My Mean Mom

Sunday we mark Mother’s Day.  Some scoff at the day as nothing more than an invention of those who sell greeting cards, flowers, and dinners to guilty children. Others find the day incredibly painful reminder of a Mom now gone. Still others are women for whom the day is an endurance test of sorrow because of children never held, perhaps never conceived, or lost in miscarriage, or perhaps even in a now regretted termination of pregnancy. I write with a sensitivity to the sorrow that some feel, with no tolerance for the scoffers!

I love Mother’s Day as a time to recognize and thank those who carry out the most difficult task in the world, raising a child, all while learning on the job!  God gave me a good Mom, a woman who loved God and us, though imperfectly, with her whole heart.

(What follows is a personal reflection that I wrote on Mother’s Day, 2006. My mother had broken her hip that Saturday night. So, after preaching on Mother’s Day Sunday 2006, I traveled to Pennsylvania to sit the night with her. She died 5 years later. These words honored her 15 years ago, and still are as true to me as the day I wrote them. To my Mom,  possibly the most influential person in my life.)

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I'm writing this while watching my Mom sleep in a hospital bed. Occasionally she sort of rouses to recognize that I'm here, but mostly the morphine has her in a haze of semi-consciousness. It's my privilege to sit here by her bed, but it's oh, so hard to see her in such pain. She was on a stepladder on Saturday evening changing a light bulb. Somehow she missed the last step, fell, and broke both her shoulder and hip! Mom doesn't like to acknowledge that she's days shy of 70 years of age, hence being on a ladder when she might have been more cautious. I'd scold her, but I'll probably be just like her 20 years from now - resisting every limitation of age with kicking and screaming.

While I was leading the worship service at church this morning, I was thinking about my Mom; worrying really. In between worries, I remembered. Somehow thinking back to the way she was when I was 10 or 12, made thinking about the 'now' less frightening. I hated that she was a no-nonsense Mom then, but sure appreciate it now. She believed in making her kids self-reliant, disciplined, and capable of understanding life's choices have consequences. I hated making my bed to her specifications. (lines on the bedspread straight, corners tight!) I despised that I had to keep my room picked up neatly. (no dirty socks on the floor, all clothes on hangars, thank you!) 

But, from those little daily chores, I learned that IF a person tends to the simple stuff, the harder things in life tends to fall into place, too. She didn't let me think of letting school work go. It aggravated me that other kids could blow off assignments and that their Mom would cover for them with written excuses. Mine said, "you deal with it" and let me take whatever was coming my way for my irresponsibility. It taught me that deadlines mean something and to get my work done, on time!

She modeled the same diligence she expected of me. I can't remember when she didn't have dinner ready.  There were NO piles of laundry ever. (Quite a feat for a women who always had several children in her home for 40 years).  I cannot remember her house being in ‘a mess!’ I didn't hear her complain too often either. She showed us that life was about doing what needed to be done. Yep, there's a lot of Mom in me.

So, sitting here watching her face which is a lot more lined than the face that I remember when I close my eyes, I believe she'll be OK, because she's one tough lady and because she trusts God. I oughta know, cause she raised me to be tough and to trust Him too!

An anonymous author penned this in tribute to his Mom -- "Because of my mother, I missed out on lots of things other kids experienced. I've never been caught shoplifting, vandalizing other’s property, or ever arrested for any crime. It was all her fault. I didn't get drunk, didn't take up smoking, wasn't allowed to stayed out all night, or a million other things that other kids did. Sundays were reserved for church, and I didn't miss ever, that I can remember unless I was deathly ill. And, I knew better than to ask to spend the night with a friend on Saturdays. Now I'm a God-fearing, educated, honest adult. I am doing my best to be a mean parent just like Mom was. I think that’s what is wrong with the world today. It just doesn’t have enough mean moms anymore."   Now an old man myself, I still say, Amen to that.

Forgive me for this little reverie... I'm only thinking about my Mom today!

The Word says of a noble mother - "Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise." (Proverbs 31:28-31, NLT)

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I pray if you’re a Mom, you find joy, strengthened by faith.

Happy Mother’s Day.

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CWTW will not be published next week, returning on Monday, May 17.

Lord-willing I’ll see here, refreshed and ready to encourage you in your love for Jesus.

 

Jericho Walls?

Today is the National Day of Prayer. As I reflected on that, I confess that a part of me did not respond in faith. The problems plaguing these United States are myriad and complex. My first thought, sadly, was “It’s gonna take more than a few prayers to turn things around.”  Truth is earnest, faith-filled prayer is the starting point for change! 

I should know that because I have lived through so many ‘impossible’ situations where I saw God at work – in me, in people around me, in situations. Isaiah reminded the people of Jerusalem, who were in a crisis, that their solution, better armies and an alliance with Egypt, was no solution at all. "This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’ Therefore you will flee! You said, ‘We will ride off on swift horses.’ Therefore your pursuers will be swift!" (Isaiah 30:15-16, NIV)

Centuries before that time, the people of God faced an impossible situation.  They were called to enter the Promised Land. Miraculously God took them across the flooded Jordan River where they found yet another challenge – the fortifications of Jericho! But God had a plan! It seemed ludicrous.

"The Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors. You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days. Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can. Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town.” (Joshua 6:2-5, NLT)  March around the city? Not once, but for 7 days?  I can only imagine the kind of faith it required in Joshua to issue that command.  I wonder if his generals laughed at him?

Obedience brought victory, releasing the power of God!  Seven days later, after the seventh circuit of the city, the priests blew their trumpets. "When the people heard the sound of the rams’ horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the town and captured it." (Joshua 6:20, NLT)

Are you facing an impossible situation?
Has your life stalled, a ‘Jericho’ standing in the way of forward progress?

