Bloom Where You're Planted

Sermon

Lanier Christian Church

May 8, 2016

Bloom Where You’re Planted

Isaiah 35

Real Mothers

Real Mothers don't eat quiche; they don't have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox.

Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried playdough doesn't come out of shag carpets.

Real Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.

Real Mothers sometimes ask "why me?" and get their answer when a little voice says,

"because I love you best".

Real Mothers know that a child's growth is not measured by height or years or grade . . .

it is marked by the progression of Mama to Mommy to Mom.

-Author Unknown

On this Mother’s Day, I’m grateful for the love, encouragement and example of Christian moms. For those of us blessed to have Godly mothers, I want to remind you today that we are among those who have received one of life’s greatest treasures, because we have loving mothers.

That love carries us through valleys and struggles and difficult challenges and all of life's circumstances.

How is that you might ask? Well, if you’re in one of those spots where you wonder if anyone else understands, or it seems as if nobody cares, or perhaps you are feeling that no one loves you…for those who have had Christ loving moms … at such times we know that our mom’s understanding, care and love is there - even when nobody else’s is. Even for those of you whose mom has received her heavenly reward, the lasting legacy of love and influence that she left you is like a permanent mark on your life. It never leaves.

So today, I praise God for loving moms who gave their lives to Christ first, then loved and provided for their children through His strength that worked within them.

Our church ladies have just returned from a wonderful retreat together this weekend. Their theme was: “Bloom where you’re planted.” I like that. Last Friday that phrase got stuck in my head as I was preparing my sermon and I realized that this is a truth we should all abide by.

READ ISAIAH 35

No matter where we are in life, God wants us to bloom where we are. To shine His glory where we are. As Isaiah said: “to rejoice and blossom.”

The previous chapter, chapter 34, of Isaiah is filled with doom and gloom. God is fed up with the sin of every nation including that of Israel and Judah, his own people. What was once beautiful is now turning to ruins. The Assyrian army is about to invade Israel. Years after that, Babylon will lay waste to the land. So, here in Isaiah 35, the prophet is reminding the people of God that the gloom will one day end… that there is coming a day when beauty will return to the land. There is coming a day when the desert will bloom with flowers. There is coming a day when the blind will see. There is coming a day when peace will rule. There is coming a day when singing and rejoicing will return.

So what does this have to do with mothers…or any of us for that matter?

Are there any mothers here today who have struggled through tough times? Are there any mothers, or any of us as children, who have felt like they were in the middle of a desert land and you thirsted for joy and peace? If you are planted in the middle of one of those desert like situations right now, God will help you to bloom where you are planted. He will help you to glow in His splendor right where you are.

Are there any mothers here today who have feeble hands and feeble knees? Do you experience times where you think you can’t carry on another day? Do you have moments where fear sets in and seems to grip your soul?

Isaiah reminds us: “Be strong, do not fear, your God will come…” (Is. 35:4) Despite your fear, even through your weakness, God will help you to bloom where you are planted. You can shine for Him, you can rejoice greatly despite the circumstances.

Are there mothers here today who battle health limitations? Your hearing is not what it used to be. Your eyesight is failing. If Fred Astaire or one of the Dancing with the Stars dancers asked you to dance, would you refuse because you feel like you’d break something?

I want you to know…There is coming a day when every eye will see and every ear will hear and everybody will dance for joy… for the healer, our redeemer will make all things new. But, in the meantime we can bloom where we’re planted. We can shine for Him, even if the steps are slower, even if the vision is weaker, because we know there is joy that awaits.