Encouragement for Motherhood

"""Encouragement for Motherhood delivers just what the title promises. The devotion reads as if I am sitting on a couch listening to these women open their hearts... or maybe at a wine bar after the children are all asleep. They are intimate and honest about the struggles, but also the joys. The stories these women share shatter the preconceived notions one might have that every other mother in the universe has it all figured out. Instead, they draw us in with their failures, fears, and frustrations and intentionally lead us to the Cross and to the heart of Jesus. I don't know about you, but that is definitely where I need to be. I highly recommend this devotional for anyone who needs a few other messy mothers in their living room doing life together. It is a great reminder that we do not have to walk the road of motherhood alone. This will definitely be a book I purchase for more than one fellow mom as encouragement for the road ahead."" -Darcy Paape, Director of the Women's Leadership Institute, Concordia University Wisconsin-Ann Arbor ""Encouragement for Motherhood is a book that drags every aspect of motherhood (oftentimes kicking and screaming) to the cross of Jesus Christ. The end result is always the same: genuine encouragement. Unflinching in its portrayal of motherhood's insecurities, hopes, and surprising competitiveness, the essays of this book will show new and experienced mothers that there is no place beyond the grace and comfort of Jesus Christ who longs to gather all people together like a hen gathers her brood under her wings."" -Rev. Timothy Koch pastor of Zion Lutheran Church (Linn, KS), Managing Editor of Seelsorger: A Journal for the Contemporary Cure of Souls. ""Even though this is a book for moms anyone could pick it up and hear the good news of Jesus Christ spoken into the midst of daily living. The light of Christ shines bright in these pages as his word liberates people from the weight of daily sin and strife."" -Michael T. Hanson, Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Morris, Minnesota ""In each of these devotions you hear the vulnerable stories of motherhood that can't help but resonate with your own personal joys and struggles of being a mom. And then the clear voice of Christ speaks directly into the midst of these daily mothering realities. You hear of a God that is for you--delighting in lavishing you with forgiveness, comfort, peace, and hope!"" -Martha J. Hanson, Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Morris, Minnesota ""Katie Koplin is pure joy. Motherhood is moments of pure joy sprinkled with fear, grief, self-doubt, and longing. In this devotional Katie has collected a series of stories that truly encompass all of the emotions experienced in motherhood, with a thoughtful curation of Biblical application sprinkled with Katie's signature joy. This book will encourage the weary, celebrate with the joyful, and return the reader time and again to the promises of God."" -Courtney Burns, Counselor, Faith Lutheran Middle High School ""There is no one harder on themselves than mothers. The pressure of the spiritual, mental, and physical health of our precious God-given children weighs heavy on us all throughout our lives. This devotional is a must read because each chapter reminds us in a uniquely insightful way that we are not alone in this good work. Despite our insecurities and failures, we can fully depend on our Father in heaven because He has promised that our children are His children and not a single one will be snatched out of His hand. Take up and read and you will be comforted and encouraged!"" -Erica Sorensen, Executive Director, Higher Things ""This wonderful devotional offers gospel truth to the heavy-laden group close to all of our hearts known as mothers. It speaks with full volume the assurance that God loves them, cares about them (and their children), that his grace is sufficient for all of the tasks and trials of motherhood, both the difficult and the mundane. A refreshing and much-needed invitation to moms everywhere to rest in the mercy and love of Christ. Highly, highly recommended."" -David Zahl, Director of Mockingbird Ministries and Author of Low Anthropology ""With tremendous tenderness, Koplin and the other contributors see the intersection where the heartache and challenges of motherhood and the grace of God meet. This is no pithy mommy devotional, but actually an anecdote to it. In a time when motherhood feels like the ultimate performance of our lives, this beautiful book reminds us that we are only rooted in the redemption of our gentle Jesus. And we can find rest for ourselves (and our children) there."" -Rev. Sarah Condon, Cohost of The Mockingcast"