Honor Your Mother

Mother’s Day is one of the most beloved holidays on the calendar.  The mere mention of Mom evokes a feeling that symbolizes a lifetime of love.  Whether she is called Mother, Mom, Mama, Mum, or Mommy, the woman who takes care of her household and gives birth to her children is to be praised (Proverbs 31:30).  So take a moment today to praise your mother for everything she has done for you.  From changing your diapers and cleaning up your messes to being your personal chauffeur to countless activities and giving you a priceless treasure trove of wisdom, your mother has loved you unconditionally since the day you were conceived.  Whether you buy her a sentimental card or a bountiful bouquet of flowers, the most important thing you could do for your mother is to let her know you appreciate her and you love her.

Perhaps you are like me and your mom is no longer living on this earth.  You may question, “Why can’t we fast forward through the commercials mentioning Mother’s Day, avoid the greeting card aisles, and stop hearing about all of the endless celebrations honoring mom?”  The answer is simple.  God wants us to honor our mothers every day of our lives.  Ephesians 6:2-3 says, “‘Honor your father and mother’--which is the first commandment with a promise—‘that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.’”  You see, we are not only to honor our parents in order to please them.  We are to honor our parents in order to please God.  By doing so, God has promised that we can enjoy a long life on this earth.

As a child, it seemed that nothing could ever separate my mom, dad, and I.  We were like the Three Musketeers.  In my mind, we would always be together.  I already had plans of building a house on our property upon getting married.  My children could see their grandparents every day of the year, providing we were not busy traveling the globe.  I knew it would be amazing to have my mom close by, to answer all of the questions that marriage and motherhood would raise.  Suddenly, though, on August 2, 2008, all of my dreams for the future came crashing down around me.  My mom had a heart attack and went to be with the Lord.  There was no warning, no chance for goodbyes.  The world as I knew it up until that tragic night changed instantly.  Nothing could have ever prepared me for the void in my heart.

That’s often how things happen.  Life changes in the blink of an eye.  In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson issued a presidential proclamation, establishing the first national Mother’s Day holiday.  Less than three months later, World War I ensued, resulting in over 22 million casualties.  I’m sure on the first Mother’s Day, many mothers and children alike never dreamed their lives would change forever over the course of the next four years.  But the family members who survived this catastrophic battle likely became closer knit, held together by an even stronger bond of love, with the complete realization of how fragile and precious life truly is.  Even though their lives changed drastically, they continued living life.  They did not stop honoring their parents, but continued to honor them through the way they lived their own lives.

Since my mom passed away, bittersweet memories still cloud many aspects of my life, especially on Mother’s Day.  While things have changed, and I no longer know what God’s plan is for me concerning marriage and motherhood, I know for certain that God holds my future in His hands.  I may not understand everything He has planned for me, but I trust in His perfect will.  Romans 8:28 says, “All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” My dad and I love God.  We know we are called to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I am grateful for our shared heart for ministry and music.  God has blessed us with a strong father-daughter bond.  No matter what trials come our way, or what battles we find ourselves in, God will work all things out for our good.

I want to encourage you today.  God will do the same for you.  If your heart breaks with the thought of another Mother’s Day without your mom, rest assured that God will work all things out for your good.  Focus on the priceless memories you have of your mom.  Honor her by telling someone a story as you reminisce over the cherished time you shared with your mom.  Honor her by spending time with your dad, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, or friends who knew her.  Honor her by giving the greatest gift you could ever give to your children: unconditional love.  Most importantly, remember that God has not forsaken you.  God says in His Word, “‘As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you’” (Isaiah 66:13).  Even in the absence of your mother, know that God is watching over you, comforting you, loving you unconditionally.  Your Heavenly Father will mend your broken heart and restore your joy.  Unlike the people and pleasures found in this world, He is the only One who eternally can fill the void of a parent, a child, or any other loved one.  You are loved by the One who created the Heavens and the Earth!  Rest in His loving arms this Mother’s Day!

Mothers are extraordinary women.  Sadly, they will not be in our lives forever.  The Bible says that our lives are like a vapor, here one moment and gone the next.  So cherish each moment you have with your mother.  If your mom is still living, spend as much time as you can with her, give her a warm embrace, and tell her how much you love her.  Honor your mother and your father.  Above all, honor God, our faithful Friend, our compassionate Comforter, and our loving Father in Heaven.  He is the Father to the fatherless and the mother to the motherless.  Tell someone about Jesus Christ and His infinite love this Mother’s Day.  I could think of no better way to honor your mother!

