A Mom is __________________?

A preacher began to pray with arms extended and a rapturous look on his upturned face, "without you we are but dust..."He would have continued, but at that moment one very obedient little girl (who was listening carefully) leaned over to her mother and asked quite audibly in her shrill little girl voice, "Mommy, WHAT is butt dust?"....Church was pretty much over at that point. The things that moms have to put up with on a day to day basis! See, moms are special and there is no one like our moms. Seriously! What would we do without moms?............This is why I’m so thankful for the wife the Lord has given me! A wonderful and great mom to our 5 children! Yes 5........I’m including myself! Her biggest child. J A mom plays a very important part to the family! She is the glue that keeps all things together! As John MacArthur says “To be a mother is by no means second class. Men may have the authority in the home, but the women have the influence. The mother, more than the father, is the one who moulds and shapes those little lives from day one." That statement that John makes is so true! SEE A MOM IS_____________!

 1. DEVOTED TO GOD

A prime example of this can be found in the life of Hannah. 1 Samuel chapter 1&2. She is a wonderful testimony of a person who no matter what the circumstances might be; she was always devoted to God and His sovereign plan for her life. 1 Sam 1:6. Hannah was so devoted to God! She made a promise that would seem crazy or unfathomable for a mother to do this. 1 Sam 1:22, 26-28. A mom who is devoted to God is a mom who is devoted to her husband....children and her duty as a mother of the home!

 2. ALWAYS SELFLESS

Seeks the interest of others above herself....just as Jesus did when he came to this earth to die for sinful man and woman. She will always go without in order to help someone else ........especially her children (her family). Esther was a woman w had this kind of character for her whole family (the nation of Israel). Esther 4:15-16 “Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: "Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!" This is the kind of sacrifice she was willing to make and what many moms do for their families every day!

 3. COUNTED AS BLESSED

Woman receive a blessing God that we as men could never understand.They have been given the right to carry and care for what the Bible calls “the gift of life.” The Psalmist says “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. “ Ps 127:3. The Hebrew writer said Sarah was so blessed for having her son Isaac .......you couldn’t even count the number of people who would come from the line of Abraham through her son. The Bible says “innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore” Heb 11:11-12. Another woman that was blessed was Mary! Elizabeth said "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” Luke 1:42. But I love Mary’s response “But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord." And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.” Luke 1:43-48

4. DEVOTED TO HER CHILDREN

A mom is always there no matter what! She soaks all her time and energy into the family because a stable home is a good home! And that’s hard work. Choosing what is most important over everything else is a full time job in the home. Her passion and devotion is for her children to know Christ! Look what Paul wrote Timothy in his last letter! 2 Tim 3:14-15 “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." How did Timothy know this? The answer can be found in the 1^st chapter of this letter! (1:5). Timothy had a godly mother and godly grandmother who knew the importance of God’s precious word and power of His salvation to sinners.

 5. A NURTURER

Do you realize ladies that God gives you the greatest responsibilities of all to love and nurture His wonderful creation...back to Him!! A prime example of this is found in the life of Moses mother! A mom is always willing to go great lengths to protect the ones she loves. Pharaoh ordered all the male children to be killed. Exo 1:22.......WHY? For fear of the Jewish population Exo 1:20. What did Moses mother do? She put him in basket and sent him down river so that it could he could be found by Pharaoh’s daughter....Exo 2:3-5. What’s really amazing is she was still able to play apart in his life! Pharaoh’s daughter found a Hebrew woman (the mother of Moses) to be a nanny to her own son.......Exo 2:6-10. Moses mom did all this! Because she loved her child and would do anything to keep him from harm. A mother is a person who will go to great lengths to keep their children safe from the evil that lurks outside the doors of her home.

6. VERY FRAGILE AND DELICATE

As husbands we have to handle our wives with special care and understanding as Peter wrote in his epistle. 1 Peter 3:7. We are to be sensitive to her needs, fears, feelings. We are to be tender and show that love that Christ should us (Sacrificial love) “Weaker vessels” means feeble, without strength.........Women (mothers) generally possess less physical strength and emotional strength then men. We are to be sensitive to them and to make them feel comfortable. Men we have to realize that our wives have enough pressure put on them, and the last thing they need is husbands and children who bully them and treat them with disrespect. we are to honor the wife......we are to honor the mother of our children.

