Daily Treasure

“The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come see a man which told me all that I ever did: is not this the Christ” (John 4:28-29).

Today and the next two days we will examine the phrase, “forsaking all others.”  This is one commonly found in traditional wedding vows. Think back to the time before you married.  You probably fell in and out of love many times before Mr. Right came along. When God blesses you with a soul mate, don’t look back. You forsake the “old” and are thankful for the man He gave you.

When you commit your life to Christ, forsake or leave the past behind. When the woman at the well met Jesus, her life was in a shambles. When she received “living water”, she left her waterpot to go and tell others of her encounter with Christ.

Is there a “waterpot” you are holding on to that may be keeping you from being a good wife or a dedicated child of God?  Leave it at the well of grace.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray today for adult children who are caregivers to aged parents.

“Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Romans 6:6).

As a newly married couple adjusts to each other’s way of doing things, they find there are things they must leave behind.  Our writer states, “Ideas and philosophy of the single life must be put away as the married couple work on thinking and doing everything as a couple.”  It  takes work and patience for couples to leave the old at the wedding altar to make each day of their married life new and exciting.

We, as Christians, must crucify the “old man” (our sinful nature) and rise to new life in Christ. This, too, takes work and patience, because we don’t change overnight. It’s like the example of the caterpillar and butterfly.  Nail it down.  Don’t allow the old to control your future.  God wants to make something beautiful of your life. That includes wedded bliss as well as a place at His table at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9).

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Shirley Jackson and Tracy Payne are involved in pre-convention meetings today through Thursday in Oklahoma City. Cover them with your prayers. Remember also those in that region who are suffering from the destructive paths of yesterday’s tornadoes.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

This is the time of year when many brides-to-be are finishing plans for a June wedding. Weddings will either be elaborate and modern or modest and memorable.  It’s all in the planning.  One thing that all weddings seem to share is found in the tradition of “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.”  Our study this month will deal with the “something old.”  One difference is the old won’t be something to wear, but, something we need to “put off.”

We, as Christian women, are making daily plans for Christ, the Bridegroom to return.  This event will be a celebration that will supercede any earthly wedding we’ve ever planned or attended.

Within this month’s study we will find issues that can affect those entering into a marriage.  However, they are ones that can affect our relationship with Christ as well.  Accept God’s invitation, but, be prepared to leave some things behind.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Time and Di Keener are on a four-month stateside assignment. Pray for productive meetings and safety of travel.

“…As is the mother so is her daughter” (Ezekiel 16:44b).

Until recently, I wasn’t aware of this verse in Ezekiel. Sadly, in its context, this was not complimentary.  I would like to put a different spin on this.

Mothers, we have an awesome responsibility to our children. We can give them a godly example, or we can pass on an evil way of life as mentioned in Ezekiel 16. When someone says to your daughter, “You’re just like your mother,” does she consider it a compliment or an insult?

We all have lived through times when we wanted to be our own person.  We thought our mothers were so old-fashioned with their sense of style and set of values. Now, as we are raising or have raised our own kids, we realize they must think the same of us. On a given day we look in the mirror and jokingly utter, “Help! I’ve become my mother.”

I am blessed to still have my godly mother.  I am from a big family, but Mom has enough love to go around for all of us.  I could write about her many attributes, but one stands utmost in my mind.  Mom is a woman who believes in the power of prayer. Each day she calls out each one of her kids’ names as she prays. Whether she knows of a need or not, this has always been her practice.  When it comes her time to go home with the Lord, she will leave a legacy of faith and trust in God for me and  my  sisters.  What will your daughter inherit?  As the years go by, will your daughter have the desire to be just like you?

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Becky Riggs (France) as she volunteers at a community center. Ask God to strengthen her witness so people will want to know Him.

“And  she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head” (I Samuel 1:11).

I would challenge you to read the entire first chapter in 1 Samuel.  You will see a portrait of woman who longed to become a mother.  Hannah faced some of what Sarah faced in being barren and ridiculed.  Hannah’s husband, Elkanah, loved this wife deeply in spite of her inability to give him a child.  When she’d had enough of the taunting from her husband’s other wife, Hannah wisely went to the temple in Shiloh to pour out her soul to God.  There she vowed if God would bless her with a man child, she would dedicate him to the Lord all his days.  God heard her prayer and opened her womb.  Can you imagine the joy Hannah felt as she carried her baby?

