Wisdom from Biblical Mothers

by Barbara Latta

Wisdom from biblical mothers

Mother’s Day is a time to honor and remember our mothers for their love and sacrifice throughout the years. As mothers ourselves, our children will be bringing gifts to honor us. When our offspring show us love their words are appreciated more than we can express.

But sometimes thoughts of all the mistakes we have made while raising our children attack us. None of us are perfect, but when we are focused on training our children in the fear of the Lord, God blesses our efforts. 

We can learn lessons from biblical mothers. Some listened to God and others didn’t, but we can discern wisdom from their lives and the consequences of their decisions, whether good or bad.

These women can show us the results of listening to God or ignoring His Word:

Using the Potter to Reveal the Truth about Trials

by Barbara Latta

Using the potter to reveal the
truth about trials

Okay, you may be saying, not another story about the potter and the clay. If you have been in church for any length of time, you have heard sermons preached using Jeremiah and this illustration (Jeremiah 18).

This is not an attempt to re-preach that lesson; however, a recent illustration at my church showed me something else not usually seen in the potter and clay story.

A talented art teacher was our guest speaker and while he taught he created clay works of art on his potter’s wheel. Spinning the wheel with his foot, the talented hands worked the clay until the object in his mind formed on the plate. His statement that the clay is sometimes harder or softer sounds like us. Even though his hands were forming, the clay had to submit to the fingers pressing in on it. If the clay was too hard, the bowl he wanted to create did not turn out like he planned.

Creating a bowl was just the first step. If left in that state, the clay would dry but would be fragile. The artist held up a bowl that had been left in the air to dry and the edge had been broken off. When he tried to pick the bowl up by the rim, the clay, although dry, was not strong enough to withstand the pressure of his hands. The teacher flicked his finger against the rim of the bowl and the pottery made a dull klunking sound.

We all know pottery must be fired to complete the process. The next bowl on the table had been through one firing. The teacher flicked his finger against the rim and a ringing sound was heard. The firing of the clay had made the clay stronger and the sound happier.

However, that is not the final product. A second firing is necessary after a glaze is applied to create a beautiful color. But the second firing also created a more distinct and bell tone ring when flicked with the artist’s finger.

A lot of teaching has been used to say that when we go through “firings” of life we become stronger. That is not exactly true. If it were, we would all be the strongest of Christians because we all go through trials and difficulties in our lives. What makes us stronger is that when we go through those “firings” we overcome them. But if we succumb to the

Become ash or a singing vessel.

trial we become a pot of crumbled ash. Clay pots that go through firings can come out broken and useless. The difference is in the strength of the clay. Become ash or a singing vessel.

When we stand on the Word of God to withstand temptation, discouragement and difficulty we come out of the fire better than we were before and we have a song. A song of a stronger faith, a song of deliverance from our Savior and a song of victory knowing the next time we face something we have an arsenal of weapons in our fired clay.

When we realize these truths, we can view those fired times as an opportunity to become a strong vessel. Trials don’t make us stronger. Standing strong through the fire makes us stronger. God doesn’t send the trials. The difficulties come from our enemy because he wants to discourage us enough to get us to give up and stay away from the Word of God (Mark 4:17). That’s why when we stand on the Word, we can be in the fire without being consumed. And our song will keep on singing.

What does the pottery reveal to you? Join the conversation.

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Will California bill AB 2943 ban the Bible?

by Barbara Latta

The chairman of the California LGBT caucus, Assemblyman Evan Low, has introduced AB

Will California AB 2943 ban the Bible?

2943 which would prevent “advertising, offering to engage in, or engaging in sexual orientation change efforts with an individual” as illegal under the state’s consumer fraud law. Read about the bill here.

While the language of this bill doesn’t specifically ban the Bible, the wording is so vague the interpretation could mean anything any proponent of the bill desires it to mean.

In 2012, the California Assembly passed Senate Bill 1172 which banned health professionals from attempting "sexual orientation change efforts" (SOCE). AB 2943 stands to add more detail to 1172 by:

Prohibiting SOCE from being performed on anyone, not just children under 18;
Prohibiting SOCE as a sale or service.

Of course, supporters of the bill claim they are not trying to remove the Bible, but California State Assembly member, Travis Allen, who is running for governor, says it could.

Here is a portion of the transcript from the interview with Liz Wheeler of One America News Network and Assembly member Travis Allen:

Wheeler:   This is essentially criminalizing religious beliefs. And I don’t mean to speak in hyperbole here, but if this bill were to pass, would this prohibit the sale of the Bible, that teaches these things about sexual morality?

