Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 31:30), which is reverence and awe of God rather than terror; this foundational wisdom manifests in practical action through diligent work with purpose (Proverbs 31:13-19), building others through compassionate words and generosity (Proverbs 31:20, 26), living with integrity that reflects God's trustworthy character (Proverbs 31:11-12), and leaving a legacy that outlasts us through faithful parenting and community impact (Proverbs 31:28-29).
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your praise and pour forth [singing] your [music] fame.
We will bless your [music] name. Let everyone give [singing] thanks because our God is [music] great.
burden [music] by death.
You're desperate for life.
You found me in darkness [music] and put me in your light.
You gave me a [music] song and I shout it with joy cuz the curse has been lifted and you've [music] won the war.
Hallelujah. [music] Yeah. Shouting [music] hallelujah. [singing] [music] My God, you are my rocking shield.
Fortress [music] def.
Salvation. [music] Heat. Heat.
[music] Why did [music] I doubt your power to save?
[music] Rescue me from the shadow of shame.
No drone rest from my mouth.
[music] The battle is raing.
Cannot silence the shout.
So let's [music] see.
[music] [music] My god, you are my rocking shield [music] for my fear.
[music] Salvation perfectly. [music] Hallelujah. [music] >> [music] >> Hallelu.
[music] All my strength comes from what you provide.
Without it, I can't survive. [music] In trial, if I face fear, I will not forget my strength. [music] It comes from what you provide.
Without it, I can't survive.
In trial, [music] if I face fear, I will not forget you here. In every [music] step I take, your promises stay the same.
My God, [music] you are my rocking shield for the fight of safe [music] from the enemy.
Salvation Perfect [music] way.
[music] [music] Hallelujah.
Hallelujah.
[music] Halleluah.
[music] Hallelujah.
Hallelujah. [music] >> Well, good morning everybody.
>> Morning.
>> Welcome to Desert Breeze. My name is Matt Trusella. I'm one of the uh pastors here and we're so glad you could join us on a very special day as we celebrate all the moms Mother's Day weekend.
All the ladies coming in that are moms and bioms and grandmoms and spiritual moms have an extra spring in their step this morning. It's observable and I'm sure it's because of all the appreciation and acknowledgement you've received from those who you mean the most to and uh that mean the most to you. So, we're so glad you could all join us. Glad that you could join us online as well. Uh I'll do a few announcements. we we will welcome one another and then we will welcome the worship team up to help us prepare our hearts and minds to hear a message today. We're uh kind of taking a little diversion from our study in the book of Matthew. Pastor Jace is delivering his uh message as he usually does on Mother's Day weekend. And he's taking a look at Proverbs 30 uh 31, which is the classic scripture of a woman of wisdom.
But he's talking about how that wisdom applies to all of us, not just to moms.
But uh so we're looking forward to hearing from him today. If you are new with us, take a look in your seatbacks.
You'll see a little brochure like this.
It'll help you kind of get acquainted with some of the things that go on around Desert Breeze. It'll also show you how you can access a complimentary beverage from the DV cafe as we love to welcome you with that each time for your for the new folks there. Also, make sure you get one of the notes sections from our hospitality team. This will help you follow along with today's message. It's got a few things in here called the coming up section which will see some of the list of events and activities that are happening on campus. I'm going to highlight some of those in my announcements. It also will show you some other stuff on the back to there.
you can take a look at it and uh it'll help you get acquainted again what we're doing today and what we're doing on campus. So, one first message I have to share is uh we have some needs and I like to make our needs known because you guys are so faithful to respond when we do that and and we do have some needs.
We need help in our DB kids uh classes for anyone who'd like to volunteer specifically around second service. We have a lot of kids that need care and love and um that's easy to do especially for all you moms out there. If you've never considered volunteering or if you are already using DB Kids as a way to kind of drop your kids off and make sure they get cared for during service, I'd like to encourage you to maybe step in once a month or so, maybe twice a month and help us out over there. DB Kids needs help and so does the DV Cafe.
We're still working to keep that place stocked up with with people that are equipped to uh deliver those beverages to you as accurately and quickly as possible. So, if those that are speaking to you, maybe God's tugging on your heart a little bit, may I encourage you to step up and step in to to the frey and join on a team. And if you'd like to do that, you can go to our website directly and hit there's a join on the team tab right underneath the DBCC logo.
Just tap on that. It'll help you have the form and it'll direct you accordingly and get it to the proper hands. Um, couple things coming up. This is the last call for the family campout that's coming up this Friday, but there's still a few slots left. Pastor Luke can answer any questions for you.
He's the one taking everybody up there.
They'll be leaving on Friday, but you forgot or just didn't know about it, but would like to escape this heat that has so suddenly approached us or is upon us today. And what they say 107 or something like that. Oh my. Oh my. Don't say those words right now. Someone's telling me to tell me out there. Be quiet. Don't hopefully know you won't notice. Uh-huh. [laughter] Anyway, but you want to escape the heat.
This would be a good weekend to do that.
and Pastor Luke is going to be leading the charge on that if there's still some slots open for the family camp. As we speak about heat, there's no better way to cool off than with what we do with our our Sundays on Saturday ice cream socials. These are free to everyone and anyone. They happen before the Saturday evening services between 4:30 and 6. Uh the big item on this one is as you know, we love you and invite your friends, family, and neighbors to join you.
