FBC CTX Growing in Grace Podcast

How would you define “Motherhood?” One simple way to define it could be “leaving a legacy of love” upon one’s children. Mother’s Day is our appreciation to our mother for their legacy of love. We express our heartfelt thanks for their devotion to the family, their many sacrifices on our behalf, the hard work and the love that they have invested in the children and in the home, etc. One a personal level, we also convey to them our respect and appreciation for the excellence of their example, the stability of their character and the depth of their unconditional love.I don’t know of any flawless mothers, however, who live in a perfect world. Do you? This is why the review of biblical mothers like Hannah, the mother of Samuel the prophet, can be so meaningful. They charted the way for godly women living in a broken world to leave behind a glimpse of God in the hearts of their children. 1 Samuel 1-2 describes Hannah’s world as quite different from Little House on the Prairie to perhaps Little House in the Boxing Ring. As we review her life and her legacy please remember that her life wasn’t easy, yet her focus upon the Lord gave her an overflow of love that she could leave behind on the pages of scripture.The biblical record records for us who she went from her pain to her child’s gain.Prayer for Your Children, 1:10-12, 15, 20, 27; 2:1-10Priority of Your Marriage, 1:5, 8Pursuit of God’s Best, 1:11, 23, 28Praise for God’s Gift, 2:1-2Provision for Their Needs, 2:18-19--Growing in Grace Devotions and Inspirations  Hosted by Pastor Victor Morrison  First Baptist Church 1700 Milam Street Columbus, TX, USA 78934http://fbccolumbustx.org/

This is the season for graduation ceremonies. Or, the terms I prefer even more, commencement exercises. Commencement means, beginnings. Perhaps someone listening to this message is preparing to graduate from high school or university. First, let me say a hearty congratulations to you!I am so excited for what I see happening in younger generations these days. A pastor from Waco, Texas (J.P. Pokluda) wrote an interesting article on what he witnessed when he attended a Passion Conference in Atlanta, Georgia two years ago. He spoke of the rush of hearing 60,000 students gathered together praising Jesus. Then, he went to Florida State University for another large gathering of college students and described his surprise when he saw 314 students make a profession of faith in response to an altar call for salvation. His article was entitled, “US College Campuses: A Revival Brewing?”Some may dismiss this as a couple of isolated examples, but the recent Gallup Poll published on April 17, 2026 proves otherwise. God is moving among younger generations. The poll revealed a specific numerical spike in the data related to a religious interest in men ages 18-29. 42% of those surveyed indicated they were very spiritually hungry.I have a recommendation of how we can all pray for this movement taking place among our young people. The timing is just right for collective intercession for them with graduation from both high school and college nearing. I think we should take our cues from Philippians 1:9-11. This is how the Apostle Paul prayed for new disciples in what is now northeastern Spain. I think this gives us a blueprint of how to build upon what God has started among these young adults.Praying for an Overflow of Their Love, 1:9Praying for Their Oversight of Life with Excellence, 1:9-10 (a)Praying They Will Overcome Any Circumstance through Integrity, 1:9 (b)Praying Their Lives Will Become Overgrown with an Abundance of Fruit, 1:11 (a)Praying They Will Gladly Be Overshadowed by God’s Glory, 1:11 (b)---Growing in Grace Devotions and Inspirations  Hosted by Pastor Victor Morrison  First Baptist Church 1700 Milam Street Columbus, TX, USA 78934http://fbccolumbustx.org/

After successfully performing a heart surgery on a woman, the heart doctor was not able to massage her heart into beating again. So, he removed his surgical mask, knelt down beside her and whispered these words, “Mrs. Johnson, this is your surgeon. The operation went perfectly. Your heart has been repaired. Now tell your heart to beat again.”This true story from Ohio reminds me of another true story from Jerusalem. It surprisingly happened to a young king in Judah when he was 39 years of age. He learned that he had a terminal illness and took it pretty hard.God had used King Hezekiah in powerful ways by ushering in a spiritual revival in his policies and praying down a national rescue when surrounded by the Assyrian army. But something shifted in the young king’s heart. As he became more prosperous and the affluence of his administration began to rise so did his arrogance. 2 Chronicles 32:22-25 concludes with God saying of the ruler, “…for his heart was proud.”This disturbing turn of events was used of God to reset the king’s heart. His remorse and his repentance would repair his heart and cause it to once again beat with the rhythm of trust and humility before God. Isaiah 38 gives us the true account of how his faith began to beat again.1. Crisis in his health, 38:12. Sentence regarding his death, 38:1-23. Turning toward his faith, 38:2-34. Extension to his path, 38:4-65. Signs based upon His (God’s) strength, 38:7-8, 226. Healing based upon His (God’s) truth, 38:9, 217. Anguish if without his breath, 38:10-168. Appreciation upon this earth, 38:17-20---Growing in Grace Devotions and Inspirations  Hosted by Pastor Victor Morrison  First Baptist Church1700 Milam StreetColumbus, TX, USA 78934http://fbccolumbustx.org/

One of my mentors in Fairview, Alberta, Canada was Keith Hale. He had followed the Lord’s guidance to move his family from Texas to northern Alberta back in the 1950’s. He planted two churches, one of which I had the joy and honor of serving as pastor in Fairview, Alberta.I called Mr. Hale, “Grandad”. Grandad told me once, “Vic, if God is your partner then make your plans big.” I recently thought of his gentle and inspiring counsel when I was reading through Romans 8:26-39. It describes what happens whenever we place our trust in Jesus Christ and begin to walk through life in a ministry partnership with the Father, His Son and the Holy Spirit.Let’s examine the benefits of having God as our Partner as we go through life as described in Romans 8:26-39. I think you will see how blessed we are to follow Christ and have the Triune God in our corner.Infusion into Our Weaknesses, v. 26Inability of Our Wisdom, v. 26Intercession beyond Our Words, v. 26Initiative beyond Our Wants, v. 27Interlocked with God’s Will, v. 27Included within God’s Work, vs. 28-30Inheritance of God’s Wealth, vs. 31-39Growing in Grace Devotions and Inspirations  Hosted by Pastor Victor Morrison  First Baptist Church 1700 Milam Street Columbus, TX, USA 78934http://fbccolumbustx.org/