[0:00] Greetings to all of you and good morning and happy Mother's Day. I've been really blessed this morning already to be here and just worshiping together.
[0:16] It's about Mother's Day here right from the start.
[0:36] Does anybody know where that started as a holiday or as something that a country or the world acknowledges as Mother's Day? Does anybody know the name of the lady that was behind that?
[0:56] I didn't either. I looked it up. I remember Brother Manny used to tell us that at Mother's Day. And by the way, speaking of Manny, he gave an update the other day.
[1:11] He has cancer in some of his organs now, so he's asking for prayer. Well, now I might have lost it.
[1:25] It doesn't really matter, does it? But I just thought it was interesting. Her name was Annie something.
[1:45] And last name was Jarvis. Anna Jarvis. Anyway, it was in West Virginia, Grafton, West Virginia in 1908, that it was that she went to her mother's grave.
[2:08] And she just had such a heart for mothers, I guess. And it was President Woodrow Wilson that proclaimed it a national holiday. It started in the U.S.
[2:19] And then Mother's Day quickly spread worldwide into other countries. And they embraced it as a holiday as well.
[2:29] So I just thought that was interesting from an earthly standpoint, how that one lady pushed for it and it finally became a national holiday.
[2:41] And here we are celebrating Mother's Day every May, right? But long before that, excuse me, might need a drink of water, somebody could get me one.
[2:55] But long before that, it was mothers were celebrated. It didn't just start in 1908 or, you know, in the last century.
[3:14] So I'd like to share some thoughts here, message here to the mothers mainly, young ladies and mothers. I was traveling yesterday.
[3:27] Some, I told my wife, what should I preach? And I don't think she minds me saying this. But I was wanting to just have an encouraging message and just to bless the mothers and be encouraging and uplifting.
[3:46] And she said, but we need to be challenged too. So often we, especially on Mother's Day, you don't really, I don't feel like challenging you about anything really, but rather just to bless you.
[3:59] And thank you. And if there are any challenges, hopefully those will bless you. So we'll look at it that way. It's not to preach down on you in any way.
[4:11] But I would like to go through Proverbs 31, at least for part of the, the main part of the Scripture maybe, the verse on the board.
[4:26] Favor is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her the fruit of her hands and let her own works be praised in the gates.
[4:39] So it's okay to honor the women, the mothers, on Mother's Day and every day really. But it says the fruit of her hands and let her own works be praised.
[4:55] But favor is deceitful. We know what vanity can do and much favor and so on, but, and that beauty is vain.
[5:06] But a woman that fears the Lord, that really caught my eye this morning. a woman that fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
[5:21] You know, this whole thing is God's idea of motherhood. You know, God could have had a different plan than having mothers for people to be multiplied in the earth, but that's the route he chose and that's what he chose and I had to think this morning as we were singing, you know, he even, he even decided to come to earth.
[5:46] How? Through a mother. And the angel said, and all nations will call you blessed. Motherhood to God is very important and it's a great deal to him.
[6:04] In fact, what an expression. It's almost like, you know, God, he created man and he created the earth and all that's in it and then he created woman and she became a mother.
[6:22] And I had to think, what an expression of God's love through mothers. a mother with a little child, you know, she cares for that little child.
[6:33] Like, you don't get between a mother and her cub in the wild. A little bit that way in the human race. But a mother is very protective of her little child and as that child grows and as, even when he or she is an adult, she still prays for that child.
[6:54] Right? There is such a picture of Christ's love to humanity if you just look at mothers and how they care for their children.
[7:11] The Bible says in Proverbs chapter 31 verse 10 the title is simply The Virtuous Woman.
[7:22] But it says in verse 10 who can find a virtuous woman for her price is far above rubies.
[7:33] Far above those precious stones and valuable you know, you might say gold or silver or rubies or you know, those but the proverb writer here, he chose rubies.
[7:48] the heart of her husband does safely trust in her so that he shall have no need of spoil. And I want to read that in the Amplified.
[8:00] It says the heart of her husband trusts in her with secure confidence and he will have no lack of gain.
[8:14] And what is he saying here? I believe that the main thrust here is that she can be trusted in all areas. And that's why I mean her husband just trusts in her.
[8:26] And specifically her husband can get ahead in life if he chooses to obviously. But the wife that he's trusting in, there's no hindrance of moving ahead spiritually perhaps, financially, whatever.
[8:44] There's no hindrance there. Verse 12, she will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. Wow.
[8:58] And then the Amplified, she comforts and encourages and does him only good and not evil all the days of her life. I like how they added she comforts and encourages.
[9:10] You know, this chapter is kind of a high standard. But let it bless you however God chooses.
[9:24] Motherhood is great. It's perhaps one of the greatest honors on earth is to be a mother. And yet it's also a great challenge.
