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 Welcome to the Lansdale Life Church podcast.

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 If you're seeking a closer relationship with Jesus Christ, this podcast is for you.

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 Thank you for joining us today.

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 Well, we love our mothers. Amen.

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 Mothers, would you stand?

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 We just want to honor you this morning and appreciate all that you do through those very

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 vivid scenes. We can identify what we have either gone through or anticipate going through it. We

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 went to God bless you this morning, and this message is tailored to just you. So you sit

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 and enjoy it, and we'll have some interesting conversations about what mothers are. Thank you.

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 You may be seated. The signs of motherhood. I'm wondering if any of you could identify with this.

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 You know you have crossed that line into motherhood when you hide in the bathroom alone.

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 I can remember one time my wife, I came home and she was in the bathroom alone,

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 and here the little, and I raised three boys, they were sticking their fingers under the door.

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 Mommy, what you doing in there? You know, and it never ends. Your child throws up and you catch

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 it. How's that one? You got that one, don't you? Remember that all too well. You don't,

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 you can't bear the thought of your first son's girlfriend.

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 Boy, that was us with three boys. I mean, what's this going to be like?

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 Another one. You fast forward through the scene when the hunter shoots Bambi's mother

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 to protect your little ones. You stop criticizing your mother the way you were raised. Boy,

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 I tell you what, that one's a good one. And then finally, you use your own saliva

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 to clean your children's face. I can identify with that one.

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 All right. Well, this morning we just want to bless you and spend some time with you

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 and talk about mothers. We all have a mother. Some of us are fortunate to have a mother that's

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 still alive. And then of course, some of us have lost our mothers. They're very meaningful. And

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 you know, it's just always that we never spend enough time with them and appreciate them for

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 all that they have done. And regardless of where you find yourself this morning,

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 when you look at what the Bible says about mothers, you will discover that mothers are invaluable

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 and play a very important role in the home. We know that the life of our children and then the

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 life of the church also. The scripture tells us as a mother comforts your child, so I will comfort

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 you and you will be comfort. In other words, God is using motherhood as that type of comfort

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 and that type of declaration. And then in Isaiah 49 it says, can a mother forget the baby at her

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 breast and have no compassion on the child that she has born? So there is a real sense of what

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 mother does, what mother is, and we will get into that. So let's look at the background of

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 celebrating Mother's Day. In ancient times, the Greeks and Romans celebrated special dates

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 with festivals held in honor of a mother Goddess. And the precedent of Mother's Day can be traced

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 back to mothering Sunday. Isn't that interesting? In the Middle Ages, people would return to the

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 main church in their area, the mother church, and later that evolved into children honoring

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 their mothers. But the real breakthrough came with this individual here, Emma and Jarvis.

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 She established a National Mother's Day and she campaigned for that recognition.

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 Her mother had frequently expressed a desire to establish such a holiday. And after her death,

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 Jarvis led the movement for this commemoration. The first Mother's Day was held in St. Andrew's

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 Methodist Church, Grafton, West Virginia on May 10th, 1909. So it's been a long-standing occasion

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 that we've had an opportunity to present to you our wonderful mothers. Let me share with you some

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 of the thoughts and observations that I have about motherhood. Mothers stand in the gap.

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 They teach our children about the Lord in Sunday school and that is a worthy mission.

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 I can remember when working in church and then being pastor that there was always a need for

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 mothers to teach little ones. And not that fathers can't do that, but there's just something

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 about a mother's presence in that little room of babies crying or in the toddlers.

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 And mothers always seem to do a very successful job of that.

