So You Have a Baby
What does it mean; this little human life? You’ve created a living person who may live 80 or 90 years or longer, walk, talk, make decisions, maybe make significant and lasting contributions to civilization and mankind, maybe be a career criminal. You will see this little one’s personality emerge much earlier than you expect. This little person may have many children and grandchildren and pass your genes on for years. Someone said that our children are our messages to the future. They will tell others who will never know us who we were.
So you have a baby, congratulations, you have assumed serious responsibilities that will last for the rest of your life. When you are in your 80’s and this child is in its 60’s, you will still feel the same responsibilities you feel today. For sure you are responsible for food, clothing and shelter, the basic needs; also for training, education and rearing into adulthood. You need to teach good manners, social skills and responsibilities. The responsibilities you have assumed are great, no doubt, but they pale when compared to the happy times and joys you will experience. When that little one first recognizes you or your voice and smiles, your heart will melt and run out your eyes.
I know it’s awesome to try and think of this little one living 80 or 90 years or longer. But it’s even more awesome, and almost overwhelming, when you remember that you have created a living soul that will live for ever, and ever, and ever. That 80 or 90 years is just a wisp of time compared to forever. As you train this child to live their short while on earth, don’t neglect to prepare and teach them to make their decision about eternity. The world will teach them more than they need to know about sin, so it falls to you to expose them to the gospel. Jesus said, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
Monday, January 21, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
More Mama Said
If there are a hundred members in your church, I bet there are only a half dozen or so that will sweep the floors, cut the grass and clean up the cemetery. The Bible says to be doers of the Word, and not hearers only; Mama said not to just stand around and pray when there’s work to be done.
There are only two kinds of people in this world; everyone is either a taker or a giver. Takers are generally looking for something for nothing while givers are generally trying to lend someone a helping hand. Mama said I was raised to be a giver and to stay away from takers cause they will bleed you dry and then get mad at you when you run out.
Once Mama caught me looking at an attractive young lady too long and too intense and told me I’d better keep my eyes straight ahead. I tried to explain that it was like admiring beautiful flowers, just because I liked to look at them, it didn’t mean I wanted to pick them. But she said I’d best save that tale for someone that didn’t know me. Mama said the best way to avoid forbidden fruit was to stay out of the devil’s orchard.
During a discussion about sin, little white lie sin or really bad sin, and which sins might be worse than others, Mama said that sin is not a smorgasbord you can pick and choose from. It’s like soup, and when you drink it you get it all.
Pop always had a head-full of dreams about things he wanted to do, places he wanted to go, and things he wanted to buy, including big recreational vehicles, property in Florida and in the mountains, and exotic vacations. When he went too far with his dreams, Mama would bring him back to earth. Mama said that every decision we make and action we take is based either on Pride, Greed, Lust, Prejudice, or God’s Will. We need to make sure our decisions and actions are based on God’s Will for our life.
Sometimes I find myself praying for things I don’t really feel down in my heart, especially when it involves forgiving someone or giving up bad habits. Mama said God hears your words, but He listens to your heart.
When I was about twelve I decided that smoking cigarettes would make me tough, bad, cool, or whatever it was I wanted to be at that age. I was making about eight dollars a week from my paper route so it was no problem for me to drop a quarter into a vending machine and get a pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes. I got two pennies change back, stuck down in the cellophane on the pack.
I knew Mama would never approve of me smoking, so I got a large tomato can and hid my cigarettes behind the garage. I would lay the cigarettes and matches on the ground and turn the can upside down over them. By stepping on the can and pushing it into the ground over my stash, it would hide them and also protect them from the rain. When I left for school each morning I would take a short cut through the back yard, pick-up my cigarettes, and proudly puff away as I walked to school. Any cigarette not completely smoked would be carefully extinguished and the butt placed in my pocket for later. This thrifty habit proved to be the Achilles Heel of my scheme when Mama called me to the washing machine one day to explain the loose tobacco she had found in my shirt pocket. She was hurt that her son would stunt his growth by smoking cigarettes (we didn’t know about cancer back then). Mama cried, and I promised faithfully never ever to do such a thing again. Many times I have said I was sorry for something I did or said. Then I went out and did it again. I was not so sorry I had done it as I was that I got caught. Mama said that real repentance was being sorry enough to stop doing it.
