A Woman After God's Own Heart ~ Chapter 11 & 12

A Heart Overflowing with Motherly Affection

Titus 2:4 ~ That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

Phileo love is affectionate love, a love that cherishes its objects.  It is friendship love, a love that enjoys children, a love that likes them!

• A Heart That Prays
• the greatest gift of love you can give children is to pray for them.
• A Heart That Provides
• a heart overflowing with motherly affection lovingly and graciously provides the necessities of life for her precious family-- nourishing food, clean clothing, and a safe home.
• motherly affection puts self aside and loves the people in her home by caring for they physical needs.
• A Heart That is Happy
• Elisabeth Elliot said "You create the atmosphere of the home with your attitudes."
• Mothers are the Number One influence in their children's lives
• A Heart That Gives
• Mark 10:45 ~ For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
• Give because it is your role
• Give generously
• What you sow, that you shall also reap.
• What Mother's put into their children on a daily basis -- seeds of patience or impatience, faith in God or lack of faith, kindness or selfishness -- would be what you gain back in years to come.
• Give expecting nothing in return
• Mothers are to have no ulterior or selfish motives when it comes to giving, just as we do with our husbands
• serve and take care of our children simply because God says to
• don't give love in order to receive praise, thanks, recognition or good behavior
• there are no other options, no conditions, no exceptions, and no fine print when it comes to God's clear command that we are to love our children
• A Heart of Fun
• A Heart That Celebrates
• A Heart That Gives Preferential Treatment
• Don't give away to others what you have not first given away at home
• A Heart That is Focused
• A Heart That is Present
• A Heart That is Quiet
• Proverbs 31:26 ~ She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
• Provers 10:12 ~ Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

God's assignment to mothers can sound overwhelming if we don't remember that through His Word, in His power, and by His grace He fully provides all that we need to do what He commands.  

What a privilege to care for the children He blesses us with and to raise them for His purpose!

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Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving us your holy word so that we may know how to live a life that pleases you.  Thank you for putting older, Christian women in my life that I may learn from them both by their word and by their actions.
In Jesus Name,
Amen