Christ’s fit in the “Holy Days”

Don’t be shy or uninformed about sharing Christ in our multicultural society.

     - By Nancy Anderson -

The holiday season approaches.  Aisles are full of silver menorahs. Black, red and green candles are displayed.  Your children come home from school full of questions about other cultures and their celebrations.  How do you answer their questions?  What do you know about the other cultures, religious holidays, and traditions they are learning about?  How do you as a Christian parent model your Christian faith with what the world is teaching?

In responding to their questions, be wise and sensitive, yet firm in your faith.  This is where your learning comes in.  In fact, the holy days that surround Christmas offer a great platform for parents to boldly share the true gospel message in our multicultural society.  So, arm yourself with information.  Research some of the other holidays/cultures such as Hanukkah, Ramadan, Ras as-sana and Kwanza.

5 Investment Tips for Effective Grandparenting

How you invest in your grandchildren will determine what legacy you provide them! 

     - By John Maynard -

Families in America are becoming increasingly more fragmented and transient.  The result is that grandparents have become more important in providing stability and continuity in families. Grandparents are the fastest growing population segment in the US and are providing the primary care for over one million children.  Today, grandparents have the opportunity to provide spiritual roots, family history and stability.  That means that more than ever grandparents need to think through how they are going to leave a proper legacy.

What will your grandchildren remember about you? What activities, places and stories will they think of when they hear the word “grandma” or “grandpa”?  What will they learn about life from you?  To a large degree, grandparents have a wealth of life lessons, are more financially stable, and have a less restricted time schedule than many parents.

Ministering to the Single Parent and Family

How developing a biblical approach can help any single parent family

     - By Corinn Fehr -

Two minus one equals one: simple math, right?  Well if you’ve found yourself among the ranks of single parents today, you know there’s nothing simple about it.  From the dawn of creation God designed the family as two parents. He ordained the family to be a man and a woman working in unity down to the most intimate level.  So, what are we to do when this picture of perfection is missing from our family album?  The first thing is to have hope.  God has given you two strong allies.  As a believer in Christ, you are indwelt by His Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17, 14:26 and 16:7-15).  Because of this, Philippians 4:13 (“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me”) can prove true in your life.  God’s Holy Spirit is with you 24/7 bringing you comfort, illuminating the scriptures, and even interceding during prayer when you are at a loss for words.  Don’t take this privilege for granted!

Long Distance Grandma    

By Janet Teitsort

     - A Book Review by Earlene Livingston -

When my daughter and her husband moved with our only two grandchildren over 400 plus miles away, I knew I had to do something to stay connected with the grandbabies.  A few months earlier, I had found a copy of Long Distance Grandma on a friend’s bookshelf and ordered a copy for myself.  What a neat book filled with practical ideas to stay connected or plugged-in with the family.