Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.  Ephesians 3:20-21

God is all-powerful.  God is all-capable.

He is always at work.  He’s doing things I cannot fully understand.  He’s doing things that I cannot even imagine.

This is the amazing God I serve.  To Him be the glory!

My February 3 in 30 goals all revolve around my soon to be released ebook Finding Joy in Depression.  See the details of my goals in my first post for this month.

• Complete the ebook layout and formats – I tend to be a perfectionist.  Surprised?  I’m so close to finishing the PDF layout, but I keep wanting to change content.  I’ve asked Josh to look through it this weekend and help me let go of it.  I set the PDF version aside to work on the Kindle layout.  I ran into a couple of snags, but it too is close to completion.
• Complete the website and social media channels – I did a lot of work last week on the Finding Joy in Depression website as well as Twitter and Facebook pages.  No major updates this week on that one.
• Schedule reviews and giveaways – My mailing list is still growing and I have submitted two guest posts to major sites.

Want to help me with my last goal?  Sign up for the mailing list at the Finding Joy in Depression site and be sure to check the box that you’re interested in reviewing the book.

Please keep praying for Finding Joy in Depression and spread the word!

 

I’m blogging my way through Raising Real Men with The MOB Society.  If you missed a post in the series, head to the Raising Real Men Introduction to catch up. Today, I’m in chapter 2 and 3.

Chapter 2 and 3

• Boys need to have the freedom to take reasonable risks. pg. 51
• Teach your sons to take good risks, reasonable, godly risks.  pg. 55
• give the boys are much responsibility as they could handle as soon as they were able and give them more as they show themselves faithful. pg. 59

Our society keeps raising the age of maturity and responsibility.  At one time, age 13 was thought to be the age of adulthood.  Then 16.  Then 18.  Then 21.  Oh, wait, maybe once you complete college?  25?  30?  Now we have 40 year olds living at home and mooching off their mommas.  What is wrong with us?  When is a boy considered an adult?

What we’ve really done is set our boys up for failure.  We need to slowly give them responsibility and teach how to use “common” sense while we can be the guard rails keeping them from catastrophic failure.  We as parents should be showing our boys how to learn from their mistakes and widening those guard rails as they grow and mature.

My boys are still fairly young; Jonathan just recently turned 5.  Even though he’s little, he can already do things like take a gift card or cash and order food in a small cafe like Starbucks.  He can order his own meal in a restaurant.  He rides his bike unsupervised on our street within established boundaries.  Baby steps to maturity and responsibility.

Let’s talk!  What do you think about the age of maturity in our society?  How are you slowly giving your boys opportunities to learn responsibility and exercise common sense?  Share your thoughts in the comments.

God’s timing is perfect. I have learned to trust the instincts, the gentle leadings, and follow where He guides. Out of all of the studies, and book groups, and new commitments that were starting at the new year, I knew from the moment that Amanda mentioned this book that I was supposed to take part.

Then I found out that I was the only non-homeschooler in the group. And that not only do I not homeschool, I also work full time outside the home. After making sure that it was a “parenting” book and not just a “homeschool” book, I sat down and got involved.

Let me tell you this right off the bat. This book? Changed my life. Let me give you the back story. My husband and I had a tumultuous engagement. It was so difficult that if God had not revealed to me clearly on the day that we met that I was going to marry that foolish man acting like a seventh grader (in the good way, not the disrespectful way — he was a youth pastor, after all), I would not have stayed in the relationship. It would have ended within two months. Maybe sooner. We are both profoundly grateful for God’s repeated confirmations that A) we weren’t crazy and B) we really were supposed to get married.

One of the most amazing ways that the Lord confirmed our future together I describe in my post about chapter 4, Releasing Your Children to God. Cliff notes version: During church one Sunday, the Lord gave my then fiance and I the same vision at the same time about our son, who we learned that day was to be named Stephen. Through this book I was reminded of the vision, and heavily convicted and encouraged to start laying the foundation and groundwork of scripture memorization. Since I read that chapter, Stephen has memorized five verses. Also since that time, the spiritual warfare has increased about fifteen-fold.

