A Mother’s Heart
Proverbs 31:10-31
Good morning everyone,
Happy Mother’s Day! If your mother is still with you, make sure that you give her a call today and let her know how you feel about her. Don’t put it off till another day-
For those like me who has had a great mom and she is no longer here, it is a bittersweet reminder of what she has meant to you.
For those who have lost a spouse who is mother to your children, you are thankful that God has put you two together and everyday when you look at your kids, it is a reminder of God’s goodness.
I am aware and sensitive that all mothers do not have that honor so I am also praying for those that this is a tough day for different reasons.
I pray that the Lord would hug your neck and let you know today how much you are loved by Him.
Prayer- Father, today as we celebrate our mothers, we pray that you would come along side of us and speak to us for those who have been a part of mentoring our lives and the importance of having someone involved in our lives. No person should have to go it alone, please help us to see that you desire key people in our lives who can come along side of us and be a help. In Jesus Name! Amen.
For Most of us Mom has just always been there.
When you needed clean clothes you just went into the drawer and magically they were there.
When it was time to eat, you sat at the table and the meal was ready, even those times when your schedule was crazy and you were running off somewhere, it was still there.
When you had to get a ride, sow a button, cupcakes for school, get a band aid, the person you went too when you had an ear ache in the middle of the night… she was just there.
When you stop to think about it, she is the most unique person God has put in your life.
She had supernatural powers given directly by God.
She could hear things from miles away.
If you were somewhere you weren’t suppose to be, her hand stretched miles and could get a hold of you and get you back where you belong.
She was able to read minds… she knew what you were thinking , sometimes stopping your plans and sometimes she just knew when you needed a hug because something was wrong.
People around you were taught a valuable lesson that you don’t mess with momma bear and you don’t poke the bear too long before you were taught right from wrong,
Illustration- listen to this-
When God Created Mothers...
When the Good Lord was creating mothers, He was into His sixth day of "overtime" when the angel appeared and said. "You're taking a lot of time on this one."
And God said, "Have you read the specs on this order?" She has to be completely washable, but not plastic. Have 180 moveable parts...all replaceable. Run on black coffee and leftovers. Have a lap that disappears when she stands up. A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair. And six pairs of hands." The angel shook his head slowly and said. "Six pairs of hands.... no way." "It's not the hands that are causing me problems," God remarked, "it's the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have." "That's on the standard model?" asked the angel. God nodded. " One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, “What are you kids doing in there?' when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and say. “I understand and I love you' without so much as uttering a word." "God," said the angel touching his sleeve gently, "Get some rest tomorrow...."
"I can't," said God, "I'm so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick...can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger...and can get a nine year old to stand under a shower." The angel circled the model of a mother very slowly. "It's too soft," she sighed. "But tough!" said God excitedly. "You can imagine what this mother can do or endure." "Can it think?" "Not only can it think, but it can reason and compromise," said the Creator. Finally, the angel bent over and ran his finger across the cheek. "There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told you that You were trying to put too much into this model." "It's not a leak," said the Lord, "It's a tear." "What's it for?"
"It's for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness, and pride."
I do not know what it is like to be a mom but I know what it is like to have one that cares and I know what it has been like to have a wife that has been a mom to our children and the impact that they have made in my life. They are precious and unique.
They are a mold that when he was finished, he broke the mold and allowed us to have precious memories and reminders of what a person who has the heart beat of God looks like and acts like in a person’s life.
Turn to Proverbs 31 and then stick a finger in at John 4. Two familiar verses of Scripture but only one is usually used on Mother’s day.
Proverbs 31:10-31 read from Bible
No problem, I’ll get right on that! Right lady’s?
You have to understand this portion of scripture- it is a Hebrew poem- every verse was started in alphabetical order of the Hebrew alphabet. It was an ideal.
In a perfect world, this is how a woman that loves the Lord meets the needs of her family.
It is under the direction of God. How many fall short?
How many do not have the energy or the time to do these things even though you have tried and failed often?
It does show us that we cannot do any of these things well without the strength and guidance of the Lord in our lives.
