Repost: Abide, Then Ask

My Bible reading includes a single verse to read for a week.  This week's verse is John 15:7, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."  I wrote about this on March 10, 2010.  The story that I didn't share was that Les had lost his job on March 1, 2010.  We were in the midst of asking, but God reminded me to abide.

My devotional for March 8th was this:

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you (John 15:7).

Ask what we will? And it will be done unto us? What a wonder! We can write the check, and God will sign it. We cleave to the promise, for we all want our wishes granted.
Thumbing madly through life's catalog, we find a bevy of items that suit our fancy, fill in the order blank, and - But, God, where is Your signature? You said...
Did we forget something? Oh, yes - the first part of the verse. "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you..." He'll provide if I'll abide.

Another translation of that verse says, "If you live in me and what I say lives in you, then ask for anything you want, and it will be yours." Oh... what He says, His words. And not just hearing, but living what He says.

We're all quick to line up for the blessings, but where are we when it's time to live what He says? God is merciful to the sinner who cries, "Lord, if you'll get me out of this jam, I'll serve you." But He certainly doesn't have to be. That's the cart before the horse.

We are the creation, the inferior one. We can't make demands, we can't even ask for anything without first being in obedience to His word. Our provision is predicated upon our abiding.

The Greek definition of abide is - to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy): - abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for).

Need healing? Abide.
Need a job? Abide.
Looking for direction? Abide.
Need deliverance? Abide.
Been living without joy lately? Abide.
Guilt holding you back? Abide.
Worry keeping you up at night? Abide.

Psalm 91:1 "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."

Potiphar's Wife ~ Woman of the Week

As I already mentioned, I have not studied Potiphar's wife yet.  I'm actually kind of surprise that I hadn't!  I did write about Joseph and how great it is that he didn't seek revenge once he was in power.  (You can read that post here.)

Verses: Genesis 39

Background – parents, husband, children, siblings

We know very little about Potiphar's wife.  The name Potiphar means “devoted to the sun.” It was a name connected with the Egyptian religious system.  We don't know if they had any children.

 

What is she most known for? Victories? Defeats?  How can I be like her? How can I avoid being like her?

The first few verses of Genesis 39 talk about Joseph's role in the household.  His master trusted him completely.  Verse seven introduces Potiphar's wife, "And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me."

 

Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary says, "Egyptian women were not kept in the same secluded manner as females are in most Oriental countries now. They were treated in a manner more worthy of a civilized people - in fact, enjoyed much freedom both at home and abroad. Hence Potiphar’s wife had constant opportunity of meeting Joseph. But the ancient women of Egypt were very loose in their morals. Intrigues and intemperance were vices very prevalent among them, as the monuments too plainly attest. Potiphar’s wife was probably not worse than many of the same rank, and her infamous advances made to Joseph arose from her superiority of station."

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible points out that "Her sin began in the eye."  I find that interesting since it was when Eve "saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise" that caused her to eat the forbidden fruit.  We must be very careful with our eyes.

Genesis 39:10 says, "And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her."  John Gill's Exposition of the Bible says, "Continually, incessantly, hoping in time to prevail upon him to comply with her desires; so that the temptation, as it was strong, and very ensnaring, it was urgent, and frequent, and pressed with great importunity; which required the more grace and spiritual strength to resist."

We don't know how long "day by day" lasted, but she was persistent.  She finally found her perfect opportunity on a day when none of the men of the house were there.  Maybe she thought Joseph was just pretending when he resisted, but with no witnesses, this was her opportunity.  But verse 12 says, "And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out."

Did she reach a place when she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or evil?

There was never a greater example of "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned," than Potiphar's wife.  She saw Joseph run away and now she had his garment in her hand.  He did not run away naked, but his outer garment was stripped off.

Verse 14 says "she called unto the men of her house."  I have to wonder, when Joseph came in they weren't there, but she was able to call them very quickly.  Did she have this planned?

 

Not only did she lie about Joseph, she also blamed her husband, "saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us."  Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible says, "Potiphar’s wife affects to throw great blame on her husband, whom we may reasonably suppose she did not greatly love. He hath brought in - he hath raised this person to all his dignity and eminence, to give him the greater opportunity to mock us."

More from Matthew Henry, "What an improbable story she tells, producing his garment as an evidence that he had offered violence to her, which was a plain indication that she had offered violence to him.  No marvel that she who had impudence enough to say, Lie with me, had front enough to say, “He would have lien with me.” Had the lie been told to conceal her own crime it would have been bad enough, yet, in some degree, excusable; but it was told to be revenged upon his virtue, a most malicious lie. And yet, she manages it so as to incense her husband against him, reflecting upon him for bringing this Hebrew servant among them, perhaps at first against her mind, because he was a Hebrew.  As this matter was represented, one would have thought chaste Joseph a very bad man and his wanton mistress a virtuous woman."

We don't read anything else about Potiphar or his wife.  Just like other wicked people in the Bible, God took their evil deeds and turned it into good.  We will never know if they stood on the sidelines while Joseph was elevated to number two in the kingdom.

I want to end this post on a positive note.  Joseph is an excellent example of forgiveness. I wrote about forgiveness here. "The Purpose of the Church," was a fabulous message we heard in Hawaii.  These bullet points about liberation are so good.  In light of Joseph's life, he truly did escape the prison of unforgiveness.

 

Liberation
There are two things that lock you in prison that you cannot escape - a lie and unforgiveness.
Unforgiveness causes chaos and health issues.
Forgiveness is not an option.  Your best life cannot happen if you won't release the junk you hold on to.
Revenge means that you become God.  It never works.
Baptism frees us from our past.  God forgives us, but He can't forgive FOR us.
True forgiveness cannot happen unless you give up all control and hope for revenge.

