Decluttering

"You shall have no other gods before me." Exodus 20:3 (NIV)

I decluttered my jam-packed closet, examining every single article of clothing. I needed to get rid of stuff, to put it out of my house...I needed it to be GONE! Weeding the closet will be a continual process, not a one-time experience, and a struggle to maintain.

As I cleaned my closet, I realized I need to Lord to examine my heart. I desire an uncluttered heart so that it can be filled with the Living God who is worthy of first place.

Richard Keyes, author of "The Idol Factory", defines an idol as, "...something within creation that is inflated to function as God... An idol can be a physical object, a proprty, a person, an activity, a role, an institution, a hope, an image, an idea, a pleasure, a hero - anything that can substitute for God." An idol is a false god.

Davide Powlison, author of "Basic Biblical Concepts of Human Motivation" poses these questions as we consider who or what rules us. Who or what do you love, hate, crave, desire, pursue, or fear? Where do you find refuge, comfort, or security? Who must you please? Who or what do you trust?

Pain, abuse, rejection, and loneliness, can cause us to turn to idols seeking relief, satisfaction, fulfillment, security, love, affection, or pleasure. However, idols enslave, deceive, and lead to shame; they are lifeless and worthless ( Jer. 10:8, 14; Hab. 2:19; Rom. 6:16 ). Only the LORD is all-Sufficient God who gives life and freedom!

For God to be in His rightful position, we must rid our hearts of false gods - those things we love and seek in place of God. We begin by asking the Lord to examine our hearts ( Psalm 139: 23-24 ). turn away from idols and turn to Him. Line up with God's truth, trusting in His promises and His power, and not our own strength.

More importantly than preparing closets to receive new things, let's choose to eliminate idols, and allow God to abide, have His proper place in our lives, and receive the new things He has for us ( Isaiah 43: 18-19 ). Pray for one another and our descendants to submit to God's authority, and worship and serve Him only.

Beginnings

"I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also." 2 Timothy 1:5 (NIV).

Beloved Praying Grandmothers and Sisters in Christ,

Happy New Year and greetings to each of you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Great is the faithfulness of our God, and I give Him great praise for each one of you as we join our hearts in prayer for our grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and the world they live in, now and in the future.

In 1995, I held my first grandchild and was absolutely overwhelmed with joy and at the same time deep concern for the world this precious child was entering. For days I meditated before the Lord with heavy heart and yes, sometimes fear, of how this child would grow up and if she would love God as I do and have the heart to serve Him.

One day, the Lord reminded me that I have a relationship with the living God as a direct result of the prayers of my own grandmother and mother, and that I had inherited a Godly heritage from my grandmother, Hattie. Iwas was amazed and it seemed so simple to me: don't worry - just pray and let God work it all out.

I prayed for two years for God to show me how to encourage other grandmothers to pray for their grandchildren. One day, God pointed me to 2 Timothy 1:5 where the Apostle Paul tells Timothy, "I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also." That was my story too, and I just knew that God would lead other grandmothers to answer the call to intercession! They did answer, and in April 1999, we had our first prayer meeting! Praise be to God!

God gave me a vision of grandmothers praying all over the world - some were in large groups and some were in small groups, but all were seeking the face of God for mercy and salvation for their grandchildren and for God to use them in His Kingdom.

Everything I needed to start this group was graciously provided by the Lord. A dear friend gave me the book, What Happens When Women Pray by Evelyn Christenson. When I read about the prayer method of short, simple, and specific prayers, I knew it was perfect for our group.

There have been hundreds of prayer requests over the years and many, many answers to prayer all to the glory of God. We must continue to pray for God to raise up many more groups all over the world because only eternity will hold all the answers to our prayers, but I know in my spirit that each and every one will be answered! Thank you, beloved ones, for your tender hearts to pray and seek God for all our grandchildren.

May God bless you with a fabulous year of good health, love, happiness, and many opportunities to serve Him in Kingdom work. I love you!

Bobbye

Redemption Story

"Your God will be my God." Ruth 1:16 (NIV)

Bobbye and I are Bible studying with some of our grandmother friends, working through Kelly Minter's Ruth: Loss, Love, & Legacy.

Refusing to turn back home, the determined and dedicated Ruth declared to Naomi, "Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God!" (Ruth 1: 16).

Ruth's story remains an impressive one. After suffering great loss, this courageous foreign woman demonstrated noble character: strong loyalty, genuine humility, proper work ethic, unwavering commitment, and... she found love in the end!

Ruth married her kinsman-redeemer ( Ruth 2: 20; Lev. 25: 25-30), the kind and generous Boaz, a man of great wealth and a descendant of the prostitute, Rahab (Josh 2; 6: 22-25), who had also come to fear the LORD and live among His people.

Not only did Ruth discover the love and redemption of a great and wonderful man; but, she experienced the loving redemption of the great and wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ!

Because Jesus gave himself to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own (Titus 2: 14), each one of us can have a wonderful story of redemption. What's your story?

Let's tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD,  his power, and the wonders he has done (Psalm 78:4). Share your story, both orally and through the written word. Creative Memories co-founder Rhonda Anderson recommends beginning with prayer, asking God for discernment as to what stories to record and what details to include. Next, record your story - such as your redemption, marriage, or a birth story. Finally, share your story with a loved one.


