Verses from Mama

Hearing God speak one Bible verse at a time.

Powerful Prescriptions from a Heavenly Physician

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Psalm 147:3 “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

Dear Kids:

Flu and cold season is upon us! It is not only the weak, but even the most hearty that can be forced to bed with coughing, sniffling, aches, and fever. This undesirable glitch in our plans is such an inconvenience for busy people like us! Thankfully there are excellent doctors and numerous modern medicines to ease the discomforts of our maladies and promote healing. This was not always the case.

Remedies from an old time drug store

Looking back in time often stimulates thankfulness. Recently we had an auction that featured relics from an old drugstore. As is my usual practice before an auction, I meandered through the Event Center to peruse the tables of neatly presented items. I imagined the sick from a time gone by seeking relief and healing from potions and syrups mixed in mortars and poured into beautifully colored bottles that lined the shelves of an old time pharmacy. These mysterious concoctions likely provided some relief, yet there was so much more they could not do.

Through the ages people have suffered in numerous ways. Our bodies are weak and over time we will each succumb to some sort of disease or malfunction. But even those who are healthy in body have other types of ailments. These are not ailments that old or new tonics can cure. They are of much greater concern because they can damage our minds and affect our thinking and our outlook on life. These emotional and psychological wounds shape how we look at God, others, and ourselves. Broken hearts of this type often lead to confused thinking, and there is no beautiful glass bottle filled with old time or modern medicine that can heal these.

Remedies for broken hearts

But there is a prescription that will do just the trick. The Greatest Physician ever known prescribes it. He, the Lord our God, understands the workings of every heart and the devastations that sin can cause. He provides the power to be healed if we are willing to let Him transform and renew our minds.

Are you dealing with a heart of pride? Take a dose of Humility. Are you down with a heart of jealousy? Slather it with a heavy coating of Love. Burdened with a heart of lies? Try two tablespoons of Truth. Are you aching with a heart of disbelief? Try a healthy cup of Faith. A heart of mourning? Spread the Oil of Gladness on it. And do you struggle with a heart of fainting? God prescribes a regular diet of Praise!

If you are sick with the common cold or the flu, then a trip to the doctor and a modern remedy will likely do the trick. But if you are dealing with a broken heart that has infected your mind, then the Great Physician is the One to prescribe the medication you need. It’s not a sweet syrup found in a beautiful glass bottle or capsules filled with curative powder. It is an old-fashioned health-giving balm activated by a transformed mind. Try God’s healing prescription today! It can make all the difference in the world.

Love,

Mama

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The Catastrophe of a Religious Masquerade

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Zechariah 7:9-10 “ Thus has the Lord of hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; and do not oppress the widow or the orphan the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.’”

Dear Kids:

The Catastrophe of A Religious MasqueradeHalloween is just around the corner. This is the time of year when many dress up in costumes. Recently, Luke and Brianna hosted an autumn dress up party. Their little family masqueraded as the cutest beekeeper, flower, and honeybee I’ve ever seen. After the party they took the costumes off and returned to their normal selves. But sadly there are many people who spend their whole lives pretending to be something they are really not.

The prophet, Zechariah, confronted the Judean people about their religious practices. During the seventy years they had spent in captivity they had kept up a regular custom of fasting and mourning.  Their actions looked very spiritual and pious, but God saw beyond the outward appearances. Through the prophet He questioned their integrity saying, “When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months these seventy years was it actually for Me that you fasted?

The Lord then spelled out His version of true and genuine religiosity. It included dispensing justice and practicing kindness and compassion to all people, as well as refraining from oppressing widows, orphans, strangers or the poor. Those who are the “real thing” will not devise evil in their hearts against one another. They will always speak the truth and judge with accuracy and peace.

Sadly, in the past, God’s people had refused to listen to the former prophets’ words. They closed their ears from listening and continued on in their foolish religious masquerade bringing a great catastrophe upon themselves.

Today, there are still many who portray themselves to be something they are really not. Going to church every week, dropping money in the offering plate, and using religious words and phrases are not the measurement of a genuine Christian. Those who have received God’s Spirit within them will show by their actions that they are the “real thing.” They will have a sincere love for those around them that will be demonstrated by their desire for justice and truth. They will reach out to aid those who are struggling and offer material and emotional help for their times of great need. They will pray for their enemies and seek to do them good instead of evil.

