Pray 'til the Purpose Comes

Plate filled.  Purpose unfulfilled.

The story of Hannah's life played out like a bad episode of Trading Spouses.  One wife has almost everything, while the other wife has the things the other wife lacks.

And poor Elkanah caught in the middle.  Wow, men have got to be rejoicing that monogamy rules our day!

Peninnah, the first to bear children for Elkanah, must have felt very fulfilled in her purpose as a wife and mother.  Yet the obvious, extra-portion love Elkanah demonstrated for Hannah rubbed Peninnah about as wrong as going against the fur on a long-haired cat.

And the claws came out.

And Hannah's extra portion of post-sacrificial meat heaped lovingly on her plate by Elkanah was soaked by her tears from Peninnah's taunting over Hannah's unfulfilled purpose.

Such a great line to read today:
"So Hannah... pulled herself together, slipped away quietly and entered the sanctuary." (1 Sam. 1:9)

Hannah took the first step to meet God, to fulfill her purpose.  She didn't continue to drown in tears; she picked up her fork and ate the meal as her husband encouraged her to do.  Then she decided it was time to meet with God.

But, what really grabbed my mother-heart today was the fact that after so desperately desiring a son for so many years and enduring such cruel taunting year after year ... Hannah's prayer to God turned from a request immediately into an offering!  She vowed to give her son right back to God - "completely and unreservedly," set apart for "a life of holy discipline" (1 Sam. 1:11).

Her purpose was not in keeping the son, the promise ... Her purpose was fulfilled in being a part of the process ... Her purpose was very self-less.  She gave that child Samuel up completely to God by the time he was 2 or 3 years old!

Honestly, i think i would find that very hard to do - although if i had read this yesterday around 5:30/6:00 pm, i might have thought twice about it!  Twice about it, but not seriously!

I have found the Lord working on my heart in regards to my children.  We have dedicated them to the Lord, and we know they are His.  I know He knows them so much better than I do.  I know He sees them when i don't and sees into places of their little hearts and minds that i cannot.

But Hannah's story today really spoke to my heart about purpose.  Fulfilling the purpose.  Is my purpose in the END result or is my purpose in the process along the way.  The WAY where God works on me, teaches me, changes me ... and hopefully changes people (my children) and changes circumstances and life and eternity along the WAY.

Hannah passionately prayed her way through the circumstances until her purpose was realized.  But you know what, her peace came before the end result manifested.  Her peace came before the pregnancy even started.

Maybe ... maybe i need to look for my purpose somewhere between my heart and God's.  And that's where I'll find blessing and grace.  Both of which i so desperately need in order to see the purpose carried out along the way until the end result is birthed and placed back, ever so gently and with a sacrifice of praise, into God's hands.

Everyone Who Loves Their Mother-in-law, Raise Your Hand!

If you could see through this computer, you would see that I have both hands raised! I have been blessed with a wonderful mother-in-law. She has always been supportive, never interfering, and shown kindness. She has been my “mother-in-law role model.” Is she perfect? No. Am I perfect in my role as a mother-in-law . . . almost . . . just kidding!!!

Of the spiritual truths found in the story of Ruth and Naomi . . . love, faith, the family redeemer, to name a few . . . I want to comment on God’s commandment . . .

“Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:2-3 NLT)

When Naomi lost her husband and sons, she could have become a very demanding mother-in-law. Instead, she told her daughters-in-law to return to their mothers’ homes and spoke a blessing over them.

But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back to your mothers’ homes. And may the Lord reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me. May the Lord bless you with the security of another marriage.” Then she kissed them good-bye, and they all broke down and wept. (Ruth 1:8-9 NLT) They wept together. They had a relationship with each other.

With the death of their husbands, Orpah and Ruth were now at a crossroads in their lives. Both had lived with and witnessed Naomi’s life of faith in God. But Moab was in Orpah’s heart, and she chose to go back to her former lifestyle and heathen god. Ruth chose Naomi’s people (lifestyle) and Naomi’s God, saying “Your God will be my God.”

Ruth honored and loved her mother-in-law. Naomi chose to put Ruth’s happiness before her own, not losing her faith in God. This brought God’s blessings on the scene . . . provision of their needs, including Ruth’s marriage to Boaz, the family redeemer.

