Verses from Mama

Hearing God speak one Bible verse at a time.

A Better Way to Deal with Volatile Emotions

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Psalm 143:2 “And do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no man living is righteous.”

Dear Kids:

“I can’t stand her! She treated me wrongly and I am done!”

Man Expressing Strong EmotionsHave any of you ever said or thought these words? If you are honest I am sure that you, like me, have expressed these feelings at one time or another. Maybe a friend betrayed your trust . . . or a client did you wrong . . . or a family member pushed the wrong button one too many times. People are imperfect and regular contact affords plenty of opportunity for rubbing one another the wrong way. Hurt feelings and raw emotions sometimes get the better of us. But what if there were a different way of handling the situation?

Psalms: A Wonderful Bible Book

Psalms is a wonderful book. Located near the middle of the Bible; its pages are filled with hymns and prayers from a number of different writers. For centuries many have found great comfort by peeking into the thoughts and emotions of those long gone. God, in His wisdom, chose to share with us the deepest feelings of some of His children in order to help us process our own struggles correctly and find comfort in time of need.

Recently, while reading Psalm 143, I was struck by the passion with which David cried out to God for deliverance and guidance. An enemy was persecuting his soul and the descriptive words seem to suggest that his circumstances may have brought on anxiety and depression. I can almost imagine this man at the end of his rope uttering, “I can’t stand this enemy! He is treating me wrongly and I am done!”

But even as David cried out to God for help he also prayed that God would not judge him for his own sins. He recognized that he was a sinner and needed God’s mercy and that no man is righteous in God’s sight. Later David expressed his trust and understanding of God’s lovingkindness, faithfulness, and righteousness. He belonged to the Lord, asked for deliverance, and found refuge in Him. He did not take matters into his own hands, but waited for the Lord to act.

Venting Emotions to God

When an irritating person – maybe even an enemy – has gone too far, we can go straight to the Lord with our complaints. Just as the Psalmist vented all his emotions, we too can call upon the Lord in our distress. But it is important to remember that no one is righteous in God’s sight apart from Jesus – not even you! Everyone needs forgiveness. Thankfully, God doesn’t remember us according to our sin, but according to His mercy.

Don’t take matters in your own hands. Ask the Lord to help you see things differently or to intervene when the situation warrants it. And maybe, instead of being done with the person, you will find you can forgive as the Lord has forgiven you.

Love,
Mama

How to Have a Real Home

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Zechariah 2:10 “’Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion; for behold I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,’ declares the Lord.”

Real home, Cedarville, Ohio, Country Home for Sale

“We celebrate making home happen!” A short video shown at a recent real estate continuing education class advertised and explained this Ohio Association of Realtors® motto. Many people desire and work hard to own their own piece of land and build their dream home. But what constitutes a real home anyway?

Some would say the investment of the real property itself creates a home. Others say it is the particular four walls they paint their favorite colors and on which they hang their favorite pictures. Maybe it’s the comfy furniture . . . or the amount of acreage . . . or the barn in the backyard. And as we Realtors® say, the most important thing is . . . Location, Location, Location!!

But what good are all of these accouterments if the home is empty or love is absent? The essence of a real home is the relationships that are found there.

God’s people had gone home. They had spent seventy years living in a foreign country because of their sins, but now they had returned to their national country of birth. They worked hard to resettle the land and reestablish their society. Yet even as the walls of their houses and temple were being raised, there was something missing. The people’s relationship with God was still distant.

So the prophet Zechariah spoke God’s message of love. If the people would return to Him, then He would return to them. The daughters of Zion would sing for joy and be glad because the Lord was coming and would dwell in their midst. He would again choose Jerusalem as His holy city and in the future many nations would also join themselves to the Lord and be His people.

Without the Lord’s presence and promise of favor, the city, the houses, and even the Temple would not really be home for the nation of Israel. They would just be pieces of real estate!

Home is the center of family and society. But these are not defined with four walls, vaulted ceilings, and location! Even when families who love each other live together there is still something missing.

Like the children of Israel we also will never be truly at home until our relationship with the Lord through Jesus Christ is the centerpiece of our lives. Then it doesn’t really matter what type, if any, real estate you own. All God’s children can always celebrate with joy because His presence is what makes a real home happen.

Love,
Mama

God’s Terms of Endearment

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Zechariah 2:8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘After glory He has sent Me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.’” 

