May 11, 2006
No Greater Joy

Mother’s Day is Sunday and I am reminded of both my mother and my children. 3 John 4 reads “I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (HCSB)

Your mother has no greater joy than knowing you walk in truth, you live for Jesus, you trust Him with your daily life, you know His has a plan for your life and you are conscious of Him in all you do.

In your mother’s eyes you are the greatest! When our first child Donald was born, I took him to meet his great-grandmother, Mama Carrie. When I handed him to her, I remarked proudly, “Isn’t he the prettiest baby you ever saw?” She quickly answered, “I had babies, too.” Every mother thinks her babies are the most precious. God made us that way.

My children are grown now, but I still think they can do whatever they set their hearts, minds, and hands to. When I hear Donald preach, he convinces me he’s an outstanding expositor of God’s Word. I have no doubt that Caroline conducts Individual Educational Plans with professionalism and kindness for students of Fayette County, Georgia. And no one pours his life into “affecting change in the lives of students to draw them closer to Jesus Christ” than Joseph. However, when I told Joseph the other day what a great job he did on a project, he responded, “You’re my mother. You think everything I do is good.”

Never forget that your mother prays for you! Colossians 1:9 strikes a mother’s heart. “…since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” A mother constantly approaches the throne of God to ask His richest blessings on her children. Besides Jesus, your mother is your most faithful advocate and intercessor. I am thrilled when one of my children calls to ask me to pray for a specific need.

On Mother’s Day, follow the advice of Proverbs 31:28 “Her sons rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:” Add a few hugs and kisses!

November 7, 2005
God's Special Treasure

While studying to present God's word to ladies at Woman to Woman and wanting to keep with their theme Refining Jewels, I discovered a beautiful picture of God's love for His children. Malachi 3:16-18 tells us,
“Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name. 'They shall be Mine,' says the Lord of hosts, 'On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.”

God considers those who love him to be jewels, or special treasure other translations write the word. Wow! Special treasure. I remember hiding special treasure as a child. My cousin Russ and I buried a box in our grandmother's back yard. We collected grand objects. Rocks, broken colored glass, and my mother's amethyst earrings.

I've never owned many jewels, but I treasure the ones I have. They are gifts. Jesus says in John 17:6 that God has given Him those who believe. "They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word." And we learn that as believers were are special to God. 1 Peter 2:19 includes that we are "His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."

When you think about your gems or jewelry, be reminded that God thinks you are a special treasure. Thank Him for His mercy made new every morning.

The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

September 30, 2005
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Don and I are leaving for Georgia today to be with our daughter, Caroline, her husband, Scott, and their two year old, Brennen. The occasion merits our traveling even with high gas prices because Brennen's new brother, Justin, is due to arrive any time now.

The excitement surrounding the birth of a baby brings to my mind Psalm 139:14. "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works;..." Each person is shaped by the Father, valued by the Father, and loved by the Father. Life is precious and of great worth. Yet Jesus tells us in John 3:3 ..."Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Born a second time? Sounds impossible. Jesus told of a spiritual birth that gives each who believes a new life in Him. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name;" Just as we can hold about 7 pounds of new life and envision all he will learn to do and grow to be, we can lead someone to gain new life in Christ, at any age, and rejoice greatly and what he or she can learn to do and grow to be. Thank you Lord for new life!

August 15, 2005
His Eye is on the Sparrow

On my recent return trip from North Carolina, my Dodge Caravan, lovingly dubbed The Giving Thanks Mobile, quit at a rest stop on highway 35 east of Chillicothe, OH. My immediate reaction was “Oh, Lord, what am I going to do? I’m alone, 100 miles from home. Strangers are coming and going.” I sat in my car with the door open contemplating my plight. Four little sparrows flitted and fought over a crumb near my car. I couldn’t help but smile at them. I even told them how cute they were. Before I could reprimand myself for talking aloud to birds in a parking lot, Scripture popped into my mind. Matthew 10: 29-31 says “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (NKJV)

What a comforting thought God provided for me through His Word!! God cares for me and I’ll be fine. I sought the opinion of fellow travelers as to the condition of my vehicle. They agreed I needed to be towed. While my dear husband, Don, made arrangements with a fellow pastor to come get me, God directed me to make the best use of the hours at the rest stop. The ODOT caretakers were hospitable, serving me coffee and conversation. People were friendly and gracious. When Don and Charlie arrived to rescue me, I was holding a plate of fried chicken and potato salad given to me by a family picnicking. So much for being a damsel in distress.