Want to be blessed? Want things to go well with you and your mother-in-law? Want a long life on the earth? Honor and love your mother-in-law . . . and your father and mother!

“Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:2-3 NLT)

Don't Parent Without God

When Manoah’s wife told him that a man of God came to her and told her they were going to have a baby boy, Manoah's response was to pray . . . “Lord, please let the man of God come back to us again and give us more instructions about this son who is to be born.” And when the angel of the Lord returned a second time, Manoah asked, “When (not IF) your words come true, what kind of rules should govern the boy’s life and work?” 

Was my first question, when I found out I was pregnant, “Lord, give me more instructions about my unborn child?” Unfortunately no . . . my first question was, “Where are the potato chips, greasy French fries, and lemonade?” Those were the only foods I could keep down the first 30 days or so of my first pregnancy!

Before their baby was even conceived, Manoah asked the Lord to give instructions on how to parent this son coming into their lives. Even though they wanted to, Manoah and his wife did not do everything right in raising Samson. For one thing, they allowed Samson to pressure them into helping him marry outside of Israel . . . to be unequally yoked! It says that at first, Samson’s parents “objected strenuously” to him marrying a Philistine. But I believe Samson “wore them down,” and his parents gave up and gave in.

Wouldn’t it be nice if babies were born with a “parenting manual” attached! Parenting is a learning process.  God is the perfect parent and instructor . . . our parenting manual the Word of God, along with the Holy Spirit and prayer. Raising our children to be adults who serve God is hard work but very rewarding. With God’s help, fathers and mothers can walk in agreement and consistency as they raise their children for Him and for His glory!

“Direct your children . . . and grandchildren and great-grandchildren (added) . . . onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” (Proverbs 22:6 NLT)

The Original June Cleaver + Purpose = Victory

"Meanwhile Sisera, running for his life, headed for the tent of Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite … Jael stepped out to meet Sisera and said, "Come in, sir. Stay here with me. Don't be afraid."  So he went with her into her tent. She covered him with a blanket.  He said to her, "Please, a little water. I'm thirsty."  She opened a bottle of milk, gave him a drink, and then covered him up again. Then while he was fast asleep from exhaustion, Jael wife of Heber took a tent peg and hammer, tiptoed toward him, and drove the tent peg through his temple and all the way into the ground. He convulsed and died.   - Judges 4:17-21, The Message

To re-cap …  sung by Deborah and Barak:

Most blessed of all women is Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of homemaking women.  He asked for water, she brought milk; In a handsome bowl, she offered cream. [Amplified: “she brought him curds in a lordly dish.”]  
- Judges 5:24,25 The Message

Ah yes, powerful things can be done for the Lord even within the home!  Thanks, Jael, for showing us how to do it better than any home improvement authority or kitchen connoisseur.

Jael’s advice on any homemaking reality TV show might be:  

“Have in one manicured hand your prettiest serving bowl and in your other, the most tempting, scrumptious treat.  You know, the kind reserved when you want to impress someone or really treat them well?  The kind you keep from your family because 'it’s for a guest.'

"And then, tucked into the back pocket of your best skinny jeans or spring’s linen crop pants or frilly apron strings, you’ve got your very own hammer.  Pink is a fun option.”

But all serving bowls and pink hammers aside, Jael’s story speaks of the importance of being content in the place in life where you are right now and to know how to use the tools that accompany that current life station.

If Jael had spent her homemaking years crying over spilled milk and wishing she was a prophetess like Deborah holding court under her palm trees or wishing she was a military leader like Caleb…

If Jael had directed her focus to what other people were doing for God instead of learning the tools of her trade, she would have indeed served Bad Commander Sisera only water, or at the very worst, dried up curdly milk remnants.  In a cracked bowl. 

But because she served him milk (or “curds in a lordly dish”) instead of his requested water, he was actually able to succumb to his weariness and take a nap while in the very act of fleeing from his pursuers bent on killing him!  Every mother knows that warm milk helps to bring relaxation, fills a belly just enough, calms the plummeting blood sugar.

