(This is a book recommendation post.)
“Building a Grace-filled marriage and raising creative, contented, capable children without legalism or manipulation”
Paul says, in Ephesians 3:17-19: May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love; and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last you will be filled up with God himself. (TLB)
(Isn’t this an incredibly beautiful and encouraging verse?)
If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.’ John 7:38
“Wouldn’t you like to help your children learn how to recognize their thirst for Jesus Christ: Wouldn’t you like to help them find that Jesus is the only one who can give them life, from the inside?” -J. VanVonderen
“We can stop trying to control behaviors and feelings, and focus on value and identity. Our eternal value and identity are settled because of Christ.” J.V.
“We need to watch for ways to encourage our children to look to Jesus alone as their source of value and acceptance.”
“Our job as Christian parents is simply to draw our children’s attention to what is real–what is true–and not to try to control how they feel.” -J.V.
“Here is a message about how God’s grace can transform relationships within a marriage and family. The first step is learning the simple difference between God’s job and ours. God’s part is to fix and change. Our responsibility is to depend on the Holy Spirit, serve our families and help to equip them to be all they can be. Healthy relationships between husband and wife, between parents and children, are possible only when the filter of God’s grace is placed over the processes of marriage and parenting. The Christian family’s ultimate goals of harmony, obedience and full potential can be arrived at without using legalistic and manipulative methods.” (from the back of the book).
This book teaches and affirms what I believe to be true. However, I have rarely heard or read the message of grace-full marriage/parenting in quite this way (the author has much God-given knowledge in this area). I began reading it yesterday and am eagerly picking it up at every spare moment, with a pencil in hand. I’m learning SO much and will probably read the book again as soon as I finish it. I’m attaching the link here at the end of the post. Perhaps it will encourage you like is is encouraging me. How thankful I am for people who write about the hope and love we have in Jesus, so that we can live abundant lives in Him.
Have a wonderful day!
Good to be Home 
“where grace is in place” i love that! sounds like a great book, i’ll have to put it on my list~ i started back through “sacred parenting” last night. another awesome one too.happy new day there friend
.. and sweet pictures of sarah and that yellow polka dotted dress. loving those bare feet!!
I am going to read this book! Love the pictures with her pretty yellow dress and bare little piggies! She looks very busy. =)
Shanda, this book looks great. i love the quotes that you chose…and those pictures of your little lady š i would have this book in hand with a pencil as well š so many great things to take down and just mull over in your heart and mind.
This book description TOTALLY resonated within me…sounds like one that I need to read. The Holy Spirit has been convicting me many times in a day regarding several of the things you shared. Thanks for passing the review along. I will be ordering the book soon!Mendi
Just ordered it on amazon. Thanks for the recommendation, sounds like a good book! Sarah is sweet and springy in her yellow-polka-dot dress. Love the early-walker stance of bare toes firmly gripping solid floor beneath. So precious!
loved this post. Grace, some think I think I’ll never have enough. It’s also something that is so lacking in Christians and families. Might have to look up that book when I get a chance.
I have this book too, its wonderful!
Sounds like one I need to read. And I love your little girl in a dress! Yay for spring!Sarah
You have no idea how badly I needed to read this today. Thank you, dear friend. love. Cass
Yes, I also have this book and some of his other books which are also very good.
I might have to check it out!
ooohhh Thank You! I am going to check this one out. š
Dearest Shan,Because I know you love the Lord will all your heart, I would like you to join my campaign to honor Him in every word and thought we convey. This from MerriamWebster.com Incredible – primary definition: too extraordinary and improbable to be believed. I wince whenever I hear folks, even inadvertently, refer to God’s nature or actions as “improbable to be believed”. He is the one thing in this world to be believed. I have tried to move away from the popular term “incredible” or “fantastic” (based on fantasy : not real) towards “wonderful” “amazing” or “extraordinary” which all have roots connoting our being dazzled by God’s nature or ability. Of course, “divine” (of, relating to, or proceeding directly from God) is entirely appropriate.Wishing you an inspired (outstanding or brilliant in a way or to a degree suggestive of divine inspiration) weekend.
I was so ministered to by that book. Glad it is blessing you!