She had felt so hopeless and helpless.  Look at her now.  She now had a special glow on her face.

She treasured every moment of her pregnancy and the time she spent with Samuel until he was weaned.  Let  us  pause to think about how she must have felt as she brought her little son to Eli, the priest in the Temple.  If she had second thoughts about her vow to God, we don’t read of them. She would get to see Samuel each year when the family made their pilgrimage to Shiloh. She kept her vow to God and gave her son back to God.

I felt led to write about Hannah as a tribute to all mothers who have given their children back to God.  These children are grown and serve God as ministers and missionaries in full-time Christian service.  These godly moms have let their children go so they can fulfill their calling.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER:Pray for Steve and Lori Torrison as they prepare to lead E-TEAM Panama. Pray also for Christians ministering to those affected by the flooding in middle Tennessee. What an open opportunity to be the hands and fee of Christ for those who have suffered such great losses.

“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn”  (Luke 2:7).

In March 2009, Together With God featured a Bible study on the life of Mary. Today we will briefly look at three faces of her—faces with which we are most familiar.

First, we see an ordinary young mom who was given a very special child to raise.  She had no modern conveniences. Because of the circumstances surrounding her child’s birth, she may not have had many individuals to turn to for help or advice.  She gave birth to her first child in a lowly manger. This setting could not have been very pleasant for any mother of any age.

Jesus, God in the flesh, grew as any other baby, passing through the various stages of childhood.  It’s hard for us to picture that since we don’t read much about those stages in the Bible.  Mary did not want any special recognition in her calling and care of her special child.  She did the best she could to be a good mom to Him and then to other children.

Last month we commemorated Easter, remembering the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ .   Those of us who are moms couldn’t help but feel the anguish as we look into the the face of that same mom who stood at the foot of the Cross and watched her precious son die. She may not have fully understood everything she heard and witnessed during His life.  None of that seemed to matter as the tears ran down her face. She was His earthly mom with priceless memories that surely flooded her soul as she stood heartbroken at the cross. When He acknowledged her from the cross, it was evident He deeply loved her, too.

Last, but certainly not least, we look into the face of an ecstatic mom who rejoiced (as we all should) at the news, “He is not here: for he is risen…” (Matthew 28:6a). Every trace of sadness is gone.  Her Son is alive forevermore.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER:Pray for the WNAC Executive Committee as they make decisions concerning our new Executive Secretary-Treasurer.

“And she said,  As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and,  behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die”  1 Kings 17:10).

In Bible times, a widowed mom’s life wasn’t easy, especially if she was trying to finish raising a child or children.  She didn’t have any visible means of support and this required her to be as resourceful as possible.

The preceding verses in 1 Kings 17 tell how the prophet Elijah had pronounced judgment (a drought) as he dealt with the evil Ahab. God was taking care of him making sure he had food and water. God was not too busy to look down and see a struggling widowed mom with a son during this time. God sent Elijah to Zarephath and would end up providing for, not only him, but for that mom and son as well.

Have you ever faced times you didn’t know where your next meal was coming from? As a mom, you hurt more for your kids.   You would even do without to make sure they don’t go to bed hungry. The widowed mom felt a sense of desperation as she set out to make, what might very well be, the last meal she and her son would share.  Along comes Elijah and asks of her to give him some water and bread. She was, at first, wondering what she should do. How was she going to handle her dilemma?  If she granted Elijah’s request there wouldn’t be enough left to fix her last meal.

However, as an obviously godly woman, she listened to what Elijah had to say.  He told her not to be afraid; if she granted his request God would send her a blessing. God sent him to her  so He could sustain him. Those were not idle words given to this hopeless widow. By faith she did as Elijah instructed, and God indeed worked a miracle.

From that day until the drought ended she had an abundant supply of flour and oil.  The widowed mom and her son were spared.  What a happy scene that must have been.

Whatever you may be facing as a mom, trust God to meet every need.  He will always come through for you (Philippians 4:19).

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for our Hispanic churches and our brothers and sisters in Mexico as they celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Pray also for churches in Tennessee that sustained flood damage this past weekend.