Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Who was Mary - Mother of Jesus?



She was a young woman from Nazareth in Galilee. Mary would have been approximately 12 or 13 yrs old when the angel of Gabriel came to her and told her that was going to deliver a baby boy and He was going to be the Holy One. Can you even wrap you mind around that thought. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to be the mother of Jesus.  As a mother I know how I love my children. I would do anything to protect them and keep them safe.  Imagine raising your child knowing all the time that He was special, and not just to you, but to the world. You were carrying God’s child and raising Him for the Heavenly Father. This had to be an awesome responsibility that Mary carried with her always. 

Fast forward to the days of Jesus’ teaching. Jesus is a grown man now around 30 and starting His journey spreading God’s word, the Gospel. Mary must have been so proud of Him. I know when I am proud of my children I feel like I could explode and normally do with tears, and telling everyone about them and their accomplishments and how wonderful they are.  But --- Mary, we aren’t told much about how she felt about her son or the days of her raising Him. She was a human mother just as you and I are. Did she have bad days? Did Jesus act up as a child like other little ones do? I don’t know, I guess that will need to wait till I get to Heaven and ask God.
Fast forward to His crucifixion. What was she feeling on that day?  Can we even think or comprehend the depth of her pain as she watched Jesus being beaten. Your child being whipped with straps that had nails or razor like items on the straps to make sure the whipping cut His flesh. She would have seen His beaten body, the look in His eyes, His broken spirit. She would have felt His pain as her own while she watched Him being nailed to the cross. As they ripped His clothes from Him, as they laid Him on the cross and spread His arms to drive long ragged nails through his writs and feet.  Was Jesus crying? He was human, I believe He did. Did He scream in pain? I believe He did, He was human. Did He understand why this was happening? Yes, he did, He was Christ the Son of God.

But Mary was all female, all human, with all our understanding and feelings as a mother. Was she standing, or had she crumpled to the ground unable to stand on her own feet from grief. Her precious son was dying before her eyes and she could not stop this event from happening. She could not go to Him and hold Him in her arms while He took His last breath. Do you feel her pain? Think about Mary and her emotions, and then go hug your family. God allowed Mary and Christ to go through all this pain and agony for you and for me.

May God Bless!
Lillian Humphries


Thursday, December 19, 2013

“Oh, it’s good enough for Wednesday”



This article has been on my heart for some time, almost a year now.  I am talking to myself in this one, not at anyone so please remember that as you read it.
 I was getting ready for Bible study one Wednesday evening and had been doing stuff around the house.  Finally 5 minutes before it was time to leave I decided it was time to change my clothes.  I was changing my clothes and looked in the mirror and said, “Oh, it’s good enough for Wednesday”.  That thought has not left my mind.  What am I thinking? It is good enough for Wednesday!!!  This is God I am going to see (I know He is everywhere)!  I also know that God will take us as we are.  Sinners that we are, homeless, broken, pieces of shattered clay, we can come to Him in any physical or mental state and He loves us, as long as we come to Him.  I know this!!
But don’t you think God appreciates us putting some effort into how we present ourselves to Him?  I know it is not necessary, but if we can get dressed up to go out, or dressed up to go to work, don’t you think we can get dressed up to go worship and praise our Lord?  It just seems like sometimes we don’t put any effort into things anymore. 
 Remember growing up with your “Sunday” clothes.  Mom would always say, don’t get your Sunday clothes dirty, or save that dress for Sunday and special occasions.  Aren’t the ability and the pleasure that we have in worshiping our Father in heaven a special occasion?  It is to me, and I want to start being that way more.  I want to start taking more time getting ready to worship my Father in heaven.  This would include being physically and mentally ready to worship.  Going to worship with a song in my heart, the Lord on my mind, and extra special attention given to what I put on my body.
 God wants our best and wants the best for us, so I’m going to try harder.  Don’t expect to see me in one of the fancy hats though, because I don’t look good in hats, wish I could, but just can’t pull it off.   :)
Praise God!!