Ode to Mother’s Day

Abraham Lincoln once said, “All I am I owe to my mother.” I feel that way also. She is beautiful, Spirit-filled, wise, generous, resourceful, kind, and is the most selfless, Godly woman of integrity I know. Her Bible and knees are well worn from daily study  and prayers.

Mother’s Day, though, can also be a struggle for many of us.  Some have beloved Moms who are in heaven. Some struggle with their relationship with their Mom. Some of us want/wanted to be Moms, and it isn’t God’s will for that to be so.  My heart hurts as yours does.

Sometimes our friends’ moms become surrogate mothers to us. One example in the Bible is the apostle Paul’s friend Rufus and his mother.

“Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.” –Romans 16:13

May we be encouraged to seek out a Godly, older lady in our lives who can or currently serves as a mentor. Also look for those single ladies who might deep down ache a little today. Please consider reaching out to them in some way for Mother’s Day. Some Moms are blood-related. Other spiritual moms are related by the blood of Jesus. Happy Mother’s Day, friend.

Reflect:

–How do you plan to honor your Mom for Mother’s Day? Please comment.

Renew:

–“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” –Exodus 20:12 NIV

–“Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopus), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, ‘Dear woman, here is your son.’ And he said to this disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from then on this disciple took her into his home.” –John 19-25-27 NLT

Recharge:

–Which mentor lady in your life will you show appreciation for?

And It Was So

Those four words struck me as I read the familiar passage in Genesis 1 and 2 of the Creation. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Six times during the six days God created everything, He said it, “And it was so.”

“And God said, ‘Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water….’ And it was so.” –Genesis 1:6,7b

From the heavens and earth, to creating land and seas, seed-producing plants and trees, sun, moon, and stars, the animals, and man and woman, God said it into being, “And it was so.”

The same God who spoke the whole world into existence is the same God for you and me today. Isn’t that so refreshing?

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Several times I admit that I doubt God will answer my long-time prayer. I am so wrong to ever have that stinking thinking. He is the same prayer-hearing, miracle-working, life-giving God then as now.

What are you praying for God to breathe life into? Is it your marriage? Is it a new home? Is it a difficult relationship? Is it to bear a child you’ve prayed about for years? Is it to know your life purpose? Is it for a loved one to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior? Whatever it is, friend, may we trust God with it.

And. It. Was. So.

 

Reflect:

How do those four words change your perspective on your current situation?

Renew:

“‘And all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground–everything that has the breath of life in it–I give every green plant for food.’ And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” –Genesis 1:30-31a

“Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: ‘I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?'” –Jeremiah 32:26-27

“This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who form it and established it–the Lord is his name; ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'” –Jeremiah 33:2-3

“There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light…The angel said to me, ‘These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.'” –Revelation 21:5-6

The Sign That Freaked Me Out

It happened last winter. It freaked me out so much I hardly told anyone until months later.

I was going through a “dry-spell” in my faith–going through the motions. I needed a revival inside my soul.

Winter sometimes gets me that way. The long nights and short days at home affect me. Seasonal Affective Disorder “they” call it. SAD is a perfect acronym for it.

The Lord called me to Proverbs 31 Ministries  three and a half years ago. It is a high calling, and one I don’t take for granted. I love where I work and the people with whom I work.

With the rapid way the Lord is growing us,  it makes us desperately dependent on the Lord. I call it “growing pains.” The kind of growing pains that sometimes leave stretchmarks.

We have a God-sized vision to eradicate Biblical poverty–to inspire people to become passionate about Jesus and reading God’s Word. Our mission is to Know the Truth. Live the Truth, and we believe it changes everything.

When people engage with the Lord through the Bible, church, and our Proverbs 31 Ministries resources, we believe they can influence their hearts, homes, communities, cities, and states around them. It’s a huge assignment, sometimes intimidating to ponder and keeps us fully relying on Jesus.

That freaky incident, mentioned above, happened last year.  Our amazing Proverbs 31 Ministries President Lysa TerKeurst was the only female keynote speaker last February at the wonderful Kingdom Advisors Conference in Orlando. More than 1,200 Christian financial advisors attended this conference.

It was holy ground and such an encouragement to attend. Lysa delivered a powerful message on the spiritual continuum of only needing God, trusting God, and wanting God.

Afterward, I went to my hotel room that night totally convicted, crying out to God. I apologized to Him that He was not my sole heart’s desire.  I confessed to God that He is all that I need. All that I trust. All that I want. At that moment, peace came.

The last day of the conference was filled with worshipful sessions, praise and worship. I couldn’t take notes fast enough as I was hopeful about implementing some of these ideas professionally and personally.

When it was time to leave the conference hotel and head to the Orlando airport, a gentleman from Black Cab picked me up. I thought I’d have time to reflect quietly on the 45-minute drive to the airport. He seemed talkative.

“Oh Great,” I thought to myself. I didn’t want to talk. I just wanted to marinate on all that I had learned and experienced. Then doubt set in again.

Questions flooded from within me. “God, why did You choose a women’s ministry like us at Proverbs 31 Ministries to eradicate Biblical poverty”?

“Why us?”

“Why me?”

“Please give me a sign that I am right in the middle of Your will. I need You. I trust You. I want You.”

And then it happened. At that moment, I looked up out of my window. Written in the sky just as clearly as could be, was the word “Trust.” Shocked, I asked the driver, “Why do you think that word is written in the sky”?

The driver replied, “Oh, he’s not finished. Each day the skywriter writes a message. It’s different every day.”

The skywriter started the next word. “J.”

We were getting close the airport.

“E” was formed. Then an “S.” My heart is skipping a beat by this time. No way.

Then the rest of the word. The Name. Absolute shock. Tears formed.  I was speechless.

The driver must have sensed my emotion.

He said, “Today’s message is just for you.”

Teary-eyed I said, “Yes, He knows what we need just when we need it.”

Okay, Okay, I get it.

Yes, Sir, Jesus. I Trust YOU with all that I am.

Friend, if you have doubts, like I sometimes do, please be encouraged that God is with you.  He will reveal Himself to You when you need it most. He is the ultimate Skywriter on our hearts.

“Those who know Your name will trust in You, for you, Lord have never forsaken those who seek You.” –Psalm 9:10.

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. ” –Psalm 20:7-8.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…” –Proverbs 3:5

PS. These are the actual photos I took from my phone as the cabbie was driving.