[9:36] It's also a great challenge. I mean, what can I say other than just the Bible, the Word of God? She seeketh wool and flax, worketh willingly with her hands.
[9:49] She's a, yeah, I just added, she's a hard worker in other words. She is like the merchant's ships. She bringeth her food from afar. You know, and I'm preaching here to the mothers, but a lot of this also would apply to the man.
[10:09] And we do preach to us men, don't we? I have one verse for us men then as well. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth food, meat to her, household, and a portion to her maidens.
[10:33] How many times does a mother arise at night, especially when her children are young, when there's babies, when there's, right, it's just a given, and sometimes us husbands do well to take note, to bless, to be respectful, to help, not just push it all on her, but I wasn't going to preach to the husbands, but it's hard not to.
[11:09] But, yeah, we know that the mother gets up many times at night, early in the morning. This is talking also about early in the morning, hard working, taking care of matters.
[11:30] And it's okay to be tired. It's okay to be in need of rest, talking to the mothers here. But, according to this chapter, it's not okay to be lazy.
[11:44] And to, it's not okay to not do your duties, or make sure things are taken care of. Life can be very demanding. And taking care of your home and family is a lot of work.
[11:59] That's why I think us husbands need to be sensitive and careful and helpful, however we can be. But doing these things as unto the Lord ends up in a joyful work.
[12:18] You know, and sometimes there's physical problems. There's sometimes, I think of my nephew's wife that is in a wheelchair and she has young children. And there's times when a lady can't do much physical work.
[12:34] And hopefully in that case she has a caring husband that will step in, and maybe even children as they grow, that will step in and help their mom.
[12:45] But a capable, healthy woman has a lot of work to get done daily around her house. And if her house is to be in order, and if her husband is to trust in her.
[12:57] Is that fair? I mean, that's what I believe these verses are saying, that she's diligent. And I believe you ladies here are that.
[13:09] And we appreciate that. We see that here in our church. You see the hard work and the things. You know, we have fellowship meals pretty often, and we never come worried that there's not food, or that the food isn't good, or that there's not enough, or that we're not taken care of.
[13:29] It's just kind of an automatic, isn't it? So you all do these things. Verse 16, She considereth a field, and buyeth it. With the fruit of her hands, she planteth a vineyard, I love these verses, and just to go down through and just take some and break them down a little bit.
[13:51] You know, I don't know what all this is, you know, what you can read into this, but I take it as this verse here, she considereth something that she's going to buy. And she's looking for a good deal.
[14:05] I mean, who doesn't have a wife here, you know, that's married, of course. But what wife here doesn't watch for bargains? You know, maybe that's why ladies like thrift stores, and they like garage sales, and they, you know, us men are like, please, let's just go to Lowe's and get what we need.
[14:27] But the lady, no, she's looking for that bargain. She considers the need and the value, and then she buys it for a good price. It's the difference maybe between us men and the ladies, and maybe some of you men like thrift stores, but my, I love it that my wife is one of her favorite stores, and it's amazing the kind of deal she can find.
[14:54] It's amazing. Good quality for good prices. I think that verse applies. She considers, she girdeth her loins with strength and strengthens her arms.
[15:05] She perceives that her merchandise is good. Her candle goeth not out by night. Wow.
[15:18] She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the staff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor.
[15:29] Yea, she reacheth forth her hand to the needy. Now, how does she still have time for other people? How does she have time to reach her hand out to those around you, you know, outside of her family, the poor?
[15:50] Those that are blessed less, or have, yeah, those that are in need. And I believe that while a wife and a mother cannot fulfill all the needs around you, it's not possible for you to fulfill all the needs that we see, that you see.
[16:13] A virtuous woman sees the needs as God shows it to her, and she simply does what she can instead of turning a blind eye to the needs. needs.
[16:24] Sometimes maybe she'll tell her husband, I see a need, you know, or she has a caring heart, in other words. Isn't that amazing?
[16:37] After all that a mother does, she still sees needs of others, you know, like making a meal for somebody, or, you know, that's not even part of your home.
[16:48] Not even, that's amazing. It's an amazing thing, and you all do those things. She is not afraid of the snow of her household.
[17:00] I'm sorry. She's not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet. Believe that verse is simply saying that even in the cold, there's no worry.
[17:15] She'll make sure you have something warm to wear. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry. Her clothing is silk and purple.
[17:29] He sounds like an extremely busy person. Who can even live up to this standard? Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
[17:43] Wow. We'll keep reading here. I want to just inject that here in a little bit maybe. We're just going to open it up for some of you all to bless your mothers.
[17:55] We might do that a few times here throughout the message. So be prepared to give a blessing or an encouragement. This is a lot of things.
[18:09] Do we take for granted our mothers? Do we sometimes? I feel like growing up, I heard very little teaching about this, and I feel like I neglected my mom, growing up especially, until we became parents.
