Category: Grandma

All Things Work Together for Good

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Romans 8:28-39

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

What then shall we say to these things?

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn?

Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:28-39 ESV

My grandmother didn’t like to sit still. She always found something to keep herself busy. If she was watching something on TV, she kept her hands busy with counted cross-stitch.

As a college graduation gift, Grandma Norma
gave me this cross-stitched picture of an
American Sign Language postage stamp.

When I was about ten years old, she taught me to cross-stitch. In the last thirty years, I’ve made a few things of my own and have really enjoyed the process. I’ve learned two big lessons:

  • Don’t judge the finished project until it’s finished. You can’t really see how it’s going to turn out until it’s all the way done.
  • A great finished product takes a great amount of time to finish.

And such is life.

There will be lots of bumps along the way. There will be times of fruitfulness and times of barrenness. There will be lots of happy times, but also plenty of storms. But we can trust that God sees the finished product and He’s still working.

Which reminds me of this song that my kids sang when they were little.

I am a Promise – Homecoming Kids / Gaither Music

A child’s life is a work in progress, but so are ours. And if you’re God’s child, then you can trust that the Lord will complete the work that He has begun in you. You can walk with confidence that He is carrying you in the palm of His hand, even when you can’t see Him working.

After my grandma died, my mom found this
darling bird that she had made. I added the
Bible verse and gave it to my granddaughter.

A Prayer for my Children and Grandchildren – from the Scriptures

Published on by kendraskeLeave a comment

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 26, Proverbs 4:1-9

This month marks my first granddaughter’s 2nd birthday and the anticipation of my second granddaughter’s arrival. In honor of them both, I wanted to pray for them using the framework of today’s scripture reading. I hope you’ll join me in praying for your children and grandchildren.

Heavenly Father, I pray that my children and grandchildren will trust in You without wavering, that You may test their hearts and minds and they will be proven true. May Your steadfast love be ever before their eyes. Protect them from the schemes of hypocrites, evildoers, and the wicked.

I pray that their mouths will be full of thanksgiving, telling others of Your wondrous deeds. May they love to be in Your presence and delight to be in the company of Your people.

Redeem them. Be gracious to them. Set their feet on level ground.

I pray that they would listen carefully to the teaching of their mother and father, that they would gain insight and wisdom. May they hold fast to Your Words and desire to keep Your commandments all the days of their lives. May their lives be built on the solid rock of Jesus Christ, being followers of Your Word, not hearers only.

I pray that they would love You with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength and love their neighbor as themselves, daily trusting in Your promises and being found faithful until their final breath.

In the holy, powerful name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen!

A prayer for my grandbaby

Published on by kendraskeLeave a comment

I pray that you know how deep and wide and long and high is the love of Jesus.

I pray that you know the greatness of our God – from His mighty power and perfect holiness to His personal closeness and faithful love.

I pray that you know that God has a unique purpose for your life.

No matter what happens, no matter how hard life gets, I pray that you will always remember that God is always, always good. May your faith in Him grow as you grow. May you trust Him with every part of your life every day of your life.

I pray that you cast all your cares on Him – from the biggest to the smallest – knowing that He cares for you.

I pray that you will give thanks in all circumstances – not because the circumstances are good, but because God is good. God has created you at just the right time, in just the right place, and with just the right parents, but sometimes your parents are going to blow it. They’re going to mess things up like their parents before them and their parents before them and their parents before them. I pray that you will know that you have a Heavenly Father who is perfect in all of His ways and who is always there for you and always there for them, too.

I pray that your parents will be quick to see and confess their faults, and be quick to turn to God in their sins and shortcomings. May your parents have humble hearts toward one another, toward you, and toward God.

Baby, I pray that you will be quick to forgive those who hurt you, even your mom and dad. You can only do this, Baby, when you realize how much God loves you and how much He loves to forgive you. God loved you before you were born, before you’d taken a breath, before you’d had a chance to do even one good thing. In fact, God loved you even before He created you, before He knit you together in your mother’s womb.

You are not an accident. You are a unique, purposeful creation of the Most High God of the Universe.

God will give you unique skills and interests, and I pray that you will use those skills and interests for His glory. Wherever you live and whatever you do, may you live for the glory of God – giving thanks to Him for everything that you receive because our Father is a good Father who gives us these gifts to enjoy, for our pleasure and for His fame and glory.

I pray that you will know Jesus.

I pray that you will know all about Jesus, about His birth, His life, His goodness, His teachings, His death, and His resurrection. But I also pray that you will know Jesus – like a friend who is always there for you, who sticks closer than a brother, who walks with you on the lonely roads and busy streets of life, who talks with you in quiet closets and noisy rooms, who is your best and closest counselor, speaking words of life and wisdom every day.

