Lord, today we gather together in spirit on this first Sunday of January, in this new year, to lift our hearts and voices in fervent pray for all our grandchildren.

We seek to follow your command in Deuteronomy 11 to teach Your Laws and Your Words to our grandchildren. Help us to do this whenever we are with our grandchildren – visiting, driving, walking, babysitting, cooking, playing, fishing, swimming, sledding, reading, Text Messaging, or just being in their presence.

We pray that this year our grandchildren will continue to develop their faith and characteristic qualities of a committed Christian.

We pray that our grandchildren will continue to develop their Christian character qualities of:

Truthfulness (Ephesians 4:25) – speaking truthfully to their friends and family, “for we are all members of one body.”

Self-Control (Galatians 5:24-25) – exhibiting self-control with friends, family, school and work, “keeping in step with the Spirit.”

Contentment (1 Timothy 6:8) – in this world of excessive greed, that they will be content with all You have provided for them.

Joyfulness (Psalm 16:11) – learning how serving You, Lord will bring peace and joy in their lives.

Thriftiness (Luke 16:11) – staying away from the traps of our world’s focus on financial wealth as the goal in life and the only way to “happiness.”

Faith (Hebrews 11:1) -  strengthening their faith to have “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

Protect them Lord as they begin to learn to walk and speak, as they start new school years, begin new jobs, struggle in this current economy, date, meet new friends, or raise their families. Keep their eyes on You, Lord, their hearts soft to hear and believe, and their faith strong throughout this new year.   Amen

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Leader continues: We come before You in prayer, God of heaven and earth and all of the created order.  We know that You have created us to live for the praise of Your glory.  You have made us just a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned us with glory and honor.  While we know these things in our minds, we confess that it is hard to live according to Your plan.  We pray that we will be seekers after Your heart, that we will know Your plans for us, and that we will always put Your ways before our own.

Grandmothers:  As we gather to pray as grandparents, we pray that our own grandchildren and our spiritual grandchildren in this church will know Your plans for them.

Grandfathers: This time of year is full of transitions.  Some children are starting school for the first time.  Others are entering a new school building and are separated from friends.

Grandmothers: Others have made the transition from life at home with family to life in a college or university setting.  Still others have finished their formal education and are making a transition to the work world.

Grandfathers: We pray that our grandchildren will seek Your way with every step that they take.

Grandmothers: We pray that our grandchildren in elementary school, middle school, and high school will know Your great love for them, that they will discover the wonder and order of Your creation, that they will seek You at every turn, and that they will be bold to live for You.

Grandfathers : Starting college brings exciting opportunities along with stresses and temptations.  In the time that we’ve had with them, we tried to teach our grandchildren to live for You, yet we know that many college students “set their faith on the shelf” and distance themselves from You.

Grandmothers: We pray that our college students will love Your ways, will be drawn near to You, and will learn what it means to live for You.  We also pray that they will find Christian mentors and friends who can help them navigate rocky currents.

Grandfathers:  We pray for grandchildren who are starting a new job.  In their careers, help them to look for ways to honor You and to keep a proper balance on their priorities and interests.

Grandmothers:  We also pray for graduates who are still seeking employment.  In this time of high anxiety, let them know that You have plans to bless and prosper them and that You will make all things clear in Your time and according to Your plan.

All: Sovereign Lord, protect our grandchildren from all harm and allow them to live out the fullness of the days You have planned for them.  Amen.

Read Nancy Gibbs essay in the May 17th Time Magazine to remind yourselves how much our grandchildren need you as part of their village. We are instructed as parents to teach our children the Word. We as grandparents can help our grown children  teach the Word whenever we are fortunate to be with our grandchildren or any grandchildren in our neighborhoods, churches – or villages. Our young adults are exhausted juggling work and children and the difficulties of our economy, they need us to help them carry this burden and to teach them how to trust in Jesus for answers.

All Grandparents: Lord we thank You and rejoice with You for all our granchildren who love You and are walking in the truth. We pray that they will continue to feel Your love and follow Your Commands.

Grandmothers: Help us Lord as grandmothers to continue to teach Your Word. Let us speak Your Truth every time we are with our grandchildren – playing, cooking, shopping, working, reading, or lovingly caring for them.

Grandfathers: Lord help us as grandfathers to be Christ like examples to our grandchildren. When our grandchildren listen to us and watch us, let those moments teach them how to walk in Your truth. We are committed to teaching the truth to our grandchildren because we know Your truth will keep them eternally safe.