Do Good!

I read Proverbs chapter 3 yesterday.  Verse 27 says, "Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it."  I've read this verse many times, but wanted to read what commentaries had to say.

John Gill's Exposition of the Bible says, "Honor, reverence, and tribute, to civil magistrates, just payment of debts to creditors, and alms to the poor.  Do not forbid him to do well that can, and as we should not abstain from doing good ourselves, so neither should we forbid, hinder, or discourage others."

I especially like what Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments had to say, "The good here spoken of must be considered as being applicable to any thing that is good, either counsel, comfort, reproof, or the good things of the present life. And by the lords, or owners of it, we must understand those who have any kind of right to it, whether by the law of justice and equity, or by the great and sovereign law of love, which God hath written on the hearts of men by nature, and hath frequently and solemnly enjoined in his word. So that this place not only commands the payment of just debts, and the restitution of things taken from others by fraud or violence, or of things committed to our trust; but it obliges every man, according to his ability and opportunity, to pity and relieve such as are in real want or misery, and to do all the good in his power, temporal or spiritual, to his fellow-creatures."

It's easy to look at that verse and think of material goods - money, food, clothing - and think "I'm off the hook because I don't have any extra to give."  That may seem true, but there is always good that we can offer.  A kind word, a smile, an "I'm praying for you," all these cost nothing.

Galatians 6:10 says something similar, "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible says this:

This is the true rule about doing good. The opportunity to do good, imposes the obligation to do it. The simple rule is, that we are favored with the opportunity, and that we have the power. 

It is not that we are to do it when it is convenient; or when it will advance the interest of a party; or when it may contribute to our fame; the rule is, that we are to do it when we have the opportunity. 

No matter how often that occurs; no matter how many objects of benevolence are presented - the more the better; no matter how much self-denial it may cost us; no matter how little fame we may get by it; still, if we have the opportunity to do good, we are to do it, and should be thankful for the privilege. 

And it is to be done to all people. Not to our family only; not to our party; not to our neighbors; not to those of our own color; not to those who live in the same land with us, but to all mankind. 

If we can reach and benefit a man who lives on the other side of the globe, whom we have never seen, and shall never see in this world, still we are to do him good. 

Such is Christianity. And in this, as in all other respects, it differs from the narrow and selfish spirit of clanship which prevails all over the world.

In a world that is filled with hate and anger, I can't think of a better way to start 2024.  Do good!

Another Reason to Read the Bible

Happy New Year! I started a new Bible reading plan yesterday called "Daily in the Word 365."  It is described this way: "Daily in the Word 365 allows you to read the entire Bible through in one year, in 15-minute bite-sized readings. Daily readings include the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs."

 

My reading today included Genesis chapter 3 and Matthew chapter 4.  In both of these readings Satan tries to sew seeds of doubt.  It's quite a contrast:

Genesis 3:1 says, "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?"  He questioned Eve about what God said.  Unfortunately, Eve did not have the correct answer when she said, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die."  God said they could not eat of the tree, but He never said they couldn't touch it.  At this point, Satan knew he had the advantage and went on, "Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." This twisting of God's words caused the downfall of humanity. 

In Matthew chapter 4, three times the tempter said to Jesus, "If thou be the Son of God..."  Each time Jesus replied with, "It is written..."  After three attempts, verse 11 tells us, "Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him."  The only way to get the devil to leave you alone is to quote God's words to him.

 

It makes a huge difference when you know what God says in His Word.  I have read the Bible from cover to cover many, many times, but I've never read those two passages at the same time.  There is always something new to discover.  If you haven't found a reading plan for 2024, do it!  You will never regret a single moment spent in His Word.

I Remember

 

Today is the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on America.  "We will never forget" was the constant refrain.  A generation has been born since that day.  They have nothing to remember, only stories told them.  

 

 

I've written about 9/11 many times.  On the 10th anniversary I wrote this: "It's hard to believe it's been 10 years since the terrorist attacks. Growing up, I remember hearing people say, "I remember exactly where I was when I heard that JFK was shot" and I didn't understand. Unfortunately, now I do. The flood of emotions will not be forgotten."

 

 

I was working at Amgen at the time and was on my way to work when I first heard the news. Both Towers had been hit, along with the Pentagon. What in the world was going on? What an eerie feeling, so sobering and frightening. I looked into the shocked faces of my co-workers and knew that's what I looked like as well. I don't remember getting any work done that day. Just staring at the images on my computer, reading over and over reports of the attacks.

 

 

We in California were blessed that none of the attacks occurred in our state, but the impact was still felt. As the day progressed, word spread that an Amgen Clinical Development team had been in Washington, D.C. The team was there for meetings with the FDA regarding approval for a new drug. Later in the day, team members checked in, reporting they were okay, but stranded in D.C. for the time being. They had been scheduled for a Tuesday afternoon flight. Then we got word that Dora Menchaca, the team leader, had changed her flight to Tuesday morning. She was on American flight 77 that flew into the Pentagon.

 

 

I remember the first time we flew after 9/11. We flew from the Burbank airport and I was a nervous wreck. The sight of guardsmen did not give me comfort, it just reminded me of all that was lost on the day.

 

While I remember, I also know where my hope is found.  Governments and armies can't give me hope or peace, but there is a Rock that I can stand on.  Psalm 18:2 says, "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."

 

My Hope is Built on Nothing Less
by Edward Mote, 1797-1874

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle

We had a wonderful Mother's Day at Victory Tabernacle.  Sunday morning included presentations by each Sunday school class, then Pastor White preached an awesome message.  Les preached last night and it was also awesome.  

