Momma Theologians | Christian Motherhood Ministry

O Come O Come Emmanuel

An Advent Reading Plan to Marvel at the Magnitude of the Incarnation

Do you long for this Christmas Season to feel different this year? Do you long for your heart to be tender, receptive to Jesus, and in awe of the magnitude of His birth? Perhaps you desire to learn more about what Christmas and Advent are really about, and you desire a theological and Scriptural foundation to strengthen your heart, mind, and soul in knowledge and love of God.

Instead of being swept away by the rush and consumerism of the Holiday season, may we marvel at the magnitude of the incarnation, may we marvel at Jesus this year. O come, o come Emmanuel.

Join us as we read On the Incarnation by Saint Athanasius and “Advent Readings: From Genesis to Revelation,” a Bible Reading Plan curated by Blue Letter Bible during this Advent Season.

*Advent Study to be sent by email on or after Monday, November 22nd

Our instrumental background music for this Episode and for our upcoming Advent Devotionals has been played and recorded by one of our talented Momma Theologian Contributors, Kyleigh Dunn. 

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Our study will be led by Rachel Lynn Lawrence, Founder of Momma Theologians. 

Rachel Lawrence

Founder of Momma Theologians

Rachel delights in each day with her husband, Steve, and their three children, Isaiah, Elijah, and Ruth. She enjoys early morning quiet times, being home in their “Northwoods Eden” and deep theological study of God. She has been in Seminary her entire motherhood life, and will be completing her MDiv in 2021, with plans to pursue a DMin proceeding that. Prior to becoming a stay-at-home mom, she worked as a Pediatric ICU nurse and specialized in bereavement and end-of-life care. Rachel has a passion for equipping fellow mothers to grow in relationship with God and believes spiritual growth can be revived in the midst of motherhood. Rachel enjoys connecting with others on Instagram (@rachellynnlawrence). 

As a mom of littles, it’s easy to drift away into function, putting aside the things we once liked to do just for the fun of it, only completing the necessary tasks for getting through the day. It’s easy to lose our sense of playfulness. I wonder, though, how we can serve our children well if we forget who we are? If we want to cultivate wholeness in them, we need to cultivate wholeness in ourselves. Prioritizing what brings us delight is a key to making this happen.

Listen to the rest of Kelsi Folsom's essay as she encourages us to prioritize delight in the midst of motherhood. 

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Go to our website to read Kelsi's entire Essay

Find more articles and essays written by mothers just like you as they share stories and reflections about how they grow spiritually in Christ in the midst of motherhood. www.mommatheologians.com

Join our community on Instagram @mommatheologians

Follow our page on Facebook @mommatheologians

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Kelsi Folsom

Kelsi Folsom is a poet and singer making her home in beautiful Kansas City with her husband and four young children. She navigates the ups and downs of marriage and motherhood with black coffee, her library card, and a no.2 pencil. Her essays and poems are published in Motherly, Coffee and Crumbs, Grit and Virtue, Verily Magazine, Mothers Always Write, Kindred Mom, and elsewhere. She is the author of three collections of poetry, Breaking the Jar (Finishing Line Press, 2022), Buried in the Margins (Finishing Line Press, 2020), and Words the Dirt Meant to Share (Desert Willow Press, 2018). Having lived in multiple countries and moved fourteen times since getting married, Kelsi loves encouraging women to find refreshment and comfort in the moment-by-moment friendship of Jesus Christ. She firmly believes in the power of true worship to foster healing through the embodiment of God’s unconditional love. When she isn’t cooking for family and friends, she enjoys thrifting, reading Bible commentaries, and occasionally putting her B.M. in Voice Performance to good use. Connect with her on IG @kelsifolsom and sign up for her quarterly newsletter The Shameless Beauty Digest.

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If this episode resonated with you in any way, would you share it with a friend?

We would be delighted if you took a few minutes to leave a rating and review. These truly help to make the podcast more searchable and accessible so that other mothers like you can be encouraged to deepen their relationship with Christ in the midst of motherhood. We cherish and appreciate every single one.

