Christian Grandparenting Blog

Many “new” things take place during the month of January. Something about inking new dates sparks our thoughts on how we might make improvements in our lives. For many, this includes a renewed push for spiritual change. In the midst of nature’s winter rest, our hearts have time to consider all that God has done for us. Then, with reverent fear and humble praise, ask how you can make the most of the time you have remaining.

Yesterday, our nation celebrated National Sanctity of Human Life Day. Instituted by President Ronald Reagan in 1984, this day was set aside to celebrate the gift and sanctity of life. It’s not too late to recognize this special day. Here are some ideas.

I love celebrating the birthdays of my children and grandchildren. To me, they are the most precious people on Earth. But what if we only acknowledged our family members on their birthdays? Sometimes that’s how we treat Jesus.

Much like an email file, many of us store our confessed sins in a deleted file that we keep buried inside our souls. This unseen but ever-present file keeps us tethered to our past mistakes, thereby preventing us from enjoying an abundant, victorious life in Christ. One of the greatest New Year’s resolutions we can make is to forgive ourselves of past mistakes.

Ephesians 6:12-18 tells us that prayer is our greatest weapon and first defense in the spiritual battle in which we find ourselves. And in Revelation 3:20, we find that prayer is our response to God's Invitation - an invitation He does not extend out of obligation but out of pure love and a desire to be with us. In my finite mind, these two reasons alone provide enough encouragement to support making prayer a priority.

Our families are experiencing the busiest time of the year. We have decorated, bought presents, prepared special foods, and enjoyed family traditions. We are celebrating the birth of Jesus, and are reminded to walk in His presence. What does it mean to experience a daily walk with Jesus? Who is  the risen Christ? 

Jesus tells us in John 15:5 that he is the true vine, the One who will bear good fruit to his Father's glory and the true source of life for believers. He likens us to the branches that are attached to the vine. A branch must stay firmly attached to the vine drawing strength, nourishment, protection, and energy to stay alive. If it is broken off, it dies and becomes unfruitful.

The thought of facing the holidays with a heart heavy from the burden of grief can be overwhelming. Unfortunately, there isn’t a fast-forward or even a pause button for grief. Surviving the holidays while grieving is much like surviving life while grieving; it is done one day, one step, or even one breath at a time. Author Julie Grant offers tools to help those who are grieving to navigate the holidays.