These are my Favorite Verses

A repost in memory of Mamaw, who went to Heaven 2 years ago today. On a cool Tuesday morning almost thirteen years ago, I received this envelope in my post office box in Guy, Arkansas. 

The postmark reads October 14, 1997 as best I can tell.  Thirteen years. Our 3rd child, Anna, would be born 7 years later, to the day.

The letter was from my Mamaw.  It wasn't a surprise to me, in fact I had requested it from her not long before receiving it.  She had asked me at some point if I would preach her funeral service when she died.  I agreed to the great privilege and asked her to share with me any favorite Bible verses.  She sent this letter to fulfill my request.

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;  my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

[2] Timothy 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
John [11]:25
Jesus wept.


If Jesus wept when he was sad; then it's ok for any one to cry, when you are sad.


Last:
To my children and grandchildren; I ask you to remember one of the commandments; that you love one another as I have always loved you. [John 13:34]


Aaron you can add to or take off any of this you want to.  These are my favorite verses.  Maybe you know some that would be more [appropriate] to say.
Just don't leave off the last.


Love you
Mamaw

Well, Mamaw wasn't a Bible scholar, but she couldn't have chosen a better selection of passages than she did.  She went to Heaven last Tuesday, May 25.  She had requested a graveside service only and of course, I honored her other request by preaching during the service.  I was able to mention every one of these verses as well as preach through much of Psalm 23.  Click here to read my sermon notes.  These notes contain more than an outline, but they're not quite a manuscript.
What the letter above says to me more than anything is that Mamaw was a woman who was prepared - in more ways than one - to die.  Her soul was right with God, her sins were forgiven, her home was Heaven, and she was ready.  For the past several years on many occasions as we would talk on the phone, Heaven would become the conversation topic.
Now she's there.  Now she's well.  Now she is resting... in peace.
Now these verses have become a glorious reality as she enjoys the presence of her King.

Other posts about Mamaw here.

Pray for Mamaw

UPDATE:  Thanks to those who prayed.  Mamaw went to Heaven Tuesday night, May 25th. Read her obit here.

Our Mamaw is 89 years old and her health has recently made a drastic turn for the worse.  She is very close to Heaven.  She could be only days or weeks away from meeting her Savior.
Abby has been asking everyone to pray for Mamaw & asked me to post this note for others to see (Mrs. Johnson is her school counselor).

Visiting Mamaw, November 2009

Thanks for the Memories

An old family friend writes a column titled "Scoops", in the Sheridan Headlight, my hometown newspaper. His column is comprised of well worded memories of his boyhood in the small town of Sheridan, Arkansas. Born in 1946, his childhood years were spent during the 50's; and what I find intoxicating about his stories, is that he grew up living next door to my dad (who was only a couple of years younger) and has occasionally mentioned "Si and Beulah" in his tales. Si and Beulah are my grandparents. Si, who I affectionately know as "Papaw", died in 1988 just before I graduated High School. "Mamaw" turned 84 last May, and if you haven't already, you can read the earlier blog about my relationship with her.

I love nostalgia...in fact, the photos you see dispersed in this blog entry are actual shots from my former home, where I have items from either my past, my mom or dad's past, or my grandparents' past .  So my love for significant things from my past... especially things that involve my family, is obvious.

(Some items in the first photo above: my high school band jacket on the right, cub scout uniform on the left, all 13 yearbooks, diplomas, and other high school paraphernalia, INCLUDING the set of metal lockers which actually came out of the very gym my father and I both used in our school years.  My dad went to high school in the same building I attended middle school and during his senior year in '66 and my 8th grade year in '84 we had the exact same locker - #742...cool, huh?  The old Sheridan Headlight newspapers are seen in the second photo, and in the last photo below are, some assorted items I've collected over time.)

