My outdoor furniture was in dire need of tender loving care! Since we were gone all last summer due to my husband’s bone marrow transplant, it had been 2 years since I had cleaned or painted any of it. I spent most of the week washing and spray painting chairs, tables, and flower pots.
This morning I sat on my newly cleaned backporch in my shiny chair, drank my coffee, and read a devotional magazine. It felt wonderful as I enjoyed my clean surroundings!
It’s amazing what a little paint and elbow grease can do! The paint nicely covered up the rusty spots, the stains, and the ugly chipped paint. It was still there, but no longer obvious to my eyes.
Christ’s blood covered our sins and they are no longer visible. Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him. Romans 4:7-8. Our sins are covered! Christ’s blood has covered our dirty, unsightly sins and they are hidden from the view of Almighty God.
May we be forever thankful we have been covered by His blood and can appear before God as clean vessels!
Donna Coffey
If Mama Ain’t Happy
There’s an old saying, “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!” For centuries, the mother has been the center of the home. If she is indeed the primary nurturer and homemaker, this adage certainly rings true. Mama’s definitely set the tone of their household.
Daily stresses and frustrations, financial strains, marital concerns, physical issues, etc. can take its toll on even strong Christian women. We’ve all fallen victim to “bad days” and have allowed our bad moods to affect our families…and let’s face it, in turn we’ve made our families suffer through it along with us!
How many of us have contained our frustrations at church, work, or other public events only to come home and take it out on our innocent families? I am guilty for sure! Those we love the most are often unintended casualties of our misery!
Motherhood is one of life’s greatest blessings, but an even greater responsibility. As we mold and shape the lives of the children in our care, it is inevitable that we will slip from time to time…but love covers a multitude of sins. As we lavish love on our children, we are easily forgiven for our flaws. Just as God our Father forgives a contrite heart, so will our children overlook our imperfections when we show them unconditional love!
Proverbs 31:28 tells us Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Have you lived your life behind closed doors in front of your family so that your children and husband would rise up and praise you? Do you need to ask forgiveness from God and your family for your past actions? Or do you need to forgive your own mother for something she’s done? There is no better time than now to make things right!
On this Mother’s Day, let’s be “Happy Mamas” rejoicing in our blessed lives!
Donna Coffey