Christian Grandparenting Blog

Often associated with weakness, gentleness can be challenging to understand and practice. Our culture overlooks the importance of gentleness, yet the Bible presents it as a powerful and important quality. Translated as “meekness”, it does not mean weakness. It involves humility and thankfulness toward God, and polite, kind behavior toward others. Anger, resentment, a desire for revenge, and promoting oneself as important are the direct opposite of gentleness. As gentleness comes from a state of humility, those lacking this quality are often prideful, feel superior, and easily angered. Through the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV), the Holy Spirt works in us to be more Christ-like. Gentleness isn’t something we accomplish or achieve. It is the result of walking with Christ and following his Spirit.

Have you ever considered the significance of a school backpack? Think about it. A few months ago, your grandchildren (some more boisterously than others) removed their backpacks and tossed them either in the back of their closest or an outside trash bin. Only one thing occupied their minds: summer vacation. The summer has now passed, and a new academic year awaits them. When it comes to buying a new backpack, your grandchildren are faced with a vast array of choices: Star Wars or Hello Kitty, floral or leopard prints, stripes or solids. Next, they need to decide upon the school supplies they will carry in their backpacks. Mechanical pencils or erasable pens? Three-ringed binder or composition notebooks? Wide or college-ruled paper? But what about a spiritual backpack? Is there anything special your grandchildren need to carry to school? The answer is YES.

On Sunday, September 8, 2024, Christian grandparents everywhere will be asked to stand in the gap together for our grandchildren just as Esther stood in the gap for her people during a desperate time. Together we will link arms with other grandparents in prayer for the sake of the next generations. The purpose of gathering on this day is simple…we come together to pray. There can be no denying we live in a desperate moral and spiritual climate. Our grandchildren must navigate in a world that is increasingly hostile to truth. Satan has launched an aggressive attack on all fronts whether the media, technology, education, social influences, and political pressures to desensitize and cloud the boundaries of truth and righteousness that holds nations and families together. The information in this blog will help you organize and implement a Grandparent’s Day of Prayer (GDOP) event at your church, school or neighborhood. YOU can make GDOP a reality in your church and community.

Faithfulness is the seventh characteristic listed in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22 NIV) and is described as a virtue of loyalty, trustworthiness, and a commitment in our relationship with God. It is the belief in what the Bible says about God–his existence, his [...]

In engineering terms, a junction is a convergence of streams, roads, or tracks at a single point. But what is a Prayer GrandJunction? Before I answer this question, I want you to know that there is a movement underway of Christian grandparents dedicated to prayer. As a result of this movement, Grandparents@Prayer groups are springing up worldwide. These groups consist of grandparents who meet either monthly, bi-monthly, or weekly with one purpose in mind: to pray corporately for the hearts, minds, and souls of their grandchildren. Here at Christian Grandparenting Network, we affectionately refer to these groups as G@P groups or simply G@P, because as praying grandparents, we stand in the gap for our loved ones in much the same way Esther stood in the gap for her people. If you are intrigued by the idea of G@P but your calendar cannot handle one more long-term commitment, may I suggest you invite a few of your grandparenting friends to join you for a GrandJunction?

It’s easy to believe that God is taking care of us when life is heading in the direction we want it to go. It is not so easy when life throws its inevitable challenges our way. The Apostle Paul knew that during the most difficult times in our lives, the only thing to do is trust the Lord for his provision. Be honest. How strong is your resolve to trust the Lord in all circumstances? Would you willingly forego the comforts of your hard-earned retirement years to stand toe-to-toe with a drug addicted adult child, or take on the responsibility of raising a grandchild whose parents prove incapable of rising to the task? Would you find your faith in God wavering, or would you joyfully praise the Lord for the hard times you are enduring?

We all have needs, the most basic of which are food, water, shelter, and clothing. Our bodies demand sleep and air, but our requirements go beyond these primal substances.  God created us with other necessities in order to thrive, not just survive.  Without water and food, we waste away; but without our longings met, we spiral into addiction, depression, or a sense of hollowness. Without connection and purpose, our existence appears meaningless.  Grandparents, we have a high calling to help our grandchildren feel loved and accepted, both by us and by God. When these needs are met, they are less likely to fall prey to online dangers or follow a peer leading them astray.

How Can I Know If I Am a Good Christian? Since each of us may have different images or expectations around this question, we must first define the terms. According to dictionary.com, “good” means morally excellent, virtuous, righteous, pious; “Christian” is a person who believes in Jesus Christ with a life exemplified by His teachings. Thankfully, I can attest to my belief in Jesus Christ as Savior, but I’m unsure as to whether my daily life matches the four adjectives in that definition. Would regular Bible reading, tithing, praying, sharing the Gospel, visiting the ill, or supporting missionaries meet the requirements of being good? Read what God tells us.