 

We were talking about mothers on the way to church last night and Les asked, "How does the saying go, 'the hand that rocks the cradle...'?"  I looked it up and found that this is a poem by William Ross Wallace that praises motherhood as the preeminent force for change in the world. The poem was first published in 1865 under the title "What Rules the World," but is now known as "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Is the Hand That Rules the World."  After I read it to Les in the car he decided to read at the beginning of his message last night.

Our society is at war with our families.  Families are under attack like never before.  Government officials claim that children belong to everyone.  NO!  That is not the case!  Your children belong to YOU.  If you are raising them to follow the ways of God, no one has the authority to change that.  Jesus said in Matthew 18:6, "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."

 

Rock the cradle and rule the world, mama!

Blessings on the hand of women!
Angels guard its strength and grace.
In the palace, cottage, hovel,
Oh, no matter where the place;
Would that never storms assailed it,
Rainbows ever gently curled,
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

Infancy's the tender fountain,
Power may with beauty flow,
Mothers first to guide the streamlets,
From them souls unresting grow—
Grow on for the good or evil,
Sunshine streamed or evil hurled,
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

Woman, how divine your mission,

Here upon our natal sod;

Keep—oh, keep the young heart open

Always to the breath of God!

All true trophies of the ages

Are from mother-love impearled,

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

Blessings on the hand of women!
Fathers, sons, and daughters cry,
And the sacred song is mingled
With the worship in the sky—
Mingles where no tempest darkens,
Rainbows evermore are hurled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

Iris Morning

 

While I was out running this morning I saw several irises in bloom.  These were my mother-in-law's favorite flower and as we are heading towards Mother's Day I thought they were such a sweet reminder.

I do not believe that our loved ones are looking down on us from heaven.  The Bible says there is no sorrow nor crying (Revelation 21:4) so if they were to look down on this earth they would see plenty to bring them sorrow.

I think God sends us signs - little reminders that HE is looking down on us.  He cares about us.  Just as the iris blooms each year, there is joy and hope for those who walk with Him.

Prime Time!

After we returned home from Tennessee I decided I wanted to get a few more of my mother-in-law's books.  Many are available on Amazon (you can check them out here) but the ones I wanted were only available for Kindle.  I then headed over to Pentecostal Publishing House and found what I was looking for (you can check those out here.)

 

 

"Faith Fills An Empty Basket" is a follow-up book to "Faith Brings An Empty Basket."  Both are based on stories of the Faith Promise program and how God will take our commitment and multiply it.  Bro. Jack Leaman is known far and wide for his many years of Faith Promise services but he was also Dolly's classmate at ABI (Apostolic Bible Institute.)  This book was published in 2017 when Dolly was 80 years old.

She adapted stories from her two books about the DeMerchants (Flying Full Throttle and Still Flying Full Throttle) for children in "Pilot Bennie’s Amazing Amazon Adventures" and "More Amazon Adventures with Pilot Bennie."

This second book was published in 2020 - Dolly was 82 or 83 at the time!

This post may seem like an advertisement to buy Dolly's books, but it's not!  You won't be disappointed if you do buy them, but I just wanted to encourage all of us who over getting a little "older" to keep  living our lives with purpose.  We are not past our prime.  There is still so much to do.  Lessons to teach, songs to sing, souls to reach.

The Bible is full of examples of those made an impact when they were "well sticken in years" as Elisabeth and Zacharias, the parents of John the Baptist.  Anna the Prophetess was at least 84 when the baby Jesus was presented in the temple.  She "departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day."  Job lived 140 years after his trial and saw four generations of his family.  Abraham and Sarah were 100 and 90 when Isaac was born.  Caleb was 85 when he said, "Give me this mountain."

On and on the list goes.  Men and women who continued on even when others considered them past their prime.  Psalm 92:13-14 says, "Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.  They shall still bring forth fruit in old age."  Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible says, "They shall continue to grow in grace, and be fruitful to the end of their lives. It is a rare case to find a man in old age full of faith, love, and spiritual activity." John Gill's Exposition of the Bible says, "Being thus planted and watered, they shall not only bring forth the fruits of righteousness, but shall continue, and go on to do so, and even when they are grown old; contrary to all other trees, which, when old, cease bearing fruit; but so do not the righteous; grace is often in the greatest vigour when nature is decayed." John Wesley's Notes on the Bible says about this verse:  "Their last days shall be their best days, wherein they shall grow in grace, and increase in blessedness."

 

Our best days are still ahead of us!

Taking a Look Back

Ten years ago this week Les and I traveled to Hawaii to start a new adventure.  He joined Decision Research Corporation on January 21, 2013.  I re-read some of the posts from that time and it's interesting to see what we got right and what was not at all what we expected!  I'm going to re-share some of those posts here and add my thoughts from 10 years later (those thoughts will be in purple.)

The first post I want to talk about was posted in December 2012, "The Curse and the Scarlett Thread."  The focus of this post was worry and let me tell you, I was so wrapped up in worry at the time!  I didn't blog about everything that was going on in our life at the time, but I was a mess.  My dad was in the hospital at the time, our house had been broken into, and Les had been unemployed for about two months.  

 

The things that were plaguing my mind were REAL, not imagined, but I still needed to take all my thoughts captive.  It would be some time before the answers to my "what if?" questions would arrive, but I was able to change my worrying to praying with faith.

 

This lesson has been invaluable to me for the past ten years.  Sis. White asked me to speak at Ladies Prayer on March 10, 2020 and I chose this topic.  Little did I know how much fear and worry would be taking hold of our world in the weeks ahead.

