Verses from Mama

Hearing God speak one Bible verse at a time.

Riding Waves of Difficulty

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Revelation 19:6b “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.”

Dear Kids:

Each morning a new day breaks upon us and we roll out of bed to discover what the future holds. Sometimes  exciting opportunities surprise us. Other times we go about our business as usual. And still other times we are sideswiped by a wave of unexpected difficulties. The ebb and flow of life can either allow us to ride the waves or it will pull us out to sea.

Recently our community has struggled with some rough waters. In the past weeks tornados, sicknesses, broken relationships, deaths, and more have sent waves of grief and pain over many of our friends and acquaintances. These storms have  touched each of you in some way. Sometimes it is easy to lose heart and consider staying in bed rather than face another day.

But there is a reason to get up and go on despite the difficulties that life may bring. We have a God who has not lost control. We can be assured that although the effects of sin will regularly cause our world to rage, we must remember that the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns. A. W. Tozer in his book The Knowledge of the Holy writes, “Sovereignty and omnipotence must go together. One cannot exist without the other.”

Our God is never surprised despite the unforeseen events of a day. He rules over all the earth and His power is limitless. There is no problem that is too big for Him to solve. There is no other authority that can  catch Him off guard and overrule His plan.

For a time we will struggle with sad events, difficulty, and trials here on earth, but even these can only touch us as He allows. He never leaves us  alone in our pain, but gives us the strength we need to endure if we fully rely on Him. And someday soon He will come again and make all things right!

Until His long-awaited arrival we can face each new day with hope and confidence. Whatever the tide of life may bring – normal routine, exciting adventures, or waves of difficulty – we can ride the waves and  confidently shout, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.”

Love,

Mama

Help For Fighting Every Day Battles

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2 Chronicles 20:15b “. . . Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.”

Dear Kids:

The school year is winding down and I know your schedules are starting to fill up with deadlines and tests. April and May were always anxious months for me when I was in school. I wanted to do well, but wondered if I had what it took to succeed. I was tired and ready to be done, but what lay ahead seemed like a huge uphill battle.

This is not the only season of life in which you will experience discouraging battles. All through your years these overwhelming emotions will at times threaten to send you running from your obligations. But God’s children never have to fight alone.

A King’s Overwhelming Battle

Jehoshaphat, the king of Israel, also faced a huge battle. His heart shook with fear when a great enemy advanced against his country. The fate of the nation rested on his shoulders and he was overwhelmed with the weight. He knew he couldn’t win on his own, but he didn’t back down. Instead, this wise king turned to God for help. Calling his people together he proclaimed a nationwide fast and humbly stood before them reaching out to God in prayer.

“O Lord,” he prayed, “You are the God of the heavens and have given this land to Your children, the descendants of Abraham. You promised that when we call to You from Your holy temple You would hear and deliver us from our enemies. Now a great foe is getting ready to invade and we are powerless against them. We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”

The Lord answered the distressed king with very encouraging words.“Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.” God won the war for His people that day. The Lord set up ambushes and completely destroyed Jehoshaphat’s enemy while the nation sang songs of praise. What a celebration Jerusalem enjoyed as the people rejoiced over their victory!

Don’t Fight Your Battle Alone

As you face difficult times ahead, whether in school or in the future, remember you don’t have to fight the battle alone. God heard Jehoshaphat’s humble prayer for help and came through in a mighty way. He will hear your prayer for help, too.

Whatever you are facing – tests, projects, deadlines, and more – take courage! Humbly ask the Lord for help, and keep your eyes on Him. Do not fear! Do not be discouraged! The battle is not yours but God’s. He is faithful and He will give you the victory.

Love,

Mama

Strong Winds and Firm Foundations

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Matthew 7:25 “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.”

Grandma & Grandpa Sheridan’s shed pushed off its foundation by the tornado.

Last week was quite a doozy!

Tuesday afternoon high-speed winds raced through our area uprooting trees, demolishing barns, and flinging roof shingles in the air like clay pigeons for target practice. Numerous friends and family are now grappling with the aftermath while trying to move forward with the daily grind of life.

