BIBLE STUDY

Hannah - Woman of Faith

Read: 1 Samuel 1: 1- 2:11

Another woman of the Old Testament who refused to allow her difficult situation to separate her from God's love and thus showed herself a woman of courage was Hannah. Her name revealed her nature because the name Hannah means grace. She learned to rely upon God's grace in her life and to show grace to others.

Her main problem was the act that she was unable to bear children. Those of us who have experienced some difficulty in bearing a child will be able to enter into her pain in a way that others cannot. There seems to be a certain ring in our human situation in that those who desire to have children are unable to do so while others who do not desire them, get rid of them when they are conceived. One of the saddest situations I know is that of a dear friend who in her youth lived with a man for a few years and when she became pregnant with his child she had an abortion. Today she is married and she and her husband want desperately to have a family. However, it has been impossible for her to carry a child full term. She now experienced eight miscarriages. With each one her grief is intensified. These are not easy issues to work through. Despite all of the other issues in which women may find fulfillment, there is nothing that compares with motherhood in providing satisfaction of our potential.

Hannah's grief was increased by the treatment she received from her rival Peninnal. She faced the challenge of infertile women today, who are tempted to take a hard line against those who have abortions, not so much out of concern for the moral wrong but, rather out of a sense of spiteful frustration. They fell it is unfair that women should destroy their children when they cannot have them.

By God's grace Hannah was able to show this attitude. Although the Bible tells us that her rival would provoke her until she wept and could not eat, we do not read of any vengeful response on the part of Hannah. Instead she brought her problems to the Lord. How much sorrow and pain in relationships would be solved if only we would opt for this response. To choose not to retaliate when provoked would be costly. Did it not cost Jesus His life? However the result is God honoring peace and harmony.

Despite the fact that she did not have children, God was gracious to Hannah and she was loved by her husband, Elkanah. Her grief disturbed him and he wanted her to be happy. Like so many of us, however, Hannah was so obsessed by what she did not have that she failed to fully appreciate what she had. Has that been your experience? It has been mine.

We are constantly faced with situations where we must make a choice. We can choose to accept that God. has placed us in the situation where we find ourselves and make the most of it or we can instantly focus on what we would like our situation to be and thus become creatures of discontent. As a woman of courage I can choose to appreciate God's grace where I am.

Although Hannah might not have fully appreciated what she has, she was not content to simply complain or become bitter and resentful about what she did not have. She asked God for what she desired. She knew to turn to God as a first and not a last resort. James reminded Christians, what we need to remember. "You do not have, because you do not ask God". The way to obtain what we desire is by acknowledging our own inadequate resources. Hannah knew her own inadequacy and so she made her request to the Lord. We can bring to Him our unfulfilled longings and He will give us His best for us.

Although Hannah brought her requests to the Lord, that did not spare her from misunderstanding. She was honest before the Lord. She did not pretend to Him that all was well. She exposed to Him her true feelings. The Bible says, "In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord". (1 Sam. 1:10). Then we feel something intensely it is difficult to act indifferently when we are focused on the subject. Our passion must be expressed.

One of my colleagues told me recently I am a passionate person. I feel things deeply, particularly those things that concern the faith. The problem with being passionate is that in discussing such subjects sometimes feelings overwhelm and my voice breaks and my eyes fill with tears. Such must have been the emotions of Hannah. Thus the priest, Eli believed from watching her that she must be drunk. The Bible says, "Hannah was praying in her heart and her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard." In those days prayers were most often offered in an audible voice. There was also much drunkenness associated with festivals and as the Scriptures teach, Hannah and Elkanah had gone up to Shiloh for the festival. With these facts it is not astonishing that Eli, the priest would think that Hannah might be drunk.

Those who are passionate and respond intensely to the Spirit of the Lord may sometimes find that we are misunderstood even by other Christians. We must be so careful that we do not limit the way in which we allow ourselves to respond to God so that the work of the Holy Spirit is hindered in our minds.

Those of us who are spiritual leaders must make it our business to find out what the source of spirituality is among our people. If what they do is motivated by the Spirit, while we ourselves may not understand or should their experience we must offer them the comfort and understanding of a God who does.

Such was the action of the man of God. As he listened to her story and saw her direction to God he offered his blessing. In verse 17, Eli says, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him". Although Eli did not completely comprehend her feelings, he respected her integrity and commended her to God's grace.

What lessons are there in Hannah's experience for us? Her story is a example of trusting in the grace of God. In grace God provided for all her needs even when she did not appreciate His gracious provision. His grace to her enabled her to be gracious to her wish and allow the Lord to deal with her situation rather than take vengeance into her own hands.

