Educating the Wholehearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson

I have wanted to read this book for years and finally have it in my hands!! I haven't gotten very far yet but have already found some treasure in it: "It is not difficult today to set our parenting goals on making our children successful by the world's standards. But if their hearts and minds are not turned wholeheartedly toward God, we will miss the mark by God's standards."

This Life I Live by Rory Feek

Thankful for this 20 min. peek at Rory's book! I can tell it's going to be amazing!!
http://www.thislifeilive.com/the-blog/storyteller

Peacemaking for Families: A Biblical Guide to Managing Conflict in Your Home by Ken Sande

I have only cracked open this book and started reading the preface of this book. I haven't even finished the 2nd paragraph and have already found something valuable!

"We can be peace-fakers, denying that we have problems, always giving in, or becoming distant from family members."
~Sadly, I'm pretty good at this one. :( Often I call it being "longsuffering" but then I find I've been letting things build of for a couple of weeks or so and explode with the things I've been "longsuffering" over. Hmm. In times like that, I find I've really been walking in my own strength than giving it to the Lord and truly forgiving.

"We can be peace-breakers, relying on manipulation, a sharp tongue, or overt anger to compel others to give in to our wishes."
~Yep! I have trouble with this one too! I am thankful that I have grown in this area over the years and pray I continue to.

"Our third option is to use the conflicts of family life to become peacemakers, drawing on God's grace and practicing the powerful peacemaking principles He has given to us in His Word. This approach may require a lot of work and change, but it is the surest way to preserve your marriage and see your family mature in love, in character, and in its witness for Christ."
~Now this. This is the one we want to see in our home. :)

The first chapter is called, "Marriage Means Conflict..."

Meditating on God's Word

In Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Whitney suggests finding the time. Concerning reading just before bed He says, "There's value in reading the Bible just before you drop off, but if this is the only time you read Scripture then you should try to find another time. There are at least two reasons for this. First, yoku will retain very little of what you read when you're so tired and sleepy. And second, if you're like me, you probably do very little evil in your sleep. You need to encounter Christ in the Scriptures when it will still have an impact on your day." Emphasis mine. He suggests finding a word, phrase, or verse to meditate on every time you read so that you don't just close your Bible and not remember anything you just read. He pointed out that if this happens, your Bible reading is not likely to change you and your Bible reading can become a chore rather than a "Discipline of joy." Then he says, "And the more you apply the truth in Scripture, the more you'll become like Jesus."

Bible Reading

In Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life Donald Whitney said that a 1980 survey by Christianity Today and the Gallup Poll showed that regular Bible reading was the most important factor in forming a person's moral and social behavior. He says, "If you want to be changed, if you want to become more like Jesus Christ, discipline yourself to read the Bible." He talks about how often we should read it and quoted a British preacher John Blanchard, in his book How to Enjoy Your Bible, "Surely we only have to be realistic and honest with ourselves to know how regularly we need to turn to the Bible. How often do we face problems, temptation and pressure? Every day! To catch all these felt needs up into an even greater issue, how often do we need to see God's face, hear his voice, feel his touch, know his power? The answer to all these questions is the same: every day! As the American evangelist D.L. Moody put it, 'A man can no more take in a supply of grace for the future than he can eat enough for the next six months, or take sufficient air into his lungs at one time to sustain life for a week. We must draw upon God's boundless store of grace from day to day as we need it.'"

The Shaping of a Christian Family by Elisabeth Elliot

Samantha in her "father's arms" when she was about 4.

