Messy Journey

How Grace & Truth Offer the Prodigal a Way Home

by Lori Wildenberg

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Pub Date May 01 2017 | Archive Date Aug 15 2017

Description

Messy Journey is for parents walking the difficult road with a wayward child. Be inspired to drink the deep waters of peace as you draw closer to the Father of all prodigals. Author and licensed parent and family educator Lori Wildenberg offers practical grace- and truth-filled ways of navigating your relationship with a detoured child—whether they are rejecting faith, dabbling in sin, or wholeheartedly embracing sinful behavior. There is hope. After all, their struggle isn’t really with you—it’s with God.

Messy Journey is for parents walking the difficult road with a wayward child. Be inspired to drink the deep waters of peace as you draw closer to the Father of all prodigals. Author and licensed...

Advance Praise

This book is perfectly titled. I love that Lori doesn’t give us a formula for dealing with prodigals. That would have been disrespectful to the uniqueness of each family. And, then, what would we do when the formula didn’t work? We’d have more to despair about! Rather, Lori, with shared golden nuggets from her prodigal, beautifully, humbly, and strategically tells the story of their journey and bits and pieces of other’s experiences, too. No matter why you have a prodigal, or if you want to support someone who does, or if you are a prodigal yourself, this book will encourage you. There is hope in these pages!--

Kathy Koch, Ph.D., Founder/President

Celebrate Kids, Inc.

“This book is a beautiful balance of the real-life mess of loving a prodigal and the steadfast truth of God’s Word. I will be recommending this book to many in the years to come.”

--Dr. Juli Slattery, Co-founder of Authentic Intimacy

“In Lori's pragmatic, immensely practical book, parents will receive acknowledgement and empathy for their chaotic feelings and confusion. All the while readers will steep in a hopeful vision for the future and find practical steps for the here and now. Lori has given her readers a gift--a glimpse into her most vulnerable times. Courtney has done the same. This book will be balm for those who are weary and wounded, and comfort and encouragement for those who love them.”— Mary Heathman, M.A., Founding Director of Where Grace Abounds, Inc.

Messy Journey will feed your soul, give peace to your spirit, and empower you to step into the messy journey with grace and truth. You are not alone. –Jill Savage, founder of Hearts at Home, author of 11 books, co-author of No More Perfect Kids

This book is perfectly titled. I love that Lori doesn’t give us a formula for dealing with prodigals. That would have been disrespectful to the uniqueness of each family. And, then, what would...

Available Editions

EDITION	Paperback
ISBN	9781596699762
PRICE	$14.99 (USD)

Additional Information

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Featured Reviews

Michelle K, Reviewer

Messy Journey

How Grace & Truth Offer the Prodigal a Way Home

by Lori Wildenberg

New Hope Publishers

Christian

Pub Date 01 May 2017

I am voluntarily reviewing a copy of Messy Journey through New Hope Publishers and Netgalley:

Lori Wildenberg reminds us in this book that life is not a straight line. We are reminded that Jesus does not want us to fear but to be grave, which can be hard if you are a parent with a child in the throws of a full fledged rebellion.

When children disclose their situation, their lack of faith, or whatever rebellion they are in the throws off parents will often act like a deer in the headlights. The author points out too that we can accept another person without agreeing with them.

The examples in this book talk about everything from Sexuality, to lack of faith, to mental health issues. Many different types of rebellion are talked about.

I give Messy Journey five out of five stars.

Happy Reading...

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Terry B, Reviewer

This is a book about prodigal children, who have left home for many different reasons. The author begins the book by aptly saying " Never Give Up!"
There is a list of reasons why young adults rebel: drugs, alcohol, pornography, divorce, and same sex relationships. The author tells of not thinking that any of her children would be a prodigal as they were raised in a Christian home. She tells of her relationship with her daughter, who is attracted to women, how her daughter identified with her Dad and how he dressed and acted and that she identified with men because they have more power than women do.
She told of how God told her to love her daughter and show her how she was there for her instead of judging her.
She met her daughter's girlfriend and liked her and how her daughter relaxed after that encounter. The daughter understood how her parents felt about her lifestyle, she did not expect them to change their beliefs.
There are also stories and quotes from other parents who have prodigals who feel like a failure as a parent and blame themselves for their child's problems.
The author shares the thoughts and prayers that she gives to God, asking Him to forgive them for any part they had in their child's rebellion and to release any chains of rebellion around their child and to draw them to Jesus.
This book would be very helpful to any parent of a prodigal who needs to know they are not alone and that there are ways to connect to their prodigal.