Verses from Mama

Hearing God speak one Bible verse at a time.

The “I’m Right” Game

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Ephesians 4:31-32 “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

The words, like angry racquetballs, bounced off the four walls of the neat little home. Harsh dialogue spoken from the depths of raw emotions ripped back and forth – the competition was on. Raised voices shouted wrongs from the past and hea
rts ripped to shreds on both sides. In the heat of the moment, all that mattered was winning. But the satisfaction of the “I’m Right” game lasted only briefly, and a moment of smug glory ended poorly. An important relationship was damaged. What a price to pay for being right!

We’ve all been there! Sometimes it is so hard to keep our mouths shut in tense situations.

We know we are right.

We know we’ve been hurt.

We know we have interesting yet damaging information to share.

And we just need to win the “I’m Right Game”!

This is the game of the world and our sinful human nature is tempted by it, but God’s way is completely different. Ephesians 4:31-32 shows a contrast. The vices listed in verse 31 – bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice – are the reverse of verse 32 – being kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving. One set of rules destroys relationships while the other set builds them.

Why should we respond with kindness and forgiveness? The answer is clear. We should forgive just as God in Christ has forgiven us. We must walk in a manner worthy of our calling with all humility, gentleness, and patience learning to bear with one another in love. Our relationship with God should be evident in our treatment of others.

How can we abstain from playing this dangerous game when the competition is so strong? The NIV Application Commentary says, “We do not control the actions of others, but in choosing to forgive we establish control over our own responses.”

Some helpful ways to play by God’s rules are:

  1. Pray for early awareness of a tense situation so you will be prepared.
  2. Recognize the warning signs in your own body so you can choose your response instead of reacting.
  3. Listen and think before speaking.
  4. Speak softly and kindly.
  5. Change your thought process by trying to see the other person’s point of view.
  6. Consciously make a list of the good things about the other person.
  7. Seek to imitate God’s response to sinners.
  8. Trust God to bring the truth to light and to sort out the details of a difficult situation.

Our heavenly Father desires relationship. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die so we could be united with Him . . . and He desires that we also seek unity with others. This won’t happen if we play the “I’m Right” game by the world’s rules. Instead, be imitators of God and walk in love just as Christ loved you. When it comes to relationships, this is the only way you can win!

Love,

Mama

 

The Bite of a Faithful Friend

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Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

People do not always act in accordance with the way they feel. A circumstance can often illicit a response that inaccurately portrays our true feelings. This is one reason it is important to be kind and tenderhearted, always ready to look past a slight and forgive. This lesson hit home to me one dark evening a few years ago.

It was a beautiful summer night. The cool air gave relief from the heat of the day and drew us into our evening walk. Dad and I set out down the road followed by our old dog, Maggie. She also felt the alleviation from the stifling heat and rose from her place on the back porch to follow us. As Dad and I talked about the day, Maggie occupied herself with the things that dogs do – sniffing the side of road for the illusive scent of a previous canine traveller, cocking her ear to listen to the night sounds in the woods by the creek, and finally disappearing into the trees to investigate the evening wildlife.

As we turned at the bridge to return home we saw the reflection of lights coming down the road. At the moment the car reached us, Maggie, tired of her search, bounded out of the woods to take her place at our heels. She chose the very moment the car was passing to dart across the road. The squealing of wheels and the heart-wrenching thump told the story in one split second. I screamed and ran to the shadow of black fur that lay on the side of the road. 

Reaching my shivering girl I quickly surveyed the situation. I extended my hand to give comfort but instantly withdrew as the pain of sharp teeth penetrated my skin. Maggie, in her pain and confusion, snapped at the one who was trying to help. Her reaction brought blood to the surface and more pain to my heart.  

I have thought about that night many times in the ensuing years. Why would our pet bite me when I was only trying to help? It was because she didn’t know what had hit her. As she lay suffering she was on guard. In the dark my approach was mistaken for the enemy that had caused her pain. But when I spoke kindly to her, she recognized my voice, relaxed, and allowed Dad to lift her into our truck, which he had run home to get. 

