May 13th, 2012 Mother's Day

We take a break in our series on the book of Mark and celebrate Mother’s Day with a message titled “Motherhood and the Heart of God”.

If you want a study tool to go along with the podcast, see Lift Notes here:

Mother’s Day 2012:  Motherhood and the heart of God

May 13 , 2011

Where does the heart of mothering come from?

A mother’s goodness is a _____________ of the _________ of God.

We are going to visit a few places in scripture that demonstrate for us the motherly heart of God, and this does two things:

1. It shows that mothers carry the ____________ of reflecting the very face and heart of God in every act they do.

1. It expands our understanding of how God wants to be __________.

There is there a time and a season when God wants to meet your needs like a ____________.

In Deuteronomy 32:18 God describes himself as giving _________ to his people.

In Isaiah 42:14 God describes himself like a woman in _________.

In Hosea 11:1-4 God describes himself as one who lifts infants to her __________.

In Matthew 23:37 Jesus displays God’s heart as like a mother hen who __________ and __________ her children.

“Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her. For you will nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you will drink deeply and delight in her overflowing bosom.” For thus says the Lord: “I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried upon her hip and bounced upon her knees. As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted in Jerusalem.” Isaiah 66:10-13 

Of all the descriptions of what heaven is going to be like, the one that God chooses to use here is that of the perfect _________, who meets all the child’s needs.

But how is heaven this mother to us?

As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you…

Because, ________ is that mother to us in heaven.

bounced upon her knees…=  God ____________ with us

“joy is serious business of heaven.” –C.S. Lewis

Addding this verse you get…

“_____________, __________ joy in the arms of God is the serious business of heaven.”

Do you know how to play with God, as a child does with a mother?

That’s part of the freedom God wants for you; you never get to old or mature or cool or strong where there isn’t something deep down in you that needs sometimes to be on the receiving end of childlike, joyful play in the arms of God.

Taking it home, living it out….

v Spend some time this week prayerfully reflecting on this question:

How can I experience childlike, playful joy in God’s presence?

v Write your answer in a journal or tell a friend what you hear and what your plan is.

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