Grandmas with Heart: March 2020

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Your Grandparenting Legacy

As Chuck Swindoll said; think carefully about your grandparenting legacy. It is more important than your reputation, any position you hold, your salary or what other people think of you. So, as we think about this, what does the word, "legacy" mean? According to dictionary (dot) com it means . . .

Make the choice to trust; to have faith, even when it looks like nothing is happening around us. Even when it looks like our prayers are not being answered. We do not know what God is doing to answer our prayers; He has promised to hear, listen to and answer our prayers and we KNOW God ALWAYS keeps His promises!

Find the Footprints of Jesus

As we enter another week of many of us staying home and away from family, friends, church and jobs, remember this quote from Charles Stanley -

The older we get, the easier it is for us to believe a lie - the lie which says older people have less to offer. This is absolutely not true. We have much to offer. As Joni says; "In God's hands we are useful and priceless."

Where Two or Three Are Gathered - Join with Us

Yesterday as I was thinking about family members for whom I am praying in regards to COVID-19 I thought about starting a group on facebook where prayer requests for family members could be shared by anyone with a request and then prayed for by any willing to pray.

Today I am so happy to share with you a post written by Joani Schultz who is one of our Grandmas with Heart and the Chief Creative Officer for Group Publishing.

“No worries.”

I love it when someone says that to me.

Like when I spill my iced tea at a restaurant. A friendly server wipes up the puddle and says, “No worries.”

Like when I accidentally bump into someone next to me. A kind stranger smiles, “No worries.”

Ahh… Hearing “No worries” lifts my spirits and makes me feel good.

However…

Heavenly Father,

We long to tell “the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and His might, and the wonders that He has done” (Psalm 78:4).

Please provide us opportunities to share our faith stories, including our testimonies and stories of answered prayers, with our children and grandchildren. Give us insight to recognize these opportunities when they arise. Help us to navigate technology and use it to Your Glory, especially during this lock-down.

Connect - Hand Down the Faith & Have Fun - "Stained Glass" Windows

There are just two weeks until Resurrection Sunday and it is very likely most of us will still be staying home, away from others - which makes celebrating with family, friends and our church something very different this year. Last week a friend of mine, Joan Salsbury, shared a terrific link she found on a facebook page (Easter Egg Hunt 2020 with Social Distancing) for one of the most wonderful ideas I have ever seen to help our grandchildren celebrate Resurrection Sunday. Today I am very happy to share it with you, so you have time to gather the supplies and send them to your grandchildren. You will need . . .

Words have power. In a study performed by the Royal Horticultural Society, researchers discovered talking to your plants really can help them grow faster. Yes, words have power.

Sherry Schumann is one of our Grandmas with Heart; she is also the Prayer Director for Christian Grandparenting Network. She recently posted a video where she calls upon grandparents to join together to pray and today I am delighted to share this video with you.

God has a Word for Our (Grand)Children

"Overflowing mercy"; don't you just love the sound of this! Of course our children and grandchildren have great value to us; we love them with our all, but to know God also loves them with His all, well, what could be better?

I love this quote from T. D. Jakes as it is true for us and for the ones we love. As you go through the day today, please tell yourself this truth - "God has invested entirely too much in you for you to be comfortable as anyone less than you were created to be."

Earlier this week the Legacy Coalition shared a link on their facebook page for an opportunity to watch the animated movie - Pilgrim's Progress, so today I want to share this link with you along with some ideas for ways you are able to use it to connect with your grandchildren - especially during this time when you may be staying away from them.

A Free Scripture Blessing Print for You

Today I am very happy to share with you another printable Scripture blessing for you to download, print and post in your home - and give to your grandchildren, so they are able to do the same. You will find this free resource at the following link.

This print is based on Isaiah 25:1 . . .

Throughout our lives there will be times when we feel strong, and times when we need strength. Times when we experience peace, and times when things feel chaotic. Times when things make sense and the wise choice is clear, and times when they do not. Times when we know what direction we need to head, and times when we do not. Times when we feel like our lives are disciplined and in order, and times when they do not. No matter where we are and what we need, we are able to ask God for these things and know with confidence He will hear us! Just look at these verses . . .

