I just dont know who to talk to my teen ager? any advice?

Any parents or pastors who would be interested in serving iShine by being available to “review” our ideas, ministry initiatives and retail projects before we launch them would be a huge blessing to us. We're specifically looking for feedback from those of you mothers who have tween kids and or single parents with tweens. Contact us via email at info@bemamedia.com to find out more. We're Praying for YOU !

As a married father of three teen-tweens, i'm familiar with many of the challenges in raising two teen girls and a tween boy. In our home, the issues of identity and self esteem often pose significant challenges for both my wife and I to address on a regular basis. I'm curious to see what other parents married and single, are struggling with as they raise tweens in their homes ?

Just heard Francis Chan on Focus on the Family radio broadcast today (Fri – July 30th 2010) talking about teens and tweens and their faith. Very insightful for parents who are struggling with forcing their kids to believe as they do… Check it out and see what you thinkg at … http://www.focusonthefamily.com – daily broadcast section.

Introducing divorce with a Mother and Father in a family with children ages 7,5,3.

Divorce for families is often a huge struggle for parents with many terrible consequences. iShine would strongly encourage you to embrace the wisdom of your local church community in that process. Specifically, talking with your pastor or community group if possible before taking any actions.

Driving into work this morning, i was challenged by a radio sermon, to approach my life from the “balanced” perspective of “gentleness”… To temper my family values and faith with the Holy Spirit’s fruit of “gentleness” in my home, at work and on the freeway. My prayer for myself, i’m sharing with all parents and pastors of tween’s. God remind us to take the time to bathe in the Word of God regularly so we can refresh our perspectives on “gentleness” as we live out our faith.

Went to the first of several school open houses last nite for my eighth grader. Reminded me of the importance of taking the time to invest in our kids outside of my “normal schedule”… To not just meet my “family time” quota with a weekly dinner devotion or our weekly sunday migration to church. Maybe it’s every bit as important for us to grab a bowl of popcorn and watch an hour of “spongebob” or “phineas and ferb” with our kids, when we sense they need it. No teachable moment, no spiritual undertone…just a blanket and pillow and some companionship can help cement the most enduring relationship we will ever be responsible for… Family.

Had small group last night, great meal, encouraging company with dear friends and a refreshing time of prayer. Felt God reminding me of the need to keep a sharp focus and attention on my home… to “plan” to be with my kids, to really “listen” when they tell me about their school day… to remember them when I pray. To really “look” at my wife… as made famous by the film “Avatar”… “I SEE YOU”.

Listening to Switchfoot singing this morning,… “This is your Life, are you who you wanna be…?” Reminds me, it’s time to get intentional, to pick up the pace a bit in my spirituality and choose to make changes. First with self, then with my spouse, and last my kids. Taking it one step at a time, we all can radically improve our lives. Its starts with a prayer and time in the WORD. Super simple, Super profound !

Listening to New Life Ministries today on radio… great advice and help at their website… in particular their article on “PARENTING STYLES: What Hurts Our Kids and What Helps Them” check it out at… http://newlife.com/parenting-styles-what-hurts-our-kids-and-what-helps-them/

Remembering the fallen heroes of our Military services is in all our hearts as we approach the 9th anniversary of 911. So much more as we think about the “everyday” hero’s that are today’s tween parents. THANK YOU.

Noticed yesterday my son (eighth grader) is an expert at being “passive”… learning how to reach him includes creating moments of “uncomfortable” silence as I ask him hard questions about his faith, his actions and his feelings. If i’m not totally prepared, I can be lulled into believing by his mumbled agreements that he is in fact totally on board with his faith, family and morale beliefs… I’m seeing that his form of rebellion is much subtler then his older siblings, passivity and lack of communication can in fact become a much stronger and more dangerous form of rebellion in pre-teens. Prayer, persistence and determination to draw out his feelings, thoughts and ideas are on my high priority list for this school year.

Crazy world we live in… lots of things attack our peace, our joy and our hope. Taking time this morning, I read in Isaiah 36-38 of King Hezekiah who withstood the taunts of an Assyrian superpower, placed his faith in Jehovah and saw an amazing transformation of both his kingdom and the influence of his people on the worldwide political scene… That would be a good idea for us today I think… ?

Fall reminds me of the transitions of life. Watching in hope and excitement for the next season to come… refusing to live by fear or despair for what could go wrong, I’m choosing to lead my family by looking in faith for what will go RIGHT !

Leaving a legacy, a heritage for our families, our lives to continue to encourage, educate and equip… to Glorify our Creator, to show hope and love to as many as we can. To reveal the power of redemption through our own stories and to prepare our kids to do the same, our great comission has not changed in over two thousand years. The only thing that’s changed is us.

Reading in the word this morning, I noticed the powerful warning of the prophet Jermemiah as he reminds the nation of Israel to return to God from their wandering. It was a stern rebuke so to speak, designed to help a nation turn from its current path of destruction back to its promise of peace and stability. Written 3500 years ago, its scary how accurate and relevant they are for today. As you go to work, raise your families and serve your communities, lets remember to return our hearts to our Judeo-Christian roots…, “God we choose to honor you and your word above our preferences, Amen.”

Just finished up a long hard week on the road… its amazing how quickly we can become distanced emotionally and spiritually from our families when we’re gone from the home enviroment. I find myself needing to reconnect with my kids and wife emotionally and spiritually. Leadership in our homes is a key function of parenting, setting the tone for a peaceful and content atmosphere often requires intentionally speaking encouragement and hope to our kids after their hard days at school or our spouses after they come from work exhausted and spent. Resisting the temptation to “take care of ourselves” I find myself stirred to make the time to serve and re-set my home’s spiritual atmosphere.

Long hard days of providing, protecting and persevering… remind us / me to bring myself into the battle of raising a family with my shield of faith and my sword. Faith and the word, “Sola Fide’ and Sola Scriptura” – these are the pillars of any Christian home.