[18:30] I was like, wow, did my mom do all those things for me? Did I ever stop and thank her? You all have an opportunity here today to do that. for husband is known at the gates when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
[18:50] There's a reason he put that verse in there. You know, depending on you, the wife, what your life is like makes a difference on how your husband is known.
[19:09] she maketh fine linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honor are her clothing, and she shall rejoice in time to come.
[19:25] May you be closed with strength and honor. She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
[19:37] She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. I want to just, I don't have this in my notes, but that verse 26, where she openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
[19:56] And I just want to encourage the mothers in this thing of teaching, teaching the younger, teaching your children.
[20:07] Don't let that grow old. Brother Dan mentioned the one that rocks the cradle. But to teach, you have such an opportunity to teach.
[20:20] You have a short opportunity. These little ones, these little infants don't stay little very long, do they? They grow so fast.
[20:32] And then they keep growing, and then they're gone. And, you know, from your house. We have such a short time, and I believe that mothers have perhaps the greater opportunity to teach and to influence little children.
[20:53] Perhaps the greatest one is the mother. Yes, we play a role in that. We obviously do. We have a huge responsibility, and that is fathers as well.
[21:09] But there's supposed to be wisdom, and let's see, what did that verse say? Wisdom with her mouth, and that in her tongue is the law of kindness.
[21:24] It's amazing. To teach your children the things of God, and it can start when they're one years old, even before that.
[21:37] It can start so young. It's amazing what a little two-year-old can begin to understand, and the words that come out of a two-year-old's mouth, whether it's a song, or a Bible verse, or just a phrase, or something about God that's being instilled in that little child.
[22:01] God bless mothers that do that, that take the time to do that. God will honor that.
[22:14] Verse 27 said that she looks well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. I wanted to mention, too, that, you know, the rest of us.
[22:27] How does this apply to young ladies and young men? You know, or doesn't it? I think that you young ladies want to be like this.
[22:46] You want to be a Proverbs 31 woman. As much as you can be. And I think we'll get to that a little bit later. But that last verse, she eateth not the bread of idleness, I'm not sure what the writer had in mind there totally, but I do believe that what the Bible says about a virtuous woman and what she is and what she does.
[23:18] Idleness is not an option. In other words, just wasting time. Now, I want to clarify that or comment on it at least.
[23:33] But, let me just finish the thought. Wasting time on social media is perhaps one of the biggest time wasters. And, I'm not exclusively saying that to you ladies.
[23:50] I'm saying that to all of us. But, here's the question. Is your husband known at the gates by your works, like these verses?
[24:05] Or, is he known by the way you keep your posts and your likes? can we challenge you with that?
[24:18] Oh, yeah, that's so-and-so's wife. Yeah, she posts this stuff. Or, are you known by how you keep your house and how you treat your family, how you serve your husband?
[24:35] Is that how we're known? Or, is it by what we put out for others to see that is so easy to do nowadays? Back when this was written, that didn't exist. That wasn't an option.
[24:49] But, anyway, those can be some real-time wasters. And, you know, we're not saying, when I say idleness, and I know that word's in here, but we're not saying that you can't be set time aside and relax and rest.
[25:05] And you have to. You need to take care of yourself. We recognize that. God recognizes that. But anything that hinders you from serving your husband or for being virtuous in what we're talking about, the things that hinder, that's what we're talking about, those idle things.
[25:27] If it keeps you from doing what God's will is for you, then maybe there's some changes that need to be made. there's a favorite verse in this chapter.
[25:42] Here's an encouraging one. Verse 28, her children arise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praiseth her.
[25:54] We'll turn that over to us, do we? Do we praise our wives enough, our moms enough? Excuse me.
[26:08] Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Our children, you know, our children go through stages sometimes when they're young or, you know, young adults.
[26:28] But as they grow, and I think this behooves us husbands to maybe not, maybe demand is too strong a word, but to teach our little children to respect their mom, to respect her space, her house, her kitchen, her, you know, just to show respect and to talk respectfully.
[26:57] In fact, disrespectfully should just simply not be allowed. And how, what was my thought?
[27:09] Oh, as far as, what blesses me then is to see young men, especially, and also ladies, young ladies, but in the home to bless their mom.
[27:22] I know my sons, all three of them bless their mom. I think quite frequently Ellie would say. And that's such a blessing. To just go and bless her for what all she's done for them.
[27:35] She deserves that. You know, I don't know if demanding is too strong from a father, but I think that God is glorified in that.
[27:49] Because this verse says, her children will rise up and call her blessed. Blessed. may that be a vision for those of you that have young children.
[28:00] That my children are going to bless my wife. They're going to grow up and they're going to be blessing her for all this work that she's doing for them. I want them to realize those things.