Les started a new series in our adult Sunday school class last week - The Scarlet Thread.  This is the line through the Bible, from start to finish that teaches us that the life is in the blood.  Blood has always been necessary for redemption and eternal life. Yesterday's lesson was excellent as always.  Les taught about Adam and Eve and the curse that came upon the world because of their disobedience.

Most aspects of the curse were familiar to me.  I'm so thankful that Jesus bruised Satan's head.  Les pointed out something in verse 16 that I had never heard before:

Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

The first use of the word "sorrow" is not the same as the second usage.  The second word "sorrow" in the Hebrew is as we would expect - "pain," but the first "sorrow" is actually "worrisomeness."

Worrisomeness in the Hebrew means:  worry, pain, anger, displease, grieve, hurt, be sorry, vex. Webster's dictionary doesn't contain the word "worrisomeness" but is does give the definition for worrisome: causing distress or worry, inclined to worry or fret. 

Les didn't spend much time on this, but I've been chewing on it since his lesson.  Any ladies reading this today know the feeling of worrisomeness?  Are there days when you just feel overwhelmed with it all and sit fretting about things over which you have no control?  Then you tell your sweet husband all about it and his response is, "What's the big deal?"  Men just don't worry as much.  I know they feel stress, but that is not part of the curse that was put upon man, we ladies got that privilege!

Eve had never experienced worry before the fall.  The Bible doesn't tell us how long they were in the garden before Adam and Eve partook of the fruit.  It may have been weeks, months, or even years.   She lived in a perfect world with nothing to worry about it.  Until the fall, then the curse.

Does that mean we ladies should just resign ourselves to worry?  Should we spend our days as Chicken Little:  "There's no way to avoid it, I'm cursed with worry, the sky is falling, the sky is falling!!"  I don't believe so.  I believe we will be attacked with worry, but we must take those thoughts captive.

Jesus said in Matthew chapter 6:

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Repeatedly Jesus says "take no thought."  One commentator said this:

It is the repeated command of the Lord Jesus to his disciples, that they should not divide and pull in pieces their own minds with care about the world. The thought here forbidden is, 1. A disquieting, tormenting thought, which hurries the mind hither and thither, and hangs it in suspense; which disturbs our joy in God, and is a damp upon our hope in him; which breaks the sleep, and hinders our enjoyment of ourselves, of our friends, and of what God has given us. 2. A distrustful, unbelieving thought. God has promised to provide for those that are his all things needful for life.

I needed this so much!  We've had a lot of stress in our life lately and I have watched Les confidently going on, believing that God is going to take care of us.  I believe that, until worry takes hold.  I wasted precious time on Saturday taking thought instead of trusting.  (This was the understatement of the day!)

The answer to overcoming our thoughts is the blood.  The scarlet thread that was started in the garden when God slew the first sacrifice to clothe Adam and Eve with skins, is still the answer today.  The blood of Jesus does more than save us, Isaiah 53 tells us:

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Our grief, our sorrow, our worry, our future, He carried it all.  Because He did, we can take no thought and know that our heavenly Father knows exactly what we need.  Several weeks ago, Les taught about God's purpose.  He said, "Since aspects of God are identical past, present and future… God’s future plans are as if they had already been fulfilled."  I have to wonder, what am I worried about?  God has it all in His very capable hands!

Remember Me For Good

I finished reading the Bible for the year this morning.  The final phrase I read was Nehemiah 13:31, "Remember me, O my God, for good." I've been thinking about that phrase for a few hours.  I think it can be taken two different ways and wanted to read what commentaries had to say, but first I Googled the meaning of the phrase.  According to the Free Dictionary, there are two very distinct definitions:

 

for (one's) (own) good

For one's benefit, even though it may not be enjoyable or desirable.

for good

Permanently; indefinitely; forever. 

 

Here are a few different translations:

 

The Amplified Bible:

O my God, [please] remember me for good [and imprint me on Your heart].

 

Christian Standard Bible:

Remember me, my God, with favor. 

 

Complete Jewish Bible:

My God, remember me favorably. 

 

Living Bible:

Remember me, my God, with your kindness.

 

Wycliffe Bible:

My God, have mind of me into good.  My God, remember me for the good things which I have done.

 

Young's Literal Translation:

Be mindful of me, O my God, for good.   

 

I also looked at various commentaries:

John Gill:

to bless him with all good things, temporal and spiritual, to keep him faithful, to make him useful in church and state, and protect him from all his enemies.

 

Joseph Benson:

The best services done to the public, have sometimes been forgotten by those for whom they were done, therefore Nehemiah refers himself to God to be recompensed by him, and then doubts not but he shall be well paid. This may well be the summary of our petitions: we need no more to make us happy but this, Remember me, O my God, for good. 

And finally, F.B. Meyer:

The faithful servant and the dying thief join in the same petition. To be remembered by Jesus Christ is enough reward for any of us!

I don't know which definition was on Nehemiah's mind when this phrase was written, but I believe both apply.  I want God to remember me forever and when He remembers me, I want it to be for my good.  Not because I deserve it, but because He is merciful.

Repost: Crying Over Jingle Bell Rock

I originally wrote this post in 2009, the second year of my blog's existence.  I thought I had re-posted it a bunch of times, but I've only re-posted it twice.  So here it is again...

I believe it was Christmas 1989 when Rod and I first "performed" our version of "Jingle Bell Rock." Our version included a crutch guitar and me as an elf or something. Ryan, Krysten, and Lauren were all 2 1/2 and Christmas was a crazy, delightful time!

Fast forward to Christmas 1994. Just a few months earlier we had said goodbye to Rod, this would be our first Christmas without him. It was a Saturday and I was in one of the many malls in the San Fernando Valley. Hundreds of shoppers rushed in and out of stores. Parents and kids waited for their chance to have a picture taken with Santa.

