Redeeming the Chaos: Recent Episodes
Laurie Christine
Does your life feel a bit chaotic right now? Do you feel overwhelmed by the weight of responsibility to raise those little boys God has given you? Do you want to raise strong, courageous young men who are fully committed to following Jesus? In all the chaos of raising boys, we recognize that Christ is the only who can redeem the chaos in our world, our homes, and even our own hearts. I know that I can’t do this alone. I desperately need God to give me strength every step of this journey. But guess what… I also need YOU. We boy moms gotta stick together, right? I’d love for you to join me on this wild, wonderful, chaotic adventure of raising courageous boys and connecting their hearts to Christ.
Find Show Notes HERE.
What if you were a champion jouster living in medieval England?
What if you’d trained your whole life for honor and glory—only to realize your people needed courage and justice?
What if stepping into leadership meant stepping out of your father’s shadow—and into danger?
Check out The Tournament's Price by Given Hoffman.
Find show notes Here.
Christian Paranormal Thriller for Teens
What if the classmates you cared about were being haunted by monsters?
What if these monsters were forcing your friends into self-destructive behavior—and only you could see them?
And what if it were up to you to convince everyone of the truth?
Check out The Delusion by Laura Gallier.
Find the show notes HERE.
Dinosaur adventure books for boys.
What if you lived in a world where dinosaurs roamed freely among humans?
What if your only dream was to become a dinosaur rider, but it seemed the odds were against you?
What if your only chance of success was to win a competition with a group of misfits for teammates?
Check out Red Rex by Matthew Mellema.
Find the show notes HERE.
Christian fantasy for teens
What if the world you thought you knew was only the world they wanted you to see?
What if you had powers beyond human comprehension, but the one thing you wanted was always just out of reach?
What if a hidden war between Light and Darkness is raging all around you?
Check out The Light Bearers series by Mindy Hite.
Find show notes HERE.
A Historical WWII Novel for Kids
What if your country was occupied by enemy soldiers, your freedom was stripped away, and the only way to fight back was in secret?
What if the only people standing between innocent children and death in the gas chambers, were ordinary families with no weapons, no power, and no guarantee of survival?
What if doing the right thing meant breaking the law—and getting caught meant death?
Check out Time for Courage by Rob Currie
Find show notes HERE.
Is Fictional Magic Dangerous?
What if fantastical fiction helped deepen your understanding of God?
What if reading stories about magic didn’t mean abandoning your convictions or your faith?
What if you could read Lord of the Rings, the Chronicles of Narnia, AND Harry Potter... all with a clean conscience?
Check out On Magic & Miracles: A Theological Guide to Discerning Fictional Magic by Marian A. Jacobs
Find show notes HERE.
An International Adventure Series for Kids
What if your new board game could send you on real adventures to foreign countries?
What if you were given a mission to accomplish, and failure meant you’d never make it home again?
What if you could be part of God’s rescue mission and you didn’t have to wait until you were a grown up?
Check out The Dreamer (To the Ends) by Jenny Marcelene.
Find show notes HERE.
Wild West Books for 8-12 year olds
What if your quiet summer in a sleepy town turned into a wild Western adventure?
What if your new best friend was a red-haired rascal who couldn’t stay out of trouble?
And what if his tall tales landed you in real trouble, chasing smugglers and dodging bandits?
Check out The Misadventured Summer of Tumbleweed Thompson by Glenn McCarty.
Find the show notes HERE.
What if the place you feared most was the only place you could find the truth?
What if escaping the Everglades wasn't about getting out, but about going back in?
What if your best friend went missing and finding her meant facing the gator who almost killed you?
Check out High Water series by Tim Shoemaker.
Find the shownotes HERE.
Animal Devotions for Kids
What if a capybara, an octopus, or a narwhal could help you understand God’s love more clearly?
What if every wild animal you’ve ever seen—or never even heard of—had something to teach you about faith?
What if chasing curiosity about the natural world led you straight into the heart of your Creator?
Check out Wild Faith: Devotionals for Kids by Valerie Ellis
Find the show notes HERE.
What if your ordinary life was just the beginning of a supernatural war for the fate of humanity?
What if the devil lived among us in human form—and your mission was to find him before it’s too late?
What if saving the world meant risking your soul—and everything you thought you knew about good and evil?
Check out AlphaRed Comics by James Nguyen.
Find the shownotes HERE.
Super Hero Fiction for Middle Grade
What if you found out you could control gravity—during a school vision test?
What if your boring life suddenly launched you into a world of secret agents, superpowers, and flying possibilities?
What if the only person who could help you master your powers… was also the person you were told to avoid?
Guest Author: Meredith Davis
Book: The Amazing Adventures of Noah Minor
Find the blog version and show notes HERE.
Guest Author: Bryan Davis
Book: Dragons of Camelot
Free Bible Reading Plan for Teens: www.FiveYearBiblePlan.com
www.SwordandStoryPodcast.com
www.DragonSlayerBible.com
www.LaurieChristine.com
Find the show notes HERE.
www.SwordandStoryPodcast.com
Visit Bradley Caffee's website here: https://www.bradleycaffee.com/
Find the blog version and show notes HERE.
- What if you found an old sword that once belonged to a Roman gladiator?
- What if a mysterious journal held the key to a secret that could change how you see the world?
- What if studying the book of Romans didn’t feel like a chore—but like an epic quest for truth and salvation?
Our guest author today is Marty Machowski.
Marty Machowski is a pastor and best-selling author. He serves as the Family Life Pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. He serves as the Executive Editor for Children’s Resources for New Growth Press. Marty has authored over twenty books and curricula for children and families, including The Gospel Story Curriculum and The Ology.
Learn more about the Kickstarter Campaign for Land of Giants HERE.
Find the show notes and blog version HERE.
A secret alliance, A dangerous mission, A deadly enemy.
Twelve-year-old Shem wants one thing—to become a warrior. But his father, Noah, is too busy building a giant ark to train him. The world mocks his family, and Shem is tired of feeling left out and embarrassed. He’s ready to trade his tools for a sword and show the Cobras, the toughest gang in the city, that he’s not just some weird kid with a crazy dad.
When Shem makes a secret deal with the son of a family rival, he finally gets the training he’s always wanted. But something isn’t right. Monstrous giants called Nephilites have invaded the land. And the dragon they serve is more dangerous than Shem ever imagined. If Shem wants to protect his family, he’ll have to learn what it really means to be a warrior.
Land of Giants is an action-packed Biblical adventure, perfect for readers who long to battle dragons, defy giants, and discover the true strength that comes from the King.
Find the blog version and show notes HERE.
- What if your kids could battle dragons, go on epic quests, and memorize Scripture—all at the same time?
- What if discipleship wasn’t just a workbook—but an epic story your boys got to live out week after week?
- What if Bible study felt less like a chore, and more like an adventure?
Introducing, Lightraiders, a Christian role-playing game for teens, created by James R. Hannibal.
James is a former stealth pilot who has been shot at, locked up with missiles, and pursued by an armed terrorist on a winding German road. He is a multi-award-winning author of suspense and fantasy novels for adults and children and the developer of the Lightraiders discipleship games and novels.
www.Lightraiders.com
You can find the blog version and show notes HERE.
Beneath the Swirling Sky by Carolyn Leiloglou
What if famous paintings weren’t just pictures—but portals to other parts of the world?
What if your little sister vanished into a painting—and you were the only one who could save her?
What if the art you tried to forget held the key to your family's biggest secret?
Welcome to The Sword and Story Podcast, where we help Christian families find exciting, faith-filled books for their boys. Our mission is to raise strong, courageous warriors for the kingdom of God. Join us on a quest to discover stories that inspire our boys to grow into godly young men.
Our guest author today is Carolyn Leiloglou.
AUTHOR BIO:
Carolyn Leiloglou is the author of the award-winning middle grade fantasy series The Restorationists. She is the granddaughter of art collectors, daughter of an art teacher, and homeschooling mom to four wildly creative kids. Carolyn and her husband Demetrios make their home in San Antonio, Texas, and you can find her everywhere online as House full of Bookworms.
Find the blog version and show notes HERE.
What if there was an ice age in Hawaii? What if your government could see and track your every move? What if the only way to save your sister was to hack into the system that held her captive?
Our guest author today is Jeremiah Friedli. Jeremiah writes young adult fiction with a thriller feel, inspired by true stories of spies, chases, battles, and underdogs. He loves reading and writing tales of espionage, intrigue, and suspense. He’s the author of the Core Series and a 2025 Realm Awards finalist for his debut novel Core Deception. Learn more at www.JeremiahFriedli.com
Find the shownotes HERE.
It’s no mystery that our boys love fighting and adventure. They are drawn to TV shows, movies and books that involve blood, battles, bombs and booby traps. In their play, someone is always getting killed or blown up. Our boys thrive on fighting evil and taking risks. In our episode today, we’re going to find out why God created our boys in this way.
Find the show notes for this episode HERE.
Have you ever asked yourself… Why are my boys so WILD? Why do they have so much energy? Why are they so loud and rambunctious and aggressive? In today’s episode, we’re going to find out where this wildness comes from.
WELCOME TO THE SWORD AND STORY PODCAST!
The Sword and Story podcast is dedicated to helping Christian parents discover exciting, faith-filled books for their boys—stories packed with courage, honor, and adventure.
If you’re looking for books for your boys with thrilling storytelling from a Christian worldview, then you’re in the right place.
Join us as we explore books that will help our boys grow to be strong, courageous warriors for the Kingdom of God.
I’m your host, Laurie Christine. I’m the author of the Dragon Slayer Bible Series, adventure-packed biblical fiction for 8-12 year old boys. I’m also a wife and mom to 4 wild, wonderful young men. My boys are currently 9, 10, 13, and 14.
I am busy interviewing and scheduling authors for the new episodes of the Sword and Story podcast. Those new author interviews will be airing later this summer.
But in the meantime, I think it’s important that we take some time to understand how God created our boys. Last week we listened to an interview with Mark Hancock, CEO of Trail Life USA. If you missed that episode, go back and listen to episode 2 of the sword and story podcast and you can find that at swordandstorypodcast.com. In that episode, Mark and I discussed how we can let our boys be boys.
This week, we’re tackling the question: Why are my boys so wild? Why are they so loud? Why do they have so much energy?
If we want to find books that will help our boys to become strong, courageous warriors for God’s Kingdom, we need to understand some of the core desires that God has given boys. That’s what we’re going to talk about in today’s episode.
Learn more at www.SwordandStoryPodcast.com
Read a transcript of my interview with Mark Hancock here: https://lauriechristine.com/let-boys-be-boys-with-mark-hancock/
WELCOME TO THE SWORD AND STORY PODCAST!
The Sword and Story podcast is dedicated to helping Christian parents discover exciting, faith-filled books for their boys—stories packed with courage, honor, and adventure.
If you’re looking for books for your boys with thrilling storytelling from a Christian worldview, then you’re in the right place.
Join us as we explore books that will help our boys grow to be strong, courageous warriors for the Kingdom of God.
Learn more at www.SwordandStoryPodcast.com
Find the shownotes HERE.
LINKS:
JesusHelpMeParent.com
RedeemingTheChaos.com
LaurieChristine.com
INTRO
“What is causing the quarrels and fights among you?” How many of you have said that to your kids before? I know I have! I would estimate about 95% of conflict and parenting challenges in our household stems from sibling conflict.
Welcome to Redeeming the Chaos. I’m your host, Laurie Christine. I’m an author, Bible teacher, wife, and mom to four wild, wonderful boys. I would love for you to join me on this adventure of raising courageous warriors for the Kingdom of God.
As moms of young men, we know that fighting among boys often gets very physical. While girls may sulk and hold a grudge for weeks on end, boys tend to explode with big emotions and lash out physically at whichever sibling is nearest to them. (this is a generality. I’m sure you can tell me stories of your girls who have broken out into fist fights as well)
So, what causes these fights and quarrels?
If you didn’t pick up on it, this question is a quote from James chapter 4. I’ll read the rest of the passage here:
“What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them.”
Does that sound familiar? Our kids have strong desires. Maybe they want the biggest piece of cake for dessert. Maybe they want the best, squishiest chair for movie night, or the front seat in the minivan. Maybe they want to be treated fairly, maybe they just want to be left alone. (Granted, not all these desires are evil… but often a big desire is the underlying cause of sibling conflict).
And look what the verse says… you scheme and kill… you are jealous… you fight and wage war… all this in order to get what you want. Sound familiar? Now, hopefully the conflict in our homes has not escalated to the point of killing… however, in the book of Matthew Jesus says “hating” someone is just as bad as “murdering them” in our hearts.
So, how do we deal with the conflict that inevitably arises between siblings? How can we teach our kids to show kindness and love to each other, rather than seeking revenge?
We have a guest on the show today to help us answer these questions.
"B.J. Meurer has worked with families for over 25 years as an elementary educator, biblical parenting coach & presenter, and digital course creator. He has coached families with children of all ages and stages facing a wide variety of emotional, mental, and biological challenges and helped them discover and personalize the practical heart-based tools and strategies that bring about positive change in their families. You can find many more of B.J.’s parenting resources and videos at JesusHelpMeParent.com.
View the shownotes at https://lauriechristine.com/why-i-dont-make-new-years-resolution/
Boys are different. From the moment they burst into your life, they bring a whirlwind of energy, noise, and adventure that never seems to slow down. If you’re a mom of boys, you know it’s not just a parenting style—it’s a lifestyle. And I wouldn't trade it for the world!
Whether it’s the endless supply of dirt in their pockets, the creative use of furniture as a jungle gym, or the unspoken rule that socks never stay on feet, raising boys comes with its own unique (and often hilarious) set of challenges. Here are 50 telltale signs you might be a boy mom—prepare to laugh, nod along, and maybe even roll your eyes in solidarity!
Adventure-Packed Biblical Fiction & Devotions for Kids 8-12
Garden of Mysteries, A Dragon Slayer Bible Story, is now available for purchase on Amazon.
Learn more at www.DragonSlayerBible.com
Find the shownotes for this episode HERE.
RESOURCES
- Go Bible
- Average Boy Podcast
- Average Boy Books
- Clubhouse Magazine
Adventure-Packed Biblical Fiction & Devotions for Kids 8-12
Garden of Mysteries, A Dragon Slayer Bible Story, is now available for purchase on Amazon.
Learn more at www.DragonSlayerBible.com
Find the shownotes for this episode HERE.
Many boys tend to be drawn to books about evil monsters, epic battles in space, fire-breathing dragons, and planets exploding into smithereens. Our kids are drawn to magical stories about fantastical creatures and worlds beyond our own.
Are stories about fantastical creatures and magical places safe for our kids to read? Do they have value in the lives of our children?
Find out in this episode of Redeeming the Chaos.
We have a special guest on the show today who is a bit of an expert on fantastical stories.
E. Stephen Burnett explores fantastical stories for God’s glory as publisher of Lorehaven.com and its weekly Fantastical Truth podcast. He coauthored The Pop Culture Parent and creates other resources for fans and families, serving with his wife, Lacy, in their central Texas church. Stephen’s first novel, Above the Circle of Earth, a science-fiction adventure, launches in 2025 from Enclave Publishing.
In this episode of Redeeming the Chaos, Laurie talks with Elizabeth Urbanowicz of Foundation Worldview, about God's design for gender.
Find the full show notes HERE.
There’s a lot of confusion in our society about sexuality and gender identity. A lot of voices are telling our kids that same-sex relationships are normal, or that you get to decide if you’re a boy or a girl. Our kids are confronted with these issues at younger and younger ages.
And we’re not just talking about homosexuality anymore. Our kids are faced with vocabulary like transgender, non-binary, and genderfluid. They’re being asked in public schools what their preferred pronouns are.
As parents, we need to be prepared to have conversations with our kids about these issues. And we need to be proactive about discussions we have with our kids. You want to be the first one having these types of conversations with your kids, rather than waiting until your child comes home from a birthday party wondering what “trans” means.
You may be thinking: hold on, my kids are way too young to talk about these topics. Besides, I homeschool my kids so they don’t have to deal with these issues right away.
Well, there may be some truth to that, but as parents we want to be intentional about teaching our kids about God’s design for gender, sexuality and marriage from an early age. That way, when our kids are confronted with an ideology that opposes the teaching of the Bible, they immediately recognize it as false.
But how do we talk to our kids about these sensitive topics? How do you know what to say? Are there any resources available to help us do so?
You can find the full shownotes for this episode HERE.
Episode Summary:
In today’s episode of Redeeming the Chaos, Laurie Christine talks with Jessica Hurlbut, author of Unlimited Motherhood and host of the Full Spectrum Parent podcast. Jessica is a mom to five children, two of whom have autism. She shares her journey of raising children on the spectrum while continuing to trust God through the difficulties of parenting.
Key Takeaways:
- Autism is a spectrum, and every child’s needs are unique.
- There is a grieving process when a child is diagnosed, but healing and peace come with acceptance.
- God doesn’t call parents to fix their children, but to love them.
- Autism or any special need does not limit God’s ability to work in and through a family.
- It’s essential to seek the resources and help your child needs, even if you fear labels.
- The challenges of motherhood, especially with special needs children, can deepen faith and trust in God.
Get the show notes here: https://lauriechristine.com/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-pornography/
Pornography. It’s not a fun topic to discuss, but it’s a very important conversation to have with our boys. (And not just an isolated discussion, but an ongoing conversation!)
The average age that kids are exposed to pornography is between the ages of 8-10. It’s literally everywhere. Especially when younger and younger kids have unlimited access to cell phones, ipads, and other devices. Even if you’ve been super careful to limit your child’s internet access, chances are they have a friend at school, on the bus, in the neighborhood and yes, even at church, who might expose them to pornography.
Pornography is a world-wide pandemic that has been normalized by our society. I don’t think many Christians truly realize the danger of pornography.
This is a quote that I found from an article on NPR that I think describes this pandemic very well:
“Imagine a drug so powerful it can destroy a family simply by distorting a man’s perception of his wife. Picture an addiction so lethal it has the potential to render an entire generation incapable of forming lasting marriages and so widespread that it produces more annual revenue … than all of the leading technology companies combined.”
So, what can we do about this drug that is destroying the very foundation of our society? How can we protect our children and teach them to value God’s design for marriage? We have a special guest on the show to help us answer these questions.
Kristen Jenson is the founder of Defend Young Minds and the #1 bestselling author of Good Pictures Bad Pictures, a read-aloud book to teach young children how to reject pornography. Her trusted resources and content, including the Brain Defense Digital Safety curriculum, have helped millions all over the world to defend children from all forms of sexual exploitation.
In this episode of Redeeming the Chaos, the Laurie Christine discusses the concept of the fruit of the Spirit. Guest Christy Thomas, a mom of three boys and an author with extensive experience in Children's Ministries, shares her insights on nurturing deep faith in children through small habits. They discuss common misconceptions about the fruit of the Spirit, the role of the Holy Spirit in fostering these qualities, and practical ways parents can instill these values in their kids. Christy also introduces her books Fruit Full, a family devotional on the fruit of the Spirit, and Little Habits Big Faith, which focuses on forming small, impactful habits to nurture faith in children.
Frank Peretti meets the Jesus Storybook Bible!That's how I like to describe the Dragon Slayer Bible Series.
Book 2 in the series, Garden of Mysteries, is available to order through Kickstarter, April 3-19th, 2024. ORDER YOURS TODAY! A mysterious prophecy. An ancient curse. An invisible dragon.
Seth’s parents had secrets they wouldn’t share with him. Why had the King kicked them out of the Garden? Why had he cursed the land? And could anyone break the curse?
Seth wanted to know more. He had to find out the truth. But finding answers to his questions would prove more dangerous than he imagined.
In the second book in the Dragon Slayer Bible Series, readers will experience a world where the consequences of sin have affected every part of creation, even the animals.
Can Seth learn his parents' secret before the dragon destroys him?
Garden of Mysteries, book 2 in the Dragon Slayer Bible Series, is part Bible-based fictional narrative, part devotional, and part Bible study. Through action-packed stories, inspiring scripture, and challenging devotional readings, boys will be trained to identify lies of the invisible dragon, and to trust more fully in the God of Angel Armies.
Learn more at www.DragonSlayerBible.com
You can find the show notes for this episode HERE.
Order Garden of Mysteries on Kickstarter HERE.
Don't forget to check out Lorehaven.com for Christian-made fantastical books.
Find out how cherubim can help you teach your kids about the significance of Easter. Read the blog post here:
https://lauriechristine.com/cherubim-meaning-of-easter/
Follow the Kickstarter campaign for Garden of Secrets: Book Two in the Dragon Slayer Bible Series: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lauriechristine/garden-of-secrets
In this week’s episode of Redeeming the Chaos, Catherine Segars and I talk about why many teens walk away from the Lord, and what we as parents can do to help prevent them from doing so while our kids are still young.
You can find the show notes HERE.
Are you looking for family-friendly Advent devotions and activities to help you keep Christ at the center of your celebrations this year? You want to help your kids focus on Christ this Christmas season. You don’t want to get so wrapped up in all the parties, events and Christmas shopping, that you forget to slow […]
You can find the shownotes for this episode HERE.
The post Celebrate with Purpose: Family-Friendly Advent Devotions appeared first on Laurie Christine.
How can we cultivate a heart of gratitude in ourselves and our kids? I know I say this every year, but I feel like Thanksgiving really snuck up on us this time. I mean, weren’t we JUST finishing up summer vacation and getting ready for the school year to start? Like Yesterday?? Each year on […]
You can find the shownotes for this episode HERE.
The post How to Cultivate a Heart of Gratitude in Your Kids appeared first on Laurie Christine.
How can we use our words to speak life to our boys? Words are Powerful Words are powerful. Our words can be used to speak life and truth into the lives of our kids, or they can be used to hurt and damage them. Our words can destroy relationships or they can be used to […]
You can find the shownotes for this episode HERE.
The post The Power of Words: How to Speak Life to Your Children appeared first on Laurie Christine.
RISE OF THE ENEMY IS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON! RISE OF THE ENEMY — NOW AVAILABLE! Today is BOOK LAUNCH DAY! My new devotional book for boys has been launched out into the world, and it is now officially available on Amazon! I’m super excited! The book was funded successfully on Kickstarter back in May […]
You can find the shownotes for this episode HERE.
The post Rise of the Enemy is Available on Amazon! RTC 80 appeared first on Laurie Christine.
How can we empower our boys to be dangerous to the darkness? Of Course He Isn’t Safe… In C.S. Lewis’s book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Mr. Beaver tells Susan about Aslan, the true King of Narnia. When Susan finds out that Aslan is a lion, she asks: “Is he quite safe? I […]
You can find the shownotes for this episode HERE.
The post How Stories Can Empower Boys to be Dangerous to the Darkness (with SD Smith) RTC 79 appeared first on Laurie Christine.
How can rites of passage help your son become a man? What happened to rites of passage? Wearing gloves filled with fire ants. Running across the backs of a herd of cattle. Jumping from a 100 foot tower with nothing but a vine tied around your ankle. What do these terrifying feats have in common? […]
You can find the shownotes for this episode HERE.
The post Rites of Passage: How to help your son navigate the transition to manhood RTC 78 appeared first on Laurie Christine.
You’re invited to a free webinar! I am hosting a free webinar with Dr. Scott Turansky, co-founder of the National Center for Biblical Parenting. The webinar is called: Navigating the Storm: Heart Based Parenting Strategies for Managing Anger. If you feel like anger is the only way you know to get your kids to obey, […]
You can find the shownotes for this episode HERE.
The post Navigating the Storm: A Parenting Webinar on Anger RTC 77 appeared first on Laurie Christine.
Conflict resolution isn’t fun. But it’s part of growing up. Helping our sons learn how to handle conflict and show empathy is an invaluable skill they will use into adulthood. Help! Someone is being mean to my son! Has your son ever come home and told you that someone was being mean to him on […]
You can find the shownotes for this episode HERE.
The post Conflict Resolution Strategies: How to help your son navigate challenging friendships with empathy (RTC 76) appeared first on Laurie Christine.
Parenting is HARD. Many days you feel inadequate to raise those energetic boys God has given you. Sometimes you feel overwhelmed by the responsibility of training your boys to be strong, courageous young men. You often feel like your efforts are futile. You may even feel like a fraud. Sound familiar? I know I have […]
The post The Imperfect Mom: Are you believing these three lies about your parenting? appeared first on Laurie Christine.
Wondering how to thrive (and not merely survive) this summer with your boys? Keep reading, or listen to the podcast episode below: Summer is Here! Will You Cheer or Fear? How do you feel about summer vacation? Some of you may be looking forward to lazy days, fun trips to the beach, and more family […]
The post How to Have an Amazing Summer With Your Boys in 2023 appeared first on Laurie Christine.
Do you struggle to manage anger in your household?
GET AN INVITE TO THE FREE WEBINAR
Do you get angry with your kids?
Do you struggle to control your own anger when your kids are off track?
And more importantly, is anger a bad thing??
As parents, we often use anger to deal with all the problems in our families. We think the kids won’t listen unless we get angry. We feel like nothing will get done unless we are yelling.
When our kids’ emotions and actions are out of control, it’s so hard not to join them in their big emotions. It’s hard to manage anger. But getting angry rarely solves the problem.
In fact, anger is a great tool for identifying problems, but it’s NOT effective for solving problems.
Well, there IS a better way.
I have been trained as a Biblical parenting coach and seminar presenter for the National Center for Biblical Parenting. A lot of what I will talk about in this post comes out of that training.
Free Webinar: How to Manage AngerI am going to be hosting a free webinar with Dr. Scott Turansky, co-founder of the National Center for Biblical Parenting. The webinar will be all about how to manage anger! It’s called: Navigating the Storm: Heart Based Parenting Strategies for Managing Anger.
If you feel like anger is the only way you know how to get your kids to do what you ask them to do, or if it feels many days as if anger is the only emotion your kids are capable of, you won’t want to miss out on this free webinar.
Dr. Turansky is a highly sought after speaker and parenting coach. He is a parenting expert and has written dozens of parenting books on the topic of heart-based parenting.
One of his most popular is called Parenting is Heart Work. He even has a book called Good and Angry – Exchanging Frustration for character – in you and your kids!
In the webinar, I will interview Dr. Turansky on the topic of anger, and then we’ll open it up for questions from all of you!
In order to receive an invitation to my live Q&A webinar with Dr. Turansky, all you have to do is order a copy of my new devotional book for boys, Rise of the Enemy, Book One in the Dragon Slayer Bible Series, which is available on Kickstarter only until May 31st!
ORDER DEVOTIONAL BOOK FOR BOYS HERE
At the time of this recording, my Kickstarter campaign is 130% funded. That means, I will be able to publish my book, and you will all get the book copies and rewards you signed up for! I can’t express how thankful I am for each of you who have supported this project.
But there are only a few days left to get on board. Once the campaign ends on May 31st, you will no longer be able to get a copy of Rise of the Enemy (for a long time) AND you will miss out on this amazing opportunity to chat live with Dr. Scott Turansky and learn from his wisdom.
(The time and date of the webinar is yet to be determined – probably sometime in September – but there will be a replay available if you’re not able to attend live. However, you’ll only have access to the replay if you first order your copy of Rise of the Enemy!)
BONUS! If we end up reaching our NEXT stretch goal, we’ll be able to add an additional illustration to the book!
VIEW BOOK ON KICKSTARTER
Why Do We Get Angry With Our KidsFirst of all, let’s talk about WHY we get angry with our kids. What are the underlying reasons?
I think there are several reasons we get angry with our kids:
- Embarrassment / pride – We get angry at our kids when they won’t listen and then we feel like our kids are making us look bad and so we get angry.
- Justice mentality – I am right, you are wrong, and by golly I’m going to make sure you know it.
- Honor – We feel that our children are being disrespectful and dishonoring us by their actions, words, and attitude. (And anger may in fact be a justified response! … more on that later).
- Control –We feel the need to be in control of all situations. When our kids act in ways that we have no control over, we get angry.
- Unmet Expectations – We often get angry when our kids don’t meet the expectations we have set for them.
- Discipline – We use anger to discipline our children because we don’t know what else to do. Sometimes we feel like there are no other options. When we don’t have a plan in place we respond in anger.
Is Anger a Good Thing or a Bad Thing? This is a tricky question! Let’s take a look at what does the Bible says about anger.
- Ephesians 4 tells us to “Be angry yet do not sin.”
- There are many occasions in the old testament when the Bible says that the Lord’s anger was kindled against his enemies (or against his own people!) (Numbers 11).
- And wouldn’t you describe Jesus’ reaction in the temple anger? (Matthew 21)
But the Bible also warns about the dangers of allowing anger to get out of control:
- James 1:19 says: “You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” (NLT)
- Proverbs 15:1 says: “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.” (NLT)
So, it would seem that anger is not necessarily good, nor bad.
Anger is a red flag – it’s good for identifying problems, but not solving them.
“Anger is a red flag – it’s good for identifying problems, but not solving them.”
Dr. Scott Turansky, National Center for Biblical Parenting
Anger is an indicator that there is a problem that needs to be solved. It MIGHT indicate a problem in your own heart, but it also might be an indicator of a problem you need to work through with your child.
For example, if you find yourself always getting angry when you trip over your son’s backpack in the middle of the room, that’s a good indication that you need to work with your son and review your expectations for what he does with his backpack when he comes home.
What’s the difference between harshness and firmness?I’d like to make a distinction between harshness and firmness. Some parents think that being firm and setting boundaries means they have to yell and get angry. On the other hand, some parents think that setting any boundaries will damage their child, and so they have no standards in their household. The kids rule the roost.
If you want to dive more into the topic of firmness, go back and listen to episode 66.
But in general, firmness builds character in our sons. Firmness means drawing a line in the sand and saying, “we’re not going past this line.” The goal of firmness is to train our children.
Harshness, on the other hand, pours emotional intensity on the situation, involves anger and ultimately damages relationships.
Here’s a key concept to keep in mind:
You and your child are on the same team. You’re working together to solve a problem. It’s important that you show empathy and align yourself on the side of your child.
What does that look like? It means you care about your child’s development and heart qualities. You’re goal is heart change, not justice.
What do I do when my kids are throwing a fit? When dealing with angry children, it’s important that we don’t get sucked into their big emotions. You don’t have to join them on their emotional roller coaster. When we do that, the situation often turns into a power struggle, and now the focus has shifted from the initial problem in the child’s heart, to a problem that I am dealing with as the parent (lack of control, feeling dishonored, etc).
Don’t engage with kids who are angry or arguing. They first need to calm down, and then you can deal with the problem.
One of the tools we use in the coaching programs for the National Center for Biblical Parenting is called the “break.”
A break is different than a time out. A time out is based on a justice mentality where your son serves their punishment and then can come back after a certain amount of time.
Taking a break, however, focuses on heart change. You’re removing your child from the activities of family life until you are able to deal with the problem. We don’t have tons of time to get into all the details of what a break looks like, but I will give you the basics. And of course you’re welcome to join us for the live webinar with Dr. Turansky where he can answer more specific questions for you.
When your child is upset or off track, you’re going to say to him:
You need to take a break.
You need to:
- Calm down
- Change your heart
- Come back and see me when you’re ready
Your kids might need help calming down. It’s okay to hold them or hug them while they calm down. Model for them deep breathing to help them lower their heart rate. Give them some ideas of activities that might help them calm down:
- Jump on the trampoline
- Pet the dog
- Draw a picture
- Squeeze some playdough
- Run laps around the house (preferably outside)
- Shoot some basketball hoops
Some kids just need time and space. The biggest difference between a break and a time-out is that the child determines when he is ready to come back and talk about the problem. It might be only a few minutes, but it might take an hour or more until he is ready to talk with you. That’s okay.
The important thing to remember is this: Don’t try to give instructions or continue trying to get things done when your child is angry.
“Don’t give instructions or try to get things done while your child is angry.”
National Center for Biblical Parenting
How do I deal with an angry child? Here’s an example of a scenario that might take place in your home:
Parent: “Son, put your dirty clothes in the hamper.”
Child: “No, I don’t want to.” Child stomps and screams and dumps out the entire hamper of dirty laundry.
