God's Everlasting Love & Unfailing Kindness

No matter what you and/or the ones you love are facing on this day, it is a great encouragement to read and think about verses like Jeremiah 31:3. Knowing God loves us gives us strength, encouragement, and great joy, along with a fuller understanding of what, "love" really is all about. As we are about to enter the month of February, people tend to think a lot about "love", but often the "love" they are talking about is a shallow example of real "love".

Why Wouldn't We Want to Do This?

One of the most effective, important things a church will ever do is to commit to equip the grandparents and parents in their church so they are able to hand down confident faith to the children they love. Certainly church has a role to play in teaching and reaching children, but even in the best circumstance, children are only at church for three or four hours a week - and a week has 168 hours. And, especially with covid closing or limiting opportunities for children, most children are only at church for two hours a week, and many are only there for two hours every other week.

However; parents are with children most of the 168 hours a week and grandparents have the potential to be there for far more than just a few hours! Equipping the parents and grandparents to hand down faith just makes sense.

Make a Difference "in the Space Between What's Said & What's Heard"

From our own life experience and from the experiences of others we know, we understand there may be a "space" between what we say - or is said to us - and what is heard and this "space" is able to make all the difference in the world. If we - or others - do not see love in this "space", we will have a difficult time trusting the ones who speak. But, when we see, hear and experience love in this "space", we will be able to develop a deep trust. This goes for our grandchildren, too.

God Has Promised to Leave You "Stunned & Amazed"

Are you a grandparent and/or parent who is able to rejoice as your grandchildren and/or grown children who you love have made the choice to love, know and walk with God? If so, you have much for which to be thankful and much about which to rejoice! If this is you, do not, however; think you are able to relax. All it takes is one hurt. One difficult situation. One disappointment. One poor influence to sidetrack and derail them in their walk and leave them where they turn away from God. Continue to pray for them. Continue to pray for them. Continue to pray for them.

The Things Which Matter the Most

If ever we have been able to have a clear view of the truth of how our lives are "fleeting", this past year has clearly showed this to us. As the covid pandemic raged throughout the world, we have been focused upon wearing masks, keeping distance, washing hands, getting a vaccine, and many of us know people who have not made it through the year. The things which matter the most have very clearly come into view.

"God Knows Something We Do Not"

I talk a lot about handing down confident faith to my grandsons; this is something which really matters to me. I want my grandsons to grow up to love, know and walk with God all of their lives. This is too important to me for me to leave it to chance; so, we have conversations about Who God is and how very much He loves them. My husband and I do activities to get the boys' attention and talk about how much God loves them and they are able to love Him back. Each weekend when they are at our house for a sleepover, we learn about another animal in our "Life on the Goldilocks Planet" book series and talk about why we are able to believe God is real and trust Him with confidence. We want to help them understand these important truths.

Why 43% Matters

Do you know why the percentage, 43% matters? It truly matters, because according to the Barna Group, 43% of people make the decision to receive God's gift of grace and forgiveness by placing their trust in Jesus before the age of 13. Yes, before the age of 13.

Comfort = True, Strengthening Love

All of our grandchildren/ children will have times in their lives when they need to experience a "true, strengthening love" - times when they need "comfort", and who better to offer this "comfort" than their grandparents or parents?

Take a Closer Look at How Megabats, Bengal Tigers, Quetzals & More Help Teach the "Whys"

We have one more book which is currently available in the "Life on the Goldilocks Planet" curriculum and book series - Megabats, Bengal Tigers, Quetzals & More! and today I'm happy to let you take a closer look at it.

Speak & Show Them the Truth - They Have Value

There is no shortage of important messages we need to be sure we give to our grandchildren, but one of these important messages is - "You are valuable because you exist. Not because of what you do or what you have done - but simply because you are."

Get Better

Well, while we are not able to do anything about getting older, because as long as we live, we will become older, getting better is an entirely different story. Each day as we walk closer with God, we should be, "getting better" as we . . .

Look at All the Animals Which Show Us They Were Designed "Just Right"!

Over the previous four days, I have shared with you the animals you will find in each of the first four Life on the Goldilocks Planet books - all 48 of them! So, in the four-in-one combo book you will find the following animals - Carrier Crabs & Fire Urchins, Okapis, Koalas, Honey Bees, Platypuses, Sloths, Narwhals, Blue Dragons, Manatees, Hoopoes, Hummingbird Bobtail Squids, and Red Pandas, Eyelash Vipers, Cassowaries, Sunflower Sea Stars, Pygmy Elephants, Large Blue Butterflies, Mantled Guereza Colobus Monkeys, Golden Poison Dart Frogs, Sun Bears, Hawksbill Sea Turtles, Pangolins, Tufted Puffins, and Archerfish, Civets, Arctic Foxes, Echidnas, Blue-Footed Booby Birds, Tree Kangaroos, Leafy Sea Dragons, Pronghorns, Giraffes, Snow Leopards, Peacock Spiders, Ladybug Mimic Spiders, Orange Tortoise Spiders, Shoebills & Batoids, Red-Lipped Batfish, Rufous Hummingbirds, Gharials, Asiatic Lions, Giant Purple Squirrels, Komodo Dragons, Dumbo Octopuses, Sumatran Rhinos, Baikal Seals, Guanacos, Whale Sharks & Blue Whales, and Kakapos. While you are certainly familiar with animals such as Giraffes and Koalas, you may find animals like Blue Dragons, Cassowaries, Leafy Sea Dragons, and Kakapos (to mention a few) are animals with which you are not familiar. These unfamiliar animals are interesting and have much to teach us about how we are able to believe in God with confidence! 

Love Your Grandchildren!

My grandsons are blessed to be loved by parents, grandparents, their great-grandma, aunt and extended family. They know they are dearly loved, but they still hear it, often! I also am intentional about letting them know God loves them even more than do I, because as they grow up I know life may be - and often times is - uncertain. No matter what happens I want them to know they are loved.

Tell About God's Mercy & the Light & Hope Jesus Brings

As you go through this week, take the message and encouragement of Luke 1:77,78 to heart - 

Take a Closer Look at Red-Lipped Batfish, Giant Purple Squirrels, Kakapos & More!

Over the past few days I have been sharing a "closer look" at the books which are currently available in my "Life on the Goldilocks Planet" series. Today I want to give you a "peek" inside Red-Lipped Batfish, Giant Purple Squirrels, Kakapo & More!  This book is filled with animals - some of which you may never have heard of before - and while it makes an ideal gift for the children you love, it is also a curriculum resource which will equip grandparents and parents as they strive to hand down confident faith. 

Send the Most Important Message to the Generations Who Follow

I don't know about you, but I am much more conscious of how there are more days behind me than there are before me. This saying rings true for me, and brings with it a challenge I intend to accept. My grown children and grandchildren are the living messages I send to a time I will not see. They are likely to outlive me, so the message I send with them must be the message which matters . . . God loves them, and the generations who follow. 

Take a Closer Look at Book Three - Civets, Tree Kangaroos, Batoids & More!

Civets, Tree Kangaroos, Batoids & More! is book three in my "Life on the Goldilocks Planet" series. While it also makes an ideal gift for the children you love, it is a much-needed curriculum resource designed and written to will equip grandparents and parents as they strive to hand down confident faith.

No Matter What

No matter the age, location, or things which are happening in the lives of our children and grandchildren, they are absolutely going to have good days and bad days - times when they win and times when they lose. These times - positive or negative are most certainly times when we grandmas (and grandpas/ parents) are able to step up and cheer for them, provide a shoulder for them to cry upon, and most importantly, remind them of the truth of how God is with them and loves them no matter what.

Hold Tightly to God

At all times, but especially when sad and difficult things happen in our lives and the lives of others we know and/or hear about, it is essential for us to cling to the promises of God. We must hold tightly to what we know is true - even when we may not understand.

Hand Down Confident Faith While You Learn about Interesting & Unique Animals

Have you ever heard of Eyelash Vipers, Cassowaries, Sunflower Sea Stars, Pygmy Elephants, Large Blue Butterflies, Mantled Guereza Colobus Monkeys, Golden Poison Dart Frogs, Sun Bears, Hawksbill Sea Turtles, Pangolins, Tufted Puffins, and Archerfish? Well, in the book, Eyelash Vipers, Pygmy Elephants, Pangolins & More! you will find maps, fun facts, full-color photos, activities and quotes from scientists which will help the children you love - and you - discover how these animals help you have a confident faith! 

Let's Have a Heart Hunt!

Valentine's Day is less than a month away, so if you are looking for a fun idea you could try with your grandchildren; consider holding a, “heart hunt”. What is a “heart hunt” you ask? Well . . . think Easter egg hunt, but substitute small paper or foam hearts.

Prayer for Eyes Which are Open

I know I have shared these prayers with you before, but they are prayers I pray often for my grandsons, so I thought I'd share them again with you today. 

Take a Closer Look at Blue Dragons, Red Pandas, Hoopoes & More!

The world - and entire universe for this matter - show logic, order, make sense and abide by rules/laws of science. How is it possible for such logic, order, sense, rules/laws of science to come from chaos? It is far easier for me to believe an intelligent God of order. logic and sense created everything to abide by rules/laws of science than for me to believe it all just happened from things which just happened to appear on their own out of nothing and exploded on their own leaving us today with an ordered, logical, scientific universe. My new books will help you see how we are able to believe in God with confidence and trust Him. Blue Dragons, Red Pandas, Hoopoes & More! is the first book in this series and is a multi-purpose book. While it makes an ideal gift for the children you love, it is also a curriculum resource which will equip grandparents and parents as they strive to hand down confident faith. 

