Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Aug 20th, 2013 JUST FOR LADIES – BY CAMILLE STAHL

Today’s Passage –  Jeremiah 23 – 25 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – Acts 16 – 18; Psalms 96 – 100; Proverbs 20)

Scripture Memorization for June – Pre-Tribulation Rapture Passages

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Micah 6:8

Read a great article by Pastor Paul Chappell – “5 Skills for Healthy Communication“

Read the “0820 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read previous posts from this morning’s Bible reading passage – “Handle with Care“, and “Who Can You Trust?“

The Study of Women in the Bible

Hannah, A Woman Who Gave Her Son To God

Before we get started with the study of Hannah, I would like to ask you how you did with your challenge from last weeks blog (Aug. 13th – “The Contentious Woman”)?

“So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.” (I Samuel 1:9-11)

Hannah was in a polygamous marriage. Like Sarah, Abraham’s wife, she was not able to conceive. Peninnah, the other wife, mocked Hannah. Sometimes a person is tested to their very roots of being. Hannah must have felt this way, but Hannah had definite access to God. She shed many tears. She felt forsaken by God because she had no children and her husband’s other wife kept reminding her of it. She was mocked so much that she did not even eat. She had nowhere else to go but to God, so she cried out to Him. Hannah presented God with a great petition. She did not insult Him by asking for a small favor. Hannah didn’t pray vaguely. She prayed with a specific request. God I want a son and I will give him back to you for all his life. No razor will touch his head. Soon Hannah received the answer to her prayer, a son named Samuel. After Samuel was weaned, she kept her promise to God. Hannah brought her son to the temple where Eli was, and presented Samuel to God. Eli then raised and trained him in the priesthood. Hannah must have had a great impact on Samuel as he became one of Israel’s greatest prophets. She must have felt sorrow at leaving her child, yet she praised and glorified the Lord. Later we learn that Hannah and her husband had five other children.

Truths About Hannah’s Life:

1. Hannah was a prayer warrior. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, the Bible says, “Pray without ceasing and in Psalms 126:5, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy”. Hannah did both. Our part, as a mother and wife, should be to pray for our family. We can get so busy in life that we may not take the time to pray. Remember the devil is seeking to devour us. We need to cover our family with prayers.
2. She kept her promise to God. We pray for something, God answers, then we forget our part of the commitment. How often do people pray for a job but then don’t tithe. Or pray for transportation, and then not attend church.
3. She gave her son wholly to the Lord. What a great example of giving to the Lord, something that is so greatly cherished. We all ought to dedicate our children to the Lord. Remember the devil is seeking us out. He wants to destroy us.

In today’s world, our government allows women to kill unborn children. They want to tell us how to raise them. If we don’t abide, they threaten to take them away. The family structure is being torn down. As Christian ladies, we need to band together and be prayer warriors for our family.

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” (Psalm 37:5)

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16b)

One of the most precious gifts God has given to us, is a child.  We must do all we can, through Christ, to protect them from the evil one.  We must always be teaching them the ways of the Lord.  Pray with them, read the Bible with them.  Don’t drop them off at church, but attend with them.  Be a good example.  Make fun times with them.  Give lots of hugs and kisses because you never know when the last one will be.

This weeks challenge is to tell your children that you love them.  Also, write them a note and praise them for something they said or did.  If you have no children or grandchildren, like myself,  find a young person at your church you can reach out to.   It will not only change them, it will be a great blessing to you.

Thank You

1 John 5:13