Don and Charlie loaded the car on a trailer. I gave hugs and gospel tracts to the care takers. Holding the refreshingly cold water bottles the picnickers handed each of us, we said goodbyes and thank you's.

God turned what started as a frightening experience into a tolerable one. And, more importantly, each who helped me knows how much God cares for sparrows—and them.

July 11, 2005
The Cup of Salvation

I heard Dr. Ron Mitchell at First Baptist Church of Huber Heights say in a sermon, “Christ drank His cup of bitterness that we might drink of the cup of salvation.” I enjoy word pictures so mind immediately started “spilling” pictures of the word “cup.”

In Psalm 116, the psalmist talks of the “cup of salvation.” Jesus celebrated Passover many times where this Psalm was read after the meal and after the third cup of wine. Participants read “How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me?” I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.” (vs. 12-13)

Jesus knew the Psalms well. How fitting that He prayed fervently in the Garden of Gethsemane the night of His betrayal, “let this cup pass from Me…” Matt. 26:39 Yet, He continued, “…may Your will be done.” (vs.42) Often I think of this “cup” as Christ’s agony or physical suffering. As horrible as that was, his “cup” reaches much deeper. The sinless Son of God had to be separated from His Father to bear the sins of all mankind. He bore your sins and mine. 2 Cor. 5:21 tells us “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us,…” Jesus became the “Cup of Salvation.!” Give Him praise and thanks daily!

March 26, 2005
Sunrise Service

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Matt 28:6 (KJV)

Easter is my favorite day of the year. I know the world explains away the Christian celebration, citing pagan practices of long ago that have evolved to be part of Easter. I consider their renouncement of celebration for our joyful occasion sad and unfortunate. So what if the pagans used eggs as symbols; when I see Easter eggs, I think of the new life inside the shell. Immediately my mind turns to new life in Christ.

I realize too that I celebrate Christ's resurrection each day because I acknowledge Him as Savior. I celebrate Christ's resurrection each Sunday in worship of Him as Lord. I still rejoice to celebrate Christ's resurrection yearly on the special day we call Easter!

Sunrise Service (called that with fondness because I see times of services advertised to begin at 6:30 a. m. or 8:30 a. m. or times between) makes the top of my list to attend every Easter! No other worship gathering grabs my heart like Sunrise Service. Sometimes the chill of the air goes to my bones; or rain runs the service inside (It's hard to see the sun rise when you're inside.); or snow gently falls on me as I worship. None of those weather hindrances dampens the excitement for me "as it begins to dawn toward the first day of the week" Matt. 28:1 and I go to celebrate the empty tomb! My heart thrills at the stillness of the early morning, the chirping of the birds, and the quiet gathering of believers. Extra joy overflows on the occasions when the sun breaks through the clouds and brightness fills the air.

My love for Sunrise Service started when I was very young. My daddy and I rose early each Easter morning of my childhood and quietly left the house, being careful to not wake Mother. We drove about two miles to the town cemetery where we joined many others gathering in almost silence to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. The Robersonville High School Concert Band, in full uniform, with their metal folding chairs placed in concert position broke the morning air with "He Arose" in "surround sound." I would not have been surprised at all to see Jesus, robed in white, walk around one of those gray, marble tombstones. In fact, I expected Him. The ministers of Robersonville, NC participated in the service with prayers, poems, hymns, and a message. Finally, trumpeters sounded taps from far away amidst the graves. After a few soft greetings and hugs, Daddy and I, holding hands, headed to our car and home to see what the Easter Bunny brought. Then, dressed in our best, Mother, Daddy and, I attended Sunday School.

I've delighted in many Sunrise Services through the years. I relished every one my dear husband Don preached when he pastored. Our three children rarely complained at "getting" to attend Sunrise Service. What a delight to shiver under a blanket a few years ago when our son Donald preached in the cold air in Franklin, OH. Tomorrow morning when Don and I gather with believers at a cemetery, the refrain will be as fresh as ever "He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. "Matt 28:6 (KJV)

Hallelujah!!

