WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.700 I want you to turn to Proverbs 31. 00:00:03.379 --> 00:00:04.379 Proverbs 31. 00:00:04.379 --> 00:00:07.960 Today I want to read from a familiar passage from Mother's Day. 00:00:08.620 --> 00:00:10.439 ! It talks about the virtuous woman. 00:00:10.599 --> 00:00:10.620 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.380 A lady is singing, I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan and never let you forget you're a man, you know. 00:00:35.799 --> 00:00:37.320 It was some perfume or something. 00:00:37.460 --> 00:00:40.219 But anyway, that's kind of what that reminds me of. 00:00:40.299 --> 00:00:42.659 I don't know if that's appropriate to say, but I just said it. 00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:47.579 So, I mean, if you read the whole chapter, poor thing. 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:48.980 Wear a lady out. 00:00:49.519 --> 00:00:55.760 All the duties and responsibilities and all the things that are listed can be absolutely overwhelming. 00:00:55.759 --> 00:01:01.099 But there's a particular part that I enjoy the most at the end of the chapter. 00:01:02.339 --> 00:01:03.759 It's Proverbs 31, verse 26. 00:01:04.480 --> 00:01:05.140 It says this. 00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:12.859 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. 00:01:14.019 --> 00:01:20.319 She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 00:01:21.459 --> 00:01:24.180 Her children rise up and call her blessed. 00:01:24.180 --> 00:01:27.320 Her husband also, and he praises her. 00:01:28.080 --> 00:01:31.600 Many women have done excellently, but you surpassed them all. 00:01:32.680 --> 00:01:35.680 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is fleeting. 00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:40.300 But a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. 00:01:41.080 --> 00:01:47.480 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. 00:01:49.080 --> 00:01:50.480 I'm a blessed man. 00:01:51.080 --> 00:01:53.219 I am blessed for a lot of reasons. 00:01:53.219 --> 00:01:55.239 In a lot of reasons. 00:01:55.239 --> 00:01:57.140 A few of which I want to mention. 00:01:57.140 --> 00:02:08.780 I'm blessed to have had a grandmother that is now in heaven who always had an open, well-worn Bible lying on her kitchen table. 00:02:08.780 --> 00:02:20.740 And every morning, with a cup of coffee and a piece of toast and a hunk of government cheese, she spent time with the Lord. 00:02:21.560 --> 00:02:24.539 And if you don't know what government cheese is, I am sorry. 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:25.740 You missed out. 00:02:25.740 --> 00:02:27.580 I'm thankful she got in line. 00:02:27.580 --> 00:02:39.620 I'm blessed with a mother that loves Jesus dearly, reads her Bible daily, and is a faithful prayer warrior for the Lord. 00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:43.640 Every night, she leans upon the Lord in every matter. 00:02:43.639 --> 00:02:53.899 One night years ago, I was living in Mississippi, and my mother called us crying and asked us to pray. 00:02:54.419 --> 00:02:55.199 Please pray. 00:02:55.199 --> 00:03:03.539 And in about three seconds, I had a bag packed and was in the car coming to South Carolina because Mama was crying. 00:03:03.539 --> 00:03:09.060 And, however, before I left, thankfully, she said the cat was missing. 00:03:12.739 --> 00:03:15.739 Pray for them that they can find their cat. 00:03:17.340 --> 00:03:23.840 I hung up, and Dawn and I prayed that my parents would not have a cardiac over that blamed cat. 00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:27.259 Send him home, Lord. 00:03:27.979 --> 00:03:29.879 Send home the prodigal cat. 00:03:32.480 --> 00:03:34.080 Let him find relief. 00:03:35.640 --> 00:03:38.879 A few minutes later, I got a call again. 00:03:40.180 --> 00:03:41.159 Cat was in the closet. 00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:44.699 But it wasn't his closet. 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:47.520 It was the other closet, not the one he normally went to. 00:03:47.520 --> 00:03:54.460 But I love my mama, and my mama loves me, but not near as much as she loves the Lord. 00:03:55.980 --> 00:04:02.760 Years ago, a search committee was, somebody heard me preach and got word back to somebody, 00:04:03.020 --> 00:04:08.439 and a search committee contacted my former secretary because I had preached at my home church 00:04:08.439 --> 00:04:11.480 and said, you know how to get in touch with this fella. 