Difficulty of Motherhood
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Difficulty of Motherhood
Difficulty of Motherhood
1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.
gen
While many families gather to honor mothers by attending church, others skip the service entirely.
Some still mourn the loss of their own mothers, and others might have grown up in abusive or dysfunctional households.
You can add to that the difficulty many women face when sitting through a Mother’s Day service if they’ve lost a child or suffer from infertility.
Someone tells you motherhood isn’t hard, they’re not telling you the truth.
Wonderful? Yes.
Beautiful? Yes. Inspiring? Yes.
Hard? Absolutely. But then really, all of life is hard, isn’t it? Messy?
Chef: A mother cooks 2-3 meals a day. Sometimes, their children will love the meals you prepare. Sometimes, they will hate them. Most of the time, they simply wolf down the food you prepare and run to their next activity. Occasionally you will receive the cherished “thank you.” Hearing those two words will make every meal you prepared worthwhile.
Housekeeper: As a mother you will have the opportunity to clean all kinds of messes—clothes left on the floor, cups left in the living room, spilled food, dirty diapers, vomit, the list goes on. But, one day your child may help clean the kitchen and…well, here’s for wishful thinking.
Resolve Conflicts: Children have conflict with friends, siblings, and even their parents. You will have the joy of helping your children learn the skills of listening, negotiation, compromise, and problem-solving, skills that will benefit them for a lifetime.
Event Planner: Mothers schedule. What else can I say? From play dates to doctor’s appointments to school events to after school activities to vacations to any number of other events, mothers schedule…a lot!
Teacher: Mothers teach their children everything…and I mean everything. When cooking they not only teach their children how to cook, but some basic math. They teach their children about relationships, problem resolution, and dating skills. Even more, they teach their children how to think! Mothers teach these things without even knowing they do it. Then there are all the things they teach on purpose…things like math, reading, how to clean, how to do laundry, how to keep house, etc.
Chauffeur: Mothers take their children to school, the doctor, and the dentist. They take their children to sporting activities, dance, gymnastics, and music lessons. They drive their children to play dates and to the store. And, they turn each drive into an opportunity to talk, grow closer, and learn. (See duty labeled “Teacher.”)
Laundry: Mothers do laundry. They get out the stains and keep the bright colors. Life needs a clean start!
Counselor: Children come to their mothers when they fail a test and when their heart is broken. Mothers comfort and advise. They kiss skinned knees and mend broken hearts. They heal broken spirits and teach children how to shape a joyous future.
Finance Manager: Mothers often help to manage the finances, teaching their children to do so as well. Balance the costs of groceries, school activities, and clothes as well as the utilities and other household expenses.
Health Care Provider: As previously noted, mother’s kiss skinned knees. They also check their children’s fevers, cook them chicken noodle soup, make them comfortable, and many other “doctoring” duties. In the long run, mothers probably do much more than your average physician and for a lot less pay!
Activities Director: When children are bored, mothers come up with ideas. They encourage their children to play. They teach their children nursery rhymes, games, and fun activities like cooking. In so doing, they teach their children how to manage their time in productive, effective ways
World Changer: Perhaps the most underrated task a mother fulfills is that of world-changer. Society is a mere 20 years from anarchy or continued civilization. It takes 20 years to raise a child, 20 years to “civilize them” or let them fall into anarchy, 20 years to raise children of character, integrity, and compassion or children of deceit, selfishness, and indifference. A mother plays a great role in this training. Mothers change the world with every child they raise.
In reality some have to do it alone!
Trying to be the spiritual leader
For some its an awful reality....
A economic expert that if all goes well no recognition ; if it falls apart it your fault
UNFORTUNATELY for some they have no example to live by they passing this road alone for the first time...
A teacher
Many fathers are there but.... some are just another child in the home
Some of them are duel incomes and the work does not end when she gets home.
All of us need to thank them ....
That’s the reality of motherhood.
You know, I’ve lost my kids before, too. They’ve acted out in public, run away when I called them, and once… once, they were so terrible in public that I grabbed them both up under my arms and ran out of a building crying. True story.
That’s the reality of motherhood. Or at least it’s the reality of my motherhood. Not every day is like that. In fact, most of our days are pretty good, but there are just enough of “those days” to leave me on my knees. I can’t do it by myself, this mothering thing, so I ask God to help me, lead me, and shape me into the woman he wants me to be so I can partner with him in shaping my kids. If I didn’t, we wouldn’t make it.