Rachael Carman lovingly tells her story through the pages of the book. I immediately related to her passion for her career as a high school teacher, since I am the band director in a public school. You can just tell that she would be the best mentor ever, and that your honesty and authenticity would be safe with her. In the beginning of the book she rallies us to get our Hearts right with God. Lay down idols. Search your heart for the idols if you don’t find any right away. And in the end of the book she reminds us that we have to live the truths that we are teaching to our children.

As a result of those calls to action, I dealt with my pride that was tangled up in fear about how my son would behave at school, and reflect upon me, as a teacher in the same school. I began to take the time with my children more seriously. Leaving the laptop closed (more often) until they were in bed. (This one is still a work in progress.) Because of the calls to action, we are discussing our faith, and living it out in a more obvious way.

The one thing that I should have expected but didn’t, was the intense longing that the book created in me to be able to shield and protect my precious sons from the influences of the world. But, unfortunately, in our circumstances, it is simply not possible. It’s not just a financial decision. I know with absolute certainty that I am called to be teaching where I am. I bring this to Him all the time, because the budget is scary right now. As a music teacher, when numbers are crunched and the hard decisions are made, we are often the first ones that take a hit. But every year that we have faced those situations, the Lord has quieted my spirit within me, and re-affirmed His calling, His planting of me in that particular school.

But when my son comes home with me from school and calls me terrible names, and acts out with defiance and disrespect, I am quick to blame it on the influences at school. But I know the truth. While some new vocabulary words have entered the picture, the behavior is, unfortunately, normal for the age. And we will persevere. (I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13) (Even deal with my son while my husband is working nights during the school year.) (Even when it means that I am crying myself empty on a more regular than I would like it to be basis.)

Then I remember that the Lord is patient with my rebellious self. And I think about the grace, forgiveness, mercy, and patience that are given freely every day. I remember that my sons, who I love so very much, are not really mine. They are His. When I intentionally adopt the mindset of raising them for Him, it puts everything into focus. It takes the sting out of the behavior that hurts so much, and I am free to see it as simply needing redirection and correction. That freedom from the emotional piece is a brand new concept that will most likely take the rest of my life to learn.

I am incredibly grateful that I joined the book club, because not only did the truths and ideas change my heart, mind and focus, I have met some amazing women through it. It has been so exciting to be a part of it, and I am really looking forward to the next one! Thank you, dear Amanda, for your faithfulness in this journey. It was such a thrill to see how He brought it all together!

Meredith was born, raised, and now raises her family (with her husband Randy) in the beautiful state of Maine. Together, they are planting a church, relying on God every step of the way. She also has the privilege of being the band director for the town where they live. Life is full, busy, and full of laughter and music. Meredith blogs at My Journey to Authenticity, and can also be found writing for Must Love God and 3 in 30.

We’ve been reading from Judges over the last few weeks.  We’ve learned a BIG word: apostasy.  I love how What’s in the Bible? DVD 4 explains the cycle of apostasy.  Take a look:

Can’t see the video in your email or RSS reader?

Don’t underestimate the ability of your kids to understand concepts like this!

How have you kept your Kids in the Word this week?  Link up or leave a comment!  {Grab the Kids in the Word button from my sidebar.}

*A

So here it is, at the end of the day, the most important thing you can teach your kids about is: God. Learning about God comes from studying and knowing His word. Through study of His word your family will come to know what real Truth is and who Truth is. This knowledge of God will draw them to Him and grow within them a desire to glorify Him in all things.

Read the rest of Rachael’s post on chapter 5.

We’re so blessed to have author Rachael Carman with us each week during the HEART Book Club.  She’s writing on the Apologia Live Blog and sharing additional thoughts on each chapter.  Be sure to go check out Apologia and the Apologia Live Retreats.  I’ll be at the retreat in Atlanta on March 23-24, 2012 and would love to meet you there!

“The fervent prayers of a righteous {mom} avail much.” James 5:17

Another 21 Days of Prayer for Sons is coming May 1-21 at The MOB Society.

Thru the end of February, grab your copy of Warrior Prayers for just $.99!

*A

This past week in the HEART Book Club, we’ve been reading the epilogue of How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. For Your Kids.