Grandmothers: Lord we pray that as school comes to a close our grandchildren will be led into activities that will teach them more about You. Help them find activities to practice being more Christ-like as they have fun and learn new skills.

Grandfathers: Lord we pray that our grandchildren will have a summer of health, that their bodies and minds will be strong. We pray that they will enjoy time with family and friends, laugh and play, and build wonderful childhood memories.

All Grandparents: Lord we pray that this summer, as You did with Daniel, You will place Your angels around our grandchildren, protecting them day and night.

Prayer Leader: Lord we now pray silently for our own grandchildren and for those grandchildren with special needs.

Prayer Leader: Lord we pray Psalm 91:9-11 for our grandchildren as they continue to learn Your truths and to live and take refuge in You.

All Grandparents:

My dear grandchildren, “If you make the Most High your dwelling – even the Lord, who is my refuge – then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their  hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

We pray this day for God to command His angels to guard you, our dear grandchildren, today and every day, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Read Steve Arteburn’s books to know how to help your adult grandsons who may be struggling with pornography.

Read Obscene Profits: the Entrepreneurs of Pornography in the Cyber Age to know how to protect your grandchildren living in this cyber age.

The more you know the more you can pray effectively and put our faith into action to protect our children from the pornography industry – the real emotional and physical terrorist attack  on our boys and girls, men and women. Who dreams of their little grandchildren growing up to be used and discarded by this evil. Pray hard dear grandparents, the need is great, and the danger is real.

Stay on your knees and do whatever you can do against the pornography industry to protect our grandchildren from this destructive industry.  Pray, write our governmental representatives, speak out, keep computers in open spaces in the home, don’t apologize for your actions – you actions may save a child’s or young adult’s life.

Approximately 20% of all Internet pornography involves children (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)

100,000 websites offer illegal child pornography (U.S. Customs Service)

As of December 2005, child pornography was a $3 billion dollar industry (Internet Filter Review)

Jesus loves me, this I know, though my hair is white as snow, though my site is growing dim, still He bids me trust in Him.

Yes, Jesus Loves me, Yes Jesus Loves Me,  Yes Jesus Loves Me, the Bible Tells Me so.

Though my steps are oh, so slow, with my hand in His I’ll go, On through life, let come what may, He’ll be there to lead the way.  (Chorus)

When my work on earth is done and life’s victories have been won. He will take me  home above, then I’ll understand His Love. (Chorus)

LEADER: Hear these words from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Eph. 3:16-19

LEADER: Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the riches, and the glory.  We praise you for who you are, and we thank you for the blessings that we have in you.  Our life is in you; when we have you, we have all that we need.  We pray this morning, God, that we will know the depth of your love, that we will be grateful, and that we will let others know that you are the great and true God.

GRANDMOTHERS:  As we pray for our grandchildren this morning, we pray for roots that go down deep in the soil of your love and your truth.  As they experience life with you, help them to know that you can be trusted and that you have the words of life.

GRANDFATHERS: We pray that our grandchildren will be well rooted in values that will help them to make decisions that honor you every day of their lives.

GRANDMOTHERS: We pray that the roots of our grandchildren’s faith will grow deeper through their relationships with friends and adults in their homes, in their communities, and in your Church.

GRANDFATHERS: We also pray that our grandchildren will have strength and empowerment that come through your Spirit.  We pray that they will know your strength so that even when they are weak, they will be strong in you.

GRANDMOTHERS: We pray that our grandchildren will have strength and empowerment against the stresses, challenges, and adversities that they face at home, at school, and with friends.

GRANDFATHERS: We pray that our grandchildren will have strength and empowerment through your Spirit to resist the devil because we know that when we resist the devil he will flee from us.

GRANDMOTHERS:  We pray that our grandchildren will have strength and empowerment to be good witnesses for you as they live for your holiness.

SILENT PRAYER FOR OUR OWN GRANDCHILDREN

LEADER: We thank you, Strong Tower, for your love and your empowerment.  We pray that each one of us and all of the people who we care about will know that we are complete in you with the fullness of life and power that come from you.

ALL: In your great name we pray.  Amen.

NEXT MEETING: MARCH 7^TH JOIN WITH GRANDPARENTS PRAYING FOR ALL OUR GRANDCHILDREN