For the Mom Who Feels all Alone

“Is your husband out of town this week?” she asked.

“Yes. All week. Is yours?” I responded. She nodded.

“Want to come over for dinner?” I asked.

Motherhood is hard enough on a good day. What with the constant multi-tasking, unexpected illnesses, endless pile of laundry, the refereeing of squabbles, teaching the same lessons over and over again, all while trying to keep up with the daily responsibilities and duties of life.

It’s even harder when you feel all alone.

When my kids were young, I had a couple of friends whose husbands also traveled for work or often worked late at night. Having these friends was a lifesaver, literally, because at the time, I was in the midst of post-partum depression aftershocks. We took turns making dinner for ourselves and all our kids. Sometimes we met at a park and then took the kids to their favorite taco place. And when the weeks were especially long, we got together multiple times.

Not only did we keep each other company during those years, but we also encouraged one another in the gospel. We reminded each other of what was true. We prayed with and for each other. We walked with one another through life’s trials and challenges...

To read the rest of this post, visit Risen Motherhood. 

Searching for Community

My newest book, Closer Than a Sister, is about community and friendship. But not just any community or friendship. It’s about the relationship between women in the church.

I don’t know about you, but I need community. I need people I can turn to when life is hard, when I don’t know what to do, when I need a helping hand. I need people I can be real with, who accept me as I am, but who also know God won’t leave me as I am. I need people who share the same love for Jesus, who view the world and all our problems through the lens of Scripture, and who point me forward to my hope in eternity. I need people who will worship alongside me both in tears and in laughter.

I need my sisters in Christ.

My journey to finding such community has been a long one and one that continues to this day...to read the rest of this post, visit enCourage.

When Friendship in the Church is Hard

When you think of women in the Bible, who comes to mind? Perhaps you think of Mary, Jesus’ mother. Or maybe Esther, the queen who saved her people from destruction. There’s also Ruth, the young widow who left the land and people she knew to be with her mother-in-law. We remember these women because of their important role in redemptive history.

But there are two women who are only mentioned in one place, and their story isn’t romantic, brave, or remarkable. Rather, they are included in Scripture as an example of a problem in the church. Who are these women? Euodia and Syntyche.

Conflict in the Church

These two women make an appearance in the book of Philippians. Paul admonishes them to get along, “I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life” (Philippians 4:2-3). Their conflict was serious enough to cause Paul to point it out to the whole church at Philippi to read. And for every Bible reader after that as well.

These two women served with Paul in ministry. He urged them to do what he wrote in Philippians 2:2, “complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” He wanted them to remember their unity in Christ and with each other. He also asked some unnamed “true companion” to help these women resolve their conflict...to read the rest of this post, visit Servants of Grace.

Closer Than a Sister is Here! {plus a giveaway}

It's almost here! I'm excited to share with you my new book, Closer Than a Sister: How Union with Christ helps Friendships to Flourish (Focus for Women), will be available tomorrow.

Closer Than a Sister is about friendship, but not just any friendship. It's about the relationships between women in the church. It's about sisterhood in Christ.

We often think of our friends as those people we would have chosen to be in our family, if we could have done so. Yet in the household of God, the friendships we have with one another are not of our own choosing. In fact, God himself has selected each person in the Body of Christ. Through our adoption into the family of God, the other believers in the church are our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are united to Christ and to one another—for all eternity.

The relationship we have with other believers looks different than other friendships we might have. It's more than just having something in common. It goes deeper than talking about our week or what our kids are up to. Sisterhood in the church is about sharing a common life together: spiritual life. My book, Closer Than a Sister, describes what sisterhood in the church looks like and encourages readers to cultivate those relationships in the local church. 

What does sisterhood look like?

• Sisters serve one another in love.
• Sisters mourn and weep with one another.
• Sisters rejoice over another's good.
• Sisters exhort one another on in the faith.
• Sisters disciple one another.
• Sisters grow together as they use their gifts for the building up of Christ's church. 

From my book:

"Sharing a common life together is not about doing activities but about sharing life. Spiritual life. It is about working together to bring about God's Kingdom purposes. It is about serving together, helping each other through trials, lifting each other up when we fall, praying for one another, urging one another on in the faith. And ultimately, it is reflecting Christ in our love for one another, imaging Him to the fallen world around us." (p.55)

What others are saying about Closer Than a Sister: How Union with Christ helps Friendships to Flourish (Focus for Women):

"Christian friendship is to be sought and stewarded with wisdom and grace. you hold in your hands a primer on how to weave (and allow yourself to be woven into) that blessed tie that binds." —Jen Wilkin, author of Women of the Word and None Like Him

"Writing from years of intentional relationship-building, Christina Fox's words are wise and challenging. Fox lays out the priority of community, describes its beautiful contours, and gives her readers practical help to overcome its ever-present obstacles. Whether you read this book by yourself or with a group, your perspective on relationships in the church is sure to be enriched.” —Megan Hill, author Praying Together

