Invitation to Come

intro:

Before I tell you a little bit about me, I want to tell you where we are going today during our time together. I wrote a message for this event several months ago, but just this past weekend, I went to a funeral for a woman I did not know personally. I am friends with her daughter-in-law so I attended it to express my condolences to her and her family. There were a few things that were said, that really had me thinking. I cried the entire drive home as I talked with the Lord and listened to what he had to say to me, and He wants you to hear it as well. So I completely rewrote the message and it is 100% from the Almighty Father. These are His words to you today dear sisters. Open your heart to receive it from Him. Let Him speak directly to your heart as He did mine.

PRAY: Father we open our hearts to you now. Come and move in us at this moment. Here we are eager to receive from You. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Who I am as a mother:

I am a step mom to Travis, our 34 year old.

I have been married to his father now for almost 30 years. I like to say the man of my dreams came with an ex-wife, a toddler and child support. Just meaning our cinderella stories look a little different at times. But even in all of life’s craziness we can still live our happily ever after.

I am the mother of 3, Brooke is 28, Parker is 25 and my baby Andrew is 22. He will always be the baby.

As a mother I didn’t always get it right.

I made my son run with a broken back….BUT HOLD ON….I didn’t know it was broken at the time. When Andrew was on the cross country team, he would complain his back was hurting, but I thought he was just not pushing himself enough. I told him to keep running, he will get stronger and will go farther eventually if he just kept running. Coach recommended I take him to the doctor just to check it out.

Mama Friends, his back was broke, his L4 was broke in two spots and he spent his first semester of high school in a back brace. 24/7 and he could only take it off when showering.

I was wrong. I had to apologize for thinking he was just stopping short of what he was capable of and making him keep running. “Son I am so sorry. Mom was wrong.”

As a mother I didn’t always get it right.

I am a MAMA BEAR though!

Any mama bears in the house? I do believe underneath the cute cuddly, furry mama bear is a spirit that says, “you mess with my kids and I will tear out your insides.”

As a mama bear I believe the enemy has messed with the wrong mama. I have published the ROAR, which is a guided prayer journal for moms to use as a weapon against Satan who is after our children. Scripture is a weapon to be used in battle so the journal guides moms in praying God’s Word over their kiddos.

As a mom, I have a BUT GOD story!

Our oldest Brooke was born with a rare blood disorder.

We were told she would never grow out of it

That she may lose all of her teeth

That her next step would be leukemia

That she would have to take daily injections her entire life or until she had a bone marrow transplant.

BUT GOD!!

Brooke has never had leukemia, doesn’t live in bubble, still takes daily injections today, but lives a full life as mother and wife.

YES, she gave us our first grandbaby. Elizabeth Peace is such a joy.

Because of God’s faithfulness and goodness I am a GRANMOMMY and very proud of it.

Because of my mom journey with Brooke, my friend Crystal and I have launched a non-profit called Breathe in Ministries, caring for moms with caregiving challenges. We host refreshment retreats for moms so they can get away, breathe and REST with Jesus.

Check us out at the vendor tables in the foyer.

Back to what God said to me at the funeral

What did God say to me at the funeral?

At the funeral, the son officiated the service. Can I just say wow, that is hard. In the midst of his grief and pain, with all of his raw emotions, he made sure the Jesus his mama loved and followed was worshipped and made known, while at the same time, honoring her as mom.

But he spoke about one thing that really got me thinking.

He said at one church service, the preacher had the congregation think about their identity exchange, meaning the time when God gave them a new name, a new mission, like he did with Abraham whose original name was Abram. We see God rename Abram to Abraham in Genesis 17 because God gave him a mission to become the father of many nations. Biblical scholars say this renaming represents partnership with God.

And at the funeral he was saying his mom’s identity exchange was “Mother”. She became a partner with God in mothering, tenderly caring for others like the Good Shepherd does, mothering them to the feet of Jesus, lovingly guiding them and diligently praying.

She was 71 when she passed and he was saying, she spent her entire life mothering not only her own children but also neighborhood kids, the youth at church, and even the students that crossed at her corner, she was a crossing guard for the school district.

This is so beautiful. There was not a dry eye in the room. My mom heart was so stirred. And I was reminded that my mothering doesn’t have to be flashy, polished, or “perfect” It simply needs to be in partnership with Christ Jesus.

I felt encouraged and challenged to live out this mothering mission.

However, on my drive home, God began to speak to me. But not to me the mother! Not to my mom heart.

Oh this is good sisters. Lean in because this is what God wants you to hear.

April, don’t get so caught up being a mom and caring for everyone else that you forget your identity as My daughter.

WHAT?!?!?

Here is where the tears began to pour out.

