Most Popular Books by John Trent

Have you ever been the last one picked for a team? Everyone knows what it’s like to have a bad day. And when Norbert comes home from school, he has had a really bad day. As he and his mother talk through the day''s mishaps, she gently imparts The Blessing on him through spoken word, meaningful touch, attachment of high value, portraying a special future, and genuine commitment. By the end of the book, Norbert knows he is loved, and that even if he wasn’t the first pick for the team, he will always be chosen by his parents . . . and by God.

Change Your World. Far too many Americans-of all ages-are being sentenced to a life of loneliness and isolation, and our society is paying a tremendous price as a result. Despite our longing for intimacy, most of us are failing to connect with those around us in deep, meaningful ways-and are thus missing out on the greater health, happiness, and well-being we long for. Yet there is still tremendous reason for hope. You can make a difference in your life, and in the lives of others, by "being there." To be there is to go beyond casual acquaintances to make deep, lasting connections. To be there is to experience a sense of mission and purpose in life- and a decrease in feelings of fear and isolation. To be there for others is to find focus for your days-and to maintain a sense of wonder as you age. To be there is to be emotionally and spiritually in the "present moment"-for your children, your spouse, and yourself. Most of all, to "be there" is to follow a powerful biblical pattern the Lord handed down to Solomon late one night: a way of living that can transform your life and your relationships. Learn from best-selling author Dr. John Trent how you can Be There! for others in a way that will not only improve your daily existence, but richly and dramatically impact your world. John Trent Issues a Stirring Challenge for Men and Women to "Be There" for Their Family, Friends, and Faith. We are awash in studies showing the deep need people have for connection and the dramatic physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits that come from connecting with others. Yet despite that knowledge, we are more disconnected as a culture than ever before. In Be There! beloved family counselor and best-selling author Dr. John Trent shows how each of us can be present, active, and intentional in others'' lives. Blending poignant stories and biblical truth, Be There! sounds the call for a return to what''s important and vital in the heart and soul of society today. A centerpiece of the Focus on the Family national "Heritage Builders" campaign, Be There! will challenge and equip you to "be there" as never before for those who need you most.

Kids long to be unconditionally loved and accepted by their mom. Children need to know their worth before the rest of the world defines it for them. As a mom, it is easy to take for granted that your child already knows how much you love them--but sometimes they don''t. 30 Ways a Mother Can Bless Her Children is packed with 30 simple, fun, and affordable activities to show your sons or daughters that you love and appreciate them! From bedtime storytelling to cooking simple meals together, easily turn these simple activities into insightful blessings that will positively impact your kids for a lifetime! Using the story of Isaac and other Bible passages as models, John Trent shares practical ways to bless your child the 5 Elements of the Blessing. In every home, with every mother, there is a choice: a choice to bless her children. A mother can choose to communicate that incredible gift of unconditional love and acceptance that her children long for...or she can actively or passively withhold the blessing from her children, opening the door to loneliness and emotional hurt. This easy-to-read book will help you demonstrate the message that God has for us all: children in every home deserve to know that their mom and Jesus is crazy about them! Make this truth a reality for your child and give them the gift of the Blessing so they can be free to serve others, gain personal strength, and grow in God''s purpose for them. Help your child embrace the truth that with God''s love, they can do and be more than they ever imagined. Blessing others is a choice. Before turning to Jesus, author John Trent harbored resentment and hatred toward his alcoholic father for years. After he gave his life to Christ, John forgave his father and realized that he was given the same choice as his father: to bless or withhold blessing from his own family. Since then, John has shown millions of families how to break the cycle of rejection and bless one another. What are the 5 Elements of the Blessing? But what exactly does it mean to give a blessing? The blessing as described in Scripture always included five elements: Meaningful and appropriate touch--giving a hug before school or a goodnight kiss before bedtimeA spoken message--telling your child how much they mean to you or praising them for being kind to othersAttaching high value to the one being blessed--speaking and affirming God''s truth and value over your childPicturing a special future for him or her--finding ways to encourage your child''s potential and envisioning ways they can impact the world for ChristAn active commitment to fulfill the blessing--learn to build a habit of consistently showing your child how much they mean to you About The Blessing Books by John Trent Based on the best-selling book written by Dr. John Trent and Gary Smalley, The Blessing, these Bible-based, easy-to-read books encourage family members to be a blessing to one another. With specific books tailored for husbands, wives, fathers, and mothers, Dr. Trent dives into the attitudes and actions necessary for positive relationships within a family. Find these other titles also by John Trent: 30 Ways a Father Can Bless His Children30 Ways a Husband Can Bless His Wife30 Ways a Wife Can Bless Her Husband About the Author: John Trent, PhD Dr. John Trent is president of StrongFamilies.com, the Gary Chapman Chair of Marriage and Family Ministry at Moody Theological Seminary, and founder of The Institute for the Blessing at Barclay College. John is a sought-after speaker and an award-winning author of more than twenty books, including six books for children. He has been a featured guest on numerous radio and television programs and leads The Blessing Challenge, a joint partnership with Focus on the Family and StrongFamilies.com. John and his wife of 30 years, Cindy, have two grown daughters and live in Arizona.

