ABCS Recommends...

Recommended Resources for families, parents and couples.

 

---

 

Parenting

 

8 Things No Kid Should Leave Home Without: Empower Your Teens to Live on Their Own and Be Successful By Joe McGee / Harrison House Life's real test comes after the nest! Because basic flight training should start before kids soar, former school administrator McGee reveals eight simple principles they'll need to live successfully after they leave home. From vision, humility, and character to math, time management, and communication skills, he helps you prepare your children to be responsible citizens and godly leaders. 224 pages, softcover from Harrison House.

Boundaries with Kids By Dr. Henry Cloud / Zondervan To help their children grow into healthy adults, parents need to teach them how to take responsibility for their behavior, their values, and their lives. The authors of the Gold Medallion Award-winning book Boundaries bring their biblically based principles to bear on the challenging task of child rearing, showing parents: how to bring control to an out-of-control family life; how to set limits and still be loving parents; how to define legitimate boundaries for the family; how to install in children a godly character.

Boundaries with Teens By Dr. John Townsend / Zondervan Adolescence-it's a turbulent time for parents and teens. Your child's changing temperament and behaviors can be upsetting for the entire family. Dr. Townsend offers biblical principles for handling disrespect and irresponsibility, establishing healthy limits and realistic consequences and more. Features a discussion on moodiness, school problems, and aggression, along with your own attitudes, conflicts and obstacles.

Boundaries with Teens: When to Say Yes, How to Say No By Dr. John Townsend / Zondervan Help teenagers grow into healthy adults who take responsibility for their behavior, values, and lives! The father of two teenage boys, best-selling author Townsend shares experienced, biblically based insights, including how to bring order to an out-of-control household; set limits and still be loving parents; define legitimate boundaries for the family; and instill godly characteristics. 288 pages, softcover from Zondervan.

Christian Family's Guide To Parenting A Toddler By Sybil Clark / Alpha A warm, conversational guide to raising toddlers. This book tells new parents everything they need to know to raise a healthy, happy toddler, from encouraging their first steps and words; overseeing toilet training, good hygiene, and good manners; to easing their fears and soothing separation anxieties; understanding their changing nutritional and health needs; and increasing their physical skills through activities and play.

Dad's Everything Book for Sons: Practical Ideas for a Quality Relationship By John Trent, Ph.D. & Greg Johnson / Zondervan Today they're Cub Scouts; and before you know it they're shaving! Now's the time to establish unbreakable bonds with your 8- to 12-year-old sons---ones that will withstand the turbulent teen years. Discover creative, realistic approaches to communicating, fighting the world's influence, defining manhood, imparting eternal values, and more. 224 pages, softcover from Zondervan.

Grace-Based Parenting By Tim Kimmel / Thomas Nelson Are you seeking direction in getting the parenting thing right? In Grace-based Parenting, you'll find a refreshing new look at parenting based on the example of the ultimate child and family expert - God. Rejecting rigid rules and checklists that don't work, Dr. Kimmel recommends a parenting style that mirrors God's love, reflects His forgiveness, and displaces fear as a motivator for behavior. As you embrace the grace God offers, you begin to give it, nurturing your family and creating a solid foundation for growing morally strong and spiritually motivated children.

Parenting Isn't For Cowards: The 'You Can Do It' Guide for Hassled Parents from America's Best-Loved Family Advocate By James C. Dobson / Tyndale House No one said parenting was going to be easy. In Parenting Isn't For Cowards, Dr. James Dobson offers insight and encouragement for parents who could use a little support while raising children in a culture that tears kids down. Topics covered are the battle of the wills, adolescence, discipline, power games, burnout, and adult children.

Parenting With Love and Logic: Teaching Children Responsibility By Foster Cline & Jim Fay / Nav Press When they reach their teens, many kids seem to have no clue about making wise decisions - so they make bad ones. How can you raise mature, responsible kids? Foster Cline and Jim Fay show you how to parent "with love and logic." Once you learn to establish effective controls without resorting to anger and threats, your kids will learn to deal with the real world by solving their own problems. And you'll build a rewarding relationship built on love, trust and fun.

Preparing for Adolescence: How to Survive the Coming Years of Change By Dr. James Dobson / Gospel Light Talking to your children about sensitive topics is never easy. And yet, what parent wouldn't want his or her child to go into the teen years confident and wise to the challenges of adolescence and beyond? Your children are depending on you to get the information they need and want to face the coming years of change. Dr. Dobson, a leadingfamily psychologist, knows how to speak directly and sincerely to youth about the topics that concern them the most.

