QUEEN MOTHER - 2 TIMOTHY 1: 3-7

NICOLE’S STATEMENT ABOUT BEING ABSENT!

3 I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day. 4 Remembering your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and now, I am convinced, is in you also.6 Therefore, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power,, love, and sound judgment.

I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN INTRIGUED WITH THE CONCEPT OF THE QUEEN MOTHER. IT SPEAKS OF A WOMAN WHO LEADS HER FAMILY OF ROYALS IN A MANNER THAT UPHOLDS THE DIGNITY AND ROYALTY OF THEIR LINEAGE. THEIR HERITAGE

OF COURSE THE BRITISH ARISTOCRACY SEEKS TO HOLD A MONOPOLY ON THIS CONCEPT, BUT I HAVE A WITNESSED QUEEN MOTHERS IN MY HOOD SINCE I WAS BORN - DO I HAVE A WITNESS ALREADY?

QUEEN MOTHERS SET THE STANDARD FOR THE FAMILY BY NURTURING - CORRECTING - AND MOST IMPORTANTLY BY SPIRITUALLY INVESTING IN THE LIVES OF HER CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN… (((AND EVEN GREATER, QUEEN MOTHERS HELP TO MOTHER OTHER FOLKS CHILDREN)))!!!

QUEEN MOTHERS ARE THAT FIRSTS LINE OF “OFFENSE” FOR OUR FAMILIES…

AND BELOVED, WE’RE HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF THE QUINTESSENTIAL QUEEN MOTHER, IN THE ROYAL PERSONHOOD OF SIS. ROSIE MARY COBB…

A WOMAN OF GRACE… DIGNITY…CONFIDENCE…BEAUTY… AUTHORITY…LOVE…KINDNESS….CONSISTENCY AND FAITH!!! (AND PARENTHETICALLY, A WOMAN WITH THE BEST PENMANSHIP I’VE WITNESSED SINCE MY SECOND GRADE TEACHER)….

QUEEN MOTHER COBB MODELED FOR DECADES WHAT IT MEANS TO SERVE AND TO SACRIFICE FOR THOSE YOU LOVE…

AND IN THIS SAME MANNER, THE APOSTLE PAUL GIVES US A GLIMPSE INTO WHY OUR QUEEN MOTHERS ARE SO SIGNIFICANT TO OUR SUCCESS…

PAUL BEGINS BY AFFIRMING TIMOTHY AND US THAT WE SHOULDN’T BE AFRAID OF THIS NEXT SEASON: 3 I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day. 4 Remembering your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.

TIMOTHY WAS EMBARKING UPON NEW TERRITORY - PLACES AND SPACES WHERE HE’D NEVER SAT FOOT…AND THAT JOURNEY INTO THE UNKNOWN CAUSED HIM CONSTERNATION….

FAMILY, IT MAY BE THAT MANY OF YOU POSSESS THESE SAME FEELINGS…

YES, I’M CONFIDENT YOU’RE FEELING THE PAIN OF SEPARATION… THE DIFFICULTY OF ACCEPTING DEATH…

AND ALL TOO OFTEN, PARTNERED WITH THESE PAINFUL EMOTIONS IS THE REALIZATION THAT THE QUEEN MOTHER’S PRESENCE AND ADVICE WILL BE GONE…

PAUL SAYS TO TIMOTHY AND TO US: YOU’RE STANDING UPON BROAD SHOULDERS! OUR ANCESTORS GOT US READY FOR THIS SEASON…

THEY PREPARED US FOR WHAT WAS TO COME….

QUEEN MOTHERS IN SCRIPTURE KNEW HOW TO PREPARE THEIR LINEAGE.

LOOK AT NAOMI, WHO TOOK WHAT SHE HAD LEFT, A YOUNG WIDOWED DAUGHTER IN LAW, AND PREPARED HER TO ASSUME HER PLACE IN BIBLICAL HISTORY….

LOOK AT HANNAH (IN 1ST SAMUEL), WHO ENSURED HER UNBORN SON’S SUCCESS BY SETTING HIM ASIDE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD…

LOOK AT MARY (THE MOTHER OF JESUS), WHO ENDURED THE RIDICULE OF BEING PREGNANT WHILE ENGAGED, AND OVERCAME SO THAT SHE COULD BIRTH THE OVERCOMER!!!

FAMILY, THE APOSTLE PAUL AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU’VE BEEN PREPPED FOR THIS SEASON…IT DIDN’T CATCH YOUR QUEEN MOTHER BY SURPRISE, AND IT DIDN’T CATCH OUR GOD BY SURPRISE….

