Gifts to help Whisper the Word-- first to yourself

Before you help a child in an emergency (think traveling by plane or boat) you have to equip yourself with the needed tools to be safe and able to be present for the child. 

If you want to improve whispering the Word to yourself- my blog recommends MANY books that help with being in the Word and learning & growing yourself.  If you aren't a reader, but prefer a more traditional sermon, I've benefited greatly from the teaching of my local church Anchor. As of posting, there are 153 messages going back four years- starting with Mark, then Daniel, Walking with God, Philippians,  1 Corinthians, Isaiah, Ephesians, and now Luke. 

If you want a video course, I suggest Emmaus Ministries  youtube page or the distance learning program.  If you are a podcast person, the Emmaus Podcast is a great choice.

As we whisper the Word to our children- those we parent, those we teach, those who call us Aunt or Uncle, or who we are a special family friend... there are so many great resources available to do it well and have support from great books and props. 

I'm a huge believer in every child learns differently and needs to be taught differently.  Some kids learn best by hearing, others by listening, most with movement, some need a visual, some need patterns, others need logic, some need repetition, some need to re-enact and play through a lesson, others need art or music. 

If you want to learn more about how to reach the kids in your life the way God created them to be as an individual who is diverse and stands out as a unique one that God blessed with different natural talents and strengths. 

Here are some items to add to your wish list: 

Books and Resources by Kathy Koch.  She is a former teacher, turned educational psychologist, now speaker to many about Celebrating Kids.  She's a believer and her resources stand above the rest.  I've heard her speak and I've launched a few books of hers, and hope one day to meet this author whom I view as a kindred spirit in philosophies about kids and education.   Every new book and project I seem to appreciate her even more!  So I am not an affiliate or anything just completely blessed by her work!

8 Great Smarts... and in 2020 she is launching a video course to help adults learn how to reach all 8 smarts.  I'm sharing first because it's main focus, is what I was talking about above, and I'm reading it now!





The first book I read of hers- is still a favorite and my husband (who doesn't read non-fiction much) loved this book as I shared from it when we traveled.  No More Perfect Kids by Jill Savage and Dr. Kathy Koch. 




This led me to her book- Screens and Teens- a great resource for finding balance with teens and their electronics-- something they consider a NEED not a want-- and often function like it is an extension of their body! 



Her most recent book (my review)- Start with the Heart pulls together a little bit of knowledge from all her books and is an amazing parent resource, that is right up there with Raising the Challenging Child, yesterday's post.  






What I love about Dr. Kathy is that she uses the Word to share her learning and make her point!  In her new video teaching, she even reminds us when thinking about our kids' strengths or our own- that some strengths can be used in not so good ways and calls them out as sin-- and encourages us to not use our smarts for sin! 

I'd also suggest if you are looking for books for children of all ages... WTSbooks.com has many options and their suggestions have not led me wrong yet, and they do awesome sales and ship quickly, and I normally can get free shipping! 

Up next resources I love for your children or grandchildren.... to whisper the Word!

Book Launch: Raising the Challenging Child

This book is co-written by experienced professionals.  Debbie Reed,  Karen Doyle Buckwalter, Wendy Lyons Sunshine (also author of The Connected Child with Karyn Purvis and David Cross). The Connected Child, resources from TCI, and Empowered to Connect training changed my ability to express my view of parenting all children, but especially of children from a hard place.  

These excellent resources are planted in a christian worldview, even though the books do not center on the Word-- concepts from the Jesus life and walk on earth are ever present, and the foundation of the books.  But this new books stands out above the Connected Child in that the formatting, scripts, and tips throughout the book, as well as the focused on one concept a chapter, make this new book my top recommendation to help parent children well.   

Here are some foundation concepts that I believe:

• Lead with Love
• Connect before you Correct
• Redirect before you Correct
• Nurture and Relationship come first
• Make eye contact, smile, engage your child or the child you are working with. 
• Show the child that he or she has your full presence- not your phone in hand or glances at the door, or distractions.  
• Be the calm that your child needs-- so that they can mirror your response. 
• Pray hard and ask the Holy Spirit to change your gut instincts, your sin nature natural response, or the response born out of your childhood or perceptions of the situation.  
• Practice the pause, take a deep breathe (encourage your child too), pray even without words, and then respond. 
• Respond not react
• Don't try to change the behavior in the moment, wait and have the conversation when you are both ready (not crabby, hungry, tired, exhausted.)  
• Love leads.... laughter stops anger, frustration as you can't laugh and be angry.  
• ....

This new book is available January 7th, 2020.... 

Get more info here:  https://www.raisingthechallengingchild.com/

Pre-Order today- Christian Book Distributors has the best price I found.   $12.99 as of 11/25/2019

I’m an avid reader of parenting and classroom management books for 20 plus years. This resource with the examples and scripts built in is exactly what tired weary parents and teachers need. The tips. Seal the deal.

