The Women's Issues Committee of the Daughters of the American Revolution offers and essay contest every year. This year I chose to write about my mother and the powerful influence on my life. Read on to learn of my mother.  

Sharon

Priceless and Precious
 Lessons I Learned from My Mother
I am honored to celebrate my mother and her powerful influence on my life. Mom taught me so much not only through explicate lessons but also through her example. Her patience, hard work, priorities, love for Jesus, and courage continue to inspire me. Her guidance has only grown precious to me through the years.  Cancer prematurely took Mom’s life and her death would forever alter mine. Her life lessons and her death have been truly impactful in my life. I want to share some of the characteristics that exemplify Mom’s remarkable life.
My mother, Hattie Palmer Pope, grew up a farm girl. She would later become my dad’s college sweetheart. After they married, they would both graduate from the University of Missouri with degrees in education. Dad became an educator. Mom took time to raise her five children then went on to teach elementary students. Her education would become a key issue when I was a young girl.
In the short time we had together Mom taught me so much. I want to highlight a few of her life lessons.
Mom taught me to follow instructions: While I write in glowing terms of my mother, make no mistake she would brook no nonsense. She had a backbone of steel. My older brother and I would test her resolve many, many times. It would have been far easier for her to let us run amok. Mom set hard and fast boundaries. She had expectations for our behavior, and we would regret not living up to those expectations. Ask me how I know.
Mom taught me all things domestic:  As a farm girl mom learned practical skills. She learned to sew, cook, preserve food, and she learned godliness from her mother. She would go on to pass those skills to me. I loved to sew but from time to time, I would get frustrated. Mom was a perfectionist! So, I have ripped out more stitches from garments that I was making than I care to count. When she saw that I had reached my frustration level with a particular seam she would rip it out and say, “let’s do it again”. I learned to cook at her side as we prepared meals for my dad and siblings. There were no dirty dishes in her sink. I washed my fair share of dishes in Mom’s sink. More than once when I thought I was done washing dishes, here came Mom with more dishes. Mom also taught me to have a healthy respect for pressure cookers. I was never to leave one unattended or it could blow the roof off the house. Now as an adult when I am sewing and I need to redo a seam; or when I’m cleaning and can’t do a halfway job; or when I’m cooking and make too much food, I say with a smile and love in my heart, “This is my mother’s fault”. She taught me so well.  I appreciate the skills I learned from her as I have used them daily.
Mom taught me priorities: Mom always put her family first. She found herself in a unique position in two key issues teaching and music. In the very small town where we lived, she was one of the few people with an education degree. She was offered multiple teaching positions throughout the area. At the time four of us were in school but my younger sister, Ronda, was a baby.  Mom refused to start teaching until Ronda started school. It must have been hard for her. She knew she was needed to teach  but she held firm. Family first.  Again, she was one of the few people in town who could play the piano. She played the piano at church. She would play for other needs such as graduations and weddings but didn’t allow those events to overshadow her family.  Few people in the very small town where I grew up had the qualifications to teach or the talent as a pianist. She gave of her treasure and her talents while putting her family first.
Mom taught me patience: In my 24 years of knowing Mom, I never heard her gossip. She wasn’t a busybody. I never heard her say an unkind word about anyone. She raised five children who tested her patience over and over. I know I did. My older brother and I were partners in crime. Mom knew we were both involved in any of the mischief, and she distributed justice equally. Still like any good mother, through all the trials we challenged her in childrearing, she still loved us.