In Christ’s Love,

Jennifer

You Can Pray

Think back to the last time someone asked you to pray for them.  When the request was made, I am sure you told them you would pray.  All day long, you intended to stop what you were doing and pray for their need.  Yet, the day quickly came and went, a blur of meetings, deadlines, and responsibilities.  It wasn’t that you forgot to pray.  You simply were waiting for the perfect moment when you could focus 100% of your attention on this request.  And it is likely that your promise was unintentionally broken.

In this world we live in, there are many times when promises are broken.  Our busy schedules dictate when and where we must be, how long we must be there, and when we must move on to the next item on our agenda.  Because of this, we seldom have time for things that come up unexpectedly.  Even so, we are called by God to pray for one another.  I Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV) says that we should “pray continually.”  God’s Word is not telling us that we should spend 24 hours a day on our knees in prayer.  But, we should live our lives as an example for others to follow, always keeping the line of communication open between ourselves and our Heavenly Father.

I know you may feel overwhelmed by this.  You may think, I cannot pray continually.  I spend every waking moment doing everything for everybody.  There is no time left for me, much less prayer.  I want to tell you today that you can pray continually.  I have often felt the same way, but God has taught me how I can avoid the traps that Satan puts in our path.  When someone asks me to pray for them, I stop at that very moment and pray.  Sure, it may be a brief silent prayer as I am heading to my next destination.  Or I may be able to stop, lay my hand on the person’s shoulder, and truly lift them up in prayer.  Either way, I pray.  It doesn’t matter what is going on around me or what else I have to get done during the day, I pray for their need right then.  And I continue to lift them up in prayer throughout the day.

While you may feel more in tune with God if you are sitting in a quiet room, listening to praise and worship music, or searching the pages of God’s Word for answers, you can still pray anywhere, anytime.  If you are on a plane flying from one continent to another, you can pray.  If you are serving your country in a war zone, you can pray.  If you are dropping off your children at school, you can pray.  If you are washing dishes, mowing the lawn, or doing the laundry, you can pray.  If you are sitting in a hospital, nursing home, or any other location on earth, you can pray.  No matter what you are doing, you can pray.  No matter where you are, you can pray.  No matter who you are, you can pray.

In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer

Have Faith

As I was visiting with a friend this afternoon, I happened to pay special attention to the perpetual calendar on their desk.  Today’s message read, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV).  When was the last time you had complete faith that something you wanted would come to pass?  Can you honestly say that you always put your faith in God, no matter what trials come against you?  Or does Satan often wriggle his way in, causing you to question whether or not God truly has everything under control?  No matter what you may encounter on your journey, have faith.  God will see you through.
 

In August 2005, one of the deadliest hurricanes recorded in U.S. history struck the coast of Louisiana.  Hurricane Katrina was responsible for the loss of more than 1,800 lives.  I can recall sitting in front of the television, barely able to believe what had happened.  With every levee that gave way, my heart sunk a little deeper into my chest.  The homes destroyed, the lives lost, and an entire city changed forever.  While I prayed fervently for the people residing in the path of destruction, I wondered, how can they have hope?  When they are wading through waist deep water full of sewage, how could they possibly even think God exists?  As they pull a loved one out of the water, only to find they were a moment too late, how can they put their faith in God?  Still, I prayed that God would walk beside them, helping them from one moment to the next.

As I switched the channel from CNN to The 700 Club, I was introduced to a precious woman of God whom I will always remember.  Her name is Gerta.  She lives in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.  She was being interviewed because she had experienced a deadly hurricane many years back.  Even though the location where she lived was being evacuated, she was unwilling to leave.  Instead, she stood inside her kitchen, surrounding by glass windows, praying.  She had complete assurance that God would see her through the storm.  While many homes around her were completely demolished, her home remained unscathed.  Although I cannot recall her last name, nor would I recognize her face if she walked in the door of my home, the words she spoke are forever etched in my memory bank.  She said, “If you’re anchored in Jesus, you’ll be safe.”  At that very moment, I knew she had said something wise beyond my years.
 
A few days later, I wrote a song titled, “Have Faith.”  The lyrics of the song talk about a woman who is sitting next to a loved one who has gone on to be with the Lord.  Then, it talks about little children who are crying out in fear.  In life, there are situations we cannot avoid.  There are problems we cannot solve on our own.  There are moments when we may want to simply throw in the towel.  I want to encourage you by telling you that there is never a time in your life when you should just give up.  When you feel like giving up, give your burdens to Jesus.  He is waiting with open arms, waiting to help you when life gets to hard to handle.  He will walk with you through the flood.  He will be your Shelter from the storm.  He loves you more than you could ever imagine.  Have faith.  God will see you through.
 
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer