discipleship

Book Review: Is your Daughter Ready?

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I have taken a bit of a hiatus from blogging and doing book reviews in the last 2 years or so. Mostly it has really just been because life has been busy. Our jobs and our 3 girls keep us busy in this stage of life. That being said, I struggle as a mom to feel like I am doing enough to raise Godly girls (or even doing it right). When the opportunity came up to review a book called “Is your Daughter Ready? 10 Ways To Empower Your Girl For An Age Of New Challenges”, I had to jump on it! *I did receive a free copy of this book for my review*

The author is a mother of 4 adult girls and she definitely has so much insight, some that came through making mistakes of her own. Throughout the pages of this book, she takes you through 10 topics that she has found can empower girls. These include love, truth, integrity, relationship smarts, perspective, discernment, connection, purpose, perseverance, and faith.

My 3 girls could not be more different. I have an eldest who is a bit of a tomboy who lives in ponytails and t-shirts and really doesn’t worry about popularity or what others think, a middle child who always has every hair in its place, has lots of opinions about everything, and doesn’t mind getting in trouble for talking back, and a youngest who’s full time job is playing, loves socializing, and has lots of emotions. Parenting 3 vastly different kids is a bit of a challenge. I love how this book takes a holistic view of raising daughters. This is not a fix all your issues at once concept. Rather, the author really wants you to parent the heart of each of your daughters with the goal of her developing her own relationship with God.

Each chapter not only has a main topic, but also Bible verses and relatable stories to help the reader understand why they should pursue those things with their own daughter. Each chapter also has a list of truths, questions to reflect on, and a prayer. In my current stage of teen and pre-teen girls, the chapter on discernment really spoke to me. My girls are starting to make more and more decisions. I want them to be discerning without mom having to lecture and babysit decisions. It is a scary world, I want my girls to be prepared to make wise decisions.

If you have a daughter, granddaughter, niece, or even just a girl you have a relationship of any kind with, I highly recommend you check out this book. It is a book that could easily be read many times depending on the stage of life your girl(s) happen to be in. If you are interested in getting your own copy or in learning more about the book and it’s author, you can do that at https://bit.ly/IsYourDaughterReady.

The One

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I have noticed something lately that seems to be a theme all throughout scripture, but especially in the gospels. That theme is that God is always seeking out the individual. From the beginning, He chose to have a relationship with Adam, and then a little later with Eve. He sought out Noah, Joseph, Daniel, Moses, and David, just to name a few.

Sometimes, if you are anything like me, you might think of yourself as just a face in the crowd. Why would an all powerful, all knowing God, care about little, insignificant me? Oh, how wrong we are when we think of ourselves in that way. Think of some of the most impactful sermons you have heard. Often, those sermons are related to people who would have been thought of as lower class and worthless in the day that they lived in. For example, I have learned so many things from Joseph. He was a very insignificant person in his culture. He was the 11th out of 12 sons. He became a slave and a prisoner, even in our world those two things alone are enough to disqualify him in many of our circles of influence. Yet, God used him for mighty things (See starting in Genesis 37). Another person who was an outcast was the woman with the issue of blood. This woman wanted to remain anonymous, but Jesus wanted her faith to be known. This is a go-to story at women’s retreats everywhere. We all want that kind of faith. Her story is only a couple of verses and happens within the midst of another miracle but it is in 3 of the 4 gospels. (See Matthew 9:20-24, Mark 5:25-34, or Luke 8:43-48). We all know the parable of the lost sheep (See Matthew 18:10-14 or Luke 15:3-7). How many books, songs, and sermons have been penned around this parable? In that parable we are the sheep. It demonstrates how God (the shepherd) is willing to come after the one who has gone astray.

Those are just a couple of examples where God is willing to use people who are less than desirable or who have been lost, for His kingdom. Why are we any different? As an individual, we may not change the entire world, but maybe we can change the world for one person. As a teacher, that thought helps me through the hard days. Those days when I have fought culture in the form of cell phones, earbuds, distractions, defiance, laziness, or any other myriad of things a teenager may throw my way, I try to remember that. Maybe my entire job that day is simply to show that I can be loving when I don’t want to be. Maybe the same is true for you. Perhaps you aren’t called to be Billy Graham or Mother Teresa, but you are called to love your neighbors and pray for your enemies.

