Showing posts with label mothers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mothers. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Lessons From A Child
One of the greatest parts of being a mother are the many lessons about God that our children are able to teach us. When my children were infants, they had this beautiful way of bringing so many scriptures to life for me, and they had no idea that they did it.
Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather in barns; yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matthew 6:25-26
God tells us not to worry about our needs being met, for He is in control. Yet many of us are constantly worried about bills being paid, our jobs being secure, our cars not breaking down, etc. Sometimes those worries try to rise up in me as well but then I take a look at my children, they don’t have a care in the world.
Yes, they get hungry and thirsty. Yes, they need clothes to wear and a place to rest their heads. But that doesn’t keep them up at night or keep them from being the happiest children ever.
They know that their needs are going to be met, so they don’t have to take on that burden. If only we trusted God the way our children trust their mothers (and fathers).
Often times, God will direct us to do something but we allow fear to stop us from moving in it. We have all kinds of excuses like not being qualified to do it or simply being fearful of the unknown. It happens to most everyone at some point. These days when fear tries to grab me, I again take another look at my children who seem fearless to me.
I think about when they were learning to take their first steps. They could have thought to themselves, “I’ve never walked before so I better not try to walk now.” But instead, they (like most babies) had that innate trait that pushes them to try almost anything (including those things we wish they wouldn’t).
Watching them try so many different things without hesitation is a constant reminder to me of how my “faith walk” should look. If I can only step out with the same confidence that they do, I might be surprised at how far my faith can take me and how many wonderful things I could accomplish.
When I truly learn how to put all my trust in God in the same manner that they put their trust in me, confident that I would never do anything to intentionally hurt them, my relationship with God would soar to levels I never thought possible! Children have an incredible way of putting the “scriptures in motion.” And these are lessons we all need to embrace!
Scripture of the Day: “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.“ - Matthew 17:20
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
The Woman Who Touched Heaven
I recently re-read the account of the Shunammite woman and felt myself becoming enveloped in her story. We don’t know her name, neither do we know the name of her husband, but the significance of the story isn’t in her name nor is it about who she’s married to. No, rather, this story is about a nameless woman, whose valiant spirit captured heaven’s attention (2 Kings 4:8-36).
Day after day she prepared for the prophet’s arrival. She was ‘great’ or ‘wealthy’ by earthly standards, but her true joy was contained in serving this humble, itinerant stranger. He was no longer just a passing visitor; he had been adopted as a vital member of her family. She delighted in the realization that God had blessed her by choosing her to host His humble manservant.
But she was dealing with something; something unresolved deep within her. She was childless. You see, up until this point in her story, the Shunammite woman had never had the pleasure of cradling her own baby. She’d never felt the tug of a nursing infant. Yet, I argue that she was a mother long before her womb conceived. The Shunammite woman was a nurturer and caregiver, a nurse and comforter. She had the heartbeat of a mother and it echoed in the far reaches of heaven as she attended to Elisha.
And so it happened. Without struggle, without entreaty or spoken request, God did the miraculous in her life. I imagine the moment she first felt her child flutter in her womb, the first time he kicked against the walls of her diaphragm, the first sign of her ‘baby bump’; it must’ve been an emotional experience as she walked through that precious nine month journey she’d resigned hoping for. It must’ve been an exceptional event when she heard the sound of her baby crying for the first time. Her life had forever changed on multiple dimensions.
But then something else happened. That same baby that was gifted to her from heaven, the one she felt growing and moving in her womb, the same child that gave her pleasure every time he said ‘mama’, fell ill and died, in her lap.
She had willingly accepted God’s gift of pregnancy, but the premature death of her child she would not accept. So she ran, despite her husband’s questions; she gathered herself and went straight to the man of God. Once again her heartbeat echoed in the halls of heaven and once again heaven replied. The child that had died was miraculously restored to life.
This story captivates me, because the woman we see here understood the principle of nurturing anyone given into her care. Indeed, she was a mother long before she bore her first child. So today we treasure the heart of this nameless woman who captured the attention of heaven and laid hold of the supernatural by her defiant faith in God.
As we celebrate Mothers’ Day this year, let us celebrate those among us who nurture and protect those within their care. Let us celebrate the passion of those who care for the orphans and the neglected, who love the adopted, and enforce victory on behalf of the forgotten. We celebrate you mothers, for your valour and your virtue; for your love and your relentlessness. Today, know that you are great, even if you are nameless to some, even if there is no husband to identify with, you have influence and access to heaven. To the one who depends on you, your name means life!
