Tag: prayer

Pray for your Kids & Grandkids


 
University of Arizona baseball Coach Jerry Kendal shared a wonderful story at a Men’s Conference I attended in Prescott, Arizona. When Jerry was a young boy he burst into his grandfather’s bedroom while Jerry was playing hide and seek with his siblings. He was startled to find his grandfather kneeling by his bed in prayer. When Jerry tried to apologize his grandfather told him to not worry – he said he was just praying for Jerry.   
 
I’m sure that every parent and grandparent prays for their children and grandchildren. I always prayed for their health and safety.  And I prayed for their faith, their friends and their future.
 
I prayed that they would have a vibrant personal faith in Christ. Each generation must decide for themselves if they will become followers of Jesus. Parents and grandparents can sow the seeds of faith in the next generation but each child and grandchild must decide for themselves who they will follow. The Old Testament leader Joshua said he and his family chose to follow the Lord (Joshua 24:15).
 
Friends are a vital part of a child’s development. This is true for young children and teenagers, too. Friends have a large influence in a child’s development. Teenagers are impacted by peer pressure too. Friends also provide encouragement and reassurance during those formative teenage years. Friends can draw your children closer to God or steer them away from Him. I prayed for good friends with a common faith.
 
I also prayed for their future. I prayed God would help them in their studies and guide them in their choice of careers. I also prayed they would find a spouse who shared their faith and values.
 
Author Tim Kimmel wrote a book titled – Extreme Grandparenting. In his book he emphasized how important grandparents are in the lives of their grandchildren. One of the most important things they can do is to pray for their children and grandchildren. The Apostle Paul instructed older men and women to live lives that younger generations would follow (Titus 2:2-4). I’m sure this included prayer. Let me encourage you to pray for your children and grandchildren every day. Pray for their faith, friends and future. Pray for their health and safety too. You will be glad you did and they will too.

You can read 365 more stories by the author in his book Let Me Encourage You by Mark Hopper. The cost is only $20 plus $5 shipping. Order your copy at markh@efreedb.org.

A Week Without Water (Part 2)

I launched into my re-pipe project on Monday morning. I knew when I cut the main water pipe in the attic there was no turning back. Each step took longer than I expected. Several times I had to start over when pipes leaked or when the connections were not sealed properly. It was a slow process with many setbacks. On several occasions I was ready to give up and call a plumber to finish the work. I wondered what a seventy year old guy like me was thinking when he launched into this project? I was climbing up and down ladders. I was working in the attic above our garage. I was driving to Home Depot, Ace Hardware or Ferguson’s Plumbing Supply several times a day. But I pressed on and didn’t give up. My wife encouraged me with words like “You can do it”. I certainly had my doubts but I didn’t want to give up.
 
One of my favorite Greek words in the Bible is “proskartereo”. It means persistence, tenacity, never give up. It was used in a historical reference to describe the siege of a city when the attacking forces laid siege to a walled city and refused to give up until they overcame the enemy. Several times the word is translated “devote” yourselves to prayer.in the New Testament (Acts 1:14 & 6:4). But I think the word “be devoted” seems a little weak. I think it could be paraphrased – be relentless and never give up. Jesus taught His followers to keep on asking, keep on seeking and keep on knocking (Matthew 7:7-8). The Apostle Paul also encouraged people to pray and not give up (Romans 12:12 & Colossians 4:2).

I suspect it also relates to plumbing. Keep pressing on and don’t give up! I did a lot of praying while I was working on the plumbing.. Praying God would protect me while I used a flaming torch to solder pipes together. Praying for safety as I climbed up and down ladders. Praying for strength when I got tired and discouraged.
 
On Thursday evening I thought I had finished the project. I had assembled the last pieces of pipe and turned on the main water valve. I brought my wife out to the garage to see the finished work. We decided to take showers and run the dishwasher now that the water was back on. However, about an hour later as I was cleaning up in the garage I heard a hissing noise and saw water dripping from the pipes.

We shut off the water again and went to bed tired and discouraged. The next morning I tried to solder the dripping joints but could not stop the leak. I decided to disassemble some pipe above the hot water heater and rebuild that critical section. I bought more materials and reassembled the pipes. On Friday evening I held my breath as I turned the water back on again. It worked! No leaks! I kept checking throughout the evening – still no leaks. It was a crazy week without water.

Let me encourage you to never give up praying for yourself and others. Call on God for help with the personal problems you and others are facing.  And you might want to call a plumber for help with your water problems. You will be glad you did and he will too.

You can read 365 more stories by the author in his book “Let Me Encourage You” by Mark Hopper. There is a story for every day of the year. During our holiday sale you can purchase two books for only $30 plus postage ($5). Buy one for yourself and one to give to a friend. Order your books today at markh@efreedb.org.