Proverbs 31:10 – “Who can find a wife of noble character? For her value is far more than rubies.”

I know that it is a little after Mother’s Day, but I felt prompted to offer this reminder.

What are the characteristics of God’s kind of Mother? 

• She Is A God-given Helper.

She is more than a mate or a companion, but a completion of the man.  She is designed to walk beside him, care for the home, not rule it, and bring honor to her husband.   His glory is her glory!

• She Is To Care For Her Family’s Well-being.

Her ministry is molding the children and encouraging her husband to become the priest of the home and provide the covering God designed for the family.

• She Is To Be Obedient to God’s Word.

Her children observe her commitment and faith and are inspired to serve God. Her husband is inspired by her character, which motivates him to be a godly man.  The world sees her devotion, and it is a witness to them.

• She Is A Source of Strength For Her Family.

She is a vessel God uses to teach the strength of obedience and the value of faith.

The Bible teaches that if a man finds a wife, he finds a good thing!   Man and woman were created to be joined in the union of matrimony to complete each other.

Ladies, I salute you; no job is more difficult and requires more discipline, patience, love, and commitment than yours!  

God bless all the godly mothers, and may we always honor them!

Luke 9:23 – “Then He said to them all, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, what can I say but WOW! I was moved by more than I can convey.  My journey began in 2 Samuel 21, when Israel was enduring severe conditions.  David sought God’s presence, not just relief.  The key is that the presence of God is the answer.

In Luke 9:23, Jesus gave us the revelation of developing a genuine relationship with Him. He said we must “deny self.”  No more self-centeredness.   If we truly examined our lives, how many decisions are based on “self”?

He said, “Take up his cross DAILY.”  We focus on our Cross rather than His Cross, and also miss a key word, “daily.”   It is an ongoing relationship, not a one-time experience.

Then He said the ultimate key – “Follow Me.”  Every decision, every word, every action, and every thought is to be His.  What would Jesus do is not the focus, but what Jesus is doing in and through us is.

The Christian life is IMPOSSIBLE for the flesh. We cannot live “for” God until we live “in” Him.  Until He is “in” us, living “through” us, we expend energy trying to do the impossible.

Try doing Luke 6:27-35, through your willpower.  Frustration will be your constant companion.  But when Jesus lives through you, His yoke becomes easy and His burden light.   The only way to live “for” God is “through” God.  You cannot!  He can!  It is time to do as David and seek His presence! 

LORD, help us to learn to take up our Cross daily and follow You!

Luke 5:39 – “And no one, after drinking old wine, wishes for new; for he says, ‘The old is good enough.’”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, I was drawn to the thought of being SATISFIED!  There are two types of satisfaction. That is especially true when it comes to spiritual matters.   Our text speaks to this truth!

Think about that.  The purposes of God require continual growth in grace and understanding of the things of God.  It requires being stretched and expanded so we can mature in Christ.  It requires stepping out onto unfamiliar ground and into uncharted waters, totally dependent on the Holy Spirit. It requires new wine and new wineskins.  It requires pruning, correction, and dying to self.  It does not feel safe because it does not allow routine and the status quo.

However, many believers are satisfied with the old wine and the continuation of the old.  It is safe!  Satisfied with the status quo.  Satisfied to have the routine, the familiar, and live in the confidence of what they know and are accustomed to having.

If we are going to see The Kingdom Come, and The Will Done, status quo is a NO!   If we are to have active faith in operation, we have to allow the Holy Spirit to shake us and shape us.  New Wine in New Wineskins!

Luke 5:17-20 is the account of the paralytic brought by 4 men and let down through the roof to Jesus.  In verse 20, Jesus SAW their faith!  Saw It?  What did He see?  He saw what they did.  He saw their persistence.  He saw their expectations.  He saw New Wineskins presented to house the New Wine of healing.  Status Quo was a resounding NO for them. Healing was the goal, and nothing would hinder them. They said NO to Status Quo. How about us?

LORD, help us to say no to status quo!

Matthew 12:34 – “But you who are known as the Pharisees are rotten to the core like venomous snakes.  How can your words be good if you are rotten within?  For what has been stored up in your hearts will be heard in the overflow of your words!”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, one word echoed in my mind – Overflow.   That began yesterday.  Today, as I read about David at a time, his men considered stoning him, and he encouraged himself in the LORD. (1 Samuel 30:6)

Then I read in Mark 16:15-18, Jesus’ Commission, Promise, and bequeathal of Power. This assignment was monumental and mountainous.   As I read, the Spirit reminded me of the word “Overflow.”  In Matthew 12:34 and Luke 6:45, Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.

• Abundance (perisseuma) = abundance, surplus, overflow.
• Heart (kardia) = heart, but not the physical organ.  Rather, the seat of thought or being.

Our words justify and condemn us. Our words are a reflection of who and what we are. Our words are thoughts brought to life and light.   The question is, what is overflowing in our hearts? What is the surplus in our hearts?

To fulfill our assignment, we must become saturated with Jesus and His Spirit.  Out of that surplus (the uncontainable deposit in us), we speak and act.  It’s time to examine the overflow!  Are we fulfilling our assignment?  If not, could it be that we are not saturated to the point that we overflow? What is most important in life?  That’s what we are filled with!

Lord, help us to seek You above everything! Help us to become crammed full of You and Your Spirit. Help us to overflow with You! We overflow with something; let it be You!

May the Overflow of our hearts reflect Jesus!

Mark 11:22-26 – “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. ²³ “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. ²⁴ Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ²⁵ And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, the thought of “Supply” captured my heart.  We focus on need, and Jesus focused on supply.   We focus on lack, and Jesus focused on abundance.   We focus on the temporal, but Jesus focused on the eternal.    Do you see a problem? Wrong thinking leads to wrong believing, and wrong believing leads to wrong living.

Jesus warned of the doctrines of the Pharisees and the government.  The disciples made it totally natural. Jesus’ reminder of the feeding of the multitude twice conveyed the message – God is the Supply!  If He did this with natural bread, what might He do with the spiritual?

In Mark 11, we have the Fruitless Fig Tree.  Leaves indicate fruit.  Leaves are what can be seen. Jesus’ response to appearance but no fruit was to reject it completely.

He used the incident as a teaching tool.  He explained miraculous faith.  Not hope but faith.  Faith has vision and expectation.  Faith sees it done!  Today, that is woefully rare.  We try to believe rather than believing.

We miss the key to the supply.   That is found in verses 25-26. Forgiveness.  Not only does unforgiveness endanger our eternity, but it also limits our present. God will not honor unforgiveness. That would violate His nature.

Luke 6:38 is a powerful revelation of God! What we give is what we receive. What we sow is what we reap. In Mark 12:41-44, Jesus’ attention was captured by giving. No, this is not about money, but it can include money.

Two kinds of giving took place.   All was proportional.  

• The Widow gave out of her lack. 
• The rich gave from their surplus. 

(It is far easier to give when you don’t feel the pain.) 

• She gave all, they gave some. 
• She gave her life; they gave money.

Now, use Luke 6:38 here.   The proportions are important.  The essence of the gift and how it impacts the giver is important.  She gave her all, so the principle is, she will get God’s all in return.  Her lack turned into her supply. They gave a little of themselves, so a little of God will be their return.  This could be giving of anything!

• Supply is connected to what we give. 
• What we give is connected to what we believe. 
• What we believe is connected to our relationship with Him! 

(It flows out of our surrender!)

• Total surrender brings total supply.

May we always see God’s supply rather than our need!