Verses from Mama

Hearing God speak one Bible verse at a time.

Johnny Cash – Do You Walk the Line?

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Joshua 1:7 “Only be strong and courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.”

Dear Kids,

In 1956 Johnny Cash wrote and recorded the song I Walk the Line. The famous lyrics express the determination of a previous womanizer, to remain faithful to his true love.

As I drove home from town the other day, another man, standing in the middle of a busy road, was being directed by a police officer to walk a different imaginary line. In both cases, walking a straight path without any deviations was the goal.

Walking the line is the best path for all of us. It can eliminate fear and it can bring great joy and peace.

After Moses, the great leader of Israel, died God called Joshua to take his place. This task of guiding such a young, large, and inexperienced nation was daunting. The journey ahead would not be easy. But God spoke to Joshua and told him to be strong and courageous. God would be with Him wherever He would go and would fight for Israel as long as Joshua would walk the line.

God encouraged Joshua, “…be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left . . .” Obedience and strict adherence to the instructions God gave through Moses would be Joshua’s ticket for success in everything he did.

Successful Followers of Jesus Walk the Line

If we are to be successful followers of Jesus we must also walk the line. This is not about following a prescribed list of rules that will hopefully please God. It is about allowing God to mold our lives to be more like Christ. He teaches us His ways as we prayerfully study His word and choose to follow what He commands. As we determine to follow without turning to the left or the right, we begin to understand God’s ways more clearly and develop a deep, trusting love that desires His presence. Fear of punishment dissipates and only peace and joy remain.

This is the best way to live. God’s children, like Joshua, can be strong and courageous in an uncertain world by living according to God’s ways. The enemy will constantly try to throw us off course. But by carefully doing the things God commands, we will learn to trust His wisdom and grow to love Him. Then we can enthusiastically sing our own version of Cash’s lyrics, “Lord, because you’re mine, I walk the line!”

Love,

Mama

The Power of Encouragement on the Down Days

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1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”

Dear Kids:

Everyone has down days. You know, the kind of day when nothing goes right. First thing in the morning you stub your toe on the shoes you kicked off by the side of the bed the night before. Then you find out the milk is sour after you already poured it on your cereal. As you run out the door to rush to an important meeting you remember your car is low on gas. These and many other more distressing occurrences can sometimes cause feelings of defeat or failure that follow us through the day. But isn’t it interesting that these “down days” are often softened by a single word of encouragement.

I have a confession to make. I have on my work answering machine a message I received over a year ago. It is from someone I don’t even know. When I am having a “down day” I skip back through the work messages so that I can again hear the perky voice of a stranger who took the time to leave me a word of encouragement. She liked me. She liked my writing. And she took the time to tell me! Sometimes her brief message is what keeps me going on a “down day!”

Aren’t we all like that sometimes? Life gets messy with big or small discouragements, and sometimes we may consider giving it all up and moving to anywhere else to start over again. But then someone will smile, click on your instagram post, or speak a word of encouragement. Suddenly we feel that we can go on. Somebody likes me! Somebody cares!

How much more important encouragement is with spiritual things! We live in a world that, for the most part, doesn’t care about things of God. Truth has become an individual decision with no standard for right and wrong. “Do what feels good to you as long as it doesn’t impede on what feels good to someone else,” worldly wisdom cries. Those who seek to follow God’s ways are often considered judgmental and politically incorrect. Holding firmly to the truth portends some “down days” where our integrity will be on the line.

God knows this and through Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians commands us to encourage one another. “We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone” (1 Thessalonians 5:14).

In the uncertain days ahead we will need a word of encouragement more and more. So why not start now? Write a card. Send an email. Stop by to see someone. Or leave a message on an answering machine! Whether it is just a “down day” or a real spiritual crisis, your word of encouragement may be just what is needed to help a brother or sister go another day.

Love,
Mama

The Makings of a Good Leader

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Ezra 7:9b-10 “. . . the good hand of his God was upon him. For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.” 

