The Family of God

I met an exceptional woman 42 years ago in a bedroom community near San Francisco, California.  I have never met a woman quite like her.  Her kindness to others and love for her husband and children is undeniably strong and true.

When we met, the love she exuded was like none I had ever experienced, other than that of my mom’s love for me.  This woman walks with confidence, because of the assurance she has in God.  She lives for Him and knows His peace, because her faith is ‘childlike faith’; the kind that we are to have in Christ Jesus.

The longer I know her the more I love her.  She has become the piece that had been missing in my life for so long that not too many women could have filled.  The quality of her love reminds me of my mom’s love; genuine—real.

This woman’s prayer life is like no other person that I know—early to rise, with a purpose; to pray for the needs of others.  She is none other than my mother-in-law.  I call her Mom, because she loves me like a son.

With the passing of my mother at the young age of 58, it left my heart feeling empty, the kind of emptiness that only a mother can fill.  My mother-in-law filled this void; plus, blessing me with her daughter in marriage.  I received a double blessing for sure.

When I think of the connection that prophets of old had with God, I immediately consider my second mom as being like them—a patriarch for Jesus.  Her faithfulness and loyalty to God rank highest of any person I know; a virtuous woman of God.  When things go wrong I know in whom I want to pray, because her connection with God is solid. 

When decisions must be made, I ask her to call upon God for me.  When my children have needs, they call Grandma to have her pray.  Everyone knows when she prays that God hears and answers her prayers.  When she prays, she believes that He will do what His Word says He will do…such faith!  I believe that she is the apple of God’s eye and has a direct path to Him, because of the measure of faith that she possesses. 

A side note:  My mother-in-law just this minute called on the phone.  I told her that my better half had gone to the store to buy some medicine to get me over the hump regarding the cold I’ve been suffering with.  Mom prayed a couple of days ago for me and I was feeling much better after she prayed; so she prayed again just now. 

At the end of her prayer I said, “It is finished!”  I believe that she called, because God was ready to complete the work in my body.  I only needed to reach out by faith and claim my healing.  I believe I did when I said, “It is finished!”  Thank God for His healing power!  It is finished!

I was certainly blessed to have found a loving family to be my in-laws, rather than another family of outlaws.  At 92 years old and still living in her own little house, her body is in constant pain from arthritis in her back and other places.  She can barely get around at times, because of the pain; yet, Mom's faith in God’s power to heal has not diminished or weakened; only made stronger. 

When anyone in her senior class, in Sunday school, has a need of any kind, who do you think they call?  They call Mom, because they have faith in her prayers.  She prays with the same expectation that Peter and John had when they saw the man that was lame from birth, begging alms at the gate to the temple.

(Acts 3:1-8), “Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.”  vs.2 “And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; vs.3 “who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.”  vs.4 “And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, ‘Look at us.’”  vs.5 “So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.”  vs.6 “Then Peter said, ‘Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you; In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.’”  vs.7 “And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.”  vs.8 “So he leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.”

When Mom is moved upon by the Holy Spirit and the anointing of God is on her, floods of living water are unleashed and enter your life; you know that God heard her prayer, because things happen when she prays.

Right now, before you do anything else, please bow your head and whisper a prayer on her behalf.  Ask God to intervene in her body.  She needs a touch—she needs healing!  Will you please pray for Marie?

Thank you.  I believe that God heard your prayer.  I am expecting good reports in the coming days as God’s people bind together on behalf of Mom.  Thank you for being a part of her healing.

We are to pray for one another, because we are in the family of God.  Like the song says that was written by Bill Gaither; “Family of God.”  Some of the lyrics go like this:  “…when one has heartache, we all share the tears, and rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.  I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God…”

Written by,

Papa Boyd