Our nation’s Navy SEALs are the elite of the U. S. special forces. No one compares

to the SEALs. God has special forces too, except His operate in the spiritual realm.

And you can join them.

In fact, the faith of your family may depend on it. How? Intercession.

Show Notes for Intercessory Prayer: How to Build Faith in Future Generations

Scripture to Help Grandparents:

James 5:16

Psalm 92:12-15

Psalm 91

Psalm 23

Galatians 5:22-23

Matthew 5:3-12

Colossians 1:9-12

Ephesians 1:17-19; 3:14-19

Philippians 1:3-6

Numbers 6:22-27

Romans 8:26

Hebrews 7:25

Ephesians 6:18

1 Chronicles 4:10

Additional Prayers:

St. Francis of Assisi Peace Prayer

St. Patrick’s Breastplate Prayer for Protection

Reinhold Niebuhr’s Serenity Prayer

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Lent begins February 18th. Just as Advent helps us prepare for Christmas, Lent guides us in our preparation for Easter. But why Lent, why you, and what does this have to do with your grandkids? We’ll explore those questions today on The Christian Grandparenting Podcast.

Show Notes for How to Practice Lent with Your Grandchildren:

Scripture to Help Grandparents

Matthew 4:1-11

Lent Bundle

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In today’s episode, we continue our Go BIG! series as we explore the letter G.

G for standing in the gap. And G for partnering with God.

Show Notes for How to Become Grandparents Who Stand in the Gap

Scripture to help Grandparents:

Ezekiel 22:30

Exodus 3:11-12

Allen Arnold

Wild at Heart

Christian Grandparenting Network Prayer Resources

Legacy Coalition Prayer Resources

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Valentine’s Day is coming. Do you have a game plan?

In elementary school, Valentine’s Day brought shoe boxes covered in pink construction paper and red hearts, pastel conversation candies, and Valentines from classmates and family. In high school, sweetheart carnations were the thing. Today, Valentine’s Day is another chance to say I love you to the family from my parents to the grandkids.

But don’t stop there.

Valentine’s Day offers the opportunity to model how to love well, to share family stories, and to love on God too. Today, we’ll hit love languages, marriage and a gift of partnership, and giving to others, even and especially God.

Show Notes for Faith-Building Valentine’s Day Ideas for Your Grandchildren

Scripture to Help Grandparents:

John 13:35

Genesis 2:18

Ecclesiastes 4:12

Matthew 22:37-38

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

St. Valentine the Kindhearted by Ned Bustard

Valentine Download (Includes the crafts and food suggestions below)

Crafts:

Invisible Ink Valentines I love this idea but let your grandkids do the decoding. Include some watercolors and a brush so they can find your secret message.

Celery Heart Valentines Craft cute cards with celery hearts and tempera paint.

Food:

For an easy and elegant cookie decorating activity, start with sugar cookies. Make your own, buy pre-made, or just slice and bake. Just get some cookies.

Dip them in chocolate. White, milk, dark. You pick. I use the chocolate melts in the baking section of my grocery store. You can dip them halfway or coat the front or back.

Then sprinkle with a colorful Valentiny topping.

Check your grocery store or Amazon. Even very young children can help and if you have older grandkids, they can get fancy. Either way, you’ll have fun and end up with pretty, yummy treats. (Rice Krispie treats are easy too.)

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As grandparents, how do we Go BIG? In today’s episode, we explore the letter I.

I for Intentional. I for Invested. And I for Inviting.

My maternal grandmother and I were close. Every Sunday afternoon, my family visited both sets of grandparents. Every. Single. Sunday.

But Sunday afternoon visits were not what spurred our closeness. They were mandatory events. Time in quantity, but not quality.

Our Sunday afternoon visits were intentional. We had to go. But those visits didn’t foster relationship. Relationship happened at my grandmother’s kitchen table over games of Wahoo! and whatever dessert she had baked that week.

Let's explore how we can be intentional in the right way.

Show Notes for How to Become an Intentional, Invested, and Inviting Grandparent

Scripture to Help Grandparents:

Deuteronomy 6:7

Matthew 6:20-21

Luke 15:3

Meet Tim Shoemaker

Tim’s books:

The Very Best, Hands-On, Kinda Dangerous Family Devotions, Volume 1: 52 Activities Your Kids Will Never Forget (Fun Family Bible Devotional with ... Detailed Parent Guide with Lesson Plans.)

The Very Best, Hands-On, Kinda Dangerous Family Devotions, Volume 2: 52 Activities Your Kids Will Never Forget (Fun Family Bible Devotional with ... Detailed Parent Guide with Lesson Plans.)

Very Best, Hands-On, Kinda Dangerous Family Devotions, Volume 3: 52 Activities Your Kids Will Never Forge

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As Christian grandparents, how do we Go BIG? In today’s episode, we explore the

letter B. B for Bold. B for Brave. And B for Be There.

I love to hike. Trails speak to me of adventure, growth, and connection. There are trails I’ve hiked many times and there have been times when I hired a guide because the trail was new to me.

We’re on a faith journey just like our grandkids. Like the familiar trail of a favorite hike, we've walked this faith ground before. We can guide our grandkids as they walk this narrow path, be it the early steps of childhood, the awkward years of middle and high school, or the exciting newness of college and early adulthood.

Our faith, our calmness in crisis (God's peace), and our godly wisdom can help them navigate the tricky parts of the trail.

Here’s how.

Show Notes for How to Become a Bold, Brave, and Be There Grandparent

Scripture to Help Grandparents:

Acts 4:29-31

Joshua 1:9

1 Chronicles 12:8

1 Peter 3:15

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Gayle Veitenheimer’s Favorite Hikes (in no particular order):

1. Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, Barr Trail (Garden of the Gods as well)

2. Grand Canyon National Park, Rim-to-Rim from North Kaibab to both South Kaibab and Bright Angel Trails

3. Santa Elena Canyon Trail in Big Bend National Park

4. Acadia National Park, Bee Hive Trail

5. Mt. Rainier National Park, Spray Park Trail

6. Olympic National Park, Storm King Trail

7. Channel Islands National Park, Potato Harbor Trail

8. Kauai, Hanakapiai Falls Trail

9. Orridi di Uriezza, Northern Italy

10. Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge

Next episode on The Christian Grandparenting Podcast: Go BIG! I: How to Become an Intentional, Invested, and Inviting Grandparent.

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Welcome to The Christian Grandparenting Podcast!

This is Gayle Veitenheimer. I'm your host and I'm so glad you're here.

As a Christian grandparent, you have purpose.

What is that purpose? To impact the faith of your grandchildren.

Psalm 71:18 reads, “Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare Your power to the next generation, Your mighty acts to all who are to come.”

The time to speak is now. Because to stay silent places future generations at risk.

Journey with me and let's walk this grandparenting trail together.

Show Notes for How to Know Your Purpose as a Christian Grandparent

Scripture to Help Grandparents:

Psalm 71:18

Hebrews 13:5

Deuteronomy 31:6

Meet Tim Shoemaker.

Next episode on The Christian Grandparenting Podcast: Go BIG! B: How to Become a Bold, Brave, and Be There Grandparent.

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Gayle Veitenheimer

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