Dear Kids:

Leadership is a highly sought after position. We dream about it, spend hours preparing for it, and train our children to achieve it. Often we ruthlessly push our way forward, trampling anyone who gets in our way. Recently Abigail observed that many who call themselves leaders are really just bossy individuals who like to be up front and in charge. So what really makes a good leader anyway?

Powerful Traits of a Good Leader

A Forbes.com article suggests a number of powerful traits of successful leaders. These include such things as: self-management, strategic thinking, effective communication, goal setting, and flexibility, to name a few. All of these are crucial to successful leadership. But when it comes to Christian leadership there are a other necessary traits to become the type of leader God desires.

Ezra, a good example of a strong and godly leader, exhibited many of the Forbes.com traits, but he also had something else going for him. This priest and scribe returned to Jerusalem from Babylon where he led the people of Israel in a much-needed religious reform. He was very successful not only because he was good at self-management, communication, and many other leadership skills, but mostly because God was with him.

Scattered throughout his book Ezra gives credence to the fact that “the hand of God was upon me.” This benefit caused Artaxerxes, the king of Babylon, to grant all Ezra’s requests. God’s hand gave protection over 900 miles of travel. It strengthened him when times got hard. It provided a strong support staff for all that needed to be done. It provided protection and deliverance from enemies and ambushes his group faced along the way.

God’s hand upon Ezra’s life was not something that just happened haphazardly; God chose this man to be a leader, but Ezra determined to do things God’s way. He didn’t force his way into the presence of King Artaxerxes and demand that he be put in charge. He didn’t summon up all the force of his personality and trample on others to get his way. Instead he devoted himself to three things.

Preparation to be a Spiritual Leader

First, Ezra prepared himself by carefully studying the law of the Lord. In order to be a good spiritual leader he needed to be well versed in what God commanded.  Secondly, he humbled himself in order to personally obey all God expected. Only then did this leader attempt to teach others what God’s call for them was. This humble servant-like attitude is the reason that God’s hand was upon him. And these were the reasons for his successful leadership.

In today’s world everyone is striving to be a leader. Even within a church setting our goals are often to be up front teaching, leading worship, and making decisions. These are not bad desires but our way of realizing them is crucial. Successful leadership is not solely dependent on our personality, giftings, or ability to get things done. True successful leadership can only be realized when God’s hand is upon us. Like Ezra, we must set our hearts to study God’s Word, determine to live it, and then out of the overflow we will be able to humbly and successfully lead others.

Love,

Mama

Help For Times of Loneliness

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Isaiah 41:10 “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Dear Kids,

Loneliness.

Even the sound of this word creates an unmistakable twinge in the pit of my stomach. It is a feeling I have felt many times over the years and one that we all have to deal with from time to time. As a child the feeling would sometimes come over me when I visited the ocean or a large lake. Looking out over the wide expanse my eye would catch a colorful buoy bobbing up and down in the water. Though I knew it was an inanimate object, something about it looked so small and lonesome bouncing around in an unforgiving sea.

Loneliness does not occur only when you are completely alone. It can happen even when surrounded by crowds of people. It can rear its ugly head in the midst of a marriage, a family, or a church. The need to be noticed, accepted, and loved is built into each human. Without these things we become like a buoy bobbing around in the world, doing our job but feeling very isolated.

Lonely times are not always bad

Often isolation causes the sufferer to reach out beyond their comfort zone to God and others. People may not always respond to our cries for help, but God longs to fill the void with a meaningful relationship that we were born wanting and needing.

My seventh grade year started a chain of lonely experiences. I had recently switched schools and I was forced to try to find connections in places where I was a newcomer. This was not easy for an introvert, and often I felt very alone. But it was during those times that I began to develop a deep friendship with my heavenly Father. Regularly, in the midst of my discomfort and loneliness, I found myself having conversations with the One who heard my every word and saw me in the midst of the unfamiliar crowd. The Lord became my greatest confidant, comforter, and encourager as I bobbed my way along in each new ocean I entered.

Each of you will also live through times of loneliness. You may be physically alone or, though surrounded by lot of people, feel that you don’t belong or are misunderstood. Take heart, you have a friend who sticks closer than a brother. He promises to always be with you. He hears your cries. He understands your heart. And He knows your need for companionship because He made you with that desire.