Friday we attended a funeral for one of our favorite auction goers, known affectionately to us as #68. Easter Sunday our friend died, allegedly at the hands of two thugs. This kind and helpful man who stood front row buying furniture at our auction last Friday was found murdered in his home two days later.

How does one survive these and other types of violent life storms? Sitting on a hillside surrounded by great crowds of people Jesus answered this question with a story.

Once there were two builders looking for a place to build their homes. The first builder chose a spot on the seashore. The second builder took a little more time considering the spot for his home. He finally settled on a large rock.

Grandma & Grandpa Henderson’s house which lost a patio enclosure in the tornado.

Things went along splendidly until one day the winds picked up. A terrible storm passed through the area and slammed against the two houses mercilessly. The rain beat down and the floodwaters rose. In the morning the house on the sand was in a shambles. The foundation had given way and everything collapsed. On the other hand, the house built on the rock, though also battered by the strong winds, escaped the rising floods and remained standing.

The crowds listened intently as Jesus went on to explain the meaning of His story. Those who hear the words of God but do not act on them are like the foolish man who built his house on the sand. These cannot withstand the storms of life that are sure to come. But those who hear God’s words and obey have built their life on a firm foundation. When winds blow their faith will be proven, and they will survive the storm.

Today many follow the call of the world and seek for stability in riches, status, family, education, and more. None of these can withstand the strongest of winds that are sure to blow. One large medical bill can demolish a savings account. Slander can topple an important status. A betrayal can disrupt the best of families. A new invention requires more education. But none of these can protect or assure you of your eternal destination.

There is only one place where your foundation will remain firm no matter what blows your way. This is Jesus Christ Himself! Those who hear and obey His words have built their lives on solid ground. Disaster and even death may come, but it will not touch this wise builder’s soul. This person’s eternal home in heaven is secure and nothing can separate him or her from God’s love – not even a doozy of a week!

Love,

Mama

There is Sunshine in My Soul Today

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Luke 24:6a “He is not here, but He has risen.”

The past few days have been somewhat miserable. Gray and rainy weather has tempered everything from frizzy hair, to muddy paw prints in the kitchen, to a sagging spirit. Moping around while getting ready for work this morning a melody from my childhood popped into my head, and it brought some joy back into my heart. Eliza Hewitt, a 19th century hymn writer wrote this cheery song after recovering from a severe back injury.

There is sunshine in my soul today,

More glorious and bright

Than glows in any earthly sky,

For Jesus is my light.

Oh, there’s sunshine, blessed sunshine

When the peaceful happy moments roll.

When Jesus shows His smiling face,

There is sunshine in my soul.

(Listen to a beautiful acapella version. )

What a wonderful reminder of the joy God can bring to our hearts even when the sky is cloudy and raining. And what better time to rejoice than during the Easter season. The sky was gray and dismal on that horrible Friday two thousand years ago, but the Son of God broke through the clouds and arose on Easter morning securing salvation for all who believe.

It may be raining outside, but can you sing with Eliza Hewitt? There is sunshine in my soul today because the Son of God has risen!

Love,

Mama

 

 

Unheeded Warnings and Open Drawbridges

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Luke 22:31-32 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Warning - Open Drawbridge

NX Bridge spanning the Passaic River between Newark and Kearny, NJ

A wise person heeds warnings!

Everywhere we go there are warnings directing us of upcoming danger or consequences. A stop sign warns a driver of oncoming traffic. A bell reminds a student that class is about to start. A growl alerts a prowler that a potential target home has a protective watchdog. And a closed barrier warns of an open or rising drawbridge.

My hometown of Kearny, NJ, is located along the Passaic River. As a child I remember lying in bed listening to the deep, lonesome sound of barges pulling freight along the channel. Sometimes when our family would travel across town we would be forced to wait at a bridge while the boat lumbered through the passing. A warning barrier would come down and the drawbridge would rise into the air allowing the boat to pass. When all was clear the steel bridge would slowly drop into position again and we would follow the traffic over the moveable road to the other side of the river.

