Mother's Day Message - Guiding Arrows Series

Mother’s Day

Guiding Arrows Sermon Series (family)

by Carol Hardee

Introduction

Good morning!! This is that wonderful day set aside for us to thank God for and celebrate the good thoughts and memories of those wonderful ladies He has put in our lives. You may be like me that when you think of Mother’s Day I think of many women in my life that have made an impact such as my birth mom, Mildred, my grandmothers, Ms. Walker, who had no children, who opened her home to me as a teenager when I needed a place to go, Miss Fannie, my youth group teacher, Bonnie, a prayer warrior, Sonja, my mentor, and so many more that have played a great big part in my life.

Today begins our family series which starts today and goes to Father’s Day. I bet you have no trouble guessing what the theme is about.

When Pastor told me told me the theme was:” Guiding Arrows” I had to do some research. I do not hunt, however in helping with boy’s camp, I have seen and touched bows and arrows. Our children have played with a small children’s toy. From seeing a bow shot on TV, I can see the power in it. But understanding how it works is a whole different thing.

We have a target, a bow, and an arrow. There are several things to consider in the arrow to the target – the bow, the string, the target, the surroundings, the arrow. In thinking just about the arrow, there are components to consider – the point, the nock, the shaft, and the fletching.

Ok I’m not the one to be giving lessons on bows and arrows. However, let’s look at our scripture text for our theme “Guiding Arrows”

Psa 127:1 A song for the ascent to Jerusalem. A psalm of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is useless. Unless the LORD protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. 2 It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones. 3 Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him. 4 Children born to a young man are like sharp arrows in a warrior's hands. 5 How happy is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.

What does say in verse 3? Children are a gift from God. No matter whose children they are – Children are a gift and are like sharp arrows, and these arrows need to be guided. What makes an arrow an arrow? The fletching.

Children or those under us need fletching. Fletching is the feathers or vanes that is on an arrow. Rather than helping your arrow to fly faster, the feathers slow down the flight of the arrow. If you shoot your arrow and it is flying straight, then they cause minor drag or slowdown; however, an arrow that isn’t flying straight will experience a lot of drag from the fletching. As an arrow turns in flight, and the fletching offers resistance. This resistance is in the opposite direction of the turn, so it works to keep the arrow on target.

As you can see, the fletching consists of 3 pieces. Let’s take note of some things to keep our arrows on target.

1. (Love –) Our arrows need love. Do you realize that our love is the first love that a child will experience and feel? Josiah, newborn babies

Even for someone that does not have a relationship with the Lord, our love is the first love that they experience.

A. Loving our children does not mean: Giving them everything they want; Making sure that they keep up with the world; Make their own religious decisions.

B. Loving children requires:

*Discipline. Proverbs 23:13-14 "Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die. Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death." Discipline is a sign of love.

*Instilling the Christian world view

*Teaching them to love Jesus Christ.

*Caring for their spiritual, emotional, and physical needs. Psalm 127:3-5. 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 as well."

Also, they need to be taught that God loves them unconditionally.

Rom 5:8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

2. (God) In talking about God’s love, brings me to my 2nd piece of fletching, God.