00:04:11.560 --> 00:04:13.760 And she said, I don't, but his mama will. 00:04:13.759 --> 00:04:22.519 And so she called my mama and said, can you tell me, wouldn't you love to have your son back in the upstate? 00:04:23.019 --> 00:04:27.459 And she said, I want my boy in the center of God's will, wherever that is. 00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:29.199 My mama will clean your plows. 00:04:29.300 --> 00:04:30.060 She's serious about it. 00:04:30.099 --> 00:04:33.379 She loves the Lord more than she loves me. 00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:35.860 She also loves my wife more than she loves me. 00:04:36.839 --> 00:04:37.620 She does. 00:04:37.699 --> 00:04:39.819 And she loves my kids more than she loves me. 00:04:40.420 --> 00:04:42.800 But that's kind of par for the story. 00:04:42.800 --> 00:04:44.240 Story of my life. 00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:51.240 So many of you sweet, pleasant people will say, preacher, you're fine, but you're family now. 00:04:51.460 --> 00:04:54.120 They're a blessing, you know, so you'll set aside. 00:04:55.439 --> 00:05:00.800 I was also blessed with a wonderful mother-in-law that loved the Lord Jesus with all of her heart 00:05:00.800 --> 00:05:05.199 and served the Lord as long as she had the strength to do it. 00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:12.459 Anytime there was a need at church, she was there taking care of whatever needed to be taken care of. 00:05:12.579 --> 00:05:17.579 At the same time, taking care of her family and providing their every need. 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:20.199 She'd tell us she's going to the post office. 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:26.699 And many, many hours later, she'd come back with a trunk full from Belks and the grocery store and everything, 00:05:27.079 --> 00:05:28.680 taking care of every need they had. 00:05:29.060 --> 00:05:30.939 She was a blessing, an absolute blessing. 00:05:30.939 --> 00:05:33.399 And she's in glory today. 00:05:34.480 --> 00:05:40.060 I'm blessed with a wife that serves the Lord tirelessly and selflessly. 00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:44.500 Church, I'm going to tell you, you're blessed with a wonderful pastor's wife. 00:05:45.300 --> 00:05:47.899 She knows what it means to be a pastor's wife. 00:05:47.899 --> 00:05:56.599 She don't want to lead anything, and she'll refuse to. 00:05:57.099 --> 00:05:58.859 But she'll serve in any capacity. 00:05:59.359 --> 00:06:03.399 And she knows how to set me straight when I need to be set straight 00:06:03.399 --> 00:06:07.259 and tells me, gives me those nudges, as Brian, I know you get. 00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:09.639 You might want to check on so-and-so, you know. 00:06:09.919 --> 00:06:13.459 So anyway, so if I don't check on you, it's not my fault, it's hers. 00:06:13.459 --> 00:06:21.899 So I'm thankful that my two girls know the Lord and came to know him at an early age, 00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:27.439 and I pray every day that they'll have a zeal for the Lord Jesus that will control their life. 00:06:28.899 --> 00:06:30.039 I'm blessed. 00:06:31.159 --> 00:06:38.679 And as I thought about Mother's Day, I thought about the lessons that my mother has taught me. 00:06:38.680 --> 00:06:42.920 And thank God that she still teaches me. 00:06:43.420 --> 00:06:44.720 She wanted to be here today. 00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:47.160 It would have been kind of awkward for me to say what I'm about to say. 00:06:47.240 --> 00:06:51.100 But she wanted to be here today, but she's not had a good week. 00:06:51.300 --> 00:06:54.060 And she knew that she wouldn't have the energy to do that. 00:06:54.240 --> 00:06:57.280 And so we're going to her in a little while. 00:06:58.600 --> 00:07:05.699 But I want to talk this morning for a few moments about what she's taught me. 00:07:05.699 --> 00:07:09.439 And this list could go on and on, but it won't because it's Mother's Day. 00:07:09.699 --> 00:07:11.539 And there's other things to do on Mother's Day. 00:07:12.599 --> 00:07:13.659 Let me tell you what she's taught me. 00:07:13.719 --> 00:07:18.099 She's taught me to love Jesus with all my life. 00:07:19.480 --> 00:07:22.539 My mother makes no apologies for her zeal for the Lord. 00:07:22.699 --> 00:07:28.219 She is unashamed, and she shows others what it means to love Christ. 00:07:29.099 --> 00:07:34.240 She raised two not-headed boys, and then one absolute blessing came along. 