Jesus reminded His disciples of a principle that all pilgrims on the heavenly way must not forget - “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”  The context of that statement regards salvation. “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!  Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 

Jesus teaches us that only way to enter into the Kingdom of God is in complete dependence on faith. As long as a person holds onto an illusion of saving himself, he cannot fully experience the transforming work of the Spirit!

Will you choose a radical dependence on God, the Holy Spirit, today? 
Will you pray for the humility to respond with ready obedience to Him? 

That kind of life demands daily communication.  We are invited to counsel with Jesus! From His wisdom, we gain insight and are led to overcome our Jerichos.  He says, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne." (Revelation 3:20-21, NIV)

Facing an impossibility?
Before you panic, before you do something stupid just because you think you have to act now, sit down with Jesus. Tell Him about that thing- whatever it is. 
Does He already know? Of course He does, but He asks us to pray, to commune with Him.  Listen for His direction, then obey.

Here is a word from the Word, a song of David.  Meditate and go march on your Jericho.

"With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.
As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the LORD?
And who is the Rock except our God?

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me;
you stoop down to make me great.
You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn.
I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
I crushed them so that they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet.

You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet."
(Psalm 18:25-39, NIV)

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Jericho
(a song about impossibilities!)

I've stacking up the years I spent trading punches with the enemy

Built myself a double thick stone tower of lies, higher than the eye could see

Trapped in my flesh and bone

Crying out to You Lord, I’m desperate

Love come rattle this cage and set me free

 

All of my fears, like Jericho walls,

Gotta come down, come down

All of my fears, like Jericho walls,

Gotta come down, come down

Oh Lord, my prison turns to ruin

When Your love moves in

All of my fears, like Jericho walls,

Gotta come down, come down

Come down

 

Truth was crashing through the pride and the blame

Cutting straight to the heart of me

Long before I ever called your name

You were fighting for my victory

Carved in Your flesh and bone

The wounds that have said my souls forgiven

Oh now I can feel the darkness trembling

 

Rebuild me from the ground up

All I wanna see is You

Terrify the lies with truth

 

Copyright – Andrew Ripp

Come home, to church

 

Years ago I worshiped while sitting on a crude wooden bench in a former potato warehouse in rural India, our singing accompanied only by the thump of a single drum! And I have worhsiped in great cathedrals offering my heart to God while accompanied by majestic music of a pipe organ, led by people in ornate robes. I am most at home in a contemporary informal worship setting that is common to American evangelicals.

The issue is not the building where we gather; it is that we prioritize the choice to regularly join together, blending our voices, praying, living out our gifts, so that God is praised. Jesus promises this -"where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20, NIV) 

The practice of Christians, for 2000 years, is an obedient response to God’s call to gather in worship, be it in a cathedral or a store front mission. This is a divine imperative for Christians. The Church has formed me for all of my life. In my times of deepest distress, I retreat to the sanctuary, which is truly a place of refuge for me.  I am changed by times of worship, songs of praise, and sermons that move me in heart and mind!

I read from another of God’s preachers today, an ancient named Haggai. After that 70 year long stretch in Jerusalem’s history when God allowed the Assyrians to overrun Jerusalem, the exiles returned from Babylonia to rebuild. They were enthused about their own homes, but neglected the Temple restoration.

Haggai heard from the Lord and asked a pointed question. "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?" Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. .... Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored," says the LORD.

"You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the LORD Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house." (Haggai 1: 3-5, 8-9, NIV)  

The Temple was NOT an accessory, it was of critical importance, God said.

Yes, Christians are God’s temples. You could object that Haggai’s words should not be read about the place of the Church for us. Think again! The New Testament, does teach that we are, individually, the 'temples' in which the Spirit lives, that our lives are to be acts of worship. That is just half the story.

Christians are called to gather, to worship, to be the Church. We are told to "draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:22-25, NIV)

I’m following your reasoning. “OK, Jerry. But the Word does not say anything about the building.” Right you are! We can come together in someone's living room, a school gymnasium, a chapel by the roadside, a store-front mission, or a cathedral. But, we are to gather. 

Have you made gathering with Believers a first priority choice? COVID restrictions created hardship for us over the last year, but the digital age made it possible for us to ‘gather’ virtually. Thankfully, our buildings are open again. Will you re-connect, for Christ’s sake? Few choices have the same impact on the practice of our faith as regular, faithful attendance to worship; with the intention of focusing on His Presence and connecting with His people.

An honest reading of the New Testament convinces us of the importance of being part of the church.  The Greek word translated as ‘church’ is ‘ekklesia’ literally meaning “called-out ones.” It is a word borrowed from Grecian democracy in which the “ekklesia” gathered regularly and often to do the work of the people, the group embodying the value and principles of that society.  We are the ones called out of the world to gather as God's own people! When we do, we make the invisible God visible in His Body, preparing as the ones gathered to be His people scattered for the work of Christ in the world.

Here’s a word from the Word. Focus on the word together. "

For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." (Ephesians 2:18-22, NIV)

Hope to see you in church soon! 

It’s not just about you; it’s about HIS GLORY, experienced and expressed.

 

By Our Love

(listen, pray, learn, commit!)

Brothers let us come together

Walking in the Spirit

There's much to be done

We will come reaching

Out from our comforts

And they will know us by our love

Sisters we were made for kindness

We can pierce the darkness

As He shines through us

We will come reaching

With a song of healing

And they will know us by our love

The time is now

Come church arise

Love with His hands

See with His eyes

Bind it around you

Let it never leave you

And they will know us by our love

Children you are hope for justice

Stand firm in the Truth now

Set your hearts above

You will be reaching

Long after we're gone

And they will know you by your love

Christy Nockels

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