Want to honor both my Mom, Evelyn Black who passed away in 2014 and my Mother-in-law, Dee Venlet who recently went home to be with the Lord on December 8th, 2024. This Sunday will be our first “Mother’s Day” without Momma Dee. It’s hard to lose a mother no matter how old you are and both Cheryl and I miss our mom’s every day since they’ve been gone. Both of our mothers loved the Lord and had strong relationships with Him. There was no doubt that they both prayed for us since from the moment we were conceived right up until the day they passed. I believe that they are still praying for us along with Jesus who is also our intercessor according to Romans 8:34.
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
Although I was close to my own Mom, I was just as close to Cheryl’s Mom. We had a very special relationship. She was our greatest fan and supporter. Although she was brought up as a Baptist, she embraced the things of the Spirit in the later years of her life. She was also very “red-pilled” wasn’t sure what she wanted more, to see Jesus or see DJT re-elected. Cheryl and I had the pleasure of being with her when she passed into the presence of the Lord. That was such a wonderful experience that I will treasure for the rest of my life. She was always interested in our family at Cornerstone and prayed for all daily. She loved to attend when she could which was verily rarely since she lived in Florida.
The most important attribute that both of our parents had was their constant encouragement and prayers for us to follow the Lord. I know my mom and grandmother prayed me through some tough years as I was trying to find my own way in my later teens. She never berated me for mistakes and was always there to support me. She was with me the night I rededicated my life to the Lord in the church that I would eventually become the Youth Pastor at.
Both mothers also freely let us go when both Cheryl and I were being led by the Lord to leave our homes Neither were overbearing or controlling. Apparently, the toughest year for my own Mom was went I moved to Germany in 1976 for a year to work with a ministry. Though she never said a word to me, my sister later told me how hard it was a very hard year for her emotionally. A Mom suffers just a intensely as their child when they’re suffering. I can’t even imagine the pain that Mary, the mother of Jesus suffered when she saw Jesus brutally murdered by Israel’s religious leaders on a Roman cross.
Such is the bond of a child and mother. Something that obviously begins in the womb. The last words of a dying soldier is often for the mothers according to many reports and testimonies of those who have experienced war on a personal level.
We are also so blessed to have met so many awesome Mom’s during 50 years of ministry. I spent the first 12 years as ministry working with a youth ministry and then as youth pastor in 2 different churches, one in Ontario and then in Walkersville, Md. It meant so much to me when I was a youth pastor when Mothers were involved in the spiritual development of their teens. Mom’s who worked with me saw great spiritual development toward maturity. Those who did not have a solid parental oversight always struggled with identity, commitment and maturing in the Lord.
Parents passing on spiritual conviction is absolutely crucial in the spiritual development of children. Allowing them to be disciplined and experiencing suffering is essential in developing well-roundedness and development.
My encouragement to all is to reach out and bless your Mom this weekend. The play an essential part in your life. The Apostle Paul makes special attention of Timothy’s mother and grandmother in 1 Timothy 1:15
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.
Timothy is the first Pastor of a New Testament who was the first Pastor of the Church of Ephesus. It was one of the most spiritually powerfully churches of the early church. I believe having a strong spiritual maternal heritage played a huge part in Timothy’s spiritual preparation. The influence of spiritual mother cannot be under estimated. Happy Mother Day!