A Tribute To Mama

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“Precious memories, how they linger, how they ever flood my soul!”

(I delivered this eulogy at my Mother’s funeral. No amount of words could ever adequately express my love for her or my appreciation for the impact she continues to have on my life. But I tried to capture those feelings as best I could that day.)

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Precious Memories- What a fitting way to open these services, as we celebrate the life of my mother, Lenora Elizabeth Combs Wells. Over the past few days, we have been reliving such precious memories from our life with her, as we have pored through old photo albums. And the memories those pictures have brought to mind have been so sweet.

Mama was a member of what has become known as “The Greatest Generation” and oh how Mama lived up to that name – The Greatest Generation. Over the past few months, I have been drawn to a number of books about that generation. And I have found myself wanting to know more about Mama’s early years, growing up in the Combs family, she and her sister, Dot, surrounded by all those Combs boys. Surviving the Great Depression and living through World War II while Daddy served in the Army. Unfortunately, I waited too long to ask her about those times, and her memories of those days had long since faded away.

But, oh the precious memories we do have!! How they linger. When I think of Mama as I was growing up, I remember the qualities that are so typical of those from her generation. Prov.31:27 describes her so well- “She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” Mama was always up when I got out of bed and a hot breakfast was on the table. During the summers, when we came home from working in the fields, lunch was already prepared. And later, a hot supper was waiting at the end of a long day. She was usually busy with household chores while the rest of us gathered around the TV at the end of the day. I have no memories of her with her feet propped up, taking it easy. I can still see her working side-by-side with Daddy out in the upholstery shop, fussing over a sofa cushion she had sewn that did not quite measure up to Daddy’s standards.

I remember so well the fun times we had with her- the trips to Florida or to the mountains. The Easter egg hunts at Granny and Granddaddy Combs’ home place. The 4th of July picnics at Frank and Bonnell’s cabin. The Christmas reunions at Locust Grove. Family was Mama’s first priority. Last Labor Day, all of us took a trip with her to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and how I treasure the precious memories of those three days! I’ll remember her love for the Atlanta Braves- we watched our last Braves game together the night before she died.

I’ll remember the times, but more than that, I’ll remember the quality of her character. And I want you all to know that the Nora or Mammaw that you knew was the same person we knew as Mama. She was the genuine article. There was not an ounce of pretentiousness in her bones.

When I think of Mama, the quality that most quickly comes to my mind is her quiet strength. Through our most difficult of childhood days, we all looked to Mama as our anchor. I remember the strength, grace, and dignity she exhibited when my father died and her steadfastness in the years that followed without him. I remember the courage with which she faced several operations over the years. Even in her last days, she drew on a strength and a will to live that none of us could imagine she had left in her. I know that this quiet strength we all witnessed was grounded in a deep and abiding trust in God – His provision and His protection.

Mama was not one to pound us over the head with Scripture. Instead, in her quiet and unassuming manner, she modeled Scripture before our very eyes. 1 Thess. 4:11-12 says “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” That’s my mother. I have no memories of her speaking harshly of anyone or judging or gossiping. She had such a sweet nature. She led a quiet life and she minded her own business.

She was esteemed by all of us. Prov. 31: 28 says “Her children arise and call her blessed”. And indeed we all do, but more importantly she was esteemed by God. Isaiah 66:2 says “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.” That’s Mama. In all my memories of her, I cannot recall a single moment when I was ever disappointed at anything she said or did.

Today we grieve her passing, and few words I can conjure up can bring any real comfort, but I serve an awesome God, who the Bible describes as “the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles” (2 Cor. 4) and it is only through His Word that we can find comfort in times like these.

For a number of years now, I have kept a picture of Mama in my Bible at Isaiah 26:3. In 1998, my son Bill asked me what my favorite Bible verse was. I told him I had no favorite verse, but God had used many verses at specific times in my life, to help me make certain decisions, to give me courage for certain challenges, or to comfort me in difficulties. And just then, out of nowhere, this verse came to mind – “Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee.” It was Isaiah 26:3. (KJV) Prior to then, that verse had no special significance to me, but over the course of the next few weeks, I found myself encountering that verse everywhere I turned. I couldn’t understand why God was suddenly pounding me with it.

Then, one day my brother, Davis, called and informed me that Mama had been hospitalized with a blockage in her intestine and that there was a good chance she might not survive through the night. And immediately God called to my mind those words from Isaiah, and placed in my mind a vision of Mama’s chair at home and the Bible that was always there beside her. And immediately I knew in my heart that Mama would be in perfect peace, whether she lived or died and that I could have perfect peace, no matter the outcome. She was in God’s hands and she was going to be a winner either way.

