Verses from Mama

Hearing God speak one Bible verse at a time.

God’s Children are the Brightest Lights Ever

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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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God’s Word Is Not Chained

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2 Timothy 2:8-9 “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained liked a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.”

Helplessness! No one enjoys being restrained from moving forward. In our culture, in particular, people have for centuries taken pride in being able to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. We want to succeed and the way to do so is to “git-r-done.” But what happens when there is no conceivable way to move forward?

A mother sits by the bed of her terminal child longing to ease the pain and suffering. She would do anything to suspend the death sentence for this little one she cherishes so deeply. Yet all she can do is sit by and wait. She is helpless to turn the tide.

A once strong warrior who has been able to accomplish much in the past, now finds himself enduring terrible pain that confines him to a wheelchair. He helplessly waits for assistance to accomplish the most menial of tasks. When will this pain and frustration end?

Changed circumstances, deteriorating health, difficult life stages, large time commitments, lack of opportunity – all of these can prevent us from doing what we want to do. We are left to wonder about our changed roles and what will come next.

Paul could have experienced this helpless feeling. He had spent years serving His God in mighty ways through difficult missionary work. He had suffered greatly, yet God had rescued him time and time again. Now, in his older years, he was confined to a prison cell. From outside of his living quarters it would seem that his great influence and ability to work for God was over. To the untrained eye his reality was bleak and his fate was helplessness.

But Paul had a vastly different perspective. He realized that though God’s child can be detained behind bars and kept from serving in a conventional way, God’s word could never be put in chains. Even from behind prison walls, God’s work continues and His truth prevails.

Paul’s strongest encouragement in the midst of personal helplessness was the fact that Jesus Christ had been put into the deepest prison of all – the grave. Yet He could not be restrained there for long. After three days the Son of God rose again to bring salvation to all who would believe. That message and the hope it promises have endured through centuries of impossible situations. This glorious fact helped Paul to endure the deepest of hardships and overcome any feelings of helplessness.

God is not stymied by our apparent helplessness, but will make a way to overcome. Remember, as Paul did, Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead and overcame the greatest obstacle for us. Endure bravely your circumstances, realizing that though you may feel imprisoned, the Lord is in control and will show you what it is He has for you to do in this new stage of life. No matter how difficult the situation, the Word of God can never be imprisoned.

Love,

Mama

Four Roadblocks to Effective Witness

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All children of God are called to be witnesses of the salvation He has provided for the world. There are millions of people inhabiting the globe who are in slavery to sin and need to hear about the way to freedom through Jesus Christ. What often keeps us from sharing this good news? Second Timothy 2 gives four roadblocks that we must overcome in order to have an effective witness.

2 Timothy 2:3 “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”

Roadblock #1: When we set out to give testimony to the things God has done for us, we embark on a spiritual war. There is an enemy who wants to keep the truth from those who are his prisoners. Those who are hurting the worst may be so entrenched in Satan’s lies they will not want to hear the truth even from those who deeply love them. Others think they are fine and don’t see their need at all. The messages and motives of God’s messengers may be misunderstood and literally, at times, all hell can break loose. As soldiers in God’s army we must be prepared to endure hardship without backing down from our calling, while continuing to love those who are hurting. This can only be done as we stay in constant contact with the Lord through the Bible and prayer.

2 Timothy 2:4 “No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs – he wants to please his commanding officer.”

Roadblock #2: In a world of many distractions, it is easy to become entangled in the web of constant activity. We sign up for every call for volunteers whether in school, work, or church instead of evaluating what it is God has called us to do. We waste time sitting in front of the TV or scrolling through social media, liking pictures and reading posts to be more informed about what’s going on in our circle of friends. While none of these things is wrong, we often take them to the level of our life’s calling. These “civilian affairs” drain our time and energy and take us away from the battles our commanding officer has called us to fight.

2 Timothy 2:5 “Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.”

Roadblock #3: Sharing our faith with those around us must be done according to the rules. We tend to think a person will come to Jesus because of our knowledge and our ability to formulate our thoughts well. But this is not the case. The Spirit of God is the One Who makes inroads into a person’s heart. We are just the conduit for this power. We must study to show ourselves approved unto God. We must pray daily for our friends and family members, asking God to do the work in their hearts. Then we must be available to speak as the Holy Spirit leads us. He will give us His words and His timing to break through to those He is calling.

