Winds of Change

The winds of change have begun to blow here... 

The winds of change, when they come, begin ever so softly... you barely notice the caress against your cheek as they begin to rise.  A heart-tug here.  A fleeting thought, 'what if...' there.  A stir deep within... a whisper: 'It's time...' He says.  The stir gives way to a restlessness as He unfolds His plan before you.  Fear creeps in at the changes ahead.  'I Am sufficient...' He says...

Tough Guys and Drama Queens...

My oldest son is quickly approaching those years that most parents dread:  the Teen Years.  There are days when I feel confident that his 'teen years' are going to be great and I'm looking forward to watching God work in his life and experiencing life with him.  Then there are the other days when I wonder 'how are we ever going to survive'?  Hence, I was very excited to have the opportunity to read and review the book, "Tough Guys and Drama Queens:  How Not to Get Blindsided by Your Child's Teen Years" by Mark Gregston.

From the back of the book:
'Parents of preteens and teens can move from scared to prepared with a new approach to parenting their adolescents. 

Parents of preteens intuitively know that no matter how good their kids are, there is turbulence ahead. Many feel lost and unprepared as they watch the damaging effects of culture collide with their child's growing pains and raging hormones.

For the past 35 years Mark Gregston has lived and worked with struggling teens and knows what it takes to reach them. He says, "A parent's success has little to do with either the validity of their words or their intent as messengers, it's more about how they approach their child and engage with them."

The book is divided into three sections:

*What's so different about today's culture *Why traditional parenting no longer works *A new model for parenting teens

Foundational and practical, and written from the crucible of experience, Tough Guys and Drama Queens answers the questions that parents are asking, helping them become the parents their children need them to be.'

The prevailing message throughout the book is this:  Relationship Relationship Relationship.
"If they don't get wisdom from you (the parents), they'll search for it somewhere else." pp.102
"It's all about relationship.  If they don't have a relationship with you, they'll have one with someone else." pp. 103

Though there was nothing completely earth-shattering in his book, Gregston, through his book, has increased the burden I have for keeping my own children's hearts, and has reminded me of the importance of intentionally building and strengthening the relationships I have w/ my children.  I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who's children are coming into the 'Tween & Teen' years.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


Though I don't agree 100% with the perspective from which Gregston has written his book, it's definitely applicable to today's parenting/teen culture, and is definitely worth reading.

The Truth About Grace by John MacArthur

From the back cover:  Simple definitions can make grace feel like an obvious- even mundane- concept.   Best-selling author and pastor John MacArthur illuminates this profound concept with verse upon verse of Scripture.  He also shows that misunderstandings about grace have led to some of the church's greatest problems, perhaps because grace is her most precious gift.

We often hear, when asking what grace is, that grace is undeserved and unmerited favor.  While that is true, God's grace goes far deeper than merely extending His favor upon us... I wanted to explore the depth of God's grace and what it looks like in the lives of His children, so I was excited when the opportunity to read and review this book came along.  Grace Defined, Grace Received, Grace Misunderstood and Twisted, Grace Realized, and Grace Lived Out are the five areas of grace the author explores, though the dry, scholastic manner in which he communicates was not quite what I had expected or hoped for.  (I really desired a devotional/study type of book.)  All-in-all 'The Truth About Grace' was a great platform for me to take what the author has written about and use it in more of a devotional style, and is a book I would recommend to anyone who wants to explore the depth of God's grace. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

Be Dangerous, But Be Safe

Well, I think I've given up thinking that my 2 boys (11 and 8) will gain common sense any time soon... though I am still consistently praying that the Lord would give them just an ounce of common sense to get them through these "tween"  and  "teen" years alive.  Since my boys were tiny, I have consistently prayed that God would show me their strengths, weaknesses, and the gifts and talents He's given them, and I'm not surprised to say that He has given me great insight into each boy's character.  I have one who struggles with fear, is a self-admitted 'messy', is compassionate, yet courageous;  and one who struggles with selfishness, is a strong leader, very detail oriented/organized (just one look at their desks will tell you which is which).  :)   Anyway, quite a long time ago God showed me that I've had a deep root of fear in my life, and that one of my boys also has that struggle.  :(    However, even though he struggles with fear, he has the in-born desire to live an adventurous life... one day he said, "Mom, I'm dangerous... I love danger!"  Then proceeded to tell me of an experiment he wanted to do involving gun powder, a gas tank, and a stick of dynamite...  Wow!  Quite honestly, as a woman, I really have never had the desire to 'be dangerous', and as a mother, I always want my boys to be safe and careful... though that's not God's design for them.  God designed them to love adventure and challenge, to get out in the world and take it by storm, not sit quietly by in the 'safe zone'.  So, against my natural mother's instincts I've resolved not to say to them, 'be careful' when they're headed out to the sledding hill, or driving the golf cart or mini bike on the trails at my parent's house (even though they've crashed), or even when they visit a friend's house... instead I say, "Be dangerous, but be safe!"  (Again, common sense has to come into play somewhere doesn't it?)  My desire for them is that as they grow, they'll use their gifts and talents to further the gospel, and they'll face what the Lord has in store for them with courage (even in the face of fear).  

