Out of the Spin Cycle Review: Devotions that Hit Close to Home

I just finished reading Out of The Spin Cycle: Devotions to Lighten Your Mother Load by Jen Hatmaker. Let me tell you this; this ain't your grandmother's devotional. Jen brings an amusing and entertaining view of the mishaps, missteps and misunderstandings that are the daily life of a mother.

Often times I felt like she had been a fly on the wall during some of my mama drama. I particularly liked it when she said, "I have not had an uninterrupted thought in twelve straight days." Let's face it; if you're a mom, you probably have felt the same way at some point. So, here is a mom who gets it and has laid it all bare to help others turn their everyday situations into a chance to bring themselves closer to the will of God.

This may not be a traditional devotional book, or what you would expect a devotional book to be; but the amusing anecdotes and light-hearted approach make it a devotion that will have you longing for those few minutes of quiet so you can take in the next chapter. If ever there was a good reason to lock yourself in the bathroom for some quality alone time, this book is it.

The chapters are short and thought-provoking. Even the busiest of moms should be able to find a few minutes in their busy day to read a chapter. The questions at the end of each chapter lead to some serious self-assessment and contemplation and they are followed by a "Step Out of the Spin Cycle" assignment, so to speak. "Step Out of the Spin Cycle" gives you some actions to take to bring your world into alignment with God's purpose and will for you as a mother and a wife.

Directly from the back cover of the book, "Motherhood sometimes feels like a list of expectations. You may be busy or even overwhelmed. But you are also strong and brilliant. And here's a secret: a lot of those things on your list of expectations are things Jesus never expected you to do on your own."

Out of the Spin Cycle: Devotions to Lighten Your Mother Load by Jen Hatmaker is available from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Jen Hatmaker is the author of eight books and Bible studies. You can learn more about Jen at her personal website. You can also read an excerpt of the book at the Revell website.

Resources
Jen Hatmaker's Website

Revell Website, Out of the Spin Cycle Page