SECRET MOTHERS

	
I think one of the most powerful forces on earth is a mother’s love.  It certainly comes from God.  That tenacious love that won’t give up, no matter how hopeless it can seem. That unconditional love that forgives.  Yes, that definitely comes from God.

Many of us did not have mothers that reflected God’s love like that, but if we open our eyes and indeed have an open heart….God is faithful and will always fill in the gaps.  Some of us had mother’s that were too unhealthy in their lives to perform the normally expected things and for that we must have compassion and forgiveness.  But if we look closely - we will find that God secretly placed a “mothers’ heart somewhere in our lives and if you’ve never noticed it, I pray that you will see it today.

As I was growing up my own mother had health issues and for many years battled depression.  I know she did the best she could, although as a kid I needed more than she had to give, and God knew this.  Though I did not see it as His hand at the time, God placed a wonderful woman named Louise across the street from me.  She had four girls and was fortunate enough not to have to work a job as her husband provided for the family.

God used Louise to fill in the gaps in my life in so many ways.  She was kind and happy and content.  She led girl scout troops and always had good craft ideas to do in the summer days when we were bored.  She was “present” in a since that my mother was not.  She talked to us,  to her girls, and had enough big heartedness to let me just “hang out”.

God has placed other “mothers” in my life as well along the way.  I always longed for that friendship I saw between mothers and daughters and I got that with a great mother in law.  Shockaroo right!!!  I loved her and she loved me unconditionally.  Oh she wasn’t perfect.  She was actually an alcoholic - but her heart was so big that it was easy to overlook that, though she couldn’t overcome it and it eventually took her life.  But she filled the “mother’s”  gap in my heart for many years when I lived 3000 miles from my own mom.

Then my mother passed away in 1996.  My aunt Frances seemed to step into that empty spot and she was awesome.  She is the person that first introduced me to Christ in a very real way and prayed for me my whole life.  I have such gratitude to God for her and honor her simple but profound life.  Towards the end she had Alzheimers and I would call every couple of weeks and we would have the same conversation about 3 times (because she would forget and ask me the same questions),  but I still  just enjoyed her humor and her love.  It was still there for many years. Then she passed away.

God would always draw a “mom” to me no matter how old I got.  To this day, there is a wonderful woman that is 80 years old and my very best friend.  Wow!  God is good!!

I know He has been good to you too -maybe you were blessed with a great mother, but if not, God is faithful!!   Ask Him to open your eyes to “see”.  You might have missed them if you are looking for perfection  or a preconceived idea on motherhood. No two women are alike. The fruit is love and care.  It may have been a teacher, neighbor, relative, grandmother,  in law, sister, aunt…..but I guarantee if you ask God and have an open heart - they have been there all along the journey.  

If you can’t see it - I can tell you most likely why.  If we get bitter when we did not get what we expected or needed, or were harmed by our mother  - we close down  on what God wants to do.  That’s how so many of the Jews missed their Messiah when He was walking right there among them.  He was not meeting their expectations or their preconceived ideas on what He would be like.   As for our mom’s - It’s time to forgive them, understand they were human, and let it go.  Allow God to do a fresh work in your life.  Look!  I guarantee God has placed mothers around you and now that you open up you can see it - expect it.  You have to embrace them too, with all the imperfections and treat them with the honor and respect God wants you to give.  I do believe this principal works in all needed relationships if we will just be open to it.  Everyone needs love and needs to give love.  Who can you give a mother’s love.  It is just as awesome to be on the giving end of this story.  To be the Frances, Mary, Elizabeth in someone else’s life story.  Let go and let God - as my aunt would say.  Who can you be a blessing to today? Who around you needs a mother's love?  It is often the small things people remember.  That stick in our memories.  Like Louise and the paper mache’ puppets she helped us make one summer. Or the phone call saying "Just checking in on you" that makes you feel acknowledged and loved.   MOTHERING IS AN AWESOME gift from God.

This also works for fathering…..but hey, it’s Mother’s Day……so that’s another article.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY YA’LL!!!     Jean



P.S.   God loves you so much.  Each one of us He loves with an everlasting love.  If you have not done this - I hope you will ask forgiveness for your sins and let Him in.  He wants to fill the gaps in your life.  There is One Gap that only He can fill…..  to be your Lord and Savior.  No one else can do that - no one else has paid the ultimate price for your eternal salvation.  It took God coming in flesh and living a sinless life so He could be the perfect sacrifice for us.  He did that for you.  Always know how deeply you are loved and how complete His forgiveness is when we come to Him in honest confession.  