 7. VERY MODEST

A godly mother considers others in how she presents herself.........especially towards other men! 1 Peter 3:3-5. Mom’s first passion is to present a beautiful heart to God that is pleasing in His presence......not to take the focus off of Him to self. A mom’s outward appearance should be a reflection of your inward heart! Her beauty should not come from outward adornment, that inner beauty which is your spiritual virtue as a Christian woman. A mother modeled an inner beauty that is a pleasing modest character to her children and the community she lives in....... Why? Because she loved the Lord and wanted to please Him first above all else. By doing this she showed that same love towards her husband and her family...The most effective mother’s are those who possess the inner qualities of gentleness and quietness...Why? Because they receive favour from God..... (end of verse 4). A true inner beauty is far more important than your outward appearance.

8. PRECIOUS TO HER HUSBAND

A wife is so precious ...the Bible says she is worth dying for. Men we are to hold our wives....the mother of our children with great care and honor. Paul wrote “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,” Eph 5:25-28. Men we are to give them an environment that is safe and secure....Not one that is hostile and in competition with everything else for your affection. Why? Paul said “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word”, Eph 5:25-26. We are to care for their spiritual needs as an obedient husband to the word! This is to be our honor and duty for the ones He has given to us as wives

 9. AN EXAMPLE OF BEING HONOURABLE TO HER HUSBAND

She demonstrates this to her daughters by preparing them for their own families as Paul wrote in Titus 2:4-5. Mothers are to be an example of godliness to other young women who are up and coming into womanhood. Moms are to be TITUS 2 WOMEN! It’s a high calling that is honoured in the home, especially to the husband. This is a vital part of a godly mother/wife.....Why? Proverbs 31:23 says “her husband is known in the gates,” Her husband in known in the community by the testimony (the honourable conduct) of his wife! Setting Godly standards early in the home so that her children can have a firm foundation as they prepare to have their own families in the future. An honourable mother obeys God’s word even when society tells her otherwise. She follows biblical principles as foundational to her Christian home!

10. GIFT FROM GOD TO THE FAMILY

Moms are the most important ingredient to the family. Again she is the glue that keeps all things together. It amazes me every day the importance the mother plays in the life of the family. The best way to express this statement is found in Prov 31:28-31. She is greatly respected by her children (v28).........Nothing makes a mom happier to know that her family love and respect her for all her hard work! She is praised by her husband (V28)....................What this verse is saying...........Her husband is so fulfilled with her conduct towards himself......His household.........His business and their children and for that he praises her. She is a mother who is Loyal to her family. A Mother who labour’s with a joyful heart. A Mother who is full of wisdom and gentleness. A Mother who is kind to all. A Mother who is an example of godly character.. A Mother who is respected and greatly appreciated by her family. A Mother who fears the Lord with reverence and awe. (Verse 30-31)  Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

I love my mother and I specially love my Christian wife who is all these things to my children and me. As Ruth Graham said “As a mother, my job is to take care of what is possible and trust God with the impossible." Moms are not just moms.....they are special and deserve to be honoured in the family!As Charles Spurgeon said “I cannot tell you how much I owe to the solemn words of my good mother.” I’M SO THANKFUL THAT THE LORD GAVE ME A WIFE AND A MOTHER:

·         That is passionately in love with Him.

      ·         That is selfless and considerate of others.

·         That is gentle and respectful towards the family.

·         That is dedicated and devoted to her family.

·         That submits with joyfulness in her heart unto to God.

·         That cares about dressing her heart inside and out.

·         That loves to obey the biblical role for the home.

·         That is a gift to the family.

As John MacArthur says “one of the unique features of the bible is the way it exalts women. Far from ever demeaning or belittling women, Scripture often seems to go out of the way to pay homage to them, to ennoble their roles in society and family, to acknowledge the importance of their influence, and exalt the virtues of women who were particularly godly examples. " I only have two questions to ask! The first question is for the moms !...........Are being a godly example? The second question is for the family!.............Are you enabling the mom to be a godly example? This is dedicated to all the godly mothers and soon to be moms out there! Thank you for being you!........ But I truly want to thank my lovely wife.............

Happy Mother's Day Sweetheart!