The Hope-Filled Family

Discipleship for parents

As parents, we can end up investing so much time in our children that we neglect our own spiritual journey. Here are some great resources and ideas to support mums and dads as we seek to draw closer to Jesus together.

MINISTRY-PROOFING YOUR MARRIAGE: PREVENTING PASTORS’ MARRIAGE PROBLEMS

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As a vicar's wife, I'm all too aware of the demands that full-time ministry can put on a marriage. I'm saddened, but not surprised, when I read about pastors' marriage problems - the challenges of maintaining a healthy family life when you're also pastorally involved in lots of other people's lives … [Read more...] about MINISTRY-PROOFING YOUR MARRIAGE: PREVENTING PASTORS’ MARRIAGE PROBLEMS

WHEN FLEDGLINGS FLOP: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR TEENAGER IS OUT OF CONTROL

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Every day this week I'm focusing on raising teenagers, and today I'm delighted to have fellow author Gail Gritts join us. Gail is a mum of 5 - now all grown-up - and has a powerful testimony of how two of her children hit rock-bottom. Read on... When the mother bird pushes her fledglings out of the … [Read more...] about WHEN FLEDGLINGS FLOP: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR TEENAGER IS OUT OF CONTROL

10 FAITH-BASED NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS FOR EXHAUSTED PARENTS

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To start talking about personal growth and improvement when you're either stuffed so full of Celebrations and mince pies that you can hardly move, or you're entirely burnt-out from yet another busy year of parenting, work and other commitments, will either come across as annoyingly trite or … [Read more...] about 10 FAITH-BASED NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS FOR EXHAUSTED PARENTS

WHEN YOU CAN’T BE THE PARENT YOU DREAMT OF BEING: THERE IS HOPE

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From the emails I've received from lots of you - as well as my own parenting experience - I know that many of our parenting struggles have, at their core, a root problem: We haven't met our own sky-high expectations. We went into parenthood with images and ideas … [Read more...] about WHEN YOU CAN’T BE THE PARENT YOU DREAMT OF BEING: THERE IS HOPE

A FAMILY ADVENT: TWO CHRISTIAN WRITERS SHARE THEIR FAMILY ADVENT TRADITIONS

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My friend Amy Scott Robinson is one of the deepest, most poetic Christian storytellers and writers that I know. She's the author of the marvellous Gladstone Tales, the first of which I reviewed right here. And guess what? She and I have both released Advent books this year! … [Read more...] about A FAMILY ADVENT: TWO CHRISTIAN WRITERS SHARE THEIR FAMILY ADVENT TRADITIONS

CHRISTIANS AND HALLOWEEN: HOW CAN FAMILIES APPROACH HALLOWEEN WITH INTEGRITY?

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Around this time of year, I start to get fidgety. Just as I'm starting to think about Christmas, Halloween goes and plonks itself right in the middle of autumn - something I'd rather ignore, but know that I can't. My kids start getting excited, then realise I'm not, then start to ask difficult … [Read more...] about CHRISTIANS AND HALLOWEEN: HOW CAN FAMILIES APPROACH HALLOWEEN WITH INTEGRITY?

CONNECTING WITH GOD THROUGH THE EARLY DAYS OF PARENTHOOD

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Exactly ten years ago, I became a parent. In real life, our celebrations this week will be focused on Mister, involving Laserquest and chocolate cake. But on the blog, I've been reflecting on how my life changed in Autumn 2009 through this mini-series ‘Plus Baby Makes Three’, offering some … [Read more...] about CONNECTING WITH GOD THROUGH THE EARLY DAYS OF PARENTHOOD

IS CHURCH JUST ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR FAMILY’S EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES?

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Weekends are full. Especially with a family. From the word 'go' on Saturday morning, us parents can find ourselves hurriedly pushing kids out of the house to get to morning band practice, swimming lessons or sports matches. Afternoons bring parties - trying to remember which of the 39 … [Read more...] about IS CHURCH JUST ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR FAMILY’S EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES?

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