A Godly Mother

1 Samuel 1:1-28 A Godly Mother Intro: Read the poem "Somebody’s Mother". Today is a special day set aside to honor someone very special. Someone who has perhaps the most honorable, most difficult and most rewarding job in the universe.

Prop: Ladies need to know what it means to be a godly mother. I. It means you will have a good relationship with God. 1. She went to the house of the Lord regularly (v.7) 2. She honored her promises to God. Moms, you want to have children who grow up and trust the Lord, who serve Him and are the kind of people this world needs more of: It is so important that you have a relationship with God that the next generation will want for themselves. "Four scholars were arguing over Bible translations. One said he preferred the KJV because of its beauty, eloquent old English. Another said he preferred the American Standard Version for its literalism, the way it moves readers from passage to passage with confident feelings of accuracy from the original text. A third man preferred the Moffat because of its quaint, penetrating use of words, the turn of a phrase that captures the attention of the reader. After giving the issue further thought, the fourth scholar admitted, I have personally preferred my mother’s translation. When the other scholars chuckled, he responded, "Yes, she translated it. She translated each page of the Bible into life. It is the most convincing translation I ever saw." (Charles Swindoll, Family Life, Multonomah Press, Portland Oregon 97266m 1988. pg. 72) II. It means you will have a good relationship with others. 1. She responded to Peninnah’s torment in a godly way (v.7, ) she took it to the Lord she did not seek evil on Peninnah 2. She showed respect for the man of God 3. She had a good relationship with her husband Elkanah She followed his desire to serve God, going to the Tabernacle w/him She followed his instruction (v.22-23) III. It means you will have a good relationship with your children 1. She gave him a good name (20) Samuel = "asked of God" 2. She personally took care of him and invested time in him(22). custom - breast fed for two to three years or even more, due to unreliable supply of safe drinking water in most areas. She made provision for his needs (24) three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine She made him a new coat each year (2:19) Mom, child rearing is hard work, and demands your time, energy and sacrifice of material resources... Moms, no one can love your children like you love them, and no one will be willing to sacrifice like you, no one but you can instill your values in them... Susannah Wesley, mother of Charles and John Wesley spent one hour each day praying for her 17 children. In addition, she took each child aside for a full hour every week to discuss spiritual matter. No wonder tow of her sons, John and Charles were used of God to bring blessing to all of England and much of America. Here are a few rules she followed in training her children: 1. Subdue self-will in a child and thus work together with God to save his/her soul. 2. Teach the child to pray as soon as he can speak. 3. Give the child nothing he cries for and only what is good for him if he asks for it politely. 4. To prevent lying, punish not fault, which is freely confessed, but never a allow rebellious, sinful act to go unnoticed. 5. Commend and reward good behavior. 6. Strictly observe all promises you have made to your child. 3. She ensured he got the religious training he needed (24-28). A woman once wrote the famous evangelist, Gipsy Smith after an evangelistic campaign to tell hi she had been converted as a result of one of his messages. She said, "I believe the Lord wants me to preach the Gospel, Brother Smith, but the trouble is that I have 12 children to raise! What shall I do?" She received this letter in reply: "My dear lady, I am happy to hear that you have been save and feel called to preach, but I am even more delighted to know that God has already provided you with a congregation of 12! The new convert got the point!

4. She willingly gave her son back to God who gave him to her (26-28) It is important to view your children as being on loan from God...