Dear Kids:

Dad and Sweet Abigail (otherwise known as Princess Cherry Blossom) – 2002

Have you ever noticed how people tend to give nicknames to those they love? Sweetheart, Darling, Precious, and Honey are some of these most common terms of endearment. Other times people craft fun or special names, which are meaningful and fitting for a certain individual. We have a number of those in our family. Just ask our sweet Abigail, whose older sister Emily dubbed her at birth Princess Cherry Blossom. Each pet name demonstrates how much we love the person so named.

God’s Terms of Endearment

God also has terms of endearment for those He loves. God’s people had gone through a very difficult period of time. They had spent years under the bondage of foreign nations. They brought this captivity on themselves because they turned away from God and broke His covenant with them. In wisdom God allowed them to be punished for their disloyalty by these foreign nations. But as with any good parent, God never stopped loving His children. He brought about their punishment for the purpose of getting their attention and drawing them back into relationship with Himself.

The prophet Zechariah delivered God’s call to repentance and promise of deliverance to Jerusalem and the cities of Judah. “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and Zion.’” The nation of Israel was special and loved, nicknamed the apple of God’s eye, and He was angry at the foreign nations. They had been called to punish His wayward people but they wanted to go beyond God’s intention. They planned to annihilate His special nation, and this was unacceptable!

God pledged that He would be a protective wall of fire around Jerusalem and that His glory would fill the city. He would go after the enemy nations with a vengeance because no one could touch His loved ones without His permission.

God’s redeemed people are one in Christ

Today God loves those who belong to Him as much as He loves the nation of Israel. In fact, God sees all people who are in Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, as His one redeemed people. Ephesians 2:13-14 says, “But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace who made both groups (Jew and Gentiles) into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall. . .”

That means that we also acquire His special terms of endearment. We are deeply loved by Almighty God, and also called the “apple of His eye.” He is concerned about all that happens to us. He lovingly blesses us, disciplines us, provides for us, and protects us. No one can harm us without His permission. We are His and He is ours.

Have you grown up with a special nickname? Are you someone’s Honey, Sweetheart, Darling, or Princess Cherry Blossom? Regardless, if you are one of God’s children you are deeply loved. And those who touch you touch the “apple of His eye”.

Love,

Mama

Sins of Our Youth – The Mysterious Bean Caper

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Psalm 25:7 “Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.”

Dear Kids:

I love my job! I get to know interesting people and often hear stories of times gone by. Just yesterday an older couple stopped in to see me at our office. They are regular auction goers and we have become acquainted over the years.

Human Nature Stays the Same

While helping them with business we had a very pleasant conversation. They told me about their growing up years in the 30s and 40s and how different life was back then. During the conversation Mr. Rhoads told me a humorous story from his childhood. This particular story proved to me that human nature has not changed throughout history.

Many years ago Kenny and his brother, Bud, were given the job of planting beans in their father’s field. They were each given a large box of seeds, which they were responsible to plant into neat rows.  This was an important job because their family relied on the produce from their garden for food throughout the year. Kenny tied his seed bag around his waist and set to work on his rows. But Bud had a better idea.

After working in the sun for a few minutes he decided to sit down under the nearest tree and rest. Kenny reminded him that time was getting short, but Bud just whiled the time away in peaceful relaxation. Finally Kenny finished his part of the job and started home. Bud got up to follow him.

“What are you going to do with the rest of your bean seeds? Kenny asked.

“Don’t worry about that. I have a plan,” Bud said.

He moved a flat rock that was sitting at the edge of the field, dumped all of the bean seeds on the ground, and covered them up with the rock. Feeling smug, he and Kenny went home.

Sins of Youth Given Away

A few weeks later their father came to them asking about the field because only Kenny’s half was producing plants. When questioned, Bud made the excuse that his bean seeds must have been deficient. But his lie was given away. For when their father visited the field to take a closer look he noticed that out from underneath the flat rock where Bud had hidden his seeds, bean plants were growing profusely.

Somehow, human nature causes many to think their sins can be hidden. But God knows all of our secrets. They are not hidden from Him. Thankfully He is a gracious God. That is why the Psalmist in today’s verse prayed that God would not remember the sins of his youth, but remember him according to His mercy.

Kenny, Pat, and I laughed at the memory from years ago. Much has changed from those days. Most of us don’t need to rely on our gardens for our yearly sustenance, but other things have stayed the same. We are all still sinners and God is still a merciful God.

Love,
Mama

Finding the Way Back to God – Return to Me

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Zechariah 1:3 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me, ‘declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

Dear Kids:

I have always loved the autumn season. The evenings get cooler, the crisp air tingles your nose, and summer fruit trees are ready for harvest. On recent evenings Apache and I have taken a relaxing walk around our fields (well, I relax and walk while she runs). We follow a path that Dad mows around the perimeter of the property. It is especially fun this year because we are hedged in by tall corn.

