Happy Grandparents Day!

 

        <

         Dr. Josh Mulvihill in his book, Grand Parenting states that there are four categories of grandparents:

• Encouraging Voice – Sees the positives and strives to bring out the potential in their grandchildren. Has a tendency to ask questions and listen.
• Supportive Partner – Agreeable who reinforces their children’s parenting practices and philosophies without interfering.
• Loving Friend – A companion whose focus is building a strong relationship with grandchildren and having fun together.
• Disciple Maker – A mentor who intentionally attempts to pass faith in Christ to future generations. Seeks to live as a Christ-like example and share godly wisdom with grandchildren.

 I don’t know which one of these categories you most strongly identify with. Regardless of how you interact with your grandchildren, there is one thing

I can guarantee you, you do have influence on them, whether good or bad. In fact, according to recent data, grandparents are second to parents in exercising influence on the child and this is carried over to the teen-age years when it is easy to think that peers would supplant both parents and grandparents. But, that is not the case. As widows, most of you are also grandmothers. As you have already learned, the hospital doesn’t send you home with a guidebook on being a good grandmother. So how do we get on with our grandmothering?

Paul, in speaking of Timothy’s faith says this: It was a “sincere faith which first dwelt in his grandmother, Lois,” (2 Timothy 1:5). Here was a godly woman who had invested her faith wisely, first in her daughter Eunice and then her grandson Timothy. But, that doesn’t give us any guidelines to follow to help us. It is the book of Titus in which Paul gives specific instructions to the older women. Now, that caught my attention as that means most of them were grandmothers. These are the three instructions he lays out:

1. Be reverent in behavior I usually think of reverence in relationship to prayer or worship. But here we’re told to be reverent in behavior. How we live, ladies, reveals how we worship. This kind of grandmother lives with an awe for all of God’s creation: the clouds, the stars, the various birds in the area, pointing them out to her grands and teaching them to pop that first juicy strawberry of the season into their mouths with gratefulness to God. The wildflower picked by that precious grand should be treated with respect and placed in a choice vase…never an old jar. And this grandmother loves to laugh, sing and have fun and join in games. She is sensitive to each family member, treating each with respect because she knows they’re a divine gift.
2. Teach what is good This grandmother is always looking for a teachable moment whether it’s riding in the car, standing at the sink, eating a pretend cookie or lying on the grass observing God’s big sky. It doesn’t take big chunks of time to pass on small fragments of God’s truths, wisdom and love. You also teach by the example you set: the television programs you watch, how you react to disappointment, the pretty table you set, the fun things you have to do at your house, your faithful reading of the Bible and attendance at church, to name a few.
3. 
   Encourage to love My six-year-old grandson and I play a guessing game. Almost every time we’re together I say, “Next to mommie and daddy and God, who loves you the most? Or I might say after bringing him a small gift, “Why do you think I did that?” He’s wise to me now and will respond, “Because you love me.” I encourage him to love his parents when he sees that I do and when I compliment and encourage them. Giving my grand attention is a form of love, letting him tell me about his day, listening to his silly jokes, and even assisting with homework when appropriate.

That’s it. Just three ground rules in God’s guidebook for grandmothers. But I think you can see how important they are to our leaving a godly heritage for our grandchildren. We have a most important role in the life of our grands, and with God’s help they, like Timothy of old, will have a sincere faith in Christ.

Hi, my name is Valbjorn, I'm the one in the center and I am 6 years old. I am named after my Bestefar's dad. Behind me is my Bestefar and my Mormor. Mormor is the one who wrote the above message and her name is Shari Hervold.

                                                            

Jesus Loves Me by Chris Tomlin

This video is "Jesus Loves Me" by Chris Tomlin. I don't own any rights for this song. It is for entertainment and worship purpose only.

                              The ABCs of Salvation. Can you find them? 

                                    A-DMIT you're a sinner. 

                                    B-ELIEVE God did something about your sin 

                                                    through Jesus. 

                                    C-OMMIT to trusting Christ and Christ alone 

                                                     for the forgiveness of sin. 

                                    D-O IT TODAY!    

