Daily Devotional for Wednesday December 3, 2008
The Challenges of Being a Single Mother
(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 4 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 $140,000 this month to cover the November shortfall, our December financial needs, and covering the last $68,000 of our $70,000 budget for the 2009 Florida State Fair, God has blessed Liveprayer over the years because I have always been obedient to His voice and given into our need.
The Holy Spirit has told me to give $200 to 100 single moms who otherwise won't have Christmas this year. We have had people send in gifts to cover 20 of these single mothers and their children, so we still need 80 more.
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. Like last year, 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 and 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!!!
In His love and service, Your friend and brother in Christ, Bill Keller