Mission: Assimilation (Week 2) by Theresa Zuber

This past week, we’ve focused on scriptures that remind us that God’s word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Hopefully, we have hidden that scripture in our hearts and have begun to make these words a part of who we are. If you have a difficult time with memorization, just read the passages every morning and night. They will become familiar.

This week we are going to focus on some “positive thinking” scriptures. We talked last week about how Jesus stopped Satan’s attack by quoting scriptures. One of Satan’s favorite tactics is belittling us. He whispers, “You aren’t good enough.” “You don’t matter.” Whatever dark lies Satan is whispering to you this week, expose them to the light of God’s truth.

God designed you. He shaped your nose and ears just the way he wanted. God doesn’t make mistakes and God doesn’t make junk. Psalm 139:13-14 tells us “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Not only did he choose your sex and your hair color but “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” (Luke 12:7)

Our heavenly Father chose the character traits that made that special mix of “you!” Perhaps you can sing, perhaps you can’t carry a tune in a bucket! You may be a leader or a follower, quiet spirited or fun-loving. These things are not by chance. God created all of who you are. God wants you to use who you are for His purposes. “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

You see, God has a plan for you and his plan is bigger and better than any you could imagine for yourself! He knows what you are capable of and he also knows the desires of your heart! “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Why would the Almighty God have plans for YOU? It’s because he loves you. " The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17)

Don’t fall for all that negative talk! You are a child of God, created just as he designed you. He loves you with an everlasting love and nothing can take that away from you! “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

This week bask in the glow of God’s love for YOU – his special creation!

Answered Prayer by Donna (Ensign) Woods

I want to celebrate answered prayer with you.
Once again, God's awesome love comes shining through !!
So very thankful He heard our heartfelt plea.
And for allowing us, His great mercy to see.
We sing praises of joy, with glorious song.
Our hearts dance in celebration all day long.
Fervent prayer avails so very much...
It empowers the Master's wondrous touch.
It's so awesome, to hear Him say "Yes"
I always stand in amazement, I must confess.
There's joyful excitement, when He wipes away pain.
Faith is energized, and prayerful we shall remain.
Even if God's answer had been,"No"...
Or if His answer had been agonizing and slow...
Whatever His plan reveals, we can rest assured,
That His grace accompanies all that is to be endured.
Answers to prayer....great and small...
Our Father in Heaven sends them all !!!

Mission: Assimilation by Theresa Zuber

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 199:11)

If someone were to ask me to memorize scripture, I would immediately think, “Oh, no! That sounds boring and I don’t think I could do it.” But, before you discount the thought, bear with me for a moment or two.

I purposely titled this Mission: Assimilation because that is what the goal is. Encarta Dictionary defines assimilation as “the process of becoming part of or more like something greater”. Now I like the sound of that. We want to assimilate the information, the scriptures, until God’s word becomes a part of us. Don’t we all want to become more like Jesus?

When Jesus faced Satan’s temptation in the desert, what did he do? He used scripture to refute Satan’s lies. He didn’t have a concordance, or a search engine like biblegateway.com (both of which I love and use regularly!) Jesus referred back to the teachings he had learned as a child in Jewish temple, the studies that he had done with his family, and the scriptures that he knew from heart.

We can’t always have our Bible handy but if we hide God’s word in our hearts, then “out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 5:45b) As we move from an infant Christian to a more mature Christian, God’s word must become a part of who we are. Sermons, small group studies, devotions will feed us as we grow, but we also need to commit to personal study, Bible reading and meditation as well. We don’t want to be like the Hebrew people who were scolded, “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!” (Hebrews 5:12)

As we study and commit to memory these precious words, I pray that “the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26)

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” (2 Tim 3:16)

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

Spend this week studying these passages and committing them to memory. Assimilate them into your heart and mind, so that you can draw on them when needed. May the living, breathing Word of God be a lamp for your feet and light for your path!

A Mother's Heart by Tana LeMay

In Luke chapter 2, there are two references to Mary storing up treasures of Jesus in her heart:
2:19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
2:51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.

As mothers, how often do we to hold within our hearts the precious memories of our children’s years with us? The days pass so quickly from birth to the empty nest. When they are young and require so much of our time and energy, it seems as if they’ll be with us forever. But I have learned that those days pass in the blink of an eye.