Choosing to dress up in a Halloween costume may or may not be your fancy. But make sure that who you are every day is not a religious masquerade. Do your actions demonstrate your real heart attitudes? Your facade may trick others, but God knows the truth.

Love,

Mama

A Better Way to Deal with Volatile Emotions

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Psalm 143:2 “And do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no man living is righteous.”

Dear Kids:

“I can’t stand her! She treated me wrongly and I am done!”

Man Expressing Strong EmotionsHave any of you ever said or thought these words? If you are honest I am sure that you, like me, have expressed these feelings at one time or another. Maybe a friend betrayed your trust . . . or a client did you wrong . . . or a family member pushed the wrong button one too many times. People are imperfect and regular contact affords plenty of opportunity for rubbing one another the wrong way. Hurt feelings and raw emotions sometimes get the better of us. But what if there were a different way of handling the situation?

Psalms: A Wonderful Bible Book

Psalms is a wonderful book. Located near the middle of the Bible; its pages are filled with hymns and prayers from a number of different writers. For centuries many have found great comfort by peeking into the thoughts and emotions of those long gone. God, in His wisdom, chose to share with us the deepest feelings of some of His children in order to help us process our own struggles correctly and find comfort in time of need.

Recently, while reading Psalm 143, I was struck by the passion with which David cried out to God for deliverance and guidance. An enemy was persecuting his soul and the descriptive words seem to suggest that his circumstances may have brought on anxiety and depression. I can almost imagine this man at the end of his rope uttering, “I can’t stand this enemy! He is treating me wrongly and I am done!”

But even as David cried out to God for help he also prayed that God would not judge him for his own sins. He recognized that he was a sinner and needed God’s mercy and that no man is righteous in God’s sight. Later David expressed his trust and understanding of God’s lovingkindness, faithfulness, and righteousness. He belonged to the Lord, asked for deliverance, and found refuge in Him. He did not take matters into his own hands, but waited for the Lord to act.

Venting Emotions to God

When an irritating person – maybe even an enemy – has gone too far, we can go straight to the Lord with our complaints. Just as the Psalmist vented all his emotions, we too can call upon the Lord in our distress. But it is important to remember that no one is righteous in God’s sight apart from Jesus – not even you! Everyone needs forgiveness. Thankfully, God doesn’t remember us according to our sin, but according to His mercy.

Don’t take matters in your own hands. Ask the Lord to help you see things differently or to intervene when the situation warrants it. And maybe, instead of being done with the person, you will find you can forgive as the Lord has forgiven you.

Love,
Mama

When The High One Comes Down – A Kindergarten Memory

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Isaiah 57:15 “For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, ‘I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite.’”

There is nothing worse than being ignored. And there is nothing better than being acknowledged . . . except for being acknowledged by someone with a much higher standing than you have.

One very clear childhood memory occurred when I was five years old. I had just entered Kindergarten at Roosevelt School in Kearny, NJ. This brick city school had three stories accessible by a huge main staircase that spiraled around the center of the building. The kindergarteners were housed on the first floor near the principal’s office, and the older children progressed up the levels to the top floor.

I was a shy little girl and felt very small in what seemed like a very imposing building. The other older, taller, and smarter kids ruled and I was the lowly minion. But one day there was a knock on our classroom door. One of the “elite” sixth graders had come down from the third floor to bring our teacher a message. As he entered the room my heart nearly stopped. I knew him – he was my second cousin, David Russell.

I sat motionless in the back of the room, my gaze following his every move. And then he looked up. His eyes caught mine and he smiled and waved. I shyly smiled back and raised my hand in acknowledgment before he turned and left the room. Such a small encounter, but my heart and my confidence grew three sizes that day. Someone from upstairs had acknowledged me!

There are many on this earth who will never know your name. There are others who will completely ignore your existence and look the other way when you walk by. But do not be saddened. The One Who lives in the highest place of all knows you and loves you. He is the exalted One Who lives forever. His name is Holy!

Though this One lives in a high and holy place He has chosen to come and dwell with us. His presence lifts the heads and hearts of those who seek Him. He forgives our sins and revives our spirits. He brings peace to those who are far and those who are near. The comfort of His smile brings great joy. How amazing is that?