Difficult times are inevitable. We will face adversity in our lifetime, but even in the times which challenge, we are able to see God's blessings when we look for them. If, when these times come, we make the choice to focus our view on the blessings, we will experience gratitude. Help the children you love learn to be people who look for blessings and experience gratitude - consider the following . . .

Use Humor to Make the Ride Smoother

Every day, but especially during difficult times, it may be helpful to find something to laugh about; something to make your ride smoother. This doesn't mean you are not facing those difficult times, but especially with children, it is helpful to find something which makes you laugh.

So, just for a touch of fun, consider sharing with your grandchildren some actual laws in some of our states. For example, did you know . . .

I LOVE this quote! There are things I pray every day for my family and friends and I depend upon God to do as He has promised. I hold tightly to the truth, "It is God's nature to keep His promises."

This photo is from Whiskeytown National Recreation Area - it is an area which was burned in the Carr Fire two summers ago. If you look closely, you will see in the background the grey, ash-covered ground and the black trunks of the burnt trees, but in the foreground you are able to see how life returned just a couple months after the fire! Green grass and plants were growing and bushes were getting new leaves!

God's Great Promise & A Prayer

When we first became parents, if we were people who knew, loved and followed God, we certainly wanted this for our children as well. As they grew up, we did what we knew to do to point them to Jesus and rejoiced as they put their trust in Him. When they married, we experienced the joy of watching them start to build their home on the firm foundation of God and His Word.

Here in Michigan where I live, schools are closed another week - four weeks in total until the middle of April - at this point. Life is very different for my grandchildren - not only are they no longer going to school, but as with so many other families, their mom is not going to work now either with the new stay at home order from our Governor. These types of changes are potentially frightening, so now is an excellent time for us to bring them understanding, comfort and hope.

Connect - Hand Down the Faith & Have Fun

As you go through this time when you are supposed to be staying in your home away from others, this is a great time to connect with the children you love - in person or over the phone/facetime/ hangouts - to hand down the faith and have some fun! So, each week I will share a few fun ideas to do exactly this.

Today we have the opportunity to make a difference. Today we have the opportunity to pray for the ones we love. Today we have the opportunity to share how God has been faithful to show His great love to us. Today we have the opportunity to hand down the faith. Today we are, "actually in the battle".

As we begin another week of social distancing and expect the numbers of people who have COVID-19 to increase, please take the truth of Psalm 103 to heart and lift our praise to God with all our heart . . .

"Whatever Lord!"

Throughout our lives we have times when we are able to see what is going on and move forward with confidence, and times when we do not. But, God wants us to always trust Him with everything - whether we see or not. As Barbara Johnson said, God wants us to say, "Whatever Lord!" and to do so with joy!

Every day of our lives, but perhaps even more so when we face something like COVID-19, we need to know God is always working in our lives through every situation and circumstance we face - in ways we do see and in ways we do not. Nothing is too big for God and nothing takes Him by surprise. Look at Psalms 139 -

Heavenly Father,

We pray for the fruit of the Holy Spirit during this time of uncertainty.

We pray for the fruit of PATIENCE. Help us not to grumble and complain like the Israelites did as they passed through the wilderness.

We pray for the fruit of PEACE. Help us not to be consumed and enslaved to fear as we face the unknown elements of this epidemic.

God's Peace Will Guard Our Hearts & Minds

As you go through today, take to heart the encouragement we find in Philippians 4:6,7 . . .

I remember when my grandsons were little - they loved to play "I'm under the table" (otherwise known as Hide and seek.) They loved to make up silly stories - always with monsters and super heroes . . . no butterfly and rainbow stories with these boys!

And, there were lots of sitting in grandma's lap with hugs and snuggles!