And I think that’s the way he wants it.
someone tells you motherhood isn’t hard, they’re not telling you the truth.
Wonderful? Yes. Beautiful? Yes. Inspiring? Yes. Hard? Absolutely. But then really, all of life is hard, isn’t it? Messy?
Just the other day, one of my best friends lost her son at the park. Actually, she lost both of her sons at the park. One (the toddler) was running around in the parking lot, and the other was hiding from her in an enclosed slide. Thank God, they were both safe, but she left the park that day a frazzled mess, thoroughly embarrassed and convinced she was getting the worst mother of the year award.
You know, I’ve lost my kids before, too. They’ve acted out in public, run away when I called them, and once… once, they were so terrible in public that I grabbed them both up under my arms and ran out of a building crying. True story.
That’s the reality of motherhood. Or at least it’s the reality of my motherhood. Not every day is like that. In fact, most of our days are pretty good, but there are just enough of “those days” to leave me on my knees. I can’t do it by myself, this mothering thing, so I ask God to help me, lead me, and shape me into the woman he wants me to be so I can partner with him in shaping my kids. If I didn’t, we wouldn’t make it.
And I think that’s the way he wants it.
Lives weren’t meant to be easy.
Lives weren’t meant to be easy.
I love the song, “Mighty to Save,” by Laura Story. Especially these lyrics:
“So take me as You find me, all my fears and failures, fill my life again. I give my life to follow, everything I believe in, I surrender…”
Really that's what its all about surrender
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Jesus gave his life to follow what He believed in, and He says to us, “deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me” ().
Why should we think motherhood easy?
I’m not sure “easy” was the word Elisabeth Elliott would’ve used to describe living with her children in the midst of the same people who had murdered her husband.
I’m certain “easy” wasn’t even in Sussanah Wesley’s vocabulary as she birthed 19 children, lost 9 of them, and raised them mostly alone because of her husband’s absence.
“Easy” didn’t roll off the tongue of David Livingstone’s wife as her husband left her and the children alone to go explore Africa in the name of Jesus.
There’s nothing easy about life lived in service to Christ, and motherhood is one big piece of it.
(ESV) says this:
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
There is a cost—always a personal sacrifice—involved in wildly and faithfully obeying our callings, and if motherhood is your calling, you should expect no less.
Jesus sacrificed all for us. We must be willing to do the same for him. Including any dreams of motherhood—life—being easy.
God told us life would be hard, but in the midst of it all he provided a joy that doesn’t depend on circumstances—Himself. If we’re looking to anything other than the deep, abiding love of Christ to bring us joy, we’ll be disappointed.
Motherhood… life… is filled with hard things.
Our children will make poor decisions.
Our finances will suffer blows.
You husbands will not always be there or understand
We will lose those we love the most, and it may happen before we’re ready. But the love of God cannot be lost ().
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Do You Love Jesus?
Do You Love Jesus?
Not, “do you respect Jesus…”
Not, “do you love to study His word…”
Not, “do you love to worship Jesus…”
Not, “do you respect Jesus…”
Not, “do you love to study His word…”
Not, “do you love to worship Jesus…”
But, “do you love Jesus?”
To paraphrase Beth, “Great, deep, overwhelming love for Jesus is the only thing that will carry you through what He requires of you.
Loving him will give you the strength to carry out your calling.
I love the song, “Mighty to Save,” by Laura Story. Especially these lyrics:
“So take me as You find me, all my fears and failures, fill my life again. I give my life to follow, everything I believe in, I surrender…”
As I pondered those words one Sunday in church this thought came to me. Jesus gave his life to follow what He believed in, and He says to us, “deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me” ().
Why should we think what He’s called us to do, how He’s asked us to follow Him, should be any different or easier than what He gave up so that we could follow God?
I’m not sure “easy” was the word Elisabeth Elliott would’ve used to describe living with her children in the midst of the same people who had murdered her husband. I’m certain “easy” wasn’t even in Sussanah Wesley’s vocabulary as she birthed 19 children, lost 9 of them, and raised them mostly alone because of her husband’s absence. “Easy” didn’t roll off the tongue of David Livingstone’s wife as her husband left her and the children alone to go explore Africa in the name of Jesus.
