The Roles and Responsibilities of Mothers filling in for Absentee Mothers

There are times when a mother is not able to take care of her children.  She needs someone she can trust and who has the same family values as she has.  A top priority need is when mom goes to the hospital to deliver another child, or when an illness or operation requires hospitalization.  That is when friends and neighbors come to the forefront.   If the children have been brought up according to the following scriptural advice, this will be a fun and fulfilling experience for every one involved. Even when they do not have the foundation of scripture, you, as a believer, can minister to them in love because you do have the truth of the scripture.
 

Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old  he will not depart from it.”

Ephesians 6: vs. 1,2,3 – “Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise:  “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

Even though I only gave birth to one child, I have been blessed all of my adult life with many opportunities to be a positive influence on other peoples’ children.  I am also being blessed in my senior and retirement years by living in close proximity to my grand daughter and my five great grandchildren.

Here are some examples from my own life that might trigger your imagination as to how God might use you.. In my early married years we lived in a neighborhood of young couples with young children and many pregnant mothers.  God had placed me right in the middle of where I would be needed the most. Long after my daughter grew out of her crib, I kept it in case one of the neighbors’ babies needed a place to nap while the mom went grocery shopping.  I didn’t know it at the time, but God was training me to care for multiple children for my future ministry even though I only had one of my own.  My daughter was also happy to have other children to play with in her own home.

We had a humorous situation arise when I enrolled my little girl in Nursery School at age four.  She was picked up each day by the school’s station wagon driver who lived on down the street from us. The teacher at the school asked each child if they had any brothers or sisters at home.  My little one said she had three brothers.  The driver knew I only had one child, so she asked my daughter where I kept her three brothers.  She said I kept  them under the house.  Today, they would probably have believed the four year old and it would have become an explosive situation.  Thankfully, it was recognized as just a figment of a child’s imagination!

Since I became a widow, most of my adult life has been spent taking care of young teen girls who found themselves in an emergency care situation in homes for unwed mothers.   God can use a mother’s love to help anyone in need of that particular kind of love.  I praise the Lord that He chose to surround me over the years with hundreds of girls to impact with the love of Jesus.  My only daughter is a  Pastor’s wife and she and her husband are Marriage Counselors to many couples here and abroad.  

God knows all of our abilities and gifts because He gave them to us.  We just need to be willing to follow His lead and guidance.

Thank you for reading this,

Great Granny Witt                  

The Roles and Responsibilities of a Grandmother, Lois, the Grandmother of Timothy

When your children become parents, you automatically have another role to fulfill.  You don’t stop being  a mother, but you now have the added joy of being a grandmother.  You also have the responsibility to be a Godly influence on another generation.

As I peruse my present role as a great grandmother, I realize it all started with being a mother first, then a grandmother.  Now, three generations later, there is a possibility of my being a great, great, grandmother. The benefits are fabulous; as are the responsibilities.  If your own grandchildren live nearby, look around your church family and see who you might also bless as a pseudo, or substitute grandmother.  Many of my great grandchildren’s friends call me “Granny”.  They are also included in our “Sunday Hugs”.  This is what I definitely call “medicine for the soul!”

Paul said to Timothy –

2 Timothy 1:5 – “When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother, Lois and your mother, Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.”

I am acutely aware that I am to be entirely trustworthy in my walk with Jesus.  I must honor the Lord in all my deeds and actions.  If I make a promise to one of these children, I must follow through and make it happen.  Because I know I can depend on God for everything I need, they need to know they can depend on me to do what I say I will do.  Of course, unseen circumstances, such as illness, can change plans.  We  have an obligation to let them know ahead of time and reschedule for the future. This is a way of letting  them know we respect their feelings.

We also need to have a positive attitude toward life.  No “poor me” vibes but an attitude of contentment in whatever state I am.  As Paul told the Church at Philippi:

Philippians 4: 11, 12, & 13 – “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased and I know how to abound.  Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

In the whole book of Philippians, there is a pattern of life to follow that will result in a peaceful, close relationship with God and others.

