For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. We decided to take the scenic detour over the mountains on our way back from spending the week celebrating our grandson’s birthday. The summer flowers were in bloom along the roadside and I saw these flowers of different types all together, each unique with even a lady bug enjoying them (you have to look close, I didn't see it when I took the picture). It made me think of my four grandchildren, each so very different and each so precious - one who shows every emotion on his face and runs into your arms, one young man who loves playing games that involve numbers, one sprite of a little girl who loves to run after bubbles and balloons, and another little girl whose sweet smile and dark eyes will melt your heart when she says “I love you.” Like the roadside flowers, each child made by God is unique and precious. I am so grateful for their presence in my life; but even more grateful for their parents and their other grandparents who demonstrate God’s love.
Prayer Loving Father I praise you for the hope you are in my life and for my parents that taught me to love you. I ask your strength and grace for my children as they seek to teach their children to love and praise you. Amen
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O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. The Carter Shields Cabin was probably built in the 1830’s. Just think about that, it has been standing for almost 200 years. It is a simple one room cabin with a loft, a porch, three doors, and two windows. When the national park was created there were lots of structures like this still standing. Some of them were kept as a way of preserving the way of life of the early settlers for future generations to see. When I visit this cabin I always go around to the side door and look through the cabin and out the window to the beautiful trees that surround this place. I think about what it was like to walk through this doorway a hundred years ago. It is like looking into the past. As I grow older I want my children and grandchildren to be able to look into my life, like I look through the door of the cabin, and see a wondrous God. I want to be taught by God all the days of my life. I want my life to proclaim his goodness to another generation. I want them to know and be taught by God who has shown me his love from my youth.
Prayer Father God Thank you for all you have taught me from my youth. Make my life proclaim your goodness to another generation. Amen Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. You can’t see the garden without stepping through the open gate. The open gate invites all into the garden. These beginning verses of Luke are like this open gate written for Theophilus. It is a story of who Jesus is. It is a story that we are a part of and it is a story that we are to tell to others. So many times I have just skipped over these verses - it is just the beginning, not that important, but when I read this commentary written by James R. Luck from “Feasting on the Gospels--Luke, Volume 1: A Feasting on the Word Commentary” it made me think about these verses in a different way. I give you his words:
Even in the rites of baptism, whether young or old, whether sprinkled or immersed, we are doing nothing less than weaving the story of an individual into the fabric of all those who have gone before us. It is a story of adoption and naming and grace and love. This is our story. Our responsibility as congregational leaders is as simple as it is daunting: we are to help others live into our Christian stories, so that they might become part of the story; so that they might become a living, breathing sacrament of God’s grace. Maybe these words spoke to me so strongly because I have now watched three of my grandchildren be baptized and will watch another one be baptized very soon. Truly I have seen the story of grace of Jesus woven in my life and now to see it woven into the lives of my of children is blessing beyond blessing. Prayer Author of All Stories Help me weave the story of your love into not only my children and grandchildren but to all who need to “become a living, breathing sacrament of God’s grace.” Amen By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; In the days of John Oliver building a home in the mountains was not an easy thing. There were no construction companies. Each family built their own home from lumber they cut from the land. Many times men from other families would help in the building. Today most people don’t physically build their own houses but each family must build their home. This is not easy work. Building a good home requires wisdom and understanding. Families do this best when they build their homes on the strong foundation of the Lord and develop wisdom based on a knowledge of God’s word. With such knowledge homes are filled with beauty and provide rich memories for all who live and grow up in them.
Prayer Great Builder of Homes We ask for wisdom for our families so we can build good, sure, and loving homes. Amen The righteous who walks in his integrity-- My grandfathers walked in integrity as do my father, husband, son, and son-in-law all walk in integrity today. For this I am grateful. Because of their lives, I know the blessing of walking in integrity. I am grateful my children’s children will also know this blessing.
Prayer Loving Father Thank you for Father’s who walk in integrity. Amen For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. Flowers are some of God’s most beautiful gifts. Beyond their beauty they have a purpose; they both sustain and bring forth new life. In fulfilling their purpose they bring great joy to all who see them.Today is my daughter’s birthday and this flower is for her. She brings me great joy in the way she lives her life walking in truth.
Prayer Loving Father, Thank you for the gift of beauty and for the joy of knowing that your children are walking in truth. Amen For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Wonderful! Seeing a newborn baby is amazing, a beautiful new life. Yesterday our second granddaughter was born and she is beautiful. Knit together and wonderfully made in the image of God. His "works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Prayer Loving Father, Thank you for the blessing of children in our lives. Help us become good parents and grandparents. Amen Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. Although not an active church now, many generations worshiped in this church in the park. Fathers and mothers teaching their children the greatness of God, praising God for his goodness. Even though my family live in different places now, we all worship and teach God’s greatness to our children through the churches of which we are a part. This morning I watched my son and daughter in law hold my granddaughter while she was baptized. I am so grateful for my parents who taught me the greatness of God. And now to see my children commend the works of the Lord to the next generation brings me joy beyond words.
Prayer Great and Loving Father, Thank you for the promises of your word that I have seen fulfilled in the life of my family. Amen |
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Soli Deo Gloria,
1 Corinthians 10:31
© 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Karen Milligan
1 Corinthians 10:31
© 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Karen Milligan