There’s nothing easy about life lived in service to Christ, and motherhood is one big piece of it.
(ESV) says this:
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
There is a cost—always a personal sacrifice—involved in wildly and faithfully obeying our callings, and if motherhood is your calling, you should expect no less.
Jesus sacrificed all for us. We must be willing to do the same for him. Including any dreams of motherhood—life—being easy.
Whatever we’re called to—mother, wife, woman, child of God, employee, volunteer, servant—should have an element of difficulty. It should bring us joy because God has called us to do it, but the doing of it may not always bring us joy.
God told us life would be hard, but in the midst of it all he provided a joy that doesn’t depend on circumstances—Himself. If we’re looking to anything other than the deep, abiding love of Christ to bring us joy, we’ll be disappointed.
Motherhood… life… is filled with hard things. Our children will make poor decisions. Our finances will suffer blows. We will lose those we love the most, and it may happen before we’re ready. But the love of God cannot be lost ().
Do You Love Jesus?
Do You Love Jesus?
I recently had the privilege of hearing Beth Moore speak live for the first time. I’ve done several of her Bible studies over the years, and from them know her to be a powerful Bible teacher. But I’ve never seen her as fired up as I did that day at Liberty University when she looked at 13,000 plus students and asked this question: “Do you love Jesus?”
Not, “do you respect Jesus…”
Not, “do you love to study His word…”
Not, “do you love to worship Jesus…”
But, “do you love Jesus?”
To paraphrase Beth, “Great, deep, overwhelming love for Jesus is the only thing that will carry you through what He requires of you. Loving him will give you the strength to carry out your calling. Respect isn’t enough. Knowledge of his word isn’t enough. Worshipping him isn’t enough. Only love is enough.”
Only love is enough.
I Sarah: The Mother Who Waited
I Sarah: The Mother Who Waited
30 But Sarai was barren; she had no child.
gen
In we learn, “Now Sarai was childless because she was not able to conceive.“ This would have grieved both Sarah and Abraham, and in Genesis 15when the word of the LORD came to Abram he answered, what will you give me LORD since you have not given me an heir? God tells him to look at the stars in the Sky, for that would be the number of his offspring. Abraham and Sarah waited 15 years before God renewed His promise, and 10 more years before the promise was fulfilled and Sarah bore a son, Isaac.
In we learn, “Now Sarai was childless because she was not able to conceive.“
This would have grieved both Sarah and Abraham, and in
when the word of the LORD came to Abram he answered, what will you give me LORD since you have not given me an heir? God tells him to look at the stars in the Sky, for that would be the number of his offspring. Abraham and Sarah waited 15 years before God renewed His promise, and 10 more years before the promise was fulfilled and Sarah bore a son, Isaac.
A 25 year wait ....
Sarah probably wouldn’t win an award for waiting and she even laughed at the idea that God could do what He promised, but thankfully God’s promise did not rely on the level of Sarah’s faith. God fulfilled His promise according to His plan and Sarah responded in ,
6 And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. 7 And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.
gen 21.
Part of being a mother is waiting on God...
Wonderful? Yes. Beautiful? Yes. Inspiring? Yes. Hard? Absolutely. But then really, all of life is hard, isn’t it? Messy?
It takes decades for children to grow up and waiting on God is a part of it ...
The infant years
The toddler years
The preschool years
The primary school years
The teen years the
The College years
The early adult years
The 30’s
The 40’s
You never stop being a mother
Illustration - my mom two weeks ago sit by Ann ..
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
The mom who waited
Waiting for husbands to get right with God
Waiting for children to accept Christ
Just the other day, one of my best friends lost her son at the park. Actually, she lost both of her sons at the park. One (the toddler) was running around in the parking lot, and the other was hiding from her in an enclosed slide. Thank God, they were both safe, but she left the park that day a frazzled mess, thoroughly embarrassed and convinced she was getting the worst mother of the year award.
Can you imagine waiting that long for a blessing? Sarah tried to believe the promise, but she had doubts until it finally came to fruition. Then she laughed with joy at what the LORD had done. Isaac would go on to continue the legacy of his father Abraham.
You know, I’ve lost my kids before, too. They’ve acted out in public, run away when I called them, and once… once, they were so terrible in public that I grabbed them both up under my arms and ran out of a building crying. True story.