Mom taught me a tireless work ethic: Time saving appliances were not available at the time Mom became a homemaker. As a child I remember the wringer washer and clothes hung on the line. Eventually Mom got a washer and dryer. No microwaves or dishwashers for her. Mom cooked every meal. There were no fast-food restaurants or diners for us. Mom kept with the continuous cycle of housework, cooking, sewing, gardening minding five children and countless other duties. Mom was either a remarkable actress or she was remarkably stable. Even before cancer she never let her emotions interfere with her duties or her attitude. Mom was a “getter done” person.
Mom was a good daughter: When I was 16 years old, we moved several hours closer to my grandparents. Mom wanted to help care for them as they aged. So, our family upended our lives to move closer to both sets of grandparents. She came full circle from being their daughter to being their caregiver. We still lived about an hour from them, and she frequently made the trip to check on them. She helped them as needed from doctor’s appointments to farm chores. She did what she could for her parents. Mom’s cancer diagnosis and eventual death devastated her parents. She would continue to care for them as long as she was physically able. It saddens me greatly that my mother didn’t live long enough for me to be the daughter that she was to her parents. I never had the opportunity to go that full circle to be her caregiver.
Mom taught me frugality: This is one lesson that I haven’t embraced wholeheartedly. Mom made it a game to see how much money she didn’t spend on anything. She was careful about spending money on everything from groceries to clothing. She enjoyed grocery shopping and coming home and telling my dad how much money she didn’t spend. She was the original recycle, reuse, repurpose woman. She had jars full of buttons from discarded garments. She took zippers out of old garments to reuse in new projects. She grew and tended to a large garden. She would can and freeze the harvest for us to eat throughout the year.
Mom taught me to love Jesus: Mom practiced what she preached. She preached more with her actions than with her words. She grew up in a Christian home where her parents’ modeled godliness. She would in turn model godliness for us. I’ve often said that the nicest thing my mother ever did for me was to live her life so that I know she is in heaven. Mom lived out her faith every day. She wasn’t self-righteous. There were no pious sermons from her. She didn’t talk one way and live another. She taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and served the Lord as she was able. God used Mom unknowingly to train me up for my role as a pastor’s wife.
Mom taught me courage in the face of death: Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 52 years old. She would live only three years after the diagnosis. The cancer repeatedly returned. She would have surgery and carry on. The cycle was repeated until no surgery could help.  Mom knew from the outset she had a death sentence. However, she denied the severity of her illness for our sake. She would never let her children know how sick she really was. She covered up her illness to protect us. I was too young and inexperienced to understand the markers of the progression of her illness. When she passed her children ranged in age from 17 to 32 years old. She was stoic in the face of death. No drama. Her faith sustained her. I don’t think I could ever be as brave as Mom was as she faced death. We, her children, feel her loss every day.  Her goal was to live to see my sister Ronda, graduate from high school. She didn’t make it.
Her passing would impact me in powerful ways. None of my children or grandchildren would ever know her. So many times, I yearned for her presence, her help and her wisdom. I learned as a young adult the grief of losing a loved one. I have learned to trust God in everything. Heaven has become sweeter to me since she has gone to be with the Lord. Sometimes I’m homesick for heaven.
I am the third of the five children. I bear no physical resemblance to any of my siblings. It has been an ongoing joke over the years that I must have been adopted.  If I had been adopted and could have chosen my parents, I would have chosen Dennis and Hattie Pope.
Mom passed when she was 55 years old. I was 24. She has been gone for 49 years. She has lived on in my heart and thoughts all these many years.  I recognize the gifts she gave me. Her legacy, her instructions, her wisdom and her courage guide me.  I can only hope to be half the woman that she was. Mom exemplifies the DAR motto: God, Family, Country. It is an honor to celebrate my mother as I rejoice in the DAR ties of service and friendship. Precious and priceless, my mother.

