Mom's Bible Dictionary (reposted from 12/09)

Below is a posting I wrote on 12/5/09 that never got moved over to my Blogger account. It was just a few months before that I had come back to Christ. It is too precious a post for me not to make it part of this blog.

12/5/2009 4:29:23 PM

I thought I might share a reflection moment of my Thanksgiving Holiday with you.

In talking with my Mom while I was home over the holiday, we spoke about different things that are currently happening in my walk with the Lord such as my prayer list, having a daily quiet time, and talking to my friends about God's love, I realized that my Mom has been the biggest and strongest influence on my Spiritual life since I was very young. Mind you, I am not necessarily talking about talking to me directly about things of the Bible and Christ, though she did do that sometimes, but I mean being an example- a role model of what a Christian woman is. Now, if you asked her, I am sure she would begin to tell you all of her faults and the mistakes that she has made in her life, but reflecting on my life growing up in our home, I remember all of the things she did for others, and for our family.

Everyone loved my Mom. She was funny, talented, smart, and loved with her whole heart. She loved to laugh even if we were in the middle of a discount store, she and I would find something to get tickled about and sometimes it would be very hard to stop laughing. She has played the piano for her church for over 50 years. Not only does she play piano, but sings, and her gift of both were definitely from God. We never missed church: Sunday school started at 8:45, then Church service, then Sunday night service, then Wednesday night service. She was faithful not only to go, but faithful to others who needed her help.

Every 3rd Sunday, we would hold service at the local Rest home in town, and she would play piano for the service there.  A lot of times she would sing solos or duets for these who could not get out and attend church. I remember going with her several times and we would go around to the rooms and get some of the people that otherwise could not make it to the dining hall where we held the service. My mom would call out as we were going down the hallway, “time for church service. Come join us". You should have seen the look on those elderly people's faces... they were so glad to have someone come and visit them and invite them... they loved my mom and they loved seeing me- "so good to see a young person spending their time with us old folks" they would say...looking back on that, I know I was embarrassed at the time, and many times, I really didn't want to be there. I would have rather been outside playing or doing anything but having to be cooped up there, but I did connect with the elderly.

Now looking back, I realize the lives that my Mother touched in those places would not have been the same had someone not cared for them the way she and our church did. The joy she brought to them by just showing up once a month... they always looked for her. She was so obedient and humble to give of her time, and how important that is in God's eyes. 

The memories of her love for God, her love for the body of Christ, her love for fellowship with others, her love for ministering to those who could not get to the House of God due to being shut-in, and her love for music that glorified God, floods my heart now. 

There were very few Wednesday night services that I remember that Mom wouldn't put SOMEONE on the prayer list when it was asked of the congregation who they had on their heart that needed prayer. Mom was always praying for someone. Always telling someone either on the phone or in person- "please keep ___ in your prayers this week". A recent book I just read called "Standing in the Gap" is on Intercessory prayer. One of the chapters mentions that we should pray "unceasingly" day and night... In looking back, I believe that my Mom was doing that, maybe without even realizing it or knowing how much it pleased God, because to me she did it so naturally.

I actually did not plan for this posting to be so long, but as I began to write it, I felt a rush of visions in my head of all of these things and events and times. These of course are only a few of the many things I witnessed of my Mom in her walk with God, but they have since impressed upon my life and made me so very grateful and thankful to God that she was who she was, and is, in Him. No words can express my gratitude to my Mom for the upbringing she gave me. The opportunities to know God and His Son through her own Salvation and our church. The loving support she gave me, and still gives me in life in general. God has truly blessed me with a Mother that Fears the Lord and taught her family that the Word of God is UNFAILING.

I have attached a picture of a book I asked my Mom for while I was there. It is a Bible Dictionary that she used the entire time I was growing up. I would see her use it to look up things when she was reading her bible at home, or when she was studying for a Bible study lesson. When she handed it to me, the cover was tattered and torn, the pages were turned yellow, and in opening the cover I saw the Copyright was 1967. She told me she had gotten it from Billy Graham's ministry. I was so glad to get this reminder of her and her diligence to study God's word. It will be a reminder for me that the Word of God must be “studied” to know God and His will for our lives. I have it in plain view of where I have my quiet time each day, so I can remember that my Mom set the example for showing me to be obedient to whatever opportunities He gives me to serve others as Jesus served, and as I remember her serving.

Lastly, I want to say that my recent rededication to Christ is not only due to one of my longtime friend's, and all of her Prayer Warriors, praying for me the last several months, but also due to my Mom having me on the prayer list at church for all these years.

How do I know I was on the list?

No, no one ever said that I was, and of course she would never tell me, but I know now that I was, and probably still am....and I thank her for it.

Mom, if you get to read this, I want to thank you for "unceasingly" praying for me to find my way back to Him.

.... and all I want to say to you is

you can take me off the list now...

"Dance or Die"

Today's message at church really resinated with me. It had to do with music and how we worship God with our everyday lives. The passage that was the focal point of the sermon was in Psalm 100:1-4 from the "The Message" translation of the Bible:


"On your feet now- applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into His presence. 
Know this: God is God, and God, God. He made us; we didn't make Him. We're His people, His well-tended sheep. 
Enter with the password: "Thank you!" Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank Him. Worship Him."


This entire passage of scripture is active with verbs: on your feet- applaud- sing- enter. All of these things are to be done unto God. Why? Because "God is God, and God, God". Our Pastor repeated this part of the scripture a few times- mainly because I think she just wanted to make sure that we all got it!! God is God is God is God ya'll .... He longs to be worshiped by His creation- US! THIS is why we were created, to be in fellowship with Him and worship Him.


One of my favorite ways to worship God is through music. We learned today that Psalm means "a sacred song or hymn in the Old Testament". So basically this is the original Classic Rock music in my opinion. Praising God in song with our voice, our movements, our instruments, brings a joy to our souls that the world cannot match. Why is that? I believe it's because that is what we were made for- it's our calling- our true form that God intended for us. There is a song that was released by a Christian Band a few years ago called "Dance or Die". I looked up the You tube on the song tonight to read the lyrics. I am sure alot of people have different interpretations of the song, and some probably don't even see a "Christian" theme to it. I will give you my interpretation as my inner spirit thought that it really fit today's message. The Pastor said today that alot of people walk around as dead people. Their souls unconnected to God, and not tuned in to what they were meant to be as His creation. When we ARE connected to Him and our souls are AWAKENED by the joy that is given in worshiping Him in this manner, dancing could be an end result! 


As a body of believers, we come together to do many things. There are stories in the Bible of believers that came together and did things unto the Lord that He commanded and He used those times to bring about life changing events for His people. Walls of cities crumbled at the praises and musical sounds for God! Enemies fled during battle when God's people sang His praises and lifted His name in worship. God's people are unstoppable when united together giving praise and glory to Him. They are not only all awake and connected to Him, but they are connected to one another as members of the body. This life that we live for Him can be looked at like a great Dance that our soul does on a continuous basis if we are living out our life in worship of the Living God.


I have listed the lyrics of the song by Family Force Five below. I have highlighted what I felt really spoke to me. This Dance is all about living out our lives for Him. It talks of Dancing as being a weapon and that we are at war. I find for myself that when I am in worship with Him, there is no obstacle or antic of satan that can trip me up- worship to God is truly powerful against satan and his ways. One of the lyrics says "They're trying to take our lives, but we will survive." "They" as referred to here, in my opinion, is the "ways of the world". "Our party pulled the trigger" simply states that collectively as believers, we are stronger and have more power in the spirit than if we were standing alone.


The lines "I'm on my way to you, way to you... we can reunite and watch the sky ignite". My interpretation of that is God talking to US- telling us that when we worship Him, He comes to us, wanting to reunite with His beloved creation...


In conclusion, it is easy to see that worship is more than just a once a week ritual that should be "adhered" to by Christians. Worship is a moment by moment, day by day, breath in, breath out action that we can give to God in every part of our lives. Wherever we are, whatever we're doing, or whoever we're with won't matter if we are "Dancing" through life. Just remember that we can touch others souls through the joy that is evident from our Dance from the inside-out. Those that are dead inside might only have to see our Dance of Love to God to want the chance to live.


Psalm 30:11-12 
"You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing Your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever."



"Dance or Die"


Transmission radio, radio...respond if you're aliveGive me a sign of lifeI need to say to you, say to you...I've found a way to fightOne hope for all mankind
We're gonna take controlDancing is your weaponLet your moves unfoldKill 'em with your steppin'
We can win this warIt's time to come togetherNow we're stronger than we were before
They're trying to take our livesBut we will surviveWe're running out of time, the world ends tonightUnless we dance or dieDance or die
Transmission radio, radio...take back the nightDance for your rightI'm on my way to you, way to you...we can reuniteAnd watch the sky ignite
They couldn't take the soundThey fall harder when they're biggerYeah they all crashed downOur party pulled the trigger
We won this warBecause we came togetherMade 'em wish that they were never born
They try to take your livesBut you will surviveLook into my eyes, don't say goodbyeYou gotta dance or dieDance or die
One-two-three-fourI declare a dance warDance or die
Yeah it's five-six-seven-eightNow we're gonna celebrateDance or die
~ Family Force Five