Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
5/10/2021
The Lifetime Achievement Oscar goes to…?
Tonight is Courageous Free Wings and Fast Cars… Bring a Friend.
Someone asked a 92-year-old man what the secret of his long life was. His answer was stunning. Honor your father and your mother. It was an answer I wasn’t expecting but I completely appreciated it. Matt 19 – 19 “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”
My mom will be 96 in October and the older she gets the more I appreciate the sacrifices and the love that she poured out into my life. I sincerely can see a crown of precious metals. Perhaps they are the birthstones of her six children, they are more precious than diamonds to her. It almost seems a shame that we only dedicate one day a year to her when she dedicated every day of her life to us. She gave us a lifetime of promises, encouragement, and when needed a swift kick in the butt.
But she loved my heart better than anyone. She knew me better than anyone. And to me, she was simply the best… better than all the rest… to me.
This morning I walked into church with my family and the Spirit of God flooded my emotions. I was overwhelmed with his presence, his loving-kindness, his grace, and his majesty. Pastor unfolded a message on mothers and I couldn’t help but remember 1000 memories. Spoonfuls of caution yes and bucket loads of encouragement with wisdom sprinkled into every lunch bucket. Mom wasn’t just about rules she was about relationships. How many times did she pat the couch and say let’s talk awhile.
I was so blessed to be raised by a mom who was and is a woman of faith and she didn’t put our physical needs above the spiritual. I was raised in a devoted Catholic home. They sacrificed to send me to Catholic private schools all of my life it was never a question of money it was about building character, stamina, and a foundation of faith for the life ahead. My mom was at the heart of building a community in a family. My mom and my dad chose the life of sacrifice. My mom was my first pastor. She paid attention to the spiritual details. She often told us that God is at work in the small things. So was my mom. Every detail was purposeful even with so many things to do. She helped my dad run three businesses and her every move had a purpose and was covered in prayer.
In all good conscience, how can we give only one day
of praise and ceremony to our moms? I know many of you have had grandmothers or moms that have gone on to be with the Lord or who weren’t the best caregivers… But I believe that for those who didn’t
that God provides. He gives us grace for a new day.
Lord, as we start to crawl out of this plague of a pandemic I pray that you bless our moms and our grandmothers with the finest of spiritual blessings this year. Confirming their hearts and spirits that the work of their hands and the love that they freely gave to those children under their care was not in vain. Validate their worth lord and help us children and grandchildren and cousins reach out so that she might know that she is loved, valued, and cherished in their eyes and in the eyes of our heavenly father.
Lord create in her a deep sense of your protection and trust so that worry and fear will disappear as she places her loved ones into your care. Let her know that every prayer and every encouraging word she has spoken on behalf of her children and grandchildren has been transformed into a sweet fragrant offering before your throne. Grow her faith and ours that those prayers that may be still unanswered, even though she may be gone, are dreams still not realized but not forgotten by God. Lord open her eyes and ours to see beyond this world to a Hope that never disappoints.
Whisper deep within her spirit the sweet words she longs to hear from you. That nothing can ever separate her from your love. Help her to nestle daily in promises of your word, standing with faith in the things that you declare are true.
Father let her rest in the knowledge that she has done all she can and that both she and those she loves truly belong to you. Bless her with a servant’s spirit so that she can still teach us of the joy yet to come…”Well done”.
Incredible women deserve incredible care, gratitude, and praise. Just as the Oscars give out a lifetime achievement Oscars even though they may never have been as great once as someone else. It was their lifetime resilience of superior performances that in the end…won them their day.
Our Mom must surely be greater than that.
Will you stop to pray with your family and me for just one hour this week. Pray for your mom or that person who became your spiritual influencer through the years.
Above All Michael W Smith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CIdfZBle38&list=RDVhrxRccU3Lw&index=29