Humans are no different in this regard. Often, when experiencing hurt, an injured person lashes out at loved ones. The confusion of their pain sometimes illicits a reaction that does not convey what they really feel towards those who love them and want to help. Forgiveness and kindness in these situations goes a long way. I know because I have often “bitten” others when I’ve been grieving, and I’ve been grateful for those who have understood and granted me forgiveness.

With a little love and tender care our Maggie recovered fully from her accident. Her injuries, consisting of only a few bumps and bruises, quickly healed and soon she was up and running around as usual. My hand also healed without leaving a scar, but the memory of a lesson learned was forever in my heart. Those who are hurt will often “bite” but forgiveness and kindness cover a multitude of sins.

Love,
Mama

Forgiven Debts

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Colossians 2:13-14 “You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins. He canceled the record that contained the charges against us. He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross.”

I really, REALLY, REALLY hate trying to collect money. It happens sometimes in our auction business. An item will not be on someone’s bill because they left the auction before the charge came through the computer, or maybe something was accidentally clerked wrong. When this happens I need to try to collect from the correct buyer. 
These kinds of errors are minimal and understandable, but every once in a while a customer will leave purposefully without paying. In these cases I usually spend a lot of time calling, writing letters, and even on occasion filing with the police to try to collect the debt that is owed to us. How I hate this part of my job, but somebody has to pay for the purchases that are made.
Paying for things is a normal part of life. Nothing is free in this world – somebody always has to foot the bill. Wouldn’t it be great if someone offered to pay all your debts? Just imagine if a wealthy friend or relative sent you a letter with a blank check offering to pay for college tuition. What a blessing that would be! But in order to make use of this gift, you would need to accept it, and send it in to Wright State. 
Though that is probably not going to happen anytime soon, there is a debt that we all have that can be cancelled. It is the debt we owe because of our sin. God requires that sin be paid for by death. Unfortunately there is no way for us to pay for this debt without eternally separating ourselves from God. There is no amount of good things that we can do to cancel out the bad. The Bible says that it is not by works of our own righteousness that we can be saved. 
God, knowing this to be the case, sent His only Son to die in our place on the rugged cross of Calvary. He is the only One Who could do this because He has no sin of His own. In dying on the cross Jesus Christ made a way for our sins to be forgiven, paying for the charges that were held against us. Jesus paid for this debt when it was nailed to His cross. We only need to accept His gift of full payment for our sins. Fortunately for all of us, He even beat death by rising from the dead! What a powerful and wonderful Savior!
I still have a number of collections that need to be made for our auction service (Did I mention that I really, REALLY, REALLY hate trying to collect money?). Somebody is going to have to pay these bills. But, praise God, our debt of sin has been paid for!

“Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all He has done.”


Love, 
Mama

Want to have your debt forgiven? Click HERE to learn how and receive God’s free gift.

The Morning Will Soon Be Here

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Psalm 130:6 “My soul waits for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning. “

 


The morning will soon be here!

One of the worst feelings you will ever experience is the anguish of regret when you have hurt someone’s feelings or done a person wrong. So often this happens when releasing frustrations on an innocent bystander who may even be a close friend or loved one. I have done this many times in my life. Though the release of the torrent of grievances may feel freeing for a few minutes, it is so often followed by chains of remorse that tie the gut in knots.

How I have wished I could take back thoughtless words or actions. But once they escape these stinging emotions burrow like termites into an old log, damaging what once was strong and beautiful. Often, from the moment of their release, my thoughts are consumed with trying to make things right – trying to restore the relationship that once was so warm, but now seems so distant.

The writer of Psalm 130 understood this feeling. His sense of estrangement from God because of his sin was very painful, and all he desired was that the Lord would hear his voice and be attentive to his cries. He craved a restored relationship and waited for it as a night watchman would search the horizon for the morning light.

