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Chapel Service

 

May 10, 2015

 

“Mother’s Day…

Is it detestable or joyful?”

 

www.BeyondCheckeredFlags.com

Bob Butcher

King David says in Psalms 139:12 – 16 that “even the darkness is not too dark for you to see, and the night is as bright as day; darkness and light are the same to you.  There is nothing hidden from You.  You created my mind and my heart and wove me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. My bones and being were not hidden from you, even when I was made in secret and sewed together in the depths of the earth.  16 Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb.  All the days ordained for me were recorded in your scroll before one of them came into existence.  I fully realize that Your works are wonderful.”

 

Nothing was a surprise to God as He speaks to us through His prophet Jeremiah in chapter 29:11 when He says:  “For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.  I know what I am doing.”

 

And today comes Mother’s Day.  Obviously it is a special day to honor our mother.  Hopefully you have not forgot to do something special for your Mom.

 

Before I go further maybe you had a horrible mother…and maybe even a father also.  That certainly doesn’t inspire one to celebrate them does it? 

 

However, maybe it actually does.  Yes it’s true that they brought you into the world.  But even at their worst there is something more that you might honor when you stop to think about it.  But, before I say what that is let me say what God says in Isaiah 49:15-16: “even though a mother may forget to have compassion on her child, the Lord never forgets His children (v.15). Look, My people: “I have engraved you on the palms of My hands” (v.16).

After you ponder that then consider this:

Might I simply suggest that your mom, and maybe dad also had a huge hand in making you who you are today.  If you suffered because of their character and inability to love you like God intended parents to do, most likely you are a better parent to your own children.  “I will NEVER be like or act like my mom” …(or maybe dad too), has been your promise to yourself all your life.

 

Truly that’s a backwards way of looking at things, but hopefully that is true and you didn’t follow in their footsteps.  Therefore, there is space to be thankful for what you learned through them.

 

Then I also hope that it is time to think about extending forgiveness to your mom …and dad too if that’s the case.  You see, God is very clear and rock solid on His principals of forgiveness.  That principal is revealed very clearly in what everyone calls “The Lord’s Prayer” when Jesus taught us to speak out the following in Matthew 6:9-13:

Verse 12 says: “forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors.”   Then verse 14 and 15 follows even deeper when it instructs us as follows: “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.”

 

It’s clear that If we refuse to do our part, we cut ourselves off from God’s promise to forgive us.  I know that’s easier said than done but I can only encourage you to verbally aloud speak out forgiveness to your mom, …and maybe dad too if he’s guilty also.  And every time the enemy brings that back up to your mind and heart and tells you that you are an idiot for that say it again to God.

 

The results will bring a new peace into your life, and once it becomes concrete your life will be really changed and healthier also.  Did you know that it is both Biblically and scientifically true that bitterness rots your bones and causes rheumatism and such problems.

 

Now, lets return to honoring Mother’s Day.  I was listening on K-Love radio station how different people honored their moms and also how those whose mother was not alive today also honored her in a special and touching.

 

I was moved by the lady who said that she wore a special pair of her mom’s socks on Mother’s Day.  Another always baked her mom’s favorite dinner and desert on Mother’s Day for her family.  Another always kept the special chair and special dishes and place setting at the table with her picture to remember her and help the kids remember.  Another family tells their favorite stories about Mom at the table.

 

That is just a few of the ways and there were lots more but the question is: How do we honor and celebrate our Mom today? 

 

 

 

Here is a list of scriptural helps on Forgivness:

  1. Christ set an example of (Luke 23:34)
  2. Commanded (Mark 11:25; Romans 12:19)
  3. To be unlimited (Matthew 18:22; Luke 17:4)
  4. A characteristic of saints (Psalms 7:4)
  5. A glory to saints (Proverbs 19:11)
  6. Promises to (Matthew 6:14; Luke 6:37)
  7. No forgiveness without (Matthew 6:15; James 2:13)
  8. Illustrated (Matthew 18:23-35)
  9. Exemplified » Joseph (Genesis 50:20,21)
  10. Exemplified » David (1 Samuel 24:7; 2 Samuel 18:5;19:23)
  11. Exemplified » Solomon (2 Kings 1:53)
  12. Exemplified » Stephen (Acts 7:60)
  13. Exemplified » Paul (2 Timothy 4:16)
  14. MOTIVES TO » The mercy of God (Luke 6:36)
  15. MOTIVES TO » Our need of forgiveness (Mark 11:25)
  16. MOTIVES TO » God’s forgiveness of us (Ephesians 4:32)
  17. MOTIVES TO » Christ’s forgiveness of us (Colossians 3:13)
  18. SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY » Forbearance (Colossians 3:13)
  19. SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY » Kindness (Genesis 45:5-11; Romans 12:20)
  20. SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY » Blessing and prayer (Matthew 5:44)

 

Kathy & I pray for you to have an absolutely wonderful

Mother’s Day today!