I want to say "thank you" to everyone who makes House of Hope - Illinois possible for teens and their parents. We recently had the opportunity to sit with 3 different local families at our Mokena office, all were in need of help, and all expressed their gratitude to us for being available to them without charge. A parent's tear filled eyes, a teen's smile and hug, and their expressions of gratefulness make it all worth while.
Again, I just want to say Thank You for helping make House of Hope - Illinois a place where teens and parents can turn to in their time of troubles.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
How Can I Get to My Teen's Heart?
TIME.
This may not be easy to hear. The saying "quality time is better than quantity" is misunderstood. Parenting means sacrifice. We need to do things with our kids and lean into them by building memories, sharing experiences and establishing strong bonds. This is a main ingredient to draw their hearts toward you.
After spending "quantity" time with your teen, they will begin to see that you really are there for them and care enough to listen to them. In time, they will share their heart with you. Depending on how hard your teens may be or how controlled and manipulated they are by their "world of influence", it might take a significant investment of your time up front. However, it is never too late to start.
Start now. It can be your greatest Christmas gift to them.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
God is working
What is God doing at House of Hope - Illinois this month?
- bringing new teens to HOH for help
- bringing new volunteers
- bringing new Board members
- growing our faith
- making us smile :)
We believe God can and does use us to change lives and our communities. He is creating a place where teens can come to and be accepted, listened to, and loved with compassion. This is House of Hope - Illinois.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Be a Prisoner of Hope
Be a Prisoner of Hope? Are you crazy? You've never met my teen! You don't know what I'm going through. You may be right. But the Lord knows. He is your Hope.
Take a look at John 16:33 (NASB) ~ "In the world you have tribulation, but take courage [hope]; I have overcome the world."
We were never promised a struggle free life ~ especially in the parenting department. Wow. Life comes with ease and hardship?! I can't imagine being a parent these days without hope. I would have sunk a long time ago taking my daughter with me.
Believe that your circumstances are subject to change. Not simply because of our strength but because we can rely on our Lord's strength to help us overcome our adversity.
I challenge you to be a Prisoner of Hope. Hope in our Lord. He is just waiting to help us. Let's run to Him.
Take a look at John 16:33 (NASB) ~ "In the world you have tribulation, but take courage [hope]; I have overcome the world."
We were never promised a struggle free life ~ especially in the parenting department. Wow. Life comes with ease and hardship?! I can't imagine being a parent these days without hope. I would have sunk a long time ago taking my daughter with me.
Believe that your circumstances are subject to change. Not simply because of our strength but because we can rely on our Lord's strength to help us overcome our adversity.
I challenge you to be a Prisoner of Hope. Hope in our Lord. He is just waiting to help us. Let's run to Him.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Cell Phone vs. Bible
Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we turned back to go get it when we forgot it?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to our Kids as gifts?
What if we used it when we traveled?
What if we used it in case of emergency?
Hmmmmm............makes me stop and think, where is my Bible, where are my priorities?
Oh, and one more thing - Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because JESUS ALREADY PAID THE BILL .... And no dropped calls!
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we turned back to go get it when we forgot it?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to our Kids as gifts?
What if we used it when we traveled?
What if we used it in case of emergency?
Hmmmmm............makes me stop and think, where is my Bible, where are my priorities?
Oh, and one more thing - Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because JESUS ALREADY PAID THE BILL .... And no dropped calls!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
A Word Aptly Spoken
There are times when I have to catch myself when I speak to my daughter. Whether in conversation or in discipline. How is my attitude? What words do I use? Will they bless her and touch her with tenderness. Or will they curse her and cut her deeply?
Ephesians 4:15 tells us to speak "truth in love". Our attitudes toward our teens affect how our words will be received. Our tone of voice and the look in our eyes may convey a much different message than intended. The truth, even from Scripture, can hurt and be rejected if spoken from an unloving heart.
In Proverbs 25:11 "apples of gold in settings of silver" are thought to be golden balls arranged in silver baskets to be used as table ornaments. No doubt they were carefully hand-crafted, valuable and very beautiful......So should the use of our words be.
Ephesians 4:15 tells us to speak "truth in love". Our attitudes toward our teens affect how our words will be received. Our tone of voice and the look in our eyes may convey a much different message than intended. The truth, even from Scripture, can hurt and be rejected if spoken from an unloving heart.
In Proverbs 25:11 "apples of gold in settings of silver" are thought to be golden balls arranged in silver baskets to be used as table ornaments. No doubt they were carefully hand-crafted, valuable and very beautiful......So should the use of our words be.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
What I've Learned about Prayer and Thanksgiving
Today is Thanksgiving. I wish to share what the 4 week prayer/thanksgiving campaign has meant to your HOPE for Families parents, teens and me.
We sat with a Mom one evening and prayed over her and her son. We encouraged Mom to run toward one of her fears. The Lord was there that night and heard our prayers and fears. Since we brought them to Him, our Lord showed Mom He was there. She faced her fear and received an unexplained blessing from the Lord.
One Dad has been updating us on his journey with restoring relationships with his children. The Lord has put some godly counseling in his journey and has been pouring out His blessings upon this family.
One of the teens is not exactly sure what a relationship with Jesus is like but is able to trust in us at House of Hope. We at House of Hope believe that we may be the only Jesus our teens see. With a childlike trust, the teen has taken the tools learned and applied it. The family has been enjoying more joyous moments than before.