That’s the reality of motherhood. Or at least it’s the reality of my motherhood. Not every day is like that. In fact, most of our days are pretty good, but there are just enough of “those days” to leave me on my knees. I can’t do it by myself, this mothering thing, so I ask God to help me, lead me, and shape me into the woman he wants me to be so I can partner with him in shaping my kids. If I didn’t, we wouldn’t make it.
II Hagar: The Mother Who Endured
II Hagar: The Mother Who Endured
17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
Hagar was an Egyptian slave and a maidservant to Sarah, the wife of Abraham; she didn’t have much say about anything and especially not in becoming Abraham’s wife. Though her status changed, she was still secondary to Sarah.
Hagar was an Egyptian slave and a maidservant to Sarah, the wife of Abraham; she didn’t have much say about anything and especially not in becoming Abraham’s wife. Though her status changed, she was still secondary to Sarah.
And I think that’s the way he wants it.
Once Hagar became pregnant with Abraham’s child, a rift developed between her and Sarah. After receiving mistreatment from Sarah, Hagar fled toward her homeland. But she met the angel of the LORD who told her to return, He also promised her numerous descendants through her son whom she was to name Ishmael.
Our lives weren’t meant to be easy.
Our lives weren’t meant to be easy.
Later, Hagar and her son Ishmael were sent away into the desert, where she believed they would both die.
16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept. 17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
gen 21.16
gen 21.
20 And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
Hagar thought she would get to escape her misery, but God called her to return to it. She obeyed, and He blessed her and her son just as He promised He would.
someone tells you motherhood isn’t hard, they’re not telling you the truth.
Wonderful? Yes. Beautiful? Yes. Inspiring? Yes. Hard? Absolutely. But then really, all of life is hard, isn’t it? Messy?
Just the other day, one of my best friends lost her son at the park. Actually, she lost both of her sons at the park. One (the toddler) was running around in the parking lot, and the other was hiding from her in an enclosed slide. Thank God, they were both safe, but she left the park that day a frazzled mess, thoroughly embarrassed and convinced she was getting the worst mother of the year award.
But God is faithful and showed her a well. tells us, “God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer.”
You know, I’ve lost my kids before, too. They’ve acted out in public, run away when I called them, and once… once, they were so terrible in public that I grabbed them both up under my arms and ran out of a building crying. True story.
That’s the reality of motherhood. Or at least it’s the reality of my motherhood. Not every day is like that. In fact, most of our days are pretty good, but there are just enough of “those days” to leave me on my knees. I can’t do it by myself, this mothering thing, so I ask God to help me, lead me, and shape me into the woman he wants me to be so I can partner with him in shaping my kids. If I didn’t, we wouldn’t make it.
And I think that’s the way he wants it.
Our lives weren’t meant to be easy.
Our lives weren’t meant to be easy.
📷
I love the song, “Mighty to Save,” by Laura Story. Especially these lyrics:
Hagar thought she would get to escape her misery, but God called her to return to it. She obeyed, and He blessed her and her son just as He promised He would.
“So take me as You find me, all my fears and failures, fill my life again. I give my life to follow, everything I believe in, I surrender…”
As I pondered those words one Sunday in church this thought came to me. Jesus gave his life to follow what He believed in, and He says to us, “deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me” ().
Why should we think what He’s called us to do, how He’s asked us to follow Him, should be any different or easier than what He gave up so that we could follow God?
I’m not sure “easy” was the word Elisabeth Elliott would’ve used to describe living with her children in the midst of the same people who had murdered her husband. I’m certain “easy” wasn’t even in Sussanah Wesley’s vocabulary as she birthed 19 children, lost 9 of them, and raised them mostly alone because of her husband’s absence. “Easy” didn’t roll off the tongue of David Livingstone’s wife as her husband left her and the children alone to go explore Africa in the name of Jesus.
There’s nothing easy about life lived in service to Christ, and motherhood is one big piece of it.
(ESV) says this:
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
There is a cost—always a personal sacrifice—involved in wildly and faithfully obeying our callings, and if motherhood is your calling, you should expect no less.
Jesus sacrificed all for us. We must be willing to do the same for him. Including any dreams of motherhood—life—being easy.
Whatever we’re called to—mother, wife, woman, child of God, employee, volunteer, servant—should have an element of difficulty. It should bring us joy because God has called us to do it, but the doing of it may not always bring us joy.
