When Things Don’t Go As Planned

by Mary May Larmoyeux

As Mother’s Day approaches, I’m reminded of Jesus’ own mother, Mary. I can’t fully imagine how she must have felt when an angel told her that she would give birth to our Messiah. But I can understand how she treasured everything about Jesus in her heart and pondered the events of His life. After all, she was His mother.

But Mary did more than this. Day in and day out she trusted the sovereign hand of Jesus’ Almighty Father. That was her secret when things did not go as she had planned. That was her anchor when Jesus hung on the cross dying for our sins.

We live in a stress-filled world of wars, rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes. It’s a world that calls right, wrong. A world that has disguised sin as free choice. A fast-moving world that’s connected by e-mails, and i-phones and tweets.

But are we connected to the true God?

Do you ever worry about your children’s future? Do you wonder if they will even have a future as you watch the images of crumbling buildings and war? Sometimes I worry about my grandchildren’s future. But then I remember Mary’s secret.

Yes, she treasured the moment when Jesus took His first step. But more importantly, she trusted that His Almighty Father had every single thing in control. She pondered God’s past intervention in her life; she knew that she could depend on Him for the future.

I can imagine Mary reciting the words of Psalm 77:11-13: “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God?”

 Mom, no matter what happened yesterday or today, God is able to do anything. As my own dear mother says time and time again, “Things have a way of working out.”

Why do they work out? Because God has a purpose and a plan for each of us and for our children and grandchildren.

“Be strong and courageous …,” David said to his son Solomon, “Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, is with you” (1 Chronicles 28:20).

———-

 Taking It One-to-One:

• Is fear replacing faith in your child-rearing?
• Do you need to take your fears to the feet of Jesus and release them into His capable hands?
• Have you pondered the idea that God has a unique plan for each of your children?
• Are you mentoring someone that may need to hear the message of this article?

When Things Don’t Go As Planned

by Mary May Larmoyeux

As Mother’s Day approaches, I’m reminded of Jesus’ own mother, Mary. I can’t fully imagine how she must have felt when an angel told her that she would give birth to our Messiah. But I can understand how she treasured everything about Jesus in her heart and pondered the events of His life. After all, she was His mother.

But Mary did more than this. Day in and day out she trusted the sovereign hand of Jesus’ Almighty Father. That was her secret when things did not go as she had planned. That was her anchor when Jesus hung on the cross dying for our sins.

We live in a stress-filled world of wars, rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes. It’s a world that calls right, wrong. A world that has disguised sin as free choice. A fast-moving world that’s connected by e-mails, and i-phones and tweets.

But are we connected to the true God?

Do you ever worry about your children’s future? Do you wonder if they will even have a future as you watch the images of crumbling buildings and war? Sometimes I worry about my grandchildren’s future. But then I remember Mary’s secret.

Yes, she treasured the moment when Jesus took His first step. But more importantly, she trusted that His Almighty Father had every single thing in control. She pondered God’s past intervention in her life; she knew that she could depend on Him for the future.

I can imagine Mary reciting the words of Psalm 77:11-13: “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God?”

 Mom, no matter what happened yesterday or today, God is able to do anything. As my own dear mother says time and time again, “Things have a way of working out.”

Why do they work out? Because God has a purpose and a plan for each of us and for our children and grandchildren.

“Be strong and courageous …,” David said to his son Solomon, “Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, is with you” (1 Chronicles 28:20).

———-

 Taking It One-to-One:

• Is fear replacing faith in your child-rearing?
• Do you need to take your fears to the feet of Jesus and release them into His capable hands?
• Have you pondered the idea that God has a unique plan for each of your children?
• Are you mentoring someone that may need to hear the message of this article?

by Karen Winkelman

I  come from a long line of mothers.  In fact, there are mothers on both sides of my family tree going all the way back to…well, Eve.

Six of these women I have known personally:  Eva, Elva, Bernadine, Bertha, Bertha and Hedwig.  This last one was really a stepmother.  Clara, my grandfather’s mother, died when he was born.  These generations of women from different eras all had one thing in common:  they gave life.  Clara may not have lived to do much more for her son, but because she fulfilled this purpose, I am here.

“Eve” means life-giver and defines the core function of mothers.  Giving physical life is, of course, just the beginning of the life-giving we do.  Most mothers provide the basic food, clothing and shelter for their little ones.  Beyond that Scripture gives me glimpses of other things I am to be purposeful about:

• Teach (Deut. 6:7)
• Train (Prov. 22:6)
• Love (Titus 2:4)

Easier said than done, right?  Three teenagers and a college student make my little branch on the tree pretty crazy these days.  People tell me I have “sweet” girls; this may be true but when more than one are in the van with their hormones and whatever happened at school that day, I can tell you the air is not all that sweet.  Bickering, “attitude”, you name it.  I have caught myself thinking, “Someone should do something about this!  Where is their mother?”

It’s pretty sobering to stop and realize that THAT mother is me!  And what am I going to do about it?  I don’t often know but as a Christ follower, I have no trouble in those moments obeying the command, “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thess. 5:17)

What a relief for me as a mom to have the Helper, the Holy Spirit, guiding me.  I am not simply a branch in a family tree; I am connected to The Vine. (John 15)  And as one of His branches, I have an even greater life-giving purpose: to introduce my children to “the way, the truth and THE life.” (John 14:6)  Jesus tells us in the rest of this verse, “No one comes to the Father except through me.”

I can only “do” so much for my children and their momentary lack of sweetness.  What Jesus told Nicodemus is true for me and for them:  “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3-5)  They need to be connected to the Vine, too, and then the Helper can guide us all as sisters in Christ.

My daughters may not continue the line of mothers in our family tree–that still remains to be seen.  Closer to my heart is a most fervent prayer for them to truly follow Christ and be next in a long line of sisters branching out to the future for His Kingdom and glory.

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Taking it One-to-One:

• Do I relish my role as a life-giver?  How can I encourage other mothers to rejoice in this important nurturing function?
• Do I see myself as God’s ambassador, working to build strong character in the lives of my children?
• How can I encourage a childless woman to pass on her legacy either through adoption or involvement in children’s ministry?