Be A Sparkler / Mrs Debbie Fredericks

Mrs Debbie Fredericks

Wife / Mom / Teacher / Assistant & Youth Pastor's Wife

Freedom Baptist Church

Rural Hall, NC

There is just something spectacular about sparklers being lit on a dark night with its sparks flying through the air with its illumination bringing a special glow to all around, especially when it’s two rows making a tunnel of sparklers sending off the bride and groom at a wedding. This was the case as I had the privilege to coordinate a wedding for a precious couple this summer, formerly teens from our youth group now preparing to become youth leaders themselves. The joy and smiles on faces all around was certainly special and memorable.  

As I reflected on that evening the Lord,“sparked”(see what I did there [Symbol] ), on my heart this little lesson learned from the sparkler… May we be encouraged to be a sparkler to those around as we seek to share the light of Christ. 

BE A SPARKLER!  

Leave a little sparkle wherever you go! 

Go to the people and the places that set a spark in your soul! 

Spread the Sparkle! 

*God’s Word is full of verses referring to being a light in dark places: 

Job3:20~ Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul; 

Job 18:5~Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. 

Ps.97:11~Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. 

Ps 112:4~Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. 

Prov. 15:30~The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat. 

Is. 58:10~And if thou draw out the soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: 

Is. 60:1~ Arise, shine: for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. 

Sparkle: to produce small flashes of light/to perform well/to be or become bright and lively~  

*Be an encourager in word and in action to those around. 

1. Sparkle to help light someone’s dark day.  

2. Sparkle to put a smile and beauty into someone’s day. 

*Don’t be the cause of Fireworks! In other words- Be careful not to be the one that always, “Blows Up”. 

*Make sure your spark is started from God’s Word.

Patch or Fix It??? / Mrs Tasha Fowler

Mrs Tasha Fowler

Wife / Mom / Photographer

Heritage Baptist Church

Canal Winchester, OH

It seems the older and weaker my body gets, the more I must do to keep it from breaking down altogether. I wondered into a chiropractic office one day, at the referral of a friend. As a new patient, I studied the waiting room: a few nice chairs, a coffee table with magazines, and a TV. On the wall there was a poster with photos on it of two different roads. One was a dingy gray road with cracks, it had potholes and was patched shotily (like spackle on a wall before you sand it down). The other road was a fresh, deep black layer of asphalt. It had bright yellow painted lines and the road looked smooth and clean. On the poster it read "patch or fix." It was referring of course, to physical health, and how many of us cut corners using Tylenol and Band Aids when we should be addressing the real problems. Immediately though, my mind took to it the spiritual aspect and I almost audibly shouted, "Hey, that's good right there!"

First, I thought about people in the Bible who should've let God handle their problem. Folks who should've quit trying to cover their mistakes, and just let God fix the situation. I think David was the best example of this when he sinned with Bathsheba. He immediately tried to cover it up. He tried to have Uriah, Bathsheba's husband, come home so he might think when she started showing her pregnancy, that it was his baby. When Uriah turned out to be an incredibly honorable man, refusing to lay with his wife because so many men were dying in battle, David had him carry his own death sentence back to the battle. Uriah was sent to the most dangerous part of the battle, and there his life was taken. Eventually David admitted his sin and repented, but God did not spare him the consequences of his actions, and he lost the baby. Wouldn't that story have such a different ending if David had let God fix the situation, instead of messing it up worse on his own??? 

Second, I thought about my husband and I, and how this simple truth applied to our lives. For many years growing up, I was spiritually broken. I had been hurt by church people. I was bitter and confused. I had been introduced to the punk rock crowd, and that became my "patch." I was drinking and smoking at a young age, and hanging out with all the wrong crowd. These things took my mind off my pain, so I self medicated until I was numb.  At 15 years old I met my husband, who was also into the rock scene. We married when I was 18 years old, and I thought marriage would also be a type of "patch". If I had a man in my life, I thought things would be better, but one miserable person plus another miserable person, only equals two miserable people. We drank ourselves stupid, and spent 6 years slapping that road spackle on our broken lives. We remained miserable. We were liars and we were selfish. With our terrible marriage, divorce was weekly threat. We were addicts and abusers. We spent all our paychecks on alcohol, and had a constant revolving door of strangers in our house for the endless "party" we threw. In reality, we couldn't stand our sad lives, and being alone forced us to realize it more. We were void and lonely, but we didn't know what it was we so longed for...