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 Where they stand against evil on behalf of their children, and we certainly see that today,

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 they attend school meetings, advocate people to vote for a comprehensive and conservative board,

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 and stand up against woke school board members. And I think we've all seen that across the land

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 these days. They champion for and when House and Senate seats in our government,

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 and praise the Lord for that. And they start and fund nonprofit organizations for truth and

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 integrity. And they protest and bring legislation against men in women's bathrooms. And if you've

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 seen that one instance where the young lady had testified in the president's office about

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 the legislation that he signed, she was so grateful for what he did. And she was a young

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 lady that was compromised in that situation. And they start national prayer movements and they

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 become teachers in our schools, especially Christian schools. And if you know a mother,

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 she would give that up for nothing. The cost of that education is never repaid because

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 Christian schools can't afford to pay the salaries that public schools do. But because

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 she's a mother, she does that. The lasting impressions that I have,

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 and I remember about my mom, is this. She was ever so loving, always wisely,

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 considering my wants versus my needs. And I was an only child, so I got the manifestation of all the

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 love from my mother and father. Now that may tell you why I have a personality the way I do.

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 I don't know that, but she always thought about that. She was always one not to speak quickly,

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 but to consider all. And she fostered an environment that was always positive.

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 And when my son started to go out and date and begin to go in the fair ways of life, they said,

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 you know, I just realized what kind of an upbringing we had. We never had arguments at

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 home and we always had love there. Some people really don't have that in their life. I said,

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 yeah, I said, it's a messed up world. And she provided a Christ-like atmosphere full of

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 enough love for just each and every need. Not too much to smother. Sometimes we do that as mothers,

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 and not too little, too late. My home was truly a refuge where I thrived until my teenage years,

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 and that was my choice. But still she loved me and fervently prayed for me in spite of myself.

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 And even when I ran away and went into the service for four years, I came home Wednesday

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 and told my mother that I was going to leave my father that Friday, and I enlisted in the service.

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 She cried alligator tears. She said, why? You know, so it was my choice. But through those years,

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 she prayed and prayed and I came back to the Lord. Thank you for mothers.

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 My mother never argued with my father. They always talked things through with cool heads.

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 Maybe they had a disagreement occasionally, but by and large, I never heard arguments.

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 So let's take a look at 1 Kings 3 that gives us insight into one aspect of motherhood,

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 and that's where Solomon, and you know the story, Solomon said,

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 bring me a sword when there was a division of whose child this was.

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 So he said, bring me that sword. And they didn't know what he was going to do.

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 But he said he gave the command, cut the living child in half.

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 And as you mothers cringe on that, she also said the mother whose son was alive,

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 she was deeply moved out of love for her son. She said this, please, Lord,

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 give her the living baby. Don't kill him. And that's truly is a mother's heart.

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 The mother protected the life of her son, even if it meant losing him.

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 So the story does demonstrate for us caring, compassion, and love that's exhibited by this

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 particular mother. And we thank the Lord that we concede his patterns through scripture.

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 So what are the qualifications and the qualities of a Godly mother? Well, first of all,

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 Godly mothers pray often. Can you ladies say amen to that? Out of need.

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 Prayer must be an essential part of their life. More than ever, we need mothers, of course,

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 and fathers who often abdicate their throne of responsibility, who take seriously their children's

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 needs for family, security, guidance, and Godly love for them. I think prayer is the beginning

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 and end of those conversations. And as you will see, you know, we have seen our children go on

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 and get married, and we still fervently pray for each child, each wife, each grandchild,

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 every day of our lives. And Godly mothers are intentional in what they do. Mothers must be

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 intentional about training their children, not passive, but active. Teaching biblical truths,

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 reflecting Christ-like character, encouraging prayer and worship, and disciplining in love.

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 I can remember one time that my son, he was, he was always, my middle one was always getting into

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 trouble. And we had a stick, and that stick was obvious in the house. We never used it until

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 there was a need. And one day, one of my children got up and he said, well, you know,

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 I'm not, I don't want to be spanked for whatever he was doing. And I said to him,

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 we'll go get the stick. So he brought the stick and part of the obvious is the anticipation of that.