2 Timothy 2:6 “The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.”

Roadblock #4: In order to share in a spiritual crop, we need to plant the seed. So often fear or feelings of inadequacy keep us from doing what we can do and we miss the opportunities that are all around us. First Peter 3:15, says, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” If we want to have an effective witness, we must plant the seed! This is hard work and can take a lot of time, but the rewards are amazing!

Each of us is called to tell others about our sure hope of salvation in Christ. It is not an easy job and there are many roadblocks, but we are guaranteed success by focusing our hearts and minds on the One Who leads the way. Endure hardship, don’t become entangled in civilian affairs, run according the rules, and start planting the seed. Be assured that God will use your effective witness to bring many people to Him.

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

Harvest Time

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Matthew 9:37-38 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

It’s harvest time! How do I know? I know because the crops have tractor-in-the-fieldturned brown, dust infiltrates the air, tractors rumble along the road blocking traffic, and bright combines lumber through the fields spitting a golden reward into the beds of gigantic grain trucks. It is harvest time, and my farmer friends are scurrying to bring in the fruit of all their labors.

This week I sat in the living room of our neighbor’s house. Three of us were there to read and study the Bible together. As we discussed the passage their husbands and other farmers working together outside the window distracted me. I sensed the urgency and excitement of the task as I watched one run on foot full speed up the lane and reappear with a John Deere gator in full throttle. Back and forth they went working together to accomplish their task. Even as the darkness hid the crops the lights were still seen moving to and fro through the fields.

harvested-cornThe girls and I discussed harvest time and I was impressed with the importance of everyone’s involvement. Though my friends don’t ride in the tractors they are very much involved in other ways. All throughout the busy season they take turns cooking and packaging meals that can be eaten on the go. They take the meals to the fields so the guys can grab their sacks and eat as they attend to their task. That way there will be no break in the work, and it can continue on until all the crops are safely in from the fields.

As Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages teaching the good news of God’s kingdom and healing every disease and sickness, the crowds of hurting people plucked His heart strings. He looked at them with compassion because they were pulled in all directions by the things of this world. In response He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Today the fields are still ready to be harvested. Humanity is hurting in every way – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The world needs a Savior found only in the Lord Jesus Christ. God is looking for men and women, who will enter the fields, tell others about Him and bring in a harvest for His kingdom.

Each believer is important in the reaping process. The fields belong to God and He makes the Gospel seed grow in human hearts, but we are needed to share the message. Many have given their lives to serve Him in foreign missions, but even those of us who remain in our hometowns are important. Look around! There are many souls right next door longing for the message of hope.

There is a task for all of us and just like the women provided food for the working farmers we are called upon to provide prayer support for those laboring in difficult places. We must pray for additional laborers, and ask God to provide Holy Spirit power, courage, protection and strength. We can also share in the work through encouragement, and financial giving.

There is urgency in the air. The fields are golden and ready to be harvested. You may not be riding on a large tractor or combine but if you know Jesus you are called to participate in the harvest of souls. Look around right where you are – the harvest is plentiful and the farmers are out. Will you be one of the workers?

Love,

Mama

Save

Learning from the Woodpecker

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Ephesians 2:10 “For God has made us what we are, created in Christ Jesus to do those good deeds which he planned for us to do.” (Phillips translation)

woodpecker-wallpaper-3The air was damp and sticky as I began the final stretch of my early morning walk. The warmth of the bedroom had wakened me in the wee hours, and after tossing and turning for what seemed like an eternity, I had ventured out to greet the day. Lost in thought I rounded the curve and headed back towards the house. Suddenly, a rapid, hollow tapping broke the stillness of the morning. The sound reverberated through the air like a popgun firing in close proximity.

Jarred from my reverie, I searched the surrounding area for the origin of the sound. Finally I saw him. Perched near the top of a tall telephone pole clung the tiniest woodpecker. He was banging his beak against the wood in search of his breakfast. I could hardly believe the powerful sound that his diligent pecking made.

IMG_2962

Look closely and you can see the tiniest of woodpeckers near the top of the pole.

God made these tiny birds with adaptations for their drumming. Their brain is small and tightly encased in an extremely strong skull made of sponge-like bone to protect them from brain damage. Their eyes contain a thick membrane that creates a cover as they strike to eliminate injury from flying debris. Their feet are strong and their bills sharp with a sticky tongue for grabbing moving insects. He created them and equipped them to do exactly what He planned. And even though they are small, the sound of their tapping fills the air.