Also, from Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Whitney said something like, "As though becoming like Jesus wouldn't take much effort." That's a pretty good point! I want to write some things that I want to remember from The Shaping of a Christian Family by Elisabeth Elliot. She said, "A little child wants 'somebody with skin on'; he wants the father to be there in the dark, his weight felt sitting on his bed, his hand on the child's hand, his voice audible. His own father's arms are all he yet knows of the Everlasting Arms. As the child grows he is conscious of more than the physical presence. He watches everything the father does and tries his best to imitate it exactly..." She quoted 1 Tim. 4:12, 15-16, Set an example...in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity...Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." On childtraining she writes, "Because all of us are born in sin, all of us are rebellious, some more than others. Some children seem to be born sweet and compliant; others are called 'strong willed' when what they really are is merely willful-governed by will without yielding to reason,obstinate, perverse, stubborn, as my brother Phil was in his high chair when he refused to drink his milk. Mother's steadfast insistence on obedience was not for her personal victory over a 'strong' will but rather to strengthen her small son's will to enable him to will against himself, that is, to do the thing he ought to do before doing the thing he wanted to do. How many adults have remained willful, selfish, and immature because they were denied this essential lesson in childhood." I put the emphasis on what I mostly want to remember from that. On being an example to our children I loved this that she quoted, "Being to those under her, as far as in her lay, what Our Lord was to His disciples, reproducing His humility, His charity, His goodness, His sweetness, His patience...never surprised at defects and imperfections...forming by example rather than by precept...leading to God...by love and confidence rather than by fear...proportioning her teaching and trials to the character, strength, and measure of grace of each individual, making them understand that only by renunciation and death to self can they reach the goal, and ever helping them by all the means that unwearied charity could suggest." Maud Monahan, The Life and Letters of Janet Erskine Stuart, p.74 The bold I emphasized here I pray the Lord will help me with! I am always so surprised by my children's sin nature. My husband is not. ;) When I get a little hyper about something he's like, "Well, yeah, Amber...they are going to sin." He can handle it with more calm and ease. And I desire to not just teach them to follow the Lord and tell them what they should do but to BE an example.

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald S. Whitney

The analogy of disciplining your body physically has really helped me to understand disciplining yourself for the purpose of Godliness. This book focuses on the spiritual disciplines of worship, prayer, journaling, evangelism, Bible intake, service, fasting, stewardship, silence and solitude, and learning. Whitney said that Godly people are disciplined people. He writes, "In my own pastoral and personal Christian experience, I can say that I've never known a man or woman who came to spiritual maturity except through discipline. Godliness comes through discipline." He talks about three things God uses primarily to change us: people (friends, enemies...), circumstances, and Spiritual Disciplines. He says, "Sometimes God uses our friends to sharpen us into more Christlike living, and sometimes He uses our enemies to file away our rough, ungodly edges. Parents, children, spouses, coworkers,customers, teachers, neighbors, pastors-God changes us through these people." Referring to circumstances, he talks about how God uses things such as financial problems, physical conditions, and even the weather to turn us toward holiness. Then he talked about the Spiritual Disciplines saying, "We often have little choice regarding the people and circumstances God brings into our lives, but we can decide, for example, whether we will read the Bible or fast today. So on the one hand, we recognize that even the most iron-willed self-discipline will not make us more holy, for growth in holiness is a gift from God (John 17:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 2:11)." Then he went on with the analogy that really struck me, "Think of the Spiritual Disciplines as spiritual exercises. To go to your favorite spot for prayer or journaling, for example, is like going to a gym and using a weight machine. As physical disciplines like this promote strength, so the Spiritual Disciplines promote Godliness." "Discipline yourself for the purpose of Godliness." 1 Timothy 4:7

Two Books

Two books I am really enjoying right now. The first one is, The Shaping of a Christian Family by Elisabeth Elliot. This is the second time I've read this book. The first time I borrowed it. It was so good I have bought it now about two years later. The second one is, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney. I want to share some things from them as soon as I get the time. Some really good stuff. I am also rereading, Sheperding a Child's Heart again and being reminded of some really important things. Also, I went to BCO's site to download a sermon and found Carol Mack speaking about "being the wife your husband needs" and have really enjoyed the reminders and conviction it has brought.

Living in the Moment

Us enjoying a good book on one of the days already long past. Sometimes I don't realize the making of memories is right now, in this moment. Sometimes I'm tempted to think we're making them another day. It is always in the here and now.