Easily give your kids the affirmation they need in 30 easy, affordable, and practical ways. The Blessing isn''t just another parenting formula--it''s a powerful, yet simple, biblical concept that will strengthen all your relationships. Perfect for parents with children of any age. Statistics show that a father''s presence in the lives of his children promotes higher levels of school performance, better psychological development, positive relational skills, and decreased exposure to violence, substance abuse, and poverty. Experience the Power of the Biblical Blessing in Your Children''s Lives Transform your relationship with your children with the blessings God intended for us all. Expert John Trent unpacks the biblical model of the Blessing to help families create a culture of love, appreciation, and commitment for one another. This 112-page book will teach you how to--Get involved in your children''s livesExpress active commitment, encouragement, and supportShow your love in ways kids will appreciateBuild a foundation for lifelong relationships with your sons and daughters3 Key Features of the Blessing Books 1. 30 Practical, Affordable, and Easy Ways to Bless Your Children Packed with 30 simple activities to show your sons or daughters that you love and appreciate them! From getting tech-savvy on the Web to Scripture-memorizing, easily turn these basic activities into insightful blessings that will positively impact your kids for a lifetime! 2. Unlock Your Potential for Blessing with the LOGB(R) Strengths Quiz Included in this book is Dr. John Trent''s famous Lion-Otter-Golden Retriever-Beaver Strengths Assessment that you can use to help determine your God-given strengths and for those of your kids too! Knowing your strengths is more than just a fun quiz: just like knowing your love languages, it will help you encourage and support your children like never before! 3. Clear Overview of Biblical Principles for Encouraging and Loving Your Children This easy-to-read book will help you demonstrate the message that God has for us all: every child in every home deserves to know that Jesus is crazy about them. Make this truth a reality for your child through the gift of the Blessing so they can be free to serve others, gain personal strength, and grow in responsibility. Help them embrace the truth that with God''s love, they can do and be more than they ever imagined. What are the 5 Elements of the Blessing? But what exactly does it mean to give a blessing? The Blessing as described in Scripture always included five elements: Meaningful and appropriate touchA spoken messageAttaching high value to the one being blessedPicturing a special future for him or herAn active commitment to fulfill the blessingAbout The Blessing Books by John Trent Based on the best-selling book written by Dr. John Trent and Gary Smalley, The Blessing, these Bible-based, easy-to-read books encourage family members to be a blessing to one another. With specific books tailored for husbands, wives, fathers, and mothers, Dr. Trent dives into the practical and biblically-based attitudes and actions necessary for positive relationships within a family. Find these other titles also by John Trent: 30 Ways a Mother Can Bless Her Children30 Ways a Husband Can Bless His Wife30 Ways a Wife Can Bless Her Husband

In this revised and updated edition, learn how the biblical gift of "The Blessing" is key to a child’s self-worth and emotional well-being. Children of every age long for the gift of The Blessing—the unconditional love and approval that comes from a healthy relationship with their parents. This life-changing gift for Christian parents and their children, essential for instilling a deep sense of worthiness and unshakable emotional well-being, contains five essential elements: Meaningful touch A spoken message Attaching high value Picturing a special future An active commitment Offering solid, practical advice and a fresh perspective on making this gift a bigger part of our families, The Blessing powerfully communicates these biblically based elements as necessary to prepare children for positive future relationships, including their relationship with a loving God. New to this updated edition are: Giving The Blessing to others in your circle of influence Practical application tools and stories of how this is lived out Insight and help for those who didn’t receive The Blessing How to create a lifestyle of blessing others If you have missed out on the approval of your parents, the final chapters are for you. They include help for those who grew up without their own parent''s blessing and provide ideas for blessing events.

