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Living The Love Of Jesus
On this Mother’s Day weekend, my heart and mind are drawn to one of the most amazing and loving women I have ever known: my mother. By her extraordinary expressions of love, she helped open my heart, as well as the hearts of many others, to the love of Jesus Christ.
One of her favorite hymns was “Love divine, all loves excelling, Joy of heaven to earth come down; Fix in us Thy humble dwelling; All Thy faithful mercies crown! Jesus, Thou art all compassion, Pure, unbounded love Thou art; Visit us with Thy salvation, Enter every trembling heart” (lyrics by Charles Wesley).
Mom opened her heart to that great love that excels all other love. She then humbly tried as best she could to live that “Love Divine.” Some of my first and deepest experiences of the love of Jesus Christ came through my mother’s daily life of labor and service to her family and to others.
Even when overwhelmed with raising five children and helping run a business with my father, my mother would always take time to listen to any one of us children, as well as anyone else who needed a caring heart and an empathetic ear. Such actions by my mom taught me that Jesus is like that. Jesus is always willing to take time to listen and to help us get on and stay on the right path.
As we grew older, my mom never tried to force us into making a certain decision. Oh, she did try to make sure we were looking at all sides of an issue, and, I know, she prayed continually that her children would choose the correct path.
Isn’t that what our loving God does for us? He listens to us, sends helpers along our path, and offers redemption to us through his Son, Jesus Christ. But our loving God leaves it to us to choose God’s Way, Truth, Life, and Love—or to stubbornly choose our own way.
When I made dumb choices in my life, my mom would be there “when I came to my senses” and welcome me back to the right path. God does the same thing for us. If we are willing when we stumble or fall to turn back to the light and redeeming love of his Son, Jesus, God is there to welcome us Home.
On this Mother’s Day weekend, may we take time to say, “Thank You” to all the loving women in our lives who show us glimpses of God’s “Love Divine.” And may we resolve to walk more fully in the Footsteps of Jesus, humbly sharing that gift of God’s love with others through the lives we live.
“Thank You” again to all the women who choose to live the love of Jesus! You make this often hurting and confusing world a little more like heaven! God bless and strengthen each one of you.
-Pastor Bob Wallace, Retired United Methodist Pastor
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Living The Love Of Jesus
On this Mother’s Day weekend, my heart and mind are drawn to one of the most amazing and loving women I have ever known: my mother. By her extraordinary expressions of love, she helped open my heart, as well as the hearts of many others, to the love of Jesus Christ.
One of her favorite hymns was “Love divine, all loves excelling, Joy of heaven to earth come down; Fix in us Thy humble dwelling; All Thy faithful mercies crown! Jesus, Thou art all compassion, Pure, unbounded love Thou art; Visit us with Thy salvation, Enter every trembling heart” (lyrics by Charles Wesley).
Mom opened her heart to that great love that excels all other love. She then humbly tried as best she could to live that “Love Divine.” Some of my first and deepest experiences of the love of Jesus Christ came through my mother’s daily life of labor and service to her family and to others.
Even when overwhelmed with raising five children and helping run a business with my father, my mother would always take time to listen to any one of us children, as well as anyone else who needed a caring heart and an empathetic ear. Such actions by my mom taught me that Jesus is like that. Jesus is always willing to take time to listen and to help us get on and stay on the right path.
As we grew older, my mom never tried to force us into making a certain decision. Oh, she did try to make sure we were looking at all sides of an issue, and, I know, she prayed continually that her children would choose the correct path.
Isn’t that what our loving God does for us? He listens to us, sends helpers along our path, and offers redemption to us through his Son, Jesus Christ. But our loving God leaves it to us to choose God’s Way, Truth, Life, and Love—or to stubbornly choose our own way.
When I made dumb choices in my life, my mom would be there “when I came to my senses” and welcome me back to the right path. God does the same thing for us. If we are willing when we stumble or fall to turn back to the light and redeeming love of his Son, Jesus, God is there to welcome us Home.
On this Mother’s Day weekend, may we take time to say, “Thank You” to all the loving women in our lives who show us glimpses of God’s “Love Divine.” And may we resolve to walk more fully in the Footsteps of Jesus, humbly sharing that gift of God’s love with others through the lives we live.
“Thank You” again to all the women who choose to live the love of Jesus! You make this often hurting and confusing world a little more like heaven! God bless and strengthen each one of you.