“Christina Fox’s new book, Closer Than a Sister, is a welcome invitation to seek meaningful and life-giving relationships in the church.  Fox helps us understand our need for community, the various ways we can support and encourage one another, and the challenges we face as we build fellowship with one another. Rather than attempting to survive on surface-level friendships, Closer Than a Sister shows us how to live in biblical community with one another.” —Melissa Kruger, author of The Envy of Eve and Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood

"As you read Christina’s book, you’ll be encouraged and along the way learn to be a true Christian friend and participant in your local church.” —Dave Jenkins, Executive Director, Servants of Grace Ministries, Executive Editor, Theology for Life Magazine, Co-Host, Equipping You in Grace Podcast

"Christina Fox has written a beautiful and helpful book outlining a biblical definition of friendship, bringing in the familial language of scripture ("sister-friend"), showing us the Bible's definition of friendship, and pointing us towards the one Friend who will never leave us or forsake us. If you want to become a better "sister-friend" or find yourself longing for a friend, this book will encourage your soul." —Courtney Reissig, author Glory in the Ordinary 

“Closer than a Sister skillfully blends the glorious life-giving colors with the lackluster life-taking contrasts into a vivid portrait of gospel friendship. Every stroke is saturated with scripture with its aim towards gospel-centered application. And the real beauty of this book is the Jesus Christ is the centerpiece of what it truly means to live out the content of the covenant in the context of covenantal community.” —Karen Hodge, PCA Coordinator of Women’s Ministry; author of Transformed: Life-taker to Life-giver

"Here's a book that will encourage you in the beauty of Christ-centered relationships, and challenge you to take faith-driven steps of love in friend-ing others. Closer Than a Sister comforted me with the depths of Jesus' friendship for me, and compelled me outward with a renewed desire to be a godly friend to others.” —Ellen Mary Dykas, Women's Ministry Director, Harvest USA; Author, Sexual Sanity for Women: Healing from Sexual and Relational Brokenness and Sex and the Single Girl: Smart Ways to Care for Your Heart

"Christina Fox has done us an enormous service by wedding a sound biblical theology of union with Christ to a sound biblical theology of fellowship--particularly as it relates to women in the church. In Closer than a Sister, Christina has done the hard work of laying the landscape while bringing the reader through all of the attendant obstacles that lead out to the green pastures of friendship building, maintaining, equipping and serving. This book is a timely, sound and engaging work from which any in the church may profit.” —Rev. Nick Batzig, Pastor of New Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Richmond Hill, GA and editor of Reformation 21, an online theological site of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals.

"In Closer than a Sister, Christina Fox has painted a picture of biblical, God-honoring relationships among women in the church. She has then used that picture as a template to suggest how women can, because they are in union with Christ, live out this picture practically and by faith. Her honesty, transparency, and centeredness in God’s Word make this a helpful read." —Chris Larson, President and CEO of Ligonier Ministries

It's giveaway time! I am giving away three copies of my book, along with a super cute tea towel with Acts 2:46 printed on it. Enter below. US residents only, please. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Note: I am a member of the Amazon Affiliates program and links to books in this post are connected to my affiliates account with Amazon.com. 

Two New Children's Books

If you've read my blog for any length of time, you know I love to share with my readers about resources for children. I'm always looking for new books and resources to help my own children grow in their understanding of God and his word. And when I find them, I share them here. Today, I have two new books to tell you about.

God's Very Good Idea: A True Story of God's Delightfully Different Family

Here's a really good idea: let's teach our children that God created each of us in his image, whether we have straight hair or curly hair, light skin or dark skin, or whether we like reading or enjoy riding bikes. That's the premise of Trillia Newbell's new children's book, God's Very Good Idea. 

"We are all different, but we are also all the same. Everyone you see is different than you, and the same as you. They might look different or speak different or play different. But they are all made in God's image, and so they are all valuable."

This picture book is gospel-centered, explaining to children how God made us to love him and love each other. But since the Fall, people ruined God's very good idea. Because of sin, we don't love God or each other as we should. We treat those who are different from us badly. We are hurtful and unkind. The book goes on to explain that God had a plan to rescue us through Jesus. He paid for our sin on the cross and gave us his Spirit to help us love him and love one another. One day, we will all be together in heaven, loving God and one another perfectly. The book ends by talking about the church, filled with people who are all different, who love Jesus. 

God's family is filled with people of every race and nationality, men and women, children and adults, people with every skill and talent imaginable. Let us teach our children about God's great idea. And let us love our brothers and sisters as Jesus has loved us. 