But though I LOVE the past, I don't LIVE in the past. Spiritually speaking, I don't want to. In the fall of 1992, "to the praise of the glory of His grace" Ephesians 1, God saved me out of my past...my past and previous life of sinful, self centered living, and granted me new life in Christ. I only look back on my spiritual past now, to be reminded of God's mercy to me, a chief of sinners (see very first blog entry). In fact, in a recent email to Bill Lancaster - the author of the much loved "Scoops" column, I wanted to thank him for the memories he have given me via his writings, and in doing so was reminded of what spiritual memories I must leave for my children. I've copied the actual email below, editing out only what 's irrelevant to us here. But first, let me give you just a glimpse of Bill's flair for memory making:

My youth was so special and we did spend about every day playing outside--myself, brother Bob, Melton and Gopher and others in the neighborhood. I wouldn't take anything for the experience. There were days when we would go up to Mr. Waddell's pasture and climb a pine tree and just sit there all day, like monkeys. A dip in the swimming hole at Hurricane Creek where the water was ice cold...and fishing in the local ponds and creeks with homemade gear. People today can't relate to it, but it was special. It was something just to get through the day and the dust from the gravel road, but we didn't know anything else. Your grandfather was one of the hardest working men who ever lived. He was always walking real fast...this is one thing I remember about him...when he would come home from the mill to eat, he would park his truck and walk very fast into the house so that he could eat and hurry back to work..They probably gave him 15 minutes for lunch. And he was a wonderful craftsman who could fashion anything out of wood. And he drank instant coffee...this amazed me about Si and Beaulah...that they had instant coffee and their Christmas tree had the bubble lights, which were later taken off the market as a fire hazard. So much to remember and as I get older, I reflect back on it more and more.

His friend "Melton" - well, that's my dad. The excerpt above was taken from an email he sent me in response to this initial email (below) I sent him, thanking him for his column. Here's what I wrote him:

Bill, I just wanted you to know how much I enjoy reading your "Scoops" column in the Headlight. I look for it each time I'm in Sheridan visiting my family or my in-laws, and often convince them to give me their paper so I can take it home with me. In fact, just this morning, I finally put my subscription request in the mail to have the Headlight delivered to our home in Little Rock - primarily (though not exclusively) so I can read your column.

Now, I must be honest, there are self-serving motives for my obsession with your column...and you've probably already guessed it! My love for your column is rooted in my love for my grandparents & the simple pleasure of reading their names as participants in your nostalgic tales. I know it's only a brief mention of "Si & Beulah" as you're describing playing under large oaks or "stealing" coleman lanterns for a fishing trip, but it's still a treat to be reminded of them in such fond ways.

I still have many articles and items decorating my home study &
my son's room, that were either built by Papaw or belonged to him, and of course, Dad still has all of his shop tools (along with every last scrap of useless junk that Papaw couldn't bear to throw away!). These priceless items, along with many memories, are dear to me.

I even have many fond memories of your family...your mother especially. I remember walking with her to the strawberry Patch (behind Nita's house, maybe?) and picking some fresh strawberries, then bringing them home to eat with a bowl of sugar. I remember sitting in her tiny house with your son, Eric playing "I Spy In My Eye..."...and the small organ you would first see upon entering the house (I just realized that Nita probably spent hours practicing on that very organ)...I rememeber the "Hi-C" orange drink she'd pour from a metal can for us to drink...swinging on
her porch swing (her's may be the first porch swing I ever experienced)...riding my bike up and down the dirt road that served as the driveway to Nita's home & Harold's...and others.

I don't know if my "good 'ole days" were as good as yours - certainly not as 'ole - :o) - but it's great remembering the past. And I truly appreciate your assistance - via the Scoops column - in remembering some of my past.

It reminds me of my God - given duty to not only leave, but to create such memories for my children - Aaron Job, Abby and Anna (and one more in May '06, Lord willing!). And though I certainly want to leave memories of strawberries and Hi-C and shady oaks and wood shops...I more so want to leave a godly legacy. I want my children to look back when they've grown and know that their mother and father loved the Lord Jesus Christ, sought to serve Him and His church with selfless sacrifice, and were striving everyday to "bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4, not just on Sundays, but each and every day of our lives. I think this is the idea of Deuteronomy 6, when fathers are instructed to teach God's Word "diligently to your children, and... talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise" (Deut 6:7).