Use What You Have to Hand Down Confident Faith

I want to tell you a very important truth - you do not have to be a wealthy grandparent (or parent) to hand down confident faith. You do not have to have "disposable" income for you to be able to hand down confident faith. You do not have to have money to spend on trips, conferences, books, resources or any other thing to be able to hand down confident faith. Handing down confident faith does not take money - it takes being willing to be a person who authentically walks and talks with God and is willing to do as God has asked; this does not require money.

See, Remember & Share How God Sustains You

How has God sustained you throughout your life? How has He answered your prayers? How has He showed His love to you? Share these things with your grandchildren. When they are able to hear and see how God has sustained you, they will be better able to believe He will do the same for them and will know what it looks like when He does!

Do the Will of God

As grandmas (and grandpas/parents, too) who understand the most important thing in life is not to be happy, achieve pleasure or avoid pain, but instead to do God's will - no matter what, we must know what God's will for us looks like. If we do not know what God wants us to do, how will we do it? Happily God makes these things clear for us in His Word . . . consider the following . . . 

Build a Strong, Loving & Close Relationship - It Matters

Building a strong, loving and close relationship with your grandchildren matters. It helps them as children so they grow with a sense of security and value and, as studies show, it helps them as adults, so they are healthier emotionally. 

God Has Promised to Leave You "Stunned & Amazed"

Are you a grandparent and/or parent who is able to rejoice as your grandchildren and/or grown children who you love have made the choice to love, know and walk with God? If so, you have much for which to be thankful and much about which to rejoice! If this is you, do not, however; think you are able to relax. All it takes is one hurt. One difficult situation. One disappointment. One poor influence to sidetrack and derail the ones you love in their walk and leave them where they turn away from God. Continue to pray for them. Continue to pray for them. Continue to pray for them.

Faith = Taking the First Step

What are you facing right now in your life? Do you have a concern with your grandchildren and/or son/daughter/their spouses? Are you facing health concerns? Money concerns? Any concerns? Take those concerns to Jesus - if you care about these things, so does He! Put your faith in Him, even if - and especially if you do not see how these concerns will be resolved.

In Our Post-Christian Culture, Provide Reasons, Relationships & Rhythms

Certainly as a grandma (or grandpa/parent) you want the children and/or grandchildren you love to make the choice to believe in God, trust His Word and follow Jesus. This is why we hand down the faith - or why we are trying to learn how to hand down the faith. We know as we look at our lives and the scope of things where we are able to spend our time, handing down the faith is what truly matters

Today I am sharing an article with research by Barna on building lasting faith in Gen Z (you will find the full post at this link.) Look at some of what Jonathan Morrow has to say . . . 

It is Safe to Trust God

As our grandchildren grow up and go through their lives, help them see how it is always safe to trust God to do as He has promised - and He has promised to guide and direct throughout their lives! The interests and abilities - the things which bring your grandchildren joy - are things given to them by God and we know He knew what He was doing when He created them and did not make any mistakes!

Send the Most Important Message to the Generations Who Follow

I don't know about you, but I am much more conscious of how there are more days behind me than there are before me. This saying rings true for me, and brings with it a challenge I intend to accept. My grown children and grandchildren are the living messages I send to a time I will not see. They are likely to outlive me, so the message I send with them must be the message which matters . . . God loves them, and the generations who follow. 

Turn Your Concerns Into Prayers

What are the concerns on your heart today? Take this quote from Corrie Ten Boom to heart and turn your concerns into conversations with God rather than let them consume your thoughts as worries and burdens.

Talk with God with confidence knowing He has promised to hear, listen and answer - 

New Blog & Facebook Page for the Life on the Goldilocks Planet Series

As you know, for the past six or seven months I have been working on a new series of books for parents/ grandparents and children which will help them have a confident faith. So of then we think we do not know how to hand down confident faith and wish there were resources to help us do this. The Life on the Goldilocks Planet curriculum/book series is designed to do exactly this!

Stained Glue Valentines Day Hearts

From time to time I browse on Pinterest to look at ideas for projects I might try with my grandsons. A few years ago I found a wonderful craft which is perfect for Valentines Day - Stained Glue Valentines Day Hearts - and since it is just a month away, today I'm happy to share it with you.

Make 2021 the Year You "Impress" Confident Faith on the Ones You Love

Why did God create you as the person you are? Why did He give you the children and grandchildren you have? What was His purpose?

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 tells us -

Use Grace

Why wouldn't we want to treat our family; our children and grandchildren with grace? We need to be people who use words which build up our family and whose actions will always be remembered by our children and grandchildren when they are grown as actions which reminded them how much they are dearly loved.