What an awesome God we serve. He knows our every need even before we do! In recent weeks, He has ministered to me to prepare my heart for these difficult days. He has helped me to see Mama’s death from His perspective through the words of Psalm 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” He has comforted me with the words of Isaiah 57:2 “Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.” There’s that word again – Peace, perfect peace. As I gazed on her body here at the funeral home yesterday, that’s what first came to my mind – perfect peace. Mama has found rest unlike any rest we can experience in this life.

That song that we heard earlier, “It is Well With My Soul”, has always been one of my favorites. My church choir sang it at worship service just last Sunday. Coincidence? … I don’t think so. The older I get, the more I’m convinced there are very few true coincidences in life. We serve a God who is perfect in His love for us, infinite in His wisdom, and sovereign in His control. There are no coincidences with Him. God used that song as a gentle reminder to me that all is well with Mama’s soul.

Mama’s last year was a difficult one as her health deteriorated so rapidly. But as she drew closer to death in those last weeks, you could almost see her focus change from this life to the next one. I’ll never forget how she laughed as she lay in the hospital bed in Macon just two weeks ago, and waved at loved ones who had passed on before her. Some might say that was just the effect of the drugs that were being administered at the time. But I believe it was the knowledge that she was drawing closer to her heavenly home, and the perfect peace that knowledge gave her. Her heavenly welcoming committee was being assembled.

I’ll always remember the smile on her face when she arrived at the hospice after being imagetransferred from the hospital. (This photo reminds me of her smile that day.) I don’t think she knew where she was, but she knew she was in a better place than the one she just left. I can only imagine the smile that must be on her face now!!!

Over the past two years, my wife and I have become well acquainted with grief. Last year, we lost her mother and brother. And this year, along with the Combs family, we have mourned the loss of Aunt Hazel, Aunt Dot, Aunt Myra, and now Mama. And while we grieve their loss, we grieve with the knowledge that each of them knew Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. And therefore, as 1 Thess. 4:12 says, we grieve differently than those who have no hope. Now we grieve, because we’ll miss them for a while. There will be an empty spot at our 4th of July and Christmas reunions. Mothers Days will be tougher. But, if you know the Lord Jesus Christ, as they all did, I have good news…….We will all be together again with the Lord forever. And it will be more fantastic than any family reunion any of us have ever experienced here.

To comfort Mary and Martha over the death of their brother, Lazarus, Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.” (Jn.11:25) Mama still lives– she just doesn’t live here any more. And as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, I find comfort in the promise that one day, I’ll be with her again. And I pray that in the years to come that those of us who loved her will be found worthy of the faith that she had in us and deserving of the love that she showed toward us.

One day, perhaps you and I will look up from our beds as we approach death, and astonish our loved ones when we wave and say, “Hey, Mama or Hey, Mammaw, or Hey, Nora”. And then we too will know that perfect peace that she now enjoys- that peace that only a believer can know- that peace that surpasses all understanding.

Note: Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New International Version (NIV)

 

Eight Powerful Words

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“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

I often begin my quiet time each morning just being silent before the Lord, blocking out all distractions and concerns that might be weighing on my heart, entering a state of neutrality before God with no other agenda in mind except to receive a clear word or just to sense His presence. One morning a few weeks ago, the words of Isaiah 50:4 flooded my heart, “The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen as one being taught.”

As a teacher, this verse is very familiar to me. When it came to my mind that morning, I interpreted it as a reminder to get back to writing. One of the reasons I began this blog was to share some of the things the Lord has taught me after almost twenty years of teaching Bible Study – insights and reflections that have certainly sustained me through the years. After starting this blog with a bang back in February, I had been neglectful for several months. There were several contributing factors to this silence on my part, but the Lord wasn’t apparently buying any of my excuses. So I began writing again, posting some short reflections on Facebook, as well as a couple of blog postings.

Estes Park 6Several days ago, as I entered my quiet time, another verse flooded my heart, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Many of you already know this verse is Psalm 46:10. For days it dominated my thoughts. A couple of postings on Facebook reinforced the message it conveyed, several devotions stressed the importance of stillness before God, and it seemed that every time I opened the Scriptures, the passages were pointing back to Psalm 46:10. Those eight words even became part of my swing thoughts as I played golf that morning. The Lord clearly had my attention!