May you hear His still, small voice above all the others. May you hear clearly the voice of your Lord and King saying, “This is the way: Walk in it.”

And may you obey Him. May you follow Him as a faithful sheep, discerning His voice among all the cacophony of thousands of voices screaming out at you in this world. Jesus is the way, the only way. Jesus is the truth, the source of truth. Jesus is the life. He is the giver of life, Baby. Turn to Him and follow Him, and it will go well with you even when life isn’t really going so well.

I pray that your life will be filled with Joy and Peace and Hope and Purpose. But I also pray that you will know that these are only truly found at the feet of Jesus.

I pray that your heart would be kept free from idols. I pray that you would diligently keep your life free from the love of money, of fame, of power and selfish ambition, of worldly pursuits and people pleasing, of thinking too highly of yourself and not highly enough of others.

Look to Jesus. Jesus is our perfect example. He has gone before us and shown us the way. Jesus left heaven, HEAVEN, to be born as a helpless little baby – like you. Jesus gave up His glory and His throne, to live among common men and women like your mom and dad, and your grandma and grandpa.

Jesus loved people. Always. Jesus told the truth. Always. Jesus told the truth with love. Always.

I pray this for you. May you love truth and love people. May you love God’s Word, our fountain of truth and our fountain of love, and our source of wisdom for life.

Jesus was humble. Jesus, the great and glorious King of kings and Lord of lords, listened to the very people He had made. Jesus, the sinless Savior and sacrificial Lamb of God, went willingly to the cross to die a sinner’s death in place of sinful man. Jesus willingly gave up His own life that we could have life eternal and life to the full.

Baby, I pray that you would have that kind of spirit, a humble, gentle, willing, selfless spirit.

Jesus was bold. Jesus spoke boldly and loved boldly. Jesus didn’t follow the crowd. Jesus led the crowd, or Jesus left the crowd. Beware of the self-righteous. Beware of the wolves in sheep’s clothing. Jesus spoke earnestly with the Samaritan woman at the well, an outcast, a sinner. Jesus touched the hearts, minds, and lives of broken people like you and me.

I pray that you would be a bold, sacrificial leader for God’s kingdom, following Jesus rather than the crowds.

I pray that you will have the strength and fortitude of Daniel and his three friends, standing strong for what is right despite the risk.

I pray that you would have the wisdom of Esther, discerning right from wrong and using your life to serve others rather than your self.

I pray that you would have the righteousness of Job, holding fast to your integrity and your Savior, no matter the tests and trials that come your way.

I pray that you would have the tender heart of David, repenting time and time again of your own sins even at great personal expense.

I pray that you would have the integrity of Joseph, trusting in God’s good, loving will and choosing what you know is right, even when all of life’s circumstances are pointing you the other way.

May you know that no matter how often you mess up, no matter how often you go astray like a foolish little sheep, that you have a praying grandma who loves you, who’s in your corner, who’s cheering for you.

By the grace and love and power and strength that is ours in the Mighty Name of Jesus I pray.

Amen.

My little pumpkin is having a pumpkin of her own

Published on by kendraskeLeave a comment

A month ago my oldest daughter called over a video call. I was in the middle of a phone call, so I didn’t answer. She sent me a text that she wanted to show us the pumpkins that she and her husband had carved. Later, when I still hadn’t called back, she video called again!

I was back in my bedroom. When Emily asked what the rest of the family was doing, I was suspicious. Hmm… I got everyone together on the couch to see the pumpkins. My husband got up to go to the kitchen for something and I urged him to come back, because Emily had something to show us.

Yay!!! My little pumpkin is carrying
a pumpkin of her own!

I was overjoyed. God is so good! So, so good! What a blessing!

Our parents are overjoyed, too! Emily told my husband’s parents by dressing her dog in a bandana that reads, “My parents are getting me a human.”

To tell my parents, she got a copy of “Imogen’s Antlers” (a family favorite children picture book) and told them, “You’ll need to read this to your great grandchild.” Fun! Fun!

In the midst of the chaos and confusion of COVID-19, “social distancing” and the presidential election, a child has been given. God has created a new life. He has made me a grandma and I couldn’t be happier.

Thank You, Father, for this new life. Carry Emily as she carries this little one. Give Roger strength and wisdom to lead and serve his growing family. Bless this child with a hunger for Your Word and fill him with your love. You are so good. We praise Your name. You are the giver of every good gift. Amen