Verses from Mama

Hearing God speak one Bible verse at a time.

Getting It Right – Christ in me is the answer!

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“I will never get it right!”

These words sometimes haunt my soul. In times of sadness or overwhelming pressure the heavy weight of incompetence drags my emotions to great depths. Every move, every decision, every encounter is laced with feelings of failure. There seems to be no way out of this maze of insecurity.

IMG_2573These false impressions plague everyone at one time or another. Times of physical and mental fatigue or very difficult circumstances can be the conduit for hopeless thoughts that tempt us to give up.

Often what we need is rest. Going to bed at an appropriate hour and sleeping deeply can reverse one’s view of a situation tremendously.

Other times we may need to take a break. We can put aside the things that are bothering us and do something fun. This may seem counterproductive when you have a minimum amount of time to accomplish a task, but the short break will refresh your mind and feelings.

Exercise is another helpful activity when it comes to changing the mental picture we have of circumstances or ourselves. A good brisk walk gets the blood pumping and sparks the brain to think more clearly.

But very often what we need is a change of perspective. When doubts about our personal ability to “get things right” threaten to undo, it is helpful to realign our thinking.

We Christians must remind ourselves that we have died with Christ and no longer live. Instead Christ lives in us. This life that we now live in the flesh we live by faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us.

The thought struck me the other day that my feelings of inadequacy are also dead. They have been swallowed up in the life of Christ who lives within me. The One who has all power is the One who moves in and through me, so how can I even think the distressing words, “I will never get it right!”

When someone is seeking to live by faith God will guide him or her through every move, every decision, and every encounter. He will provide the strength and wisdom that is needed for each situation. Consequently, there is no need to feel powerless or incapable because you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength.

“I will never get it right!”

This thought is just a bunch of dead words. The truth is that the One Who lives in a believer is infinitely powerful. And when you are allowing Him to live in you and control your life, you can always get it right!

Love,

Mama

You’re Finished, Kid!

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Isaiah 41:13 “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not, I will help thee.”

Discouragement is a tool of the devil. He knows when a person is feeling down and has his ways of utilizing those times to drive a weary soul even deeper into the ground. Those are the times when a child of God must rely heavily on the truth instead of on their feelings.

I was having one of those days recently. The holiday cheer had just about done me in and I was sure that I could not go on any longer. I had done everything I could do, said everything I could say, and used all the strength I could muster. I felt that I needed to get out of the house. So since we were low on food, I decided to go to the grocery store to restock the pantry and let my brain chill.

It was getting dark and the evening gloom wasn’t helping my mood. I grabbed a parking spot, dashed into the store, and starting booking it down the aisles. After filling my cart I looked for a short line at the register and started unloading my groceries. Depressing thoughts were still filling my mind when from out of nowhere I heard a raspy voice say,

“It’s finished. Yes, I’m finished. I don’t want no more of this. I don’t want no more of it. You understand? None of it! None of it! It’s over with.”

Stopping dead in my tracks I nervously looked around and realized that the voice was coming from the checkout guy. Was he talking to me? I looked behind me and saw that I was the only person in line and there was no one else nearby. He was actually saying this out loud to no one in particular! I briefly thought about getting in another line. But since I already had half the cart unloaded I decided take my chances and stay.

The voice continued the tongue lashing that Mickey, Rocky Balboa’s trainer, gave him in Rocky III when the prize fighter was considering accepting a challenge from the brawler, “Clubber” Lang. Each word seemed to pound into my head the dismal thoughts I had been having about my own situation. I didn’t feel up to the task of life right now either. The enemy was too strong and I felt beaten down.

Suddenly I shook myself loose from the depressing thoughts. What was I thinking? Whether or not the guy was talking to me, I wondered if maybe Satan had intended for me to hear this. But I knew that his words were not meant for me to embrace. Even though I was tired and weak, there was no need to fear the challenges of life. God promises His children strength when they need it and He would hold my right hand and help me. He would never abandon me to struggle through life alone. He would help me accomplish what needed to be done.

The monologue reached an interlude as the cashier paused to make a comment about my asparagus and inform me how much I owed. I swiped my card, took the receipt, and headed out into the cold evening air.

As I made my way towards the exit, the raspy voice picked up where it had left off, “You’re finished, Kid!”

But I knew that was not the voice I needed to heed.

Love,
Mama

A Load of Bricks

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Hebrews 4:15-16. “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.  So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (NLT)
 
Have you ever felt like you were carrying a load of bricks on your chest? Sometimes life drops a heavy bundle of cares and concerns on your heart that threaten to crush you. During these times friends may try to comfort with words like, “I know just how you feel,” or “I understand what you are going through.” While appreciating their concern, it is easy to wonder if anyone could truly comprehend the weight of your burdens.

