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Hearing God speak one Bible verse at a time.

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Abundant Life in the Family of God

January 17, 2021 By Sandra Sheridan Leave a Comment

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

The Family of God

Dear Kids,

Family – this word conjures up different things for different people. But no matter your experiences in this dysfunctional world, there is a loving Father who longs to welcome you into His family.  His children are not perfect, but He has a goal to fashion each one into the spitting image of Himself. This is love! This is the family of God!

The Church Body – The Family of God

The family of God is often called the church body. Those who believe in Jesus join together for the common purpose of serving and worshipping God. In a letter to a group of believers, John urged those in the family to love their brothers and sisters because love is from God. If God loves us then we must also love one another.

As in most families, the process of growing and becoming more like our Father produces struggles while each family member works through his or her own personal weaknesses. These struggles sometimes make family life a little difficult. But if we keep our eyes on our Father, persevering to emulate His love, we can stand together through any trials this sinful world throws at us.

What Constitutes a Healthy Family Life?

What constitutes a healthy family life? Certain words come to my mind: love, importance, safety, value, applause, encouragement, support, freedom of expression. Every family member must have these basic needs met in order to truly experience a sense of belonging. Our heavenly Father offers each of these and more to every one of His children.

In our homes family members spend time together. They feel comfortable with hair undone and wearing a pair of comfortable, faded, ripped jeans. They eat together and share experiences – good and bad. They sometimes disagree, but will defend to the death when others belittle or disregard their kin. They celebrate personal achievements and small victories together. They shriek and jump wildly around the house in response to even the smallest successes, creating a sense of appreciation and value. They cry buckets of tears as they grieve together. They build each other up when the world disregards or belittles.

Family members boldly risk germs to be together. They provide care and comfort during sickness when others are too busy. They hold a hand in silence and listen attentively in the wee hours of the morning to heartbreaks no one else even sees. They bear with inconveniences and seek to discover and promote the other’s giftedness. They sacrifice time, money, and personal comfort for the greater good. Above all they love each other deeply and are willing to patiently slog through the messiness of personalities, failures, disagreements, joys, smiles, and tears because every member is important. They each know and feel secure in the fact that they belong and are better together.

Glory and Delight in the Family of God

If God has called us to be His children, then how can we create an environment in the church where all family members experience this same type of love and belonging? It can only be done as we value our brothers and sisters in the same way God values us. We must live it out the way John encourages: “Let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” This manner of family life brings glory to the Father and great delight to all.

Regardless of a person’s experience in a biological or adopted family on earth, a blessed truth remains: there is a Father in heaven whose love has no limits, and Who has made a way for us to be His children through Jesus. He knows us fully, grows us intentionally, provides life abundantly, and He calls us to emulate His love for each other unconditionally.

Let’s tenaciously bear with one another to make the church, the body of Christ, a home where all are welcome and belong. This is love! This is the family of God!

Love,

Mama

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Finding the Help and Healing You Need

September 18, 2020 By Sandra Sheridan 2 Comments

Isaiah 53:4 “Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted.” (NIV)

Dear Kids,

Find the Help and Healing You Need

Archie Jordan Shaw – born September 10, 2020.

Have you ever seen someone endure deep pain? When we love someone we are willing to do whatever is necessary to help in times of hurt. But often there is nothing we can do except be there and extend comfort and encouragement. If only we could find the help and healing they need.

The Struggles of Entering the World

Last week we celebrated a joyous occasion! On Thursday, September 10th Emily gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. We are so thankful for the safe arrival of Archie Jordan Shaw. But his entrance into the world was not without some struggle. As I watched and encouraged Emily through the many hours of labor, I empathized with her in the painful process. I had gone through this five times, but it was so different to be on the other end. So many times I wished I could have taken her place and spared her the pain. But that was not possible.

As I watched, waited, and prayed I thought about life. All of us come into the world through the difficult birth process, but the struggles don’t stop there.  Every person will face various trials throughout the years of his or her sojourn on earth. Sometimes others can help alleviate the pain and sometimes they can’t. But there is nothing any human can do to lift the burdensome penalty of sin we are all born under. That is something that only God can do.

