Sunday Words of Encouragement May 8, 2016 Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there. We were blessed to have our son come to visit for Mother’s Day.  We attended our ‘second’ church where we visit for the early service.

The Pastor did a nice sermon on parenting. He noted that in current society it is a time when families need to pull together as so many families have become disjointed families. Many people, children have opted for God’s permissive will instead of His perfect will. The pastor shared an ironic poem about mean mothers.

Jurassic Park would have been a great park until the safety features broke down. Parents today are in a similar fix, trying to survive the breakdown of safety boundaries (values) in our society. The guidebook for Christians is the Bible. Ephesians 6:4 tells parents (fathers but applies to mothers) 'do not exacerbate your children but train them in the instruction of the Lord'.

We live in a world much different from the 1950s. Parents are so busy trying to provide a comfortable living for their family but it cuts into quality time with the kids. If you are not there, someone else will help your children to establish values. TV is teaching the children. By age 65, studies show that a child of today will have spent 9 years watching TV compared to 4 months in church.

Parents need to provide loving encouragement to children. Parents also need to provide boundaries and loving discipline. Finally, parents need to provide standards and values that will allow children to self-discipline as they mature. We need to commit to these trainings to raise dedicated children.

This is a lovely song for Mother’s Day.

Verses for Today:
Proverbs 6:20-22 (NIV)
20 My son, keep your father’s command
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
21 Bind them always on your heart;
fasten them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will guide you;
when you sleep, they will watch over you;
when you awake, they will speak to you.

I still miss you, Mom, but I thank you, and thank God, that you gave me foundations, values and boundaries. And when I was old enough, you encouraged me to fly.

Sunday Words of Encouragement May 10, 2015 Mother's Day

This is very late because we met friends for lunch after church and then took a nap.
We had a great video in Sunday School which I will share another day.

Pastor’s Sermon today was (for mother’s of course), entitled: A Mother’s Influence.
Influence: is the process or power of impacting actions of others.
A well known example of motherly influence in the Bible is in the life of Timothy. The Godly faith of his grandmother was passed through his mother to Timothy. 2 Timothy 1:1-5.
Here are some areas of influence that a mother has:
Protection - Mothers are known to be fiercely protective of their children. They need to watch over them with clarity and firmness, protecting the soul as well as the body. Matthew 23:27, Matthew 10:28. Mothers need to set parameters because children need boundaries , just as adults need too. Parents also need to equip their children with an internal GPS (global parenting system) for their lives. Proverbs 22:6
Prayer: There is great power in the prayers of mothers. We always need to remember that our struggle is not against flesh and blood or this world - it is a spiritual struggle. Ephesians 6:12.
Possibility: We train our children and Mother’s can encourage their children to build and tale a chance to dream. Philippians 4:13.

Thank You Mom Poem

Verses for Today:
1 Peter 3:3-4  NIV
3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

I give thanks to God for my lovely mother and thanks too for my daughter and daughter-in law who are beautiful mothers.

Saturday Snapshot (May 11, 2013) Happy Mother's Day with Flowers

My DH was on the computer about a week ago and I told him NOT to get me flowers...but...
Here is what I have received for Mother's Day.

First, this is our healthy rose bush showing buds on April 27 and then blooms on May 5. 

My DH picked some of the roses for me and I took this picture May 8.

 In spite of my instructions to not buy me anything,

these roses and chocolates arrived Wednesday.

My DH really is a sweet guy!

 

Then yesterday when I got home from work there was a box

that I knew was from my son in Hawaii. :-)

Layer one:

Layer two:

 Layer three:

 Beautiful tropical flowers!

 So these are all available to grace my table on Sunday.

 

Just their thoughts would suit me but it is nice to receive these physical gifts.

I hope all you mothers have wonderful blessings too!

To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky hosted by Alyce of At Home With Books. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.

Sunday Words of Encouragement May 13, 2012

This post is a tribute to Mothers.

Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.
Inspirational Quotes on Mothers Day by: Unknown  

Making a decision to have a child--it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.
Inspirational Quotes on Mothers Day by: Elizabeth Stone

All mothers are working mothers.
Inspirational Quotes on Mothers Day by: Author Unknown

God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers.
Inspirational Quotes on Mothers Day by: Jewish proverb 

Thank you Mom for the love, strength and courage you taught me, just to name a few of your gifts. I still miss you.

Sunday Words of Encouragement May 8, 2011

 I hope all mothers have had a beautiful mother's day.

I did. :-)

We had one of our retired pastors give the Mother's Day sermon today. It was very sweet. He encouraged mothers to [continue] to stand up and be counted - speaking for right and against wrong.
He reminded us that mothers who are followers of Christ should be Christian in word and deed.[Prov 31:10-31.] We should commit our families to the Lord. [Like Hannah did with Samuel. 1 Samuel 1:26.]  We should stand on God's promises and train our children in the way they should go and trust God with the rest. [Prov 22:6.]
Remember: Mothers cast a long shadow.

I lost my mother when I was 21. 

I still remember her faithfulness, determination and honor she taught us.

This song seemed to fit nicely.

A Verse for Today.

2 Kings 4:30
But the child's mother said, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So he got up and followed her. 

This morning we prayed for mothers everywhere - for strength, patience, and the loving heart of God.

We had a wonderful afternoon by the pool with our daughter, son-in-law and the three children. My DH gave me flowers and our daughter gave me a hydrangea plant. I have some pictures and I hope to post one or two soon.