A Prayer for Fathers and Grandfathers

June 15, 2017

If you are Dad or Granddad, you are deserving of blessing and honor for who you are and for all you do. No matter what your age, single or married, here is a prayer of blessing for you for every good work, every good word, and for every act of love you have ever offered on behalf of the ones you love:

Dear Lord,

Bless every father and every grandfather with the best of your spiritual blessings today. Let him know he is not alone in the tasks you have given him to provide for and support those under his care. Show him how much you delight in his work, and affirm the value of whatever You have given him to do—both as a father or grandfather and as a child of Yours. Confirm his worth daily so he has no reason to doubt whether he is loved in the eyes of his Heavenly Father.  Read more

Finding God in the Garden

March 30, 2017

When springtime rolls around, it’s hard for me not to write about my favorite season. Visions of pink and blue hydrangeas, white gardenias, yellow daylilies, coral heuchera, and purple petunias dance in my head. Every year I save up for colorful replacements or new varieties.

There are some things about this time of year, however, that can destroy its beauty–if I let it.

You guessed it: weeds. You can tell by this picture in my backyard garden that some flowers are blooming. But most of those green shoots covering the ground and invading the good plants? Weeds! Unfortunately, just like most of the plants in my gardens, those weeds are perennial.

The sun may eventually kill the shallow ones, though my garden is mostly shady. And mulch will cover up some of the green invaders. But only for a while. Others will soon take their place. If I let them grow wild and don’t pull them out as soon as they pop up, they will soon choke out the beauty and the fragrance of my garden.

Finding God in the Garden

That’s true of my spiritual garden as well. Think about these areas of life and the power of weeds left untended: Read more

Five of the Best Gifts to Give Your Children (or Grandchildren) Part 2

December 8, 2016

Read more

Five of the Best Gifts to Give Your Children

December 1, 2016

At Christmastime or anytime, what parent (or grandparent) doesn’t want to give good gifts to their kids? But what kind of gifts should they choose? Here are five of the best gifts you can give your children of grandchildren: Read more

Prayers with Kids at Bedtime

September 15, 2016

Prayers with kids or grandkids at bedtime is more than a ritual. They need that spiritual nudge, that personal hug from God and you to give them a sense of security and love. You know that praying to end the day, thanking God for all that was experienced, asking for rest and a fresh start tomorrow, is an important habit to build in your kids. But have you ever found yourself putting your kids or grandkids to bed at the end of a long day, wanting to pray, but just too exhausted to find the words?  If you need help and a place to start, here are two examples:

Prayer One

Dear God, we thank you tonight for the good day and for the special way you take care of us all the time. Thank you for the fun times outside and the quiet times inside, and for helping us learn new things every day.

Thank you for creating us special, exactly the way you wanted. Thank you for protecting us throughout the day. Forgive us for the wrong things we do. Thank you for loving us even when we disobey or try to do things our way. Help us to always choose your way, God, because it’s always best. We pray for all the people who don’t know you, and that they will come to understand your love for them, too.

Bless our family and thank you for good times together and apart. Bless our friends and those we love, including our grandparents, our aunts and uncles and cousins. Thank you for our home and a place to sleep and good food to eat. Help us rest well, give us peaceful dreams, and send your angels around our home to protect us throughout the night. Teach us to trust you and to love you more and more. You are good; you are great; and you are faithful, God. And we love you. Good night.

Prayer Two

Bless us with rest tonight, Jesus, and a good night’s sleep. Forgive us for the things we did today that did not honor you. Thank you for loving us so much and that you know us through and through. We need your help every day, and we thank you for the strength you give and for helping us know that with you, even hard things are possible. Bless our family and our home, and keep us safe through the night. May your angels guard us and watch over us, just like you promised. Read more

Back to School Prayers for Kids and Grandkids

August 11, 2016

As my husband and I were praying for our kids and grandkids today, God impressed me to put aside another blog I was working on and to revisit one I had already posted a while back. In this season of our lives, we feel like some of the most important work we can do is to pray for our children and grandchildren.

More Challenges, More Temptations

With school starting again soon, our young family members will face more pressures than ever. New temptations will test them and new studies will challenge them. In many cases, fears may assault them, and their faith will need strengthening for tough times. Whether they don uniforms or other clothes, they will all need to wear God’s protective armor (Ephesians 6:11-18).

Growth in Character and Abilities

But they will also have opportunities to grow both in their character, and in their abilities. God can increase their joys and confidence in themselves and in Him. Maybe that’s why we pray with more intensity for our children and grandchildren. And that’s why their names are on our lips both in silent and spoken prayers not just once in a while, but daily. God knows their names!

Praying for your kids and grandkids is not an option. They depend on you, especially as they go back to school. In a nutshell, below are five back to school prayers you can pray for your loved ones–now, or anytime of year. Read more

One Thing You Can Do to Heal Your Country

June 30, 2016

Everyone has an opinion today on what their country needs and what it will take to help heal it–especially when division occurs or election time rolls around. There are many things you can do to help, but none are more important than the one I’ll tell you about today. If you really love your country, here is the most important thing you can do to help heal it: Read more

When You Need to Know Where God Wants You

June 2, 2016

 

My name is Rebecca Barlow Jordan, and I am a _________aholic. I could complete that sentence several ways.

How would you fill in that blank personally?

At different times and different seasons, here’s how I might characterize myself. I am a: Read more

Encouragement For Moms: A Bird’s Eye View of Motherhood

April 26, 2016

In honor of Mother’s Day approaching, I want to applaud mothers and the sweet tireless work they do. Here’s a simple parallel from  nature that demonstrates so well the efforts of motherhood.

The Pictures Tell the Story

When You Can’t See the Beauty for the Mess

April 12, 2016

What Are Your Expectations?

What are your expectations for your home and family? Do you expect less messiness and more beauty? And how do you respond when you can’t see the beauty for the mess?

Here are a few ideas to help you get started: Read more

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