I wasn't really thinking about Rod until "Jingle Bell Rock" started playing over the mall sound system. An overwhelming feeling of loss immediately came over me and I just started crying! Now if you know me well, you know I don't cry at the drop of a hat. Tears don't always come easy - but they flowed in the mall that day. I quickly left the mall to get away from all the Christmas cheer, shopping was done for that day.

I can look back on that day now and smile. "Jingle Bell Rock" makes me laugh again. But I know there are people who will experience that same feeling this Christmas. The loss of a loved one - grandparent, parent, spouse, sibling, child, or friend - leaves a hole that does not quickly heal.

You can find dozens of articles on dealing with grief during the holidays. A Google search brought up 2,610,000 links (this morning in 2022 that number is over 16 million!) My personal experience has been that the pain comes when I'm not expecting it. In years past, I've prepared myself for specific days, but it's the unexpected - a song, a smell, a change in the weather - that bring my loss to mind.

If you're experiencing a "first Christmas" this year, I pray that you will find memories that warm your heart, a special recipe or decoration to bring a smile, and the comfort of friends and family who hold you dear.

2020 vs. 2022

Two years ago yesterday I headed out for a run.  I blogged about it here.  "I got up yesterday morning and wanted to take advantage of a week of altitude training.  I went for a nice 5 mile run.  I felt great until the final mile...  my feet got a little tangled up and I found myself flying and then landing with a painful thud.  I'm not sure how it happened, but my sunglasses slammed into my face and I'm now sporting my first ever black eye!  I am okay, banged up and sore, but I'm thankful that I was able to get back up and hobble the final steps home."  (You can read about the progression of my black eye here.)

 

Yesterday I went for a wonderful trail run.  Nine miles with almost 1,300 feet of elevation gain (and just as much loss!)  I felt strong and stayed upright!

In a lot of ways that seems like how the year 2020 was versus 2022!  Lock downs, social distancing and masks were the buzz words of 2020.  While COVID is still around, I'm glad that many of us have gotten back to a more normal life.  Even if there are still a few downed trees in our path...

The moral of the story?  When life gives you a black eye, get back up!  There are beautiful mountain tops and blue skies ahead.

 

Repost: What A Difference the Light Makes

It's amazing to me how quickly our neighborhood transforms for Christmas.  Lights and decorations went up this weekend.  I don't do much outside, but since we were home I pulled all my inside decorations out on Friday. I was reminded of a post I wrote way back in 2009:
 

 

I love looking at all the lights at this time of year. It's amazing how many things people have in their yards these days - carolers, Santas, reindeer, polar bears, penguins, Christmas trees, snowmen, gingerbread men, angels, stars, snowflakes and even a nativity or two.


The other morning, I was thinking about the unique perspective I get while running in the early mornings. The lights are usually off, but of course the decorations are still out. It's not such a pretty sight. All the beautiful decorations amount to are a bunch wires, metal and extension cords.


As I was thinking about this, two seemingly contradictory thoughts came to mind:

"Things sure look different when the light is shined on them..."
and
"These decorations look so much better when their light is shining."

Hmmm... I pondered if I could write a post about these two thoughts and actually make sense! I turned to see what Jesus said about light. One instance just happens to be in one of the most well know chapters of the Bible. John chapter 3, starting at verse 16:

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

So my two opposing thoughts are truly in line with the word of God. It just depends on where the light is. My question for you is - do you have the light ON you or IN you?

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine...

A Future Filled with Hope

We had our monthly youth service last night and Bro. Jonathan Hale preached.  His text was Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."  He told our young people that God has plans for them, but the enemy also has plans.  Choosing the right path will bring a bright future.

My Bible reading this morning also included this verse and it is the verse of the day at the top of my blog.  It is a favorite of mine.  I love that God has plans for me and also that He is thinking about me.  I searched my blog and was surprised to find that I had only blogged about this verse ONE time!  Amazingly, I blogged about it on October 13, 2011, exactly 11 years ago today.

The Pulpit Commentary had quite a bit to say about this very.  I really liked this part:

What God Thinks About Us is of Great Importance to Us

1. God thinks what is true and wise and good. If, therefore, we can know God’s thoughts about anything we shall see the thing in its true light. Our thoughts are blinded by prejudice, colored by passion, limited by ignorance, broken, fragmentary, perverted. God’s only are clear and perfect as truth.
2. God’s thoughts are the prelude to his actions. If we know what He thinks concerning us we know how He intends to act. God’s thinking is not the contemplation of the philosopher, it is the consideration of the king. We forget this when we are so very anxious about what the world will think of us and so very indifferent about God’s thoughts concerning us. A brave man will learn to dare the world’s misjudgment, its scorn, its condemnation. But who can face God’s thoughts if they mean evil to us?

God Thinks Thoughts of Peace Concerning Us

So Jeremiah saw in the case of the Jews; so we may see for all mankind how that Christ "has broken down the middle wall of partition between us." Even when God finds it necessary to punish, His desire is to bless, and when He chastises it is in mercy, that He may reclaim. But this is not seen at the time. There are things which prevent us from seeing that God’s thoughts are of peace. Thus—the peace is not yet enjoyed; when God chastises us it looks as though He meant evil to us, because we feel the blow before we see the good fruit of it; we cannot see God’s thoughts, and must accept them in faith, waiting for a later confirmation of experience. Yet if God does think thoughts of peace concerning us, is it necessary for us to know the exact nature of them? They are known to Him if they are not known to us, and he can carry them out without any previous understanding of them on our part.

Here are a few other translations of the verse:

Amplified ~ For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

The Message ~ I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

NIV ~ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

GOD'S WORD ~ I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.

