Everyday Talk by John Younts

Everyday Talk: Talking Freely and Naturally about God with Your Children by John Younts


MY REVIEW:

If you thought parenting was exhausting...wait till your read this book! And not only that, but you will also feel like an utter failure as a parent!

WAIT!

Before you click away because this sounds like a terrible book, let me share that this is THE BEST parenting book I have yet read. Yeah...that should say something because I have read a pile of parenting books!

While Everyday Talk will make it very clear to you that you are an imperfect parent, it will also greatly encourage you, humble you, and fill you with hope that through Christ you can point your children to God through the simplicity of your everyday talk. It's a short book and an easy read with Younts casual, but direct approach. He doesn't waste time trying to convince you of his ideas, but purposefully unpacks and applies scripture to our daily challenged as parents.

As you have already noticed, I like this book. I walked away with so much to apply and for the first time felt such clear purpose in the daily issues that I face as a mother. My favorite chapters were 6 and 7 that dealt directly with the most frustrating parts of parenting. And I also highly appreciated his chapter on music which was short and got right to the heart of the matter rather than being another essay on someone's personal opinion. If I had to sum up what I am walking away with it would be this: "Do I value God's holiness enough to allow it to influence and direct my moment by moment parenting?"

My one and only caution in this book is that Younts focuses a little more on the discipleship of children than the evangelism of children and I think we need to be cautious in that we never assure a child of their salvation or assume it. Not that he outright says this, just that he seems to lean more toward this side of the spectrum.

I recommend this book to parents, and I highly recommend it to grandparents, aunts, uncles, and those who work with kids on a regular basis. While the focus is directed to Moms and Dads, the wisdom and Biblical principals are beneficial to all who interact with children. I think that a parent's child-rearing could be even more effective when godly grandparents are on the same page and supporting their children rather than undermining them or discouraging them. The same goes for teachers, extended family members, and any adult close to the family.

Read and learn again and again with this gospel-centered, everyday book .

Long Story Short by Marty Machowski

Long Story Short: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God by Marty Machowski
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Fabulous!

I love this family devotional book that can easily be made to work for a wide range of ages. The first reason being that it ties the Old Testament to the gospel! Too many family/kid devotionals just give stories rather then truly help kids connect with the Word of God. In this book, which gives you five, ten-minute devotions per week, there is at least one day when your reading a New Testament passage that connects to the Old Testament story line of the week.

The next reason I like this family devotional is that it's easy. And very simple, too. There are some suggest object lessons, but they are simple and certainly not mandatory for the kids to get the week's lesson. If you don't do it everything will still make sense.

And the third reason I like this book is because it's comprehensive. It incorporates reading Scripture, discussion and interaction, and prayer all together in an easy to follow format that really only takes ten minutes - if that.

In the words of Emily: "This book is fun!" And our family loves it!

BOOK OVERVIEW:

Christian parents know the importance of passing the gospel story on to their children, yet we live in a busy world filled with distractions. Schedules collide, there is homework and yard work and dishes and laundry, the car's oil should be changed, there are phone calls to make and before you know it, everyone is getting to bed late again.

The Bible can seem like a long story for an active family to read, but when you break it down into short sections, as Marty Machowski does, family devotions are easy to do. Long Story Short will help busy parents share with their children how every story in the Old Testament points forward to God's story of salvation through Jesus Christ. You won't find a more important focus for a family devotional than a daily highlighting of the gospel of grace. Clever stories and good moral lessons may entertain and even help children, but the gospel will transform children. The gospel is deep enough to keep the oldest and wisest parents learning and growing all their lives, yet simple enough to transform the heart of the first grader who has just begun to read.

Ten minutes a day, five days a week is enough time to pass on the most valuable treasure the world has ever known. Long Story Short is a family devotional program designed to explain God's plan of salvation through the Old Testament and is suitable for children from preschool through high school.

3 Really Good Parenting Books For Just A Few Quarters!

Are you a parent?  Do you work with children in church or interact with children in your family circle?

If so you will want to get your hands on these good deals at Amazon.com!

The kindle versions of 3 really good parenting books are being offered right now for just a handful of quarters!  And remember you don’t have to own a kindle to read them…you can download free Kindle apps for your computer, tablet, or smartphone.

