Ancient Word Wednesday

And we're back on track! For some reason, the last three weeks (this one included) have been just crazy! I get home at night, and I'm completely done in. But even though I forgot what day it was earlier today, I did remember AWW.

So here's Hannah#...4?

Hannah was a mother who worshiped her God (1 Samuel 2: 1-11). This passage is Hannah's second prayer. The one she prayed when she followed through on her vow to Lord and brought her son to the temple.

She worshiped with her actions (1:26-28) - She longed for a son, prayed and cried for a son. Then she made a vow to the Lord, and He responded by blessing her with a son. Now three years have passed, and it was time to fulfill her vow and physically give her young son to the Lord's service. It would have been far to easy for me to justify breaking the vow, but not Hannah! Experiencing God's faithfulness brought her such joy and she responded with willing obedience and faithfulness.

She worshiped with her words (2:1-10) - "My heart rejoices in the Lord...There is no one holy like the Lord." Her identity was wrapped up in her Lord, her Deliverer, not her child. She was first a child of God, then a wife, then a mother, and her worship in these verses reflected that understanding.

She worshiped in truth - I'm not going to list them all here, but I challenge you to read through this passage and list all of the truths about God that Hannah mentions. Here are just a few:

• God as deliverer(2:1)
• God is holy (2:2)
• There is no one like Him (2:2)
• He is the God who knows (2:3)

I found 12 more. We serve a great and awesome God!

Hannah's worship is another truly beautiful aspect of her life!

What a weird day!

What. a. day. About 12:30 I was in my office with a co-worker trying to stay awake during a webinar on viral marketing and social networking when my hubby called. I'll admit, I ignored the first call since I had emailed him that I was taking a late lunch and would call him later. When he called again a minute later I figured I better answer.

His reason for calling? There's a guy with a gun in the building next door to your office. You might want to let your office know and lock the doors. What!?! So I ran around the office to put people on the alert. We locked the doors and alerted the conference room full of people that they might want to wait to leave. Sure enough police officers and members of the SWAT team were arriving and blocking the street to the side of our building.

A few minutes later we found out that this morning a man was served divorce papers and has a protection from abuse order from his wife. Today he stormed into the law office (right across the alley from my office) where she works and has been holding her and the office staff hostage all afternoon. He's threatened to kill himself, but has not injured anyone.

I managed to leave around 2:45 for a meeting. Sometime while I was gone, the police shut off all the electricity in the immediate area, including ours, hoping to bring the man out. So our office shut down. The last I heard, the police were being very patient and brought out lights in case they'd be there past dark. I'm praying this all ends peacefully!

Oh and sorry about Ancient Word Wednesday this week! We'll pick it up again next week.

Welcome to the world!

No, not ours! Ours is safely tucked inside for 10 or so more weeks. Tonight we got to meet Baby Elijah James, brand new, one-day old son of our good friends Brian and Kirsten. He's a healthy 8 lb. 15 oz. and 21 in. and two weeks early...and completely adorable! Three babies have been born in our small group since I got pregnant. Lacey Jane before we knew Itty Bitty was on his way, Asher in October and now Elijah. It's fun to see Randy with each of them as we get closer and closer to our day. He's going to be an awesome dad!

Ten weeks from today IB will be full term. My mom had all of us 2-3 weeks early and at 6-7 lbs, and Randy's mom had all of hers (at least Ryan and Randy) 2 weeks late and 8 1/2 lbs. I'm thinking IB either will balance out and come on time or chart his own course. I'm all for him being a Yoder - small and early (I think that was the end of the Yoders being early!).

Bargain Shopping...Gone Wrong

I'm a bargain shopper. I clip coupons. I buy store brands. I shop at Walmart (but not for everything). But there are a few things we have purchased recently that definitely were not worth the saved pennies!

1) The Works Toilet Bowl Cleaner - I had been using Lysol, but remembered that my mom used to use the powdered stuff. So I sent hubby to the store (yes, he shops. I'm spoiled.) to find the cheapest toilet bowl cleaner he could find. He brought home The Works. I have no idea how much he saved. I do know that after three uses I have blue stains in my white toilet. Errrggg. So contrary to my instinct (or principles my dad drilled into my head), I refuse to use the rest of this bottle. I sent hubby back to the store to go back to faithful Lysol with bleach. Victory: after only one use the blue stains are faded AND I had a coupon!

2) Walmart American Cheese - We discovered a while ago that Walmart brand shredded cheese is no good. We buy Kroger brand cheese for the most part. Pregnancy has brought on a love for gooey, melty grilled cheese sandwiches with good old American cheese. Hubby bought Kraft one time. So. Good. Cheap wife was the one who picked up the store brand cheese. It's like rubber. And it does not melt. It does not "compare with Kraft." Next time I'm trying Kroger.


3) Heavy duty shower curtain from Walmart - Last time I bought a shower curtain, I got the $10 heavy duty version at Target. It lasted about 2 1/2 years with suction cups that kept hot water in and cold winter air out. About a month ago I headed out to find a replacement. We happened to be a Walmart, so I thought I'd see what they have. Heavy duty shower curtains, with suction cups, for $5. What a deal! If only those suction cups would work! They're useless. And I long for summer when cool air coming in my shower is welcome.