The stalks create a barrier from the world where I can retreat and get lost in my thoughts. Apache, on the other hand, darts here and there. Hurtling full speed down the long grassy runway to the road, she abruptly stops short and disappears into the corn. After what seems like quite a few minutes I stop and call for her. Soon I can hear the crashing as she returns to me with tail wagging and tongue lolling. I pat her head, release her, and off she goes again. I do not keep her on a leash because she comes when I call!

Often God’s people stop listening for their Master’s voice and get themselves into deep trouble. Time and again the children of Israel would forge their own path, forgetting to Whom they belonged and the commands that He gave them. They worshiped idols and other false gods while living lives that were not in keeping with God’s ways. Their disobedience caused them great grief when God had to get their attention through trouble and trials.

Yet through it all God continued to call them back through His prophets. Zechariah pleaded with the people to heed God’s voice. “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me, ‘declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.” In order to enjoy God’s favor and blessing again the people needed to return to Him wholeheartedly. This was the way home.

So often, like Apache, we tear off into the corn as we live our lives. We run on ahead of our Master, thoughtlessly darting here and there seeking to find fulfillment in self-pleasure, growing bank accounts, rising status, peer recognition, and burgeoning careers. These become our idols and what we live for, though in them there is no lasting satisfaction. In our pursuit we miss the voice of our Father.  He wants us to come back! He loves us and longs to bless us, so he continues to call.

Do you hear the Master calling? “Return to Me and I will return to you.” What is your response?

Love,
Mama

Knowing Christ – Getting What You Want Despite the Mud

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Philippians 3:8 “More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ . . .”

Dear Kids:

When you really want something you will slog through the mud to get it!

The patter of rain on our farmhouse’s metal roof is usually a comforting sound – especially when you can curl up on the couch with a good book. But this past Saturday the very same sound was less than cozy. We were scheduled for a farm machinery auction and visions of hot tea and fluffy blankets were replaced with visions of rain gear, rubber boots, and trying to maneuver in a slippery porta-jon. I knew we were in for a muddy day!

A Successful Muddy Day

Upon arrival I parked my minivan in what I hoped was a place for easy exit. Spinning tires and a filthy bath were the last things I wanted at the end of the day. We set up our computers, adjusted the barn doors to keep rain from blowing onto our equipment, and settled down to wait while watching the farmer scatter large gravel over the worst spots.

Soon the men began to arrive. One after one the poncho-clad auction goers stepped up to receive a number. At 10:15 the auction was on and the crowd gathered around the small items in the barn and then braved the raindrops to congregate at the big equipment parked in the field. By early afternoon all the items were sold and  either hauled away or arrangements made for later pickup. Despite the storm the day was a success.

“Why would so many leave their cozy homes to slog around in the mud?” I asked myself. My conclusion was that when you really want something you will go to great lengths to obtain it.

Wanting to Know Christ Enough to Suffer

The Apostle Paul suffered many things as he served his savior, Jesus Christ. He was beaten, shipwrecked, left for dead and much, much more. But he kept on. His losses, including reputation and good standing with religious leaders of the day, were nothing to him as he went after what he wanted.

He wanted to know Christ and was willing to slog through all sorts of mud to get Him!

What about us? Do we want to know the Lord Jesus Christ with such passion that we would be willing to suffer like Paul did? Are we satisfied only with safe, warm, cozy, dry days where we can sit in church and sing exciting worship songs? Or are we willing to do whatever it takes to know Him in a real way even if it means trials and hardships?

The farmers who wanted a piece of farm equipment came out to the auction despite the weather and muddy conditions. Hopefully many left with what they wanted.

So what do you want? Like the Apostle Paul and the wet farmers are you willing to do what it takes to get it?

Love,

Mama

Fantastic News – God Has No Middle Children!

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1 John 3:1a “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God . . .”

Dear Kids:

God is not a God of favorites! There is never a time when you should feel forgotten or left out. Our heavenly Father’s tenderness, compassion, kindness and time for you are limitless. He sees your every move and He always cares. Do not fear you will get lost in a crowd of people or even amongst other believers. For in the family of God there are no middle children!

