You Raise Me up!

Mum’s are special

James Dobson tells the story of a mother who was sick in bed. She had the flu. And her little daughter wanted so much to be a good nurse. So she brought mom an extra pillow, and she brought her a magazine to read. And then she even showed up with a surprise cup of tea. And her mother took a sip of the tea, and she said, ''Wow! I didn't even know you knew how to make tea!'' And the girl said, ''Oh, yes. I learned by watching you. I put some water in the pot, and then I put the tea leaves in, and I boiled the water, and then I strained it into a cup. But I couldn't find the strainer, so I used the flyswatter instead.'' And her mother said, ''You what?!'' And the girl said, ''Oh, don't worry, mom. I didn't use the new flyswatter; I used the old one.''

If you're a mother, I'll bet you've got stories just as gross as that! Right? And you laugh about it now, but when it was happening, maybe not so much!

Being a mum is not so easy! I heard about one woman who said, ''Before I was married, I had three theories about raising children. Now, I have three children and no theories.'' Can anybody relate to that?

If you're a mother, you know that motherhood can be messy, and at times frustrating, and exhausting. And there are no foolproof formulas. Right? Kids are different. And you can raise two kids exactly the same, and they might turn out very differently!

Being a mum is not easy! And so today, it is very appropriate and right to pause and say ''Thank You'' to our mothers, and to honour them, and thank God for them.

At the same time, I know that Mother's Day can be a very difficult day for some of you. For lots of different reasons. Maybe your mother is no longer alive, and you really miss her. Or maybe you don't have a very good relationship with your mother. Or maybe you'd love to be a mother, and that just hasn't happened. So if Mother's Day is a pain let me tell you are loved and you are important to God.

So I want to honour you,

I want to honer all the Godly Moms out there this morning but, this morning I want to mention and honer 3 that I believe will be a inperation to those of you who are listening.

Turn in your bibles to

Proverbs 6:20-23

Proverbs 6:20–23 ESV

My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching. Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you. For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

Proverbs 6:20

I love how this starts out My son or daughter keep your fathers commandments.

Proverbs 6:20 ESV

My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching.

Proverbs

It goes on keep them close

Proverbs 6:21 ESV

Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck.

Where ever you go

Proverbs 6:22 ESV

When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.

For the commandments is a lamp

Proverbs 6:23 ESV

For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

The Bible says that the law of a Mother shall lead you and shall be a light unto you and you will remember what your Mother taught you through out your life.

Young people you may not think this is true as mum & dad are always on your case. They don’t let you do this go out late or expect you home by a certian time.

Let me tell you it may not be fair, but you will remember those acts of love and kindness that your Mum or your Grand Mother did when you get older. That’s a love that only comes from our Lord in Heaven. You will rememebr this especially when you become a parent.

I want to honer all the Mum’s here this morning but, this morning I want to mention and honour 3 that I believe will be a inspiration they have certainly been an inspiration to me:

First is my wife Jodie

You are an amazing women. God has given you the ability to care for 5 beautiful children. But most of all God has given you to me to care for and love.

We have had many ups and downs but God has been there through them all with us. Thank you for supporting me in ministry without you I wouldn’t be who I am today.

I am reminded of these verses attributes of a good women, mother and wife. You can read from verses 10-31 but I want to just focus on 10-12.

Proverbs 31:10–12 ESV

An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.

I love the word who can find this does not mean that no one can find such a wife she is of surpassing value to those who do find her. But she is more valuable any stone.

For a husband he has full confidence in her in every area. she is a continual source of benefits.

As I said I am not the man I am today without the love of the women that I have. God has built in her things that I cannot describe.

Secondly my mother

My mother is about to turn 82 in a few months. She is an amazing women she has given birth to 10 children 9 living. Now that is something on its on. She not only gave birth she along with dad had the challenge of raising us.

My mum is a Godly women she did what she new was best with what she new. Yes at times it was not perfect but you know she loved us as she new best. I can still pick up the phone and call her it is not as often as it should but she know that I love her.

I would like to read poem and it goes as follows:……by Reva Miller

A Mothers Secret For Success

When in the morning I wash my children, I prayed that they might be washed by the Saviours precious blood.

When I put on their garments, I prayed that they might be arrayed by the garments of salvation in the robe of Gods righteousness.

When I give them food, I prayed that they might be feed with the bread of life.

When I started them on the road to school, I prayed that their faith might be as a shining light brighter and brighter to the perfect day.

When I put them to sleep, I prayed that they might be enfolded in the Saviours everlasting arms. By Reva Miller

A mothers love is something that cannot be described yes I know for some today you may have difficult time with your mum, maybe your relationship has not been there for years. Yes some of you your mother has passed and is waiting for Jesus to return.

I can say this the love that a mother gives should reflect Jesus.

The last Mother I want to honour this morning is my grandmothers

Thirdly My Grandmother

She was a women that was not perfect and did some things I would say looking back she was ashamed of.

For all of my life I new her as many different things. She was a time grumpy and some of my family didn't like her because she was grumpy or not very nice.

I can remember when we would have school holidays going to visit both of my grandmothers. as they lived with my uncle and aunty. But my nana lived in a caravan everything she owned was in this van. She had cancer at one point on her face and she wore glasses with a cover over the hole in her face. That never bothered me. I use to go and see her and talk family religion although I never fully understood it she loved to share Jesus.

I told her at the age of 10 that when I grow up I am going to be an evangelist. I still tell Jodie that too. haven’t quite grown up yet.

But she would share the love of life and God through the stories of her life.

Can you share the love that you have through your stories. Can you share Jesus?

I think of a mothers love as God’s love for us. Yes it can be distorted through sin but I believe God intended it to be pure.

A Mothers love, a Mothers concern…..it was Gods love for mankind…it was Jesus Christ’s blood that was shed for Nellie Hardy and her family

It was Christ blood that was shed for us all.

John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

As I said earlier your mother may not have been there for you but there is sill someone else that has been there and like a mother to you. I challenge you this morning if you have a Godly Mother or Grandmother that has been a influence in your life… call them and thank them… call and tell them you love them. Tell them how much you love them.

You have to love someone to be concerned about their salvation….I believe that a Mothers love is a small example of the love that God has for us.

It’s a will that none should perish but have everlasting life.

How about you this morning.

Which ever the case may be…if you haven’t accepted Christ as your Saviour..there is no hope there will be no peace…there will be no joy..

But its not to late….God is still saving souls…God still hears those sinners prayers.

John 19:26–27 ESV

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

The Bible says…

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Jesus asked John to take care of His mother.

That same type of influence can be seen in other individuals.

John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement,

was influenced by his mother Susanna Wesley.

Abraham Lincoln led this nation through a greatest crisis,

but who made Abraham Lincoln the man that he was?

Lincoln said it was his mother.

And many different ways,

All of us have been influenced by our mothers.

It is appropriate that we single out a day in the year

to recognise mothers,

but there ought not to be a day that goes by

that we do not call our mothers blessed.

The highest tribute that we can give to our mothers

is not to praise her, not to give her a gift,

not to pay a visit,

and not even simply to come to church.

The greatest tribute that we can give to our mother

is to be the kind of person that she wanted us to be.

For me that is to let Christ live out in my life.

TO live the best that I can with Jesus in my life.

I challenge you this weekend not only reflect on mums but let what they have raised you live out in your life and be who God wants you to be.