[28:16] Many daughters have done virtuously, but you are above them all. Okay, verse 30. Favor and deceit and beauty is vain. But a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
[28:35] There's so much that could be said in this verse. As at least one of her key verses today. Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her own works be praised in the gates.
[28:59] Proverbs 31 is a high standard. And maybe you feel kind of like how do you ever get to that?
[29:14] Well, just a little bit at a time. Maybe. don't feel overwhelmed. I don't want this to be an overwhelming message, but rather an encouraging one.
[29:29] In Titus, we want to look at a few New Testament scriptures as well. In Titus 2, chapter 3, we're going to just read a few verses and then maybe look at a few words that I looked up.
[29:45] And in the meanwhile, while we turn to that or whatever, who would like to share something about your mother? It says, those last verses say, that her children will rise up and call her blessed.
[29:58] Who wants to just bless your mom? Like now? Merlin? Yeah, we can pass the mic. I think maybe Joe's are watching. check.
[30:26] There we go. I was challenged already very much. I know I didn't respect or bless my mom as much as I should have growing up.
[30:37] There was a lot of regret in that area. I just want to thank you for being my mother. I know that you cared for me and taught me a lot of things.
[30:52] Could talk about it for a long time. Thank you and appreciate you. Anyone else? We'll take a little time.
[31:08] Yeah, I want my mom to be able to see me. I want to see her. Yeah, I just want to share that I'm very blessed to have you as a mother. I was just thinking this morning that my mom has taught me a lot of things, a lot of good things.
[31:23] First of all, I just want to thank you for all the times that when I went to work, you always made my lunch and stuff the night before and made sure that I was taken care of. We talked a little bit about that the other night. She still does that for Justin.
[31:36] I just want to bless you with that. I just never had to worry. I didn't have to ask, hey, is there going to be lunch tomorrow? I just knew there would. Also, all the clothes that have been washed, it was over 20 years she did that for me.
[31:48] I just want to thank you for that. Anyway, this morning I was just thinking about something that you taught me that I appreciate the most.
[32:00] I just remember one time I was probably 10 or 12, I don't remember, somewhere in there. We were working outside in our garden. I think she was working on strawberries and I just remember I was picking rocks.
[32:14] I hated that job. Anyway, I was doing that and I remember looking up and seeing my mom. Everything she does inside takes care of all the stuff in the house and she was outside working.
[32:26] and I just remember seeing her stand up all beat up physically working and I just remember thinking that wow, I just was blessed with that.
[32:38] This morning that memory just became very real to me and I just appreciate that. I think that's the number one thing that I'm thankful for that you taught me is good work ethic and working hard and I just appreciate that.
[32:52] I just bless you for that. and I also want to bless my wife. My children are pretty young and there's a lot of things that stand out to me about my wife but the number one thing is that she does not allow circumstances to determine how she treats her children and I just really appreciate that especially when I'm maybe not lovable or if I'm having a bad day.
[33:16] She still takes care of the family and the children so I just want to bless you for that. Do one more at this time.
[33:33] Who else? Tim? Tim? Yeah.
[33:46] I know growing up I didn't this was this wasn't talked about and I didn't respect mom as much as I should have and yeah but I really appreciate you and all that you do for us and always make sure our lunches are packed and everything's taken care of.
[34:09] Wash your clothes and yeah you just do so many things for us and so thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Tim.
[34:23] There's many of you right? So that's very special. Amen. I want to look at a few verses here in Titus.
[34:36] The aged women likewise that they be in behavior as becometh holiness not false accusers not given to much wine teachers of good things there's that word teachers again that they may teach the young women to be sober to love their husbands to love their children.
[34:57] I'm glad they didn't Titus or yeah see who wrote this Paul wrote this to Titus I believe. He didn't put an age in there he just said the aged women the older women.
[35:10] you know are you older than somebody else? I'm not sure what the age is but to be teachers and to teach the younger ones those that are younger than you to love their husbands to love their children to be discreet chaste keepers at home good obedient to their own husbands that the word of God be not blasphemed.
[35:39] You know there's none of you here this morning that none of us want the word of God to be blasphemed. But according to this verse it could happen very easily.
[35:51] I want to look at a few of these words. What does it mean to be discreet? And I like I always go to Noah Webster's dictionary first.
[36:04] But the word discreet means prudent wise in avoiding errors or evil. So you're careful to avoid errors or evil.
[36:19] And in selecting the best means to accomplish a purpose circumspect cautious wary not rash. You don't just quickly do something carelessly like but no you think it through in other words.
[36:37] That's what that word discreet prudent wise avoiding errors. I just looked that up I thought wow I need to be more discreet. I need to I need that word.
[36:49] You know not not just I know we're preaching to the ladies but it's for all of us. Let's look at the next word chaste. What does the word chaste mean? In language pure genuine uncorrupt free from barbarous words and phrases and from quaint effected extravagant expressions.
