Super Moms

Rev Jasmine Ooi

Happy mothers day to all mothers, spiritual mums and everyone who honours mothers.

• This is a day set aside to appreciate mothers for all their love and sacrifices. Motherhood is a high calling from God but we often forget due to the stress of caring for our household.  From dawn to setting sun, a mother’s work is never done.
• A busy mother’s psalm goes like this ..the lord is my shepherd. He invites me to lie down but I cant because my laundry basket is running over. My daughter made this mothers day for me which humorously describes the things mothers do

Super Mum has:

• A stomach to eat leftovers (to save money for family)
• Brains to resolve family conflicts, to think what to cook
• Ears to listen to children’s problems and needs
• Shoulder to cry on, carry the weight of the family
• Knees to kneel to pray for family

My daughter Joy sent me this

• It takes so many different people to replace the roles mothers play
• Its easy to see why mothers can get stressed and forget their high calling from God.

Because Motherhood is a high calling from God:

• He calls us to Honor your Father & Mother, which is the first commandment with a promise: that it will go well with you and you will live long (Eph. 6:2)

How to honour mothers?

• to pay attention to her words
• to speak to her kindly
• and respectfully,

What it means to Honour?

• to speak positively about her to others
• tell her whenever you see in her a virtue/quality that speaks of God’s love
• Let me give you an example of what I mean in a mothers day card I received from my son, Joshua

A Mother’s day card from Josh, my son

• I likened you to be a mirror of God’s love
• showing me the true heart of a servant who took what her master invested in her…and unselfishly gave and invested back into His eternal kingdom by serving me and those who need Him…
• “Of all the things I could thank you for, it would be for giving me a  glimpse of how much Jesus loves and cares so sacrificially for me…

If not for your “Jesus loves you”, there won’t be this love I have for the world and for you.

• now that I am physically pulled apart from that spiritual umbilical cord, I have learnt to kneel on my own knees and worship Him…
• My daughter in law recently posted on her Facebook how grateful she was to God for such a loving husband who took care of the kids even while he was busy writing his research paper which was recently published in a top Science journal in the world. I told her how proud I was. And she replied I should be prouder that I have raised a good man, a great husband and father.

Joshua’s PhD Graduation - A Story of a Mother’s Prayer & God’s Provision

• When Josh wanted to pursue his bio medical studies in Australia, he said that he had faith God will provide the finances because he has seen how we had prayed as a family and how has provided for us since he was very young. Thank God for giving Josh a full scholarship to complete his PhD in medicine.
• Whenever josh gets discouraged in his experiments, he would call home to talk to me and ask me to pray for him. I was the one encouraged when he said he knows that God is building his character.

1. A Mother’s Purpose

1. To be fruitful and multiply what? (Gen. 1:27,28)

• To multiply Godly seeds/offspring – (Mal. 2:15).
• How does she do that?
• By being a role model of God’s love
2. A loving Mother Reflects God
• “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you” (Isaiah 66: 13)
• God gives us children so we can understand the capacity of His heart to love, to give, to sacrifice, to teach, to discipline us, …to reproduce all His goodness and love in us, His godly seed

2. A Mother’s Priorities

• Example: Mothers of Moses and Samuel
• Only a few years with them but they were smart to make use of the opportunity to train them to know and love God
• Crucial foundation
• Character-training years
• “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6)

Importance of Spiritual Training in the Early Years

• Researcher George Barna:
• Children age 5 -13 have a 32% probability of accepting Christ as their Savior.
• The rate drops dramatically to 4%, for kids age 14 -18.
• Timothy’s grandmother and mother passed down their sincere faith to Timothy…
  (2 Tim. 1: 5)
• Grandmothers too have a vital role to play. I love to share my testimonies to my grandchildren. “We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power and the wonders he has done..so the next generation would remember His deeds, put their trust in God, keep his commandments… and they in turn would tell their children.(Psalm 78:4-7)

Chloe praising God

• What are some things we can teach our children and grandchildren
• I love to see my children lift their hands when I say “Praise the Lord”
• Chloe sharing her food
• Chloe thanking God for her food

