Mother's Day

Are you STIRRED UP TO ACTION facing fears, cleaning out your heart, and giving special tribute to your mother? This story stirs with urgency that we, God’s children who are blessed beyond measure, could be missing the mark of loving our neighbor, honoring our parents, and keeping God our first love! Do we consider ourselves Good Samaritans while traveling life’s highways; yet, we walk past those in need and turn our heads like the Levite and Priest? These are the things we do or don’t do that matter most to the Master? Feeling convicted as I face fears while stepping into new seasons, I humbly share this story with a repentant heart for times I have missed the mark and gratefulness for God’s grace.

Opening one of my old tattered journals to a page where my handwriting (which looks like my mother’s writing. Do you do things or have traits like your mother?) was a wake-up call of serious, sinful living in hearts and homes across America and three important truths we should keep stirred up in our hearts. May you be convicted -as I was - upon reading them and take seriously how unconfessed sin, overextended schedules, and conforming to ‘times in which we live’ can keep us from being our best for the Lord and loved ones. Are our hearts stuffed with hidden sin that spoils true love for our heavenly Father and family He gave us to love and cherish until death parts us? Are we ‘In Touch’ with God’s Word and Jesus’ ways or are we ‘Out of Touch’ and in danger of missing blessings here with family and eternity in Heaven? Now, is the time for all of us to get our hearts and homes in order and closely connected to Christ our King and precious family…before we run out of time and our eternal reservation will not be honored with THEE!

May the ten old yet relevant writings in my journal resonate with loving conviction an urgency to make things right with God and loved ones in hearts of every person reading this story. While writing, I have put myself through the wringer: confessing, praying, crying, praising God, and promising to stay “In Touch - up close and personal” with Him and the people He has put in my life to love… even those not so easy to love! I promised to do what I do with a loving attitude, be passionate and purposeful not silent and scared to share the good news, to honor the Sabbath, and to enjoy the rest of my journey. Oh, what a time of cleansing and repenting it’s been in my heart and house. I even vacuumed with cries of despair and songs of joy ringing out louder than the sounds of my vacuum cleaner. Oh, how precious to talk with Jesus, unload all your troubles, confess your sins, praise Him out loud in love, and feel closer than ever to HIM!

Ponder and pray over the ten things below. Seek God’s guidance and get stirred up to action deleting or adding things that can make a difference in your life…and the lives of those who color your world with love:

1. Are you wrapped up in something stealing time from the Lord and loved ones?

2. Do you honor the Sabbath and feed lovingly God’s Word and ways into your loved ones’ lives?

3. Does your mouth say ‘yes’ while your heart says ‘no’?

4. Do you have a fear of ‘missing out’ and of being ‘away from your phone’?

5. “A gracious woman attains honor” Proverbs 1:16 Gracious is kindness, patience, tactfulness, elegance, appreciation, and favor. Do we extend these qualities to others beyond what is expected or deserved?

6. Being gracious is a choice. The first step to being gracious is to be grateful! Everything important we have is a gift so we can be gracious to others. Am I gracious or grouchy?

7. Be Kind - it makes people loyal and committed to you. Am I kind or hateful?

8. Dishonesty is distorting the truth and hiding the truth. It can destroy relationships with others and God.

9. When we fear God, we gain the greatest treasure in the universe. “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasures and turmoil with it.” Proverbs 5:16

10. Blow dust off our hearts and GET STIRRED UP TO ACTION…’for such a time as this’ - when Jesus could return any time or call us Home in the twinkling of an eye!

As we celebrate Mother’s Day, may all of us ponder how our mother, step mother, mother in law, or mother figure by choice has impacted our lives? Take time to show love and honor for them whether they will be celebrating with us here or they are celebrating with God in Heaven. Mothers are precious in His sight and hear things that go bump in the night. They love deeply and look after things that may never be seen or appreciated by loved ones they are attending to…until they are no longer here. Motherhood is a gift from God with eternal rewards.

“Mothers are like glue. Even when you can’t see them, they’re still holding the family together.”

Enjoy spending time together or mulling over precious memories while gratefully acknowledging the gift God gave you to honor, love, and cherish…your MOTHER!