I Samuel 14

Lisa, this is the only way I could figure out how to do this. Just click on the title (I Samuel 14) and it will take you to a site that has recorded the Bible study.  It was a little awkward at the beginning so Hannah added some music.  It's also a little long, but, oh well.  We'll see how it works until I can figure something else out.

Also, be patient, it might take a minute to start.  You will need to stop the Ipod at the bottom of the blog. Love you!

Pour It Out

A couple of weeks back when we were looking at the life of Samuel, it started with his mom in the temple praying for a baby.  In I Samuel 1:15 she was accused of being drunk by the priest because he couldn't understand her.

She quickly told him that she wasn't drunk but that she was "pouring her heart out before the Lord".  I have thought of that so many times in the last weeks.  What does that mean exactly?

Oh, I have desperately prayed for things on many occasions.  For the physical healing of those I loved and many I didn't even know.   For spiritual healing.   For marriages.   For wayward children.  For the protection of my children and others who could be in harm's way.

Desperately.

But have I really poured my heart out before the Lord?  

I looked up the Hebrew word for "poured".  Don't you cringe a little when I do that?  Seems to always put a different slant to a word.  Sometimes it is a slant that makes things a little uncomfortable.

This definition doesn't disappoint.

        Poured:  1) to pour, pour out, spill

       2) to shed (blood)

                     3) to pour out (anger or heart) 

When I come to the Lord, desperate in heart, fearful in heart, I must come to Him willing to pour it out - to shed the blood. 

 Ready to die to myself, my desires, my fears, my desperations.

Desiring Him more than I desire the answer to my 

prayer.

Oh my.  

Most of the time all I can see is the answer I want.  The answer I think I need.  

All He wants is for me to want more of Him.

Giving thanks today.

In Hobby Lobby last week Rachel and I found a wrought iron BLESSINGS wall hanging that I knew I had to have.  Especially because it was on sale.  I've been wanting something for a space on the wall that has been blank because I hadn't found the perfect thing to hang.

Found it.

Love it.

A constant reminder of the things God has done for us.  So many blessings.  So much to be thankful for:

   . . . flags blowing a different direction

   . . . Sam's heart that wants God to use his injury for His glory

   . . . piano

   . . . Keith's numbers back closer to normal

   . . . music that speaks to my heart

   . . . screen doors

   . . . breeze blowing from front door to back

   . . . calls every night from Hannah while she is away.

BLESSINGS.

 

Far Be It From Me

“Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you.”

Samuel the prophet/priest/judge said these words to the people of Isreal after they begged God for a king and He gave them what they wanted.  These people wanted a king because “everyone else was doing it”.

They were a whiney group.  Begging for something they didn’t need.  They didn’t trust their God Whom had delivered them from their enemies countless times before.  They thought their plan was better.

Just like the rest of us.

I personally am extremely grateful God didn’t answer some of my whiney prayers.  Like the one in Jr. High when I pleaded to be the wife of David Cassidy when I got big.  Extremely.  Grateful.

I don’t want to be found guilty of the sin of prayerlessness.   I also don’t want to be found guilty of dominating my prayer time with whiney, selfish prayers.  I want to be found faithful of bringing things to the Lord that really matter.  That are life changing for people.

This morning I woke up very early with a heavy, heavy heart.  A heart hurting over people hurting.

     * A 7 year old boy in the hospital diagnosed with depression because his parents decided they would rather chase after their own happiness than keep their family together.

     * A couple who grieves a death.  The death of their precious little one who came into this world with no life breath.

     * Couples who grieve a death.  Not one death, but a new one every month when the womb weeps red.

      * A young lady burying her fiancé today because he chose not to live in this world any more.  Family all questioning what they could have done.

     * A family hurting over actions and decisions of children.  Trying to find peace.

     * A young woman missing a daddy gone too soon.

Such a heavy heart over heavy things.  Then I remembered something else Samuel said.

“Now, stand still and see this great thing the Lord will do before your eyes.”

So,         

We pray.

We wait.

We watch.

Most of all we trust.  Trust that the Jehovah God cares when our heart is heavy.  Trust that He will give us what we need to walk through the things we have to walk through.

Please, oh please, don't stop praying.

Or trusting.