3. A Mother’s Problem

• Meet Eve…the mother of all living (Gen. 3:20)
• And Satan..the father of lies (John 8: 42-47)
• What was she thinking when she bought the devil’s lies? Gen.3:1-7
• Mothers beware cos Satan is still seducing us today that
• “I or my children must know everything”
• “My life/my children must be perfect”
• “I’m my own god-I call the shots”
• “If it looks good, get it”
• Woman (2 Cor. 11: 3; 1 Tim. 2: 14)
• Prone to fall prey to his lies
• Influence the men around us to sin
• Set a pattern for subsequent generations

As a result of Believing Satan’s Lie

• Adam and Eve – loss of esteem, disconnection with their Source 

Meet Mrs. Zebedee

• Matthew 19: 28,29; 20: 20
• What did she do? She tried to pull strings with Jesus to put her sons next to him in position/prestige
• How did she feel? Insecure cos of competition
• What was she thinking? Of her own security, self-esteem, significance
• Matt. 20: 22 “You don’t know what you are asking”?
• What do you want for your children?
• What is being great to you?
• Jesus said if u want to be great in God’s kingdom, learn to be the servant of all

“Supermom” Today

• Raising children has become an aggressive competition.
• The compulsive woman-have to mentality
• Caught in a performance trap. How many As did u get?

Leah was unloved  (Gen. 29: 16 – 30)
She longed to be esteemed

1. A Mother’s Focus

• Leah named her first son “Rueben”
• It is because the Lord has seen my misery (Gen. 29: 32)
• Leah focused on God

2. A Mother’s Peace

• Leah named her second son “Simeon”
• “The Lord hears” (Gen. 29:33)
• The Lord is near…
• Do not be anxious (Phil.4: 5-6)

A Peaceful & Powerful Mum

• The Lord is near…I do not fret or worry about anything, but in everything and in every circumstance, by prayer with thanksgiving, I let God know my wants. And God’s peace shall guard my minds in Christ (Phil. 4: 5-7)
• I Fix my mind on whatever is true, lovely and worthy of praise…
• I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me = I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me.
• Think= what is true according to God, e.g my children must have straight As to have a secure future? (Phil. 4:8)
•  Feel =Peaceful (God of peace will be with you v.9)
• Do =I can do anything through Christ who gives me strength (v. 13). I am not depressed/anxious

3. A Mother’s Security

• Leah called her third son, Levi=attached, priestly line
• Needs for attachment and security
• To be met in God first 

4. A Mother’s Choice

• 4th son- Judah- this time I will praise the Lord
• Turn your pain to praise, worry to worship
• Judah = kingly line of
• David and Jesus
• Leah became the matriarch of the tribes of Israel.
• She was finally honoured by being buried next to Abraham and Sarah. Jacob asked to be buried next to Leah.

5. A Mother’s Reward & Honour

• 5th son = Issachar = Reward
• 6th son = Zebulun = Honour
• God has presented me with a precious gift (Gen. 30:20)
• An honour to raise child up to please God. We obtain our honour and reward from God.

A Mother’s Reward

• Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. (Prov. 31:28)
• Arise = help to lift up, strengthen

6. A Mother’s Strength & Beauty (Prov. 31)

• She has strength and dignity because of her desire to please God
• Free of worry
• Speaks wisely
• Faithfully instructs

Thank God that all my children are serving God in their church. Ps. 116: 16 “ O Lord I am your servant, I will serve you as my mother served you”

Conclusion: What does God want you to know?

• Motherhood = high calling
• You as a mom reflect God’s character to your kids. Love them unconditionally, not based on their performance but let them know they are loved, accepted and secure in God.

A Mother’s Prayer

Our loving heavenly Father,

We sometimes get so bogged down in the daily battles that we lose sight of where we’re going.

Help & empower us to make the most of opportunities today to love and teach our children.

Yet we feel so inadequate. It’s frightening to realize how much our own example will influence our children in what they do, and what they believe about you.