A Life of Integrity & Faithfulness

This year I will reach the age of 60. This seems impossible - how could I possibly be that old?! When I was younger, 60 seemed "old" to me, but now it does not seem so old. I don't feel that old, but the truth is, there are definitely more years behind me than there are before me. But, while I do not know however many more years are before me, I do know when the day comes and I enter Heaven, I want to hear God say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"

Be Thankful for Your Grand-Blessings & Challenge them to Make a Difference

Take time today to let your grandchildren know how they are loved and valued by you. No matter their age or location, tell them something about them which you find to be so special and wonderful.

Ask Your Church to Equip You

The past ten months have been difficult. Some of you may have caught covid. Some of you may have people you love who have battled with this disease. Some of you may have people you love who died due to covid. Your grandchildren have likely learned what it means to go to school "virtually". You, and the ones you love, may have experienced times of unemployment. Most of you, if not all of you, have likely not been to church very much in the past ten months - and this is very possibly true for the ones you love as well. If you have been able to return to church, Children's Ministry may not have restarted - or if it has, it has done so in an extremely limited way.

Believe the Truth - God Cares!

When we have concerns, when we face challenges, difficulties, sad times and even pain, it is easy for us to think God does not care; but this is not the truth. God does care. He cares about everything and everyone we care about. In all times, but especially the difficult times, we need to hold to the truth - God cares and He loves us.

Sculpt their Souls

I originally shared this post last November, but with the start of 2021 I want to ask you to consider getting it for your grandchildren or to share the information with your church as I have an amazing price (just $3 per digital book) when churches use it with the families in their church (email me at lyndagcj@gmail.com for details.) 

Are you one of the grandmas (or grandpas) who are so blessed to have grown children who love and walk with God, and who are committed to hand down confident faith with you to the children you love? Do your grandchildren want to go to church, want to talk about their walk with God, and embrace a confident faith of their own? Or, do you have grown children who, like so many their age, are no longer involved in church, who do not embrace a confident faith of their own, and/or grandchildren who tell you they are, "not into that church thing any more"?

If you have grown children and grandchildren who want to grow in their own walk with God, or ones who do not, you, as a purposeful grandparent, need to have resources which help you hand down confident faith and will engage those who walk with God and engage those who do not. We must not just leave the handing of confident faith to our grown children who are walking with God, or the church. We must not, "wave the white flag of defeat" when we have people we love who show little if any interest in God. Handing down confident faith matters too much for us to do either of these things. "Co-laboring over the sculpting of souls is a sacred profession, a humbling privilege. Never forget." It is for this reason the Life on the Goldilocks Planet curriculum/book series was developed.

God Will Lead Us - Isaiah 30:21

With the start of a new year we tend to think about the things we want to accomplish in the year before us. Especially as our grandchildren grow older, they too may look at the year before them wondering what it holds and what they should do with the time they have - especially after last year and as they wait for covid to decrease this year.

Pour Ourselves Into Our Grandchildren

After last week, many people are looking at the coming nine days with some amount of trepidation and uncertainty. Certainly we all want the "temperature" in our country to go down and want to see a healing of rifts as the people pull together and move forward in a calm, respectful way together. 

Our Grandchildren are Watching

When all is going well it tends to be easy to trust and hope in God - after all, all is going well. But, when times are difficult and things are not working out the way we hoped - such as they have for most of 2020, we may find it more difficult to trust and hope in God. 

Have a Song in Your Heart

Help your grandchildren learn their true source of Joy is found in God. Zephaniah 3:17 says . . . 

Trust God for Something Unexpected, Amazing, Beautiful and Surprising in Your Life

Two Winters ago, where I live, we experienced what they dubbed, "a polar vortex". Fancy, ominous term for a very, very, very cold turn in the weather. Trust me, it was absolutely cold!

Remember, Continue to Remember & Tell

Handing down confident faith is all about remembering how God was faithful yesterday, seeing how He is faithful today, and sharing how we are confident He will be faithful tomorrow!

Disturb the Present

We want the future to be better for our grandchildren; what grandparent does not? So, we have to be intentional about shaking up the status quo of the present. We need to be grandmas who are purposeful when it comes to motivating our grandchildren to walk with God now, so they grow in their walk with God and become people who love Him and others. 

Build Strong Close Family Ties & Listen

We are certainly living in "chaotic times" and it is fairly safe to say there are many lonely people in our world - clearly these things impact the lives of our grandchildren/ children. While it is always essential for us to provide more companionship and greater feelings of security and purpose, as we listen to the news and hear our grandchildren/ children talk about their concerns, we grandmas (and grandpas/parents, too) need to step up and build those strong, close ties of family. We are able to do this in the following ways . . .