In Jesus We Find the Help and Healing We Need

God loved us so much that He sent His only Son to help us. Jesus took up our pain and bore our suffering brought on by sin. He was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities. He took the punishment we deserved and through His wounds we are healed. Those who believe in Jesus no longer experience the pain of spiritual death. But instead they are born into His family and will live forever.

I am grateful that the pains of childbirth to bring Archie Jordan into the world have been eclipsed by the celebration of his birth. And I pray that someday he will understand the great gift God has provided for him in Jesus. Life in a sinful world will often be difficult, but in Jesus we can find the help and healing we need.

Love,

Mama (Nana)

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It’s Only a Game – Holding On To What Really Matters

September 18, 2019 By Sandra Sheridan 2 Comments

Philippians 2:16 “ . . . holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.”

What really matters? Opposing volleyball teams uniting in prayer for a fan with a medical emergency.

Opposing volleyball teams uniting in prayer for a fan with a medical emergency.

Dear Kids:

When it comes to sports in our family, I am on a different wavelength than everyone else. Since I never played team sports when I was young (that was not a thing for girls in the town and the culture I grew up in) I have never been able to understand completely the all out, life consuming commitment to the game. So it has become a joke in our family when the competition gets stiff to repeat my favorite saying, “It’s only a game . . . just like UNO”.

My sport is not like a card game!

I have taken a lot of ribbing for this statement over the years. “Mom, you don’t understand! (eye roll) My sport is not anything like a card game!” But while I have made my comment with tongue in cheek, there is a grain of truth to the saying. And it was played out in living color last week.

Our high school volleyball team traveled to another league school where they engaged in a discouraging match. For various reasons the team has struggled this season, and even with a lot of good effort they were lagging behind this opponent’s group of accomplished girls. The coaches and parents were frustrated as the disheartened players tried to focus and get back on track. Suddenly there was a disruption at the far end of the court.

The other school’s athletic director was watching from the corner when, without warning, he collapsed breaking two teeth and wounding his head. As he lay motionless on the court, nurses and medical personnel rushed from the stands to help. The rest of the players, coaches, and fans sat in suspended silence watching and waiting for any news on his condition. Finally, a local parent gathered both teams into a circle on the court and led the group in prayer for their administrator. Twenty minutes later the ambulance arrived and transported the man to a nearby hospital.

The game resumed and concluded quickly, but there was a new outlook on the results. Tears were not about who won or lost. There was more at stake then being a winner or loser in the game of volleyball. Someone’s life was hanging in the balance.

Hold Tightly to What Really Matters

I firmly believe we must give our best effort to whatever God sets before us, whether that be our job, our homework, or our sport. But we must always keep in mind what is most important. The Apostle Paul understood that his life, glory, and worth did not depend on what kind of grades he received in school, how much money he made in his career, or his stats on a high school volleyball team. He recognized that the purpose of life and his true worth was in Christ alone. Christ was working in him to will and to work for His good pleasure and he counted everything as loss in order to know Christ more fully. Paul determined to hold tightly to the Word of Life. This would assure he would have reason to glory and he wouldn’t run or toil in vain.

Kids, there will be many disappointments in this life. But these don’t determine your worth or your status with God. Give your best effort to all that you set your hand to do in order to bring Him glory. But keep in mind that life is short and everything on this earth will soon pass away. Instead hold on tightly with all out, life-consuming commitment to what really matters – the words of life, knowing Christ, living above reproach, and shining your light for all to see.

Then when you have a discouraging sports season, you won’t take it too hard. Your perspective will be changed and you will finally agree with what I’ve always said, “It’s only a game . . . just like UNO!”

Love,

Mama

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God’s Children are the Brightest Lights Ever

February 20, 2019 By Sandra Sheridan Leave a Comment

Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

Dear Kids:

City lights have always thrilled me! Growing up in Kearny, NJ, I cut my teeth just over the border from the Big Apple. From my earliest days, I wondered over the beauty of the New York City skyline. It was an everyday, unmissable view as we drove east on the nearby highway. Uncle Chuck and I always sat on the edge of our seats so we could be the first to catch a glimpse of the Empire State Building and the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center rising up over the horizon. You could see the skyline clearly on any cloudless day, but at night the radiance was spectacular. God calls His children to be the brightest lights ever!