It feels counter-intuitive to start thinking about Advent before Thanksgiving, but I’ve learned over the years that a little planning ahead helps prepare my boys’ hearts—and mine—for Christmas.

If we desire as moms to point our children to Jesus this Christmas, then we need to take time ourselves to reflect upon why we and the world needed Jesus to come. Advent is a time to contemplate our desperate need for a Savior—and that’s what makes the birth of Jesus astounding. Out of deep love, God took on human flesh and dwelt among us because we needed to be rescued. 

Listen to the rest of Jenny Marcelene’s article today as she provides some ideas on how to celebrate Advent with young children.

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE WORKSHEET TO GO ALONG WITH THIS EPISODE

Go to our website to read Jenny's entire Essay

Find more articles and essays written by mothers just like you as they share stories and reflections about how they grow spiritually in Christ in the midst of motherhood. www.mommatheologians.com

Join our community on Instagram @mommatheologians

Follow our page on Facebook @mommatheologians

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Jenny Marcelene

Jenny Marcelene spent six years living in conservative Muslim countries and desires to help parents and children catch a glimpse of how God is at work among the nations. Her previous publishing credits include online articles in The Gospel Coalition, print and online stories for global agencies, and a feature story in Adoption magazine. You can drop by her blog, jennymarcelene.blogspot.com, for ways to cultivate global family prayer.

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Do you long for this Christmas Season to feel different this year? Do you long for your heart to be tender, receptive to Jesus, and in awe of the magnitude of His birth? Perhaps you desire to learn more about what Christmas and Advent are really about, and you desire a theological and Scriptural foundation to strengthen your heart, mind, and soul in knowledge and love of God.

Instead of being swept away by the rush and consumerism of the Holiday season, may we marvel at the magnitude of the incarnation, may we marvel at Jesus this year. O come, o come Emmanuel.

Learn more about our Free Advent Plan here.

Paraphrasing the Bible to Listen to God's Word | 

Perhaps you know the feeling. You pick up your Bible to read, but your thoughts dwell on your to-do list instead. You read a paragraph three times and still can’t remember what it said. If someone asked you what you read that morning, you aren’t sure you could tell them. You know that reading God’s word is important, but despite spending time with it, you struggle to hear God’s voice over your own.

I find my internal chatter more frustrating than the sound of my children ricocheting off the walls of our house; however, I know I can develop habits that fight my perpetual state of distraction. One of these habits is paraphrasing Scripture, putting what I read into my own words.

Listen to the rest of Amy Fischer's article today as she encourages you in this simple technique to listen to God's voice. 

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE WORKSHEET TO GO ALONG WITH THIS EPISODE

Go to our website to read Amy's entire Article

Find more articles and essays written by mothers just like you as they share stories and reflections about how they grow spiritually in Christ in the midst of motherhood. www.mommatheologians.com

Join our community on Instagram @mommatheologians

Follow our page on Facebook @mommatheologians

ENJOY OUR FREE RESOURCE LIBRARY 

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Amy Fischer

Amy Fischer is a home educating mom of three rambunctious boys. Originally from Indiana, she now resides with her family in northwest England. Amy writes about home education and parenting on her blog, Around the Thicket. She is also the co-host of the Thinking Love podcast, a show about the Charlotte Mason approach to education. When she isn’t chasing after her boys, you will find her reading, writing, or planning her next hike.

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If this episode resonated with you in any way, would you share it with a friend?

We would be delighted if you took a few minutes to leave a rating and review. These truly help to make the podcast more searchable and accessible so that other mothers like you can be encouraged to deepen their relationship with Christ in the midst of motherhood. We cherish and appreciate every single one.

A few years ago, God placed a friend and fellow mom in my life who had a wonderful command of Scripture. She paraphrased it frequently and quoted verses naturally in conversation. She could retell stories from the Bible that connected to the situation at hand and use them to comfort others. Her love for God’s Word was contagious. She made me feel that I was missing out on something, as though there were treasures hidden inside that book that even regular Bible study attendance couldn’t reveal.

So, I asked her, “Where should I start?”

Listen to the rest of Adrienne Garrison's article today as she encourages you to dive into Scripture, right in the midst of motherhood.

