A Mother's Reward

This Thanksgiving Season, A Mother's Rewards will be looking back to where we've come from with gratitude and Thankfulness for where God has brought us to now.  We hope that your hearts are touched and blessed by shared memories of "posts from the past".  Blessed Mama


1 Corinthians 14:1a

"Pursue love...." NKJV

"Follow the way of love..." NIV

"Love should be your guide,..."CEV

"Eagerly pursue and seek to acquire this love[make it your aim and great quest]..." AMP

Colossians 3:14

"But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection." NKJV

     Yesterday afternoon while in the middle of a "domestic crisis" involving attitude upon attitude (not good ones either) I flung a desperate SOS to the Lord.  1 Corinthians 14:1 came to mind--pursue love.  Ahhhhh, yes, pursue love.  Remembering when a pastor's wife gave this portion of scripture for me to meditate (utter, mutter, and ponder) on, my soul was immediately calmed and other verses began to come to mind.  Not surprisingly, each of the verses also dealt with love and bearing with one another.  Perfect!  Thank you Holy Spirit for teaching and leading me.  Not only was the atmosphere of our home changed, but my children were able to experience the changing power of God's Word for themselves. 

     As each child sat down and wrote out their individual portions of scripture, her countenance was altered.  Selfishness and complaining were defeated as the Sword of the Spirit, God's Word, slashed through the yuck! of attitudes.  God's love was allowed to enter our home.  In just a few minutes, peace permeated the entire house.  A huge sigh of thankfulness and relief signaled the end of the battle.  God's love reigned supreme! 

     Even as I gave God thanks for the victory, I wondered why I don't pursue love everytime a "domestic crisis" rears its ugly head.  God is always faithful.  He is always waiting to show Himself strong in my weakness.  He made these children.  Not only that, he made them to be my reward (Psalm 127).  Everytime I go to Him He answers.  So, why don't I go to Him? Time after time instead of asking for help, I just plow in and handle it myself.  The results?  Let's just say that God's way is the best way.   

     Today is a new day.  God's love endures forever and His mercies are new every morning.  May this be the day that Love is pursued and followed all day long.  May yesterday's victory herald the beginning of a new era of love in my home. 

Colossians 3:12-15 AMP

"Clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper].  Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive].  And above all these [put on] love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony].