Friday, July 13, 2012

Book Review: Growing Great Kids, by Kate Battistelli


Growing Great Kids - Partner with God to cultivate His purpose in your child's life is a new book by Kate Battistelli. If the name Battistelli sounds familiar, it's because Kate is the mother of Dove Award-winning, Grammy-nominated recording artist Francesca Battistelli.

Growing Great Kids is a well written, no-nonsense approach to helping your child become everything God made them to be. The over-all focus of the book is about really listening to God and helping your child discover His plan for their life, and then enabling them through your support as well as covering them in prayer.

Kate shares her own personal stories of her journey with Francesca. I loved that Kate actually prayed specific and intentional prayers for Francesca, which she recorded in her journal, so she could update with success reports. 

In the beginning of this year she prayed for Dove nominations and when Francesca received four, Kate wrote it down and dated it. She then began praying that Kate would win won, and when Kate won three, she again wrote that down and dated it.

But you don't have to have such dreams for your own child. Kate also shares how she prayed over her daughter's schooling and for wisdom each year as to what classes she would take. She covered every area of her daughter's life in prayer.

One of my favorite quotes from the book is, "Kids will be adults far longer than they will be children. What's the rush to expose them to all the junk, sin and heartache of the world? I'm well aware we can't protect them forever, but I'm a firm believe in letting a child grow up innocent of the ugly side of life until the time comes when she is ready to handle it." As a mom myself, who has been labeled "over-protective, I so appreciated Kate's confirmation of what I already believe.

Each chapter concludes with discussion questions, which really help you apply what you just read for your own parenting. The chapters beautifully conclude with prayer.

If you are a parent who wants to partner with God to find His purpose for your child's life, I recommend this book. You can find it at Amazon, as well as other on-line retailers. To learn more about Kate Battistelli, visit her blog where she regularly writes about food and faith, http://katebattistelli.com/.

I received a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com

Chatty Kelly

Monday, July 9, 2012

Balancing Faith


Being a Christian is hard. Like a tight rope walk, it requires stellar balance not to fall.



We are in the world, but we are not supposed to be of the world. 

We are to "judge not," yet we are to "rebuke, correct and teach."

We may get angry, but we must not sin in our anger.

We are called to love our enemies, yet at the same time Jesus told the disciples if anyone rejected them to leave and "shake the dust off their feet as a testimony against them."

We are given free will, but if we chose wrong, we lose everything.

We are free, but not everything is beneficial. Yes, there is still sin we should walk away from. Or better yet, run.

We have to reject what the world loves so that they may hate us, but be salt and light to the world so they want what we have - Jesus. 

It's hard to walk on the tightrope of faith. And yes, sometimes we fall. But thankfully, with Jesus on our side, he is always there to catch us when we do, and offer us another chance to walk by faith.

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com

Chatty Kelly