WHAT NERVE!!!

Greetings,

As we prepare to celebrate Mother's Day this weekend, let's take a look at one fabulous, inspiring mom from the Bible whose name is Hannah.

Hannah desperately longed for a baby, but she could not get pregnant. It was heartbreaking, and to make matters worse, another woman, who had the blessing of children, "taunted her cruelly" because of it. I guess mean girls have always been around.  And, surprise surprise, her own husband didn't understand her. He was so clueless that in 1 Samuel 1:8 he asks her, "Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?” 

(Eye roll, please).

Hannah did the wisest, most powerful thing she could do.

"Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried - inconsolably. 'Oh, God...take a good, hard look at my pain, go into action for me by giving me a son, I’ll give him completely, unreservedly to you. I’ll set him apart for a life of holy discipline'" (I Samuel 1:11-12).

Hannah prayed...And from what the verse above says, it was a desperate, no holds barred, anguished plea; it was also a mighty invitation.

GO INTO ACTION FOR ME!

That's kind of bold.  Little made-of-dust us telling Almighty God to take a good, hard look at our suffering and then demanding He do something about it? What nerve!

But that's precisely the kind of "nerve" God responds to.

By the time we get to verse 20 in this same chapter we read, "Before the year was out, Hannah had conceived and given birth to a son. She named him Samuel, explaining, 'I asked God for him.'”

This phrase, "before the year was out," really touches my heart and fills me with hope.  I have several prayer requests that I would love to see answered before the end of the year.

Do you? 

Then let's pray! 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for moms. Some of our moms are in Your tender care, and we are grateful we will see them again. For those moms here on earth, bless them with long healthy lives. And we also praise You for the bold language of the Bible: GO INTO ACTION FOR US.  I especially need to see Your power displayed in this area of my life _________________________, and may You grant my request before the year is out. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

It Was Before~

Greetings~

Is it possible that Joseph – chagrined but noble – can still teach us a few things?  YES!  There is so much to learn and apply, but it’s for our own good and will lead to joy!

Remember, Joseph was chagrined, which means he was mortified, humiliated, and crushed.   But he was also a kind, bighearted, compassionate man.  That is why he determined to take care of things in a way that would protect Mary.

When, exactly, did he determine to take the high road?  Was it during the confrontation with Mary, or before he even set out to meet her?  This is actually important because it will make all the difference in the outcome. 

It was before.  And likewise, if we decide to keep our cool before we have that difficult conversation or encounter with our boss, spouse, kids, co-worker, in-law, or relative - even if we have been wronged, even if we are mortified, humiliated, and crushed - if we determine to be kind, bighearted, and compassionate, God will do wonders for us!  This will also avoid an escalation, false accusations, and hurt feelings. 

Matthew 1:20-21 “But as he was thinking this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins."

Joseph has already decided to do the right thing, but before he even gets the chance to show us his determination, an angel of the Lord brings relief.  In one fell swoop, his trust in Mary is forever secure, he learns that he will be the earthly father of Christ, and He gets to be the one to name the most AMAZING Person ever born! 

The blessings start to flow as soon as we decide to do the right thing. 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank you for Joseph’s example.  If You can help Him then You can help us.  We want to be kind, bighearted, and compassionate no matter what.  The best part is that You will help us in our determination, and then bless us for it.  We receive it! In Jesus’ name, AMEN~

The Lord Has Granted my Petition~

Thursday greetings~

Today we revisit a woman named Hannah who was bold in her prayers. 

Hannah could not get pregnant, and it was heartbreaking.  To make matters worse, others in her community made fun of her because she didn’t have children.  (I guess mean girls have always existed), and surprise surprise, her own husband didn’t understand her.  “Don’t I mean more to you than 10 sons?” 1 Samuel 1:8. 

What did Hannah do?

1 Samuel 1:11-12, “Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried –   inconsolably.  ‘Oh God…take a good hard look at my pain, go into action for me by giving me a son.  I’ll give him completely, unreservedly to you.  I’ll set him apart for a life of holy discipline.’”

Hannah is crushed, and by now we know that her own husband doesn’t get it.  She could have nagged him, tried to get him to see it her way.  But Hannah shows us a better way.  Rather than complain that he is not meeting her needs, she goes straight to God and cries out to Him – not just telling Him how much it hurts, but also boldly asking Him to go into action for her.

When we are inconsolable, there is no one better to turn to than to God.  

And then we read verse 19 and learn that as Hannah and her husband made love, “God began making all the necessary arrangements in response to what she had asked.”

But wait a minute?  If Hannah asked God to go into action for her, why did she have to make love to get pregnant?

Sometimes we have to do something that is natural for God to move supernaturally.

It’s called taking a step of faith, and this is a principal we can apply to almost everything in life.

You want to get into a certain college?  God wants you to fill out the application first.

You need a job? God wants you to set up some interviews.

You want to get married?  God wants you to go out on a date and meet new people.

In other words, we pray, we take a step of faith, and then God acts accordingly.

Verse 20 says that “before the year was out, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son.  She named him Samuel, which means, ‘I asked God for him.’”

This chapter concludes with Hannah joyfully testifying, “For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted my petition.”

When we pray amazing things happen in our families.  Samuel grew up to be a mighty man of God who was powerful and prominent in his nation of Israel.  

One more thing.  Hannah went from having no kids to having three more sons and two daughters for a total of six. AMEN!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We have learned that in order for You to grant a petition, we have to offer it up.  So we pray today and ask You to go into action for us just like You did for Hannah.  Here is my specific petition for You: _________________________________. I have prayed, show me how and when to take a step of faith, and thank You that You will act accordingly.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~  

Christ Gives us Strength

Good afternoon all you beautiful and blessed children of God!

Monday's DEVO topic continues to bless our hearts. A lovely gal reached out to me to say that she is so very weary of carrying the load she has been carrying. Sometimes--okay--most of the time lately--she feels she can not take one more step.

Well, that got me thinking. I guess we all have felt, at some point or another, that we are at our breaking point.

Now is a good moment to think about Christ. We are all bustling about preparing for Christmas, and the whole point is that He was born. And because He was born, we have a Savior Who understands us. And one of the things He repeatedly teaches us is that He is with us to help us carry the load.

Philippians 4:13 "I can do everything through Christ, Who gives me strength."

Here's an assignment for all of us to keep in mind. The next time, which could be just a few minutes from now, that you feel you are about to be crushed under the weight of your load, take a moment to tell the Lord that you believe this verse. Tell Him that you receive by faith the strength He gives to do EVERYTHING that you need to do. Amen!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank you that you put no limitations on the things we can do when Jesus strengthens us. Glory hallelujah! Strengthen us now in Jesus' name. Amen!