Especially if they don't attend church, they might be enticed to come get an ice cream Sunday for free. and it's a great way to have a great time of fellowship and community together. Uh we gather together. That's going to happen on Memorial Day weekend on the Saturday before. So, if you'd like to join us for that, make sure you invite some friends and family. And that'll kind of kick us all the way into summer, won't it? Uh speaking of summer, I've mentioned this last week. I'll just mention it one more time. Um all the summer registrations for VBS, for Anomaly, for the women's Bible study, all those are open and ready. So ladies, if you want to attend the summer Bible studies that happen both Wednesday morning and Wednesday evening and take advantage of child care, we need you to go online and register for that. And as I mentioned before, um all the student ministries, VBS camps, mission trips, those registrations are also open now. So if you're thinking about that, you can be planning ahead and put your registration in early. I think there's some discounts for early registration on the on the camps. So take advantage of that. That's all I've got. Thank you for joining us today. Hope you ladies appreciate I I wore flowers instead of giving you each one of them. [laughter] >> Yeah, [applause] I'm always thinking about you moms out there. [laughter] But by the way, if you didn't get a chance, I know Jason's going to pitch it at the end as well, but we do have the photos and flower the photo ops and the flowers out there. So, we'll make sure you moms gets get yourself a couple flowers and a picture to send on to Facebook or Instagram or whatever you do. All right, let's welcome one another. Let's see who's around and then we'll get the worship team up.
>> [music] >> I'm coming with the heart of worship.
I'm bringing in [singing] a brand new song. I'm [music] ready to see the unthinkable.
I'm ready for a [singing] miracle.
[music] Hearts praying for a fresh encounter. Souls [singing] looking to the living God. [music] I'm ready for revival.
Oh, Holy Spirit, come like a flood, [singing] like [music] a fly.
Holy Spirit, fall in [music] this place.
fill our hearts.
Holy Spirit, come like a flood, [singing] like [music] a fire.
Holy Spirit, come.
Oh, Holy [singing and music] Spirit, come.
[music] on the edge of a new beginning. God, we know you have so much more. [music] We're looking to a new horizon.
We pray for your reign of hope.
Overflowing on [music and singing] true redemption, overflowing of your kingom.
We're ready for revival. [music] The Holy Spirit come down like a [music] flood, like a flood.
Holy Spirit fall in [music and singing] this place. Fill our house.
Holy Spirit come. Like the flood.
[music and singing] Like the cloud.
Holy Spirit come.
Oh, Holy [singing] Spirit.
[music] [music] Oh, can you feel it? Heaven [music and singing] is reaching.
Oh, can you hear it? [music] Our God [singing] is speaking.
Oh, [music] can you see it?
He's got your healing.
Oh, just receive [music] it. Receive the freom. [singing] Oh, can you feel it? [music] Heaven is leading.
Oh, can you hear [singing and music] it?
Our God is speaking.
Oh, can you see it? [music] He's got your healing.
[music] Oh, just receive it. Receive a freom. [music and singing] Like a flag, like a fire.
Holy Spirit, all [music and singing] in this place. Fill our hearts.
Holy [music and singing] Spirit, come like a flood, like a fire. [music] Holy Spirit come.
Oh, Holy Spirit come. [singing and music] [music] Heat. Heat.
[music] [music] >> [music] >> We worship [music] a God who was. We worship a God who is. We worship a God who ever [music] more will be.
He opened the prison doors. [music] He parted the raging sea. My [singing] God, he holds [music] me glory.
There is joy in the house of the Lord.
There's joy in the house of the [music] Lord. Today we won't be quiet.
We shout out your praise. There's joy in the house of the Lord. Our [music] God is surely in this place. We walk by you.
We shout your [music] praise.
We sing to the God who heals. We sing to the God who saves. [music] We sing to [singing] the God who always He hung [music and singing] up on that cross, but he rose up from that grave.
And my God [singing] still [music] rolling soul to the way.
There's joy in the house of the Lord.
[music] There's joy in the house of the Lord. Today [singing] we shout out your praise. There's joy in the [music] house of the Lord. Our God is surely in this place. [music] We walk quiet.
We shout at your place. [music] We were [music] the beggars.
Now we're royalty. [singing] We were the prisoners and [music] now we're [singing] running and free. We are forgiven, accepted, redeemed by his grace. Let the house of the Lord sing [music and singing] praise.
We are the better now we're [singing and music] royalty.
We are the prisoners.
Now we're [music and singing] one and free. We are forgi [music] the [singing] house of the lost in praise.
There's joy [music and singing] in the house of the Lord. There's joy in the house of the Lord today and [singing] we won't be quiet.
We shout out your praise. There's joy [music and singing] in the house of the Lord. Our God is surely in this place.
We won't [singing and music] be quiet.
We shout out your praise. There's joy in the house of the Lord. There's joy in the [music] house of the Lord today.
And we walk quiet.
We shout [music] out your praise.
There's all in the house of the Lord.
Our [singing] God is sorry in this place. We won't [music] shine your face.
>> [music] >> Amen.
>> [music] [music] >> Lord to be forgiven, [music] covered by [singing] the blood, be counted [singing] as innocent.
blameless [singing] with righteousness.
[music] [music] Oh y [singing] way.
I'm sorry. [singing] Let it be today [music] that [singing] we confess our [music] sins.
We receive your grace. Let it rain today.
[music] Cover up our gifts.
our [singing] mouth [music] with praise.
Let it be today.
Oh [music] s there is a price I'm [music] buried [singing] by his way.
Oh God you make the way.
You see our death [music and singing] has made.
Oh Jesus, forgive [music and singing] us.
[music] Let it be today.
And we confess [music and singing] our sins.
We receive your grace. Let it be today.
Cover all [music] my G and f [music and singing] with praise.
me [music] today.
Teach me [music] [singing] how to walk.
Teach me to repent. [music] And teach me [singing] of your love.
A love that never [music] ends.
Teach me [singing] how to walk.
Teach me to repent.
Teach me of [music] your love.
Love that never ends.
Teach me how to walk.
Teach me to the place.
Teach me of your love.
love that never end.
[music] Let it be today [music] that we confess our sins.
We receive [music] your grace that need today.
Cover [music] up our gifts and fill [music and singing] our mouth with praise.
today.
[music] Heat.
>> [music] >> The waves [music] rise again soon.
You're my hiding [singing] place.