[37:17] Wow. quaint extravagant expressions but pure uncorrupt genuine and I want to talk to the young ladies for a minute.
[37:36] I know there's not many of you here but Mother's Day involves you even if you're not yet a mother or not even married.
[37:50] But these are qualities that a godly young man is looking for and if you want a godly man for a husband someday you will want and need these qualities and if you ignore these things now it is very unlikely that a godly man will be looking for you.
[38:22] It will only bring a man of similar character and caliber. Like as you so will he be unless God intervenes and blesses you with a godly husband anyway.
[38:37] But I just want to encourage you that these things that we're talking about to really get a hold of that if you haven't already. I think some of you older ones that I know have.
[38:48] You are godly. You are these things. But I want to encourage you that if you are not these things or if you're questioning these things that you just really put your heart to them because that will also determine the kind of man that will come looking for you.
[39:12] The kind of man that you want. Because he's looking for these virtues, right? We're looking for this. I mean us that are Christians and godly now.
[39:25] If you're just a worldly young man then you won't care. You won't go for these things. And I want to share this.
[39:36] Something that bothered me in the past. Maybe I'm running ahead of myself there. Well, no, I'll share this.
[39:47] So, something that has bothered me in the past was when a woman or a wife of another man steps out of her place.
[40:08] I'm missing a verse. Let me look here for a minute. Something got a little messed up.
[40:22] Our printer still isn't working. So, I have to do it this way. I'm just going to read a few verses first in 1 Peter and then I'll share what I was going to share.
[40:39] 1 Peter chapter 3 and I'll read it in the Amplified in verse 1. It says, in the same way you wives be submissive to your own husbands, subordinate not as inferior, but out of respect for the responsibilities entrusted to your husbands and their accountability to God and so partnering with them.
[41:05] I'm trying to remember how the King James words it, but this gives much more detail. So that if some do not obey the word of God, that they may be won over to Christ without discussion by the godly lives of their wives.
[41:24] Verse 2, when they see your modest and respectful behavior, together with your devotion and appreciation, love your husband, encourage him, and enjoy him as a blessing from God.
[41:37] Your adornment must not be merely external with interweaving and elaborate knotting of the hair, I think the King James says, braided maybe, and wearing of gold jewelry, or being superficially preoccupied with dressing in expensive clothes, but let it be the inner beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit.
[42:15] King James says a quiet spirit, a meek and quiet spirit, one that is calm and self-controlled, not overanxious, but serenely and spiritually mature, which is very precious in the sight of God.
[42:35] For in this way, in former times, the holy women who hoped in God, all used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands and adapting themselves to them.
[42:47] And it goes on to say how Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him Lord and so on. And then it says that you, if you want to be the daughters of Abraham and so on.
[43:05] And what I wanted to share is just this thing of, you know, it's not wrong to talk to other people, other couples especially, or even men in certain situations, but a number of years ago, a lady right in front of her husband wanted to meet us.
[43:31] She was telling me, I believe, how she believes, knowing that I agree with her, knowing that, and it was a doctrinal issue, that her and her husband were in disagreement.
[43:46] It had to do with baptism. And it was really awkward because, yeah, I agree with her, but I probably, if I'd have had time to think a little more, I'd have probably responded different too.
[43:59] But anyway, I think that's what these verses are saying, or at least this one verse about, you know, even if they didn't quite see it the same, you know, don't use another man to prove your point to your husband.
[44:13] That's what was going on, which I felt was very disrespectful. And it definitely didn't help their marriage. Okay.
[44:27] Now, there are times, and I have it here somewhere, there are times when it's difficult, and it becomes complicated.
[44:48] We recognize that. When a husband is not walking in the fear of God, or he's not being obedient to God, and here we are saying, the woman obeyed the husband, and that becomes complicated.
[45:02] But I believe that you respect and honor him, where you can, and even if he doesn't deserve it. I believe God will reward a woman like that.
[45:15] So I read this in Peter, and then we'll go to, yes, that one statement there in verse 4 where it says about the hidden woman, or the hidden person of the heart.
[45:36] It's imperishable. I like that. Imperishable. These other outward things perish, and often they're vain.
[45:47] But that quality that is gentle, it's peaceful, is very precious in the sight of God. Don't ever underestimate that preciousness, and that example.
[46:00] people. I see what's happened here in this screen is there's duplicates.
[46:14] All of a sudden, there's another paragraph, so just bear with me as I read through here a little bit. Sometimes our thoughts are that way, but we don't expect our computers to be that way.
[46:29] One verse to the husbands here in verse 7. We were done there in Peter with what was said to the ladies, but now I added one verse just to kind of get back at the husbands a little bit.