We see two sides of this woman- we see the wisdom that comes directly from God, a woman who is seeking the wisdom of God. The second portrait of the woman is being a noble wife and mother. For some, they must also be the bread winner, the husband, and the referee on all issues that come up in the house.
We see the woman does some things well
She manages the house
She manages the people in the house
She makes use of everything
Her character is flawless
Not only her family but sensitive to those in need and volunteered.
Her husband may be able to stand at the city gate and brag on his women, but it is her who does all these things.
Perfection is a hard standard for any of us to live by right? The bar has been placed very high and almost seems like most cannot achieve it.
Don’t only look only at the abilities of this super mom- look what else God is trying to show us about the women in our lives.
Yes abilities…you ladies are talented beyond measure and blessed of the Lord.
But look at the wisdom she received and used from the Lord. She guided her life under the direction of God and she knew that her abilities had been a gift from God. Those that saw her knew she had spent time with God.
You have value and worth (repeat)
Moms have to do tough things and make tough decisions.
My mother in front of a neighborhood of people in the middle of a side street that I was playing on slapped me.
I was disrespectful
I was a bad witness
I had disobeyed
I had said things I now wish I could take back
I put others at risk
I had been warned several different times on several different situations.
I can almost hear the gasp as I said that- I do not recommend this because it will go against Dr. Spook and every child care book published but it does not go against the Lord saying to us that if you spare the rod of correction that it will spoil the child in what God is trying to do.
Not all of you would agree but some of you are listening, my mother raised two boys by herself in the city of Milwaukee Wisconsin and she was the mom, the dad, the enforcer and the judge when she had to be.
Some of you see abuse and some of you see a mom that told me in no uncertain terms that she will do whatever is needed that the city boy and evil of the city will not be allowed in her son and I look back and applaud my mother because I stand at this pulpit because she did not care what others thought when it came to the wellbeing of her two sons.
Not only does some moms have battle scars from raising kids in this tough age but they also have battle scars from the people that have called themselves God’s critics who have self imposed themselves as guardians of other people’s lives and situations.
Mom’s, if you have made mistakes, ask God to forgive you.
Mom’s, you are unique, but no matter what you think or how others perceive you, you are not a super hero who runs like the energizer bunny and never gets tired, never has a bad day, and never needs help herself. You are human… and humans need sleep, they need help at times, they need an encouraging word and they need the Lord to keep all the loose ends from coming apart!
Turn to John 4:4-17 read from Bible
Jesus made a diversion to get His business done and went to Sychar. He arrived at the well of Jacob at noon. This was a famous well that had much history and it wasn’t the place that a Samaritan women thought when she wanted her life to be changed in an instant. That was not the time that women went for water. They went early in the morning.
All the super hero moms that had it all together went earlier and Jesus knew that when he got there at noon that this Samaritan women would be at the well. It was not coincidence that she was there with him.
This women had a hard edge- She was not happy with what was going on in the country, we find out, she was not happy with what has happened and is happening in her life… and Jesus ask her for a drink. She does not know him personally but she has seen his kind before as she sees you are a Jew and you ask me for a drink and your people can’t stand me and my people.
He explains that he has come to give her more than water which is a necessity, he has come to give her living water. Water for the soul! Water that makes dead things come back to life and a water that will change her life forever. She may or may not understand all Jesus was saying at the time but agrees to want the more that Jesus was offering.
Jesus ask her to go get her husband, she says she does not have one and Jesus lets her know that it is not an accident they have met but that Jesus knows all about her life. She perceives he is a profit and knows all about her.
As we close our time together,
I believe the Lord has something to say to each of us- moms, maybe you’re here and today He is letting you know he sees what you are going through and He is offering a hand out o you, don’t be so proud not to take it- He is not looking for superheroes, He is looking for willing hearts that have surrendered to Him. He is wanting us to use our talents and abilities but he also wants us to know our limitations. He says to some this morning exhale- receive from Jesus the love and encouragement needed to move your life and the life of your loved ones.
Men, husband, children, maybe He is speaking to some of us to realize these women in our lives are tired and we need to step in and give a hand. Not take advantage of them.
My mother was my role model before I even knew what that word meant.”