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Let us walk in the light of His love Isaiah 2.1-5
Have you ever had a verse just jump out at you when you are reading scripture? I’ve had that situation happen many, many times. One of those verses is Isaiah 2.4b “and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” I think one of the reasons this passage caught my attention was it speaks of peace. I’m always looking for peace in my heart and in my life.  That statement makes it seem like I live in a wore torn country or under constant stress. That is nowhere near true.

Let’s put the verse in context and then see how we can apply these few verses to our lives. I plead guilty to embracing this verse without looking at the context that surrounds the verse.
Beginning in verse one “the word” that Isaiah received. Isaiah received “a word” or a vision from God concerning Judah and Jerusalem. This vision will continue through chapters 2 and 3.

Verse two tells us that in the last days the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be at the top of all mountains. The imagery here at the top of all these mountains is Jesus.  Mountain=kingdom. God’s kingdom will be above all other kingdoms. Wait it gets better! And shall be exalted above the hills and all nation shall flow unto it, meaning multitudes will embrace the Christian faith.

Verse three.  The invitation is extended to go up to the mountain of the LORD. Up the mountain. Jesus will be above all. Going up a mountain requires effort. Your heart rate increases, muscles are strained, breathing becomes harder. Effort. Not much effort is required to go down the mountain. Salvation is a free gift from God but walking daily in the Spirit, minute by minute takes effort on the believer’s part. The purpose of going up the mountain is for God to “teach us of His ways”. Christians are calling the unbeliever to go up; up against everything they know or thought and come to Jesus. Beautiful symbolism. We will obediently “walk in his paths”. Out of *Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the most important city in the history of the Jews and in Jesus’ ministry. Think about all the events during Jesus’ ministry that took place in Jerusalem: from His teaching in the temple at age 12 on through His crucifixion, resurrection.

Now on to verse four. What happens when we go up the mountain?  There is a reckoning. Jesus will judge among the nations and rebuke many people THEN people will beat the spears into pruning forks. With the weapons of war destroyed there will be no more war.

Verse 5 What a beautiful verse. “Let us walk in the light of the LORD”.

To summarize: Isaiah receives a word/vision from God. He says here is what is going to happen. Jesus will be above all kingdoms; multitudes will embrace Jesus’s teaching. The invitation is extended to go up to His kingdom where he will teach us His ways, we will walk obediently, the teaching will come out of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. Then Jesus will judge nations and rebuke people. The people will repurpose their weapons and wars will cease. The invitation to walk in the light of the Lord is extended.

Isaiah 4.2b really paints a beautiful picture. No need for weapons because nations will be at peace. If it were only that simple. Not to be Negative Nellie here but this passage does not refer to our current age. This would be obvious by the many wars raging around the world. The United States has spent the majority of its existence with out war in our own country. The Civil War being the most prominent example. Too many people around the world live in war-torn countries. So no, this verse doesn’t apply to the church age. As much as I would love for this to apply to our time doesn’t. Rapture-Tribulation-Revelation-Millennium-New Heaven and New Earth. The only possible time frame for these events is the Millennium. When Jesus reigns for one thousand years from Jerusalem.
 
 “What is this passage referencing?” Verse two states ”in the last days” or when Jesus comes again to rule and reign. Then Jerusalem will the ruling. Jerusalem a city that cannot be hidden. Jerusalem is the city where so many of our Lord’s life and events take place from the time He left his parents and taught at the temple when he was 12 years old until His crucifixion and resurrection. All these and many more events take place in Jerusalem. This time frame Christians will actively be witnessing for Jesus. The invitation to come to Him is issued by His disciples to come and go up to Jerusalem. (v 3) The symbolism of going up is startling. It is so easy to go down. Not much effort in going down the mountain. Going up the mountain causes our heart rate to increase, our breathing becomes harder, and muscles are engaged. Christians are calling the unbeliever to go up; go against everything you know or thought and come to Jesus. Beautiful symbolism.

What happens after we go up the mountain? There is a reckoning. Nations are judged. Many people are rebuked. THEN, will people beat their spears into pruning hooks. Then will nation not war against nation any more. Again, what a beautiful picture.

What is my takeaway from this passage? I must be diligent in witnessing for Jesus. I must keep my mind and my body under control. Like going up the mountain it will require effort. It won’t be an easy path. God didn’t say being His child would be easy. But the outcome is so worth it. NOWHERE is the peace and comfort available to me than in Jesus.

The invitation that God has given to His children “come and let us walk in the light of the Lord” is simple and beautiful. Come!

Dear friend, come up with me to the mountain that leads to Jesus and let us walk in the light of the Lord. There is no better place to be than with safe in the arms Jesus.