Parent: Yelling: “You get back here right now and clean up that mess!”
Child: “I hate you. You’re stupid.” Child runs away.
Parent: “Get back here right now, it is not okay for you to talk to me that way!”
And now suddenly the problem has gone from dealing with the child’s lack of cooperation in following instructions, to a shouting match that is all about the parent feeling disrespected. (How dare you talk to me like that?). And at this point, the child has probably forgotten what he did wrong in the first place.
Instead, a heart-based parenting approach would look like this:
Parent: “Son, put your dirty clothes in the hamper.”
Child: “No, I don’t want to.” Child stomps and screams and dumps out the entire hamper of dirty laundry.
Parent: “Son, it’s not okay for you to react that way when I give you an instruction. You need to take a break, calm down, and come back and see me when you’re ready to talk.”
Son: “I hate you, you’re stupid!”
Parent: “You’re in a break right now. I’m not going to discuss this with you until you’ve calmed down. Why don’t you go do some jumping jacks to blow off some steam. Come and find me when you’re ready to talk.”
Son: But it’s time to go play at the neighbor’s house!
Parent: Life is on hold for you right now. You may not go out and play with the neighbors until after you’ve taken a break and we’ve talked about what just happened here.
Do you see how the parent is refusing to engage in the son’s badgering? Do you see how the focus is still on the child’s heart?
When the child is calm THEN it’s time to talk. You want to use these three questions, and then a statement:
- What did you do wrong?
- Why was it wrong?
- What can you do differently next time?
- Go try again.
And NOW, once your son is calm, send him back to do the original task that caused the problem in the first place. So now he needs to not only put his own clothes in the hamper, but also clean up all the other clothes he dumped onto the floor.
If he doesn’t cooperate and gets angry again, you say: “Well, it seems like you haven’t had time to change your heart. I guess maybe you need to go back into the break. That’s too bad, your friend is waiting to play with you outside.” (At which point you would either start all over again, OR more likely your son will be ready to do what you asked him to do).
What about consequences? Taking a break does not always eliminate the need for consequences. In the scenario above, the natural consequence would be that he has to clean up the mess he made, and he also has less time to play outside with his friend.
There are a lot of different choices you could use for consequences, and I may do a whole different episode on this topic at some point. But in general, if you see genuine heart change in your child, an additional consequence is likely not needed.
None of Us Parent PerfectlyAlso, I just want to put in a disclaimer here that we do not do this perfectly in our family. None of us parent perfectly. I still get angry and frustrated with my kids sometimes and I choose to use harshness to solve problems. Granted, it doesn’t work! We as parents are learning and growing right alongside our kids.
The point is, we are ALL in the process of becoming more like Christ and this process will continue throughout our entire lives. We all need God’s grace for ourselves, for our kids, and for each other, every step of the parenting journey.
And remember, anger is not good or bad! Don’t feel guilty because you’re feeling angry. Anger is a red flag that alerts you to a deeper issue that needs to be addressed, either in your own heart or in the heart of your child.
Don’t Forget! Free Webinar on How to Manage AngerSo, this episode was just a preview of some of the topics we’ll likely discuss in our live webinar with Dr. Turansky. I wanted you to be prepared so you’ll be able to ask good questions.
In our next episode of Redeeming the Chaos, we’re going to continue our discussion on how to manage anger and we’re going to focus more on our kids this time. We’ll answer questions like, “Why is my son so angry?” and “How can I help him manage his anger in a healthy way?”
And don’t forget, you have until May 31, 2023 at 3 pm Eastern Time to get and invite to the live Q&A webinar with Dr. Scott Turansky, where you can ask him specific questions about managing anger in yourself and in your kids.
But you have to order a copy of my new devotional book for boys, Rise of the Enemy, in order to get an invitation to the webinar!
GET YOUR INVITE HERE!
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Update on my Kickstarter Campaign for Rise of the Enemy – Book One in the Dragon Slayer Bible Series.
BACK ON KICKSTARTER HERE
The post Update: Some Exciting News! appeared first on Laurie Christine.
How do you overcome doubts? How do you replace the lies of the enemy with the truth of God’s word?
Imagine this scenario. You’re a little girl and your parents took you to the swimming pool. You decided you wanted to try out the highest high dive for the first time. You get in line, and you wait your turn.
Then you climb the ladder. It’s a really long ladder, and it seems to take forever to get to the top. You’ve finally reached the top of the ladder and you’re standing on the diving board, looking down. It’s a long way down. It’s really high up.
You’re suddenly feeling apprehensive. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. You turn to go back down the ladder, but there is already a long line of kids behind you. There’s no going back.
Your mom stands at the side of the pool, cheering you on. The kids behind you are urging you to go ahead and jump already.
You step to the edge of the dive. It’s really wobbly and bouncy, and your knees start to knock together. Is that even water down there? What if it turned to ice while you weren’t watching? What if the pool suddenly dries up mid-jump, and you smash into the concrete. All sorts of ridiculous ideas are going through your head.
But you know in your heart that there’s nothing to do, but JUMP.
Have any of you ever been in that situation? Well, that is how I’m feeling right now. And I really need your prayers!
Will You Pray?In the last episode, I told you all about my new devotional book for boys, Rise of the Enemy, Book One in the Dragon Slayer Bible Series, which is launching on Kickstarter this week, on May 11th.
I’ve put in the work of climbing to the top of this super high diving board. And it feels kinda scary up here right now! But I know I can’t go back.
And I’ve been bombarded with ridiculous fears like… what if there’s no water in the pool when I jump off?
I would really appreciate your prayers this week.
This book project will not be successful apart from God’s work and his grace. Through God’s strength and guidance, I have put in the hard work of climbing the ladder and creating this book, but the reality is, nothing will happen apart from God.
Will you pray with me that God’s purpose would be accomplished and that he would receive all the glory from this project?
Taking a Risk is ScaryIt’s not easy being vulnerable and taking a big risk in front of thousands of people (haha, that’s you!). I am confident that God has led me to this point and that he has given me strength to fight through difficult obstacles along the way, but I don’t know what the final outcome will be! I don’t know if the water in the pool will suddenly dry up when I jump, or if maybe there was no water in the pool in the first place!
When I first started working on this book, back in January of 2020, I remember thinking… “Hmmm, I’m writing a book for boys about spiritual warfare. I don’t think Satan is going like this.” And there have definitely been many struggles and hurtles to overcome along the way.
Even just this week, I’ve been fighting off lies and doubts from the Enemy: “What if you fail? What if no one cares about this book? What if everyone judges you? What if this wasn’t really what God wanted you to do?”
And on and on. Can you relate? Have you ever pursued a project or a ministry that you believed God was calling you to do, and then suddenly you were filled with doubts? I’m sure you have. It’s just human nature. And it’s also the Enemy at work, trying to discourage us from completing the work God has given us to do.
How to Overcome DoubtsWhat do you do in those situations? How do you overcome doubts? For me, whenever I’m feeling bombarded by doubts and the lies of the devil, I make a chart. Haha, maybe not a normal thing to do, I know. You’re probably thinking I’m one of those people who likes to clean when I get stressed out. And you would be wrong. I cannot imagine any scenario in which I would like to clean. But anyway… back to my chart…
On one side, I write out the lies I’m believing. Things like: You’re going to fail. Nobody cares about you. Nobody wants to read your book. Etc.
And then on the other side, I write out what I know to be the truth, based on the Word of God. If possible, I try to come up with specific verses to counteract each particular lie. Here is the truth statement I wrote in my journal just this morning:
“My worth does not come from what others think about me, how many people support me, or how successful my book is. My worth and value come from Christ alone. His opinion is the only one that truly matters. Approval and success are not indicators of whether or not I am following God’s will or his leading in my life. God is in control of the success or failure of this project. This is HIS work, and I’m only a tool he’s using to accomplish his purposes.“
And then I looked up several Bible passages to remind me of God’s goodness and faithfulness, regardless of the outcome.
Psalm 31
“But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!” My future is in your hands… don’t let me be disgraced, O Lord, for I call out to you for help… So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord.”
Psalm 34
“I will boast only in the Lord… “
Psalm 142
“You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life.”
Ephesians 2:10
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
I Corinthians 15:58
“So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”
Momma, Don’t Give In to the LiesI know as moms, we don’t regularly see the outcome of our work for the Lord. Day in and day out, raising boys can be exhausting. We don’t always see immediate results from our investment into the lives of our children. We fall victim to the lies of the Enemy who tries to convince you that nobody sees you, nobody cares about the work you’re doing, your kids are all going to end up in prison. Sometimes it’s hard to overcome doubts.
But let me remind you, momma, that your work for the Lord is never wasted. God is using you in the lives of your kids and he has good work planned for you and for your kids as well.
So what lies are you believing today? What truth can you replace it with?
I have actually included this exercise of replacing lies with truth in one of the daily devotionals in my book, Rise of the Enemy. The book (and the whole series, really) is all about training our boys for battle and equipping them to identify and combat the lies of the evil dragon.
Overcome Doubts About What People ThinkLet me just say something about other people’s opinions… I know as moms we often fall into the trap of worrying too much about the opinions of others. We wonder if so-and-so thinks we’re a good parent and then we make choices based on those worries. I think in general, it’s not a good practice to put so much weight on what others think of us.
But on the other hand, God created us to live in community, in relationship with others, and so it’s only natural to care about the opinions of others.
I tried to convince myself that it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks about me or my book. But the reality is, only narcissistic psychopaths truly don’t care what anyone else thinks. And I’m not a narcissistic psychopath. I do care. Because I’m not just writing this book series for myself.
I care about the spiritual condition of the hearts of our boys. I want this book to be an inspiration and a blessing and a challenge to boys. I want them to gain a deeper understanding of God and a love for his Word. I want our boys to join the armies of the Dragon Slayer and learn to wield weapons of warfare against the evil dragon.
And so I cannot help but care what others think about this book project, because I want to write the kinds of books that your boys will love to read.
But I need your help. Will you join me in praying for this project? Will you join me in fighting off the lies of the evil dragon? Will you pray that this book would get into the hands of as many young men as possible, so that they would be challenged to love deeply, fight bravely, and live courageously?
Also, I would love for each of you to think of TWO moms of boys that you could share a link to the Kickstarter page with. I need your help to spread the word! You can share THIS LINK.
Friends, I can’t do this without you and your prayer support! I appreciate each one of you and I am so thankful you’ve chosen to come along with me on this journey of raising courageous boys.
You can learn more about the my Kickstarter campaign for Dragon Slayer Bible Series HERE.
And just a reminder, the campaign goes live in just TWO DAYS on May 11th! Mark your calendars!
The post How to Overcome Doubts – Replacing Lies With Truth appeared first on Laurie Christine.
Do you want your boys to be strong and courageous followers of Jesus?
Do you want to equip your boys to fight the evil one?
Have you been looking for devotional books that will engage your boys and get them excited about reading the Bible?
There’s a battle raging in our world for the hearts and minds of our boys. The enemy is working harder than ever to deceive our sons and distract them from the truth of the Gospel. We need to equip our boys for battle.
I’m Laurie Christine. My new devotional series, The Dragon Slayer Bible, will inspire pre-teen boys to join the armies of Jesus in the epic battle of good vs evil.
I am launching a Kickstarter campaign to publish Rise of the Enemy, book One in the Dragon Slayer Bible Series, because I want your boys to be grounded in the truth of God’s Word, and to recognize the attacks of the evil dragon.
Through action-packed stories, inspiring scripture, and challenging devotional readings, your boys will be trained to stand firm against the invisible enemy, and to use weapons of warfare to deflect the lies of the Evil One.
LEARN MORE OR BACK ON KICKSTARTER HERE
I would love to get your feedback on my Kickstarter campaign page before it launches on May 11th. Would you mind taking a look? Let me know if you have any questions, what you like about the project, or if there’s anything that doesn’t make sense.
VIEW MY KICKSTARTER PAGE HERE
Thank you so much for joining me on this journey of discipling boys. I can’t wait to see how God uses this project to raise up strong courageous warriors for his Kingdom.
PREVIEW ON KICKSTARTERThe post My New Devotional Book for Boys appeared first on Laurie Christine.
Ever wonder how to teach your kids to analyze books they read from a Christian perspective? Find out in my interview with Steven A. Guglich.
Foster a Love of Reading in Your KidsIf you have been listening to this show for any length of time, you know that I love children’s books. One of my favorite things to do is to snuggle up on the sofa, or crawl into bed beside one of my boys, and read books together.
We have a bookshelf in almost every room of our house… and I can’t tell you how many hundreds of dollars we’ve spent on library fines over the years! (Which is ironic, really, when I think about how many books we could have bought with that money!)
I have loved watching my boys develop a passion for reading, both together as a family and individually.
We know that reading is important for our kids. But what if you don’t approve of your son’s book choices? And what should we do if the books our kids are reading at school don’t line up with our Christian worldview?
Well, that’s what we’re going to talk about on today’s episode of Redeeming the Chaos.
Listen Here:
Interview with Steven A. GuglichWe have a special guest on the show today who is an expert at all things related to Children’s literature.
Steven A. Guglich is a Christian author, and a public school principal. He is passionate about literacy and encourages his students to read simply for the joy of reading. He was the North Dakota Principal of the Year in 2020. (And we all know, that was a really hard year to be a public school principal!)
As a Christian and a father of four, Steven’s mission is to find clean, family-friendly books for his kids that ignite their imagination and rekindle the wonder of reading.
Steven became an author in order to write stories that were safe for his children to read, but also filled them with wonder and inspiration.
Steven is the author of The Veil Saga, an epic, modern fantasy series for middle and highschool readers. The first book in the series, Piercing the Veil, just released last week!
We’ll talk about the book later on in the episode, but for now, I’d like to welcome Steven A. Guglich to the show.
How to Encourage Your Kids to Analyze Books from a Christian WorldviewIn my interview, Steven Guglich and I talk about the following topics:
- How to foster a love of reading with your kids.
- How to decide what books to allow your kids to read.
- Why it’s important not to shelter our kids from our culture and society.
- How we as Christians can be salt and light in a world full of darkness.
- How Christian parents can teach their kids to analyze what they read through a biblical world view.
- What you can do if your child is required to read a book at school that you don’t approve of.
- How to train your kids to recognize the lies they may encounter in our culture.
Quote from Give them Grace:
“We [Christians] are called to be different, but our difference should not be because we don’t know who Voldemort is. We’re different because we know the one good story and it has transformed our lives and freed us from the real Voldemort, and our neighbors need to know it.”
Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson, Give Them Grace
Piercing the Veil by Steven Guglich“Piercing the Veil is a contemporary, epic fantasy with elements of historical fiction and mythology geared toward readers of the middle school level and older. Our world is filled with so many stories that involve magic and fantastic creatures. And it makes you wonder, if those stories were believed to be real at one point in time, where did the magic go? Why aren’t there fantastic creatures that roam the earth anymore? The Veil Saga tackles those questions and more, telling a tale that stokes the fires of our imagination and rekindles the wonder we once experienced as children.“
SHOW SPONSORThis week’s episode is sponsored by Amanda Trumpower, author of the Power Pup series.
Are you looking for an exciting new book series that will engage your boys while upholding your conservative family values?
Introducing Power Pup, a Christian superhero series filled with action, humor, and a biblical worldview. Set in the zany world of Collar Cases, Power Pup joins fan favorites Alex Digger and Mittens Meow as they take on new bad guys, make new friends, and learn more lessons about character.
Give your child the gift of superhero adventures without secular entertainment’s woke agenda. Everything comes from a biblical worldview in the Collar Cases universe.
The adventures begin with Power Pup vs.Tommy Trigger Finger, available now in paperback, ebook, and audio. Learn more at www.PowerPupBooks.com.
The Dragon Slayer Bible – In Print!I have some really exciting news for you all. A while back, I introduced my new series of devotional books for boys, called Rise of the Enemy. It has been available as a free ebook download on my website since last fall. Well, my friends, the time has come to turn it into a real live, hold-in-your hands, printed book. I’m super excited to be launching this new series out into the world, but I need your help!
I have chosen to launch this book on Kickstarter. I’ll have a lot more to say about Kickstarter and about this project in the upcoming weeks, but in the meantime, I wanted to let you know that my preview page on Kickstarter is up and running. When you go to the Kickstarter page, there’s a button you can click to get updates about when the campaign goes live.
