| Teacher: Rusty Kennedy Series: Mother's Day |
Rusty's Notes | |
- I realize in this room we have many emotions concerning the celebration of Moms on Mother’s Day.
- We have those who’ve had great mothers and those who’ve had abusive mothers.
- We have those whose mothers are still alive and those whose mothers have passed.
- We may have some in here who have never known their mother.
- But today is rare for my teaching at Leavener. I want to share a message to potential mothers and current mothers.
- In so many years from now, this message will be purged from the teachings of Leavener on the internet.
- I’m assuming that Hallmark will eventually lose the battle of marketing both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day due to gender equality.
- Our world is doing everything it can to wipe out the differences between men and women.
- That means women will never have clean seats in Starbucks restrooms. Welcome to our world!
- I’ll try not to say anything divisive for the sake of keeping you focused on the intent of this message.
- If you focus on the decisions this world is making about gender in light of what I have to say, then you missed the message and evil one wins the hour for you.
- Divide the room according to Mothers & Fathers-
Young Girls
(Mothers to be)
- 2 Timothy 4:1-5 - 1 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: 2 Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching. 3 For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. 4 They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. [1]
What is going to influence your decisions and morality?
“Science of Good and Evil”, (2019) TIME
The choices we make, to behave morally or immorally, are a different matter, and there is a wide variety across populations. Simply knowing or intuitively feeling a rule does not mean we will follow it. Where do those intuitions come from? And why are we so inconsistent about following where they lead us? Scientists can’t yet answer those questions, but that hasn’t stopped them from looking. Brain scans are providing some clues. Animal studies are providing others. Investigations of tribal behavior are providing still more. None of this research may make us behave better, not right away at least.[2]
- Know your identity in Christ
2 Corinthians 5:6-8 - 6 So we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.[3]
If you are a Christian, you have an identity in Christ. Once you become a new creation in Him (2 Corinthians 5:17), your whole identity changes because you've been rescued and redeemed from sin and darkness and welcomed into God's Kingdom family (Galatians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:9).
You are handpicked by God, treasured, irreplaceable, loved, forgiven, worth dying for, free, precious, and so much more.
Even if you don't feel it, know that it is true. You're a child of the One True God.
That's worth celebrating. You're worth celebrating.
Young Mothers
(Mothers of children at home)
- Obviously know your identity in Christ.
- Teach identity in Christ to your children.
USA TODAY -“Why American moms are seriously struggling”
"This ideal of what it means to be a good mom is to put your child's needs above your own. An ideal worker in the U.S. economy means being fully dedicated and committed with your undivided attention – that you can come in at a moment's notice, that you don't have anything that distracts. This doesn't work if you have kids," said Caitlyn Collins, a sociology professor at Washington University.
American mothers are struggling.[4]
- In 1975, more than half of mothers stayed home with their kids. Today both parents work in 70% of families with children.
- Child care costs on average $12,350 to $13,900 a year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In some cities, it's double that.
- Dads are taking on more parenting responsibilities than ever, but surveys show it’s still unequal in more than half of households even when both parents work full-time.
- Nearly half of grandparents live more than five hours from their grandkids.
- Moms in 2016 spent 14 hours a week outside work on child care, up from 10 hours a week in 1965, according to the Pew Research Center.
- Social media is pervasive, and research shows mothers who frequently compare themselves to others on social media feel more depressed, less competent and less positive about their co-parenting relationships.[5]
- The most important relationship in the house is between the husband and the wife.
- The mother carries a child for 9 months and the bond begins. Not so with the father.
- Continue to date (equal opportunity)
- Put the phones down
- Pursue healthy sexual intimacy
- Vacation without kids!
- Make your spouse the priority behind Jesus.
“Science of Good and Evil”, (2019) TIME
In the alternative, there are neurological explanations for human selflessness. We’re sympathetic creatures, but not in the prettified way we usually use that word. Our brains are wired with mirror neurons— cells that make us mimic the behavior of the people around us, so that we laugh when they laugh, cry when they cry, yawn when they yawn. We even wince at other people’s pain. That provides social cohesion, but it also reduces our most generous impulses to something more transactional: we relieve the suffering of strangers in part because it hurts too much to do nothing.[6]
- Don’t chase after what the world tells us is the “thing to do”. This would be your flesh.
- Mom blogs…
- 1 John 2:15-17 - 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God remains forever. [7]
- Pursue the Spirit that resides in you.
- Romans 8:12-17 - 12 So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, 13 because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. [8]
- There is no reason to compare yourself to others when you know your identity.
- Romans 14:5-9 - 5 One person judges one day to be more important than another day. Someone else judges every day to be the same. Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 Whoever observes the day, observes it for the honor of the Lord. Whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; and whoever does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat it, and he gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 Christ died and returned to life for this: that he might be Lord over both the dead and the living.[9]
- Suffering is going to happen… but that suffering has eternal value.
- Romans 8:16-17 - 16 The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. [10]
Mature Mothers
(Empty Nesters & Grandmothers)
- A loss of purpose
- Frustration over lack of control
- Emotional stress
- Marital stress
- Anxiety about your children
- If half of grandkids live more than 5 hours away… adopt a family!
- Disciple other women about what you know… your identity in Christ.
- Encourage people through their temporary suffering.
“Science of Good and Evil”, (2019) TIME,
“People who are givers are happier and across the board tend to have better mental health,”[11]
“If you can raise a caring child, that child is likelier to be happier and probably live a longer and healthier life,” recommends Post, whose work now centers on studying and advocating for service as a way to prevent and recover from addiction—particularly among adolescents.[12]
1 Peter 5:1-10 - I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed: 2 Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because
God resists the proud
but gives grace to the humble. (Proverbs 3:34)
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you. 8 Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 9 Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.
10 The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while. 11 To him be dominion forever. Amen. [13]
- Ask the Fathers to pray over the Mothers.
[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (2 Ti 4:1–5). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] “Science of Good and Evil”, (2019) TIME, Editor Edward Felsenthal & Jeffrey Kluger
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (2 Co 5:6–8). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] “Why American moms are seriously struggling”
Analysis: Economic, cultural and technological changes have piled on new pressures for moms.
Alia E. Dastagir, USA TODAY Updated 1:47 p.m. EDT May 9, 2019
[5] “Why American moms are seriously struggling”
Analysis: Economic, cultural and technological changes have piled on new pressures for moms.
Alia E. Dastagir, USA TODAY Updated 1:47 p.m. EDT May 9, 2019
[6] “Science of Good and Evil”, (2019) TIME, Editor Edward Felsenthal & Jeffrey Kluger
[7] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (1 Jn 2:15–17). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ro 8:12–17). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[9] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ro 14:5–9). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[10] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ro 8:16–17). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[11] “Science of Good and Evil”, (2019) TIME, Editor Edward Felsenthal & Jeffrey Kluger
[12] “Science of Good and Evil”, (2019) TIME, Editor Edward Felsenthal & Jeffrey Kluger
[13] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (1 Pe 5:1–11). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
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