[46:47] In the same way you husbands live with your wives in an understanding way, and great gentleness and tact, and with an intelligent regard for the marriage relationship as with someone physically weaker since she is a woman.
[47:08] I believe King James says, as a weaker vessel, but it's talking about, I believe too, about physically. Show her honor and respect as a fellow heir of the grace of life so that your prayers will not be hindered or ineffective.
[47:31] And the fear of the Lord. One of the things I want to end with is just the importance in all of this, in all of these things, to have a relationship with Jesus and to know Jesus personally and to walk with Him, to know His heart and to know His desire for you as a wife, as a mother.
[48:04] life can be very hard and is sometimes often unfair in this life. But knowing Jesus and having a personal relationship with Him is the answer to get you through.
[48:22] In fact, through anything that you face. Life brings so many changes and sometimes even deep heartache and discouragement.
[48:34] Loss. There's so many things that are difficult. But when we fear the Lord and we trust Him, where all your trust is on Him, knowing His righteousness, His holiness, and to know His grace, to have His grace upon your life, will give you the strength that you need.
[48:59] being a mother is one of the highest callings on earth. And to fulfill this calling.
[49:29] to fulfill this calling in the Lord requires so much strength.
[49:48] And you need more strength than what you can come up with yourself. As Paul said, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
[50:03] He is my helper in time of need. My strength when I am weak. Do you as a Christian cry out to Him?
[50:19] As one that knows your Lord and your Savior, cry out to Him when things become difficult in relationships or whatever it is, physical.
[50:40] In other words, we just need Jesus to know Him. These things are not possible without Him.
[50:51] this virtue is not possible without Him. It's just good sounding stuff, but it won't happen without Christ as your Lord.
[51:09] We cry out for Him for strength, for courage, for comfort, for anything you need. It's all through Him and it's all for Him. Remember that.
[51:24] It's through Him and it's for Him. It is to bring glory to God.
[51:38] And I think that's why motherhood is being so oppressed and mocked by the world. True, godly motherhood is actually mocked by our world.
[51:51] The world never wants to bring glory to God. The enemy, the devil, never wants to see glory go to God. And so what does he do?
[52:02] He tries to destroy the whole thought of motherhood and make women something they were never created to be. That's not in my notes, but isn't that how it is?
[52:14] to make women just a career person. And marriage is just optional.
[52:27] Motherhood is meh, kind of like that. That's the world. God calls it precious. is. It's very dear to his heart.
[52:49] Let's not allow the worldly ideas and their evil rudiments influence us, but rather let's be separated and holy unto God by knowing him and trusting in his word.
[53:02] I can't think of a more glorious thing on earth than a woman that's sold out for Jesus. A mother especially.
[53:16] But any woman, really, that's sold out for the Lord Jesus. The power and the influence that that has in Christ's church is unmatched.
[53:30] you know the opposite is also true. The destruction and the devastation that comes, the blasphemy to God's word when the virtuous woman is missing and it's just a woman.
[53:46] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. May God grant us in his church today many virtuous women.
[54:10] Women that love their husbands, women that love Jesus more than anything. All praise to him, our creator.
[54:24] We want to pray for your mothers today. and ask, will you commit to being that woman? Committing all of the things that God cares about, committing it all to him.
[54:49] God cares for you spiritually and he is all you need. He provides everything that we need. We honor you moms today and we praise you for your godly example.
[55:04] Never, ever underestimate your example. I know we only praise the Lord, but it says she shall be praised.
[55:19] Not as you're the Lord, but for who you are and for what you are. who's next? We'll continue.
[55:31] We'll continue. I was just challenged here today too with that.
[55:41] I just want to bless my wife for the mother she's been to, LaRose, and her passion for God and for the future.
[55:53] And for the future of our children. And just to see her commit to God and trusting God in times when she couldn't, for it was hard and dark.
[56:08] I'm honored to be with a woman that I've seen God change and do a great work in. So I just want to praise her for that this morning and all that she puts into our marriage and her everyday commitments to taking care of us.
[56:26] Also just was challenged with my mom and the things I could have done differently. I know she's not here, but yeah, I just, I could have respected her more in many areas and all the things that she did for me and yeah, just bless her this morning.
[56:50] And if we could just pray for her salvation, I would appreciate that. Thank you. Yeah, I just want to thank my mom for everything that she does for me.
[57:05] Like Tony said, still packing lunches and I tell her that I can do it, but she's like, no, you're not going to do it. Probably just buy gas station stuff. But yeah, I just want to thank her and bless her.
[57:18] Something that she did that stands out to me a lot is whenever I come home or if I have a day off and I'm looking for her, I can't ever find her barely, but she's either in the kitchen or the garden or she's in by her desk and studying the Bible.
[57:33] And that's something that really stands out to me with her. She's always studying the word and yeah. And so the saying I heard was that to the world you're a mom, but to your children your mom is the world.