Scripture of the Day: “She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit]. Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.” - Proverbs 31:29
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
God’s Tender Side
The church pageant was only a day away. I was nervous. My worry was I’d be the only girl without a proper gown. And I’d look like a poor, pitiful misfit.
Every year around springtime or fall, my church would put on an elaborate pageant as a youth fundraiser. At the time, my mother worked two jobs to make ends meet. She was a single parent with five children. So Veleta Jackson hardly had the time to indulge my whims. Neither did she have the extra money to buy her fourth child a fancy frock.
A mother’s love though goes the extra mile and does the unthinkable. My mom was dog-tired and worn out. But while I slept, she stayed up all night after work that Saturday, sewing my gown for the Sunday pageant.
I remember it well. It was a light green A-line dress she designed herself; an all-night sacrifice stitched from a labor of love.
There is much to be said about a mother’s unconditional love. It so resembles what we know of God’s great care and intense affection for His children. You might say a mother’s love reflects the tender side of God.
He created both male and female in His image. (Genesis 1:27) A man’s instinctive drive to protect and provide for his family is a trait he’s inherited from God Himself. So is a woman’s unquenchable desire to nurture and care for her children, no matter what their age.
My mother’s sewing project that Saturday night followed a pattern God laid out back in the book of Genesis. Whatever the need, He’s got it covered.
After man’s great fall in the Garden of Eden, it was God who went after Adam and Eve. Yes, He was disappointed by their gross disobedience. But God the parent was also concerned about their safety and well being. They were naked. So God killed an animal. He then pulled out His proverbial sewing machine, and made the first suits of clothes from animal skin. Genesis 3:21 says: “The Lord made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.”
A mother’s love though goes the extra mile and does the unthinkable. My mom was dog-tired and worn out. But while I slept, she stayed up all night after work that Saturday, sewing my gown for the Sunday pageant.
I remember it well. It was a light green A-line dress she designed herself; an all-night sacrifice stitched from a labor of love.
There is much to be said about a mother’s unconditional love. It so resembles what we know of God’s great care and intense affection for His children. You might say a mother’s love reflects the tender side of God.
He created both male and female in His image. (Genesis 1:27) A man’s instinctive drive to protect and provide for his family is a trait he’s inherited from God Himself. So is a woman’s unquenchable desire to nurture and care for her children, no matter what their age.
My mother’s sewing project that Saturday night followed a pattern God laid out back in the book of Genesis. Whatever the need, He’s got it covered.
After man’s great fall in the Garden of Eden, it was God who went after Adam and Eve. Yes, He was disappointed by their gross disobedience. But God the parent was also concerned about their safety and well being. They were naked. So God killed an animal. He then pulled out His proverbial sewing machine, and made the first suits of clothes from animal skin. Genesis 3:21 says: “The Lord made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.”
That act of love foreshadowed Jesus Christ. God the Son later died as a sacrificial lamb on the cross. His blood cleansed the sins of mankind. Now those who freely receive the resurrected Christ are clothed in His righteousness.
Someone once said “sacrifice” is a mother’s middle name. How true. I remember well how my mother worked over-time, even double time as a nurse’s aide, to provide for her brood. When we got sick, she was up all night chasing away our childhood fevers with her home-made remedies. She always put our needs ahead of her own.
No matter how small or great your needs are, God has you sized up and hemmed in. Remember, He took time to stitch you together in your mother’s womb. (Psalms 139:13)
Now we must trust that He has us properly covered.
Matthew 23:37 says, “Oh Jerusalem… How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you were not willing.”
How willing are you to trust God to keep you warm and safe in His care? Notice God’s pattern. It’s fashioned with your protection in mind. Jeremiah 29:11 says: “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Just like God, my mother had me covered. That Sunday I awoke to find my brand new, home-made gown waiting for me.
Later that afternoon, there I was among a parade of lovely teen girls sashaying down the church isle in pomp and pageantry. I did not appreciate my mother’s sacrifice back then. I do now so dearly. I grew to realize just how much she resembled God; His tender side.