"The fast have spiritually slow hearts." Ann Voskamp (One Thousand Gifts)
This struck me. Time goes too fast for me. Always in a rush it seems. I like to take my time and I do. But, then it causes me to have to rush somewhere else. I completely relate to her wanting to "live fully" in the moment. To slow down and fully taste, feel, see...She said, "I want to slow down and taste life, give thanks, and see God." She compared life to dessert, "Life is dessert-too brief to hurry. You don't wolf it down. The Little-One's tongue searches about for smudge of chocolate she can feel on her cheek. 'More milk?' She nods, eyes large, laughing yes. I pour more. And I haven an appetite to celebrate-yes, let us eat cake!- and nibble on bare toes, to pick armfuls of poppies, to hold a heart up against me, stronger, surer, to sit long with my mama in the last of afternoon light. 'Wherever you are, be all there' is only possible in the posture of eucharisteo."


Yes, this is what I want to do. Slow down, give Thanks to God, be all in the moment. To pay attention, to savor these precious and very fleeting moments. To see the twinkle in my child's eyes when they are delighted. To hold time for a moment, to stop and smile in delight at them. To look at my son and remember my husband as a little boy...with dreams and to take delight in building a home he takes pleasure in. To not dread the chore of cleaning but to bask in the joy of fresh cleanliness. To not get overwhelmed when a child rushes through and the semblance of cleanliness disappears instantaneously but to take joy that I have these little blessings making monumental messes. For one day I will miss having those messes terribly. To hear those birds singing outside. The joy of sharing life with a child with the reading of a good book. Our minds get to go there together and we share in the same experience. Reading God's Word and learning something new or something "clicking" that has gone unnoticed before...There are so many, many things daily waiting to be savored. There are so many to reasons to stop, slow down, take notice of, and thank God for.

Reasons We Face Adversity

Derrick shared his book called, A Guide to Biblical Manhood by Randy Stinson & Dan Dumas with me. Funny isn't it? ;) He said it has some good childtraining principles in it. I am actually reading the whole thing because it's really good and is applicable to me also, though I am not a man. It is written by men that take very seriously being "Doers of the Word for the sake of the Gospel." They are very inspirational. They said some very profound things about why we face adversity.
They stated that even as people redeemed by Christ we can't help encountering the thorns and the thistles of a fallen world. They listed four reasons:
1. Our individual sins, coming from our own hands (breaking the law, overspending...)
2. Paul said God can bring adversity to shape us for ministering to others who face trials (2 Corinthians 1:3-9). This is my favorite reason! ;)
3. To keep us from boasting in our own strength (2 Corinthians 12:6-10).
4. To suffer for Heavenly purposes with God choosing not to show us why. Then they went into Job suffering even though he was a "blameless and upright man." They said, "We also see that God permits Satan to destroy the blessings Job has gained as a way to see if he has the character to still trust his maker." Job proved "rugged enough in his character and trust in God to stand firm and to choose worship over complaint."

1000 Gifts Gift #1 Family Time

I am inspired by the book, 1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp! I haven't even read it yet but hope to soon. This is a list of my own blessings and they are in no particular order.

Family Time.This was a fun Saturday! I had already been cleaning inside the house and Derrick and the kids asked me to come help them rake the leaves. I really didn't feel like it but they begged me. Once I got out there I really enjoyed the family time. It was good exercise! I loved just being together and doing something outdoors. The kids played in the wheelbarrow after our work was done and they had so much fun. I loved to see the way they smiled when they got pushed in the wheelbarrow.

The Lighting of the Blue Whale

Derrick, the kids, & I went to the "Lighting of the Blue Whale" tonight! Our Mayor was there too! We are getting really excited about Christmas! Derrick and the kids got the nativity scene (Papa Rick's) and stockings down from the attic today and decorated. Soon we will get a Christmas tree...