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE WORKSHEET TO GO ALONG WITH THIS EPISODE

Go to our website to read Adrienne's entire Essay

Find more articles and essays written by mothers just like you as they share stories and reflections about how they grow spiritually in Christ in the midst of motherhood. www.mommatheologians.com

Join our community on Instagram @mommatheologians

Follow our page on Facebook @mommatheologians

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Adrienne Garrison

Adrienne Garrison lives in Bloomington, Indiana with her husband and their two little ones, soaking up the daily grace of a steadfast God. She is a contributing writer at Momma Theologians and Coffee + Crumbs, and her short stories have been featured in Literary Mama and LETTERS Journal. Adrienne believes magic takes the form of heart-to-heart conversations, petit-fours, and walks in the woods. You can find more of her writing and sign up for her newsletter at adriennegarrison.com

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If this episode resonated with you in any way, would you share it with a friend?

We would be delighted if you took a few minutes to leave a rating and review. These truly help to make the podcast more searchable and accessible so that other mothers like you can be encouraged to deepen their relationship with Christ in the midst of motherhood. We cherish and appreciate every single one.

Bible Reading 101|

Momma, you may not know where, or how, to begin, so let me help you with some tips. Grab hold of ideas that will work for you, start small, give yourself grace, and let the time you’re given between nursing, tantrums, and grocery shopping saturate with truth.

"The beauty-and struggle- of our Christian life is the slow growth and transformation that happens in our lives as God’s grace penetrates our hearts. For, “everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matt 7:24).  Christ-likeness is a slow-cooked method, softening our tough spots,  tenderizing our soul to His leading as we embed His Word into our hearts."

Listen to the rest of Amber Thiessen's article today as she encourages your heart to rise in God's Word. 

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE WORKSHEET TO GO ALONG WITH THIS EPISODE

Go to our website to read Amber's entire Essay

Find more articles and essays written by mothers just like you as they share stories and reflections about how they grow spiritually in Christ in the midst of motherhood. www.mommatheologians.com

Join our community on Instagram @mommatheologians

Follow our page on Facebook @mommatheologians

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Amber Thiessen

Amber loves equipping women to navigate the chaos and calm of life’s changes by applying the gospel to everyday moments. After six years in East Africa as church planters, they’re back on the Canadian prairies where her husband serves as pastor. They have three children. You'll find her hiding behind a book, exploring with her family in the woods, or writing on her blog, In The Vine. Connect with Amber on Facebook or Instagram @thiessenamber

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If this episode resonated with you in any way, would you share it with a friend?

We would be delighted if you took a few minutes to leave a rating and review. These truly help to make the podcast more searchable and accessible so that other mothers like you can be encouraged to deepen their relationship with Christ in the midst of motherhood. We cherish and appreciate every single one.

Be encouraged to lay down the sticks you cling to- sticks of temporal security, stability, and acceptance- and hold fast, instead, to Jesus- our cornerstone.

"I am no better than Rebekah dashing from her tent, grasping her pot of goat stew, or Martha, darting around the house with dinner ingredients, all of us searching for the assurance that things will be okay, that we are okay.

These desires are not the problem. We are wired by God to crave security, stability, acceptance.

It’s where we look for them that we run into trouble. These sticks we carry are at best, temporal, and at worst, dangerous."

Listen to the rest of Elizabeth Berget's essay today as she encourages you to hold fast to Jesus. 

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE WORKSHEET TO GO ALONG WITH THIS EPISODE

Go to our website to read Elizabeth's entire essay

Find more articles and essays written by mothers just like you as they share stories and reflections about how they grow spiritually in Christ in the midst of motherhood. www.mommatheologians.com

Join our community on Instagram @mommatheologians

Follow our page on Facebook @mommatheologians

___________

If this episode resonated with you in any way, would you share it with a friend?

We would be delighted if you took a few minutes to leave a rating and review. These truly help to make the podcast more searchable and accessible so that other mothers like you can be encouraged to deepen their relationship with Christ in the midst of motherhood. We cherish and appreciate every single one.

