Monica Ritchie

Biblical Theology for Everyday Moms

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Three Characteristics of the Holy Spirit

Though there are many, let’s discuss three characteristics of the Holy Spirit you may not be aware of! The Holy Spirit is a member of the Trinity and often somewhat forgotten. This isn’t intentional but it’s certainly a challenge to wrap our minds around the Holy Spirit. That being said, the best way to get to know someone is to spend time with them. Let’s discuss three characteristics of the Holy Spirit you may or may not know! I pray it bring you to further worship the Triune God. Holy Spirit as Rauch Elohim This is one name of the …

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Historical Theology : Anselm of Canterbury

Introduction  Anslem is an important person to know about when glancing at Historical Theology. He is known as one of the forerunners to a movement known as Scholasticism. Anselm is seen as paving the way to a faith in which seeks understanding. Believing that faith is the starting point of knowledge.  Scholasticism : An approach to Christian theology that arose specifically during the middle ages, which emphasizes rational justification and systematic presentation of the faith.  For Anselm, the goal is to understand more fully what he already believes, by faith.  “I do not seek, Lord, to reach your heights, for …

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Historical Theology : Augustine

Historical Theology is a big topic and I understand it may not be everyone’s passion. However, knowing the history of Christian Theologians can help us see that we’re not alone in some of our questions or struggles. God was faithful to reveal himself then and He is faithful now, too. Sifting through the years of theology we can not only use reason to confirm what we already believe by faith, but we can see the hand of God. God’s faithfulness showing up and revealing himself to each generation. Including Our own (and our kids) generations! God is a God of …

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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. …

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How to read the Bible with your kids

Have you ever wondered how to read the bible with your kids? You want to do it, but just aren’t sure how or where to start? Here a few simple tips on how to read the Bible with your kids! First, know this; you don’t have to be perfect! You don’t have to know all the answers to do this! My motto is this “do the best you can, when you can!” and that applies here too! Also, if you feel like your kiddo isn’t paying attention or is playing with a toy or is distracted during this, don’t worry! …

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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 …

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Get the most out of studying your Bible.

Do you ever sit down with your bible and think, ok what do I do now? How do I study this? Where do I even start? I want to give you a few simple steps to get the most of studying your Bible. In hopes that you can experience the transforming presence and love of God. 1. Chose a passage or book of scripture to start with. This can be anything that sparks your interest. I love starting with the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John) Or maybe the book of James or the Psalms. Those are great places to …

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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 …

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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, …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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To Have and to Hand Hold

  I don’t know about you, but we’ve reached the point in the summer where the excitement of being together all day everyday is becoming a little less than consistent beams of pure joy and delight. I’m not speaking just for myself but for my kids as well. They’re tired of seeing my mug all day and a little less than enthused at times to see each others. I had shared that at one point, one kid was upset because the other wouldn’t give them a long enough smell of their stuffed animal. Yup, a long enough smell. Bet you …

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