GET UPDATES HERE
If you’re not familiar with Kickstarter, it’s a crowdfunding platform for creative projects. Kickstarter is NOT the same as Go Fund Me. If you choose to support my Dragon Slayer Bible project, you will receive all sorts of fun perks, including a paperback copy of Rise of the Enemy, many months before it’s available for sale on Amazon.
Anyway, I’ll have lots more to say about his project in the coming weeks, but for now, head over to my preview page to sign up for updates! If you want to learn more about the series, learn more at www.DragonSlayerBible.com.
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RTC 68Heart Based Parenting Tool #3 – Casting a VisionDoes your son need a positive vision for his future?Sometimes our sons can get stuck in patterns of negative behavior, and you begin to lose hope that he will ever change. You wonder… Does he listen to anything I say? Will he ever grow up to be a mature, godly adult that makes rational decisions? It may be, your son just needs a positive vision for his future.
That’s what we’re going to talk about in this episode of Redeeming the Chaos.
This is our 3rd episode in the heart-based parenting series. We’ve been working our way through the 7 tools of heart-based parenting.
So far, we’ve talked about the tool of relationship, and the tool of firmness.
You can listen to those episodes here:
Episode 63 – https://lauriechristine.com/7-tools-of-heart-based-parenting-intro/
Episode 66 – https://lauriechristine.com/heart-based-parenting-tool-firmness/
Just a reminder, heart-based parenting focuses on internal motivation and character development, rather than a reward and punishment system. We work to train our children to obey because they have a sense of inner obligation to do the right thing. A heart-based approach considers the work of the Holy Spirit in a child’s life, because ultimately, God is the one who changes the hearts of our children.
If you want to listen to a more detailed explanation of heart-based parenting, listen to the first episode in this series, LaurieChristine.com/63.
National Center for Biblical ParentingI have been trained as a parent coach and seminar presenter for the National Center for Biblical Parenting. The concept of heart-based parenting was developed by the founders, Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller. Alot of the content we talk about in this episode today comes from my training from this organization.
Just to recap the tools we’ve talked about so far:
Tool #1 – RelationshipBuilding a relationship with your son will help to soften his heart and allow you to connect with him on a deeper level. It’s important to connect with your son on an emotional level. A strong relationship with your son will pave the way for you to use all the other tools we will be talking about.
Tool #2 – FirmnessFirmness builds character in our sons. Firmness means drawing a line in the sand and saying “we’re not going past this line.” The goal of firmness is to train our children. Using firmness is a great way to develop a sense of inner obligation in your child’s heart and help them learn to cooperate.
Tool #3 – VisioningThe tool of visioning will give your son perspective. It will help him focus on what could be, rather than only focusing on what is right now. It gives him a character goal to work toward together with you.
When we use heart-based parenting, we are always looking forward to the future. Imagine you’re son’s life like a map. You’re trying to help your son move from point A on a Map to point B on a map. Point A is where he is now (current attitude, behavior, etc). Point B is where you want him to go.
When we use Visioning as a parenting tool, we are looking down the road of life towards point B. We want to help our child see that there is hope, that there is possibility for change. He doesn’t have to stay stuck where he is right now.
Sometimes our boys can’t see past their current situation. They don’t realize they have the potential or ability to change. When we use Visioning, we are helping them to see their potential in life.
I know some of you may be thinking… I don’t think my son has any potential in life! Trust me, I’ve had similar thoughts cross my mind over the years. At least in moments of frustration. I know I’ve thought things like: That determination will definitely take you places in life. I just hope it’s not to prison!
But when we’re able to help our kids see their own potential, they begin to believe that they can change. That there is hope.
Of course, we continue to rely on the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts, and to give us wisdom and patience as we deal with challenging behaviors.
Casting a Vision With Your SonToday we’re going to talk about 5 different ways you can use the tool of Visioning with your son.
- Point Out Strengths* Recognize god-given gifts and talents, point out strengths.
- Especially focus on character qualities, not just skills or abilities.
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“God has made you strong and determined. I love that about you. My prayer is that God will use those gifts for his glory.”
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Discuss Challenging BehaviorsI’ve noticed you’ve been struggling to _____ lately. This behavior is not okay in our family, and it does not show honor to God. We’re going to work on this together.
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Strength can be used to hurt or heal. I’ve noticed you’ve been using this strength to hurt lately.
- For example: stubbornness vs determination
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Discontentment vs. a strong sense of justice
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Make a Plan* Choose a character quality you want to work on.
- Why is this character quality important?
- Explain how certain qualities will help in the future, as an adult, etc. (casting a vision for later in life).
“You know, I’ve noticed that sometimes you are so strong and determined to get your own way that you don’t consider the feelings of others. I would like to work with you on developing the skill of empathy and selflessness in your life. This is an important quality because it will help you relate to others and it will help you be a good friend.”
- Explain the “road map” to your son – we are moving from point A to point B.
- Memorize a Bible verse specific to your son’s situation… something that will help him to remember what quality you are working on together.
Show Kindness: Ephesians 4:32 – “Be Kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another.” (NLT)
Show honor: Romans 12:10– “Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” (NLT)
Work Hard: Colossians 3:23 – “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”
Have a cheerful attitude: Philippians 2:14 – “Do everything without complaining and arguing.”
- Make a list of ideas how to PRACTICE the particular character quality.
- What can you do when you feel angry, instead of throwing things?
- When you’re feeling annoyed with your brother, what can you do instead of hitting him?
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What will you do next time?
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Give Hope * Communicate to your son: I’m on your team, we’re working on this together, God will help you.
- I am confident that you will make progress in this area.
- I Can’t wait to see how God works in your heart.
Share Bible Verses
- Philippians 1:6 – “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
- Philippians 2:13 – “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
- Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
Talk about the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11:
- Abraham and Isaac were both liars.
- Sarah laughed at God’s promises.
- Jacob was a deceiver.
- Joseph was prideful.
- Moses was a murderer.
- Rahab was a prostitute.
- Gideon was a coward.
- Samson was disobedient.
- King David was a cheater and a murderer.
AND YET… They were all recognized by God for their FAITH.
Hebrews 11
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for….
“By faith…
“All these people were still living by faith when they died…
“Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God,…
“Whose weakness was turned to strength;…
“The world was not worthy of them….
“These were all commended for their faith.”
- Affirm SuccessBe sure to praise and affirm your child when you see progress in the area that you are focusing on right now.
“Wow, I noticed that you let your brother choose which TV show to watch this morning. That was showing kindness and putting others before yourself.”
Encourage approximately right behavior (even if they still have a long way to go!)
“Last time, you were angry for an hour and this time you were only angry for 20 minutes. You are making progress in this area. Great job! I can see you are really working hard to control your temper.”
Encourage small steps in the right direction. Don’t wait for perfection before you affirm him. Success breeds success. Allow him to see his success, even if it’s minor. This will give him hope that he can change.
“Last time you hit your brother when he took your toy, and this time you only screamed at him. That’s progress. Let’s keep working in this area. I’m really proud of you and I know you can do it.”
- Practice makes progress.
- Don’t expect perfection over night (or ever really).
- Teach kids how to accept a compliment.
BOOK GIVEAWAY WINNER! Liezl from South Africa was the winner of our Books for Boys giveaway! Congratulations!
FREE EASTER DEVOTIONAL FOR FAMILIESCome and See! invites families to experience firsthand the anticipation, the sorrow, the tragedy, the fear, and the ultimate triumph of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
This bookincludes 30 short devotional stories, each with accompanying Scripture references and questions for discussion and imagination. Use this book to help your kids understand the significance of Easter. Create deeper connections with your kids this Easter as you read and discuss what it would have been like to experience firsthand the events of the Holy Week. May you gain a deeper understanding of the love and life our Lord offers as you and your family prepare your hearts for the celebration of our Risen Savior!
Through the eyes of six eye witnesses, you will be led on a journey through the busyness of the streets of Jerusalem, to the despair of Golgotha, and finally to the celebration of the empty grave.
Come and see Mary’s love poured out when she anoints Jesus in Bethany.
Come and see Judas’ cunning plan to betray Jesus.
Come and see Peter’s confused reaction when Jesus washes the disciples’ feet.
Come and see Nicodemus’ confliction when Jesus is sentenced to death.
Come and see John’s agony as he watches his best friend suffer and die.
Come and see Mary Magdalene’s jubilation when Jesus appears, alive once again!
DOWNLOAD COME AND SEE! 30 FAMILY BIBLE STORIES FOR EASTER
Reading Plan for Come and SeeI also have reading plans available for Come and See. If you’re listening to this episode in the future, closer to Easter, I also have a condensed, 1-week version of the reading plan that will help you get through the stories a little faster. The chapters are all fairly short and will take less than 10 minutes to read a chapter. So you’re welcome to double up on some of the chapters if you need to.
DOWNLOAD READING PLANS HERE
Audiobook Version of Come and SeeSomething new for this year – I now have an audiobook version of Come and See! (Scroll down to the Audiobook section). This is a great resource for you to listen to with your kids in the car.
And I hope you have a wonderful time together as a family, as you prepare your hearts for the celebration of our risen Savior.
The post How to Give Your Son a Vision For His Future appeared first on Laurie Christine.
What is the significance of Easter and how can we teach our kids about it?
Are You Ready for Easter?Did you ever think about the fact that we spend a whole month getting ready for Christmas, but Easter often seems to sneak up on us? Well, not this year! Easter is April 9th this year and I have a special resource for you that will help you and your kids prepare your hearts for the celebration of our Risen Savior.
I was recently interviewed on the Connected Families podcast. The host, Stacy, and I talked about the importance of family devotions, and specifically the importance of helping our kids understand the significance of Easter! It was such a fun conversation – Stacy and I are both quite passionate about teaching the Bible to kids and we had a great time making connections in the Easter narrative.
I am actually going to replay that interview for you here on Redeeming the Chaos.
Listen HERE:
You can find a link to the original interview HERE.
If you aren’t familiar with Connected Families, you need to go check them out. They have so many amazing resources for families, all from a biblical worldview. You can learn more at www.connectedfamilies.org.
So before we get to the interview let’s chat about Easter…
How do you prepare your hearts for Easter?How do you prepare your hearts for Easter? Do you have any special family traditions? I know in my family, we often spend an entire month celebrating Christmas, but for Easter we would pull out a bag of plastic eggs a few days ahead of time.
A few years ago, I wrote a family devotional for Easter to help my boys dig a little deeper into the events leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection. It’s called, Come and See! 30 Family Bible Stories for Easter.
A Family Bible Story for EasterThis book is geared mainly for kids ages 6-12, but older children and adults will enjoy it as well. And there are swords, soldiers, stinky feet and pigeon poop, so your boys will definitely enjoy it.
Come and See! invites families to experience firsthand the anticipation, the sorrow, the tragedy, the fear, and the ultimate triumph of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Through the eyes of six eye witnesses, you will be led on a journey through the busyness of the streets of Jerusalem, to the despair of Golgotha, and finally to the celebration of the empty grave.
Come and see Mary’s love poured out when she anoints Jesus in Bethany.
Come and see Judas’ cunning plan to betray Jesus.
Come and see Peter’s confused reaction when Jesus washes the disciples’ feet.
Come and see Nicodemus’ confliction when Jesus is sentenced to death.
Come and see John’s agony as he watches his best friend suffer and die.
Come and see Mary Magdalene’s jubilation when Jesus appears, alive once again!
This bookincludes 30 short devotional stories, each with accompanying Scripture references and questions for discussion and imagination. Use this book to help your kids understand the significance of Easter. Create deeper connections with your kids this Easter as you read and discuss what it would have been like to experience firsthand the events of the Holy Week. May you gain a deeper understanding of the love and life our Lord offers as you and your family prepare your hearts for the celebration of our Risen Savior!
DOWNLOAD COME AND SEE! 30 FAMILY BIBLE STORIES FOR EASTER
Reading Plan for Come and SeeI also have reading plans available for Come and See. If you start reading chapter 1 on March 15th, 2023, you’ll finish with the story of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday and then you’ll finish up your reading a few days after Easter.
But don’t worry, if you’re listening to this episode in the future, closer to Easter, I also have a condensed, 1-week version of the reading plan that will help you get through the stories a little faster. The chapters are all fairly short and will take less than 10 minutes to read a chapter. So you’re welcome to double up on some of the chapters if you need to.
DOWNLOAD READING PLANS HERE
Audiobook Version of Come and SeeSomething new for this year – I now have an audiobook version of Come and See! (Scroll down to the Audiobook section). This is a great resource for you to listen to with your kids in the car.
What’s the Significance of Easter?In my interview with Stacy Bellward on the Connected Families Podcast, we talked about:
- what the Bible says about discipling your children
- how to overcome challenges you may encounter when you try to connect with God as a family
- practical ways to make family devotions engaging for your kids
- how to change your approach to family Bible times as your children get older
- the significance of Easter and ways to share it with your children
I hope you have a wonderful time together as a family, as you prepare your hearts for the celebration of our risen Savior.
The post How to Teach Your Kids About the Significance of Easter RTC 67 appeared first on Laurie Christine.
How can you use firmness as a parenting tool, without being harsh? Find out in today’s episode of Redeeming the Chaos.
I Get Frustrated With my Kids When…What is it that makes you frustrated with your kids? I know for me, I often get frustrated when my boys won’t do what I asked them to do, when they argue and whine when I give them an instruction, or when they ignore me altogether.
All of these things fall under the umbrella of cooperation. Cooperation is working together to accomplish a task, without any arguing or bad attitudes. How do we motivate our kids to cooperate, without having to get angry or yell at them? How can we be firm with our kids, without being harsh?
That’s what we’re going to talk about in today’s episode of Redeeming the Chaos.
Today’s episode is sponsored by Amanda Trumpower, author of the Power Pup series – an exciting new series that will engage your boys, while upholding biblical family values. Learn more about Power Pup a little later in the show.
What is Heart-based Parenting?A few weeks ago, we talked about the 7 tools of heart-based parenting.
In that episode we talked about what heart-based parenting is, and how to build a deeper relationship with your son. Relationship is the first of 7 tools used in heart-based parenting. Here’s a quick summary of the last episode:
Why Behavior Modification Doesn’t WorkMost styles of parenting use a behavior modification approach, or a “reward and punishment” system. If you do something good, you get a reward, and if you do something bad, you get a punishment. In behavior modification, consistency is key. Your child must get the same reward every time and the same punishment every time in order for the strategy to be effective.
While this type of parenting may work for short term behavior change, it rarely affects a child’s inner motivation to change or to do the right thing. Behavior modification ultimately fosters selfishness in a child’s heart.
I know back when we were using a “ticket system” or sticker charts in our family, my kids didn’t want to do anything around the house unless there was a reward involved. I would ask them to clean up their toys and their response was: “How many tickets will I get?” What’s my reward?
While we do want to teach our kids that hard work and effort will pay off in life, (and we also want to teach them about the relationship between work and wages), we don’t want our kids to always be expecting payment or a reward for their work around the home.
A heart-based approach to parenting, rather than being all about punishment and reward, trains a child to obey because they have a sense of inner obligation to do the right thing. A heart-based approach considers the work of the Holy Spirit in a child’s life, because ultimately, God is the one who changes the hearts of our children.
National Center for Biblical ParentingI have been trained as a parent coach and seminar presenter for the National Center for Biblical Parenting. The concept of heart-based parenting was developed by the founders, Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller. Most of the content we talk about in this episode today comes from my training from this organization.
7 Tools of Heart-based ParentingIn the previous episode on heart-based parenting, we talked about 7 tools that will help you develop internal motivation in your child.
The seven tools are:
Relationship, Firmness, Visioning, Transferring Responsibility, Teaching, Spiritual Training, Coaching
Tool #1 – RelationshipThe first tool is Relationship.
Building a relationship with your son will help to soften his heart and allow you to connect with him on a deeper level. We talked about a lot of practical ways to work on your relationship with your son. You can listen to the episode on the importance of building a relationship HERE.
We want to meet our kids’ emotional needs, empathize with how they’re feeling, but don’t neglect to show firmness at the same time.