Throughout the book of Deuteronomy we're give the reason why we should teach our children - so we won't forget - or, stated positively, so we'll REMEMBER! (See 4:9, 23, 31; 6:12; 8:11, 14, 19). Just as God wanted Israel to remember how He delivered them out of bondage to Egypt, so too He wants us to teach our children that He is the Deliverer from sin. He wants us to teach our children - every day and in every way - that He has provided an escape - an "exodus" from our own inherently sinful & depraved hearts, through the person of His Son Jesus. That by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone can we be saved - saved from God's own righteous wrath against sin, by His own righteous & merciful love toward sinners (Romans 5:6-11).

Thank you, Bill, for your column. Thank you for helping me remember my past as you remember yours. Thank you for reminding me to be reminded to leave reminders for my children.

And, thank you Lord, for commanding us to leave reminders of eternal things... heavenly things... spiritual things... cross-centered things.

Ok, so the memories don't mean quite as much to you as they do me, but making memories - not forgetting - is what beleivers are to be about. It's been well said that we're only one generation away from a godless society. As much as it depends on me, it won't be my generation.

The Simple Ministry of the Word

My grandmother (aka "Mamaw") is currently in a residential nursing home in the area receiving physical therapy for a compression fracture in her back. This will be a temporary stay (Lord willing) until she's able to walk on her own without assistance and can return to her home. A request for your prayers would be appropriate here.Since she lives 40 miles away, I don't see her as often as I'd like, so, in God's kind providence, I've had opportunities to visit her almost every weekday before I go into work. We visit, talk about the family, talk about the Lord, talk to the Lord, and read His Word.
I have been greatly encouraged by this ministry - this ministry of reading God's word to my mamaw. It's such a simple thing...reading the Scriptures...allowing God's Word to minister to us. Our reading together this morning in Psalm 19 reminds us why:

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul;

the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;

the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;

the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;

sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

Moreover, by them is your servant warned;

in keeping them there is great reward.

(Psalm 19:7-11)

In the margin of my Bible, I have written the title of a sermon I heard on this passage: "The Irrisistable Efficacy of the Word of God in Salvation"...had to be a Dr. Zemek sermon! Simply put, God's Word is able in and of itself to produce the desired result - salvation. And we can say, because of numerous other passages (a few being: John 17:17, Ephesians 5:26, 1 Thessalonians 2:13 & 1 Peter 2:2) that God's Word is sufficient in our sanctification - our growth in godliness as believers. And that's why I've been reading Scripture to Mamaw during our visits (not to mention the fact that she's developing glaucoma and can't read very well any more). We have such a great time fellowshipping in God's Word. I know she is blessed by receiving, but I think I am even more blessed in the giving. Doing this directs and allows our conversation to revolve around spiritual things...things that matter.
Over the past few days we've read through Psalm 119. In case you're not aware, Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in God's Word (176 verses) and all but 7 verses directly mention God's Word - the remaining seven indirectly mention it. Depending on your translation, you'll see several different terms used for God's Word, such as: commandments, testimonies, ordinances, precepts, judgments, law, word, statutes, etc. Though each term has it's unique nuances & shades of meaning, you could easily replace any of those terms with "God's Word" and not lose the value of the verse. Here are some of the verses that were particularly special in ministering to Mamaw during this season of her life:

Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.

I remember Your name in the night, O LORD, and I keep Your law.

Psalm 119:54-55

It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.

Psalm 119:71

My soul faints for Your salvation, but I hope in Your word.

Psalm 119:81

I am afflicted very much; revive me, O LORD, according to Your word.

Psalm 119:107

I long for Your salvation, O LORD, and Your law is my delight.

Let my soul live, and it shall praise You; and let Your judgments help me.

Psalm 119:174-176

It's been good having this time with Mamaw. It's been good to be reminded that God's word is sufficient for "life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3). I can only pray that a love for God's word will continue to grow in her heart and mine, so we may say with the psalmist, "Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day." (Ps 119:97)

Mamaw's 84th Birthday, May 7, 2005