A City on a Hill Can’t Be Hidden

Jesus played upon the brilliance of a city set on a hill when He told His followers they were the light of the world. The lives of those who belong to the Lord give off a radiance that dispels the world’s darkness around them. Jesus doesn’t call us to be lights. Instead He tells us we are lights. What we do and how we live are byproducts of who we are, and the Holy Spirit’s presence within us.

We have been rescued from the domain of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of God’s Son. Now we must live out this citizenship by brightly shining the light of our good works. This will result in those around us glorifying our heavenly Father.

God’s Children are the Brightest Lights Ever

Paul gives some guidelines for shining our brightest light ever in 2 Corinthians 4. He tells us to renounce secret and shameful ways, not to use deception, not to distort God’s word, but to set forth the truth plainly. Even when the god of this age blinds people to the light, do not become discouraged. We have the privilege of praying that God will bind Satan and lift the clouds from the eyes of the lost. In this way the beauty of the gospel that displays the glory of Jesus Christ, Who is the image of God, can become clear.

The New York City skyline has changed over the past two decades, but it still illuminates the eastern sky. It is still an unmissable, beautiful sight! But how much more brilliant is the Light of God’s children reflecting the Savior’s glory. It cannot and must not be hidden!

Shine on, my children, and this dark world will never be the same!

Love,

Mama

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A Letter To A Condemned Criminal

April 10, 2017 By Sandra Sheridan Leave a Comment

Luke 23:17-21 “[Now he (Pilate) was obliged to release to them at the feast one prisoner.] But they cried out all together, saying, “Away with this man, and release for us Barabbas!” (He was the one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection made in the city, and for murder.) Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, but they kept on calling out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!”

Dear Barabbas,

How are you?

Picture courtesy of The Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes by Kenneth N. Taylor.

Oh, I suppose that was not a good question. How could any man condemned to death on a Roman cross be anything but crippled with fear? I wish your present hardships had never happened, but your past decisions have placed you in a very desperate situation. You must have known that participating in rebellions against the Roman government would be very dangerous. Yet you still attempted these treacherous actions and in the process got caught up in horrible terrorist crimes resulting in murder and more. I am sure at the time you thought you were being brave and courageous, fighting for what you believed in, but it is easy to get caught up in emotions and follow them to your fate.

Does the slow drip, drip of condensation puddling in your damp cell ever cause you to rethink your actions? Not that you could change your consequences now. Even if you were to beg and scream for mercy, there would be no respite. Justice must be done and your crimes paid for, and the Roman way is excruciating death on a rugged cross. I don’t envy your circumstances. Even the thought of all you will endure in beatings, mocking, and puncture wounds from the sturdy nails fastening your limbs to wood beams causes my legs to grow weak. But let’s face it – you deserve it! If you do the crime, then you must do the time!

But wait – what’s that? There is a commotion outside your prison walls. I can’t see everything that’s happening because the crowds are swarming the pavilion, but it seems they are very angry. There is another prisoner standing on the platform for sentencing. The people are accusing him of misleading the nation and calling himself the King of the Jews. He looks harmless enough – not a hardened criminal like you are – but the mobs sure don’t like him.

Oh Barabbas! This just might be your LUCKY DAY! The great Pilate wants to release this new prisoner, Jesus of Nazareth, but the crowds are swelling and screaming for his death. They have demanded that the frazzled ruler follow through on the Roman custom of releasing one prisoner during this Passover celebration. It is obvious that Pilate, believing him to be innocent, wants to release this Jesus of Nazareth, but the crowd is screaming YOUR name.

Despite all you have done and deserve, this other man is going to take your punishment.

Your cross is going to be His cross.

Your suffering His suffering!

Barabbas, do you understand? You are going to be set free!!

Dear one, this is all too good to be true. It is a chance of a lifetime. I hope this incredible mercy will change you. You are getting a second chance. Thank God for this unexpected gift of life in allowing this man Jesus to die for you.

This is not the end, and I will look forward to seeing you soon.

Sincerely,

A Friend

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

Save

Whom Are You Going To Believe?