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 Well, how many snacks are you going to give me? So, well, you know, and I told him, I said,

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 you know, this hurts me more than it hurts you. And he looked around and said, yeah.

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 So it's the idea in that discipline, there was love. And of course, they didn't realize that.

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 Sometimes this is hard work. There are moments when it looks like the wheels are about to fall off and

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 nothing was working. But again, we need to stay the course, ladies, and trust what God has said

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 to you in your heart about raising your children. Godly mothers know when it's time to go. And we've

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 experienced these things and all you wonderful ladies that have babies that I continually watch

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 as we worship. And, you know, I have a hard time worshiping because I see these beautiful little

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 faces being held and being attended to, that we've come to the point in time in our life

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 where we had to say goodbye. So mothers know when it's time to go. And you must realize

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 that raising your children is not a permanent job. I used to ask Joni, I said, well, what

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 are you going to do now that you've raised your children? She said, there's plenty to do,

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 but only a temporary one. You may have a few decades to do it, but there will be a time

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 when your work as a mother is finished. And then Godly mothers become long life,

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 lifelong intercessors for their children. And we have participated in that. All of our children

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 have gone and started their own families, and we recognize the role that is now different,

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 especially when we think we want to give advice to them. You know, maybe you should do this,

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 and until asked, we don't do it because we found out that doesn't go over so well.

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 So consequently, we've learned that. Joan is no longer a chief instructor, but now she and I

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 have become the chief supporter in everything that we can do for them and our grandchildren.

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 An encourager, I got up this morning early and Joni had already written three wonderful little

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 messages to her daughter-in-laws, each and messaged them. We are an intercessor for each son,

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 three, each daughter-in-law, three, and all the grandchildren, seven. So that's our lot in life

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 presently. So now let's take a look at what the Bible says about motherhood.

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 I was considering sharing on Mother's Day a lot of different things, and I

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 began to come back to the question, well, which mother reflected the qualities that I could best

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 identify with and tell a story? And I thought, and I thought, well, this is what I came up with.

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 It was a decision. Both Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Eunice, the mother of Timothy,

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 offer meaningful examples, but different perspectives. So I didn't quite know where

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 to go, but I ended up, again, realizing that Eunice stood out in the context for these reasons.

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 Both women embodied love, sacrifice, and devotion, but Eunice's story might feel

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 more accessible today and relatable today to many of us. Now here's why.

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 Eunice is, again, she perseveres with life to honor God. So let me give you a historical

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 perspective. She was Timothy's mother. We all know that in Scripture. A Jewish married to a Greek,

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 and that simply means that he was not a believer. So now we have already a divided household.

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 And again, this multicultural background highlights the diversity and yet also the difference

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 of belief systems. And anyone that has better been involved in that, you know, sometimes it is

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 very difficult to weather yourself through that issue. Now, what were the cultural implications?

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 Well, as a devoted mother, she had still biblical values. We know that because Paul talked about

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 it. But she honored her husband and did not have Timothy circumcised at birth because of

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 her Greek husband. Only later did Paul have Timothy circumcised in Acts 16.3. So she did

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 honor that relationship and what difficulty that probably was. And what about her relationship

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 with Timothy? Well, her faith in God was pivotal in Timothy's spiritual growth. And even

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 though there was some children, as mentioned in historical perspectives, in mixed marriages,

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 they weren't allowed to participate in some of the Jewish rituals and were literally excluded.

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 So that must have been an issue that she had to compensate for. And her perseverance prepared

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 Timothy for the service of that early church. And he was a young man when he was put into service.

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 So unison scripture simply represents the faith and nurturing without bounds of a mother who

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 decided for their children, for her child to follow the Lord. Even her mother Lois reflects

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 the importance of spiritual heritage and the role of mothers in shaping faith.

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 I just can't say that enough. I mean, yes, we generate an understanding of God, but

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 for the understanding and surrounding of what a mother does to execute those scripture verses,

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 to exhort, to encourage in the Lord, again, is something that lasts for generation to generation.