A few days later, it finally dawned on me that those two verses that the Lord had planted in my heart were related. In my mind, I don’t know if there are eight more powerful words to sustain the weary than those found in Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” Such a simple verse, easily memorized, yet applicable in so many circumstances we encounter in this life, and packed with more theology than I could possibly address in a year’s worth of blog posts. Implicit in these eight words are the ideas of rest, trust, reflection, and surrender – all essential elements of the abundant life Christ desires for each of us. (John 10:10) And in this day of constant distractions from social media, smartphones, 24-hour news channels, and celebrity culture, those eight words take on even greater significance.

In my teaching I often stress the importance of spiritual disciplines, such as prayer, Bible Study, worship, and service in the Body of Christ. But another discipline that is often overlooked is that of listening to God. In fact, in my mind, it may be the most important spiritual discipline. And no verse of Scripture better sets the stage for listening to God than “Be still, and know that I am God.” Voicing those words in my mind several times a day has had a way of quieting my spirit so that I am better able to hear that still, small voice. They so effectively convey the promise of God’s continued presence and intervention in our lives for good. (Romans 8:28)

No matter what circumstances you are facing in your life today, Psalm 46:10 will minister to your heart.

Grieving over the loss of a loved one? … Be still, and know that he is God.
Wrestling with a life-changing decision? … Be still, and know that he is God.
Out of work or considering a job change? … Be still, and know that he is God.
Considering a move to a new home? … Be still, and know that he is God.
Dealing with a financial hardship? … Be still, and know that he is God.
Scarred by abuse? … Be still, and know that he is God.
Stricken with a life-threatening illness? … Be still, and know that he is God.
Perplexed by the endless mysteries of life? … Be still, and know that he is God.
Or even trying to resolve the tension between the sovereignty of God and man’s free will? … Be still, and know that he is God.

I could go on and on. Bottom line – there is no situation or circumstance you may face this day or for the rest of your life for which Psalm 46:10 will not comfort you, encourage you, or give you a clear sense of direction. I challenge you to stop several times each day, take your focus off of whatever you are engaged in, quiet your mind, and let God minister to your heart as you rest in the truth conveyed in those eight powerful words, “Be still, and know that I am God.” I guarantee you it will be time well spent.

And by the way, in case you’re wondering, while using Psalm 46:10 as a swing thought did not actually improve my golf game, it kept me focused on what was more important – the enjoyment of the game, the fellowship of my fellow golfers, and behaving in such a way as to bring glory to God. I never enjoyed a round of golf more!

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)

Note: All Scripture references taken from the New International Version (NIV)

Followers Or Fans?

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“Then he said to them all, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and yet lose or forfeit his very self?'” (Luke 9:23 NIV)

These words from our Lord are worthy of great reflection and serious examination as to our own personal relationship with Christ. One day we will all stand before Him and give an account of our lives. According to Matt. 7:21-23, many who consider themselves true followers will discover too late that they were only fans when they hear perhaps the most frightening words in all of Scripture, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evil doers!”

In his book, “Not A Fan”, Kyle Idleman says, “The biggest threat to the church today is fans who call themselves Christians but aren’t actually interested in following Christ. They want to be close enough to Jesus to get all the benefits, but not so close that it requires anything from them.” Idleman’s book is available currently in both the Kindle and iBook versions for just $1.99. I highly recommend it.

Divine Help

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“I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from The Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.” (Ps. 121: 1-2 NIV)

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This verse often comes to mind when I gaze upon this view from my deck overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. As I meditate on the psalmist’s words, I’m reminded that no matter what trial, circumstance, or temptation will come my way, I don’t have to face those challenges alone. I have a Helper who is perfect in his love, infinite in his wisdom, and sovereign in his control.

And yet, knowing that, I must admit that I often find myself trying to live the Christian life in my own strength – something none of us are equipped for or expected to do. The Lord reminded me of that earlier this year at the local Lowe’s Hardware, of all places! In my annual spring ritual, I had stopped there to pick up mulch for our flower beds.

After finding a cart large enough for the 24 bags of mulch I intended to purchase, I proceeded to the back of the garden section where the mulch is located – the furthest point from the checkout registers (of course!). Having carefully stacked the bags on the cart, I proceeded to push it to the front – or perhaps I should say, attempt to push. The fully loaded cart was much heavier than I anticipated.

Not to be defeated or to admit that age had taken that much of a toll on my strength and stamina, I finally got the cart moving toward the registers. Feeling as though my heart could take no more, I stopped to rest halfway there. Finally, I made it to the front and paid the cashier who then asked me if I needed assistance loading the mulch. I gladly accepted, pushed the cart to the curb, and pulled the truck around to the front of the store.

As we were loading the bags, the young man helping me remarked, “You know, you don’t have to do this. Next time, just tell the cashier how many bags you want, pay for them, and bring your sales slip around to the back and we’ll do the rest.” My immediate reaction was “Why has no one told me this before?” After all, this was not the first time I had purchased mulch from Lowe’s.

