Monthly Archives: October 2018
Hannah’s Prayer

colored pencil on paper, a profile study
Hannah was the mother of the prophet, Samuel, who prayed this beautifully prophetic prayer as she dedicated him as her firstborn for the service to Adonai after He healed her from barrenness because of her faithfulness.
Then Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in Adonai, my horn is lifted high in Adonai. I smile wide over my enemies, for I rejoice in your salvation. (v. 1), (the Hebrew word for salvation is Yeshua)
In Hannah’s life, personally, even though she was loved by her husband, she was mocked for being childless by her husband’s other wife who had children. In her community, the people were plagued by false religious leaders and enemies of God, Phineas and Hophni, who used their position as sons of the high priest to misrepresent God, thus causing unbelief and hopelessness. Hannah remained faithful to the Lord and was blessed.
There is none Holy as Adonai, for there is none besides You, nor is there any Rock like our God. (v. 2)
Yes! The Solid Rock. All other ground is sinking sand.
Boast no more so proudly– insolence comes out of your mouth. For Adonai is the all knowing God, and by Him deeds are weighed. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the stumbling are girded with strength. (v. 3-4)
Pride comes to nothing before Him. We can only boast and become strong in His work.
Those full hire themselves for bread, but those starving hunger no more. Even the barren gives birth to seven, but she with many sons languishes. (v. 5)
Our blessings and fruitfulness (in anything) depend on Him alone.
Adonai causes death and makes alive, He brings down to Sheol and raises up. (v. 6)
He has eternity in His hands. The Lord eventually put Phineas and Hophni to death because they refused to repent, but not without warning. Samuel gave the prophetic message.
Adonai makes poor and rich, He brings low and also lifts up. (v, 7)
He is our provider. He humbles and encourages.
He raises the helpless from the dust. He lifts the needy from the dunghill, to make them sit with nobles, granting them a seat of honor. For the earth’s pillars are Adonai’s, and He has set the world on them. (v. 8)
He can raise up leaders from wherever He chooses.
He guards the steps of His godly ones, but the wicked are silences in darkness. For one does not prevail by might. Those who oppose Adonai will be shattered. He thunders against them in Heaven. He judges the ends of the earth. (v. 9-10a)
He looks after His own and the power of the wicked comes to nothing in the end. Eli, the high priest and father of the two wicked scoundrels was also put to death by Adonai because he never rebuked his sons harshly enough. Then God made Samuel the high priest even though he was not in the line of succession.
He gives strength to His king, exalting the horn of His anointed one.” ~1 Samuel 2:1-10
Samuel went on to anoint David as the first king of the tribe of Judah over Israel. From this lineage would eventually come Yeshua/Jesus. Yeshua, the anointed one and long promised Messiah is The King of Kings and Lord of Lords!!! Hallelujah!!!
Pray for Pittsburgh
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fail; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress (Psalm 46:1-7 NIV).
Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh this morning. We stand together in prayer for all those who have been crushed in spirit by tragedy, in Pennsylvania and everywhere in the world.
Hurricane Relief: How to Help
Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10a)
Please keep the residents of Florida, Georgia, Virginia and North and South Carolina who have been devastated by hurricanes Michael and Florence in your prayers.
How to donate or volunteer:
www.weather.com/safety/hurricane/news/2018-10-11-help-hurricane-michael-victims-donations
www.samaritanspurse.org
www.redcross.org
www.worldvision.org/disaster-relief-news-stories/2018-hurricane-florence-facts
Turn, Turn, Turn. To Everything There is a Season

Leaf, (watercolor on paper), Wise words to ponder:
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Moreover, He has set eternity in their heart—yet without the possibility that humankind can ever discover the work that God has done from the beginning to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy themselves in their lifetime. Also when anyone eats and drinks, and finds satisfaction in all of his labor, it is the gift of God. I know that everything that God does will endure forever. There is no adding to it or taking from it. God has made it so, that they will revere Him. ~Ecclesiastes 3:11-14
Turn, Turn, Turn by The Byrds