Message for May 10, 2026 from Pastor Shirley

Mother’s Day is a day set aside to remember the love and care of mothers.  Mothers are not limited to those who have given birth to children.  We give a shout-out to the aunts, nieces, neighbors, and teachers who have stepped up in that moment to be a mother figure.  However, for some, this may be a day of quiet struggle.  May we be mindful of those who are hurting due to loss, estrangement, or abandonment.  I want you to know that you are not alone.  You have not been forgotten.   I want to remind you of the mother heart of God.  While “mother heart” is not a literal phrase in the Bible, it is frequently associated with the Hebrew name “El Shaddai”  (“The Strong Breasted One”) and the concept of Divine Compassion (rechem ), which is related to the word for “womb.”  Isaiah 49:15 “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne, though she may forget, I will not forget you.  God the Father is comparing himself in this scripture not only to a mother but to a nursing mother.   Isaiah 66:13 is a wonderful example of the mother heart of God. “As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you, and you will be comforted.” The word “comfort” (Hebrew‘ ănaḥemḵem)  signifies a deeply tender, nurturing, and personal care from god likened to a mother soothing her child. It represents God’s active role in calming distress, strengthening the weary, and providing a safe, secure, and loving presence to his people.