May 11, 2015

^"Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth."  Genesis 7:17

What can you expect from a God Who can do anything, anytime, to anyone when ever He wants to?

From the perspective of Noah, you can expect God to keep His promises!

And, indeed, He did! And trusting in God's promise strengthened Noah before the storm. But that is not all! Noah also found that trusting God's promise also supported him IN the storm!

Can you get your mind around what Noah did? He spent 100+ years preparing for an catastrophic event that would be caused by a meterological phenomenon never seen before! That's faith! That is believing God!

Noah expected that the same promise that strengthened him while he prepared for the storm would also support him IN the storm!

What do you trust during your storms? What supports you?

This stirring story of Noah reminds us that life is stormy! As you read this you are either in a storm, coming out of a storm or headed to the next one! When those storms come you will either sink or swim! That's the way it is! Where will you look for support?

There are so many great lessons to learn from this story, but one that I want to focus on is this: when you expect God to support you in the storm He will use the flood that would have destroyed you will lift you up!

Faith floats! When you claim the promises of God and live by them every day, faith will keep you afloat! When you base your decisions on the promises of God, faith will keep you afloat! 

God's promises will lift you above your doubts! His promises will lift you above your despair! His promises are based in His character and guaranteed by His power so you can hope in them like Noah did.

Don't be fearful in the storm! Don't sink! Don't get swamped! Cling to His promises and they will support you!

I promise!

May 10, 2015

Mom is the guiding force behind all great people and those great people are aware of it! Enjoy these quotes as a tribute to Moms everywhere on Mother's Day!

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.  ― Washington Irving

Behind all your stories is always your mother's story, because hers is where yours begin. 

― Mitch Albom

No man is poor who has a Godly mother. ― Abraham Lincoln

My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her. 

― George Washington

(Motherhood) is the one job where, the better you are, the more surely you won't be needed in the long run.― Barbara Kingsolver

(A mother) can be glorious or terrible, benevolent or filled with wrath, but she commands love either way. I am convinced that this is the greatest power in the universe.  ― N.K. Jemisin

How vital are mother’s influence and teaching in the home—and how apparent when neglected! ― Ezra Taft Benson

God knows that a mother needs fortitude and courage and tolerance and flexibility and patience and firmness and nearly every other brave aspect of the human soul. ― Phyllis McGinley

(Mothers) worry only about those we brought into this world, regardless of whether they loved us back or treated us fairly or understood our shortcomings.  ― Adriana Trigiani

I realized when you look at your mother, you are looking at the purest love you will ever know. ― Mitch Albom

You may have tangible wealth untold; caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be. I had a mother who read to me.  ― Strickland Gillilan

The daughter of a good mother will be the mother of a good daughter. ― Vikrant Parsai

No language can express the power, and beauty, and heroism, and majesty of a mother's love. It shrinks not where man cowers, and grows stronger where man faints, and over wastes of worldly fortunes sends the radiance of its quenchless fidelity like a star. — Edwin Hubbell Chapin

Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love. — Mildred B. Vermont

The phrase “working mother” is redundant.— Jane Sellman

If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go where a prayer has not already been.— Robert Brault

She never quite leaves her children at home, even when she doesn't take them along.

— Margaret Culkin Banning

If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands? — Milton Berle

Mom—the person most likely to write an autobiography and never mention herself.

— Robert Brault

The mother-child relationship is paradoxical and, in a sense, tragic. It requires the most intense love on the mother's side, yet this very love must help the child grow away from the mother, and to become fully independent. — Erich Fromm

May 9, 2015

I found this thought today and wanted to share Mother's Day "by the Book".

What does the Bible say about moms? Here are some Bible quotes you can use for inspirational greeting cards, personal devotions, or preparing a Bible study/sermon about Mother’s Day. Each of these scriptures about mothers are quoted from the ESV translation.