An Unheeded Warning

Drawbridges have always given me a sense of fearful wonder. They are amazing in design and purpose, but also a bit scary. I recently read an article that highlighted one of my deepest fears as a child. In 2015, 29 year old James Montano was forced to jump his SUV across a rising drawbridge in Palm Beach, Florida, in order to avoid a long drop into the cold, murky waters. I was transported back to memories of the steel monstrosities I had travelled across time after time while shivers raced up my spine. How could this happen? Reading farther, I found the answer.

The man who performed this stunt did so because he failed to heed the warning. Distracted by his GPS, this man missed seeing the barrier coming down, crashed through it, and was forced to gun his engine to soar over the rising bridge in order to save himself and his passenger. A disaster was averted by only a few inches!

Jesus Gives a Warning

Jesus’ final days on earth were upon Him. The Son of God understood all that He and His disciples would suffer in the upcoming hours. Speaking to Simon Peter, Jesus gave a warning. “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again strengthen your brothers.”

Peter, the brash and prideful fisherman, ignored Jesus’ warning. “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” Again, Jesus warned Peter that his courage would fail before the rooster would crow and he would deny that he even knew Jesus.

Jesus gave a way to escape along with His warning. Upon arriving at the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus asked His disciples to wait and pray with Him so they wouldn’t enter into temptation. But again the disciples, distracted by exhaustion and sorrow, ignored the caution. They fell asleep at the wheel and cruised through the warning barrier unaware of the danger ahead.

Spiritual Consequences of Unheeded Warnings

Soon the soldiers came to arrest Jesus. His disciples, unprepared for the disaster, reacted by trying to fight and running away. Late that night Jesus’ prediction came true and Peter denied the One he loved so much.

The Bible is full of warnings for us, too. They are there to make us aware of danger and to protect us from making damaging decisions. We must stay alert and heed these warnings if we want to avoid disaster. The alternative could be very scary. It may be denying the Lord or even making a chilling jump across an open drawbridge!

Love,

Mama

Faith – The Key To Victory

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2 Chronicles 13:18 “Thus the sons of Israel were subdued at that time, and the sons of Judah conquered because they trusted in the lord, the God of their fathers.”

Faith - The Key to Victory

The victory depends on who you trust!

Battle stories fill the Bible. Some are devastating defeats and others are incredible victories. What is the reason for these opposites? Is it the nation involved? Is it the size of the army? Is it the prowess and strength of the warriors? None of these is the answer. The key to the greatest victories is faith in the One Who is all powerful and controls all things.

A Nation Split in Two

Spiritual lethargy settled over the land of Israel after the death of King Solomon. His son and successor, Rehoboam, did not manage the kingdom well. His foolish decisions split the nation into two pieces. Some years later the Kingdom of Judah and the Kingdom of Israel went to war against each other.

God brought both of these groups of His children out of slavery in Egypt. But differences developed over time. Under the reign of King Jeroboam, Israel departed from following the Lord carefully. This wicked king created golden calves that he encouraged the people to worship. He drove out the priests of the Lord from his land and initiated other unqualified priests to engage the people in idol worship. Judah, on the other hand, did not forsake the Lord. The sons of Aaron, the God-appointed priests, regularly performed the work that had been dictated to them in God’s instructions to Moses. They sought to follow and obey the commandments.

A Battle Story

As the two armies came face to face, Abijah, King of Judah, confronted Jeroboam with these discrepancies. He warned him about his impending failure although his army was twice the size of Abijah’s. Abijah believed God would fight on his side because they had continued to follow His laws and seek Him.

But Jeroboam had some tricks up his sleeve. This crafty king set up an ambush from the rear, so when Judah turned around they saw the enemy on all sides. The smaller army cried out to God for help and then in faith gave the war cry. God answered, routed Jeroboam and all Israel, and gave Abijah and Judah a great victory. The record shows that Abijah and his army slew 500,000 of the proud warriors of Israel and that Jeroboam never recovered his strength before he died.

The Key to Judah’s Victory

The explanation in verse 18 is the key to this small army’s victory.

 “Thus the sons of Israel were subdued at that time, and the sons of Judah conquered because they trusted in the lord, the God of their fathers.” (emphasis added)

It was not because they were special – God’s chosen people consisted of both Judah and Israel.

