“Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a people not yet born will praise the LORD.”—Psalm 102:18 (NLT)
Our obedience gets passed on to our children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins…My paternal grandmother, took my dad and his sisters to church every week. My parents made sure my brothers and I were raised in the church as well. Did we all stray at some point in our lives? Yes, but the seeds had been planted. In God’s perfect timing we were all led back to the church.
I bought both my daughter and daughter-in-law t-shirts that say, Just Tryin’ to RaiseTiny Disciples; Ephesians 6:4. As a parent we raise up our tiny disciples so they can raise up their own. It is such a gift to see both of my children doing it. One week at church, my grandson, Lincoln, brought a journal with him like his daddy. It was so cute seeing him hold it. I have no doubt, one day he will be doing the same as my son.
Psalm 102:18 isn’t only for people who have children. For those who don’t have children of their own, you may have nieces and nephews. If not, there are plenty of opportunities out there to mentor through schools, churches or other organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
With it being summer, you may be volunteering at a Vacation Bible School or joining a church’s youth mission trip. I know when my children were younger, the church was always looking for volunteers for both. I knew people who didn’t have children that would take their vacation days to volunteer for the youth mission trips every year. Let me tell you, there wasn’t rest or relaxation on those trips. I would come home exhausted but spiritually filled.
The most moving part of the youth mission trips were when one of the children invited a non-believing friend whose life was transformed from it. I saw changed hearts.
Vacation Bible school also brings in many non-believers who bring their children so they can have a few hours of rest. Many families end up attending the church the following Sunday to see their child perform. We can only pray they stay for the sermon and are moved by it.
Now that my children are no longer in school, I haven’t recently volunteered for either. I do miss the youth mission trips. While I am not aware if our current church has them, maybe at some point I will feel led to volunteer at one of the youth camps.
I know it isn’t always feasible with schedules to volunteer for summer church activities, but we can always pray for our churches when these events are happening.
We all have an opportunity in our generation to pour into the next generation to make an impact. We can have a ripple effect for future generations. Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a people not yet born will praise the LORD.”—Psalm 102:18 (NLT)
Father God,
Thank You for entrusting me with my children. You are able to use an ordinary person like me to raise disciples of Christ that are now raising their own tiny disciples. I give thanks for the men and women mentors You have placed in their lives to fill in the gaps I couldn’t do on my own. Thank You for vacation Bible schools and youth mission trips all over the world. May you speak to the unchurched through them. I lift those up to You who don’t think they can be used to mentor to the next generation. May their eyes be open to ways they can be a blessing to other chidren/youth in their corner of the world. I pray these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
July Verse
“He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing full of love.”—Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)
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