She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Proverbs 31:25-29
SHYLOE IS A FIRST-TIME “MOTHER IN THE FAITH”
AS SHE BAPTIZES JASHANA!
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE is of God. This is the predominate quality shared by most mothers for their children. In all circumstances, “moms” love their “kids” regardless of their children’s outward appearances, their limitations, embarrassing moments, and even if they commit the most horrific of crimes! That is why we should and do love our mothers so much in return. Today, there are so many hurting families. For this reason I personally feel an ever-increasing sense of appreciation for my parents. As I grew up, my father possessed and tried to instill in me an undaunted courage to face life. His were the highest standards of discipline, obedience, and character. As noble as these qualities are, without my “Mom” these same qualities could have proved overwhelming, leaving me with a sense of exasperation or failure. Yet, my Mom’s “down-to-earth” wisdom, tireless efforts to comfort, and her artistic eye that was drawn to the beauty of all places and people were but a few of the evidences of her unconditional love. Ultimately, she believed in me when I doubted myself. I love my Mom with all my heart.
MOTHER’S DAY also presents a special opportunity to honor and appreciate our wives, the “mothers of our children.” Proverbs 31:10-31 speaks about these daughters of God: “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth for more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her .. .she brings him good, nor harm, all the days of her life.* This is my wife, Tracy. I knew from our earliest conversations in church fellowships that she was a very rare individual. For almost 15 years, our two children and I have blessed daily by Tracy’s hard work “[she] works with eager hands” (v. 13), her awesome meals “she provides food for her family” (v. 15), her financial wisdom “she considers a field and buys it” (v. 16), long days “her lamp does not go out at night” (v. 18), and her kindness “she opens her arms to the poor”(v.20) In verse 25, the “Proverbs 31 woman” is “clothed with strength and dignity” Wherever the sprit has taken to Strengthen or plant churches – the cities of LA (Irvine, Riverside, Buena Park), Portland, and now Washington D.C., she has been constantly by my side in the work, many times more personally fruitful than me! In my days of learning to preach, She would always says “Amen” during my sermons even if they would go long or weren’t the best.
THE MOST INSPIRING days of our marriage have been the last eight years. God disciplined, tested and I believe purified our faith by allowing the destruction of our former movement and allowing many to attack our lives, integrity and ministry as we began the great work of rebuilding a movement. Even when my faith became sinfully weak through the disappointments and the loss of friends (2 Timothy 4:16), her prayers clothed her with “strength and dignity.” Never did she waver in her love for God, me or the ministry! Now that’s a best friend! I thank God every day for Tracy. Shey is a precious gift of God’s grace, I know I do not deserve. Today because of our refined but increased faith, God has rewarded us with the “green pastures” of the church and our marriage! (Psalm 23)
IN Mark 10:29-30, Jesus promises His disciples that they not only will be persecuted, but they will receive a “hundred times” the number of mothers in the kingdom! I have been blessed with so many “mature” sisters who have encouraged, taught and yes at times rebuked me! Forever in my heart are sisters such as Elena McKean, Jeanne McGee, Kathy Green, Denise
Bordieri, Therese Untalan, Marilyn Parker, and Tonya Flores! However, as with Paul who had one very special “mother in the faith,” Rufus’ mother (Romans 16:13), so God placed Kathy Green into my life in Portland and she’s stuck with me even now from Orlando!
PERHAPS Rufus’ mother was the wife of Simon of Cyrene who was drafted to carry Jesus’ cross to Golgotha. (Mark 15:21) If so, she must have been an incredible wife to have built up the man “God chose” to help Jesus with His cross! From the first days of our relationship, Kathy and Ted Green counseled Tracy and I about our marriage and our family. Through the “Movement of the Movement”, they have loved us and called us higher in taking care of people’s souls. I trust her counsel
as her “fifth son.”
IT IS SAD that so many churches, have lost their spiritual mothers and fathers through bitterness, unforgiveness and autonomy. (The same tragedy of heart and separation would occur in an extended physical family if these sins were present.). Here in DC, let us learn from our own mother’s unconditional love, because of God’s unconditional love. Pray also that our annual Special Missions Contribution, our 2nd annual International Day and this summer’s Global Leadership Conference entitled “Zion’s Disciples” will strengthen our disciples and prepare us to take this Great City of DC for Jesus. But as for today – Mother’s Day – be thankful for your mother, the mother of your children, and your mothers in the faith!
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