Seeking a Total Family Makeover? Melissa Spoelstra’s New Book Can Help!
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Note ~ I received a copy of Total Family Makeover by Melissa Spoelstra to review via LitFuse. All opinions are my own. Some links in this post are affiliate ones (Amazon) for your convenience.
When I was real little, the idea of growing up to be a mom was firmly planted in my brain. At times, my mom made it look so easy. Of course, as I grew and became more observant, I could see that there were struggles. But, until you are in the trenches yourself you have no idea how hard it can be.
Looking towards mainstream ‘help’ has not offered a real solution. Secular society just has a totally different worldview than I do.
About Total Family Makeover by Melissa Spoelstra
Train children in the way they should go; when they grow old, they won’t depart from it. —Proverbs 22:6
God calls us as parents to be key disciple-makers in our children’s lives, but if we’re honest, some days it’s a battle just to get them dressed and ready for school on time. How can you mold their hearts when sometimes you can’t even find their shoes?
In Total Family Makeover, author Melissa Spoelstra gives parents a way—a sort of spiritual track to run on—when it comes to building family discipleship. She focuses on eight key habits of growth:
-Sharing Your Faith
About Melissa Spoelstra, author of Total Family Makeover
My Thoughts on Total Family Makeover
I really love the way Melissa writes as it is conversational rather than preachy. As a busy parent, I’m more likely to take the time to read through something that feels more like chatting with a girlfriend than an ‘expert’ telling me all I am doing wrong and what I should be doing.
Now, I should state that this is not a ‘how to get our child to behave.’ Rather, Total Family Makeover is a guide to help you infuse a love of Christ and a desire to walk through life as a practicing Christian.
What I can’t say about this book is that the topics covered had me having a big WOW moment. Many of the 8 practical steps are things we are doing already and have been for years.
That being said, I know that sometimes I can become lax in some areas (e.g. praying FOR every family member even when there isn’t a crisis.) Having it placed before me again means that it is less likely to be ignored. So, I am very grateful for the chance to recenter my heart and re-prioritize a few things.
After all, the focus on this earth should not be to acquire money and stuff. Rather, we are meant to be working towards the ultimate goal: life in heaven with God and the saints who have gone before us. And, as parents, that is THE primary goal of parenting…leading our children to Christ and fostering that personal relationship.
Beyond reading the title for yourself, the use of the discussion questions at the end of each chapter would make for an awesome small group study. I’ve found that those settings often lead to more insight as we hear other’s thoughts on the issues at hand. Plus, there’s usually more practical “how we did it” tips, too.
How do you work on discipleship in your house?
Would Total Family Makeover be helpful in your house?