Verses from Mama

Hearing God speak one Bible verse at a time.

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

Estate Auctions Tell All

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I Timothy 3:10 “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings . . .”
 
What will people learn about you when you die? Those who don’t know you will make suppositions about who you were by what you leave behind. I have learned that estate auctions tell all.

Working for an auction company, we very often deal with estates. Someone will call our office to inform us of the death of a family member or friend and employ our services to come take care of the “stuff” they have left behind.

Depending on the situation our team will spend days, or even weeks, going through the deceased person’s home, organizing the items that will sell at auction, discarding the trash, and donating clothing and other such items to charities. It is truly amazing what you can learn about someone just by looking at their belongings.

There are some who collect all sorts of antiques and primitives. These people often had a love for history and discovering the stories behind the old-time memorabilia. Others were horse lovers, which we surmise by the old leather bridles, saddles, and equine paraphernalia that our staff dug out of their barns. Still others are coin or stamp collectors, cake decorators, seamstresses, or artists. Many were very particular about their belongings while others left their stuff scattered around and in disrepair. Whatever the case, what is left behind is very telling.

Paul, in writing one of his final letters to his spiritual son, Timothy, reminded him that he knew all about Paul’s teachings, his way of life, and his purpose. When Paul died there wasn’t much in way of possessions to be found. He didn’t put much stock in “things” because he knew that his real home was not here on earth but in heaven with the Lord. He spent his life as an itinerent missionary telling others about Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.

What Paul left behind were at least thirteen God-inspired letters explaining spiritual matters to all who came after him. He left behind a testimony of faith that endured great suffering. He left behind encouragement that in the midst of trials God will deliver. He left behind the message of salvation from sin through the Lord Jesus Christ for all who would believe. All of what was left shows what kind of man he was and what he lived for.

Upon arriving home from today’s estate auction I looked around our house and wondered what people will find when they come to pack up my stuff. I glanced over the stacks of books by my nightstand and stopped to dust some of the china teacups in the cabinet. These are two of the things they would find, but what would be the auction goers final suppositions about my life?

What will people find out about you when you die? It will be evident – because estate auctions tell all!

Love,
Mama