There is One who does completely understand the pressures we face on a daily basis. Jesus, though fully God, took on human flesh and experienced the same testings and emotions that we do. There were times when His heart was deeply troubled. Yet, in the midst of the emotions, He never sinned.

We find three places where Jesus experienced a troubled heart in the book of John.

A Troubled Spirit When Others Suffer (John 11:33): When watching His friends suffer over the death of Lazarus, Jesus became troubled in spirit and wept tears of sadness. How often our own burdens are caused by the grief of those for whom we love and care. As we walk with them through suffering we suffer also.

A Troubled Spirit When He Personally Suffered (John 12:27): Jesus’ spirit became troubled again as He contemplated the painful death and separation from His Father that He would face in the coming hours. Jesus struggled with God the Father over His impending death. But instead of asking to be saved from this crushing burden, He accepted it as God’s will and the purpose for which He had come to earth. Some burdens are ours alone to carry. No human friend can ease the weight as we live out God’s will for our lives.

A Troubled Spirit Over the Sin and Betrayal of Others (John 13:21): Jesus became troubled in spirit as He considered the one who would betray Him. Judas, an alleged friend who had lived closely with Jesus for three years, would hand the Son of God over to His enemies. Jesus felt the heartbreak of being betrayed by one who was supposed to stand with Him. Few things are more painful than the rejection and abandonment of someone we thought loved us.

So is it wrong to feel heavy hearted when we experience tragedy or suffering? At times like this it is easy to wonder if our pain is an indicator of our trust in God. “If I truly had faith would I feel this crushing burden in my soul?” you may ask yourself. “Shouldn’t these bricks of concern disappear when I cast my care on the Almighty?”

Heartache is a part of life in a broken world. Jesus, Himself, experienced it and He was without sin. When difficulties come we will feel sadness and grief, but we can be comforted in the fact that we are not alone. Jesus understands our weaknesses because He faced the same experiences we do, and He offers words of comfort.

In John 14:1 Jesus encouraged His followers with these words, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.” He was not telling them they would never be sad. He knew the difficulties that lay ahead for them, but He encouraged them to set their hearts at ease by putting their trust in God and in Him.

Life in this world will never be easy, but Jesus came to fix its brokenness. By His death He provided a way for believers to be assured of a place in heaven where all tears and sadness will finally be gone forever. The load will be lifted and we will be free.

When a load of life’s bricks threatens to crush you, remember you have a Savior who understands your troubled heart. He doesn’t condemn you, but has provided a way for you to approach God’s throne boldly – the only place to find mercy and help in time of need.

Love,
Mama
 
 
 

All That Glitters is Not Gold

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Good Morning,
The verse of the day is 1 Samuel 16:7b. “. . . for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

“All that glitters is not gold” is a saying that means everything is not what it seems. In the 1800s men and women flocked to California hoping to hit the jackpot by finding gold. Many were disappointed when, after panning the creeks and digging in mines, they ended up with a glittering rock that on further investigation turned out to be less than they had hoped. This shiny mineral, that brought such initial excitement, turned out to be pyrite. Aptly named “fool’s gold” it reflected more light than true gold and often tricked people by its appearance. 
People often come across in one way or another. The outward appearance lends itself to a belief about their personality and character that may or may not be true. What we see on the outside can be  deceiving and is often a mask to cover up what is truly going on inside.
Just recently a famous actor and comedian was buried. Robin Williams, by all outward appearances, was very successful. His life was spent making people laugh and forget their problems. His film career included many acclaimed movies such as Mrs. Doubtfire, Aladdin, and Night at the Museum (I, II, and now III). He received numerous awards and trophies throughout his lifetime. Surely someone like this had the best life and experienced all the joy and happiness life had to bring, right?
But “all that glitters is not gold.” Robin Williams struggled with depression along with drug and alcohol addiction. The man who made everyone else laugh, often found himself in the depths of despair. Regularly he turned to substance abuse to try to fix or cover problems that were out of his control. Sadly on August 11, 2014, he succumbed to the pressure and committed suicide by hanging. He was found in his home in, oddly enough, Paradise Cay, California – a paradise that evidently had become for him a living hell.
Though those who laughed at his hilarious antics and immersed themselves in his award-winning films may have thought that his life was one of glitz and glitter, God saw the truth in his heart. Robin was a man hopelessly bogged down with his own inadequacies, struggles, and unfulfilled dreams. But it appears that instead of calling out to the only One who could help him in his greatest need, Robin turned to the world’s solution of alcohol and drugs. He was blinded to the truth by the luster of fame, wealth, and significance. All the while God was  compassionately looking down desiring to pull him out of his pit if only he would have called out.
Don’t be enthralled by the pizzazz of the world. Follow God and do things His way. Outward appearances are not always what they seem and all that glitters is not gold!
Love,
Mama