So here they are….

1. Shepherding A Child’s Heart for $1.79
2. Instructing A Child’s Heart for $1.79
3. Don’t Make Me Count To Three for $1.79

The Next Story by Tim Challies

The Next Story: Life and Faith after the Digital Explosion by Tim Challies
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

So many times I am find myself wondering how I managed without a cell phone...or how I would contact people without Facebook...or how inconvenient it would be without wifi in our home...and sometimes I even wonder how I learned without twitter. And this is exactly what - and so much more! - Tim Cahllies deals with in this book: The Next Story.

I "read" the audio version of this book and because it was not a book that I wanted to read but rather knew I should read. The audio format was best for me and was easy to listen to.

This is a book that will challenge you, make you think, and give you lots to continue to think about. However, while being deep and probing, I still felt that it was easy to understand and digest the message.

Tim is both gifted and knowledgeable as a communicator on the subject of technology and he brings to the table some very thought-provoking ideas and ways of determining the place for technology in the life of a Christian. I appreciate that, in my opinion, he is balanced - not willing to throw out technology but not glossing over it either - and looks at things from a realistic, and most importantly, Biblical view point. Now I don't mean that I agree with everything he said...er' I mean wrote but I definitely walked away understanding technology better and the desire to make it serve me, not I serve it. This book was both personally and "parentally" beneficial.

I would highly recommend anyone - adult or teen - read this book (or listen to it!) as it will help you figure out the place for technology in your life.

BOOK OVERVIEW:

Even the least technical among us are being pressed from all sides by advances in digital technology. We rely upon computers, cell phones, and the Internet for communication, commerce, and entertainment. Yet even though we live in this ‘instant message’ culture, many of us feel disconnected, and we question if all this technology is really good for our souls. In a manner that attempts to be accessible, thoughtful, and biblical, I address questions such as:

How has life—and faith—changed now that everyone is available all the time through mobile phones?
How does our constant connection to these digital devices affect our families and our church communities?
What does it mean that almost two billion humans are connected by the Internet … with hundreds of millions more coming online each year?

Providing the reader with a framework they can apply to any technology, I explain how and why our society has become reliant on digital technology, what it means for our lives, and how it impacts the Christian faith.

So it’s a book not just for the young and digital, but for all of us.

The Bare Facts by Josh McDowell

The Bare Facts: 39 Answers to Questions Your Parents Hope You Never Ask About Sex by Josh McDowell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Informative. Biblical. Sobering. Straight-forward. Honest.

This book is an open look at sex from multiple aspects through a Biblical lens. It answers 39 questions that most teens probably wonder about but never have the courage to ask their parents about. Quite honestly, there are parts of this book that I would be hesitant in talking about with my teens!

I really appreciate the Biblical framework of this book and the honest way McDowell approaches each question. I walked away from this book being amazed at the perfect way in which God created us and how blessed and purely delightful sex is when kept in God's context. However, it's also a sobering look at the hardships produces by sex outside of God's plan. The Bare Facts covers purity, STDs, what love really is, premarital sex and it's impact, masturbation, sexual addiction, God's forgiveness, and much more. I would highly recommend all parents to read this book so you are prepared to answer questions. And really, all married adults would benefit from reading this book. While it is written for teens, I highly recommend it being older teens and encouraged each parent to use caution and discernment based on what your teen already knows. And it should go without saying, read it before they read it!

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This review copy was provided for review courtesy of Moody Publishers through NetGalley, but the opinion expressed is my own.

Parent’s Guide to the Spiritual Mentoring of Teens

Parents' Guide to the Spiritual Mentoring of Teens by Jim Weidmann
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

This is a very full, very comprehensive look at mentoring a teen spiritually which as a result will overflow into every aspect of their lives. It's broken into five sections - Vision, Relationship, Discipling, Success, and Conclusion - and is rather daunting to read. However, the reading is easy and enjoyable and most definitely practical. While I appreciated this book very much, there is a lot of it that is really just a reminder of common sense parenting for those of us raised in solid Christian homes. It's a great reference tool, but I think that most people may want something with a little more meat to chew on. Or in the least, combine it with another book such as Age of Opportunity or Sacred Parenting.

