On Sunday, December 13, 2020 I asked for prayers from the congregation on behalf of my 99-year-old Aunt Artie, who has contracted the Corona Virus. In April 2021 she will commemorate her 100th birthday. As I mentioned, while addressing the congregation, I have always considered her to be the matriarch of my family, and this role increased with the aging of my mother and dad.

Aunt Artie, born on April 10, 1921, the second of four daughters, was named Thelma Arletha Stamm, borne to my grandparents Ralph and Maude Stamm. However, the nickname that somehow stuck with her was Artie. I do not think I was even aware that her first name was Thelma, not Artie, until I was in my teens.

In studying the scriptures about faithful and righteous women in the bible I am writing this in context of how my aunt Artie is like those women to me, and how she has played an important role in my life that has led me back to the Church.

Aunt Artie is wise, as is described in Proverbs 31:26, “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” She fears the Lord, as written in Proverbs 31:30, “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

She is like Timothy’s mother Eunice and guided me all the years I had fallen away, as Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:5, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure dwells in you.”

With love, Aunt Artie, like Priscilla and Aquila, in Acts 18:24-26, did when they took Apollos aside in the synagogue as he was speaking boldly, and accurately the things concerning Jesus, while knowing only the baptism of John. Lovingly, they took Apollos aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately, just as my aunt has done with me.

Finally, as Paul wrote in Romans 16:1-2, “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.” Aunt Artie, you have been this and more to me and our family throughout my entire life, and I love you deeply for being this.

[Editor’s Note: We commend such worthy examples of godly influence as seen is Aunt Artie. Thank you, brother Ralph, for giving us this good example to consider (Phil. 3:17).]

Learning the Fear of God
Joe R. Price

11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. (Psalm 34:11-16, NKJV)

Fear of the Lord is not theoretical. It is practical and reveals itself in how we live. Here, the inspired psalmist David teaches how to respect and reverence God. We will know the fear of the Lord if we listen to his instruction, and our lives will be blessed. Living a full life that delights in its joy is realized when we 1) Control our language (v. 13). Our words reveal our hearts. 2) Turn away from evil and practice good things that advance peace (v. 14). Pursue peace with God and with others, and you will it replaces chaos with tranquility. 3) Remember that the Lord attends to the needs of the righteous (v. 15). God has promised to provide our needs when we prioritize His will in our lives (Matt. 6:31-33). He hears and responds to the prayers of righteous people. 4) Remember that the Lord opposes those who practice evil (v. 16). Pursuing evil does not bring happiness now or in eternity; only pain and eternal death. God and others see whether the “fear of the Lord” is in our lives. When it is, whatever life brings our way becomes a blessing (1 Pet. 3:8-13). -Sword Tips #2007 

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