Well, good morning and God's blessing to you as well this morning is indeed a privilege and a blessing to be here with you. Kind of privileged to be here this morning and yeah, in worship together. It's been some time that we've been wanting to come since our daughter is here and finally we've made it. I would have been glad to sit back as well, but they thought otherwise. So I want to do that, be willing to share as well. Phil and I have shared many times together. We were on the bishop committee together. And so there's a lot that has went between us. And so, yes, it is a blessing to be here and It feels kind of at home when Phil's here. So I feel comfortable and it feels good. Today is a special day and I'm blessed in some ways that our country remembers Mother's Day. It's one of the days I think that's worth remembering in the fact that you and I are here because of our mother. Right? And so happy Mother's Day to you mothers today. And those of you that aren't mothers, Lord's blessing to you as well. That's just as important, I believe. And so I want to bless you for that. And I'm encouraged today. I think there's people here that aren't normally here. If I see correctly. And there's Dorothea. Wow. Long time. Good to see you. Bless you for coming and blessing your mother today and others I'm sure that are here because of your mothers and so bless you for that. I think that speaks loudly and I think it's important. So whether you're a young mother here today or a mother whose children are grown or you're a grandmother or you're single, you're influencing, your life influences in so many ways. And this morning, I don't have a lot of new things this morning, I don't believe, but as I go to other places and other churches, what blesses me is faithfulness where God has called us. And so my message is kind of on that. Faithful where God has placed us, whether it's a mother, whether it's called to be single, whether it's a father, youth, a child, being content where God has called us and realizing that is what God wants. First Corinthians 4.2 says, moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful. This morning we heard about our great God. How he's done so amazing things in creating the universe and all that he's done. And one of the great things about our God is that he's faithful. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. Moreover, it is required of the stewards that a man be found faithful, it says in 1 Corinthians. God exhibits and honors faithfulness. For the Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endureth to all generations. And that's why we see faithfulness, because God is faithful. I love going back to churches that I, well, I think of Faith Mission, I guess, and that's where I met Dorothea. We worked together there, by the way. And I go back there, and I see these people that have been there for years. And they're continuing to serve the Lord. What a blessing. What a blessing it is. Every time you see a rainbow, remember that God is faithful. He keeps his promises. Every time you pick up the Word of God, remember that he said, heaven and earth will pass away, but my word shall what? Not pass away. That's right. When you gather for worship, he said, Lo, I am with you always. Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in your midst. He also said, Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. And when you stand at the brink of death, remember the promise. In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And whither I go, you know, and the way you know. The songwriter says, great is thy faithfulness. Great is thy faithfulness. O God, my father, morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed thy hand hath provided. Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me. as we allow his spirit to work in us. Then the fruit of faithfulness will be real and evident in our lives, I think. The more we yield to his guidance, the less vulnerable to discouragement and temptation we'll become. Faithfulness, what is it? How would you define faithfulness this morning? Well, a dictionary definition, to follow through with a commitment regardless of difficulty. Faithful, steadfast in affection or allegiance. Faithful, loyal, constant, staunch. Steadfast, resolute. Firm in adherence to whatever one owes allegiance. Faithful implies unswerving adherence to a person or a thing or to an oath or promise. which a tie was contracted, faithful to her promise. Faithfulness is love hanging on, you might say. I will not quit. There may be misunderstandings, there may be disappointments. There may be discouragements, but I'm not gonna quit. I'm gonna keep on. I'm going to be faithful. You know, when someone says that they really love the church and that they really love the Lord and then is unfaithful, do you think he really did? We say no, right? It's hard to believe that he really does love the Lord and the church. Faithfulness and love go hand in hand. some verses that challenge us to be faithful. 1 Corinthians 4 talks about faithful stewardship. Ephesians, it talks about being faithful in service. Timothy speaks of being faithful in our marriages. Revelation speaks of being faithful in witnessing. Romans, faithful in prayer. Colossians, faithful in ministry. Revelation faithful in following the Lord. Proverbs, faithful instruction. Third John, faithful in truth. Revelation speaks of faithfulness in times of persecution and to be faithful unto death and will receive the crown of life. Just some more verses here that I'll just read on faithfulness here at the beginning. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness. For I am the Lord, I change not, therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish your hearts, who shall establish you and keep you from evil. Psalm 36 verse 5. Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens. Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Luke 16, 10. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much. And he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. A faithful man shall abound with blessing, but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. Matthew 25. His Lord said unto him, well done, thy good and faithful servant. Thou has been faithful over a few things. I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. The power of a faithful life. There was a young man applied for a job as a farmhand. When the farmer asked for his qualifications, he said, I can sleep when the wind blows. This puzzled the farmer, but he liked the young man and he hired him. A few days later, the farmer and his wife were awakened in the night by a violent storm. They quickly began to check things out to see if it was all secure. If all was secure, they found that the shutters in the farmhouse had been securely fastened. A good supply of logs had been set next to the fireplace. The young man slept soundly. The farmer and his wife then inspected their property. They found that the farm tools had been placed in the storage shed, safe from the elements. The tractor had been moved into the garage. The barn was properly locked. Even the animals were calm. All was well. The farmer then understood the meaning of the young man's words, I can sleep when the wind blows. Because the farmhand did his work loyally and faithfully when the skies were clear. He was prepared for the storm when it broke. So when the wind blew, he was not afraid. He could sleep in peace. I think this illustrates as well a principle of faithfulness. There was nothing dramatic or sensational about what this young man was doing. But he just did what needed to be done. Just faithful where God placed him. What he was supposed to do. So that when the storm came, he knew all was well. All was well. A short poem, it isn't the things you do, it's the things you leave undone which gives you a bit of heartache at the setting of the sun. And isn't that so true, I find it. The things I push off, that's what comes to me at night when I can't sleep, right? The things I should have done so often. And so I guess in thinking of mothers and grandmothers, my encouragement today is the things of life become mundane. Again, we're getting up and we're cooking breakfast, we're doing the laundry, we're cleaning for these dirty men that bring these dirty boots in and you have to clean the floors, on and on. But just that steady, faithful service. It's what God wants. Faithfulness in what He is called. A mother was putting her son to bed on the eve of this young man's fifth birthday. She was trying to communicate the birthday idea to him and that this was the last night he was going to be four. Do you understand that? She asked Kevin. And Kevin was ready with his fingers, because he was used to telling everybody he was four. And he had shown people his four fingers for a year now, and now he was ready to add a thumb. And so she was telling him that when you go to sleep, you're going to be four, and when you wake up, you'll be five, right? And so she asked him, do you know how old you'll be in the morning? And I just thought it was neat, his reply. Kevin enthusiastically added his thumb to his four fingers and said, tomorrow I'll be a handful. So for all you mothers who have your hands full, we understand that. Lord bless you today and in the days to come. We celebrate mothers. What a wonderful thing that God's word has so many messages for us as mothers, as parents, as dads, as grandparents. All who have a profound influence on our homes. Turn with me to Luke chapter one. It's a very familiar account here. And you're wondering why we're going to Jesus' birth. But I'd like to talk about Mary a little bit here, for a little bit. Is it all right? Luke 1, verse 34. Just a few verses here. Then said Mary unto the angel, how shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And behold, thy cousin Elizabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible, And Mary said, behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. I'm gonna stop reading there. Just thinking of a mother called by God and completely submits to his will for her life. I just think this is such a beautiful picture. Mary, called to be God's mother, and her response was, I want to be your servant. And I think if I'd asked you this morning, that's your desire as mothers. You want to be the servant of God. It doesn't look like she wavered, but I'm sure she was nervous. She was probably unsure of her own abilities. Who wouldn't be? Maybe she was anxious about the prophecy that part of her future would include pain. Mary was like a mother who sits up late at night far past her bedtime, waiting for the date to be over. She was like the father who said the silent, heartfelt prayer as he watched his child drive away from the house, taking all those raw instincts into the streets of great danger. Mary was like any parent, I believe, who wanted only the best, only the most protection for her child, and fully aware that life happens, and not all of life is pleasant. But Mary was unlike a lot of parents in the world today in the sense that she was completely committed to God, I believe, and what God had for her. She was willing to go through. Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be unto me according to thy word. Talk about submission and commitment. And so, as you find your lot in life, and especially, I guess I'm talking, I'm thinking of young mothers this morning, and the fact that the load gets so heavy, and it just doesn't, you don't reach around. because the little one is crying. The next one needs your attention. And it just gets heavy. And you just can't get it done. It looks overwhelming. Think of Mary. It's okay if we come home and the house is messy. Or if the neighbor stops in and there's toys all over the floor. It's okay. We were, I was gone for meetings, and we went to this house, and as we walk in the sidewalks, the bike was laying across the sidewalks, and we had to walk around it to get in. You know what? You know what it made me think about? I'm like, yes, this is a real family. They're living life. It's the way it should be, I think. Not that we want to have messy house. We like clean houses. We like things straightened up. But when life, during