9-19-16<\/p>\n
I have a good friend, a neighbor who is a faithful Christian. As happens to devout believers, she is facing challenges and tests. I will quickly add that we know that \u201cthe rain falls on the good and the bad\u201d alike, but tests seem most severe on strong Christians.<\/p>\n
Properly seen, the devil has less reason to attack those of little faith. And as my wife once pointed out in a way I had never heard it explained, the devil has less reason to attack us, than to rail against Jesus — we will suffer attacks according to the amount of Jesus we invite to have a home in our hearts. <\/p>\n
More Jesus in our lives, more persecution and challenges will come our way. But in God\u2019s providence, the Jesus in our hearts does not merely provide answers\u2026 but IS the answer, our sword and shield; the Holy Spirit our protector.<\/p>\n
My friend is strong, and a strong witness, but at time is spiritually discouraged. Sickness in the home, a disabled spouse, put burdens on her. Her three little kids \u2013 bless their hearts \u2013 are handfuls. She has wanted to finish her education and start a business with a friend, but cannot. Two sets of good friends are going through awful times, and she feels helpless to assist them, yet tries. <\/p>\n
Through it all, despite prayer, discouragement yet looms.<\/p>\n
It is the lot of us all, these challenges and, sometimes, tragedies. For the majority of human history, and over many cultures, people have believed that Man should be the Provider, and Woman the Nurturer. But there is thin theology in clich\u00e9s. The Bible itself is full of examples of women as role models, as carriers of the seed of the Messiah, as special servants and leaders.<\/p>\n
It is just different with women, wives, and mothers. The kind of “different” that means special.<\/p>\n
One of the Bible\u2019s most beautiful and profound prayers is the \u201cMagnificat,\u201d the response of Mary when she learns that she is carrying Jesus, the Savior of the world:<\/p>\n
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior; It is not blasphemous to say that all women may rejoice in this prayer, and see their situations in that which was visited upon Mary. Motherhood is a holy thing. \u201cLowliness\u201d is exalted. The character of one\u2019s family, the future of the race, and the perpetuation of God\u2019s Kingdom, is the cherished possession of every mother.<\/p>\n It is one thing for neighbors to encourage others to \u201clook to Jesus\u201d and trust in God. But mothers \u2013 often lonely and vulnerable, sometimes having to be wife, mother, friend, sister, brother, father, leader, and warrior too \u2013 need to be reminded that while they look to Jesus\u2026 Jesus is looking at them. So are their children and family members, and hurting friends, and strangers.<\/p>\n This advice could invite greater realization of burdens, but always does the opposite. Sharing Jesus; making a \u201csmall group\u201d of your home; being the fierce spiritual protectoress that God desires, brings peace, healing, victory.<\/p>\n Another friend recently asked me what my \u201creligious life\u201d was when I grew up. My father, a traditional German Lutheran, was a believer, and active in church. But beyond dinner-table prayers, he seldom talked about Jesus. My mother, however \u2013 also a German Lutheran \u2013 emotionally prayed, frequently talked about Jesus, answered many of my life-questions in biblical contexts. She had smoked nonstop since her teens years and had a problem with drinking\u2026 but she wept every time she prayed. Cause and effect? I don\u2019t know, but she taught me the reality of a personal relationship with Christ.<\/p>\n My own wife Nancy, whose 63rd birthday would have been this week, died after years of horrendous medical problems \u2013 heart attacks, strokes, cancer, diabetes, heart and kidney transplants, dialysis \u2013 yet the most vulnerable member of our family was the strongest example of faith. <\/p>\n Painfully shy, she yet began a noted ministry to those who suffered what she did. Physically challenged in myriad ways, she yet fretted that her children were inconvenienced by her illnesses. Never attending Bible school, she studied and became a powerful exegete \u2013 a \u201cdoer of the Word, not a hearer only.\u201d<\/p>\n Although it is not Mother\u2019s day \u2013 another clich\u00e9, but true: all<\/em> days are mothers\u2019 days \u2013 I want to encourage the friend I wrote about; I remember my mom; I honor my late wife. And I want us all to remember that the opposite of dis<\/em>couragement is encouragement<\/em>. That the \u201cfort\u201d buried in the word \u201ccomfort,\u201d and the Holy Spirit\u2019s other name, the Comforter<\/em>, remind us that strength can be ours, and not only in<\/em> us, but granted to<\/em> us, by grace.<\/p>\n Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning, Psalm 30:5 reminds us. Thank God for mothers, their prayers, and their songs. <\/p>\n + + + <\/p>\n This is an old standard, written by Bill Anderson (sung by him here at a 50th anniversary tribute to his career) and recorded through the years by everyone from Walter Brennan to jazz bandleader Stan Kenton.<\/p>\n
\nFor He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaiden.
\nFor behold, from this day all generations will call me blessed.<\/em><\/p>\n