[57:53] And growing up that's especially how it was for me. I mean, just every little question that she answered that we can't remember, but that formed where we are today more than we know.
[58:04] And so I just want to thank her and bless her for that. I don't know if we have time for everybody, but I think we do.
[58:18] There's more. I'm sure there's plenty of you. Just pass it around. Rhonda. I just want to thank my mom for being the best mom ever to me, I guess.
[58:32] And for the godly example she is to us, for all that she does for us and the blessing she is to me. And I just want to thank her for her love and for everything that she does and what she means to us.
[58:51] So love you, mom. It was a blessing to be here.
[59:10] A challenge as well. Just going through the chapter in Proverbs that we did about a virtuous woman. And I don't know if my mom is listening in or not, but I'm sure there's plenty of things that I could have done different.
[59:25] A lot of things that I took for granted. All the hard work that she put into our lives and the care that she gave us. And we just always knew that she would be there.
[59:36] Not really thinking as much what if she wasn't there, how this would be if we didn't have a mother or a mother that didn't care and was just centered around her own needs.
[59:48] So mom, if you're listening, I just want to bless you and thank you for everything you've done for us. And I want to bless my wife too for being the wife that she is and for letting herself be changed from what she was and what I was into what God has been doing in our life.
[60:08] And I just want to bless her for that and also for everything she does for our children. The work that she puts into our marriage and the care and the love and getting clothes for us and making food.
[60:23] I know there's a lot that goes into a man's life and working for the family, but there's also a lot that a woman does. It's almost like the unseen work that nobody really can take for granted really easy.
[60:38] So I just want to bless her for that and for all the work that they do and put into our lives. Thank you. Amen. I like that.
[60:49] On the scene work. Those things behind the scenes that just happen, right? I just want to thank my mom for being a great mom and being a great example.
[61:05] And every morning we get up, most of the time she has the breakfast ready, but I think I should help more a little bit on that. And when we come home from work, she always has supper ready and the house is clean and everything.
[61:20] Just thank her and I love you, mom. Yeah, I just want to say thank you so much for being a mom, not just because I'm your child, you're my mom, but you're being a very good mom.
[61:34] thank you so much. Thank you so much. Yeah, thanks mom.
[61:49] You're definitely the world's best mom, but if we ever come home from work, pretty much every time you come in a little stiff from the ride home, two hours, and she'll look at you, are you okay, you're limping?
[62:01] I'm like, no, I'm just, I'm stiff mom, it's good, we're all good here, but yeah, she won't ever let us leave the house in the morning without breakfast, even if we try to get up and sneak out without her.
[62:14] No, she still wakes up and dying. I'll make eggs, I make eggs, and then we have eggs, but yeah, thanks mom, you're the best. Yeah, just thank you for everything you do, love you, and I really appreciate it.
[62:37] Thank you. Yeah, amen, I want to bless my wife here and for her care and all her, as some of the other guys have said, it's just, think about all the work and what it takes to keep a home together, I appreciate that, and two, of course my mother's not here, you know, it's been long, but I have memories, and one memory I think of, you know, when you're little, you fall down, you scrape yourself, who was there to bandage up?
[63:08] It was, and if I went away to, maybe aunt and uncle's place, well, it was an aunt, you went to the mother there in that home to get that taken care of, that was just where you went as a little child, so I appreciate the little things that they take care of.
[63:30] Yeah, I just want to just thank my mom for everything she does for me and our family, just getting the food ready and packing our lunches for work, making sure we know what all food we have in our lunch boxes, because we sometimes don't see it, forget about it, and yeah, she, yeah, just a really good mom, cleans the house, even just, I guess, helping us with our work some too, whenever we go out and build sheds, she tries to remind us of things that we might forget or make sure we have all our tools and stuff like that, so yeah, just thank you for that, mom, and I love you.
[64:29] They're all unique. Yeah, I just, sorry. I want to bless my mom for her example of selflessness.
[64:42] It always stood out to me, how she was always so selfless and always there for me and still is. If I'm making supper and I need something, I can just call and she'll sit down whatever I miss.
[64:59] Yeah. I love you and appreciate you. Yeah, the reason that mom always reminds us to check our lists and make sure we all have our stuff is because she's the one that brings it out sometimes when we forget it, so that is nice.
[65:22] But no, I really appreciate you, mom, and just I know as there's many things, people are here often mentioning lunches, and that's true.
[65:34] Nobody wants to pack lunch at night and the night before and it's just, I usually don't, so sometimes I do, but most of the time not, so I really appreciate that and all the other things to do.
[65:47] I know as I get older, children usually get more opinionated and we clash at times and different things, but I do really love you and respect you.
[65:59] Yeah, so thank you for being mom. Just for being mom, right. Yeah, just last couple days I was thinking about Mother's Day coming out and it brings back, I'm just sitting here, I've been reminded really about Mother as well.