Jesus said something similar in John 10:10 ~ I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

I love that God has plans for me! God has plans for you!

If you're a teenager and don't know what path to follow ~ God has plans for you!
If you're a single adult and wonder if your future includes a mate ~ God has plans for you!
If you're trying to raise a family and making ends meet seems hard at times ~ God has plans for you!
If you're in the ministry and facing dark times ~ God has plans for you!
If you're retired and wonder if your days of usefulness are behind you ~ God has plans for you!

He's already thought it all out. Our final outcome is a future filled with hope. Peace and not disaster. Taken care of, not abandoned. Smile ~ God's thinking about you today!

Put the Family Back Together

 My devotional this morning contained this little story:

A busy father was looking for a way to entertain his young daughter. He found a map of the world in a magazine and cut it into pieces. He gave the pieces to his child and suggested she try to piece the map back together. After a very short time, she said she had finished. He was very surprised by how quickly she had done it. He asked her how she had managed to do it so fast. She replied, "I noticed when you took the page out of the magazine that on the back of the map of the world there was a picture of a man and a woman. I thought that if I could put the man and the woman back together, I could put the world back together."

We live in a world that is torn apart.  We will never be able to put the world back together without strong families.  While thinking about this, I was reminded of an amazing Marriage Retreat we attended in Hawaii.  The guest speaker was Dr. James Hughes and each session was outstanding.  I've included a few points, but you can read them all here:  Session 1, Session 2, Session 3, and Session 4. 

What keeps families together?
We've heard it over and over "the family that prays together, stays together."  Brother Hughes says, "the family that plays together, stays together."  When problems start you stop enjoying life.
Ephesians 4:1 "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called."  The word worthy means balance.  Good times give you resources to endure the hard times. 

You can't parent one another.  
Don't try to fix each other.
Every human typically plays three roles in life:  child, adult, parent.
Relationships  can only be on equal levels.  You can only be friends with someone on your same level (you are not your child's friend.)  When you become a parent don't stay in that role with each other.  Parent your children, not each other.  Be careful how you talk to one another. Odds that your marriage will make it to 50 years is 2.5%.  That is such a sad statistic!  This happens when a couple becomes empty nesters but they haven't spent their parenting years relating to one another as equals. 

Can You Imagine Growing Old Together?
This is a question Sis. Hughes asked her husband many years ago.  In order to do that, you must work at your marriage.  You have to learn day by day.  Every day is a new opportunity to strengthen your marriage.  Learn to enjoy every day. 

Phones are More Dangerous Than a Gun
Our most powerful instinct is to be safe.  Your brain is constantly checking.  The survival instinct never turns off, even while asleep.  Phones never trigger a defensive mechanism.  The brain cannot tell you are in danger.  Text messages that seem innocent have the power to destroy.
Smart phones numb life.  Be not drunk with social media, texting, Facebook.
People get hurt by media.  They aren't going to learn the gospel online,  they must be in an environment where the Spirit can be felt. 

It does not take a village to raise a child, it takes a set of parents.

The Epidemic of America is Broken Families
In 1950 5% of children were born illegitimately.  In 1985 that number was 50%.  God didn't give children to be raised by strangers.  

Child Development is Really Family Development
If you don't have a good example, you can start a new standard for your family.
It took one family to wreck the world.  One family can make it right for their children.  Strong families bring revival.
 

I went back a few more years and found posts from a previous Marriage Retreat with Dr. Hughes.  You can read both posts here and here.  Here are just a few more tidbits: 

Marriage is Valuable.
You can't abuse anything until you make it worthless.  You build a vault around what is valuable.  If your spouse is valuable, you will build a wall of safety around them. 

Every time Jesus talked about forgiveness it was in regards to the family.

Storms ARE going to come.   

We must have a strong foundation in order to survive.  There may be times when we are just holding on to driftwood, but we can find protection IN the trouble, not from trouble.

How Will You Handle Offense?
Luke 17:1-10 was the text. In verse one Jesus said, "It is impossible but that offences will come." There's no way around it, it's going to happen. God does not give us the right to settle a score. Confrontation does not solve problems.
Our most powerful need is revenge. You can't transfer pain through revenge. You have to deal with it.
How can I forgive when I can't forget? Forgive and choose to manage the memory.

The little girl in the story had it right - if we ever hope to fix the world, we have to put the couple back together.

Bitterness - The Link from Love to Hate

I started reading the book of 2 Samuel this week.  As I continue reading about David's life I am reminded of the wives of David that I studied.  His first wife was Michal, the daughter of King Saul.  My feelings about her really changed after studying her a little more deeply.  You can read the entire post here, but I thought I'd share what I think turned her from loving David to despising him.

1 Samuel 18:20 says that Michal loved David, the only place in the Bible where a woman's love for a man is recorded, according to footnotes in The Jewish Study Bible.  This is repeated in verse 28 of the same chapter.  However, there is no biblical record of David having loved Michal.   When Saul learned that Michal loved David he hoped that she would be a snare to David.

I posted a timeline of the life of David here.  It was very helpful as I studied.

In 1008 B.C. David married Michal.  After approximately one year of marriage, David fled because Saul wanted to kill him.  Michal was left behind.  In 1005 B.C. Michal was given to Paltiel in Gallim.  During David's time on the run, he married Abigail and Ahinoam.

Five years later, in 1000 B.C., Saul and Jonathan are killed in battle and David is anointed king.  David marries four additional wives and has at least six sons by his six wives.

998 BC - Michal returned to David
They were only together one year, now some nine years and six wives later David wants Michal back.  I can't even imagine how she must have felt.  Her father and brothers were all dead.  The young man she loved and married has spent years as a warrior on the run and is now the king with six wives and at least six sons.  I'm sure that's not quite the marriage she had dreamed of.  Some commentaries said he wanted her back because he loved her, but others said it was purely political.

Sadly, Michal seemed to be married to a man who wanted just her.  When Ishbosheth took her from her husband, he "went with her along weeping behind her." (2 Samuel 3:16)  "Because of his great affection to her, unwilling to part with her, but forced to it at the command of the king." (John Gill)  That is such a sad picture to me!  And I wonder if it was then that the root of bitterness that had been growing reached full growth.  Maybe Michal was proud to be called back to the palace, but it wasn't going to be easy.

 

992 BC - The ark is returned. 
Six years after Michal is returned to David a great celebration takes place. The ark of God is brought back with sacrifices and great rejoicing.  On this great day, the verse that tells how much Michal has changed appears, "And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart."  

Michal had gone from loving David to despising him.  This same phrase "she despised him in her heart" is also found in 1Chronicles 15:29.  As soon as David returned home, Michal went out to meet him.  She was so harsh mocking his worship.  "And said, how glorious was the king of Israel today; which she spoke in an ironical jeering way, meaning the reverse, how inglorious, mean, and despicable he had made himself to be, by his airs and gestures." (John Gill)  "Proud of her royal extraction, she upbraided her husband for lowering the dignity of the crown and acting more like a buffoon than a king." (A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments by Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown)

Following David and Michal's exchange is a very sad verse, "Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death." (2 Samuel 6:23)

 

While I cannot agree with how Michal mocked David, a part of me understands why.  David was in his 20s when they were married.  It is possible that Michal was still a teenager.  A teenager greatly influenced by a father who was filled with hatred.  

We all have the opportunity to choose bitterness when life is difficult.  When I was a child and would tell my mom, "it's not fair!" she always responded with "life isn't fair."  She was right.  Life isn't fair.  We don't always get our way.  Hard times come, but it's how we handle the unfairness of life that determines if we will be bitter or victorious.

Romans 8:28 tells us, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."  At the heart of it all, Michal's problem wasn't that she loved or despised David, but I don't think she ever loved God.  If we keep a love for God in our hearts, then no matter the turns life takes, we can know that it will all work together for our good.

Repost: Hannah

I started reading the book of 1 Samuel this morning.  The first two chapters are the only ones written about Samuel's mother, Hannah.  What a great woman of faith she was.  I wrote quite a lengthy post about her in 2015 and wanted to re-post it here today.

 

I feel like the Apostle Paul in Galatians 6:11 "Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you."  This is a long post, so grab some water, tea or coffee...

Studying Hannah was a great reminder to me.  When I thought of Hannah, I thought of a woman who prayed and God answered.  This happened, but there were many years of sorrow before her broken prayer and God's beautiful answer.  There was so much in just two chapters.

Verses: 1 Samuel 1:1-28, 1 Samuel 2:1-10, 18-21

Background – parents, husband, children, siblings
Hannah was married to Elkanah.  Matthew Henry said, "It is probable that Elkanah married Hannah first, and, because he had not children by her so soon as he hoped, he married Peninnah, who bore him children indeed, but was in other things a vexation to him. Thus are men often beaten with rods of their own making." 

Hannah did eventually have children, first Samuel whom she gave back to God, and then three more sons and two daughters (1 Samuel 2:21) 

What is she most known for? Victories? Defeats? How can I be like her? How can I avoid being like her?

This is the third polygamous marriage that I have studied this year (Abraham and Sarah/Hagar and Jacob and Rachel/Leah.)  There was not harmony in any of these homes.  All three times it was because of the husband's greater love toward one who was barren and the fruitfulness of the other.  "The conduct of Peninnah was most unbecoming. But domestic broils in the houses of polygamists are of frequent occurrence, and the most fruitful cause of them has always been jealousy of the husband’s superior affection, as in this case of Hannah."  (A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments by Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown)

We don't know how many children there were, but John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible said, "how many Peninnah had is not said, perhaps ten; see 1Samuel 1:8."  1 Samuel 1:6-7 says, "And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat."  If Peninnah really did have ten children, then her provoking, and Hannah's barrenness, went on for a decade or more!  This was not a simple, light teasing.  "Some render it, "because she thundered" against her; that is, Peninnah was exceeding loud and clamorous with her reproaches and scoffs, which were grievously provoking to Hannah." (John Gill)

It's so easy to think this happened quickly because it's all in one chapter, but Hannah's suffering went on for many years.  She finally reached a breaking point.  She wept and could not eat.  "Hannah wept at the insults, reproaches, and scoffs, cast at her by her antagonist; insomuch that she could not eat of the peace offerings, though her husband always gave her the best part and portion of them; but her grief took away her stomach and appetite, that she could not eat."  (John Gill)

[Funny side note:  I have never been so upset that I could not eat!  There are times when I get busy and don't eat when I need to, but my body quickly lets me know.  I tend to have low blood sugar and I can go from happy to hangry (hungry with a side of angry) in a matter of seconds!  Les knows when I say, "I have a food headache," that it's time to get this girl some food.]

In the middle of a time of celebration, Hannah made her way to the house of God.  I don't believe this is the first time that Hannah prayed, but she did pray with great intensity.  "Her prayer was with strong crying and tears; it was very fervent and affectionate; she prayed most vehemently, and wept bitterly." (John Gill)

During this time of prayer, two things happened.  Hannah vowed a vow and Eli the priest took note of her.