Tool #2 – FirmnessThat brings us to our second tool of heart-based parenting, which is Firmness.
Firmness builds character in our sons. Firmness means drawing a line in the sand and saying, “we’re not going past this line.” The goal of firmness is to train our children.
We don’t want to move to consequences too quickly. Consequences can be part of firmness, but it’s important not to use consequences in a justice mentality… we’ll get to that in a few minutes.
Firmness helps our child develop a sense of obligation — The attitude of “I need to” must overcome the attitude of “I want to.”
At the beginning of the episode, we talked about things that our kids do that frustrate us… like when our kids won’t do what we asked them to do, or when they whine and argue when you give an instruction, or when they ignore you altogether.
Using firmness is a great way to develop that sense of inner obligation in your child’s heart and help them learn to cooperate.
Being firm is not the same as being harsh. Firmness builds character. Harshness, on the other hand, pours emotional intensity on the situation, involves anger and ultimately damages relationships.
How to Teach Your Kids to Follow InstructionsOne of the ways we can be firm with our kids is by teaching them to follow instructions.
The first step in learning to follow instructions is to teach our kids to come when they are called.
For younger kids, you can turn in into a game. We call it, the “Come when you’re called” game. In this game, when you call your child’s name, they should stop what they’re doing right away, say “What mom,” and then come to where you are.
Practice over and over again. Tell your child: “Max, we’re going to play a game. I want you to go over there and play and when I call your name, I want you to stop what you’re doing and run over here to me and say, “What mom?” Okay?
Then you send Max over to play. When you call his name and he comes running, be sure to praise him and say, “Great job! You’re learning to obey! Now, go back over there and we’ll try it again.”
This time, you could mix it up a little bit and have some fun. Say, “Bobby! Stanley! Pinocchio! Wait, what’s your name?? Oh that’s right… Max!” When Max comes running over and says “what mom” give him a big hug and praise him for coming right away.
For older kids, a game might not be appropriate. But you can have a conversation with your son and say, “Hey buddy, I’ve noticed we’ve been doing a lot of yelling back and forth across the house. We’re going to start something new. When I call your name, I want you to come right away and say “Yes mom.” I’m going to give you a few chances to practice today, okay?”
What to Do When Your Kids Won’t ListenI know you’re thinking… but what if they don’t come? What if they ignore me?
Well, that’s where the tool of firmness comes in. Here are a few strategies to try:
First, rather than calling across the house, you need to walk to where your son is playing. Get close to your son and make sure you get his attention before talking to him.
I ask my sons to look at my face, so I know I have their attention. Sometimes I have to put my hand on their shoulder, and sometimes I even have to take their face in my hands in order to get their attention.
You might have to turn off the TV or step between your son and the TV to break his concentration.
How to Give Instructions to Your ChildAfter you have your son’s attention, give the instruction. But make sure it sounds like an instruction, not a suggestion.
If I say, “Hey buddy, you might want to think about getting ready for bed soon.”
You know what his response will be? “Yeah, and I might NOT want to think about getting ready for bed soon.”
When you give an instruction, use the phrase “You need to ______.” This puts the weight of responsibility on the child. A lot of parents will use the phrase “I need you to…” But this type of phrase doesn’t transfer that responsibility to the child. It implies that the parent’s are the ones who need something.
Our children do not have a responsibility to meet our needs.
After you’ve given an instruction to your child, they need to respond to you by saying, “Okay mom.” This affirms that they heard the instruction and they’re ready to follow through. If your child walks off without responding (even if they’re heading off to do the thing you told them to do), you need to say “hold on a minute… I need a response back.”
You’re On a Mission to Do the JobLet your child know they’re on a mission to complete the task, and when they are finished, they need to report back to you. Once they’ve finished the job, they need to come back to you and say, “I’m all finished.”
At that point, you will go and inspect their work, praise them for doing a great job, and tell them they’re free to go.
But what happens if you go inspect their work and you see that they haven’t completed their task to your satisfaction? You can use this as an opportunity to explain what your expectations are for this particular job.
For example, you told your son to go get ready for bed. He reports back to you and says “I’m finished.” When you go to inspect, you notice that his toothbrush is not wet. In this situation, rather than getting angry and yelling, simply remind your son: “Hey buddy, you did a great job putting your pajamas on. Thank you for putting your dirty clothes in the hamper. But part of getting ready for bed is also brushing your teeth, which you forgot. You need to brush your teeth and then report back to me when you’re finished.”
Following Instructions Builds CharacterThis routine of giving and receiving instructions is a great way to build character in your child.
We’re not just teaching our children to follow instructions so they will help out more around the house. (Although, that is one of the benefits of this routine). We’re teaching our kids to learn to follow instructions because we care about what’s going on in their hearts. We are working to develop godly character traits in the hearts of our kids.
As we teach our kids to follow instructions, we’re actually teaching them qualities like responsibility, responsiveness to authority, obedience, learning to give up your own agenda, perseverance, cooperation, thoroughness and accountability.
In addition, when we teach our kids to respond to our authority and instructions, we’re actually softening their hearts to also receive instruction from the Lord.
What if My Kids Push Back?When you introduce this new system of giving and following instructions to your kids, it’s likely they will push back.
This is a good opportunity to use the tool of firmness with your child.
For example, You give your child an instruction and he stomps off with a bad attitude.
You say: Whoa, hold on a minute. That’s not how we do it. When I give you an instruction, you need to reply back and say, “okay mom.” Let’s try again. I’m going to walk out of the room and in just a minute I’m going to come back and give you the instruction again. Okay?” And then you practice.
When we practice giving and receiving instructions over and over again with our kids, we are building new routines and behaviors and we’ll start to see progress over time.
Don’t Engage With a Child Who Is ArguingAnother way to use the tool of firmness is to not allow your kids to manipulate the discussion by arguing or complaining. Do not engage in discussion with a child who is angry, yelling, or arguing.
If a child is upset, wait until he calms down to discuss the problem. (We actually have a whole different routine for what to do when your child is off track and needs to calm down. It’s called Taking a Break. We’ll talk about this in an upcoming episode).
If your child is whining or nagging you, do not continue with the conversation. Tell your son: “Time out, this sounds like whining. I will not discuss this with you when you are whining. Let’s try that again.”
It’s important not to get sucked into the emotions of your child. If your child is angry or yelling, it’s important to remain calm. (I know this is so hard!) Don’t let his negative emotions dictate your response to him. This takes a lot of practice. But when we meet our child at their same level of intensity, the situation will only escalate and get worse.
The Goal of Consequences is Heart Change
Boy sitting at sofa and using digital tablet while his father talking to him.Consequences are also a part of firmness. But they are just one of the tools in our toolbox. Be careful not to jump to consequences too quickly.
A heart-based approach to parenting uses consequences differently than other parenting styles. For example, in a behavior modification approach to parenting, consequences are always based on a justice mentality. “If you do something bad, then you’ll get this punishment.”
But in heart-based parenting, consequences are always forward-looking. The goal is heart change.
Here’s an example:
Your son has a bad attitude and tells you to shut up when you ask him to do something.
In a behavior modification approach, the consequence might be that he loses screen time privileges for a day. When the day is over, he gets is phone or ipad back. But no heart change has taken place.
In a heart-based approach, consequences always have the goal of heart change. You might say to your son:
“Hey buddy, I’ve noticed that you’ve had a really bad attitude whenever I tell you to do something around the house. Your behavior does not show honor and it’s not okay for you to act like that. We’re going to work on this.
“I’m going to take away your ipad until I see some changes in your behavior. There’s no set amount of time. It’s up to you to earn back the privilege of screen time. I would like to give your ipad back, but first, you must demonstrate to me that your attitude is changing and that you can respond to me in the right way. I will give you plenty of opportunities to practice over the next few days.”
My Son Won’t Take No for an AnswerAnother way to use firmness as a parenting tool is to teach our kids to accept No as an answer. Many kids can’t handle hearing the word No. And many parents think they might damage their kids if they are told “no.” Actually, quite the opposite is true. By teaching kids to accept NO for an answer, we are teaching them the heart quality of contentment. Our kids will learn to live within the limits set for them, and they will develop the heart qualities of unselfishness and gratitude.
I have an entire episode on Redeeming the Chaos on the topic of teaching our kids to take No for an answer. In this episode, I interviewed Dr. Scott Turansky, the cofounder of the National Center for Biblical Parenting. You can listen to my interview HERE.
What if my kids push back? When you begin to use the heart tool of firmness with your son, you should expect some resistance! When you start setting boundaries for your kids and saying “no” more often, your kids will push back.
Remember, being firm is not the same as being harsh. We are firm with our kids because we love them, and we know what’s best for them, just as God is firm with us. Don’t get caught up in your own emotions when your child resists correction or a change in routine.
Practice makes progress. As you start to put these heart-based parenting tools into practice, over time you will begin to see some changes in his behavior and his heart.
Want More Help?There’s a lot more I could say about firmness, giving instructions, consequences, and developing cooperation in our kids. As a certified biblical parenting coach, I offer a limited number of coaching sessions for parents, where we meet over the course of 8 weeks and I help you to establish new routines in your home and deal with challenging behaviors in your children. You can learn more about my coaching program HERE.
Episode SponsorThis week’s episode is sponsored by Amanda Trumpower, author of the Power Pup series.
Are you looking for an exciting new book series that will engage your boys while upholding your conservative family values?
Introducing Power Pup, a Christian superhero series filled with action, humor, and a biblical worldview. Set in the zany world of Collar Cases, Power Pup joins fan favorites Alex Digger and Mittens Meow as they take on new bad guys, make new friends, and learn more lessons about character.
Give your child the gift of superhero adventures without secular entertainment’s woke agenda. Everything comes from a biblical worldview in the Collar Cases universe.
The adventures begin with Power Pup vs.Tommy Trigger Finger, available now in paperback, ebook, and audio. Learn more at www.PowerPupBooks.com.
The post How to Use Firmness With Your Kids Without Being Harsh RTC 66 appeared first on Laurie Christine.
It’s often hard to trust God when our children have special needs.
In a recent episode of Redeeming the Chaos, we talked about trusting God with our kids’ hearts. But what happens when our kids’ needs feel like more than we can handle? How do we trust God when parenting a child with special needs?
That’s what we’re going to talk about on today’s episode of Redeeming the Chaos.
Trusting God When Your Son Has Special NeedsWe have a special guest on the show today who is going to talk with us about trusting God on the journey of raising a child with special needs.
Allison Byxbe has been a college writing professor for 15 years and recently received her certification as a journaling instructor from the Therapeutic Writing Institute. She inspires women to experience the powerful, life-giving practice of journaling. She’s a monthly contributor to The Glorious Table, an intern with Ann Voskamp, and she maintains her own blog, Writing is Cheaper Than Therapy. She is married to her husband Ben, has three amazing kids, three dogs, and too many chickens.
In this episode, Allison and I discuss her son’s Reed’s rare genetic diagnosis, known as 49ers syndrome. There are only about 100 cases world-wide. Allison shares some of the challenges, as well as the joys of being a mom to a son with special needs.
Allison recognizes that Reed’s diagnosis does not define who he is. It simply explains some things about him. His sense of humor, generosity, and head of thick ginger hair are just a few of the things Allison adores about her son.
Allison and I discuss topics like:
- How does having a child with special needs challenge and strengthen your faith in God?
- How are children affected by a sibling with special needs?
- What are some ways you can encourage other families with a special needs child?
- What are some common misconceptions about kids with special needs?
- What are some ways moms feel misunderstood when parenting a child with special needs?
Journaling as TherapyAllison has found that journaling has proven to be very therapeutic in processing the challenges of parenting a special needs son. Always a prolific blogger and writer, Alison decided to pursue certification as a journaling instructor from the Therapeutic Writing Institute. She offers courses and workshops that inspire women to experience the powerful, life-giving practice of journaling.
You can sign up to get notifications about Allison’s free Saturday Pages journaling workshop HERE.
You can check out all of Allison’s journaling classes HERE.
Allison’s Blog Posts About Parenting a Child With Special NeedsLoving Families with Special Needs
A Letter to Reed’s Kindergarten Teacher
Owning It
What They Say
Unexpected Gifts
The Answer
A Generous Story
Four Years Later – Coming Clean
SPONSORDo You Have Sensitive and Intense Kids?
Don’t forget about the new parenting course offered by Connected Families, called Sensitive and Intense Kids — Navigating Parenting Challenges with Purpose and Hope.
Parenting intense kids can often feel isolating. You feel like you’re the only one with kids who are struggling. Or you feel ashamed of your kids’ behavior.
If you’ve been wondering:
Why does my child have such big outbursts?
Why does life seem harder for this child?
Why is my child so sensitive?
Why do I end up in so many power struggles with this child?
Then this course is for you!
Registration for the course is OPEN NOW and the moderated course begins on March 6, 2023. The moderated course includes:
7 Practical and life-changing video sessions
Daily comment moderation and encouragement by a skilled parent coach to answer questions
Weekly emails with extra encouragement
Six live Q&As with Lynne and Lydia
An ongoing private FB Community
I have included affiliate links for the course in this post. When you use this link to sign up for the Connected Families parenting course, I receive a small commission. If you’ve been encouraged by my podcasts, blog articles and newsletter, this is a great way for you to show your support.
The post Trusting God With Your Special Needs Son appeared first on Laurie Christine.
Do you have a son who is extra sensitive and intense? This episode is for you!
This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission from any purchases you make through these links. It’s a great way to support the show!
Sign up for the course: Sensitive and Intense KidsHow to Parent a Sensitive and Intense SonWe all have that one child (or several!) who is extra sensitive and intense. Emotions are bigger, reactions are bigger, life is just bigger for these kiddos. Both the good and the bad. As moms, we often feel stuck in knowing how to help our extra sensitive kids, and how to help ourselves navigate the ups and downs of parenting them!
We actually have TWO special guests on the show today who are going to talk with us about how to parent our sensitive and intense boys. This is the first time we’ve ever had two guests simultaneously on the show, and I’m really excited to chat with these ladies.
Lynne Jackson has over 25 years experience as a pediatric occupational therapist working with children with sensory processing disorder, ADHD (including her own kids!), OCD, ODD, and autism spectrum disorders. As a speaker, certified life coach, podcaster, and author, Lynne has helped thousands of parents learn to be peaceful, purposeful, and confident. In 2002, she and her husband, Jim founded Connected Families, a ministry that helps parents learn to embody God’s grace in the midst of family life.
Lydia Rex is a registered nurse, a Trust-Based-Relational-Intervention practitioner and parent coach to families with young kids, especially those who have sensory needs or developmental trauma. No stranger to challenges in the parenting journey, Lydia offers empathy, encouragement and a deep commitment to walking alongside parents with the Connected Families framework. It’s her joy to see God’s grace healing the hearts of parents and children. Lydia, her husband Kyle, and their two kids live in Iowa where they enjoy homeschooling, outdoor activities, and reading lots of books.
Listen to my conversation with Lynne and Lydia here:
In this episode, Lynne, Lydia and I discuss:
- What is a sensitive and intense child?
- What is the cycle of stress that parents often get stuck in?
- What are some strategies to help our sensitive and intense kids?
If you are a parent of a boy who is extra sensitive and intense, you will be so encouraged by my conversation with Lynne & Lydia.
Parenting Course: Sensitive and Intense KidsDo you want some extra help, support and encouragement as you parent your sensitive and intense kiddo? Connected Families has just release their brand new parenting course called:
Sensitive and Intense Kids — Navigating Parenting Challenges with Purpose and Hope
Registration is open NOW and the moderated course begins on March 6, 2023. (If you’re reading this in the future, you can still purchase the video course at any time, without the moderated community. The moderated course will be offered again each spring).
Click HERE to sign up! If you’ve ever asked yourself:
- Why does my child have such big outbursts?
- Why does life seem harder for this child?
- Why is my child so sensitive?
- Why do I end up in so many power struggles with this child?
Then this course is for you!
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COURSE: SENSITIVE AND INTENSE KIDS
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What is heart-based parenting and how can I use it to connect with my son’s heart? Find out in this episode of Redeeming the Chaos.
