Courageous Parenting

Sometimes it feels as if the best we can do as a family is to survive. The ups and downs of life leave little energy or hope of doing more than simply gritting our teeth and plugging ahead with life. Anything beyond this seems a long way off. But there is reason to believe that our families can thrive. Healthy, God-centered relationships with your spouse and children can be had only through building on the right foundation. There must be genuine faith, morality, spiritual understanding, discipline, enduring patience, character, kindness, love, and much more. This is a daunting list, one that most of us feel is too great a challenge to attain, but it can be achieved by building our families on the unshakable foundation of Jesus Christ. Often it seems as if building a strong family is nearly impossible. Parents need to be encouraged, though, because creating and growing a family of this kind is possible by the grace of God through the guidance of His holy Word. Throughout the pages of this book, Jack and Deb Graham teach us with biblical models for the home, provide practical advice for parents, and speak from years of their own experience in active ministry and parenting. They offer support and encouragement to parents for the often overwhelming task of raising a family that represents and reflects Jesus Christ, and they put forth a call for courage and godly confidence in forming a biblical legacy for our children and the generations that follow. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 Introduction......Page 10 Introduction......Page 11 Acknowledgments......Page 12 Part I - A Biblical Plan for the Family......Page 14 1. It Takes Three to Make Parenting Work......Page 16 A Biblical Plan for the Family......Page 17 A Great Marriage Requires Three People......Page 18 A Biblical Plan for the Family......Page 19 God Can Restore a Marriage......Page 25 A Biblical Plan for the Family......Page 27 2. The Loving Leadership of a Husband and Father......Page 30 A Biblical Plan for the Family......Page 31 Love Your Wife in a Way That Will Make Your Marriage Exciting......Page 34 A Biblical Plan for the Family......Page 35 A Biblical Plan for the Family Lead Your Wife in a Way That Will Make Your Home a Powerhouse for Christ......Page 39 A Biblical Plan for the Family......Page 41 3. The Sacrificial Love and Nurture of a Wife and Mother......Page 46 A Biblical Plan for the Family......Page 47 Follow Your Husband’s Leadership and Watch Your Marriage Grow......Page 48 A Biblical Plan for the Family......Page 49 Love, Nurture, and Teach Your Children and Watch Them Grow into Dynamic Christians......Page 53 A Biblical Plan for the Family......Page 55 4. The Incredible Value of Children......Page 58 Our Children Are Special Gifts of God......Page 59 A Biblical Plan for the Family......Page 61 Our Children Are on Loan to Us from God......Page 64 A Biblical Plan for the Family......Page 65 Our Children Are to Be Raised for God......Page 66 A Biblical Plan for the Family......Page 67 Part II - Putting the Plan to Work......Page 74 5. Parenting: An Uncommon Calling......Page 76 Putting the Plan to Work......Page 77 We Can Learn from Good Parents in the Bible......Page 78 Putting the Plan to Work......Page 79 The Proverbs Are Filled with Principles for Wise Parenting......Page 82 Putting the Plan to Work......Page 83 6. Taking a Stand in Your Home......Page 92 Putting the Plan to Work......Page 93 Putting the Plan to Work We Must Be Committed to Instill Godly Traits in Our Children......Page 95 Putting the Plan to Work......Page 97 Both Parents Must Be Committed to Take a Stand for the Family......Page 102 Putting the Plan to Work......Page 103 We Must Be Committed to Take a Stand for Future Generations......Page 104 Putting the Plan to Work......Page 105 7. Homeland Security......Page 108 Homeland Security Requires a Family with Integrity......Page 109 Putting the Plan to Work......Page 111 Homeland Security Requires a Family to Set Boundaries......Page 114 Putting the Plan to Work......Page 115 Homeland Security Requires a Family That Blesses......Page 119 Putting the Plan to Work......Page 121 8. Will the Real Parents Please Stand Up?......Page 122 Putting the Plan to Work......Page 123 Teach Your Children the Priority of Purity......Page 124 Putting the Plan to Work......Page 125 Teach Your Children the Necessity of Modesty......Page 129 Putting the Plan to Work......Page 131 Putting the Plan to Work Formulate a Plan for Victory in the Area of Sexual Purity......Page 133 9. Building a Rock-Solid Family......Page 136 Putting the Plan to Work......Page 137 Rock-Solid Families Are Built by Loving Together......Page 138 Putting the Plan to Work......Page 139 Rock-Solid Families Are Built by Learning Together......Page 141 Putting the Plan to Work......Page 143 Rock-Solid Families Are Built by Laughing Together......Page 145 Putting the Plan to Work......Page 147 10. Raising Eagles......Page 148 Help Your Children Develop a Heavenly Mind-set......Page 149 Putting the Plan to Work......Page 151 Let Your Children Know You Expect Great Things from Them......Page 153 Help Your Children to Embrace the Presence and Power of Christ......Page 155 Part III - Special Reflectionsfrom Deb Graham......Page 158 11. From “It’s a Boy” to “I’m Engaged”......Page 160 Parenting Is a Lifelong Calling......Page 161 Special Reflections The Season of Protection......Page 163 The Season of Preparation......Page 165 Special Reflections......Page 167 The Season of Partnering......Page 168 Special Reflections......Page 169 The Season of Privilege......Page 172 Summing It All Up......Page 173 Important Voices......Page 174 Special Reflections......Page 175 ACCORDING TO A FAMOUS QUOTE attributed to Abraham Lincoln, "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time."

jack And Deb Graham Outline Biblical Principles For A Fruitful Family Life And Offer Trustworthy Advice To Parents In Need Of Encouragement.