Also, I always like to share a good book. I can't remember if I mentioned how much I have enjoyed, The Shaping of a Christian Family by Elisabeth Elliot. I have had many sweet moments curled up with that book and snacking on dark chocolate dipped in my favorite White Chocolate Wonderful Peanut Butter. But, now I'm on to a new one that I know I'm going to love just as many others have said how much they love it. It is called, What Did You Expect and is written by Paul David Tripp. I love everything I have read by him and also his brother, Tedd Tripp (Shepherding a Child's Heart). I often wonder why God has allowed certain things in my life or my marriage...Paul David says, "We will grieve because we will face difficulty that we neither anticipated nor planned...With this word, tested, God tells you one of the most significant things you will ever understand about your marriage in the here and now. God decided to leave you in this fallen world to live, love, and work, because he intended to use the difficulties you face to do something in you that couldn't be done any other way...Now, it is not wrong to want to be happy, and it is not wrong to work toward marital happiness..." He went on to say that there is nothing wrong with this goal but the only problem is that it is too "small a goal." He said God is working on something much deeper and if He wasn't, He wouldn't be faithful to His promises to you. He went on to say, "The words mean that God is working through your daily circumstances to change you. In his love, he knows that you are not all that you were created to be. Even though it may be hard to admit, there is still sin inside you, and that sin gets in the way of what you are meant to be and designed to do...God is using the difficulties of the here and now to transform you, that is, to rescue you from you. And because he loves you, he will willingly interrupt or compromise your momentary happiness in order to accomplish one more step in the process of rescue and transformation, which he is unshakably committed to."
;)Love it...

Another Book (for adults this time)

Derrick got in from Kentucky last night. He took a short summer course. I thought about taking the kids and going with him but decided not to take the 10 hour drive with him. I wasn't sure if we'd get much time with him between being in class and doing homework so thought it would be best if we stayed here. It turns out Derrick thought Kentucky was fabulous and there was free time for him as well as lots of fun free stuff the kids and I could have done when he was in class. Rats! We will remember that next time. He brought back some really good kids books, a Greek t-shirt for me, and a book for me called,"Don't Make Me Count to Three!" A Mom's look at heart-oriented discipline. It is hilarious so far (I'm only to Chapter 2)! But, the best part about it is that it gives biblical and practical advice on how to reach your children's hearts rather than just dealing with their outward behavior. It is not going to take me long to get through this book. Something she said made me feel so much better or like I'm not the only one, ya know? She was describing her life before kids and said, "...I never found the milk in the pantry, and I never experienced the sheer panic of trying to remember whom I was calling before the voice at the other end said, "Hello?" Yesterday, I placed an order by phone. When the sales lady asked me for my address, I had to put her on hold. I absolutely could not recall my own address. It did finally come to me as I was reaching for the phone book to look it up." If you know me, it will not surprise you to know that I sometimes do that with the phone but I have yet to forget my address. I thought I was the only one that did stuff like that so it made me feel better to know someone who is actually "solid" does stuff like that too. ;) Adding Livi's birthday to my brain was a little bit challenging (more numbers to remember now) and it sometimes takes a minute for me to think of the correct birthday for a child at the doctor's office. She also told of an experience she had while she was in the process of writing the book. She said, "Recently, I actually waited in line at the bank drive-through, pulled up to the window, and stared blankly at the teller as I said, 'I have no idea why I'm here. I'm supposed to be going to the post office.' She looked very concerned as I drove off." There is something she shared that made me laugh the most but it is too embarrassing for me to even write it. Anyway, I strongly recommend it. Tedd Tripp (author of my favorite parenting book, Sheperding a Child's Heart) endorses it.

A Funny Book

The kids are doing the summer reading program through our library so we have been reading lots of books. One of my favorites is a Berenstain Bears book called, The Bike Lesson. It is hilarious! The kids and I got some good laughs and I made sure to do a deep voice for Papa Bear and a cute, high-pitched voice for small bear. It was fun sitting and laughing with them. We also got the Berenstain Bear book called The Honey Hunt and it is funny too.

A really good children's book

Sidney & Norman: A Tale of Two Pigs - By: Phil Vischer - Christianbook.com

This is a book written by the creator of Veggie Tales.

I was at Mardel's and saw this book and remembered that my friend, Kelly, really liked it. So, I flipped it open and began reading. It is really good and I grabbed it for the kids (on sale too for $5.99!). It was actually a gift to be given from my g-ma so I had to wait a couple of days to read it to them but couldn't wait! When I did read it to them it just about brought tears to my eyes. I totally related to the pig, Sidney. As much as I really work at being more like a lot of aspects of Norman minus the judgementalness of him ;) (for those of you who have read it). What really touched me was when God told Sidney, "I love you...I love you...I love you." even though he was far from perfect. Anyway, I really recommend it and hope it would touch you too if you check it out, especially if you are a Norman or a Sidney!