A Mother’s Final Exam

allstreets-kiva

Author:  Linda Wright A Mother’s Final Exam             December is here, a time to celebrate Christmas.  I call it Mother’s Final Exam Month.  Look at the following list.  How can I get it all done?  And do it with a smile and great confidence too! Shop for gifts and make gifts Wrap, wrap, wrap Decorate [...]

Complainers or Givers?

Gratitude

Author:  © Wendy Clark 2012 Are your kids content and full of gratitude or do they whine and complain? Sometimes discontent can seem reasonable in light of the circumstances our kids may face, and parents can fall into allowing and even accepting their ungracious and ungrateful kids’ whining and complaining.  Some parents will even tell [...]

First Things First

Young woman reading bible

Author:  Jeanine Cook As the holiday season comes upon us I am considering and praying through all that I would like to do, should do and what should wait. I want to have the correct priorities as the busyness begins. I know that it is a battle I often lose on small but important fronts. [...]

The Perfect Center

Jesus at the Center

Author:  Kelly Patchin The follower of Jesus Christ does not just trust in Jesus, they trust in the way of Jesus.  They arrange their whole life and practice systematically around Jesus.  Every Fall families have an opportunity to evaluate what is at the center of their homes and hearts.  As the summer comes to its [...]

The Pace for Grace

Serving Others

Author:  Jeanine Cook Summer is affording me great ministry opportunities with my family. Not only am I able to operate at a slower pace and respond more graciously to them, we together are being put in positions naturally to minister to those around us. Whether it be a lonely neighbor or a friend that requires [...]

The Importance of Margins

Busy Family

Author:  Wendy Clark Perhaps you’ve heard people talk about creating or building “margin” into our lives.  The expression refers to freeing up room in our lives for space, rest, and unscripted moments. As an English teacher I’ve had occasion to reflect on the value of margins.  On a typed page the margin is the empty [...]

Teach Kids to Add Energy to Family Life

parenting2

Summary: Some children have the ability to suck the energy right out of family life. These children are demanding of your time, need a lot of correction, and seem to be magnets for conflict. They’re often emotionally explosive but almost always drain energy out of parents and other family members. The solution is to teach [...]

Showing Hospitality

Large Hispanic family in kitchen preparing food

And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.  As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. I Peter 4:8-10, NKJV In this passage, the Apostle Peter (under [...]

Elements of a Godly faith

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My wife Janet and I have been teaching a parenting class to help parent’s disciple their children. We were excited to see that many parents are very concerned about their children’s spiritual lives. Many have been willing to learn as much as they can to fulfill God’s mandate that has been given to each of [...]

SUMMER PLANS

SUMMER

As the summer quickly approaches and end of the school year invitations for various events canvas my calendar I am reminded of the struggle it is to make wise decisions concerning my kids activities and playdates.   I am finding myself feeling pressured to allow my kids to do certain things that in and of themselves seem benign. [...]