“A Mother’s Day Card From God”
Proverbs 31:10
INTRODUCTION: Today is “Mother’s Day”!
I have a PROBLEM with Mother’s Day!
It’s not that I don’t LIKE Mother’s Day … or that I DISAGREE with it … or that I DREAD it.
My PROBLEM is … that I don’t know how to preach a good Mother’s Day sermon.
Mother’s Day is perhaps (for me) the most difficult sermon to preach all year.
I have preached many Mother’s Day sermons.
Last Year – “A Mother’s Life” – an expose on motherhood.
2001 – “The Heart Of A Mother” – The Shunammite Mother – 2 Kings Ch. 4
2000 – “How To Treat A Lady” – Not very popular with the men!
1996 – “Jezebel – A Mother In Contrast” – my favorite M.D. Message! (Harriet doesn’t like this one!)
WHY is it so HARD to preach a Mother’s Day message?
BECAUSE … While Mother’s Day can be a very happy, joyous day … it can also be a very sad day … a day of pain & grief.
Not everybody looks forward to Mother’s Day.
o Maybe you have recently lost your mother … and you are experiencing the pain of your loss.
o Maybe you have lost a child … and your heart grieves on Mother’s Day.
o Maybe you are having difficulties with your Mother … your Mother wasn’t the IDEAL Mother we like to preach about … and you have bad memories of your Mother.
o Maybe you have some guilt feelings about your motherhood … and you have children problems … or marriage problems.
o Maybe you were never able to have children … and Mother’s Day isn’t a joyous occasion for you.
o Maybe you never had a real mother … and were raised in a foster home, or by relatives.
o Maybe you are a single Mom … and are struggling with being a good Mother to your children.
Not every home is like the “Cleavers” … or the “Brady Bunch” … or “Father Knows Best” … or the “Ozzie & Harriet Nelson Family”.
Maybe your home is more like the “Ozzie Osbourne Family” than it is the “Ozzie Nelson Family”!
Some of you have been raised in good Christian homes … HAVE wonderful parents … and ARE wonderful parents.
I thank God for you … and you should thank God, too … AMEN?
TODAY, I want to ENCOURAGE each of you … especially the Mothers.
Each of you have been affected by Motherhood in 1 way or another … for good or bad.
Everyone here either: HAS a mother … HAD a mother … IS a mother … is MARRIED to a mother … or KNOWS a mother.
Motherhood has affected you in 1 way or another.
I have a message for you today, this Mother’s Day, from God.
I want to read to you “A Mother’s Day Card Sent From God”.
Most Mother’s Day Cards have a little message printed inside of them.
You go to great care to pick out one that matches your sentiments for your mother.
It’s important what’s written in a Mother’s Day Card.
If you buy a CHRISTIAN card, there is usually a verse of Scripture printed in the card.
That’s what God’s Mother’s Day Card has in it (see bulletin insert).
Mothers have a very difficult job … more of a MINISTRY than a job.
God doesn’t bless you with Motherhood … then leave you to hang out to dry.
He’s given you His Word … to encourage you … help you … bless you … comfort you … give you direction.
This is God’s Mother’s Day Message to you … pick out the verse that applies to you, as a Mother … it’s God’s message to you:
1.- WHEN YOU FEEL DISCOURAGED
MOTHERS … Have you ever been DISCOURAGED?
Motherhood isn’t for the weak or faint-hearted, IS IT?
Mothers need a lot of encouragement … on a daily basis.
Listen to what God writes on the inside of His Mother’s Day Card to you:
Isaiah 40:28-31 – all turn
When you feel like giving up … DON’T!
WHY? Because God “understands” – 40:28b
Can you identify with 40:29?
Here is your word of encouragement from God – 40:31, 41:10
MOTHERS, when you get DISCOURAGED, open up God’s Mother’s Day Card, and read His message to you …
… and then you can say along with the Apostle Paul … “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.” - Philippians 4:13
2.- WHEN YOU FEEL ANGRY
MOTHERS … Have you ever gotten ANGRY with your kids?
If you haven’t, you need to be nominated for sainthood!
Listen to what God has written on the inside of His Mother’s Day card to you:
Ephesians 4:26 – all turn
God doesn’t say it’s WRONG to be angry … BUT … He does say that you need to CONTROL your anger.
God has a MESSAGE for you … DON’T STAY ANGRY! – 4:26b
There’s a PURPOSE for anger … you’re SUPPOSED to get angry over disobedience … lack of respect … insolence, etc.
If you didn’t get angry over it, but permitted and encouraged it … you wouldn’t be much of a Mother.
BUT – Deal with it … and turn it into a useful tool … not a destructive weapon.
See 4:31-32
Remember Proverbs 15:1 – “A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.”
MOTHERS … When you feel angry, open up God’s Birthday Card and read His message to you.
Don’t let your anger control you … let God control your anger.
3.- WHEN YOU NEED HELP
MOTHERS … do you ever feel like you’re in the motherhood business alone?
I know you get lots of help from your mother … mother-in-law (?) … husband …
BUT … do you ever feel like you need more HELP?
Open up God’s Mother’s Day Card to you, and see what He’s written in it to you:
Proverbs 3:5-6 – all turn
Your Heavenly FATHER, is always there to HELP you (He’s got lots of experience in this area).
He’s got some other helpful words of encouragement:
Ps. 32:8 – “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.”
MOTHERS … you’re not alone … READ ON:
Ps. 46:1 – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Ps. 27:14 – “Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord.”
Don’t give up … help is on the way … wait on the Lord.
Phil. 4:19 – “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Still not convinced?
Gal. 6:9 – “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.”
God’s not going to abandon you … He’s always there to HELP you.
4.- WHEN YOU FEEL ALONE
MOTHERS … You can have a houseful of children … all wanting your attention at the same time … AND STILL FEEL ALONE … AMEN?
You can be in the middle of Wal-mart … with kids hanging off the shopping cart … AND STILL FEEL ALONE … AMEN?
Open up God’s Mother’s Day card … and see what He has to tell you this AM:
Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call on Me, and I will answer you, and I will show you great and mighty things that you do not know.”
It’s strange how we can be in the middle of a crowd, and still feel so all alone.
Jesus tells you in John 14:18 – “I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.”
SOMETIMES … all we need is a hug … from God … just a reassurance that He is there.
God tells you in Hebrews 13:5 – “I will never leave you; I will never forsake you.”
When Jesus left this earth to return to His Heavenly Father, He left this promise for you.
Mt. 28:20 – “And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
MOTHERS … you’re not alone in raising your children … God hasn’t abandoned you.
Whenever you feel lonely, just open up God’s Mother’s Day card to you … and be assured that He is just a prayer away.
5.- WHEN YOU FEEL TIRED
Sometimes a “stay-at-home Mom” will be asked this question: “Do you work?”
You’re first impulse is probably to punch them in the nose … your second impulse is to laugh hysterically until you cry.
DITTY – It’s been said that if the typical mother were out in the business world, she would be worth $700,000 a year.
She’s a combination taxi driver, judge, lawyer, chef, psychiatrist, teacher, preacher, doctor, and much more.
Let me ask you again … “Do you work?”
That must be why you get so TIRED!
MOTHERS: Open up God’s Mother’s Day card, and see what He wrote to you:
Mt. 11:28 – “Come unto Me, all you who labor and are over-burdened, and I will give you rest.”
You won’t find “rest” by hiding in the closet … or by locking yourself in the bathroom (I’ve tried that!).
You’ll find “rest” in Jesus – Ps. 46:1 – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
MOTHERS: When you get to the end of your rope … don’t hang yourself … BUT … come to Jesus for some much deserved REST.
6.- WHEN YOU ARE WORRIED
Show me a Mother who never worries! You can’t!
WORRY is a part of being a Mother.
Open up God’s Mother’s Day card, and see what He has for you:
Philippians 4:6-7 – all turn
The Bible tells you to “cast all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7
Mothers have very broad shoulders … BUT … they don’t compare to the broad shoulders of God, your Heavenly Father.
He can tote a lot more than you can!
The old gospel song says: “Take your burden to the Lord, and leave it there.”
MOTHERS … you don’t HAVE to worry (but you will anyhow!).
You’ve got Somebody to go to … Who is eagerly waiting for you to unload on Him.
Don’t deny Him of the privilege of carrying your burdens for you!
CONCLUSION:
MOTHERS … God has sent you a Mother’s Day Card.
AND … He has written some personal messages in it for you.
Take it home with you … and take it to heart.
Open it up when you need it the most.
You will find it all (and more) in His Word … the Bible.
REMEMBER … you’re not alone in Motherhood … you can count on your Heavenly FATHER to be active in raising your children with you.
Just give Him the opportunity to be your parenting partner.
STAND – PRAYER
NOTE: A Mother’s Day Card was distributed in the bulletin with all the Scripture references listed in the message.