In Pictures Your Heart Remembers, family expert Dr. John Trent shows how "pictures" of the good and bad things in our lives not only find their way into our hearts but also affect how we view ourselves, how we treat others, and even how we relate to God. These pictures, writes Trent, "affect the way we think, the way we feel, and the way we perceive the world." use the "pictures" of your life to deepen your love for God and others. In this most personal book, Trent draws on pictures from his own painful past to show how acts of kindness or cruelty-a parent''s smile or a teacher''s ridicule-are all wrapped up in memories that carry the power to bless or curse us. Drawing on pictures full of promise in God''s Word, Trent shows that we have a choice in how we react to the negative events we''ve experienced in the past. We also have a choice every day to leave positive pictures in the lives of those we meet...just as Jesus did. Over a million homes have been deeply impacted by Dr. Trent''s powerful message of the blessing. This book, previously released as Choosing to Live the Blessing, speaks to the people who may not have seen consistent love, acceptance, or warmth in their past and gives them hope and help in reframing those negative events into lifelong positives. Filled with genuine warmth and vulnerability, Pictures Your Heart Remembers will touch readers'' hearts and challenge them to leave pictures of blessing today.

A wife longs to be unconditionally loved and accepted by her husband. As a husband, it is easy to take for granted that your wife already knows how much you love her--but sometimes she doesn''t. 30 Ways a Husband Can Bless His Wife is packed with 30 simple, fun, and affordable activities to show your wife that you love and appreciate her! From fun date night ideas to taking care of her least-liked chore, easily turn these simple acts of kindness into powerful blessings that will positively impact your marriage for a lifetime! Using the illustration of Christ and his bride and other Bible passages as models, John Trent shares practical ways to bless your wife using the 5 Elements of the Blessing. In every home, with every husband, there is a choice: a choice to bless his wife. A husband can choose to communicate that incredible gift of unconditional love and acceptance that his wife longs for...or he can actively or passively withhold the blessing from his wife, opening the door to loneliness and emotional hurt. This easy-to-read book will help you demonstrate the message that God has for us all: wives in every home deserve to know that their husband and Jesus is crazy about them! Make this truth a reality for your wife and give her the gift of the Blessing so she can be free to serve others, gain personal strength, and grow in God''s purpose for her. Help your wife embrace the truth that with God''s love, she can do and be more than she ever imagined. Blessing others is a choice. Before turning to Jesus, author John Trent harbored resentment and hatred toward his alcoholic father for years. After he gave his life to Christ, John forgave his father and realized that he was given the same choice as his father: to bless or withhold blessing from his own family. Since then, John has shown millions of families how to break the cycle of rejection and bless one another. What are the 5 Elements of the Blessing? But what exactly does it mean to give a blessing? The Blessing as described in Scripture always included five elements: Meaningful and appropriate touch--holding hands or faithfully giving a goodnight kissA spoken message--telling your wife how much she means to you or praising her for taking such good care of the kidsAttaching high value to the one being blessed--speaking and affirming God''s truth and value over your wifePicturing a special future for him or her--finding ways to encourage your wife''s potential and envisioning the ways she can impact the world for ChristAn active commitment to fulfill the blessing--learn to build a habit of consistently showing your wife how much she means to you About The Blessing Books by John Trent Based on the best-selling book written by Dr. John Trent and Gary Smalley, The Blessing, these Bible-based, easy-to-read books encourage family members to be a blessing to one another. With specific books tailored for husbands, wives, fathers, and mothers, Dr. Trent dives into the practical and biblically-based attitudes and actions necessary for positive relationships within a family. Find these other titles also by John Trent: 30 Ways a Father Can Bless His Children30 Ways a Mother Can Bless Her Children30 Ways a Wife Can Bless Her Husband About the Author: John Trent, PhD Dr. John Trent is president of StrongFamilies.com, the Gary Chapman Chair of Marriage and Family Ministry at Moody Theological Seminary, and founder of The Institute for the Blessing at Barclay College. John is a sought-after speaker and an award-winning author of more than twenty books, including six books for children. He has been a featured guest on numerous radio and television programs and leads The Blessing Challenge, a joint partnership with Focus on the Family and StrongFamilies.com. John and his wife of 30 years, Cindy, have two grown daughters and live in Arizona.

Proven techniques to keep your marriage alive and lively from marriage expert Gary Smalley. More than 150K in print In this practical book, family counselor and best-selling author Gary Smalley, with John Trent, reveals a simple yet profound plan for a marriage of depth, warmth, and excitement. Guide your marriage for a lifetime by learning how to make your spouse feel truly honored, keep courtship alive, rebuild trust, and become best friends with your family. According to Smalley, good marriages are no accident. And deciding to love-in the practical ways outlined here-can result in relationships that are tougher than tough times. Love is a Decision is also available in Spanish, El amore s una decision.