March 21, 2005
Being Passionate about Passion Week

"And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord" Mark 11:9 (KJV)

Oh, how the people that lived during the time Jesus did wanted a King. After all, for three years now he had walked through their towns and villages healing people, touching their lives in unusual ways. Just think of all the mighty acts the folks had seen Jesus perform. He had even calmed the raging sea. He walked on the water of the sea. He spoke with authority, knowing the Scriptures well.

What a King Jesus would be! He would be able to break the Roman rule over them. He could free them, provide for them, even feed them. They had seen him feed thousands from very little food.

So when Jesus came into Jerusalem that day, riding on a donkey, they shouted, they cheered. They went before him and behind him, hailing him as King.

Because we live 2000 years following these events, we see the events in light of the cross. We know Jesus never intended to be the earthly king, to free the people from enslavement by the Romans.

However, a truth remains in this Scripture that affects each of us. Many times in our lives, we see Jesus one way when He ministers to us in a different way. We see Him as able to fix a problem when He wants to be Strength in the problem. We want Him to take away the grief when He wants to be Comfort in our grief.

If we do not continue to trust that God's ways are higher and more wonderful that our ways, we can become bitter that our wants are not met by Him. Our cheers can turn to jeers just as during the last week of Jesus' earthly pilgrimage "Hosanna" turned to "Crucify."

February 2005
He Feeds Us

I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. Psalms 81:10 (KJV)

Walker looks like a baby bird when his cereal and fruit or vegetable comes his way. He opens his mouth as wide as he can, then receives the nourishment with great glee! The food Walker's sweet mother puts on the spoon and into his mouth gives to Walker vitamns, minerals, proteins, and whatever is needed for him to grow to be healthy and strong.

What an explanation of the picture God gives us through the Psalmist Asaph in Ps 81:10! When we open our mouth, God will fill it! He tells us again and again how he will nourish us with what we need to grow strong in Him.

If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.John 7:37 (KJV),

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.Matt 5:6 (KJV),

O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.Psalms 34:8 (KJV),

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.Rev 21:6 (KJV)

I am afraid that many times we keep our mouths closed to what God has "on the spoon." We think we don't like the "food" He is offering. We miss the nourishment He means for us to gain in our knowledge of Him and of His ways because we turn our face and close our lips.

I can remember trying to get my children to try a new food. I would say, "You don't know if you like it or not until you try it." or "It's good for you. Just try it." I can see this picture with our Heavenly Father with spiritual food that I refuse to try. My prayer is that you and I will open our mouths wide to let Him fill us!!

January 25, 2005
Washington, DC Observation

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD;Psalms 33:12 (KJV)

Wednesday through Friday of last week, Don and I were privileged to attend events at the inauguration of President George W. Bush. What an adventure!! As I stood in the cold with hundreds of thousands of people, all facing the United States Capitol, to listen to President George W. Bush give his address to the people of our nation for his second term as the most powerful individual in the world, my heart swelled with pride for the heritage of this country. For that moment I could forget the protestors and rampant sin in our land and think of the many, both past and present, who know the strength of our nation is bestowed from the graciousness of Almighty God.

The invocation, given by the minister of the Episcopal church close to the White House and where President and Mrs Bush attend when they are in Washington, exalted and thanked our Merciful Father. The military band, with full sound and fanfare piercing the cold air, played God of Our Fathers as if the entire nation knew the words to that gorgeous hymn were absolute truth. And the pastor from Texas who delivered the benediction exclaimed his petitions in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior. No one would ever have suspected that the week before the Supreme Court of our land was asked to remove prayer and God from the swearing in of our leader.

As the crowd began to leave the area, I saw two young men with a sign. Protestors were everywhere so I wanted to see what their placard read. A little to my surprise, it said, "President Bush 4 More Years, Trust Jesus Forever". I took their picture with Don!! And thanked the Lord for the next generation of those who will keep our nation a nation who loves God. Deut. 8:10 reminds us to never forget that it is God who gave us this land.