Out of the Spin Cycle: Devotions to Lighten Your Mother Load [Paperback]

Jen Hatmaker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2010

What lists and systems and self-help books have failed to do for young moms in the trenches, Jesus can accomplish blindfolded. Yes, moms are busy, they need a break, and they'd just like a shower. But they are also strong and brilliant and have the power to move mountains. Author and speaker Jen Hatmaker takes the words and deeds of Jesus, adds the humor of a young mom's life, and offers messages of grace and encouragement. She shows overburdened moms forty things Jesus doesn't expect them to do on their own.

Covering areas such as worry, marriage, priorities, money, and the trap of comparison, this lively Bible teacher brings Jesus's message alive in a format geared to the short moments moms have that can be allotted to reflection. This is a devotional for the woman inside the mom--the Bible student, the learner, the world-changer.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Following Jesus shouldn't be just one more thing to do

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.

In Out of the Spin Cycle, author and speaker Jen Hatmaker takes the words and deeds of Jesus, adds the humor of a young mom's life, and offers messages of grace and encouragement. Covering areas such as worry, marriage, priorities, money, and the comparison trap, this dynamic Bible teacher brings Jesus's message alive in short, to-the-point devotionals for your busy life. This is a devotional for you--the woman inside the mom--the Bible student, the learner, the world-changer.

So put aside that to-do list for a moment and discover the ways Jesus can lighten your mother load.


Jen Hatmaker is the author of eight books and Bible studies, including A Modern Girl's Guide to Bible Study. With a heart for the women of her generation, she speaks at retreats and conferences around the country. Jen and her husband, Brandon, reside in Austin, Texas, with their three children and lead the ministry work at Austin New Church. Find out more at www.jenhatmaker.com.

About the Author

Jen Hatmaker is the author of seven books and Bible studies, including A Modern Girl's Guide to Bible Study. With a heart for the women of her generation, she speaks at retreats and conferences around the country. Jen and her husband, Brandon, reside in Austin, Texas with their three children, and lead the ministry work at Austin New Church.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Revell; 1 edition (June 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800734483
• ISBN-13: 978-0800734480
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.5 x 8.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,978 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Jesus
  • #34 in Books > Parenting & Relationships > Family Relationships > Motherhood
  • #83 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Women's Studies

More About the Author

Jen Hatmaker and her husband Brandon pastor Austin New Church in Texas. They pioneered Restore Austin, connecting churches to local and global non-profits for the individual, collective, and social renewal of Austin and beyond. Jen speaks at retreats, conferences, and seminars all around the country. She is the author of nine books and Bible studies, including Interrupted, A Modern Girl's Guide to Bible Study Series, and most recently, Seven. Jen and Brandon have five children: Gavin - 12, Sydney - 10, and Caleb - 8, and they've recently added Ben - 8, and Remy - 5 from Ethiopia. Drop her a line or check out her ministry at www.jenhatmaker.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read :) May 18, 2011

By MrsHomeEc

Format:Paperback

Although she has written several "study" books, the only book that I have read of hers is Interrupted. Interrupted is the story of how God turned the Hatmaker family upside-down. It makes account of their journey of starting over and building a missional church in South Austin. (do your self a favor and read it now!)

Needless to say, I am a big Hatmaker fan. You could say this makes my review more biased, but I say it makes it better. Not only do I know about her journey, but also attend her church, serve with her, see her at book club meetings, etc. My expectations of her work is higher... because I KNOW her. These stories are not fabricated to make a good read... they are real and honest. A true slice of her life.

The book is divided into 40 devotions. Each one is complete with a witty title, honest to goodness story from her adventures in motherhood, a bible verse, thought provoking questions and a practical `do it this week' application. As I read each one, it's like we are having coffee and she is there telling me the story. She writes how she speaks, and she doesn't sugar coat anything.

One of my personal favorites comes from Chapter 7, where she shares the time she told her son to grab and shovel and dig his own grave... after he had "opened a fresh, sassy mouth." I had read about this particular moment in Interrupted, and wasn't surprised to see her bring it up again. This time she goes deeper. What is a funny story now, was at the time, a moment of spiritual exhaustion for her. She uses this story to share how important it is to spend even just a few minutes alone with God each day. By putting goodness in, goodness out is most certainly to follow.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Favorite devo book so far March 30, 2012

By makemineblue

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have already recommended this book to all of my girlfriends. I found it to be extremely refreshing, yet applicable to my every day life. Somehow Jen Hatmaker can make me laugh so hard and yet be so compelling that I remember exactly what I read all day and can apply it to my life. I think because all four of my children are still ages 6 and under, most of the things that she wrote about are really relevant to me right now. I will probably read this book again soon, and then pass it on to another friend to be blessed by it too.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read for New Moms...Moms in General! January 19, 2012

By Melissa

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I read this book for my MOPS Steering team Bible Study. I had not heard of Jen Hatmaker or the book Out of the Spincycle until that time.

I absolutely LOVED this book for the following reasons:

1) Jen speaks to mothers about mothering. She talks about the things that some of us only think because we are afraid of all the "perfect" moms looking down their noses at us. But she is honest, straight forward, and provides thought-provoking solutions that are biblical.

2) She is just plain funny!

3) The devotionals are short and to the point. Let's face it! I have a 3 year old and infant twins. I don't have time for hours on end studying the Bible right now (ok Perfect moms...you can stone me now). These devotionals allow me to focus on various aspects of motherhood from a biblical perspective without having to spend hours on end that I don't have.

For all new moms (and moms that have been at it for awhile) this is a devotional for you. I'm curious now to read some of her other books