5 Conversations You Must Have With Your Son

I truly enjoyed reading 5 Conversations You Must Have With Your Son, it's a must have book for every mom of boys. Dads, you should read this too. Vicky Courtney does an outstanding job in addressing the social and spiritual issues that boys face.  She uses real life examples, biblical quotes, and quotes from other books.  She brings an excellent Christian approach to it.

The main focus of this book is Courtney address the importance of raising  boys to be Godly men.  She helps mothers understand the world of boys; boys are adventurous by nature.  They are naturally more energetic;  hence TESTOSTERONE!!!

She offers a quote from Wild Things, a book by Stephen James and David Thomas - "The male brain has more spinal fluid in the brain stem, which makes boys more physical than girls. Add to that high level of testosterone in a boy's brain, and it's easy to see that he is programmed to be more aggressive than girls and more of a risk taker."

As mothers, we have an important role in communication with our boys.  It is a necessity to start taking to them as soon as possible ( pre-teen years ).  As parents we must be aware of all the issues that boys face. We must put an effort to talk with them, and be their primary teachers on the topics of sex, spirituality, and so forth, before they choose an alternative that will lead them to the wrong path.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (KJV)

 ^"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes."

Synopsis:

From the cradle to college, tell your sons the truth about life before they believe the culture's lies. For parents with boys newborn to eighteen, the book 5 Conversations You Must Have with Your Son is as essential as those Legos you're still finding under the sofa cushions and the garage full of sports equipment. Award-winning youth culture commentator Vicki Courtney helps moms and dads pinpoint and prepare the discussions that should be ongoing in their sons' formative years. The book also offers invaluable tips on having these conversations across the various stages of development: five and under, six to eleven, twelve and up.

To fully address the dynamic social and spiritual issues and other influencers at hand, several chapters are written for each of the conversations, which are:

1. Don’t define manhood by the culture’s wimpy standards; it’s okay to be a man!
2. What you don’t learn to conquer may become your master. (PORN)
3. Not everyone’s doing it! (And other naked truths about sex you won’t hear in the locker room.)
4. Boyhood is only for a season. P.S. It’s time to grow up!
5. Godly men are in short supply—dare to become one!

* * I was provided a digital copy by B&H Publishing Group. 

Receiving God's Love by Sheri Rose Shepherd

	Article 7: Receiving God's Love
	Article 7 Article 5 ▶ Article 6 ▶ Article 7 ▶ Article 8 ▶ Receiving God's Love By Sheri Rose Shepherd Bestselling Author and Bible Life Coach learn more ▶ Think how powerful it would be if we spoke the truth about how God feels about us at least as often as we silently said negative things about ourselves or replayed in our minds all the hurtful things that have been said about us. The truth is, we are not what others say about us, and if the men we love speak hurtful words to us that make us feel unworthy, we don’t need to repeat them any longer. Instead we can learn to rest in God's unchanging love for us. Even if no one has ever said anything kind to you, your Prince Jesus longs for you to breathe in the tender love, compassion, and kindness He feels for you. If you're ready to have Jesus, the lover of your soul, become reality to you, I invite you to do the following . . . Breathe In His Love . . . For the Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. (Job 33:4) You know that feeling of exhilaration that sticks with you after you've spent time with a guy you know you're falling in love with? As you part, you take a deep breath and feel waves of delight washing over you. Or you know the joy that wells up inside when your man unexpectedly says something so sweet that you feel treasured? You replay those words over and over in your mind because doing so gives you a lift. Breathe His truth in; allow the words of your true prince Jesus to echo in your heart and soul. After you consider God's words to you—"I have loved you with an everlasting love" (Jeremiah 31:3)—whisper toward heaven, "I love You, Lord." Sing about His Love . . . Each day the LORD pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life. (Psalm 42:8) When I was learning to let myself receive God's love, I would actually sing love songs to Him. Though they had been written for a woman to sing to a man here on earth, I began to understand that if I would crave God's love first, He would meet my needs. Only then would I be able to give and receive love. Today I love worship songs that sing of God's love for us. I blare them throughout my house in the mornings so Satan will not be able to whisper lies to me any longer. Consider doing the same. Write Love Letters to Him in a Journal . . . Connect your heart to heaven by writing love letters to your Lord. It is amazing what happens to your heart as you begin to express your love in writing to the only One who will never walk away from or reject you. Hang on to this treasure of truth: how you feel about yourself will never change God's love for you. Let Us Pray . . . Dear God, I confess I do not feel worthy of your love. It is hard for me to believe that You even love me. Help me, Lord, to look to You for my worth. Forgive me for not allowing myself to receive Your love. Forgive me for looking to others to make me feel like I have value when You are the only one who can validate me and love me the way I long to be loved. From this day forward, I choose to let You love me so I can love others. In Jesus' name. Amen. I will sing to the LORD as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath! May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD. (Psalm 104:33-34) For more teaching from the Your Heart's Desire book and Bible study, visit www.biblelifecoaching.com. Watch the trailer:

