Lord, who am I to teach the way
To little children, day by day,
So prone myself to go astray?
I teach them knowledge, but I know
How faint they flicker and how low
The candles of my knowledge glow.
I teach them power to will and do,
But only now to learn anew
My own great weakness through and through.
Lord, if their guide I still must be,
Oh, let my little children see
Their mother leaning hard on Thee.
–copied from Under Construction–Pardon the Mess by Viola Walden
Showing posts with label mother. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mother. Show all posts
Sunday, May 8, 2016
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Who's Approval Matters?
I remember when I was a boy how my dear mother would draw me to herself and speak to me so solemnly of the importance of trusting the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour, and I would say to her; "Well, Mother, I would like to do it, but the boys will laugh at me."
Mother used to say, "Harry, remember. They may laugh you into Hell, but they can never laugh you out of it."
And oh how that used to go home to me, and it stayed with me all through the years. Yes, men may sneer and ridicule and not understand us as we come out for Christ, but after all, His is the only approval worth having.
—H.A. Ironside
Friday, January 15, 2016
Where was Judas' Mother?
by Mrs. Gordon Lindsay
Where was Judas' mother when he was born? Was she on a dirty pad at a "love-in" giving birth to an unwanted illegitimate child; or was she in the shelter of her home, be it ever so humble, anxiously awaiting the words of the midwife, "You have a son"?
Where was Judas' mother when he was a toddler, needing to cling to his mother's skirt? Was she busy spending her days and nights in a round of social activities, sipping cocktails, dancing into the wee hours, while a babysitter tended to her little one; or was she home with him, crooning a lullaby while enfolding him in her arms?
Where was Judas' mother when it was time for the lad to go to school? Was she in bed sleeping off a hangover from a life of dissipation; or was she up on schedule preparing him his breakfast, then reading to him the wonderful miracle stories of the Old Testament and praying with him, asking God's divine protection, blessing and guidance on him before he skipped off to school?
Where was Judas' mother when problems arose in his life (as they do in the life of every child)? Was she too busy or too impatient to counsel with him?
Where was Judas' mother when he needed discipline? Did she always take his side against the rest of the family, his classmates, his headmaster; or was she an advocate of "self-expression" never crossing or curbing any word or deed of her offspring? Did she follow the advice of the wisest man, who said, "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes" (Prov. 13:24)?
Where was Judas' mother when it was time for the family altar hour? As a teenager was Judas driven to the hangouts and dives for want of companionship, understanding and love; or did his mother help supply this lack by taking her turn to lead in prayer and to read the Holy Scriptures? Did she believe the words, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Prov. 22:6)?
Where was Judas' mother when he brought his friends to his home? Was he ashamed of the ill-kept quarters, or was he proud to introduce his mother and share with his buddies the "goodies" his mother had baked?
Where was Judas' mother when it came time each Sabbath to take her boy to the synagogue? Had she availed herself of the "preparation" day (Luke 23:54) before the Sabbath, seeing that Judas' clothes were clean and in readiness; or was she "too tired" was it "too rainy" "too hot" "too cold"? Did she set an example of faithfulness to her son and the community by leading the way?
Where was Judas' mother when he was establishing values in his life? Was she, by her grasping actions, saying that temporal niceties, pleasures, security and luxury–creature comforts–are man's ultimate goal; or was she by example directing him to "seek...first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33)?
Where was Judas' mother when Jesus began to preach throughout all the land? Was she skeptical about His being the Messiah, or did she gladly accept Him as her Saviour and introduce Him to her son?
Where was Judas' mother when he decided to be a disciple of Christ and go from city to city preaching salvation, healing the sick and casting out devils? Was she overjoyed at his decision; or did she berate him for choosing such a low-paying, insecure, unsure vocation?
Where was Judas' mother when he became disillusioned in Christ when he learned that Jesus had not come to set up an earthly kingdom at this time but was talking about His earthly temple's being destroyed and His actual burial? Did she encourage her son to remember the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah and the miracles that Jesus did, which no mortal man could perform; or did she urge him to "throw in the towel," take all he could and get out while the getting was good?