Exploring the Bible: A Bible Reading Plan for Kids

The past couple of years, I've been working with my children on the importance of being in the word—reading, studying, meditating, and memorizing it. I encourage them to read it on their own and we study it together in devotions and during homeschool. They've been learning to go through a passage and unpack it verse by verse. That's why I'm excited about David Murray's new book for children, Exploring the Bible. Exploring the Bible is a Bible study for kids and takes them on a journey through the Bible, highlighting the main parts and giving kids a big picture view of Scripture.

There are 52 lessons in the book, for each week of the year. Every week there is a verse to memorize from the week's readings. Then each day of the week, there is a passage to read and a question to answer about it. On Sundays, they bring their book to church and use it to take notes on the sermon. Exploring the Bible gets kids in God's word on a daily basis and helps them begin the habit of reading and thinking through what they have read. At the end of the year, they will have a good overview of the Bible. 

A parent can sit with younger children and do the study along with them (for younger elementary students) and older elementary through middle school age students can do it on their own. I'm excited about this study for my children and if you've been looking for a way to help your children learn to study the Bible for themselves, this is an excellent introduction and a great way to build a lifelong habit of learning and growing from God's word. 

I highly recommend both of these new books to you and your children.

Note: I received copies of these books for free in exchange for my review. The thoughts and opinions are my own. I am a member of the Amazon Affiliates program and links to books in this post are connected to my affiliates account with Amazon.com. 

Celebrating the Reformation with Your Children

The year marks the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the Wittenberg church door. This action started a series of events which shined the light of the gospel of justification by faith, transforming the church. All Protestant churches can trace their history back to this day and this action by Martin Luther.

Our children need to know our church history and this is great time to teach and talk to them about it. Today I'm sharing about activities and resources you can use over the next month to help them understand the importance of the Reformation to the church today.

Lapbook:

Create a Reformation Lapbook: One year we created a lapbook in homeschool to celebrate the Reformation. I used three file folders, stapling them together to create one big folder. I found various worksheets online which we added to the lapbook. (If you do a search, you can find Martin Luther coloring pages, notebooking pages, and other handouts/worksheets that can be used in a lapbook). We talked about the 5 solas of the Reformation and wrote them down. We did a timeline of events during the Reformation. We also studied Martin Luther's hymn "Almighty Fortress is Our God" and included that.  

Books to Read:

Martin Luther - Christian Biographies for Young Readers:This is a picture book for young readers which not only tells the history of Martin Luther and the Reformation, but the theological reasons behind it. She also has books on John Calvin and John Knox. Martin Luther: A Man Who Changed The World: This is a great picture book for younger elementary kids that tells the story of Martin Luther and the 95 theses. The Barber Who Wanted to Pray: This is another great children's book, by R.C. Sproul. Martin Luther's barber once asked him how to pray and he wrote a little book on prayer for his barber. This picture book tells that story. Rebels Rescued: A Student's Guide to Reformed Theology: This excellent book is great for helping older kids understand the Reformation and the basics of Reformed theology. John Calvin: After Darkness Light (Trailblazers): While the Reformation began with Martin Luther, it didn't end with him. Consider having your older children read the biographies of some of the other Reformers, such as this one we've read about John Calvin. The author also has one on John Knox.

The Church History ABCs: Augustine and 25 Other Heroes of the Faith: I read this picture book to my kids when they were young. Each page shares about an important person in church history.

Reformation ABCs: The People, Places, and Things of the Reformation_from A to Z: This is another picture book by the same author of Church History ABC's.

Guarding the Treasure: How God's People Preserve God's Word (Biography): This is one we read in homeschool. Each chapter is about a different person in church history who guarded God's Word, including several people during the Reformation.

God's Story: A Student's Guide to Church History: I recently got this one for my oldest son to read because he has been curious about church history in general.

Movies:

Torchlighers has a cartoon video for children about Martin Luther. 

Luther: The Life and Legacy of the German Reformer is a documentary using live-action storytelling. The film inclues R.C. Sproul, Carl Trueman, Steven J. Lawson, among others. 

Martin Luther: The Idea that Changed the World is an excellent documentary on PBS. It's a typical documentary, including actors portraying moments in Luther's life as well as interviews with theologians and historians. It would probably interest older children, middle to high school. 

Luther (by MGM) is movie suitable for older children (adolescents) which tells the history of Martin Luther nailing his theses and what unfolded afterward. 

Other:

Because Martin Luther was put on trial in Worms, Germany (pronounced Verms), make your kids a snack of crushed cookies, pudding, and gummy worms. We did this one year for homeschool and it was a hit!

Build a medieval church out of Legos with a big front door and have Martin Luther place his 95 theses on the front door. 

Turn a door in your house into a Wittenberg door and have your children pin Martin Luther's theses on it. 

Enjoy traditional German food!

How will you celebrate 500 years since the Reformation?

Note: I am a member of the Amazon Affiliates program and links to books in this post are connected to my affiliates account with Amazon.com.