Christian Grandparenting Blog

The word Immanuel is written three times in the Bible, twice in the Old Testament and once in the New Testament. Jesus came to earth because we needed Him to show us what God is like, to forgive our sin, and to offer a new path to having an intimate relationship with our Creator God. Here's what that means.

I have listened to countless sermons on pride, but I have never heard a better description of pride than the one in a children’s song entitled “The Me Monster.” When we depend upon our abilities instead of God, pride is in control. And the minute pride takes control; we become our own idols. There is a remedy.

“In one word, how would you describe the character of God?” The Hebrew Bible employs one word that encompasses the character of God. The word is hesed. Every Christian, who is walking with the Lord, has a portfolio of incredible God-stories in their testimony.

Are there ways to declutter my life so that I have room in my heart to prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus? Personally, I rely on three courses of action.  At the foundation of de-cluttering my life, these choices help me go from the hectic, busy, and noisy to the unhurried, quiet, and simple.

God does not mince words. He commands us to pass our faith to our children and to our children’s children. We are to bless them. A prayer of blessing over a child is a significant event. Treat it accordingly.

Recognizing the power of the tongue to either harm and destroy or to bless and build up is the beginning of wisdom for controlling the tongue. As Christians, we can apply steps of prevention and mitigation to minimize the potential dangers of a fiery tongue and lower the risk of harm to ourselves and others through risk assessment, preparation, and suppression of fuel.

Hope, in today’s world, is normally a feeling used to express a wish or a desire. The Word of God gives new meaning to the word “hope.” Accepting the gift of eternal life means our hope is secure in God’s Word, the entirety of His character, and the finished work of Jesus Christ. 

You might be surprised to see a blog for grandparents on giving gifts to their grandchildren. After all, wouldn’t that be like offering suggestions to Rembrandt on how to paint or to Tiger Woods on how to play golf? However, we encountered many frustrated Christian parents when we interviewed them before writing A Parents' Guide to Great Grand-Partnering. One topic that triggered many requests for our advice was how to rein in the grandparents’ out-of-control gift-giving habits. Alas, as is so often true, even good-hearted people can lose perspective and turn blessings into burdens. We’re writing to help you avoid creating these challenges for your families.