John 3:16  “For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”

And Jesus says:   “Follow Me”    (the Bible are His Words - check it out - the gospels are awesome!!

FINDING TREASURE IN STRANGE PLACES

So, I found this wonderful quote by Martin Luther’s wife (whom I never knew had written anything).    “I had never known,” said Martin Luther’s wife, “what such and such things meant, in such and such psalms, such complaints and workings of spirit; I had never understood the practice of Christian duties, had not God brought me under some affliction.” 

It is not often spoken of.  The goodness of affliction.  Our culture today runs away from it and looks down on those who are underneath some kind of hardship or illness.  But King David understood it all too well.  Here are his words:  Psalm 119:71

“It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.”

I have personally found that some of the greatest “gifts” from God, have been the afflictions He has allowed in my life.  It is then that I have pressed so deeply into His word, searching for a truth to comfort my soul.  It is then, in the pain of illness that the sweetest songs have been born. The most fragrant words of poetry reaching deep into uncharted depths of my soul and driving me into the Presence of Almighty God. Reaching way beyond casual devotions.  From this place have come the most comforting words that I have to give to others.

Some may scoff at this notion.  Indeed at times I have even felt “persecuted” by those who should have offered comfort.  It used to hurt me, as I have had chronic pain for many years. But now I feel sorry for those that have never experienced the pain of God’s “rod and staff”.  Though the world will soon be placed under this wisdom from above.

God is a good Father.  Yes, He is!  You may think this funny, but as one that is most likely a bit ADHD – it helps me to slow down and come away.  Like Joni Erickson Tada (a quadriplegic)  has said,  the sweetest time of day is when I am alone tucked in bed, abandoned into God’s presence and totally dependent on Him.  She has learned a secret.  

Everything we need is in Him.  All that the World tells us is necessary for a good life is passing away.  But His Word – His Presence – His fellowship,  these endure forever.  And not even death can take this away from us.  

Even the great Apostle Paul said,  “…..2 Corinthians 12:7

“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was GIVEN to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.”

Notice the word “given”. A gift.  If you look it up , Paul asked the Lord to remove it three times and God’s reply was “My grace is sufficient for thee”.  It kept him dependent on God and saved him from the destruction of self sufficiency.

While I completely believe that God is able to heal people and still does (I have seen many miracles and experienced Divine healing too),  we must determine if it is an attack from Satan to stop us, or if it is something God is allowing for a time as a tool to take us where we need to be with Him.

I hope you will all remember to “take it to the Lord in prayer” when you are called apart by some calamity or hardship.  Allow God to be at work.  Lean into it until you have reached a place in Christ that you have not been before.  Dig deep into His Word.  His saving grace is there.  If you do choose to meet these calamities of life with this insight, you can walk away from every one of them with a treasure given by God.

“All things work together for good, to those that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.”  Romans 8:28

Again it is true that  “Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy.” John 10:10  But you can always beat his attacks by leaning into God and getting the treasure that is waiting there.  This is a beautiful secret that Martin Luther’s wife discovered.  I hope you will too.

2 Corinthians 2:14

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.  

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

 SATAN IS AFTER THE THRONE OF OUR HEARTS!   Just exactly what does that mean?
 We must ask ourselves…..WHO is supposed to be the King of our hearts?  God!!  (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!)   We know from scripture that Satan is a thief and comes to steal, to kill and to destroy. (John 10:10)
 

 What did he want more than anything?   Isaiah records Lucifers words:
 

 Isaiah 14:13-15
 “For you have said in your heart:
 ‘I will ascend into heaven,
 I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
 I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
 On the farthest sides of the north;
 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
 I will be like the Most High.’
 

 Lofty words he uttered.  He wants to “sit on the mount of the congregation”.  That is us.  
 

 So how does he accomplish this?  Predominantly with lies and deception.   (John 8:44)  “…When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”   
 (2 Corinthians 11:18)
 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
 

 He comes in stealth to take the throne of our hearts and souls.  Our soul is our mind, will, and emotions.  That’s where it gets tricky.  They are always at work and engaged in something.  But according to the Word of God,  anything we allow to take up our mind, will, and emotions more than God …has become an idol in our hearts.     (1 Corinthians 10:14)  “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”
 

 On more than one occasion God has called me on the carpet saying  “You have an idol in your heart”  Each time I was floored thinking that it couldn’t be.  But when He told me what it was….I had to agree and admit that what or who He named was occupying my thoughts more than He was.  OUCH!
 

