I pray that the last several weeks of blog entries have been a blessing to you as we have examined several of the symbols used to exemplify the Word of God.  Today let’s briefly look at four more.

THE WORD IS LIKE A ROD.

Just as Moses had the rod of God in his hand and used it at God’s command, we as Mothers of Nations should have the Word of God ready and in our hand. When we need help, direction, understanding, comfort, or insight into a situation, the Word can be our guide. Moses’ rod was used to lead, separate, challenge the people, and confront the enemy. God’s Word does the very same things for us as we learn to use it in our lives.

Similarly, the Word can be used as a measuring stick. It can separate for us truth from a lie. Years ago when I went to Russia, we stood on street corners and preached the Word. After a mime team would demonstrate the message of salvation in the Word, we would give an altar call. The Russian people were able to decide what side of heaven they wante...

Today we will examine three more symbols of the Word of God. This is our fourth installment of this particular study so please feel free to look back at the blogs from the past three weeks to be up-to-date with this discussion!

THE WORD IS LIKE MILK. 

In 1 Peter 2: 2 (Amplified) we read, “Like newborn babies, crave the pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”   

Milk is the first thing fed to a newborn baby. If breastfed, the baby receives his/her nourishment from its mother. In this process, the child is helped so it can get a drink and be fed comfortably by bottle or breast. For many months this little one needs assistance getting the milk. Then one day, the baby has grown to a place where it desires to hold its own bottle. Soon after that the child is not full unless he/she gets a little cereal as well. The baby is growing and so are his/her needs for nourishment. 

Baby Christians love the milk of the ...

In the past two blogs we have examined how the Word of God is like a fire, a hammer and seed. Today we will look at two more symbols of God’s precious Word.

THE WORD IS LIKE A LAMP.

Have you ever walked into a dark room and not been able to find the light? More than once I have tripped, stumbled, hit my hand, or stubbed my toe trying to locate a light switch. Eventually when the light switch is found, the room is easy to move around in. The light makes maneuvering easy. The Word of God does the same thing. The Word functioning as a lamp or light helps guide our path.

Psalm 119: 105 (NKJV) Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 

Psalm 132: 17 (NKJV) There I will make the horn of David grow; I will prepare a lamp for my anointed. 

In the Word are Scriptures that illuminate our path for such things as parenting, marriage, operating in God’s gifts, walking in integrity, counseling, finances, or really anything we face in life. For example, if you have questions on tith...

Last week we talked about the Word of God being like fire.  Today we are going to discuss two other symbols represented by God’s Word.

THE WORD IS LIKE A HAMMER.

Sometimes the Word is like a hammer.  The prophet Jeremiah said in Jeremiah 23: 29 (NKJV),  “Is not my word like a fire? says the Lord.  And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces.”  

Once when I was in Mexico, I watched a man take a hammer and all day long chisel away at some cement until the next layer was exposed.  He hit that cement over and over again, trying to remove the layer of painted cement on the surface.  He would pound and pound and all of us sitting nearby could hear, as well as see, that it would take him a long time to complete his task.  He had to stop and rest every so often because he was pounding with such great force, trying to chip away the cement.

The Word of God can hit our spirit and soul over and over again until it finally gets an opening to be received.  The prophets that Jeremiah was spe...

When I was just a young girl, about ten years old, I distinctly remember my mother making this comment, “Oh, that lady’s religious.  She has Scripture plaques on the walls all over her home.” 

From that day on I related Scriptures on walls with being religious!

It was considered a negative thing from my family’s point of view to be a “religious” person.  Even though we went to church and practiced our Christian faith, having too many Scriptures around the house was crossing a line into being too religious according to my mother.

Today, I look back and realize that my mother did not have any comprehension of the power of God’s Word.  If she had, she would never have made such a negative remark about the Scriptures.  Unfortunately her statement affected my understanding regarding God’s Word for many years.  

It was ten years later that the Holy Spirit came into my life to open up my heart, ears, and eyes to God’s precious Word.  The Word is now a priority in my life.  I even have Scr...

