Good Works

Ephesians 2: 10 

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus

to do good works,

which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

            This verse has been especially sweet to me the past couple of days.  We have been honored to have a friend and her infant son stay with us.  Each morning as that beautiful baby woke, we all swarmed in to see his first stretches and his first attempts at “talking.”

            The children and I have had to “draw straws” over who was going to feed, change and hold him first.  In the midst of our fascination with this little miracle we all began to speak a little more expressive and demonstrative.  We have had a ball loving on this little life.

               I have loved saying to him each morning, “I wonder what the Lord has planned for you today? And as we bathed him and prepared him for bedtime, I would ask, “What were the good works you did for your Heavenly Father today?”  

               His mother shared with me that others have commented that this new little life has been a “blessing” to others.  She said she has been praying that he would be a blessing, but she really thought it was futuristic.

Psalm 8: 2

 “From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise.”

                This post begs the question, “How do you value your children and the works God has planned for them?”  Not works for the future (although that is true) but works for the moment.  Whether your infant is napping in your arms, or he has grown and is diligently starting a job, I challenge you to see them filled with the potential God has for them.

            Encourage your children to find the “good works” God has for them.  Enjoy the “workmanship” and their good works God has loaned to you! 

No Cursing!

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         I wasn’t a good student.  Not in elementary or secondary or even in college.  I passed.  But school was hard.  I didn’t feel smart. I was embarrassed I couldn’t get straight A’s.  No one noticed me for academic excellence.

         I remember seeking help from Mrs. Davis in Algebra, but it only seemed to reinforce how incapable I was.  I labeled myself a poor student.  My older brother is brilliant.  I felt I was disappointing the family because I couldn’t keep up with his flawless report cards.

         Looking back, I probably thought I was “cursed” with dumb genes.

Deuteronomy 23:5, "He turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord Your God loves you."

I’ve thought of all that we call a "curse."  Be it life's circumstances, consequences, illness, relationships, or choices.  

I have looked at many of my struggles and our children’s struggles as “curses.” It is interesting to note when we recognize our struggle (or curse) I will ultimately go to God.

Not only have their struggles caused them to depend on God for the answer, but those curses have caused ME to fall on my face and cry out for His help, understanding and direction.  Those "curses" cause us to go to God and seek Him.  It causes those around us to do the same.  What started as a curse has now become a blessing.

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Don’t miss the last part of the verse. “…Because the Lord your God loves you!”  The curse isn’t punishment it’s ultimately the vehicle to bring the blessing of His love.  I am confident my lack of academic achievement has forced me to search for God, as has the difficulties our children have experienced.  Many of those "curses," I now count as blessings!  Great is His love!

Mom is the Gift!

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          I keep finding myself meditating on 
John 1: 16.  From the New International Version,  “From the fullness of His Grace we have received one blessing after another.” NAS says “…One gracious blessing after another.”

            In light of another Hallmark victory, called Mother’s Day, I am reminded how God has blessed me over and over with the privilege of being a mom.  It is His Grace to have opened up one “blessing” (or child) after another.

            However, my focus on Mother’s Day isn’t me as a mom, rather it is on my Mom.  I am ever so very blessed to have been raised by such a wonderful woman.  I am flooded with memories of her love and care for me and my brothers.

            Mom always kept things fun.  To this day, she reminds me not to take life so seriously and laugh often.  I remember riding through the neighborhood in our big station wagon. (Do you remember the ones with the “wood sides?”) Once, while riding we weren’t sure we were looking at a statue or a dog on the side of the road.  Mom’s response was to roll down the window and bark.  (We still aren’t sure who was more surprised with her barking, the dog or the kids in the car!)

Mom would always find someone else for our family to help.  Whether is was a Christmas holiday spree, a meal or a ride for someone in need, she was the first to offer her help. 

Mom loves unconditionally.  She doesn’t keep a record of our wrongs.  She has always believed that we learned from our wrongs and it would never happen again.  Mom sees the best in everyone.

My Mom is a gift of God’s grace.  I daily see how His grace is poured out through my mom’s kindnesses and love.  Mom is my gift for Mother’s Day!

Although Hallmark doesn’t always have the exact wording or pictures I would choose for my mom, God’s Word is perfect for this holiday from The Message: 

“We all live off His generous bounty gift of gift after gift.”