"The Mothers’ Honor Roll"

13, May 2018

"The Mothers’ Honor Roll"

‘And a book of remembrance was written’ (Malachi 3:16 KJV).

Is it possible that when we get to Heaven there’ll be a ‘Mothers’ Honor Roll’, listing the names of all the faithful mothers who prayed day and night on behalf of their children and grandchildren?  Maybe, but this much we do know:  God honors mothers who honor God!  He responded to the prayers of Hannah and gave her a son who grew up to be a prophet and lead the nation of Israel.  And Paul writes concerning Timothy:  ‘I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also' (2 Timothy 1:5 NKJV).  The Bible tells us God keeps records:  ‘Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who esteem His name’.   John writes:  ‘I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened:  and another book was opened, which is the book of life:  and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works’ (Revelation 20:12 KJV).   Susanna Wesley had nineteen children (nine died as infants), and she spent an hour every day praying for each one by name.  Her prayers paid off.  One of her sons, John, brought a spiritual awakening to Britain and founded the Methodist Church.  Maybe there will be an honor roll for mothers in heaven, and maybe not.  But one thing is sure—when mothers pray, God listens and lives are changed.  So never stop praying for your kids, Mom.

"How Change Happens" (Part #5)

23, May 2017

"How Change Happens" (Part #5)

‘And he was limping because of his hip.’ Genesis 32:31 NIV

The Bible says, ‘The sun rose above [Jacob] as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip'.  That’s significant, because the thigh muscle is one of the most powerful muscles in the human body. In order to get Jacob’s attention, God touched him at a point of strength.

Once our attitude becomes, ‘This is what I’m really good at; this is where I’m really strong' ... God may have to touch that very thing to get our attention. Jacob’s limp served as a lifelong reminder that he was no longer to trust in his own power, but in the power of God.  He was no longer to live in his own strength, but in God’s strength. And in so doing he became a much stronger person.

Think about it:  every time Jacob got in a mess, his first response was to turn tail and run.  Sound like a familiar pattern?  Do you do that?  So God finally said, ‘I know how to take care of that—I’ll put a limp in his walk’! And for the rest of his life Jacob would have to stand and face his problems head-on, not in his own strength but in God’s strength. How about you?  What’s the one thing you’d most like to change about your life?  Do you want God to help you?  He will—in His own way.  He will use the process of crisis, commitment, confession and cooperation. And when God does the changing, it will be permanent. You won’t have to worry about willpower and sticking with it because you’ll be cooperating with God, relaxing and trusting in Him alone. 

"How Change Happens" (Part #4)

22, May 2017

"How Change Happens" (Part #4)

‘Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face.”’ Genesis 32:30 NIV

Change happens through cooperation.  God started changing Jacob the moment he admitted who he was and began to cooperate with His plan.  Jacob named the place where he wrestled with the angel ‘Peniel’, meaning ‘the face of God’.  Each of us must eventually come face to face with God, and when we do He can change us.

In essence God told Jacob, ‘Now we can get down to business.  Cooperate, and trust Me.  I’ll make the changes you want, and I’ll bless you'.  Notice: God didn’t say, ‘Try hard and use your willpower to become perfect’. That doesn’t work, and God knows it. Willpower alone doesn’t bring lasting change in our lives. It just deals with the outward circumstances.  Internal motivation brings about lasting change, and that’s what God works on.  He told Jacob, ‘Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel’ (Genesis 32:28 NIV).

Jacob would never be the same. Once you have a personal encounter with the living God, He changes you. He changed Jacob from a ‘cheater’ to a ‘prince’.

God saw his potential. He looked beyond the tough exterior of a guy who portrayed himself as hardened and worldly-wise. God saw all Jacob’s weaknesses, but He also saw beneath the surface: ‘That’s not the real you, Jacob; you’re actually an Israel—a prince.’

And the same goes for each of us: ‘We are … heirs … and joint heirs with Christ … that we may … be glorified together’ (Romans 8:16–17 NKJV).  In the words of Paul: ‘He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ’ (Philippians 1:6 NIV).