Have you tried all the things?Have you tried all the parenting strategies and you just don’t see any difference in your son’s negative behavior? You’ve tried everything from sticker charts, to stricter punishment, to yelling and threatening, to taking away toys or video games, to bribing with ice cream. Yet, nothing seems to change his behavior, or his heart.
Momma, I get it. I understand and I’ve been there. But there is hope for you and your son.
How do I deal with my son’s negative behavior?So, what is the solution to these negative behaviors in our boys that we just can’t seem to get under control?
The answer is heart-based parenting.
I’ll start with a quick personal story. I’m a mom of 4 boys. One of my sons has struggled with anger management for years. We tried everything, from stricter punishment and reward systems, to play therapy, to counseling. At times, his anger would get so out of control that I feared for the safety of our other kids. Nothing was connecting with his heart.
But once we began consistently using a heart-based parenting strategy, we saw change. As we started using the 7 tools of heart-based parenting (that I will be talking about today), we were able to connect with our son’s heart and we started to see a change in his behavior.
We’ve seen our son develop qualities of kindness, unselfishness, self-control, responsibility, hard work, and cooperation.
Granted, my son still has a ways to go (don’t we all??) and God is still working in his life, but these 7 heart-based parenting tools have made a huge difference in our family.
What is heart-based parenting? Most styles of parenting use a behavior modification approach, or a “reward and punishment” system. You do XYZ then you receive XYZ.
While this may work for short term behavior change, it rarely affects a child’s inner motivation to change or to do the right thing. Behavior modification ultimately fosters selfishness.
A heart-based approach to parenting focuses on tendencies, belief systems, and inner motivations of your child. It trains a child to obey because they have a sense of inner obligation to do the right thing. A heart-based approach also considers the work of the Holy Spirit in a child’s life. Ultimately, God is the one who changes the hearts of our children.
National Center for Biblical ParentingAs many of you know, I have been trained as a parent coach and seminar presenter for the National Center for Biblical Parenting. The concept of heart-based parenting was developed by the founders, Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller. Most of the content we talk about in this episode today comes from my training from this organization.
I recently interviewed Dr. Turansky on Redeeming the Chaos and we talked about contentment and what to do when your son can’t take “No” for an answer. You can listen to that episode HERE.
The National Center for Biblical Parenting produces a lot of resources that help parents connect with their children’s hearts. A few of the titles I would recommend are:
Parenting is Heart Work (and the training manual that goes along with it). This book lays a groundwork for heart-based parenting in your family.
Motivate Your Child (and the action plan that goes with it). This book teaches you how to develop internal motivation in your child.
So, a heart-based approach sounds great, doesn’t it?
How do I deal with challenging behaviors?But what does this look like? What about the day-to-day sanity of my home? How do I deal with those challenging behaviors?
Don’t worry—a heart-based approach deals with behaviors. In fact, heart-based parenting provides super practical tools to deal with unwanted behaviors in our kids. But our focus is not only behaviors. External behaviors are a signal to what is going on at a deeper heart level.
Heart-based parenting uses scripture as well as proven tools and techniques to equip you to coach your child. You are your child’s best teacher!
We also rely heavily on the Holy Spirit to work in your child’s heart, as well as your own! God will use you as a tool to influence your child, but ultimately, God is the only one who can change the heart.
Characteristics of heart-based parentingHere are a few characteristics of heart-based parenting.
Heart-based parenting:
- focuses on relationship.
- is based on Biblical principles.
- is not a “one size fits all” approach.
- believes that parents are the best coaches / counselors for their kids.
- teaches kids to learn to live within limitations.
- teaches kids to show honor.
- teaches kids to handle their emotions.
- teaches practical tools, not just theories.
- provides a plan and new strategies for parenting.
- gives hope.
In several upcoming episodes, we are going to be talking about 7 tools of heart-based parenting.
These tools are:
Relationship
Firmness
Visioning
Transferring Responsibility
Teaching
Spiritual Training
Coaching
Tool #1 – RelationshipIn this article, we’ll discuss the first tool — strengthening your relationship with your son.
When you connect on an emotional level about something your son is passionate about, it will open the door for you to reach his heart on a deeper level in other areas as well.
Building a relationship with your son will help to soften his heart and allow you to connect with him on a deeper level.
Here is a list of some practical ideas to help you build a deeper relationship with your son:
- Make an emotional connection with your son, then celebrate!
- Find something to do together that brings delight to your son.
- Let your son know how much you enjoy spending time with him. “We make a good team!” “I enjoy doing this with you.” “I’m looking forward to doing this again soon!”
- Listen without being critical.
- Talk about life without always teaching a lesson.
- Ask him what he enjoys doing.
- Join him in an activity he enjoys, even if it’s something you don’t enjoy.
- Affirm his uniqueness and let him know what you appreciate about him.
- Point out his strengths.
- Just be present with him.
- Look him in the eyes. Get down on his level.
- Be strategic about spending time together. Take your son out on a date.
- Greet your son with sincere enthusiasm — in the morning; when he comes home from school— let him know you’re happy to see them. (Even if you aren’t).
- Make his favorite snack for him.
- Show empathy by validating how your son is feeling before you jump in and try to correct their behavior.
- Offer comfort and compassion – we want to relate to our children the same way God relates to us.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says that God is a Father of compassion and a God of comfort. He comforts us in our troubles, so that we can be a comfort to others!
We want to meet our kids’ emotional needs, empathize with how they’re feeling, but don’t neglect to show firmness at the same time. (More on that in a future email!)
Some of these tips may sound simplistic, but you will be surprised at the difference you’ll see in how your son relates to you, after putting some of these tips into practice for a short time.
QUIZDon’t want to wait to get the rest of the 7 heart-based parenting tools? I’ll let you in on a little secret: When you take THIS QUIZ, I’ll send you the 7 heart based tools in a series of emails!
This fun quiz will help you learn more about your son’s personality. What are his strengths and weaknesses? How you can best connect with his heart?
After taking the quiz, you’ll receive tips on how to build a deeper relationship with your son and his unique personality.
The post 7 Tools of Heart-Based Parenting RTC 63 appeared first on Laurie Christine.
Finding balance seems elusive. But maybe we don’t understand what balance really is!
Finding Balance as a Busy Boy MomAs moms of boys, finding balance in life often feels like chasing after the horizon, doesn’t it? You can see it in the distance, and you have a vague idea of what it looks like, but no matter how hard you try, you can never quite get there.
Is it even possible to find balance in life, and if so, how? How do we decide which things in life are priorities and which things do we need to take a break from? And how do we find joy in the midst of our busy schedules?
January is often the time of year that we re-evaluate our lives, our priorities, and our schedules. Is there anything new you need to add into your schedule, or is there something you maybe need to say “No” to?
We have a special guest on the show today who is an expert at helping moms find balance in their lives. She even has a podcast called, The Balanced Momcast!
Sandy Cooper is a Bible study teacher, a podcaster, an author, and a professionally certified home chef. She is passionate about helping frazzled moms find peace.
She is the author of three books, including her latest, Mom, You’re Amazing! And Other Things I Want to Tell You.
She has been blogging since 2008 at The Scoop on Balance and she podcasts weekly at The Balanced MomCast from her home office in Florida where she lives with her family.
Below you’ll find a summary of my conversation with Sandy Cooper.
Balance is not…Before we understand what balance is, we must first understand what balance is NOT. Below is Sandy’s list of what balance is not:
Balance is not doing everything.
Balance is not doing everything your friends are doing.
Balance is not doing everything that your friends think you should be doing.
Balance is not doing everything that you see other women doing on Instagram or Pinterest or TikTok or Facebook.
Balance is not doing everything well. You’re allowed to be bad at things and still be well-balanced.
Balance is not doing a little bit of everything every day.
And balance is not spreading yourself equally among every person, task, responsibility and expectation.
Balance is not the absence of stress because stress is just part of life.
What is Balance?Sandy Cooper’s definition of balance:
“Balance is the peace that you have when you know your priorities and you’re living a life that reflects those priorities through freedom in Christ.”
Sandy Cooper
How to Set PrioritiesUnderstanding your priorities begins with understanding what Jesus said your priorities should be:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”” Luke 10:27
Sandy’s book, Finding Balance, is a great resource to help you set priorities in your life.
Having balance in life means operating with freedom in Christ and understanding what your gifts and strengths are and where your boundaries are.
Avoid comparison. Balance for you will not look the same as balance for other women.
Give yourself a lot of grace.
Balance is how we see our situation. It is not dependent on circumstances. We can have balance in ANY situation.
Barriers to Finding BalanceBusyness is one of the biggest barriers to balance. But busyness is a symptom of a deeper problem. You must ask yourself the question: “Why am I busy?”
There are three root causes to busyness:
- Perfectionism
- People pleasing
- Comparison
These are all rooted in either fear or pride.
Take this QUIZ to find out what your busyness personality is. (Scroll down the the 3rd quiz on the page).
Do you Struggle with Mom Guilt?Do you ever feel like you’re being pulled in every direction? No matter what you’re doing, do you feel like you SHOULD be doing something else?
What is ONE thing that needs to happen today for you to be okay? (add up to 3)
Practice gratitude.
If I could only remember one thing about yesterday, what would it be?
Be thankful for moments instead of things.
How to Be Present in the Moment.
“Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.”
Jim Elliott
Eliminate distractions.
Set a timer and go all in for a set amount of time.
Involve kids in housework.
Ask for help.
Extra ResourcesSandy’s Episodes on Expectations.
https://thescooponbalance.com/84-2/
https://thescooponbalance.com/149-2/
https://thescooponbalance.com/balance-and-expectations/
Sandy’s Episodes on Social Media.
https://thescooponbalance.com/158-2/
https://thescooponbalance.com/157-2/
https://thescooponbalance.com/21-2/
https://thescooponbalance.com/155-2/
Sandy’s Sites
The Balanced Momcast
The Scoop on Balance
Sandy’s Books:
Mom You’re Amazing
Finding Balance
BOOKS FOR BOYS GIVEAWAY 2023ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE
Learn more about the giveaway HERE
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“God won’t give you more than you can handle.”
Has anyone ever said this to you?
Well guess what, honey. It just ain’t true! Sorry to burst your bubble. 🙂
God DOES Give You More Than You Can HandleGod absolutely does give us more than we can handle in life because he wants us to learn to rely on Him.
I was recently interviewed on a new podcast called the “I Witness Podcast” with Kelly Jo Wilson. Kelly and I talk about trusting God through challenges, as well as the peace that God gives in the midst of those circumstances.
This was a two-part interview and you can listen to both episodes here:
How to Trust God Through Challenges
How to Know God’s Peace
Context is KingSo, why do I believe God DOES give us more than we can handle? And why do so many Christians think he won’t?
Well, I think the original phrase, “God won’t give you more than you can handle,” was taken out of context from I Corinthians 10:13, which says:
“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” (NLT).
This verse is specifically talking about temptation. When you are tempted to sin, God will always provide a way of escape. You are not a slave to sin.
BUT… this verse does not apply to other trials and difficulties. In fact, there are other situations in the Bible where people WERE given more than they could handle.
Overwhelmed Beyond Your Ability to EndureIn 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, Paul tells the believers about a trial he was facing. He says:
“We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. *In fact, we expected to die” (NLT).*
Have you ever felt like Paul did? Have you ever been weighed down with a difficult situation — the loss of a job, the death of a loved one, a new diagnosis, a sick child — that you felt “crushed and overwhelmed beyond your ability to endure”? Maybe you thought you’d never live through it and you feared you might even die.
Paul can relate. He was in a very dark place. I’m pretty sure he would have declared as well: “Yes, God DOES give us more than we can handle.”
The Purpose of SufferingBUT…
I don’t want to leave you in despair. I don’t want to leave you wallowing without hope.
The rest of the passage in 2 Corinthians says this:
“But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.” (2 Corinthians 1:9-10, NLT).
Did you catch that? As a result of Paul’s crushing, overwhelming trial, he stopped relying on himself and he learned to rely only on God.
Have you been relying on your own strength to get you through a trial? God wants you to rely on Him. That’s the whole purpose of our suffering. When you are faced with more than you can handle, when you are crushed beyond your ability to endure, cry out to God and rely on His strength alone.
Confidence in GodPaul says in verse 10, “We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.”
None of us know if God will rescue us from any particular trial in this life. But we do know that God is WITH us in our trials. He gives us his comfort and his peace in the midst of horrific circumstances. We can place our confidence in Him.
(Listen to my interview with Kelly Jo Wilson to hear more about how God gave me peace beyond understanding during my son’s heart surgeries).
How to Trust God Through Challenges
How to Know God’s Peace
God is a God of ComfortBut before you go, I want to show you one more thing from the passage in 2 Corinthians 1.
Just before this section when Paul talks about his overwhelming trouble, he talks about how God is a God of comfort!
“God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NLT).
He comforts us in our troubles, SO THAT we can comfort others!
I talk a lot about “redeeming the chaos” in my household of boys. Well, God’s mission is all about redeeming your suffering.
Have you been comforted by God in your suffering? Maybe God wants to use you to be a comfort to someone else.
Get in touch and let me know about at time that God has comforted you in your suffering, and how you have been able to comfort others who are going through the same thing!
Also, if you know someone who might be encouraged by this blog post, will you share it with them?
The post God DOES Give You More than You Can Handle RTC 61 appeared first on Laurie Christine.
Can’t Take No For an AnswerDoes your son struggle to take No for an answer? Does he whine, complain, argue and stomp, whenever you try to set limits for him?
We have a guest on the show today who is going to talk to us about how to teach our kids to take no for an answer and develop a heart quality of contentment.
Dr. Scott Turansky is the co-founder of the National Center for Biblical Parenting. He is also a professor at Concordia University where he teaches the Masters Program in parenting. He has written 15 books on parenting and has trained over 400 coaches to work with parents.
I had the privilege of going through the parent coaching program with Dr. Turansky and the National Center for Biblical Parenting, and I am excited to say that I am now a certified parenting coach! If you would like more information on my biblical, heart-based coaching services for parents, you can go to ChristianParentCoach.com.
A lot of what we talk about today is found in the Parenting is Heart Work Training Manual, (PHWTM). Chapter six is all about teaching our kids to take no for an answer.
You can listen to my interview with Dr. Turansky, or keep reading for an abridged blog version:
Here are a few of the topics that Dr. Turansky and I discussed:
What is Contentment?“Contentment is the ability to live within limits. Being satisfied with what you have instead of complaining about what you don’t have…It’s the ability to experience peace inside even when expectations aren’t met.” (p.137-138 PHWTM)
How do I Know if My Kids Are Discontent? Whining, arguing, grumbling, not being able to take No for an answer, always wanting more, and a demanding attitude are all evidence that our kids need to work on the heart quality of contentment.
Why Can’t My Kids Take No For an Answer? When children are disappointed, they’re actually experiencing loss – they have lost something valuable to them. Loss and disappointment, no matter how small, require grief. Grieving well helps kids to release the loss they experienced.
Kids often become angry and bitter over the loss of something minor, so we need to teach our children how to grieve in appropriate ways.
“The harder you hold things you value, the greater the need to grieve and let go when you lose them.” (p.135, PHW Training Manual)
How Do we Teach our Kids to be Content? This may sound counter-cultural in our society today, but in order to teach our kids to be content and live within their limits, we need to say NO more often.
“Daily disappointments of life, if handled correctly, can allow children to become more flexible, grateful for what they have, and content. When disappointments are handled poorly, children develop anger, bitterness and resentment.” (p.135 PHWTM)
When kids won’t accept No for an answer, they haven’t learned to live within limits. Kids learn to be content when they realize they can’t have everything they want. We want our kids to grow up to be healthy adults who can accept limits set by others as well as set limits for themselves.
Don’t Make This Mistake! When you say No to your kids, they will inevitably push back and try to whine, nag and argue.
Many parents make the mistake of giving in to bickering and nagging. They give the child what they want, in order to avoid conflict.The danger in this practice is that it encourages selfishness in our children.
Other parents react with anger, attempting to overpower their children with yelling, arguing, and lectures. The danger in this practice is that it focuses on the parent’s state of mind, rather than on a problem in the child’s heart.
How to Respond When Kids Won’t Take No For an AnswerSo, how should we respond when our children come at us with big emotions like anger or extreme sadness when we tell them No? How can we respond in a healthy way?