Surround me [singing] with songs [music] of strength.
Lord, you are my safe place. [singing] Oh sheer [singing] deliver. [singing] [music] [applause] Are you hurting [music and singing] and broken within?
Overwhelmed by the weight of your [music] sin.
Jesus [singing] is calling.
Have you come [singing] to the end of yourself?
Do you thirst for a drink from the well?
Jesus is calling. [music] Oh, come to the altar. [singing and music] The father's altar open wide. [music] forgiveness was [singing] flow with the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
[music] Leave behind [singing] your regrets and mistakes.
[music] Come today. [singing] There's no reason to wait.
Jesus is calling.
Bring [music and singing] your sorrows and drink them for joy.
From the ashes, a new [music and singing] life is born.
Jesus is calling.
[music] Oh, come to the altar.
The father's arms [singing] open wine. Forgiveness was bound with the precious [music] blood of Jesus Christ. Oh, come to [music] the [singing] altar.
The father's arms are open wide.
forgiveness was bound with the precious blood of Jesus [music and singing] Christ.
[music] >> [music] >> over what the Savior [singing] [music] isn't he wonderful. [singing] Sing hallelujah. [music] Christ [singing] is ris.
Bow down [singing and music] before him for he is Lord [singing] of all. Sing hallelujah.
Christ [music] is ris. [singing] Oh, what a savior.
Isn't [music and singing] he wonderful?
Sing hallelujah.
[music] Christ is risen.
[music] He is Lord. [music] Sing hallelujah. [singing] Christ [music] is risen.
[music] Oh [singing] come to the altar.
The blood of our open [music] way for you the precious [music] blood of Jesus Christ.
Come to [music] the altar.
The father [music] of one forgiveness for the precious blood of Jesus [music and singing] Christ.
[music] Oh, [music and singing] come to the altar.
The [singing] father's arms are open [music] wide. Forgiveness [singing] was bought with the precious [music and singing] blood of Jesus Christ.
Lord, we thank you that we can come before you, Lord, as a hurting and broken [music] people, Lord, that you don't expect perfection before we come before you, Lord. But in spite of that and even because [music] of that God, you sent your son down that he would die for us so that we could come to you and that we would never be taken away from you.
Lord, there is no better time than right now. Lord, [music] whatever our sin, whatever our struggles, whatever weight we are carrying, there is no better time to come to you than right now, God.
[music] Lord, we lay it at your feet. We come before you humbly to a God who loves us more than we could earn or deserve, God.
A God who loved us so much that you would step down from your throne. That you would suffer as a man and die in excruciating pain so that we might be [music] called the sons and daughters of God. That we might be called your [music] people. Lord, help us to be that in this life. Help us to walk that in this life. Lord, help us to be what you have [music] called us to be. Lord, this is what we pray and this is what we ask.
In the name of Jesus, we say amen.
And we are going to do a [music] baby dedication. So, if you guys want to, you can have a seat.
And even if you don't want to, go ahead and sit down.
That's right. We get to see a baby.
All right. As we're getting, if you guys want to come come around. Yeah. Yeah.
They want to see you way more than they want to see me. All right. Yeah. Uh, as we're getting settled here. Yeah. We have a baby dedication. Why don't you turn to your neighbor and ask them, "What is the ultimate goal of parenting?"
Ask your neighbor that right now. What is the ultimate goal of parenting?
This is a this is a dangerous thing, but should I ask someone to shout out some of the best answers? What is I heard get them out of the house. Uh uh um so I was thinking through this a lot and my goal actually is I got three kids and I hope that one of them goes pro in a sport so they can fund my retirement. Yes.
>> All right. That's the ultimate goal of parenting, right? No. Uh how about this?
How about this? How about a little a little two-part answer here? We want to raise kids who love Jesus and are respectable adults. Yeah. Yeah. We want to love kids who love Jesus and actually contribute to society when when they grow up. Uh, as Pastor Ray has talked about, I think he even talked about a couple weeks ago, we want we want to be people. We want to raise people that other people want to be around. And a love for Jesus is a huge part of that.
And we have a family here that is all in on that. We have Daniel and Marley Vanassel. Uh, and we have Elliot. Uh some of you guys know Elliot. He's a character. Uh and and then we have Elanie K. Oh my goodness. And she's just got like like the biggest cutest eyes that that you've ever seen. So Elani K, she is 7 months. Uh it is also worth noting that she was born at 25 weeks. Uh so this family spent some time in the NICU. uh a lot of time in prayer, a lot of time asking the Lord uh that little Elany would would develop and grow and be healthy and their prayers were answered. Uh and she is just so so beautiful. This family, you guys have been at at Desert Breeze for a while.
You've done DB Life with us. I've gotten to know your family in a lot of different ways. I got to officiate your wedding uh just a couple years ago. So, uh it's really exciting to see you guys grow. It's really exciting to see uh uh how committed and dedicated you are to raising these kids in a in a Christ-fearing household and and modeling for them just how important it is to to love and follow after Jesus. Uh these two have chosen a special verse and actually Daniel's going to read it for us. special verse that that carries a lot of meaning for the family. And Daniel, when you read it, make sure you turn yourself to facing because even the people on YouTube live want to see they want to see and hear you.
>> Morning church.
>> Morning.
>> Jeremiah 29:11. For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
[snorts] >> What a powerful verse. What a powerful verse. It is worth noting that this verse was written to a people that were in the midst of hardship uh and in the midst of exile. And to all my parents out there, are there times uh in your parenting journey where you feel like you're in hardship? Yeah. Yeah. And there there are moments like that.
They're not they're not all moments just like this where everyone's dressed nicely and behaving well and and and and on stage for dedication. There there are hard moments, too. There are long nights. There are long arguments. Uh but but we know that in the midst of it all that that God has a plan for us. And God definitely has a plan for this little angel right here. Well, just like uh we did in your wedding ceremony a couple years ago. I have some phrases and some promises that I want to read out loud.