Pray:

• For descendants to experience the redeeming love of Jesus Christ, so that our God will be their God. Titus 2: 14; Ruth 1: 16
• To share the hope you have in Christ. 1 Peter 3: 15
• That nations turn to the LORD and worship Him. Psalm 22: 27

Share your redemption story, and pray continually!
Lori

See You at the Pole 2010

"See You At the Pole" is an international day of student-initiated and student-led prayer. Throughout the world, young people will meet around their school flagpoles, or other designated spots, before the start of instructional hours. Beginning in 1990,  the annual event takes place on the fourth Wednesday in September.

As a former private school teacher, I hold dear memories of our students gathering on this occasion  to call on the name of the LORD.

Parents and grandparents can encourage our descendants and their friends to be  part of this special gathering. We can also pray for students of all ages to take part, and to pray God's Will be done on school campuses. Adults desiring to pray that morning are encouraged to meet in alternate locations, so that students are allowed to lead their own prayer meetings.

Please set aside time on Wednesday, Sept. 22 to pray as our Lord taught:

Our Father who art in heaven

Hallowed be they name.

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Matthew 6: 9-13

Lori

The Beginning of Knowledge

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." Proverbs 1: 7 (NIV)

Much evidence exists that America's founding fathers desired public education to include religious training. Harvard, Yale, and Princeton Universities were started to train gospel ministers; and educated many of America's early leaders. All three schools produced signers of the Declaration of Independence and/or the U.S. Constitution. One of these founding fathers was Fisher Ames.

In 1789, Fisher Ames wrote, "We are spending less time in the classroom on the Bible, which should be the principal text in our schools." An author of the First Amendment, Fisher Ames suggested its wording which was adopted by the House: "Congress shall make no law establishing religion, or to prevent the free exercise thereof, or to infringe the right of conscience." He believed the Bible should be an instruction book and would not find its use in public schools to be unconstitutional.

Passage of laws such as the Old Deluder Satan Act (1647) and the Northwest Ordinance's Article 3 (1787) supported the importance of religious education. Early textbooks such as The New England Primer and the McGuffey Readers included lessons in religion and morality.

Yet, in 1962 (Engel vs. Vitale), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-1 that government-directed prayer in public schools violated the First Amendment's Establishment Clause. In 1963, (Abington vs. Schempp), the 8-1 Supreme Court decision declared sanctioned organized Bible reading in public schools to be unconstitutional. The protection of student-initiated prayer not interfering with school hours, as well as the reading of religious verses during non-instructional times, remains.

Research by David Barton published in "America: To Pray of Not to Pray" indicated that from 1963, SAT scores rapidly declined for 18 years in a row. The research also indicated a dramatic increase in crime, sexually transmitted diseases, premarital sex, illiteracy, suicide, illegal drug use, and divorce rate. Abortion became legal in 1973.

As our hope is in God alone, we will pray for students, parents, teachers and staff members, coaches, administrators, and board members:

• All will fear (respect, reverence) the LORD (Proverbs 1:7).
• God grant wisdom, knowledge, and understanding (Proverbs 2:6 ; Daniel 1:17).
• God provide protection, help, and strength (Psalm 121 ; Isaiah 40: 29- 31).

Reference:
David Barton, Four Centuries of American Education, Aledo, TX: WallBuilder Press, 2004

Legacies of Faith

"So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.

For we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Cor. 5: 6,7 (NKJV)

During our eleven-year history, three of our grandmothers entered eternity, where there is no more suffering, no more pain. These godly women lived by faith, each in their own special way.

An accomplished concert pianist and teacher, Laurene, first taught her daughters to play the piano, and they taught their children. Every year, the family presented an Advent concert, glorifying God and the birth of his Son, Jesus. Her grandchildren received a rich inheritance of musical gifts used in service to God.

Reta loved the Lord with all her heart. Her grandchildren were like the diamonds adding sparkles of joy to her life. Learning faith from her parents and grandparents, she desired and prayed for her descendants to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Sharing stories of faith that had been passed down was her favorite pastime with family and friends.

Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Jan fought a courageous fifteen-week battle. Rather than withdrawing, she left her front door unlocked for family and friends to visit. With a bald head and a big smile, God's grace surrounded her, and all who visited were blessed. A student of God's Word, she was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

"Faith is the substance of thing hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1. What legacy will you leave your grandchildren?

Pray for descendants and each other:

• To be surrounded by faith-filled witnesses, who exemplify life in Christ.
• To become students of the Word of God.
• To share personal faith stories.

Bobbye

Remember God

"My mouth is filled with your praise,

declaring your splendor all day long."

Psalm 71:8 (NIV)

Faded blue ink stains the opening page of an old family Bible. This Bible, written in Norwegian, was given to my great-grandmother, Ingeborg, from her sister-in-law, Marit, in 1886.

I long to know the faith stories of these two immigrant women. How did the Lord work in their lives to bring them to their new homeland? What fears did they face? What victories did they experience? What were their favorite Bible passages?

Susan Livingston, founder of Release Ministries, encourages us to remember God and the great things He has done for us and to record our faith stories to share with others.

Click here to read Susan's inspirational post, then remember and tell others of His great deeds!

Let's also pray for one another that the Lord will provide opportunities for us to share our stories of  His unfailing love with our family, friends, and neighbors. No matter what season of  life you're in, please share something that God has done for you in our comments section. In other words, you don't have to be a grandmother to participate!

Lori