Monica Ritchie

Biblical Theology for Everyday Moms

Devotionals

What Does the Bible Say About Wine and Alcohol

What does the Bible say about wine and alcohol? How do we then as Christians engage with it from a biblical perspective? Wine and alcohol are all around us and it’s a normal part of our lives. We need to know how to engage with it biblically. Check out the video below giving a brief overview of some of the good, the not so good and then one of my personal pain points in regard to wine culture. Keep in mind that this is just the beginning of the conversation when it comes to engaging with wine and alcohol. There …

Read moreWhat Does the Bible Say About Wine and Alcohol

Christian Encouragement : A Checklist for Encouragers

There is a command throughout the Bible to encourage one another, to bless one another with Christian Encouragement. Here is somewhat of a “checklist” if you will, of how to offer Christian Encouragement! Build Each Other Up If you see something, say something! A spoken word of encouragement given at the “right time” can mean so much. It can push someone through a valley, or give joy to their spirit. You never know the impact of a kind and encouraging word. In today’s world maybe that doesn’t always mean saying it in person, maybe it’s a text, a phone call …

Read moreChristian Encouragement : A Checklist for Encouragers

Justice?

There is a cry for justice in our culture. It is loud and it frankly is somewhat frightening. Take heart because here is what is true; Justice is a wonderful word. It is a character of God, it is who God is – He is JUST. Our culture’s cry for justice is truly a reflection of the heart for God in our nation. We can praise God for that. God is also mercy and grace, these characteristics of Himself all flow together in perfect harmony, working together to advance His Kingdom here on earth. I’ve been reminded in these days …

Read moreJustice?

School Year Blessing

A SCHOOL YEAR BLESSING FOR 2020/2021 If you’re anything like me, you’ve been on the rollercoaster ride known as “School Year Plans 2020” it’s a wild ride and truth be told, I’m ready to get off! While I know full well that God has commanded me not to worry, I fully admit that I have absolutely worried. Rather, I did worry until God met me right where I was and reminded me of this simple truth. That He already has it figured out, I just need to pick a path and HE WILL BE ON IT.  Because you see, no …

Read moreSchool Year Blessing

Memorize Scripture As A Family

I know from personal experience how important it is to memorize scripture! It’s something I continually try to work on even as an adult but it’s something I love to practice with my kids as well! I started doing this with my kids when they were two and three years old, showing you’re really never too young to start memorizing scripture! First, I took a picture frame, removed the photo and replaced it with a piece of paper. I then used a dry erase marker to write a verse on it. That picture frames with the verse then sat right …

Read moreMemorize Scripture As A Family

Cut Back

It’s spring here in Minnesota, which means that we’re all gardening! Part of preparing our landscaping is to cut back the previous years growth. We do this so that the plant can thrive in the new season. We cut the plant back to just the essentials. Recently, there has been an excessive amount of cut back in our own lives. The economy, jobs, our health and our social lives. It has been cut back, down to the essentials. Now, there is talk of things opening back up and pressing restart on it all has God’s word’s ringing in my ears. …

Read moreCut Back

Prayers For Moms

Motherhood is a challenging journey that highlights our desperate need for Jesus. We were never designed to do Motherhood alone, we need help. Holy Help. Written out here, are Prayers for Moms with scriptures to support your heart. You can pray them silently or out loud as you need them. As you take on the monumental task of raising Godly children, let these Prayers For Moms serve as a space of encouragement and hope. A small space for God’s presence and instruction to walk along side you.   Prayers for Moms : GRACE Many areas of motherhood may make us …

Read morePrayers For Moms

Do You Trust Me?

The other week we had one of our first thunderstorms of the spring. I know so many people love the thunder and rain. The soothing sounds of rain beating outside your window typically helps people to fall asleep and then sleep soundly. Not for my girl, no. My youngest is terrified of thunderstorms. She hears the rain; she sees the flashes of lightning outside the window and her shoulders tense and her eyebrows furrow as she braces herself for the shudder of thunder that’s sure to follow each flash. I was doing my best to soothe and calm her, which …

Read moreDo You Trust Me?

Cultivate

Every year I choose a word to focus on, you can read about the process of how I go about this HERE. However, for 2020 I felt God place not just a word, but two scripture verses and one spiritual practice on my heart. The word I felt God land on my heart was the word cultivate. Typically, I would do a word study, but the Bible doesn’t use the word “cultivate” like we would. Instead, I took the opportunity to look at what God may be asking me to cultivate around, as well as within myself. Scripture Verses + Spiritual …

Read moreCultivate

In a world that increasingly values numbers; know that never determines your worth.

It’s not a matter of IF you’ll be tempted, it’s more a matter of WHEN. When that happens, how will you respond? In Matthew 4 before Jesus begins his earthly ministry, we see Jesus going out into the desert. It is here that he has fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. He is hungry. The tempter (ie Satan, the devil, the evil one) comes to him and tempts him. He says “turn these stones into bread” to that Jesus answers “It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from God.” Jesus, …

Read moreIn a world that increasingly values numbers; know that never determines your worth.

Blooming in God’s Timing

I’ve been saying “no” to a lot of opportunities lately. A lot of really great opportunities. I have also been hearing “no” or “not yet” on a lot as well. That feels hard, it feels like rejection. It feels stagnant in an ever evolving space. But God is reminding me, much like I cannot force open the petals of my peonies to bloom, I cannot force open His plans or His timing for me. ‘Bloom where you’re planted’ is a popular mantra and typically, I’m not one to gravitate towards such things, however, this one, I’m digging into. I’m called …

Read moreBlooming in God’s Timing

Rest

Do you trust God enough to rest? I’m not just talking about in this “busy season” either. But, even outside of your busy season – do you trust God enough to rest? God has been showing me these past few months just how important rest is, and really, it’s an act of worship to rest. To press the pause button on “the hustle” and “grind” and trust God enough to take what you can do by your own human efforts and multiply it by His hands. So truly, be honest, what’s your rest life like? Mine hasn’t been the greatest …

Read moreRest

Start Before You’re Ready

“Start before you’re ready” that’s what I had written on a post it note and stuck on my desk before I started blogging. Because if I had waiting until I was ready, I’d never do it. I have heard so much about how people want to do this or that, follow their dreams and do “the thing” but they’re just too afraid, they’re just not sure. I get it, I’ve been there too, but the only way to know, the only way to do it, is to start! Even before you’re ready! The reality is, is that you’re going to …

Read moreStart Before You’re Ready

7 Days of praying for your Child

While there are so many areas of our children’s life we could and should be praying for and over, here is a list to get you started. One prayer for each day of the week and over time you can begin to shift and add more specific prayers to the needs of your child. 1.Seek First the Kingdom of God : The first Commandment God gives to His people is to place no other God’s before Him. God asks the same of us today. That we keep Him first in our hearts. I pray these scriptures over my child in hopes …

Read more7 Days of praying for your Child