Midweek Musings

This weekend we will celebrate Mother’s Day, albeit under the restrictions of Covid-19. So no restaurants, no family gatherings, no visits to family homes or senior’s homes. But we will still find ways to honour and bless our mothers on Sunday because of all they mean to us. For many, it’s about remembering moms who are no longer with us, reflecting on the wonderful memories of the past, shedding a few tears as you look at pictures or think of your moms. We give thanks for all of our moms, and wish each of you a happy mother’s day! Our thoughts and prayers are especially with the moms who have to spend the day apart from family, whatever the reason may be.

We think a lot of our Moms, as the story below illustrates:

A little boy forgot his lines in a Sunday school presentation. His mother was in the front row to prompt him. She gestured and formed the words silently with her lips, but it did not help. Her son's memory was blank. Finally, she leaned forward and whispered the cue, "I am the light of the world. The child beamed and with great feeling and a loud clear voice said, "My mother is the light of the world.

Our moms bring a lot of light and love into our lives!

There are some stories about mothers in scripture that give us some good examples to follow. I’ll share a few thoughts as we look at them, the first of which is Eve, the first woman ever, and the first mom.

Eve is most often remembered for listening to the serpent and eating the forbidden fruit, and sharing it with her husband Adam, resulting in all mankind being born into sin. Not a great legacy. But Eve was also a mother to Cain and Abel, and then to Seth, giving thanks to God for their births. And when Enosh, her grandson by Seth was born, the Bible records that at that time people began to call on the name of the Lord. Without inferring too much, it is evident that in spite of her failure and sin, and after having to leave the Garden of Eden and establish a new life with Adam that would prove to be much more difficult, the importance of communing with God was passed on to their family. We see it with Cain and Abel, and with Seth and his son Enosh, resulting in the descendants of Adam and Eve seeking the God of their parents.

All of us, including moms, struggle with sin and failure. But thank God for those who get back on their feet when they fall, who refuse to allow their imperfections and mistakes to separate them from their faith, and who go on to instill spiritual values in their children in word and example.

Jochebed was the mother of Moses, and she gave birth during a very difficult period in Hebrew history. The Israelites, who were not a nation yet, were living as slaves in Egypt under the thumb of the Pharaoh of this time. Long gone were the heady days with Joseph having a high position in government. This was a time of oppression, cruelty, and slavery. In an attempt to control the growing population of the Hebrew slaves, Pharaoh orders that all male babies born were to be put to death. When Jochebed gave birth to Moses, she hid him, preserving his life, as long as she could. But the time came when she could no longer hide him, so she placed him in a basket and put him in the Nile river, hoping his life would be saved, and it was! Pharoah’s daughter found and rescued him, and raised him as a prince of Egypt, and even hired Jochebed as his nurse. Eventually, Moses would become the means by which God would lead the Israelites out of slavery and establish them as a nation in their own land!

What an incredible example of trusting God for our children, knowing that God’s love and His plans are greater than ours, that sometimes we just have to let go and let God do the rest! We do all we can, but God can do all that we can’t! Thank God for moms who love their children, who do their best to protect them and prepare them for life, who teach them and lead them to walk with God, but who also know when they have to let go and trust in God, who never lets go!  And if it means watching from a distance, waiting, not always understanding, but having faith that God has it under control, then that’s what they’ll do.

Hannah was in need of a miracle. The brunt of abuse and ridicule because of being unable to conceive was unbearable, and in desperation she cried out to God, promising that if God gave her a son she would give him to the Lord for all of his life. Eli, the High Priest at the time, saw her praying and thought she was drunk, but after realizing she was passionately praying, he then blessed her. God answered her prayer and gave her a son whom she named Samuel, because, she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord”. Samuel went on to be mentored in the temple by Eli and eventually would become a long-serving prophet and judge of Israel. All because of Hannah, his mom, who asked for him from the Lord!

Thank God for praying mothers, who ask for their children from the Lord, who understand and know that God hears our prayers and He answers when we cry out to Him! If you need a miracle for your family, God is the answer! What are you needing, what is it that weighs heavy on your mind, what is the cry of your heart? Like Hannah, we have a God who hears us and is able to answer our prayers!

Thank you to all our moms who have set great examples for us to follow, who have prayed for us, loved us, believed and trusted God for us, and have asked God for us time and time again!

I’ve included a couple of videos below, one from Elevation church, and another from Football Sunday (yes, it’s about moms!). I hope you enjoy!

As well I’m attaching a couple of Missions updates for you to read.

While drive-in services are now allowed with strict conditions, due to the weather forecast being cool and wet this Sunday, we will be having our first Drive-in Service next Sunday, May 17th, at 4 pm. we will have to park cars in every other parking spot, and everyone must remain in their cars with no outside interaction. The building and washrooms will remain closed to the public.
       Remember to take time each day to seek God through a time of personal worship, prayer, and reading His Word. 
      Especially, take Thursdays to spend some extra time praying and seeking God. Pray for our leaders and front-line workers. Pray for those who have Covid-19, and those who are grieving. Pray for our police and for our province. Pray for your pastors, leaders, our seniors, and our church family. Pray for an easing of restrictions in due time that would happen safely and for a recovery of our economy.

      The link to Pray Nova Scotia is below. Anyone is welcome to join in!

Pray Nova Scotia

Have a blessed day!