Quote from Forum Archives on May 9, 2005, 10:41 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Word for Today, Tue,10 May 2005: What Our Bibles Tell Us
Dear friends,

In today's message, Larry Davies writes about the notes found in
Lucy Smith's Bible. If someone were to skim through your Bible,
what might they see? Would it have lots of notes, markers,
reminders, key verses, or would it look like a well preserved,
but infrequently touched work?

I still have most of the Bibles that I've heavily used during my
life, though I've also given away quite a few Bibles. Usually I
buy several easy to read Bibles and give them away rather than
giving away worn Bibles that might even have a few pages nearly
ready to come out.

My Bibles would have a lot of stuff marked or underlined in the
Gospels and the Epistles, with scattered additional comments
throughout the remainder of the Old and New Testaments.

One of the first verses I learned as I first began to really
understand parts of the Bible was Psalm 119:105: "Thy word is a
lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path". Before that, I can
remember that my mother had memorized Psalm 23 and I can still
remember her reciting it to us:

Psalm 23

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me
beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of
righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I
will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff
they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine
enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my
life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

My life has been marked by many legacies. Nevertheless, there
came a point in time where my faith had to become just that - my
faith, not the faith of my mother, my pastor, my church, or
anyone else. What I believed certainly could be influenced by
those people and that environment, but a big part of the
Christian faith is establishing a PERSONAL relationship with God.

For me, it began by realizing my own need. I considered myself,
for the most part, a pretty honest person, not a trouble maker.
Nevertheless, I finally came to the point where I realized that
my very best, by the standard of my God, was worthless on its own
without Him. My life was tainted by sin.

In fact, the Bible confirms this, and as I read and learned more
from the Bible, I saw that: "All have sinned and come short of
the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) and that "The wages of sin is
death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus
our Lord" (Romans 6:23). Then I read "For whosoever shall call
upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13) and
"Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house"
(Acts 16:30B-21).

I believed in God, and I also believed in Jesus. As I began to
read more and learn more, though, I came to realize that I had a
problem, and God Himself provided the answer to my problem.

You see, even at my best, I could not live up to the love of God,
the wisdom of God, the kindness of God, the purity of God. He
said in His Word that I needed Christ, and I finally agreed with
Him.

What would that book say about you? Do you agree with God that
Christ's sacrifice was necessary (even if it was just for you)?
That's what I'd want that book to show about me, and I'd want it
to show that to others, too.

Yours in Christ,
Brian

____________________________

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"Funerals, Clues and Bibles" Larry Davies

When asked to do a funeral, I often look for clues to help me say
something personal others would easily identify with. Recently,
one family who lost their mother knew exactly what to give me:
her Bible. Lucy Smith's Bible was full of notes, encouraging
letters and cards, recipes and other clues that told me so much
about this spirited woman, her passionate love for God and her
three extraordinary sons.

On page one was a personal note to her children: "God loves you.
He'll give you life everlasting, if you only believe. Yes, there
is a God. I know. Without Him life would be nothing. He is a part
of my life and every night I talk to Him as I am talking to you
now. His love is with us all the time. He will get you safely out
of a storm regardless how rough. He'll be there. Just reach out.
He will always hear you."

Lucy Smith often raised and supported her three sons alone yet in
the midst of long days and many struggles she still managed to
openly display love and affection. One of her Bible bookmarks was
a simple cross stitch: "Smile: God loves you." Elsewhere she
wrote: "What must I do to be saved? Love thy neighbor. Help and
be a brother to him. Love thy Lord thy God with all your heart.
Pray for the whole world every day. Love they neighbor." For
Lucy, loving your neighbor was the primary focus.

Yet at times Lucy must have felt guilty being so busy with
working and raising children with little time to spare to enjoy
them. Hence the poem by an unknown author carefully tucked
between the pages:

"My hands were busy through the day; I didn't have much time to
play the little games you asked me to. I didn't have much time
for you. I'd wash your clothes; I'd sew and cook; But when you'd
bring your picture book and ask me please to share your fun, I'd
say: 'A little later, son.' For life is short, the years rush
past... A little boy grows up so fast. No longer is he at your
side, his precious secrets to confide. The picture books are put
away; there are no longer games to play. My hands, once busy, now
are still. The days are long and hard to fill. I wish I could go
back and do the little things you asked me to."

Amidst "Praise the Lord Anyhow..." stickers and four-leaf
clovers, Lucy sensed she was leaving behind a legacy for her
children to follow within the pages of this Bible. She wrote: "My
children are all my life. I love each one as I do the other. I
would give my life for them and my grandchildren. God knows I
love every one of them. I would give all my treasure to the God
who made it all possible."

Lucy also marked Scripture passages. This one was displayed as
her favorite: "Continue to love each other with true Christian
love. Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who
have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!
Share the sorrow of those being mistreated, as though you feel
their pain in your own bodies. Stay away from the love of money;
be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never
fail you. I will never forsake you." That is why we can say with
confidence, "The Lord is my helper, so I will not be afraid."
(Portions of Hebrews 13:1-6)

Yet, what makes Lucy's life memorable were the letters left
behind for her children. Maybe, sensing her own ending she wrote
the following poem: "Remember when Mama used to be young and
spry: bake lots of cookies and sugar cream pies? She helped with
our lessons and sewed our busted jeans... kissed away our
troubles and mended all our dreams. It's strange how we all
thought she'd never wear out. She walks with a cane because of
rheumatism no doubt. Her eyesight is faded and her memories are
dim. She often insists on the silliest of whims. When folks grow
old they need so much more care. Mama must have a home but the
question now is where? Does anyone want her?"

Here was her answer: "Yes, there is one willing to give her a
place in the sun where there will be no heartache, no wonder or
doubts and she won't have any troubles to worry about. We will
all miss her soft voice and kind loving face. Mama has a new home
now for God has prepared a special place."

Another way Lucy reassured her family was by marking this
Scripture for them: "I look up to the mountains-- does my help
come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made the
heavens and the earth! He will not let you stumble and fall; the
one who watches over you will not sleep. The LORD keeps watch
over you as you come and go, both now and forever." (Portions of
Psalm 121)

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Jesus said: "You are the light of the world--like a city on a
mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your
light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine
for all." (Matthew 5:14-15)

"Breaking the Peanut Butter Habit: Following God's Recipe for a
Better Life" now on sale only through our website.
www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/peanbutt.htm

--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

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