May, 2012

Dear Friend,

“Her children rise up and call her blessed” (Proverbs 31:28).  That’s what the Bible says we do for a godly mother.  We rise up.  We speak up.  We call her “blessed,” that is, we congratulate her for the touch of God upon her life and, through her, upon our lives.  Mother’s Day, of all days, calls for this.

Two years ago my mom, Anne Ortlund, handed the baton of Renewal Ministries off to Jani and me.  The Lord has used her for decades to spread spiritual renewal in Christ to so many.  We rise up and call her blessed.  We revere her legacy.  All we want to do now is, with her, and as with Dad before, pray and work to see more people reconciled and freed and joyful in the Lord.

Every one of us can say, “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7).  We received from our godly mothers so much of what we have today.  Let’s rise up and call them blessed this Mother’s Day.  The baton is in your hand now, our hand too.  Let’s honor our mothers by living for the life-giving Jesus they have lived for!

With love,

Ray and Jani

P.S.  What a joy it is for me, Jani, to rise up and call my mother blessed.  Jeanne Osborn Giles has given herself wholeheartedly to serving Jesus all the days of her life.  When I was young, she taught me to be courteous and hard-working and pure-hearted.  She showed me how to look well to the ways of my household.  She modeled good parenting and personal discipline and sacrificial generosity.  She loved Dad in ways that prepared me to be a godly wife.  Her love for Christ and His work challenges me even to this day.  I honor you, dear Mother, and seek to imitate you as you imitate Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!