First of all, don’t take it personally. Don’t let the focus be on you and how you were offended by their behavior or their attitude. Keep the focus on the child’s heart.
Don’t get sucked into your child’s emotions. Parents often tend to escalate a situation by matching the level of big emotions in their child. Tell your child: “You can be upset, and I can be okay. I don’t have to get on this roller coaster with you.”
Be firm, but not harsh. Firmness helps to build character in your child, but harshness destroys relationships.
Don’t be afraid of conflict. Don’t avoid saying NO because you’re afraid of how your child will respond. Anger and sadness in your child indicate that heart work is taking place.
Just say No. Setting limits will help your children develop the heart quality of contentment. And remember, it’s not your job to make your kids happy. Sometimes character development needs to take place and it may not feel pleasant at the time.
The Bible says in James 1 that trials test our faith. And when our faith is tested, we learn to persevere. And perseverance leads to maturity. When we allow our kids to struggle, we help them mature.
It’s important to empathize with our children through this whole process. We want them to know we’re on their side, we love them, and we have their best interest in mind. We can acknowledge their pain while continuing to be firm and not give in to their big emotions.
Tips to Teach ContentmentTo summarize, here are a few tips to help teach your kids to be content and learn to take No for an answer:
- Set limits.
- Say No when appropriate.
- “In order for contentment to grow, children must release the desire, accept the limitation, and move on.” (p.152)
- Don’t give in to arguing, whining, and manipulation.
- Allow your child to grieve their losses, while still showing them empathy.
- Stay strong, set boundaries.
- Don’t give up! It may take months or years for your kids to learn contentment.
- Pray that God will work in the hearts of your children.
Links:National Center for Biblical Parenting
Parenting is Heart Work
PHW Training Manual
How Well Do You Know Your Son?Want to learn more about heart-based parenting techniques and tools?
I have a special quiz for you. You can find the quiz HERE.
Take the QuizThe quiz is called How Well Do You Know Your Son?, and it’s a fun way to learn more about your son’s personality. What are his strengths and weaknesses? How you can best connect with his heart?
After taking the quiz, you’ll receive a series of emails that each focus on one of the 7 heart-based parenting tips that will help you build a deeper relationship with your son, and start to build godly character qualities in his heart.
I just wanted to let you all know that I will be taking a break from this podcast for the next few weeks in order to spend more time with my family during this Christmas season. See you next year in 2023!
The post My Son Won’t Take No for an Answer RTC 60 appeared first on Laurie Christine.
Are you looking for Christmas devotionals for families? Keep reading, or listen here:
Christmas in the Chaos(This post contains affiliate links)
The days between Thanksgiving and Christmas can often be some of the busiest days of the year. But I want to encourage you to slow down and be intentional with your kids this season, even in the midst of the chaos of raising boys.
A few years ago, I published a podcast episode called “Christmas in the Chaos” and I’m going to share with you the introduction from that episode because I think it’s still very relevant today!
“I don’t know about your house, but my kids have been extra chaotic lately. It’s so easy to get discouraged with all the fighting and bickering and whining and complaining. It’s tempting to feel like I’ve failed to convey what Christmas is really all about.
How many of you have actually threatened your kids with statements like, “Well, I’m not sure you deserve any presents this year,” or “If you don’t stop fighting with your brother, I’m going to take away all the presents.” In a moment of craziness earlier this week, I actually told my kids that we might just have to cancel Christmas.
But then the Lord spoke to my heart, and reminded me of something. We don’t give presents to our kids because they deserve them or because they’ve been extra good this year. (We’re not keeping track if they’ve been naughty or nice). We give gifts because we love our children and we want to bless them.
I sat down with my kids and had a little chat: “You know guys, Daddy and I give you gifts at Christmas because we love you. You haven’t earned presents with your good behavior and you can’t lose presents for bad behavior. There’s nothing you can do to make us love you anymore, and there’s nothing you can do to make us love you any less. That’s just not how Christmas works.”
And the beauty of it all is that this is how God sees Christmas as well. He didn’t send Jesus because we deserved it. He didn’t send Jesus because we had earned it with all our good behavior. In fact, he gave us the greatest gift right in the middle of the chaos, right in the middle of our messy, sinful lives. He gave us Jesus because of his overflowing, overwhelming, un-ending love for us. There’s nothing you can do to make God love you any more, and there is nothing you can do to make God love you any less.
That is the true message of Christmas.
Mommas, I want to remind you again that parenting is a long-term investment. Don’t get discouraged when your kids are complaining yet again that there aren’t enough presents under the tree. Or when they roll their eyes when you tell them it’s time to read the Christmas story from the Bible. Don’t give up.
Each year you are building on the foundation of the year before. Don’t feel like you’ve failed or that your kids have totally missed the whole point of Christmas. God is working. One hug, one story, one moment at a time, God is opening the hearts of your kids to know Him and love Him and embrace His greatest gift.
Continue to be faithful to the work God has given you. Continue to celebrate Christmas in the chaos.
Christmas Devotionals for FamiliesIn today’s post, I am going to share with you some of my favorite Christmas devotionals for families to help you be intentional about focusing on Jesus this Christmas season.
I know we’re already a few days into December, and you may already have plans for a family Christmas devotional or Advent Celebration. But if not, I’d love to tell you about a few of my favorites books.
You can listen to the the episode on Redeeming the Chaos here:
Unwrapping the Names of Jesusby Asheritah Ciuciu
Unwrapping the Names of Jesus is a wonderful way to focus on who Jesus is and what he means to us. The book includes four weeks of advent devotionals – a celebration reading for each Sunday of Advent, and then 5 days each week that focus on one of the names of Jesus used in the Bible.
Each day includes one name of Jesus, a scripture passage, a short devotional reading, a challenge and a prayer.
Asheritah also wrote a children’s version – Unwrapping the Names of Jesus for Kids – which includes illustrated stories from the perspective of a young girl in Bethlehem. This book only includes 9 names for Jesus, so it can’t be used in the same way as the Advent devotional, but this children’s edition would be great for younger kids.
Age Recommendation: Written for adults, but I plan to read together as a family (My boys are 6, 8, 10 and 12).
I’ve created a set of printable 4×5 cards to go along with the book Unwrapping the Names of Jesus. You can print a set of cards HERE.
Jotham’s Journey – A Storybook Series for Adventby Arnold Ytreeide
This four-book series includes fictional accounts of the birth of Jesus, each from the perspective of a 10 year old child. Jotham is a shepherd boy, Bartholomew is the son of a fisherman, Tabitha is a young shepherdess, and Ishtar is the son of a magi.
The book titles are: Jotham’s Journey, Bartholomew’s Passage, Tabitha’s Travels, and Ishtar’s Odyssey. (See book descriptions below).
Each story takes the main character through an action packed adventure, before encountering the Christ child. At some point in each book, the main character of the story meets one or more of the main characters in the other books, so that all the stories are intertwined.
The books include 25 chapters, each one building on the one before. Each chapter includes the next part of the adventure, plus a short devotional reading. Last year, I read Ishtar’s Odyssey with my boys and they were captivated by the storytelling and adventure.
Below is short blurb about each of the books, as described on the author’s website:
JOTHAM’S JOURNEY
A ten-year-old shepherd boy gets mad at his father and runs away from home. Getting back again can be deadly, but along the way he learns the story of the Messiah and ends up in Bethlehem.
BARTHOLOMEW’S PASSAGE
Separated from his family when Roman soldiers ransack the town, Bartholomew soon finds himself sold into slavery. Here he must reconcile his belief in Jehovah with the cruelty of men.
TABITHA’S TRAVELS
Always one for adventures beyond what a girl is supposed to enjoy, Tabitha goes with her father to rescue a boy named Jotham. She finds herself lost and alone when Romans arrest her father.
ISHTAR’S ODYSSEY
Perfectly happy with the pampered and spoiled life he lives as a Prince of Persia, Ishtar doesn’t realize all that will change when he sees a strange star. Suddenly he’s on a rough and smelly caravan led by his father, the Chief Magi of the Sheik.
Age recommendation: 6-12 years old
The Action Bible ChristmasPublished by David C Cook
I love every book in the Action Bible series, so I was excited to see they had recently published a Christmas book!
This book includes 25 Stories about Jesus’ Arrival, each from the first person perspective of a character in the Christmas narrative. In addition to the traditional characters like Mary, Joseph, shepherds and wisemen, many of the characters are much more obscure! Stories are told from the perspective of the Town of Bethlehem, Jesus’ blanket, the Angel Gabriel, the Manger, the Donkey, and even the Star of Bethlehem.
Each daily reading includes a one-page story, plus a full page illustration in the typical style of the Action Bible, illustrated by Sergio Cariello. If you’re not familiar with the Action Bible publications, (you definitely need to check them out…) the illustrations resemble graphic novels or comic book artwork.
After the short story, there are a few questions to help your child think more deeply about the story.
Age Recommendation: 4-8 years old
Remarkable AdventBy Shauna Lettelier
Remarkable Advent is one part fictional story and one part advent devotional. There are 25 chapters, one for each day leading up to Christmas.
Blurb from Back Cover:
Rediscover the wonder of the first Christmas in this Advent devotional.
Do you want to experience the Christmas story in a new way?
What if we peered through history’s frosted window and felt astonished by Jesus’ birth once again? In Remarkable Advent, Shauna Letellier drapes the fabric of imagination over the framework of Scripture, bringing the Christmas story to life through twenty-five devotional readings.
To retrace the story of Jesus’ birth, each devotional includes:
- A daily plan for Advent Scripture reading.
- Captivating storytelling that will engage the whole family.
- Relevant reflections that connect Jesus’ birth to your extraordinary place in his family.
- Guided prayer to help you focus on the wonder of Christ.
With breathtaking imagery and a fresh take on Scripture, this Christmas devotional will prepare your heart to celebrate God’s greatest gift.
While this book is written for adults, you could definitely read the story together as a family, especially if you have kids ages 8 and up.
I love the way Shauna makes the Scriptures come alive in her storytelling, by taking us into the hearts and minds of biblical characters. Through the eyes of Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph, you’ll experience firsthand the events leading up to the birth of Christ.
I interviewed Shauna Lettelier on my podcast a few years ago and we discussed ways to keep Christ at the center of Christmas.
Unwrapping the Greatest GiftAnn Voskamp
If you like Ann Voskamp, you will love this advent storybook for kids. This book follows the tradition of the Jesse Tree (more on that below). I love how the author traces the promise of the Messiah throughout the Bible, beginning all the way back in Genesis.
The wording is a bit “flowery,” in typical Ann Voskamp style, and when my kids were younger it was sometimes difficult for them to follow along. We sometimes would just read the Bible passage for the day, and then I “summarize” the devotional story for my kids. I would recommend this book for elementary kids, ages 6-10.
The illustrations are just lovely. I’m a sucker for beautifully illustrated books.
Ann Voskamp has added printable, full-color ornaments that can be downloaded from her website! The 3″ round ones fit perfectly on a wide-mouth mason jar lid. A few years ago I printed the ornaments, glued them to mason jar lids, and hung them in our living room.
Each daily reading includes a Scripture passage, a Bible story, a few short discussion questions, and suggestions for practical, family activities to help you connect the story with real life.
What is a Jesse Tree?If you’re not familiar with the Jesse Tree concept, it comes from the Bible passage found in Isaiah 11:1, which says, “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.”
Jesse was the father of King David, and Jesus was a descendant of King David.
Isaiah 11:2 continues to describe this branch and says: “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.”
The branch in this passage is referring to Jesus, who would come from the family of Jesse.
A Jesse tree is a fun, visual way of preparing our hearts for the celebration of Christ’s birth. Each day leading up to Christmas focuses on one of the people in Jesus’ family tree… beginning back in the garden of eden with Adam and Eve, then tracing God’s plan of redemption through Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, … all the way up to Jesus’ birth.
You may wonder… why start way back in Genesis? Isn’t this supposed to be a Christmas devotional? Well, in order to understand the reason Jesus came to earth in the first place, we need to start back in Genesis, with the very first sin of Adam and Eve. If it weren’t for that sin, if it weren’t for the fact that our relationship with God has been broken from the very beginning, we wouldn’t need a savior and God would not have needed to send Jesus in the first place.
When we understand that God’s people waited and hoped for the Messiah to come for thousands of years, the birth of Jesus really is good news.
How Will You Focus on Jesus this Christmas?I’ve given you a lot of Christmas devotionals for families to choose from today and you certainly don’t need to read them all! I would recommend choosing one or two advent traditions you want to implement this year.
As a family, we plan to read through Asheritah Ciuciu’s devotional book, Unwrapping the Names of Jesus, along with the printable cards I created to go along with it. Don’t forget, you can find a link to download those cards HERE.
Another fun tradition we have in my family is to wrap up 25 children’s Christmas books for the kids to unwrap each day leading up to Christmas. Unfortunately I think my kids are starting to outgrow this tradition. Last year, they all fought over who was going to open the book, but then nobody wanted to sit and listen to me read it. I asked if they wanted me to do it again this year and they all replied with a resounding YES. So we’ll see how it goes.
If you would like some suggestions for some of my favorite Christmas picture books for younger kids, (toddlers, early elementary) I have a list of recommendations HERE.
ANNOUNCEMENTSJoin me again in my next episode where we’re going to continue a discussion about contentment. This time of year, it’s hard for kids to be content with what they have… always wanting something bigger or better. Join me in my interview with Dr. Scott Turansky, Founder of the National Center for Biblical Parenting, as we talk about “how to teach your kids to take No for an answer.”