00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:45.519 While my dad served our country many times overseas as well as on this side of the seas and sometimes at home, sometimes away, 00:07:45.920 --> 00:07:52.920 my mother played the organ or the piano in the church with one eye on the music and one eye on us. 00:07:53.920 --> 00:08:02.040 She had one finger playing and one finger pointing while I was busy taking notes of the pastor's sermon. 00:08:02.040 --> 00:08:15.960 When Christ said, love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, I know what he meant because I've seen it lived out. 00:08:17.300 --> 00:08:21.340 She taught me to love Jesus with all my life. 00:08:21.339 --> 00:08:26.439 And I had the opportunity to come to know the Lord at an early age in my life. 00:08:27.379 --> 00:08:43.799 And it is my prayer that every child that comes in this church has the opportunity to know the Lord Jesus at as early an age as they can understand and digest what it means to commit their life to Christ. 00:08:44.659 --> 00:08:47.339 Now, they're not going to get the doctrine of salvation figured out. 00:08:47.340 --> 00:08:49.680 If you had to, we'd all be in a mess. 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:55.160 Jesus said, in fact, that unless we come like a child, we cannot enter the kingdom of God. 00:08:56.340 --> 00:09:02.780 But when they do understand, enough to know that they've sinned against God and need to surrender their life to him, 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:07.320 it is always my prayer that they do that. 00:09:07.320 --> 00:09:13.000 But that's not any different prayer that I have for each one of you. 00:09:14.220 --> 00:09:18.780 Many of you know that the greatest burden that I have in ministry is that somebody can sit in my preaching, 00:09:19.800 --> 00:09:23.360 under my preaching and be in this building and never have known the Lord. 00:09:24.360 --> 00:09:29.180 And I'm going to tell you, if you don't know the Lord today, if you've never surrendered your life to him, 00:09:29.320 --> 00:09:32.440 confess that you've sinned against him and separated yourself from God, 00:09:32.440 --> 00:09:39.780 and ask him to take over your life and give your life to him, 00:09:40.540 --> 00:09:43.640 I want you to know it's the best decision you could possibly make today. 00:09:44.740 --> 00:09:47.040 Scripture says that today is the day of salvation 00:09:47.040 --> 00:09:51.700 and that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 00:09:52.620 --> 00:09:53.600 We can rest in that. 00:09:55.720 --> 00:10:00.320 My mother taught me how to love Jesus with all my life. 00:10:00.320 --> 00:10:05.280 She also taught me to trust God daily with prayer. 00:10:06.660 --> 00:10:09.060 I'm marked by two memories about my mother in prayer. 00:10:09.220 --> 00:10:12.160 One is her dependence upon God for all direction. 00:10:12.840 --> 00:10:17.540 And some of the most haunting words that I ever heard growing up was, 00:10:17.800 --> 00:10:19.040 if the Lord wills. 00:10:20.060 --> 00:10:22.760 I couldn't stand to hear my mother say, if the Lord wills. 00:10:22.800 --> 00:10:24.740 I'd say, Mama, are we going to Grandma's? 00:10:24.740 --> 00:10:26.720 And she'd say, if the Lord wills. 00:10:27.720 --> 00:10:29.500 And I'd say, Grandma loves the Lord. 00:10:29.500 --> 00:10:33.419 She reads her Bible daily with her coffee and toast and government cheese. 00:10:33.559 --> 00:10:36.379 Why wouldn't it be God's will for us to go see him? 00:10:38.519 --> 00:10:45.179 Mama, can I go to the movies with my friends on Saturday, if the Lord wills? 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:48.000 I couldn't understand it. 00:10:48.039 --> 00:10:49.039 I couldn't stand to hear it. 00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:54.679 And then one day, I picked up on something that I, it was like I never read it before, 00:10:54.779 --> 00:10:55.919 although I know I have. 00:10:56.980 --> 00:10:59.159 It was in James chapter 4, verse 15. 00:10:59.279 --> 00:11:05.059 And it says, instead, you ought to say, if it's the Lord's will, we'll live and do this or that. 00:11:05.679 --> 00:11:09.719 And if you look at the passages before that, it says, do not plan out your life. 00:11:09.819 --> 00:11:11.519 Don't say what you're going to do tomorrow. 00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:15.939 Or instead say, if the Lord wills, we'll live and do this or we'll live and do that. 00:11:17.860 --> 00:11:22.419 My other Mama prayer memory is a time that I spent the night with her. 00:11:23.159 --> 00:11:24.740 I had traveled up here alone. 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:25.620 We lived in Mississippi. 00:11:25.620 --> 00:11:30.120 And I was doing day hikes on the Appalachian Trail with a friend. 00:11:30.360 --> 00:11:33.740 And I'd come up and drive up one day and spend the night. 