Mothers' Day 07

                                    MOTHERS DAY 07               5/13/07  

God has blessed and honored women and mothers from the beginning and He instructs us to do the same. To day is the day we have set aside to do just that.

Ex. 20:12   “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be  long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

Lev. 19:3   3  ‘Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and  keep My Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.

Deu. 27:16   16  ‘Cursed is the one who treats his father or his mother with contempt.’

Eph. 5:25 & 28  25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and  gave Himself for her,    28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.

1Cor. 7:3  3  Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her,

Prov. 31 Tells us why our wives and mothers are to be honored

10     Who can find a virtuous wife?

     For her worth is far above rubies.

                        Prov. 19:14   14     Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers,

                                                But a prudent wife is from the Lord.

11     The heart of her husband safely trusts her;

     So he will have no lack of gain.

1 John 4:18 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

12     She does him good and not evil

     All the days of her life.

Prov. 18:22  22     He who finds a wife finds a good thing,

                                                            And obtains favor from the Lord.

13     She seeks wool and flax,

     And willingly works with her hands.

14     She is like the merchant ships,

     She brings her food from afar.

            A wife and mother bring many good things into the life of her family;

                        Companionship for the husband

                        Help, comfort, encouragement,

            For the children she brings;

                        Love, security, comfort, reassurance, guidance, encouragement,           

15     She also rises while it is yet night,

     And  provides food for her household,

     And a portion for her maidservants.

A wife and mother put in long, hard hours caring for their households

She cooks, cleans, does the laundry, does the shopping, runs errands for the Dad, runs a taxi service for the children

She does many things that are unpleasant, menial, often overlooked by the family

16     She considers a field and buys it;

     From her profits she plants a vineyard.

Contrary to the beliefs of some, God has blessed women with wisdom, knowledge and understanding that sometimes exceed that of men, and we men would do well to heed their advice.

17     She girds herself with strength,

     And strengthens her arms.

Ecc. 4:12 12     Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.

                                    And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

22     She makes tapestry for herself;

     Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

            God has blessed her and honored her

23     Her husband is known in the gates,

     When he sits among the elders of the land.

Prov. 12:4        An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,

25     Strength and honor are her clothing;

     She shall rejoice in time to come.

26     She opens her mouth with wisdom,

     And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

27     She watches over the ways of her household,

     And does not eat the bread of idleness.

28     Her children rise up and call her blessed;

     Her husband also, and he praises her:

            Husbands and children, we are to praise her

                        Let her know her value

                        Tell her the importance of her trustworthiness

                        Let her know how proud & thankful we are for her

                        Thank her for all her hard work & all the good she brings to us

                        Appreciate her wisdom and advice

                        Let her know just how much strength we gain from her

                        Tell her of her worth

                        Thank her for the love and compassion she shows for the needy

                        Thank her for the provisions she makes for the household

                        Thank her for the strength, honor and respect she brings to the family

                        Thank her for her kindness, gentleness

                        Her children rise up and call her blessed;

                        Her husband also, and he praises her:

29     “Many daughters have done well,

     But you excel them all.”

Praise and honor her above all other women

30     Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,

     But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

The woman that fears and reverences the Lord (lives it) is to be praised, we are to give her the honor due her.

                                                It is the most important attribute of all

31     Give her of the fruit of her hands,

     And let her own works praise her in the gates.

Give her the credit she rightfully deserves and don’t be afraid to give her the honor and praise due her