Foundations: 12 Biblical Truths to Shape a Family

Excellent Family Devotional
f you don’t already follow Ruth Chou Simons on social media, you should. In fact, I’m not even sure what you’re waiting for! Aside from her art being an absolute feast for the eyes, the content below it is a banquet for the soul. God-honoring words pour forth, the reader becoming the beneficiary of God’s work in Ruth. I never leave her page without a healthy dose of encouragement!This is why, when Ruth and Troy (her husband) cast the net for their launch team, I jumped in. (I even reactivated my Facebook for the occasion, which is a big deal!) What are they launching, you ask? Their newest book baby, Foundations: 12 Biblical Truths to Shape a Family.Now that my husband and I are parents, I think a lot about raising children who, by God’s grace, love the Lord and are obedient to His commands. I think on what family devotions should look like in our home, what it entails to teach our son about God and about honoring Him with our lives. It’s such a personal thing; the tools that work for one family might not work for the one next door. As I’ve read through my advance copy of Foundations, I have tried to imagine this book being used in a variety of scenarios: big families, small families (like ours), using it with children who are in various stages of development . . . I’ve even pondered if I could have used it as a resource in my middle-school classroom. And you know what? I can’t imagine a scenario in which this book can’t work.The Simons, using the wisdom God has given them in parenting their six sons, have created an exceptional resource for families (or teachers!). Here’s what to expect when you get your copy.What to ExpectThis beautiful and perfectly-sized book (it is a comfortable fit in your hands) comprises 12 resolutions, biblical truths that are imperative for walking the Christian life. They aren’t grouped this way, but I found the resolutions to fall into three categories: loving and honoring God, loving your neighbor, and fighting sin. It is incredibly clear when you move from one resolution to the next, as each section is marked by a wonderfully earthy green cover page, complete with the resolution to be explored in that section and the watercolor art we know and love from other GraceLaced offerings.Each resolution has five brief, but meaty, devotional readings, for a grand total total of 60 readings. I admit that, at first, I was skeptical that much could be accomplished in the small space allotted for each reading, but I shouldn’t have doubted the Simons! They start each reading with anecdote that presents a metaphorical circumstance, something most people–even children–would have encountered in some way. This bleeds seamlessly into the related spiritual issue, which is stated clearly in a way that most readers should easily understand. After examining the outflow of the issue (I’ll give an example below), the reader is fed truth to set them on the right path.By way of illustration, let’s look at one reading from this resolution: “Set your mind where Christ is and on all that is good and true.”The reading begins by discussing the perils of riding your brakes (they’ll eventually fail). Anxiety, the topic at hand, is parallel to riding your brakes, in that worry doesn’t lead anywhere constructive. The Simons address why anxiety is a problem: what we fail to believe about God when we worry and what the consequences are. Then they give Scriptural evidence that we are commanded not to worry, and they offer encouragement to trust God instead of leaning on our own control of a situation.Yes, there is that much meat in a devotional that takes about two minutes to read! But it doesn’t end there.Each reading accompanied by three things:To Dwell On: This is a succinct sentence that drives home the main idea as clearly as possible. (As a teacher, I gave this quite a few praise hands!)To Discuss: These are two easy-to-understand questions that prompt introspection and lay the groundwork for heart-care. (After all, God is not concerned with outward appearances, but is concerned with the heart.)To Memorize: Finally, there is a short Scripture verse that is related to reading and meant to plant the word in your heart through memorization.How to Use this BookOnce I stopped reeling at the sheer volume of truth in each short reading, I realized something else: You can use this book in any way you choose. Whether you are just starting family devotions or you are seasoned experts, this book can be folded in. This book could easily accompany other family worship resources, and finding both classic and modern hymns to accompany the readings would be a piece of cake. A few ideas (not an exhaustive list!):Use one devotional per day, for 60 days, as a way to start the new year (or a new life season).Move intentionally through one devotional per week, meditating on the truths therein, journaling about it, and working on the memory verse for seven days. This would make the book last longer than a year, as there are 60 readings.Camp out in one resolution each month, making the book last exactly a calendar year. (Personally, this is how I plan to utilize it when I read it for a second time, as it would helpfully come alongside a Bible-in-a-year reading plan. When the year ends, start again!)Align the resolutions with a school-year calendar and use it as a mealtime conversation starter or a character-building curriculum (if you teach in a school that supports that, which I did).Or . . . you could do whatever you want and works for your family! Take as much or as little time as you’d like and structure it in a way that suits you best!The Bottom LineI’m a huge fan of all things GraceLaced, and I think you will be, too, if you’re not already. This latest volume is beautiful in many ways, but especially in the truth it conveys and the enjoyment fostered by the work of Ruth’s artistic hand. Foundations released on March 3, and I encourage you to grab your copy today!

Loved reading this book!
Troy and Ruth have long inspired me by their deep love for their six boys, their eagerness for family adventures, and their passion to center their home and relationships on a gospel-saturated worldview. They truly love Jesus and simply invite their boys, and us, to love Jesus too.In their newest book Foundations they invite the reader into a gorgeously illustrated (of course 😍) five-week journey (the time frame is adaptable, if needed) to grow in Christ-likeness. Intentionally created to be an inclusive guide this book is suitable for personal use, within a family, within a small group, etc. Each chapter includes a short reading, a key thought, thoughtful discussion questions, and an applicable Scripture verse.The foundational resolutions are each convicting, challenging , and yet easily understood by all ages. As a mom, I deeply appreciated the practical tips and encouragement on filling our home with God’s Word.“As we talk about our days or other things that are going on in our family, we’re always looking for ways to address what’s brought with the truth of God’s Word. Even when the Bible doesn’t provide a specific answer for a specific dilemma or concern, it always speaks to the principles of the heart. When you apply God’s truth to your deepest burdens as a family, you’ll find that the gospel isn’t good news just for salvation but for every moment, great and small, of your daily lives. And don’t forget to ask your kids if they know any scriptures that apply to what you’re talking about. This teaches them to address their problems by applying what they know of God’s Word. You’re helping them set up important patterns to fall back on for the rest of their lives.”Thank you, Ruth and Troy, for giving me the opportunity to review this challenging and beautiful book. Foundations is a treasure! (Full disclosure – I purchased this hardcover book for our family’s use and also had the opportunity to read a digital copy prior to launch date).

Absolutely love the wisdom and insight in this book. We use it for family devotions around the dinner table and it’s working really well with my 9 and & year olds. Love the simple verses to remember and the depth of the questions to spark conversation as a family.

Just begun. Short devotions to consider on foundations of family, and specifically a family ‘worship’ time. I like that it has a ribbon book mark to keep track.