Dare to Reflect - Rachael Carman

Parenting that’s

isn’t

why...

easy

Dare to

Reflect in her new book How Many Times Do I Have to Tell You? Rachael Carman writes about how God uses those times when we are speaking to our children to speak to us. In the following pages, Rachael presents one part of a 3-part dare she presents to the readers in her book. She invites you to dare to reflect, then pick up a copy of the book to help you reach your goal of having an even stronger passion for your family as well as stronger longing to grow deeper in your relationship with the Lord. Love a challenge to do something you wouldn’t have otherwise considered doing? Love the idea of digging down deep in yourself and demanding more? Love the opportunity to grow and mature, to develop new habits, get rid of old ones and soar? As kids we dare each other do touch something forbidden, eat something yucky or do something stupid all in the name of proving ourselves. When we participated we were driven by the desire to be accepted, respected, apart. The Bible is a great big dare. God invites us. “Dare to trust Me, My love, faithfulness and sovereignty. Dare to live like I AM on the throne. Dare to live thirsty for Living Water, to feast on the Bread of Life, to listen and follow the voice of the Good Shepherd, to walk in the Light, to rest in Me. Dare to live a life worthy.” When we respond, engage He is glorified. When we trust, when we act, when we don’t know or understand or see-He smiles. When we hide or shrink, He implores and draws us. He wants a relationship with us personally. Longs for us to dare to know we can rely on Him, that He loves us. A dare confronts us, usually makes us feel uncomfortable, uneasy, vulnerable, insecure, even weak. We feel exposed and unprotected. Dares usually cause us to pause and wonder: who knows about it? Do I have to? What difference will it make? Where can I hide? But taking on a dare invigorates us. We feel a rush of adrenaline, an anticipation of possibilities, the exhilaration of hope. Its as if a fresh wind blows and we can feel it in the air. Change. New.

I’m inviting you today to a dare. If you accept, you will be changed. Your perspective altered, your thoughts transformed. If you dare to allow it to, this dare will revolutionize your relationships with your children and your heavenly Father. Depending on where you are coming from, it may sound daunting, unnecessary or pointless. Dare to do it anyway. Dare to try it. Dare to listen, to consider, to explore. It’s a simple dare really. You are going to need to take some notes, so keep paper and pen handy. (Tissues might be in order too.)

Dare to reflect. Think back over the last several days. What do you hear yourself saying to your kids? What are the things you keep repeating? What are things you want to resonate in their heads when they leave your house? What things do you want them to forget? Are there some things that you want to say more often? _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

Now, keep breathing and look over what you have gathered. What pops out at you? Are there some trends? Patterns? Holes? Surprises? Are you listening? _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

Big question: when you look at what you are saying to your children, do you hear your heavenly Father’s quiet whisper in your heart? _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Join me in my new book How Many Times Do I Have To Tell You? where, together, we will expand upon the dare here and come together to learn and discover how to really listen and have a more intimate relationship with our Lord as we parent our children. I look forward to having you gather with us. Follow Rachael on her blog at http://www.rachaelcarman.com/

BOOKS & RESOU

BOOKS & RES

like them? What has God shown you about who they are and who they will become? well doatyou know your Sure, you love them, but do yo He has sent these children into How your home thisreally specific time forchildren? His glorious like them? What has God shown you about who they are and who they will b purposes. Thus you have been invited on the adventure of a lifetime, a journey on He has sent these children into your home at this specific time for His g which you will see walls fall, seas parted, and giants slain. You don’t need special purposes. Thus you have been invited on the adventure of a lifetime, a jour skills or training for this journey—you need only to seek God and hold tightly to which you will see walls fall, seas parted, and giants slain. You don’t need His mighty hand! As with so many things, the first step to having a heart for your skills or training for this journey—you need only to seek God and hold tig children is knowing your heavenly Father. As you seek daily to share His heart His mighty hand! As with so many things, the first step to having a heart fo with your kids, keep this inspirational book close at hand. In it, Rachael Carman children is knowing your heavenly Father. As you seek daily to share Hi uses the word HEART to help you remember and focus on what really matters. with your kids, keep this inspirational book close at hand. In it, Rachael C Asthe a parent havetoyou caught and yourself uses word HEART helpever you remember focus on what really ma

$13

Author: Rachael Carman Format: Hardcover

eBook: $9.99

saying...

$13

Author: Rachael the Carman “I remember day Format: Hardcover

you were born.”

eBook: $9.99 “Turn down the music!” “This is going to hurt me more than it’s going to hurt you.” “Hold my hand.”

NEW HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO but TELL YOU? have you listened to what you’re saying? fact,Iyour heavenly Father wantsYOU? to tell you NEW HOW MANY TIMES In DO HAVE TO TELL You’ve probably said these things to your kids,

many “I remember the day you were born.”

of these same things. Rachael Carman knows how noisy it can be when you’re raising “Turn down the music!” “I remember the day you were born.” children—she has seven! But this lovely “This is going to hurt me more than it’sdown goingthe to hurt you.” “Turn music!” devotional book will help you to hear God’s “Hold my hand.” “This going voice to hurt amid me morethe thanchaos it’s going hurt you.” still, issmall of tocarpools, You’ve probably said these things“Hold to yourmy kids, but have you listened to what you’re hand.” cut fingers, and carpet crawlers. You’ll learn saying? In fact, your heavenly Father wants to tell you many of these same things. how to recognize God’s instructions for you, You’ve probably saidyou’re these things tochildren—she your kids, but have you listened to wh Rachael Carman knows how noisy it can be when raising saying? In fact, your heavenly Father wants to tell you many even aswill youhelp seek tohear follow His as a of these sam has seven! But this lovely devotional book you to God’s still,example small Rachael Carman knows how noisy it can be when you’re raising childr voice amid the chaos of carpools,parent. cut fingers, and carpet crawlers. You’ll learn how

seven!even Butasthis book will help you to hear God’s sti to recognize God’s instructions has for you, youlovely seek devotional to follow His example voice amid the chaos of carpools, cut fingers, and carpet crawlers. You’ll le as a parent. to recognize God’s instructions for you, even as you seek to follow His as a parent.

BONUS CONTENT!

$13

Author: Rachael Carman Format: Hardcover

eBook: $9.99

Listen to Rachael Carman answer the $13 question Author: Rachael Carman “Where Is the Joy?” Format: Hardcover eBook: $9.99

APOLOGIA 2015 CATALOG

82 82

APOLOGIA 2015 CATALOG

www.apologia.com

Listen to Racha Carman answe question “Whe the Joy?”