Then the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation. Genesis 7.1
But Rahab the prostitute and her father’s household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And she has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. Joshua 6.25
And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16.31
Emily Chamberlain, my paternal grandmother, was a woman full of faith. A woman that took The Word at its word and stood her ground. She firmly anchored her faith and hope in the God of the Bible and never flinched. She was something else.
When I was about 9 or 10 and I mentioned to her that I thought heaven sounded kinda boring, she told me if I needed my fashion dolls in heaven to be happy? I’d have them.
When I asked Jesus into my heart in 1959? She and Grandpa were the first ones I told.
When things went awry? She immersed herself in crafts.
When Christmas came along (one particular year) and she had new parfait glassware? She made beautiful ice cream parfaits for all of us. With.red.and.green.creme.de.menthe. between the layers of vanilla ice cream because it looked pretty? Yes, it was 25% proof and she served it to her 10 and 14 year old granddaughters. (This is a hysterical family story and I’ll save it for another day.)
When her family began falling apart? She banked on Acts 16.31
I mean, B A N K E D. Set her face like a flint and didn’t budge. If God wrote household? He meant household. She had the faith of an army. She believed every noun, verb, adverb, adjective, and pronoun written in the pages of The Book.
If God said, “You and all your household. Household and all who belonged to her. You will be saved, you and your household?”
He meant it.
She believed it.
She took those words and that faith to her grave at 79.
Who’s in my / your household?
What am I / you doing to gather them in?
Selah.
xo
Don’t forget to comment for another entry in the give-away for a beautiful, genuine leather MESSAGE Bible. Read about the drawing HERE.
Linked up with: Beth, Holley, Holly, Jaime, Jennifer, Jenny,
I needed this today Susan! Thank you so much! Love you!
Danielle, it’s looking as though a lot of readers did. God is so smart!!!
Susan, this post is so encouraging for me to be what I should be I(before God) as a woman of God in my household. I loved hearing your stories about your wonderful grandmother. I hope there will be more to come (especially about those interesting ice cream sundaes).
I promise I will finish the story!
Thank you. Creme de Menthe! What a memory. She was a hoot. I have the doll she made each of us sitting on my dresser and it looks brand new still. After all these years, all this sitting around, Buckley Avenue, Tacoma, South A Street, Fort Huachucha, Woodbridge, Sanier Drive, 121st Terrace, Lansing, Idlewild, Moravian Falls, Lake Worth. Through heartache and pain, death, life, divorce, money issues. But now my little ceramic doll sits like a princess along with me in my new home with my new guy…has she reached her final destination? I doubt it, like Grandma Emily loved adventure so does this granddaughter!
Peg, we have a RICH HERITAGE and LEGACY OF FAITH. We are BLESSED.
I loved this post! Just loved it! I have several I am sharing it with as this will bring such hope as they pray for their “household”. I want to be more like Grandma Emily!
Joanne, SO DO I!!!
Oh my! My household is Non-tradiotnal – an adult child and a 5 yeat old granddaughter. Very diifcult for all of us at times. Not what I had envisioned for my life. But God has placed them with me for now – and I will stand fast in faith for my household and the precious souls who live in it. Thanks for the reminder.
Melonie, non-traditional? Is the traditional of the day… Jesus was non-traditional – remember, He came to fulfill the Law and change people’s lives.
I include in my “Household” my children, their spouses and 11 grandchildren , though they are far away. This post is so encouraging!
Thank you.
PS we hope to start our journey to the mountains tomorrow, please, God!
Soon, a cuppa on someone’s porch!!!
Thank you for this, what a blessing, I stand strong in my faith and hope for the souls in my household, especially my sweet teenage daughter and husband please keep them in your prays.
Shirley, yes…keep believing and just living your Jesus-Life quietly before them…He is so irresistible.
Very needful for me…………yes, VERY! Thank you (and thank the Lord)…………..for this!
Kathy
Very needful for many!!!
YES YES YES!! All of my household and and all of theirs. Love reading about my great-grandma! Encouraging blog.
FAITH…..
Firmly
Anchored
In
Trusting
Him.
I need to write more about her – don’t I??? Going to do that!
I remember your Grandma Emily and I can see her in my minds eye standing with her big Bible in her arms and a big smile on her face. I want to be one of those grandmas who my grandchildren will say the things you have said about her. I believe that the Lord will continue to answer her prayers in the lives of those in her household and in mine. He is faithful.
He is, indeed, FAITHFUL…
Love this post, Susan! Yes, household…love this verse too…Exodus 12:3 NIV: “Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.” Thanking our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Who is our lamb, in Whose finished work on the cross we cling…”and our household.” Many blessings to you, sweet friend.