This is the parenting book for the non-reader. Achievable. Simple. Clear to understand. Takes a heart focused on serving and growing kids to achieve. And do overs galore. Grace as it’s best modeled for us.

This is the parenting book for the reader. Well formatted. Clear strategies. A book to be read over and over to remind you that you are growing and improving as a parent and that it matters.

Whether you are parenting a child from a hard place, a neurotypical child, or a special needs child, this book brings all the best practice strategies of research alive and models them well with tips, scripts, and real life examples.

I rarely give a book five stars, but this book is well deserving of this high accolade! Pre-order it today.

Advent Reading: Ann Voskamp

Tis the time of year where everyone wants to know what to read for advent.  I'm always an optimistic advent reader and purchase books and read parts of them each year, but rarely do I read all of the advent books made for adults cover to cover the year I start it.   But I've long since forgiven myself for failing at this task, and reminded me that any reading I do blesses my heart, head, and soul, so I continue to over-achieve in options, and underachieve in 100% of anything.  But I press on, say I won't order any new ones, and maybe this year I won't!  But I do also go through them when I plan my annual Sunday School lessons from a different angle than last year for our kids program, so they get used!  And they bring me joy!

I will start my reviews of advent materials with Ann Voskamp.  At this page, you can see images, read chapter one of her adult book, print off coloring pages (detailed that my daughter loved at ages 7-8).

Anne has a unique style, it is NOT for everyone.  She is a former day-spring greeting card writer and it shows in her style with great flowing descriptions and lots of imagery.  Pretty sure she writes for the picture smart readers of the world.   What I have found attractive with her writing from 1,000 gifts on, is her honesty, vulnerability, and truth telling pointing us back to the Word of God over and over, in ways that make me pause, be silent, still, and reflect.  Her thinking on the pages of her book, on her website, in her many memes and post it notes for your soul beckon me to seek God with a holy and simple child like faith and reverence because He is always at work in my life, heart, soul, and mind.  No matter how broken, successful, pious or humble I come- He's there and helps me become more like Him because I'm drawn to His character and Word by this kindred spirit author who mentors me from afar.

Another great thing about Ann's books and blog, are the free printables that go along with her books- from coloring pages, coloring ornaments, memes, sticky notes for your soul, etc.  She provides it all free for her subscribers and her images are beautiful, and her words speak to my soul.

Her book for adults for advent is by far my favorite-- it's called the Greatest Gift- and each day there is a reading, scripture, a place to journal, and you can print out sticky notes for the soul- and I've been blessed by these year after year!

A sample Sticky Note: 

She also has a family read aloud that tells the Jesse Tree story day by day.  It's got a lot of print and text for each day, and many children struggle to sit through it all, but it's a gorgeous book, and I enjoy reading through the perspectives again and again.


Because it was a challenging read aloud, I suspect, came this next version- a book that opens up to be a tree- and there is a tiny book with short read aloud, and an ornament to hang on this tree that pops right out of the book each day.  It's gorgeous, simple and elegant.  At my house, flat surfaces to keep it on, are not always the easiest to find, so it's not the best fit for us, but I loan it out to others.

This year?  there is an affordable option of wooden ornaments made by Caleb Voskamp.  I ordered mine and think they have been shipped as a pre-order, or will be shipped Nov. 22. Isn't my husband the best gift giver?  He lets me purchase my own joys and I always tell the kids- Dad buys me the best presents- and give him all the credit- because he loves that I love the choosing as much as the presents- and lets me treat myself- and is happy!

There is also a Greatest Gift DVD series- but I've not seen it myself, but any of her videos are delightful, she speaks truth with a gentle, soothing voice, but she has a powerful message to bring.  

Bethany Partner Review: Encountering the Heart of God

This book is simple, yet causes me to pause, reflect, and wonder. 
The readings are short but the thoughts are powerful, deep, and resonate in your heart.

This book has a short daily read going chronologically through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.  Each day ends with a concept or question, related the passage explained in the short paragraphs above. These concepts are either making the reader think about Who God is or think about How he/she is responding in light of how God has shown Himself in the event mentioned that day.   Then a brief prayer. 

I think the title reflects the theme and spirit of the book well- each day the reader thinks about God's heart for them.  And it works, each day you learn about the event, hear how God is present or at work, or how the man/woman in the event reflected, prayed, or connected with who God is in their life, and then you are asked to recall and fit these truths into your own life. 

I think this devotional would be a great one to read with my almost 10 year old daughter and start a conversation about how we see God in our lives.  I think it would be enjoyable for a long time believer to be refreshed with another perspective on the Bible. And I believe a new believer or faith seeker would gain a deep and intimate perspective of the God of the Bible- and meet Him in these pages, and I pray be moved to faith because of who He is and what He has and is doing in His people's lives. 



Blessed to partner with Bethany House and read this new book.