                                                                    

 

Finding Favor with God

 A few decades ago there was a comedy act made up of two brothers, one of whom always accused the other of being their mother’s favorite. Were you ever accused of being your mother’s, father’s or even a teacher’s favorite?  Exactly what does it mean to cull the favor of someone? Or more importantly, what does it mean to seek the favor of God? Is that a selfish thing to want and should we ask to get it?

The word favor means to be shown goodwill or kindness beyond that which is normally expected or even deserved. This is the favor that the Lord has given to every one of His children. None of us deserve any attention from God, but He favors us with His love, forgiveness, blessing upon blessing and, in that sense, we are each His favorite. Isaiah 66:2 states, “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.”  (That word tremble here means to be reverently responsive to His Word.) So, while God loves all of His creation, He shows special favor to those who acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and the more we please God the more we will be favored by Him. 

The first biblical character I think of when I think of God’s favor is Mary the mother of Jesus, although she certainly isn’t the first to be shown God’s favor in Scripture. But, as you recall the angel Gabriel said to Mary, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you,” (Luke 1:28). The Message translation puts it this way, “Good morning! You’re beautiful with God’s beauty, beautiful inside and out! God be with you.” That’s it in a nutshell: as we display God’s beauty, we earn His favor. There were undoubtedly many young Jewish women who carried out the commandments and were faithful to their God. Yet, God saw something within the heart and character of Mary that reflected His own nature so she was highly favored by Him.

Moses, in Exodus 33:13b, prayed this prayer to God: “...let me know Your ways that I may know you, so that I may find favor in Your sight.”  Before I go further, let me just caution you that God’s favor isn’t always evidenced by material or worldly goods. It will most likely be shown by spiritual blessings, although He certainly does take care of our earthly needs. Scripture tells us a sparrow doesn’t fall to the ground but he sees it and we are worth much more than a puny bird.                                                                    

There is a story of a widow in the Old Testament (2 Kings 4:1-7) that is such a good reminder to us of the favor of God to those who are living their lives to please God. One of Elisha’s prophets had died with some unpaid debts. As payment, the creditors were coming to take his widow’s two sons to become their slaves. You can well imagine the anguish of this woman. Not only were her precious boys being taken from her, but with them all her dignity and means of future support. She would be left a penniless, childless widow, which was a disgrace in those days. So, she went to Elisha, her husband’s overseer, and told him of her plight.  He solicited her help, as well as those of her sons, in remedying the situation. She was to gather as many jugs as she could from her neighbors and then pour the very small amount of oil that she possessed into these jars. The oil just kept flowing until all the jars had been filled. (That, in itself, was a miracle.) Elisha then instructed her to sell the oil, pay the debts, and live on the leftover cash. Ladies, this woman displayed humility and reverence for the Word of God spoken through his prophet, Elisha, by doing exactly as he had instructed. Not only did she circumvent the loss of her boys, she was able to live debt free with cash to purchase the necessities of life. God’s favor, without a doubt, was on this godly, obedient, and humble widow. 

Those who are favored of God have the assurance that God is with them and that nothing happens to them but that God has a good purpose for it (Romans 8:28). Rev. Jerry Vargo cautioned us to “Thank God for the brokenness and life lessons – they prepare you to handle the favor of God.” You come to recognize your vulnerabilities and receive his favor with a humble and grateful heart, rejecting all thoughts of pride.

Ladies, we should seek God’s favor, but we must understand that we don’t seek it as a means in itself for our own selfish goals. In Proverbs 3:1-2 God says this, “…take to heart my commands. They’ll help you live a long, long time, a long life lived full and well." Remember to thank God for each good doctor's report, a special sale on your favorite meat or other product, a special gift from a child or grandchild; there are many forms in which God's favor may take.

 If we want His favor and the blessings that come with it, we must read and obey His
word – all of it.  Joseph Prince reminds us that “God’s favor is multiplied in your life when you simply believe that the favor of God that is on Christ is also on you because of what Jesus’ work at the cross has accomplished.”

