Showing titles in Family

A Holistic Vision of Family in God's Kingdom. The Christian world tends to have a blueprint for what families should look like, and these models of the family can be hard to live up to. In some circles, picture-perfect families are idealized and even idolatrized. Many Christians have a gnawing sense that this "traditional family" model is problematic or outdated. But is there an alternative way of understanding family that's neither idolatrous nor revisionist? Theologian Emily McGowin casts a holistic vision for what family can be in light of God's kingdom.

In Made for People—by bestselling author of The Habits of the Household—Justin Whitmel Earley explains why God made us to experience deep friendship and how we can cultivate them despite a culture of busyness, disconnection, and fear of vulnerability. Through personal stories, research, and biblical wisdom, Justin paints of a picture of God's design for "covenant friendships."

You don’t need to be a grandmother to be captivated by the stories in this book or moved by their depth. This diverse collection of essays celebrates the women who shape us, the women we are, and the women we pray we’ll become. So God Made a Grandma is for the love-givers, the tradition-keepers, the memory-makers, and the timeless love we call our own.

Modern medical advances save countless lives. But for all their merits, sophisticated technologies have created a daunting new challenge, namely a blurring of the expanse between life and death. The dying process is often hidden behind a complex web of medical terminology, statistics, and ethical decisions, making it difficult for patients and loved ones to know how to approach the end of life in a dignity-affirming, God-honoring, faith-filled way.

In our forties, fifties, and beyond, we're wrestling with new questions. Is this it? Did I do what I wanted to do in my life? Who am I now that my kids have moved out? Will my sagging skin eventually hang all the way down to my feet? We feel a little like the world has nudged us aside for the younger crowd. But God still has much in store for us. God doesn't bring us to the middle of our lives so we can park in front of the TV and binge-watch home makeover shows. We are his gift to this world at every age and in every season, and it's time to embrace it like never before.

It's never too late to discover the joy that comes from being a part of God's work in your child's life. You don't have to be a perfect parent. But you do need to be a praying parent. And you can do that.

If you have a daughter, it would be surprising if she doesn't struggle with anxiety and worry - either in short episodes or for longer periods. For a variety of reasons, childhood anxiety rates are soaring, especially among girls. Today's parents need to know what contributes to anxiety and worry and how they can empower their daughters to overcome troubling emotions. With your help, she will find the anchoring truth of God's strong, safe love for her and the confidence she needs to thrive.

We all need more energy, the vitality that helps us stay motivated, focused and productive in life. We know we receive energy from good nutrition, along with working out, adequate sleep and maintaining positivity. But there is another major source for the energy we need: having the right kinds of relationships with others. Not the ones that drain us, but the ones that refuel us.

Whether you're scrolling through social media, sitting around the dinner table, or watching the news, it's wrong not to be offended at the way things are in the world right now—right?! But what if "righteous anger" isn't actually biblical? What if anger isn't an effective response to injustice anyway? God does not need you to be angry. Instead, Christ calls us to do something radical and countercultural: Let go of your anger and forgive. In this six-session audio Bible study, Brant Hansen shares practical ways and biblical reasons to let go of anger and your "right" to be offended.

From best-selling author and counselor Dr. John Townsend, Boundaries with Teens is the expert insight and guidance you need to help your teens take responsibility for their actions, attitudes, and emotions and gain a deeper appreciation and respect both for you and for themselves.

Lysa TerKeurst, mother of five and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, knows about the bouts of "mommy stress" that come with parenting and managing a home and a life. From her own experience and conversations with hundreds of other women, Lysa shares how mothers can release the guilt they sometimes feel and stop blaming their parenting skills every time a child does something wrong.

Mom and dad, your kids are created in God's image, not your own. Jill Savage and Kathy Koch will guide you in truly appreciating your kids. They will teach you how to study and become an expert on your children, because you cannot fully embrace them until you truly know them.

Our children are facing cultural "giants" that previous generations could never have imagined. Secularism, depravity, immorality, and apathy taunt Christians with a barrage of hate and intolerance. Will our children be equipped to stand strong against these giants or will they be overcome? That is the question Christian parents are asking. In this book, Ken Ham gives us a powerful message about the importance of raising strong believers. He also helps prepare parents to equip the next generation to thrive in the face of cultural adversity and emerge as tomorrow’s Christian leaders.

Dodie Osteen, mother of Joel Osteen, gives listeners a personal account of her extraordinary life and shares what she has learned about love, faith, and family. As the wife of 44 years to the late Pastor John Osteen, founder of Lakewood Church, Dodie Osteen stood as a wife, mother, and first lady of the church, even when life felt anything but steady. Today, she continues to stand by her son, Pastor Joel Osteen, and the rest of their family as they lead Lakewood. In this revealing memoir, Dodie shares that her path, though glorious, has not always been easy.

Kingdom Parenting provides answers to burning questions both teens and parents have in facing the unique challenges of being a parent or teen today. This book examines the changing times, changing family structure, and provides solutions to both parents and teens on how to effectively relate with each other though the current atmosphere of confusion.

Making memories and fostering relationships with our grandchildren in the midst of a fast-moving culture isn't easy, and a legacy that lasts isn't crafted overnight. So how do we as grandparents cultivate strong, meaningful relationships with the children we adore? Start with The Mindful Grandparent. Through inspired ideas teamed with simple practices and engaging stories, it covers wide-ranging topics such as cultivating curiosity, helping children explore difficult topics, honoring adult children's boundaries, and managing technology. Let it be your guide and refuge.

Some seasons of life can seem inordinately more difficult than one human should ever have to endure. For Brandi Wilson, this was the year when her husband of more than twenty years—and a megachurch pastor—walked away from her and her family, her church community dissolved, and her dreams and identity were shattered. Yet God transformed this heartbreaking, overwhelming year into an invaluable lesson on the gift of healing. Here Brandi vulnerably and beautifully tells her story of confronting grief and heartache head-on and learning how to grow from the pain.

You are meant to be in relationships that bring joy and connection—that help you know soul-deep peace and leave you feeling loved instead of lonely. Instead, surface-level friendships, filtered social media feeds, unresolved conflicts, and unhealthy relationships can often seem to harm our self-worth, spiritual growth, and mental health—and keep us from the very relationships that could bring that true connection.

Drawing on the author's experience as a mother walking with and learning from her own transgender child, as well as working with hundreds of families across the country doing the same, this book helps parents navigate the emotional, spiritual, and logistical landscape of raising a gender-diverse child.

Living with humans is messy. Our children make messes. Our spouses and friends make messes. So do our coworkers, bosses, pastors, and presidents...and so do we. Messes are scary, painful, and offensive. And whether we're dealing with the pain of a personal failure, the frustration of a disrespectful child, the devastation of a major betrayal, the stress of a workplace conflict, or the fallout of larger social injustices, classically we react the same way - with fear, shame, and punishment.