Yes, I remember those days. But, now my grandsons are getting older - as all children do. They no longer like being called, "sweetie", "cutie", or any such thing. In just a year and a half my oldest grandson will be a teen . . . where did the years go? So, as they grow up, I am learning to adapt and find new ways to connect with them. I found a web site with some great ideas for connecting with older children - here are a few of my favorites - and added a few ideas of my own . . .

Teach the Children You Love to Show Love

It is very easy when we are self-isolating for us to think about the things we need to do to try and keep ourselves, and the ones we love, healthy. And, while this is important, it is also important for us to think about our neighbors, friends and family as well. It matters for us to show kindness and love to others, at all times, but even more so now - and for us to help our grandchildren/children learn to do the same. So, take time today to find a way for you to do this and involve the children you love, so they are able to do something to show kindness and love to others as well. Consider the following ideas . . .

As you hear the news this morning and look at the things facing you and the ones you love, remember what Jeremiah wrote so long ago when he and his people faced terrible times . . .

Try Praying Deeper Through the Psalms for Children for Four Weeks for Free

When we trust God, we are steadfast and are able to experience His perfect peace. This is certainly what we want for the ones we love; at all times, but especially now with COVID-19. Our grandchildren (and/or young children) may especially feel fear as they are not in school, the adults in their lives may not be working and may be feeling stressed and life is very different.

Peace. It is what everyone wants, the thing for which many spend their lives searching, the thing which God offers us at all times, and the thing which especially at times like this we are able to experience. Look what God tells us in Isaiah 54:10 -

When we make the choice to trust rather than the choice to be afraid and worry, we will experience God's perfect peace. Not just peace, but God's perfect peace! Look at what Isaiah 26:3 has to say . . .

God is With Us Today, Tomorrow & Every Day, Because He Loves Us

With things as they are in our neighborhoods and in the world, some of us may feel afraid. Our children and grandchildren may feel afraid. But, while we do not know what will happen with COVID-19, we do know the things God has promised - and He always keeps His promises. For the coming days I will share some of these wonderful promises with you - please share them with the ones you love. Today I'm starting with one of my favorite passages - Psalm 43:1-5 . . .

God is strong and we are able to trust in Him, no matter what the day brings our way. Take a look at Psalms 28:7 . . .

Go & Give the Message God has Given You

God has clearly given grandmas (and grandpas and parents, too) a very important message which He wants us to hand down to the children we love. But, what is this message? Look in Deuteronomy 6 . . .

With COVID-19 many people are afraid; many lives are disrupted with schools closed, places of work closed, and even with churches closing. But, while our day-to-day lives may be changed for the coming weeks, our attitude does not need to be one of worry or fear. We are able to model what it looks like to trust Jesus and, as Gary Chapman said; "choose to enjoy every drop of today!"

Linda Ranson Jacobs (one of our Grandmas with Heart and the founder of DC4K) shared a post from a friend, which I am sharing with you . . .

Make the Coming Weeks a Time to Read

This week many of us as grandmas (grandpas/parents, too) will find ourselves spending additional time with the children we love as so many schools are closed due to COVID-19, so I want to share some resources which you may find to be helpful. I also want to share a simple way we are able to impact our grandchildren and help them learn Who God Is and how they are able to know and follow Him.

So what is this, "simple way"? Reading books. Yes, books! Books are wonderful tools to help our grandchildren learn Who God Is, whether the book is a Christian book for children and teens or not. First let's look at using books with young grandchildren - near and far, and then we will look at the same with older grandchildren/ teens - near and far along with a few book reviews and recommendations.

I am so happy to let you know Reagan's grandma updated me on her condition and said; "We have promising news!! The new dialysis catheter is in. Many of her fingers and toes are pinking up. Her vitals are looking really great. She is on only two of the four blood pressure med she was previously on, and at low doses. The family asked to express how grateful they are for such faithful prayer warriors on their behalf."

Don't you just love this quote from Fanny Crosby - "Live in the moment and make it so beautiful, it will be worth remembering." We need to live in - make the most from - each moment God gifts to us; especially when those moments are the times when we are handing down the faith.

