Busy Mom's Bible

About a month ago, I received an email from Zondervan asking if I would be interested in reviewing their latest Busy Mom's Bible (Who me? And how did you find my little blog in this massive blog land?). I realize that they contacted many other bloggers too but I was still overjoyed and excited.

Yesterday, this is what I received in the mail. It had a vibrant cover filled with typical busy mom things like to-do lists, recipes, school forms, etc:

And on the inside it said: Give yourself a time out. Take just a few minutes away from your to-do list, and enjoy this free copy of the Busy Mom's Bible, a gift from Zondervan.

And then I unwrapped this beautiful box:

I liked the box picture immediately, and couldn't wait to get my hands on my new Bible:

Isn't it beautiful? The outside of the Bible is a soft pink leather that fits perfectly in my hands. Here is what it looks like on the inside:

The Busy Mom's Bible is NIV and it also contains 52 "one-minute" devotions or "thought starters" as they call it to "let you dip into God's Word for a minute of refreshment. To go deeper, each of these Thought-Starters is followed by an option for a five-minute Reflect & Pray or a ten-minute Study to help you learn even more about what God's Word has to say to you today."

I think it is a wonderful Bible for Busy Mom's everywhere. I can remember feeling very guilty about not spending a lot of time in the Word when my girls were infants. There just isn't enough time in the day when your babies are infants and depending on you for everything. I remember my Mom gently encouraging me that this was the season the Lord planned for me to be in and to not feel guilty. She knew that I was praying....over everything as new mom's do....and trying to spend time with the Lord when I could.

Now, that my girls are teenagers (when did this happen!) I have more time to spend with the Lord in the morning. I try to get up early before my family and spend time with the Lord which gets me ready spiritually for the day. If you are a busy mom, like me, and you are struggling with finding time to dig into the Word, you might consider this Bible. The 52 one minute devotions may be just what you need!

Right now I am studying Annointed, Transformed, and Redeemed, by Priscilla Shirer, Beth Moore, and Kay Arthur and just this morning, Priscilla encouraged us to not live our lives in our natural abilities but under the anointing of the Lord. She explains, "In our natural abilities we might be able to teach the class, mother the children, stay in the marriage, or write the book, but to fulfill the supernatural purposes of these natural activities demands an anointing by God's Spirit. The anointing causes women with children to become a developer of Christian soldiers. The anointing gives a mere speaker a message that penetrates the hearts of the listeners...."

She is so right! As a wife and mom, I can try to do it all in my own ability....and to be honest I do at times....or I can try to fulfill God's purpose in my life as a wife and mother, by doing it under His anointing. I may be able to meet their physical, daily needs, but I can't instill in them a deeper love for the Lord and a desire to serve and obey Him if I am not living under His annointing and if I am not in the Word daily.

This Busy Mom's Bible is a great place to start if you have never had a Quiet Time with the Lord and you don't know how to begin, or if you are like me and you just need a time of refreshment, even for one minute. You can find out more about the Busy Mom's Bible here (and no, I am not getting paid to write any of this). Blessings to you today!

*Updated: Just in case you think I have it all together (which, if you have read my blog at all you will find that is simply not true...not even close!) I want to share with you a conversation I had with Hannah this morning while I was driving her to school:

Me: (After hearing the girls arguing over clothes-oiy!) What was your devotion about today?

Hannah: I didn't have one~I didn't have time!

Me: (looking at her with a contorted face, I'm sure) What??? Did you have time to text anyone this morning?

Hannah: No!

Me: Were you on your phone at all?

Hannah: Well...I checked my Facebook

Me: You had time to check your Facebook but not have your quiet time? Do you know that not having your quiet time is like going to school naked...spiritually?

Hannah: Oh, well I kind of had my quiet time! I listened to the Barlow Girls CD!

Me: Oiy! (And then I mumbled something positive...like I'm going to take that cell phone away if you don't do what you are suppose to do in the morning~like having your quiet time! Yah, it was that positive!)

See? I'm not perfect, but I didn't holler or scream....'cause I had my Quiet Time...and now I need another one.