May Flowers: Special Delivery

Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.
Proverbs 31:28

Julia Ward Howe (d. 1910) was a prominent American activist who called for a "Mother's Day for Peace" in 1872. Later attempts to honor mothers were unsuccessful until Anna Jarvis of West Virginia created the forerunner of today’s Mother's Day in 1908 in honor of her mother. President Woodrow Wilson formalized Mother's Day nationally in 1914. Jarvis died in 1948 regretting that her holiday had become so overly commercialized. In the midst of the commercialization, however, Mother's Day is third only to Christmas and Easter in terms of church attendance in America.

Fortunately, the Judeo-Christian tradition has all the reasons needed to support and honor mothers every day of the year. Children are to bless their mother, and husbands are to praise her not just on the second Sunday of May but throughout the year. Just as Solomon bowed down before his mother, Bathsheba, and set a throne for her next to his own, so the mothers in our lives deserve equal honor
(1 Kings 2:19).

Quote:

I learned more about Christianity from my mother than from all the theologians of England.

John Wesley

Recommended Reading: 1 Kings 2:18-20

From: Turning Points Magazine & Devotional

Child of God...Are you Ready?

“Taking for granted…In Touch with God”

   We must not just take it for granted that we are in touch with God.  Joseph and Mary lost a whole day of fellowship with Jesus because they, “supposed Him to be in the company” (Luke 2:44).  They took for granted something of which they should have made sure.

J. Oswald Sanders

Help!

Help!

Psalms 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

The world we live in today is full of pitfalls. Some like intricate webs waiting to entangle us, others like hidden sink holes waiting to swallow us up when we least expect it. Then there are those that temp us to view its wander and beauty like the Grand Canyon, only to reach is rock edge and loose our footing and plunge to our death.

When we face troubles in our life that seem to leave us helpless, and hopeless there is one who can rescue us. Peter decided to leave the safety of his boat and head to Christ. All was going well as long as he kept his eyes on Him; but when he decided to look at the raging sea (the world and its destructive devices), he started sinking into its dark, cold torrent. What did he do? He cried, "Lord, save me." Matt. 14:30. What happened next? Jesus rescued him, "And Immediately (italics added) Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him..." Matt. 14:31a.

As a child of God, when it seems all is hopeless, and there is no way out, just remember, Jesus is there with an outstretched hand waiting for you to take hold of it. He doesn't want you to fail, but the flourish.

Recommended Reading: Matthew 14:27-33

Quote:

Many of our troubles are God dragging us, and they would end if we would stand upon our feet and go whither he would have us.

Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887)

Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World.

Devotional by: Louis Edwards