The Rose A beautiful rose begins as a

The Rose A beautiful rose begins as a seed planted in soil The seed’s growth begins downward for supported roots With a deep support, it springs upward The rose is symbolic of mothers The red petals is of a mother’s beauty The thorns on the stem of a mother’s sacrifice The seed and soil of a mother’s heart

Mother’s true beauty is her Committed Faith • Starting out preacher rule #402: Do not on your own mention a mother’s age from the pulpit • There was a mother in the Scriptures whom God revealed her age at death • This mother was Sarah and she lived 127 years (Genesis 23: 1) • Sarah’s age played a significant role in her committed faith to God

• Sarah is the first mother with a miracle birth • “She bore a child when she was past the age” • “because she judged Him faithful who had promised” (Hebrews 11: 11) • Committed faith is everyday not just certain days • Committed faith is in every situation not just pleasant ones • Committed faith is Christ centered not self centered

Mother’s true beauty is her Courageous Heart • In the words of a cowardly lion • In the words of God: “Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is wherever you go” (Joshua 1: 9) • When I think of a courageous mother in Scripture, I think of the wife of Lapidoth • She is referred as “Israel’s Iron Lady” • She is more known by her actual name “Deborah” • She had the courage to stand up to a king who had oppressed God’s people for 20 years

I see Deborah’s courageous heart in my own mother The home goes through its share of battles and conflicts Its in those moments that my mother was the calming voice She had the courage to stay and work and not run away Being a mother is not easy

Mother’s true beauty is her Christ-like Character • Who is the greatest person outside of Jesus and the “least of these”? • Jesus said, “among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11: 11) • What made John so great? • He was blessed with godly parents • “They were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (Luke 1: 6)

• The best example a mother can give to her family is her faith • 2 Timothy 1: 5 • Titus 2: 3 -4 • My mother’s faith stands above any other quality about her • She was one of the most godly women I know

No better example of true beauty than the mothers of the Scripture and Charlotte Heights church of Christ