Tell The Next Generation

I know I’ve told you this before, but Dave and I have three young grandchildren who live within an hour from us.

It’s great living this close and being with them as often as we can, in fact, they are going for a “sleep over” next weekend. Something they, and us, are very excited about. Yesterday, we spent the day with our grandson. He celebrated is 10th birthday just last week.

We went to the large aquarium in our area and then out to lunch. He said it was a best birthday and that’s what we’d hoped it would be. Making memories and sharing love is the legacy we want to leave with all our grandchildren, grown and littles.

I was reading one of my favorite Psalms, one that I share the second half with all you on a regular basis, but this morning it’s the first half of the Psalm that I’d like to share.

“I will praise you, my God and King, and always honor your name. 2 I will praise you each day and always honor your name. 3 You are wonderful, Lord, and you deserve all praise, because you are much greater than anyone can understand.

4 Each generation will announce to the next your wonderful and powerful deeds. 5 I will keep thinking about your marvelous glory and your mighty miracles. 6 Everyone will talk about your fearsome deeds, and I will tell all nations how great you are. 7 They will celebrate and sing about your matchless mercy and your power to save.

8 You are merciful, Lord! You are kind and patient and always loving. 9 You are good to everyone, and you take care of all your creation. 10 All creation will thank you, and your loyal people will praise you. 11 They will tell about your marvelous kingdom and your power. 12 Then everyone will know about the mighty things you do and your glorious kingdom.
13 Your kingdom will never end, and you will rule forever.” Psalm 145:1-13 CEV

If we tell our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren about our favorite things – fishing, camping, trips, ice cream, sports and vacations, we should most definitely tell them about our wonderful Lord and heavenly Father.

We tell them about Jesus, not in a condemning way, but we tell them of His wonderful love, mercy and grace. We tell them stories of what God has done in our lives so that they will know they can depend on Him in every situation. We tell them that God never wants them to be afraid, and He will never leave them alone.

Make it a point to tell the next generation of the Goodness of God!

Read All About It!

This morning Facebook gave me a reminder of where I was and what I was doing nine years ago today.

I was in Waterloo, Iowa with appointments at several doctors’ for follow-up visits after my release from the hospital. I had never been so sick and there were moments that led up to my hospitalization that had me uttering words that I hope I never need to repeat again.

“The Lord’s arm is raised in victory. The Lord has shown his great power again. 17 I will live and not die, and I will tell what the Lord has done.” Psalm 118:16-17 ERV

I praise God for His healing power and His protection over me, not only in moments of crisis but in the everyday times of life. He is my constant source of strength, joy, health and peace.

“Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.” I Samuel 12:24 KJV

My relationship with the Father isn’t one that is casual or that I take for granted and ignore. It is foundational, the core of my being. I am dependent upon Him and His word.

There is a chorus that is running through my mind this morning, one we can all sing:

“How great is our God, sing with me, how great is our God. How great, how great it our God!”

He is great in the good times and in the struggles. He is great in large crowds and in solitude. He is great!

I love the story of the man Jesus restored to his right mind. This man was demon possessed and he lived in the countryside where he ran naked and was surrounded by a herd of pigs. His life was spent in total chaos until He had an encounter with Jesus.

“People went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man sitting there at the feet of Jesus. The man had clothes on and was in his right mind again; the demons were gone. This made the people afraid.” Luke 8:35 ERV

Jesus changes lives! He did then and He does today. He is always the same – yesterday, today and forever.

“The man he had healed begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 ‘Go back home and tell people what God did for you.’ So the man went all over town telling what Jesus had done for him.” Luke 8:39

You may not have been healed from a life-threatening illness or been restored to a right mental state but every one of us has a story to tell. It is our personal story of God’s goodness and His love.

Go “publish” the news of God’s greatness! Extra, Extra Read All About It!