You are never truly alone

Use times of solitude to reach out to Him and you will find He is very near. He will strengthen you. He will help you. He will uphold you with His mighty right hand. And in time, as you push past your comfort zone and extend yourself to others He will enrich you with other meaningful relationships that will satisfy and bless you. Life’s ocean may always be vast and foreboding, but unlike a lonesome buoy, with God as your Father you are never truly alone.

Love,

Mama

Wisdom – The Best Defense Mechanism

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Proverbs 2:11-12a “Discretion will guard you, understanding will watch over you, to deliver you from the way of evil . . .”

Dear Kids:,

I saw it crouched on the bike path just a few yards ahead of us. The fluffy baby bunny sat still as a statue with not even a twitch. Closer and closer we came and still not even a bat of the eye. I speculated this little guy imagined he was protected and hidden even though he was out in open view.

I had no thought of harming the innocent little critter, but I couldn’t say the same for my walking companion. Apache, my German Shepherd, also saw the figure at the side of the bike path. She wanted a much closer look and it was taking all of my strength to hold her leash tight. Baby Cottontail, who thought himself safe, was on the verge of a major disaster. With a little bit of wisdom he should have high-tailed it out of there as soon as he saw our approach.

I can’t find fault with this little bunny too much when so many of us also lack the wisdom necessary for our own protection. Like Baby Cottontail we sometimes think it is safe to hang around dangerous situations. Maybe, we conjecture, if we just observe what is going on but don’t participate we will stay safe. This is not always true. There are many situations where the best option is to run!

Advice From A Bible Father

Proverbs 2 shares some advice from a father to his son. This dad encourages his boy to seek after wisdom for in finding wisdom there is much protection. Life harbors many enemies. Along the path there will be dangers. These may not be in the form of a 70-pound German Shepherd drooling and straining at the leash, but circumstances we encounter may have the potential of just as much harm.

Seeking after and arming ourselves with wisdom will give us understanding and guard us from the way of evil. Real wisdom, found in God’s word, allows us to discover God Himself and He preserves the way of His godly ones.

Wisdom, our best defense mechanism,

  • helps us to recognize false words spoken by those who desire to lead us astray.
  • checks us when we are tempted to go with our emotions instead of thinking clearly.
  • keeps us from getting caught up in the evil that is all around us.
  • leads us to discern what is good and right.
  • protects us from making alliances with the wrong people.
  • provides insight to know when we should stay, ask for help, or run for our life.

It was a close call! At the last second Baby Cottontail shot off into the safety of the thicket and hopefully learned something from the experience. As for you, my sons and daughters, listen to my advice and the advice of another parent from many years ago. Seek after wisdom for it is your best defense mechanism. It will guard you, watch over you, and deliver you from the way of evil!

Love,

Mama

Different Kinds of People – One Merciful God

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2 Chronicles 33:12-13 “When he was in distress, he entreated the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. When he prayed to Him, He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.” 

Dear Kids:

When it comes to sharing God’s story of salvation, you will run across different kinds of people. Exposing the truth that all men are sinners and deserve God’s punishment will inevitably cause some to object. These objectors will often state that they are good people who follow the laws of the land, try to be upstanding citizens, and treat others how they themselves would like to be treated. They may not feel they need God’s amazing grace.

But there is another group of people. These are the people who have blatantly experienced firsthand the effects of sin on their lives. Through bad decisions made in pride or because of circumstances outside of their control they have lived a life of shame and defeat. These often believe they have gone beyond what God can forgive.

For those who believe they have gone too far I would suggest they read the story of Manasseh. This man was one of the kings of Judah. While his father was a godly man, the king did not follow in his elder’s footsteps. His worship of idols led the whole nation away from God. Manasseh even did the unthinkable by burning his own babies as sacrifices to false gods.

The Lord strongly warned Manasseh and the people, but they wouldn’t listen. So God sent the army of Assyria to punish them. King Manasseh was captured with hooks, bound in bronze chains, and carried away to Babylon.