Because…I am a 53 year old mother, a grandmother trying my best to leave a legacy, trying to reflect the love of Christ to everyone I “mother”

I am on MISSION, to do, to care for others, to serve sacrificially, to worry so no one else has to, to stand tall and confident so every one else will fall in line, to be strong, courageous, and brave for the benefits of those I am on mission to serve, to care for.

But God met me right there in the car and spoke tenderly to my identity as His daughter.

Telling me He sees me!

He sees my tears, my concerns, my worries, my fears, my doubts.

He hears my cries.

He knows when I have reached my limit and I’m exhausted.

And He invites me into His loving arms as His daughter.

He wants to hear me say…”Father, I need You.”

“Father God, I need you to hug me today, and tell me it’s all going to be okay.”

He wants me to get into HIS PRESENCE and REST!

Rest as His beloved daughter.

He told me that day in the car, YES, you are mother, once a mother, always a mother, but don’t stray far from the truth that you My beloved DAUGHTER and I adore you.

He wants you to hear that today as well.

You are His beloved Daughter.

He sees you. He knows you. He adores you. You are the apple of His eye.

You can be certain of this because it’s truth.

Listen to this truth from Galatians 4:4 the MSG version

The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language Chapter 4

But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage.

Hear it from the Father!

You are my beloved daughter!

BE-LOVED!

But HOW, practically speaking as constant caregivers do we REST?

How can we rest in our foundational identity as daughters. Matthew 14

Let’s look at Peter’s experience with Jesus in the walking on water scene.

Because as caregivers I think we can relate to Peter in this situation.

Summarize:

After feeding the 5,000, Jesus directed his disciples into a boat to cross the lake while he dismissed the crowds and went alone to pray in the hills. (Matt 14:22–33)

The disciples found themselves struggling against strong winds that pushed their boat far from shore. They were being battered by the waves. (Matt 14:22–33)

Around 4am, Jesus approached them by walking on the water, which terrified the disciples. (Matt 14:22–33)

They believed they were seeing a ghost. (Matt 14:22–33)

Jesus immediately identified himself, telling them to take courage and not be afraid. (Matt 14:22–33)

Peter, boldly asked Jesus to call him out on the water, with Jesus.

vs, 29 Jesus said, “Come”

Peter stepped out of the boat and walked toward Jesus. (Matt 14:22–33)

However, when Peter saw the wind, fear overwhelmed him and he began to sink. (Matt 14:22–33)

Peter said, “Lord Save Me”

Jesus caught him immediately and questioned his doubt. (Matt 14:22–33)

vs, 32 The moment Jesus and Peter climbed into the boat, the wind died down, the wind ceased.

When Peter walked out on the water, the winds did not stop.

vs, 32 The moment Jesus and Peter climbed into the boat, the wind ceased.

the wind stops not because Jesus commands it, but because his presence in the boat transforms everything.

All that was needed for the winds to cease was the presence of Jesus!

PERSONAL ENCOURAGEMENT: I love that Jesus did NOT calm the storm before inviting Peter to come because it gives me hope that I do NOT have to wait for my life to get in “order” before approaching Jesus.

Sisters, Your caregiving chaos, anxiety about your children, and exhaustion don’t disqualify you from approaching Jesus—they’re actually the very conditions under which faith becomes real.

HE SAYS COME!!! See Him standing in the midst of your storm, your chaotic waves, with His hand gesturing the invitation to COME!

Don’t wait! Just COME!

Like Peter stepping out of the boat into the storm, you’re invited to move toward Jesus precisely as you are—overwhelmed, uncertain, and needing him desperately.

Receive His invitation today to COME.

See that hand gesture, and hear him, “Come my beloved daughter.”

“Come into MY presence and REST”

Circle Back to my moment in the car

We are mama bears. Strong prayer warriors for our kids, and yes we should be.

But I simply want to remind you all today what God reminded me….don’t get so caught up in your mission of being a mom, a caregiver, caring for everyone else that you forget your identity as HIS daughter.

BE-LOVED my beloved daughter.

COME REST….

and we are going to do that right now, in closing…

Application: Talking to Jesus

play the song by Brandon Lake Live from the Ryman version (4:34)

If you can get on your knees do so

First see Him inviting you into His presence COME

Tell Him how you’re feeling.

Closing: Father’s letter to You His daughter

Dear Beloved Daughter,

You are Mine and I love you.

When you feel weak or inadequate, remember, I am your strength

When all you see are gloomy skies and gray days, remember, I am the light of the world that brings joy with every sunrise.

When you feel scared, cold or numb, remember, I am your refuge, you can safely rest in.

When you’re burdens feel too heavy, remember, they are not too heavy for me.

Bring them to me and exchange them for grace, comfort, hope, and strength.

Daughter, let me turn your mourning into dancing, your worry into worship

COME to me and let me love you, simply LOVE YOU.

Because I Your Father delight in You my beloved daughter.

I love you!

With joy,

Your Heavenly Father