 So I simply repented and began to pay attention to my thoughts and affections, making sure they were set first on God.  Our priorities in life should be 1. God  2. Spouse 3. Kids/Family  4. Job/Ministry   When this delicate balance gets out of whack so do we.   It can result in depression, anxiety, overwhelming stress or show up in many different ways.  These are just the symptoms that something is amiss in our souls and needs to be adjusted.
 

 It is pretty easy to fix. Just recognizing it is half the battle.  Then begin casting down and resisting those thoughts that occupy too much of our being!  God is a jealous God.    “…For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God…” (Exodus 20:4) “…for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God…” (Exodus 34:14) 
 

 Actually I think it’s cool that He is so passionate about us.  He certainly paid a huge price to show us how much He loves us.  To prove His love for us.  
 

 I truly believe this is a season of repentance.  Even on the Hebrew calendar ...we are in the month that they consider a time of repentance.  So I encourage each of us to examine our hearts and see if anything or anyone is occupying our mind, will and emotions more than our God.  I pray you won’t be a stubborn mule like I can often be and wait until things start falling apart to get my attention!  Thank goodness for His mercy!  He loves us, wants us, created us…..to be His.   I hope you can hear that this is truly a LOVE MESSAGE, and no condemnation.  He wants you.  What could be better news than that!  The King of the Universe wants to be the King of your heart!  You are loved!

How Has God Set You Up for Good Things. – An eyeopening uplifting message and cool stories just for you! Worth your time I promise!!

HOW THE WORD OF GOD CAN INTERACT IN YOUR LIFE

It’s easy sometimes to read the Word of God and not seem to get anything from it.  How is it that some people say that the Word “spoke” to them and came to life?  How does that happen?  It can happen in many ways, but I want to give you a small example.

I was reading one of my favorite scriptures, Psalm 91, affectionately known as the protection scripture.  I came to the part that says,  “surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler”.   That just seemed to jump out at me.  It seemed to stand out and beckon me to go deeper.  What is a fowler?  So I stopped what I was doing and looked it up.  A fowler is one who catches birds in a snare, usually by pulling an attached cord.

Now I’m not a bird, and God often speaks metaphorically, but I still didn’t get it.  Yet I felt it was standing out for a reason.  So I stopped reading and prayed this scripture over myself.  “Lord, deliver me from the snare of the fowler.”  I said that prayer for several days having no idea why, just in faith believing that God had magnified this particular passage.

Events came to pass quickly.  I had been diagnosed with crohn’s syndrome for about 7 years.  I had tried many different medications to no avail.  They finally tried a shot that lowers your immune system and I had a horrible allergic reaction (thankfully).  They sent me to UNC Medical center for another opinion on what to do with me.

My first meeting with the new doctor, he looked at my blood test results that my doctor had sent him.  He looked at me somewhat frustrated and said, “I don’t think you have crohn’s disease at all.”  I was shocked – how many tests my doctor done and said it was crohn’s?   Then he showed me some pretty simple numbers on the lab results explaining his conclusion.  Then he asked if he could privately (apart from my doctor) do his own colonoscopy to confirm his belief.  And sure enough I DID NOT HAVE IT!!!

For seven years I had been in pain on and off and taking some kind of different medicines that didn’t work and still not feeling well.  This UNC doctor told me to immediately stop the medicines and gave me something mild to calm nerve endings.  I had been telling all my doctors that I thought something was wrong with my ribs and that something else might be causing pain.  ALL of them ignored me and left me in the crohn’s box, except this doctor.  He almost turned red faced and said, “You are not a guinea pig”  He could not speak strongly against the doctor that had referred me to him, but he was angry that this had gone on.

Then I began to see it clearly.  I had been “snared by the fowler”.  Snared by a lie I was ignorant of.  Even though I did not understand the scripture fully until I actually saw the snare in my life – God answered the prayer and exposed what I could not see.  Actually it was the Holy Spirit that led me to begin praying that line in the Psalm.

I was free from that medicine and diagnosis rather quickly and went on to look for the correct answers.  I was free from a seven year snare.  