We Are on the Same Team and Fighting the Same Enemy

	We Are on the Same Team and Fighting the Same Enemy
	Article 4 Article 1 ▶ Article 2 ▶ Article 3 ▶ Article 4 ▶ We Are on the Same Team and Fighting the Same Enemy As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) By Sheri Rose Shepherd Bestselling Author and Bible Life Coach learn more ▶ Think about what makes your heart melt when you watch a great love story. It's not the hero's physical strength or his beloved's beauty, is it? No, you and I are drawn to the power of true love and its inexplicable ability to prevail over tragedy and adversity. The greater the conflict, the stronger the love must be in order to resolve the issue. When the hero does whatever it takes to save the relationship, our hearts soar with renewed hope. Likewise, as we seek to truly listen and understand our men when differences between us create friction, we set ourselves up for more satisfying and loving relationships. The Author of love and life and the Designer of our differences knew there would be conflict between men and women. The real problem comes, though, when we get accustomed to seeing relational problems solved in the time it takes to eat a bag of popcorn. Our hero and his beauty have less than two hours to defeat the dragons and overcome unspeakable challenges. You and I are not going to magically resolve deep relationship conflicts in our own wisdom and definitely not in less than two hours. When I met my husband, Steve, I was sure we were a match made in heaven. In fact, we have had the privilege of being in ministry together for most of our marriage. I wish I could tell you it's been an effortless, wonderful life for the two of us, but I would be lying to you. I learned to fight loud and strong by watching my parents. My brother and I would hide together in my bedroom as our parents tore into each other during arguments, often screaming and throwing things. Because of my broken family, when I first got married I was sure that every conflict between me and Steve would end our marriage. Steve was raised by parents who had stayed married, so it was impossible for him to relate to my fears and worries. He was raised in quieter surroundings. His parents dealt with conflict quite differently from mine. There was no rage. No yelling. No broken furniture. His parents rarely fought—and never in front of their children. But his family also had no system to resolve conflict. That meant issues went unresolved—though not unnoticed. Steve's and my fighting techniques were drastically different. However, neither of us had been equipped to deal appropriately with marital conflict. That led to major challenges early in our marriage whenever we attempted to resolve a disagreement. To make things even more difficult, when I married Steve I was a new Christian and had not yet learned how to channel my anger properly. I tried everything to get him to react or resolve conflict with me, and as I waited, I became more bitter and he became more distant. One day I couldn't take Steve's calm, cool responses anymore. From my perspective, he obviously needed some lessons on how to fight for our marriage. I'd had enough of his "let's work it out peacefully by ignoring our problems" act. In my mind, he was being polite only to annoy me. "Why don't you ever show some emotion and prove to me you care about our marriage?" I yelled. Steve stood there quietly, shaking his head and looking down at the ground. Then suddenly, he turned toward the mirror on our bedroom closet door and kicked it as hard as he could, smashing it to bits. Wow, I thought, what a performance. He sure learns fast. Suddenly I began to laugh hysterically through my tears. I was so shocked I wasn't sure if I was relieved or ready to run from what I saw. His toenail was jutting out at a bizarre angle as he asked me, "Is that enough emotion for you? If it would help, I could probably throw myself on the floor and work up a good cry." We both began to laugh together as we attempted to pick up the glass fragments scattered all over our bedroom floor. In that moment I realized how much we had shattered each other just because we were different and had not been trained on how to resolve conflict. Our marriage was not the problem; it was our hearts. Neither of us had a teachable spirit. It took several years, a lot of tears, and one expensive closet door mirror to repair the damage inflicted during those early years. We still have conflict, as all couples do, but we now understand that we are on the same team and that it's okay not to agree on everything. After twenty-five years of marriage, we've decided it's worth letting go of the little things and fighting to understand one another. Conflict comes no matter who we marry. We may be fighting about different things with different men, but there will always be major differences between men and women. I once heard a pastor say that if spouses agreed on everything, only one of them would be needed. Let's not allow our differences to divide us any longer! For a sneak peek of Sheri Rose's Your Heart's Desire Group Experience, or to learn more about her ministry, visit www.biblelifecoaching.com. Watch the trailer:

Book Review: A  Perfect Word For Every Occation by Liz Duckworth

We are in a new millennium in which our technology has improved immensely. Writing letters or giving cards has rapidly been replaced by electronic mail and texting.  I have always been a firm believer in sending out snail mail, and giving hand written cards- there is a more personal feeling to it.  I love the simplicity of giving a card and expressing my feelings, and just letting the ink in my pen flow smoothly on paper.  Just think of how beautiful it feels when someone hands you a card on your Birthday.  In this day in age, computers seem to be replacing it - It's just so much easier, right?


I know that sometimes it's hard to say the right words or we just do not know what to say. That is why Liz Duckworth wrote this book. In her book, she offers ways and examples on how or what to say.  Every chapter has quotes and verses to help find new ways to say the right words. She also has a section for what not to say. 



This book has 10 chapters that offer different examples.  The fallowing chapters are:

1. Words for the Grieiving2. Words of Gratitude
3. Words for the Sick and Suffering
4. Words for Birthdays
5. Words for Weddings and Engagements
6. Words of  Encouragement
7. Words for Celebrations
8. Words for Events and Activities
9. Words of Truth and Love
10. Words for a Changing World

My favorite section was the quotes and scriptures.
Some examples:

Gratitude is the memory of the heart. -Jean Baptistery Massieu

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. - William Arthur Ward

I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks. -William Shakespeare

How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world. William Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice

God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9: 7

Hope is putting faith to work when doubting would be easier. - Anonymous

I will say of The Lord, "He is my refuge and fortress, my God, in whom I trust." - Psalm 91:1-2

Do not let your hearts be troubled. - John 14:1

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers. - Galatians 6:9-10

Carry each other's burned, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:2

Words of comfort, skillfully administered, are the oldest therapy known to man. - Louis Nizer

Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it. - Helen Keller

Storms make trees take deeper roots. - Claude McDonald, The Christian Word

It is the wounded oyster that mends its shell with pearl. - Ralph Waldom Emerson

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. - 2 Corinthians 13:11

These are some of the very positive and encouraging words that you will find in this book - for every occation. This is one of those books that you will want to keep for future reference.   

We live in a world in which we all have such busy schedules; that it self, makes it difficult to focus on others, right?  But we must remember it's important to encourage one another when difficult times arise.  We need to be a little more aware of  other's feelings; after all there will be a time when WE will need a word of encouragement and motivation.


** I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I am honored to have author Sherri Rose Shepherd as guest blogger here on my site.  She has writen 14 articles about her book Your Heart's Desire, which 8 of them will be fetured here within the next few weeks. The first article that will be featured is We Are on the Same Team and Fighting the Same Enemy.

Sherri Rose Shepherd has been has been speaking and writing for more than 20 years, and is a best selling author.  She is former Mrs. United States who has writen numerous books, which include His Princess: Love Letters from Your King, Prepararing Him for the Other Woman: A Mother's Guide to Raising Her Son to Love a Wife and Lead a Family, Prayers to My King: His Princess, His Little Princess: Treasured Letters from Your King, Fit for My King: His Princess 30-Day Diet Plan and Devotional, among others.

Go to http://hisprincess.com/about/ to learn more about her and her ministry.


http://www.yourheartsdesirebook.com/



Her latest release is Your Heart's Desire; 14 Truths that will forever change the way you love and are loved. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Hope and healing for every woman who has ever loved a manBestselling author and Bible life coach SheriRose Shepherd shares 14 truths that will forever change the way you love and are loved. This book is written for the married woman who loves her man but struggles in her marriage. It's for the single woman who wants to find a godly man to love and for the divorced woman who believed in her marriage until her man walked out.Each chapter has life-challenging love stories, love coaching, powerful prayers, inspiring scriptural love letters, and a Transforming Truth.If you're ready for a refreshing perspective on love, men, and marriage, this book is for you.







Review for Borders of the Heart by Chris Fabry

Borders of the Heart is filled with intense action, adventure, suspense, and romance. It is set in the Southern part of Arizona near the Mexican border. Chris Fabry does an outstanding job in writing a book that reflects the reality of Illegal immigration and drug cartels.

I was quickly drawn into this story, because Arizona is close to my heart.  I am familiar with the desert heat, the stories of Illegal Immigration, and the important part that law enforcement has in protecting it's borders from illegal activity.