 “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them.  And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” Luke 12:6-7 NLT

We are not a face in the crowd to God. He has us exactly who we are, where we are, and exactly when we are, for a purpose. Our job is to seek out that purpose. We are not to be victims of our circumstance or waller in self pity from our past mistakes. Instead, we are to step out every single day seeking out what it is God has for us. I love how it is put in Esther 4:14 “If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” God will do His work, whether it is with you or without you. However, He has invited us in to be a part of it. Who knows what if you were made ___________________ for such a time as this?

Marked Moments

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“Nothing is a surprise to God; nothing is a setback to His plans; nothing can thwart His purposes; and nothing is beyond his control.”

This quote was spoken by Joni Eareckson Tada, one of the most unlikely people to speak such a thing because she has been a quadriplegic since the age of 17. This quote speaks volumes to me. I believe with all my heart that God is in control, I just wish I could get that through to my head sometimes. I know that I don’t always act like it, but I do know it’s true.

I believe that there are moments that can change the trajectory of our lives in an instant. Some of my own examples include asking a friend of mine to a college formal (I ended up marrying that friend), getting laid off from a job I thought I would have forever, making the decision to become a teacher, and having a sweet surprise 3rd child, just to name a few. Those moments may be exciting, or devastating, but they mark us in a way that we are never quite the same.

I absolutely love the story of Joseph (It starts in Genesis 37). He goes through so many things leading from the dreams to the palace. His troubles all started because of a combination of his bragging ways and his evil brothers selling him into slavery. This lead him to eventually end up in prison. However, all the sorrows he went through, became the catalyst to become the 2nd in command in the palace. He needed these experiences to refine him. To humble his ego, learn to submit to authority, and always do the right thing, even when it ended in wrong results.

I can’t help but think the same is true in our own lives. Every experience, every setback, every frustration, and every triumph are all designed to take us from where we are to where God wants us to be. However, it is up to us to push through the hard times with integrity. When we don’t, we may end up needing to learn those lessons again.

I teach a lot of juniors and seniors. In Texas, they have to take and pass a lot of tests to graduation high school. When they don’t learn the lessons needed to pass the first time, they have the opportunity to try again. In order for those kids to be successful they must be in tutorial classes and re-learn much of the information. God does the same with us. If we fail the pride lesson, he gives us more opportunities to learn humility before we are ready for the next lesson. He never gives us a test we aren’t prepared for. However, He may give us a test we really don’t want. That’s the part I don’t like.

I want to refer back to the quote I started with. “Nothing is a surprise to God; nothing is a setback to His plans; nothing can thwart His purposes; and nothing is beyond his control.” Joni has now been wheelchair bound for over 50 years, yet has reached hundreds of thousands of people with her ministry and was also instrumental in helping the Americans with Disabilities Act get passed. I am sure she had no idea at the age of 17 the impact that she would have. I am also sure that 50 years from now, you have no idea what purpose the challenges you are going through are going to serve. Now, you may not be headed to 2nd in command of a kingdom or leading a worldwide ministry. But maybe you, like me, have a few kids, grandkids, or people who look up to you that see how you live your life and face your challenges. What they see from you will minister for generations to come, in good or bad ways.

We all have moments that mark our lives. Let’s use those marked moments to propel us into the next level of what God has in store for us.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

Giveaway Time!

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wilderness

During the last financial crisis, in 2009, I was laid off from my job. It was a scary time for me and my husband. It’s hard to explain the emotions you go through.

Now we are in a whole new era with a different kind of crisis. So many have once again been laid off or furloughed from their jobs. There is a lot of uncertainty. Because of that, I want to give away 5 copies of the book I wrote born out of my own time of crisis, Finding God in the Wilderness: Learning to Trust God During Times of Uncertainty.

Entering is easy, simply comment on this post for yourself or tell me about a friend who you would like to enter (you can definitely do both). Please share this post on your social media as well!.

I will pick 5 winners on my wedding anniversary, April 28th.

If you just can’t wait until then, you can order a copy here.

 

Time to Step it Up

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Best Friends Forever Stock Photos, Pictures & Royalty-Free Images ...

Ladies, this one is for you. I have something on my mind, and have for a little while, it’s time to share it: We have got to do better!!!

Let me explain.