Until He Comes,
Sharon

Down the Rabbit Hole-Things I learned along the way
I have never put these pieces together. Did you know that Isaiah 2.4 is found almost word for word in Micah and the reverse of these words are found in Joel. I confess I never put this all together.
Opposite in Joel 3.10 Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.
Written in 800 B.C.
Isaiah 2.4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Written in 760 B.C
Micah 4.3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Written in710 B.C.
First Joel, then Isaiah then Micah.  There is a song going through my head from Joel “let the weak say, I am strong
I’ll just leave this here.

Rebellion, Remnant, Redemption, Reconciled Isaiah 1

Rebellion, Remnant, Redeemed, Reconcile: Isn’t that just like God    
Isaiah 1
Chapter one provides a theme for the book of Isaiah, all 66 chapters. Throughout the book we find that God is seeking to have his children reconciled to him.

Isaiah 1.2 states the overarching problem. Israel has rebelled against God.
“Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the LORD hath spoken. I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.”

God is calling on the celestial and terrestrial to listen to Him.

The depth of the ingratitude and rebellion against God is astounding.  God nourished and brought up his children and yet they rebelled against him. This is rebellion can be applied on so many levels. We can look at the world, the United States, and in families to see this rebellion today. The rebellion against God is in epic proportions.

My first thought upon reading this verse was: “I have to say, Lord, that not much has changed since 760 A.D. The world is in such a sinful mess. We truly live in a post-Christian world.”

It is hard to articulate how sinful and evil the United States has become. AND if any Biblical value is brought out, the liberal left is vengeful in attacking the Biblical world view.
Families are seeing the same chaos and rebellion. The decay of the Christian home is the origin of the decline of the Christian United States.  It is hard for me to imagine that there are children and adults who have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ right here in the United States. Years ago, I taught music in an elementary school. Every year at Christmas I would ask my students, “What is the real meaning of Christmas”. Maybe 50 out of 500 hundred students knew the Christmas was the celebration of the birth of Jesus.  Absolutely astounding.

Churches in the United States have failed. They have failed to evangelize their communities. They have failed to stand for the Jesus against the onslaught of evil. This isn’t rebellion on the part of churches it is apathy.

“Note, All the instances of God's favour to us, as the God both of our nature and of our nurture, aggravate our treacherous departures from him and all our presumptuous oppositions to him--children, and yet rebels!” Matthew Henry

Isaiah 1.9 Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

God has always had a remnant of believers throughout the beginning of time. The faithful few who stand for HIM. We are seeing this play out right in front of our eyes today. Who will be in the remnant? Believers in the United States has been blessed with the freedom to worship God. We see those freedoms slowly being eroded today. It will take strong believers in the days to come who have the courage to stand for God. Count me in.

Isaiah 1.27 Zion shall be redeemed with judgment and her converts with righteousness
I think of the old hymn written by Fanny Crosby: Redeemed how I love to proclaim it. Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Redeemed through His infinite mercy. His child and forever I am.

“(1.) In the worst of times there is a remnant preserved from iniquity and reserved for mercy, as Noah and his family in the deluge, Lot and his in the destruction of Sodom. Divine grace triumphs in distinguishing by an act of sovereignty.” Matthew Henry

Reconciled: Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

“Come now” an invitation to for reconciliation. “Reason together” let’s settle this matter, an invitation for discourse.

What a beautiful verse! God always, throughout the annuls of time has wanted His children reconciled to Him. Since the fall of man God has sought to bring His children back to him. God wants us to be thoroughly cleansed from our sins and to be in perfect communion with Him.

 Ps 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

The contrast scarlet to white, red like crimson to wool. Striking contrast. These contrasts are a picture of salvation. The blood of Jesus cleanses the believer so that our souls are white as snow.

Despite our rebellion God has always had a remnant so that we can be redeemed and reconciled to Him.

Rebellion, remnant, redeemed and reconciled. Isn’t that just like God!