Just a reminder, if you’ve finished reading my newest book, Rise of the Enemy, the first book in my Dragon Slayer Bible stories, I would love to get your feedback. Just go to DragonSlayerBible.com and click the link to the survey at the top of the page. And if you haven’t yet read the book, you can download a free copy at DragonSlayerBible.com.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
How to Make Christmas More Meaningful for Your Kids
Keep Christ at the Center of Christmas with Shauna Lettelier
Family Christmas Devotional
A Fresh Perspective on Christmas
Christmas in the Chaos
The Promised Child – 25 Scripture Readings About the Coming of Jesus
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Why Are My Kids Discontent? Are your kids discontent? Do they struggle to be satisfied with what they have? This is the time of year we often talk about thankfulness. Not that we shouldn’t be thankful the rest of the year, but November is often a time when we focus our efforts on teaching our […]
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How do we teach our boys about spiritual warfare? Boy Moms, we are at war. There’s a battle raging in our world for the hearts and minds of our boys. The enemy is working harder than ever to deceive our sons and distract them from the truth of the Gospel. As moms, we need to […]
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How do we teach our boys about spiritual warfare? Boy Moms, we are at war. There’s a battle raging in our world for the hearts and minds of our boys. The enemy is working harder than ever to deceive our sons and distract them from the truth of the Gospel. As moms, we need to […]
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Hey there mommas… I don’t know about you, but I am often overwhelmed by my boys’ big, angry, often physical, outbursts of emotion. So, how do we raise boys who know how to respond appropriately to their own feelings? How do we help our boys manage big emotions? That’s what we’re going to talk about in […]
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Hey there mommas… I don’t know about you, but I am often overwhelmed by my boys’ big, angry, often physical, outbursts of emotion. So, how do we raise boys who know how to respond appropriately to their own feelings? How do we help our boys manage big emotions? That’s what we’re going to talk about in […]
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Are You Feeling Overwhelmed by Chaos? We boy moms know that life with boys can feel chaotic and out of control. That’s why the name of this podcast is Redeeming the Chaos. But how can we overcome the chaos in our hearts, despite the chaos in the world around us? That’s what we’re going to […]
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Wonderful Words of Life Do any of you remember the old hymn, Wonderful Words of Life? I remember my Grandma singing it to me as a little girl. LISTEN TO THE SONG HERE “Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life. Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life.” Speak […]
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Raising Prayerful Kids We know that prayer is important. We know praying for our kids is important. But what about teaching our kids how to pray by themselves? I know for me, that has been one of the biggest challenges regarding prayer. I know how to pray FOR my kids, and I know how to […]
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My Baby Has Congestive Heart Failure Congestive Heart Failure. That’s an old-person disease, right? I might have expected to hear this diagnosis while accompanying my grandmother to a doctor’s appointment. I never expected these words to describe my three-month-old baby boy. Welcome to Episode 52 of Redeeming the Chaos. I’m your host, Laurie Christine. I’m […]
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When Your Soul is Dry Like a Dusty Desert Hey momma, are you thirsty? It’s September here in PA, but it still feels like summer most days. A nice, cold, iced coffee might sound pretty good right now. (Hey, if you want to go grab Starbucks, I won’t tell anyone!) But actually, that’s not the […]
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Should I Advocate for My Son? When should I advocate for my son and when should I just leave it in God’s hands? Should I be the mom who micromanages every detail of my son’s life? Or should I take a more fatalistic approach that says “Well, I guess that’s what God wanted.” Or perhaps […]
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2022 Summer Survival Guide – 10 tips to maintain your sanity this summer with your boys Hey Mommas! Summer is here! How are you feeling? Excited? Overwhelmed? If your kids are in school, you likely only have a few days left until the chaos descends upon your household. So, what will you do to maintain […]
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Is My Life Making an Impact on My Kids? Do you ever wonder if you’re making a difference in the lives of your kids? Are you trying to raise your kids to love the Lord and obey his word, yet you sometimes wonder if you are having any impact or influence at all? If this […]
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Do you struggle with burnout? Do you feel like you can’t give one more ounce of yourself to your family? In today’s episode of Redeeming the Chaos, we discuss a solution to motherhood burnout… and it’s not another day at the nail salon. Welcome to episode 47 of Redeeming the Chaos. I’m your host, Laurie […]
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Do you struggle with comparing your kids? Listen to my interview with Amanda Trumpower. Do you struggle with comparing your kids to each other? Do you ever feel guilty for loving one of your children more than another? My guest and I will discuss these topics and more on today’s episode of Redeeming the Chaos. […]
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Let Boys Be Boys — An Interview with Mark Hancock, CEO of Trail Life USA I am sure you have heard the phrase, “Let boys be boys,” or “He is all boy.” But have you ever stopped to think about what that even means? And is it a good thing? Our culture today seems to […]
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WELCOME TO EPISODE 44 OF REDEEMING THE CHAOS. PREPARE YOUR HEARTS FOR EASTER Did you ever think about the fact that we spend a whole month getting ready for Christmas, but Easter often seems to sneak up on us? Well, not this year! Easter is April 17th this year and I have a special resource […]
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It’s giveaway time! Enter to win this collection of 8 Bible stories and devotionals for boys! Giveaway ends March 24, 2022. Learn more about the books in the giveaway. (Affiliate links below). Bible Stories & Devotionals for Boys, ages 8-12
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What do you do when your son wanders away? Single parenting, racial biases, boys who wander away, and God’s faithfulness through it all. These are just a few of the topics I discuss with our guest on the show today. WELCOME TO EPISODE 42 OF REDEEMING THE CHAOS. I’m your host, Laurie Christine. This is […]
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Where do you find your identity? Does your value as a person depend on the behavior of your kids or the cleanliness of your house? That’s what we’re going to talk about in today’s show. WELCOME TO EPISODE 41 OF REDEEMING THE CHAOS. I’m your host, Laurie Christine. This is the podcast for moms who […]
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What do you hope your kids will remember about you when you’re gone? What type of mom do you want to be remembered for? What will your kids and grandkids say about you after you’re gone? That’s what we’re going to talk about in today’s show. WELCOME TO EPISODE 40 OF REDEEMING THE CHAOS WITH […]
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No one is immune to pain. And being a mom brings a unique set of struggles and pain into our lives. But what do we do with this pain? How do we handle difficult circumstances? Can God redeem the pain in our hearts? We have a guest on the show today who is going to […]
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How can moms connect with their boys? How can we better understand our preteen and teenage sons? In today’s episode, I continue my conversation with David Thomas, author of Wild Things. He’s going to help us understand how moms can connect with their boys and what mistakes we need to avoid with our preteen and […]
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What Do Boys Need From Their Mom? Moms, do you ever feel like you’re living in a zoo? Do you look around and wonder where these little animals came from? Who let them in? What do I feed them? How do I train them and tame them? I want to assure you… You’re not alone. […]
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In our last episode of Redeeming the Chaos, we talked about the first two stages of a boy’s development: The Explorer and The Lover. WELCOME TO EPISODE 36 OF REDEEMING THE CHAOS WITH LAURIE CHRISTINE Today we are going to continue our discussion of the book Wild Things by Stephen James and David Thomas. (Affiliate […]
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In today’s episode, we are talking about the 5 stages of a boy’s development. Do you ever wish your son came with a handbook? Have you ever wished for a resource that could tell you exactly what to expect from your boy at each stage of development and what he needs from you as a […]
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Do you wish your kids would be more happy and satisfied? Do you wish they would stop whining and be content with what they have? In this episode of Redeeming the Chaos, I’m going to give you some practical tips and resources to help you teach your kids about contentment. WELCOME TO EPISODE 34 OF […]
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Do you want to be more intentional about discipling your kids? In today’s episode, we continue our conversation with Katie J. Trent and we talk about some fun ways to fuel the faith of our boys. WELCOME TO EPISODE 33 OF REDEEMING THE CHAOS WITH LAURIE CHRISTINE. Listen to Episode 33 below, or keep reading […]
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How do I know if homeschooling is right for my family? Listen to episode 32 of Redeeming the Chaos below, or keep reading to find out! WELCOME TO EPISODE 32 OF REDEEMING THE CHAOS WITH LAURIE CHRISTINE. SHOULD I HOMESCHOOL MY KIDS? IS HOMESCHOOLING RIGHT FOR MY FAMILY? Have you ever thought about homeschooling your […]
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We have ceremonies for weddings, funerals, graduations and birthdays. But what about ceremonies for manhood? How does your boy know when he has officially become a man? Last week on Redeeming the Chaos, we talked about the 3 building blocks of manhood, as discussed in Robert Lewis’ book, Raising a Modern Day Knight. If you […]
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You want to help your son on his journey to manhood. You want your boys to grow up to be strong, confident, courageous young men who love Jesus. But how do you do that? What steps do you take? What does this look like in real life? In our show today, we’re going to answer […]
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WIN 9 BIBLE STORY BOOKS AND DEVOTIONALS FOR YOUR FAMILY! I’m so excited for my Back to School Book Giveaway! You will NOT want to miss out on this year’s collection of children’s books, Bible stories, and family devotionals. No matter the age of your kiddos, there is something here for everyone… even YOU, Momma! […]
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Welcome to Episode 28 of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine. Today we’ll be discussing some common mistakes moms make with their teenage sons. MISTAKES MOMS MAKE WITH THEIR TEENAGE SONS Today we are continuing with our conversation with Michael Ross, author and former editor for Focus on the Family’s Breakaway magazine for boys. We’ll […]
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ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT HAVING A PRE-TEEN SON IN THE HOUSE? I don’t know about you, but the thought of having teenage boys (currently a pre-teen son) in my house in a few years is a little bit scary. How can we moms help to prepare our sons to transition into their teenage years? What […]
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Teach your kids about the Fruit of the Spirit — A Summer Family Fruit Challenge Do you want to be intentional about raising kids who love God, show kindness to others, fill the room with joy and demonstrate self-control? Join me this summer for a fun, family challenge focused on the Fruit of the Spirit. […]
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SUMMER IS HERE! How do you feel about summer vacation? Some of you may be looking forward to lazy days, fun trips to the beach, and more family time. But others of you may be dreading the impending battles over screen time, sibling rivalry and late bedtimes. In this episode of Redeeming the Chaos, I […]
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What is a “real man” and how do I raise one? In today’s episode, my guest and I continue our discussion about how to raise our boys to become “real men”… men who have integrity, a strong work ethic, compassion for others, and a love for Jesus! Welcome to Episode 24 of Redeeming the Chaos […]
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In today’s episode, my special guest and I talk about ways to maintain sanity in your home with a household of boys, and also what it looks like to raise “real men.” Welcome to Episode 23 of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine. We have a very special guest on our show today. Kathleen Henderson […]
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In today’s episode, Bonni Greiner and I talk about 6 ways God changed her heart and her attitude as a young mom, and we also discuss how to prepare your heart even now to release your boys to be the men God created them to be. WELCOME BONNI GREINER Our guest today is an author, […]
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LISTEN TO MY INTERVIEW WITH BONNI GREINER HERE: AM I NORMAL? Have you ever wondered: “Am I normal?” Have you ever looked around at the piles of dirty laundry, the dishes in the sink, and the spaghetti sauce smeared on the walls, floor and faces of your children and wondered if you’re the only one? […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 30 – LET’S GO FISHING DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come and See! […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 29 – A FAMILIAR VOICE DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come and See! […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 28 – MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come and […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 27 – THE BEST NEWS EVER DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come and […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 26 – NO BOULDER, NO BODY! DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come and […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 25 – THE SABBATH AND THE STONE DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 24 – FRIENDS OR FOES? DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come and See! […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 23 – THE LEAST WE COULD DO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 22 – WHAT NOW? DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come and See! 30 […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 21 – THE QUAKE AND THE CURTAIN DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 20 – WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 19 – WHO TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS? DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 18 – ANOTHER MOTHER DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come and See! 30 […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 17 – THE HILL OF THE SKULL DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 16 – THE PERFECT LAMB DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come and See! […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 15 -THERE MUST BE SOME MISTAKE DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come and […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 14 – CRUCIFY HIM! DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come and See! 30 […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 13 – COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come and See! 30 Family […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 12 – I AM DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come and See! 30 […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 11 – I DON’T KNOW THE MAN! DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 10 – SEALED WITH A KISS DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come and […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 9– SLEEPYHEADS DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come and See! 30 Family Bible […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 8 – BREAD AND BETRAYAL DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come and See! […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 7 – NEVER, EVER! DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come and See! 30 […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 6 – FLESH AND BLOOD DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come and See! […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 5 – STINKY FEET DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come and See! 30 […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 4 – AN EVIL PLAN DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come and See! […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 3 – A SECRET MEETING DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come and See! […]
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LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 2 – PALM BRANCHES AND PIGEON POOP DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come […]
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Come and See! invites families of elementary-aged children to experience firsthand the anticipation, the sorrow, the tragedy, the fear, and the ultimate triumph of Jesus’ death and resurrection. LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 1 – A BIG SURPRISE Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! Did you ever […]
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Every boy has a question in his heart: Do I have what it takes to be a man? Today we’re going to find out where our boys can find the answer to their question. WELCOME TO EPISODE 20 OF REDEEMING THE CHAOS WITH LAURIE CHRISTINE! WILD AT HEART In the last few episodes of Redeeming […]
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It’s no mystery that our boys love fighting and adventure. They are drawn to TV shows and movies that involve blood, battles, bombs and booby traps. In their play, someone is always getting killed or blown up. Our boys thrive on fighting evil and taking risks. In our episode today, we’re going to find out […]
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Have you ever asked yourself… Why are my boys so WILD? Why do they have so much energy? Why are they so loud and rambunctious and aggressive? In today’s episode, we’re going to find out where this wildness comes from. Welcome to episode 18 of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine! (In case you forgot, […]
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Hey friends! In my last episode, I promised an exciting announcement: The Family Bible Connection is getting a new name! Stay tuned! Welcome to episode #17 of The Family Bible Connection Podcast with Laurie Christine! NEW DIRECTION Well, I am going to just jump right in and tell you all about the new direction that my […]
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How do you celebrate Christmas in the chaos? I actually threatened to cancel Christmas last week. Not one of my best moments. Also, I have an exciting announcement at the end of this episode. You won’t want to miss it! Welcome to episode #16 of The Family Bible Connection Podcast with Laurie Christine! I don’t […]
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Are you looking for a family Christmas devotional to read with your kids this year? Maybe you’ve procrastinated and feel like it’s too late to start reading a 25 day advent devotional with your kids. Well, I have good news for you. Welcome to episode #15 of The Family Bible Connection Podcast with Laurie Christine! […]
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Do you feel like your kids have heard the Christmas story so many times that it just doesn’t have any meaning anymore? Are you looking for a fresh perspective on the Christmas story? I have a solution for you… don’t go away. Welcome to episode #14 of The Family Bible Connection Podcast with Laurie Christine! […]
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Are you looking for ways to make Christmas more meaningful for your kids this year? Do you want them to have a deeper understanding of the Christmas story? How can you guide your children to move beyond recitation of a familiar story and into a thoughtful consideration of its meaning in their lives? I have […]
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Do you feel overwhelmed by the noise and hustle of the Christmas season? Do you worry that your kids are missing the whole point of Christmas? In this episode, my special guest and I talk about ways to keep Christ at the center of Christmas. Welcome to episode #12 of The Family Bible Connection Podcast […]
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Are you looking for some fun, Thankful Activities for your kids that will help you teach them about contentment and thankfulness? You’ve come to the right place! 2021 has given our children (and us moms!) plenty of reasons to be discontent and disgruntled. Let’s be intentional about helping our children learn to be thankful for […]
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Grumbling, complaining, whining. They’re all evidence of a heart full of discontentment. But what do we do about it? How do we teach our kids to be content? Welcome to Episode #10 of the Family Bible Connection! During the month of November, we are talking about contentment. If you missed the first blog post / […]
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Do your kids struggle with contentment? Are your children never happy with what they have, but always wanting something bigger or better? It’s only the first week of November, and my kids have already been working on their Christmas lists for several weeks. Now, I don’t mind having ideas of what they would like for […]
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Raise your hand if you love books! I sure do. Reading books together is one of my favorite ways to connect with my kids. But trying to organize your children’s books can often be a challenge! Keep reading to learn 5 easy steps to creatively organize your children’s books. Or you can listen here: […]
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THE FAMILY BIBLE CONNECTION, EPISODE 007 Are you looking for a fun, creative way to teach kids about love and kindness? I have a special guest on the podcast today. You’re not going to want to miss it… WELCOME, SHELLEEN WEAVER Our guest today is a poet, former Miss Teen of Pennsylvania, a singer/songwriter/recording artist, […]
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It’s easy to get discouraged when you don’t see immediate results in your parenting. Parenting is a long-term investment. I can’t cash in my parenting efforts next week and hope to see any visible return. But, if I continue to be faithful in what God has called me to do, if I continue to pray […]
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CONNECT WITH GOD As moms of little ones, it’s often a struggle to personally find time to spend with God and read His Word. But when we don’t take time to read our Bibles and connect with God, we often become dry sponges, with nothing left to pour into the lives of our kids. So […]
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Have you ever wondered how to make family devotions engaging for your kids? Keep reading for 8 practical tips! EPISODE 004 INTRO “Hey kids! Tonight we’re going to have a picnic! Did you know that Jesus had a picnic with his followers and there were 5,000 people who came to the picnic! Can you imagine […]
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Do you struggle to get your kids excited about reading the Bible? Imagine this: You’ve gathered the kids together before bed to read a Bible story. But one kid is jumping on the sofa and still hasn’t brushed her teeth or put PJ’s on. One kid is running around chasing the dog. One kid has […]
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Family Bible Time can be rough sometimes, can’t it? Do you ever feel like you’ve failed when it comes to consistently teaching the Word of God to your kids? You’re not alone! Welcome to episode #2 of The Family Bible Connection Podcast with Laurie Christine! If you prefer to listen, rather than read this blog […]
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If you want to raise stubborn, unfaithful and rebellious kids, there are a few things you absolutely must do. Keep reading to find out! I know, I know. You don’t actually want to raise stubborn, rebellious kids, do you? Well I have some good news for you. In this post, we’re going to look at […]
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Welcome to the Family Bible Connection! Do you want your kids to KNOW the Bible and GROW in their love for God & others? Do you want to prepare your kids to GO into the world as passionate followers of Jesus? THE FAMILY BIBLE CONNECTION PODCAST IS FOR YOU! I’m your host, Laurie Christine. Through […]
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CHARACTER CHALLENGE FOR KIDS: CONTENTMENT Welcome to Day 3 of our Character Challenge Kids Camp! Today we will be learning all about CONTENTMENT. Be sure to follow along to get 7 days filled with meaningful and fun activities for your kids. (You can check out the full schedule here!) Feel free to jump around and […]
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