Untitled Sermon (3)

This video made me laugh. It also reminded me of a warning I saw on someone’s facebook wall. It stated: This is my yearly springtime warning: When you walk by my house as I open the windows and prepare for spring don’t judge me as you hear me yelling at my children. Know before you give those judgemental stares that I asked nicely 5 times and was ignored 5 times before I let the crazy out.

Before I start my sermon I want to acknowledge those mothers who poured into our lives. Everyone here is a byproduct of their mother. There isn’t one of here that doesn’t have a mother. I know, from my own history, that everyone has had a different mothering experience. Some of us had awesome moms, some not so awesome. Someone may have lost their moms or mom’s who lost their daughters. And some still are mourning that they either can’t have children, or haven’t had children yet. Whatever your situation or circumstance in regards to mothering know that there is joy in all circumstances.

This morning I think it appropriate for us to discuss ways to destress. Most of these will serve as reminders, but I believe all of us need to be reminded of things from time to time.

Psalm 139:14 ESV

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

You are not the sum of your mistakes, your children’s short comings, your ability to keep house, maintain a job, or your ability to follow “proper social protocol.”

I find that many unrealistic expectations are placed on women everyday and if I am to be honest some of those expectations are even self placed expectations.

In a world where men want to be you, Women want to judge you, Men

Your body size, your personality,

Colossians 2:10 NKJV

and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

If we literally translate this in the Greek the verse reads like this:

You are in Him filled full.

This verse is perfect for Mother’s day because it speaks about us, as Christians, in response to other people’s expectations.

Paul wrote this to the Church because those from the Jewish faith were trying to squeeze the gentiles into their rule system or their social protocol. As men there isn’t much pressure to fit in or adhere to a list of standards, but for women they are constantly being burrated that they aren’t skinny enough, pretty enough, smart enough, too pretty, too skinny, too smart. Women are judged on how their children act, even though we all know children have a mind of their own. Then there’s those who can’t have children and are somehow meant to feel less of a women because their uterus doesn’t work. Understand these are all lies from Satan.

God was telling the Collosian church that they were who they needed to be because Christ filled them with everything they needed. You don’t need a supplementary behavior to become who God made you to be. Everyone seems to put their expectations upon others when they don’t meet their own expectations. The Jewish believers were worried about maintaining the law without concern about the heart transformation. God was more worried about the heart than he was fulfilling expectations.

The truth you need to embrace this morning is:

You are free from all other’s expectations.

So the next time someone tells you you’re full of it you don’t have to defend yourself.

Another lie I want to confront in you is that you need to love yourself. We are all told that we are our own biggest critic. Don’t believe me? Give a women a mirror and she will undoubtedly tare herself apart better than any man or magazine ever could. The truth is:

You’re problem isn’t a poor self image; but a poor God-image.

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Before you ever knew what a mirror was God loved you. It isn’t about loving yourself it’s about accepting God’s love and design for your life. Some people believe that the bible is limiting, but this the perfect example of freedom because we aren’t bogged down by even our own thoughts about ourself.

You are the Sum of what GOD thinks of you!

The biggest freedom the bible gives us aside of the freedom of death is the freedom from self. This incudes the idea of being free from serving self and looking out for just yourself, but it also frees you from your own thoughts of yourself.

The feeling of not being good enough could be true if God didn’t equip you for the tasks he sets before you. You cannot fail as a mother if you’re allowing God to flow through your parenting style. You cannot not fail as a women if allow God to shape you into the women he wants you to be.

And lastly--

The Sum of your world doesn’t lie on your shoulders

No it’s not all your fault and you aren’t meant to be the glue that keeps things together. I use this phrase with my wife in an attempted to show her how much I need her, but the truth is God is the glue that holds us together.

OUr marriage failure or success doesn’t squarely fall on her ability to keep me happy. My kids failures and success aren’t based my wife providing for all their needs.

Biblically we are mandated to do the best we can with what God has given us but you aren’t meant to fully fill your family. People were never means to fill people, but rather come alongside in a companion or friendship role.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

We aren’t meant to do nothing, but we aren’t meant to do it all either.

There are countless verses from

1 Peter 5:7 ESV

casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Matthew 11:30 ESV

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

We are supposed to do our best and leave the rest up to God.

Living these lies burden you with shame, guilt, anger and self hate that you weren’t meant to carry.

Hebrews 10:22 LEB

let us approach with a true heart in the full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Psalm 34:18 ESV

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

The word tells us that we are washed, set free from shame and guilt—no longer ours to hold onto, but free able to fly into what God has for us. Our limits are the walls we put up ourselves.

So we talked about what you shouldn’t believe about yourself

So what should you believe?

Psalm 1

Psalm 139:14 ESV

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Wer your battle scars with pride. Everything you see as a flaw in yourself is nothing more than a testimony of what you been through and what does the bible say about testimonies?

They are soul winners. You’re scars are soul winners.

Play John Bevere Video

My encouragement to everyone here: Is no matter the size you believe your calling to be—no matter the impact you believe you do or don’t have—the obedience to the call on your life is what will matter.

If it’s raising children. Raise those children to be God fearing Children.

If it’s in the work force or keeping house—than do everything as if it were unto God.

If you’re single-As Paul says use your time in singleness to do the work of the Lord.

Whatever you do: do it to the best of your ability.