That's What Momma Said

By Sis Diane

Do you remember those little nuggets of wisdom that your mom, grandmother or nurturer would quote to you that left you either with a greater understanding or just wondering why she just didnt speak English?

Were you ever told?

A dog that brings a bone will carry a bone
You dont have to like them, but you do have to love them
You have to crawl before you walk
There are no mistakes, only learning experiences
If you dont think you are cute, no one else will
Thats the kind of person that will get you killed
Stay in a childs place

Did you scratch your head and wonder what it meant, but as you grew older and reflected on those nuggets, did you gain a better understanding of them? You may have even found yourself repeating them to your friends and inevitably to your own children.

In this book, you will gain even more nuggets of wisdom to reflect on and to share.

Come see what momma said!
ADDED BONUS
From the Pen of Diane

You will also be refreshed as you read short messages that seek to share insight, encouragement and offer prayers of meditation.

From Test to Testimony
Reconstructed From the Inside Out
Do You See What You Missed
Through the Midst of It All
You Are SMART
The Thief Within
The Lie of the Bondage
Wait on the Promise
It Time For a Praise Break

Come discover the spiritual insights hidden within the pages of these messages!

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Apr 26, 2012
• ISBN: 9781475914429

Sis Diane

Diane believes God’s word, prayer, and praise make the diff erence! She has written many inspirational messages and those who received them have given testimony as to how the messages ministered to and encouraged them. She currently resides in Lexington, KY where she enjoys spending time with family, writing, and traveling.

Book preview

THAT’S WHAT MOMMA SAID

Inspirational Nuggets With Spiritual Wisdom Passed From A Mother to Her Daughter

SIS DIANE

iUniverse, Inc.

Bloomington

That’s What Momma Said

Copyright © 2012 by Sis Diane Author Credits: Diane Williams

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New InternationalVersion®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com.

The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Scripture quotations marked (AMP) are taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

iUniverse books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

iUniverse

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www.iuniverse.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4759-1441-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4759-1442-9 (ebook)

iUniverse rev. date: 04/19/2012

Contents

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations

A Prayer For The Reader

Introduction

Nugget #1

Nugget #2

Nugget #3

Nugget #4

Nugget #5

Nugget #6

Nugget #7

Nugget #8

Nugget #9

Nugget #10

Nugget #11

Nugget #12

Closing Remarks

BONUS SECTION

From Test To Testimony

God’s Voice

We Are Covered By THE Blood

God’s Forgiveness

Where Art Thou?

You Are SMART

Whose Eyes Are You Catching?

Reconstructed From

The Inside Out

Do You See What You Missed?

Be Still and Know

Come As You Are

You Shall Have Peace

(My Testimony As A Caregiver)

Did The Breakthrough Bring Forth?

Forgiveness The Unclaimed Treasure

Through The Midst Of It All

An Easy Way In

What Happens When Sin Enters In?

The Lie Of The Bondage

The Thief Within

Wait On The Promise

Positioned to Emerge

It’s Time For A Praise Break

What Would Happen?

Bless the Name of Jesus

I Will Bless The Lord

At All Times

PRAISE HIM!

Conclusion

A Call To Answer

Visitors

About The Author

TO THE MEMORY OF MY MOTHER

ALMA WILLIAMS

&

MY SPIRITUAL MOTHER

SARAH BERRY

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men and the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John 1:1-5 (KJV)

Acknowledgements

I wish to first and foremost acknowledge my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for his love, grace, and mercy.

I wish to express my deepest appreciation to my daughter, Toleka, for her love, encouragement, support, and subtle ways of motivating me to complete this book. Her listening ears were needed and appreciated more times than she will ever know.

To my grandsons, Keaton, Khamari, and Kaiden. Their life experiences enabled me to witness and see God’s goodness exemplified.

To the memory of my oldest sister, Brenda. I will forever remember our talks, her encouragement, and her determination. Each of these qualities provided me with a solid example of how to persevere.

To my birth sisters, Wanda, Sheila and Jackie. Their consistent encouragement and respect for me as a person, a sister, a friend, and for who I am in Christ is deeply appreciated.

To my lifetime friend Jeannie and her husband, Ballard. Their love, consistent support, and hearts of giving cannot be matched.

To DiYana, for her encouragement and love.

To my spiritual mothers, Grace W. and the late Sarah B., for taking me under their wings, sharing their wisdom, and helping me to learn and grow spiritually.

To three of my spiritual sisters in Christ, Vivian B., Vontella C. and Vickie C., for their love, support, and constant urging for me to write a book of my mother’s sayings.

To Willie B., my BFF and confidant, for his encouragement and listening ear.

To my church sisters at Consolidated Baptist Church, Lexington, KY, Zina L., Dawn W., Michelle C. and Cynthia R., for their prayers and support.

