They Can Choose To Go Their Own Way

November 18, 2014 By: Melissa

Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6 NKJV

Chances are if you’ve been around any mom of faith then you’ve probably rubbed up against this verse a few times. It’s sort of like the parenting “go-to” verse. It’s a great truth that I’ve clung to many times while raising my boys…but, there’s one part of it that I never fully was able to grasp until now.

Here’s what I’ve been learning on my twenty first year as a mama bear, we can train up them up–but they can choose to go their own way.

Gulp. That one has not been an easy pill to swallow for me. I have crossed all my t’s and dotted all my i’s along this parenting journey and truth be told, I thought I would get to this point and be able to sit back and rest in the fruit of those many years of godly parenting.

Go ahead, you can laugh out loud.
I did too.

Seriously, I just had to stop and laugh at myself for thinking that if you did “all the right things”, or at least tried to, while your kids were growing that you would miraculously end up with these perfect adults and then…ta-da, you’re done.

……….I’m over at the M.O.M. Initiative today talking about this, stop by and take a few minutes to find out what I’ve been learning along the way.

The M.O.M. Initiative website exists as safe place to grow as a mother, to gain a better understanding of what a mother is and what a mother does and to foster and support mentor and mentee relationships. Along with practical tips, helpful tools, informative insight on current issues and godly wisdom on just about every aspect of a mother’s life, this website also offers a private chat room where a mom can connect with a ‘virtual’ mentor and find help in times of need.

The primary vision for The M.O.M. Initiative is that it not only be limited to those who enter the four walls of the church, but that it also be used to facilitate mentor relationships in homes for unwed mothers, in low income housing projects, apartment complexes, homeless shelters, prisons, juvenile shelters, schools, hospitals, the mission field and anywhere young mothers can be found. Planning guides for each of these venues will be available in the back of the book.

The M.O.M. Initiative is not just a book. It’s not just a website. IT’S A REVOLUTION!

Bible Readeez Review

April 15, 2014 By: Melissa

BibleReadeezCover

My Thoughts About the CD/DVD:

In all my years serving in Kids Ministry I’m pretty sure that I’ve never seen anything like the Bible Readeez DVD. There is so much fun packed into every song on this CD/DVD. What an incredibly creative way to get kids into the Word of God– in a way they already love, through music and video.

As the Kids Ministry Director at my church I am always on the look out for new ways to bring kids and their families things they can enjoy together at church and in their homes. I love that the songs and videos are perfectly balanced to be engaging for kids while also staying true to Scripture. Parents will love that this is something that their preschool and elementary age children enjoy as well as being something they can listen to enjoy together as a family.

About the Bible Readeez:

It’s the Bible’s Greatest Hits: Word-for-word texts of beloved Scripture passages – ideal for memorization – set in gorgeous new melodies by renowned children’s songwriter Michael Rachap. Classic inspiration like Psalm 23, The Beatitudes, St. Paul’s Epistle on Love, Psalm 100, The Lord’s Prayer and many more come vividly to life in this first-of-its-kind DVD/CD set. Each of these powerful songs is presented in a video with Readeez’ ingenious SyllableSync technique. So kids gain critical reading skills while they internalize the timeless messages. Bonus content includes clear spoken-word readings of the texts (audio and video). From children’s publishing innovator The Readeez Company, this new collection is destined to become a must-have for every family’s media library.

Have a look at the contents:

You can purchase a copy here: http://www.readeez.com/bible-readeez

Here’s a preview video: http://youtu.be/PSl7Dp-zzCE

About the Readeez Creator:

readeez-michael-rachap

Michael Rachap: An alumnus of Boston’s Berklee College of Music, here he studied songwriting and music production, Michael created Readeez in 2005 as a way to entertain and educate his young daughter. Rachap, a lifelong musician and composer, plays piano, guitar, bass, ukulele, melodica and other instruments. He also does all of the video animation. Prior to starting The Readeez Company, Rachap worked as an advertising copywriter, including four years as Associate Creative Director at DDB New York. He now lives in Atlanta with his wife and daughter.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: Whit’s End Meal Time Devotions, The Second Helping

March 23, 2014 By: Melissa

My Thoughts About the Book:

I am a great big fan of this new mealtime devotions book from Focus on the Family! It drives home the importance of sitting together for a family meal, but it also makes meal time (breakfast, lunch or dinner) into something more strategic. It turns it into something that is fun, enjoyable and a memorable time for the whole family.

This family devotional is fun, engaging, relevant and very entertaining — basically fun for the WHOLE family! The best part of that is not only is it all of those things, but it also grounded in Biblical truth, which is even more important.

