Filed under: uncategorized
By Deri G. Keefer
When Joshua was 85 years old he was still looking toward the future by driving out the enemy and taking the land God had promised. At that age he had not given up the fight. Twenty-first-century grandparents need to be looking toward the future as well. We are in a spiritual battle for the bodies and souls of our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
National Grandparents Day originated with Marian McQuade, of Fayette County, West Virginia. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter made a proclamation that National Grandparents Day would be celebrated every year on the first Sunday after Labor Day. Our world needs grandparents and senior adults who model godly characteristics, demonstrate virtuous living, and mentor those coming after them in the Christian faith.
- Model faith. Fortunate is the grandchild who hears of the experience of saving faith from a grandparent who knows Jesus as Savior. Look for opportunities to nurture your grandchild’s natural curiosity about God. Talk about the Creator on walks and outings. Read or tell Bible stories together. Sing praise choruses. Share how God has and is working in your life.
- Model love. No one can ever hear the words “I love you!” too much. Say it. Write it. Wrap it. Show it. Give it. Communicate, “I love you!” in every way you can think of not only to your grandchildren but to their parents also.
- Model hope. Our world is short on hope. Christian grandparents understand the need for hope. They have lived through a World War, the Korean conflict, the Cold War, Vietnam, and two Gulf Wars. These grandparents know their hope is not in politics, stock markets, or worldview philosophies. Their hope is based on Jesus Christ. Christian grandparents can assure grandchildren that no matter what is happening around them, they can have the confidence that comes from knowing the Anchor of Life.
- Model holy living. Christian grandparents have the responsibility of living their lives by the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. Grandparents in the Restoration tradition understand that we, as a church and as individuals, need that power for holy living. This sanctifying power cleanses our heart, sets us apart, creates a Christlike character, and liberates us to a lifestyle that honors God.
September 12th is Grandparents Day this year!
Adapted by James Fife
About Paul Faulkner
Paul Faulkner is founder and principal owner of Resources for Living, Ltd. (RFL), an international counseling and consulting company located in Austin, Texas; Quebec City, Canada; and Mexico City, Mexico. As a major provider of counseling to and through such major corporations as Wal-Mart, Kroger, and IBM, over three million individuals in North America can access mental health services through RFL. The company also provides nonprofit counseling to churches and other charitable organizations including the United Methodist Church, the Catholic Church, and World Vision. (more…)
Do you want to read through the entire Bible, but aren’t sure where to start or how to go about doing so? There is no shortage of new plans or creative approaches. One of the most recent is READ THE BIBLE IN 90 DAYS! Another brand new resource is God Sightings One Year Bible by Tyndale. There are one minute plans, a five minute one chapter a day Monday through Friday 52 week plan to read the entire New Testament and many, many other systematic plans. One thing is for sure, READ THE BIBLE IN 90 DAYS (or B.I.N.D.) is outside the norm of most other approaches. So why select this approach? (more…)