God told us life would be hard, but in the midst of it all he provided a joy that doesn’t depend on circumstances—Himself. If we’re looking to anything other than the deep, abiding love of Christ to bring us joy, we’ll be disappointed.
Motherhood… life… is filled with hard things. Our children will make poor decisions. Our finances will suffer blows. We will lose those we love the most, and it may happen before we’re ready. But the love of God cannot be lost ().
Do You Love Jesus?
Do You Love Jesus?
I recently had the privilege of hearing Beth Moore speak live for the first time. I’ve done several of her Bible studies over the years, and from them know her to be a powerful Bible teacher. But I’ve never seen her as fired up as I did that day at Liberty University when she looked at 13,000 plus students and asked this question: “Do you love Jesus?”
Not, “do you respect Jesus…”
Not, “do you love to study His word…”
Not, “do you love to worship Jesus…”
But, “do you love Jesus?”
To paraphrase Beth, “Great, deep, overwhelming love for Jesus is the only thing that will carry you through what He requires of you. Loving him will give you the strength to carry out your calling. Respect isn’t enough. Knowledge of his word isn’t enough. Worshipping him isn’t enough. Only love is enough.”
Only love is enough.
Today, I want to encourage you to fall in love with Jesus. That concept may be foreign to some, but why should it stay that way? When we know and understand the depths of his great love for us, it’s only natural that we should return it.
His love for us, plus our love for him, equals the ability to withstand (and even find joy in) anything that comes. Even messy motherhood.📷
I love the song, “Mighty to Save,” by Laura Story. Especially these lyrics:
gen
21 And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.
“So take me as You find me, all my fears and failures, fill my life again. I give my life to follow, everything I believe in, I surrender…”
She made it so far but just got tired ....
As I pondered those words one Sunday in church this thought came to me. Jesus gave his life to follow what He believed in, and He says to us, “deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me” ().
Sometime motherhood is just enduring
Staying faithful in-spite of the circumstances
Staying faithful to your marriage in-spite of the difficulties
Staying faithful in-spite of rebellious behavior of Children
Why should we think what He’s called us to do, how He’s asked us to follow Him, should be any different or easier than what He gave up so that we could follow God?
I’m not sure “easy” was the word Elisabeth Elliott would’ve used to describe living with her children in the midst of the same people who had murdered her husband. I’m certain “easy” wasn’t even in Sussanah Wesley’s vocabulary as she birthed 19 children, lost 9 of them, and raised them mostly alone because of her husband’s absence. “Easy” didn’t roll off the tongue of David Livingstone’s wife as her husband left her and the children alone to go explore Africa in the name of Jesus.
III Jochebed: The Mother of Faith
III Jochebed: The Mother of Faith
1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. 2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? 3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
1 And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. 2 And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.
1 And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. 2 And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. 3 And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink.
Moses’ mother, Jochebed, was a Hebrew woman living in slavery in Egypt before the exodus. She was the daughter of a Levite, and she married Amram, another Levite ().
According to , Jochebed
We know that Moses was born several years after their marriage because she already had a daughter who was old enough at the time of Moses’ infancy to act as a lookout ().
This was likely Moses’ sister, Miriam the prophetess, who is mentioned by name in . Along with Moses and Miriam, Jochebed had at least one other sibling, Moses’ brother Aaron ()
There’s nothing easy about life lived in service to Christ, and motherhood is one big piece of it.
A new King in Egypt came to power who was under no obligation to honor Joseph’s deeds in Egypt and keep the special arrangement with the Israelites. He was worried about the Hebrews outnumbering and overtaking the Egyptians, so he made them slaves. He also commanded the Hebrew midwives to kill Hebrew baby boys when they were born, but they did not listen. Then Pharaoh gave another decree in , “Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.”
16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.
(ESV) says this:
A Levite woman, Jochebed, gave birth to a son and hid him for 3 months.
Exodus 2tells us that when she could hide him no longer, she coated a papyrus basket with tar and pitch, placed the baby in it, then she set it in the reeds along the bank of the Nile.
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Jochebed’s daughter, Miriam, watched to see what would happen as Pharaoh’s daughter went down to bath. When Pharaoh’s daughter saw the basket, her servant’s retrieved it for her and inside she found the baby crying and knowing he was a Hebrew child she felt sorry for him.