Uh and if you agree with what I read, then mom and dad, I want you to repeat.
We do. You got to do it together.
Otherwise, we'll just keep doing it over and over again. So, you got to be together. And then, church, don't lose interest because there's a couple promises that I'm going to read for you all uh to respond to as well. So, all right, you guys ready? Daniel and Marley, you ready? Here we go. Uh Daniel and Marley, do you promise in dependence upon God's grace and with the partnership of your family and the church to teach Elany the truths of the Christian faith?
>> We do.
>> That was so good. All right.
[clears throat] Do you promise to set a Christian example for her in your home? To bring her up in the instruction and discipline of the Lord and to encourage her to accept Christ as her savior under the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
>> We do.
>> All right, church. These are for you.
And this is Mother's Day and you've all had your coffee and I expect you to be loud and proud on these. All right, church. Do you promise independence upon God's grace to teach Elani the truths of the Christian faith?
>> We do.
>> That's what I'm talking about. Church, do you promise to prayerfully support this young family as they strive to encourage her to accept Christ as her savior under the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
>> All right. Now comes the trickiest part.
I get to hold this this angel. All right. All right. Now, now I've got I've got kids of my own, so we're used to Simba. All right. Yes. Look at Look at this beautiful angel here. Right here.
Oh my goodness. All right. I'm going to turn you. I'm going to turn you here. I don't want to mess up the dress. Now, now your big brother told me a minute ago that if you cry, it means you're happy. Okay. So, so we're So, we're Oh, if she screams, that means she's happy.
Those are screams of joy in case this happens. So, she has the hiccups right now, and it might be the cutest thing that's ever happened in my existence.
Uh, Elanie, can I pray for you? And and this whole church wants to pray right along with me to to to lift you up and and to love you. All right, let's pray.
Dear heavenly father, we thank you so much for this beautiful miracle. We thank you so much for Elani Kay. We thank you so much for her life, for the meaning and the value that that she's already given to us and that you've clearly given to her. Lord, please bless her as she grows. Help her to grow in your knowledge and your truth and to put her faith in you. Lord, please be with her family. Please be with Daniel and Marley and so many more uh that love her and want so badly to to to raise her up in the knowledge of your truth. Lord, bless them and keep them. And Lord, always keep this little one smiling and happy just like today. Amen.
>> Amen.
>> Amen. Hey, before I dismiss this family, we have other family members here. If you're here to support Daniel and Mara, raise your hand right now. Make a make you can make a joyful noise, too, Tanya.
Go right ahead. There we go. All right.
Yeah. All right. Hey, give it up for this amazing family. And again, this cute little one here.
[applause] Good job.
All right, you guys are dismissed. I got to stay here. Oh, yeah. No, no, you're not dismissed. Yeah. Oh, I should also say Carol's right here and she has a blanket. Uh, Dad, that's not for you.
That's for Elany. Yeah. Uh, [clears throat] yes. Thank you very much, Carol.
All right, as they're getting settled, we have a bumper video. very special Mother's Day video just for you.
An excellent wife [music] who can find she is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts [music] in her and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not harm all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax and works [music] in willing hands.
She is like the ships of the merchant.
She brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet [music] night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arm strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. [music] Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distiff and her hands hold the spindle. [music] She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
[music] She makes bed coverings for herself. Her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates when he [music] sits among the elders of the land.
>> She makes linen garments and sells them.
She delivers sashes to the merchant.
Strength and dignity are her clothing and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom and the teaching [music] of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband [music] also and he praises her. Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.
>> Charm is deceitful, and beauty [music] is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise [music] her in the gates.
[music] Well, again, happy Mother's Day.
[applause] I know I've been up here for a few minutes already, but my name is Jay SM.
I'm one of the pastors on staff. If I haven't met you yet, I'm so glad that you're here. Uh, and welcome to those who are on YouTube live right now.
You've [clears throat] gotten a great show so far at home. If you're a mom at home uh watching on YouTube live, I will just assume that breakfast in bed went long. Uh, and that's that's why you're not with us today, but we miss you and we're glad you're tuning in. Uh, how about that bumper video? So, do you guys recognize a few of those voices?
Yes, Nancy was in there. Uh, Jod was in there. Jod Sakrowski, she's in here right now. And I'm going to tell you this, she loves being embarrassed. And she's sitting right over there. Yes.
Uh, I do have to be careful how far I take it, though, because she also signs the paychecks around here. So, can I say you are the youngest looking grandma I've ever seen. And yes, [laughter] happy Mother's Day. Um, as as Matt said earlier, this is to to all moms, to all stepmoms, to to grandmothers, spiritual moms, and even to women who mentor and disciple others. We're grateful for you, and we don't celebrate you enough. I want that to be heard throughout the service. uh to highlight all moms this weekend. We will be walking through uh the book of Proverbs, specifically chapter 31:es 10-31 as our starting point. This passage is targeted directly at the woman who fears the Lord. But the lessons learned in this passage and also all throughout the book of Proverbs are for all of us. Now, I also want to stand here and say I know that Mother's Day weekend doesn't necessarily represent joy and happiness uh for all of you in the room. Maybe it's been a hard year of miscarriage or or child loss or maybe you uh lost your own mom this year or or in the past and it's and this is hard. I just want to say if that's you on behalf of all the staff here at Desert Breeze, we are with you. We are praying for you.
who we want to support you in any way uh that you need. So, please please hear that.
Do me a favor now. Turn to your neighbor. I know I got you chatting with your neighbor a lot this service, but turn to your neighbor and ask them, "What is the difference between knowledge and wisdom?" What is the difference between knowledge and wisdom?
Talk to your neighbor for a sec.
I'm hearing scattered giggles.