Psalm 5:12 says, “For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.” Finding favor with God means that we spend time in His Word, talking to him in prayer, and living to please Him. And you can be assured, precious widows, that His delight in you will be demonstrated in ways that will amaze you.  

Have a God-blessed day as you live to please our Lord and Savior.

                                                                                

Message by  Shari Hervold

                                    The ABCs of Salvation. Can you find them? 

                                    A-DMIT you're a sinner. 

                                    B-ELIEVE God did something about your sin 

                                                    through Jesus. 

                                    C-OMMIT to trusting Christ and Christ alone 

                                                     for the forgiveness of sin. 

                                    D-O IT TODAY!    

(ABC's By Tom Papadouplos)

                                             "King of Kings" by Hillside Worship

This video is "King of Kings" by Hillside Worship, I don't own any rights for this song. It's for entertainment and worship purpose only.

Finding Wholeness Again

 

The story of Naomi and Ruth is told in the book of Ruth in the Old Testament. I encourage you to sit down and read all four chapters. I want to summarize just part of it for you today.

Houston pastor, Dr. Ralph West, states that Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, was a potter, making lovely pitchers and jugs for people. He, his wife and two sons were happily living in Bethlehem until a famine struck. No one buys lovely new jugs and pitchers in a famine, so their income became as dry as the parched earth which had stopped providing food for their table. Consequently, one day Elimelech told his wife and two sons that they were going to move east to Arabia. He would rather live in Arabia than die in Bethlehem so they settled in the region of Moab where Elimelech was able to make a living for the family again.

That is until he suddenly dies leaving Naomi in a foreign country with two sons. Her boys matured into young men of marriageable age and she tells them to take wives from the girls in Moab. So, Mahlon and Kilion marry Orpah and Ruth. Here we have two Jewish boys marrying

two Arab girls. Life went along pretty well for them…until both young men died. We’re not given any details about any of these three deaths. But what we do know is that now there are three widows living in a society where males were necessary or else poverty was a certain way of life. Life expectancy in those days was only 27 years, and Naomi has now dealt with its brevity 3 times.

Unfortunately, Naomi concluded that God was against her and she developed a root of bitterness in her spirit toward God. She actually believed that God had become hostile toward her. Soon thereafter she made the pragmatic decision to return to Bethlehem because she heard that the famine was over and she felt that she would be better off there. Plus she wouldn’t have three graves to remind her of her losses. So she and her daughters-in-law set out, most likely with a caravan of travelers, on a return trip. Early on the way, she implored Orpah and Ruth to return to Moab. She knew that life as foreign women would be difficult for them and in her state of poverty, she didn’t have much to offer them. Orpah returned, but Ruth would not be dissuaded from going with her.

You widows have endured suffering and grief. Regardless of how death and its resulting grief entered your life, you found yourself much like Naomi, totally grief stricken as well as angry at God. It is very common to rail against God when life goes awry, when death visits our families and life is turned topsy-turvy. The sad part of Naomi’s story at this point is that she saw no hope for joy to ever enter her life again. When our hearts are so full of grief coupled with anger at God, we open the door to hopelessness and we become enslaved to it. Naomi was there. Yet, God was sending an answer to Naomi’s despondency long before she recognized it.

When Ruth made clear that she would not return to her birth family, she didn’t just state that she would stay with Naomi, she declared her undying love and devotion, not just to Naomi, but also to her God. Ruth’s presence in her life was pivotal in giving Naomi a purpose for living, looking beyond her own grief, and finding freedom from the hopelessness to which she was enslaved.

Ladies, most likely there is a door to wholeness and freedom that is just awaiting your opening. It may come in the form of a family member who is trying to get you out again, or a friend who keeps calling for a luncheon date, perhaps a church family who is just waiting to welcome you back, or organizations like Friends Needing Friends who walk through your grief with you. What I implore you not to do is turn down these invitations just because you “don’t feel like it.” You may never feel like it if you never take the first step to opening new doors of opportunity. Grieving is natural and right, but allowing your grief to consume you is not healthy. I’m convinced that if Ruth had not insisted on coming back with Naomi, had not pledged her

love and devotion to her, Naomi would have gone back to Bethlehem and simply wrapped her cloak of grief and bitterness tighter around herself and died an early death, bereft of friends and hope.  And God wants to do the same thing for you. Ultimately, it is God’s wholeness and the freedom that He offers that you need and I encourage you to pray the Psalmist’s prayer,  “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long, Psalm 25:5.

