LIKED, WHOSE APPROVAL ARE YOU LIVING FOR {GIVEAWAY}

Oh those pesky buttons. You know the ones I am talking about. Thumbs up and hearts, follow and friend. Those buttons that are so small and insignificant, yet hold so much power over us.

When my teens first opened their social media accounts I found them frequently checking their updates and pictures to see if they had likes. They would get excited over each new friend request or follow. If I were to be honest with you, I would admit that I was the same. We feed off the attention and approval we get. Social media in and of itself is not a bad thing. But for a preteen or teenager who is already struggling with acceptance and learning who they are, the obsession with friend requests, likes, comments, hearts, and all the like, can become and unhealthy and disappointing.

Kari Kampakis asks in her book Liked, Whose Approval Are You Living For, "would you rather be liked online-or loved in person?" In Liked, Whose Approval Are You Living For, Kari offers positive and powerful insights to help girls navigate the digital age. Applying God’s timeless truths to modern realities, this unique resource dives deeply into topics like social media, friendship, identity, and faith—while ultimately encouraging habits that lead to real and lasting relationships.

Kari asks young girls important, thought provoking questions like:
Who am I?
What is my purpose?
How can I change the world and make an eternal difference?
How can I love myself when I feel unlovable?

For anyone tired of the quest to impress—and ready to rest in God’s unconditional love—Liked, Whose Approval Are You Living For is the answer. This book is a conversation-starter that will quickly unite mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends by speaking to the female heart and addressing the need for approval with wisdom, hope, and grace.

To enter to win Liked, Whose Approval Are You Living For, complete each task in the rafflecopter below.

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A Vow of Purity

I have 4 teenagers. Yes, 4. You feel my pain right?

Can I just be completely honest with you? It is crazy scary to have teenagers. I mean down right terrifying. My greatest desire is for my kids to be so deeply in love with Jesus and live a life pure and holy before Him.

But we live in a world full of sin. We live in a world that says do whatever feels good to you whenever you want to do it. It has become the norm for teens, even older kids, to experiment s*xually.

Kids and teens of all ages have cell phones. All 4 of mine do. These tiny boxes that at just touch of a finger they expose n*dity and p*rnography and they can s*xt with friends and even strangers. And it's considered okay. Kids and teens have tvs in their bedrooms, access to computers and tablets. Everywhere they look there is something in their line of vision that is waiting to compromise their integrity and purity.

Parents, it is time we take a stand! Time we educate our children in purity and in God's expectations for our lives.

Don't worry about being the friend. Be the parent. Set guidelines for your kids with the internet. Put blocks on their devices. We use Covenant Eyes for our computers and our phones are iPhone which have amazing parental security. If I see my child headed out into the street with an oncoming car, I am going to stop them. If I see my child looking at the internet which could be just as dangerous, I will stop them by using parental securities and blocks.

2 years ago my husband took our daughter on a date and I took my son on a date. We talked with our teenagers about purity, created a vow of purity and gave them purity rings as a symbol of their vow. Now, my husband and I are planning the same dates with our younger daughter and son. I look at them, 14 and 12, and I see innocence. It breaks my heart to know that at their young, tender age we have to have this heavy discussion with them. But if we don't, the world will.

To read more about our dates and see our written vow of purity, click HERE. I outline what to do before your date, during your date and after.

Teaching our children about Biblical purity can be hard. I am so thankful for resources like Passport to Purity by Family Life. Passport to Purity is designed to take a weekend getaway with your preteen/teen. However, if a weekend getaway is not possible, you can do it at home. Passport to Purity offers 8 cd sessions to listen to with your teen, the tour guide for the parent, and the travel journal for your teen. The travel journal is amazing! It is jam packed with Scriptures, encouragement, scenarios, and much more.Your young adult will love it.

Check out what other parents are saying about Passport to Purity

No matter how old your teenager is, it is not too late. No matter what they've been involved in up to this point, it is not too late. Get Passport to Purity and teach your child truth. If your child is nearing those preteen years, begin preparing and educating yourself now. Before going through Passport to Purity I did the course myself so that I was ready. Remember, if you don't teach your child, the world will.

To enter to win a copy of Passport to Purity, complete each task in the rafflecopter below.

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Jesus Is ________

Jesus is ________.

How would you finish that sentence?

He is good? He is there? He is friend? What would you say?

In Bible college, one of my favorite things to study was the Life of Christ. I loved learning about our Father. I still love studying who Jesus is. It helps to understand Him and how we are to live.

Author and pastor, Judah Smith, has a new book called, Jesus Is ______. The student edition is incredible! I cannot wait to get the adult version. Smith tells us that "discovering who He is changes who you are."

With enthusiasm and humor, Smith shows youth that Jesus is our friend, life and grace. Each chapter has Scripture and discussion questions. Jesus Is ______ is a great book for individual reading or a group study and it helps teens to see the importance and rewards of having a personal relationship with Jesus.

Check out the trailer...

To win a copy of Jesus Is ______ the student edition, complete each task in the rafflecopter below.

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A Letter To My Daughter...

To enter the Christmas Blessing Giveaway, click here.
To enter the Kitchen Aid giveaway, click here.

My kids are growing up before my very eyes. My oldest is quickly approaching her sweet sixteen. This brings tears of joy, sadness and nostalgia to my eyes. She is turning into such a beautiful young woman and I love watching her grow up.

But watching her grow up also means watching her develop into a woman and watching the opposite gender's response to her.

What do I want my daughter to learn during these years? Here is a letter to her...

To my sweet daughter,

You are beautiful exactly the way God made you. You don't need to change to the world's view of beauty. What you see on tv and in magazines, that is not real. God created you, knit you together while still in my womb. He made you exactly as He wanted you. And you are stunning.

Be who you are. Don't conform to the world. The world gives us ideas of what we should be, yet their ideas contradict each other. Be independent, be dependent. Be sporty, be girly. Don't worry about the world. Just be you.

Save your heart for your future husband. Every time you give your heart away, and the relationship doesn't work out, you lose a little bit of it. Save your heart so that one day you can give it fully to your husband.

Save your purity for your future husband. Oh daughter, this is one gift you can give your husband that special just for him. And prayerfully, he will be able to give you the same gift. Save your physical self for one, your husband. On the same token, save your intimate thoughts for him too. Once you take your vows, it will be a special thing to go to him physically and emotionally pure.

Pray for your future husband. There is much power in a praying wife. Begin now to pray for the man you will marry. Pray for his choices, his education, his health, his relationship with his family, and his walk with God.

Don't rush this time my precious girl. I know that you want to be married and have a family some day. That day will come, I promise. Don't rush it.

And lastly my daughter, dance with Jesus and He'll let the right man cut in when it's time. Focus on your relationship with Jesus. Be so lost in your Heavenly Father than any prospect for a husband will have to seek Him before he can pursue you.

God will bring the right man into your life when He is ready. Until then, dance with Jesus.

Love, 

Your Mom

Linking with: Legacy Leaver Foto Fun Thursday
Thought Provoking Thursday
Proverbs 31 Thursday
Thriving Thursday
Life in Bloom
Focused Homemaker