by Pastor Linda Skinner
I am inspired by people who have deep faith and unshakeable passion. Lately, I have been reading a lot about women who have ventured out into unbelievable situations and against all odds to do the impossible and bring glory to God in the process.
Women like Corrie ten Boom, Hannah Whitall Smith, Henrietta Mears, Margaret Brand, on and on. These ladies have inspired me through their writings for over 25 years. Contemporary women like Margaret Feinberg, Carolyn Curtis James, Tish Harrison Warren, Ruth Haley Barton and Shelia Walsh have filled my hours of inspirational reading. The thing that all these women have in common is an abiding love for Christ and a passion to honor him with whatever resources they are given.
Last week I had the privilege of preaching about one such woman of the Bible – Ruth. What a story. This week Dr. Marty Folsom will be sharing about Samuel, the son of another one of my female Biblical heroines – Hanna.
Hanna’s is a story of a woman struggling with childlessness and all the torment that brought to a woman of her time. The story of her struggle is found in 1 Samuel 1:1-2:10. Hanna went to the temple and prayed and “wept bitterly” for the Lord to give her a son. She vowed that if her prayer was answered she would give her son back to the Lord to be used in His service. Very soon God answered her prayer and she named her son Samuel which means “heard of God,” because God heard her prayer. After Samuel was weaned, Hanna took and presented him to the priest Eli. Her words to Eli revealed her heart for God: “As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.”
Because of Hanna’s faith and passion for God, she not only was given a son, but she was given the blessing of watching her son change the world by serving the God she loved.
Join us this weekend and hear about Hanna’s son Samuel. We look forward to seeing you and hope you will join us for some fellowship time before or after any of our services. You might especially enjoy our Summer Happy Hour on Sunday’s from 10-11 am.
God richest blessings on your week,
Pastor Linda