A few years into marriage, we became pregnant with our first child. Reality was starting to set in, and the thought of what chance my child had in life on our junky roads convicted me. I wanted to offer him perfect things, and our lives were far from it. As God started tugging at my heart, though I started giving in, my husband was as stubborn as ever. (Men have some sort of "fix it myself" complex, they don't like to admit they are wrong!) When I tried several times to speak to Brandon about finding lasting relief and hope for our lives, I was shot down, and sometimes pretty roughly. I was discouraged. I knew a few church people, but one was like family to me, so I sought her help. I didn't know much about the Bible, but she taught me, and together we prayed for our husbands. 

Brandon had gone to Bible college, but was expelled for living in blatant rebellion of what was expected there. His dad was a pastor, so he had grown up in church. It was harder to speak to him knowing he knew more than I did about Jesus and the Bible. I was intimidated and backed down.

About 6 months later Brandon had decided to join the Air Force. He was ready to sign and leave, when they noticed some things that needed clearing up first. We needed to move in with Pastor/Dad, and we agreed with his rule of going to church. I was secretly excited about this! Our first service there... nothing. I guess I was hoping for a joyous skip down the aisle to the altar hand in hand, but it didn't happen. That night I spoke to Brandon again. He was annoyed and angry, but I continued anyways. It had been 6 years since he had even prayed, and he didn't believe God existed by this point. I offered, "What could it hurt to just pray and test God out? You have to believe in something. If it's not God, then you just believe evolution and that nothing happens when you die? Are you sure you have 100% faith in that?" Nothing. He rolled over and fell asleep. 

The next day I got a text at about 8am. "I prayed today, and I grabbed a new testament on the way out the door and read a verse. It said 'And if a man also strive for masteries, yet he is not crowned, except he strive lawfully.' I think that God is telling me that if I expect anything from Him, I should do things His way." So he just did it, as crazy as it sounds and as simple as that, God convinced him through one prayer and one verse to give this thing as shot! 

He continued to pray, "God, if you're real, show me in a way that I will never doubt you again. If you will do that, I will give you what's left of my life and my family." The next few weeks were unbelievable. Here this stubborn, rebellious, selfish man was searching for God, and wouldn't you know it, God didn't let him down! God was in everything we saw! We broke that very next service on Wednesday night. Brandon shot up, interrupting Pastor/Dad, and telling the whole church what had been going on in our lives the past few days. He shared how God had made himself real and been in everything. Revival broke out in our church! To sit and tell you all the wonderous things God did even in that first week alone, would be a small book! God showed up, and indeed in a way we could never doubt Him again!

That was over 7 years ago, and God still shows off everyday, proving his realness to us constantly! He tore up all our junky patches. He started over and did things right, like only His perfect hands can! The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become NEW." It didn't say refurbished, patched, or improved... When I found Christ, He made all things NEW!

Sometimes, as a Christian even, I can still get lazy or stubborn, and decide to patch up that little tiny pothole on my own, or instead of giving it to God. (Maybe just a little strip of sealer could do the trick! Nothing to invasive, right)? David had a little sin in his life, and when he didn't give it over to God, it snowballed out of control. It cost him and Bathsheba their baby, and an innocent man his life. We are not good enough Christians on our own to handle the problems of life. We weren't made to be sufficient in this area. Our way of "fixing" things is a poor job compared to the one who can make things new. I'm so glad I let the professional handle it, and I hope you will too! 

An Honorable Vessel for the Lord / Mrs Laura Faulk

Mrs Laura Faulk

Pastor's Wife

First Baptist Church

Groton, MA

An Honorable Vessel for the Lord (a lesson from my teapot).

Recently I was sitting at my dining room table, writing out my Scripture verses for the day. As I sat there with my Bible, I glanced at my tea set which sits on a buffet cabinet in my dining room. I stared and stared at that tea set. As I was looking at it, I was thinking about how special that tea set was to me – my Dad bought it in Germany for my grandmother before I was born. After my grandmother passed away, my father got the tea set back, and when he passed away, it was given to me. So the set actually has a lot of sentimental value to me.

I was told that my grandmother never used it, and when my dad got it back, it sat in his attic for 30 yrs! And I know he never used it! Then I thought, here I am setting it out on display but yet I haven’t used it either. Why, well, I could say that I’m afraid it will break (and that would break my heart). But why for almost 60 yrs has this teapot, cups, and saucers never been used?

I thought about how sad it is, that this beautiful tea set is not being used for the reason it was intended. Yes, it’s pretty on my buffet, it’s valuable to me, and it has very special meaning, however; what good does that actually do the tea set? You might think – it’s just a tea set, what does it matter if it’s being used or not? It might not matter, in reality, to the tea set but think of the crafter who made this set – all the hours put into it. All the handiwork, all the meticulous decorating and painting. Do you think it matters to him? Do you think he spent all those hours and days and maybe months creating a beautiful vessel just to be stored in an attic or set on a shelf? Maybe, but somehow, I doubt it. When that craftsman, created my tea set, there was a distinct purpose for that set. If it didn’t matter would all the parts of the pot, fit together nicely and perfectly blended?  It wouldn’t matter would it? 