So don’t be sad if you feel rejected by some in this world. Open your eyes and look. The exalted One Who lives above has come down from His high and holy place to find you. And His presence will fill your heart with even more joy than the smile and wave of a sixth grader to a tiny kindergartener.

Love,

Mama

 

 

All I Want For Christmas Is…You

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Psalm 27:4 “One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord And to meditate in His temple.”

There are only a few more days until Christmas. As the celebration creeps closer and closer some of us are still running around seeking to find the perfect gift for those we love. We scour the lists of ideas that have been given to us and make our choices about which present would best express our thoughts and make our loved ones happy. Hopefully we will choose that perfect something!

It has been interesting over the years to think about the different things people have wanted for Christmas. If you listen to some of the holiday songs you will be amazed by some of the desires. The only thing one little child wanted was “his two front teeth.” Another declared that she wanted “a hippopotamus for Christmas; only a hippopotamus will do.” Others express the desire for a white Christmas and mistletoe. Still others hope for peace on earth. But I think if the writer of today’s Bible verse could have his choice of modern Christmas songs, he would agree with some of the lines from Mariah Carey’s, All I Want For Christmas Is You.

I don’t want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don’t care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true oh
All I want for Christmas is you
-Mariah Carey

Though her song is speaking about the love and nearness of a boyfriend or girlfriend, the Psalmist expressed similar thoughts about the Lord. He said, “One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord And to meditate in His temple.”

David had experienced God’s faithfulness throughout his life. The Lord had been his protection during dangerous times. He had been his defense when evildoers had sought to destroy him. He had provided food and shelter, wisdom, friendship, love, comfort, help, guidance, and courage. Everything David’s heart desired was found in the person of the God in Whom He trusted. Though this man was a king and could have had anything he wanted, his only request was the presence of the Lord at all times.

What about us? Even if we should find every material thing we ever wanted or hoped for underneath the tree this season, would it really satisfy? If we were able to receive good health, financial stability, deeper friendships, the perfect marriage, or unlimited success, would these last forever? No, none of these would account for much without a relationship with the God Who is the giver of all good things. His salvation through Christ offers eternal life, and His grace provides for everything we need to live here on earth. Even the ability to enjoy earthly things comes from Him. These are gifts no one can do without!

So, I don’t know about you, but I’ve decided what I want for Christmas – the same thing the Psalmist wanted so many years ago. Lord, All I want for Christmas is YOU!

Love,

Mama

 

Love – The Access To All People

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1 Corinthians 13:1 “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”

mouse-access-croppedRecently, I have taken up a new hobby. It is not a hobby I necessarily wanted to adopt; nevertheless, it became necessary. Each autumn, when the temperature becomes colder, I notice evidence of tiny visitors throughout the house. I am not particularly fond of these pesky intruders, but old farmhouses regularly have their share of these pests. Unfortunately, this year there have been more visitors than usual – hence, my new hobby. I have become a trapper and I specialize in mice.

As my daily catch increased, I started wondering how these critters were entering the house. I asked our friend and repair expert if he had any ideas. After nosing around the perimeter of the foundation, he found an answer. At the outside corner of the kitchen wall some of our 165-year-old bricks were starting to crumble. On further investigation he discovered a passage through the wall into our crawl space. This provided the perfect access for my unwelcome guests. Thankfully, we are correcting the problem.

mouse-in-trapThe mice found a way to enter our lives but their presence was unpleasant. As Christians we also should have a desire to find our way into other people’s lives. By doing so we can develop relationships that will allow us to share the gospel message with them. But we do not want to have a negative affect. Our access to others must always be through love.

God has given us all gifts that we can share with those around us. To some He has given the gift of speaking God’s word; to others the gift of knowledge; to some faith and others giving. But what good are these gifts if we repulse the ones we are trying to reach. None of these are worth anything if we do not access others’ hearts through love.

When we love others we will take the time to know them. We will spend time in prayer, asking God to help them in time of need. We will be considerate of their feelings, patient as we wait for God to move. We will comfort when times are bad and rejoice when life is full. In this way we slowly gain access to those around us and then have a platform for sharing the salvation story.

My little mice friends certainly are smart, but they are not very wise. They found a way to access our home through a hole in the wall, but their presence is unpleasant and more than one has become snapped in my trap.

