Clinging to a Dream...

Selections from 1 Samuel 1

With a grieved soul Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. Making a vow she pleased, "O Lord of Hosts, it You will take notice of Your handmaid's affliction and remember me and not forget me and give Your handmaid a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life"...Although her lips were moving, her voice couldn't be heard, so Eli concluded that she was drunk..."Oh no, my lord," Hannah replied..."I've been pouring my soul before the Lord."...

Eli responded, "Go in peace and may the God of Israel grant the petition that you've requested of Him."

Never dream without a prayer When we talk to others about the dreams in our lives, we often get blind stares of disinterested discouragement--roadblocks, rejection. But when we take our dreams to God, we begin an adventurous journey of faith. It may mean being broken along the way, but only to let our dream escape. It may mean going through seasons of searching, but only to determine how much of our dream is selfish--and to prove how badly we really want God's way. Prayer keeps holy dreams alive.

Hannah was tested. Her rival-as-wife, Peninnah, taunted her relentlessly. Hannah was further upset each time she went to the temple at Shiloh. There, in the midst of families going to offer their worship and their sacrifices, she felt all alone without a child.

When his two wives were at each other's throats, Elkanah would try to smooth things over by asking, "Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?" What she needed and longed to hear from him was that she meant more to him than ten sons. God was using everyone in this woman's life to test her.

We are tested so our character will match our dreams. Christian character is a work in progress for us believers. When God gives you a dream, we may need a lot of work on and in our lives to enable us to handle the dream. Our sufficiency and strength will always be in God-and God alone. As with Hannah, it usually is a pretty good clue that the test or the dream is from God when things don't work out easily. The greater the dream, the greater the testing.

Do you have a dream that feels like it's dying in your life? Don't give up. Take it to God in prayer today. And trust Him to do more with your dream than you could ever do yourself.

Exert from "Women of Character" by Jim Henry

My Princess...

You are my Precious Daughter

"And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty"
2 Corinthians 6:18

You are a daughter of the King, and not just any king. You are My daughter, and I am the God of all heaven and earth. I am delighted with you! You are the apple of My eye. You're Daddy's girl. Your earthly father may love and adore you, but his love is not perfect, no matter how great--or small--it is. Only My love is perfect...because I am Love. I formed your body. I fashioned your mind and soul. I know your personality, and I understand your needs and desires. I see your heartaches and disappointments, and I love you passionately and patiently. My child, I bought you with a price so that we could have an intimate relationship together for all eternity. Soon we will see each other face-to-face--Father and daughter--and you will experience the wonderful place I have prepared for you in paradise. Until then, fix your eyes on heaven, and walk closely with Me. You will know that-although I am God-My arms are not too big to hold you, My beloved daughter.

Love,

Your King and your Daddy in heaven


Exert from "His Princess: Love Lettes from Your King" by Sheri Rose Shepherd

How Do You Define Success?

The world’s definition of success is centered around things of this world – things you can earn, buy, demand, manipulate, be, or make. God’s view of success is distinctly different: it is that we glorify him be obeying him. Are you ready today to think about prioritizing the two definitions and seeing whether you are more committed to the world’s view or to God’s? This is a great exercise if you want to finish well the race God has set out for you.

The Lure Of Success

What type of success beckons you? Is it fame, wealth, possessions, power, perfection, or popularity? Is it an impressive job title, getting invited to the right parties, or being a size eight? Is it having a company car and a key to the executive elevator? Is it academic excellence, looking good, meeting deadlines, or having an expense account? Is it being known on a first-name basis at the country club or having a reputation as a big tipper at restaurants? Or, is it more closely aligned with worshiping God with your life?

How Do You Define Success?

Zerubbabel Defined Success Well

Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, defined success as being God’s servant. Overseer of the temple rebuilding project, he was compared to the Lord’s signet ring, which was a symbol of honor, authority, and power. Read Haggai 2:20-23. What public figure today has Zerubbabel’s definition of success?

SCRIPTURE TO PONDER

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

(Philippians 1:6)

So…What Insight, Prayer, or Action Step Has God Laid on Your Heart today?

Exert from "Praying for Purpose" by Katie Brazelton

Hear Me!!

O Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God. For I pray to no one but you. Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:1-3

Through this psalm, King David taught much about the expectant attitude of a powerful pray-er.

He begins his prayer as if he is putting his hands on each cheekbone of the face of his God and saying, “Please pay attention to my pain and anguish. No one else who listens to my complaints has the power to change my circumstances as You do, O Lord, for You are the God above all gods. You are all-knowing, always present, and all-powerful.”

The truth taught in every psalm is this: God alone is Sovereign. The psalmists were convinced that they could petition the King of kings with the smallest or deepest angst of their hearts – He was neither too great not too busy nor too powerful to care about the singular needs of His followers. And David wasn’t going to wait until day’s end to speak with Him. No, the earliest hour of his day was barely soon enough.

Plan your appointment with the King one day in advance. Put it on your calendar as the first uninterrupted house of your day.

Exert from "Sacred Obsession" by Becky Tirabassi

What are a few of your talents or skills?

God is aware of every single one of your talents and skills. In fact, he gave you all your godly ones at birth or helped you develop them along the way. It gives him great pleasure to see you use what you have been given. The first step in appreciating your talents and skills is recognizing them! Today is all about doing that, so you can dedicate them to the Lord for his service.

Talents And Skills? I Don’t Have Any!

So, are you not a talented harpist, gifted communicator, or respected surgeon? But have people commented that you are a natural at cross-country skiing, landscape painting, or computer repairs? Do you even remember when you learned to be a stenographers, mechanic or carpenter? Are you an incurable inventor, an avid researcher, or a party planner par excellence? Do you wonder why God gave you the gift of thinking clearly under pressure or of having a photographic memory? Have you mastered a foreign language or discovered that you have a special ability in an area like music, dance, graphics, problem solving, marketing, or supervising people?

What Are a Few of Your Talents or Skills?

A Man Was Given a Talent

(In New Testament times, a talent was the largest unit of silver, with an approximate monetary value of one ox.) Jesus told a parable using a metaphor about a man who was rebuked by his master for burying his talent. Read Matthew 25:14-30. Today, let’s extend the metaphor to include your natural talents and acquired skills. What would Jesus say to you? Are you using your talents and skills wisely or are you burying them?

SCRIPTURE TO PONDER

Then the Lord said…”And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kind of crafts.”

(Exodus 31:1, 3)

So…What Insight, Prayer, or Action Step Has God Laid on Your Heart Today?

Exert from "Praying for Purpose" (page 49) by Katie Brazelton.