As the Kids Ministry Director at my church I would not hesitate to share this with the families in our church. I’ve been leading kids ministry for almost 15 years now and love being able to share these perfect additions to today’s busy Christian family. This book is perfect for families of elementary age kids and could also work well with older preschoolers. Either way, be prepared for lots of great memories with your kids. If you’re looking to reclaim your family meal time, then this is a great way to get started! Find out more about the book below…

About the book:
A devotional menu to satisfy your children’s spiritual hunger
Just as you see your children grow physically, you can now watch them grow in their faith as they digest these creative “recipes” for biblical living. Odyssey’s favorite mentor, John Avery Whittaker, dishes up more well-balanced mealtime discussion starters that you can use to nourish your children’s spiritual health.

Pass the fun around the table with 90 five-course devotional menus. Each one includes:

* Mealtime Prayer—a fresh way to bless your food
* Appetizer—a fun question or activity
* Main Course—an object lesson or thought to chew on
* Table Talk—questions to spark interesting discussions
* Vitamins and Minerals—a creative way to thank God for your time together or a reminder that God provides all we need
Gather your family for a bowl of cereal, a midnight snack, or a full-course dinner and add a dash of fun with Whit’s End Mealtime Devotions: The Second Helping. Are you a family on the go? Turn drive time into a window of opportunity to teach your children Bible fundamentals by keeping a copy of Whit’s End Mealtime Devotions: The Second Helping in your car. You can have flavor-filled discussions no matter when or where you eat, making devotion time the foundation of your family’s spiritual nutrition.

You can download the first chapter of the book free here: http://goo.gl/XUVHBs

You can purchase a copy here: http://www.tyndale.com/Whits-End-Mealtime-Devotions/9781589976795

About the Author:

MealTime_Devotions_Author_pic_lg_bowman_crystal

Crystal Bowman is a former preschool teacher, author, and speaker. She graduated from Calvin College with a degree in elementary education and studied early childhood development at the University of Michigan.

Her writing career began in 1990 as a lyricist for children’s piano music. She began writing children’s books in 1993 and has since written more than 70 books for children and 3 for women. She has written books for many popular children’s series, such as Little Blessings, BOZ the Bear, MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), and I Can Read! She has also written two books of humorous poetry for children, three books for women, numerous magazine articles, Bible study materials, and educational resource books.

Crystal and her husband, Bob, have enjoyed 38 years of marriage and are the parents of 3 grown children and 1 grandchild. They live in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Seeking JOY on the Journey,

Melissa

Where are the Continuing Education Credits for Motherhood?

August 27, 2013 By: Melissa

Don’t you wish there were Continuing Education credits for motherhood?

Back in college there were classes for just about everything: Music Appreciation, English 1101, Calculus, Religion, you name it and it was there. Unfortunately, I have yet to see a college level class on Motherhood. Sure, there are classes you can take while you are pregnant, and even some awesome mommy and me type classes, but where are the classes for: bandaging up boo-boo’s, pre-pubescent anxiety, peer pressure, broken hearts, and helping your child find their identity in Christ.

Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

Proverbs 9:9 NIV

As moms, we learn from those around us, don’t we? I can not count the number of times I would pick up the phone and call my mom, my mother in love, my friends and ask, “how do you…”, “how can I…”, “does it ever get easier?”.

I read as many books as I could get my hands on, but sometimes you have to dive in, head first, with only faith that it will all work out. That’s when I wished there were those continuing education credit classes so I could figure out what the next step is for whatever the problem of the day was for the kids.

My boys, are not little kids anymore, they are seventeen and nineteen years old…young men really. Even today, though, I am still learning how to be the mom they need me to be. Yeah sure, I have a general idea, who knows our kids better than we do…but it was not easy to get to this point. Wanting to be the best mom I could be I set out to be, I decided early on that I would be a student of my kids, not in that they were in charge and I did whatever they said, but I would watch them, learn from them and not try to be a “one size fits all” type mom.

I learned quickly that each of my children is uniquely different and needed different things from me. By reading great books on parenting, I put myself in a place where I was constantly learning and growing. One of my favorites was “The Five Love Languages of Children” by Dr. Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell. It opened my eyes to see how each of my children gives and receives love, which opened the door to a better understanding of who they were and how I could be a better mom to them.

My husband and I decided that there were specific things we would pray for over our boys. There wasn’t a formal meeting when we decided our purpose as their parents, but over time, through lots of prayer and discussion it became clear to both of us. Our job, as their parents, was to raise good, godly young men who know and fear the Lord, that will lead their families well and be the Spiritual leader that God created them to be. It is not a one day it just happens type of focus, but through much prayer and dedication to that purpose that builds us as they grow.