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 And I'm pleased to tell you that as proud as I am as a father,

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 Joni was very instrumental in that. And consequently, our children all are following

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 the Lord, their wives are following the Lord, and our grandchildren are following the Lord.

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 And that is a testimony to what generation to generation means.

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 So Eunice imparted faith to Timothy. It says in 2 Timothy 1.5, taking recollection of the

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 genuine faith that is in you, Timothy, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and in your

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 mother Eunice, as I am persuaded that it is in you. So generationally speaking,

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 there is an annuity that is passed on. And of course, we understand that

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 Timothy took up that challenge. Again, this verse might highlight that Godly faith that

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 lived in her was passed down to Timothy. She must have shared experiences and wisdom which

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 strengthened her faith and his faith as she's these stories. Faith is not just a personal

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 journey. It is often and relies on the whole family to train and to support that element of

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 faith. Her hands-on role in mentoring strength in Timothy's character and her nurturing spirit

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 and commitment to passing down those values that we have remind me of the importance

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 of our own roles in shaping the beliefs of our children. So here we have it. That's the

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 background. So what does this real life testimony teach us? What is there? Well, first of all,

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 a mother's love is truly sacrificial. And I can remember times when after our children were up

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 and going and we decided that Joni should go back to work. That was her choice. And she worked

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 the graveyard shift. And some of you know what that is, 1130 to 730. And our bed literally was

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 never cold because by the time she would come home, I would be getting up and doing the things

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 that fathers do and going to work. And she would go to bed and then get up in the afternoon

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 and prepare dinner, do wash. I can still remember her. Three boys, literally in our

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 large living room, there were piles of laundry, you know, that she would sit there and fold

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 and work with. So consequently, that sacrificial living is what exemplifies a mother. Caring for her

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 child, again, bring at birth is the potential to continue through life. And she will sacrifice

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 everything and anything to do that. And I guess mothers could say amen to that.

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 Mothers teach in Proverbs 620, my son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your

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 mother's teaching. So there again, there is that dual responsibility. And part of the

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 role of being a mother is the responsibility to continually teach. I can remember it's

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 and it's not just no, don't do this, don't do that. It's the positive side of what is to be done.

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 You know, and I commend my children for having a patient spirit. I even think more than I,

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 because I'm German heritage, and sometimes that doesn't go well when you have discipline

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 in your household. So consequently, they say, okay, well, this is what you shouldn't do,

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 and you should do, and now go ask for forgiveness from your brother or sister. And I think, wow,

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 they really did learn something, didn't they? So part of the role of a mother is being

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 responsible to continually teach. A mother is doing her job well when she is teaching

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 and instructing her children in ways of the Lord. And a mother will also instill,

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 it says in 2nd Timothy 3, 15, remember what you were taught from your childhood,

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 from the holy scrolls, which can impart to you wisdom. Additionally,

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 relatable circumstances, and here we bring it into the, to the present.

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 Eunice's story has an audience with today's mothers, because she was a mother raising her

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 child in a turbulent world with many conflicting rules. And don't we have that today? She had to

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 nurture Timothy's faith in a household where her husband probably didn't even share the same

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 beliefs as she did. Yet she lived in that, and that's identifiable today with divided homes.

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 This mirrors the experience of many mothers today who guide their children's values in

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 spite of external pressures and differing in family dynamics. And then everyday heroism.

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 There's nothing special that, that, that other than what we pointed out about Eunice.

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 So this is what it says is she presents an ordinary mother's picture of what she does

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 day to day, who achieves extraordinary results through love, teaching, perseverance,

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 and the guidance of the Lord. And she was instrumental generationally in bringing Timothy.

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 And we have, we see his ministry. We see the influence that he had. He was a calming

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 agent for the churches. As Paul would come in and minister and establish churches,

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 Timothy would come in and guide them and develop that church. So there was a calming spirit

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 about him. This makes her an inspiring example for today's mother's day's reflection.