But we take comfort in knowing that you only expect us to do the best we can with the Spirit’s help..

Thank you for the positive examples you have given us and for the eternal guiding wisdom from your Word.

We pray most of all that our family circle will remain unbroken when we gather to celebrate and praise your name in heaven.

Thank you for the children You have given us.

In Jesus’ Name we pray.

Amen

Arise & Bless your Wife and Mother

• Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. (Prov. 31:28)
• Arise = help to lift up, stir up, strengthen

Please note that these notes are extracted from the PowerPoint presentation used.

Mother's Love

Bro Koay Kheng Hin

When pastor Gideon asked me to speak on Mother's Day I asked if he was sure? Maybe he was confused as I have done Father's Day before. I believe pastor Gideon heard from the Lord when he asked me to speak on Mother's Day because he may not know it, but I know I am blessed to be here.

 I would like to start with something like this. A man love his mother and the man love his wife. And one day they are both drowning. Who do you save first? I don't want to answer this question because I don't want to go where angels dare not tread. The answer would probably be, let me think about this. It's a philosophical question.

The mother may not say it but in her heart she would say save your wife. The mother's heart is always sacrificial. It will always be - the child comes first. And she would say save your wife.

Mothers are not perfect. But mother's have a special love for her child. If your mother scolded you yesterday don't think that your mother is not like that. But the seed of sacrifice and the bond to her child will always be there.

The Bible records that David lay with Bathsheba and Solomon come from that. This was after the first child had died after birth. When a lady conceive, and the mom loses the child, it is a terrible thing. Something that we cannot understand. And healing takes a long time. And when another child came along, there is a special bond that this child is God's gift back to me.

Proverbs 10:1

The proverbs of Solomon:

A wise son brings joy to his father,

but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

Have you ever wondered why Solomon didn't write it the other way? That a wise son brings joy to the mother and a foolish son brings grief to his father? I think Solomon knows that a father's love and mother's love is different. A mother's love of a wayward child is different. If a son takes drugs both will be grieved but the first one who will say enough is enough is the father. When he has to draw the line, it'll be the father. But have you heard? Mothers will still secretly give to their son, like money. This is something that we see happening. When it comes to bonding with the child, the mother has a nine month head start.

That attachment with a child the father will not be able to really grasp. A mother's love has a certain empathising touch. The mother weeps in the heart when a child goes through a difficult time. It is this that expresses itself as a mother's love in a softness of heart for the child. And it is very direct. A mother will naturally want to embrace the child. That is a mother's love.

That love is drawn from two aspect, a sacrificial aspect and an unconditional aspect. That's why the mother will say save your wife.

This is where we want to look at where is the source of a mother's love. The agape love of God is expressed as sacrificial and unconditional.

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

While we are yet sinners described God's unconditional love and Christ died for us described his sacrificial love.

That is why man will say only when a man becomes good does he deserve our love. God showed his love when we are still a sinner. And God is not all talk, he demonstrated his love by dying for us.

In the mother that sacrificial and unconditional love is expressed through her empathising for her child, that softness of heart and in the mother lies the capacity to love like that. On Mother's Day I want to say you are special because you have that capacity to lay your life down for your child and it's a gift of God. And when we say you have that seed, we have to nurture it. And we don't know how far you can go as you draw near to the Lord. That seed of sacrifice and unconditional love will grow in your life. It is a gift, nurture it and you will be blessed.

It is no accident that Solomon when God chose him was a pretty smart fellow. He was to ask one thing from God and he chose wisdom. And God said he has chosen a good thing. He asked for wisdom and God gave him everything.

1 Kings 3:27-28

27 Then the king gave his ruling: “Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother.”

28 When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.

And here you see how Solomon used his wisdom from God in dealing with mothers. If you read the passage before these verses and you'll see how wise Solomon was in dealing with this case. Solomon knew there was a strong bond between a mother and the child.

1 Kings 3:23-26

23 The king said, “This one says, ‘My son is alive and your son is dead,’ while that one says, ‘No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.’”