As you know this campaign was placed on my heart a few weeks ago. I'm so grateful that I followed my heart. I learned much through this process. I truly believe the Lord prepared me for a few heavy duty events that occurred during this time. The details are not important, but I will tell you that both events did not hit me as hard as they may have before I put my faith in prayer and thanksgiving. I was able to draw strength from my Heavenly Father due to my growing trust in Him these past few weeks. As hard as the circumstances were, I DELIBERATLY found thanksgiving and blessings in them. Why you may ask, because I've learned that I can only do what I can but my Heavenly Father can do EVERYTHING.
Thanksgiving expresses our gratefulness to God for all that He has done for us. We are just letting our God know that we are thankful not only for the spiritual blessings of salvation, forgiveness and eternal life, but also realizing He is sending His blessings to us daily.
May our Heavenly Father pour out His blessings to you and your family on this wonderful day of Thanksgiving.
We sat with a Mom one evening and prayed over her and her son. We encouraged Mom to run toward one of her fears. The Lord was there that night and heard our prayers and fears. Since we brought them to Him, our Lord showed Mom He was there. She faced her fear and received an unexplained blessing from the Lord.
One Dad has been updating us on his journey with restoring relationships with his children. The Lord has put some godly counseling in his journey and has been pouring out His blessings upon this family.
One of the teens is not exactly sure what a relationship with Jesus is like but is able to trust in us at House of Hope. We at House of Hope believe that we may be the only Jesus our teens see. With a childlike trust, the teen has taken the tools learned and applied it. The family has been enjoying more joyous moments than before.
As you know this campaign was placed on my heart a few weeks ago. I'm so grateful that I followed my heart. I learned much through this process. I truly believe the Lord prepared me for a few heavy duty events that occurred during this time. The details are not important, but I will tell you that both events did not hit me as hard as they may have before I put my faith in prayer and thanksgiving. I was able to draw strength from my Heavenly Father due to my growing trust in Him these past few weeks. As hard as the circumstances were, I DELIBERATLY found thanksgiving and blessings in them. Why you may ask, because I've learned that I can only do what I can but my Heavenly Father can do EVERYTHING.
Thanksgiving expresses our gratefulness to God for all that He has done for us. We are just letting our God know that we are thankful not only for the spiritual blessings of salvation, forgiveness and eternal life, but also realizing He is sending His blessings to us daily.
May our Heavenly Father pour out His blessings to you and your family on this wonderful day of Thanksgiving.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
new this week November 23, 2008
thanks to Mike Rhodes and his inspiring message Friday afternoon at the PASS office in Tinley Park, I'm learning more about "microblogging" ... Twitter, Facebook, Causes.com.
Learning to be in constant connection "in 140 characters" or less.
Learning to be in constant connection "in 140 characters" or less.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
teen suicide
I'm thinking today about teens and suicide.
How terribly sad. Words cannot express our grief when we hear a story about a teen's death. How do we stop this? How do we make a difference?
I have to ask myself ... how hopeless was their situation(s) that might have led them to take their own life? Where are we (as a family or as a community) when all this is happening? Where should we be? Didn't they have anyone they could have talked to? If they did reach out to someone, did they listen?
As a community, lets keep on reaching out together and perhaps prevent another teen death. Be aware. Listen to them. Refer them to someone.
How terribly sad. Words cannot express our grief when we hear a story about a teen's death. How do we stop this? How do we make a difference?
I have to ask myself ... how hopeless was their situation(s) that might have led them to take their own life? Where are we (as a family or as a community) when all this is happening? Where should we be? Didn't they have anyone they could have talked to? If they did reach out to someone, did they listen?
As a community, lets keep on reaching out together and perhaps prevent another teen death. Be aware. Listen to them. Refer them to someone.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
What I've learned this week
About helping others: Christ has to be the center of our lives, the real center of our lives, it's not just saying the words or experiencing a warm and fuzzy feeling. Otherwise we are trying to build upon an unstable foundation, and that is impossible. Our focus needs to be on our relationship with God, our heavenly Father. If we get our foundation firm (a correct and true belief system), then everything will fall into place after that. Our attitude will change, we will have real hope and confidence that we can get through any situation.
It's so clear to me; difficult life situations can't change when beliefs and actions are based on lies, blame, and manipulations. You're spinning your wheels and going no where. You've have to ask yourself ... do I want things to change, do I want real help? Some don't, some tolerate living in dysfunction.
It's so clear to me; difficult life situations can't change when beliefs and actions are based on lies, blame, and manipulations. You're spinning your wheels and going no where. You've have to ask yourself ... do I want things to change, do I want real help? Some don't, some tolerate living in dysfunction.
House of Hope Illinois : About Us
WHO WE ARE: House of Hope Illinois is a inter-denominational Christian ministry, dedicated to serving teens and families.
We're about helping struggling teens and families during the teenage years. As you might know, we're based in Mokena, IL and we're available on a fulltime basis to offer hope and help to teens and parents.
We have many great resources for parents; books, DVDs, group support, and prayer support.
HOPE for Families is our parent support group, meeting every Wednesday night at 7:45 PM at the Mokena office; 9700 W. 197th St, Suite 106. For more info, call (708) 479-2322.
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