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Hannah’s prayer is impressive when you stop to consider what she said. Of course, I am talking about Hannah, Samuel’s mom. We don’t know much about her other than she was an amazing woman! She was one of two wives, you know. That is never a desirable situation. Whenever I think about multiple wive situations in the Bible, some great names come to me. There was Abraham, Jacob, Moses, the champ Solomon, and Elkana, Hanah’s husband. Hanah had a rival in Peninnah, the other woman. What exacerbated things was that Peninnah had children regularly, and Hannah had none because she couldn’t have any. The Bible goes so far as to say that the Lord had closed her womb (1:5). There seemed to be some divine purpose behind Hannah’s fertility. This scenario in Bible times was tragic, and again there are several examples of well-timed sterility in the Old and New Testaments. Sarah, Rebeca, Rachel, Elizabeth and others whose walk with God was tested in their inability to have children.  What Hannah ...

Last night, we learned a lot about our souls. We noted that it has no physical weight, but that God created it to last forever. God made man a perfect being, very different from animals. We are different because we were created in God's image, with emotion, will, and "eternity in our hearts," as Solomon mentions in the book of Ecclesiastes. We learn that because the soul is eternal, it will live after our bodies die. Then are two possible destinations for our soul, heaven or hell. There is no middle ground. The body has an appointment with death, according to the Bible, when that appointed day comes, then judgment will come. So now is the day of salvation! If you are reading this post and have never asked for the salvation that only Christ can give, you need to repent of your sin and beg God for mercy.

Proverbs 29:27 The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright. We have a problem here, don't we? There is a constant detestation going on between two sectors of society. In one sense, there are no righteous. The Bible reminds us of that point in Romans 3:10. However, the redeemed are righteous in Christ.  The wicked are described as both evil and dishonest. So, we could say that all wicked are crooked and all dishonest are corrupt; they are the same. Again Romans 3 gives us insight where it says, "there is none that does good, not even one."  This understanding helps us to know that the Christian way is unique. It is an impossible way without redemption. Jesus told his men, "I am the way the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father, except by me." So, the way to God, and perfection, is through Jesus Christ. There is no other way to get to Him.  Being a Christian does not make a person perfect, but it does make that person different from ...

Proverbs 28:28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive. Is it time to hide? The wicked are ruling, so should the Christ-followers go into hiding? Isn't that what Solomon is saying? I am going to combine other verses found in Proverbs 28 to bring out a pertinent message. The following paragraph is a compilation of several proverbs without their "punchlines." It is pretty revealing. Then the next paragraph will contain all of the antidotes. Ready? Here we go.  When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers. A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops—those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, and evildoers do not understand what is right. If anyone turns a deaf ear to (God's) instruction, even their prayers are detestable. When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding. Whoever hardens their heart (against the Lord) falls into trouble. Like a roaring lion or a cha...

Proverbs 27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.  What is in a day? Recently, I received news from my sister regarding our brother’s pending death. Unhappily, reports of imminent death travel fast. The doctors give him three weeks.  My brother is 84 years old and dying of hereditary lung disease. My brother is a believer in Jesus Christ, who has had an interesting and, at times, challenging life. I believe that his coming death is not unexpected. Yet, I think too that it still comes as a shock. Death is like that. It’s shocking.  Death is only one of many things that can leave us speechless and destitute. However, it is also one of many occurrences that can change everything. Thus in this verse, we are warned not to boast about tomorrow. Our future can change in an instant.  This warning is also valid because it helps us to focus on the uncertainty of life. We can never count on it, plans as we might.  The believer’s consolati...

 What did you learn from your father? When you think about your father, what are some of the good things that come to your mind? What are some lasting lessons he has taught you that you believe will be valuable to pass on to your children?  Your son already has the advantage of having a believing father. However, this places the responsibility on your personal and spiritual leadership. You know that raising children is a joint responsibility between you and your wife. However, it seems that the Bible places a heavy burden on you as a parent. Paul told the believing parents in Ephesus the following: in Ephesians 6: 4: in Ephesians 6: 4 Parents, do not anger your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. If I could please your father What would you say if you had a chance to thank your father for what he taught you? In other words, these are the reasons you want your child to say thanks. And if you are like me, I would like your boys to thank ...

 1 Samuel 20 tells of the strong friendship between David and Jonathan. Both men had different backgrounds and upbringings yet their love for each other was such that the author says, "Jonathan loved David as his own soul."  In these days of perversity some have tried to twist such words and make this tremendous friendship something wicked. Yet it is none other than a true and godly passion that was demonstrated by sacrifice and protected through danger.  One can only wonder how this bond might have made a difference if it had been surrounded by loving parental protection. The king's son loved the young shepherd turned warrior yet his ruler father was tormented with jealousy. Eventually that jealousy would bring death to both the king and his sons.  The glaring wickedness in this account is that wretched envy which destroyed so many lives.