I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
1 Timothy 1:5
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!
To all our mothers, familial and spiritual,
A Blessed Mother’s Day to You!
Last Sunday may have been the day to commemorate our mothers, but I assure you, in my household – everyday is Mother’s Day.
And I am adamant, as a father, to remind my children daily – that it should be so.
Of the seven times that I have witnessed a child birthed into the world, not once have I ever doubted that the closest human expression of unconditional love is the love of a mother.
For not only does she labor to bring the child into the world - which is really only the beginning, just like stepping up to the starting line of a race - she labors to bring the child through the world; in the daily care, nurture and guidance that every child needs to fulfill Christ’s destiny for his/her life.
We are all results of our mother’s love.
So, if you have not already expressed the gratitude befitting your very life, you ought to be really glad that everyday could be Mother’s Day.
If you can do so in person, thank her this very day. Let her know of your gratitude for her love.
If not, thank God for your mother, without whom it would not be possible for you to be reading this in the first place.
And so, it was with great joy that the mother of my children took to the pulpit to share last Sunday’s Mothers’ Day message entitled, “Stretch Marks”
Remarkably, I tried to convince her that since she shared the message, she should write this week’s devotional material. All she did was look at me in a strange sort of way, and I knew I had to get back to work.
It’s going to sound weird. But here goes… …
Stretch Marks.
Most mothers loathe them.
Most mothers cover them up.
But all mothers have them.
Looking upon Amy’s stretch marks accumulated over the course of bearing our children, I am deeply blessed to have always know that she considers them an outward symbol of her inward faith in Christ.
That since God has seen her through the uncertainties and challenges of bringing our children into the world, she is constantly reminded – through her stretch marks - that He will continue to be faithful and true in granting her the faith to bring them up in the Lord.
Her faith is constantly stretched. And every time it is stretched, it leaves behind a mark; to remind her that God will see her through the next challenge, yet again.
Mothers, the Lord has seen you through before… He will continue to see you through after. Great is His faithfulness!
In every reality, life requires faith in Christ. And this faith comes about when our relationship with Christ is established and deepened through life’s struggles.
The Apostle Paul speaks precisely to this when he addresses Timothy – his true and beloved son in the faith (1 Timothy 1:2, 2 Timothy 2:2). Paul was deeply encouraged by Timothy’s sincere faith in Christ; clearly evident, through his struggles. He further recognized that this ‘sincere faith’ that ‘lives in’ Timothy first “lived in his grandmother Lois and in his mother Eunice.”
From this verse, it becomes clear that sincere faith is true faith, and sincere faith may be imparted to our children.
Mothers, if you have ever wondered what you can possibly give to your children that would exceed your gift of bringing them into the world, it would have to be the gift of sincere faith.
Sincere faith. What is that?
To imbue sincere faith in Christ is to live in absolute confidence and trust in God, through an authentic relationship with Him.
Would you consider your relationship with God to be authentic? Is your relationship with God real?
A relationship is considered authentic when there is communication, understanding, trust and love. Does this describe your relationship with God?
To impart sincere faith is to live loudly this absolute confidence and trust in God - so that our children may see firsthand – what an authentic relationship with God looks like, through our lives.
The imparting of sincere faith will never happen by accident; it has to be by intention.
It is not a one-off event, but a constant and consistent testimony of utter and resolute faith in the living God.
Do you desire to impart sincere faith to your children?
If so, you need to start with yourself.
You must begin by building an authentic relationship with Christ.
You need to develop a life of sincere faith in Christ. It will take effort and time, and it will be more than what you are prepared to give; it usually is.
So, now the question becomes, “will you be willing to pay the price to impart sincere faith to your children?”
How do I do that?
It is exactly like how you would build any relationship – you listen, and talk, observe, and engage; essentially, you share life - together.
In living out a life of sincere faith in Christ, our Lord Jesus becomes fully present to you, and you to Him.
Do you let your children see you worship God?
Do you let your children see you praying?
Do you let your children see you read the bible?
Do you share your struggles with your children, and then commit the struggles to the Lord in prayer, and in faith?
Is your life lived in the assurance of Christ’s promises?
Does the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus? (Ref: Philippians 4:6-7)
Mothers, for all of your love and deeds thus far, understand that your legacy is assured when you live to impart sincere faith in Christ to your children and to all around you.
In this, may sincere faith in Christ live first in you, so that it will live on in your children, and your children’s children.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
For each and every woman You have blessed with the privilege and joy of motherhood, we thank You.
We ask that You would grant our mothers the grace to walk in Your ways and sincere faith that expresses their utter confidence in Christ.
May our mothers resolve to establish an authentic relationship with You.
We would like to remember the mothers amongst us who are discouraged, or facing insurmountable challenges; do remind them O Lord, that they are never alone, for Your rod and staff will comfort them.
Because You are the Lord our Shepherd, they will lack nothing. in fact, You will guide them in the right path for Your Name sake!
Lord, place a hedge of protection around every mother and their children. Surround them with Your godly people.
May it always be known to them that You alone are Jehovah Jireh – the Lord, our Provider; that You alone are Jehovah Rapha – the Lord, our Healer; and that You alone are Jehovah Nissi, the Lord, our Banner.
Increase their faith in You, Lord!
May our mothers’ faith in You be ever so sincere, be ever so true.
When they are hurting, struggling, fighting fear and staving off their deepest anxieties, may they always know that You will never leave nor forsake them.
May all our mothers be filled with the Holy Spirit, as they learn to fully live out the faith, hope, love, joy and peace of Christ, in their endeavors to impart their truest and sincerest faith to their children.
Lord, we thank You for our mothers.
