Sissy Goff - Intentional Parenting: Autopilot Is for Planes

Praise for Intentional Parenting

As educators and Christians, we bring all of our natural strengths, God-given assets, and distinct personalities into the classroom. However, along with these gifts, we carry our wounds, insecurities, and fears. Our unique persona manifests itself in the way we teach and engage students and surfaces in our approach to the different situations we encounter in the context of schools. When we deepen our intimacy with Christ, He redeems our character flaws and insecurities, freeing us to be a truer version of the individual He intended us to be. This refinement enhances our impact on our students and strengthens our ability to speak into their lives in authentic and significant ways. Intentional Parenting fully captures this complexity through the context of parenting. We parent who we are. This book equips parents at all stages and provides them with a principle-centered approach to parenting that challenges them to be reflective and proactive as they invest spiritually, emotionally, and physically in their children.

N ATHANIEL H. M ORROW

A SSISTANT H EADMASTER AND H IGH S CHOOL P RINCIPA L

C HRIST P RESBYTERIAN A CADEMY , N ASHVILLE , T ENNESSEE

Each day I see parents attempting to complete a day filled with activities for their children. They plan each portion down to the very minute. Sadly, parents are not planning how they can be intentional in casting vision for their children and help launch them into the next season of their life. Our culture is in desperate need of a generation of parents who are willing to sacrifice in a redemptive way and be strategic and intentional in the lives of their children. David, Sissy, and Melissa have provided a great resource for those parents who want to know what it means to be an intentional parent and how that fleshes out on a daily basis. I highly recommend that you read this book, take it to heart, and put it to practice today.

B RAXTON B RADY

C HAPLAIN AND D IRECTOR OF B UILDING B OYS AND M AKING M EN

P RESBYTERIAN D AY S CHOOL , M EMPHIS , T ENNESSEE

Intentional Parenting is a breath of fresh air to the tired parent and an encouragement to the frustrated parent. Occasionally our parenting batteries need to be charged, and this book provides the right combination of helpful reminders and new ideas. It will be a welcome tool in the hands of any parent.

D AVE S TONE

P ASTOR AND A UTHOR OF THE F AITHFUL F AMILIES SERIES

Sissy, David, and Melissa have three of the finest reputations I know. Their impact on the lives of children and parents is truly unparalleled. As personal friends of mine, I cant think of three people whom Id rather have speak into my life, or the life of every child I know. The words in this book not only spring from decades of counseling experience, but also from a biblical premise which makes this a must-read for anyone with childrenor for those like me who simply love them.

K ELLY M INTER

S PEAKER AND A UTHO R OF N EHEMIAH : A H EART T HAT C AN B REAK

INTENTIONAL

PARENTING

2013 Sissy Goff, David Thomas, and Melissa Trevathan

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Scripture quotations marked ESV are from the English Standard Version. 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are from HOLMAN CHRISTIAN STANDARD BIBLE . 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Broadman and Holman Publishers. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson. 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked NIV 1984 are from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the NEW KING JAMES VERSION. 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Thomas, David, 1970

Intentional parenting / David Thomas, Sissy Goff, and Melissa Trevathan.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-0-8499-6454-1 (trade paper)

1. Parenting--Religious aspects--Christianity. 2. Parent and child--Religious aspects--Christianity. 3. Families--Religious life. I. Goff, Sissy, 1970- II. Trevathan, Melissa, 1950- III. Thomas, David, 1970- Being an intentional parent. IV. Title.

BV4526.3.T44 2013

248.845--dc23

2012041519

13 14 15 16 17 QG 5 4 3 2 1

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To all the kids and parents weve had
the opportunity to walk alongside.