The responsibility and privilege of freedom

Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought
by Mary May Larmoyeux

A few years ago I went through Beth's Moore's wonderful Bible study about Esther. Beth reminded us that like Esther, we have been placed in our particular sphere of influence "for such a time as this."

Ecclesiastes 3:2 says there is "a time to be born and a time to die," and Acts 17:26 tells us, "From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live."

To me, it's a humbling thought that God placed me on purpose in Arkansas. And not only that, but God placed my family in a land of freedom. What an awesome privilege ... and responsibility.

I think that we should carve out time from our Independence Day celebrations to thank God for allowing us to live in a free country. May we remind our children and grandchildren to never take that freedom for granted. "Freedom is first of all a responsibility before the God from whom we come," says Alan Keyes.

"America is great because she is good," says Alexis de Tocqueville, "If American ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."


How do you teach your grandchild about the privilege and responsibility of freedom?

He is able,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux
www.marymaywrites.com

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© 2009, 2014 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Photo © 2009 by Mary May Larmoyeux

Developing a God-Memory

Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought

by Mary May Larmoyeux

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I've been doing a wonderful Bible study by Beth Moore called Believing God. This week I've been learning about the importance of developing a God-memory —remembering what God has done in my life. Listen to what Beth said about family stories:

"... The ancient Hebrews considered sharing their heritage of faith with children and grandchildren their most important responsibility (see Deut. 6). Have you organized your faith adventure with God into stories you can share with your children and grandchildren? Writing them on paper allows you to leave documentation they can share with the next generation after you've gone to live with the Lord."

Last year Pops and I wrote letters to our grandchildren telling them how we had each accepted Jesus Christ to be the Lord of our lives. When I was in college, I realized for the first time that Jesus Christ had paid the entire price for my sins when He died a wooden cross. He offered me a free gift and I gladly accepted it.

And Pops asked Jesus to be his Lord and Savior when our firstborn was struggling for his very life. God granted our son physical life and my husband spiritual life.

Easter is just a few short weeks away. If you haven't written your faith journey for your legacy, now would be a great time to do this.

If you have written your faith journey, how did you share this with your children and grandchildren?

He is able,

Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux
co-author of The Grand Connection: 365 Ways to Connect With Your Grandchild's Heart

© 2011 Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Believing God

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought

by Mary May Larmoyeux

As you look at the world today, do you ever wonder what challenges await your grandchild? I do. It's so comforting to remember that God is not surprised by anything that happens. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8).

I think that the words of Psalm 78 are especially fitting for grandparents:

I will utter hidden things, things from of old— things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. ... so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

Beth Moore, in her wonderful Bible study Believing God, asks "Do you take God at His Word, believing what He has told us, or do you just believe in his existence and the salvation He offers?"

Beth says that after she said to God, "... I've believed in You all my life," she realized that He was saying to her: "I didn't ask you to believe in Me. I asked you to believe Me."

I've thought a lot lately about the difference in believing in God and believing God. When Jim and I were first married we had a dog named Rocky and he had a bad habit of getting out of his yard when Jim and I went to work. Strange as it might seem, Rocky would not run around the neighborhood. Instead, he'd just sit in the carport and wait for Jim or me to come home (our stay-at-home neighbors told us this). He didn't just believe that Jim and I could provide food and shelter for him—he knew it and patiently waited for our arrival.

I want to believe God in 2011—not just believe in Him!

Would you like to join me in a 10-week online Bible study of Beth Moore's Believing God? If you have an older granddaughter, she might want to join us. Wouldn't it be fun for you to chat with her in person, online, or by phone about this study?

On February 1, 2011, I'll start going through this timely study with a small group of ladies. You can join us by enrolling in the online version of Believing God from Lifeway ($23.95). You can watch the same videos online that we'll watch in person. And then we can all share what we are learning on the blog Want to Study the Bible (and you can join in the Lifeway online discussion).

If you are interested in knowing more about this Bible study, please e-mail me: mary@marymaywrites.com.

I'm looking so forward to learning more about believing God!

He is able,

Mary

Mary May Larmoyeux

The Grand Connection: 365 Ways to Connect with Your Grandchild's Heart

© 2011 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.