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 Her efforts are more easily paralleled in our daily life.

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 Now this is what we are, what you are. Today's Christian moms find joy in surrendering to God.

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 Now that's sometimes that's difficult to surrender those situations. They learn to surrender

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 again. Their learning to surrender is experiencing freedom from great worry and fear. Now I know

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 that that's a lot said. Mother's fear and worry. Do they not? Can I see her name?

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 Now nobody will admit that, but my, my, my, my, my treatise to that. There's a verse in Psalms.

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 It says, when my fears multiply within me, I think of the consolations of the Lord.

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 And many times I've written that out, typed it out, put it on a computer, put it on my wife's

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 mirror, gave it to people. When you have all these fears, think about the consolations of

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 the Lord, but I'm determined that kind of mothers were made to worry some. So I give her a little

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 bit of latitude. Their healing from past challenges comes when they see God at work in their own

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 family because of their prayers. There is an outcome that we have.

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 They know that they don't have to be in control. Isn't that a good one?

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 All was silent, which allows them to trust our Lord. And that's tough to understand sometimes.

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 The words from their mouths, I give up. And how many have ever said that? I give up. Yeah,

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 okay. No, no show of hands. It allows God to fix an out of control environment in the home

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 with his love and with his guidance. The declaration that comes from their heart is

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 not my will, but yours be done, Lord. So you can see a Christian mother here developing.

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 They realize it's about God providing them with a better view of life for them and their

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 children, if we let God do what he's supposed to do and wants to do. They realize their weak,

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 feeble hands cannot control their circumstances. Only God can do that. And when you finally

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 relinquish that, there is an ability to rest and to see his hand revealed. They cease to hold

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 on to things in their life, allowing God to be the true source of their life. I can remember

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 in trying to hold on to things, my feeling is different than, of course, my wife's. And she had

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 the challenges of her disability facing her after we had raised our children. And I was just thinking

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 about her career and a nurse and so forth. What she was doing, she said, I just have to give

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 that up. And I thought to myself, wow, I don't know what I could do that. But the hardship was

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 just too great. So again, giving those things up and letting God be the source of her life.

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 They walk with Godly joy in their heart, creating a positive environment for their children and

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 family to thrive and to grow closer to the Lord. And that's what you're about this morning.

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 Now, this is my text. So now we're getting back to the meat of things.

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 We'll let you out of here early enough to go have lunch with your dear wife or with your mother or

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 whatever. But it says in Proverbs 31, 10 through 31, it is a celebration of the virtues of a noble

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 and capable mother. It describes her worth as being far more valuable than rubies.

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 She provides for her family with strength and dignity.

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 Her fear of the Lord is praised above all charm and beauty.

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 And her children and her husband honor her for her dedication and kindness.

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 Now, this has been my theme because at the end, it has said at the end of this 31,

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 many daughters have done nobly and you have done you excel them all.

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 And I picked up this theme when we were married and had our first child and I read this and I

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 thought, my gosh, she's doing all these things. She loves the Lord. She's sacrificial. She does

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 these things. So I've always gave that verse to her and encouraged her and just sometimes even

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 spoke the song of the proverb over her. So these are some of the things that are in that proverb.

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 Her tongue is the law of kindness. A woman who fears Jehovah shall be praised.

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 She opens her mouth with wisdom. She also rises while it is still night.

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 Her value is far above rubies. Her lamp does not go out by night.

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 Strength and honor are her clothing. She stretches out her hand to the poor.

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 She looks well to the way of her household. Her sons rise up and call her blessed.

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 And I can say that because we've had three sons, no daughters.

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 She plants a vineyard. Never, Joni never planted a vineyard.

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 But I'll be it. If that's your thing, go do it. She makes fine linen and sells it.