00:11:33.840 --> 00:11:35.980 We'd get up early the next morning and do a day hike. 00:11:36.039 --> 00:11:37.579 I'd drive back the next day. 00:11:37.580 --> 00:11:40.660 And I came in. 00:11:40.759 --> 00:11:45.400 I went to bed early that night because I knew I had an early morning to do that. 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:51.320 And when I was laying in the bedroom, I heard something. 00:11:52.200 --> 00:11:54.060 And I didn't quite know what it was. 00:11:54.379 --> 00:11:57.100 And when I got up to go to the bathroom, I realized what it was. 00:11:58.379 --> 00:12:02.900 It was my mother on her knees by her bed praying. 00:12:02.899 --> 00:12:08.419 I'm sure praying for me and I'm sure praying for my brothers. 00:12:09.439 --> 00:12:11.980 Whatever other burdens that she had upon her. 00:12:13.199 --> 00:12:15.399 And I thought and I still think about this. 00:12:15.919 --> 00:12:21.679 How for over now for 60 years, she's been praying for my brothers. 00:12:22.519 --> 00:12:24.000 Not quite that long for me. 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:32.740 But it took me back to a night, a rough night, when she came to me and asked for me to pray with her. 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:36.259 I was 16, 17, 18, something like that. 00:12:36.299 --> 00:12:39.500 And there was a relative that night that was in trouble. 00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:45.799 Having troubles, doing stupid stuff, getting caught doing it. 00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:47.259 And she was grieved. 00:12:48.600 --> 00:12:50.779 And we got up and knelt down and prayed. 00:12:50.919 --> 00:12:52.000 And I was able to be a part of that. 00:12:52.000 --> 00:13:00.539 But I couldn't help but think at that time, and I still think today, how many times has she done that? 00:13:04.039 --> 00:13:12.700 You know, the reality is that sometimes the blessings in our lives that come today are because of prayers of people 00:13:12.700 --> 00:13:17.659 that not only were prayed years ago, but some of those people are already in glory today. 00:13:17.659 --> 00:13:22.360 And their prayers are still being answered in our lives. 00:13:23.179 --> 00:13:25.100 That's a powerful thought to me. 00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:30.699 I don't know that she's ever told me to trust God daily with prayer. 00:13:31.299 --> 00:13:33.579 She probably has, and I probably wasn't listening. 00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:38.759 But she never really had to because she showed me how to do that. 00:13:38.759 --> 00:13:44.759 And by the way, trusting the Lord daily in prayer is God's will. 00:13:44.899 --> 00:13:46.700 It's not if it's the Lord's will. 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:48.179 It is the Lord's will. 00:13:48.279 --> 00:13:50.700 I promise it's the Lord's will to do that. 00:13:52.259 --> 00:13:55.080 She also taught me to treat others better than myself. 00:13:55.080 --> 00:14:00.700 I'm quite sure that she's never told me that, to treat others better than myself. 00:14:01.780 --> 00:14:03.780 At least not in a repetitive fashion. 00:14:03.940 --> 00:14:08.560 Not like mothers teach you the important principles of life, like brushing your teeth, 00:14:08.700 --> 00:14:14.120 or wearing deodorant, or making up the bed, or those type things. 00:14:14.259 --> 00:14:16.520 But those repetitive phrases work. 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:18.900 I brush my teeth more than daily. 00:14:19.020 --> 00:14:19.840 Thank you very much. 00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:23.220 And I wear deodorant, and I encourage you to as well. 00:14:23.800 --> 00:14:27.460 I wouldn't go the natural route if I were you for the sake of your neighbors. 00:14:27.620 --> 00:14:30.100 I'd go ahead and use the chemicals or whatever they got in it. 00:14:32.780 --> 00:14:35.759 And I somewhat do my part with making up the bed. 00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:41.280 Now, I have a religious objection to 18 pillows on a bed. 00:14:41.340 --> 00:14:42.440 I just don't think that's right. 00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:43.480 I didn't grow up that way. 00:14:44.420 --> 00:14:47.240 Yeah, I'm more of a minimalist. 00:14:47.240 --> 00:14:49.680 But I don't always honor that part of it. 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:56.080 But I was taught to treat others better than myself. 00:14:57.019 --> 00:14:58.580 Philippians chapter 2, verse 4 says, 00:14:58.820 --> 00:15:03.519 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 00:15:04.940 --> 00:15:09.960 I can never remember a time when my mother put her interests above others. 