2 Corinthians 2:15 – “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those  who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”

Galatians 5:16 – “We are to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh to bring honor and glory to God’s name and be a blessing and influence on others for  Jesus; to draw them near to Him.”

As you walk through life, seeking the will of God and His guidance, there will be a steadfast path for you to follow.  No short cuts or wrong turns will be accepted.

Proverbs 3: vs. 5,  & 6 – “  Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, And lean not on our own  understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, an He shall direct your paths.”

Thank you for reading this

Great Granny  Witt

The Wonders of God's Nature - The Beauty of Nature is being fulfilled

It seems every season brings to my mind a special memory from long ago.  The end of April and the beginning of May takes me back to 1949.  I gave birth to my daughter at the end of April.  Back in those days, a mother and her newborn child had to remain in the hospital for two weeks.  So when we were released to go home, it was May.  While I was gone a beautiful transformation had taken place in nature to welcome us home.  Green grass, green tree leaves and yellow forsythia bushes had come back to life.  The outside sounds of lawn mower engines working and rototillers digging up the soil for vegetable gardens seemed to lull our new little one to sleep.

Now in this present time, Spring is almost over.  Nature is about to move into it’s next season of summer.  Our God is a God of balance and order.  We know we can depend on Him to bring in each new season at just the right time, year after year.  He should be able to depend on us to live out our faith and trust in Him to bring honor and glory to His name.

James 2: 17,18 – “Thus, also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.  But someone will say “you have faith and I have works.”  Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

Psalm 37:3 – “Trust in the Lord and do good.”

Proverbs 3: 5, 6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean no on your own understanding;  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

Who is better qualified to direct our lives than the Creator of heaven and earth and everyone and every thing that exists.  No One else is qualified, not even ourselves.  Praise the Lord that he is always there for us.  Let us always be there for Him as an example to others  of  His great care and love for us.

Thank you for reading this,

Great Granny Witt

Light Dispels the Gloom

The Christmas lights are back in storage  The bare Christmas tree is waiting by the curb to be hauled away.  This is when most of us notice how grey and gloomy it is outside.  And it is!  But it is what is inside us that counts.

Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.”  

Psalm 119:105 – “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”  

Isaiah 60:1 – “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the Glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.”

Are we letting our problems overshadow God’s Light and Glory in our lives?  When others look at us, do they see the light of Jesus shining through our eyes?  Or, do they see and sense a heavy burden upon our countenance?  When others listen to us, do they hear faith, hope and trust in our words? Or, do they hear a doubting, questioning, insincere spirit in our conversation? Take the time to stop, look and listen to ourselves.  How are we being portrayed to this dark world?  Are we shedding the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and living out our Hope and Faith in Him?

  

Light has to have a source of power.   God is our source of power and we can tap into His Power by reading His Word and following His leading.  Zero power comes from a flashlight with no battery.  Try not paying your electric bill and see how long they will supply light to your home.  Yet many choose to live their lives without the source of our true light.  

John 1:9 – “That was the true Light which lights every man that comes into the world.” There are many copies made of originals and many shadows of the real thing.  But, we can be sure that Jesus is the true light in everyone’s life. 

All of us who know and follow Jesus should be an example to those who do not know Him.  

2 Corinthians 2:15,16 – “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.” 

What an awesome responsibility God has given us.  Our actions and words represent the Spirit of God in us.

My prayer is: 

Dear Lord,

Let me proceed with caution as I venture out every day.

Help me shed Your Light about me as I go along my way.

I pray the world of darkness will be drawn to your light.

When they see the love of Jesus right within their sight.

May they all grasp the truth of Your Word.

By,through me, what they have seen and heard.

 

Thank you for reading this.