Now, I'm sure there are a variety of responses in the room, but I I'm I'm guessing most of them are centered around the idea that knowledge is being what we know and [clears throat] wisdom is what to do with what we know. Uh for example, here's here I'll kind of kind of lighten it a little here. For example, something that I've heard many times and this always makes me laugh is this. Uh, knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.
Knowledge is knowing that my phone says the high temperature in Phoenix is going to be 72°.
Wisdom is knowing that the Arizona sun does not care about my app and will melt me anyways.
And here's a couple for our moms.
Knowledge is knowing that my mom said, "Don't get me anything for Mother's Day." Wisdom is knowing that I'll be eating cold spaghetti for the next month if I do exactly that.
How about this? Knowledge is knowing moms love handmade gifts and cards from the kids. Wisdom is knowing that the glitter that they use will be stuck in the carpet until Jesus returns. Yes. So, we got to know the difference here. I think you get where I'm going so far with this. If you've been around Desert Breeze for any length of time, you've probably heard Pastor Ray say that wisdom is knowledge rightly applied.
some of the easiest words to say, but boy, using myself as the ultimate example, some of the hardest words to live out.
Now, a lot of times, whether you are a believer or not, you ask yourself, how do I how do I correctly apply the knowledge that I have? How do I live a life that is filled with wisdom? How do I become someone that people will will turn to and look to for advice?
And speaking to you moms, I know this for a fact because I am married to perhaps the world's greatest mom. And I have to be careful cuz my wife and my own mom are sitting next to each other right now. So, they're like a little competition, you know, cuz I had the best mom and now I married the world's greatest mom. Uh, I know speaking on behalf of my wife, I know that moms, you you lay awake at night wondering and worrying about your kids and how how are they going to turn out and and how can you be the best mom possible. [snorts] I know that you pray and you pray and you pray that God will look after your kids and use you mightily as a mom. Now, I've never actually seen this behavior cuz I'm sleeping the whole time. Uh, it's exhausting being the world's greatest husband. Yes. Uh, but I'll ask her in the morning. I go, "Why do you look so tired?" I was I was I was I'm worried. I'm worried about And because she's the best mom and she wants what is what is absolutely best for our kids. Now, [clears throat] it's comforting to know that, excuse me, it's comforting to know that even as we ask these hard questions, we ask these questions, how do how do I how do I live a life filled with wisdom? How do I make this this jump from knowing to actually applying? It's it's comforting to know that as we ask these questions, we have answers. They're given to us so clearly in scripture as we seek this wisdomfilled life. And before we dive into some of these answers and talk about what wisdom in action looks like, why don't we pray together?
Heavenly Father, thank you so much again for for this morning. Thank you that we can be here. Thank you that we can uh just gather freely. We can worship you.
Thank you that we can take a special opportunity today to to thank our moms, to celebrate moms, but also do a dive into scripture that shows all of us in the room the importance of a wisdomfilled life. Please be with us now as we read your word and study and then be with each of these families as they go and celebrate today. Amen.
>> Amen. So, as uh as I mentioned a couple minutes ago, Proverbs 31 is is is where we're going to be kind of starting each of our points today. Uh the 31st chapter of Proverbs is the final piece of perhaps the most famous piece of wisdom literature that we are given in scripture. There are several books of the Bible that are known as wisdom literature. We have Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Psalms, and Proverbs.
Proverbs in the Bible is God's invitation to us to live skillfully and faithfully in the real world. Proverbs teaches us not just to fill our heads with knowledge, but to form our lives.
It teaches us to respond to life from God's perspective.
Proverbs is not a a a book of guarantees for perfect outcomes.
It's a book of God-shaped wisdom for our everyday life.
So, let's jump into our first point as we talk about this wisdomfilled life that embodies Proverbs and honors moms.
Uh your first point is this. Wisdom begins beneath the surface. The fear of the Lord. Wisdom begins beneath the surface. Verse 30 of Proverbs 31 says, "Charmm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."
Perhaps the most famous verse in this entire famous passage. This is a refreshing reset of perspective for all of us there. This verse right here is the foundation of everything when it comes to a wisdomfilled life. In fact, your next fill in the blanks are this uh this verse is is the foundation. It's not about personality. It's not about productivity or even morality.
A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Now, I do want to reiterate once again each of our main points will start right here in Proverbs 31, uh which is primarily addressed to the woman who fears the Lord. But each point is going to be heavily supported by by cross references. You can already see that on the screen. I want to I want to show that the book of Proverbs, all the books of of wisdom literature, and really all throughout the entirety of scripture, these points that we're talking about are for all of us. So again, if you're looking at the screen right now, wisdom begins beneath the surface. We have this theme of the fear of the Lord. It's not just found in Proverbs 31:30. We see in Proverbs 1, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Proverbs 9, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Uh, Proverbs 8, to fear the Lord is to hate evil. Ecclesiastes 12, fear God and keep his commandments. Psalm 111, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
This is not just some one-off. This is a massive theme that is found throughout scripture. If there's anything that these verses have in common is that there is no shortcuts to the finish line. All of these things start with the fear of the Lord. Now, the fear of the Lord is also one of the biggest debates in scripture. You'll hear preachers on both sides of this when they talk about what the fear of the Lord means. Uh on one side, on one [clears throat] side you see, you know, the fear of the Lord means that you should be afraid of his power and his might. Be terrified because he could crush you at any time.
Oh yeah, that's really hope inspiring right there. Yeah. Or you have this, oh, fear [snorts] of the Lord is an outdated term.
You should focus on just being his bestie. All right, snuggle up close.
Now, the actual definition of the fear of the Lord is a whole lot closer to this.
Acknowledging his greatness and his power, yet being in awe that he still wants to use us and be in relationship with us. Fear in this case is is reverence. It's it's it's a joyful awe and wonder. We tremble at the mere thought of the privilege of being his son or being his daughter. This is a God who is transcendent above all yet also imminent and wants to be close to us, wants to be in relationship with us. The fear of the Lord is not about being scared of God's presence. It's about being scared of living without it.