00:15:10.840 --> 00:15:12.259 I have no memory of it. 00:15:13.340 --> 00:15:15.259 I remember one time coming home from seminary. 00:15:15.259 --> 00:15:17.620 I was living in New Orleans for a visit and looking. 00:15:17.620 --> 00:15:26.259 I came home and I looked in the refrigerator and I saw Clearly Canadian in the refrigerator and about two pounds of green grapes. 00:15:26.259 --> 00:15:30.620 Now, if you don't know what Clearly Canadian is, it's non-alcoholic. 00:15:30.700 --> 00:15:31.980 So don't panic, okay? 00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:36.259 But Clearly Canadian is a drink that was real hot in the late 80s and early 90s. 00:15:36.259 --> 00:15:37.120 And it's come back. 00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:39.819 You can get it by the case at Sam's now, by the way. 00:15:39.820 --> 00:15:47.580 But it was not something that was in the refrigerator of a home that had three boys coming through it. 00:15:47.620 --> 00:15:53.060 Because we'd have drank them all in one sitting and ate all the green grapes at one time, too. 00:15:54.180 --> 00:15:57.340 When I looked in there and saw that, I looked at Mama and said, Mama, who's coming? 00:15:57.340 --> 00:16:00.080 And she said, you are. 00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:06.100 Mama is the one that did the food ministry at the church. 00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:09.980 And I'd tell her, Mama, you know those people ripping you off. 00:16:10.040 --> 00:16:10.639 They don't need that. 00:16:10.680 --> 00:16:11.639 They're just coming to get it. 00:16:11.680 --> 00:16:13.240 And she said, Lord, work all that out. 00:16:15.420 --> 00:16:18.620 Later, it inspired me and we had a food ministry at my last church. 00:16:18.860 --> 00:16:21.620 And we gave out those bags. 00:16:21.680 --> 00:16:24.759 And people would come to me and say, you know, we're taking those bags out of those cars. 00:16:25.100 --> 00:16:27.139 They're driving nicer cars than we are. 00:16:27.740 --> 00:16:30.100 And I said, the Lord will work all that out. 00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:35.519 She's the one that visited the homebound. 00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:40.059 She's the one that took care of the down and the out. 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:43.860 That cat that I talked about, that wasn't a cat they got. 00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:46.799 It was some yard cat that came up and they claimed it. 00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:48.879 Or either somebody died and they inherited it. 00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:49.939 A neighbor or something. 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:53.500 One time she stopped at a stop sign. 00:16:53.639 --> 00:16:57.080 And a new young driver hit her in the back. 00:16:57.139 --> 00:16:59.860 And she felt sorry for him. 00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:01.019 And so she let him go. 00:17:01.559 --> 00:17:04.559 And she came home and there was damage to the car. 00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:10.160 And so we all went out to the car and told her how wrong she was for letting that boy go. 00:17:10.160 --> 00:17:16.220 And she said she was concerned that somebody else's son would get in trouble. 00:17:16.900 --> 00:17:19.640 And she said, I want somebody to do the same thing for you. 00:17:19.640 --> 00:17:21.940 And so she let him go. 00:17:21.940 --> 00:17:26.880 And that bumper had two dimples in it for the rest of his life in the back of it. 00:17:27.100 --> 00:17:27.720 That's my mama. 00:17:28.700 --> 00:17:30.140 And that's the heart of a mom. 00:17:31.860 --> 00:17:33.340 My mother has a servant's heart. 00:17:33.500 --> 00:17:37.380 She always washed, cooked, cleaned, looked at folks and always went the extra mile. 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:38.740 Ask her for one. 00:17:38.840 --> 00:17:40.480 She'll give you two. 00:17:40.620 --> 00:17:41.900 Sometimes even without asking. 00:17:41.900 --> 00:17:45.500 One time when I was visiting there, I forgot my toothpaste. 00:17:45.820 --> 00:17:48.560 I looked in the cabinet, found somebody's toothpaste, and I used it. 00:17:50.160 --> 00:17:53.100 The next day she came to me and gave me two tubes of toothpaste. 00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:54.800 Brand new in a box. 00:17:55.780 --> 00:17:57.820 And I said, Mama, this has got to mean one of two things. 00:17:57.880 --> 00:17:59.440 One is you don't want me using your toothpaste. 