Facebook Remembers Middle Children Day

This week Facebook resurrected an old picture of you children. I took it about 10 years ago and you are standing in age order at Grandma’s pool. I posted it way back then with a special purpose in mind. John-Keith, number three child, had gotten on a kick about how the middle children are always forgotten and lost in the crowd. After hearing the complaint over and over (said in jest, I am sure) I decided to create a new holiday – Middle Children Day! So I took this picture, drew a circle around John-Keith, and posted it in honor of our middle child. We have remembered this celebration year after year thanks to Facebook.

Hopefully, each of you know how much you are loved despite where you fall in the birth order. But it is true that when more children enter a family things change. A first child is the only one and receives the benefit of everyone’s attention. As more arrive there is more love to give, but time needs to be shared in a way that wasn’t necessary when there was just one.

No Middle Children With God

But waiting in line for attention or taking turns to talk to your heavenly Father privately is not an issue when it comes to the family of God. The Lord is everywhere at once, limitless in His abilities, inexhaustible in His patience, infinite in His love, boundless in His wisdom, and immeasurable in His understanding. He is always available for each of His children – any time, any place and in every way!

Dad and I celebrate each of you children (and now grandchildren) every day, and once a year Facebook will remind us that despite birth order you are all loved! But when it comes to your heavenly family where there are hundreds of thousands of children you never need to fear you will get lost in the crowd. The fantastic news is that your heavenly Father has all the time in the world for each individual. He is not a God of favorites. And in the family of God there are no middle children!

Love,
Mama

Fire Alarms and the Tremendous Danger of Deadened Senses

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1 Thessalonians 5:22 “Avoid every kind of evil.”

Dear Kids:

Our minds and bodies can adapt to a lot. This can be a very good thing since we can’t always choose our surroundings. But it can also create the tremendous danger of deadened senses.

Deadened Senses Bring Trouble

Every day you will come across situations where you will need to make a decision. The world is full of vices that are not healthy – what God calls sin. It may be tempting to dabble in these as you face them on a daily basis. Your mind will give you the age old excuse: “I need to know about this so I can make informed decisions.” At first, these vices may be shocking and you will feel great horror at the wickedness that you see and hear around you. But over time you will develop deadened senses and that is when your trouble begins.

The other day our company was having our fire alarm system tested. I was quietly sitting at my desk while the repair man ran his diagnostic tests in the other room. Suddenly, without any warning, a screeching sound pierced the air penetrating my ears and caused me to jump out of my seat. I grimaced and clasped my head tightly as I was sure one of my eardrums had been broken. For what seemed like quite a few minutes the blinding lights and shrieking siren continued. But a strange thing happened! After I got over my initial shock of this huge disruption, my body adjusted to the lights and sound. All of sudden the harshness wasn’t as painful as the first blast had been. Soon the noise stopped, but if it had continued for too long my ears could have been damaged.

This is the way it is with things of the world. The first time you watch a movie with foul language your whole body may grimace. But soon the obscenities will not sound so bad. Over time you may even slip and repeat one of these vulgarities in a tense situation.

The same thing will happen with immorality. The graphic love scenes so prevalent in our entertainment today will cause discomfort and embarrassment at first, but soon, with repeated viewings, these scenes will become normal and natural. The usual awkwardness will recede and soon even your ability to stand firm in personal tempting circumstances will dissipate.

Avoid Every Kind of Evil

When Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the forbidden tree they thought they would gain great knowledge – and they did. The problem was that they did not have the moral ability to use the information wisely. Today we also struggle with this. The things we come in contact with can affect us greatly. The Bible tells us to avoid every kind of evil. While we cannot fully extract ourselves from the things of this world, we must be careful to guard our hearts and minds carefully. If we allow them too much exposure to harmful vices they can adapt to the stimuli around them, develop deadened senses, and cause great harm.

So next time you hear the alarm go off because you find yourself in a situation that is not pleasing to God, find a way to make your exit as quickly as possible. Because if you don’t your heart and mind will adjust. And before you know it your senses will be deadened, your decision making skills will suffer and you will find yourself in a very dangerous and harmful situation.

Love,

Mama

A Prophet’s Warning to Consider Your Ways

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 Haggai 1:7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Consider your ways!’” 

Dear Kids:

There are certain things a person can never quite get rid of. These particular habits are often the byproduct of our childhood and become ingrained in our minds. These peculiarities sometimes come out at the craziest of times if we are not paying attention.

An Unexpected Regression to Childhood

The other day Abigail and I were having a conversation when suddenly Abigail burst into peals of laughter. We had been reminiscing over a particular TV show we had recently watched together and I had repeated a monologue given by one of the main characters. The words spilled effortlessly from my lips with a spot-on New York/New Jersey accent causing the unexpected eruption of laughter. I am not usually a very good mimic, but these words flowed effortlessly because they were spoken with the accent of my childhood.