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”  Deuteronomy 31:8

More Random Thoughts...

I could be wrong, but it seems that in recent years I can't keep a single train of thought for very long ... could it be I have AOADD?  (Adult Onset ADD)  Or is it just that I spend my days with two boys (although one of them can follow a single track for MUCH longer than I can if he's interested in the subject)?  Is it our instant society that is having adverse affects on my brain power?  More than likely it's a combination of the above...  Has anyone else experienced AOADD? 

Three Hearts: A World Away, Three Children Need A Miracle

Each year over 1 million children are born with congenital heart defects... most of these children live in areas where surgery is not an option.  That's where The Children's Heart Project (CHP), a ministry of Samaritan's Purse, comes in.  CHP works with top-quality hospitals to provide surgery to children who live in countries where the medical expertise and equipment are not available.  Since 1997, CHP has arranged life-saving operations for more than 800 children  from Bosnia, Kosovo, Honduras, Uganda, Mongolia, and Bolivia.* 

The documentary "Three Hearts" chronicles the amazing journey of three children from Mongolia all who were born with a heart condition known as tetralogy of fallot, a condition that is fatal by age twenty if not corrected.  At the outset of the documentary, I wasn't all that sure I would like it as it begins with Cissie Graham Lynch's internship, and struggles to balance her role as intern and new wife.  That all changed, however, when we're introduced to a Texas family (the son of whom had heart surgery as a young boy) who were invited to travel to Mongolia and escort the three children (Otga, 16, Uunga, 18, and Toggie, 3) and their mothers to San Antonio, Texas, for operations. 

Click the link for Garrett's story:  http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/articles/the_cardiac_kid/
Click the link for Otga's update:  http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/articles/reaching_biger_for_god/

But if you think this documentary is just about the physical correction of the children's heart defects, think again... Throughout the film, we see the love of our Lord and Saviour worked out through the hands and hearts of everyone involved, from the Texas family who brought the children to the US, to the surgeon, to the host families.  The children were not just physically healed, but the Lord met them and their mothers in the midst of this trial and healed their broken spirits as well.  All in all, this film captured my heart for these three children and all those like them who without ministries like CHP have no hope of ever experiencing normal, healthy lives.

Click here for more information on the Children's Heart Project:  http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/ChildrensHeart/index/

Click here to order your copy of "Three Hearts":  http://www.threeheartsmovie.com/

From the DVD cover:
Graduating college senior, Cissie Graham Lynch, granddaughter of evangelist Billy Graham, takes on an internship at Samaritan’s Purse working with the Children’s Heart Project. This project is dedicated to saving the lives of children by providing medical procedures that aren’t available in many countries. Cissie is charged with supervising the arrival and surgeries of three Mongolian children suffering from fatal congenital heart defects.


But the task is not easy and filled with unexpected challenges. Cissie balances responsibilities as a newly married wife to a professional football player and her tasks with the internship. Meanwhile the Children’s Heart team turns to a Texas family who travels to Mongolia for the adventure of a lifetime to help bring the children to San Antonio for their surgeries. In Texas, two host families make sacrifices to care for these children and their mothers, while a team of doctors and nurses volunteer their time only to stare directly into the face of life and death. How far would you go to save a life?

It’s a fight for survival, a fight of faith, and a fight for a new life for these three hearts.

Bonus Features include: trailer, deleted scenes, and video clips about the Children’s Heart Project.

* Excerpt from Samaritan's Purse, Children's Heart Project website.
** I received this DVD free from Thomas Nelson Publishing as part of their Booksneeze Blogger program.  There was no compensation for a favorable review of this, or any, product.

The "Perfect" Homeschool Kids

Last night as we were leaving church a fellow Awana volunteer was walking out with us and commented on my 2 boys that she thinks are 'perfect'...  Now don't get me wrong, I do appreciate it when people say our boys are well-behaved, but... but... perfect?  No!  They are just normal kids who do normal kid things...  while I'm partial to my boys and think they're pretty awesome (because they are), they are far from perfect.  The people pleaser in me struggles with wanting to be perfect to everyone... if I'm 'perfect enough' I'll be good enough for friendship, ministry, parenthood, marriage... the list goes on and on and on....  The truth is my boys get angry with one another and say unkind things sometimes;  sometimes they are disobedient or sassy;  sometimes they are too competitive and have a bad attitude.  The truth is they have a sin nature just like everyone else, and they have their own individual areas of sin in which they struggle...  all that said, I hope that when that very nice lady learns my boys aren't 'perfect', she will still love them as Jesus loves her, and them, and me...

Blessings

W