But then I sensed that unmistakable still, small voice of the Spirit saying, “How many times have I watched you struggle with tasks you are not equipped for, and waited for you to ask for my help, only to be ignored.” This incident served to remind me once again that the Christian life we are called to live was never meant to be a solo affair. We need each other’s help from time to time, and we need the help of the Holy Spirit all the time.

When I was teaching, I kept my Bible bookmarked at 1 Pet. 4:10-11. I turned to it so often that the page of my Bible where that verse is located is torn in the corner. Peter writes, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.”

I firmly believe that the greatest hindrance to effective Christian ministry is ourselves – too much confidence in our own abilities, our own knowledge, our own wisdom, and our own strength. Such confidence is greatly misplaced and such resources are miniscule in comparison to the resources that God stands ready to provide.

The apostle Paul understood this very well, describing in that well-known passage about his “thorn in the flesh” how the Lord told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul went on to say, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Cor. 12:9)  Paul had learned that sometimes God has to reveal to us how weak we are, before he can use us for his glory.

In Ephesians 1:19-20, Paul describes God’s power as “incomparably great” and proclaims that it is “like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead.” We all know the impact Paul had in his day. I can’t help but wonder what an impact we might still have today, if we would only fully grasp the implication of those words and apply them in our lives.

How often have you stopped to consider that the same power that raised Christ from the dead is at your disposal? Why would we ever neglect such readily available and limitless divine help – not just for Christian ministry, but for the daily struggles of life?

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Eph. 3:20-21)

*Note: All Scripture references taken from the New International Version (NIV)

 

Reflections On God’s Love

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“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God.” ( 1 John 3:1 NIV)

I had an interesting experience this week as I pondered the subject of this post. Since I began writing this blog in February, I have been accumulating ideas for future posts in a journal I keep for that specific purpose. Reviewing that journal Tuesday night and reaching no clear decision concerning this week’s topic, I prayed for divine guidance as I prepared for bed. Immediately upon waking Wednesday morning, I received my answer as I was overwhelmed with the thoughts of God’s love.

imageInterestingly, that was not one of the topics I had recorded in my journal. But I have found it always advisable that when God’s plans differ from my own, always yield to God’s plans. It is absolutely fitting to devote this 10th post to that subject, since the seeds of this blog were planted when my heart was flooded with an overpowering sense of God’s love one night last June while observing this beautiful sunset and reading John’s first epistle.

But just how does one adequately convey the reality of the depths of God’s love. That is a challenge for even the most skilled of writers, much less for one as inexperienced as myself. Words are simply inadequate. Like trying to describe heaven from the perspective of earthly experiences, I believe that no expression of flawed human love even comes close to matching the perfect love of our heavenly Father.

But thankfully, as the Holy Spirit reminded me Wednesday morning, I really don’t have to describe God’s love – He has already done so flawlessly in His Word. And there is little I can add to improve on that. Attempting to do so would only prove futile. And so, I will simply let the Lord speak for Himself and ask you to take the time to truly digest what God has to say about this most important topic. All the following verses are taken from the King James Version, because I believe no modern translation matches its eloquence on this topic.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) The cross is the ultimate expression of God’s love for us.

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” (1 John 4:7-11)

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8)

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20)

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he might exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Pet. 5:6-7)

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 2:4-7)

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:38-39)

How can I improve upon those clear expressions of God’s love? I could go on and on, because God’s Word is one long love letter to us, his children. If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to locate those verses in your Bible and highlight them. When you come to them in the future, take time to pause and reflect on God’s love, its impact on your life, and its implications for your future.

In my post titled Glimpses Of Heaven, I spoke of my departed mother speaking to me in a dream one night, saying “Wait till you see Jesus! You won’t believe His eyes.” I’ve often wondered what it was about Jesus’ eyes that prompted that statement. The more that I have considered that question, the less I’m convinced that it had anything to do with His physical appearance and everything to do with the inexpressible love His eyes convey. I believe the greatest thrill of heaven will be when we gaze into the eyes of the One who loved us so much that He poured out His life that we might live eternally with Him.

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My prayer is that you may know and experience that love today and that it may overflow from within you and touch the lives of those around you.

“When our broken love is the only love we can have, we are easily thrown into despair. But when we can live our broken love as a partial reflection of God’s perfect, unconditional love, we can forgive one another our limitations and enjoy together the love we have to offer.”

– Henri Nouwen, Bread For The Journey: A Daybook of Wisdom and Faith