Family/Marriage/Parenting Resources..

Wanted to provide some links/resources to some of the things that myself and my husband have found life changing in our marriage (before and during)

1-Family Life -They offer a wonderful marriage conference that my husband and I will be attending April 27-29 called "A weekend to remember"
http://www.familylife.com/site/c.dnJHKLNnFoG/b.6703867/k.21D3/Stepping_Up_A_Call_to_Courageous_Manhood.htm

2-Chip Ingram's ministry..great marriage and parenting tools..here is the link to his new message on God's design for a dream marriage
http://livingontheedge.org/home/broadcasts/listen-online-daily.php

3-Focus on the family-Great article on Marriage and dealing with the issue of pornogrpahy and virtual infidelity
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/divorce_and_infidelity/pornography_and_virtual_infidelity.aspx

4-Focus on the family has tons of broadcasts on issues from infidelity and how to overcome, parenting troubled teens, to divorce, etc.
http://www.focusonthefamily.com

5-Joseph Sangl has great approaches to paying off debt and budgeting amongst other things.
http://www.josephsangl.com/

6-Carol Kent is a woman who has been through a nightmare of a situation with her son and is still overcoming even though she is still in the midst of this. Her story of surrendering her child to Christ is remarkable and inspiring
http://www.carolkent.org/

7-Gayle Haggard is an awesome example of how to forgive your spouse in the darkest hour..here is a link to the interview her and her husband did a few years back at Elevation Church and a link to her page
http://www.elevationchurch.org/sermons/healer/part3
http://www.gaylehaggard.org/

Perfect Spouse, The Perfect friend, The Perfect Father

Many of us grew up without an example of what a healthy marriage looks like, what healthy relationships are and we had to learn and are learning the hard way because of this. This is something that I do not want for my children. The journey of learning through the eyes of God and through trial and error in my own relationships with others and with my spouse though freeing and rewarding in the end, has been tough.

BUT I want my children to be set up for success. I want them to come into a healthy, Godly marriage so that when they meet that someone that God uses to bring them closer to him, they will appreciate it and grow in it that much more. I want the blessing of a healthy marriage for their children and their children's children.

So my question to you is, are you setting your children, the generations after you up for success in marriage, in relationships? Are they learning through your example how to love unconditionally, how to let go of pride and humble themselves, are they learning to speak life into the lives of the others around them, are they learning what it means to sacrifice for the cause of Christ, are they learning how to stand strong when the circumstances look grim, are they learning how to endure when the mountains before them look so high, when the pit feels so lonely and dark?

They are learning, don't get me wrong. But are they learning how to be successful, are they learning God's way or the world's way?

"BUT BUT BUT, I am not perfect. I am never going to be perfect." I get that. We are not called to be perfect now. We wont reach perfection until we are with the Perfect one. But, we are to try (in God's strength) to be all that he has called us to be. This only happens in his strength, in his might, and when we make the decision to learn from and spend time with the Perfect Spouse, The Perfect Friend, The Perfect Father-God.

Let's seek him today, let's press forward, let's stray from complacency because in the end we will, our children will, and our bloodline will reap the harvest.


^"9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." (Galations 6:9-10)

From the Bible to the Classroom

Over the last year, I have noticed more and more one amazingly awesome and simple truth- "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (NIV).

It says it in his word but man oh man, when he reveals it to you up close and personal, it really penetrates deep. I have noticed even more so as I teach the children in my class simple manners and daily truths such as.....

-You only fail if you do not try.
("I can do all this through him who gives me strength"-Phil 4:13)

-When you make bad decisions bad things can happen and those bad things are called consequences; When you make good choices, good things happen.
(Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. ⁸ Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.- Galations 6:7-8)

-We can help our friends by offering suggestions but we cannot make them do what we want them to do. They need to make the choice.
^("Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor." -Galat. 6:4-6)

-You are special. There is not one person just like you.
("We are God's masterpieces"-Ephes 2:10)

-Keep trying, do not give up so easily. Some things take time
("Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. "-Galations 6:9/"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."- Phil.3:14)

-If you need help, you need to ask for help. I cannot help you if you cannot tell me what's wrong.
("Present your requests to God"-Phil. 4:6b)

-You need to choose to be happy no matter what you feel, it is a choice. But only you can choose how you handle it.
("For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances"-Phil 4:11b)

These are concepts that I teach and implement daily in my classroom and it is so neat to see how God takes these truths and implants them in my mouth during a given situation (it definitely does not come from me). The amazing part is not only seeing these truths being lived out in those 2 year olds but in myself and throughout scripture.

I get the most joy out of it when I get to share what we are learning with their parents-who may or may not know Jesus. I get to plant seeds in their children's lives and in their own because of God's living word. He really does convict hearts, we are just not always aware of it.