Knowing that the Lord was gracious gave Hannah the courage to bring honestly before Him the deepest needs and desires of her heart, even though it might mean risking misunderstanding.

The grace of God is just as vital and active in our situations today. The reason that nothing can separate us from the love of God is that this love is constantly being poured into our lives as God's grace. Grace provides for all of our needs. how did Paul put it? He spoke in Romans 5:17, "God's abundant provision of grace." Not only does He provide us with all we need, He also empowers us to be gracious, like Jesus. He cultivates in us the fruits of His grace, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-trust.

Our gracious God invites us to being to Him the deepest needs and desires of our hearts. Though nobody else may understand, He will respond. We need have no fear. We can open our hearts to His gracious arms of love.

Shepherd Christmas Letter

2006-3131 Bridletowne Circle
Toronto, ON
CANADA M1W 2S9
December 17, 2007
Dear Friends:

The snow on the ground and the grey skies overhead are a signal that winter has arrived in Canada. But they, along with the round of activities that are part of our ministry in The Salvation Army remind us that Christmas is approaching. We always look forward to this opportunity to connect with our friends across Canada and around the world. This letter reminds us of the warmth of ties we have with you. And its writing gives us an occasion to look back and see the hand of God in our lives.

This year has been quite remarkable one for our family.

Elizabeth’s career continues to expand. She has visited China, Japan, England and a number of cities in Canada and is working on her second CD. One of the highlights of the year was her appearance at the Montreal Jazz Festival – the largest in Canada- where her quartet played to a crowd of 35,000 people. We were all there to cheer her on. She and Eleanor had a great visit to Ireland and then Elizabeth went on to London, Paris and Barcelona.

John is working full-time with the Ontario Neuro-Trauma Foundation. ONF is a group involved in research, policy advocacy and program development for people with spinal cord injuries. He finds his work stimulating and is passionate about what he does and the potential it has to improve the care and the lives of people with spinal cord injuries. His courage, capacity and character are a delight and source of real pride to us.

Our year has seen the usual run of activities in our ministry in The Salvation Army. Canada is a huge country and sometimes the grind of constant travel across five time zones and 8,000 km (5,000 miles) can be wearing. But we treasure the contact with work we are able to do with those who are responsible for the mission of The Salvation Army in our 550 ministry units in Canada and Bermuda. Work in the area of health care as we work with governments in the restructuring of hospital governance is intellectually stimulating. Work with people in our corps (churches) touches the heart. In all of it we see God at work in marvellous ways.

In August we spent a week as chief counsellors at the Senior Music Camp for our Ontario Central Division – the Greater Toronto area. This camp had 135 kids aged 14-18 registered and we had a tremendous time. We were involved in the music program, but more significantly we had the privilege of leading daily Bible studies with the counsellors (21) and the music camp faculty itself (about 28 people). The honesty of those encounters and the seriousness of these youth leaders was a real inspiration to us. We did notice the effect of our age – by the end of the week we were both dragging our wings even though the kids seemed to be tireless.

At the beginning of October we were in Vancouver, where Glen was awarded an Honorary Doctorate at Trinity Western University. That was another one of the unexpected joys that we have come our way.

In October we were in Haiti and Jamaica working with The Salvation Army in those two countries. Our trip to Haiti involved a spiritual retreat with the officer (clergy) personnel of The Salvation Army in that country, a visit to some social service centres – hospitals, schools, children’s homes- in Haiti and a weekend celebrating the 25th anniversary of a Salvation Army corps congregation in Petit Goave. The week in Haiti changed our lives as we witnessed the remarkable work of the Army in the difficult conditions that are part of daily life in that country. It can be truly said that, if The Salvation Army in Haiti were to disappear, there would be a huge hole in that society.

The week following we were in Kingston, Jamaica to lead another officers’ retreat and to be part of the leadership of the 120th anniversary of the opening of the Army’s work in the Caribbean. The visit to Kingston was particularly rewarding since Eleanor’s parents lived there 30 years ago when they were the leaders of The Salvation Army in the Caribbean.

In November, after many months of prayer and reflection, we made a major decision to retire early from active service as Salvation Army officers and to move to another ministry with Health Partners International – a Montreal based Christian medical charity. We will both be involved in senior leadership of HPI (website: http://www.hpicanada.ca/). As of March 10, we will be accessible on our new web addresses:
Eleanor eshepherd@hpicanada.ca
Glen gshepherd@hpicanada.ca
The office phone number will be (514) 695-0007.