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 Her husband also praises her and let her works praise her in the gates of the city. In other

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 words, recognition that she is a loving mom and her works willingly with her hands.

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 And many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all.

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 Now, I would like the musicians to come, no hurry, but what we're going to do is a little

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 bit different this morning. We are going to ask all of you after they come and get situated

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 to take and bow your head and close your eyes because I want to read some very interesting

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 things to you. And I pull these things from my experience, and this is all that I can

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 ever preach on is my experience and not yours. And I want you to think not of my wife, but

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 I want to think those things about you as I declare them to you this morning.

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 Mothers, I want to speak encouraging words to you.

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 These words were said to my wife through years by our children and their wives.

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 I want you to ponder these for a future reward for you. And this is a tribute to you now and

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 forevermore. So as you close your eyes and listen to these things, I want to declare these

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 things to you and for you. As Joan and I have experienced, rewards often come after our work

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 is finished. And I want you to please claim these words for yourself. You may not see

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 yourself in these, but it is going to be so. And understand the work that you are presently

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 doing is placing God's treasure in your children's heart. Everything has a consequence to it.

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 So these were the words that were said in reflection to my bride and its appropriations

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 for you today. You, above all else, put God first in your life. You love others with Godly wisdom

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 and boldness. Kindness is a fruitful completer of others. I find myself at ease with you.

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 You are so gentle and genuine. You never complain, you always have a smile,

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 and you prayerfully think on Godly thoughts. Blessed are you, Mom. Thank you for being

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 an excellent mother, diligent worker, awesome grandparent. Thank you for your guidance,

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 your prayers, your Godly example, your encouragement, your advice, and the parental blessings over the

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 years. You are one of the greatest gifts that has ever been given to me. I love how you always

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 are so peaceful. I grew up in a home of disorganization and things were always a bit chaotic,

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 lacking in peace and order. I truly value your spirit of peace that you shared with me.

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 You cry with me and pray with me for my friends and all of us, and you rejoice in tears of joy

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 when you hear the praise updates that we give. Thank you for your patience,

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 and it taught me patience. Your actions taught me self-control. Your faith taught me peace.

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 Your love for me is an agape love, a love of the highest form, a selfless sacrificial love.

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 It is part of your deeper being. I love you, Mom, but not as much as you love me.

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 I found myself at ease with you. You are so gentle and genuine from your very first conversations we

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 had. You welcomed me into your home and family with open arms from the moment that I met you.

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 I was struck of your purity of heart. You have certainly prayed me into God's kingdom.

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 As we became acquainted, I realized that you were even more beautiful on the inside.

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 You are self-effacing and transparent, allowing your true self to be known by your family and friends.

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 You do what is right all the time. You rejoice with those who rejoice. You weep with those who weep.

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 You mourn with those who mourn. You comfort with those who need comfort. You continually

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 think of others and find ways to bless them even in the midst of your disability.

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 So now I want you, husbands, to lay your hand on your wife, please, and agree with me.

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 We're going to pray a prayer of commitment.

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 So, dear Jesus, we ask that you would take these words,

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 and encourage those that need encouragement, Lord, that what they're doing is right and righteous.

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 And we ask, Lord, as we pray, that you will graft in them a sense of destiny that they have for

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 their children and for them. So, dear Jesus, we pray for every mother in this building this

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 morning as we lay hands on them and the roles that they play in their children's lives.

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 And regardless of the stage of life their children are in,

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 give them your wisdom, Godly wisdom, to know what to do and how to live before them.

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 Let them all be mothers like Lois in Eunice and help them to instill a Godly

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 heritage in their children and grandchildren. So, we thank you for this, Lord Jesus, and we give

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 you these precious mothers. In Jesus' name we pray, and everyone said, Amen.

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 Thanks for joining us at Lansdale Life Church as we praise God and discuss His Word.

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 Don't forget to join us for worship live Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. Eastern on YouTube.

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 Be blessed and have a great day!