Someone once said “sacrifice” is a mother’s middle name. How true. I remember well how my mother worked over-time, even double time as a nurse’s aide, to provide for her brood. When we got sick, she was up all night chasing away our childhood fevers with her home-made remedies. She always put our needs ahead of her own.
No matter how small or great your needs are, God has you sized up and hemmed in. Remember, He took time to stitch you together in your mother’s womb. (Psalms 139:13)
Now we must trust that He has us properly covered.
Matthew 23:37 says, “Oh Jerusalem… How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you were not willing.”
How willing are you to trust God to keep you warm and safe in His care? Notice God’s pattern. It’s fashioned with your protection in mind. Jeremiah 29:11 says: “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Just like God, my mother had me covered. That Sunday I awoke to find my brand new, home-made gown waiting for me.
Later that afternoon, there I was among a parade of lovely teen girls sashaying down the church isle in pomp and pageantry. I did not appreciate my mother’s sacrifice back then. I do now so dearly. I grew to realize just how much she resembled God; His tender side.
Scripture Of The Day: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb." - Psalm 139:13 (NIV)
Sunday, May 9, 2010
The Faith Transfer
By John C. Richards, Jr.
Some women of faith in the Bible are often overlooked. We know about Sarah, Abraham's wife. We're fully aware of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The story of Ruth is celebrated as a story of hope and redemption. These women have no problem garnering recognition in Christendom. What about the ones who don't get as much recognition? What about the women whose stories are just as compelling? What about the family matriarch who holds the family together in tough times? What about the single mother who raises a child alone?
There is a nugget in one of the Apostle Paul's epistles that recognizes these women. The (scripture of the day) comes from a letter from Paul to his pupil Timothy. Timothy was a young man who had entered ministry. He was one of Paul's mentees. The purpose of Paul's letter was to give him specific instructions for his ministry. However, he begins this letter in a peculiar manner. Paul begins by thanking God for the source of Timothy's faith. Where did this faith come from? A five point sermon? Paul himself? What about a gospel tract? Nope. The source of his faith came from his dear mother and grandmother. Timothy was a person who loved and served the Lord. As I read this, I imagined Paul speaking to me personally. I felt like I could substitute my name (and the name of my mother and grandmother) in this verse.
Timothy found himself to be a product of generational faith transfer. The faith that was first found in his grandmother and his mother was now solidly evident in Timothy himself. I found myself in this very situation some time ago. The first time I saw any sign of discouragement from my mother was when she experienced a house fire about four years ago. On this occasion, I realized the importance of the faith transfer. I was able to impart the same faith into my mother that she had imparted into me when I was a youth. I had a very encouraging conversation with her about God's purpose in trials. At the end of that conversation we were both able to proclaim that He would give her "beauty for her ashes" (Isaiah 61:3).
That is the very nature of faith transfer. There comes a point in time when the transferee (the one who receives) becomes the transferor (the one who imparts/reminds). Like my mom during this trial, sometimes we have everything we need on the inside. We just need reminders every now and again. In fact, the word "remember" etymologically means just that: to re-member or to put back together. I was able to help her put some stuff back together during a trying period in her life. Lord knows that she had done the same thing for me countless times over.
"The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him" (Proverbs 31:1)
King Lemuel knew exactly what I'm talking about. Lemuel remembered the "utterance(s)" his mother taught him. There was so much wisdom contained in these utterances that they became a part of the book of Wisdom (i.e. Proverbs). In fact, the above verse served as the opening verse of the virtuous woman passage in Proverbs we have come to know and love. King Lemuel was merely writing about the woman he had seen exemplify these characteristics throughout his life--his mother. I now look back on all the lessons my mother taught me and can reflect on times when she told me I wouldn't understand what she was saying until I got older. She was right. I used to complain about her advice as a child. I didn't quite understand it. But now, being a fully mature adult, I see the life lessons that she taught in those moments. The words of Paul ring true: "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, understood as a child and thought as a child, but when I became a man I put away the childish things" (1 Corinthians 13:11).
Take time out today to honor your mother, grandmother, or any other mother figure in your life. Remember the life she lived. Thank God for placing her in your life. Give her a call and tell her how much you appreciate the things she has done for you. Most of all, be grateful for the faith she has transferred generationally to you. Her story might not have made it into the canon of scripture, but it has been canonized in your heart.