If you have a teapot at home that is stained with tea, perhaps has some dings or scratches on it, maybe it has a chip or crack – I believe it is a much happier teapot than mine! Why, because it is being used for the purpose it was intended. 

So I focused on the teapot when this question came to mind, Am I prepared to serve as a vessel for the Lord?
IITim. 2:20-21, “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”
As I sat there looking at my teapot I noticed the different parts of it that make it necessary to allow the pot to serve its purpose. 

1. The bowl (or vessel) is the basis, foundation, largest and most important part of the teapot. Without the vessel there would be no teapot. The purpose of the vessel is to hold the substance that we enjoy. It’s filled with delicious and beneficial tea. Its purpose is fulfilled when we allow it to hold the tea that it was made for.

Our lives as Christian women are to be vessels for Christ. If our teapot is never used, it is not fulfilling its purpose – it is only taking up space. Ask yourself, “Am I just taking up space?” or “Am I being used of God to fulfill His purpose for my life?” Hopefully you didn’t answer in your hearts that you are just taking up space – being a showcase as it were. We need to be honorable vessels for Christ fulfilling His purpose for our lives. 

2. HANDLE – Communicating with God through Prayer and the Word of God

The handle on the teapot allows us to “handle” the pot safely and securely. The handle allows us to pick up the pot without burning our hands or hurting ourselves. It allows us to help the spout pour out the contents of the vessel in a smooth helpful way. 

The Word of God allows us to hear from God. We need to hear from Him on a daily basis. The Word of God is the way God gives us His strength. When we communicate with God through prayer and His Word, He makes our lives run smoother. His words give us the strength we need to make sure our vessels are filled to the brim with His love for us. If you want to serve a delicious pot of tea, there are certain instructions you should follow. Some teas call for different temperature of water. If you don’t have the right water temperature, the tea won’t be as good. Sort of reminds me of our lives, what’s in the inside is very important. If we don’t follow God’s instructions properly and take care of our insides, our “flavor” might be sour or burnt. If you want your vessel to pour out sweet and refreshing blessings, then you need to follow God’s instruction manual. 2 Tim. 3:16 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

When we feel like our handle on life is about to break – stop, go to God, and give it to Him through prayer, and then read His book to hear from Him. Charles Haddon Spurgeon said this, “He who lives without prayer, he who lives with little prayer, he who seldom ready the Word, and he who seldom looks up to heaven for a fresh influence from on high – he will be the man whose heart will become dry and barren.”

We are only as strong as our prayer life! If we are not praying, our churches and homes will not be strong either. Our children will suffer, our husbands will struggle, and financial problems will be harder to wade through, all because WE don’t pray! Do you realize that it is an honor to pray! Think about it – you are able to be in communication with God! 

  “Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night.”


3. SPOUT – WHAT POURS OUT OF YOUR TEAPOT (VESSEL)?

Does your spout pour out grace, love, kindness, forgiveness – teas that everyone will enjoy? Or does your spout pour out ugliness & sin, worldly desires, bad habits and all that goes against Christ and the filling of the Holy Spirit. Are you refreshing to be around just like a freshly brewed cup of tea? The very act of serving tea brings to mind the word “grace”. Traditionally, afternoon tea is a graceful and refreshing act in the weariest part of the day. If you are filled with the Spirit of God, you will have His strength to help you pour out grace and love from your vessel. You will have a desire to be a blessing to others. How much do we really care for people, for their souls, their well- being? Does kindness pour out of your spout because you genuinely care for others? Does sharing the Gospel with others pour out of your spout easily? 

We need to look at the world through the eyes of Christ and His Holy Spirit. Otherwise our vessels will pour out things that will hurt and damage others. Don’t let your teapot pour out anything that can be a hindrance of salvation to those who need Christ!


4. LID – PUT A LID ON IT
This is something we say in order to nicely tell someone to stop talking (clamp down on, silence, end). The saying became popular in the early 1900s.
Pr. 21:23 says, “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.” Our mouths often get us in trouble. We say things we shouldn’t; speak up when we shouldn’t. A word spoken out of season can find us in a tight spot. This verse tells us if we’re able to keep or guard or control our tongues, we can keep ourselves out of a lot of trouble. Our mouths are so powerful that the Bible says that “death and life are in the power of the tongue”, Pr 18:21. 
We have the ability to encourage or discourage someone with our tongue, we have the ability to build up or tear down. It all comes down to the choices we make. James 3:5 says, “Even so the tongue is a little
member, and boasteth great things. Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” The tongue is a powerful member and we can’t control it by operating in our own strength. We need God’s help in keeping our tongue under control because we want to speak for those things that are consistent with the Word of God. We need to refrain ourselves from speaking defeat, from speaking discouragement to others and even into our own lives, but we cannot do that on our own. We MUST ask the Holy Spirit to help us control our tongues. We need to strive to let every word that comes out of our mouths be consistent with the Word of God, the way of God, and the will of GOD.

