Happy Mother's Day to you. In addition to this message, we have two specials for you today. We have compiled testimonies from Mother's Days past at http://rejoiceministries.org/mothersday.php  Bob also has penned a Mother's Day story to encourage you - http://rejoiceministries.org/mother.html  

God Bless All Mothers!

"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Proverbs 31:29

Happy Mother's Day! I pray that all mothers and grandmothers will truly have a blessed day. I personally believe I cry more on Mother's Day weekend than most holidays. One reason I cry is because my own mother, mother-in-law and grandmothers are in Heaven with my Lord and I always miss them. I have such great memories of them. I am also hurting for so many women around the world who have not been as blessed as I have.

I know that there are many wives who want to be mothers, but their beloved spouse is not home. Never give up on the Lord! I am hurting for all the mothers who are praying for their spouse to come home and for their children to come to know their Lord Jesus Christ in a personal relationship. I know that you are carrying a heavy load being the godly example for your children, regardless of all your circumstances. I can assure you, regardless of your age, Mother's Day is emotional!

I would like to dedicate this devotional to all the Mothers around the world. I pray that each of you will have a special time with your Lord and feel His presence this Sunday regardless of your circumstances. I wish I could give a hug to each woman who is alone today, but never forget that you are loved by your Heavenly Father, the Creator of Heaven and earth.

Every year you and I will have different circumstances with children and grandchildren. May I encourage you to cherish all your special moments, write them down, and praise the Lord for all your good memories. Mothers, grandmothers you are a very special group. You are the prayer warriors for all your children and grandchildren. You are the backbone for many families. Remember, prayers have no limit in miles and the Lord hears your prayers and sees your tears. Grandmas, pray that your daughters and daughters-in-law will learn to lean on the Lord God as you have for so many years. Never give up on praying and standing for all of your family and loved ones to come to know the Lord Jesus Christ. Moms, Grandmas you must radiate the Lord's light as a lighthouse until everyone in your family and friends are home safely with their Lord.

"...But a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30

Your Lord has a special love letter for you today:

"...To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth— and not I only, but also all who know the truth - because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, will be with us in truth and love. It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. But seek first My kingdom and My righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.

"Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth- everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf. But this is what the LORD says: "Yes, captives will be taken from warriors, and plunder retrieved from the fierce; I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.

"For your Maker is your husband—the LORD Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth. The LORD will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit— a wife who married young, only to be rejected," says your God. "For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back.... Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you. "O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will build you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with sapphires. I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones. All your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children's peace. In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you. If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing; whoever attacks you will surrender to you....no weapon forged against you will prevail.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Me, and I will make your paths straight. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by your behavior, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.

"I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you and your beloved spouse; I will remove from you, your husband and children their hearts of stone and give each of you hearts of flesh.... " 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On the day I cleanse each of you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. They will say, "This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited." Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the LORD have rebuilt your marriage which was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it for you.' Peace be with you. Amen."

Scriptures taken from: 2 John 1-6, Matthew 5:44, Matthew 6:25,33, Matthew 15:28, Isaiah 43:5-8, Isaiah 49:25, Acts 2:21,39, Isaiah 54:5-7,10-15.17, Proverbs 3:5-6, John 15:5, I Peter 3:1-2, Psalm 139:23-24, Psalm 119:11,28,93-94,104-105, Ezekiel 36:25-26,33-36, John 20:19.

Have a blessed Mother's Day,
Charlyne and Bob Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.®
Post Office Box 10548
Pompano Beach, Florida 33061 USA
Ministry - http://rejoiceministries.org  


A Bobservation -

Did you ever consider how differently each of us are impacted by Mother’s Day? The advertisers would paint a picture of a perfect mother and father family, with Dad and his 2.3 children, awakening Mom with breakfast in bed, and expensive gifts from her perfect family, to start her perfect day.

For about 99% of our subscribers, Mother’s Day will start when they first open their eyes, and are reminded by the empty bed beside them of what is happening at home. Absent mothers (and fathers) will be reminded all day of how things used to be at home. The spouse at home, doing their best to be both mom and dad, will struggle to keep some sense of normalcy in their children’s abnormal Mother’s Day. For many, they dread that time later today when their children must be handed over to the other parent.

For some of us, our mothers have graduated to glory. How we wish we could have just one more Mother’s Day with Mom. There are others who do not even know where their mother can be found. Still others have not even spoken in years to the woman who brought them into this world.

Today at church, you will see smiling faces in the congregation, as mothers are recognized for their accomplishments. Buried deep behind many of those smiles are hearts that are breaking. Many mothers will be reflecting on the child that God called to His side prematurely, at least by the way that we view things. Other women will be hurting as they think how old their child would be this year, if they had not chosen abortion. There are other women who God has never blessed with a child. How they pray, (and how they hurt) year after year, as they observe other women’s children honoring Mom on this, her special day.

I suspect that it is not by accident that we celebrate Mother’s Day on the Lord’s Day. Regardless of what meaning Mother’s Day has for you, please be assured that we serve a God who loves you. He will touch your every hurt today, if you will call out to Him.

If it is within your power to do so, reach out in love to a mother today, be it your own, the mother of your children, or a struggling mother in your church family. Charlyne and I pray that you will seek God for His will and His direction. You may wish to make a contribution to a children’s home, raising kids without their mothers in the picture. Above all else, we are praying that lives and families will be forever changed because of Mother’s Day, 2008. To God be the glory. - R.E.S.