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Luv'N Lambert Life

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Lori Wildenberg

An Author Interview with Lori Wildenberg {Author Interview}

May 12, 2017 by Dana

Last week I did a review of Messy Journey by Lori Wildenberg.  This week I invited Lori over to our blog for a brief interview for her to share more about this wonderful book she has written.  Messy Journey is a book that truly speaks volumes to all who have been blessed to read it, including myself.

Messy Journey deals with the sticky situations we as Christians sometimes find ourselves facing and although this book was written to be a guide for Parents, I found it helpful for my own life.  As I mentioned in our review of Messy Journey, as a person who has lived in Sinful situations for many years of my life, I’ve often felt judged for my choices by other Sinners even though today’s world if filled with constant sin. I’ve often wished there was a book that explained to me how to ask Forgiveness and to forgive myself with God’s help despite my sins and the judgments against me.  Messy Journey provides that.

You can find our review of Messy Journey here.

Reading Lori’s responses to these questions, I found that we have a lot in common.  Lori always wanted to be a teacher and a Mom, just like me and through God’s plan for her life, and mine as well, we both are blessed to be doing these things in our lives.
Lori has also struggled with the unexpected in her life but she’s been able to overcome these struggles with God by her side, just as I have.  We are nothing without God’s guidance in our lives.  Lori shows this daily in her outreach to others, both through her books and through her presence online and in person.

Now onto the interview, you’ve so patiently been waiting for:

1. How would you describe your writing in general to someone who hasn’t read any of your books?
My books are written for moms and dads in the trenches of parenting. They are for parents who are looking for another way to raise kids other than simply behavior modification or natural consequences. If families seek to encourage grace, responsibility, and interdependence my parenting books will provide faith-based, practical, and easily applicable help and support. My mission is to help families build connections that last a lifetime. My parenting philosophy is not only to encourage desirable behavior but to raise kids in a way that encourages character development and spiritual growth. It is best to work from the inside out rather than the outside in; grow the heart, adjust the behavior.


 2. What inspired you to write Messy Journey: How Grace and Truth Offer the Prodigal a Way Home?
Life doesn’t always go the way we expect. As parents, we can do everything “right” and still have a child who veers off the expected path. With my daughter’s permission and input, I share our journey— the struggles a prodigal child brings and how to live life in the middle of the mess.


3. How would you describe this book to someone in a 30 second blurb?
Messy Journey: How Grace and Truth Offer the Prodigal a Way Homeis for parents walking the difficult road with a wayward child. This book is filled with stories from dozens of Christian parents and some prodigals. It includes my personal journey with my same-sex attracted daughter. The book is vulnerable and honest. No matter why a parent has a prodigal (or if you love someone who does) this book will bring comfort, help, and encouragement.  Practical grace- and truth-filled ways of navigating a relationship with a detoured child who is rejecting faith, dabbling in sin, or wholeheartedly embracing sinful behavior are given. There is hope.    

 
4. How did you research or plan your book?
Both personally and professionally I have experienced the messy journey. I have personally lived-out the journey and walked alongside many families who are heart broken and weary because their child has taken a detour.

5.  Who is your intended audience and why should they read your book? 
Messy Journey is for the wounded and weary parent and for those who love them. It is also a resource for counselors, pastors, and support group leaders.  This book offers biblical truth, helpful strategies, prayers, and hope for the hurting and often lonely parent.


 6. What sparked your interest in this topic?
This is a book I didn’t want to write. Having a child who has gone astray not only causes heartache it can be isolating and shaming. No one wants the hurt, the pain that a prodigal brings. But as only God can do, in my grief He tenderized me and moved me to reach out to bring comfort and encouragement to other families facing major struggles with their child.


7. What do you hope readers will gain from the book?
My prayer is that the moms and dads reading this book feel encouraged and less alone. My hope is that by reading the stories of others and implementing the suggestions presented they feel empowered to get through the day and to never give up.


 8. How did personal experience impact writing this book?
My personal experience provides the overarching feeling of connection from the reader to author. Even if the reader’s struggle looks different from mine there are common threads and truths when one is the parent of a prodigal.


 9. How much of your own life goes into your books?
This book isn’t only about my daughter and me, it is filled with many parents and their stories. The prodigals’ substance abuse, sexual sin, and/or rejection of faith are all topics that are addressed. As society normalizes sin, Christian parents feel as if they are constantly fighting the culture. But we have a God who always wins and never gives up!


10. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I always wanted to be a teacher and a mom. I am thankful I have been able to wear both hats. I am passionate about helping parents be the moms and dads their kids need. I never considered becoming an author. In the first parenting course I developed and taught, a few of the participants told me I should put the information in a book. I told them I was too busy raising my four kids, they could take notes. Messy Journey is my fourth parenting book. God can do the impossible, even with a resistant and rebellious heart.




I truly hope you enjoyed this interview with Lori Wildenberg and that Messy Journey blesses you as it has me.  We are none perfect and are all walking in this imperfect journey together.  Messy Journey aims to make that struggle a little easier to get through and understand, showing that we are not alone and that Forgiveness is what matters most.

Messy Journey is available for purchase on Amazon for $13.48 in Paperback or $9.99 on Kindle.




