When evangelist Billy Graham stepped off a Tennessee stage in 1952 to remove the velvet ropes that separated the blacks from the whites at his rally, he exhibited courage. When former slave Richard Allen collected funds to purchase a blacksmith’s shop in order to have a church building where African Americans could worship Christ without being forced to sit on the floor along the walls, he exhibited faithful boldness. When Nazi officials arrived in the mountain town of Le ... [keep reading]
Do You Notice and Encourage Your Child’s Strengths?
Every year I attend the World Strengths Summit and rub shoulders with several colleagues from around the world who engage organizations, as I do, to shift the focus of their development strategy to a strengths-based approach. At the most recent summit, I was speaking with one of my “mates” (as they would say) from Australia who is a successful strengths coach in his neck of the world. We were chatting about my current book project and how we are both learning to apply our professional ... [keep reading]
Where the Gospel Meets Your Everyday Life
Many of us feel a disconnect between our Sunday-morning faith and our Monday-morning mom life. We wonder how hymns, prayers, and Bible reading intersect school lunches, footie pajamas, and full-blown, on-the-ground, tear-filled tantrums. We have our Christian faith, and then we have real life. The church and the Bible feel outdated—good for Sundays and nostalgia, but that’s about it. But these two aspects of life are part of a bigger story, a cosmic battle, even when we can’t see it. It’s a ... [keep reading]
How to Improve Your Child’s Future by Making Sense of Your Past
Just as our children don’t arrive as blank slates, we come to parenting with our own unique histories. Let’s be honest—even the best childhood is not completely free of hardship. When I think back to my childhood, I’m a bit stunned to realize that even those in my small crowd of friends had their share of traumas with a capital “T”: the death of a parent, a mother with cancer, parental divorce, teen pregnancy, substance abuse, depression, suicidal thoughts, eating disorders, bullying, and ... [keep reading]
Living a Life Led by God
I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. ----Isaiah 42:16 When my kids were growing up, I felt like a little lost puppy as I went from house to house, looking for answers on how to have a Christian home. I desperately wanted to figure out what I should be doing with my kids, so I observed the other moms ... [keep reading]
Let These Prayers of Hope and Encouragement Speak to Your Heart Today
Mom, this post isn't about how to be a better parent. It's about you and your relationship with God. As you and your family continue to navigate through the pandemic and adjust to an uncertain school year, it's more important than ever that you make time to talk to God, not out of obligation but out of necessity. Much like the pre-flight safety instructions where you're told to put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others, your spiritual well-being needs to be a priority, so that you ... [keep reading]
Is Getting Your Kids to Bed Becoming a Nightly Battle? These Ideas May Help.
My wife and I have four children, so every night we make sure four kids brush their teeth, four kids say their prayers, get a story, are hugged, kissed, and four kids tucked in. And there are all sorts of things that pop up to distract us from getting this accomplished. Whether a child isn't in a listening mood, we can't find a blankie or special stuffed animal (penguin), a sibling won't share time in front of the mirror to brush teeth, or someone is convinced mommy and daddy didn't pray with ... [keep reading]
Send Your Children Back to School in a Special Way
A typical school year brings a backpack full of adjustments for your children—different classrooms, new teachers, and tougher academic challenges. But this year could be especially unsettling for your kids and your family as you cope with the new realities of life amid the coronavirus pandemic. This fun and functional workstation is a small way to make your young students feel secure and special, especially if your home has become their new classroom. Decorate to ... [keep reading]
10 Great Reminders That God Never Changes
Our world seems to change by the minute, doesn’t it? As I type these words, my circumstances are drastically different than what they will be when you read this. School schedules and reopening plans are unknown for many of us. If school does start on time, the conditions our children will be in seem to change by the hour. No matter the age of your kids, you likely wake up and wonder what foundation will get swept out from under you next. The past couple weeks have increased my anxiety, ... [keep reading]
Seeking Connection in a Disconnected World
Do you remember your first love? Recently, I had such an opportunity when cleaning out my memory boxes. Covid-19 has been good for some things…like cleaning and organizing! The letters were from a boy I went to high school with—a boy two years younger than me, and a different religion—and thus a forbidden love. Back then we wrote letters—old-fashioned letters written with blue Bic pens on 3-ring notebook paper. We didn’t express our love openly—that was too dangerous. We wrote in “code” – ... [keep reading]
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