Did you ever feel like some of God’s commandments and rules were designed to keep you from having fun or a good time? God has no need to show you who is boss or to demonstrate his power. Everything He says is for your own good and benefit, to ensure your eternal home in heaven, and to improve the quality of your life on earth. Mama said God doesn’t have an ego problem.
As a homemaker, wife and mother, especially during the years she had three teenagers at home, Mama must have had many exasperating and frustrating days when nothing seemed to go right, as we all do. But Mama never shared her frustrations with us; she would smile and said: “Jesus knows my deepest need, He knows my every care. My Lord has promised to be near, and all my burdens share.”
Mama said that God wants a son/daughter relationship with you. Your prayers should not be a wish list, or a turning to God as a last result when you are sick or in trouble. Your daily prayers should be an intimate conversation with God about your life; praise and thanksgiving for your blessings; and His direction for your future.
Mama said the deepest, most complex and profound theology in the scriptures can be expressed in only three words; “Jesus loves me”. He knows everything I’ve ever done, everything I’ve ever said, and every thought I’ve ever had; and He loves me anyway. I don’t understand this, but I’m sure thankful for it.
They say that time is relevant, how long five minutes is depends on which side of the bathroom door you are on. We think of 80 or 90 years being a long life and then we read in the Bible of Methuselah fathering a child when he was 187 years old and living to be 969 years old. But even Methuselah’s long life was just a brief wisp of time as compared to eternity. Mama said it’s awesome to realize that during this brief time we spend on earth, we get to personally decide where we will spend eternity. Eternity is for ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever…….
Have you ever resisted attacking a situation or problem that subsequently went away by its self? Mama said that many times the smartest thing to say or do is nothing.
God said despise not, judge not (Romans 14:3) Mama said a person that does a certain thing should not despise one that does not do it; and a person who does not do a certain thing should not judge one who does it. The Bible says, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14: 12).
God created the Garden of Eden for Adam, but He expected Adam “to dress and keep” it. (Genesis 2:15) Mama said God expects us to maintain things He gives us too. If He gives you a house, He expects you to keep it clean and painted, if He gives you shoes He expects you to keep them clean and polished, if He gives you a car He expects you to keep it maintained and washed. The same principle applies to everything God gives you.
When Mama was on her deathbed at the Henry Medical Center, we prayed with her and tried to encourage her, but she would turn it around and comfort us. The last words I ever heard my Mama say were, “All is well in my Father’s house”, as she smiled and patted my hand.
There are only two kinds of people in this world; everyone is either a taker or a giver. Takers are generally looking for something for nothing while givers are generally trying to lend someone a helping hand. Mama said I was raised to be a giver and to stay away from takers cause they will bleed you dry and then get mad at you when you run out.
Once Mama caught me looking at an attractive young lady too long and too intense and told me I’d better keep my eyes straight ahead. I tried to explain that it was like admiring beautiful flowers, just because I liked to look at them, it didn’t mean I wanted to pick them. But she said I’d best save that tale for someone that didn’t know me. Mama said the best way to avoid forbidden fruit was to stay out of the devil’s orchard.
During a discussion about sin, little white lie sin or really bad sin, and which sins might be worse than others, Mama said that sin is not a smorgasbord you can pick and choose from. It’s like soup, and when you drink it you get it all.
Pop always had a head-full of dreams about things he wanted to do, places he wanted to go, and things he wanted to buy, including big recreational vehicles, property in Florida and in the mountains, and exotic vacations. When he went too far with his dreams, Mama would bring him back to earth. Mama said that every decision we make and action we take is based either on Pride, Greed, Lust, Prejudice, or God’s Will. We need to make sure our decisions and actions are based on God’s Will for our life.
Sometimes I find myself praying for things I don’t really feel down in my heart, especially when it involves forgiving someone or giving up bad habits. Mama said God hears your words, but He listens to your heart.
When I was about twelve I decided that smoking cigarettes would make me tough, bad, cool, or whatever it was I wanted to be at that age. I was making about eight dollars a week from my paper route so it was no problem for me to drop a quarter into a vending machine and get a pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes. I got two pennies change back, stuck down in the cellophane on the pack.
I knew Mama would never approve of me smoking, so I got a large tomato can and hid my cigarettes behind the garage. I would lay the cigarettes and matches on the ground and turn the can upside down over them. By stepping on the can and pushing it into the ground over my stash, it would hide them and also protect them from the rain. When I left for school each morning I would take a short cut through the back yard, pick-up my cigarettes, and proudly puff away as I walked to school. Any cigarette not completely smoked would be carefully extinguished and the butt placed in my pocket for later. This thrifty habit proved to be the Achilles Heel of my scheme when Mama called me to the washing machine one day to explain the loose tobacco she had found in my shirt pocket. She was hurt that her son would stunt his growth by smoking cigarettes (we didn’t know about cancer back then). Mama cried, and I promised faithfully never ever to do such a thing again. Many times I have said I was sorry for something I did or said. Then I went out and did it again. I was not so sorry I had done it as I was that I got caught. Mama said that real repentance was being sorry enough to stop doing it.
Did you ever feel like some of God’s commandments and rules were designed to keep you from having fun or a good time? God has no need to show you who is boss or to demonstrate his power. Everything He says is for your own good and benefit, to ensure your eternal home in heaven, and to improve the quality of your life on earth. Mama said God doesn’t have an ego problem.
As a homemaker, wife and mother, especially during the years she had three teenagers at home, Mama must have had many exasperating and frustrating days when nothing seemed to go right, as we all do. But Mama never shared her frustrations with us; she would smile and said: “Jesus knows my deepest need, He knows my every care. My Lord has promised to be near, and all my burdens share.”
Mama said that God wants a son/daughter relationship with you. Your prayers should not be a wish list, or a turning to God as a last result when you are sick or in trouble. Your daily prayers should be an intimate conversation with God about your life; praise and thanksgiving for your blessings; and His direction for your future.
Mama said the deepest, most complex and profound theology in the scriptures can be expressed in only three words; “Jesus loves me”. He knows everything I’ve ever done, everything I’ve ever said, and every thought I’ve ever had; and He loves me anyway. I don’t understand this, but I’m sure thankful for it.
They say that time is relevant, how long five minutes is depends on which side of the bathroom door you are on. We think of 80 or 90 years being a long life and then we read in the Bible of Methuselah fathering a child when he was 187 years old and living to be 969 years old. But even Methuselah’s long life was just a brief wisp of time as compared to eternity. Mama said it’s awesome to realize that during this brief time we spend on earth, we get to personally decide where we will spend eternity. Eternity is for ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever…….
Have you ever resisted attacking a situation or problem that subsequently went away by its self? Mama said that many times the smartest thing to say or do is nothing.
God said despise not, judge not (Romans 14:3) Mama said a person that does a certain thing should not despise one that does not do it; and a person who does not do a certain thing should not judge one who does it. The Bible says, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14: 12).
God created the Garden of Eden for Adam, but He expected Adam “to dress and keep” it. (Genesis 2:15) Mama said God expects us to maintain things He gives us too. If He gives you a house, He expects you to keep it clean and painted, if He gives you shoes He expects you to keep them clean and polished, if He gives you a car He expects you to keep it maintained and washed. The same principle applies to everything God gives you.
When Mama was on her deathbed at the Henry Medical Center, we prayed with her and tried to encourage her, but she would turn it around and comfort us. The last words I ever heard my Mama say were, “All is well in my Father’s house”, as she smiled and patted my hand.
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