Today we will finish our discussion of women champions.  I encourage you to read the past two blog posts before you continue with this final installment.

Esther is our final champion example and my favorite, maybe because she had so many odds against her as an orphan or maybe because she was such a powerful queen.  I do not know, but I love Esther and everything she represents.  Whether we see her as a symbol of the Body of Christ or of ourselves personally, does not matter.  Either way, she represents a champion of righteousness and truly a model Mother of Nations.

Esther’s story begins around 438 B.C.  The King and his Queen Vashti had been partying for six months.  The party lasted so long in order that everyone in the kingdom could attend.  The culminating banquet was seven days long, ending with Queen Vashti making an entrance.  For some reason, when she was summoned by the King, she refused to come.  Some scholars say she was pregnant, some say she had her own party going.  Oth...

If you did not read last week’s blog, I encourage you to do so before digging into today’s entry.  We talked about several examples of champions from the Scriptures and that background will serve as foundational information for the following discussion.

Champions have many common characteristics.  They know how to love their enemies and overcome hurt.  Seeing the world through God’s love, champions make excellent decisions, perceive things positively, and make good choices.  Champions sometimes find themselves having to make difficult decisions.  I am sure Joseph thought about the possible consequences of his “no” to Potiphar’s wife, but he also realized a man without virtue is no man after all. 

Every one of us as Mothers of Nations is, or has been, in a place of making tough calls.  Sometimes our choices can cause pain to someone else, but the decision must be based on the honorable thing before God.  Decisions can create division, and yet champions are called on by God to make tho...

Everyone loves a champion.  We have champions in history, sports, television, civil rights, and more.  Champions are defined as people who have won a race, been victorious through an obstacle, conquered in battle, or overcome a hurdle.  Champions are looked up to, emulated, and talked about, some for centuries, others for just a moment in time.  No matter how large the audience or big the splash, champions are loved and esteemed.

When my husband Bill’s father went home to be with the Lord he was 84 years old and to all of his family members, he was a bona fide champion.  Bill’s father spent a lifetime helping people.  He served as a county sheriff, and later as a county commissioner for years. 

At his funeral every age group attended, from young children to senior citizens, each with a story as to how this man had touched their lives.  He had shoveled walks for the elderly never seeking a dollar, plowed driveways for people who could not do it themselves, brought food to the hungry, ...

Jesus knows where we are. 

Jesus knows our hearts. 

As we finish our study of this passage in John chapter four about the woman at the well, we see that this Samaritan woman had tried to fulfill her needs and emptiness through encounters with many men. Five, to be exact, had taken their turn, trying to fulfill her desires. However, this time, she met the only One who truly meets our needs and satisfies our souls. Jesus’ request for a drink of water drew Him to her, and her need for truth and life drew her to Him.

Whenever we encounter Jesus, no matter the place or the situation, Jesus is able to unveil our coverings, take off our "masks," and find the true reasons of our needs within us. We understand from these Scriptures that He knew that inside the Samaritan woman was a hurting heart that craved truth and healing. SHE was the one who needed a “drink,” and immediately Jesus steered His questions in that direction. These questions led her to a place of receiving truth.

Have you ev...

Last week we discovered or rediscovered that Jesus knows exactly where we are. That means that He is fully aware of all that is going on in our lives. He is not surprised nor confounded by the challenges and problems that we feel loom so large before us.  It is truly a comfort to know we are not alone - ever - because Jesus knows exactly where we are and what we are facing. Put another way, He is with us. Always.

But we also see another truth in this passage of John chapter four.

Jesus knows our hearts. 

This woman was not going to fool Him with her answers to His questions. He instantly knew what was going on inside of her - the turmoil, the shame, the restlessness. The Bible tells us that Jesus discerned the intents of her heart.

We may try to "wear masks" in life or attempt to present a certain image to others to be accepted. That image may be one of being rich, intelligent, powerful, or at least, having our life all together! However, images that are designed to trick others ne...