Luke 2:6,7

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

I am amazed by these two individuals-Mary and Joseph-called to these extraordinary roles! What were their thoughts, their emotions, their struggles! How did you handle, dear Mary, becoming pregnant supernaturally. How could you handle the Baby moving in your Womb. What were your emotions on experiencing THE greatest milestone of every woman, being pregnant with her first child - without the normal support and expectations that come with it? And what about your thoughts about Joseph? Were you worried? Did you think about how things would be after THIS with your husband? And did you always stay strong? Were you scared?
How did you handle it, Brother Joseph? Walking with your pregnant wife, were you worried? Did she look awesome at this point to you? Did she look like the lovely girl you wanted to marry and raise a family with or did she look like this mysterious WOMAN carrying the Messiah in her womb? Was it reverence or love that shone out of your eyes as you gazed upon this young wife of yours? Yours? Yours and yet not yours. Strange.
After HE was born, when you both ordinary human beings looked at THIS BABY what were your thoughts and feelings? Did HE look awe-inspiring or endearing or both? As you held HIM in your puny arms, May and Joseph, as you held GOD HIMSELF in your weak arms, what did you feel!!!!!!!

Lord, what did you feel? Becoming a Baby? Looking at your world from a point of view You never had before..looking at your handiwork, now your parents, gazing at You...over.. I can't imagine Your reactions and feelings.. this is where I will stop.

Lord, thank you!

When God goes quiet on you

1 Samuel 3:1 Now the young man Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.

That is a single sentence but it refers to a period. A period when God was silent. The Word of the Lord was rare in those days and there were no frequent visions.

God spoke to Israel as a nation and He also spoke to people as individuals. When God went quiet on Israel, Israel was defeated. Enemies that were terrified of Israel could defeat them and actually dare to carry the Ark of the Covenant away (1 Samuel 4:11). God could have stopped the Philistines form carrying away the Ark. But God let them. Is there a lesson here? Could it be that when there is a famine of God's Word the Presence of God will go as well?

God also goes quiet on individuals. Has He ever gone quiet on you? 

I don't know if you have experienced this. I have. You go to a retreat or prayer meeting - there is powerful preaching, soulful worship, amazing ambience-and we start to feel something... hearts are moved..even tears may flow. And people say it was anointed, that God's presence was there. And it does feel like God's Presence. I don't know. May be it is. But it doesn't last. Often when I am out of that place, it evaporates. The feelings, the presence, the desire for righteousness, the regret over my sins. All of it disappears under the harsh sun light of everyday life. Life returns to normal. There are no angels singing, no goosebumps, no hallelujah chorus.

Was what I felt fake then? Too many times I have and may be you have and may be others have dismissed the experience as just sentiments/emotions. Or is there something I am missing - may be you are too - here? What if we were wrong? What if The Presence of God was there. But it just didn't last. What if that was because the Word of the Lord was rare in those days? Could it be that His Presence will not LAST if I do not have His Word? When I think about it, I realize in that everyday life there was also no Bible reading. 

Then again, another point. Though the Word of the Lord was rare, The Ark didn't disappear on its own. God did not withdraw His Presence by Himself. He just let the Ark be taken away by the enemy. He wasn't against Israel, He just didn't fight on Israel's side. And that was enough for the enemy to defeat Israel.

The Word of the Lord is rare in these days also. If His Word is rare today in my nation and in my life what do I need to do? He definitely wants to give His Word to me. He has made clear His Willingness in these last days to pour out His Spirit upon all people, to give dreams and visions.

The answer is very simple.

I must read my Bible. Everyday. And then pray and ask Him if He would speak to me, confess and prepare myself and WAIT and HOPE. And hoping in the Lord is good and it doesn't disappoint.

Dear friend, we will perish without His Word. It is bread that we live on.It is strength for our bones and healing for our flesh. It is light and lamp to our way in these dark days. How do we live without light, bread and health? We cant, we will perish. Let us seek the Lord's WORD.⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Word of God is always revealed by God. It cannot be discovered by studies, research, committees and councils. Neither is it revealed to someone because s/he is knowledgeable, wealthy, good looking, popular, or powerful. It is revealed to whoever God chooses to reveal it. And He chooses sovereignly.

May He choose you, may He choose me. In Jesus's Name, Amen. 

O my soul, learn from Hannah!

What the Lord taught through Hannah

Today the Lord taught four things from Hannah in 1 Samuel.  Hannah was a sad woman. She was sad because she was barren. This is something that can cut the very core of a woman's heart - being childless. Adding insult to injury was, her rival, her husband's second wife Peninnah, who taunted Hannah all the time about her barrenness. Peninnah had several children. Year after year, the family went to Shiloh to worship the Lord and to offer sacrifices. Year after year, Peninnah vexed Hannah. Year after year, Hannah broke her heart. It's a sad picture.

But then, one year, it all changed. Hannah prayed earnestly and vowed if the Lord would have mercy on her and give her a son, she would give the child back to God  The Lord heard. He answered through a priest called Eli. Hannah conceived and gave birth to a beautiful son. And she returned to the Temple and consecrated him to the Lord, just as she promised. Happy ending!

So what can we learn from Hannah?

A woman of hope 
1 Samuel 1:11 And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” Hannah prayed this amazing prayer after several years of barrenness. For all practical purposes, it seemed like there is no hope. Even her husband seemed to think so, as he comforted her saying he was better than 10 sons to Hannah rather than give her hope that she would have a son (V8). Years have gone by in waiting and disappointment. People were mocking her. Her husband who loved her so much had accepted her barrenness. But Hannah hoped in the Lord!!!

A woman of prayer
1 Samuel 1:15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” Hannah was so sad she couldn't even eat (V7). However, when her husband comforted her and asked her to eat, seems like she did (V9). And it is after that, she rose up and went before the Lord and poured out her heart unto Him. I find so often, when I am sad, I pray about it very mechanically but I pour my heart out to my husband. But Hannah obeyed her husband, ate and drank, but she poured her heart out to the Lord. Could it be that she is closer to the Lord than even to her beloved spouse?? Hannah submitted to her husband and agonised in prayer with the Lord!

A woman of faith
1 Samuel 1: 17-18 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. Hannah has prayed, the Lord speaks through Eli, the priest and Hannah knows she has heard from the Lord. Its not just that she ate, but her face was no longer sad. She really believed that she had no need to be sad anymore. Has anything changed in practical terms? No. What really has happened? A servant of God blessed her. But that was enough to revive the faith of dear Hannah. Hannah believed in the Lord!

A woman of her word
1 Samuel 1: 25-28 When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli, and she said to him, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, 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.” And he worshiped the Lord there. So finally the dream has come true. A son has been born to remove her shame forever. And what does Hannah do? Just what she said she would. She gave Samuel - the darling child of her dreams and prayers- back to the Lord. Hannah gave unto the Lord!

She is beautiful and an amazing example. She hoped like Abraham against hope, she sought the Lord like David, she trusted the Lord like Daniel, like Shadrach, Mechak and Abedneggo while facing the lions and the fire, and like Abraham again, she laid her beloved child at the altar. She even sang a song while she did what must have been so hard for her.

She has many things to teach me-this humble Hannah.

O my soul, learn from Hannah!