Book Review~Pass It On

I just finished reading a new book by authors Jim Burns and Jeremy Lee titled Pass It On: Building a Legacy of Faith for Your Children through Practical and Memorable Experiences.

About the Book: "Parents often experience a “freak out” moment when they realize their children’s view of God will primarily come from what they learn at home.

Most parents spend more time helping their kids succeed at academics or athletics than infusing shared spiritual experiences into the rhythm of everyday family life.
While the idea of strategically passing down our faith can seem intimidating, the annual Rites of Passage Experiences contained in Pass It On make it easy for your family to celebrate milestones from kindergarten through high school graduation. Forever change the direction of your family’s spiritual legacy . . . starting now!"

Pass It On is written in three parts: Part 1 is Setting it Up, explaining to the parent the what and why of a Rite of Passage Experience. Part 2 is the Rites of Passage Experiences themselves, one for each grade Kindergarten through 12th grade. Part 3 is Finishing Strong, wrapping up and reviewing what you've learned. 

You can read more reviews here.  You can purchase your own copy of Pass It On at David C. Cook Publishing. 

About the Authors: 

 
Jim Burns is president of HomeWord and executive director of the HomeWord Center for Youth and Family at Azusa Pacific University. He has more than 1.5 million resources in print and a radio broadcast heard on 800 stations a day. Jim resides in Southern California with his wife Cathy and their three daughters.

Connect with Jim online: website, Twitter, Facebook

 Jeremy Lee is the founder of ParentMinistry.Net, a subscription-based service for children and youth ministry workers. He was on the writing team for the Simple Truth Bible from Group Publishing and the Ignite Study Bible from Thomas Nelson Publishers. Jeremy lives in Nashville with his wife and children.

Connect with Jeremy online: website, Twitter, Facebook

What I Thought: I wish Pass It On had come out about 20 years ago, just about the time my oldest was kindergarten age.  What a great resource for parents!  I know personally how much my children treasure any traditions we have set, whether they are goofy or serious. They are so proud to tell their friends what we do for special occasions that might be a little (or a lot) different. Pass It On gives a Rite of Passage for each year.  You don't have to stick to the authors' suggestions for which grade to do each one, so even if you are starting later in your child's years you can go back and cover some of the Rites of Passage you missed. My youngest son is about to turn 13, and I am looking forward to incorporating several of the Rites of Passage into his childhood.

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review~9 Traits of a Life-Giving Mom

I recently read the ebook 9 Traits of a Life-Giving Mom: Replacing My Worst with God's Best by Sue Detweiler.  It was such a blessing!  Even though I've been at this parenting thing for almost 23 years,  and now a Grandparent, I'm certainly not perfect.  I make mistakes.  This book will help you feel okay when you blow it as a parent, and guide you back on track.

There are 11 chapters, covering 9 traits: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.  Each chapter is full of personal stories, wisdom, inspiration, and plenty of scripture.  There is also prayer at the end of each chapter focused on that chapter's trait. 

There is a Bible Study that goes along with the chapters, composed of 11 lessons.  Each lesson has a woman's personal story, Reflection Questions, and Group Discussion.  At the end of the book are additional resources. 

9 Traits of a Life-Giving Mom was definitely a blessing to me.  We can all use a little (or big) reminder of the amazing job God has entrusted us with in raising our children. The author also reminds us to not beat ourselves up-that we are not perfect, and we should not be striving to be Supermom.  This book would be great for Moms with children of any age to read. 



Connect with author Sue Detweiler on her website , Facebook, Twitter , and Linked In.  9 Traits of a Life Giving Mom is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this ebook free from Christian Women Affiliate in exchange for my honest review. 

Book Review~Balanced: Finding Center as a Work-at-home Mom

Tricia Goyer is one of my favorite authors.  I also enjoy following her on social media and her blogs.  She has recently written a new book, Balanced: Finding Center as a Work-at-Home Mom. Now, before you think this book isn't for you because you don't work at home, I want to tell you this book is for you!  This book can help all Moms.  It's about finding balance, not trying to be perfect, and being your best you. 

I reviewed Balanced in e-book form.  It is 107 pages, with 11 chapters.  The chapters cover a variety of topics, such as:

*Chapter 6: Becoming the Architect of Your Own Schedule
*Chapter 11: Balance isn't the Ultimate Goal: Knowing God Is

Balanced was a quick read, and I learned a lot.  It is full of practical tips, but even more importantly, it covers the emotions we often feel as work-at-home Moms.  Tricia Goyer writes about the guilt we feel when we don't think we are  doing enough in any one area of our lives.  It feels good to know that other Moms feel the same way, and there are ideas on how to find that balance, and how to give yourself grace. 

Balanced is written from a Christian view, and contains many scripture references.  To learn more about Balanced and author Tricia Goyer, visit her website at www.triciagoyer.com .  Right now, Tricia is having a Balanced Challenge that you can join!  Click here for more information.

Disclosure: I received this ebook in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are my own. 

Book Review~Guardians of Purity by Julie Hiramine

 

Guardians of Purity: A Parent's Guide to Winning the War Against media, Peer Pressure, and Eroding Sexual Values is written by Julie Hiramine, founder of Generations of Virtue.  I have read a few books of hers in the past, and was very impressed by her wealth of knowledge and advice.  As the mother of a 10-year-old boy, I am smack-dab in the middle of a very impressionable time in my son's life.

The world today and what our children are being exposed to on a daily basis is downright  scary.  As much as I'd like to, I cant keep my child in a bubble at home-he will be exposed to things that I find inappropriate, no matter how diligent and careful I am. Guardians of Purity is full of helpful advice and biblical wisdom, including:
*Becoming an effective gatekeeper of your home
*Have age-appropriate conversations about sex
*Help teens walk out a lifestyle of purity and integrity
I was blown away by many of the statistics Julie Hiramine quotes, such as: "The average teen spends one hour 40 minutes per week browsing for pornography".  This is just one of many shocking statistics. Guardians of Purity is a must-read for parents!
*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book free from Charisma House in exchange for my honest review.