One of the most important choices in our daily lives is the choice we make with our mouths and tongue. I want to be a builder and encourager with my words. I want to use words that will edify and build. Col. 4:6 says, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” With the Holy Spirit’s help, we have the power to make a difference in someone’s life with our tongue.

In conclusion, 2 Tim. 2:20-21 again says, “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

I’ve poured out some good cups of tea for us. I don’t want to go through life dripping out bitter tea that can leave a bad taste on others. And let’s face it; it’s so easy to do.

Just as tea stains, we also can stain so many lives with the bitter tea we bring to the world. We can melt people’s spirits. We can hurt feelings. We can discourage people. We can hinder them from serving Christ. We can even hinder someone’s salvation. All because of what flows from us. Or we can revive a saddened spirit, help heal a hurting heart, make someone’s day brighter, be an encouragement, and even prepare someone’s heart for salvation. And I certainly don’t want to go through life sitting on a shelf not serving the purpose for which the Lord made me. He made me in His image, He knew me before I was even born, He has a purpose for my life
and He wants me to fulfill that purpose. 

I hope I’ll be more careful with what I allow to pour out of my life. When someone looks through the window and sees my teapot, I trust they will see Christ’s character reflecting through me and hope through you also!

Let go and LET GOD! / Mrs Janelle Durham

Mrs Janelle Durham

Pastor's Wife

Cannon Mountain Baptist Church

Pickens, SC

Let go and LET GOD!

Hannah in the Bible is a VERY special account to me personally as I am sure it is to many women.  So today, I just want to take a few minutes to bask in the life and testimony of a woman who like us face trials and problems. Yet in her deepest darkest moments of her life she finds hope and peace at the feet of THE ONE who can change her circumstances from weeping to joy.  From hopelessness to hope.  From barreness to full. 

In I Sam. 1 we see that Hannah had a problem.  She was barren.  She had no children.  In verse 5 of this chapter we see why.  "But the LORD shut up her womb."  Even in the midst of Hannah's problem God was in control.  HE shut up her womb.  HE allowed Hannah to endure this trouble. It wasn't because HE didn't love her but because HE did love her.  Could it be that God wanted to get Hannah to the point of needing HIM above all else?  I don't know.. But, I do know that sometimes God allows problems to enter our lives to mold us and make us more like HIM and to make us realize how much we  need HIM.  So Hannah had a problem.  Not only was she barren, but, no doubt, Hannah felt lonely and deserted.  Think with me for a moment.  Let's go back  to Hannah's day.  To be barren was looked down upon. It was also a  reproach upon women. I can imagine there were  women who talked behind Hannah's back wondering what kind of "sin" Hannah had in her heart that had caused her to be barren. Maybe Hannah was the talk of the town between the women.   I am sure there were women who rejected her because of this problem.  It was a lonely time for Hannah.  While everyone else was enjoying their children, Hannah had none to enjoy. While the mothers held their little ones by the hand, Hannah could not. While young women were excited to welcome their babies into the world, Hannah's womb was empty.  Can you imagine the pain, the grief and the loneliness she must have felt on a daily basis?  Can I ask you today...What problem has you burdened down and lonely? It maybe barreness like Hannah.  Or it maybe another problem in your life. Problems are sure to bring us down.  And this was exactly what was happeneing to Hannah.  

Not only do I see her problem.  But, Hannah also had a provoker.  Not only is she dealing with the grief of this problem.  She now has a provoker. The Bible says in verse 6 that it is "her adversary". Who is the person?  Many believe it was Penninah the other wife.  Every year Penninah provoked Hannah because Penninah had children and Hannah did not.  The word provoke means to make angry, and to offend.  I am sure that Penninah was "struting her stuff" and all her children infront of Hannah, pointing her fingers at her and saying ugly things to her.  I am sure that Penninah was saying things like, "Look at the children Elkanah and I have together.  He loves me more than he loves you."  I am sure that Penninah rubbed it in real good how "blessed" she was.  Can you imgaine the hurt?  The grief this causd Hannah?  But, ladies we too have a adversary. The Bible tells us we have an adversary and it's satan.  I Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"   Be careful!  Be watchful!  Our adversary is seeking whom he may devour.   He enjoys whispering lies to us to get us to doubt God and question HIS working in our lives.  The devil enjoys getting us to doubt God's love for us.  Our adversary will poke and prod us to get us angry, and bitter. And ladies, that's his goal-to devour us and most of the time it happens when problems enter our lives.  Penninah, the adversary added more grief to Hannah.  Just a thought here.  Am I a Penninah?  Do I provoke others unto love or unto anger/grief?  May we be women who provoke one another unto love and good works.      Hebrews 10:24 "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works."