Hannah vowed, "O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head." (I Samuel 1:11)

I find this commentary very interesting: "Samuel, as a descendent of Levi, was the Lord's property, from twenty-five years of age till fifty; but the vow here implies that he should be consecrated to the Lord from his infancy to his death, and that he should not only act as a Levite, but as a Nazarite." (Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge by Canne, Browne, Blayney, Scott, and others about 1880, with introduction by R. A. Torrey. TSK)  So Samuel would have spent time in the temple, but Hannah dedicated him to a greater degree than called.

The next thing that happened is really interesting to me.  I Samuel 1:12 says, "And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth."  I've always imagined Eli hitting Hannah's mouth, but John Gill said he "observed the motion of her lips, and no doubt her distorted countenance, and uplifted eyes and hands, but chiefly the former; not knowing what the woman was at, and what could be the meaning of such motions."  The Hebrew word there is "shâmar" which means to "beware, be circumspect, take heed, keep, mark, look narrowly, observe."

There's a lot to be said about Eli (I'm working on a separate post because this one is too long already!) but he did stop Hannah in the midst of her prayers, thinking she was drunk.  "The suspicion of the aged priest seems to indicate that the vice of intemperance was neither uncommon nor confined to one sex in those times of disorder." (JFB)

"Hannah did not retort the charge, and upbraid Eli with the wicked conduct of his own sons. When we are at any time unjustly censured, we have need to set a double watch before the door of our lips, that we do not return censure for censure. Hannah thought it enough to clear herself, and so must we. Eli was willing to acknowledge his mistake. Hannah went away with satisfaction of mind. She had herself by prayer committed her case to God, and Eli had prayed for her. Prayer is heart's ease to a gracious soul. Prayer will smooth the countenance; it should do so."  (Matthew Henry)

Eli said, "Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him."  "He found he was mistaken in her, and that her discourse was not only sober and rational, but religious and spiritual; and therefore dismisses her in peace.  The God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him; which may be considered either as a prayer for her, he joining with her in a request to the Lord, that what she had asked might be granted; or as a prophecy that so it would be, it being revealed to him by the Holy Ghost, as the high priest of the Lord; or impressed by an impulse upon his spirit that the favour asked would be given; and therefore she might go home in peace, and with satisfaction of mind." (John Gill)

Did she reach a place when she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or evil?
It was after Hannah's time of prayer that she was able to reset.   She said to Eli, "Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight." Then she went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.  Hannah's faith was so strong that before Samuel was even conceived her countenance changed.  "A beautiful example of the composing influence of prayer. Hannah had cast her burden upon the Lord, and so her own spirit was relieved of its load. She now returned to the family feast, and ate her portion with a cheerful heart." (Albert Barnes)

We know that Samuel was conceived not long after Hannah's prayer.  She then stayed home from the yearly trip to the tabernacle until Samuel was weaned.  John Gill gave a very thorough explanation of what it meant to be weaned: "there was a three fold weaning of children in old times; the first from their mother's milk, when three years old; the second from their tender age, and care of a dry nurse, when seven years old; the third from childish manners, when at twelve years of age; and that it is this last and metaphorical weaning which is here meant, when Samuel was twelve years of age, and fit to serve in the temple."  

The Hebrew word for "young" used in 1 Samuel 1:24 is "nah'-ar" meaning "a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication a servant."  This makes sense to me.  I don't think Samuel was still a toddler when Hannah handed him off to Eli, but he was a young child.

1 Samuel chapter 2 opens with Hannah singing!  What a difference answered prayer made in her life!  Ten verses she sang and rejoiced. "My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.  There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.  The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.  The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.   The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.  He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.  The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed."

Matthew Henry's commentary: "Hannah's heart rejoiced, not in Samuel, but in the Lord. She looks beyond the gift, and praises the Giver. She rejoiced in the salvation of the Lord, and in expectation of His coming, who is the whole salvation of his people. The strong are soon weakened, and the weak are soon strengthened, when God pleases. Are we poor? God made us poor, which is a good reason why we should be content, and make up our minds to our condition. Are we rich? God made us rich, which is a good reason why we should be thankful, and serve him cheerfully, and do good with the abundance he gives us. He respects not man's wisdom or fancied excellences, but chooses those whom the world accounts foolish, teaching them to feel their guilt, and to value his free and precious salvation. This prophecy looks to the kingdom of Christ, that kingdom of grace, of which Hannah speaks, after having spoken largely of the kingdom of providence. And here is the first time that we meet with the name MESSIAH, or his Anointed. The subjects of Christ's kingdom will be safe, and the enemies of it will be ruined; for the Anointed, the Lord Christ, is able to save, and to destroy."

Hannah is mentioned just a couple more times in this chapter, then she is never named in the Bible again.  Chapter 2 verse 19 says, "Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice."  Hannah left him in Eli's hands, but continued to take care of him when she saw him each year.  "This was an outer coat to wear over others, and this also was such an one as the priests wore; it is the same word that is used for the priest's robe, (Exodus 28:4,) and this, it is very likely, was altogether of her own spinning, and weaving, and making up; which were works women did in those times: and this Hannah did partly out of her great love to her son Samuel, and partly to lessen the expense that Eli, or the congregation, were at in the maintenance of him." (John Gill)  "She undertook to find him with clothes during his apprenticeship at the tabernacle, and took care he should be well provided, that he might appear the more decent and sightly in his ministration, and to encourage him in his towardly beginnings."  (Matthew Henry)

And finally, "And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.  And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters."  She prayed for a single child and God gave her five more!  "What is lent to the Lord will certainly be repaid with interest, to our unspeakable advantage, and oftentimes in kind. Hannah resigns one child to God, and is recompensed with five."  (Matthew Henry)

This is just a beautiful story!  We know that Samuel was an amazing man of God and he was greatly influenced by this godly mother.