Showing posts with label Mother's Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mother's Day. Show all posts
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
Have you ever experienced something in life that tried to
rob you of your peace? There are minor instances
where our peace is suppressed only momentarily, such as when we have a flat
tire on the way to work. Sometimes in
life, though, we endure hardships that seem too difficult to bear. I know firsthand what the latter feels
like. Nearly six years ago, on August 2,
2008, my mom went to be with the Lord.
That night, my world was shattered.
But even in the midst of the most horrific night of my life, Jesus
Christ wrapped His loving arms around me and my dad. Although our human eyes saw what looked like
a devastating storm raging in our lives, He showered our hearts and minds with
peace beyond our understanding.
All of my life, I have read Philippians chapter four and it
still one of my favorite passages of scripture.
But it wasn’t until I went through the tragedy of losing my mom that I
truly began to understand the meaning of verse 7. Here is the verse in context, “Do not be
anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV). The
Apostle Paul tells us that we should not be anxious. That means we should not worry about
anything. Instead, he tells us to pray
in every situation.
You might be thinking, how could I possibly not worry and pray when I am
upset, stressed, or grieving? I know, it
sounds nearly impossible. But I can tell
you that a life with constant anxiety is much more difficult than a life with prayer
at the center. That night, as we called
loved ones to give them the devastating news, Psalm 121:1-2 ran through my mind
repeatedly. It says, “I lift up my eyes
to the mountains—where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” I looked up at the silhouette of the
mountains under the moonlit sky and prayed that God would give us strength in
the coming hours, days, months, and years.
You see, even as I stood outside our camper with a broken
heart, I knew that Jesus Christ was not only standing beside us, but He was
holding our hands, to keep us from falling.
He is the Prince of Peace.
Although the circumstances were anything but peaceful, Jesus brought
peace to our troubled hearts. My dad and
I sat beside my mom and sang, “Living by Faith.” Our faith was the only thing that kept us
going in that heartbreaking moment. We prayed
that God would send the Comforter to us.
Through our faith in God, we were showered with the peace that Paul
wrote about. We had peace in a situation
where it doesn’t even seem to belong, according to our human perspective. This kind of peace is a peace that exceeds
all understanding.
One day my parents and I were enjoying a family vacation in
the mountains and the next day, my dad and I were going to the local funeral
home. My heart had shattered into a
million pieces. My dad and I were
exhausted, physically, mentally, and emotionally. But we still had peace. It wasn’t the peace like one feels while lying
in the sun at the beach or listening to the raindrops go pitter patter on a
metal roof. This was the kind of Heavenly
peace that I cannot understand nor fully explain. Inexplicable peace that comes from Heaven
above when the current circumstances seem like peace should not be found. That is the kind of peace Paul writes about
and the kind of peace that we experienced that night.
Six years later, I still miss my mom daily. But my dad and I have found a new normal and
a new purpose. The same God who gave us
peace in the midst of a tumultuous storm six years ago is the same God who
gives us peace now, whether we are on the mountain top or in the valley. Life without my mom is not easy, especially
on days like her birthday, Mother’s Day, or even this coming Saturday, August
2. But our lives are made glorious by
the peace and joy that comes from knowing Jesus Christ! He is the reason we live, the reason we
laugh, the reason we love! I thank Him
every day for His countless blessings and His peace that passes all
understanding.
I want to encourage you today. Whatever it is you are going through, put
your unwavering trust in Jesus Christ.
He will never fail you. The peace
that comes from knowing Jesus Christ as your personal Savior is unlike any
other you will ever encounter on this earth.
With Jesus Christ living in your heart, you will experience a truly
abundant life. Through the good times
and the bad times, He will guard your heart with peace like no other. He will fill your heart with joy
unspeakable! You will be able to face
each and every day with the calm assurance that God will give you peace beyond your
understanding!
