Influenced By My Legacy to Transform
Romans 12:2 was one (of many) of my momma's favorite
scriptures. Mom would spend hours in the word, verse mapping, praying
scripture, and journaling what she received from God. She always tried to
encourage me to start my day out with God, spending time in His word, renewing my mind. She always said, “You can’t know God’s will
if you don’t know God’s heart”.
Mom often likened knowing someone had spent time with God by having
God’s fragrance on them.
Have you ever hugged someone and his or her cologne or perfume rubbed
off on you? A sure sign that you were close to that person. When we spend time
with God getting close to Him through His word, His fragrance rubs off on us
too.
By spending time with God, in His word, listening for His word to us, we
are renewing (starting over, refurbishing) our minds. When we do this, it is then that we get to know God’s
character. And by knowing His character we can then test (take measures to
check the quality, performance or reliability of something, especially before
it’s taken into widespread practice), and approve (believe that something is good and acceptable) what God’s will (intention, desire or wish)
is.
Often times when I was a teenager, mom would let me decide about going
out with my school friends with a precaution to pray about my decision first. This well known scripture would convict
me time and time again. Do not conform to the pattern of this world……Don’t be a
part of the socially accepted example of this world…. But refurbish your mind.
Only then would I be able to check the quality and know that something was good
and acceptable and lining up with what God’s desires for my life was. Often times, when I put this into practice, I had to tell my friends I couldn't participate with them in their activities.
Momma left us in 2004 and has taken up permanent resident in Her Fathers
house, but she left all four of her children a legacy. To know God, really know
Him. Romans 12:2 was one of the
scriptures she lived out daily.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and
approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will. -Romans 12:2
NIV
I still come back to this scripture, and when I do, I think of Momma. She was always pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus Phil 3:14 and encouraging each of us kids to do the same.
Father, I ask that you continue to work in my life while I work on renewing my mind. I want to be Christ-minded, not conforming to the pattern of the world, but to be an example to others in my words, behavior, spirit, love and faith (I Tim 4:12). Thank you for being eternally gracious and merciful. In Jesus name.
I still come back to this scripture, and when I do, I think of Momma. She was always pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus Phil 3:14 and encouraging each of us kids to do the same.
Father, I ask that you continue to work in my life while I work on renewing my mind. I want to be Christ-minded, not conforming to the pattern of the world, but to be an example to others in my words, behavior, spirit, love and faith (I Tim 4:12). Thank you for being eternally gracious and merciful. In Jesus name.
May 21, 1938 - June 28, 2004
Miss you momma.
Beautiful. I am also blessed with a godly mother who is constantly encouraging me with Scripture. She sends me a card every week. In college she wrote me every day! Glad that you had an amazing mother too. :)
ReplyDeleteI am glad you have a godly mother to encourage you to walk with our God. One day your beautiful little red-head will be able to say the same thing about her awesome aunt too.
DeleteThanks for always being there.
Mindy
What a beautiful, lovely post! I'm so glad that God blessed you with such a godly example in your life. I love the idea of using Romans 12:2 with our children to help them make good decisions. I definitely think it's something that I need to implement in my own life as well!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing about your Momma today!
Kelsey
Thank you Kelsey. I have strayed from this scripture too often over my years, but God keeps bringing me back to it. And yes, it was often frustrating to my teenage heart to have a mother that taught God's word. I would get mad sometimes at her for not letting me do things with my friends. So I think it was yet another lesson from her to let me decide, but always with knowing I was accountable not just to her and dad. When I was the one facing God for the decision, it made a huge impact and drove home my decisions. Good , and hard, lessons learned.
DeleteMomma's lives are such a imprint on our own lives. What a lovely momma you had! When you have such a good example of not conforming to the world - you got something in your own life!
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful Mindy that was Mom alright. Laurie
ReplyDeleteGreat post Mindy!! "When we spend time with God getting close to Him through His word, His fragrance rubs off on us too." Oh, how I want to SMELL like Jesus! Your mom sounds like she was an amazing woman. Thank you so much for sharing!! -Sue (OBS Leader)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post about your amazing mother. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteOh, Mindy, thank you for sharing of your mama with us. It sounds like she was a beautiful influence on you!
ReplyDeleteYou were blessed with a truly special mama. I love the way you have interpreted the memory verse for this week and especially love the part about God's fragrance wearing off on us. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteKris D. (OBS Small Group Leader)