-Pastor Bob Wallace, Retired United Methodist Pastor
Momma Said, “Don’t Lose Your Soul”
In this life, we have found a person who can be very close, like God. It is mothers, not that fathers are not also close to God. It just seems that mothers treat us the way God treats His creation. In Deuteronomy 30:2, 6, and 10, God wants us to obey Him. Well, mothers also want us to listen to them. They will not knowingly lead us wrong. That is true “mother spirit.”
In Jeremiah 18, there is a story about the potter’s house. God is always restoring or making something new. Well, that’s how, in most cases, mothers try to help their children and others. Proverbs 19:8 is also about wisdom. Mothers give wisdom, so their families can get understanding. Children get this advice that they need as they grow. Mothers give the most important message of wisdom. Momma said, “Don’t lose your soul.” What!
Psalm 121:7 is about your soul. Mothers always tell us things, but we don’t listen. Mark 8:36 asks, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (KJV). You didn’t bring anything in this world and can’t take anything out. But gaining wisdom is important. Follow some mother’s guidance from the Bible. So please remember, Momma said, “Don’t lose your soul to the devil (Satan).” Why would I lie about wisdom? If something happened to you, who would be hurt more than you?
So many of us have had our hearts broken so many times that we are on the way to a heart attack. Psalm 23 talks about a shepherd and what He can do. A mother is like that shepherd but in a human form who God sent to help us. How many times did she tell you not to, but you did anyway? It is a shame how many times she has had to repeat herself. In true “mother spirit,” Momma said, “Don’t lose your soul.”
How many times have we reached up? Isaiah 57:7 talks about rising up in our lives. In spite of all the ups and downs in this life, when it comes to listening to what is right, we close our ears and don’t hear. And when we see how our “bed” is always a mess, we have to go to Momma. She said, “Don’t lose your soul?”
In 1 Kings 6:15, King Solomon was building the Temple. What are you building your house with? Are you covering everything that needs to show who you are inside? I don’t know, but people don’t like to show who they really are. You can’t be anything else but you. What is inside will come out and show where you are going and what you are about.
So look in the mirror and repeat: Momma said, “Don’t lose your soul.” Did you read that book, the Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth?
Here again is the book of Daniel. In Daniel 12:3, we have a choice between heaven or hell.
Why put so much effort in winning this world? You came here with nothing, and you are going to leave here with nothing. I have been trying to find a funeral with a U-Haul truck attached. We all have good days and bad days. But the best is coming when we will have no sickness, no pain, and no death.
Christ uses your mother or that spiritual woman who is like a mother to tell us. Momma said that “there will be days like this, so don’t lose your soul.” You can’t get it back once it is gone! Take care of it while you have time. God sent Christ, and Christ sent your momma and sometimes your daddy!
Please don’t lose your soul!
-Overseer Pastor Velinda Smith, New Life Wake Up Ministries, Inc. Williamsport
Walking with God for May 12, 2024
The following institutional services are arranged, and reported by, United Churches of Lycoming County:
Sunday:
Lycoming County Prison, 1:30 and 3:15 p.m., Pastor Velinda Webb, New Life Wake Up Ministries, Inc.
Williamsport South, 2 p.m., Mr. Tony Mileto, St. John’s-Newberry United Methodist Church, Williamsport.
Valley View Nursing Home, 2 p.m., Ms. Deb Smith, St. Luke Lutheran Church, Williamsport.
We Care of Loyalsock, 2 p.m., Ms. Marion Handley, Faith United Methodist Church, Montoursville.
Williamsport North, 2:15 p.m., Cancelled.
Rose View Center, 2:15 p.m., Mr. Jerry Webb, AME Zion Church, Williamsport.
Williamsport Home, 3 p.m., None scheduled.
Pre-Release Center Women, 3:30 p.m., None scheduled.
Pre-Release Center Men, 3:30 p.m., None scheduled.
Services during the week include:
Heritage Springs, 3 p.m. Tuesday, None scheduled.
Leighton Place, 2 p.m. Tuesday, Rev. Brad Walmer, New Covenant United Church of Christ, Williamsport.
Hillside Senior Living, 2 p.m. Wednesday, Mrs. Carol Hetler, Eagle Mountain Word of Faith, Williamsport.
Presbyterian Home, 11 a.m. Thursday, None scheduled.
On the radio:
Radio Services are provided by the following congregations:
8:30 a.m. (Saturday) Jersey Shore Assembly of God, WJSA 96.3 FM.
9:30 a.m. (Sunday) Community Baptist Church, Montoursville, WJSA 96.3 FM.
9 a.m. (Sunday) Pine Street United Methodist Church, Williamsport, WWPA 1340 AM/101.7 FM., WILQ HD3.