The Grand Pumpkin

By Susanne Scheppmann

 Key Verse:

   “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” (2 Timothy 1:5 NIV) 

         

Devotion:

Have you ever considered if your life matters? . . . or wondered what legacy you will leave behind? Those questions flit through my thoughts on occasion. However, when I baby-sit my “Grand Pumpkin,” I realize I have the potential to leave him a legacy of faith. (Oh, I nicknamed my grandson, “Grand Pumpkin” because he’s my sweet pumpkin and just grand!)

However, I want him to live up to his given name--Michael. Not Mikey, or Mike, but Michael. I want him to grow into a mighty warrior for God. (The biblical Michael is an archangel who fights for the Lord.) So I ask myself, “As a grandmother, what can I do to increase my Grand Pumpkin’s faith?" 

Fortunately, the Bible gives specific instructions about leaving a legacy for my children and my grandchildren. Deuteronomy 4:9 says, “But watch out! Be very careful never to forget what you have seen the Lord do for you. Do not let these things escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren (NLT).” This verse cautions me not to forget the wonders the Lord has done in my life. In addition, I must share them with my children and grandchildren.

So, I intend to influence Michael’s faith by sharing the miracles of God every chance I am provided. The Lord has done a mighty work in our family. I will never run out of stories concerning the goodness of the Lord. There are enough to last a lifetime and beyond.

Will you join me in this endeavor to leave a legacy for our future generations?  Let’s  live out the truth of Psalm 145:3,4.

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;

his greatness no one can fathom.

One generation will commend your works to another;

they will tell of your mighty acts (NIV).

Prayer:

Dear Lord, You have instructed me to share with my children and grandchildren the wonders You have done in my life. Give me words that will glorify You and will allow my grandchildren to witness Your miracles in their own lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Application steps: 

Buy a journal and begin to write down your memories of what the Lord has done in your life. It doesn’t have to be chronological, just jot them down as He brings them to mind. Pray for God to give you opportunities to share your memories with children in your life.

Reflections: 

Do I hesitate I speak about my faith with my children or grandchildren?

What type of legacy do I want to leave?

How can I make a difference in my family’s faith?

Power verses: 

Deuteronomy 12:28, “Be careful to obey all these regulations I am giving you, so that it may always go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the Lord your God.” (NIV) 

Deuteronomy 29:29, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.” (NIV) 

Proverbs 17:6, “Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children.” (NLT) 

© 2008 by Susanne Scheppmann. All rights reserved.

“What If?”

By Susanne Scheppmann

Key Verse:

Then Esther sent this message to Mordecai:
“Go and gather together all the Jews of Shushan and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day; and I and my maids will do the same; and then, though it is strictly forbidden, I will go in to see the king; and if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:15-16 TLB)          

Devotion:

“Are you afraid of snakes?” my friend’s son asked with a smirk.

I felt a surge of fear at the question. Then I noticed his hands hidden below the kitchen counter. I swallowed hard as I realized he probably held a snake in his twelve-year-old hands.

What if I answered, “Yes”? What if, he tossed it in my lap to watch my horrified reaction?

“Not much,” I answered.

Sure enough, he came around the corner holding a wiggly, white and orange snake.

However, my answer had clearly deflated his mischievous intentions. He brought the harmless critter closer but held it tightly in his hands. Bored with the result, he left the room with the snake in tow to find a different surprised soul with a phobia of snakes. I breathed a sigh of relief and unclenched my sweaty palms.

Don’t we often react in the same manner with God? We fear that if we decide to trust Him, He will allow something horrible in our lives. We ask ourselves all sorts of fear-filled questions. What if God sends me to be missionary in a remote country? What if I get cancer? What if He wants me to live a life of poverty? What if He takes one of my children? What if He desires I stay single? What if? What if? What if?