Allen:   Well, literally, according to how this law is written, yes, it would. This is, you know, PC culture, politically correct culture, gone horribly awry. This is really directly hitting at our First Amendment rights as American citizens. Now the Democrat legislators in this building, right behind me, the California state legislature, they want to tell you how to think, what sort of books that you can read, write and purchase.

The love of Christ has the power to transform every life.

While it is difficult to find an unbiased news agency, it is our responsibility as Christians and as American citizens to remain informed of what is going on in the world around us. These laws affect our lives and the lives of future generations.

So, what can we do?

• Pray
• Contact legislators
• Support conservative legal agencies
• Be willing to take a stand

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).

Our fight is not against people, it is against the evil spirits in the world who deceive souls into acting out the lies whispered into their minds. The remedy is to proclaim the gospel, the love of Christ, who truly does have the power to transform every life who will submit to Him.

Join the conversation and share your thoughts.

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9 Tips to Define Your Purpose in Life

by Barbara Latta

Do you ever get confused about your purpose in life?

How can you know your calling?

Are you confused about your purpose in life?

Do you question whether you are pursuing God’s will or not?

We can learn a lot from Nehemiah about fulfilling the dream God has called us to achieve.

For example, I feel called to write. I didn’t pursue this plan in my younger years, but I never had a settled feeling until I started to seek this goal. Each of us has reason to be here. Until we discover that objective we will not be fulfilled, and we are missing the ability to bless others.

These 9 tips can guide you to follow your destiny:

Gun Control Doesn't Address the Real Issue, the Real Issue is...

by Barbara Latta

Gun control doesn't address the real issue

Waking up to the news of another shooting has become too common. Gun control is always at the forefront of politics and becomes more prevalent with every act committed with a firearm. The second amendment is defended by those who want to keep their guns, and those on the other side think confiscating all guns will stop murder.

If every gun was disposed of, murder and violence would still be prevalent. Cain killed Abel with a rock. Guns weren’t available and Cain still committed murder. When a person harbors hatred in their heart, violence will be the result. Bare hands can kill.

Cain became angry and jealous because God accepted his brother, Abel’s, sacrifice but did not accept Cain’s. Cain obviously didn’t follow God’s command about the sacrificial offering or his would have been accepted, as well.

God addressed the issue before the murder took place.

“If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it” (Genesis 4:7)

God was telling Cain to take care of the issue in his heart before he acted on sin’s desire. Rule over it.

Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder,’ and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment. But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment” (Matthew 5:21-22a).

So you see, it’s not a gun control issue—

The Passover Lamb and the Eternal Change that Took Place in Jesus

by Barbara Latta

God had to show us choosing the lamb was personal.

Something so precious had to die so something so ugly could live.

Before the first Passover, the Hebrews were commanded to choose an unblemished lamb on the tenth of the month (Exodus 12). They were to take it home, nourish it, cherish it, feed it and let it live with them until the fourteenth of that month. By that time, the animal would have bonded with the family and become a pet.

Now it was time to kill it.

Palm Sunday Prophecies Fulfilled

 by Barbara Latta

Palm Sunday Prophecies Fulfilled

Old Testament Prophecy

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, humble and mounted on the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem; and the bow of war will be cut off, and He will speak peace to the nations. (Zechariah 9:9-10).

New Testament Fulfillment

And brought the donkey and the colt and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats. Most of the crowd spread their coats and the others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest (Matthew 21:7-9).

The people of Jerusalem did not understand that the prophecies about the Messiah spoke of two appearances. He came the first time as the Savior and brought spiritual peace between God and man. But the last part of the prophecy in Zechariah spoke of His return, not on a donkey, but on a white horse as the conquering Judge who will rule with a rod of iron and bring political peace to all nations (Revelation 19:11-15).

Israel expected the Messiah to overthrow Roman rule.

The praise-filled words during the entry into Jerusalem had faded into curses and blasphemy as the crowd didn’t get what they wanted. Rome was still in charge and their Messiah had let them down. While He hung on the cross, Jesus heard mocking words, “He saved others, but He can’t save Himself.” What they didn’t understand was he didn’t come to save Himself; He hung there to save them.

Only those who believed witnessed the resurrection. Doubt caused unbelievers to continue to wait for the salvation from God they didn’t know had already transpired.

Unbelievers still doubt the validity of His deity and the truth of the prophecies. But the triumphant return is closer than ever before.

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

Feel free to share your thoughts.

Palm Sunday prophecies fulfilled (click to tweet)