MAKING PEACE WITH YOUR TEENAGER: The R.E.S.T. Strategy By Kevin Huggins / Discovery House Publishers Rest with a teenager in the house---are you kidding? No, we're serious! With over 50 years of experience between them, Huggins and Landrum offer you the fruits of their labor with teens so you can R.E.S.T. This 4-part strategy helps you Reflect on your own strengths and weaknesses as a parent, Explore the changes going on inside your son or daughter, Soften your resistance to change, and Transform your heart by allowing God to play a key role in restoring the relationship! 320 pages, paper from Discovery House.

Preparing Your Daughter for Every Woman's Battle: Creative Conversations about Sexual and Emotional Integrity By Shannon Ethridge / Random House, Inc Long before we may realize it, our daughters are bombarded with messages about sex--from friends, advertisers, media icons, and more. All of this input, along with the whirlwind of emotions that accompany puberty, can leave them confused and filled with unasked questions about boys, dating, sex, and their own value. While you may believe that your preteen or early adolescent is too young for "the talk," now is the perfect time for creative conversations about sexuality. By introducing key principles and truths during these teachable years, you can lay a foundation that will help your daughter withstand the inevitable pressures young women face. And you'll create a lasting bond, establishing yourself as a trustworthy authority who is willing to help her address the sensitive issues in her life.

Raising Sons and Loving It! Helping Your Boys Become Godly Men By Gary & Carrie Oliver / Zondervan How can you successfully raise that bundle of energy, hormones, and potential you call "Son"? In these days of daunting headlines, here's some really goood news: Your son was God's idea, and you can help him weather the often rocky transition from boyhood to a manhood shaped by God's character and purposes. Drawing from their extensive clinical and personal experience, Gary and Carrie Oliver show you: How boys are really different from girls Five keys to raising "emotionally intelligent" sons What your boys need from your marriage-and you How to help your sons cultivate a heart for God How to cultivate your son's ability to deal with failure, loss, and grief.

Revolutionary Parenting By George Barna / Tyndale House What are the key factors that will make a difference in the spiritual lives of your children? Barna surveyed thriving adult Christians and discovered the essential steps their parents took to shape childhood character. He reveals surprising information about popular parenting tactics and shows you how to instill a vibrant committment to Christ in your kids.

Sacred Parenting: How Raising Children Shapes Our Souls By Gary L. Thomas / Zondervan Instead of the typical instruction manual on child rearing, Thomas's inspiring and affirming book demonstrates how God uses kids to profoundly change their parents. Through scriptural insights and encouraging real-life stories, you'll learn how others handled difficulties and challenges---and how it transformed their walk with God. Discover the spiritual potential in your parent-child relationships! 231 pages, softcover from Zondervan.

The Five Love Languages of Children By Gary Chapman / Moody Publishers Are you expressing your love in a way your child understands? Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell help you discover your child's unique communication style, so you can better meet his or her deepest emotional needs. From quality time to physical touch, these five "love languages" hold the key to your child's development and success.

The Power of a Praying Parent Prayer and Study Guide By Stormie Omartian / Harvest House Publishers If you're interested in studying Stormie Omartian's book, The Power of a Praying Parent, this supplemental workbook will help you gain insight and understanding into how God leads you to pray for your children. The Prayer and Study Guide is divided into a 30-week plan for use in personal or group study. You'll also need a copy of the book and a Bible to go along with it. As you look back over time you'll be amazed at how powerfully your prayers affect your child's life. Also included are several pages for you to record answered prayer.

Your Girl: Raising a Godly Daughter in an Ungodly World By Vicki Courtney / B & H Publishing Group Today's movies, music, and magazines bombard your preteen and teenage daughters with worldly images. Courtney shows how you can overcome the negative influences of our provocative culture as she addresses timely topics, including sexual purity, the dangers of conformity, self- worth, modesty and femininity. This is a must-read for mothers of girls aged 18 and under.

Praying Prodigals Home: Taking Back What the Enemy has Stolen By Quin Sherrer / Gospel Light Do you suffer the pain of a loved one gone astray? Quinn Sheerer amd Ruthanne Garlock have both kept a light in the window for the return of prodigal children. But they did not wait passively, helplessly wringing their hands, paralyzed by fear and despair. Instead, they battled for their children in prayer and trusting that, ultimately, almighty God would intervene, returning the prodigals to their parents' arms. The enemy uses many worldly temptations to lure our young people away from their Christian values and upbringing. This book reminds us that for those of faith, victory is always within our grasp and that our loved ones are eternally dear to His heart.

