Mother’s Day – The Call

Happy Mother's Day!  Moms, it's time to let go of the guilt and lean into your calling - we can't wait for you to be encouraged and inspired by what God is calling you to.  Help us advance the Kingdom, support our online ministry (harmonychurch.cc/give).  Got kids?  Check out Harmony Kids online (updated weekly)  https://www.harmonychurch.cc/harmony-kids-online/!  ------------------- Sermon Notes Slide Key: Sermons always start with “OPENING ILLUSTRATION:” and end with “CLOSING ILLUSTRATION:"All scriptures are NIV unless otherwise notedBold = Slide textBold Red = Scriptures (please reflect formatting of scripture on slides, i.e.  - underlines, italics, etc.)“b" or “B” on a line by itself = Slide break/New slideBold ALL CAPS WORDS = heading to be ignored[some text] = programming notes to be paid attention to ----------------------------- OPENING: Can you open this? Where are my undershirts? I’m out of toothpaste! I can’t figure out this math problem! what are we having for dinner? why can’t I play with my friends? any of you ladies ever heard these things?  Ever had to say these things: Have you brushed your teeth? Please start putting the toilet seat downDid you do your chores? Can you guys start putting the pillows back on the couch? Can you put your socks in the hamper? What did your teacher actually tell you? Here’s your wallet, it was right where you left it… If you are a mom, you have likely heard and said every single one of these statements. Because being a mom is tough Mom’s have pressure both externally and even more so internally But not just moms, there is pressure on all women.  There’s pressure to look perfect, have the perfect home, have perfect kids, to live up to every ideal out there.   There is an expectation for women to be super hero’s that can do it all and keep it all together…  All the time b Almost every movie now has the women in the movie as the heroin saving everyone, fixing all the problems.  That’s a lot of pressure to be put on you.  To think you have to always have it all together… and it’s unrealistic… and not fair… SCRIPTURE: I think a lot of women would identify with Isaiah as he faced His call from God, listen to what happened to him…In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;     the whole earth is full of his glory.”4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”Isaiah 6:1-5 Isaiah is face to face with perfection and all he can do is see his imperfection.   “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Isaiah is not in the presence of a fake imperfection like what we see on Instagram or Facebook.  The perfect house, the perfect family, etc.   Isaiah is in the presence of true perfection.  And he understands his shame and guilt…b But I want you to look at what God does… 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” God’s not interested in guilt, He’s always interested in freedom with Him.  Healing you of your sin.  For Isaiah, God sends a fire to touch his lips to clean him. For you, God sent Jesus to once for all atone for your sin - all your dysfunction, all your imperfection. Have you ever thought that you holding on to some false idea of perfection may actually be keeping you from living out the call of God in your life? Listen - because it’s after Isaiah is given freedom - made whole, atoned for that he hears God calling…8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”Isaiah 6:6-8 Isaiah simply said, “Here am I. Send me!” Listen, women, all the mom-shaming and guilt women feel of not being perfect.  It’s time to hand that over to God. You will never have things clean enough. Never have kids perfect enough. Never be able to protect enough. Never be able to provide enough. Your job is to live for God.  Your job is to just say, “Here am I.  Send me!” I want to close by helping you hear from some moms who started to understand their call - to look their guilt in the face and find some freedom in their calling… [Watch mom videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CjxaLixqDs&t=57s] CLOSE: I’d like to close today by having all the women in the church stand up and for men to pray over those women, put your hand on their shoulder and pray with me…