Yet he did not wait in desperation wondering what the outcome would be. He knew the One he was calling enough to understand that His lovingkindness and forgiving spirit were abundant. There was no limit to His mercy; therefore, he put his hope in the Lord’s faithfulness to keep His word.

For those who feel this deep chasm between God and themselves, here are a few things to remember.

1. There is no depth too deep.  No matter how low you have fallen into sin, God is listening for your voice. When you call to Him He is faithful and just to forgive your sins and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

2. There is no deadline too far. In military prisons there were boundaries surrounding the compound. If a prisoner went past these deadlines they would very likely be shot by the guards. If the Lord were to mark our iniquities with a boundary, there is no way that anyone could stand. But when God forgives He removes our sins as far as the east is from the west. He does not keep track so that we must fear we will reach our limit.

3. There is no disappointment for those who wait. For those who wait and watch for the Lord there will be no disappointment. Just as the sun rises each morning, the lovingkindness of the Lord will shine on each soul that calls to Him. His capacity to forgive and redeem is more than adequate and will never run out.

If, like the Psalmist, your heart and soul ever feel crushed by the distance that sin creates between you and God, don’t despair! There is no depth too deep, no deadline too far, and no disappointment for those who wait. Keep looking up . . .

 

The morning will soon be here!

 

Love,
Mama

 

Forgiveness

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1 Corinthians 13:5b “[Love] is not provoked, [and] does not take into account a wrong suffered.”

Illustration courtesy of www.concordianews.com.

The dewey grass soaked the cloth of Jesus’ robe as He knelt in prayer that terrible night. Surrounded by the pungent smell of olives in Gethsemane and serenaded by the snores of His followers, the Savior sought comfort and strength from His heavenly Father. The minutes ticked by as great drops of sweat, the color of blood, dripped from His face and moistened the ground even further. Understanding fully what He was about to suffer at the hands of hateful men, the Son of God firmly set His mind on fulfilling His Father’s will.

The time had come. The angry mob arrived in the garden and arrested the One Who had come to bring salvation to the world. As the infamous night continued Jesus, endured betrayal, rude comments, mocking, spitting, whipping, and the torturous death on a Roman cross. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not retaliate. The Son of God was led like a lamb to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth. 
The powerful One, Who could have called a thousand angels to His rescue or blown His oppressors away with a single spoken word, did not allow the taunts and jeers of godless, wicked men to provoke Him. He suffered the unjust wrongs because He was able to look ahead to the joy His pain would provide – the joy of the human race’s having a way to be restored in its relationship with God.
How amazing is the deep love of Jesus! After all He suffered from the hands of men, and even while still hanging on a rugged cross, He was able to call to His Heavenly Father saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” The death He was dying was to be the avenue of forgiveness of sins for His murderers as well as for the whole world.
If Jesus Christ has forgiven such grievous sins against Himself, then why do we have such a hard time forgiving those who hurt us? Why is it so easy to let words of retaliation slip from our mouth when we receive an unkind comment or jibe? Why do we hold so tightly to past abuses or injustices, keeping ourselves bound up in anger, hurt, and bitterness? 
Love understands that people are going to make mistakes and say unkind things. It doesn’t keep a record book of every offense experienced, but graciously forgives and forgets. It puts away retaliation and doesn’t respond in kind when assaulted with sharp words. Love doesn’t seek revenge, but allows God to convict and discipline where necessary. When we forgive others we are set free to love the way that Christ loved.
Love,
Mama