A Little More About Lori Wildenberg:

Lori Wildenberg is passionate about helping families build connections that last a life time. She is a licensed parent-family educator and co-founder of 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting. She has written 4 parenting books with Messy Journey: How Grace and Truth Offer the Prodigal a Way Home published by New Hope as her most recent. She is a parent consultant, national speaker, and lead Mentor Mom over at the Moms Together Facebook Community Page. Lori is a contributor to a number of on-line magazines. Every Monday you can find her blogging about faith and family at loriwildenberg.blogspot.com . Mostly, Lori is wife to Tom and mom of four. The Wildenberg’s home is nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. A perfect day in Lori’s world is a hike with her hubby, four kids plus a daughter-in-love, and Murphy the family labradoodle.




You can find Lori Wildenberg online at:


www.loriwildenberg.com
www.loriwildenberg.blogspot.com
www.1Corinthians13Parenting.com
LIKE us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/1Corinthians13Parenting
www.facebook.com/momstogether  

Additional Books by Lori Wildenberg:


Raising Little Kids with Big Love (for parents of toddlers- 9) 

Raising Big Kids with Supernatural Love (for parents of tweens-young adults)



Filed Under: 2017, author interview, christian, forgiveness, God, Lori Wildenberg, Messy Journey, prodigal, raising big kids with supernatural love, raising little kids with big love

Messy Journey {Book Launch Review}

May 7, 2017 by Dana

Messy Journey

Lori Wildenberg

Have you ever faced a challenge in life you just weren’t sure about?  Have you ever wondered what God thinks?  Do you wish there was a book to help you through the tough times or tough topics like sex before marriage, sexual orientation, gender issues, living with a partner while unmarried and more?  Messy Journey by Lori Wildenberg helps in dealing with these tough questions, showing you how to find strength in God’s word while facing these tough choices that other’s (and we) sometimes make.


As a parent, Lori Wildenberg was faced with a tough situation when her daughter chose a different path then Lori’s beliefs provided for.  Lori found herself searching for answers and peace with her daughter’s life choices, while Lori’s daughter found herself in the opposite place of trying to find peace with her own decisions for her life.  This situation and Lori’s search to find peace and truth in God’s word led her to writing this book for all parent’s and person’s who may find themselves in a similar situation.


As a person who has lived in Sin many years of my life, I am often in the situation of being judged for my personal choices as well as feeling guilty for those choices.  In the past, I have personally made the decision to cohabitate without being married, as well as have sex without marriage with the men I have lived with.  Though today’s world is filled with sins like my own, I find it’s still a very judged situation.  I have often wished for a book that reached my soul on the subject, showing me how to ask forgiveness for myself as well as how to live despite my sins and judgments against me. 

Messy Journey has been a blessing to me.  I know it will be a blessing to others.  Lori doesn’t condone these sins but she does not condemn them either.  She shows us that we each have to make our own choices, good and bad.  She shows that God still loves despite of these choices, that His Faith is always strong for us, even when ours is weak.  She shows us that God has a bigger plan and that we should never give up.  We should always be willing to forgive as God has shown grace and forgiveness to each of us through all eternity.

Messy Journey helps show the way home to God and all His Love for us.  This book is one that speaks to your soul and helps you get through the toughest times.  As a parent, an aunt, a woman, I found this book to be enlightening in so many ways on so many things that touch my life.  It will definitely be a benefit to others who, like me, struggle to find hope in the dark times and strength in believing when choices seem to be the opposite of what they should be.

Messy Journey is for so much more than the struggling parent.  It’s for the struggling Aunt, the struggling sister, the struggling child.  You can grab your copy of Messy Journey today for $13.48 in paperback on Amazon or $9.99 on Kindle.

You can find Lori Wildenberg at her online home, Eternal Moments with Lori Wildenberg.

Filed Under: 2017, book launch, christian, cohabitation, eternal moments, gender issue, kindle book, Lori Wildenberg, Messy Journey, Review, sex before marriage, sexual orientation, tough questions

May 3, 2017 {Simple Woman’s Daybook}

May 3, 2017 by Dana

Simple Woman’s Daybook

For Today:
May 3, 2017

Outside my window, the sun is shining brightly.

I am thinking about my children.
I am thankful that my children are happy and healthy today.
From my learning, I am finding that I want to find peace and happiness in life.
From the kitchen, I hear the Emmalee helping Jackson.
I am wearing my ugly green house dress because today I’m being lazy.
I am creating a new life for us all.
I am going to watch movies and relax today while working online.
I am reading Messy Journey by Lori Wildenberg and Women Who Move Mountains by Sue Detweiler.
I am hoping that my husband has no more challenges today.
I am hearing Emmalee and Jackson talking together in the kitchen.
Around the house, I have dinner to get ready soon.
One of my favorite things: the smell of gardenias in bloom.
A few plans for the rest of the week:
Help Don if he needs it.
Finish mowing the grass.
Write reviews for both Messy Journey and Women Who Move Mountains.

A thought to share:
Sometimes life gets busy.  Still we must put Faith first every day.  God is what gets us through.  Without Him we accomplish nothing.

A quote I like:
We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
The old skin has to be shed before the new one can come.
-Joseph Campbell

Filed Under: 2017, family, life, live, Lori Wildenberg, Love, Messy Journey, reading, Simple Women's Daybook, Sue Detweiler, to do, Women Who Move Mountains

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