I was never disciplined enough to write down the things they said (out of the mouth of babes) or the silly games they would invent. But I have the snapshots of those moments and much more stored within my memory and heart. Those times when I said to myself “I want to remember this forever”. Some of these memories are of good, pleasant things, but some are also of difficult situations. Those times when I knew they would eventually learn from the event, no matter how painful.

It won’t be long before my husband and I become empty nesters. I look forward to those days with some expectation and also with some despair. The house will be quieter (and cleaner). The calendar will have more empty spaces than ever before. The memories will be sweeter. But this next chapter of our lives and theirs will also be an opportunity to store up more memories. Memories of graduations, new careers and homes, and maybe even weddings and babies. And so, the circle continues.

Mother's Day by Joyce Schafer

May 10th is the day set aside on the calendar to honor mothers. Over the years I have been honored on Mother’s Day in various ways.

It started with an “I love you, Mommy” and a fistful of dandelions from a toddler. I have never understood why anyone would spray their yard to kill dandelions. These flowers hold so many precious memories for me.

Then, when the kids were in grade school, I was honored with lots of handmade gifts on this special day. I especially loved the handprint pictures and the flowers in milk cartons.

The teenage years were a bit more hit and miss in the honoring department. I remember one Mother’s Day coming home from a weekend trip and finding flowers from my teenage sons. I felt so honored and proud of my boys. Years later, I heard the rest of the story. My little darlings had bought the flowers at a gas station because they had stayed out way past their curfew and figured if I found out about it, the flowers would soften the punishment. Why do these kids feel the need to tell all and spoil our illusions once they are out of the house?

The Mother’s Day gifts of flowers, cards, and eating out are nice, but they are the world’s view of how to honor mothers. God’s view can be found in Exodus 20:12, “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” It says nothing about once a year in May to do this, but this is something we should do every day.

How do we honor our mothers every day? I think all mothers want the same two things from their children – Love and Respect. I also think all mothers should be treated this way not only because it is the right thing to do, but more importantly, because God commands it.

In God's Hands by Donna (Ensign) Woods

Our children grow up so very fast
Creating colorful rainbows for our past.

When they were little, I watched over them day and night,
Trying to teach them everything good and right.

As babies I carried them to and fro,
Taking them wherever I wanted them to go.

Holding a toddler’s hand, I could easily lead…
Out to play, or in to bathe and feed.

I could scoop them up in my arms each day,
To rescue them from the path of harm’s way.

As a mom, I could chase away all fears,
And a tender hug could dry up tears.

I bathed them in love, right from the start.
I had the miracle cure for a child’s broken heart.

They soon grow up and leave mom’s protective wings,
With a future to explore with many exciting things.

I can no longer carry them, or hold their hand…
Only God can lead them through what He has planned.

I don’t have all the answers, as it seemed before.
That’s why I kneel before the Father’s door.

He can guide them safely, day and night,
And shield them from the evil they must fight.

A praying parent is divinely armed,
Finding peace in knowing they won’t be harmed.

Mama holds their hands for just a little while,
But the Lord is there, through every earthly mile.

I want for my babies the very best.
I want them to be healthy and richly blessed.

I can’t be with them every step of the way,
…But I can pray for them, many times each day.

Please, dear Lord, prepare each child for your perfect will.
Be there for them as they climb each dangerous hill.

They no longer need to hold my hand,
But they do need my prayers to help them stand.

A Mother's Tears - by Donna (Ensign) Woods

Much of life is seen through a Mother’s tears,
Flowing from the heart over the years.
Beginning with tears of joy, at her baby’s birth,
The most precious delight, found on Earth.
Followed by tears of prayer-filled fatigue,
As she struggles to meet each child’s need.
As the bus drives away on the first day of school,
Mom stands waving good-bye, in a tear-fed pool.
Her tears console many little heart-breaks,
Through many twisting turns each life takes.
When her child is hurting, tears fall as she prays
Asking God to heal them, as He blesses their days.
Flowing over disappointments, pain and fears…
Is a Mother’s love, reflecting through tears.
When teenagers seem to forget all that they learned,
A Mother cries tears, that frustration has earned.
Pacing the floors, she fights back tears late at night,
Prayer filled tears that combat the evil they must fight.
As children grow up and leave her home,
A Mother’s tears fall….when she is all alone.
Her tears remember each wonderful child…
And each little face that lovingly smiled.
Mother’s tears are often very hard to explain…
They are wrapped in joy, desperation and pain.
But a Mother’s tears always mean love….
Another gift, from God above!!!