Name: Rebuilding Family After Separation
Price: 12 USD

2 Corinthians 12:9
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

God loves marriage. CB refers to the passage in Ephesians chapter 5 where the relationship between a husband and wife is like Christ’s love for the church. He also cites a verse where the apostle John writes a beautifully divine picture of Jesus as the bridegroom and us as the church are his bride.

Revelation 19:7
7 Let us rejoice and exult
		and give him the glory,
	for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
		and his Bride has made herself ready;

First thing to know about this journey is that God loves marriage and how we look when we are happy in marriage.

Proverbs 18:22
22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing
			and obtains favor from the Lord.

But God also knows that we fall and make mistakes and feel like we let God down. CB shares the story when his divorced was finalized and how his heart broke. But at that moment when God gave him some hope. 

2 Corinthians 12:9 
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

We make mistakes and God gives grace for our next season as a divorced person.
He brings glory through our failure and our weakness demonstrates His power.

Divorce: Part 1

Divorce

CB explains about this example of marriage as why God hates divorce. But God does not hate divorced people, He loves divorced people. This session is about what you need to do after the divorce. 

2 Corinthians 12:9
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

If you walked through the struggle of divorce - that in that journey it is easy to feel weak and beaten up as a failure. You question yourself about what you should have done differently.

It is at that moment when you feel the weakest that is where God’s love and grace is the strongest. CB recalls someone saying that the pain of divorce is only second to the loss of a child.

It is okay to grieve the loss of your marriage and to admit that you are weak, scared and lonely. God's grace is sufficient for all of that. God really loves you even when the one you love the most doesn’t. God’s love has never failed. God’s love has never changed for you.

Psalm 136:2
2 Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.

God’s best plan is still moving forward in your life. He is not giving up, so don’t you.

It is natural to feel grief when your marriage ends.

Matthew 19:6
6 So they are no longer two but one flesh.

Remember that how you experience grief is seasonal and you will pass through it. And that there is no time limit on your grieving. Give yourself the freedom to grieve. But be careful not to try to replace your grief with new love. Give yourself the time to heal. Allow God the time for his grace to transform us. Don’t leave a broken relationship broken hearted you will enter into the new one and break it too.

Give yourself the time to grieve, to feel, heal and then to move on.

Divorce: Part 2

When divorce happens it is natural to feel like you are tearing your heart apart. Give yourself the grace to grieve. You don’t have to fake or be tough for everyone. Understand that grief comes in stages and waves. In each stage you will deal differently with the loss that you have experienced. 

Philemon 1:9
9 yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you...

God loves reconciliation especially when it comes to a parent after divorce or co-parenting. We have an opportunity to lead your children towards the spirit of reconciliation. Co-parenting is a challenge as it is also for your children to watch their parents walk through co-parenting with a spirit of reconciliation.

CB cites the passage from Mark 11:25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Forgiveness is a commandment from the Lord. The beautiful part of co-parenting is to fulfill this mandate of forgiveness before our children to observe.
Forgiveness is a gift we give our children as an appeal for love’s sake. 

Your kids are dealing with the same painful feelings of resentment. 
The same pain that you are feeling as a single parent and God is giving you a blessed opportunity to show your children how to walk through these emotions into the spirit of reconciliation and into God’s commandment to forgive. You children are probably struggling with how to forgive the other parent as well as how to forgive you. You get to model that for your kids. Stop criticizing your former spouse around your children. Proverbs 18:21 says “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. Be mindful of the words you use about your Ex around your children.

Kids need both moms and dads!
It is good to experience the differences between their parents.

Give your children the opportunity for new love and new respect for their “bonus” parents.
A practical way to incorporate ways to include their mom and step-dad or dad and step-mom in your prayers with your children.
Celebrating with your children, their co-parents. The struggle that you are in as a co-parent or single parent is bigger than you. It is about your kids. And God has given you the opportunity to live out forgiveness and love in front of them.

When you pray, celebrate and give to your co-parent you demonstrate that love is not conditional, love is eternal. Love is not emotional, it is a verb. 
CB cites the passage out of 1 Peter 4:8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly,

Love is a free gift!

Co-Parenting

When you walk through a divorce it is easy to feel pain and resentment. The Bible gives a mandate of forgiveness and is best expressed for love's sake. CB explains how this is expressed in the New Testament letter from the Apostle Paul to his friend Philemon is about forgiveness.

1 Samuel 1:22 
22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and dwell there forever.”

In the story about Hannah who gives her son, Samuel for the Lord’s service.
CB shares how this is a perfect picture for single parents by sharing his own experience as a single dad of two boys. He felt that doing this season that God had intervened in their lives despite all of the circumstances.

Philippians 4:7
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

It was in that season that CB discovered how much God loves his boys, even more than he did.

Remember God loves your kids MORE than you do!

Revelation 21:3-5
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

He sees their needs. And your moment of weakness and inability to provide.
Your children are yours - on loan from God. He is able to be present and to provide and help, if we just give our kids back to the Lord. Like Hannah, you can admit that you don't have everything you need in this season. Instead you need to admit your need for the Lord to step when you are feeling that you can’t.

1 Samuel 1:28
28 Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.”

"But God loves your kids so much that He chose to give them to you. So, give all of you."

Single-Parenting: Part 1

Single-Parenting

In this chapter, class encourages all the single parents on how to lead your children on your own.

Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

God chose you for your children and for you to walk out your faith in front of them.

Titus 2:7
7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,

Kids are far more observant that you realize. 
There is a teaching in every moment for your children.

What about the season that you are currently in that can be teachable moments for your kids?
Authenticity, vulnerability and fearlessness: these are the kinds of things that you can leave as a legacy.

As a single parent you are raising, leading strong children - if you will give them back to the Lord.

Single-Parenting: Part 2

Becoming a single parent did not catch God by surprise. You are God’s best plan for your children.

Rebuilding Family After Separation

CBBarthlow_RebuildingFamily_CoverArt_v1.jpg

In this mini course, you will learn the power of God’s love to help you model before your children forgiveness and reconciliation. God’s forgiveness is a gift we give our children as an appeal for love’s sake. 

CB explains about why God loves marriage and why God hates divorce. But God does not hate divorced people, He loves divorced people. This course will guide you in what you need to do after the divorce. 

This course will walk through the struggle of divorce and give you the tools to grieve so that you can feel, heal and move on. 

Learn how God loves your kids more than you do - and that He has chosen you to walk out your faith in the Lord before them.

CB Barthlow

Pastor

Rebuilding Family After Separation is a course taught by CB Barthlow who experienced the pain of divorce and the challenges of being a single parent and eventually learning how to successfully co-parent.

That, As a Single Parent, Your Life Is Filled With Teachable Moments For Your Children

Your guide, CB Barthlow