Building the Christian Family You Never Had: A Practical Guide for Pioneer Parents

by Mary E. DeMuth

You’re willing to do whatever it takes to ground your children in a faith your parents never embraced. Or maybe you grew up in an outwardly religious home that lacked a foundation of Christian grace and moral values. If you’re the first generation in your family to embrace a relationship with Christ but aren’t sure how to give your children a foundation of faith, find guidance in Building the Christian Family You Never Had.

Author Mary E. DeMuth understands firsthand the fears, frustrations, and anxieties of those who lack role models of faith-based parenting. In Building the Christian Family You Never Had she provides needed encouragement, practical tools, and crucial strategies. You’ll learn how you can…
·shield your children from the negative influence of family members who undermine your values
·cope with criticism and objections to your faith-based parenting decisions
·honor (and forgive) your parents without endorsing their behavior
·find positive parenting mentors

This inspiring, down-to-earth guide will enable you to provide a spiritual legacy of security and strength for your children as you lead the way through Building the Christian Family You Never Had.

Genres: Parenting, Christian, Faith, Nonfiction, Relationships, Christian Non Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Mary DeMuth is literary agent, international speaker, podcaster, and she’s the novelist and nonfiction author of over forty books, including Love, Pray, Listen: Parenting Your Wayward Adult Kids with Joy (Bethany 2022). She loves to help people re-story their lives. She lives in Texas with her husband of 31 years and is the mom to three adult children. Find out more at marydemuth.com. Be prayed for on her daily prayer podcast with 4 million downloads: prayeveryday.show. For sexual abuse resources, visit wetoo.org. For cards, prints, and artsy fun go to marydemuth.com/art. Find out what she’s looking for as a literary agent at marydemuthliterary.com

Reviews

[Trace · Rating 2 out of 5]

I need to qualify my review by saying that for other people, I think that this could be a really GREAT book... I just didn't find it useful.... more than half of the book talks about dealing with your dysfunctional past - and I just wasn't looking for that information. Its almost as if the author believes that just because you weren't raised as a Christian, you must have a dysfunctional past...

I got excited about 3/4 of the way in because the author started talking about practical ideas for building your Christian family: taking time to immerse in the Word, cultivating the habit of prayer, etc.... but then the chapter ended almost as quickly as it started - it was really only a glorified list of ideas without any real in-depth discussion. It left me feeling frustrated as THIS was the kind of material I thought this book would contain. And then the next chapter went back to talking about your dysfunctional past and how it might be a good thing to let your children know about the mistakes you've made in your past... (??)

As I said, this is probably a great book for some people... just not the book I was looking for and not what I need.

[Mark Ricker · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are wanting more than what your biological parents have modeled for you as family than this book is a great reference. It addresses issues of protecting your children from family members undermining your values and promotes a healthy blueprint in growing a strong health Christian family. It also addresses finding mentors along the way to strengthen your family as it grows.

[Heather Purvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book 9 years ago when I only had one child. Reading it again now, when I have five children,I continue to glean insight from it. A beautiful, vulnerable read.

[Ginger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can see the value of this book - there are definitely good nuggets along the way - but I had a hard time connecting with it. Therefore, I liked it but didn't love it.

[Lavinia Marcu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nu chiar atât de utilă pe cât am sperat...

[Ashley Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best parenting book I’ve ever read!

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did a group study of this book and it was incredible. We all laughed, cried and grew a ton as we read about Mary's life and answered questions about our own.
I met Mary at a writing conference and saw first hand that she is a great woman committed to helping others find healing and live out a life honoring to God. The book only caused me to be more impressed by her. The questions at the end of each chapter were great, I hardly had to prepare to lead discussions. I'd recommend it for group or individual reading.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has so much wisdom and is written with such grace. I have recommended it already to so many friends. It really speaks to my desire to parent in a different way than I was raised. I could quote the whole book and I just don't have to words to express how valuable I think this book is.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a very hard time putting this book down. So much good information. I was a little skeptical about this book at first. But I am So glad I decided to get it. I honestly feel like this book was written for me. :)

[Nicky Souza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll definitely be re reading this one. The first part of the book I need to revisit and re-asses. I felt part 2 was incredibly helpful and applicable