Monday Morning Mail, 11th March 2013

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Loving God | Loving Each Other | Loving our Community

Good Morning!


On Saturday, three of our young people were confirmed at Southwell Minster. It was a great occasion, and thank you very much to all who came! Do be praying for Sarah, Samantha and Catrin in the days, weeks and months to come!


Yesterday was also Mothering Sunday, and with that in mind, here are some reflections about God and motherhood from Isaiah 49.


In v5, we are reminded that motherhood is a gift from God. God forms us in the womb, and he formed Jesus in the womb of Mary to be his servant. God knows the plans he has for us, and he has given us everything we need to do what he has called us to do.


In v15, God compares his love for his people to a mother's love. A mother's love for her children is one of the most certain things in this world, but God's love for his people is even more sure and certain. He will never never never forget us – it's like our names are engraved on his hands!


In v17, the picture shifts. Now Israel is the mother of children who have been lost, and God promises that he will bring them back. Israel is even a woman who is barren and bereaved (v21) and yet she has children gathering around her who call her mother. God blesses his people when we are afflicted. He brings us home, and he blesses us. He restores what has been taken away, and blesses far beyond our expectations of what is possible.


But in v22-26 it gets even stronger. Here God is bringing in the Gentiles – the traditional enemies of God's people to be those who raise Israel's children, and who end up bowing to Israel. For the Christian; for the church, defeat, death and despair is never the final word. The final word is God's glory – those who hope in him will never be disappointed because of his great love for us and because he is our Saviour, our Redeemer, the Mighty One.


Here's +Paul's prayer for Mothering Sunday, which picks up some of the same themes:

Mothering God who loves us passionately, we thank you for this love.

We thank you too for the love of mothers for their children everywhere.

Where being a mother is hard give wisdom and strength;

where it is a joy and delight give hearts of thankfulness.

For those for whom this day brings sadness because of the loss of a mother, or motherhood, bring comfort.

And may the church as mother show forth your love to all

We pray in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, who knew the care of his mother Mary

Amen

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