May 13, 2012   

Today's Photograph . . . . A Good Place To Start With Blessing Your Wife and Your Mother (MQ)

Happy   Mother's   Day

Bible Study Verses

Matthew 10:37-38

Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. (ESV)

  

Deuteronomy 5:16

" 'Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.' " (ESV)

 Mark 9:35

And He sat down and called the twelve. And He said to them, "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." (ESV)  

Thoughts

Julia Ward Howe, the author of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, also planted the seed of Mother's Day in 1870 by her Mother's Day proclamation. 

Anna M Jarvis caught Howe's seed through her mother and May 10, 1908 became the first official Mother's day celebrated in the Andrew's Methodist Church in Grafton, WV and also in another church in Philadelphia, PA. The day drew 407 participants. Anne's mother had taught Sunday School within that church for over 20 years which was the determining factor in location.  Anna began the honored tradition of  two white carnations, her mother's favorite flower, given to each Mother. Customary practice is white flowers to a Mother if her mother is deceased or red flowers to be given if her mother is still alive.

Inspired by  the YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) request, US Senator Elmer Burkett proposed Mother's Day as a national holiday.  In spite of defeat by 1909, forty-six states were holding Mother's Day services including parts of Canada and Mexico. In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson followed declaring the 2nd Sunday of May into the nationally observed Mother's Day.

Despite her continued objections on the holiday's exploitation by the floral industry. Anna Jarvis died in 1948, blind, poor and childless. She never knew that The Florist's Exchange  had anonymously paid for her care till death.  Today more than 70 countries honor their Mothers on their appointed  Mother's Days.

(JQ)

Action Point

Balance is everything in the life of a follower of Jesus Christ. God first before family. Only those Mothers not sold out to Christ would want to be before Christ or a child's spouse in the life of her child. 

Then we must honor our Mothers. Not because they deserve it, as most do, but because God  tells us to in His Word to honor our parents. 

Our actions should always speak louder than our words!!! What do your actions shout in the treatment of your wife, the Mother of your children, and your Mother? 

Sportsmen's Tip of the Day

Take this day to bless Mothers in your life. Make this day a beautiful memory. Remember a servant's attitude is our altitude within our obedience to Jesus Christ. God bless each of you!!!