Courageous Grandparenting Blog Archives - Page 10 of 17

Do We Have a Delivery Notification Problem?

“After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what He had done…” Judges 2:10

We’ve all seen those messages in our email inbox that say: “Delivery Status Failure Notification. Delivery to the following recipient failed permanently.” It means something has prevented the delivery of our message to another recipient. There can be any number of causes, but the result is still the same—an undelivered message.

Have you ever wondered what caused the delivery status failure noted in Judges 2:10 after Joshua and his generation died? Remember, these were the ones who entered and conquered inhabitants of the land God promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. You would think the stories about God’s amazing power would have been the primary conversation around the tribal bonfires every night. Read more

Don’t Let Your Grandchildren Lose Their History

by Cavin Harper

“In a day when children are growing up stunted because of our diet of empty-headed celebrities and contemptible villains, true heroism and manliness need special nourishment.” These words, penned by Os Guinness, describe a reality, not only for manliness, but for godliness in general. We need to remember the stories of truly great men and women so that we do not forget what true greatness really looks like. Hopefully, our story will also serve as a worthy example. Read more

Four Things You Can Do to Make a Difference

by Cavin Harper

“…with God all things are possible.” (Mt. 19:26)

In December 2011 security cameras in the bustling town of Wenzou, China recorded a terrifying incident. A small child throwing a tantrum pulled away from her parents, sat down in the middle of the street, and stubbornly refused to budge. Frustrated, the parents started to walk away.

Suddenly a car turned the corner, ran over the girl and ended up pinning her underneath the vehicle. Security cameras showed several people rushing to the car and lifting up one side so the girl could be freed. It was a thrilling to see strangers rush to the rescue in this high stakes event.

I know of another ‘high stakes’ event needing an urgent response—the hearts, minds and souls of our grandchildren being run over by the lies and deceptions of Satan and a godless world. Our younger generations are being crushed by a world dominated by violence, immorality, hatred, greed and godlessness. Like the parents of the child in China, we cannot risk turning our backs and walking away from the danger threatening the eternal destiny of this generation. The danger is real, and the consequences could be deadly—in more than one way.

Six Questions Worth Asking Your Grandchildren

by Cavin Harper

Who do you say I am? – Jesus (Luke 9:20)

Have you ever felt brain-dead and tongue-tied at a moment when you knew something was wrong but you couldn’t think of what to say? For many of us over fifty, we most likely grew up not having to deal with a lot of real difficult social questions as kids. Unlike today, we lived in a fairly homogeneous culture on most issues until the 60’s, and even then, we still shared many common values as a nation.

In today’s society sexuality is ambiguous, family is redefined, Biblical authority is disdained, and the opinions of older people are devalued. Knowing how to address some of these issues with your grandchildren can feel intimidating. How do you talk with your grandchildren, especially teens and young adults, about so many divisive social issues dominating our world?

Sm grandparents sitting on bridge with grandkids copy

Too Much to Lose

by Cavin Harper

When I became a grandfather, I had no idea what a grandparent was supposed to do. I was given a t-shirt that read: Grandpa’s To-Do List… 1) Fill ‘em up with sugar; 2) Send ‘em home. That is often the prevailing view of grandparenting. Grandparenting is fun, but there’s more to it than just good times. There might be times when it’s not so grand. Yet, both joy and pain can be opportunities to help our grandchildren understand what it means to know, love and serve Christ. That requires intentionality and some learning on our part.

That’s what our mission at CGN—to engage and equip grandparents to effectively influence their grandchildren for Christ. There’s too much to lose if we don’t. There’s also no greater joy than to see them walking in the truth.

That’s why I’m eager to share with you three key ministry projects we launched in 2016. This is a mission we cannot do alone. We need partners like you to accomplish it. So, here are three momentous projects we have launched for 2016 for which your help is needed to accomplish:

Six Ways to Champion the Importance of Family

by Cavin Harper

“God sets the lonely in families…” Psalm 68:6 (NIV)

The police found Misha on the streets of St. Petersburg, Russia, at the age of seven. He was placed in an orphanage because he had no other family. The orphanage did its best to be a family for Misha, but it is hard when there are so many who need attention.

That did not stop Roy and Ann of Long Island, New York, from stepping in and becoming adoptive grandparents to Misha. They loved him and raised him as their own. Misha grew up knowing that he was deeply loved, that he was greatly valued, and that he would never again be alone. It was not always easy because of the deep scars from being an abandoned child, but thanks to adoptive parents who cared about him, Misha, now a young adult, knows he belongs to a loving family.

From the beginning of Creation, God designed families as the foundational structure in which human beings find identity, a place of belonging, and where they learn what it means to be loved and to love. But family is more than just a mom and dad and their kids. Read more

What Kind of Inheritance Will You Leave?

by Cavin Harper

A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children. Proverbs 13:22

You’ve probably seen the bumper stickers on the back of a large RV truckin’ down the highway. It reads, “I’m spending my kids’ inheritance.” The first time I saw that I thought it was humorous, but then it dawned on me. That is not a philosophy of life to smile about because the message being heard by younger generations is: “I’m living for myself and nobody else, including my kids and grandkids.”

These days I get increasingly frustrated with adults of my generation and beyond with that mindset. Why would any believer choose to live their life spending the assets God has given them on themselves rather than investing it in the lives of the next generations? Don’t get me wrong. I am all for some much deserved rest and relaxation, even in an RV if that’s your thing.

On the other hand, Read more

Who Has What It Takes?

by Cavin Harper

Three military recruiters were invited to a high school assembly to make fifteen minute presentations each. The first two recruiters each spoke well beyond their designated time, which left the final recruiter, a Marine, with only two minutes. He walked to the podium and stood in front of the microphone in silence for a full minute. Then he spoke. “I doubt whether there are two or three of you in this room who have what it takes to be a Marine. But I want to see those two or three in the dining hall immediately after we are dismissed.” He turned smartly and sat down. After the assembly, a long line of students waited in the dining hall to talk to him.

Jesus was always clear about one thing—to follow him would be costly. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me,” he declared unapologetically (Luke 9:23). Does it seem to you that Jesus deliberately set the bar too high for most people to follow him? Read more

The Truth About Freedom

by Cavin Harper

“…You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

Tomorrow is Independence Day. In preparation for this day of celebration, I thought it might be good to be reminded of the foundational truths that shaped the liberty we proclaim as a nation, and often take for granted. These are framed for us in the words of some of our founding fathers and others. I wonder how many of our grandchildren know about them?

3 Keys for Biblically Intentional Grandparenting

by Cavin Harper

It is possible to be intentional about many good things. Some grandparents, for example, are very intentional about loving their grandchildren and helping them be successful. Many are intentional about making sure their grandkids always have a good time at their house. Some grandparents are very intentional about trying to win their grandkids’ approval and attention (not necessarily a good thing). I could go on and on.

Most of these things have value and may be good things if not motivated by self-serving intentions. Good grandparents want their relationships with their grandchildren, and adult children, to be good. But is there an intentionality that goes much deeper than simply being liked? Do you believe there is more to being a biblical grandparent than having a good time with your grandkids or teaching them some basic facts about life?

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