Sermons

A Mother’s Day Card From God

Proverbs 31:10

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

Today is “Mother’s Day”!

I have a PROBLEM with Mother’s Day!

It’s not that I don’t LIKE Mother’s Day … or that I DISAGREE with it … or that I DREAD it.  My PROBLEM is … that I don’t know how to preach a good Mother’s Day sermon. Mother’s Day is perhaps (for me) the most difficult sermon to preach all year.

WHY is it so HARD to preach a Mother’s Day message?

BECAUSE … While Mother’s Day can be a very happy, joyous day … it can also be a very sad day … a day of pain & grief. Not everybody looks forward to Mother’s Day.

Maybe you have recently lost your mother … and you are experiencing the pain of your loss.

Maybe you have lost a child … and your heart grieves on Mother’s Day.

Maybe you are having difficulties with your Mother … your Mother wasn’t the IDEAL Mother we like to preach about … and you have bad memories of your Mother.

You may feel guilty about motherhood or face challenges with your children or marriage.

Maybe you were never able to have children … and Mother’s Day isn’t a joyous occasion for you.

Maybe you never had a real mother … and were raised in a foster home, or by relatives.

Maybe you are a single Mom … and are struggling with being a good Mother to your children.

Not every home is like the “Cleavers” … or the “Brady Bunch” … or “Father Knows Best” … or the “Ozzie & Harriet Nelson Family”. I don’t think we have any current TV shows I could use as an example.

Some of you have been raised in good Christian homes … HAVE wonderful parents … and ARE wonderful parents. You should thank God for this in your life.

TODAY, I want to ENCOURAGE each of you … especially the Mothers.

Each of you have been affected by Motherhood in 1 way or another … for good or bad. Everyone here either: HAS a mother … HAD a mother … IS a mother … is MARRIED to a mother … or KNOWS a mother. Motherhood has affected you in 1 way or another.

I have a message for you today, this Mother’s Day, from God. I want to read to you “A Mother’s Day Card Sent From God”. Most Mother’s Day Cards have a little message printed inside of them. You go to great care to pick out one that matches your sentiments for your mother. It’s important what’s written in a Mother’s Day Card. If you buy a CHRISTIAN card, there is usually a verse of Scripture printed in the card. That’s what God’s Mother’s Day Card has in it . Mothers have a very difficult job … more of a MINISTRY than a job. God doesn’t bless you with Motherhood … then leave you to hang out to dry. He’s given you His Word … to encourage you … help you … bless you … comfort you … give you direction.

This is God’s Mother’s Day Message to you … pick out the verse that applies to you, as a Mother … it’s God’s message to you:

1.- WHEN YOU FEEL DISCOURAGED

MOTHERS … Have you ever been DISCOURAGED? Motherhood isn’t for the weak or faint-hearted, IS IT? Mothers need a lot of encouragement … daily. Listen to what God writes on the inside of His Mother’s Day Card to you:

Isaiah 40:28-31

28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

When you feel like giving up … DON’T! WHY? Because God “understands” – 40:28b.

Can you identify with 40:29?

Here is your word of encouragement from God – 40:31

41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

MOTHERS, when you get DISCOURAGED, open up God’s Mother’s Day Card, and read His message to you …

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

2.- WHEN YOU FEEL ANGRY

MOTHERS … Have you ever gotten ANGRY with your kids?

Listen to what God has written on the inside of His Mother’s Day card to you:

Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

God doesn’t say it’s WRONG to be angry … BUT … He does say that you need to CONTROL your anger.

God has a MESSAGE for you … DON’T STAY ANGRY! – 4:26b

There’s a PURPOSE for anger … you’re SUPPOSED to get angry over disobedience … lack of respect … insolence, etc.

If you didn’t get angry over it but permitted and encouraged it … you wouldn’t be much of a Mother. BUT – Deal with it … and turn it into a useful tool … not a destructive weapon- 4:31-32

Remember Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

MOTHERS … When you feel angry, open up God’s Mother’s Day Card and read His message to you. Don’t let your anger control you … let God control your anger.

3.- WHEN YOU NEED HELP

MOTHERS … do you ever feel like you’re in the motherhood business alone?

I know you get lots of help from your mother … mother-in-law … husband …

BUT … do you ever feel like you need more HELP? Open up God’s Mother’s Day Card to you, and see what He’s written in it to you:

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Your Heavenly FATHER is always there to HELP you (He’s got lots of experience in this area).  He’s got some other helpful words of encouragement:

Ps. 32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

MOTHERS … you’re not alone … READ ON:

Ps. 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Ps. 27:14  Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

Phil. 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Don’t give up … help is on the way … wait on the Lord.

Still not convinced.

Gal. 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

God’s not going to abandon you … He’s always there to HELP you.

4.- WHEN YOU FEEL ALONE

MOTHERS … You can have a houseful of children … all wanting your attention at the same time … AND STILL FEEL ALONE.

You can be in the middle of Wal-Mart … with kids hanging off the shopping cart … AND STILL FEEL ALONE.

Open up God’s Mother’s Day card … and see what He has to tell you:

Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

It’s strange how we can be in the middle of a crowd and still feel so all alone.

John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

SOMETIMES … all we need is a hug … from God … just a reassurance that He is there.

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

When Jesus left this earth to return to His Heavenly Father, He left this promise for you.

Mt. 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

MOTHERS … you’re not alone in raising your children … God hasn’t abandoned you.

Whenever you feel lonely, just open God’s Mother’s Day card to you … and be assured that He is just a prayer away.

5.- WHEN YOU FEEL TIRED

Sometimes a “stay-at-home Mom” will be asked this question: “Do you work?” You’re first impulse is probably to punch them in the throat … your second impulse is to laugh hysterically until you cry. It’s been said that if the typical mother were out in the business world, she would be worth $700,000 a year. She’s a combination taxi driver, judge, lawyer, chef, psychiatrist, teacher, preacher, doctor, and much more.

Let me ask you again … “Do you work?” That must be why you get so TIRED!

MOTHERS: Open up God’s Mother’s Day card, and see what He wrote to you:

Mt. 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

You won’t find “rest” by hiding in the closet … or by locking yourself in the bathroom.

You’ll find “rest” in Jesus

  6.- WHEN YOU ARE WORRIED

Show me a Mother who never worries! You can’t!

WORRY is a part of being a Mother.

Open God’s Mother’s Day card, and see what He has for you:

Philippians 4:6-7

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Mothers have very broad shoulders … BUT … they don’t compare to the broad shoulders of God, your Heavenly Father. He can tote a lot more than you can!

The old gospel song says: “Take your burden to the Lord, and leave it there.”

MOTHERS … you don’t HAVE to worry (but you will anyhow!).

You’ve got Somebody to go to … Who is eagerly waiting for you to unload on Him.

Don’t deny Him the privilege of carrying your burdens for you!   

MOTHERS … God has sent you a Mother’s Day Card AND … He has written some personal messages in it for you.

Take it home with you … and take it to heart.

Open it up when you need it the most.

You will find it all (and more) in His Word … the Bible.

REMEMBER … you’re not alone in Motherhood … you can count on your Heavenly FATHER to be active in raising your children with you.

Just give Him the opportunity to be your parenting partner.

The most important message for you in God’s Mother’s Day card is found in John 3:16.

God loves you so much he sent His only Son to die for you.  Have you accepted Him as your personal saviour?