Jesus connecting us and when we seek Him. But, let’s not be fooled to think that as humans, we will arrive to perfection here. There is something very freeing about that, isn’t there?

That we don’t have to have it all together and act perfectly – We are forgiven.

That we don’t have to have all the answers – Jesus is it. 

That there is grace when we misstep – Bountiful grace.

That as we seek Him we will become more like Him – Redemption.

All because of Jesus. 

In our imperfections, when voices are raised, when we let rude comments leave our lips, when tones are anything but kind, when we haven’t given one of our children the attention they need but have been absorbed with other things, one of the very best things we can do is point our kids (and ourselves) to the Gospel and to our need for Jesus, by simply asking for forgiveness. 

I think that is one of the reasons God prizes humility so dearly. It shows our great need for him.

In pride, we think we have it all together and don’t see our need for Him as clearly.

In humility, we see the gaping need we have for Him, our imperfections glaring, His forgiveness beckoning us and redeeming us a moment at a time. Helping us to start over. 

When our kids also reach out to us in humility, saying their sorry, let’s not forget to also forgive them, giving them the same grace God has given us. 

Jesus took it all for us on the cross that day. All our sin. We are forgiven in Him when we believe in Him. That is why Paul said in Galatians 5: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” Galatians 5:1 

One of the beautiful parts about it all, is when we come and bring our hearts, unveiled before the Lord, raw and open, He will begin transforming them to be more like His. 

That will bring more peace and joy. But, when we do fall short, as we all do and will, let us be quick to ask for forgiveness, to forgive, and to have a whole lot of love and forgiveness in our homes.

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Fun Announcement!

Linsey Driskill

Good morning, everyone! I’m excited to let you know that I just started working with For Girls Like You, a non-profit ministry to tween girls (7-12 years old) and their parents. We were founded by the late Wynter Pitts (mother of four daughters) to provide a simple way to encourage young girls to know their worth in God. We publish a bi-monthly, Christ-centered magazine for tween girls (forgirlslikeyou.com), various devotionals, fiction books, activity books, and digital resources for tween girls.

We partner with churches, schools, and nonprofits all over the country – if you know of any who might like to get the magazine to girls they serve, that would be great if you’d connect us or email me at Linsey@forgirlslileyou.com (no “d” in Linsey) to let me know.

If you’d like to subscribe to get the magazine, you can use the Promo code Friends5. My girls have really enjoyed getting the magazine and seeing other girls their age who love Jesus! Click below to check it out:

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If you are looking for a fun way for your kids to keep some Scripture in their hearts, check out my Creative Fun activity from chapter 3 of my Devotional (a Focus on the Family resource): “Courage and Compassion-Jochebed, Shiprah, Puah, and Pharaoh’s Daughter”. The “Words for Your Heart” memory verse is 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 “Stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” You write each word in the hop scotch squares and say each word as you jump in the square. When we finished playing, we all had memorized the verse!

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