That’s just a small example of how a scripture set me free.  “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”   John 8:32

God speaks in many ways.  I hope this will inspire you to pay attention to that “still small voice” or what seems to be a small leading.  Follow the Master, read His word with an open heart – and follow it through in faith believing.  Unless you have some large outstanding sin you are ignoring and not prayed about –  God will not withhold communication from you!  He is no respecter of persons.  And if there is a sin you need help getting rid of – talk to Him and ask for help.  He is good at removing obstacles.  He loves you and is on your side.  He longs to have a deep, sweet relationship with you.  He promises  “seek and you shall find”  “ask and knock”  Take a step in His direction and see what happens!  He will not withhold His voice from you!

God bless you – you are loved!!

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY – THE “DINKY” LITTLE PRAYER

Sometimes it’s those insignificant seeming prayers we say that can carry a lot more power than we think.  For example “Lord thank you for protecting the house” as you pull out of your driveway, or “Lord protect my kids at school today”, as you drop them off. Sometimes I pray over an important letter that it will arrive on time, or a package undamaged.

We don’t really notice it until we forget to pray and begin to see a difference.  For instance, I always prayed over my luggage when I used to fly.  “Lord keep the plane safe, no accidents, and that You would put angels to keep my luggage from getting lost or stolen. Amen

Pretty regular prayer.  Except the day I forgot to pray about the luggage!  Not only did my bags not arrive at my destination.  It didn’t even make it to the right country!  It went to Mexico!  Whaaat??  I think God must have chuckled and I certainly got the point.  Those “little” prayers WERE being answered.

They may not be said in fanfare, passion, or hardly with any thought at all, but God is listening and things are happening in the unseen realm even when we don’t know it.  That’s where faith comes in and we continue to pray, trusting that it’s making a difference.

Now this is a silly one, but you ladies can relate.  I had purchased some nice bras for myself when I was living in an apartment and had to do laundry in the community laundry room.  I tossed my clothes in the washer and as I walked out, under my breath, and almost without a thought I said,  “Satan I bind you from stealing any of my new bras in Jesus name.”   They weren’t cheap so I guess that’s why I singled them out.  But when I came back to get my clothes, someone had stolen every single pair of underwear – except the bras.  I had to laugh.  That “in Jesus name” carries weight.  And there are some spiritual rules even the devil must obey.

So I guess my point is that there really is no “dinky” prayer.  Even a little prayer to us is being answered by a great and mighty God.  His ways are higher than ours right, and He instructs us to “ask (and keep on asking) and you shall receive.”   I truly believe that He loves to answer the smallest of prayers because He loves us so much and is happy we are including Him in the everyday things of life. We are not bothering Him like the enemy and our own reasoning tries to convince us of.  He loves us and that our thoughts turn towards Him. He delights in you and the relationship that continues to grow for a lifetime if we let it!

Much love and have a great day!

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

I was reading this morning in the Daily Walk Bible and this analogy about trials really blessed me.  It read:   “If you want to get in shape physically, there are some helpful steps you can take:  eat properly, get adequate sleep, take a multi-vitamin capsule every day.  But in the final analysis, there is no substitute for exercise – working against a resistance.  The same is true in the Christian life.  Proper nourishment from the Word is essential but so is “exercise” –  in God’s strength, facing and conquering trials and difficulties.  God – the perfect Coach- knows exactly what kind of “workout” you need in order to turn an area of weakness into an area of Christlikeness.

So maybe some of our trials are more of a workout – allowed by God – than some kind of negative thing.  It’s worth pondering.  Sometimes I get tired of trials, but I’ve never gone through one (while leaning on God)  that I did not come out either stronger, or with a wisdom and understanding that I lacked before it.  

The Apostle Paul says:  “ My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials”   (James 1:2)   Joy?  I used to think he was nuts.  Who gets joyful at trials?  Until you really begin to believe and value the rest of his statement.  “ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”  (James 1:3,4)    Perfect and complete lacking nothing!!!   I would like that!!   I’ve come to the conclusion that it is wise to embrace the pain so to speak or at least don’t fear it.  One person said it this way,  “Run to the roar.”   Remembering that like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego;  Jesus was with them in the fire.  (see Daniel 3)

Lord, grant us a fresh perspective in these areas.  Help us see that you waste nothing that happens to us.  Even the things that the devil brings to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10)  you can turn around and make it work for our good  (Romans 8:28) when we go through things with you!  Always remember that God is for us and not against us.  (Rom. 8:31)  If we are going through some thing painful – we might as well get something of value from it!  With God all things are possible!  

Shalom!

