Mothers are a Gift from God
Proverbs 31:25-31
25 Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household, and eats not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excels them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fears the Lprd, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Motherhood is a God-given role exclusively given women.
1 Timothy 2:15
Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
Having children is viewed by many as a problem, inconvenience, unwanted, but it’s God’s blessing
Psalms 127:3
Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Motherhood is honorable & vital for the home to succeed & thrive.
Motherhood is not “inbred” – It must be learned
Titus 2:4
That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
Learn love (child abuse shows motherhood is learned, not inbred).
Learn to remove selfishness (child’s interests come before yours).
Learn how to meet the responsibilities of wife & mother
Bible mothers teach good lessons for mothers today
And teach children to appreciate their mothers every day.
BLESSINGS TO GIVE YOUR CHILDREN.
Jochebed: The Blessing of Life & Safety Ex. 2:1-10.
Mothers give lifenot Abortion (1.37 millionyr; 3,700/day).
Jehovah is her glory, wife of Amram, and the mother of Miriam, Aaron, and Moses
Mothers protect life-Faith in God’s provisions
Hebrews 11:23
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
Mothers sustain life
Proverbs 31:27
She looks well to the ways of her household, and eats not the bread of idleness.
1 Timothy 5:14
I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
Mothers give, protect & sustain the spiritual life of children.
Hannah:The Blessing ofDevotionto God
1 Samuel 1:9-11
9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord.
10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.
11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
What did you pray for when you wanted - expecting children?
Healthy? Boy or girl?Or Devoted to God?
1 Samuel 1:11
I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life,
Not only obligated the child, but also the mother!
1 Samuel 1:20
Because I have asked him of the Lord.
Hannah attended to helping Samuel be devoted to God
She didn’t forget her vow
1 Samuel 1:27-28
27 For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28 Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there.
Mothers:
You love your children by helping them be devoted to God.
Set the example of faithful worship, godly living, humble service, Bible teachingc.
Eunice & Lois: The Blessing of Teaching God’s Word
2 Timothy 1:5
When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
Timothy had “genuine faith” because of his mother & grandmother's faith!
They taught him the word of God from infancy
2 Timothy 3:14
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
Mothers have great opportunity to teach God’s word to children:
Bible stories about God, Jesus, prayer, love, obedience, values, honesty
Teach your children faith in God, not the values of the world.
Proverbs 1:8
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
Proverbs 31:26
She opens her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
SOME CHALLENGES OF MOTHERHOOD
The Challenge of Time - Use it Wisely
Ephesians 5:16
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Many things compete for your time each day:
Make time to talk, listen, nurture, play with, teach children.
In the kitchen, the bedroom, the park, the car
Deuteronomy 6:7
And you shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when you sit in thine house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.
If God is not a priority in your life He will not be in your children’s life, either
The Challenge of Patience to Develop Self-control
1 Corinthians 9:25
And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things.
You must be the calm in the midst of chaos, the level head in moments of crisis
The disciplinarian without being angry.
Overcome impatience with prayer
Philippians 4:6
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
The Challenge of Multi-Tasking:Managing Household and often working
1 Timothy 5:14
I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house.
W.E. Vines Expository dictionary of New Testament words
Guide the house - “the management & direction of household affairs”
Wife, mother, housekeeper, cook, counselor, doctor, transportation director
Mothers have a demanding job!
Requires the mind of Christ – Humility and unselfishness
Philippians 2:3-5
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Husband & children: Honor her!
Proverbs 31:28-29
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.
GOD’S ADVICE ON MOTHERHOOD.
Avoid FavoritismComparisons of Children
Genesis 25:27-28
27 And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.
28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebecca loved Jacob.
This led to deception, hatred, bitterness in children, heartache.
Each child is special & unique;
Be thankful and accept the child God gives you.
Bless that child with life, devotionknowledge of God’s word.
Set godly examples for your children.
Ezekiel 16:44-45
44 Behold, every one that uses proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter.
45 Thou art thy mother's daughter, that loths her husband and her children; and thou art the sister of thy sisters, which loths their husbands and their children:
Your children will learn from you & often follow your example.
Be an example of godliness, purity, modesty, respect for men – women
1 Peter 3:1-2
1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
Be Thankful for your Children
1 Thessalonians 5:18
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Thank God…your husband…your children!
Children are great blessings with eternal implications
Judges 13:8
O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.
Conclusion
Proverbs 15:20
A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despises his mother.
The calling of motherhood is honorable & demanding.
Keep faith in God for your strength, guidance & comfort
Share your faith with your children.
END