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YOU TUBE VIDEO LINKS TO THIS SERMON

WHO IS MY MOTHER - PART 1
WHO IS MY MOTHER? - PART 2
WHO IS MY MOTHER? - PART 3

SPECIAL MUSIC BY COURTNEY JENKINS - "LIKE MOTHER DOES"
COURTNEY JENKINS SINGINGS “LIKE MOTHER DOES”

Who Is My Mother? 
A Sermon by Pastor Mark Taylor

“Jesus answered and said unto him: Who is My mother? and who are my brothers and sisters? (Matthew 12:48)

Sunday in the USA we will celebrate a Holiday called "Mother's Day".  We honor all of our living and deceased Mother's as we follow God's commandant to "Honor your Mother's and Fathers".

“Mother’s Day” can be a difficult time for some ladies and men and children.  For some, their mothers have already gone to Heaven and are greatly missed during this holiday and on other special days we shared with them while they were with us here on Earth.  For some mothers it is a difficult day because their children have preceded them to Heaven and they are greatly missed.  For some ladies and their husbands it is a difficult day because they are childless and cannot celebrate this day as others do.  But it does not mean they cannot celebrate it.

I want to give you a different perspective of how our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, viewed His relationship to Mothers and Brethren (brothers and sisters).  When you look at this day through His eyes you will not see yourself as an orphan or as childless. 

My Father was taken out of this world when I was ten years old and my Mother when I was sixteen.  My Heavenly Father reminded me of His care for me even when I was an orphan.  “When my father and my mother leaves me, then the LORD will take me up....I would have fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD, in the land of the living.  Wait on the LORD, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, wait, I say, on the LORD.” (Psalm 27: 10-14).  God provided a loving Aunt and a caring Uncle to provide for me and my brother during these difficult days.  There were days like today that I missed my parents greatly.  It was difficult at graduation services, my wedding, the birth of my children, and holidays.  But in their absence, I sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit to comfort me when the waves of grief and loneliness came upon me.  “The LORD is near unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a sorrowful spirit.” (Psalm 34:18).  

In Matthew 12 Jesus was both teaching and healing many people who were in need at a local church (synagogue).  It was so full of people that day that the Lord’s own family could not get in.  They sent someone in to tell Jesus to stop what He was doing and come out of the service to talk with them.  That is when our Lord said: “Who is my mother? and who are my brothers and sisters.  And He stretched out his hand toward the disciples and said: Behold, my mothers, and my sisters and brothers.  For whosoever shall do the will of my Father, which is in Heaven, the same is my brother, sister, and mother.” (Matthew 12: 48-50).  Just as our Lord loved His Mother and His brothers and sisters, He wants to extend that invitation to you to be an equal part of His eternal family.

If your mother is alive today, you are to honor her. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  Honor your Father and Mother; which is the first commandment with promise. That it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.”  (Ephesians 6: 1-3).

For the Mothers who read or hear this message, I would like you to know that God has given you an awesome job to take care of your children, grandchildren, and even to be a Godly Mother figure to the children that God puts in your life.  People who have not studied about the Holy Spirit may not realize how much the Holy Spirit has in common with Mothers.   Mother’s do a lot more than they get credit for, and so does the Holy Spirit.  Mothers, you have one of the most powerful jobs on earth. 

You worth cannot be counted in dollars, but some have tried.   How much should a “Stay-At-Home Mom” be making?  According to salary.com:

Day-care Center Teacher - $26,891,  Van Driver - $30,762, Housekeeper - $18,750 Cook - $31,099, CEO - $612,623, Nurse -$56,113, General Maintenance Worker -$29,656.  Considering the time mom spends in each of the above jobs her salary should be:  Base Pay (40 hours) - $43,461   Overtime (60 hours) - $88,009

Mom’s salary   --- $131,471

I would encourage children today to do something to honor your Mother by writing her a note of love, doing an act of kindness, and giving her praise and thanks for being such a blessing to you.  I would encourage husbands to do the same.

How can you “honor” your Mother today and many other days of the year.  First you can tell her how much she means to you.  What greater words does a Mother want to hear than “I love You”.  The Bible tells us not to just show our love in words, but also in deeds.  Demonstrate your love by some visible action.  One of the greatest gifts we can give anyone is our time.  Slow down, and spend some time with your Mother.  Your Mother will not always be here with you on Earth.

If your Mother is not alive today or if she lives far away, how can you celebrate this day.  It is a difficult day for many of us who have lost our mothers, or who cannot be with them today..  But today, there are many Mothers who do not have children to share their love with.  There are many wonderful Ladies who do not have any children who would love to receive a call, visit, or a card from someone. There may be someone who gave you the love of a mother when you needed it.  You may have an Aunt or there may be someone in a nursing home that would love to hear “Happy Mother’s Day”.  Take a flower to your Mother’s grave site, say a prayer for her, tell her how much you miss her, and then transfer that love to someone who needs it today.  Even if your Mother is close by, share your love with other’s who will not be honored today, unless you do it!!

“Who is My Mother, my brothers, and sisters?”, Jesus asked.  His answer to His question was “whosoever shall do the will of my Father, which is in Heaven”.  Let us live like our Lord did by honoring others.  “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do god unto all people, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10).

Remember love is not just a feeling it is an action.  God bless all of our Mothers today both here and in Heaven!!