Personal Devotions during the busy-ness of family life

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Jesus loves me!  This I know, for the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to Him belong;  They are weak, but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!  Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.

One of my dear daughters-in-law was bemoaning to me that she had a hard time finding time to do devotions for herself. That comment sure brought back memories!  Reading a devotion in bed and falling asleep before I finished; reading a devotion and realizing I didn’t comprehend a single word; falling asleep before I finished praying; and on and on with my failure as a pious Christian mother.

Jesus loves me!  See His Grace!  On the cross He took my place.
There He suffered and He died, That I might be glorified.
Yes, Jesus loves me!  Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!  The Bible tells me so.

But we regularly had family devotions at dinner time.  I had the children each pick out 1 story book and 1 Arch Book to read at bed time.  I attended Divine Services, and considering all the children sitting with me, I did get fed the Word of God. I did my best making sure the children were paying attention which means I was paying attention too (I think).  And after a time, I decided since my attention span was getting pretty limited, I started reading a Children’s Bible Story Book for myself during afternoon nap/quiet time with a cup of tea.  MY FIRST CATECHISM would have been good too if it had been available at the time.

Jesus loves me!  God’s own Son Over sin the vic-t’ry won.
When I die, saved by His grace, I shall see him face to face.
Yes, Jesus loves me!  Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!  The Bible tells me so.

Mothers get so busy nurturing the family like Martha being so busy being a hostess for Jesus, that mothers forget that they are little children under God’s care as well.  Mothers do well to keep life simple with routine, so that when things get overwhelming it is easier to cope. Christian mothers are serving God when they love and serve their families.  Being a mother is the highest calling from God a woman can have.  And it is OK to be busy like Martha, but must remember to do as her sister, Mary, and take time to listen to Jesus.  Reading a Bible Story just for me was a peaceful, encouraging, and comforting time having the reassurrance of Jesus’s love for me.  “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it”  Mark 10:15

St.Paul wrote in I Timothy 2:15-Yet she will be saved through childbearing-if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.

A Christian mother wants to teach her children the Word of God and that Jesus loves them.  When the Christian mother is teaching and reading Bible Stories to her children, she is also hearing God’s Word. I have such wonderful memories talking theology with my children. The questions they asked!  Many were questions I had when I was a child.  “I don’t know the answer.  Let’s remember to ask Dad tomorrow.”  We still talk theology!  And they are still asking Dad.  When the Christian mother is listening to memory work, this benefits her as well as her child.  So if you are a Christian mother that falls asleep before she is finished reading a devotion and/or praying, take comfort that Jesus is watching out for you as you faithfully serve your children with His Word.

Jesus Loves me! He is near.  He is with His Church so dear.
And the Spirit He has sent By His Word and Sacrament.
Yes, Jesus Loves me!  Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus Loves me!  The Bible tells me so.
(ELH 179)

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