Parent’s Guide to the Spiritual Growth of Children

Parents' Guide to the Spiritual Growth of Children by Kurt Bruner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

This thick guide walks you through all the phases you will face in the spiritual growth of your child from birth to age 12. I really appreciated the detailed plans, explanations, and practical steps of application that this volume has to offer. It's organized - which really appealed to me! - and is easy to read in portions and then refer back to in the future. I think that for a first generation Christian this is a valuable resource in raising their children in the knowledge of our Lord. While this book is very helpful and full of insight for daily practice, I think it's best used in conjunction with some great parenting books such as Shepherding A Child's Heart or Sacred Parenting in which the reason behind the application is explored in greater depth.

All in all this is a good book for any Christian parent to read and most everyone will find at least a handful of helpful tips. However, it can also be overwhelming due to it's extremely thorough nature and so I highly recommend reading one of the above mentioned books before or at the same time as working through this one.

Sacred Parenting by Gary L. Thomas

Sacred Parenting: How Raising Children Shapes Our Souls by Gary L. Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Gary Thomas has written a thought provoking book that goes beyond the how-to's of parenting to the deeper issues of how parenting shapes us spiritually. I appreciated his open and honest sharing from his own life as he presented his ideas of how parenting is not just a responsibility but rather an opportunity for great spiritual growth.

I set this book down with a renewed hope toward the big, small, and daily challenges that come with being a parent as I gained a clearer focus on the the big picture of the gift of parenting. Thomas probes the hardest moments of parenting and does not dance lightly but pushes deeper into how the average days carry such a weight in the view of eternity. My favorite chapter was the one titled Joy! which challenged me to pray not "Lord change them!", but rather "Lord, change me!".

Sacred Parenting should be mandatory for every parent or parent-to-be to read. It provides hope and conviction in one dose. While it is a heavier read that offers a lot to ponder, it is also sprinkled with some very humorous stories both personal and second hand that bring a lightness to this stimulating volume.

BOOK OVERVIEW:

Parenting is a school for spiritual formation—and our children are our teachers. Instead of discussing how parents can change their kids, Gary Thomas turns the tables and demonstrates how God uses our kids to change us. You’ll be encouraged by stories that tell how other parents handled the challenges and difficulties of raising a godly family. Grow closer to Christ and your children as you learn to:?

-Freely enjoy your kids for who they are.
-Build a closer, grace-based family.
-Reduce the pressure felt for your kids to turn out perfect.
-Manage anger and negative responses towards your child’s behavior.
-Increase your sense of worth and respect as a parent.

A Mom After God’s Own Heart by Elizabeth George

 

Welcome to Day 7 of the After God’s Own Heart post series!

A Mom After God's Own Heart: 10 Ways to Love Your Children (George, Elizabeth by Elizabeth George
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Sometimes being a Mom is way more than what we bargained for and we feel overwhelmed, inadequate, like failures, or all of the above. Elizabeth ministered to my heart with tender truth found in God's Word - the Bible - on how to love my children with God's love. Her practical advice and wisdom from her own days of parenting was such an encouragement to me in raising my three. I know that any believing mother will enjoy this book and be refreshed by it's content.

BOOK OVERVIEW:

The bestselling author of A Woman After God’s Own Heart® (more than 700,000 copies sold) has a brand–new release! Elizabeth George’s A Mother After God’s Own Heart offers 10 principles to help moms make God an everyday part of their children’s lives. Readers will explore how to...

* teach their children God’s Word
* train them in God’s ways
* talk to children about Jesus
* pray with and for them

Elizabeth, who has two grown children and six grandchildren, gives practical advice and real–life suggestions for helping children—no matter what their ages—incorporate God into daily life. Elizabeth’s husband, Jim, also provides biblical advice from a dad’s perspective.

Choosing To See, by Mary Beth Chapman {Giveaway}

(GIVEAWAY DETAILS AT BOTTOM OF POST)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Grab a box of tissues before you even crack open the cover of this book! You will need them from the first page to the last as you glimpse the heart of Mary Beth Chapman and the journey of tragedy she and the Chapman family have traveled.