---

Single Parenting

Single Parenting That Works: Six keys to raising happy, healthy, children in a single parent home By Kevin Leman / Tyndale House Being a parent is challenging enough. Being a single parent can seem downright impossible-until now. Drawing on material from his successful Single Parenting That Works curriculum, American's favorite parenting expert, Dr. Kevin Leman, brings help and hope to the legions of single parents struggling to raise happy well adjusted children in a loving caring and biblically grounded way, showing parents how to build healthy mature relationships with former spouses, developing a child's self-esteem and more.

365 Strategies for Positive Single Parenting By Susan Brown / Smyth & Helwys Publishing, Inc 365 Postive Strategies for Single Parenting will help you answer the many quesitons and handle the complicated issues of single parenting with children of any age. You can become more efficient and prepared for the unexpected while creating a family with important values, strength, and love.

The Single Mom's Workplace Survival Guide By Brenda Armstrong / Gospel Light Every mom is a working mom! But never before have circumstances forced so many moms to raise their children single-handedly, which usually includes holding down a paying job in addition to taking care of the home and kids. In this book you won't find pat answers or quick fixes. Born from her own 'been there, done that' experience, Brenda Armstrong offers her excellent insights to help single moms not only to survive, but to thrive. This book supplies single moms everywhere with a quick and helpful focus on their priorities. Softcover, 188 pages. Regal.

From One Single Mother to Another: Heart-Lifting Encouragement and Practical Advice By Sandra Aldrich / Gospel Light Sandra Aldrich, a veteran single mom, presents practical advice, personal experiences, encouraging anecdotes and an occasional chuckle as she tells engaging stories of single mothering. Sandra proves that while single parenting is a tough road, it can be walked victoriously and that with God's help, single-parent homes do not need to be "broken homes."

---

Stepfamilies

The Smart Stepfamily By Ron L. Deal / Bethany Ro Deal explodes the muth of the "blended" family as he provides practical, realistic solutions to the issues that stepfamilies face. He helps remarried and soon-to-be-married couples recognize the unique personality and place of each family member, solve the every day puzzles of stepparenting and stepchildren relationships, learn communication skills to deal with ex-spouses, invest the time to grow their stepfamily rather than look for instant results.

Becoming Family: How to Build a Stepfamily That Really Works By Robert Lauer / Augsburg Fortress More than one in five families with two parents is a stepfamily, and eight million children live in stepfamilies. The stepfamily is both a wonderful blessing and a challenge. Drawing on their own experiences, and that of the stepfamilies with whom they have worked, Robert and Jeanette Lauer give realistic, helpful advice on how to deal with the major challenges in stepfamily life: loss, adjustment, personal identity, family identity, loyalty conflicts, former spouses, resources, stepparenting, and marital intimacy. The authors encourage the formation of stepparent support groups, and an appendix includes activities and suggestions for small-group discussion.

Stepparent to Stepparent By Margaret Broersma / Kregel Publications After a decade of writing and speaking about stepfamilies, Margaret Broersma, herself a veteran stepparent, has received her fair share of letters on the subject. Parents asking for advice on everything from what their new stepkids should call them (Dad? Mom? first name?) to advice on extreme discipline problems. In this book, Margaret answers fifty such questions with a mixture of practical advice and sound biblical truths. If you are a stepparent or about to become one, you'll benefit from this candid discussion of the issues of blending families.

Marriage

Boundaries in Marriage By Dr. Henry Cloud / Zondervan They're at the forefront of today's Christian counseling movement, and now Drs. Cloud and Townsend help guide couples. Recommending boundaries even in marriage, they show how respecting a spouse's personal "territory" actually strengthens a relationship as well as how to safeguard marriage from intruders such as idols, affairs, and well-meaning parents.

How to Act Right When Your Spouse Acts Wrong By Leslie Vernick / Random House, Inc There are no perfect marriages or perfect spouses. We know having a good marriage requires effort and hard work. Yet we often don't know how to continue to love when we are angry, hurt, scared, or just plain irritated. Nor are we sure what that kind of love is supposed to look like. Should we be patient? Forgive and forget? Do something else entirely? In this book, you'll find the answers to these questions, differences, and sins of your spouse to help you become more like Christ. Acting right when your spouse acts wrong will not necessarily result in a more satisfying marital relationship, nor will it automatically make your spouse change his or her ways - although both could occur. It will, however, teach you to respond wisely when wronged and lead you into a deeper relationship with Christ as you yield your will to his plan for your life and learn to be more like him.