It was not because they were a large army – Judah had only 400,000 warriors to Israel’s 800,00.

It was not because they had great military acumen – Israel outsmarted them with an ambush.

It was only because of their faith in God that they received the victory. They trusted in the Lord and He fought on their behalf.

Winning Your Battles Today

What battles are you fighting today? Are your bills outnumbering your paycheck? Is your wisdom lacking when it comes to a crucial decision? Don’t despair! You know the key to victory in any circumstance: it’s not about you, but about Whom you trust!

Love,
Mama

An Overheated Engine and Mind

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Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Anxiety can be a huge source of stress. Worries and fretful thoughts can swirl around in your mind so fast and strong that it feels that your whole head is caught up in a fire of emotions. This is not healthy or necessary. God tells us that we should not be anxious about anything, but instead remove these worries and give them to Him.

An Overheated Engine

It was your typical, ordinary Thursday. I got up, went to work, came home and sat down at my desk to finish a few things. At seven o’clock I jumped in the van to run to Fairborn where Abigail was filling in as a substitute volleyball player for a team that was short a member. I had never been to this arena before, but found my way with no problem until I arrived at the large Sports Complex. I drove around and around trying to find the building where Abigail was playing. That’s when I noticed it!

The pungent smell of smoke reached my nose and while I was wondering where it was coming from I saw the smoke wisping out from under my hood. “Oh great!” I thought, “What is this all about?”

I sat in the car wondering what to do as the billowing smoke grew thicker and thicker. The phone rang and I quickly explained the situation to Abigail who was wondering where I was. Fortunately, she was with her cousin Eva and Uncle Matt who found me in time to locate a fire extinguisher and spray the hot engine.

Grandpa Henderson, whom I had called earlier, arrived on the scene and on closer investigation noticed some cloth remnants littering the manifold. We concluded that a mechanic from my recent service appointment had left a rag in the engine and the heat had caused it to catch on fire. After letting the van cool down and removing the scorched pieces the car started right up and I was able to drive home without any other problems.

An Overheated Mind

What an evening . . . all because something was in the engine that should not have been there. Our minds can also experience problems when we allow things in that shouldn’t be there. Worry creates feelings of panic and can cause us to be unproductive and miserable. It may affect our sleep habits, raise our blood pressure, andcause stomach aches, heart attacks, and more.

These are only some of the reasons God tells us to cast our cares upon Him. He knows how worry will affect us and desires that we trust Him when it comes to the things that are out of our control. He is all-wise, incredibly powerful, and loves us so much. We must have faith that He will take care of all our needs.

A Strategy For Dealing with Anxiety

*When struggling with anxiety I recently read the suggestion to create a worry list and bring these things to God on a daily basis. Ask Him for direction and do anything He tells you to do. But when the thing is out of your control remove the concern from your mind and leave it with Him. During the remainder of the day when the worry flames up remind yourself that you have given it to God and will talk to Him about it again tomorrow during your prayer time. This type of action will help you to learn to trust Him and it will keep your mind and heart from suffering the effects of unneeded worry!

Once we removed the unwanted rag from my van’s engine I was able to drive home. Thankfully we caught the problem soon enough and nothing in the vehicle was irreparably ruined.

Next time I get my car repaired I doubt I will check under the hood for unwanted materials, but it would behoove us all to check our thoughts on a regular basis. Do they contain unwanted worries and anxieties? If so, remove them as quickly as possible and give them to the Lord. He can put out the fire and guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

Love,

Mama

* Dr. Tim Clinton & Dr. Ron Hawkins, Biblical Counseling p.274

Amputation: A Gruesome But Needed Operation

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Civil War Amputation Kit

Auctions are a great place for history lovers. There are so many things that show up at auctions to remind us of how life was lived in the past. Some things are very nostalgic. Others are informative. Still others make me grateful for all we have in this day and age.

An Interesting Auction Find

Recently one of those not-so-pleasant items showed up at one of our estate antique auctions. Enclosed in a red, velvet-lined case were some Civil War tools used to perform amputations. Amputations were very common in this period of history. A new type of bullet, the slow moving Minie Ball, had been invented which would shatter the bones and create devastating damage to the limbs of any soldier who was hit. There was often no way to repair this damage other than to saw off the offending limb. This had to be done in order to keep infection from spreading to the rest of the body. These amputations saved many lives.