Where was Judas' mother while he was meeting secretly with the Jewish leaders to sell his Christ for thirty pieces of silver? Was she in the streets crying, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" or was she at home interceding for her son's soul?
Where was Judas' mother when at last her son, the world's most infamous traitor, had collected his measly thirty pieces of silver and, after the overwhelming weight of his heinous deed had borne down upon him with full force, had hanged himself on a tree?
Where was Judas' mother in all these instances? Eternity alone will reveal it.
Where was Judas' mother when he was born? Was she on a dirty pad at a "love-in" giving birth to an unwanted illegitimate child; or was she in the shelter of her home, be it ever so humble, anxiously awaiting the words of the midwife, "You have a son"?
Where was Judas' mother when he was a toddler, needing to cling to his mother's skirt? Was she busy spending her days and nights in a round of social activities, sipping cocktails, dancing into the wee hours, while a babysitter tended to her little one; or was she home with him, crooning a lullaby while enfolding him in her arms?
Where was Judas' mother when it was time for the lad to go to school? Was she in bed sleeping off a hangover from a life of dissipation; or was she up on schedule preparing him his breakfast, then reading to him the wonderful miracle stories of the Old Testament and praying with him, asking God's divine protection, blessing and guidance on him before he skipped off to school?
Where was Judas' mother when problems arose in his life (as they do in the life of every child)? Was she too busy or too impatient to counsel with him?
Where was Judas' mother when he needed discipline? Did she always take his side against the rest of the family, his classmates, his headmaster; or was she an advocate of "self-expression" never crossing or curbing any word or deed of her offspring? Did she follow the advice of the wisest man, who said, "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes" (Prov. 13:24)?
Where was Judas' mother when it was time for the family altar hour? As a teenager was Judas driven to the hangouts and dives for want of companionship, understanding and love; or did his mother help supply this lack by taking her turn to lead in prayer and to read the Holy Scriptures? Did she believe the words, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Prov. 22:6)?
Where was Judas' mother when he brought his friends to his home? Was he ashamed of the ill-kept quarters, or was he proud to introduce his mother and share with his buddies the "goodies" his mother had baked?
Where was Judas' mother when it came time each Sabbath to take her boy to the synagogue? Had she availed herself of the "preparation" day (Luke 23:54) before the Sabbath, seeing that Judas' clothes were clean and in readiness; or was she "too tired" was it "too rainy" "too hot" "too cold"? Did she set an example of faithfulness to her son and the community by leading the way?
Where was Judas' mother when he was establishing values in his life? Was she, by her grasping actions, saying that temporal niceties, pleasures, security and luxury–creature comforts–are man's ultimate goal; or was she by example directing him to "seek...first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33)?
Where was Judas' mother when Jesus began to preach throughout all the land? Was she skeptical about His being the Messiah, or did she gladly accept Him as her Saviour and introduce Him to her son?
Where was Judas' mother when he decided to be a disciple of Christ and go from city to city preaching salvation, healing the sick and casting out devils? Was she overjoyed at his decision; or did she berate him for choosing such a low-paying, insecure, unsure vocation?
Where was Judas' mother when he became disillusioned in Christ when he learned that Jesus had not come to set up an earthly kingdom at this time but was talking about His earthly temple's being destroyed and His actual burial? Did she encourage her son to remember the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah and the miracles that Jesus did, which no mortal man could perform; or did she urge him to "throw in the towel," take all he could and get out while the getting was good?
Where was Judas' mother while he was meeting secretly with the Jewish leaders to sell his Christ for thirty pieces of silver? Was she in the streets crying, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" or was she at home interceding for her son's soul?
Where was Judas' mother when at last her son, the world's most infamous traitor, had collected his measly thirty pieces of silver and, after the overwhelming weight of his heinous deed had borne down upon him with full force, had hanged himself on a tree?
Where was Judas' mother in all these instances? Eternity alone will reveal it.
(from CHRIST FOR THE NATIONS and used by permission)
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