[Faith-talk] Fwd: Morning Thoughts for Friday, May 6, 2011

[Amy Ragain]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Stephen Smith <stevesmith1943 at me.com>
> Date: May 6, 2011 7:18:53 AM CDT
> To: Morning Thoughts 1 <stevesmith1943 at me.com>
> Subject: Morning Thoughts for Friday, May 6, 2011
> 
> "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
> (Exodus 20:12, NIV)
> 
> - From Bible Promises for iPhone
> http://biblepromises.reigndesign.com/
> 
> Matthew 2:7-15 (NASB)
> [7]  Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. [8] And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” [9] After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. [10] When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. [11] After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. [12] And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.
> The Flight to Egypt
> [13]  Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.”
> [14]  So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. [15] He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON.” . . .
> Matthew 2:19-23 (NASB)
> [19]  But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, [20] “Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child's life are dead.” [21] So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. [22] But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, [23] and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
> Good morning precious family!!  Sunday is Mother's Day, a day of great rejoicing for all whose mothers played such a vital and important role in loving, nurturing, training, protecting us as we grew; even more so for those whose mothers prayed of our salvation, taught us the Word of God, showed us by example, the Love that Jesus holds for all creation, and the special relationship He offers to those who will accept Him as Lord and Savior, and obey His commands.  
> 
> That's why Sunday will be a day of conflict for me.  My mom grew up in a home that was dedicated to Christ; went to a school that was run by the church; but turned from that life following the death of her husband, my father, in World War II.  She married an atheist of high moral standards and stayed with him until his death three years ago.  During those 59 years, her focus changed.  She does not claim Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior,  yet close friends and family, who have remained with her in California, testify that she made her peace with the Lord following her youngest son's untimely death, moe than 30 years ago.
> 
> I want to believe that, in her own, very private way, she has built a relationship with Jesus Christ, but this desire is stretching my faith.  Perhaps you too are struggling with the lack of signs of your mother's or father's salvation.  Perhaps you too have an unending burden in your heart for them to rejoice in the fellowship of believers.  If so, I am sharing this burden of mine in hopes that you know you are not alone, and that there remains great hope in Jesus Christ for their salvation, in His timing, according to the method He has established for them, and in a manner most pleasing to God Almighty!  
> 
> With a conflicted, but hopeful heart, and great joy in the love that He has given me for you,
> 
> <3Steve:-))
>