Choosing To See is a raw look at the grief and pain of loosing a child in such a tragic way. It is also the honest look at the life and testimony of God's grace in Mary Beth's life as well as the family as a whole. I appreciated how honest she was with her readers. Most likely she will face some criticism for some of what she shares due to her openness, but I praise her for showing us that life is not perfect and that it's not of ourselves, but only of God's strength, mercy, and grace that our lives amount to anything. When I set this book down I felt like I knew Mary Beth as a friend rather than like I just had an inside look at the life of a celebrity.

The end of the book is a pouring out of posts from her blog since the accident. For the distanced reader it's a lot to wade through, but I must say that I am glad she was real. She didn't try to tie pretty bow and make it seem like a fairy-tale ending. Mary Beth instead shares how God meets us where we are even in the depth of grief.

For someone who wants to know more about the Chapmans, the life of Maria, or dealing with the death of a child, I would recommend you read this book. No matter why you read it you will end it with a large dose of encouragement. It's the story of winter moments in life and how spring does come again...

BOOK OVERVIEW:

From the beginning, Mary Beth Chapman's life was not how she planned. All she wanted was a calm, peaceful life of stability and control. Instead, God gave her an award-winning singer/songwriter husband, crazy schedules, and a houseful of creatively rambunctious children. Most difficult of all, God's plans for her also included tragedy.

In Choosing to SEE, Mary Beth unveils her struggle to allow God to write the story of her life, both the happy chapters and the tragic ones. And as the story unfolds, she's been forced to wrestle with some of life's biggest questions: Where is God when things fall apart? Why does God allow terrible things to happen? How can I survive hard times?

No matter where you find yourself in your own life story, you will treasure the way Mary Beth shows that even in the hard times, there is hope if you choose to SEE.

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Available September 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This book was provided for review courtesy of Revell.

 

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GIVEAWAY!

I am giving away 1 copy of this book.
Leave a comment on this post to be entered into the drawing.
A winner will be chosen on September 12, 2010.
Please click here to see entry rules.

Real Moms…Real Jesus, by Jill Savage

Real Moms...Real Jesus: Meet the Friend Who Understands by Jill Savage

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Mothers come in different sizes, shapes, and styles, but they all share the same feeling over and over again - weariness. In the midst of answering questions, cleaning up messes, running errands, we Moms tend to loose our perspective in the one load of laundry that never seems to get folded! Jill Savage writes this book to guide us like a close girlfriend in refocusing our eyes on Jesus Christ.

Real Moms...Real Jesus takes 13 perspectives we Moms cling to and shows us 13 new perspectives that Jesus models for us. Through personal examples, Scripture passages, and a heart that seeks God, Jill gives us a real and refreshing handbook for Moms at any stage of the journey.

I enjoyed each "perspective" story and it's companion chapter showing us the real Jesus and the hope He gives for being faithful to our call of motherhood. It's an easy-to-read book that hits home quickly and encourages deeply. In the back of the book are some great discussion questions and helpful small-group study guides that make this book a perfect match for a small study group of Moms.

If you are in the trenches of motherhood, or know someone in them, this is a wonderful gift of encouragement for her.

BOOK OVERVIEW:

What does Jesus know about the peanut-butter-and-jelly life of a mom? Plenty! Jill Savage, founder and director of Hearts at Home, introduces the real Jesus to real moms. In chapters that examine key behaviors and decisions Jesus made during His life on earth, Jill brings those lessons right down to the laundry-filled, sticky-fingered days every mother knows. Between the chapters are interactive vignettes that provide brief, refreshing glimpses into real, messy, busy lives. Jill continually reminds the reader that Jesus is not an unattainable deity, but a Friend who understands.

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This review copy was provided courtesy of Moody Publishers.

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This book gets awarded with the To Read, Or Not To Read badge of distinction  - Best Of The Best - for the fact that because it is so good, it has been added to Mandy’s bookshelf!

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For some fun motherhood stories told by Jill, watch the video clip below…

Raising A Modern-Day Princess by Pam Farrel

Raising a Modern-Day Princess by Pam Farrel

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

If you are a Mom, Grandma, Aunt, or an influential woman in the life of any girl you will not only appreciate this book, but benefit greatly from it, too. Pam Farrel and Doreen Hanna have written a book that will encourage you in your relationship with your daughter(s) as well as walk you through many things we want to do, but just don't know how to do. Most of us want to inspire our daughters and breath purpose into their lives and Raising A Modern-Day Princess is the guide to help you do just that.

