(Romans 8:35-37; 1 John 5:4)The challenges of being a single mother. Being a mom and raising children
is a 24/7 job that never ends. Even in the perfect context of God's plan to
marry a man who loves the Lord, have children, raise those children in the
admonition of the Lord as the Bible teaches, it is a difficult job. That
job gets exponentially more difficult when a woman is raising her children
alone, having to be mom and dad, the provider, the spiritual head of the
home, all rolled into one.
Sadly in today's culture, there is a large percentage of women who are
raising their children alone for a myriad of reasons. Today, I want to give
a word of encouragement to you single moms out there and try to make this
Christmas a special one for a few of you and your children.
I take a firm Biblical stand on issues like marriage, fornication, being
equally yoked as the Bible commands, and what God's plan for the family is.
First, because it is what God says and His way always works best for our
life. His Word cannot be compromised. Secondly, because we see daily here at
Liveprayer the destroyed lives of those who ignored God in these areas of
their life by doing it their way.
That is why, especially for the young adults who read this Devotional each
day, I do my best to warn them from falling into these traps that can
literally destroy their lives. God has given me a responsibility for sharing
the Truth of His Word. Much of the pain and heartache that we deal with in
this life is because we ignored God, or rebelled against God in some way. I
realize there are cases when the actions of others cause us great pain, but
again, a good percentage of our problems come from OUR decision to ignore
God's plan.
While the world at large says "Do it your way," "Whatever you think is right
is okay," "If it feels good, do it" . . . God says there is only ONE WAY
that is right and that is found in the Bible. God gives us His way because
He loves us! He knows that His way works and the other ways do not! His way
brings us peace, joy, happiness, and blessings. Ignoring His way brings
turmoil, pain, unhappiness, and tragic consequences that can last a
lifetime.
For you single moms, God loves you and will help you see victory despite
whatever has happened in the past. It would be great if we all lived life
the way God planned for us to. It is my prayer daily that those young adults
reading these words each day will take that challenge and do just that. But
for those who have already made some mistakes along the way, who got
off-track from doing it God's way, TODAY IS THE DAY that you can get back on
track. IT IS NEVER TOO LATE!
The key however is doing it God's way from here on out. For whatever reason
you may be raising your children alone, know that God will make you adequate
each day and give you all that you need to be the best parent that you can
be. Your greatest ministry will ALWAYS be to your children. The Lord will
guide you, strengthen you, protect you, provide for you, and bless you and
your children each step of the way as you follow Him!!!
As we are less than 2 weeks before Christmas, God has really laid on my
heart to reach out and try to be a blessing to 100 single moms out there who
can't afford to buy your children any presents this Christmas or have a nice
dinner on Christmas day. Even though we still need to raise just under
$30,000 this month to cover our December financial needs and we are starting
the drive to raise the $60,000 we need for the Florida State Fair by the
middle of January, God has blessed Liveprayer over the years because I have
always been obedient to the Lord's voice and given into our needs.
The Holy Spirit has told me to give $200 to 100 single moms who otherwise
won't have Christmas this year.
If you are a single mother and you have no way to provide some presents and
a nice dinner for your children this Christmas, I want to help you make that
happen. We will bless the first 100 single moms who contact us. You need
to email me at: bkeller@liveprayer.com and in the Subject line, put SINGLE
MOTHER. I need your name, your address, and your phone number so that
someone on my staff can follow up with you. I am asking you please, don't
ask for help if you have other places like your church or other groups in
your area that can help you provide for your children this Christmas. This
$200 is only to be used to buy your children a few presents and have a nice
Christmas dinner.
Let me challenge those reading this today who want to be a blessing to a
single mother and her children this Christmas. Pray today about making a
special gift to Liveprayer by the end of the week of $200 to cover the gift
we will send to one of the 100 single mothers we are going to help this
Christmas. Obviously, if you want to send more that is great, or if you
can't give $200, whatever amount God is calling you to sacrifice is
wonderful. Remember, it is not the amount you give God is interested in, it
is your heart.
I have no doubt there are 100 people who can sacrifice $200 so we can be a
blessing to a single mother and her children who will otherwise have no
presents or dinner on Christmas day. As you know, I have always led by
example and have never asked you to do something I am not willing to do. My
wife and I have put in the first $1,000 to cover 5 mothers and their
children. If God is leading you to help me make this a special Christmas
for 100 single moms an their children, make sure on your check you put
SINGLE MOM, or if you give by credit card or Paypal, mark somewhere SINGLE
MOM so those funds go directly to this special project.
TO SEND A GIFT FOR THE SINGLE MOMS, you can use your major credit card on
our secure server at: www.liveprayer.com under the "Donation" link, you can
give using your PayPal account using my email address:
bkeller@liveprayer.com , or you can mail your gift to: Liveprayer, 6660 46th
Ave. North, St. Petersburg, Fl 33709. All gifts to Liveprayer are 100% tax
deductible.
I love you and care about you so much. The key today for you single mothers
is to remember that the past is the past. There are no "do overs" in life.
You can't go back and relive your life. So no matter what situation you may
find yourself in today, know that if you make Christ the Lord of your life,
keep Christ first at all times, do it God's way, you can know the peace, the
joy, and the abundance that this life can offer. Our life is today and
forward until God calls us home. Yesterday is over. Live for today and make
it all that God intends it to be. I will be praying for you and your
children as you go forward with God's blessings!!!
