The following are web site links and resource descriptions on Remarriage issues. We pray that you will find them to be helpful.

• www.blendingafamily.com It is their desire to see all blended families find God’s plan and God’s best for their lives. Their ministry focuses on helping each family to become a true loving family, providing a solid foundation for their children, established through God’s love, mercy, and grace.

• www.idotaketwo.com is a guide to 2nd weddings, second marriages and vow renewals.

• www.instepministries InStep Ministries with Jeff and Judi Parziale, is a non-profit organization which provides practical, Biblical resources, support and counsel to single, divorced and remarried individuals, their families and the churches who minister to them. InStep is pro-marriage not pro-divorce. They subscribe to the position on marriage and divorce espoused by Fresh Start Ministries. Their vision is to connect every single, divorced and remarried person to a community of faith by providing practical resources, counseling and encouragement to singles, single parents, divorced and remarried individuals in the community.

• www.stepfamilieswork.com Description: A website for stepfamilies to find help and inspiration. Within it you’ll discover articles, links, resources and advice to help your stepfamily survive and thrive on this unique journey. Stepfamilies Work! was created by Kelly Kirkendoll Shafer, mother of two/stepmother of three, author of “29 Ways to Make Your Stepfamily Work,” public speaker, professional writer. Kelly is known for tackling tough issues in a practical yet optimistic light, based on real-life victories and lessons learned (often the hard way). As they say, “stepfamilies can be tough (sometimes really tough), but they CAN work!” This ministry also has a free monthly newsletter.

• www.successfulstepfamilies.com Successful Stepfamilies is a ministry of: As For Me And My House Ministries with Ron L. Deal as the Director and Southwest Church of Christ of Jonesboro, Arkansas. This web site and the entire ministry is top-notch in the help it offers step families. It has wonderful articles and helpful links to further help you. It also has ministry and therapy training, conferences you can attend-including “Tele-classes” you can sign up for if you can’t attend one of their regular conferences.

• www.winningstepfamilies.com Their mission is to help as many stepfamilies as possible design and build an awesome marriage, raise exceptional children and live extraordinary lives. The directors, Steven and Barbara Straub are Stepfamily Certified Coaches. On their web site you can “Get free help for your blended family. Learn how to survive the weekend, eliminate the negative in your relationship and how to create a stepfamily that works. This advice and the information on this site may help you eliminate some of the problems you may be having.”

RESOURCE DESCRIPTIONS:

• THE SMART STEP-FAMILY: Seven Steps to a Healthy Family by Ron L. Deal, published by Bethany House www.bethanyhouse.com. This is a really good book that we highly recommend! This book is written on the “information is power” premise. It weaves together a review of biblical materials, current psychological and sociological research, best practices, practical insights, and anecdotal stories to educate and support stepfamilies and the clergy who serve them. Ron Deal explodes the myth of the “blended” family as he provides practical, realistic solutions to the issues that stepfamilies face. He helps remarried and soon-to-be-remarried couples to: recognize the unique personality and place of each family member, and helps to solve everyday puzzles of step parenting and stepchildren relationship. Buy this book now.

• LOOKING BEFORE YOU LEAP—AGAIN! Preparing Yourself for the Adventures and Challenges of Remarriage - by Jeff Parziale, Ph.D. and Judi Babcock Parziale, Ph.D. published by InStep Ministries www.instepministries.com. This is a wonderful resource primarily because most remarrying adults are totally unprepared for remarriage and step family life. The question the authors asked was, “Why is this true?”

Based on years of clinical experience, research and hundreds of conversations with single and divorced adults that authors believe they’ve found the answer. “Remarriage readiness is a process that most adults short-circuit for a variety of reasons, including a lack of practical information, loneliness, fear and an inability or reluctance to resolve their past issues.” If you follow the steps outlined in this very readable and practical workbook the authors guarantee that you’ll significantly increase the quality of your relationships and “radically change the statistics of remarriage success—in your favor.”

• THE JOURNEY: A Traveling Guide for Christian Step families -by Jeff Parziale, Ph.D. and Judi Babcock Parziale, Ph.D. published by Fenestra Books www.fenestrabooks.com. This is a travel guide which takes Step families on a journey to lasting success, a place they call the “Promised Land.” The authors draw some amazing parallels between Step families and the journey of the children of Israel to the land promised to them by God. This workbook deals with every major blended family issue and is packed with solid, biblical solutions. you may be lost or overwhelmed on your journey, or you may need practical, accurate information on blended family life. In a time when many marriages and remarriages are struggling to survive, let The journey be your guide to a thriving, successful blended family. “It’s an A to Z guide to the unique challenges each step family faces.” Buy this book now.

• HOW TO BE FIRST IN A SECOND MARRIAGE -by Rose Sweet, published by College Press Publishing Company. Rose Sweet has written this guide for divorcees to overcome common pitfalls that repeatedly ruin second marriages. Based on scriptural principles, it will direct a husband and wife toward a deeper relationship with one another, establish proper roles for their new marriage, and proper relationships with an ex-spouse, helping them to break the bondage of the past, establish effective boundaries in relationships, and resolve conflicts in a second marriage.

• BLENDED FAMILIES… Creating Harmony As You Build a New Home Life - by Maxine Marsolini, published by Moody Press. This book is intended as a tool for personal growth and a guide for small group studies or Christian counseling. The “Growth and Application” questions at the end of each chapter can be applied to all these settings to aid the family’s blending process.

This book will work well within a church’s 13 week format for Sunday School classes. As the author said, “One thing for sure—blending doesn’t just happen. We purposely journey into it. And it takes years. I hope knowing that God has a plan for family victory will spur you on to meet these challenges God’s way and see them result in a happy family.” Buy this book now.

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