One Merciful God

Manasseh became so distressed over his plight that he humbled himself greatly and begged the Lord to hear his prayers. Mercifully God did hear, rescuing him from his bondage and delivering him back to his kingdom. The experience taught Manasseh to know and understand that the Lord was God. In gratitude he began reforming the country back to the true worship of the Lord!

Different kinds of people, but all need God’s salvation through Jesus Christ. The common ground in each case is humility. Regardless of good or bad behavior, our sin nature has separated us from God. But we can be reunited by grace through faith. God’s mercy extends to anyone who humbles himself no matter how good or bad.  Different kinds of people – one merciful God!

Jesus said, “ . . . the one who comes to me I will certainly not cast out.” (John 6:37b)

Love,

Mama

1440 Minutes – Making the Most of Your Time

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Ephesians 5:15-17  “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

Dear Kids:

If there is one thing our culture seems to lack it is time! Every person receives the same amount of daily minutes, but for some there never seems to be enough. What makes the difference?

Last year we had some landscaping done at our office. I was excited about the possibilities of sprucing up the front of the building. When the job was finished I admired the different bushes – some green or red and others flowering. They looked to blend well together. The only problem was that they seemed so small and far apart. They didn’t jazz up the entryway as much as I thought they should.

But this year I drew a different opinion. As the foliage came back to life after a hard winter I noticed they had grown. The spaces between the plants were not as big anymore. I suddenly realized that in a few years the landscaping would fill out and be what I was hoping. The landscaper was wise to leave space between the new plants so they would have room to spread out and grow.

Use Your Time Wisely

If only we would be so wise with our time. We often fill up every minute with activity because we don’t like the spaces in between. But before we know it our commitments grow and overtake our lives. We just can’t seem to catch up or get everything done! Life becomes difficult. We are exhausted. Our lives are not as productive or beautiful as they could be. The most important things get squeezed out as we struggle to keep up with all we must get done

The Apostle Paul instructs us to be careful how we walk and to live wisely. We must make the most of our time, but this doesn’t mean filling all our minutes with frantic activity.  Like a wise landscaper we must leave space in our schedules so we have time to seek God’s will. Listen for his guidance to know what to do and what not to do.

Our culture lacks time! But maybe it’s because we have planted too many plants in a small place. We are all given 1440 minutes a day. We must use them wisely by finding out God’s will for our life and weeding out all the extras. Anything else is foolish!

 “Christ was never was in a hurry. There was no rushing forward, no anticipating, no fretting over what might be. Each day’s duties were done as each day brought them, and the rest was left with God.” ~Mary Slessor

Love,

Mama

The American Dream and Other Parental Hopes

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3 John 1:4 “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.”

Dear Kids:

I have no greater hope than that my new granddaughter, Ruby Mae, will walk in the truth of Jesus Christ.

All parents have dreams and hopes for their children. Some moms and dads hope their offspring will carry on a family business. Others have high hopes for excellent achievement in sports or academics leading to a prestigious education and a high paying career. Still others envision qualities of hard work, determination, and initiative bringing about the American Dream, by which their children have more than they ever did. These are commendable goals for any young person, but John, an Apostle and an elder in the church at Ephesus, had even higher ambitions for his church family.

John wrote a letter to Gaius, a loved friend, commending him for how he lived his life. The Apostle Paul had preached in the city of Ephesus some time before and many had come to know Jesus as their Savior. But now a few years had passed and the love of some was starting to grow cold. There were men who liked to be up front. Thinking themselves important they were not willing to listen to sound teaching.

But Gaius, along with a few others, was a breath of fresh air. The Apostle John exclaimed, “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.” Gaius knew the truth and he lived by it.

When it comes to family dreams I want you all to succeed in many ways, but I must agree with the writer of 3 John. My greatest hopes for each of my children (and grandchildren) are that you would know God’s truth and live in light of it.

If you never have a hefty bank account, straight A’s in school, athletic prowess that thrills the crowds, or a burgeoning career, but you do embrace God’s truth and live by it, I will not be disappointed! Contrary to many today, the American Dream is not on the top of my list. My deepest wish is that of John the Apostle: “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children (and now my grandchildren!) walking in the truth.”