those times, it's okay. It's what life brings us. And be like Mary, committed to what God has brought to you. Doing the best you can, that's all that God asks, I believe. God is not looking for perfection, I don't think. Ben Carson, many of you would know that name, renowned surgeon at John Hopkins, tells a moving story about his mother. Carson insisted that Ben and his brother Curtis, they had to write a book report every couple weeks while they were in school. And this wasn't for school, but this was for mom. Mom required this. And Ben and Curtis dutifully obeyed. About the time he was in junior high, Ben finally realized something quite shocking about his mother. he found out she couldn't read. And for years, Ben had read books and scratched out reports assuming that his mother was checking every word. But she didn't have a clue what he was saying. So now consider this, raised by an illiterate mother, Ben grew up to be a world famous surgeon who was featured in many articles and was the author of several books. His illiterate mother didn't twist her hands over the lack of learning and give up hope of raising intelligent boys. Instead, she gave her boys what she had, interest, accountability, and extra work. Teach your children to work. It's good for them. Mary wasn't perfect either, Jesus' mother. She wasn't a perfect mother. And I think of the story there where Jesus' first miracle that's recorded miracle. Okay. I don't know if it was his first miracle, but it's the first recorded miracle. Anyway, what Mary said to Jesus there, I'm not sure if she almost put Jesus on the spot, didn't she? I'm not sure if Jesus was going to or not. It almost made, so he had to do the miracle to not make his mom look bad. I don't know if that's really what happened or not. But maybe she said something a little out of ordinary. So I don't think she did everything perfect either. And so as mothers, God isn't looking for perfection, I don't think. And neither are we. As children, as a child, I'm not even sure I want a perfect mom. You know, because she'd be pretty demanding. And she wants it that way. Anyway. As parents, moms, and dads, we don't always get it right. We make mistakes, and we always will, seems like. But let's not be discouraged. In Proverbs, a lot of you ladies, I don't know if you like that proverb where it talks about the perfect woman. My wife doesn't like that proverb. And I can kind of understand why. But she never sleeps and she always works, and that's maybe the only part of that thing that's a reality, right, ladies? Always works and never sleeps. You can kind of identify with that, some of you. But she manages a fleet of ships, she runs a farm, she manages a staff, she sews like a fashion expert, she cooks, she cleans, and she homeschools, and she has a feast waiting for her husband when he comes home in the door from work. And I was looking at that, and I was like, well, that's pretty normal for our ladies. They do most of those things. It's just not all perfect every day, isn't it? And I think that's okay, we're not asking you to be super moms. Maybe in our time it would look more like A is for, and I didn't realize this, but each one of those lines in that poem there is a letter, begins with a successful letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and I hadn't realized that. And so in our time it might look A is for apple pie she bakes, and B is for the baby she loves, C is for the cleaning of the house, and right on down to Z is for the zoo she manages in the backyard. So that might be a little way to put it for today. And so that's why maybe it says, a wife like this, who can find her? And I think many of you are filling those roles. And to you, it might not look like it, but I think you are. And Lord bless you for that. Be faithful. And then in John 19, if you want to turn there, So Mary was Jesus' mother. She was there when he performed that first miracle. And then here in John 19, Jesus being crucified. And who do we find there but his mother? Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother and his mother's sister Mary and the wife of Cleophas and Mary Magdalene. And when Jesus therefore saw his mother and the disciples standing by whom he loved, he said, saith unto his woman, his mother, woman, behold thy son. And saith he to the disciple, behold thy mother. And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. Jesus, her son on the cross, and she is standing there. I don't think she stood there proudly, but probably crumpled in a heap and weeping for her son. I can't imagine as a mother, to stand by while this happens. But probably the truth of Simeon's prophecy came to her. The cross, I believe, cut deep into Mary's heart. Despite the pain, however, Mary was there. She was a mother from the beginning and a mother to the end. A mother called by God. never relinquishes the title. Today you'll find mothers in the halls of children's hospitals, in funeral homes, in the counselor's office. Mothers never relinquish the title, even if the child is rebellious or harsh or cruel. A mother's heart just won't allow that, especially when she's called by God. when a woman becomes a mother, when a man becomes a father. There's an instant realization that the day will almost certainly come when pain dominates the picture. The crosses are different for different families, but the cross has usually come. There may be divorce, disease, death, harsh words, unacceptable actions. There may be tough love and impossible nights. But you know, a mother's love just holds steady, doesn't it? It's always there. Moody gives a story I'd like to read. The closest tie on earth is a mother's love for a child. There are many good things that will separate a man from his wife, but there isn't a thing in the world wide that will separate a true mother from her own child. I will admit there are unnatural mothers and that there are mothers that have gone out of their heads, mothers that are steeped in sin and iniquity, and they will turn against their own children. But a true mother will never turn against her own child. I have talked with