00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:02.660 Or number two, you think I desperately need toothpaste. 00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:05.279 I said, which one? 00:18:05.340 --> 00:18:06.140 And she said, neither. 00:18:06.300 --> 00:18:07.480 You said you like that brand. 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:09.400 It was hard to find, so I bought you two of them. 00:18:11.220 --> 00:18:14.060 Treat others better than yourself. 00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:18.480 She also taught me, always know that I love you. 00:18:20.080 --> 00:18:25.700 As a mother of three grown men, there's been a lot that has troubled my mother over the years. 00:18:27.380 --> 00:18:31.300 Whether it was our own foolishness or whether it was a family concern 00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:35.259 or whether it was one of those major interruptions that happen in life 00:18:35.259 --> 00:18:37.460 where everything turns on a dime. 00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:40.940 She prayed through our mistakes. 00:18:41.899 --> 00:18:43.940 She prayed through our smart mouths. 00:18:44.859 --> 00:18:46.779 She prayed through our decisions. 00:18:47.940 --> 00:18:49.839 She prayed through our difficulties. 00:18:51.059 --> 00:18:53.159 She dearly loved us through it all. 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:55.700 And I could tell you stories about it, but I'm not going to. 00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:57.180 You got your own stories. 00:18:57.180 --> 00:19:03.880 Ladies, never let your family doubt that you love them. 00:19:05.340 --> 00:19:07.840 It's okay to be disappointed by them. 00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:11.039 It's okay to be hurt by them. 00:19:12.180 --> 00:19:15.220 But please don't ever let them doubt that you love them. 00:19:16.220 --> 00:19:17.960 You can be unhappy with them. 00:19:18.180 --> 00:19:19.640 You can be disappointed with them. 00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:21.400 You can be hurt to the core. 00:19:21.400 --> 00:19:28.140 But please let them know that you have a 1 Corinthians 13 kind of love 00:19:28.140 --> 00:19:33.300 because there's hardly anybody else in the world that's ever going to give them that kind of love. 00:19:34.580 --> 00:19:36.360 1 Corinthians 13, 7 says, 00:19:36.660 --> 00:19:43.460 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 00:19:43.700 --> 00:19:46.800 And some of us are those things that are endured before. 00:19:48.800 --> 00:19:50.140 Stop me one more lesson. 00:19:51.400 --> 00:19:56.480 She taught me never stop doing any of this. 00:19:58.900 --> 00:20:02.740 I'm thankful that my mother today is still teaching me these things. 00:20:04.040 --> 00:20:09.660 And I realize that today's a hard day for a lot of variety of reasons for a lot of people. 00:20:10.700 --> 00:20:13.019 I had somebody early on in ministry. 00:20:13.220 --> 00:20:18.420 I would just pastor maybe my first year or two in ministry. 00:20:18.420 --> 00:20:23.240 And a lady came by at the door at the close of the worship and said, 00:20:24.060 --> 00:20:26.340 I have always dreaded Mother's Day. 00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:29.120 But you made it special for me today. 00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:34.440 And I'll always think about Ms. Doris' comment when I think of Mother's Day. 00:20:34.800 --> 00:20:36.920 Because I realize it's a tough day. 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:41.160 There's folks who've had losses in this building that hurt. 00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:47.540 And those folks who've had struggles in their life around that subject. 00:20:47.800 --> 00:20:51.400 And I know that it's a very difficult day for many. 00:20:51.540 --> 00:20:56.840 So please don't misunderstand why I share what I do this morning. 00:20:58.740 --> 00:21:00.600 I want you to understand why I share it. 00:21:00.599 --> 00:21:03.199 I don't do it to brag on my mother. 00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:04.099 She's not perfect. 00:21:04.679 --> 00:21:06.859 I ain't figured out how, but she's not perfect. 00:21:08.359 --> 00:21:12.759 I do it because Proverbs 31, 31 says, 00:21:13.019 --> 00:21:16.639 Let her works praise her in the gates. 00:21:18.219 --> 00:21:19.719 You know what the gates are? 00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:24.519 The gates are the entrance to a walled city. 00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:30.279 To keep a city protected, they didn't let people in except through the gates. 