Day after day is a new adventure. Just as soon as you think you have some issue figured out there comes another one requiring you to put your knees to the ground and prayers up to heaven. I am sure that we may never have our kids completely figured out, but the great adventure of motherhood is making a difference every day…in the little things as well as the big things. Some days we can stand on the mountaintop and celebrate a good day, then other days we barely crawl out of the mess that we are in with the kids.

Continuing to read great parenting books, websites and talking to other moms who are passionate about being the mom God created them to be is how we grow and learn. Each season has been a journey of discovery…of who I am as a woman of God, as a wife to my husband and even as a mom to my boys.It’s a choice I made long ago and I still make every day.

What about you…

Where do you go to grow and learn how to continue your education as a mom?

What challenges have you had in finding resources where you can meet, connect and be encouraged by other moms?

What are things you wish you could ask another mom who is a little further down the road on her parenting journey?

I am so thankful for the chance to get to know each of you; I cannot wait to hear from you!

Seeking JOY on the Journey,

Melissa

This post was originally shared over at The M.O.M. Initiative – Mothers on a Mission to Mentor Other Mothers, check out their incredible website for a ton of useful, helpful and practical stuff for moms at www.themominitiative.com.

Praying For Your Kids: Simple, Specific, Power-Packed Prayers

August 20, 2013 By: Melissa

For years I had heard it said that we needed to pray for our kids. I get that, and I completely stand behind that thought process. What I didn’t always understand was the beauty and wisdom that came from praying simple, specific, power-packed prayers over my kids.

It took a lot of reading, praying and talking with my husband, but over the course of all that investigating we discovered there were some very practical things we wanted to pray for over our boys. It actually fit perfectly with my M.O.M. Mission Statement (see my post in May 2013) and very quickly became something that became a part of our everyday prayers.

I’d love to share with you what we do in my house and also share a little bit of the why behind it as well. It is by no means perfect and certainly not a one size fits all, but for our family, where we live, our heart, and purpose as our kids parents, this is what it means in our world.

Each and every day I pray over the kids before they leave for school AND we have scripture posted by the back door so that it is the LAST thing they see before they step out into the world. Friends, don’t ever be mistaken…we are IN a spiritual battle for our kids and we need to remember to bathe our kids in prayers each and every day.

So, here’s what we do at our house…

“Father God, thank you for these beautiful boys you have given us. Father I pray that you would help them to…

1) Do the right thing even if it is the hard thing,

2) Be the leaders that you (God) created them to be,

3) Seek you first in all that they do,

4) and help them to Stand Firm in the face of temptation that comes their way today.

They are your boys and we give them to you. In Jesus Name, Amen.”

Short, sweet, and simple…but powerfully packed. Let me walk with you through the why behind these four simple, specific, power-packed prayers we pray everyday for them.

1) Do the right thing even if it is the hard thing.

Galatians 1:10 – Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 6:5 – For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

2) Be the Leaders that God created them to be.

Mark 10:43 – But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,

Romans 12:8 – If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

3) Seek you first in all that they do.

Matthew 6:33 – Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

4) Help them to Stand Firm in the face of temptation that comes their way today.

1 Corinthians 10:13 – 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.

Matthew 6:13 – And don’t let us yield to temptation,but rescue us from the evil one.

There are so many other things that we pray for when it comes to our kids, their future, their spouses (yep, that one is a hard one to pray for, mostly to even think about, but it will happen one day), the call on their lives from God. You name it and we pray for it.

This next verse is posted right by the back door so it is the last thing my kids see before they walk out into the world…

“Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.” Colossians 2:8

It took me some time to figure out what HE wanted me to focus on for my family, but once I took the time to actively seek His will out in this, He showed me the answers to what I was looking for.

Never wanting to take my kids for granted, especially after all we have been through with my oldest son (read his story here) and his health, being more strategic and focused truly helped me to be a better mom to my boys. It’s not easy, and it certainly is not what the world would tell us to do, but it is exactly what God has called us to do as moms.

My boys aren’t little any longer. As a matter of fact, they are practically grown men. My oldest is nineteen, in college and in a serious relationship with an incredible young woman of God. My youngest is seventeen and a senior in high school here in South Florida. It hasn’t been an easy journey, but with these simple, specific, power-packed prayers, I know that my boys have been covered in prayer every step of the way.

What about you?

Have you ever thought about making some simple, specific, power-packed prayers for your kids?

What are some of the hardest things to pray for over your kids?

Seeking JOY on the Journey,

Melissa

This post was originally shared over at The M.O.M. Initiative – Mothers on a Mission to Mentor Other Mothers, check out their incredible website for a ton of useful, helpful and practical stuff for moms at www.themominitiative.com.