QUEEN MOTHERS, SAYS PAUL HAVE GIFTED US THREE-FOLD! ALLOW ME TO GIVE YOU THESE THREE, AND THEN WE’LL DEPART FROM THIS PLACE:

PAUL SAYS, “I RECALL YOUR SINCERE FAITH THAT FIRST…”

QUEEN MOTHER COBB IMPARTED HER FAITH!! BELOVED, WE’RE HERE BECAUSE OF HER FAITH! SHE TRUSTED IN CHRIST WITH OUR SOUL, AND ENSURED THAT ALL OF US WOULD KNOW THAT JESUS SAVES!!!

THROUGH SERVING THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH OF GBBC, ALONG WITH OTHER ENDEAVORS….QUEEN MOTHER COBB IMPARTED HER FAITH!!!

WHAT GOOD IS YOUR FAITH IF NO ONE SEES IT - EXPERIENCES IT! SIS COBB’S FAITH SET HER ON THE PATH TO SACRIFICE AND SERVICE! SHE WAS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT HER FAITH ON DISPLAY. NOT STANDING IN FRONT OF THE CROWD, BUT PROPPING THE ONES UP WHO STOOD BEFORE THE CROWD!!!

PAUL SAYS OUR QUEEN MOTHERS IMPART THEIR FAITH…

BUT THAT’S NOT ALL, QUEEN MOTHERS IGNITE OUR FIRE!!!

PAUL SAYS, “TIMOTHY, YOU COME FROM TWO FIRE BALLS. TWO WOMEN OF EXTRAORDINARY FAITH!”

THESE TWO SISTERS HAVE IGNITED SOMETHING INSIDE OF YOU, TIMOTHY!

FAMILY, QUEEN MOTHER COBB IGNITED SOMETHING IN YOU!!!

SHE GAVE EACH OF YOU A ZEAL FOR LIFE…A ZEAL FOR FAMILY… A ZEAL FOR SERVICE… A ZEAL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!

THAT FIRE - THAT POWER - THAT FLAME - MUST BE USED FOR GOD’S GLORY!!!

IF WE FUNCTION IN FEAR, OUR FLAME OR FIRE WILL DIMINISH…

IF WE FUNCTION IN FAITH, OUR FIRE WILL BLAZE!!!

CHURCH AND FAMILY, THIS IS THE SEASON FOR FIRE!! FOR IGNITING AND REIGNITING OUR FIRES…

THIS IS THE SEASON FOR LETTING OUR LIGHTS SO SHINE THAT THE HEAT DRAWS PEOPLE IN…

KEEP YOUR FLAMES LIT!!!

AS WE GRIEVE - AS WE MOURN - AS WE GO THROUGH THESE REPEATED LOSSES, WE CANNOT ALLOW OUR FIRE TO BE EXTINGUISHED!!!

COME ON FAM!!!

QUEEN MOTHER COBB IMPARTED HER FAITH, CAUSING US TO IGNITE OUR FLAMES…

DON’T ALLOW OUR GRIEF OR THIS SEASON TO QUENCH THAT FIRE!!!

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE…I’M GONNA LET IT SHINE!!!

ULTIMATELY, PAUL WANTED TIMOTHY AND US TO KNOW THAT OUR QUEEN MOTHERS DID ALL THAT THEY DID TO

IMPROVE OUR FUTURE!!!

IMPARTED THEIR FAITH TO IGNITE OUR FLAME, IN ORDER TO IMPROVE OUR FUTURE…

PAUL WAS SPEAKING TO TIMOTHY ABOUT HIS POTENTIAL!!! AND OURS…

TOO MUCH HAS BEEN INVESTED FOR US TO ALLOW IT TO BE DWINDLED…

TOO MUCH HAS BEEN SACRIFICED FOR US TO ALLOW IT TO BE TRAMPLED..

ALL THAT THEY HAVE DONE IS SO THAT WE WOULD DO BETTER!!!

THAT’S WHAT LEGACY LOOKS LIKE…

ONE GENERATION HANDING OFF TO SUCCEEDING GENERATIONS SO THAT THEY WOULD SUCCEED!!!

AND I NEED YOU TO KNOW FAMILY, THAT ALL THE WISDOM, LOVE, FAITH, COMMITMENT, DIGNITY, ROYALTY - ALL OF IT IS IN YOU…

PAUL SAYS, ALL YOU‘VE GOT TO DO TO ENSURE YOU FUTURE IS TO STIR IT UP!!!

LAURA EMERSON - MY QUEEN MOTHER….