The Purple Cellar (TPC): Why do the Girl Talkers believe that now, the onset of the twenty-first century, it is especially vital to shop wisely for time?

The Girl Talkers: As modern women, we have numerous options for how to use our time, and they are all screaming for our attention: Read this book, this magazine, this blog! Watch this movie! Take this class! Pursue this ambition! Enjoy this leisure activity! Meet this need! Try this hobby! Join this program! Serve this outreach! Hang out with these friends! Through modern media, we are also “introduced” to countless women with whom we can tend to compare our own lives—and use of time. And thus the demands—or at least perceived demands—upon our time can be overwhelming.

So it’s more important than ever that we turn to God’s Word as our guide. And as with everything else, Scripture provides us with all the wisdom we need to spend our time wisely, and for his glory. God gives us just the right amount of time to do what he’s called us to do. And he provides wisdom in his Word to determine how we should use our time. So there’s no need for us to live exhausted, confused, overwhelmed—bouncing from one demand to another. By shopping for time according to God’s Word we can experience confidence, peace, joy and fruitfulness in our every day life.

TPC: Whom do you hope to reach with your book?

The Girl Talkers: We hope all women will benefit from this book—from teenagers to grandmothers and everyone in between. Mom (Carolyn) introduced the three of us girls to many of the principles in this book when we were in our early teens. They’ve served us right through college, single adulthood, and now as married women with children. And Mom—who now has six grandchildren and counting—continues to benefit still. It’s never too early or late to begin “shopping for time.”

TPC: As busy mothers, what is the single most important thing on your “time” shopping list?

The Girl Talkers: That’s an easy one! Sitting at Jesus’ feet—through prayer and reading his Word—not only tops our list, but occupies a unique place all it’s own. As Jesus says, it’s the “one thing” that is necessary and should be a priority above all others.

Of course, this is a challenge when you are juggling the demands that come with managing a home and raising small children. Our kids don’t usually oblige us by sleeping in so we can have a quiet time in the morning! That’s why rising early is often the only way we can spend time in God’s Word. But in seasons when rising early is difficult due to children waking up in the night, we have to get creative in order to find time to meet with God. Even when it’s not ideal it’s important to continue to make an effort to receive God’s grace through his Word and prayer.

TPC: How do the Girl Talkers manage to fit blogging into their busy schedules?

The Girl Talkers: Ha Ha. We’re still not sure! But waking up early (Shopping for Time Tip #1) plays a big part. Either we write before the children get up, or we get other things done so we can write later in the day. But the fact that there are four of us helps a lot too. None of us could do this on our own at this time in our lives. And it’s not simply that we take turns writing. This blog grows out of our lives and our relationships with one another. As we talk together, we generate ideas, which eventually become a post or maybe even a series. Bringing in all four points of view hopefully strengthens our content, and it also distributes the burden as well. But even so, there are days the blog doesn’t “fit” so well!

TPC: In Shopping for Time, you discuss the importance of carefully evaluating our relationships. Why is this so important?

The Girl Talkers: As women, we’re relational creatures—relationships are very important to us. And this is a good thing. God made us this way. But sometimes, we can have the tendency to approach relationships sentimentally instead of scripturally. Fickle feelings and selfish desires can shape our relational network instead of God’s Word.

Because relationships consume so much of our time, it’s vitally important that we are intentional and purposeful in relationships. Scripture provides us with clear guidelines and much wisdom about what our relationships should look like. And when we bring our relationships in line with God’s Word we not only honor God, but experience blessing and joy besides.