So Hannah's life is in array.  She is burdened down with this problem.  And, then she has a provoker.  She is grieved, angry and the Bible says she is also "in bitterness of soul."  Hannah is in a dark place in her life.  Have you ever been there?  A place of despair.  A place of discouragement.  It seems that the harder you try the deeper into the pit you sink.  This is the place I am sure Hannah was in.  But, something changed in the later part of verse 10.  Hannah made a choice.  And, it's the key to everthing!  

Hannah could have chose to resent God because of her problem.  She could have given up all hope.  She could have chosen to live her life miserable and

bitter.  But, she didn't.  So what did Hannah do?

She prayed!  In the midst of her problem she realized that more than anything she needed to get to the Lord.  She threw her hands up and said, "I can't do this on my own."  Ladies, she prayed!!  She didn't go run to her BFF.  She didn't even go run to her husband.  She knew that they couldn't help her or understand.  She ran to the Lord.  What a great lesson Hannah gives us..a reminder of what to do when problems come into our life.  There are some truths that I find in her prayer.  Let's take a look at them and allow the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts.  When Hannah prayed in verse 11, I see that she was selfless.  She was humble.  Several times she refers to herself as a "handmaid"-a servant.  The only way we can come before the Lord in prayer is to be humble and the ONLY reason we can come before the throne of grace is all because of HIM. It's nothing that I have done but it's all because of The Son.  Hannah was selfless in her prayer.  I see also her prayer was specific.  She asked the Lord for a "man child". She wanted a boy...a son and so she asked the Lord for him.  What do you need? What is your hearts desire?  Ask him.  Let HIM know.  Sure HE already knows but, I do believe HE enjoys hearing HIS children ask HIM for things. Be specific in your prayers.  What is your need?  Tell the Lord.  What do you want to see God do?  Tell Him.  Ask for it.  I am thankful that if I ask anything according to HIS will, HE heareth me and HE will answer. I John 5:14-15 "And this is the confindence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." 

  I see that Hannah's prayer was submissive.  She asks for a son and then promises to give the child back to God.  This touches my heart.  Hannah could have been selfish and keep this blessing all to herself.  But, no, she promises that if God would bless her, she would give the child back to God for HIM to use all the days of his life. What a heart of submission and sacrifice. Ladies, what about us?  What are we willing to give up to receive HIS blessing?  Are we willing to give up our child?  Are we willing to give up self for the Savior?  Are we willing to give up that thing that is precious to us?  Her prayer was also stubborn.  What I

mean is that she continued praying.  Nothing was going to stop her from praying to God.  So many times we stop praying because God hasn't answered.  We get tired of praying.  Tired of waiting.  We want the answer to come NOW.  But, God answers in HIS time, not ours.  Keep praying.  Don't stop before the miracle! Keep praying for that wayward child! Keep praying for healing! Keep praying for the salvation of your loved ones!  Keep praying for that need to be met!  Whatever it may be....don't stop praying!  Continue praying! Pray without ceasing!  

Then lastly in her prayer I see that Hannah prayed in secret and was Spirit-filled.  In verse 13-14 Hannah was praying in secret.  She wasn't praying out loud for all to hear.  Only her lips were moving and because of this Eli thought she was drunk! There was something different that had come across Hannah while she was praying that even Eli the priest had no idea what was going on.  Just as we are to be humble before God in prayer, praying in the Spirit is a key as well.  There are times in my life when I just didn't know what to pray.  All I could do is moan and cry.  I am so thankful that  in those times The Spirit helpeth me by interceeding on my behalf.  Romans 8:26 "Likewise the Spirit aslo helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."  What is your burden today?  Give it to The One who can help you.  You may not know what to pray, how to pray....allow the Holy Spirit interceed on your behalf to The Father.  

What an amazing prayer Hannah prayed.  I am often reminded of her prayer whenever I am burdened down and it seems everything is against me.  Prayer is the key to everything!  