mothers when my blood boiled. with indignation against the sons for the treatment of their mothers. And I have said, why don't you cast him off? They have said, why Moody? I still love them. He is my son. I was once preaching in St. Louis. And when I got through, he said that he wanted to tell me a story. There was a boy that was very bad. He had a very bad father who seemed to delight in teaching his son everything that was bad. The father died and the boy went on from bad to worse until he was arrested for murder. When he was on trial, it came out that he had murdered five other people from one end of the city to the other. There was a universal cry going up against him. During his trial, they had to guard the courthouse. The indignation was so intense. The white-haired mother got just as near her son as she could, and every witness that went into the court and said anything against him seemed to hurt her more than her son. When the jury brought in a verdict guilty, a great shout went up. but the old mother nearly fainted away. And when the judge pronounced the sentence of death, they thought she would faint away. After it was over, she threw her arms around him and kissed him. And there in the court, they had to tear him from her embrace. She then went the length and breadth of the city, trying to get men to sign a petition for his pardon. And when he was hanged, she begged the governor to let her have the body of her son, that she might bury it. They say that death has torn everything in this world, everything but a mother's love. That is stronger than death. The governor refused to let her have the body, but she cherished the memory of that boy as long as she lived. A few months later, she followed her boy. And when she was dying, she sent word to the governor and begged that her body might be laid close to her son. That is a mother's love. She wasn't ashamed to have her grave pointed out for all time as the grave of the mother of the most noted criminal in the state of Vermont ever had. Just a beautiful picture, I think, of a mother's love. Turn with me to 2 Timothy. Just a few thoughts there yet. 2 Timothy 1. I'll read the verses one through seven. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, according to the promise of life, which is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my dearly beloved son, grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God whom I serve for my forefathers with pure conscience that without ceasing, I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day. greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy. When I call to remembrance the unfamed faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and in thy mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that in thee also. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. I love this passage. It's such a beautiful picture of faith that is passed on, faithfulness. How many of you have grandparents that are faithful? It's been passed down, right? It's been passed down. Some of you have lost your grandparents. Some of you have lost your mothers and your fathers. But here it just says, when I call to remembrance, the unfeigned faith. Unfeigned, genuine, real. If we want to pass on that faith to our children and our grandchildren, it needs to be real. We talked about that a little bit in Sunday school. More than just a form. It needs to be real. It needs to be a part of us. but he had found it here and he was encouraging Timothy. He said, what a blessing it is that I see. It's been handed down. And I think it's in Romans where it talks about when they came to faith, if I have it right. And so as we think of that, and as we think of that in where God has called us, be faithful. It's not rocket science. It's not complicated. It's just faithfulness. And it takes work. It takes effort. It doesn't just happen. And so that is my encouragement to you. Be faithful where God has called you. I think of the story of Mary and Martha, too. You know, the one was cumbered about with much serving, and the other was sitting at Jesus' feet. Maybe we get carried away with our lot in life and it looks so much more attractive somewhere else. Okay? God has placed you where you are. Be faithful in that as you serve him here. I have a song that I'd like to sing for you as mothers. In honor of my mother, who still lives, and I feel blessed. And this is for you mothers today. I dream mother walked up The heavenly stairs, And medals for mothers Were given up there. They mentioned a million things mom did for me, things I took for granted and never could see. If there's medals for mom, For all of the deeds they have done. If there's medals for mothers, Mama, you'd win. everyone. A medal of honor they pinned on her there. A medal for patience and kind loving care. A medal for duty she won up above. But the biggest of all Was the one for her love If there's medals For mothers For all of the deeds they have done If there's medals Let's kneel in prayer. Lord, this morning we thank you again for your design and your plan. Thank you for mothers who teach us so much, who've loved us so much, even when we weren't very lovely. And I just pray your blessing upon each mother here this morning. Maybe there's someone who's here who's discouraged. It just doesn't seem like things are going the way it should. It looks so overwhelming. There's so much work. Lord, bless them with courage and strength to be faithful. To do their work is unto you. Maybe there's mothers here this morning that the children have all left. And they're wondering what now. Lord, may you give them strength, direction, how they can help, how they can encourage, how they can bless. young mothers, others that they can minister to, guide them, give them direction, inspiration, and blessing. Thank you for the way that you've designed the home. Help us as fathers in our responsibilities that we can do our part as well. Thank you for your faithfulness, Lord, and we in turn want to be faithful where you've called us as well. We commit ourselves to you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.