February 22, 2017 By Sandra Sheridan Leave a Comment

Titus 1:1-2 “Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ago . . .”

Black and white, tall and short, high and low, new and old – these comparisons all have something in common: they are opposites. Each adjective describes something, and by virtue of having one quality, the other one doesn’t fit. If an item is black, then it isn’t white. If it is tall, then it isn’t short, and so forth. Even a child can understand the differences in certain things when they look at the noticeable characteristics. These contrasts are particularly apparent when it comes to humans and God. When measuring the two against each other, there is absolutely no comparison.

Paul points out a particular attribute of God in the opening verses of his letter to Titus to prove this point and to foster faith in the trustworthiness of His word. Titus was up against a large problem. He was serving God on the island of Crete where many rebellious men were teaching things contrary to the Scripture. These unscrupulous teachers planned their lessons with thought only for how they could make a personal profit. In the process they were upsetting whole families with their deception.

In seeking to restore truth to this confused community, Paul started his letter with his personal credentials. He was a bondservant of God who was proclaiming the truth in obedience. He was also an apostle of Jesus Christ, which gave him the authority to speak for God about the hope of eternal life with confidence. His message was based on what God had spoken long ages ago, and it was completely true because God cannot lie. It was not that God didn’t lie, but that according to His nature He could not lie.

What a contrast this was to the other Cretans who were known to be untruthful. Even one of their own prophets called out their reputation for being liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons.

For those who were confused about the truth, the answer should be obvious. Whom were they going to believe – the ones known to be liars or the One Who could not lie?

Today we face a similar crisis. The world is full of people who spout intelligent sounding jargon that differs from what the Bible says. There are times when our circumstances cause us to doubt our faith and wonder if we should listen to those around us who have easy solutions. Sometimes a voice in our head second-guesses God’s love and control over our life. With all these messages floating around, whom are we going to believe?

When you don’t understand the swirl of confusion that is threatening to upset your life and even the lives of your whole family, consider the opposites. Decide whom you are going to believe – the untrustworthy voices all around you or the One Who by nature cannot lie!

Love,

Mama

Family Gathering in Heaven

November 28, 2016 By Sandra Sheridan Leave a Comment

1 Timothy 6:19 “In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”jumping-in-leaves

The holidays are a time of gathering. Throughout the world families celebrate special events and days together. It can be a time of happiness and a time of sadness as loved ones reflect on the gifts God has given them and the difficulties they have been through. But for those whose eyes are fixed on Jesus Christ the holidays are a time to tighten our grasp on our sure hope of eternal life.

Wow! What a week! We worked up until the last minute and waited with anticipation the arrival of family members who celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday with us. We ate. We laughed. We stayed up late watching movies. We talked. We held our newest family member, cousin Verity. We played games. We ice skated. We raked leaves. We enjoyed. Yet there was sadness too.

There was sadness that we could not all be together. Families stretch and shrink over the years. In a busy world it is not always possible to reunite as work schedules, distance, and illness often have their say. But praise the Lord this is not the end.

God’s children do not put their trust in the riches of this present world. Nor do we hope in things that are seen. We recognize that our blessings are not things to be horded, but shared. We desire to obey God by doing good, being rich in good deeds and generosity, being willing to share. In this way our greatest treasures and celebrations will be in heaven where we will enjoy them forever.

Someday we will gather at heaven’s banquet table. We will eat. We will laugh. We will sing. We will praise. We will be full of thanksgiving. And there will be no sadness because every member of God’s family will be present – even those we have not yet met from every tribe and nation on earth. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift. Now that’s a holiday gathering to look forward to!!

Love,

Mama

 

While You Were Sleeping

June 29, 2016 By Sandra Sheridan Leave a Comment

Ephesians 5:14 “Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

IMG_2987You miss a lot of things while you are sleeping. I should know because inevitably I sink into a deep slumber every time our family sits down to watch a movie. I can’t even count the number of half movies I have watched. But ask me how the desperate crisis or thrilling romance ended and I couldn’t tell you. The plot thickened, the climax came . . . and I was dead to the world on the couch.