In her prayer, Hannah also poured out.  The Bible says in verse 15 that she "poured out her soul before the Lord."  She gave the Lord everything.  She was getting to the place where the Lord wanted her.  What was that place?  I believe it was the place of surrender.  It was a place of total dependence on HIM.  I believe it was a place where God wanted her...all of her.  Hannah emptied herself before the Lord.  And, when she gave in to the LORD, HE was then able to

move and work in and through her life.  She decreased so HE could increase. Sadly, this is a place where only a few go.  And, Hannah gives us a beautiful picture of what it takes to go further and deeper with the Lord.  When Hannah began to empty herself, then HE was able to fill her.  Not only spiritually, but physically.  What a beautiful testimony and what a beautiful picture of the grace, love and mercy of the Lord.  She was filled with joy, peace, grace, strength and even filled with praise and worship in verse 18-19.  And, what is amazing about this is that her prayer wasn't even answered yet.  How could she smile, have joy and even worship the Lord even with an empty womb?  Because of her secret time with HIM in the verses above.  She got to the place where God was. She gave it all over to HIM and she trusted that HE would take over and would answer in HIS time.  And HE did!!  The Lord remembered Hannah.  HE remembered her hurt and pain.  He remembered her desire to have a child.  HE remembered her prayer.  HE remembered her promise.  Hannah's womb was filled.  She conceived and gave birth to Samuel. And, HE will remember you.  

In 2004 the doctors told my husband and I that we couldn't have childen physically.  We were devestated.  For two weeks I was bitter, angry at God, jealous of others who were expecting etc. etc.  I had no joy, no peace, and no desire to worship the Lord.  I didn't even want to go to church.  But, I was the Pastor's wife! I had to be there and with a big smile. Right before the Holy Spirit intervened in my heart and life - I was so close to walking out of everything.  I was close to quitting on God.  I still get emotional talking about it because it is still so real.  I couldn't understand why God would tell us "no".  My husband and I were serving the Lord etc.  But, ladies trials to come to everyone. It doesn't matter how long you have been saved, what you do for the Lord. Problems come to us all.  I  will never forget the day when the Holy Spirit got a hold of my heart.  During one of our services at church,  the Holy Spirit began to move. HE then began to speak to my heart.  I knew what I needed to do.  So, at the altar of our church I cried out to God.  Through that time with HIM, I gave HIM my all.  I surrendered my life to HIM that day and said, I would do HIS will, go wherever HE wanted me to go and do whatever HE wanted me to do.  I got up from the altar with such a joy and peace in my heart.  A few more years passed with many

trials we still had to walk through, when finally we began to see what God had in mind.  HE began to birth another plan into our hearts.  HE had another direction for our family.   In 2009, HE birthed 3 handsome and wonderful boys into our hearts and home through the miracle of adoption.  Ladies, we may not understand all that God is doing in our hearts and lives, but just remember...HE has a perfect plan for you.  It may not be how you had planned it all to go, but when you line up with HIM everything falls into place and you will look back and say, "That's HIM!" I have learned that God doesn't want our trial and our problems as much as HE wants us.  What are you holding onto?  Give it all to HIM, and allow HIM to use your life for HIS honor and HIS glory.  You will just be amazed at what HE can accomplish through you.  Don't settle for anything less than HIS best!  Even if it hurts. Remember, HE has HIS best in mind for you.  Let go and LET GOD!

Mrs Janelle Durham

Pastor's Wife

Cannon Mountain Baptist Church

Pickens, SC

Let go and LET GOD!

Hannah in the Bible is a VERY special account to me personally as I am sure it is to many women.  So today, I just want to take a few minutes to bask in the life and testimony of a woman who like us face trials and problems. Yet in her deepest darkest moments of her life she finds hope and peace at the feet of THE ONE who can change her circumstances from weeping to joy.  From hopelessness to hope.  From barreness to full. 

In I Sam. 1 we see that Hannah had a problem.  She was barren.  She had no children.  In verse 5 of this chapter we see why.  "But the LORD shut up her womb."  Even in the midst of Hannah's problem God was in control.  HE shut up her womb.  HE allowed Hannah to endure this trouble. It wasn't because HE didn't love her but because HE did love her.  Could it be that God wanted to get Hannah to the point of needing HIM above all else?  I don't know.. But, I do know that sometimes God allows problems to enter our lives to mold us and make us more like HIM and to make us realize how much we  need HIM.  So Hannah had a problem.  Not only was she barren, but, no doubt, Hannah felt lonely and deserted.  Think with me for a moment.  Let's go back  to Hannah's day.  To be barren was looked down upon. It was also a  reproach upon women. I can imagine there were  women who talked behind Hannah's back wondering what kind of "sin" Hannah had in her heart that had caused her to be barren. Maybe Hannah was the talk of the town between the women.   I am sure there were women who rejected her because of this problem.  It was a lonely time for Hannah.  While everyone else was enjoying their children, Hannah had none to enjoy. While the mothers held their little ones by the hand, Hannah could not. While young women were excited to welcome their babies into the world, Hannah's womb was empty.  Can you imagine the pain, the grief and the loneliness she must have felt on a daily basis?  Can I ask you today...What problem has you burdened down and lonely? It maybe barreness like Hannah.  Or it maybe another problem in your life. Problems are sure to bring us down.  And this was exactly what was happeneing to Hannah.  