We ask and pray all these in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:5
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!
To all our mothers, familial and spiritual,
A Blessed Mother’s Day to You!
Last Sunday may have been the day to commemorate our mothers, but I assure you, in my household – everyday is Mother’s Day.
And I am adamant, as a father, to remind my children daily – that it should be so.
Of the seven times that I have witnessed a child birthed into the world, not once have I ever doubted that the closest human expression of unconditional love is the love of a mother.
For not only does she labor to bring the child into the world - which is really only the beginning, just like stepping up to the starting line of a race - she labors to bring the child through the world; in the daily care, nurture and guidance that every child needs to fulfill Christ’s destiny for his/her life.
We are all results of our mother’s love.
So, if you have not already expressed the gratitude befitting your very life, you ought to be really glad that everyday could be Mother’s Day.
If you can do so in person, thank her this very day. Let her know of your gratitude for her love.
If not, thank God for your mother, without whom it would not be possible for you to be reading this in the first place.
And so, it was with great joy that the mother of my children took to the pulpit to share last Sunday’s Mothers’ Day message entitled, “Stretch Marks”
Remarkably, I tried to convince her that since she shared the message, she should write this week’s devotional material. All she did was look at me in a strange sort of way, and I knew I had to get back to work.
It’s going to sound weird. But here goes… …
Stretch Marks.
Most mothers loathe them.
Most mothers cover them up.
But all mothers have them.
Looking upon Amy’s stretch marks accumulated over the course of bearing our children, I am deeply blessed to have always know that she considers them an outward symbol of her inward faith in Christ.
That since God has seen her through the uncertainties and challenges of bringing our children into the world, she is constantly reminded – through her stretch marks - that He will continue to be faithful and true in granting her the faith to bring them up in the Lord.
Her faith is constantly stretched. And every time it is stretched, it leaves behind a mark; to remind her that God will see her through the next challenge, yet again.
Mothers, the Lord has seen you through before… He will continue to see you through after. Great is His faithfulness!
In every reality, life requires faith in Christ. And this faith comes about when our relationship with Christ is established and deepened through life’s struggles.
The Apostle Paul speaks precisely to this when he addresses Timothy – his true and beloved son in the faith (1 Timothy 1:2, 2 Timothy 2:2). Paul was deeply encouraged by Timothy’s sincere faith in Christ; clearly evident, through his struggles. He further recognized that this ‘sincere faith’ that ‘lives in’ Timothy first “lived in his grandmother Lois and in his mother Eunice.”
From this verse, it becomes clear that sincere faith is true faith, and sincere faith may be imparted to our children.
Mothers, if you have ever wondered what you can possibly give to your children that would exceed your gift of bringing them into the world, it would have to be the gift of sincere faith.
Sincere faith. What is that?
To imbue sincere faith in Christ is to live in absolute confidence and trust in God, through an authentic relationship with Him.
Would you consider your relationship with God to be authentic? Is your relationship with God real?
A relationship is considered authentic when there is communication, understanding, trust and love. Does this describe your relationship with God?
To impart sincere faith is to live loudly this absolute confidence and trust in God - so that our children may see firsthand – what an authentic relationship with God looks like, through our lives.
The imparting of sincere faith will never happen by accident; it has to be by intention.
It is not a one-off event, but a constant and consistent testimony of utter and resolute faith in the living God.
Do you desire to impart sincere faith to your children?
If so, you need to start with yourself.
You must begin by building an authentic relationship with Christ.
You need to develop a life of sincere faith in Christ. It will take effort and time, and it will be more than what you are prepared to give; it usually is.
So, now the question becomes, “will you be willing to pay the price to impart sincere faith to your children?”
How do I do that?
It is exactly like how you would build any relationship – you listen, and talk, observe, and engage; essentially, you share life - together.
In living out a life of sincere faith in Christ, our Lord Jesus becomes fully present to you, and you to Him.
Do you let your children see you worship God?
Do you let your children see you praying?
Do you let your children see you read the bible?
Do you share your struggles with your children, and then commit the struggles to the Lord in prayer, and in faith?
Is your life lived in the assurance of Christ’s promises?
Does the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus? (Ref: Philippians 4:6-7)
Mothers, for all of your love and deeds thus far, understand that your legacy is assured when you live to impart sincere faith in Christ to your children and to all around you.
In this, may sincere faith in Christ live first in you, so that it will live on in your children, and your children’s children.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
For each and every woman You have blessed with the privilege and joy of motherhood, we thank You.
We ask that You would grant our mothers the grace to walk in Your ways and sincere faith that expresses their utter confidence in Christ.
May our mothers resolve to establish an authentic relationship with You.
We would like to remember the mothers amongst us who are discouraged, or facing insurmountable challenges; do remind them O Lord, that they are never alone, for Your rod and staff will comfort them.
Because You are the Lord our Shepherd, they will lack nothing. in fact, You will guide them in the right path for Your Name sake!
Lord, place a hedge of protection around every mother and their children. Surround them with Your godly people.
May it always be known to them that You alone are Jehovah Jireh – the Lord, our Provider; that You alone are Jehovah Rapha – the Lord, our Healer; and that You alone are Jehovah Nissi, the Lord, our Banner.
Increase their faith in You, Lord!
May our mothers’ faith in You be ever so sincere, be ever so true.
When they are hurting, struggling, fighting fear and staving off their deepest anxieties, may they always know that You will never leave nor forsake them.
May all our mothers be filled with the Holy Spirit, as they learn to fully live out the faith, hope, love, joy and peace of Christ, in their endeavors to impart their truest and sincerest faith to their children.
Lord, we thank You for our mothers.
We ask and pray all these in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.