Advent 12/10/22 Sacred People

Miracles From God's Hands
Saturday, December 10

1 Samuel 2:1-8 (The Message)

Hannah prayed:
I’m bursting with God-news!
    I’m walking on air.
I’m laughing at my rivals.
    I’m dancing my salvation.
 Nothing and no one is holy like God,
    no rock mountain like our God.
Don’t dare talk pretentiously—
    not a word of boasting, ever!
For God knows what’s going on.
    He takes the measure of everything that happens.
The weapons of the strong are smashed to pieces,
    while the weak are infused with fresh strength.
The well-fed are out begging in the streets for crusts,
    while the hungry are getting second helpings.
The barren woman has a houseful of children,
    while the mother of many is bereft.
 God brings death and God brings life,
    brings down to the grave and raises up.
God brings poverty and God brings wealth;
    he lowers, he also lifts up.
He puts poor people on their feet again;
    he rekindles burned-out lives with fresh hope,
Restoring dignity and respect to their lives—
    a place in the sun!
For the very structures of earth are God’s;
    he has laid out his operations on a firm foundation.

___

Hannah prays in thanksgiving for the birth of her son Samuel, who became one of the greatest of the judges and prophets. Hannah had been barren for years and ridiculed for it. Yet she kept praying for a child and God granted her prayer. The Holy Spirit directed me to this selection-- I traded envelopes with a friend. I then got goose-bumpy and emotional when I read Hannah’s words. I know her pain, prayers and hope.

I could not conceive for six years of marriage. I prayed but took no other action. I know it was a miracle when God gave us a son. It happened in God’s time. When I knew I was pregnant, I felt Hannah’s words: “My heart rejoices in the Lord. There is no one above the Lord. The Lord is my foundation.”

Many people today want to live by science. Science does help us understand the wonders of the world and improve our lives, but it is not enough. If we put our faith in science or man, these things can fail, as Hannah said. The one really in charge is God.
We need to pray to make things happen and remember it is in God’s hands how they work out, “for the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; on them he has set the world. He will guard the feet of his faithful servants.”

 I offer a prayer of thanksgiving for God answering my prayer for a child, as we await the arrival of Mary’s son. My miracle changed my world. My son has brought so much joy, love and good to our family’s world. Mary’s son brought the whole world the answer to all our prayers. We just need to keep Him at the center and keep praying. We can then recognize the miracles when the Lord brings them to us. Shall we pray God’s joy, love and peace will spread throughout our lives and the world? I also pray we each receive our miracles from His hands.

-Christine Henderson