Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

The Holy Spirit inspired me to think and write about some of the memorials of faith in my life.

Today’s scripture, Hebrews 12:1 (NLT) says…
[1] Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

Consider…
I have shared the blessing of my mother many times before. Typically when I have, I cited my shared testimony with Timothy that his mentor, the Apostle Paul, offered in 2 Timothy 1:5 (NLT)…
[5] I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.

As I testified before, my mother was a key building block of my faith. She joined the cloud of witnesses referenced in today’s scripture in December 2017.

Ironically, another key building block, with my mom in heavenly cloud of witnesses, was my Godmother, Mama Lois. She loved, believed and poured into me just as much as my mother did. She is also the one who sowed the seed of writing in me.

For a most of childhood, Mama Lois and my mom where best friends. They shared the house I grew up in, ran a beauty salon together, and most importantly served faithfully in the church of my youth. I witnessed two women who loved God actively.

A third witness, equally pivotal building block in my wall of faith, was my Grandma, as I called her, also known as Aunt Winnie by my siblings and cousins. I still believe I was her favorite, even though my beloved big sister and everyone of my cousins could make the same claim. But I was blessed to be one of the myriad of children blessed to be loved and raised by her. She too poured into me, building my character and belief that I could do anything.

She also physically taught me Ephesians 4:4-6 (NLT)…
[4] For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. [5] There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.

You my mom was Baptist, my Grandma was Methodist and my Godmother eventually became Pentecostal. Yet, I know they’re all in the same cloud of witnesses highlighted in today’s scripture.

Funny, I knew and believed I could do all things before I ever knew (Philippians 4:13)

Looking back, I realize that I saw in these women living among today’s cloud of witnesses, modeled Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)…
[10] For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

All of these beautiful queens are a testament to Psalms 37:30 (NLT)…
[30] The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong.

… because they all offered me good counsel and taught me right from wrong.

My maternal Grandmother was another faith building block, who is in the cloud of witnesses. Now with her, all my siblings and cousins acknowledge the fact that I was her favorite. But what I remember most about her is her love for God. Although she lived in a small house, with a huge cast iron tub, and had a prosthetic leg, I remember her sitting in her wheelchair with her big black King James Bible ever present in her lap. I also remember she didn’t have a television, but listened to only Christian radio on a transistor radio.

Looking back I realize I saw an example of love for God’s word, as described in Psalms 19:8-10 (NLT)…
[8] The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. [9] Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. [10] They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.

Then there’s my mom’s BFF, Aunt Bertha who was the embodiment of Colossians 3:12-15 (NLT)…
[12] Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. [13] Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. [14] Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. [15] And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

As a special education teacher, she taught the unteachable by loving the unlovable. I watched her value people that society dismissed. Personally, I saw the same love, belief and investment that my mother and mama Lois had for me. She’s also the one that taught me about enunciation and articulation.

As I reminisce about these few of many matriarchal influences in my life, I hear Eddie James’ lyrics…

As I look back over my life
I can see how Your love has guided me

The Holy Spirit just revealed the truth that I saw the Word before I ever knew it.

But as amazing as all of these building blocks of faith were in my life, none of them come close to the cornerstone witness for my faith.

While I am eternally grateful that God ordered my steps through these godly women’s paths, I am forever indebted to the Good Shepherd who said in John 10:14-16 (NLT)…
[14] “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, [15] just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. [16] I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.

That makes me hear Tasha Cobbs Leonard singing.. .

He knows my name
Yes, he knows my name
He knows my name
Yes, he knows my name
And oh, how he walks with me
Yes oh, how he talks with me
And oh how he tells me
That I am his own

I am so grateful that Jesus knows and loves me, and endured Calvary’s Cross for me.

And as much as I love and appreciate my mother, I love and appreciate the testimony of Romans 8:16-19 (NLT) more…
[16] For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. [17] And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. [18] Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. [19] For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.

As I cited that, the Holy Spirit hit play on…

We are the Heavenly Father’s children
And we all know that He loves us, one and all
There be a time that you find the answer
Another voice and call

If you’re willing, He will teach us
His voice to obey, don’t make no matters where
‘Cause He know, yes, my God do know
Just how much we can bear

In our memorization of those that have gone on before us, let’s make sure we value their eternity contributions to our lives. Let’s recognize that they are the building blocks that God arranged to develop a heart, and faith, for Him. But most importantly, let’s appreciate that our Heavenly Father, God Shepherd, closer than a brother Friend, demonstrated His love and faith in us, as articulated in Romans 5:8 (NLT)…
[8] But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

The Holy Spirit is telling me to close with the understanding that God, like the women I honored today, always saw the best in me.

These are some the witnesses that inspire me to be my best for Jesus.

Today’s song is…
The Best In Me

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)