A Mother's Day Surprise

“Happy Mother’s Day to all Mother’s and Mother’s to be”, rang out the exuberant, joyful greeting and welcome to us assembled. Surprising words followed but rested on my heart like a warm blanket on a wind strewn, cold snowy day. Unexpected words, non-conventional ones were the next few statements. {keep or remove:Even unusual words for the occasion but culturally relevant and apparently, from the reactions, hit other hearts where the need was greatest.“A bullseye hit of right on” by what appeared the response of many in attendance.}

“Today is a difficult day for many women. Let us recognize this and pray. For those would be mother’s that have not been able to conceive, for those that chose abortion and feel the pain and empty place (missing child) in their lives, for those that have grieved a child or mother’s passing.…let us pray… Prayers strong and impactful followed.

Have you ever been in a Mother’s Day Service of this Gospel Goodness?

The surprise was not over. The pastor’s words held authority and launched the next unexpected action:

“Now men in the congregation, I ask you to stand and even if you have not been guilty of the things I will speak of, will you stand in repentance for the men of our nation as a whole? … Men throughout the audience all stand. (I did not see any remain sitting.)

“LORD, please forgive us men for failing to lovingly care for and protect our women and our children. ….Onward went the simple but power packed prayer. “We REPENT, we ask Your forgiveness and redemption. We ask The LORD’s healing of our women and our families and that You will help us men be the husbands, fathers, leaders as You were/are to us. …

In Jesus Name, Amen.

These greetings and the two simple but powerful acknowledgements, prayers and repentances hit me like a resurrection of hope! Never had I heard a pastor lead a congregation like this before. Grateful and Thankful and truly comforted was I with the Gospel and the Hope Christ gives through His GRACE and MERCY reality and it being proclaimed and offered!

Having experienced a forced abortion in college that has marked my life like no other, I stood in awe of the Gospel Grace and Comfort extended to me that rare Mother’s Day in that church.

Perhaps instead of this being the rare exception, the Messages offered that day can be proclaimed with passion regularly in what Christ died to give: HOPE for ALL! Will we work to make His Gospel become a “commonplace” reality proclaiming the Greatest Gift on earth, throughout our nation?

Forgiveness, Grace, abundant life, hope beyond failures plus so much more is what Christ offers us all! The Gift of God is no small matter but God wants the gift of God to be truly Good News to us all and given to all nations and all people for he wants none to perish but to have eternal life (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9).

It is good news to know despite infertility, God has a plan and has worked wonders in and through those that struggled with infertility in Scripture in special hope filled ways. Those born out of this agony, changed our world. (Isaac; John the Baptist, Samuel…)

It is Good News to be given the gift of forgiveness through Christ for abortion! To be declared not guilty where there has been guilt, is great Good News! (add excerpt of page 35-37 here?)

It is Good News that we have the hope of heaven. Despite the sorrow of death and missing our loved one(s) here, we will see our children or/and believing mothers or other loved ones there. We still have great hope, unlike those that do not know Christ. We can offer that hope to those that do not yet know Jesus. He wants us to do this and called us to share His Gift to the Nations!

Christ makes all things new! HOPE, FORGIVENESS, ETERNAL LIFE, HEAVEN’s REALITY AND FUTURE PROMISE… Reasons to celebrate Mother’s Day with Joy!