Granny Witt 

Specific Scriptures for Specific Situations

Forty one years ago, as a new follower of Jesus Christ,I quickly learned that every aspect of my life was covered by a scripture relating to what was going on in my life at that time.  As I literally lived this out and allowed God to show me His solution to any problem as it arose, these scriptures were added to my daily prayer time.  They are still relevant today.  I am blessed with the opportunity to share them with you.  

We all go through periods when we are doubting, fearful and worrisome.  They all seem to sum up the message from Psalm 37: "Do not worry, Do not fret,  Commit your ways  to the Lord."    

                    

Romans 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His Purpose.”

 

Lack of trust in God and uneasy about the future:  

Psalm 112:7 – “He shall not be afraid of evil tidings, his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.”  Result: You can always trust God to only allow what is best for you.

 

Worrying about something that you have no control over:

Isaiah 26:3 – “Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”  Result:  You can let go and let God take care of the problem.

 

Fearful of someone or something:

Psalm 34:4 – “I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all of my fears.”

II Timothy 1:7 – “For God does not give us the spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind.”  

Result:  Pray and ask the Lord to provide  His protection in this situation and believe that He will.

 

To overcome a sin pattern in your life, such as a Critical Spirit in speech and thoughts:

Psalm 19:14 – “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O, Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.”  

Psalm 94:11 – “The Lord knows the thoughts of man.  That they are futile.”

 

As we enter into this new year not knowing what our future holds, may we embrace this spiritual advice from the Word of God in our hearts and minds and in our actions.  

Matthew 10:16 – “Behold I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.  Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”

 

Thank you for reading this.

Granny Witt        

Let it go!

Isaiah 43:18 & 19 – “Remember not the former things, neither consider the things of old.  Behold I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth  Shall ye not know it?  I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

Most people, when their vacation is over, don’t leave their baggage packed until their next future trip. They unpack their belongings and put them back in the closet.  Then they store their luggage out of sight and out of mind until it is needed again.  So, why do we hang onto the baggage of circumstances or beliefs that cause us despair or bitterness.  This prevents us from enjoying the blessings of the present and the future.  Place these regrets at the foot of the cross.  They have already been forgiven and paid for by the Blood of Jesus.

Psalm 103:12 – “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

Philippians 3:13, 14 – "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things that are ahead. I press toward the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

II Timothy l:7 – “For God does not give us the spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind”

                As we leave the year of 2014 behind,

                We need to clear the heart and mind.

                We do not want to focus and ponder,

                On what has happened back yonder.

                Focusing on what the Lord may have for us ahead,

                Should be our priority instead.

                It will be exciting to leave the past,

                And on Him, our future cast.

                Because God does not give us the spirit of fear,

                We can boldly follow His Ways into the upcoming new year.

My prayer: “ Lord, may we always be a part of what You are doing now in our lives and in the lives of those You have given us to love and care for. We do not want to miss any divine appointments You have made for us now and in the future because  of our focusing on past hurts or bitterness. Help us to loosen our grip on the past so we can be free to walk hand in hand with You in this coming year.”

Thank you for reading this.
Granny Witt  

A Thanksgiving Afterthought

Before entering into the Christmas Holiday Season, I would like to conclude the Thanksgiving Mode with another situation to be thankful for that most would rather ignore or bypass. It is Romans 8:28 –

“And we know that ALL THINGS work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”   

Also Ephesians 5:20 –

“Giving thanks always for ALL THINGS unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”   

Have you ever thought of thanking God for a circumstance in your life that was neither pleasant nor joyful?  Did you ask Him, at that time, to teach you some good things  in that particular situation?Something good can come of everything  that happens to us, if we seek God and ask Him to show us what it is.

Let me learn from you, Dear Lord, the things you are willing to teach.

Let my mind be open to grasp the truths within my reach.

Then I can truly be thankful, even when things seem bad.

And I can truly be joyful instead of feeling sad.

Thank you for letting me share these thoughts with all of you.

Granny Witt