I'm still looking for bargain products...that work. So, if you have any favorites, leave me a comment!

Ancient Word Wednesday...on Thursday

Some of you have asked if I'm using a book study for the godly mommies. I haven't used a book, but I have spent quite a bit of time in commentaries. Blueletterbible.org has some great resources.

Okay, here we go on Hannah #3 - Her prayerful vow - 1 Samuel 1:10-11 (NKJV)

Last week we talked about the way Hannah responded with grace. This week I want to look a little closer at her prayer.

Hannah's attitude at the beginning of her prayer: bitterness of soul and anguish
Her approach before the Lord:

• Called herself "maidservant," a humble and submissive approach
• Called the Lord "Lord of hosts," which recognized God's sovereignty over her life

Her request: She was specific, asking the Lord for a son who she vowed to give back in service to the Lord.

Reading this passage brought up several questions for me. What was her motive in asking for a son? Parents who love Christ desire that their children live their lives in service to Him. But Hannah's vow to bring her son to the Tabernacle for life seems a little extreme. What brought her to that point? Was she bargaining with God? Was her request for a son an attempt to silence her rival?

One of the commentaries on Blue Letter Bible had this to say about Hannah's vow - "Now with Hannah there was a reason why God delayed the answer, and with us. If God delays the answer of our prayers there's a reason for His delay. Often times, with Hannah, the reason being that God is seeking to bring us around to His purposes. God was waiting, bringing Hannah around to where he heart was completely towards God, and the things of God, and that which God wanted."

While the grammar is less than perfect, I think the writer had a point. James 4:3 says, "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." Perhaps Hannah was asking "amiss."

She undoubtedly wanted a son to raise in her home, a son to love and to nurture. But God delayed to answer her prayer to accomplish His purpose to refine her, to bring her to the place where she asked according to His will (1 John 5).

Now a type A person like me immediately asks, "But I don't know all of God's purposes? How can be sure I'm asking 'aright'?" It seems a little unfair. But God is never unfair, and He doesn't do things to trick us.

To know His purposes and will we have to stay in His word, studying it and memorizing it. That is where His truth is revealed. Then we pray and examine our hearts to make sure our motives are right before Him. And then we pray and we wait. God is sovereign over hearts, and He could have turned Hannah's heart much sooner. But He had a plan and a purpose and a time for her and her son.

Lord, teach us to ask according to YOUR plan!

Ancient Word Wednesday...delayed

I promise I didn't forget. AWW - Hannah #3 will get here tomorrow...I hope.

28 weeks!

Welcome to the third trimester...only 12 weeks left till we get to meet this little guy! The 2nd trimester was so comfortable, but it's like a switch flipped this week. Sitting just isn't as comfortable anymore. I have to sit up very straight because he's getting so high. I always knew I had a short torso, but now our little Party Animal knows that too. He's definitely growing straight forward and starting to spread out to the sides. As long as the "sides" he spreads on are the sides of my waist and not my hips he can spread away!

Ancient Word Wednesday

Last week I promised that Hannah was going to take several installments...and I do mean several. Here's Hannah, Godly Mommy, Part 2.

Hannah means "grace, a fitting name for her. 1 Samuel 1:6 says that "her rival provoked her severely to make her miserable." (Oh, I could rabbit trail here! Her rival was her husband's other wife. Women can be so awful, and I can not imagine the pain, aggravation, and frustration of living in the same household with your rival. Besides that, her rival's children were running around, reminding Hannah of her barrenness. Talk about making a marriage difficult!)

While I am sure Hannah was not perfect, the only response that the Bible tells us is that year by year when her family went up to worship at the Tabernacle, she wept and fasted. (Again, an opportunity to rabbit trail into the subject of worship. Her pain must have been such an obstacle for true worship but also such an opportunity for God to comfort her heart. Back to the subject of her response...) The Bible does not tell us that Hannah responded in anger to her rival or her husband. It does not tell us that she grew bitter. In fact, the results of the trial years down the road show quite a different response.

To give her husband credit, he did his best to show his love for Hannah. We know that she is the beloved wife. The commentaries say she was probably the first wife, but her barrenness was the reason for a second wife. Each year at the Tabernacle Elkanah gave her double portions of food to show his love and care, but the worship times were so painful for Hannah that she did not eat. Finally one year he said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than 10 sons?" (1 Sam. 1:8). Easy for him to say, he had sons!

Look at Hannah's response here. She didn't lash out at him or defend her grief. She didn't insult him or belittle his importance to her. The Bible says in verse 9 that she simply arose and went to the tabernacle to pour her heart out to the Lord. After her prayer, verse 18 says she "went on her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad." She left her grief and heartache at the throne of grace.

Hannah is such an example of true grace. She submitted to her husband, and she left her heartache with the Lord.

I'm ashamed at how often I respond otherwise. When I'm stressed or upset, far too often my husband is the first to hear of it and then the Lord. And even then, it's an effort to leave the hurt before Him. It's a discipline to first pour out my heart to the Lord and go on my way with a peaceful countenance. And then, when I'm calm and if it's necessary, I can share with my husband.

What about you? Any tips on mastering this discipline?