Handing down the faith. These four words are at the core of the most important job we have ever been given, and we have been given this most important job by God. Handing down the faith to our children, grandchildren and the generations which follow, may seem, at times, like a confusing and difficult thing for us to do, but it is all about the following . . .

Please Join Me in Praying for an Urgent Prayer Request

I am sharing an urgent prayer request with you and am asking you to please join with me in praying for the 16 year old granddaughter of a friend. This past Friday my friend Penny's granddaughter, Reagan had a serious surgery. Following the surgery she developed sepsis, so they flew her to Ann Arbor Children's Hospital Friday night. Saturday her heart was not handling the stress of it all well and they put her on a heart machine, and then on life support.

Now more than ever, as Sherry said, "our grandchildren need support navigating the world in which they live. They are unaware of the spiritual battle occurring around them and need us to carry them to Jesus on a stretcher of prayer; they need us to stand in the gap as their intercessors." We are the ones who need to stand in the gap for our children and grandchildren. We are the ones who need to model what it looks like to trust Jesus, talk with Him and live as someone who take God's Word to heart.

If you have children and/or grandchildren, then it is clear God wants to use us to hand faith to them, so, as D L Moody said; "Let us have courage and go forward, looking to God to do great things."

Pray, Persuade & Promote - Our Most Powerful Tools

Whether our children/ grown children/ grandchildren are walking with God or not, we as parents and grandparents have truly powerful "tools" available to us which we are able to use to unleash their potential - and the touch of God in their lives. These powerful "tools" are the influence of our prayers, persuasion and the promoting of godly values. How do we influence the ones we love with these powerful "tools"? Consider the following . . .

Last month I shared a printable Scripture blessing with you which you are able to download, print and hang on your wall to use as a blessing with the ones you love. (You will find it at this link if you did not get it and would like to do so.) I invited you to hang it where you will see it in your home and use it with your family to help you be intentional when it comes to "blessing" the ones you love. Today I am very happy to share with you another Scripture prayer/blessing which you are also able to download, print and hang on your wall to use with the ones you love.

We are Alive for a Reason - Don't Give Up

Don't you just love Psalm 139:16 -

In your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

God knew, before we even lived one moment of one day, how many days He planned to "form for" us! Look at Jeremiah 29:11 -

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Our days are part of God's plan for us. Our days have purpose. Our days have meaning whether we are young, or not so young any more. As long as we are alive, there is a reason for us to be alive; and perhaps even many reasons. Consider the following . . .

Today is absolutely a day for us to remember, no matter what we face, we are loved and empowered by God - the One Who brought the universe into existence with the mere sound of His voice. Nothing is impossible for Him. We have the opportunity to model to our family what it looks like for us to live as people who trust God's faithful love. When people around us panic - we are able to remain calm. When people around us show fear - we are able to show trust.

Typically I post Sherry Schumann's prayers on Sundays, but with Covid-19 moving through our country, and around the world, I'm sharing her prayer with you today - which you will also find at her blog - Sitting by the Well.

We Cannot Love Too Much

We grandmas tend to get the false "rap" of being people who "spoil" grandchildren. I personally believe it is impossible to spoil grandchildren (and even wrote a book with this title), because as long as we are being faithful to hand down the faith and to follow what Jesus told us to do in Matthew 22:36-40, we will never spoil our grandchildren. When we focus upon following God's example of well-loving us and we love as He has loved us, we know it is impossible to well-love our grandchildren too much.

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Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Monday, March 30, 2020

Sunday, March 29, 2020

Saturday, March 28, 2020

Friday, March 27, 2020

Thursday, March 26, 2020

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Monday, March 23, 2020

Sunday, March 22, 2020

Saturday, March 21, 2020

Friday, March 20, 2020

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Monday, March 16, 2020

Sunday, March 15, 2020

Saturday, March 14, 2020

Friday, March 13, 2020

Thursday, March 12, 2020

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