I am thankful that the medical world has come so far in the past 150 years; it is unlikely that any of you will ever face this type of surgery.  There are now so many other procedures and medicines that can ward off infection, yet there is still a place for amputation in our lives today. I am not talking about a literal amputation of a body part, but of thoughts or actions that cause us to sin.

Jesus’s Teaching on Dealing With Sin

Jesus taught great crowds throughout His ministry. In one famous lesson, the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explained that sin goes beyond a particular action. Many of His listeners had the same false impression that we do today: they thought that keeping God’s commandments meant to guard oneself against specific sinful actions. But Jesus informed the crowds that even wrong thoughts are sin. He offered the example that any man with lustful thoughts about a woman has already committed adultery in his heart, even though he has kept his distance physically.

Jesus, knowing the devastation that sin can bring, charged that it is better to cut off any part of your body that is causing you to struggle than to enter into sin itself. He was not necessarily suggesting an all-out amputation of a limb, but instead illustrating the drastic measures sometimes needed to keep oneself from temptation.

Matthew 5:30 “If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.”

Examples of Every Day Amputations

In our day and age someone may need to cut off unattended computer use if inappropriate pop-ups are leading to immoral thought patterns. Others may need to disconnect from social media if reading posts has taken up too much time or caused a struggle with discontent. You may need to distance yourself from a certain group of friends, hand in  a resignation, or a take a longer car drive to avoid a place that draws you to temptation. No matter how drastic the measure, it is better than allowing the infection of a sinful lifestyle to contaminate you.

Thank goodness the Civil War amputation kit, a fascinating piece of history, has been relegated to antique auctions!  But we would all do well to look inside ourselves to see if there is any area in which sinful thoughts or actions have created infection. If so, be ruthless and don’t let it spread! Take drastic measures and amputate anything that may be leading you wrong. It can be gruesome, but it is a much-needed operation . . .  and it may just save your life!

Love,

Mama

God’s Gift of the Ordinary

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The cousins visiting a life-size replica of Noah’s ark at The Ark Encounter https://arkencounter.com

People seem to thrive on adventure. The thrill of new experiences and drama often give us a high. But there is something to say about the everyday, normal activity of life. You could even say it is God’s gift of the ordinary.

God’s Perfect World

God created a perfect world. Everything and everyone worked in harmony with the other. One day a tragedy occurred. Adam and Eve chose to disobey God’s command. Sin entered the creation and from then on a downward spiral pulled our beautiful world and everything in it into an undertow of devastation.

Over time the effects of sin became so bad that God looked down on His creation with disgust. He saw that every intent of the thoughts of man’s heart were continually evil. This saddened Him and He decided to destroy the world He had created. But there was Noah, one man who found grace in the sight of the Lord.

Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time. God revealed to Noah what He planned to do and gave him directions to build a large boat, which would serve as protection from the great flood He was going to send on the earth.

God Sends A Flood

For 400 years Noah and his sons worked on the boat, all the while preaching to their neighbors and asking them to repent of their sins. Sadly, the people only jeered at this obedient family. When the boat was ready God told Noah and his family to take a male and a female of every kind of animal, plus sevens of the sacrificial animals, into the boat. Then He shut the door and sent rain upon the earth for forty days and nights.

In that month the water covered the earth and drowned out all living things, but Noah and his family were safe within the boat. After a year or so God dried up the earth and allowed Noah’s family to exit the boat. They and all the animals stepped out onto dry land to begin a new life.

We are so familiar with this story that we often tend to forget the emotional impact this tragedy must have had on Noah and his family. They were uprooted from their home knowing that all of their friends and family were being destroyed because they would not repent. They, along with the life they had known, vanished into the deepest ocean ever created.

When this family timidly stepped out of the boat and drew in the fresh air of their new home, the first thing Noah did was to build an altar and make a sacrifice to the Lord. In response God made some promises. He said He would never again destroy every living thing with another flood, and that:

“While the earth remains

Seedtime and harvest

And cold and heat,

And summer and winter,

And day and night

Shall not cease.”