At the beginning of the story we are introduce to J.D. Jessup, a musician running from his past. When he started working at an organic farm, the owner warns him about illegal crossings, and emphasizes the importance of calling Border Patrol if he sees an Illegal.

One morning during J.D's usual horse ride, he stumbles upon a beautiful young woman near death. Right at the moment when he is about to call Border Patrol, he sees a faint movement and changes his mind. He decides to act upon his heart and help her. Little did he know that his act of kindness would put his life in great danger.

J.D. is in for a ride of his life. While risking his own life, he finds out that Maria is running from a dangerous man who is involved with a drug cartel - out to exterminate anyone who crosses his path. J.D. also learns the importance of trusting God, and to confront the fear that was preventing him to love again.

Synopsis:

"Desperate to escape haunting memories, J. D. Jessup travels from Nashville to Tucson and volunteers on an organic farm. The hardened landowner has one prevailing rule: If J. D. sees an "illegal," call the border patrol. But when an early morning ride along the fence line leads him to a beautiful young woman named Maria, near death in the desert, his heart pulls him in another direction. Longing to atone for the choices that drove him to Tucson, J. D. hides her and unleashes a chain of deadly events he could never have imagined. Soon they are running from a killer and fighting for their lives. As secrets of their pasts emerge, J. D. realizes that saving Maria may be the only way to save himself."

About the Author:



"My latest, Borders of the Heart, is a book I never thought I would write because I never thought I would live in the desert. The main character is

J. D., a man with great loss who's trying to piece together his life and where to go next. He faces a choice in the opening pages that changes his life, and the lives of many characters.

My stories come from life and sometimes art imitates stories.Four years ago my family and I moved to the desert. I'm not a desert person. But I knew the experience would at some point provide a rich, fertile place to tell a dusty tale. Borders of the Heart is my nod toward some of the great western wirters -- Cormac McCarthy and Larry McMurtry. It's a love story, a painful story of loss, a mystery, and an edge-of-your-seat thriller. I hope you enjoy the ride thorugh Tucson and the surrounding area as much as I did."

  ***********************************************************************************

Chris Fabry will definitely be added to the list of my favorite authors. To learn more about this author and to watch the trailer for Borders of the Heart, go to http://www.chrisfabry.com/

AUTHOR Q & A

 http://mediacenter.tyndale.com/downloads/press_kits/BordersoftheHeartQ&A.pdf

WATCH TRIALER FOR BORDERS OF THE HEART

watch on tyndale.com

** I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to provide a positive review. 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 for  Rules of Engagement: Preparing for Your Role in the Spiritual Battle

The very first time that I read the title: Rules of Engagement: Preparing for Your Role in the Spiritual Battle, I thought I was getting a book on how to better understand the spiritual warfare battle. But let me tell you, I got that and more!  It's a book on how to build character and veracity to fight the war. Spiritual warfare is something that we are constantly facing in our Christian walk, therefore; it is extremely important to wear the armor of God at all times. Prince shows us how important it is to FIRST be obedient to God.

When we face difficulties in our lives,  it is so much easier for us to to want to fix things by ourselves. Sometimes we experience hardships so that we learn to acknowledge the importance of seeking God's help; as a matter of fact, Derek Prince shows us that being obedient is one of the most important things when we face spiritual battles.

This book is filled with excellent advice and several examples of how Biblical men went through struggles - so that they could learn a life lesson. For example; there is Jacob who had a physical struggle with the Angel of the Lord - this taught him to give up his independence.  Like Jacob, we must learn to surrender.

CHARACTER is another important requirement;  BE VIGILANT!  Prince states that we must always be aware that the enemy seeks to destroy.  And like a soldier, we must learn personal discipline.  Here is an example:

"Be sober, be VIGILANT; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour"  (1 Peter 5:8). 

Prince also states: "Prepare for service by remaining submissive to God and training our souls to stay in submission to our spirits."

"Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.  Let all that you do be done with love."  
(1 Corinthians 16: 13-14).

You will learn in  Rules of Engagement: Preparing for Your Role in the Spiritual Battle, that OBEDIENCE, VIGILANCE, and PREPARATION is important to be in the army of the Lord, and like a soldier prepares for battle - we too must learn to prepare to face all spiritual battles that come our way.  So how do we do this? We must seek God daily through prayer and supplication.   I definitely recommend this OUTSTANDING book.

*This book was provided by Bethany House in exchange for a review.