Love & Respect, Book & Workbook By Dr. Emerson Eggerichs / Thomas Nelson What's the secret to a successful marriage? Unconditional respect for him and unconditional love for her, says Eggerichs. Drawing from Ephesians 5:33, his breakthrough bestseller and workbook will help you and your spouse achieve a deeper level of intimacy by stopping the crazy cycle of conflict, initiating energizing change, and enjoying renewed passion. One hardcover and one softcover, from Integrity.

Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires, the Respect He Desperately Needs By Dr. Emerson Eggerichs / Thomas Nelson Discover the secret that cracks the communication code between husbands and wives and reap the benefits of marriage as God intended. Citing extensive biblical and psychological research, Eggerichs shows that harmony and happiness in relationships is not achieved by love alone, but by building on both parts of the Ephesians 5:33 equation: love and respect.

Sacred Marriage: What if God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy By Gary Thomas / Zondervan Is happiness the ultimate goal of marriage, or is there a greater purpose? Thomas helps you understand the Lord's intention for matrimony-for husband and wife to reflect the character of Christ. See how God wants to use your marriage as a spiritual discipline to draw you closer to Him, who is happiness.

Saving Your Marriage Before it Starts, Revised: Seven Questions to Ask Before and After You Marry By Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott / Zondervan With more than 600,000 copies sold, this classic has become the gold standard for helping today's engaged and newlywed couples build a solid foundation for lifelong love. This expanded and updated edition has been honed by ten years of feedback, professional experience and the author's own insights to provide you with the practical tools you need for a lasting and loving future together.

The Five Love Languages By Gary Chapman / Moody Publishers We all know that the greatest commandment is to love. However, relatively few of us know how to express our love in the heart language of our family and friends. Fortunately, in The Five Love Languages Gary Chapman identifies the five primary love languages and teaches us how to use these languages to express our love. Although this edition of The Five Love Languages was written specifically for couples, the basic principles Chapman explores will apply to all relationships.

When Sinners Say I Do: Discovering the Power of the Gospel for Marriage By Dave Harvey / Shepherd Press Marriage is the union of two people who arrive at the altar toting some surprisingly large luggage. Often it gets opened right there on the honeymoon, sometimes it waits for the week after. The Bible calls it sin and understanding its influence can make all the difference for a man and woman who are building a life together. When Sinners Say "I Do" is about encountering the life-transforming power of the gospel in the unpredictable journey of marriage. Dave's writing style embraces the reader as he speaks honestly, and sometimes humorously, about sin and the power of the gospel to overcome it. He opens the delightful truth of God's word and encourages the reader to see more clearly the glorious picture of what God does when sinners say "I do".

When Sinners Say I Do Audio CD By Dave Harvey / Shepherd Press Marriage is the union of two people who arrive at the altar toting some surprisingly large luggage. Often it gets opened right there on the honeymoon, sometimes it waits for the week after. The Bible calls it sin and understanding its influence can make all the difference for a man and woman who are building a life together. This audio is about encountering the life-transforming power of the gospel in the unpredictable journey of marriage. 5 CDs. Read by the author.

---

Unplanned Pregnancy

Mom, Dad I'm Pregnant: When Your Son or Daughter Faces An Unplanned Pregnancy By Jayne E. Schooler / Nav Press When you find out that you unwed daughter or son is going to be a parent, you experience a roller coaster of emotions, namely: It wasn't supposed to be like this. In times like these, you need love and support more than ever before. In this book, Jayne Schooler writes about the hurt, confusion, and broken dreams of parents. Yet God is there for you and your family, even when circumstances seem so outside of His will. For her deep, personal experience, Jayne throws her arms around you and offers helpful advice to get you through the toughest times. Discover how in these unplanned moments, you can experience and unexpected amount of grace, love, and healing.

I'm Pregnant . . . Now What? Heartfelt Advice on Getting Through Unplanned Pregnancy By Ruth Graham / Gospel Light Compassionate, practical help for navigating crisis pregnancy---from someone who's been there! In the wake of her own teen daughter's unplanned pregnancies, Ruth Graham shares her family's story and offers heartfelt encouragement to others. Includes expert, Christ-centered advice from a seasoned counselor, plus testimonies from pregnant teens, their family members, adoptive couples, and an adult adoptee. 200 pages, softcover from Regal.