Motherhood Before the Fall

"Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.". (Genesis 2:24-25 ESV)

Sons Should Follow their Mother’s Teaching

"My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching. Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you." (Proverbs 6:20-22 ESV)

Mother’s Must Correct their Children

The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. (Proverbs 29:15 ESV)

Children Must Honor their Mother (and Father)

“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:2-4 ESV)

Timothy’s Mother as Faith Example

"I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well."  (2 Timothy 1:5 ESV)

Jesus Provided for His Mother Before He Died

"When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home." (John 19:26-27 ESV)

Warning to Provide for Your Aged Mother

"Honor widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." (1 Timothy 5:3-7; 1 Timothy 5:8 ESV)

Women Who Believer are Like Mothers to Jesus

While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:46-50 ESV)

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

May 7, 2015

"Honor your father and your mother........"

Pictures really do say more than a thousand words!

Here is a pictorial tribute to a mothers love!

Here are some Magnificent Moms!

So many of us have been spoiled on our mother’s love.  So much that we don’t realize how much love they really had for us.  We don’t realize how much they did for us.  We can’t comprehend what they would do for us. Whether it be as dramatic as this image of the Israeli woman shielding her son while rockets were being shot into her town during the Gaza war…

… or small acts, like this mother getting wet while her son holds the umbrella…

 … or this 97 year old mother who has been feeding and taking care of her 60 year old paralyzed son every day for 19 years…

…it can be so easy to forget just how much a mother gives, and how much she is willing to give.  How much she loves. 

Is there something you need to say to your mother?

May 8, 2015

“Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching.  They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.” Proverbs 1:8-9

Last Sunday I taught Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan as a visual illustration of what it looks like to love people to life!

I encourage you to read it again this week! Chapters 9 and 10 of Luke’s Gospel are very inspiring!

In Jesus’ story, there are five outstanding traits that stood out in the Good Samaritan’s loving response to the badly beaten man on the Road from Jerusalem to Jericho.

First, he saw the needy man!

What distinguished this Samaritan was that he saw with his heart not just with his eyes! The priest and the levite noticed the needy man but felt no compassion for him and passed him by.

Second, he stopped for the needy man!

While the two religious leaders crossed the road and walked past the suffering man, the despised Samaritan stopped to lend assistance.

Third, he served the needy man!

While the “professional servants” hurried by the scene of the crime, the Samaritan stopped and attended to his needs!

Fourth, he sacrificed for the needy man!

While the priest and the levite were too busy to be bothered with the needy man, the Samaritan generously met the needs out of his own pocket!

He sacrificed his time by stopping to help. He risked his safety by stopping to help the man. And then he paid two days wages to cover the immediate care for the injuries and then promised to cover and additional expenses!

Fifth, he stayed involved with the need man!

Not only did the Samaritan interrupt this trip to help the needy man but he promised to do the same on his return trip! He didn’t settle for meeting the urgent immediate needs of this man, but was committed to his complete healing and long-term health!

What a clear and compelling picture of how to love people to life!

And remember, after telling this powerful parable Jesus said, “You go and do likewise!”

Reflecting back on this story and thinking about my Mother’s Day message it dawned on me, “The way this Samaritan loved is EXACTLY how mothers love!

Mothers see!

Long before HD television and all the high tech visual devises, my mom had MOM VISION! See saw needs before we knew we had them! She didn’t miss a thing! She has eyes in the back of her head but she saw with her heart!

We honor our Magnificent Moms for the way they see our needs – with eyes AND hearts of love!

Mothers stop!

Dads always seem to be too busy, Moms never are! They make you feel very important because they stop what they are doing to attend to your need!

We honor our Magnificent Moms because they see our needs and they stop to meet them!

Moms Serve!

Mom’s meet needs like no one else. There few hurts that can’t be healed by a Mother’s kiss or a problems that can’t be solved by a Mother’s hug!

We honor our Magnificent Moms for the way they see our needs, stop to meet them and serve us.

Moms Sacrifice!

It is practically redundant to say “Mom” and “sacrifice” in the same sentence. Sacrifice is what they do! It is their default position! It is easier for a Mom to sacrifice than not to! If you had to count all the sacrifices your Mom has made for you there may not be enough zeroes!

Moms Stay Involved!

Mom has always been keenly interested and involved in my life – when I was 6 days old, 6 years old, 16 years old and even in my 60’s, it doesn’t change! The same is true of your Mom! And if you are a Mom it is true of you as well!

Moms are worthy of our honor because of their magnificent love! They love according to the pattern Jesus illustrated in His story of the Good Samaritan! I can’t wait until Sunday to shower our Magnificent Moms with praise!