Add to Jael’s soothing mothering skills and tasteful kitchen knowledge that could have impressed even June Cleaver, Jael’s knowledge of how to use a tent peg and a hammer sealed the deal.  Imagine if she didn’t know how to steady a tent peg in just the right angle to securely pin its target (aka, take care of her home)?  Or if she didn’t know how to use a hammer – what if she had hit her thumb?  Only one shot at hitting Sisera’s peg on the head.

 

We should be encouraged to be content with the place God has us in right now and to learn how to use the tools accompanying that place.

If it’s a cookbook, mixer and spice rack – so be it!  You could begin to speak to the heart of your unsaved neighbor over a simmering plate of chicken cacciatore.

If it’s a child’s potty chair, washable crayons and sticky fingers … or a classroom, chalkboard dust and textbooks, so be it!  You are raising young people of which who knows the tribes and nations they might impact one day?

If it’s a computer keyboard, boardrooms and corporate meetings, so be it!  Opportunities arise to speak into a life or circumstance to which no one else holds privilege.

Be in your tent.  Armed and knowledgeable.  Full of faith.  Be called blessed.  

Choose This Day . . .

Before Joshua died, he called all the people of Israel together and did two things.

First, Joshua reminded them of all God had done for them . . . brought out of Egypt as a free people . . . the “ites” victories they did not win in their own power and strength . . . the land, cities . . . vineyards and olive groves they did not plant!

Second, Joshua challenged them . . . “honor the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly . . . serve the Lord alone. BUT, if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve . . . as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” (vs. 14-15)

The people responded that they would serve the Lord.  Joshua said, “You will not be able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy and jealous God . . .”

But the people said, “We are determined to serve the Lord!”

Joshua told the Israelites that they are “accountable for their decision to serve the Lord . . . and he made a covenant with the people, committing them to a permanent and binding contract between themselves and the Lord.” (vs. 22, 25)

Does the peoples’ response sound familiar to you?  In what areas of our lives have we said, “I am determined . . . ” but not followed through?  I am so thankful that we serve a God of second and third and fourth chances!

Joshua not only said, “As for me and my household,” but he led and influenced his family to also choose to serve the Lord.

Many of us have tried and found out that we cannot make anyone in our family choose to serve the Lord! But, I believe, like Joshua, that we can create an environment for our family to make the right choice! We must be sold out to God at home . . . not just on Sunday . . . but 24/7, 365 days year . . . walking the talk and filling our home with the presence of God through prayer and worship!

A Godly heritage in our family can begin with us . . . with our generation! Regardless of those around us who do not believe, let’s choose this day whom we will serve and love God with all our heart, creating an environment in which God can work!

Tears of Forgiveness

Jesus accepted an invitation from Simon, a Pharisee, to enjoy a meal at his home.  I'm sure that caused a stir in and of itself.  As Jesus was eating, an “immoral woman” entered the Pharisee’s home.  A study note in my Bible says it was the custom of the day that needy people could come to a Pharisee’s feast for leftover food.  So no one would have stopped this woman from entering.  She had a “right” to be there.

Knowing her status in society, she slipped in quietly through the back door.  Her need and desire for forgiveness gave her courage to slip through the kitchen, past the free food, to Jesus.  

She had planned this meeting with Jesus, bringing with her a beautiful jar filled with expensive perfume.  She knelt BEHIND Jesus at his feet, weeping . . . in her own eyes not worthy to kneel in front of him.  As her tears fell on Jesus’ feet, she dried them with her hair and poured the perfume on His feet. 

Can you feel the tenderness of the outpouring of her sorrow for her sin . . . for the way her life had turned out?  I doubt that being a prostitute had been her life’s dream.

Jesus said to Simon, the Pharisee . . . “She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal.”  (Luke 7:47b Message Bible)

Jesus spoke to her and said, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Lord, let us never take lightly how much we have been forgiven and what our sin cost Jesus on the cross.  Lord, let our gratitude be great as we kneel at your feet and pour out our perfume of gratitude and worship.  Let your redeeming love, Lord Jesus, deepen our love response to you and motivate us to share your love with those you bring across our path each day.