You can miss good things while you are sleeping, but you can also miss trouble signs. Quite a number of winters ago Dad and I tucked all you kids in bed, and settled ourselves in as well. It had been a particularly exhausting day so I conked out immediately. Dad had a cold and took some Benedryl to help him breathe.

Sometime in the night I woke up with a strange feeling. Descending the stairs to the kitchen I was surprised to step into a puddle. Turning on the light I panicked to find water pouring through the ceiling, flooding the TV room and bathroom. I yelled for Dad who didn’t respond immediately as the Benedryl had knocked him senseless.

While the river of water cascaded from the kitchen overhead light I stared at the spray like a tourist visiting a mini Niagra Falls for the first time. Finally I came to my senses, and urgently made a phone call to get some help. In my stupor it never even occurred to me to run to the basement and shut off the water valve.

You may wonder why I couldn’t think straight in this desperate situation, but that is what a deep sleep can do to a person. The brain shuts down and doesn’t process correctly. Satan knows this and that is why he lulls people into a spiritual sleep. If he succeeds at drawing victims into slumberland, they will not know what he is doing. They will not be aware of the fate that awaits them for eternity if they don’t take their spiritual condition seriously.

Young people fall asleep as they are entranced by all the stimulation around them. Who wants to think about spiritual things when you can focus your attention on Netflix, video games, or social media? Who has time to know God and seek to understand the salvation He has to offer when you are late for your next sporting event or music recital?

Middle-aged people fall asleep as they are hypnotized by what they need to accomplish. There is a career to grow and money to be made. There are bills to pay and a family to raise. Don’t forget the children’s school activities and volunteer organizations. This is the time to make something of yourself. Maybe you will wake up and think of your eternal destiny later. There’s plenty of time!

Older people fall asleep because they are tired. They have spent years working and living. Maybe they have even followed God’s ways, but now they are growing older and think that they have life under control. They’ve been there and done that. There is no reason to be on the alert! Meanwhile the movie continues on. The plot thickens. The climax approaches.

“Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead…”

Now is the time to think of eternity!

Now is the time to accept Christ as Savior!

Now is the time to warn your family and friends of the disaster waiting if they are not right with God!

If you do not act now you may wake up and realize the pipes burst and water is rapidly filling the kitchen. Or worse yet you or a loved one has passed from this earth without knowing Jesus and missing the chance for  salvation and an eternity in heaven.

And it all happened while you were sleeping!

Love,

Mama

 

With God Death Means Life!

April 29, 2016 By Sandra Sheridan Leave a Comment

John 11:25-26 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

With God death means life!

Sheridans 2005&2006 171

Remember this family trip to West Union to tour Grandma Sheridan’s childhood home and to visit the grave sites of long gone family members?

At some point in our lives, each of us will come face to face with death. For some of us a loved one or dear friend will pass away. For others our own mortality will become apparent with the diagnosis of a dread disease or a fatal accident. There is no escaping the reality that living brings; death comes to us all. But with God death means life!

Lazarus was sick – very sick. His sisters were desperately concerned and sent a message to Jesus. The Master was very close to them. They knew He loved their family very much and would want to know about Lazarus. They were confident that He would come to their aid. They had seen Him do many miracles over the years and knew that their only hope for Lazarus’ recovery lay within His power.

Jesus received the sisters’ urgent message, but instead of immediately coming to their aid, He purposefully chose to wait two more days. He knew that this delay would bring about Lazarus’s physical death but still He chose to wait. This does not sound very loving at first glance, but Jesus knew something the sisters did not know: with God death means life!

Through Lazarus’ untimely death:

  1. Jesus brought a living faith to the family.

      Martha told Jesus that she believed in Him, but her faith only went so far. She believed her brother would rise again in the resurrection on the last day, but she failed to understand Jesus’s power to bring him from the grave right then. Jesus did not want to fix the problem by making Lazarus well. He wanted to give him a new life.

  1. Jesus brought active obedience through this death.

      Mary and Martha needed to trust and obey Jesus’s instructions even though they didn’t understand. When He asked them to roll the stone away, they were called upon to act out their belief regardless of their understanding.

