The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“…Forsake not the law of thy mother” (Proverbs 1:8).

I know that Mother’s Day is a tender day for some. There are those who want to be a mommy and so far have been unable to be so. There are those who are especially missing their moms. There may be some who may not have pleasant memories of their moms. Then there are some of us who are privileged in that we were raised by mothers who loved the Lord. You would have loved my mom. Most everyone I ever met called her “Grandma Kay.” She’s home with the Lord now, and I surely miss her. I especially miss my Karen who is dearly loved and known as mom to our many children.

Today makes me especially think of King Solomon who wanted his son to think carefully about what he had learned from his mother. He called this the “law of your mother.” This speaks of the spiritual principles that Mother consistently and lovingly communicated to her children. On this Mother’s Day, think of the things you have learned from your Mother. If her law was based on Biblical principles, then do not forsake them!

On this Mother’s Day:  If your Mother taught you the ways of the Lord, thank Him! And if possible, thank her as well!

Come with me into the presence of earnestness on the part of the king.

“I stretch forth my hands unto Thee” (Psalm 143:6).

David is not in a light conversation with the Lord. It is very intense. The stretching forth of his hands to the Lord is an expression of earnest prayer. It is offered by one who realizes that he or she has absolutely nowhere else to turn. That person reaches forth to the Lord, eager to discover the Lord’s plan and to receive His answer.

What a picture for a man I will call Lamar who read this passage in his devotions on the same morning he was going to stop in at his daughter’s home for a visit with her and with his little fifteen-month-old granddaughter. As he walked in and started up the stairs, there was little…I will call her Melissa Joy, dancing with joy and with her little arms outstretched because her grandpa had come! As soon as he bent to pick “MJ” up, he thought of this verse. Later he would say to the Lord, “As I reach out to You, Lord, may I have the same joy for You and Your will as Melissa Joy had for me this morning. Stretching out my hands unto You certainly has taken on new meaning to me, Lord.”

How about you, friend? Can you picture yourself as one who is stretching out your hands to the Lord?

When I pray, may I picture myself as a young child, Lord, who is actually stretching out my hands to You!

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19).

A very brutal, mean-spirited, and untruthful accusation was hurled against Pastor Kenward by a former staff member. It crushed him to think that someone with whom he had once served and in whom he had trusted could so turn against him and try to slander his character.

One of the spiritual leaders of the church came to the heartbroken pastor and said, “I know you will need to publicly address this accusation with the church family. But pastor, I just want to encourage you with this. I have lived many years and have found that when the public record is set straight once, let the Lord do the rest. He will protect you and deal with this accusation.” This confirmed what Pastor Kenward had already decided to do. The Lord did just what this verse promised.

How will this play out in your life right now? I understand that some situations require law enforcement and legal action, but when it is possible, set the record straight. Don’t enter the “get even with you” fray.

Watch what the Lord does.

“Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men” (Romans 12:17).

The line at the funeral home was very long and still others were coming. I can remember it like it was yesterday even though it took place fifty-six years ago. My grandfather went Home to be with the Lord suddenly, and I can still remember some of the things that were said to me as a young man soon to graduate from high school with plans of attending Bible college in the fall.

Speaking about my grandfather, one person said, “I trusted him. He never cheated a single person,” and that was the typical expression shared with me. “His word was his bond,” another said. “When I called on him, I knew the bill was not a penny more than it should be,” more than one testified. “His handshake was better than any written contract. He kept his promises,” others said. I’ve never forgotten these statements. Come to think of it, friends, these are the exact things that should be, must be, said of us today. Most certainly if we know Christ as Savior, this is just exactly what should be said of us.

I stopped to pray this just now: Help us, Lord, to be honest in the sight of all men. Make this to be true even in the little things.

I have several really, really wonderful verses for us to consider today.

“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord” (Romans 12:10-11).

“Imagine what it would be like if everyone applied this model in our business,” Lucas said over Sunday lunch with his family. “I’m about ready to rename my Human Resource department to Human Referee department. The folks there are spending more and more time keeping people out of each other’s hair as time goes on,” he said. Suddenly his little nearly six-year-old granddaughter spun around in her seat and asked, “Why do Grandpa’s friends like to play with each other’s hair, Mommy? You told me to keep my hands to myself when I played with Mikey’s hair. You said he didn’t like it.” Everyone laughed. No one laughed harder than Grandpa Lucas who managed to finally say to his sweet little granddaughter, “Honey! Your mommy is right. Mikey didn’t like it, and neither do my friends.”

Out of the mouth of babes! How will you show such love and honor to others today?

For today: How will Romans 12:10-12 play out in your life today beyond not playing with the hair of others?