Just recently I was reading about Charles H. Spurgeon, a famous preacher from the 1800s. God used this man to reach many for Christ before the days of television, internet, and radio. One day he preached a message on heaven and hell to an audience of 12,000 seated in an open field. Can you imagine how loud his voice must have been to reach that many people without an electric sound system? God adapted this godly man to the ministry he had for him and the settings in which he would preach. Though just one small man amongst thousands, like the woodpecker his voice boomed out, reaching many with the gospel.

You have also been equipped for a special service. God has made you exactly as He desired so that you can fulfill His plans. Maybe you have physical characteristics that will allow you to fit into a foreign culture where you can share the gospel message. Maybe you have a tender heart that can patiently work with children or the elderly. Maybe you have a booming voice that will captivate large crowds.

Do not look at others and consider yourself insignificant. Even the tiny woodpecker on top of a tall telephone pole can startle a passerby on an early summer morning. Allow God full control of your life and His message will sound forth from you to reach your world.

Love,

Mama

Sticks and Stones May Break Your Bones But Words Can Also Hurt

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1 Thessalonians 2:1-2 “For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain, but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.”

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”

IMG_2955Whoever came up with this saying was not thinking clearly. While physical attack is very harmful, vicious words can also produce much pain and devastation. In fact, words are often a tool of the devil.

When you enter into a successful spiritual ministry of any sort, be alert. It is very likely that you will experience some type of verbal opposition. Over and over this is seen throughout the Bible, and yet we are often so surprised when similar things happen to us. When we are hit with opposition it is easy to become discouraged and feel like our hard work is a failure. In these times it is important to remember that the work is not really ours. It is our job to be faithful and God’s job to bring the results.

Paul and Silas entered the city of Thessalonica with a very recent history of suffering and mistreatment in the nearby town of Philippi. Most would have been tempted to return to the safety of home and hearth feeling as if they had done their time of service for God. But Paul and Silas were different. God gave them a boldness to continue preaching the gospel message to all who would listen despite the difficulties.

As they came to Thessalonica, Satan’s most successful tool to hinder their ministry was the flurry of accusations that these messengers were out for their own benefit, greedily seeking glory and fortune from men.

After Paul and Silas had spent only a very short time in Thessalonica, the malicious words stirred up the religious leaders, creating painful persecution. Paul and Silas were again forced to run for their safety. It may have seemed that the missionaries’ ministry was coming to a quick end, but things were not what they seemed. God was still at work.

Paul assured the Thessalonian believers in a letter that his visit to them was not in vain. God had chosen them and opened their hearts to receive the message of salvation for what it was – the word of God – through the power of His Holy Spirit.

Paul went on to remind these new believers of the truth regarding the accusations against him. None of them were true and he only had their best interests at heart. By recalling the round the clock labor and the hardship they endured so as not to be a burden, the believers could be witnesses of the upright and blameless behavior the missionary team exhibited. Paul expressed his deep longing to come back to them, but lamented that again the enemy, Satan, hindered a visit.

I have noticed that one of Satan’s greatest hindrances to gospel ministry is harmful words. So often those who should be working together for the cause of Christ develop difficulties because of disagreements or misunderstandings that occur within their circles. The words can come from the outside but often they come from the inside. Opinions are spoken in haste or taken out of context, feelings are hurt, disagreements occur, and unity is threatened. This is why it is so important to be careful about reacting prematurely to things we hear. Do not believe everything and go straight to the source if you have any concerns or questions. Don’t go around talking to others and spreading the poison. Be kind and considerate when you don’t agree on menial points, and be willing to work together despite differences.

Above all, don’t be discouraged when it seems a ministry has hit a wall because of false words and accusations. Remember that this is a regular tool of the devil, but God is bigger than this hindrance. Pray even more about the circumstances and trust God for the results. It is his responsibility to bring the fruit.

Sticks and stones break your bones and words can also hurt you, but don’t be discouraged. God knows the truth, He examines hearts, and He will be your witness. So don’t turn back. Grasp the courage that only God can give and continue on. For those who are truly seeking to please and serve Him selflessly will someday see that, like Paul, their labor was not in vain despite the opposition.

Love,

Mama

There Are People Only You Can Reach!

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2 Corinthians 10:13 “But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you.”

There are people only you can reach!