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Elizabeth Berget

Momma Theologians Contributor

Elizabeth is a wife, mama to three, homeschooler, photographer, and writer who has always done her best thinking while writing—from her angsty teenage journal entries until now. She’s lived in Africa and Asia but is really just a country mouse with a Minneapolis zip code. She strongly believes in the restorative power of Jesus and a home-cooked meal, or even just a really good cheese, and writes mostly about how the image of God is uniquely understood and displayed in motherhood. You can find more of her words on her website, or on Instagram.

"Motherhood is both a high and challenging calling. We literally can’t be the moms God has called us to be without Him. Truthfully, our children don’t need perfect schedules, Pinterest-worthy birthday parties, or sleep training. What they actually need is a mom who knows her own need for Jesus. When we know this, we’ll prioritize Bible study, prayer, and the local church community." 

Listen to the rest of Cassie Pattillo's essay today as she encourages you to flourish spiritually in Christ. 

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE WORKSHEET TO GO ALONG WITH THIS EPISODE

Go to our website to read Cassie's entire Essay

Find more articles and essays written by mothers just like you as they share stories and reflections about how they grow spiritually in Christ in the midst of motherhood. www.mommatheologians.com

Join our community on Instagram @mommatheologians

Follow our page on Facebook @mommatheologians

___________

If this episode resonated with you in any way, would you share it with a friend?

We would be delighted if you took a few minutes to leave a rating and review. These truly help to make the podcast more searchable and accessible so that other mothers like you can be encouraged to deepen their relationship with Christ in the midst of motherhood. We cherish and appreciate every single one.

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Cassie Pattillo

Cassie is a student pastor’s wife, mom to two energetic boys, and hopeful adoptive mom to their daughter, growing in their hearts from India. She’s passionate about biblical literacy, and writing and teaching about Scripture. Currently, she’s pursuing an M.A. in Ministry to Women from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary to better equip her to teach God’s Word. Cassie loves slow mornings with a cup of coffee, a good book on the beach, and Gamecock football. She loves giving Gospel-centered encouragement through writing, which you can find on her blog, Diaries of a Daughter. 

Momma, can our heart posture today become one of abiding, resting, and marveling at our God of the Gospel?

We welcome you, whether you’ve heard the Gospel one thousand times before or if you haven’t heard anything about it- to hear and absorb it today. If you’ve felt as we have before- that the Gospel has become something that feels common, familiar, and plain- This is especially for you.

Join us for our first devotional and intro episode today; where we will prayerfully discuss and reflect upon the Gospel.

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE WORKSHEET TO GO ALONG WITH THIS EPISODE

Go to www.mommatheologians.com 

Find articles and essays written by mothers just like you as they share stories and reflections about how they grow spiritually in Christ in the midst of motherhood.

Join our community on Instagram @mommatheologians

Connect with Rachel on Instagram @rachellynnlawrence

Receive our monthly devotional 

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If this episode resonated with you in any way, would you share it with a friend?

We would be delighted if you took a few minutes to leave a rating and review. These truly help to make the podcast more searchable and accessible so that other mothers like you can be encouraged to deepen their relationship with Christ in the midst of motherhood. We cherish and appreciate every single one.

The Commentary that I referenced earlier in the episode is the Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, which can be found for free in the Logos Bible App.

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Founder of Momma Theologians

Rachel delights in each day with her husband, Steve, and their three children, Isaiah, Elijah, and Ruth. She enjoys early morning quiet times, being home in their “Northwoods Eden” and deep theological study of God. She has been in Seminary her entire motherhood life and will be completing her MDiv in 2021, with plans to pursue a DMin proceeding that. Prior to becoming a stay-at-home mom, she worked as a Pediatric ICU nurse and specialized in bereavement and end-of-life care. Rachel has a passion for equipping fellow mothers to grow in relationship with God and believes spiritual growth can be revived in the midst of motherhood. Rachel enjoys connecting with others on Instagram (@rachellynnlawrence).

Introducing Momma Theologians, a new motherhood ministry podcast! 

At Momma Theologians, our mission is to revive spiritual growth in the midst of motherhood. 

We offer resources, articles, essays, a monthly devotional newsletter and more at www.mommatheologians.com

Be sure to follow us on social media @mommatheologians