I want to flash back to junior high and high school for a minute. I remember back in those days so often preferring to hang out with “the guys” simply because girls can be so cruel. One minute we were best friends, and the next there was drama for one reason or another. I have already started seeing this happen with my second grade daughter. It’s heartbreaking when she comes home from school telling me that someone was mean to her and she was left out of a game on the playground.

I’m not sure what it is about females that causes us to be insecure, competitive, and sometimes downright mean. This shouldn’t be! After all, we are the nurturers. We should naturally be protective and encouraging of each other. We should believe the best about each other, unfortunately it is often just the opposite.

I absolutely love the story of Jonathan and David in 1 Samuel. Their friendship was unrivaled. It says in 1 Samuel 18:3 “Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.” Wow! Sign me up for that kind of friendship. I was re-reading the story of David and Jonathan the other night and I just couldn’t get over the selfless love they had for each other. They built each other up and encouraged each other, even though for Jonathan, it meant risking everything.

I have to admit, I am slightly jealous of my husband. He has never had a shortage of good friends. The thing about men, especially confident guys like my husband and most of the men he calls good friends, is they can just be relaxed and be themselves without comparison, judgement, or feeling like they have to portray themselves a certain way. I have some great female friends, but I can honestly say it has been years since I have had anything close to a “Jonathan/David” type of friendship. It seems like the older I get, the longer it takes us girls to tear down the walls between each other.

So what’s a girl to do? I want to issue a challenge that I myself have been try to do. I want to challenge every single woman who is reading this to go out of your way to encourage another woman. Whether that means speaking an encouraging word to someone, supporting a startup business, or even taking a younger woman under your wing, just do it! Be the friend that you want others to be to you! Use the idea of the golden rule: treat other women the way you want to be treated. Give the women you work with and do life with the benefit of the doubt.

When my husband and I first moved into the town where we live, 13 years ago, we had several couples in our church who took us in. We had no family in town, and really didn’t know anyone, but the people who poured into us then made so much of a difference. Be that person. Be the friend you wish others would be to you. Be the person to welcome someone new. Be the one to believe the best. Be the person to spread good news, and not rumors. Be the one to encourage another woman when she is trying something new. Be the one to build another woman up!!!

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Book Review: Resilient

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As a mom, one of my biggest struggles is how exactly to “train up a child in the way they should go” (see Proverbs 22:6). This world is a scary place. As a public school teacher to primarily freshmen, I see this firsthand every single day. Everything from peer pressure, to phone addictions, to bullying, to drugs and alcohol use go on every single day. Not to mention, especially with all three of my children being girls, the temptations they will face with boys. It can be overwhelming at times. I also don’t want to raise my girls to be fake in their Christianity. I want them to be all in, not just on a Sunday morning. I want them to be excited about their beliefs, but I want them to be just that: THEIR beliefs. I want them to discover faith for themselves.

Discipleship of our children should be at the forefront of every Christian’s mind. Especially in the secular world we live in that seems to be running away from Christianity as fast as possible. When given the opportunity to review a book about discipling children, I was very interested.

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Resilient: Child Discipleship and the Fearless Future of the Church is a much needed resource not only for parents, but for the church as a whole. The focus of the book is on the church of 2050. The authors focus on the kids of today that will be leading the church in the future. They take a realistic look at the current state of kid’s ministries (or KidMin, as they refer to it). They point out some of the areas that may be lacking in children’s ministries that may not be giving kids tools to thrive in this secular world. They give some specific strategies to help reach the kids in this current generation.

This book does a great job of looking at the great things of the past, and coming up with ways do disciple the children of the future. It also looks at discipleship from two perspective, that of a parent raising children today, as well as for the church that is trying to disciple children. It is very unique and even gives specific ideas that a church could initiate.

Like I mentioned earlier, discipling my own children is something that I often think about. I see kids today who lack morals, work ethic, and integrity, the last thing in the world I want is for my kids to be one of them. I want my girls to “seek first the kingdom of God” in absolutely everything they do. I don’t want them to feel like they have to follow the whims of the secular world they live in. I want them to have a strong faith foundation that is their own, not just because their parents have a certain set of beliefs. Resilient gives me some great advice on how to do that.

If you would like to get a copy of this book you can find out more and get your own copy here. Better yet, you can also enter to win one here. I hope you will take a look at this book, the future of the church really does depend on how we disciple the children of today.