00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:32.460 And that was well monitored. 00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:35.980 And anytime anybody had to leave the city, they had to go through the gate. 00:21:36.859 --> 00:21:40.019 And anytime somebody came into the city, they went in the gate. 00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:42.700 So if you wanted to see what was happening, 00:21:43.619 --> 00:21:46.200 I mean the social media spot was the gate. 00:21:47.259 --> 00:21:48.319 That's where you went. 00:21:49.639 --> 00:21:51.000 You know what else you got there? 00:21:51.059 --> 00:21:52.279 You got all the information. 00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:55.139 You found out what was going on in town. 00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:57.319 Whether it was true or not, you found it out. 00:21:57.839 --> 00:21:58.700 At the gate. 00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:01.220 That was the place. 00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:03.599 The gate's where people listen. 00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:05.740 Where they hang out. 00:22:07.379 --> 00:22:08.839 It's where they talk about things. 00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:14.299 So I say that because I want each lady in this building, 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:16.339 each one watching online, 00:22:16.579 --> 00:22:20.460 to never underestimate the opportunity that is before you. 00:22:20.460 --> 00:22:25.079 To never underestimate that God has placed lies before you. 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:30.340 We were blessed last week to watch a parade of children that sang to us 00:22:30.340 --> 00:22:32.220 in a wonderful fashion. 00:22:32.980 --> 00:22:38.039 Each one of them, every last one of them, 00:22:38.660 --> 00:22:40.160 some of them more than others, 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:48.900 need all of us to be good, godly, loving examples. 00:22:49.100 --> 00:22:52.779 And men, that does not just fall on the ladies. 00:22:53.580 --> 00:22:55.720 We all have a responsibility in that. 00:22:55.960 --> 00:22:58.420 Listen, those kids need all of us 00:22:58.420 --> 00:23:01.920 to be good and godly and loving examples 00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:04.920 and to not miss the opportunity that we have on hand. 00:23:06.340 --> 00:23:08.000 Because we can influence lives. 00:23:09.840 --> 00:23:10.920 Let me be blunt. 00:23:10.920 --> 00:23:13.300 We are influencing lives. 00:23:13.640 --> 00:23:15.779 In one way or the other. 00:23:17.480 --> 00:23:19.880 Even before we leave here today, 00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:24.660 we have the opportunity to influence others. 00:23:24.660 --> 00:23:28.680 Let's not waste our influence. 00:23:29.340 --> 00:23:30.800 Take advantage of it 00:23:30.800 --> 00:23:35.259 and use it for his honor and for his glory. 00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:41.180 And it'll lead to changed lives. 00:23:44.180 --> 00:23:48.800 Ladies, thank you for what you do for the Lord. 00:23:49.820 --> 00:23:52.019 Thank you for what you do in his church. 00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:54.680 Thank you for what you do in your family. 00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:57.139 The reality is, 00:23:57.660 --> 00:23:59.119 everything the church stands for 00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:06.180 relies so much on the backs of so many ladies 00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:08.539 who've served him so faithfully. 00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:11.680 Legacies of faith. 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:13.980 As God gives you opportunity, 00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:16.859 live it out for him. 00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:19.240 Now, if you're here this morning 00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:22.380 and you've never surrendered your life 00:24:22.380 --> 00:24:23.700 to the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:24:24.660 --> 00:24:27.059 I don't want you to miss the opportunity today 00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:31.220 to confess that you've sinned against God 00:24:31.220 --> 00:24:33.200 and done wrong that's displeased him 00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:36.200 and ask him to forgive you of that, 00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:38.240 to come into your life 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:39.740 and to save you and change you. 00:24:40.839 --> 00:24:42.099 If you've never done that, 00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:43.759 I encourage you before you leave here today 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:45.759 to do that very thing. 