Wisdom begins by being in God's presence. You want to start looking more like him, start spending more time with him.
And if you find yourself struggling with relationships here on this earth, and I and I like to say, and Pastor Al like to say, if you're struggling with relationships here on a horizontal level, chances are it's pointing to an issue that you're having on a vertical level.
If you're trying to thrive on the power of your personality, the the the amount of good things you can do, how good of a person you can be, you're just going to spin your wheels until you are exhausted.
Spend time in his presence. Experience the awe and wonder of who he is and what he has done for you.
[snorts] And then you can watch that pour out onto others.
I can say this with supreme confidence.
Uh, and this is this is where I need my wife to just smile and nod. Please don't jump up and start amening and clapping.
I'll tell you this, the days that I feel the most tired and worn out, the days that I can get the most annoyed and the most frustrated and I'm prone to say the most unkind things to my wife, to my kids, and to other people. It's the days that I have not been sitting with God.
It's the days that I have not been allowing myself to be transformed by him from the inside out.
And moms, let me encourage you with this. You will never be a failure to your family if you choose to prioritize this before you prioritize this. You will never be a failure to your family if you do that. He will empower you in ways that you never thought possible.
and he'll do it from the inside out.
Our next point about wisdom in action is this. Wisdom works hard. Wisdom works hard.
[clears throat] In Proverbs 31:es 13-19 are all about hard work. All about how this this woman who fears the Lord, she gets up and she's not afraid of hard work. Verse 27 says, "She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." If this was rewritten in 2026, it would say she eats the bread of sourdough but not the bread of idleness.
Now, uh, hear me clearly when I say this and in all the circles of influence that I'm a part of, no one works harder than the moms that I know. No one accomplishes more than the moms that I know. When I when I check in with my wife at the end of the day and she'll say, "How was your day?" And I'll say, "Wow, I'll tell you." And I can talk about meetings that I had. I can talk about counseling appointments. I can talk about event prep that we did or sermon prep. And I can do all of this in about two to three minutes. Um, if I take some water breaks. Uh, yes. I I can I can I can tell my whole day and it just kind of when I finish I go, "Wow, I really actually didn't do much today." Uh but then I'll say, "How was your day?"
[snorts] And I wrote this down from the last time that my wife shared with me and I want to read it so I get it right.
Let me tell you, this is what she said.
"Well, I made breakfast. I packed up school bags. I worked out. I did the dishes. I vacuumed. shopped for groceries, bought birthday presents for 11 people, walked the dogs, worked the job, cleaned the shower, washed the sheets, folded towels, counseledled a friend, prepped dinner, picked up the kids from school, solved world hunger, uh just what she said, enrolled each of our three kids in five different summer programs. Shall I continue? Because I got three more pages. Uh most of that was serious. If she I mean, if there's anyone that could solve the world hunger problem, it would be my wife for sure. Most of it would be fueled by the leftover nuggets that our kids leave. That's a whole other story.
All right.
Seriously though, I want you now look at the mom nearest to you and say, "Thanks for all you do." Just take that, you know, goodness gracious, no one makes me look lazier than a mom.
So, why take a moment right now and and highlight this? Are are are we celebrating people who just check boxes every day? Are we celebrating people uh who are just, you know, you you do what needs to be done every day. Thank you so much for that. It's it's I mean, not really. That's that's not what we're going for. Instead, take note of what's in parentheses next to this point. We see wisdom works hard. And then you see diligence with purpose. And that that is the just the main part of this point.
Diligence with purpose. There is a purpose to the hard work that we do, moms. There is a purpose to everything that you do all throughout the day. And that purpose continually ties back to worshiping God and growing in wisdom. This passage, all these verses, verses 13- 19, verse 27, they're filled with motion. We see, here's your next uh fill in the blank.
There's working. There's planning.
There's building and providing.
And once again, this isn't just something that I that I that I cherrypick from a couple verses in one chapter. This theme is all over the Bible. In Proverbs 6:es 6-11, there's this is a great little passage that compares and contrasts the sluggard, the lazy person, and the ant. Proverbs 10 talks about the difference between lazy hands and diligent hands.
Proverbs 12 says, "The diligent will rule." Proverbs 13, "The diligent are fully satisfied."
Proverbs 14, all hard work brings profit.
Proverbs 21, plans of the diligent lead to abundance. And I specifically want to note Colossians 3:23 here. Whatever you do, work heartily as for the Lord and not for men.
You see, the wise person understands, I'm not just folding laundry. I'm not just going to work. I'm not just studying. I'm not just changing diapers.
I'm not just serving people.
There is dignity in faithful work.
And we see throughout scripture that God himself is also at work. From the opening pages of scripture, God is creating, forming, cultivating, sustaining. We are created in his image.
So meaningful work res reflects his character.
And even as I read verse 16 of Proverbs 31, she considers a field and buys it.
This phrase considers it matters because wisdom thinks ahead.
She's not reckless. She's thoughtful.
She's intentional. She's strategic.
Biblical diligence is not just about working harder.
It's about working wisely.
And there's a difference between being busy and being fruitful.
We know what being busy all the time leads to. It leads to exhaustion.
It leads to just every day feeling like you are not heard or seen. Everything that you do is unappreciated. That's because you're busy all the time.
There's a big difference between that and being fruitful. Understanding that what you are doing is to honor God and to follow him.
We get exhausted because we are scattered. But wisdom teaches focus.
Jesus modeled this for us perfectly.
Never once would any of us say that Jesus was lazy during his ministry. But also we would never say that Jesus was frantic during his ministry. He lived with clarity of mission at all times.
And we do see that wisdom works hard understanding that there is purpose that goes into that hard work. Our next point is this. Wisdom builds others. Wisdom builds others primarily using words and compassion. Proverbs 31:20 says, "She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy." And verse 26, "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."