Take some advice from a trapper – if you want to make a difference in people’s lives without ending up in disaster, always make access through love. Love never fails!

Love,

Mama

Help Wanted – All May Apply

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James 2:1 “My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.”

img_4173_3110x2074We live in a prejudiced world. Though our country has worked hard to eliminate discrimination in its outward manifestations, no one can erase the sinful tendencies of the human heart. Watching our words carefully is not enough. There must be a heart change. God is not a respecter of persons and those who belong to Him should not be either.

Working in the auction business I often come across some interesting memorabilia. Monday our team spent the day recording and photographing items for an upcoming online auction. There were numerous old advertising signs. One that intrigued me reminded me of the discrimination that was prominent at one time in our country. The sign read, “Help Wanted – No Irish Need Apply.” That was a shocker for a family with the name of Sheridan. Who would have been so prejudiced to hang a metal sign like that outside their door?

We may think that we have come so far, but the human heart is still desperately wicked. We may pride ourselves on acceptance, but deep down we all carry thoughts and attitudes about others that are not pleasing to God.

James told his readers to watch out for discrimination. He warned that if two men came into their church assembly, one with a gold ring and fine clothes and the other poor and disheveled, not to pay attention to the one and ignore the other. They were not to be judges of outward appearance only as this would prove their evil motives. God looks at the heart and has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom of God, which He promised to those who love Him.

There are many ways to disguise discrimination in the church. We must search our hearts to see if we have greater respect for those who are in executive positions over those who have blue-collar jobs. Do we encourage full-time church workers or foreign missionaries more than those who are living a committed Christian life before unbelievers in a hostile secular work environment? Are we drawn towards those who have advanced degrees or a large paycheck? These are forms of discrimination that our Father dislikes.

God is not a respecter of persons. He searches hearts to see who is completely committed to Him. His thoughts towards all His children are more than the sand on the seashore. And He died for each and every sinner regardless of race, skin color, financial security, church position, clothing type, or higher education.

God has put out the call for service to everyone who believes in His name. All in the body of Christ are loved! All are needed! All are wanted! And you can be assured that all God’s children are welcome to apply!

Love,
Mama

The Importance of Setting Goals

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1 Timothy 1:5 “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”

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“. . . goal setting is helpful for athletes, businesspeople, weight watchers, and teachers” . . . and God’s people!

Goal setting is a common practice in all walks of life. Cross country runners seek to attain a personal best time as the run their race. Businesspeople set goals for advertising and financial gain. Weight watchers choose a goal weight for their height and bone structure. And teachers decide what goals they want to accomplish in the education of their students.

The Apostle Paul was a very active writer with very specific goals. He penned numerous letters to various churches for the purposes of strengthening, encouraging, and teaching the members about the things of God. In the book of 1 Timothy, Paul wrote to an individual. Timothy, his protégé in the faith, was a member of Paul’s missionary team, and at Paul’s request he stayed in the city of Ephesus to stand against some tough opposition to the church and the Christian faith.

Paul recognized the difficulties Timothy was facing and wrote him a letter. It wasn’t a newsy note, but a letter with a purpose. Early on Paul explained that his letter would be full of instructions with certain goals in mind. He desired that Timothy and the Ephesian congregation would develop love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.

These three things should still be goals for Christians today. We become aware of our weaknesses in these areas by allowing God, through His word, to reveal the places in our hearts that need reshaping. The goals are accomplished as we submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit’s powerful guidance with obedience.

  • Love from a pure heart: It seems like it would be easy to love. We love those who love us. Or we love those who can do things for us. But loving with a pure heart has no thought of self. It is loving because God loves. It is loving without expecting pay back. It is desiring good for all regardless of how they treat us. This kind of love is impossible without being fully connected to God through Christ.
  • Love from a Good Conscience: In order to live our lives God’s way and to love others God’s way we must maintain a good conscience. It is essential to stay sensitive to the nudging of the Holy Spirit as He points out areas in our lives not in line with God’s will, and to immediately confess anything He reveals so we can receive the freedom that comes with forgiveness. In this way our relationship with God will deepen and our testimony before others will remain strong.
  • Love from a Sincere Faith: Faith will always be under attack. There is an enemy who seeks to destroy the truth any way he can. Timothy was facing this struggle and so do we today. There are always men and women who seek to turn victims from sincere faith in God to strange doctrines. Many get caught up in false spirituality, which focuses on myths and speculations rather than the truth in God’s word. Even those who understand God’s truth can be swayed to mistrust their Savior if they take their eyes off Christ and focus on their personal understanding of their circumstances. Paul recognized that maintaining a sincere faith is always a fight.