00:24:45.880 --> 00:24:46.900 We'll stand in just a moment. 00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:48.720 We'll sing a song and I'll be down front. 00:24:49.060 --> 00:24:50.800 If you have any questions about that 00:24:50.800 --> 00:24:52.100 or need any leadership in that, 00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:52.940 you come see me. 00:24:53.360 --> 00:24:54.780 I'd love to guide you in that. 00:24:56.640 --> 00:24:58.000 Maybe you're here this morning 00:24:58.000 --> 00:25:00.019 and you do know that you're a Christian, 00:25:00.259 --> 00:25:01.519 but the reality is 00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:04.220 there's things in your life 00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:07.519 that affect your influence upon others 00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:10.460 and in not a good sense. 00:25:10.460 --> 00:25:14.920 And we need to lay those things down before the Lord. 00:25:16.620 --> 00:25:19.420 Whether it's private matters or public matters, 00:25:20.120 --> 00:25:21.380 let's walk out of them. 00:25:23.319 --> 00:25:24.539 Leave them before the Lord. 00:25:25.799 --> 00:25:26.840 You can do that in the pew 00:25:26.840 --> 00:25:28.039 where you'll stand in just a moment 00:25:28.039 --> 00:25:29.160 or you can do it at this altar 00:25:29.160 --> 00:25:31.100 or I'll be happy to pray with you. 00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:34.759 I have no idea what God's laid upon your heart today, 00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:37.980 but I encourage you to just simply be obedient. 00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:43.000 To do what God shows you 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:45.740 is His very best for your life. 00:25:46.859 --> 00:25:49.460 Maybe God's drawing you to First Baptist Church. 00:25:50.059 --> 00:25:52.339 God's moving and working in lives in our church 00:25:52.339 --> 00:25:53.339 and I'm thankful for that. 00:25:53.460 --> 00:25:55.339 And if God's leading you to be a part of this church, 00:25:55.579 --> 00:25:56.700 I encourage you to come. 00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:58.579 I'd love to guide you in that as well. 00:25:58.579 --> 00:26:03.119 I just encourage you today to be obedient. 00:26:04.679 --> 00:26:07.539 I'll never ask you to do more than what God tells you to do 00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:10.460 and I never want you to be satisfied with doing less. 00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:13.299 I just encourage you to follow Him. 00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:15.139 Not only in these next few moments, 00:26:15.299 --> 00:26:17.199 but as you leave this building, 00:26:17.559 --> 00:26:19.519 as you go on your way, 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:21.779 just follow the Lord Jesus. 00:26:22.599 --> 00:26:23.460 Let's pray together. 00:26:23.939 --> 00:26:25.039 Lord Jesus, thank you 00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:28.599 for the opportunity that you give us 00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:31.980 to influence lives around us 00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:33.220 and I pray, dear God, 00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:35.599 that you will help us to live lives 00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:38.899 of good, godly influence today. 00:26:40.059 --> 00:26:41.920 God, I pray that you'll give encouragement 00:26:41.920 --> 00:26:43.119 where encouragement's needed. 00:26:43.659 --> 00:26:45.240 I pray that you'll give comfort 00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:46.740 where comfort's needed, dear God. 00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:48.599 I pray, dear God, 00:26:48.680 --> 00:26:51.119 that you'll give clarity 00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:52.200 where clarity's needed. 00:26:53.700 --> 00:26:55.000 Direction, dear Father, 00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:57.339 and even conviction, Father. 00:26:58.519 --> 00:27:00.000 Work and move in our midst. 00:27:00.099 --> 00:27:01.399 Help us to simply be obedient 00:27:01.399 --> 00:27:02.259 to follow your will. 00:27:02.899 --> 00:27:04.399 In Jesus' precious name, 00:27:05.159 --> 00:27:05.399 amen.