I appreciated the combination of personal stories and insight that Farrel and Hanna shared along with all the simple and practical tips on how to raise a modern-day princess in a world that wants just the opposite for them. The book is easy to read and offers huge amounts of creative ideas for you to glean from.

The focus of this book is on teaching young girls about becoming godly young women. My favorite part of all that was shared was the idea of intentionally choosing mentors, along with your daughter, to mentor her. There is a treasure trove of information in this book to help you at whatever place in life you are at. Not everything will be for everyone, but I doubt anyone could walk away without gleaning something.

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This review copy was provided by Tyndale House Publishers and the opinions expressed our strictly my own

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Bringing Up Girls by James C. Dobson

Bringing Up Girls: Practical Advice and Encouragement for Those Shaping the Next Generation of Women by James C. Dobson

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

The title of this book pretty much sums up the overall point of this book - bringing up Girls. I, along with many other parents of girls, desire to know how best to raise our daughters, especially during those moments of drama, emotions, and crying that even us grown-up girls just don't "get".

Dr. Dobson presents the basic make-up of a girl both emotionally and physically which aids you in better understanding what girls are experiencing at the various stages they go through. Through out this book he has great insight as well as some practical direction that will help parents of girls. However, for as good as the advice may be, there is one component that really bothers me. Dr. Dobson uses self-esteem as the primary area to focus on in order to "cure" the problems our girls - young and old - face on a routine basis. In my personal opinion based on the lens of Scripture, our girls don't need more self-esteem, they need the love and esteem of Jesus Christ. While Dobson talks about the importance of faith, I feel that he misses the extent and power of the Word of God and the love of God to overcome the challenges our daughters face.

I greatly appreciate some of the concepts and thoughts Dr. Dobson shares, especially his concern for preparing your child for adolescents. But due to the amount of stuff I don't agree with, I can not recommend this book for reading. If you have all the time in the world to read then I might say "read it with great discernment", but if you do not have much time I think there are better parenting books to read that will give sound Biblical advice.

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This review copy was provided Tyndale House Publishers, but the opinions expressed are purely my own.

Big Thoughts For Little Thinkers by Joey Allen

Big Thoughts For Little Thinkers: The Scripture by Joey Allen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW

This series - Big Thoughts For Little Thinkers is excellent! These small little books are cute and easy to understand for young children all the while dealing with "deep" concepts.

These 4 books talk about and explain The Scripture, The Mission, The Gospel, and The Trinity at a child's level. Each book is "narrated" by a character who introduces their self to you at the beginning of the book in way that gets your child's attention.

I really enjoyed how easy it was for my kids to relate to the characters in the books and understand hard things. The book on The Gospel was my favorite, but all of them were very good and biblicaly sound. I read them to my 3, 5, & 6-year-old children and each of them were able to understand at appropriate levels.

Every home should have a set of these on their shelves!

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Thanks to New Leaf Press for the courtesy review copies.

Sleep, It Does A Family Good, by Archibald D. Hart

Sleep, It Does a Family Good: How Busy Families Can Overcome Sleep Deprivation by Archibald D. Hart

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Is your family sleep deprived?

You may not even know if you are! In this book Dr. Archibald Hart talks about the signs and symptoms of people and families who are deprived of sleep and shares how to "fix" the problem as well. The main point is: "The family that sleeps well, lives well", and even "Just because your family doesn't feel tired doesn't mean that don't have a problem".

Dr. Hart's book is a fascinating look sleep and our view of sleep. I greatly appreciated his informative approach and simple ways of expressing the problem and presenting the solutions. I was also amazed at the amount of problems and physical ailments/disabilities that have a high probability of being linked to not enough sleep. But as amazed as I was, I believe it because I can see what a lack of sleep does in my own life.

I think this is a MUST READ for anyone, but especially for married couples and parents. There is plenty of practical application and tips to help you start sleeping better now. For parents, I highly recommend you read this along with the book: On Becoming Babywise.

Overall, I think this is a great book. There were a few things I didn't agree with the author on, but it was more application than theory and I would still highly recommend this book for EVERYONE!

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This book was provided for review courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers. The review is my own opinion.

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I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy by Angie Smith

I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy by Angie Smith

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Grab a box of tissues.