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer
When I was a little girl, my two little brothers were born prematurely and passed away as infants. I am almost certain that this is why the first verse of my song touched my Mom’s heart in such a special way. As I sang the song repeatedly over the years, and even recorded it on my very first cassette, I was so humbled to see that it was ministering to people on so many levels. I enjoyed singing it, I thought the soundtrack was beautiful, and I knew the lyrics were anointed. Still, I could not personally identify with the lyrics of the song, having never been through such a dark time in my life. I had always been the one to smile, no matter what. I could always see a glimpse of sunshine, even behind the darkest storm cloud. Truth be told, I had not yet seen the darkest storm cloud at this time in my life.
I had witnessed the death of more close friends and loved ones than most people I knew had even been to funerals. Brothers, grandfathers, a grandmother, aunts, uncles, and other friends and relatives…so many loved ones going on to be with the Lord. But, even in the midst of the loss we experienced, my Mom, Dad, and I remained a close-knit Christian family. No matter what happened around us, we knew that the three of us would love and support each other through sunshine and rain. We were like the Three Musketeers. And I had faith that God would always keep us together, no matter what storms brewed overhead. On August 2, 2008, the darkest storm of my life came upon me as suddenly as a tornado can flatten an entire town. There was no warning, there were no goodbyes, and there was nothing my Dad or I could do to silence the violent storm.
Since that tragic night, God has spoken to my heart on several occasions. I still don’t have all of the answers. I don’t understand why my Mom is not nearby, waiting to read the next entry of my blog, a blog she never had the opportunity to read. And cannot tell you why my Dad and I are not living in this house as a family of five, my Mom and younger brothers still with us. What I do know is that God has a perfect plan for our lives. He walks with me in the sunshine and in the sunset. He holds my hand, whether I am climbing mountains, traversing a rocky terrain, or wading through a raging river. Psalm 23:4 (NIV) says, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” I will not be afraid of what tomorrow may bring because I know that God will comfort me in all of my tomorrows. He gives me His perfect peace and He shines forth His light, even though the sun has set. And I know He will continue to bring forth the vibrant sunshine in my life once again, in His timing.A couple of weeks ago, I was asked to sing at my home church on Mother’s Day. For many singers, I am sure this would not be a problem. For me, it is another story. The moment I was asked, a red flag shot up. I thought, no…no, I can’t do that. I can happily sing any other Sunday, but not that one. I think the pastor must have seen the look in my eyes similar to a deer caught in the headlights, and he quickly asked if it would be too difficult for me. I’ll be honest with you. My first response would have been, yes, it would be virtually impossible for me to sing on Mother’s Day. And I am sure the pastor would have accepted this, and asked me to sing at another time. Yet, something tugged at my heart and immediately, I knew that this was something I must do.
As I told the pastor that I would sing, I pondered the song that I would share on this day on which we honor our mothers. So, I thought about what I would sing if my Mom could be in the congregation on this special occasion. And of course, the answer was simple. I would sing, “There’s Sunshine Awaiting You.” Now, I had not sung this song since my Mom’s funeral. So, I quickly began seeking God for a different answer other than the one I knew He had given. I mean, I couldn’t sing on Mother’s Day, much less sing this song. Have you ever had one of those moments when you thought, what is God thinking? Well, this was one of those moments for me. Since I was asked to sing, I have run through the song twice. The first time I ran through the song, I heard the lyrics in a new light. My song was ministering to me. I realized that I had been stuck in the sunset. And that is why I need to sing this song. Sure, when I stand up on the platform on that particular Sunday, I will likely blubber as I introduce the song and I am sure pitch will have a new meaning when I reach the song’s end. But, sometimes serving the Lord isn’t about eloquent speech or perfect pitch. Sometimes it’s simply about answer His call, no matter how difficult it seems.
Even when we’re stuck in the sunset, we have the assurance that there is sunshine awaiting us. Although it may seem unbearable at times, we need to be faithful to the One who created us. He will bring us to a place of rest, away from the storms of life that overwhelm us. The lyrics of my song speak about seeing a sunset that seems forever, and how difficult it is to face grief and pain. This sunset that you find yourself in may seem long-lasting, but it is not forever. When you reach the lowest, darkest valley, God will bring you to your knees. When you cannot go on one more mile, God will carry you through each and every storm. If you find yourself stuck in the sunset, rest assured that there’s sunshine awaiting you.In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer