Laborious Prayer

Having experienced the process of childbirth, I can say, without a doubt, there is no more painfully purpose driven physical activity that can compare with labor and delivery. Even with all the modern aids to ease the process, natural childbirth is exhausting work. But for a woman who, for months or perhaps years, has dreamt of that day, the strenuous effort is often overshadowed by the joyous end result.

Hannah was a woman who longed for such a happy experience. She had a deep yearning to have a child, to give birth to a son. But her desire was "delayed" so long, that she despaired, even refusing to eat. No earthly pleasures could distract her from her longing. Even the comfort and love of a kind husband wasn't enough to fill the cavernous void in her heart. And as if her barrenness wasn't enough, Elkanah's fertile 2nd wife found great pleasure in taunting her.

"It happened year after year, as often as she went up to the house of LORD she would provoke her; so she wept and would not eat." (1 Samuel 1:7)

Finally, so desperate, Hannah, unashamedly threw herself at the feet and mercy of the LORD. It didn't matter to her what she looked like or what people, not even Eli the priest, thought of her. So engulfed in her sorrow, she likely forgot he was even there.

''She, greatly distressed, prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. She made a vow and said, 'O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me.....but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life,...." (1 Samuel 1:10-11)

God eventually granted Hannah's request. Months later, a son was born and Hannah kept her word, releasing a very young Samuel into the service of the LORD.

But even before the birth of her son, Hannah experienced a labor and delivery of a different kind. Hannah was already ''pregnant'' with a dream. For years, she earnestly worshipped God and likely brought her request to Him often. But it wasn't until she completely laid herself bare and offered the very object of her request that she experienced breakthrough. Somewhere in those moments of raw emotion, she came to realize that her request was more than a woman's plea for a child. It was much bigger than she could imagine or even care for. It would be safest in God's hands. She must have reached a place of deeper faith and contentment in Him when she was done because verse 18 says she, ''...she went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.''.

Before there is great blessing, there is often great travail. Real prayer is labor intensive. It requires our undivided attention. Often it is a painful exercise that stretches us, it seems, beyond what we can bear. It is a tool, not to acquire things, but to change US and draw us closer to God. Hannah was transformed that day at Shiloh. So much so that her song of thanksgiving in chapter 2 makes only a small reference to her request (v. 5). Her main focus is on God Himself.

"There is no one holy like the LORD, indeed there is no one besides You, nor is there any rock like our God..." (v. 2)

"...for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and with Him actions are weighed." (v. 3)

The greatest blessing of answered prayer, (especially prayers we've had to persevere in for months or years) is not that we have received what we have prayed for but that we know God just a little bit better. Hannah not only received a son, she walked away with a deeper faith. A faith she would pass on to Samuel in the short 3 years she had him. A faith that shaped him into the man of God he would become. From an early age, he demonstrated a sensitivity to the voice of God and became a bold and faithful servant, blessing a nation through his leadership.

The dreams and plans God plants in every believer's heart are God sized and cannot be delivered without the purpose driven, sometimes painful, spiritual activity of laborious prayer. For Hannah, the strenuous effort was well worth the end result, in more ways than she could have ever imagined. So it can be for us.

"...pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Persevere.



It's a Romans 8:28 Life

''And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose....'' Romans 8:28

In the movie, It's a Wonderful Life, a kooky angel leads a distraught and suicidal George Bailey on a journey into the past---a past that does not include him. In the end, George realizes that, despite his disappointments and unrealized dreams, he was a blessed man. By the end of the movie, he's completely transformed.

These last several days, I've been thinking about the disappointments, failures, tests, and heartbreaks I've faced throughout my life. Some of those times, the pain was so great I thought I would die. Yet early Sunday morning, I found myself thanking God for each one. Without those experiences, I would never, ever have the many opportunities to know the God who created me or the abundant life He had planned for me. And I would never have the ability to speak into the life of another hurting soul to say, ''I know the One who can help you.".

If I never knew the sting of rejection, I would have never had the opportunity to experience the loving acceptance of my Creator.

