Pastor Darrin Jones, of Golden Goose Consulting and Jonesfam.productions, who happens to be Julie's husband, and who is our much appreciated photographer-extraordinaire-ministry-champion, will set the stage for us to battle fears associated with parenting teens, apprehensions which may be robbing us of hope and limiting our effectiveness.  

Most of our parenting mis-steps and anxieties are rooted in FEAR:

I’m afraid I’m not a good parent (also know as “I don’t know what I’m doing” or “I’m not doing enough” or “I think I’m doing too much”)

I’m afraid my child is in danger (accident, illness, injury and abduction)

I’m afraid my child is not good enough (popularity, social/emotional well-being, success and achievement)

Some fears are legitimate, but the unfounded ones rob us of tremendous energy, joy and hope.  

Let’s face fear and reclaim joy.

If hope is the expectation of good things, we are very hopeful about what we can accomplish together at GEM!

GEMs of Wisdom from "Facing Our Fears" by Pastor Darrin Jones:

“My family gave me a nickname.  It’s worst-case-scenario mom.  I’m not proud of that.    I used to be fun and carefree and adventurous...then I became a mom.  The world went from being a playground to a minefield.  But what I have learned, by the grace of God, is a moment of fear is different than a state of fear.  A moment of fear is protective, it's fight or flight.  However,  a state of fear is worry and anxiety, which is not wants God wants for us."  Jennifer Haring

"Fear is the new idol of American parenting.  But…anxious parenting does not equal good parenting.” ~ Darrin Jones

Shaming ourselves and each other by asking, “What kind of mom..?!” feeds anxiety.

Fear-based parenting of a boy leads to emasculation.  Parenting a girl out of fear leads to her not feeling capable.

Feeding your fear is robbing you of joy.  

We cannot worry and trust at the same time.  Preparedness is doing our part and surrendering and trusting God with the rest.

Are you panicked or prayerful?

Worrying is thinking of a problem over and over.  Meditating is thinking of God’s word over and over. 

“I feel for you moms who must launch a child into this world.  It is harder and scarier. While we can grieve over the increasingly evil world you must launch your kids into, it does not give us a hall pass to parent out of fear.  You must buck up and do the job.”  ~ Kitty Jones  (Darrin's mom who was a surprise guest speaker to join Darrin!)

1Peter 3:15 says that we should always be ready to give an explanation of the hope that is in us. Hope is the expectation of something good.  Has anybody ever asked you about the hope that's in you?

Do you reflect hope or fear?

Do you communicate expectations of good outcomes or bad outcomes?