Surprise Child: Finding Hope in Unexpected Pregnancy By Leslie Leyland Fields / Random House, Inc Unplanned pregnancies happen to women in every season of life: the newly married, the never-married, the empty-nester, the teenager, the overworked mother, the career woman. Yet we rarely talk about how lonely and confusing this experience can be. Leslie Leyland Fields, who experienced two unplanned pregnancies in her forties, weaves her own story with the stories of other women who understand the isolation you face as expectations and plans are turned upside down to make room for a child. Together, these women walk with you month-by-month through the physical and emotional stages of pregnancy, voicing their own anxieties and struggles. Here you will find the companionship and hope you need to journey toward a new life.

Estoy Embarazada &#191Y Ahora Que? (I'm Pregnant...Now What?) By Ruth Graham & Dr. Sara Dormon / Editorial Unilit Compasiva y pr&#225ctica ayuda para navegar la crisis de un embarazo no deseado---&#161de parte de una persona que ya ha estado en esa situaci&#243n! En medio de la dificultad de los embarazos sorpresivos de su propia hija adolescente, Ruth Graham comparte la historia de su familia y ofrece cordial est&#237mulo a aquellos que enfrentan este tipo de circunstancia. Incluye consejos profesionales y cristoc&#233ntricos de una consejera de renombre, ademas de testimonios de adolecentes embarazadas, sus familiares, parejas adoptivas, y un testimonio de padres adoptivos. Compassionate, practical help for navigating crisis pregnancy---from someone who's been there! In the wake of her own teen daughter's unplanned pregnancies, Ruth Graham shares her family's story and offers heartfelt encouragement to others. Includes expert, Christ-centered advice from a seasoned counselor, plus testimonies from pregnant teens, their family members, adoptive couples, and an adult adoptee.

Life Interrupted: The Scoop on Being a Young Mom By Tricia Goyer / Zondervan One day you're a typical student. You're working part-time at McDonald's to pay for your clothes and car. The next day, you're a mother-to-be. You're confused and scared. Emotional and standoffish. You feel like a kid, but now with a huge responsibility. How could your life change so fast?Your youth wasn't supposed to be packed with worries and obligations, Lamaze classes and daycarechoices-and you've still got work and school to deal with. Whatever happened to fun, friendships and dating? You'd do anything for your baby-but what about you? What about your needs? Sharing stories from her own experience as a teenage mom and from other young mothers, Tricia Goyer explains the nine basic needs that all young moms have and how they can be met. Needs such as the need to be appreciated, the need to know your life is not at a dead end, and the need to be loved.

---

Adoption

 

The Adoption Decision: 15 Things You Want to Know Before Adopting By Laura Christianson / Harvest House Publishers It's the most wonderful decision you'll ever make . . . but the process can be overwhelming! Before you plunge into the detail-intensive "paper chase," let adoptive mother and educator Christianson offer her voice of experience. Learn from other families' mishaps and miracles and explore important questions about openness in adoption, expenses, extended family roles, and more.

Small Town, Big Miracle: How Love Came to the Least of These By Bishop W.C. Martin / Focus On The Family One memorable day as the Martins were in prayer, God gave them a one-word message: "Adopt!" Five years and four kids later, adoption fever had spread throughout their congregation. Learn how a tiny Texas church of 200 took 72 of the toughest children from the foster care system and gave them hope---and a home! 192 pages, softcover from Tyndale.

Chicken Soup for the Adopted Soul By Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen & Peter Vegso / Health Communications Chicken Soup for the Adopted Soul will touch your heart with stories of finding and creating families. From tales about international orphaned babies and children who spent years in the foster-care system to those who were adopted at birth, this very special compilation conveys the true meaning of unconditional love.

The Whole Life Adoption Book, Revised and Updated By Jayne E. Schooler & Thomas C. Atwood / Nav Press * Considered required reading for prospective parents, Schooler and Atwood's revised guide presents updated information on the step-by-step adoption process, both domestically and internationally. Learn what to consider before you adopt; understand effects of trauma; examine the impact on birth children; create a nurturing family environment; and more. A trusted source of compassionate and practical advice. 272 pages, softcover from NavPress.

The Adoption Network: Your Guide to Starting a Support System By Laura Christianson / Winepress Publishing

Broken & Beautiful, Expanded Edition CD/DVD By Mark Schultz / Curb Records Singer, songwriter, and storyteller Mark Schultz returns with a poignant and personal collection of new songs, ranging from powerful ballads to uptempo AC-pop. Broken & Beautiful includes "40 Days," "Until I See You Again," the radio hit title track, and more. This expanded CD/DVD edition includes a documentary about Mark's cross-country bike trek plus the video for "Everything To Me," behind the scenes footage, and more.