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She Mentors Truth…

Joining with #SheReadsTruth and #SheSharesTruth today for an exercise in sharing! We have been studying the book of Titus and the challenge was to answer these three questions:  How is spiritual mothering already taking place in your community? Has a godly woman influenced you in your growth in the Gospel, or has mentoring a young believer impacted your life? How would you like to see Titus 2 shape your relationships moving forward? Here we go!

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Mentoring…yes, I looked it up in the dictionary. A mentor is a “…wise, trusted counselor or teacher.” That sums up perfectly my beginning remembrance of “Sister Sherlock”, my first Sunday School teacher that I remember having an influence on me. I do not recall how old I was in her class, but I know I was little, maybe five starting out.

To me, this lady was a picture of grace. She was elderly, ancient in my eyes, but at the time was probably only in her early 70’s. She seemed to float around the room, touching and encouraging and most importantly, loving. She was the epitome of Titus 2.

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

I remember feeling so safe, so protected and so very, very loved by this woman of God.

Later on, as I grew up, I had other women who shaped my life. One particular lady I was attached to as a young teenager helped me learn to pray. I watched her, I listened and I learned. Several years ago when I was under such a great attack from the enemy, I called her in the middle of the night, desperate for prayer and answers. She responded…with the Word! It made all the difference for me and has helped me be able to do the same for others! She is still a close, dear friend to this day.

In my late 30’s, raising My Three Sons, an air traffic controller’s wife, busy as youth pastors in the church, I was frazzled, to say the least. On top of it all, we were feeling the call to leave our safety and security and step out in the ministry full time. It was overwhelming.

Enter my lovely, Christian friend, Martha, or Mart as we called her.
A young hand touches and holds an old wrinkled hand

This woman, and her sister, Dellen, were blessings in my life! They were constant, never changing and not perfect. Yes, I said NOT perfect! That is what I loved about Mart.

She had one daughter and a husband but was never too busy to hear about ME. Did I need prayer? How was I doing? What could she do to help?

And laugh. She could make me laugh.

This godly Titus 2 woman was taken from us all too early. I will never forget one day I was at her house and Dellen and I were helping to give her a permanent! Oh, my, what were we thinking! Dellen wanted me to look at a mole on the back of Mart’s ear, she was concerned.

She was right.

Mart suffered so much with the treatments, the pain and the progression of the cancer, it was beginning to take a toll on her. The church rallied around her and supported the family with their prayers and love. We were all sure God would heal this woman because none of us could bear to lose her.

It was not to be and she was taken from us all too soon, shortly after her daughter’s wedding. If I remember correctly, it was less than two years later that Dellen, too, passed away. I have always marveled at that because I knew they couldn’t stand to be separated. They were two of a kind.

You are never too old to want, and need, a godly influence!

Since the Titus 2 study, I have thought long and hard about a mentor and pray that God would send one my way. I would also love to get back to the place where I would feel like pouring myself into someone younger.

My prayer is that God would make me pliable, useful and willing in all aspects of ministry and a “…teacher of good things”.

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Please Remember Me…

David.

A man after God’s own heart.

He loved God, yet he sinned.

Again, and again and even Again.

Some scholars believe the 38th Psalm was written after the death of Uriah. King David had sent him to the front lines of a battle so that he would be killed…all to hide the sin that he had committed with Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba.

Nathan, the prophet, confronted David about his sin by giving him a parable:

And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.”

David was furious when he heard this story! He replies with the righteous anger of a king:

“As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die… And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man.” 2 Samuel 12:1-7.

Guilty!

David has been found out. God had revealed it to the prophet and he could no longer hide his sin.

So what did he do? Argue with Nathan and insist he wasn’t “the man”?

Did he try to pin the blame on someone else?

Or maybe, he wanted to blame Bathsheba…if she hadn’t been bathing on that roof this never would have happened!

No, David didn’t do any of those things. He went to prayer.

“O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure… There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.”

mmFSUoW

There was no rest for David as long as there was a “breach” between him and his God!

But David knew where his forgiveness would come from, he knew if he would humble himself, admit his sin and ask for help, he would find a Savior.

Have you been there?

Have you been pronounced “GUILTY” and all in a moment’s time been brought to your knees?

We all have when we discover our sin.

“There is therefore nono condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1-3.

No condemnation!

No continual whispering in the ear from the father of lies!

No reminders from Almighty God, who has the power to give and take life!

There is only forgiveness. Complete forgiveness, never to be remembered against you again.

Sometimes there are consequences from our sin. The child born to David and Bathsheba died. But God forgave them because of their humility and prayer.

Don’t let the enemy convince you that your sin is too great. Nothing is too big for our God!

There is no need to be robbed of joy and peace when Jesus is waiting to forgive.

“Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not far from me.” Psalm 38:21.

Like David, pour out your heart to Him and ask Him to remember you.

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