Paul had a goal for writing his letter to Timothy, and God has preserved the letter for us. Things haven’t changed much in two thousand years. So let’s ask God to help us to love Him and others from a pure heart, to develop a good conscience, and remain strong in sincere faith. After all, if goal setting is helpful for athletes, businesspeople, weight watchers, and teachers, it follows that we who are God’s children and desire to be faithful to him should set goals as well – to achieve much for His glory and honor.

Love,
Mama

An Old Pair of Jeans And An Old Song

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

IMG_3259Some songs have been sung for years and years. We can rattle out the words by heart and the melody just slips from our tongue. These songs are like an old pair of jeans that fit just right. They are go-to comfort! But sometimes the jeans get put at the bottom of the drawer and we forget about them until one day we find them and remember how good they feel.

Jesus Loves Me was that song when you were small. We sang it when you went to bed, when you were awake, when we were in the car, when you were in Sunday School and anywhere in between. The words were comforting and told simple but important truths about God.

Jesus loves me this I know

For the Bible tells me so

Little ones to Him belong

They are weak but He is strong

 

Yes, Jesus loves me

Yes, Jesus loves me

Yes Jesus loves me

The Bible tells me so

As the years passed we graduated to more sophisticated adult songs – some that praise the name of the Lord and others that give deep theological truths. Jesus Loves Me got put to the bottom of the drawer and forgotten.

Until recently . .

It came again to my attention Sunday during Pastor Craig’s sermon on Romans 5. As he spoke about God’s love, the cherished but forgotten song popped into my head as if I had found an old comfortable pair of jeans and slid them over my legs. The timeless truths felt good and gave me comfort.

Jesus loves me!

Jesus loves me when I am weak!

Jesus loves me when I don’t feel like others do!

Jesus loves me when I am unlovable!

Jesus loves me enough to die for me!

Jesus loves me and I belong to Him!

How do I know this?

It’s not because a label says stonewashed and comfort fit.

It’s because the Bible tells me so!

Love,

Mama

I Love You More!

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1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 “Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren to excel still more.”

IMG_1258There are just some things you can’t get enough of: encouragement, kindness, success . . . or maybe even chocolate cake to name a few. But something that exceeds all these is love.

We cannot receive too much love, but we also cannot give too much love.

God teaches us through His word and His example that we are to love others, particularly brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church reminding them of this. It wasn’t that they were not showing love – because they were – but Paul urged them to love even more. In fact, he encouraged them to excel in it.

The Thessalonians were going through difficult times. They were dealing with persecution and false teachers who were trying to create divisions. It was imperative for them to stick together, helping one another, encouraging one another, praying for one another, and loving one another.

Today, God’s family still struggles with hard times. Throughout the world brothers and sisters in Christ are suffering persecutions from the enemy of the cross. Others are falling away as they are swayed by the pleasures and philosophies of this world. More than ever we need to practice loving each other. We need to excel in it even more.

This is not always easy. Tense times create short tempers. People are not always lovable, but God does not ask us to love only those who are easy to love. Love is something God asks us to extend even to our enemies.

What does this love look like?

It certainly isn’t a feeling. Feelings can be hurt and feelings can be wrong. This love is a choice; a choice to admonish carefully and tenderly; a choice to help those who are weak; a choice to encourage the fainthearted; and a choice to be patient with everyone.

This kind of love does not repay evil for evil, but always seeks after that which is good. It appreciates those who diligently labor and thinks of others more highly than themselves. It is patient and kind. It is not jealous. It doesn’t brag and is not arrogant. It does not act unbecomingly or seek after its own. It is not easily provoked nor does it take into account a wrong suffered. It does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. This kind of love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

There are many things you can do without, but you can’t get enough or give enough love. It’s crucial! Let’s make it our goal to love each other more.

Love,
Mama