Inspiration and Encouragement – May 2021 | Mother’s Day
Scripture Quote
“Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.”
Matthew 19:19:
“Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
Your IQ
“The impression that a praying mother leaves upon her children is life-long. Perhaps when you are dead and gone your prayer will be answered.”
D.L. Moody.
“I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.”
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
Fresh Manna
“Carry Him to His Mother”
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life. And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother.”.
2 Kings 4:16-19
Of all the people who contributed to the ministry of Elisha, the unnamed woman who lived in Shunem had her story memorialized for us in Scripture. She and her husband made a place in their home for the traveling prophet where he could stay and be refreshed on his travels. Their help was so meaningful to Elisha that he asked what he could do for her, but she replied that she was content. Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, pointed out that the couple had no children, so Elisha prophesied that they would have a son, and the next year he was born. When he had grown up, he went to the field with his father, and had something like a heatstroke and died, then was raised to life again by Elisha. But when he fell ill, his father immediately ordered the servants to take him to his mother.
The impact of mothers is beyond measure. John Wesley said, “I learned more about Christianity from my mother than from all the theologians in England.” Yet despite the value of a good mother, we see in our society a devaluing of motherhood. We must make sure that godly motherhood is valued and promoted and that gratitude is shown to those who are so often taken for granted.
Today’s Growth Principle: Mothers hold a unique place in God’s plan for the family and society, and we should honor them.
Something to Think About!
Today is the Day:
He asked her what was wrong and she replied, “I wanted to buy a red rose for my mother. But I only have seventy-five cents, and a rose costs two dollars.”
The man smiled and said, “Come on in with me. I’ll buy you a rose.”
He bought the little girl her rose and ordered his own mother’s flowers. As they were leaving, he offered the girl a ride home. She said, “Yes, please! You can take me to my mother.”
She directed him to a cemetery, where she placed the rose on a freshly dug grave. The man returned to the flower shop, canceled the wire order, picked up a bouquet and drove the two hundred miles to his mother’s house.
Poetry Corner
Looking Back
When I was in diapers
You cared for me day and night
You work very hard for me
To make sure everything was right
You were my playmate
Before I had started school
Occasionally you would let me win
Which was your loving rule
As I started going to school
You would send me on my way
And when I came home for lunch in grade school
You were waiting for me each day
Now they have a big cafeteria
And the children stay all day
Progress some would claim
I personally like the old fashioned way
You don’t get hugs at school
And you don’t get homemade food
The personal touch from mom is better
Than dealing with strangers who can be rude
High school came with twists and turns
And passed by so very fast
One thing was still the same
Was mom’s love as it was in the past
I remember when I left for college
And how many tears you shed
Your baby had left home
And you heart inside had bled
At last came my wedding day
Never again to live at home
Knowing you’re youngest was gone
And living on his own
Then there came your grandson
A little boy all our own
He is developing into a fine young man
And he is getting close to being fully-grown
Your health has slowed you down
And you can’t do everything as before
Yet that can never change the fact
That you are my mom and I love you more
Time moves with great speed
And no man can slow it down
Yet the love of a caring mother
Keeps flowing all the year round
Looking back on things in life
And what they mean to me
There is nothing more special
Then a mother such as thee
By Kurt John LaCapruccia
(This poem was written before my mom passed away.)
More than Conquerors
The wrong decision!
Postage stamp USA 1990 printed in USA shows Chief Justice John Marshall, Bicentenary of Supreme Court, circa 1990
About 1830, a man named George Wilson killed a government employee who caught him in the act of robbing the mail. Wilson was tried and sentenced to be hanged. The President of the United States, Andrew Jackson, sent Wilson a pardon. But Wilson did a strange thing: he refused to accept the pardon.
No one seemed to know what to do because of this, so Wilson’s case was sent to the U. S. Supreme Court. Chief Justice Marshall wrote the opinion: “A pardon is a slip of paper, the value of which is determined by the acceptance of the person to be pardoned. If it is refused, it is no pardon. George Wilson must be hanged.” And he was.
The cross of Christ is a revelation of God’s love for all people. We may do cowardly and disappointing things and bring deep pain to the Father’s heart, but in the cross, we see that He never gives up on us. Something happened that day on Calvary that forever makes a difference in the relationship between people and God. Even when the love of Jesus was thrown in His face with spitting, mocking and cursing, it remained unbroken.
The death of Christ on the cross is the pardon God has sent. But before it becomes a pardon, we must accept it in faith and obedience. It is through the cross, and only through the cross that we can be saved from sin and its consequence of eternal separation from God in hell.
Have you accepted God’s pardon in Christ Jesus? If not, will you?
John 1:12 “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” God’s pardon must be received as well. God offers us a free gift. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” A gift is free to the recipient, but it is the giver that pays the price for it. If we accept the gift it becomes our, but if we refuse the gift it still belongs to the one who purchased it for us. A head knowledge of what the gift is not enough to make it yours, it must be received. Receive God’s gift of eternal life today!
