Christian Grandparenting Blog
When Two Become…A Blended Family
Pew Research reports that one out of six minor children live in blended families. One-third of all weddings today form a blended or step-family. This means either one or both the bride and groom bring one or more children into the marriage. All newlyweds face adjustments and challenges, and these are multiplied when the family unit begins with more than a husband and a wife. Self-control is vital to successfully joining together a divergent group into a family unit.
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Fruit of the Spirit – Self-Control
Self-control is exactly what it sounds like: control of self. Biblically it is the resistance to temptation in the ways of the world. It’s not about depriving oneself but about living a life in harmony with God’s purpose. It’s a reflection of the...
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6 Ways to Help Grandkids Navigate a Family’s Divorce
Way back in the Garden of Eden, God established His plan for a man and woman to marry and raise children. It all worked perfectly until the serpent intervened and led the man and woman astray, creating disunity between couples that continues to this day. (Genesis 2-3) It hits hard when your adult children suffer through the effects of divorce; the same holds true for an unmarried breakup. It is heart wrenching to watch your innocent grandchildren suffer the ramifications of their parents’ poor choices.
The question remains: “What can you do as a grandparent to help your grandchildren navigate the unsettling effects of a divorce?”
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The Power of Gentleness in a Hostile World
Do you like being described as gentle? Most people would likely prefer to have other adjectives attached to them. Gentleness is part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). With a negative connotation in today’s often harsh world, it may be the least popular and most misunderstood in the list of spiritual characteristics. The other eight fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control) are usually admired and emulated by the general population. But rarely do people seek gentleness as a descriptor. It is equated with weakness, frailty, or powerlessness. Is this how the Bible defines gentleness?
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A Unique Legacy
We all know that if we live long enough we will experience some level of bereavement and grief. It’s reality. A day and an hour will come when we die. Knowing that those we love will one day experience grief at our passing, what a gift we can give by providing encouragement and love in the form of a video message delivered to them at a future select date. Who wouldn’t treasure that kind of legacy gift to be left behind? That is why I developed this unique legacy gift for less than the price of a Hallmark Card.
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Fruit of the Spirit – Gentleness
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.
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What’s in Your Backpack?
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.
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Grandparent’s Day of Prayer
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.
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Fruit of the Spirit – Faithfulness
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...
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Prayer “GrandJunctions”
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?
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