Continue to be a walking epistle filled with the lessons she has taught you and you will be a walking reminder of her lasting impact. Such is the nature of a mother's faith transfer.
Scripture Of The Day: "I thank God…when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also" - 2 Timothy 1:3a, 5 (NKJV)
John C. Richards, Jr., Esq. is a husband, writer, attorney, and student. While an attorney, he is involved in local ministry in the urban Los Angeles area and remains passionate about juvenile justice. He is concluding his final year at Fuller Theological Seminary, and is currently on staff at Hope Community Church in Pasadena, CA. http://www.brotherpreacher.com…
Some women of faith in the Bible are often overlooked. We know about Sarah, Abraham's wife. We're fully aware of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The story of Ruth is celebrated as a story of hope and redemption. These women have no problem garnering recognition in Christendom. What about the ones who don't get as much recognition? What about the women whose stories are just as compelling? What about the family matriarch who holds the family together in tough times? What about the single mother who raises a child alone?
There is a nugget in one of the Apostle Paul's epistles that recognizes these women. The (scripture of the day) comes from a letter from Paul to his pupil Timothy. Timothy was a young man who had entered ministry. He was one of Paul's mentees. The purpose of Paul's letter was to give him specific instructions for his ministry. However, he begins this letter in a peculiar manner. Paul begins by thanking God for the source of Timothy's faith. Where did this faith come from? A five point sermon? Paul himself? What about a gospel tract? Nope. The source of his faith came from his dear mother and grandmother. Timothy was a person who loved and served the Lord. As I read this, I imagined Paul speaking to me personally. I felt like I could substitute my name (and the name of my mother and grandmother) in this verse.
Timothy found himself to be a product of generational faith transfer. The faith that was first found in his grandmother and his mother was now solidly evident in Timothy himself. I found myself in this very situation some time ago. The first time I saw any sign of discouragement from my mother was when she experienced a house fire about four years ago. On this occasion, I realized the importance of the faith transfer. I was able to impart the same faith into my mother that she had imparted into me when I was a youth. I had a very encouraging conversation with her about God's purpose in trials. At the end of that conversation we were both able to proclaim that He would give her "beauty for her ashes" (Isaiah 61:3).
That is the very nature of faith transfer. There comes a point in time when the transferee (the one who receives) becomes the transferor (the one who imparts/reminds). Like my mom during this trial, sometimes we have everything we need on the inside. We just need reminders every now and again. In fact, the word "remember" etymologically means just that: to re-member or to put back together. I was able to help her put some stuff back together during a trying period in her life. Lord knows that she had done the same thing for me countless times over.
"The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him" (Proverbs 31:1)
King Lemuel knew exactly what I'm talking about. Lemuel remembered the "utterance(s)" his mother taught him. There was so much wisdom contained in these utterances that they became a part of the book of Wisdom (i.e. Proverbs). In fact, the above verse served as the opening verse of the virtuous woman passage in Proverbs we have come to know and love. King Lemuel was merely writing about the woman he had seen exemplify these characteristics throughout his life--his mother. I now look back on all the lessons my mother taught me and can reflect on times when she told me I wouldn't understand what she was saying until I got older. She was right. I used to complain about her advice as a child. I didn't quite understand it. But now, being a fully mature adult, I see the life lessons that she taught in those moments. The words of Paul ring true: "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, understood as a child and thought as a child, but when I became a man I put away the childish things" (1 Corinthians 13:11).
Take time out today to honor your mother, grandmother, or any other mother figure in your life. Remember the life she lived. Thank God for placing her in your life. Give her a call and tell her how much you appreciate the things she has done for you. Most of all, be grateful for the faith she has transferred generationally to you. Her story might not have made it into the canon of scripture, but it has been canonized in your heart.
Continue to be a walking epistle filled with the lessons she has taught you and you will be a walking reminder of her lasting impact. Such is the nature of a mother's faith transfer.
Scripture Of The Day: "I thank God…when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also" - 2 Timothy 1:3a, 5 (NKJV)
John C. Richards, Jr., Esq. is a husband, writer, attorney, and student. While an attorney, he is involved in local ministry in the urban Los Angeles area and remains passionate about juvenile justice. He is concluding his final year at Fuller Theological Seminary, and is currently on staff at Hope Community Church in Pasadena, CA. http://www.brotherpreacher.com…
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