                                                    Message by Shari Hervold

                                               Bible teacher for Friends Needing Friends

                                                    International Widow Ministry

                                                                 

                                Music by Lynda Randle - Worship Songs                               

God's Compassion for Widows

 

 God knows that widows are in need of support and so He created a specific category for them, spoken of often in the Scriptures. Sadly, the loss of a husband in ancient Israel was often a social and economic tragedy. Whenever that occurred, the widow was left in a very vulnerable position. She became the prime target for exploitation. God knew this and He stated that He was not only the father to the orphan, but the legal defender of the widow (Psalm 68:5). We meet several widows in the New Testament. It wasn’t just chance that Anna, a widow who lived in the temple, was the first to greet our Messiah, Jesus Christ. In fact, Jesus himself protested the exploitation of widows.  “Yet, they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be more severely punished (Mark 12:40). The early church defined the essence of true religion as demonstrating compassion to the poor and needy, and the orphans and widows are mentioned in particular. Widows have the eyes and heart of God Himself.

A New Testament widow who comes to mind is the woman who Luke refers to simply as a

widow. Since she was from Nain, she is commonly called, “The widow of Nain.” When Jesus came to the city gate of Nain, he saw the funeral procession and the immense grief that gripped the mother over the death of her only son. No one called on Jesus to raise the boy from the dead, but out of compassion Jesus walked over to the bier, took the young boy by the hand and told him to get up…and he did. This widow was undoubtedly overjoyed to have her

son restored to her. But keep in mind that her way of life was literally reversed. Without a son, she had no rights to her husband’s property and she could easily have been reduced to a social outcast in the community. Having sons was as important as having a husband in those days, especially so for a widow. Jesus’ compassion for her was such that He gave her back, not only her son, but her dignity and standing in the community. Jesus is concerned with every single detail of our lives.

 Thankfully, laws regarding women’s rights have radically changed in most parts of the world since biblical days. Yet, the broken heart, the grieved spirit, the loneliness and total

rearrangement of one’s life is still a part of a widow’s lot. Being a widow changes the way 

society views the woman as well. The oft quoted phrase, “The more things change, the more they remain the same,” is true for widowhood. Widows are still vulnerable to unscrupulous 

business proprietors, less-than-good-intentioned men, not to mention jealous and suspicious wives. Widows have to learn a new identity and are often excluded from social events because they are no longer a part of a “couple.” Many times their incomes are lessened with their husband’s death and forced frugality becomes a way of life. I’ve witnessed much of this up close through the widowhood of family members and close friends. In fact, my husband and I drove several hundred miles this past winter to spend time with a family member who is still grieving the death of her husband and learning to navigate life without her partner.

The theme verse of Friends Needing Friends is as true now as when St. Paul wrote it hundreds of years ago.

 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God (II Corinthians 1:3-4). 

Our compassionate heavenly Father is eager to comfort you in everything you go through. But He does so for the very reason that He wants you to then turn and comfort others. Those two words, “so that” are very important. You are now commissioned to be His hands and feet of comfort and cheer to others because of His comfort to you. Don’t limit yourself to just widows. There’s so many areas of need in our world. Your local church usually makes needs known to the congregation and regularly makes known those in the hospital or suffering in some way. Ask God how you can alleviate someone else’s pain and you’ll be

amazed at how you will notice that your own pain is decreasing.

 For 34 years this is exactly what Friends Needing Friends has been doing. That’s right. This month marks the 34^th anniversary of Friends Needing Friends  and I thank God for this great ministry to widows.

Have a blessed month as we go into the summer season.

Message by Shari Hervold

                                                          

This video "Through It All" by Andrae Crouch. 

 I don't own any rights for this song. It's for entertainment and worship purpose only.