May 13, 2001 Volume 2 Number 19
|
The Essence Of A
Mother The hand given by God to mortal man to soothe, correct, guide and direct is found upon the beauty of God's final creation: woman. In the creation of the world and the grandeur of all things new and good, the crowning blessing of God's love upon the world was to create a velvet tapestry of woman. Unlike all creation before her, the woman represented a softened frame of God's love and wisdom for all time. The world was created in perfect order with each part of God's words bringing forth the essence of His own character. Embodied in the woman God wrapped all creation before with jewels of compassion, beauty, strength, character and wonderment. The role of woman in motherhood is the brightness of these jewels magnified many times over and over. Only through the beauty of the woman would children be brought forth and given unto the world. The burden was increased of childbirth because of sin but time and time again the woman glows with the good in creation in the act of birth. In pain children enter the world and find immediate comfort in the arms of she who carried the child within her womb. The womb of love ever grows with each passing moment as the child grows. While released from the confines of the womb, the child is then entombed within the heart of the mother. The heart of the mother is a heart that fills all the moments of the child's life. With each word, each movement and each step, her heart grows. She remembers the soft touch, the needful cry and the infant smile. A mother's heart records each moment and each thought to be treasured for life. The eyes of a mother see more than anyone else. She sees the eyes fill with wonder and the hands that reach for new worlds. She beholds the feet as they stagger and sway and begin to take strength. A mother can see when the child is sick and in need of care. The eyes of a mother lovingly share the vision of the child. From tiny hands the child grasps hold of a mothers soft caress. In the touching a sense of security and warmth is felt and soothes the child's fears. The child knows the gentle love expressed with the hands of the mother. With gentle pats, sleep comes with the words of song. The voice of the mother fills the mind of the child even before birth. Songs echo in the chambers of the spirit and the child feels the warmth of love. Laughter brings about joy and in return gives joy to the mother. No greater pleasure and happiness is felt than when the child hears the voice of their mother - mothers have a special voice. As the child grows, these moments of time build upon themselves to create a painting of memories. The essence of motherhood is not confined to those precious moments of infancy because the child, who once was solely dependent upon the mothers care, begins to walk with self-confidence and assurance. The mind of the child establishes values and judgments and the mother begins to slowly unwind the strings of possession upon them. Other voices call to the child and beckons them come with a mischief heart. The mother is torn as the child stumbles and falls. Helping hands extend to comfort once more and again the child knows the infant comfort of a mother. From infancy to young adult the child grows and with it the concerns and cares of a mother. The brow is framed with rows of worry and the heart yearns for the dependence once shared between mother and child. With continued patience, the mother strives to guide and direct the steps of the young child. Adulthood blossoms in the eyes of the young child and with unsure flight, releases the bonds of the nest to a world unknown. The last of creation has done her work and the true essence of motherhood can be seen. The law of the mother is bound upon the heart of the child and tied securely about the neck. With these words of motherly comfort and guidance of sure hands, the child grown to adulthood spans the horizon with the lamp of a mothers love and the light of her law. In the way of life her words reprove, correct and admonish with instruction. The great work of motherhood is found in the heart of the child. Implanted in the mind is the wisdom of God. Secured in the deepest depths of the heart is the love of God. The tender voice of her guidance fills the ears and the strength of her hand directs the way. Motherhood is exalted in the life of every child who follows the one who made the woman and brought her to Adam. From that moment on God would show to all creation is wisdom and power. Framed within the body of the woman is the power and essence of motherhood. Motherhood is the dwelling of God in the heart of a woman who seeks to instill in her children all that God has given her. She is mighty in her work, tender in her care and beautiful in her grace. Thank you God for giving such a perfect gift as you made - in woman - motherhood. To Be A Great Mother... M - Marry the right man O - Obey the gospel T - Train your children to love God H - Honor your parents E - Enjoy Christianity R - Request Wisdom from God. “IS IT LAWFUL?” When the Pharisees asked Jesus in Matt. 19:3, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” He reminded them of God’s original intent and purpose for the marriage relationship. When God joined a man and woman together as husband and wife, it was not His will for them to be divorced from each other. Their mutual love and respect for one another was to hold them together as long as they both lived. “What God has joined together, let not man separate” (vs. 5). Note that the Pharisees’ question involved a matter of law -- the law of Moses under which they lived. But Jesus’ answer went back even beyond that Law to God’s original intent and purpose. His response prompted them to further ask, “’Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce and to put her away?’ He said to them, ‘Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery’” (verses 7-9). Note that in their second question, they suggested Moses had commanded divorce. Jesus corrected their terminology by reminding them that Moses had tolerated divorce. He certainly had not commanded it. Deut. 24:1-4 would never have been written but for the hardness of the hearts of Israel in ignoring God’s revelation about marriage in the beginning, and it was given to regulate the worst features of a completely undesirable situation. The time was rapidly approaching when the Law of Moses would be taken away and “nailed to the cross” (Col. 3:14-16). Jesus was in the process of preparing folks for the kingdom of God, which was at hand, Matt. 4:17; 10:7; 19:12, etc. Therefore Jesus was little concerned at that point in time with making technical clarifications of Moses’ Law. He was more concerned with emphasizing the original desires and purposes of God for the marriage relationship. Jesus underscored that under His administration, divorce “for just any reason” would not be acceptable. Within the law of Christ, marriage is to be as it was “in the beginning.” Divorce is to be greatly discouraged, and re-marriage is not acceptable except in the case of the death of a spouse, or in a case where the divorce occurred because of the sexual immorality of one of the parties to that marriage. In such a case, the faithful partner has the option of divorcing the immoral partner, and the faithful partner may remarry without sin. Society needs to return to the principles of Jesus on the subject of marriage and divorce.
It is not the mission of the church to furnish amusement for the world or even for its own members. Innocent amusement in proper proportion has its place in the life of all normal persons, but it is not the business of the church to furnish it. The church would come off a poor second if it undertook to compete with institutions established for the express purpose of entertaining people. It would make itself ridiculous if it entered into such competition. Again, it is not the responsibility of the church as such to furnish recreation for its members. A certain amount of recreation is necessary to the health and happiness of the individual. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, it is said, and rightly said; but it is not the function of the church to provide the play. For the church to turn aside from its divine work to furnish amusement and recreation is to pervert its mission. It is to degrade its mission. Amusements and recreation should stem from the home rather than the church. The church, like Nehemiah, has a great work to do; and it should not come down on the plains of Ono to amuse and entertain. As the church turns its attention to amusement and recreation, it will be shorn of its power as Samson was when his hair was cut. Only as the church becomes worldly, as it pillows its head on the lap of Delilah, will it want to turn from its wonted course to relatively unimportant matters. Gospel Advocate, May 20, 1948 The Spirit Expressly
Says ... The Bible records only two places that "Holy Spirit Baptism" occurred. The first place is found in Acts chapter 2. Just before Jesus left His apostles at Jerusalem for the promise of the Father. The promise is found in Acts 1:8 (you, being the apostles). This was in fulfillment of Joel's prophecy found in Joel 2:23-24. The purpose of the coming of the Spirit to the apostles that day may be understood from the statements Jesus made to them.
In summary, the Holy Spirit came to the apostles to enable them to do what Jesus had promised. Food For Thought “ Let a pig and a boy have everything they want, and you'll get a good pig
and a bad boy. ” We
hope you find this bulletin useful in your Bible study. 2
Sam 22:31
|
A Voice From
The Past