What is holding you back from running well the race set before you?  pg. 187

This has been an amazing book club.  I’m so sad that we’ve finished the book.  I’ve learned so much thru Rachael’s book.  I’ve enjoyed refocusing and finding my H.E.A.R.T. for my kids.

Let’s review our journey:

• Introduction
• Have a Heart for the Things of God
• Enrich Your Marriage
• Accept Your Kids
• Release Them to God
• Teach Them the Truth

Here are the things that I’m focusing on going forward:

• Work on my morning routine.
• Continue reading with Good Morning Girls.
• Find creative ways to have dates with Josh but also be content with the stage of life we’re in.
• Discover my boys’ bents and strengths.
• Talk with my boys about how they can do big things for God.
• Make it a priority to teach Truth through everything that we study.

Ready?  It’s your turn!  What stood out to you in this chapter or the book as a whole?  What was your biggest take aways from the book?  Share your thoughts, insights, and answers to any questions from the end of the chapter.  Leave a comment and/or join the link up.

the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you -Ephesians 3:2b

God gave Paul a mission – take the Gospel to the Gentiles.  Despite being beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked, put under house arrest, and dealing with an unknown physical ailment, Paul was faithful to deliver that message to the Gentiles.  He was a good steward of the message that God entrusted with him.

Are you being a faithful steward of the message that God has entrusted with you?

Lately, God has been reminding me of the power of the story.  My story can impact someone else’s life in a way that nothing else can.  My story personal has several big elements: losing my mom when I was 13, being a child of divorce and a blended family, pursuing good girl perfection, and living with depression.  (Today, by the way, would have been my mom’s 57 birthday.)

There are things that I’ve experienced in my life that God can use to comfort others.  Right now, God has me focusing on depression.  I’ve run kicking and screaming the other direction quite a few times on this one.  I’m not exactly Paul the faithful steward, now am I?  But, I must embrace my story.  I’m in the process of taking a bold step by sharing my story in Finding Joy in Depression, an ebook that releases on March 12.

I must be a faithful steward of the message that God has entrusted with me.  {<— Click to Tweet This}

What’s your story?  What message pointing to salvation and freedom through Christ are you meant to share?  Are you being a faithful steward of that message that God has entrusted with you?

I’m blogging my way through Raising Real Men with The MOB Society.  If you missed a post in the series, head to the Raising Real Men Introduction to catch up. Today, I’m in Part 1 and Chapter 1.

Part 1

• We’ve got to teach them how to submit to authority without destroying their leadership. pg. 24
• God made that little boy energetic so one day he could go out and conquer the world.  pg. 24
• When boys are quiet, someone better go check on them.  pg. 25

It is so important that we cultivate manly virtues in our boys and resist feminizing them.  Society wants our little boys and little girls to be the same, but they’re not the same.  I find myself all too often yelling, “Will you just sit still?” when I should be encouraging exploration.  I want my boys to develop the manly virtues that God intended for them to have.  How can I expect my boys to seek aventure and conquer the world if I won’t let them take a leap off the couch?

Chapter 1

• What we admire, we tend to become. pg. 30
• Our boys need heroes – “those whose accomplishments and character are worthy of respect.” pg. 30

A little boy’s first ideas of God come from his dad.  His dad should be his first hero, but dad should be pointing to the ultimate hero and shifting the focus as quickly as possible to God.

We need to give our boys as many example of heroes as possible.  Literature and movies are great ways to do this when used properly.  For those who don’t know, Josh studied audio production in college.  He was planning to do something in the movie industry until God opened a door in radio instead.  (He’s now in IT, but that’s another story.)  Movies are a big deal in our house, just like they were in Josh’s home growing up.  You can’t put Josh’s immediate family in a room together for more than five minutes without hearing a movie line being quoted!

Movies in our home are not mindless entertainment.  Movies are always an exercise in critical thinking either on the topic or the production.  We find movies that correspond to what we’re learning in school.  We discuss movies.  We talk about events and choices that we see.  Movies are one of the greatest tools of our time to aid in raising boys when used well.

Let’s talk!  What do you think about how society is feminizing our boys?  How do you resist it?  What about heroes?  How do yo show examples of good heroes to your boys?  What about movies?  How do you use movies in your home?  Share your thoughts in the comments.