Genesis 8:22

God’s Ordinary Gift

After all the drama of this worldwide flood, God gave Noah and his family a gift of the ordinary. Year after year they would experience the natural cycle of earthly events. Seedtime would yield harvests. The seasons and varying temperatures would rotate throughout the year. And the sun would rise and set on every new day. What a blessing to be able to rely on predictable events no matter how ordinary.

While our culture seems to thrive on excitement and drama, we all need the ordinary seasons of life to keep us healthy and strong. The adrenaline rush that God has given us to meet threats and even pleasurable excitement can take a toll on our body. We need the gift of the ordinary to get the rest we need.

I am sure Noah and his family were so happy when life settled down into a new routine. The cycles of life must have been a great comfort after all they had experienced. We, too, need this downtime in our busy world. Many are addicted to the speed and excitement of the life we live, but take it from Noah: God’s gift of the ordinary is an incredible blessing for which we should all be grateful!

Love,

Mama

Outsmarting Your Dog and Your Sin Nature

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“Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.’”

 

My Sneaky Puppy

“You need to be smarter than your dog!” A friend and mentor encouraged me with these words the other day. She was right! This important lesson applies to more than just your puppy. You also need to be smarter than another type of mongrel that longs to get the best of you – your sin nature!

“She will not get the best of me this time,” I vowed as I led Apache out to her kennel before leaving for work. The previous morning I had mistakenly left the kennel door open and after filling her water bucket, preparing her food, loading her up with toys, including a peanut butter filled Kong, and giving her a daily treat, I turned to leave. Before I could stop her she darted out of the kennel and was running free through the yard. All of my enticing words were met with an indifferent look as she enjoyed her free reign of our property! Ugh!!!! I was late to work!

But this time I would be smarter! I led Apache out as usual, shut the kennel door, prepared the pen, and turned to leave. Very carefully I opened the gate just enough to slip through when from out of nowhere a flash of brown and white lightning whizzed by my legs and shot through the open space like a desperate criminal after her last chance at freedom! Exasperated with her antics, I was sure I detected a smirk as she taunted me with her cocked head and playful stance! Another day late to work!

Another Sneaky Mongrel

“Be smarter than your dog!” This doesn’t only apply to a free-spirited puppy. Every person must learn to be smarter than his or her sin nature! In the book of Genesis God warned Cain about the sneaky mongrel of sin and the consequences of not keeping it under control.

Cain and Abel, the first two children of Adam and Eve, were born with a sin nature. They inherited this animal because of Adam & Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden. It wasn’t long before the effects of this unruly mutt began to rear its ugly head. One day each of the brothers brought God a sacrifice: Cain a basket of fruit from his garden and Abel a lamb from his flock. God was pleased with Abel’s gift, which was given in faith, but did not accept the gift of Cain.

This rebuke did not sit too well with Cain and anger started boiling in his heart. God saw the threatening signs of evil and warned the bitter brother to be smarter than his sin! “Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.’” I am sorry to say that sin had its way with Cain. Anger overtook this young man and he murdered his brother out in an open field. What a tragedy, and this was only the beginning of much pain and grief for the family and generations to come!

How to Outsmart Your Sin Nature

How can someone be smarter than sin? First, you must realize and accept that Jesus has already beaten it by offering Himself as the payment for its consequences on the cross. Then you must listen carefully to God’s instructions in the Bible and ask for help in obeying. When you feel the warning signs of a wrong attitude or bitter anger filling your thoughts and energizing your body, immediately stop and ask God for help. Think carefully before taking any action and rely on God’s power to tame the wild beast within you. He promises that He can make a way to escape from any of the temptations that are common to man.

I am going to have to think a little harder and be a little smarter when it comes to Apache. She is a pretty smart little gal! But the biggest concern that we all must watch out for is our sin nature. This sneaky mongrel is ready to escape at the smallest crack of our gate. So trust in Jesus, ask for help, and always be aware. Sin is crouching at the door – but with God’s help you can master it!

Love,

Mama