MOTHERS BEHIND THE MEN

There is a saying, " The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world."  This is you MOM!

Many of our nation's presidents recognized the impact of godly mothers--as evidenced in these quotes. "All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my successes in life to the education I received from her, " George Washington.  "I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me," Abraham Lincoln.  "From my mother I learned the value of prayer, how to have dreams and believe I could make them come true."  Ronald Reagan.  These leaders guided the country through difficult circumstances and attributed their success in part to their mother's teachings.

You may feel this culture has no place for you.  You bring a child into the world and it no longer belongs to you.  It may seem like the state wants to take over and tell you how to raise your child.  But that is not true.  If God has graced you with a child,  he/she is a gift from Him. You have the privilege to raise him/her in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  God has a special plan to bless that child with His glory.  He is with you and will show you the way.

Saint Paul  also recognizes the importance of godly mothers and grandmothers.  His letters to Timothy mention Lois and Eunice who taught Timothy scripture from childhood and modeled sincere faith despite a less than ideal environment (Timothy's father wasn't a Christian.).  Their influence led Timothy to become Paul's traveling companion in spreading the gospel and ultimately a leader in the early church. 2Timothy 1:5

Mom, don't lose heart.  God is on your side. You are raising the next generation of godly leaders.  It is time for the the righteous to rule and let the people rejoice.  Your sons and daughters will make an impact for good or for evil.  Remember who is  rocking the cradle!

LET THE SUNSHINE IN

Do you ever get tired of cold, rainy, cloudy days? It has been like that around here for the last few weeks.  This morning I was complaining to the Lord about His weather, "Lord don't you think enough is enough?  I am getting a little tired of the cold, damp rainy days."  I no sooner spoke those words when a brilliant string of light flashed through my living room window.  It got my attention. "Lord, You don't like my complaining.   Who am I to question Your weather patterns. What about the people who have lost their homes with some much rain. Where is a grateful heart?"

Then this thought came to my mind, "The sun was there all the time, behind the clouds and rainy days.  I didn't need to complain, just wait.  The clouds will pass and the sun will shine again.  I love my mother's saying,  "rain is like liquid sunshine". She was a cheerful person.

The sun continued to intermittently shine between the clouds.  It was a good feeling to know that the sun was again beginning to shine. Wait a minute. " Is this show and tell, Lord ? What are You really trying say.  I get  it."

There are days and seasons in my life when You allow the rain to pour and the clouds to cover the Son, wondering where You are?  How foolish of me. You have been there all the time, right behind the clouds.  The SON is always shining.  You are the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Your  presence  is with me no matter what  circumstances are effecting my life. 

When the trials get long and it feels like it will never end, it is a good feeling to know that the SON is right behind those clouds.  The clouds will lift and I will see the SON again.

The Inheritance- Jonathan David Helser (& Graham Cooke)

 I really wanted to share this with you, especially, because it expresses the deep, faithful love that the Lord has for all mankind. You may be a believer or not a believer, but He still  loves you. He will never change He opinion of you. Seek Him out for yourself.  He is so good and will reveal Himself to you.. God is love and the lover of our souls.

HIDDEN IN CHRIST IN GOD

Colossians 3:3 says, "You have died and your life is hidden in Christ in God." What do you think God is revealing when He says that you have died and your life is hidden in Christ in God? 

Assuming that you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior and that you understand that your old nature in Adam has been crucified in Christ Jesus and buried with Him, I would like to ponder this thought with you.

If you were buried with Him, then you were raised in Him to a newness of life. (Romans 6) You are a new creation, made alive in His resurrection. The Father has placed you in His Son Jesus who is His great delight.

To help you to picture what happened to you when you were born again,  write on a piece of paper your full name and add in Christ Jesus.  Take the piece of paper fold it in half and place it in the middle of your bible. Close the bible, wrap your arms tightly around it and hold it close to your chest.

Your arms represent the Father's arms wrapped around His Son, (Word of God) and you are hidden in Jesus.  When the Father looks on His Son, He sees you hidden in Him.  In fact, when the Father looks on you, He sees His Son and not your sin. Do you believe that? The Father is more interested in training you up in His righteousness than in condemning your sin. The old self has died and the a new self is alive hidden in Christ.

Open your heart wider and let His love invade your heart. You are His adopted child and He sees you in the righteousness of His Son. You are free from guilt and shame and are restored to the innocence you were in Him before the Fall of Adam.   That is how God sees you in His Son. This is only the beginning.  We have all eternity to grow up in Christ. 

No matter what circumstance or situation you might find yourself in, remember you are hidden in Christ in God. If this is true, then all your circumstances or situations are in Him too. We need not fear, because Jesus has overcome the world and through Him we too overcome the world. 1John 5:4,5, 1John 4:4. 

  

WHO'S IN YOUR BOAT?

Have you ever got up in the morning, because the phone is ringing, or someone is pounding on your front door, because the door bell doesn't ring. Maybe you forgot your mother-in-law was coming for breakfast. You are still in your pajamas and your hair is a bedhead. Maybe the children are up early, because the phone or the door bell woke them up? Good morning world! You take a deep breath and your day has started.

After years of greeting the morning with such ordeals, I realize one thing.  It is important for me, even before I get out of bed, to first connect with my Lord.  It is not a fancy prayer or something I read, but just a "good morning Lord.  Thank you for bringing me safely through the night and I desire for to do your will today not mine. I surrender my will  to your plans today, knowing that your will is the best for me. I ask for your wisdom and understanding to work out any problems that I might face today."  It is short.  Some mornings, it is longer than others. It all depends upon what is greeting me in the morning.

I have found,  that as long as Jesus is in my 'boat',so to speak, He is there to calm the storms of that day. It is too easy to forgot that Jesus is in me and with me. The day can get very frustrating trying to accomplish my plans on my own, ignoring the presence of the Lord. Jesus said that He would never leave us nor forsake us.  He is with us all the time. When the seas of life get rough and the winds begin to fiercely blow against our sails, it is good to remember WHO IS IN MY BOAT and not keep trying to climb out.  Jesus is  NOT asleep, but waiting and watching for me to give up and call upon Him.  My job is to stay in the 'boat' and let Jesus calm the storms of life pressing in around me

If you have found yourself today standing at the helm of your boat shouting at the winds and crashing rain against your sails STOP! LOOK! AND LISTEN!.  God is speaking to you, "Be still and know that I am God".  You will be amazed how quickly the Lord will answer your need.  Psalm 91:15 "When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him."  Tomorrow morning when you awake let us meet together in the throne room of our God and thank Him that He is in our boat and that He will keep it from sinking.