“She is a woman of strength and dignity and has no fear of old age. When she speaks, her words are wise, and kindness is the rule for everything she says.” (Proverbs 31:25-26 The Living Bible)
Yesterday I shared a poem written by my Aunt Maude. The Lord must have wanted to impress on me the fact that my family history includes people of faith who trusted in God and left behind words that would minister to generations to come. I had no intentions of sharing writings from members of my family tree that preceded me, but the absence of intentions was overruled by the Lord’s inspiration. Therefore, the Lord, He is the One who is sovereign, in control, and can be praised for yesterday’s and today’s meditations. Send your praises to the throne of our gracious God.
Today, I must share a couple of excerpts from my mother’s short book entitled “My Adventure With God…a monologue on faith from two perspectives.” She composed it in her senior years, having “no fear of old age.” God would still use her. As a side note, regardless of your age, God can still use you. As they say in church, “Let Him use you!” Now, read on, please.
I had read Mom’s book years ago, and in fact, I think I typed it for her. It is a heartwarming story about her fight with tuberculosis, being hospitalized and separated from her family for over a year, questioning God in a kind of “Why me?” voice and coming to the conclusion that God was behind her stay at the Flower Mission Hospital, a facility for persons afflicted with tuberculosis, so she would be used by God. At one point in her story she shares, “I was led to realize that God always has a purpose. No longer did I feel that God caused me to have tuberculosis. Rather I felt He, in His wisdom, knew that this would happen because I, through my will, had overtaxed my physical body. God knew that this would be an opportunity for Him to move in close to give comfort and purpose to my life during this period…and He did.”
She went on to write, “God provided opportunity and direction. He spoke to me in many ways, through the Bible, devotional books, through conversation with fellow Christians and in my heart. Through His grace, I could be cheerful without worry or complaint. Loneliness was impossible for He was always with me. God provided all my needs; spiritually, physically, and materially. Never have I been so concerned for others! God has truly made me a witness for Him. If there is a more definite purpose for my life, through the Holy Spirit, He shall un-blind my heart to see it. He is the Potter, I am the clay.”
Listen beloved! Whatever you are going through, God has not forgotten you. God has a purpose for you. He also is providing you with opportunity and direction. He is speaking to you right now. My mother’s missionary field was a quarantined hospital facility to start. After being miraculously cured by the Physician that has never lost a patient, after the Lord intervened in the normal course of events, she became a great Bible teacher, Sunday School Director, counselor to women of all ages, and she never stopped being a witness for the Lord.
What are you going to do going forward? Think about “My Momma Said” and contemplate what you are going to do for the benefit of the kingdom. Furthermore, don’t abandon God because of your trials, test, situations, or even your sickness. Don’t let your circumstances curtail your Christian soldier work! Let Him use you! Tomorrow, I’ll keep sharing treasures from my family tree to inspire readers and help us realize our purpose as part of the Lord’s universal church. Have a great Tuesday! Be blessed!
“…but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Genesis 50:20 The Living Bible)
Mark L. King