Over the years my speech has changed and conformed more to the Ohio dialect where I have lived for 25 years. But every once in a while, when I am not expecting it, dog becomes dawg and water becomes wauter.

This particular phenomenon of regression can easily happen to Christians, too. When we accept Christ we become God’s child and everything changes for us. We become new creatures with a new way of thinking, living, and talking. Our sins have been forgiven and buried in the deepest sea. Our lives reflect our new family and our new heavenly home.

But while we are still here on earth the old mindsets and patterns of living can easily resurface when we are not careful. We can get so caught up in our every day affairs that we forget to make our heavenly Father the center of our lives. Soon we have slipped back into using our old “accent” from our previous life. This is the reason it is so important to “consider your ways.”

Haggai, the Prophet Encourages Israel

Haggai, an Old Testament prophet, had to remind the children of Israel of this very thing. They had returned from exile to their home in Jerusalem and had started rebuilding the temple, the building that represented God’s presence in their community. Discouragement caused them to set the building project aside and focus on their own homes and businesses. Soon they forgot to Whom they belonged. God was displaced as the center of their lives and this left them open to sin.

Fortunately, the Israelites heeded Haggai’s message and did consider their ways. They gave God the reverence He was due by obeying and started working again on the temple project. In short order they finished the job and restored appropriate worship. God was pleased, promised to be with them, and restored many blessings they had missed out on by displacing Him.

Old Habits Die Hard – Consider Your Ways

Old habits die hard! While Abigail and I got a good laugh out of my childhood accent creeping back so easily into my speech, it is no laughing matter when the sinful patterns of our life before knowing Christ make an appearance and threaten to rule our lives.  That’s why every day we must carefully “consider our ways” to make sure old habits and peculiarities don’t resurface. Consider your ways. As God’s children we have been given a new life and a new home. Let’s work hard not to let the world’s “accent” creep back in.

Love,

Mama

Spiritual Blessings for You (Not Just Your Neighbor)

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Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ . . . .”

Dear Kids:

Have you ever received a gift and  found out later it wasn’t for you? I have.

Spiritual Blessings

The FedEx truck that mistakenly brought me flowers!

I saw the FedEx truck turn into our lane soon after coming home for lunch. “Who ordered something this time?” I wondered.,

It isn’t strange for delivery trucks to show up unexpectedly to our door. I don’t always know when you kids have ordered a schoolbook or other item from an online store,and regularly I find a package lying on the porch. This time, to my surprise, the delivery man handed me a long rectangular package and, with a pleasant smile, announced that someone had sent flowers.

Photo by Brigitte Tohm on Unsplash

My heart leapt and swelled as I realized that Dad, my wonderful husband, must have ordered me a bouquet. I read my name, “Sandra,” prominently displayed on the accompanying card. Imagine my disappointment, though, when I read our neighbor’s (who is also named Sandra) last name. I sheepishly revealed the error to the FedEx driver, who I believe felt even worse than I did. He reclaimed the box and apologized profusely before turning his white van around and heading back down the lane in a cloud of dust.

Spiritual Blessings for All God’s Children

God has a whole storehouse of spiritual blessings that He freely gives. He presents anyone and everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior with these gifts.  Some may be tempted to think that God’s greatest blessings are only available for vocational ministers, full-time missionaries, or some other super-spiritual type of saint. “Those blessings are not for me. They are for my neighbor who has more rights to them than I do,” a misinformed believer may suggest. But this could not be farther from the truth.

All believers in Christ have full access to every spiritual gift that God has to offer. We can reach out and claim them.

So what are some of the spiritual blessings available to all believers?

  1. We are children of God with all the rights and privileges of children.
  2. Our Father planned for our salvation before the creation of the world.
  3. He makes us holy and blameless in His sight.
  4. He forgives all our sins and grants us freedom from guilt through Christ’s blood.
  5. He has given us the Word of Truth to explain the great mystery of His will.
  6. He has given us the eternal inheritance of heaven forever.
  7. He has marked us as His with the seal of the Holy Spirit.

Our Father, the Giver of All Good Gifts

These and many other blessings are ours to enjoy forever because we belong to our Father in Heaven, the great Giver of gifts. There may come a day when the FedEx truck will mistakenly deliver a package to your home. It happened to me! But  you  never need to fear that God’s gifts are meant for someone else. God planned every spiritual blessing in Christ with you in mind, dear child of God. So open the package and enjoy. These gifts and many more are all for you!

Love,

Mama