" An insightful tour of an intense athletic world unknown to most." — Kirkus Reviews Looking at life through the lens of this unique sporting community, journalist and veteran marathon runner John Trent draws a direct line between the mentors, companions, and challenges from the trail and the paths we all face in Running Toward Life. When covering the 100-Mile Western States Endurance Run as a pace runner, John found himself running 38 miles after joining his friend Joe Baninburg at the 62-mile mark. That day would see temperatures soar to 104 degrees– still the hottest day ever recorded at the Western States Endurance Run– but it would also ignite his love for the ultra running sport and the life-affirming code of compassionate care these competitors live by. The mindset that helps ultra runners commit to such an arduous journey is one that John found can also help anyone overcoming challenges in life off the trail, too. Over the years, John would document the stories, hard-earned lessons, and the shared experiences within the community he became part of while on the trail.

A national epidemic of exhaustion is raging across all cultures and social statuses with a huge price being paid in our lives and relationships. Chasing Skinny Rabbits gets at the root of why we''re so prone to exhaustion. As award-winning author John Trent advises, if you don''t understand and deal with life''s Skinny Rabbits-those things that distract you and lead you to a negative place-more can''t-miss strategies for gaining time and energy will simply lead to more exhaustion. In this book Trent discusses why we''re so prone to chase Skinny Rabbits and offers the five most common Rabbit Trails- All take and no give Triple your possessions Perfectionism When I get that . . . Small thinking and the five most common Rabbit Traps- Pride Busyness Fantasy Isolation White lies He then helps readers shift focus to what can lead to true life, true energy, and true fulfillment, as well as a place of real emotional and spiritual rest.

“If you’ve ever doubted your ability to be a vessel of grace and healing in the life of someone who’s hurting, you need to read A Place Called Blessing. It is the story of a wounded soul named Josh, but chances are there is a Josh living next door to you or even sitting near you in the pew at church.”—Jim Daly, president, Focus on the Family His whole life has been a story of hurt and rejection. Is one family’s love enough to turn it all around? Josh lost his parents in a drunk-driving accident and lost track of his two brothers after a tragic fire. By age eighteen, he is an angry young man who only wants a job, an apartment, and to be left alone. Instead, he meets Mike and Anna, an unusual son-and-mother team who draw him into their lives. For the first time, Josh receives unconditional love and something every human being craves, the gift of “the blessing.” But tragedy strikes again, and a shocking secret is revealed. Can Josh hang on to what he’s learned about blessings, curses, and family? The life-changing message of the relational classic, The Blessing—now in compelling story form. Complete with a reader’s guide to help you identify and apply the five elements of the biblical blessing to your own life and relationships. Visit www.TheBlessing.com for more information and an opportunity to join The Blessing Challenge, one million people choosing to change the life of one child—their child!

Short, practical suggestions offer fathers ideas to build a quality relationship with their eight- to 12-year-old sons, following the pattern set in Luke 2:52.

Descriptions of four animals--lions, otters, golden retrievers, and beavers--are unique ways to describe a person''s God-given strengths and behavioral style. The key to building strong, close-knit ministry teams is to learn how to integrate the different personality types.