Again, these aren't just single verses that are being grabbed just to just to support one sermon. If we're looking at just how a wise person builds other with words in Proverbs 10, we see that the words of the righteous nourish many.
Proverbs 12, words can heal or they can wound. Proverbs 15, a gentle answer turns away wrath.
Does anyone else struggle with that one?
Like pastor Ra I mean like I struggle with that one. Yeah. Yeah. [laughter] A gentle answer turns away wrath. If you want to be clever and mean to me, guess what? I'm about to use my gift of words as well. No, a gentle answer turns away wrath. Proverbs 16, gracious words are lifegiving. And in proverb or excuse me, uh Ephesians 4, we are supposed to speak what builds others up.
On the compassion side, uh, Proverbs 14, kindness to the needy honors God.
Proverbs 19, giving to the poor is lending to the Lord. Proverbs 22, the generous will be blessed. From Isaiah 58, true righteousness cares for others.
And in Matthew 25, we see that serving others is serving Christ.
[clears throat] Building people up is clearly one of the marks of a wise person. Speaking and acting kindly in the face of adversity is one of the hardest things to do.
I am so privileged to see this in my wife every single day. We have three kids. Uh their ages range from 5 to nine, which uh means they're in the stage of life where they get nervous about a lot of things uh especially new things. And we encourage them to try new things. Now, they've all learned that there is one parent that they can go to if they just need a little bit of support and encouragement and a kind word. And they also know that the other parent is me. Uh, no. They they they know that that they can go to mom. When my daughter is is nervous, she's in gymnastics. She does uh, you know, trampoline and tumbling and all things that like like my bones literally crack just watching her uh, do it. But, but she'll get nervous about trying something new. And I'm really good at coming alongside her and saying, "May, [sighs] do you know how much I'm paying [laughter] for you to just stand here during your that doesn't work. Uh my wife knows that that sort of goating will not help our daughter. Uh it doesn't help any of our kids uh in any way. But she knows that she can use the wisdom that she has gained to speak compassionately, to speak kindly, and she can encourage our kids to try hard things. Now, does that always work? No.
Again, this this is not a a prescription for perfect outcomes here, but I will say this, and I think we can all agree that kindness and compassion, especially with our words and how we build each other up, they're going to go so much further than than the tough love side of things.
And as I look at these particular verses in Proverbs 31 and these verses throughout the book of Proverbs and in Isaiah and Matthew and Ephesians, [snorts] here's what I see just using Proverbs 31 as our filter. People around this woman, this woman who fears the Lord, people around her, they flourish.
The poor are helped. Her household is cared for. Her words teach kindness.
her family rises and calls her blessed.
Talk more about that in a minute.
This is what wisdom does. It leaves people better than it found them.
A wise person walks into a room and brings peace instead of drama, encouragement instead of criticism, generosity instead of selfishness, gentleness instead of harshness.
And this applies to everyone, not just moms.
The church, our community, our city, our world. We desperately need more people who choose to heal people with words than to divide.
Our culture has plenty of outrage and sarcasm, cruelty, and criticism already.
Wisdom as we read sounds different.
It's uplifting. It's powerful.
It builds.
And as I look around here, and I I know I've made eye contact with a lot of you.
I've had a lot of conversations with a lot of you already. Tried to wish happy Mother's Day to as many of you as possible. I know that this room is full of of women, of moms who are so in tune with this.
I see it all over our church and all the different ministries and all throughout the week. We are a church that is full of women who look to build others up.
And I'm so so grateful for so many of you that exercise this quality day in and day out.
Our next point is this. Wisdom lives with integrity. Wisdom has trustworthy character.
In verses 11 and 12, the heart of her husband trusts in her and she will have no lack of gain or he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not harm all the days of her life. And verse 23, her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.
That word integrity, wisdom lives with integrity. Take just a second and think about that word. What how would how would you define integrity? What does that word mean?
A definition that I learned as a kid and I still hold on to is this. Integrity is what we do when no one is watching.
And as we discussed this in our staff meeting this last week and I asked the same question. I go, "What does the word integrity mean to you?" I also wrote this note. Integrity is consistency in what you say and do in both your public life and your private life.
Consistency. What a key word there. And again, as we run this topic of wisdom through a biblical filter, remember that biblical wisdom is not just about making the smart decisions.
It's about being trustworthy in every area of your life as you go about making those decisions. It's about being consistent. It's about being a man or a woman of integrity. One of the greatest compliments that we can receive is when someone looks at us and says, "You are a trustworthy person."
One thing I remember my my mom and dad teaching me is you can work an entire lifetime to build someone's trust. But boy, you can blow it in about two seconds.
When someone says you are a trustworthy person, do not take that lightly.
In a world where promises are broken, motives are questioned, character is constantly compromised, trustworthy people stands out. When you live a life of integrity, that stands out in this world. You know this. And we have plenty of verses to back it up. In Proverbs 11, we see that integrity guides the upright. In Proverbs 12, the Lord delights in truthfulness. In Proverbs 20, the righteous walk in integrity.
Proverbs 28, better poor with integrity than rich and crooked. And in Luke 16, we see that when we are faithful and little, we can also be faithful and given much.
At the deepest level, integrity matters because it again, it reflects God himself. He is perfectly faithful. He is perfectly trustworthy. He is perfectly true.
Now, I like what is said about God in the midst of an extended interaction between Bailo and Balum in Numbers 23.
Uh the name Balum may may strike a chord. He's the guy in Numbers 22 that got to have a conversation with his donkey. That's that's the story. This is the same guy. But in Numbers 23:19, Balam says, "God is not man that he should lie or a son of man that he should change his mind. Has he said and will he not do it? Or has he spoken and will he not fulfill it?"
Everything that God says can be trusted.
And as believers, we are called to reflect his character in this world.
When Christians live with honesty and faithfulness, humility and consistency, we reflect the reliability of God.