For those who followed Angie Smith and the story of Audrey unfold on her blog this book feels like a chat with Angie over a nice warm drink. And for those who are new to the Smith's dance with joy and grief you will quickly fall in love with this family and their testimony.

Angie puts into words the thoughts and emotions of a mother who clings to hope while grieving, lives life fully while preparing for the worst, and who begs God for a miracle all the while praising Him no matter what. I Will Carry You is the story of the life of Audrey and the huge impact this small little girl had on her family and on the world. It will leave you counting your blessings, living with abandon, and celebrating life - no matter how long or how short.

I was touched by Angie's honest and vulnerability with her readers and her simple, yet profound, explanations of what her dance was and continues to be like. I have been touched by the music of Selah for years and since 2008 even more so with the music being backed up by authentic lives. Though their road has not been easy, they have blessed many lives through their tears and their joy in the time of great grief.

Whether you are a Mom or not, this book will have you crying and rejoicing all at the same time. Both Angie's writing and Todd's chapter from a man's perspective will be an encouragement in your life.

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Thank you to B&H Publishing Group for providing the review copy.

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Growing Grateful Kids by Susie Larson

Growing Grateful Kids by Susie Larson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

BOOK OVERVIEW:

Even when economic times are tight, our children enjoy an abundance of material possessions. Yet, amidst all this wealth, discontentment and competition seem to be on the rise. Instead of teaching children virtues such as gratefulness and patience, many parents are bending over backwards to get their children the latest and greatest item - or feeling guilty when they can’t. With the currents of materialism and entitlement flowing so strong, how do we raise kids who are simply thankful?

With simple language, interesting anecdotes, and biblical applications, Susie Larson helps readers understand that although teaching perspective and gratitude to our children is critical, it is not difficult.

MY REVIEW:

Growing Grateful Kids is amazing! Susie has written a parenting book that breaks the mold on traditional parenting books with it's approach that you can't give what you don't have. This 236 page book not only gives biblical advice and direction on how to raise your children, but points out ways to implement godly perspective and character in your own life. Each of the 16 chapters is followed be a "personal application" and a "parental application" section that will help you to apply the truth of what you just read.

I was personally blessed by Susie's humble and real life manner and examples. Her writing addresses issues such as grace, humility, wisdom, contentment, compassion, forgiveness - and more - with deep biblical truth presented in an easy-to-understand format. I was convicted with every chapter and encouraged with each turn of the page. The focus is not about what to-do, or not-to-do, instead the focus is on the Word of God, the life of Chris,t and what that means to our daily lives as parents.

This book should be a must-read for all parents at any stage of the game. You will be encouraged and blessed, challenged and refreshed! There are not many books I give a 5-star rating to, but this is one of them! It is worth investing in your own copy so that you can dog-ear and underline important truths that will bring inspiration each time you browse through this book again.

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This review copy was provided courtesy of Moody Publishers.

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Have A New Kid By Friday by Dr. Kevin Leman

The 7-Day Turnaround: How to Change Your Child??'s Behavior in 10 Days or Less by Kevin Leman

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Have A New Kid By Friday sounds like a wonderful idea to any parent at any stage of the game. After all, what parent has not had a time when they wished they could change their child's behavior? I'll be the first to raise my hand and admit to wishing this on occasion. However, some things are just too good to be true.

I do agree that the ideas and methods presented in this book sound great, most likely work, and will even produce results. In fact, I don't doubt for even a minute that you could have a new child in just a few days. Rather my question is: what kind of new child do you want to have by Friday? If your response is that you want a well behaved child who can act appropriately around people and even show what appears to be respect towards you and other authorities, then I say you will like this book. However, if you instead say that you want a child who can recognize, admit, and correct their sinful behavior along with the attitudes and thoughts behind their outward manifestation, I highly recommend you read a different book.

I agree with Dr. Leman that kids believe that they are entitled to whatever it is that they want and that it's up to us as a parent to show them otherwise. I even agree with some of his methods of dealing with the problem situations we deal with in our children. I agree that yelling is going to get you no where. I agree that ignoring the child is not really going to change anything. But what I do not agree with is using a teachable moment and not incorporating any Biblical basis for what we are trying to teach that child. As example, it's simply not enough to get your child to stop saying things like "I hate you" because it makes you (or whomever it was said to) feel bad. Much more importantly you should desire that they learn to stop saying it because God hates sin and saying "I hate you" to someone is sin not only in word, but also in the attitude and thoughts that brought the child to the point of the verbal declaration.

