Showing posts with label Empty Nest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Empty Nest. Show all posts

Saturday, September 8, 2018

Develop an Adult Relationship with Your Children



Verse of the Month

“The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree,
He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Those who are planted in the house of the Lord
Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bear fruit in old age;
They shall be fresh and flourishing,
To declare that the Lord is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”
(Psalm 92:12-15 NKJV)


 
Scripture Reading: 

Develop an Adult Relationship with Your Children

I once overheard two staff workers talking about their relationships with their children. One mentioned that he had a grown son who wasn’t speaking to him, while another claimed she and her daughter were best friends.

Both were empty nesters, but the woman had done something differently than the gentleman.  She developed an adult relationship with her daughter, something he had difficulty doing.

If our relationships are to flourish we need to be flexible to the needs of the other in order for God to use us in His service.  Scripture clearly says that as parents or mentors we are to continue guiding children into paths of righteousness, so that they will know how to care for the elderly in a godly manner.

“But if a widow has children or grandchildren, see to it that these are first
made to understand that it is their religious duty (to defray their natural obligation to those) at home, and make return to their parents or grandparents (or all their care by contributing to their maintenance),
 for this is acceptable in the sight of God.”
(1 Timothy 5:4 AMPC)

Encourage your children by establishing an adult relationship with them.  Get involved in your grandchildren’s lives while they are young, and observe their gifts or talents wisely. 

Pray for and support your adult children in their disciplining without questioning their methods if isn’t exactly how you did things.   Unless it is something that would bring harm to the child(ren), let God work it out through daily time in prayer. 

Keep in mind that having grandchildren may be the crowning glory of a parent, but nurturing children so that they follow after Christ is the real reward. (cw) 

“Children’s children are the crown of old men (women), and the glory of children is their fathers.” (Proverbs 17:6 AMPC)


September 8th – 14th Daily Bible Reading
  







*Also be sure to read a Proverb a day. 

Daily Readings are designed to read through the entire Bible in one year. 

An outreach ministry of Shield of Faith Family & Youth Ministries®,Inc.
Copyright SOFFY Ministries/Pastor Cher. Do Not Copy.  Photo credit by SOFFY Ministries unless otherwise noted. This artwork is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License.

Scripture from the KJV/NKJV of the Bible unless noted. Scripture from: Bible Gateway. Image

Bible, Bible in One Year Reading Schedule, Faith Moments, Faith Moments Devotional, Inspirational Reading, Read through the Bible in One Year, Shield of Faith Family and Youth Ministries

Grandparents, Grandparents Day, Senior Citizens, Empty Nest, The Gift of Age, Serving God, Encouragement, Retirement, Faith Moments Devotional, Inspirational Reading, Develop an Adult Relationship with Your Children.

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Developing A Caleb Attitude



Verse of the Month

“The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree:
he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 Those that be planted in the house of the Lord
shall flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age;
they shall be fat and flourishing.”
(Psalm 92:12-15)

September 1st – 7th

Scripture Reading:  Job 12:12

Developing A Caleb Attitude

It’s funny how differently people view “seniors.”  Even senior citizens start to think about themselves in a changed light than when they did with kids in the house.

When I began researching this topic I posed a question on social media about empty nesting and the obvious answers were:

-        Looking forward to retiring.
-        Going to travel.
-        Selling everything and settling down in a retirement home.
-        Eating out all the time, etc.

Not one of the answers included service to the Lord.  In fact most were planning on giving up their activities in the church as well.

Does this surprise you when our society thinks of the aged as “throw-aways” and useless?  It’s time to prove them wrong and take on an attitude like Caleb.

As a seasoned individual God expects His children to still bear fruit and flourish regardless of age.

“They shall still bring forth fruit in old age;
they shall be fat and flourishing.” (Psalm 92:15)

Doesn’t Job 12:12 tell us that wisdom and understanding are found in the older generation, because they have years of experience to back up their instruction?

“Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?

If you fall in the age group of an “empty nester” you are in the perfect position for spreading your wings in doing something brand new.  After forty years in the wilderness you might have thought Caleb was due for a good long rest, but he saw the remaining years of his life as another challenge to pursue.

Think of the lessons, skills and talents you have been developing over the past years in your life.  These particulars made you the person you are today, and they are what make you valuable to God and mankind.

This week write down the things you have achieved or still want to, and press in to moving forward.  Seek the Lord and like Caleb, you will flourish in God’s courts with blessings to fulfill your next assignment. (cw)

September 1st – 7th Daily Bible Reading








*Also be sure to read a Proverb a day. 

Daily Readings are designed to read through the entire Bible in one year. 

An outreach ministry of Shield of Faith Family & Youth Ministries®,Inc.
Copyright SOFFY Ministries/Pastor Cher. Do Not Copy.  Photo credit by SOFFY Ministries unless otherwise noted. This artwork is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License.

Scripture from the KJV/NKJV of the Bible unless noted. Scripture from: Bible Gateway. Image

Bible, Bible in One Year Reading Schedule, Faith Moments, Faith Moments Devotional, Inspirational Reading, Read through the Bible in One Year, Shield of Faith Family and Youth Ministries

The Gift of Age, Serving God, Empty Nest, Encouragement, Senior Citizens, Retirement

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

The Gift of Age




Verse of the Month:

“ For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
 (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)



August 22nd – 31st

Scripture Reading:  Proverbs 20:29

The Gift of Age

The kids are grown and have moved out of the house … so what’s next?  Actually, in the eyes of the Lord my friend, your days of service are just beginning.

By the time we have raised our children adults have a lot of knowledge, wisdom and patience under their belts.  In reality, it’s the best time to seek the Lord for new avenues of service.

Yes, wrinkles (“laugh lines”) may have begun to set in and the hair may be thinner or whiter, but there’s something to be said about the “gift of age.”
King Solomon, the wisest person recorded in the Bible, gives empty nesters and seniors a word of encouragement.

Those grayish hairs are your brand, crowning glory, beauty and mark of honor among mankind.  This applies to both man and woman. 

“The glory of young men is their strength, and the beauty of old men is their gray head (suggesting wisdom and experience). (Proverbs 20:29 AMPC)

You may be looking forward to retirement, traveling or spending time with the grandbabies, which is great in itself.  However, don’t disregard the good things the Lord has promised to all His children, and by the way, retiring isn’t an option when it comes to serving God.

Beloved in Christ age isn’t working against you, it’s working for you.  God still has good plans for you.

In prayer, meditate on the things of the Lord.  Reflect back on the paths God already set before you and ask Him to open doors to new ways of serving Him.  Who knows, you may get to travel in missions!

It’s time to get excited, because the greatest phase of your life is just beginning. (cw)

“ For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
 (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)

August 22nd – 31st Daily Bible Reading











*Also be sure to read a Proverb a day. 

Daily Readings are designed to read through the entire Bible in one year. 

An outreach ministry of Shield of Faith Family & Youth Ministries®,Inc.
Copyright SOFFY Ministries/Pastor Cher. Do Not Copy.  Photo credit by SOFFY Ministries unless otherwise noted. This artwork is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License.

Scripture from the KJV/NKJV of the Bible unless noted. Scripture from: Bible Gateway. Image

Bible, Bible in One Year Reading Schedule, Faith Moments, Faith Moments Devotional, Inspirational Reading, Read through the Bible in One Year, Shield of Faith Family and Youth Ministries, The Gift of Age, Serving God, Empty Nest, Encouragement, Senior Citizens, Retirement