Mother’s Love
Joe Slater
	Most mothers love their children instinctively. Scripture refers to this as “natural affection” (2 Timothy 3:3 KJV, ASV), and warns of perilous times when people will lack such qualities. Nauseating accounts of unspeak-able abuse of children by their parents, compounded by three-to-four-thousand abortions every day in this country alone, demonstrate that gross wickedness has numbed the natural affection of countless people.
	Wise King Solomon knew about natural affection; he used it to solve a dilemma. When asked to judge which of two women was the true mother of a certain child, he commanded that the child be cut in half so each woman could have one part. He knew the real mother would offer to give up her child rather than see it killed. He then gave the child (still very much alive!) to the true mother (1 Kings 3:16-27).
	Even among mothers who are naturally affection-ate, some simply need to be taught how to demonstrate love for their children. Paul told Titus that older women in the church are to “admonish the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children” (Titus 2:4). Husband-lovers and children-lovers are both compound words containing philos (the word for warm, friendly, emotional love). One of the best gifts any mother can give her children is to love their father. With the stresses, strains, and tensions that inevitably accompany child-rearing, the warm love between mother and father is neglected far too often. Children feel more secure in the knowledge that they are loved when they can see that Mama and Daddy love each other.
	Mothers ought to manifest tender love toward their children by comforting them in times of distress and pain. God illustrated His own compassion toward His chastised children by comparing it to a mother’s comfort: “As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you; and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem” (Isaiah 66:13). Let the older women teach the younger ones not to come running every time the children whimper, but to provide warm, tender comfort at times of genuine suffering. Even where there has been severe corrective discipline, there is a time for forgiveness and comfort.
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Don’t Overlook the Obvious
	Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went on a camping trip. In the middle of the night, Holmes awakened Watson and said, “Watson, look up and tell me what you see!”
	Watson said, “I see millions and millions of stars.”
	Holmes asked, “And what does that tell you?”
	Watson replied: “Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Theologically, it tells me that God is great and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, it tells me that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What does it tell you, Holmes?”
	Holmes answered simply: “Somebody stole our tent!”
	We may wonder why our lives are not going as well as we would like. Have we overlooked the obvious? Have we consulted God’s book about how to live? Are we following His way? Are we seeking His blessing?
	--via Jacksonville, AL
Contented Faithfulness
	“ I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Many individuals use this as a mantra for success  from sports to business, to personal goal setting accomplishments. In context, the Apostle Paul is pointing out the fact that no matter what he has or doesn't have in life, he can still be faithful. His faithfulness will not be determined  by  outward circumstances. Sometimes he preached with money in his pocket, and sometimes without it. He learned  the secret of contentment.
	This world is not our home. Even all of those whom Jesus healed lived to die another day and in another way. His miracles were to confirm the eternal message. Our physical blessings are temporal, whereas our spiritual blessings are eternal. True contentment is realizing that truth.
	Will we serve God only when things are going our way? A good example of steadfast  faith in spite of obstacles is found in the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Certain Chaldeans brought charges against these Jews,  getting  Nebuchadnezzar to decree that anyone who doesn't  bow down to worship the golden image of Nebuchadnezzar at the sound of the music was to be thrown into the fiery furnace. In responding to their sentence, they replied, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up" (Daniel 3:16-18).
	Seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness means that we are going to focus on the eternal and not the temporal. We often pray that our physical circumstances change but even if they do not, we must have the resolve that we are going to remain constant in faithfulness.
	--Roger Holm (Tijeras, NM)