Is there hope for single parents and blended families to experience true joy and peace - to find rest and strength in the midst of the journey? In this session, Chip is joined by his wife Theresa to share her story of single parenthood and how God carried her through that difficult time in her life. Whether you’re a single parent, a blended family, or just someone looking for a little encouragement, you’ll want to listen to this hope-filled message.

Main Points

A story of hope and restoration - Ruth 1-4

Single parenting - principles and practice

1. Make your relationship with Christ your #1 priority.
2. Get connected with a strong, godly, same sex group for support and accountability.
3. Accept this "season" of your life and set realistic expectations.
4. Remember God can "make-up" for what you can't give your kids.
5. Refuse to become a victim, a martyr, or a super parent.
6. Don't compromise your spiritual and moral standards to "provide a father/mother" for your children.

Blended families - principles and practice

1. Count the cost thoroughly.
2. Get pre-marital counseling from a mutually trusted, biblical, and wise resource.
3. Make your mate your new, unequivocal #1 relationship ahead of children.
4. Develop a weekly communication tool and mechanism to wrestle family conflicts, schedules, and miscommunication to the ground in a nonthreateneing and safe environment.
5. Make the spiritual development of your marriage and family the utmost priority; only God and supernatural love can make this work - you don't have that apart from vital union with Christ in the context of a strong, loving, biblical community.
6. Remember it will take time, it will be harder than you thought, and it can be a glorious testimony of God's restoration and redemption - so don't quit, don't withdraw, don't bail out, and know that God will bring results. - James 1:2-4; Hebrews 10:36

Broadcast Resource

• Download Free MP3
• Message Notes

Additional Resource Mentions

• Free Parenting Resources

About Chip Ingram

Chip Ingram’s passion is helping Christians really live like Christians. As a pastor, author, and teacher for more than three decades, Chip has helped believers around the world move from spiritual spectators to healthy, authentic disciples of Jesus by living out God’s truth in their lives and relationships in transformational ways.

About Living on the Edge

Living on the Edge exists to help Christians live like Christians. Established in 1995 as the radio ministry of pastor and author Chip Ingram, God has since grown it into a global discipleship ministry. Living on the Edge provides Biblical teaching and discipleship resources that challenge and equip spiritually hungry Christians all over the world to become mature disciples of Jesus.

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