To Rynetta D., her time, love, prayers, and patience were truly appreciated.

To Rita G. for her diligence.

Abbreviations

The source for each scripture reference is given in parentheses after the verse.

Versions of Bible

AMP Amplified Bible

KJV King James Version

NIV New International Version

NKJV New King James Version

Books of the Bible

2 Chron 2 Chronicles

1 Cor 1 Corinthians

2 Cor 2 Corinthians

Deu Deuteronomy

Eph Ephesians

Exo Exodus

Ezk Ezekiel

Heb Hebrews

Gen Genesis

Isa Isaiah

James James

Jer Jeremiah

John John

1 John 1 John

Lam Lamentations

Luke Luke

Mark Mark

Matt Matthew

Num Numbers

1 Pet 1 Peter

Phil Philippians

Prov Proverbs

Psa Psalms

Rev Revelation

Rom Romans

2 Thes 2 Thessalonians

Definitions

Patterson, R.F. New Expanded Webster’s Dictionary

A Prayer For The Reader

Dear Lord, I ask that you speak by your Holy Spirit to each person who reads the pages of this book. I pray that they receive wisdom, encouragement, revelation, and an increased realization of you by reading your Word. I pray that they receive a renewed understanding of who they are because of you. God, bless them and keep them in your precious care.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Introduction

My mother passed away at the age of 84. My mother was my best friend, confidant, encourager and disciplinarian. I was blessed to have her for the first 42 years of my life. During those years, she counseled, advised and warned me and my siblings with many different Nuggets of Wisdom. You may have heard these same nuggets from your mother, grandmother or that special person involved in your upbringing.

Often when my mother would drop these little nuggets in our conversation, I did not understand what she was saying. But as I got older, I began to understand more and more the wisdom she sought to impart unto me.

Although she spoke these nuggets in plain terms, their meanings later served to provide spiritual wisdom and growth for me.

As I reflect back, I hear my mother’s voice speaking the nuggets and then quickly it’s followed by the Holy Spirit whispering to me a scripture that stands as a foundation for the nugget.

As I share with you my mother’s nuggets of wisdom, I pray that you will be blessed, enlightened, strengthened, challenged, and encouraged to live a life that shows forth God’s glory!

Come, read what momma said!

Nugget #1

YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIKE THEM, BUT YOU DO HAVE TO LOVE THEM.

My mother would often offer this nugget when she felt that my sisters and I offered foolish excuses for disliking someone and/or when she felt we were treating or responding to someone rudely or inappropriately. In my mother’s own way, she was saying no matter how someone behaves, what they say or what decisions they make, we could not use those as excuses to justify our reaction or to reciprocate the behavior. Our focus and goal never should change; we should show love, walk in love, and represent Jesus.

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if you have love one to another. (John 13:34-35 KJV)

Jesus’ commandment did not say show love only if the person behaves properly. Moreover, his commandment did not say to show love when a person is speaking appropriately, or when someone’s choices seemed to be ethical or identical to yours. Jesus simply said, Love one another.

Like is an emotion originated from the flesh and is based on how you feel toward someone, or how you assess and judge them.

Love is an emotion born from the heart

Love binds all hurt

Love covers a multitude of sins

Love suffers long

Love is kind

Love envies not

Love is not puffed up

Love is not easily provoked

Love thinks no evil

Love rejoices in truth

Love endures all things

When you show love, you will not and cannot at the same time display behavior contradictory to the attributes of love.

You cannot love your neighbor and then use your tongue to say words that will assassinate their character.

You cannot love your neighbor and walk in unforgiveness because the love within you will come forth like a medicated wind that blows over the wound until it is healed. The scar is left only to remind you that you once had an experience that evolved into a testimony to proclaim the glory of God.

Who can prevent you from showing the love of Christ one to another? A person who makes bad decisions? A person who exhibits poor behavior? A person who has views that differ from yours? A person whose outward appearance does not resemble yours?

What can prevent you from showing the love of Christ? Can society? Can disagreements? Can government? Can immoral decisions?

LOVE NEVER FAILS!

Momma, I now know what you meant. I don’t have to like a person’s ways, decisions, behaviors, etc., but I do have to love them. Why? Because I love God and as his disciple, he has commanded me to do so and strengthens me to achieve all that he commands.

~

Nugget #2

IF YOU DON’T THINK YOU’RE CUTE, NO ONE ELSE WILL.

At the beginning of my teenage years, I began to feel ugly. I hated that I had to wear eyeglasses. I also hated that I had to wear my sisters’ (and others, who had donated to our family’s clothing supply) hand-me-down clothing. I would express my feelings to my mom to seek her comfort and solicit her compliments to boost my teenage ego.

My mother would first listen to my reasons for having the current state of mind regarding