Love,

Mama

Stop and Smell the Lilacs – Hearing God in the Silence

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Exodus 3:2-4 “The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. So Moses said, ‘I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.’ When the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, ‘Moses, Moses!” And he said, ‘Here am I.’”

Stop and Smell the Lilacs!

Stop and smell the lilacs! I revamped this saying the other day as I hurried down a side street on my way to the office. The delicate purple clusters hung down at the side of the road and the fragrance drifted through the air. I glanced at my watch and then stopped to bury my nose in the blossoms and drink in the lovely scent. What were a few extra minutes compared to enjoying this small pleasure?

We are so busy in this world of ours! The tight schedule dictates our life. But think of all the things we miss because of our strict adherence to our time commitments. Many parents miss their children’s growing up as they advance their careers. The beauty of creation goes unnoticed as we flit by on our way to the next appointment. A hurting person is left uncomforted because our schedule won’t allow more than a quick conversation. We forfeit so many small opportunities and sometimes we may even miss a much bigger, more important encounter.

Moses was a shepherd for his father-in-law’s flock. His business was raising and caring for sheep. One day while moving the flock to another grazing area Moses saw a strange sight. A blazing fire engulfed an every day, ordinary bush. Moses could have taken a quick peek like a rubbernecker passing a traffic accident and then moved on, but instead he stopped to smell the lilacs, so to speak.

Hearing God in the Silence

He turned aside to look more closely at this strange phenomenon. The raging fire was not consuming the bush like it should have been. Moses moved closer. A voice – God’s voice! –  called out to him. This was the beginning of Moses’ call to lead the children of Israel from their bondage in Egypt to the land that God had promised them. God changed many lives because Moses stopped to smell the lilacs.

God often speaks in the quiet moments of life. The problem in our culture is that quiet moments are few and far between. We feel uncomfortable with silence and immediately try to fill it with noise and activity. Our busyness keeps us running with no time to spare. We ignore all the lilacs along the path as we hurry on to meet our next appointment.

As you review your calendar this week, plan some time for unexpected opportunities. Be ready to hear God speak in a quiet moment of life. Enjoy the silence. Look at the world around you with new eyes and take the time to stop and smell the lilacs. In that moment, if you are listening carefully, you may hear God speak, and your life will never be the same.

Love,

Mama

Dear Mama Bird: A Letter From Another Mama

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Job 38:41 “Who prepares for the raven its nourishment when its young cry to God and wander about without food?”

Dear Mama Bird:

I discovered your nest the other day when I opened our normally unused front door to let in some sunshine. Tucked into the hanging wreath was material you gathered to make a safe place for your babies. The four delicate blue eggs looked safe and secure in their warm home.

Over the past week I have watched your eggs hatch and produce four little babies. Each day these little ones look to you for nourishment. They always raise their heads when I open the door to peak into their world. I know they are looking for you and all you provide.

Mama Bird, enjoy these little ones while you can. There is coming a day when they will have all their feathers, spread their wings and fly away. This is a good thing and it is what you are raising them to do, but it will be a little hard when they finally leave. I know this quite well.

Nathan biking through Europe

Nathan biking through Europe . . . Another “bird” has left my nest!

Almost 21 years ago one of my babies was born. As a little guy he loved birds and got a lot of pleasure out of watching those like you build nests, sing in the treetops and soar through the sky. We used to call him “bird boy” until he informed us that he was actually a “birder.”

This summer my baby has flown far away to countries across the ocean. He has become a man. He and a friend are riding their bicycles across Europe, and my nest has one less now. This can be a time of anxiety, but I want to remind you not to be afraid.

Our heavenly Father is watching over all of our children. There is nowhere on earth where they are outside of His care. Not even the smallest of sparrows can fall to the ground without His noticing (Matthew 10:29). And He provides nourishment for raven chicks when they cry out for food (Job 38:41). He is attentive to every detail; you and I have nothing to fear.

So, Mama Bird, don’t worry about your babies. In just a short time they will fly away from your nest, but they will be well taken care of. Our heavenly Father watches over them with attentive loving care and they are safe in His hands.

Love,

Another Mama