  1. Jesus brought spiritual life-giving belief to the onlookers who saw the resurrection.

      Many who were witnesses to this miracle believed in Jesus and received the spiritual eternal life that could only come through Him.

  1. Jesus brought the finished work of eternal life a step closer as this miracle launched Him towards the cross.

Though many believed in Jesus, there were others whose hatred increased to the point of developing a plan to kill Him. This death was necessary for all who would believe to receive the eternal life that God had promised.

This incredible miracle moved those who believed to a greater capacity for faith in God’s ability to bring life from death. In just a short time they would watch Jesus be led up a hill, nailed to a cross, and die. They wouldn’t understand all that was happening, and would be confused and bewildered. But three days later they would witness Christ’s resurrection from the dead. This amazing act would prove that God truly could bring life from death; and not just physical life, but spiritual life. Because Christ died and rose again, all who believe would be able to live forever.

Jesus told Martha when Lazarus was still cold in the grave, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Death for us is a very sad and lonely experience. The finality of it weighs on our hearts. But for those who believe in Jesus, the Son of God, death always means life.

The death of Christ brought eternal life.

The death of a believing loved one brings eventual reunion.

A believer’s own death brings life with God in heaven for eternity.

Why did Jesus wait two days when Lazarus was so sick? Was it uncaring and unloving? Not at all!

Jesus had much better plans for Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and us.

With God death brings life.

Love,

Mama

How much was that?

September 16, 2014 By Sandra Sheridan 1 Comment

Good Morning,
The verse of the day is Luke 14:28. “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?”

Making a decision to follow Jesus involves a large cost. Yes, God’s gift of salvation is free – Christ paid the price for our sins when He took our punishment on the cross, but following Him has a steep price tag. It is essential to think about the price before you make a decision to commit yourself as a disciple of Jesus Christ.  In other words, one needs to count the cost.
I am not a very good shopper. In fact I really don’t like it much at all. I go only when necessary, zip through the aisles as quickly as possible, grab what I need, and head to the checkout. Every once in a while I do come across a great bargain. The other day I found it. As I was buzzing through town I stopped at a yard sale. I quickly perused the items, picked up a few things including my one dollar bargain, wrote my check, and left. 
Sometime later I stopped to show Grandma my prizes. I was telling her about the one dollar steal when she said, “Sandy, this wasn’t one dollar. It was fifteen dollars.” 
“What!” I screamed as I grabbed the purchase. Sure enough, somehow I missed the all important 5 that was written next to the 1. The fact that I did not take the time to count the cost properly cost me 15 times more than I expected. 
When we decide to follow Jesus we give our lives completely over to Him. We no longer belong to ourselves but to the One who purchased us through His death. The old way of life, the way of the sinful world, has to be abandoned because we now have a new master. 
Though God loves us and desires to give us abundant life as well as eternal life, this doesn’t mean that life will always be easy. There are times when friends and family members will not understand our commitment or the new choices we are making.  They will want the “old you” back. Would you be willing to follow Jesus even if it means losing your family and friends?
Sometimes we are asked to give up personal dreams and goals to be replaced with God’s plan for our lives. Other times He may ask us to move away from loved ones and our roots to go to a place that He has called us to – that’s what Abraham was asked to do. Maybe there will even come a time when we will be asked to die for our faith. 
Yes, the cost of salvation is free, but the price of discipleship is very high. Even so, there are some things that are worth a high price. Following Jesus, no matter what price you are asked to pay, is worth every tear, every goodbye, every struggle. Through it all God will never leave you alone. All you need to do is follow Him down a path that He has already travelled before you. 
The pleasures of this world last only for a short time and end in death. But by accepting God’s way and paying the price to follow Him wholeheartedly you will receive eternal life. These momentary afflictions produce for us an eternal glory far beyond comparison.
Next time you are looking for a bargain don’t forget to look closely at the price tag. Consider the cost of being a disciple of Jesus carefully. I think you will find it is definitely worth the cost.
Love,
Mama
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Welcome to Verses From  Mama. I am a mother of five with a heart for encouragement. These inspirational letters share words of truth, healing and hope with  all who long for a mama’s touch. I hope you will be encouraged as you listen to God speak – one Bible verse at a time.     ~Sandy

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