638 - Rebbeca Ingram Powell - Blog/Book Tour

In honor of Sept. 11, I want to take a brief moment and say thank you to all those that died in the attack and to their families that I am sure still picking up the pieces. Thank you!!
Hello Everybody. I am so excited to be hosting this blog tour today for my friend Rebecca Ingram Powell. I knew Rebecca way back when we both ministered together as speakers for Proverbs 31 Ministries. Rebecca is an extremely gifted writer and speaker. This is not her first book at all. She has quite a few that are wonderful. I have not read them all, but I have seen them all and at least flipped through them all waiting for my day to attack!

Rebeeca has a passion for the not yet high schooler, but not so much the child either. The Tweener as I think some like to call them. This book above that we are focusing on today is awesome. I have one copy that is autographed. If you don't mind a used copy I would be thrilled to give mine away. It is a little bit folded, but still wonderful. My oldest is not yet in middle school so i devoured this book in preparation. If i decide I need it again I will just order one from Rebecca. Rebecca's information is below. Feel free to contact her with other questions and by all means purchase this book. It is a must have and one you will be thankful for having!!

Rebecca Ingram Powell Christian Author and Speaker
Monthly columnist, ParentLife magazine (LifeWay Christian Resources)
Rebecca's newest book, SEASON OF CHANGE: PARENTING YOUR MIDDLE SCHOOLER WITH PASSION AND PURPOSE is available now at www.rebeccapowell.com

RIP - is Rebecca Ingram Powell and not "rest in peace". Just had to make that clear. ha!

RIP: Leigh, thanks so much for being a part of my blog tour! Today is a special day of remembrance in our country, and I’m glad to be here at “Speaking Thru Me” on the anniversary of such a transforming event in the life of our nation. For many of us moms, our kids are just now getting to the age where they can understand what really happened on September 11, 2001.

Rebecca, it continues to be a time of great unrest globally. I don't feel like I should sugarcoat the future and say that we are a country that will always be fine and safe, at least in the lifetime of my kids. So how do I offer to them security and a feeling of safety during these days?

RIP: Leigh, it is really important that as parents, we maintain an open line of communication with our kids. That way, if something is really bothering them, they will tell us about it. To be honest, there are a lot of things that I see on the news that bother me and cause me to feel anxious! As we remember 9-11 today, it’s important to talk to our kids about how even adults can feel uncertain, and even a little afraid, when bad things happen. Once we let them in on that secret, it’s crucial that we follow it up with, “But here’s what I do. I take those fears to the only One who really knows what’s going on. I pray about it, remembering that God says, ‘Do not worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.’” Have those verses ready or look them up together. God promises us peace on the inside, even when there is no peace on the outside.

Another way to manage today’s world issues is to talk with kids openly, watch the news together, and pray together as you see the stories reported on. As parents, we don’t have all the answers. Sometimes, we long for simpler times and for a feeling of safety, too! But the truth is that we can’t rely on our feelings—we must rely on our faith in Jesus Christ. Our kids need to see us doing that.

As parents, how do we encourage a child’s passion for something that is not necessarily wrong or sinful, but is just obviously not that child’s strength. For example, what do you do with a son who is passionate about singing but cannot carry a tune to save his life?

RIP: You know, Leigh, I think that no matter what, we need to encourage their passions, keeping this in mind: As they grow, the things that they are truly PASSIONATE about will rise to the surface. I suggest you keep these things in mind:

1. Be careful not to mistake “interest” for “passion,” especially in young children. Most kids go at everything in a gung-ho manner, whether it is wearing the same outfit every day for a month or wanting the same thing for lunch. They tend to be passionate with their interests.

2. Remember that God has a plan, and sometimes a desire is placed in a person so that he can overcome his limitations. In the case of the passionate singer who would never make it past Simon Cowell, LOL, let him sing to his heart’s content! God loves it! By the time he has grown up a little and developed physically enough to consider vocal coaching, you’ll both know if his “passion” is worth the investment. Keep in mind this is a child, and you don’t want to stifle his creativity!

3. Also, remember that the cold, cruel world does enough to discourage. Our homes need to be a loving environment of encouragement. At the same time, as parents, it is our job to steer our children toward their strengths. So, find his strength and continually point him in that direction. If you’re unsure of what that strength is, pray! God will reveal it, because He wants that strength used for His glory (And incredibly, as you know, He wants to use our weaknesses, too!).

There is such an "I don't care" attitude in kids today. How can I help them to see that things do matter, they matter, all things matter because He is in all things?

RIP: Most middle schoolers are hung up on the things that don’t matter (image, popularity, being cool) and oblivious to the things that do (grades, choices, ministry). As parents, we can set an example by showing them what matters in our own lives. What do we spend our money on? That’s a great revelation of what matters to us as adults. Where do we spend our time? Are we living lives that would show our children that all things matter because God is in all things?

One of the most difficult things that middle school parents go through is that God shows us, through our children, that it’s time for us to either put up or shut up! Our kids are observing everything we do, and they are determining if they really want to be like us or not. Our actions speak louder than our words, and because those middle schoolers live with us, they hold us accountable.

Leigh, thanks again for hosting my blog tour today!