Many blessings returned to you, friend.
Wow, I love the story of your grandmother! What an amazing gift to have her shape the foundation of your childhood! Staying tuned for the creme de menthe story lol.
Oh it’s a doozy!!!
Wow! How blessed to have such a great relationship with your grandparents! I have one grandmother still living and she will be 92 next month. She has become my best friend. Bless you!
Lora, you couldn’t have a better friend!!!
My son is part of my household. He has been lost to drug use and is missing as a runaway. I need to stand on this message that God will restore him to my household.
I stand with you Paula. I stand with you.
Love!
You young woman of faith, YOU!!!
My Grandma also played a huge part in the lives of her grandkids. My father (her son) passed very young leaving a young wife to raise 7 children alone. What a blessing grandma and grandpa were to us kids and also my mom. And such wonderful memories she created for us. She also lived her life with complete faith. I am a grandma of seven now myself and pray I can be the same to my grandbabies. I love reading your posts Susan. Thank you!
Debby, we have a lot of common denominators in our lives – so glad we are friends!
Great message! We need to make sure who is in our household and just as important is WHO is the head of that household .
I know WHO IS HEAD OF MY HOUSEHOLD and I’m gathering, sister. My red cord of HOPE, my TIQVAH, hangs in my front door!
Susan, I love this. It really encourages me to keep on praying for all my household including the ones not still living at home. I would love to have met your grandmother. Can’t wait to hear that story involving the creme de menthe…
May God help us to be strong in the faith, deeply rooted in Christ!
Blessings to you sweet sister! xo
SO VERY DEEPLY ROOTED, Gayl. Love you, sister.
Oh Susan… I had a grandmother just as dogged in her faith. Thank you for allowing me to travel back in time to some of my own stories (None of the include 25% proof).
I am fortunate… My household is all sealed, but I deeply long for them to each have a real, living, active relationship with Daddy God. I need to find a verse that I can go to my grave on with that!
I have NO GREATER JOY than to hear that my children WALK IN TRUTH. 3 John 5. So glad we’ve connected, Tammy!
Such sweet memories of you grandmother. I have similar ones of my own. She used to wake up each morning and say “Lord, I invite you into my heart and my home.” I hadn’t thought of that for years – thanks for stirring up that sweet memory. Blessings, Susan.
Tiffany, it’s a memory to be re-lived every.single.morning. Teach it to your children!!! YES, LORD.
Love this, love you and thank God for your Grandma, your mom, your sister and you! We are blessed to have you all! I want to be like your grandma! And, would love to be entered into your drawing! Thank you for such encouragement!
I do too, Lisa! SO BRAVE OF YOU COMING ONLINE AND COMMENTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! xxxooo
Love this challenge: “What am I doing to gather them in?” The kids are “in” but their father is not YET in. I accepted a challenge to spend 5 min. a day praying just for him. Lately I’ve fallen off. I’m going to get started again…now! Thank you!
Oh, Kathleen, this thrills my very soul! xo SO ver glad you visited HHH today.
What a beautiful story!
XO
Tammy
Grandma stories are the best!
I have believed and cherished these words as I have prayed for my older child to find faith and Jesus and as I have prayed for the younger to find the right path. I cling to these words like life itself — because they are the words of life.
Shelby, they are the words of life. Amen.
So true! I had the best parents and grandparents and loved childhood. 🙂
Praying I will provide that for my girls!
Sarah – YES!
I miss my grandma Gigi. I wish she was still here, especially now that I’m an adult with children. She had so much wisdom and grit. She would have been my greatest cheerleader.
In my household is my husband Greg, and my five kids (ages 2-15)
I enjoyed your post!
Julie
Love this story about your grandmother! My granny always stood on the scripture about being saved with your household.
Although I am now an empty nester, I claim my husband and me, our three girls, one son-in-law, one fiancee, and two grandchildren as my household. I am constantly praying for them and trying to set an example as a Christ-follower.
Amen, Jerralea – you are in the same season of life I am!
Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful story. It just warmed my heart.
I love grandma stories!!!
Wow! Susan, I want faith like that! This story reminds me of my best friend’s grandmother that she speaks so highly of. Can’t wait to hear the funny story too. Thanks for sharing this with us and for linking up last week, friend!
Meghan, I think faith “like that” comes with a long life of Jesus-following! xo
“Set my face like flint”…what a powerful image of faith! This post and scripture truth hits home with me and gives hope…thanks Susan:)
and, #hopechangeseverything