In-Laws
Essays
Making the most of living with extended family
1/8/13In current times, more and more people are pooling their resources together and living with extended family members. Some of the reasons include financial assistance, childcare, and providing care for elderly or sickly family members. Whatever the reason, living with one’s family can be a great experience if approached with the right mindset. However, if expectations, financial agreements, and general house rules are not laid out beforehand, the lack of communication can lead to disagreements…
A Brand New Year for Families: How Will You Be Changed?
12/31/12
The trappings of Christmas are falling away. Trees droop. Needles fall. It is time to pack up our ornaments and wrap up our garland and set our living rooms right for the year ahead. As we clear the clutter of this season away, what else…
Holiday Parties and Kids: Balancing Needs at Christmas Time
12/21/12
I remember it well. Carrying my newborn, holding hands with my toddler, we arrived at the family Christmas party just a few minutes late. I counted that as success, given the fact that we were all dressed and no one was crying, not even my…
Family Traditions: Christmas Trees and Emmanuel
11/23/12
As I got out of the van, the cold air met my face. Pulling on gloves and mittens, our four children ran in circles on the well-beaten grass. I zipped my coat and closed the door and we headed toward the farm. The fragrance of…
Devotions
COMMEND HIS WORKS
4/4/13 Read Scripture Verse: Psalm 145:1-7
The psalmist calls on each generation to commend God’s works to the next. It’s a precious gift when grandparents can be actively involved in the lives of their grandchildren. This is even more true when they share their legacy of faith with the next generations!…
Jonah: Attitude Check
12/18/12 Read Scripture Verse: Jonah 1-4
With whom do you connect in the story of Jonah? Maybe you feel like the sailors who don’t seem to recognize God until they are desperate for help and their troubles are looking like they might swallow them up. Maybe you feel like the people…
Jonah: A Lesson in Patience
12/12/12 Read Scripture Verse: Jonah 1-4
Reading the story of Jonah, I am struck again by God’s patience. God persists with Jonah through his running, his time in the fish, and even while Jonah sits and waits for the destruction of the city. God could force Jonah’s obedience, but he patiently…
Resources
-
Successful Step Families
Step families come with a variety of challenges to weather from the moment they say “I do.” Ron Deal addresses specific challenges and offers biblical insight as well as clinical experience as a marriage and family therapist to help equip couples for the journey ahead. He offers hope and encouragement for helping families navigate establishing working relationships within the new family as well as with the extended family.
-
A Lasting Promise: A Christian Guide to Fighting for Your Marriage
Scott Stanley in known for identifying the underlying issues we fight over. It's not the money, or the dishes, it's things like respect and security. Based on clinical research on why we fight, this guide helps us fight for stronger marriages!