[66:31] My mother isn't here anymore, but just been through the years and through the tears it's been a lot of regret growing up, you know, there's things that could have done better, but it's been about, I think it's been about 15 years ago now that mom isn't here anymore.
[66:52] but she's just like, yeah, just like it was mentioned, we was poor growing up, but we never went to bed hungry.
[67:10] It was, she always had food there no matter what. I think they used to bake a lot more, just it's just, I don't know, it's just a change of time, I guess, but she would bake, I don't know if we would ever buy bread, but she would stand there for many, many hours baking bread and that was one of her main, you know, on the table.
[67:38] But, yeah, it's just appreciate that and the things that she has done, I hope that God blesses her and everything, but as we got married here, I appreciate my wife, just thinking back over that, them times, we was, as farmers trying to make ends meet, we would, if we'd have an opportunity between crops, we'd go work, do construction work with a buggy, of course, and we would get home late at times, and a lot of times she would have the cows, milk, the chores, and I just, you know, at that time you just kind of, you we wasn't really raised up the way we was, wasn't really taught about Mother's Day much, but thinking back, that was, I really appreciate that for all that she did, and now it's, you know, it's still the same, it's, seems like she's all right in the house, there's a lot of things that goes that if Ma wouldn't be there, my wife, it'd be a big empty spot, she's still, she's always planning and, you know, as far as having enough food around, what are the garden, when's the garden going to be ready, what can we plan, and when it, you know, and so there's always that, always preparing for enough food for the family and the children, and I don't see much, but once, you know, it's still a lot, and it goes into that, raising a garden, taking care of it, and yeah, so, yes,
[69:20] I love you, and thanks for all you do. Amen. Yeah, I want to thank you, Mom, too, for just being a mom, and even now she's, well, oftentimes send some food over or something and ask if there's anything we need or whatever.
[69:45] I just have a, there's a recipe for a Christian mom, I'd like to read that. It says, one cup of unconditional love, a half cup of daily prayer, one heaping tablespoon of patience, two teaspoons of wisdom, a pinch of humor, three cups of grace, one gallon of faith, a sprinkle of joy, and endless devotion, and mom has certainly been that and more, so thank you so much, I love you.
[70:20] Yeah, I really appreciate this time we have to share about our mothers, and we wouldn't get far in life without them, would we? We wouldn't even come here.
[70:31] there's that. Anyways, I think of it back when I was five years old, and my mother taught me to, I had to help wash the dishes, and I hated it, I think.
[70:46] So that's what the girls are for. But, no, I come to appreciate that I had to help wash the dishes, and I had to sweep the floor. Of course, that was hard to teach a little five- or six-year-old.
[70:58] Somewhere in there, I think so. And now I'm glad she taught me those things, because they come in handy. Yeah, I really appreciate my mom, and just, there's all the things that we take for granted, and we just expect them to do it, and to hold up their end of whatever.
[71:21] And, yeah, you mean a lot to us, and I just appreciate your heart for following Christ, and to go there when we have, when we face things, and that's where I see you, is taking your troubles to the Lord.
[71:35] Yeah, I just want to bless you. Love you. Amen.
[71:46] I think, I want to read something here, just a song that my wife picked and spoke to me. I want to just read a verse or two of that yet, and then I'm going to sit down and have Dan come up and close.
[72:01] And then we also still want to pray for James, for his health. I know it sounds like maybe getting better, we hope, but it's been quite a struggle and poison he got from those bites over in Africa.
[72:21] So maybe we'll just gather around him yet to pray. But I just want to leave this yet with you two, the thought of, well I want to bless my wife too.
[72:35] Some of you husbands did, but one thing that she does and that she doesn't enjoy that much, but she does it very happily and willingly, I think, is I like gardening, and she doesn't, but she works hard in her garden, because I like coming home and going and it's therapeutic for me and I like it and someday we'll probably quit gardening, but we're still able to and I just know that she puts so much work in there and I think she actually enjoys it in the end when things start growing, but it's not necessarily her thing and yet she has a beautiful garden, so thank you for allowing me to have my garden.
[73:18] And many, many things could be said, but she's such a blessing to me and our family. Like the woman at the well, I was seeking for things that could not satisfy, and then I heard my Savior speaking, draw from my well that shall never run dry.
[73:42] Fill my cup, Lord, I lift it up, Lord. Come and quench this thirsting of my soul. Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more. Fill my cup, fill it up, and make me whole.
[73:57] And there are millions in this world that are craving the pleasures earthly things afford, but none can match the wondrous treasure that I find in Jesus Christ, my Lord.
[74:09] That's where it's all at, isn't it? That's your connection with Jesus. But Dan, and if there's more that needed, wanted to share that's still open, right?
[74:20] . Thank you.