Not only do I see her problem.  But, Hannah also had a provoker.  Not only is she dealing with the grief of this problem.  She now has a provoker. The Bible says in verse 6 that it is "her adversary". Who is the person?  Many believe it was Penninah the other wife.  Every year Penninah provoked Hannah because Penninah had children and Hannah did not.  The word provoke means to make angry, and to offend.  I am sure that Penninah was "struting her stuff" and all her children infront of Hannah, pointing her fingers at her and saying ugly things to her.  I am sure that Penninah was saying things like, "Look at the children Elkanah and I have together.  He loves me more than he loves you."  I am sure that Penninah rubbed it in real good how "blessed" she was.  Can you imgaine the hurt?  The grief this causd Hannah?  But, ladies we too have a adversary. The Bible tells us we have an adversary and it's satan.  I Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"   Be careful!  Be watchful!  Our adversary is seeking whom he may devour.   He enjoys whispering lies to us to get us to doubt God and question HIS working in our lives.  The devil enjoys getting us to doubt God's love for us.  Our adversary will poke and prod us to get us angry, and bitter. And ladies, that's his goal-to devour us and most of the time it happens when problems enter our lives.  Penninah, the adversary added more grief to Hannah.  Just a thought here.  Am I a Penninah?  Do I provoke others unto love or unto anger/grief?  May we be women who provoke one another unto love and good works.      Hebrews 10:24 "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works."

So Hannah's life is in array.  She is burdened down with this problem.  And, then she has a provoker.  She is grieved, angry and the Bible says she is also "in bitterness of soul."  Hannah is in a dark place in her life.  Have you ever been there?  A place of despair.  A place of discouragement.  It seems that the harder you try the deeper into the pit you sink.  This is the place I am sure Hannah was in.  But, something changed in the later part of verse 10.  Hannah made a choice.  And, it's the key to everthing!  

Hannah could have chose to resent God because of her problem.  She could have given up all hope.  She could have chosen to live her life miserable and

bitter.  But, she didn't.  So what did Hannah do?

She prayed!  In the midst of her problem she realized that more than anything she needed to get to the Lord.  She threw her hands up and said, "I can't do this on my own."  Ladies, she prayed!!  She didn't go run to her BFF.  She didn't even go run to her husband.  She knew that they couldn't help her or understand.  She ran to the Lord.  What a great lesson Hannah gives us..a reminder of what to do when problems come into our life.  There are some truths that I find in her prayer.  Let's take a look at them and allow the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts.  When Hannah prayed in verse 11, I see that she was selfless.  She was humble.  Several times she refers to herself as a "handmaid"-a servant.  The only way we can come before the Lord in prayer is to be humble and the ONLY reason we can come before the throne of grace is all because of HIM. It's nothing that I have done but it's all because of The Son.  Hannah was selfless in her prayer.  I see also her prayer was specific.  She asked the Lord for a "man child". She wanted a boy...a son and so she asked the Lord for him.  What do you need? What is your hearts desire?  Ask him.  Let HIM know.  Sure HE already knows but, I do believe HE enjoys hearing HIS children ask HIM for things. Be specific in your prayers.  What is your need?  Tell the Lord.  What do you want to see God do?  Tell Him.  Ask for it.  I am thankful that if I ask anything according to HIS will, HE heareth me and HE will answer. I John 5:14-15 "And this is the confindence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." 

  I see that Hannah's prayer was submissive.  She asks for a son and then promises to give the child back to God.  This touches my heart.  Hannah could have been selfish and keep this blessing all to herself.  But, no, she promises that if God would bless her, she would give the child back to God for HIM to use all the days of his life. What a heart of submission and sacrifice. Ladies, what about us?  What are we willing to give up to receive HIS blessing?  Are we willing to give up our child?  Are we willing to give up self for the Savior?  Are we willing to give up that thing that is precious to us?  Her prayer was also stubborn.  What I

mean is that she continued praying.  Nothing was going to stop her from praying to God.  So many times we stop praying because God hasn't answered.  We get tired of praying.  Tired of waiting.  We want the answer to come NOW.  But, God answers in HIS time, not ours.  Keep praying.  Don't stop before the miracle! Keep praying for that wayward child! Keep praying for healing! Keep praying for the salvation of your loved ones!  Keep praying for that need to be met!  Whatever it may be....don't stop praying!  Continue praying! Pray without ceasing!  