Miriam, Arron and Moses
Faith
To Trust God
To believe in her husband
To believe that difficulties can be overcome
To believe in God’s sovereignty ...
God allowed this let see him work ....
20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
There is a cost—always a personal sacrifice—involved in wildly and faithfully obeying our callings, and if motherhood is your calling, you should expect no less.
IV Samson’s Mother: The Mother of reason Calm
IV Samson’s Mother: The Mother of reason Calm
3 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son. 4 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: 5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no rasor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.
3 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son. 4 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:
judges 13.2
Jesus sacrificed all for us. We must be willing to do the same for him. Including any dreams of motherhood—life—being easy.
She is not mentioned by name in the Book of Judges, although some would say she is the Hazelelponi mentioned in . We cannot know for sure, so we can deduce that what she did is more important than her name. She was married to a man named Manoah but was unable to conceive. tells us,
22 And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God. 23 But his wife said unto him, If the Lord were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these. 24 And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him.
Whatever we’re called to—mother, wife, woman, child of God, employee, volunteer, servant—should have an element of difficulty. It should bring us joy because God has called us to do it, but the doing of it may not always bring us joy.
Judges 13.22-
God told us life would be hard, but in the midst of it all he provided a joy that doesn’t depend on circumstances—Himself. If we’re looking to anything other than the deep, abiding love of Christ to bring us joy, we’ll be disappointed.
Samson’s mother knew there was something special about the angel of the LORD, and when her husband was afraid they would die for having seen the face of God she became the voice of reason saying He would not have told us these things if He were going to kill us.
Motherhood… life… is filled with hard things. Our children will make poor decisions. Our finances will suffer blows. We will lose those we love the most, and it may happen before we’re ready. But the love of God cannot be lost ().
She gave birth and named the baby Samson, and the LORD blessed him. Although some of his actions were questionable, the LORD used him mightily in His plan to defeat the Philistines.
It all over now
We are going to die
Would God God have showed us all this for us to die?
A mother of the word and reason
Calming Children’s fears
Calming a husbands dissapointments
If God lead us her its is for a reason
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Do You Love Jesus?
Do You Love Jesus?
I recently had the privilege of hearing Beth Moore speak live for the first time. I’ve done several of her Bible studies over the years, and from them know her to be a powerful Bible teacher. But I’ve never seen her as fired up as I did that day at Liberty University when she looked at 13,000 plus students and asked this question: “Do you love Jesus?”
7. Naomi: The Mother-in-Law Who Shared Her Faith
V. Naomi: The Mother-in-Law Who was a Survivor
V. Naomi: The Mother-in-Law Who was a Survivor
3 And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. 5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
ruth 1.3-
Not, “do you respect Jesus…”
Not, “do you love to study His word…”
Not, “do you love to worship Jesus…”
Naomi and her family fled to the country of Moab because of a famine in their land. Her husband died, and her two sons married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth.
After 10 years both of Naomi’s sons passed away, and Naomi heard that the LORD had blessed the land of her people with food again. She told her daughters-in-law that they could return home to find new husbands. Although they both wept at her leaving, one refused to leave Naomi’s side. Orpah returned to her people and her gods, but Ruth said,
But, “do you love Jesus?”
To paraphrase Beth, “Great, deep, overwhelming love for Jesus is the only thing that will carry you through what He requires of you. Loving him will give you the strength to carry out your calling. Respect isn’t enough. Knowledge of his word isn’t enough. Worshipping him isn’t enough. Only love is enough.”
Ruth was already learning from Naomi’s faith even during a time of bitterness. Naomi continued to watch out for Ruth and instruct her wisely in her dealings with Boaz, who became her kinsman redeemer. The LORD blessed Naomi, and she gained a son when Boaz married Ruth. Ruth and Boaz had a child, and the women of the land said to Naomi,
15 And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.
Only love is enough.
ruth 4.15-
The child was named Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David who would be king. -.
Today, I want to encourage you to fall in love with Jesus. That concept may be foreign to some, but why should it stay that way? When we know and understand the depths of his great love for us, it’s only natural that we should return it.
The child was named Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David who would be king. -.
Some mothers are survivors
His love for us, plus our love for him, equals the ability to withstand (and even find joy in) anything that comes. Even messy motherhood.
Just stay faithful until the end ....
Conclusion -----
Just say faith
Survivor
reason and Calm