If I never knew the darkness of depression, I would have never discovered the joy of the Lord.

If I never knew the deep pain of loneliness, I would have never known the presence of God.

If I never mourned the death of a parent, I would have never experienced the comfort of my Heavenly Father.

If I never had a wounded heart, I would have never known the mending hand of the Healer.

And if I never knew the awful, sickening feeling of sin, I would have never found that place of forgiveness and transformation that only He can give.

Every one of those circumstances has brought and kept this once prodigal daughter close to the Father. In the song, ''Blessings'', Laura Story writes these words:

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise.

It seems an odd thing to thank God for the trials of this life. I don't know what all the reasons are behind every test and I can't say I've passed every one with flying colors. But I do know that every test can become a testimony of the goodness and faithfulness of God.

I'm thankful that in my most difficult seasons, I have heard Him speak light into darkness and peace in the midst of the storms. I'm thankful for the times He has delivered me out of trouble and for the times He had me walk through it, all the while walking right beside me. I'm thankful for His gentle encouragements after a failure and for His hand of discipline after an act of willful disobedience. And I am especially thankful for a God who so passionately loves me that He'll use ANYTHING to prove it.

''...For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.'' Romans 8:28-30



HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Forget Me Not

"Forget-me-not! From long ago

it stirs the thought of happier days

For memories like wildflowers grow

along the heart's untrodden ways."

According to one legend, while God was naming all the plants of the garden, a tiny, humble flower cried out, ''Forget me not, O Lord!'' and God replied, ''That shall be your name. Yet I will not forget thee.". It was the image of this precious little flower that kept coming to my mind as I thought about the 10th anniversary of 9/11. It's a date that should be remembered every year, but this year, I felt more of a need to express my thoughts through art rather than the written word.

I spent the week pouring over news reports and photos, both past and present, to get a sense of what to focus on. It didn't take long to realize that the focus today should be the same as it was 10 years ago: people. Not religion. Not politics. Not the economic impact. But the thousands, upon thousands of men, women, and children whose lives were completely altered by the events of that day.

So with that as a starting point, I prayerfully began gathering the materials for this very special project (see photos below). I have to say of all the work I've ever done, this one ranks as the most emotional so far. Trying to represent thousands of souls across a 5" x 7" space was a challenge and I had to walk away from the project several times to regroup. But I think, in the end, something was created that will forever remind me of the people who perished and of the many families and friends who, today, may still be dealing, at various levels, with the pain and grief of their loss. I may not know every face and name, but God does. And He says, ''Yet I will not forget thee."

''Forget Me Not"

The entire frame, inside and out, is covered with the faces of every man,

woman, and child who perished on September 11, 2001.

This part of the work was the most difficult. I tried to be

so careful in how I cut and glued these faces on and I wept at

one point when it looked like I might not have enough space for all of them.

I just didn't want to leave anyone out.

Inside view. I tried to do a good representation of the people involved.

From the first responders, to the families,

those working in the New York City that day, even the president.

The images of these first responders, some grieving their comrades while

still having to do their jobs, still touch my heart deeply today.

The death of a loved one is probably one of the most difficult

things a parent has to walk a child through.

Reactions of people who thought it was just going to be

another ordinary Tuesday morning.

She looks almost prayful. While attaching this photo, I realized she was standing in front of a billboard promoting the movie, ''Collateral Damage''.

To some, that's what those lives were. To God, they meant so much more.

This man received, and is still receiving, a lot of criticism for the way he handled

things that day. But I just wonder how many of his critics would have traded

places with him to see if they could do any better. This is one of the reasons why

we should pray for our leadership. Even the ones we don't vote for or like.

It's difficult to see, but the back of the box is lined with pictures drawn

by children to express their thoughts about that day.

Most of these kids are now in their teens and early 20s.

It is the brightest part of this piece. In the midst of all the sorrow,

it's the children who are full of the bright potential to change this world.

Of all those affected by that day,

they should never be forgotten.