The Sting of Death

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Good Morning,
The verse of the day is Romans 6:23. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Billy jogged home under the hot Nebraska sun. He carried in his pocket a treasure he had found in the field and he couldn’t wait to show his mother and sister. As he ran up the front steps, the banging door alerted them that he was home. Dashing into the kitchen Billy exclaimed, “Look what I found!” Emptying his pockets he extended his hand to reveal a tiny baby snake. His sister screamed and ran into the other room, but his mother bent down for a closer look.  “Billy!” she exclaimed, “You can’t keep that snake. Look at the rattle on his tale. This tiny rattler will grow big and become very dangerous. You must take it outside right now and kill it before it can hurt anyone.”
Billy dejectedly turned to go outside and comply with his mother’s request when he had a thought. “I don’t have to kill it right now. I could hide the little guy in a box in the barn – at least until I can show my friends. Then I will kill it and Mom will never know.” His morale rose as he headed towards the barn to follow through with his plan. He found a box with a lid, fastened it down with a stone and went back to his play excited that he had bought some more time.
Weeks passed and every day that Billy went out to check on his new pet he considered whether he should kill it. He kept putting it off for a more convenient time. One day he came home from school and met an upsetting sight. His dog, Spot, was laying in the barn swollen and barely breathing. Billy grabbed him and brought him to the house, but it was too late – Spot was dead! On examination, his mother confirmed that he had been bitten by a rattlesnake. 
Billy’s heart skipped a beat as he ran back out to the barn. His suspicions were confirmed when he saw the empty box that had contained his rattlesnake. He searched through the loose straw until he found it and killed it with a pitchfork, but not before the venom had done its damage.  Spot was dead!

Through the years, my brother and I listened to this story over and over on our family’s record player. Billy learned a lesson and we did too. Sin always has consequences.  Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death.” By accepting God’s gift of salvation we can be free from death’s sting.  Even after becoming a Christian we continually need to “kill” sin in our lives. When we allow it to live, it will grow and eventually wreak havoc and cause destruction and even death. Ask God for forgiveness and  for grace to do whatever it takes to remove the temptation.

When sin shows up in your life, immediately take it out behind the barn and kill it.

Love,
Mama

There is nothing greater than grace

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Good Morning,
The verse of the day is Psalm 51:1-2. “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”

Have you ever experienced a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach after doing something wrong? The oppressive burden is sometimes so strong that it has physical repercussions. Like a weighty ball and chain shackled to your ankle, it chafes and makes it difficult to move forward in life. No one felt this feeling more strongly than King David.

It was the time when nations would go to war. David, a mighty warrior, always led his troops into battle, but this year was different. The king decided to stay home. While his men were living in tents and sleeping on the ground under the command of Joab, the army captain, he was dwelling in his luxurious palace attended by all his servants. His laziness and lack of concern for his men lead him to make some bad decisions.

While taking a walk on the roof of his palace, he happened to look down and see a beautiful woman taking a bath. He inquired after her and, though being told she was already married, had her brought to him. Soon after David got the disturbing news that Bathsheba was pregnant with his child. Instead of taking responsibility for his sin, the king tried to cover it up. He sent a message to Joab asking  him to send Uriah, her husband, home from the battle. David hoped that if he came home to his wife everyone would think nothing was wrong and that the baby was Uriah’s. Unfortunately for David’s scheme, Uriah refused to go home. Though David urged him, he would not enjoy any comforts while his fellow soldiers were enduring hardship. David became desperate and finally sent Uriah back with a sealed letter to Joab. The letter contained instructions to put Uriah at the front lines. Joab obeyed the king’s orders and Uriah died in battle.

When the king received the news of Uriah’s death he gave a sigh of relief. He believed now that he was safe from discovery of his sin, but that was not the case. God knew what had happened and sent Nathan, the prophet, to confront David. When David realized what he had done – adultery and murder – he was horrified. The weight of his actions made him physically sick. He begged the Lord to forgive him. “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” Though there was a steep price to pay for his transgressions, David heard the words of forgiveness that he longed to hear. “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die,” the prophet spoke. King David suffered much because of his sin, but his heart was freed knowing he had been forgiven.

There will be times in our lives when we will make mistakes – big and small. We must be on our guard constantly seeking to make good decisions. But if the day ever comes that you blow it, remember that God is waiting to forgive when you come to Him in true repentance. There will always be consequences for sin – but even in the aftermath of our mistakes God will give the grace we need to endure them.

I trust and pray that you will always make wise decisions – but never forget – there is nothing greater than God’s grace!

Love,
Mama