Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers reading this message. I wish you God’s Blessings of Peace and Joy!

My three brothers and I are incredibly blessed to have a caring, faith filled, wise Christian mother who raised us with love and understanding. She is also loved very much by our wives as their mother too. She lives her life as a wonderful example of faith and service for our whole family.

Happy Mother’s Day also to my wife! You are a tremendous Christian woman that is an inspiration to our family! Like your mother, you are a gracious, kind, and strong woman of faith, for all of us to admire and model.

Paul writes in Ephesians 6:3 about the honored position mothers have, and the promise God has for those who honor them, writing, “If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”

Today, let us all remind ourselves to follow Solomon’s words from Proverbs 23:25. “So give your father and mother joy! May she who gave you birth be happy.”

Dear Lord, help us realize and appreciate the beautiful way you built life for us, with a loving mother to bring us into this world. Help us all honor our mother’s with the lives we live, so that we can bring them happiness and joy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Have you had the opportunity to work closely with a team to accomplish a common objective. It could have been with a sports team, an informal team of people at work, a startup team for a new business, a band, a military unit, or overcoming a challenging time with your family as a team. There is something particularly fulfilling, hopeful and uniting in these occasions. Often, the more difficult the challenge, the more powerful the experience is for us.

Paul writes about this to the Church in Philippi, in Philippians 2:1-2, saying ” Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.”

It is that working together with “one mind and purpose” that makes all the difference. How much more fulfilling it will be for us when that purpose is God’s work, in our family, church, community, or friendships.

Dear Lord you made us and you put this trait into each of us, that when we join together in a team with trust and respect for each other and take on a challenge, your love is shown through us and builds bonds between us, making us even more capable of doing your will. Give us all the opportunity to experience this, and use it in your work. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

It is not uncommon for us to pray and ask for God’s help when we encounter those difficult and frightening events in life. Even people who have no time for God under normal circumstances will go to God in prayer for intervention when they are in trouble, and that is a good thing. God loves us all and maybe He is using the troubles to help people reconnect or return to Him.

What about when things are great? How common is it for us to go to God when things are going well for us; When we get promoted, get a big bonus, child gets a scholarship, we ace a difficult test, play a great round of golf, or have a great day at the park or beach with our family.

James writes in James 5:13 “Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises.” NLT

In those great times of life, we need to take time out and give praise and thanks to God who controls all and gives us all that we have.

Dear Lord, thank you for hearing our prayers when we are in trouble. Thank you also for the many incredible blessings you have given us in our modern lives. Most of all praise and thanks to you for your grace and mercy shown through Jesus Christ our Savior. In His name we pray. Amen.

Today is my incredible wife’s birthday. She is the grace in our home, the coach and biggest fan of our children, the mentor of her siblings, the unfailing sister of her friends, and my amazing Christian partner. Every day she brings glory to God by her life. God has blessed her, and all of us through her.

Solomon wrote about her in Proverbs 31:28-31, “Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.”

Happy Birthday Liz. I love you.

Dear Lord, Thank you for the blessing we have in Liz. Be with her as she grows in your service and brings joy to those around her. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Many personal development books and coaches emphasize the importance of controlling what we think about, because our thoughts influence what occurs in our lives. Some also say that if you dwell on your fears they are more likely to occur, and conversely if you focus on the positive, those things are likely to occur.

It is interesting that this idea has its origin in the bible. Proverbs 10:24 says, “The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled; the hopes of the godly will be granted.” This ties in also with Jesus’ words in several places including Matthew 8:13, saying “..because you believed, it has happened.”NLT

Dear Lord, help us keep our thoughts on the positive; our hopes, dreams and prayers, and help us avoid negative, self defeating thoughts that lead us to question your power. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.