Then lastly in her prayer I see that Hannah prayed in secret and was Spirit-filled.  In verse 13-14 Hannah was praying in secret.  She wasn't praying out loud for all to hear.  Only her lips were moving and because of this Eli thought she was drunk! There was something different that had come across Hannah while she was praying that even Eli the priest had no idea what was going on.  Just as we are to be humble before God in prayer, praying in the Spirit is a key as well.  There are times in my life when I just didn't know what to pray.  All I could do is moan and cry.  I am so thankful that  in those times The Spirit helpeth me by interceeding on my behalf.  Romans 8:26 "Likewise the Spirit aslo helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."  What is your burden today?  Give it to The One who can help you.  You may not know what to pray, how to pray....allow the Holy Spirit interceed on your behalf to The Father.  

What an amazing prayer Hannah prayed.  I am often reminded of her prayer whenever I am burdened down and it seems everything is against me.  Prayer is the key to everything!  

In her prayer, Hannah also poured out.  The Bible says in verse 15 that she "poured out her soul before the Lord."  She gave the Lord everything.  She was getting to the place where the Lord wanted her.  What was that place?  I believe it was the place of surrender.  It was a place of total dependence on HIM.  I believe it was a place where God wanted her...all of her.  Hannah emptied herself before the Lord.  And, when she gave in to the LORD, HE was then able to

move and work in and through her life.  She decreased so HE could increase. Sadly, this is a place where only a few go.  And, Hannah gives us a beautiful picture of what it takes to go further and deeper with the Lord.  When Hannah began to empty herself, then HE was able to fill her.  Not only spiritually, but physically.  What a beautiful testimony and what a beautiful picture of the grace, love and mercy of the Lord.  She was filled with joy, peace, grace, strength and even filled with praise and worship in verse 18-19.  And, what is amazing about this is that her prayer wasn't even answered yet.  How could she smile, have joy and even worship the Lord even with an empty womb?  Because of her secret time with HIM in the verses above.  She got to the place where God was. She gave it all over to HIM and she trusted that HE would take over and would answer in HIS time.  And HE did!!  The Lord remembered Hannah.  HE remembered her hurt and pain.  He remembered her desire to have a child.  HE remembered her prayer.  HE remembered her promise.  Hannah's womb was filled.  She conceived and gave birth to Samuel. And, HE will remember you.  

In 2004 the doctors told my husband and I that we couldn't have childen physically.  We were devestated.  For two weeks I was bitter, angry at God, jealous of others who were expecting etc. etc.  I had no joy, no peace, and no desire to worship the Lord.  I didn't even want to go to church.  But, I was the Pastor's wife! I had to be there and with a big smile. Right before the Holy Spirit intervened in my heart and life - I was so close to walking out of everything.  I was close to quitting on God.  I still get emotional talking about it because it is still so real.  I couldn't understand why God would tell us "no".  My husband and I were serving the Lord etc.  But, ladies trials to come to everyone. It doesn't matter how long you have been saved, what you do for the Lord. Problems come to us all.  I  will never forget the day when the Holy Spirit got a hold of my heart.  During one of our services at church,  the Holy Spirit began to move. HE then began to speak to my heart.  I knew what I needed to do.  So, at the altar of our church I cried out to God.  Through that time with HIM, I gave HIM my all.  I surrendered my life to HIM that day and said, I would do HIS will, go wherever HE wanted me to go and do whatever HE wanted me to do.  I got up from the altar with such a joy and peace in my heart.  A few more years passed with many

trials we still had to walk through, when finally we began to see what God had in mind.  HE began to birth another plan into our hearts.  HE had another direction for our family.   In 2009, HE birthed 3 handsome and wonderful boys into our hearts and home through the miracle of adoption.  Ladies, we may not understand all that God is doing in our hearts and lives, but just remember...HE has a perfect plan for you.  It may not be how you had planned it all to go, but when you line up with HIM everything falls into place and you will look back and say, "That's HIM!" I have learned that God doesn't want our trial and our problems as much as HE wants us.  What are you holding onto?  Give it all to HIM, and allow HIM to use your life for HIS honor and HIS glory.  You will just be amazed at what HE can accomplish through you.  Don't settle for anything less than HIS best!  Even if it hurts. Remember, HE has HIS best in mind for you.  Let go and LET GOD!