Proverbs 31 reminds us that wisdom is not always flashy, but boy is it consistent.
And in the world of instability, compromise, a trustworthy life shines brightly. This is wisdom.
The last point I want to leave you with is this. Wisdom leaves a legacy. Wisdom leaves a legacy of lasting impact and honor. I'm just going to read verses uh 28 and 29 of Proverbs 31. Her children rise up and call her blessed. her husband also and he praises her saying many women have done excellently but you surpass them all.
This passage is more than just admiration. These verses speak of impact.
A wise life leaves lasting fingerprints on so many people.
And one of the most powerful truths in scripture is this. What we repeatedly do today shapes what remains tomorrow.
Proverbs 13:22 tells us that a good person leaves an inheritance.
Proverbs 20 tells us that children are blessed after them. Proverbs 22, a good name is more desirable than riches.
Psalm 112, the righteous are remembered forever. Matthew 7, the wise builds upon a firm foundation. And then from 2 Timothy 1, faith is passed down through generations.
Folks, I agree with all of these verses except the one right in the middle, Proverbs 22:1. A good name is more desirable than riches.
Because I could easily live in a world where people go, "Jease that billionaire."
Yes.
All right, I'm kidding. Of course. Maybe just a multi-millionaire. No, no, no.
Just kidding. Much rather be known as a trustworthy person. Much rather be known as a man of integrity. Much rather be known and talked about as someone who is leaving a legacy. Now, we often imagine a legacy as something grand and big.
It's, you know, this was, oh, this person, oh, they wrote so many books and affected so many lives. Oh, this person was was so famous. this person built such a huge platform and had so many followers. This person had multiple public achievements. That's that's what sometimes we think about with legacy.
But as we read scripture, legacy is not always defined in such big huge ways.
No, legacy is is more seen as this. a a a faithful parent, a a godly grandparent, a teacher who invests in their students, a believer who consistently was known for encouraging others, the person who quietly loves Jesus for decades. These are the type of lives that shape generations.
Lives that are built on gaining wisdom and then putting it into action.
Now, I brought something with me today.
They actually brought the world's smallest uh sermon illustration. Uh this is a little uh seed packet. Uh and it's it's I mean I I hold this thing and and this this this weighs nothing. And it's it's just full of these little dots that if I were to go out if I had any kind of a green thumb, I would go out and and plant these and something beautiful would grow. Now, [clears throat] in a lot of ways, sometimes we we plant seeds in our lives and we expect results right away. But if I were to go out into my backyard today and plant these seeds and then go inside and pour a glass of lemonade and come back outside right away, would I be able to sit in the shade of whatever I just planted?
No. No. That's not how it works. That's not how it works.
The benefits of planting seeds come later.
In the same way, so many of the important things that we do and say to people today will have their full effect many years from now.
every prayer, every act of faithfulness, every moment of integrity, every word of encouragement, you may not see the full impact immediately. And you moms, you know this, having conversations with your kids, you might have just said the most beautiful thing to them, the most loving thing to them, and they just look at you and go, "Can I have a snack?"
It's like, "What? What? I just I just said the most beautiful thing."
We [snorts] may not see the full impact immediately, but wisdom plants seeds that outlive us.
And again, I look around this room, I see so many layers of legacy represented in this room. Whether you are here, you're whether you're like me, I'm here because of a mom and a dad who loved Jesus and pointed me toward Jesus. and my mom is here because of a mom and a dad who loved Jesus and pointed her toward Jesus. I see many stories just like that. You are here because of your parents, because of your grandparents, because of your great-grandparents even.
But I also know that there's a few people in here. You're here because you want to start something new in your family. You want to establish a legacy in your family. A legacy that says we love Jesus and we want to follow him. If that is you, then I commend you and I praise you and I thank you too. So many layers of legacy represented here. And I will tell you that the Lord will reward you for that faithfulness. And he will reward you and give you answers as you seek wisdom.
Never forget even what what King Solomon said when when when God said, "Ask for whatever you want." What did he ask for?
He asked for wisdom. He He basically said, "Lord, I'm just a child. I don't know what to do. Help me govern. Help me lead." And the Lord said, "I'm going to give you that. And I'm also going to give you everything else that you didn't even ask for. When you ask, he will reward you and answer you."
Let me conclude with this.
None of anything that I just said. None of this matters without faith, belief, and hope in Jesus Christ.
All of these things, all of these, you know, ideas and points and and good things, all of these things, they could add up to make you a really good person by society's standards, but they would ultimately fall short if you are living they would ultimately fall short unless you are living them out as a response to what Jesus did for all of us on the cross.
And folks, if that's something that you have questions about, you have doubts about, you have no idea what I'm talking about, then then at the end of this service when I'm done praying, I invite you to come up and ask those questions.
You can ask me, you can ask one of our elders or one of our leaders that will be up here with me. I would love to tell you about the amazing thing that Jesus did for you and how that fuels all the amazing things that we can do for others.
Uh before I pray and dismiss, I'll just say again to all the moms and families represented here, happy Mother's Day.
Please do not forget on your way out to get a family photo uh and get some flowers and get that picture up on Instagram as quick as possible. Just start racking up the likes and comments and shares. Yes. Uh but we love you and we're so grateful and appreciative of you. Let's all pray. Dear heavenly father, thank you uh so much again for this time. Thank you that we could dive into Proverbs and yes, look at the Proverbs 31 woman, but also look all throughout your word and see how we can live lives full of wisdom in action.
Lord, let this be uh a topic that uh is is spoken about even at the lunch table today uh as moms are celebrated.
Let qualities just like this be talked about. Let it be spoken of and and and praised how so many moms in this congregation and beyond. Live lives that are full of wisdom in action.
Lord, we just love you. And again, we're so grateful for everyone here and grateful for the opportunity to come and worship you in this way. Amen.
>> All right, you are dismissed. Happy Mother's Day.
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