A husband longs to be unconditionally loved and accepted by his wife. As a wife, it is easy to take for granted that your husband already knows how much you love him--but sometimes he doesn''t. 30 Ways a Wife Can Bless Her Husband is packed with 30 simple, fun, and affordable activities to show your husband that you love and appreciate him! From fun date night ideas to keeping the kitchen stocked with his favorite snack, easily turn these simple acts of kindness into powerful blessings that will positively impact your marriage for a lifetime! Using the illustration of Christ and his bride and other Bible passages as models, John Trent shares practical ways to bless your husband using the 5 Elements of the Blessing. In every home, with every wife, there is a choice: a choice to bless her husband. A wife can choose to communicate that incredible gift of unconditional love and acceptance that her husband longs for...or she can actively or passively withhold the blessing from her husband, opening the door to loneliness and emotional hurt. This easy-to-read book will help you demonstrate the message that God has for all of us: husbands in every home deserve to know that their wife and Jesus is crazy about them! Make this truth a reality for your husband and give him the gift of the Blessing so he can be free to serve others, gain personal strength, and grow in God''s purpose for him. Help your husband embrace the truth that with God''s love, he can do and be more than he ever imagined. Blessing others is a choice. Before turning to Jesus, author John Trent harbored resentment and hatred toward his alcoholic father for years. After he gave his life to Christ, John forgave his father and realized that he was given the same choice as his father: to bless or withhold blessing from his own family. Since then, John has shown millions of families how to break the cycle of rejection and bless one another. What are the 5 Elements of the Blessing? But what exactly does it mean to give a blessing? The Blessing as described in Scripture always included five elements: Meaningful and appropriate touch--holding hands or faithfully giving a goodnight kissA spoken message--telling your husband how much he means to you or praising him for taking such good care of the kidsAttaching high value to the one being blessed--speaking and affirming God''s truth and value over your husbandPicturing a special future for him or her--finding ways to encourage your husband''s potential and envisioning the ways he can impact the world for ChristAn active commitment to fulfill the blessing--learn to build a habit of consistently showing your husband how much he means to you About The Blessing Books by John Trent Based on the best-selling book written by Dr. John Trent and Gary Smalley, The Blessing, these Bible-based, easy-to-read, and practical books encourage family members to be a blessing to one another. With specific books tailored for husbands, wives, fathers and mothers, Dr. Trent dives into the attitudes and actions necessary for positive relationships within a family. Find these other titles also by John Trent: 30 Ways a Father Can Bless His Children30 Ways a Mother Can Bless Her Children30 Ways a Husband Can Bless His Wife About the Author: John Trent, PhD Dr. John Trent is president of StrongFamilies.com, the Gary Chapman Chair of Marriage and Family Ministry at Moody Theological Seminary, and founder of The Institute for the Blessing at Barclay College. John is a sought-after speaker and an award-winning author of more than twenty books, including six books for children. He has been a featured guest on numerous radio and television programs and leads The Blessing Challenge, a joint partnership with Focus on the Family and StrongFamilies.com. John and his wife of 30 years, Cindy, have two grown daughters and live in Arizona.

Kids will love this creative and fun book in which 4 animals (an otter, beaver, golden retriever & lion) teach personality traits and how to respect and appreciate each individual for who they are. Meets national education standards.

Do you know the four inescapable “transitions” that every ministry team must face?The answer to that question lies at the heart of successful ministry teams and is found in the powerful book, Leading from Your Strengths: Building Close-Knit Ministry Teams. Whether you’re a pastor or in para-church ministry, a lay leader or a team member, the principles you learn here can make a tremendous difference in how effective and intimate your ministry team becomes.From eye-opening stories, to understanding the four inescapable “transitions,” to taking an online strengths assessment, you’ll discover your unique God-given strengths, learn to understand and appreciate the strengths of others, and learn to blend the differences.Building strong, effective ministry teams is like taking a whitewater-rafting trip, with many unexpected rapids along the way. Join Dr. John Trent, Rodney Cox, and Eric Tooker, your guides on the journey to Leading From Your Strengths™.

Get the guidance you need to help your child—and help yourself!—experience full, lasting relationships. The Relationally-Intelligent Child teaches parents the crucial insights of a must grasp concept: relational intelligence. This tool for growth and connection will not only change a child’s life, but also a parent’s own relationships. You’ll discover five key elements that can engage and equip your child with skills for being relationally intelligent with family, friends, and others. This book also includes a special online version of the Connect Assessment® to help parents understand their children’s relational strengths. You’ll find a hands-on application plan, as well as links to powerful podcasts, videos, and resources. Your child was created for connection and designed for loving relationships. Get the help you need to guide them to develop the skills they need to do so.

The authors of "Leading from Your Strengths" help parents--and their children--build harmony and head off potential conflicts by introducing some of the same tools and insights that have helped hundreds of ministry teams become closer and more connected.

"Instead of making a dramatic adjustment, making one ''two degree'' change toward God or your loved one can begin moving you in a positive, freeing, fulfilling direction." -- Amazon.com.

Being part of a small group can be a bit like climbing a mountain - it has risks but the payoff is immense. That is why Trent, Cox, and Tooker have styled this second book in the Leading From Your Strengths series like a mountain climbing expedition. Just like climbing Mount Everest, climbing the mountain to intimacy in your small group involves five stages, or camps. You begin at your "base camp" commitment, and then move through the various stages of honesty, acceptance, closeness, and finally the mountain''s peak of intimacy. Once again, the Ministry Insights team will be your expedition guide on your climb as you learn to leverage your strengths for effective and successful small group experiences.