Prepare your hearts for the birth of our Savior by participating in Advent activities. Start by setting up an Advent wreath and read Scripture and other books about the birth of Jesus.

Elisabeth Elliott was Donna’s mentor, and we get to hear the chats they had about mentoring in the 90’s on Elisabeth’s radio show. Priceless and timeless!!

God calls us all to obedience. Donna tells us to ask ourselves 3 questions: 1. What am I being disobedient about? 2. How is my life complicated? 3. How much is enough? The most important thing we can do is make space in our day for time with God. Just sit in His presence as you may have once done with your spouse before you were married, or when you held your infant in your arms, bonding with each other by just being together. This is the last of Donna’s teachings until September. Have a blessed summer and explore our web site for free resources that are available to you and catch up on all of the free podcasts you may have missed.

Try not to let the hustle and bustle create chaos and disrupt life during this season. Give your children a choice of what they want to participate in and let them take responsibility for their choices. Do a service project with the family. And have days where you give them grace from chores, etc.

We often desire the shortest, easiest way to things in life, but God’s directions may include a delay or detour, as was the case with the Israelites (Exodus 13:17-18). Don’t miss the lessons God has for you in the “wilderness” or delays and detours of life, which could be illness, isolation, or a broken relationship. Give God consent to work in your life by giving Him control!

Choose God first, and others second. Listen for God’s voice when making decisions because choices matter! There really is no such thing as an overnight success, but rather many small decisions are being made to change our lives.

Colossians 3:12 reminds us to clothe ourselves in kindness, which is more and more uncommon in our culture. Jesus modeled kindness and always had time to heal someone or spend time with them. Donna encourages us to make kindness a way of life, especially with our husbands.

God chose to give us our children and we should treat motherhood as a ministry. Do everything, including changing diapers, as unto the Lord.

Are you submitting to God’s authority and growing in wisdom? Donna’s teaching from 2008 is timeless and full of wisdom. The world is ever changing, but God does not. His Word stands true, and we need to know it and impart it to our children. Teach them to be faithful in the little things by modeling it in your own life. This is the first of a 5 part series that Donna taught to the Scottsdale study group.

The kitchen is the most complicated room in the house. It’s up to you to make it less complicated. “Having a prepared home encourages a prepared lifestyle which encourages a lot more relationships building…” Donna Otto

This lesson is chock full of tips on organizing and keeping your kitchen clean.

Listening is a forgotten art, but if we want to have deeper relationships, then we need to heed Donna’s advice for being a better listener.

This teaching took place in front of a live audience over 20 years ago, and it is so full of wisdom from a mother of 8 children! Valerie Shepard offers encouragement for moms who want to spend time with our Lord each day, but find it difficult to do so when our children want and need so much of our attention. Be a good example to your children by intentionally spending time with God so you can be filled with His love that you, in turn, will lavish on your family.

Be a woman of courage, saying YES to what you’re supposed to say yes to, and NO to what you’re supposed to say no to. Be sure you are making time for God and good self care! Avoid the time traps of technology, etc, which Donna describes. And, if you’re a ‘people pleaser,’ Donna gives tips on how to avoid saying yes to more than you can handle.

Decluttering is painful, because clutter can be addicting and comforting. We have to practice getting rid of things. Donna has tips for lessifying your life by getting organized.

More with Lars Gren, 3rd husband of Elisabeth Elliot, who shares his favorite book written by Elisabeth and reads an excerpt from “No Graven Image.”

Happy Thanksgiving from the Modern Homemakers team! Donna encourages you to simplify your plan and do what God is calling you to do this Thanksgiving.

Are you lighting the light with kindness? Colossians 3:12 tells us, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…” Jesus modeled kindness, so those of us who have accepted Christ have Him living in us and should be shining for Him.

God has called us to be good stewards, and “going green” is one way of ‘lessifying’ your life and having fewer complications or distractions. This is NOT your ordinary decluttering lesson!

One of Donna and David’s summer reads was “Life Without Lack: Living in the Fullness of Psalm 23.” Dallas Willard, the author, wrote about living a life of contentment and peace. Many of you may have memorized Psalm 23 from a Sunday school class and now Donna’s review of this book can help you put the truths from Psalm 23 into practice.

How amazing it must have been for the shepherds who were visited by angels to inform them of the birth of The Messiah! They followed a bright star to the place where they were told Jesus would be. Jesus came in humility at a time when the government proclaimed there be a census taken. He was born to simple people and His simple birth reflects Jesus’ early position as a humble servant.

On the second Sunday of Advent, we light the Bethlehem candle and read Luke chapter 2. Try to picture Mary, 9 months pregnant, riding on a donkey, for a long distance just to partake in the census! What did they bring for provisions? Was there really no room for them in their homeland? Donna gives us much to think about!

Traci and Michael Tope talk about how Donna Otto’s teachings at HBC/Modern Homemakers have made a difference in their lives. Traci is one of the ‘Voices of Modern Homemakers’ and reads The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry. This treasure of a short story is more than 100 years old, and has a clear message of sacrificial love between a young couple who don’t have much, but they manage to buy extravagant gifts for one another.

Prepare your hearts for the birth of our Savior by participating in Advent activities. Start by setting up an Advent wreath and read Scripture and other books about the birth of Jesus.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Modern Homemakers team! Donna encourages you to simplify your plan and do what God is calling you to do this Thanksgiving.

We often desire the shortest, easiest way to things in life, but God’s directions may include a delay or detour, as was the case with the Israelites (Exodus 13:17-18). Don’t miss the lessons God has for you in the “wilderness” or delays and detours of life, which could be illness, isolation, or a broken relationship. Give God consent to work in your life by giving Him control!

Andrea is one half of “The Girlfriends” who sit down to chat with Donna from time to time. This time, we learn more about her life as a girl growing up in Canada, her modeling stint in Japan, and the life she has built with her husband, Shane, and 4 kids in Arizona. Each of the choices she has made along the way have led her to a fulfilling life in Christ.

Andrea and Nancy talk about respect in friendship and valuing one another. As their friendship deepens, so do their hearts for one another.

Two change points in Donna’s life has led to greater spiritual formation: taking a Sabbath rest day during the week and finding a woman to be her spiritual director. If there is something about your life that you would like to do differently, listen and take notes as there are many tools and ideas Donna gives us to help us grow more spiritually.

Take courage! Keep raising your children and loving your husband, because God is with you and will see you through. Don’t let distractions take you away because you are doing a great work!

Close friendships are a ‘call and response,’ meaning you are there for each other, praying for one another, and encouraging one another throughout your lives. A ‘friend of your right hand’ is willing to go through the ‘messy middle’ with you!

Emerson said, “Grace is more beautiful than beauty.” Being courteous and respectful is more attractive and will draw more people to you than physical beauty. Courtesy is biblical!

How many times have you wished you could take back something you’ve said? We have all used our tongue in unkind ways. Scripture tells us not to let any unwholesome or corrupt word come out of our mouths. Donna gives us practical ways to help us be more gracious women by checking ourselves in how we speak to others.