THE PAINTERS HOPE – POETRY

We paint upon the canvas

Of our childrens very souls

What picture we do paint

Will forevermore be told

 

Not one of perfection

Does our dear Lord require

But an honest projection

Our need for Him is dire

 

We paint on them forgiveness

Our lives can be a mess

We show them how great His love

Our sins we must confess

 

We paint an honest picture

Denial to avoid

As we come before the Lord

His mercy we implore

 

We paint upon them hope

Of an ever loving God

One we need not hide from

Who is alway on our side

 

We paint upon them grace

That can never be earned

Freely given to us

His character we learn

 

We paint upon them attitude

Of a humble heart we choose

Always bowing down our heads

Or else there’s much we’ll lose

 

We paint upon them seeking

The One who should come first

There is no higher person or thing

For which our hearts should thirst

 

We paint upon them dignity

Our actions shine out loud

What we do in secret too

That’s hidden from the crowd

 

We paint the crown of righteousness

A life well lived receives

Giving glory to the Lord

For the good things we’ve achieved

 

We paint on them the honor

Of service to the Lord

Obedience unto our call

Commitment to His Word

 

We paint upon them sacrifice

His example we must see

Taking up our cross each day

Continuing to believe

 

We paint His face of Justice

He sees both good and bad

One He will reward so good

The other makes Him sad

 

We paint the hope of heaven

With friends we’ll reunite

A happy place that’s paradise

All things will be made right

 

We paint on them endurance

One day at a time

Clinging to the promises

His faithfulness we’ll find

 

We paint on them their value

A gift we have to give

Showing them how much they’re worth

Our words can help them live

 

We paint on them the love we have

Received from God above

Passing it on to them

With prayers He’ll fill their cup

 

We cannot reach perfection

This side of the dirt

We point in His direction

And hope that they will learn

 

Amen.

copyright  2018  Jean Chamblee

A Thought For The Day…..Dreams

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

A word about dreams.  We most likely all have them.  Some we remember and most we don’t.  They serve a purpose we are told by science that when we reach REM sleep it is restorative sleep.  But is there more?

We see in the Bible that around fifty times God spoke or sent messages to people through dreams and visions.  So yes, to the question if they can be more than a biochemical benefit to only our bodies.

In my studies I have found that Dreams come from 3 places.  1. Soul (mind, will, emotions)  2. God  (Acts 2, Joel 2  ..old, young will dream and have visions)  3. Devil  (Luke 4 : 5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.”)

We have to be able to judge/analyze them to know where they come from.  It is up to us to accept or reject them.  Certainly the ones from the devil contain fear and torment, failure and dread.  Those we can just toss.

The ones from God always have a message in line with HIs character and His Word.  Sometimes He may reveal the future, warn us of something,  or just invite us into a relationship of seeking and finding.  He loves to interact with us.  It’s sad that most people don’t know that. God made us because He wanted us to be family and have a relationship with HIm.

Thirdly, our souls, or mind, will, and emotions.  You will notice elements of your daily life, a movie you watched, problem you are experiencing etc.  Just normal dreams.

I could go further…..but if you would like to dig deeper you can go to JeanChamblee.com  and find the link to my youtube channel where I do 9 short Biblical teachings on Dreams and Visions.   Enjoy and Have a great day!

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY – Transitions

Transitions.  Usually they are never easy.  Even in childbirth the “transition”  part is the hardest, but when it is over something “new” is born.  Many people I know are in a transition period in life.  Where things can change rapidly.  It can get unnerving or down right scary.  But we can alway trust that God never leaves us nor forsakes His children; though you may not see Him at work right now. He is.  This is where we take a deep breath and trust.

In 1980, the year I really surrendered my life to God, was a HUGE transition.  The whole trajectory of my life changed and I did not have a blueprint!  I was thrilled with a fresh and living relationship with the Lord, but so much was changing.

One day I was standing by the Tar River in the Town Commons park.  I was looking at the water and observing a stick floating along with the current.  As I watched it, I heard the Holy Spirit speaking to my heart.  “One day you will be like that in my hands, flowing, not fighting the current or trying to go your own way, but trusting Me.”   That  sounded awesome.  I certainly wanted that.

Many years later I wrote a song called  “Be Like Water”  to remember the lesson.  It’s a fun little song and I hope you have a minute to listen and let the Holy Spirit speak into your life about what area you need to trust Him and just “let it flow, let it go.”  He is faithful and loves you so much!

May we trust Him in this season without a blueprint.  And know that He is the river that will carry us!    Blessings!   Hope you have a great day!