24 Then the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought a sword for the king. 25 He then gave an order: “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.”

26 The woman whose son was alive was deeply moved out of love for her son and said to the king, “Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!”

But the other said, “Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!”

Here you see an aspect of how a mother feel when a son's life is at stake.

In my school I have all ladies young and old. In a hall of 600 I can be the only man. When I told them I have a difficult assignment from my pastor to speak on Mother's Day and one person in particular told me, have you heard of a son's face where only a mother can love? You see, others see that child with their eyes but only a mother sees her child through her eyes.

I  am a reader of books but now I learn how to Google. So I read this story.

There was a child in school who is always asking questions in class. And the teacher got irritated with him because of his many questions. The teacher called the mother to complain that this child of hers is problematic.

The mother said my child is not backward and I'm taking her back to school him at home. This boy is Thomas Edison who has more than 1,000 patents.  That is why he was always asking questions. The school cannot accommodate him because he was a genius. But the mother saw him as special. The mum sees more, my son has potential.

But if the mum had listened to what the teachers said what would have become of Thomas Edison? That's a mother's love.

You also saw cases in earthquakes where they found a mother cradling her baby from the debris. That is a mother's love.

Today you've heard this, so what's your response. You may say I'll buy her a special gift, or take her to a special place but have you thought of what your mother actually wants? Mothers want obedient children.

I told my teachers at school that my mum seldom cane me and when she does, she canes me softly. But my brother will always kena. When my mum says come, he will stay at the corner and when my mum goes to him he runs around the room. He said not fair, mum canes him 10 times but only 2 times on me when we both did the same thing. I told my brother don't run. When mum says come you go and say sorry. But he never learns, so kena. Mothers want obedient children.

Ephesians 6:2-3

2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

I believe a man who dishonours his father or mother cannot honour God. Don't be a Pharisee. If he don't honour his parents, he is in no position to honour God.

Some time back I had a talk to my mother. I told my mum it's not how much money a son has in taking care of the mother but how much love he has. A son who has money may not give her mum the care that she needs in failing health. While a son who loves his mom will find a way to find the money for her mother's treatment.

My mom is not well and I spend time with my mom. Back from school and I'll sit in the wheelchair by her. My mom used to iron clothes until late at night so I whenever saw her and decided to stay with her. She can iron with her eyes closed and I told myself I'll stay with her until she sleeps. So after a while I'll tell her to go to sleep. She thinks I must care for her but because she don't sleep I cannot sleep.

I just want to say this to all of you. If your mum is not well, honour and care for your mum. Mums will always care for their child but it is sad that children sometimes don’t care about their mum. I want to take this opportunity to also thank my wife because as a son I also have my limitations.

Now coming back to the question of whether to save your mum or your wife, you may have the problem but your mum will not. She will say save your wife. For mothers, the child will always be in her heart. A mother will always grief when her child is not doing well.

So finally remember this, always care for your mum when she's not doing well.

We Salute Mothers

Rev Gideon Lee

I'd like to start by sharing with you the Top 10 Sayings of Biblical Mothers 

10. Samson! Get your hand out of that lion. You don't know where it's been!

9. David! I told you not to play in the house with that sling! Go practice your harp. We pay good money for those lessons! 

8. Abraham! Stop wandering around the countryside and get home for supper! 

7. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego! I told you never to play with fire! 

6. Cain! Get off your brother! You're going to kill him some day! 

5. Noah! No, you can't keep them! I told you, don't bring home any more strays! 

4. Gideon! Have you been hiding in that wine press again? Look at your clothes!

3. James and John! No more burping contests at the dinner table, please. People are going to call you the sons of thunder! 

2. Judas! Have you been in my purse again?!

And the number one Biblical saying of mothers is: 

1. Jesus! Stop working on that old wood and come in and eat! You'd spend your life on that wood, if your father asked you to!

We know what Jesus is doing right? We are that wood and often it takes a lifetime for Jesus to do that work in us. 

Romans 16:1-16

Personal Greetings

1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me.

3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. 5 Greet also the church that meets at their house.

Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. 8 Greet Ampliatus, whom I love in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, tested and approved in Christ.

Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my relative.

Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. 12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord.

Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brothers with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss.

All the churches of Christ send greetings.

How many of you wondered why God put these names at the end of this passage. What benefit can we possible gain from this passage of scripture? I must confess often I skip when I come across passages like these. 

But I want to say that whatever God puts in the bible, it has value. This is a Mother's Day passage. 

Of all the 26 people that was mentioned, Paul singled out 6 that were women. Some say Paul was a male chauvinist. That he's one sided towards the male. But here we see he mentioned specifically 6 women. He took the time to appreciate ladies. They were tremendous influence not just in his life but in ministry. 

He comes to verse 13 where he gave his greetings and then that Rufus's mother was also a motherly figure to Paul. We don't know who this Rufus were but that she was chosen of the Lord. The mother was instrumental in Paul's life and had been like a mother to him. 

Today we celebrate Mother's Day but there are some churches that don't celebrate Mother's Day but I beg to defer because I think there is a place to honour our mothers and fathers. Also our spiritual fathers and mothers in the church. 

There are a few things we want to look at. 

We want to salute mothers today because of her tenacious love. 

What does tenacious means to you? Have you seen a bulldog? Once its jaws lock on something it won't let go. You can whack it but it will just hang on. That's why many like to use them as guard dogs. The bible tells us that mothers have this tenacious love for their children. 

Let me give you an example. When I go to the hospitals, who is the person that will stay overnight? It's the mothers. They just have the kind of capacity to do so. My children was sick these few days. Jayden runs to the mom and clings to her. Josiah came home also sick and I thought I'd be a hero and take care of Josiah. I see what his mom did but I cannot see how my wife can do it. He will run to my wife and my wife will comfort him. For me I'd tell him to stop whining. He'd say its painful, and I'll shout and say "yes, just deal with it!". Mothers are made different. Mothers have this tenacious love. 

We salute them because they have tremendous impact in our lives. 

You have heard its been said that "The hands that rock the cradle rules the world". All of us have had some influence from our mothers. 

I remembered how my mother influenced me. There was a point in my life when I was so far from God that my mom was worried for me and she got the church members to pray for me. And I sincerely believe it is because of that that I am here today. 

Mothers, your words and prayers have tremendous influence. I feel that God gives special attention to a mother's prayer. Mothers, if you have children that are wayward, never give up. God hears your prayers. When you place your children in God's hands, your children will come to realize there is a God. 

Spiritual mothers, are you praying for someone. Pray for that person and you will see God's hands moving in these lives. How many of you heard of John Wesley. It is said if you do not know his mother Susanna Wesley, you will never understand John Wesley. The same with Abraham Lincoln. He said the person constantly in his mind is his mother. 

I pray we not only honour our mothers only on Mother's Day. Mother's Day is so commercialized now like Valentines Day but it does not mean we do not appreciate them. I pray we do not think of our mothers only on Mother's Day. 

We salute the mothers because a home is not complete without a mother. 

It is a mothers love that makes a home a home. That's why we call it home sweet home. If not it's just a building. It is a mothers home that makes it complete. When I shifted up to Penang one of the things I think of is my mother who is in Klang. She is staying with my younger brother. When I go to my mom, I can just talk to her even if she cannot solve or understand my problems but she always makes it better. That's what a mom does for us. When she is there things get taken care of. 

For my children, they know that mom will give them the tender loving care. Next month I will talk about dads. We need both. 

Love your mothers. How many of you have hugged your mom today? If they are around I mean. Do it not only today. How many of you will take your mom out for lunch today? Moms, can you let your children pay today? If you can save money for your Samsung S4 or is it S5 now, you can buy lunch for your mom. Can?

Melissa's beautiful solo dedicated to all mothers,  "Because you love me".

All mothers, grandmothers, mothers to be and those wanting to be mothers 
invited by pastor to the altar at the end of the service.

Pastor Gideon praying for all those who responded to his invitation.

Mothers receiving their gift from TOP's youth.