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Envy is a vice that can cause great damage. It reaches into the heart of relationships and creates much havoc. Like a mouse squeezing into a home through the tightest places, this trait can even find its way into Christian circles and fruitful ministries.

The Corinthian church suffered the aftermath of envious leaders who infiltrated their midst after their spiritual father, the Apostle Paul, journeyed on to other places. Self-proclaimed apostles who lusted after power took charge of the congregation and began to deride Paul’s authority. By finding fault and casting doubt they convinced the Corinthians that Paul did not have their best interests at heart.

This was damaging to the integrity of the gospel message and a crushing heartbreak for Paul who loved the Corinthians deeply.

Within the letter of 2 Corinthians Paul seeks to defend his apostleship and uncover the real enemy behind the false apostles’ tactics. Satan, who disguises himself as an angel of light, worked in and through these envious men to gain control of the unsuspecting church members. Paul sought to reveal that their real motives were not based on love, but on the desire to enslave, devour, and take advantage of the situation. They wanted control and glory.

As Paul pleads with the Corinthian church he assures them that his desire for their respect is different. He is acting within the sphere of influence that God had given to him. He was the first to preach the gospel among them and his ministry had brought them to Christ, so he felt a responsibility for their spiritual welfare. He argued that he wasn’t trying to usurp other men’s positions, but was only doing the job and preaching the message that God had given him. He had never taken advantage of them as these false leaders were doing, but instead served lovingly free of charge.

Within the church today leaders still struggle with envy. It is easy to look at another person’s ministry success and compare it to our own. While there is nothing wrong with helping each other, it is important to remember that God has given us each our own sphere of influence. By enviously encroaching on another’s area of service for the wrong reasons we can miss opportunities that only we can fill. The world is a really big place and we are all needed to fulfill our mission if everyone is to be reached.

Paul knew that when a Christian worker focuses on his own God-given sphere of influence, people’s lives will be impacted and the circle of influence will grow in ever widening circles.

Are you enviously looking at the successful ministries of those around you and desiring to step in for the wrong reasons? Or are you asking God to show you whom you can reach in your sphere of influence?

The world needs you because …

There are people only you can reach!

Love,
Mama

Forever Changed!

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Isaiah 6:8 “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, “Here I am. Send me!'”
 
People who have truly experienced God are forever changed.
In the year that Judah’s King Uzziah died, a man named Isaiah had a vision. In his vision he saw the Lord God seated on a throne, high and exalted above all else. The train of his kingly robe filled the temple, and above Him were angelic beings who were calling out to one another. Their awe-inspiring chant lifted up the mighty King of heaven and described Him with these words, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.” Just the sound of their voices caused the earth to shake and smoke to fill the temple.
Isaiah was so overwhelmed by the perfection and majesty of the King in his vision that the view of his own sinful self became too much to bear. He loudly expressed grief over his sin, which could not be hidden in the glory of the supreme ruler of the universe. His words reflected his utter devastation: “Woe is me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips.”
For those who have had a personal experience with the Almighty God, there is no other response. It is often easy to feel good about ourselves and to pride ourselves on our accomplishments and actions until we are confronted with the awesome perfection of a holy God. Compared to Him even the most valiant of efforts is like a dirty rag. As the realization of our sinfulness hits us, we, like Isaiah, are only left with the words, “Woe is me!“
But I love how Isaiah’s attitude changes in the next verses. One of the angelic beings flew to him with a live coal in his hand which he had taken from the altar with tongs. Placing the hot coal on Isaiah’s lips he declared, “Your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.“
This act of purging Isaiah of his sinful lips gave him new hope and confidence. When he heard the voice of the Lord, the great King, asking, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” Isaiah responded immediately. “Here am I. Send me!”
This broken man who was so aware of his own sinfulness and unworthiness now had the confidence to volunteer for the Lord’s work. The power of his sin was broken and Isaiah was now a clean instrument to speak God’s word to the nation. His life was changed forever and so were many who heard the truth proclaimed from his lips.
To be an effective tool for God’s work one must first experience the Lord in all His holiness. This encounter will clearly show the truth of one’s unworthiness. Yet when we bow before Him in utter brokenness, He will cleanse us from sin through the blood of Christ. Then when we hear His call, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” we will be ready to answer with Isaiah, “Here I am. Send me!”
 
Have you truly experienced the holiness of God? When you do you will be forever changed.
Love,
Mama