An ancient queen, Esther, faced a tremendous “what if” in her life. She was called upon to stand up to an evil man, Haman, at the risk of losing her life. At first, she reacted with a stout refusal. But her cousin Mordecai challenged her with these words, “Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 NLT). Esther overcame her fear and responded with the words found in our Key Verse, “though it is strictly forbidden, I will go in to see the king; and if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:15-16 TLB).

I want that kind of courage. I desire to have God’s Spirit to overcome all my “what if” fears. I want desire to trust Him in every area of my life. Whether it is in overcoming a fear of a silly, wiggly snake or a terrible, malevolent tyrant, I need His peace in my life.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, help me to overcome my fears of “what if” and to trust in Your divine purpose in my life. Give me Your peace when my fears rise up. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Application steps: 

 List the “what ifs” that you fear? Browse through your Bible concordance to find Scriptures that will help combat your fear.

Reflections: 

 Are my “what ifs” a result of needless worry or a possible reality?

How can I push through my fear?

Do I trust the Lord’s sovereign will in my life?

Power verses: 

Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (NIV)
 

Daniel 3:17-18, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.
But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (NIV)

Partial excerpt from Birds in My Mustard Tree by Susanne Scheppmann  ©  Randall House Publishing, 2008.  Used by permission.

Despairing Parents

By  Susanne Scheppmann

Key Verse:

“My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.”
Psalms 119:28 (NIV)

Devotion:

Thud!  I heard my son’s feet hit the dirt outside his bedroom window. My heart sank.  I had been right when I told my husband, “He’s going to run-away. Watch.”

The whole afternoon and evening had spun into a disaster.  My adolescent son had gotten into trouble. We were in the middle of discussing it with him when the phone rang.  My husband listened as his ex-wife told him that his daughter had run away that afternoon.  I watched the panic cross my husband’s face as he dug for more details about what had happened.

In addition, I spied my son’s alert face and witnessed a light bulb go off in his adolescent brain.  He thought, “I’m going to run away too!”  We sent my son to his room while we managed the bigger problem of the moment--my stepdaughter. Yet, I knew what was going to happen—he would run away too. Sure enough, he went on the lam. My thoughts raced.  Should I go after him?  Should I lock him out of the house?  Or should I wait and search for him later? I felt emotionally and physically exhausted.

Both my husband and I were stricken with confusion and sadness as we battled through all the drama and trauma in our family. It seemed that with three teenagers it was a never-ending crisis.  How could this happen?  We tried to be good parents.  That evening we despaired.

Although we despaired, everything turned out all right. My stepdaughter returned home to her mother. We found my son, and my husband coaxed him home. Everyone went to bed, and two exhausted parents prayed for a better tomorrow.

That was several years ago. Children mature.  Time heals.  And God is faithful to the prayers of a despairing parent.  He feels our heartaches.  He sees our tears. He grants us the courage and guts to keep on parenting. 

Our key verse today acknowledges the pain we may experience, but it also points the way to gaining strength—God’s Word.  If you are a despairing parent, seek the Lord’s comfort, wisdom and strength by reading and praying Scripture each day.  God is our source of strength when we come to our wit’s end in the life-long career of parenting.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, parenting is hard!  I ask You for guidance and strength. Remind me of the joys of parenting when I despair.  Help me keep a balanced outlook. I ask You to provide me with special Scripture that I can pray for my children. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Application steps:   Read and memorize Psalm 4:3, 5:3.  Then pray for your children and know that the Lord hears you call to him.  Wait in expectation for His guidance.

Reflections: 

Where do I place my trust and hope when it comes to my child?

Do I recognize that Jesus loves my child more than I do?

Power verses:

Psalms 144:12, “Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace.”  (NIV)

Psalms 147:3, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (NIV)

Isaiah 49:25, “But this is what the LORD says: "Yes, captives will be taken from warriors, and plunder retrieved from the fierce; I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save.” (NIV)

©© 2009 by Susanne Scheppmann. All rights reserved.