May 6, 2015

"10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. 

11Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. 

12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. 

13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. 

14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.

15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. 

16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 

17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. 

18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. 

19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 

20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.

21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. 

22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. 

23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 

24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. 

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. 

26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 

27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 

28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 

29 "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." 

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 

31 Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate." Proverbs 31:10-31

Sunday we will be celebrating and honoring our Magnificent Moms!

Honestly, I chose that theme for the alliteration of it - it sounds good! And I chose it because it captures the thoughts expressed in Proverbs 31 describing a godly woman!

I also chose it because it is true of every lady who graces the doors of FredWes on Sundays!

It's certainly true of the lady who resides in my house!

However, I didn't know how right I was until I actually looked up the definition of magnificent!

Check it out and see how perfectly this fits the FredWed females!

adjective:

1.

making a splendid appearance or show; of exceptional beauty, size,etc.

Forget the size part........

2.

extraordinarily fine; superb:

Right on!

3.

noble; sublime:

Everyone of you!

4.

(formerly used as a title of some rulers)great; grand:

Rulers.........yep, that fits!

5.

lavishly munificent; extravagant:

Lavish and extravagant, indeed!

See what I mean! We have Magnificent Moms!

May 5, 2015

7 Things You Need to Know About Your Wife (But May Not)

Ron Edmondson

Sometimes we do the wrong thing before we even knew we did the wrong thing.

Guys, can I be honest with you? Marriage can be hard.

Did you know that already?

Sometimes you do the wrong thing before you even knew you did the wrong thing. You try to figure out the one you love the most, but the more you try, the more confused you get. I get it. I understand.

Men and women are different. (You can tweet that.)

We don’t always think and respond to life the same way.

And, likely there are some things about your wife you just didn’t know.

Over the years, through counseling training and actual counseling—and learning from my wife—I’ve observed some things. And I’ve realized some men simply don’t know them—or don’t realize how important they are to their wives.

Here are 7 things you may not know (but you need to know) about your wife:

You step on her feelings more than you know.

You just do. And you don’t even mean to—or know that you've done it most of the time. She may think you know, but you don’t. You’re just not as aware of how she’s wired emotionally. And most of the time she overlooks it. She knows it wasn’t intentional. But it hurts. And the more you do it, the more it hurts. So be careful with your words.

This leads to the next one.

Your words are heavier than you think they are.

You need to know that. When she asks you how she looks, for example—yes, it is a quandary on how to respond, and there are plenty of jokes around about that dilemma—your response matters. Probably more than any other response of her day. It’s a small question to you but a big question for her. And you communicate things to her continually through how you say what you say and the body language you combine with your words. And they weigh a ton to her. A ton.

She wants you to take the lead.

At least occasionally. I know all the women’s rights issues cloud this for you. It can be confusing, but there’s likely something in your wife just waiting for you to make a decision. She values your input, and she wants you to lead in the home as well as she sees that you can lead elsewhere. And, speaking on behalf of men, I know you don’t always want to be the leader. She’s better at making many of the decisions than you are. Still, she’s waiting, hoping that you’ll step up when and where you need to lead.

She doesn’t want to be like her mother.

Or to be compared to her mother. And these type jokes aren’t funny. Ever. Trust me. And, in fact, she doesn’t want to be like any other woman either. She wants to be seen for the unique wonder she is—which by the way was God-designed.

She is likely with you even when she’s not.

At least in her mind. Our wives are very relational. So if she asks about your calendar, now you know. She’s not trying to be difficult or suspicious. She’s trying to be with the one she loves.

It’s okay just to hold her hand.

And, also, to occasionally be romantic. You may have established a long time ago that you’re not the romantic type. She may realize she married funny—or serious or dedicated—more than romantic. But every woman needs a little romance occasionally. It makes her feel special, especially when it comes from you.

The way her world looks is often how her heart feels.

All her world. The house, for example. You think it doesn’t matter, but to her it reflects her—not you. She’s also conscious of what others think of her appearance. She carries this burden heavier than she wants to sometimes. Don’t diminish this to her. Understand it.

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be  praised Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate." Proverbs 31:30-31