Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, god-mothers, foster mothers, adopted mothers, surrogate mothers, step-mothers and any other selfless woman who has dedicated her life to children, youth, young adults, nieces, nephews, and baby Christians. SMILE! Did I get everyone?
Bishop Alexis A. Thomas is comical. He keeps us laughing and as Martha Stewart says, "It's a good thing!" He encouraged the mothers and gave a mini lecture on true motherhood. He encouraged parents to love their children, and discipline them as well. He said, he is still considering contacting Child Protective Services about how his parents disciplined him. I always laugh when he talks about being hit in the head by a Campbell's Soup can! Times have changed but even the timeless words in Proverbs say, "Don’t be afraid to correct your young ones; a spanking won’t kill them. A good spanking, in fact, might save them from something worse than death." Proverbs 23:13 (Message)
Then Bishop gave us a prophetic word from 2 Kings 4:6. You remember the story of the mother whose husband died leaving her deep in debt. She came to the prophet Elisha to plead her case. He asked her what she had in her house. She had a container of oil. The prophet instructed her to borrow containers, pots and pans from her neighbors, then go in the house and shut the door. She began to pour the oil in the vessels, and the oil miraculously filled all the vessels. She was able to sell the oil, pay her debts, and live comfortably with her children. There is so much meat in this passage! I just can't pass it up.
She went to the prophet looking for a blessing. The prophet changed the focus and instructed her to use what she already possessed. So many times we look outward, when the answer is inward. You have what it takes to succeed! 1 John 4:4 says, "greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."
She determined the extent of her blessing! The prophet never told her how many vessels to borrow. She could have borrowed more or less. Don't limit God! One of my favorite scriptures says, "God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us." Ephesians 3:20 (Message)
She trusted the Man of God! She obeyed his instructions, and she benefited. Proverbs 1:33 says, "those who listen to me will live in safety and comfort. They will have nothing to fear.” (Easy-to-Read Version)
I'm planning to follow this woman's example, and as Bishop said, "Every Vessel Will Be Filled!"
Love and prayers, Cynthia
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