I would also agree with Dr. Leman on the fact that some of the behavior displayed is in attempt to gain attention. However, that does not in any way make it right. While some of the methods described by Dr. Leman are beneficial to use, they also need to be reinforced by Biblical principle and scripture.

Before you completely throw out the book I will say that you may be able to pick up a few tricks of the trade in this book. But those methods are only as good in the long run as your Biblical approach to parenting. I would highly recommend - practically demand of you! - that you read Shepherding A Child's Heart and/or Age Of Opportunity along with Dr. Leman's book. Or if you are short on time, just skip this book and read my two suggestions!

To read more about Shepherding A Child’s Heart, I encourage you to visit The Adventure Of Motherhood and read through her chapter by chapter review of this book.

Cole…I Love You to the Moon and Back: A Family’s Journey with Childhood Cancer, by Aaron Dean Ruotsala

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have wondered how I would handle being told my child is sick. Very sick. In listening to this audio version of the book Cole...I Love You to the Moon and Back, I can only hope that I would respond with the same amount of love, praise, and faith with which the Ruotsala family did.

This book walks you through 8 weeks of life as a young family battles terminal cancer in their oldest child - three-year-old Cole. Despite the incredible pain of loosing a child they praised God for His strength and His faithfulness to them in what has to be one of the most painful trials of life. Their testimony brings such glory to God and of His love for us.

God knew the number of days that Cole's life would last and He used those few fleeting years to touch lives in more ways than many of us adults can even dream of doing. Sometimes the biggest blessings come in the smallest of packages.

While it is a sad story, it is also an amazing story to read and was such a comfort and encouragement to me. It helped me look beyond my own plans for life and remember to live in the moment...the hear and now...for tomorrow has no guarantees.

Cole...I Love You to the Moon and Back is written by Aaron Ruotsala, the father of Cole, and is a great way to adjust and re-focus your perspective on what it truly important in life. Their story of joy and pain will inspire you to live for Christ and to love those around you. You may shed a tear or two...but you will also walk away with hope.

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This audio book was provided courtesy of Oasis Audio.

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For more excellent audio books, please visit my audio book reviews.

A Mom’s Ultimate Book of Lists by Michelle LaRowe

 A Mom's Ultimate Book of Lists by Michelle LaRowe

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Do you wonder about what baby products you really need?

Are you wondering how your baby, toddler, or preschooler is doing developmentally, but you can't remember where you put that list you got from the pediatrician's office?

Have you ever questioned your child's diet and want to know how much of each food group they really need?

Are you going on a trip and feel like you might be forgetting something?

Do you wish you had a list of the top resources to read for the various stages of motherhood rather than sift through all the options a Google search offers?

Or maybe you are dealing with what seems to be one of the BIG questions for moms of young kids: how much sleep does my child need?

A Mom's Ultimate Book of Lists has the answers for all of these questions and many more. Michelle LaRowe, former nanny and current mother, has made it much easier to find the answers to our daily questions in motherhood by writing a resource book for Moms. From your first moments of pregnancy through the first day of Kindergarten, you will find yourself reaching for this book to help you figure things out and make the best choice in your parenting journey.

Do not let the idea of a book of lists scare you away from adding this to your own library shelf. It's more than just a book of dry lists - it's full of encouragement, quick mom-to-mom tips, and fun. From what to stock your car with, to feeding a picky eater, and back to age appropriate chores, it will quickly become your faithful companion.

I appreciated the readability of this book seeing that Mom's do not always have much time to research an answer to a question or concern. A Mom's Ultimate Book of Lists is easy to read in brief moments of time or browse through during afternoon nap time. The table of contents is organized easy to use to find a list you need for the current moment. The only thing I wish it had was an index of topic or items. However, I feel that you can still search well enough to make it a user-friendly book.

This book is perfect for a mother-to-be, new mom, or a "second family" mom. It also is a great resource for any mom with children from 0 to 4 years of age.

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The review copy was courtesy of Revell.

Available January 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.