This will mean a move back to Montreal – our home and a new avenue of expressing our vocation and calling to Christian service. We will remain active in the ministry of The Salvation Army as members of the Salvation Army corps/church at Montreal Citadel – where we were married and where our children made significant spiritual decisions over their life. We have just finalised the purchase of our condominium, and our new address as of March 1, 2008 will be:
#220 - 45 Lakeshore Road
POINTE CLAIRE, QC
CANADA
H9S 4H3

The cumulative experience of our lives and ministry, what we have lived personally, in our families, across Canada and around the world cause us to marvel at the ways in which God is at work in our world. We live with hope, because the God of love never leaves us. We experience him in so many ways.

We pray the peace of IMMANUEL – God with us – on your Christmas and your new year.

Eleanor and Glen Shepherd

ELIZABETH JOHN
JOHN

What About Miracles?

WHAT ABOUT MIRACLES?

What are miracles and what purpose do they serve? Do miracles really happen today? I sometimes wonder if it is my belief in miracles that keeps me writing. I am not thinking of the miracle that first comes to mind for a writer – that a publisher is actually willing to accept and manuscript and work with the author and turn it into a book. No, I am thinking about the miracle that people actually read what we have written and somehow the Holy Spirit uses it for their benefit, to encourage, comfort, challenge or edify them.

Yet why should that surprise us? How many times have we been impacted profoundly by books or articles we have read? I remember how often, in reading the books by my favourite author, Catherine Marshall, I would slip almost unconsciously from reading into praying. What she said just opened the doors of communication with the Lord for me.

Then, I think how I shared the anguish of Joni as she told her story of coming to terms with her paralysis and how after our son’s accident I understood more profoundly than I could have imagined what she said. The miracle was that she would have the courage to give voice to experiences that I could not yet express.

What then is a miracle? Is it some evidence that God is at work? Is it just a coincidence of timing? Why do we want miracles?

I think the Bible encourages us to believe in miracles when it says, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” He is working all things for our good. In some of the situations we create for ourselves, nothing but a miracle could save us.

Sometimes physical phenomena explain what we call miracles. The Wesleyan commentary gives offers a possible scientific explanation for the miracle of the Israelites crossing the Jordan in the Old Testament. It says that earthquakes have at times blocked the water of the Jordan River. Perhaps the Lord used such a natural phenomenon for His purposes, in what we call a miracle.

In recent years we have desperately wanted a miracle. People ask us if our son, John will remain a quadriplegic for the rest of his life. Our answer usually is, “Barring a miracle, it looks that way. But we believe in miracles.”

Once, while John was in the hospital in Burlington, Vermont, we focused our prayers specifically on a miracle of healing for him. A friend sensed a firm conviction that she was to come and pray with John, specifically for his healing. She usually abhors peculiar supernatural manifestations. She came to talk to us, obviously troubled by her conviction.

Before talking to John, she needed reassurance we were comfortable with her praying for his healing. Over lunch, Bev told us how her sleep was disrupted by this growing conviction that she was to come and to lay her hands on John and pray for his healing. To do so was entirely out of character for her, but she could not escape the compulsion.

Her biggest fear was, “What if I do this and nothing happens?” “Will it destroy John’s faith?” The risks were high.

After our discussion, we prayed for the Lord to guide us. We entered John’s room apprehensively, not really sure what to do next. Hesitantly, Bev told John about her conviction. She wanted to pray for his healing. Would he be willing? John agreed. As we gathered around the bed, Bev prayed, laying her hands on his back and legs. It was a simple prayer, but we sensed the Lord’s presence with us. No visible changes occurred in John.

The next day, Bev called. A vivid vision awakened her several times during the night. A large banner floating across the sky said, “You have been obedient. I have heard your prayer. John will walk again.” She knew she must call and give John that message.

Today, five years later, John is still a quadriplegic in a wheel-chair. I believe one day he will walk again. It may not be until in Heaven he rises from his chair to be embraced by the Saviour.

In any case, he is a miracle. He has resumed an altered but normal life. He completed his studies at Harvard Business School, where he left off at the time of the accident. He does certain things a different way. He mentors other victims of spinal cord injuries. God uses him to bless others, through their prayers for him. We are blessed by his courage and fortitude.

What is a miracle? Would John’s life reflect more of a miracle if he again walked and used his hands? Miracles do not highlight what we do, but what God does. God’s miraculous grace is sufficient for John whatever his physical situation.

We have seen God’s grace in answering many prayers about John. One of John’s miracles is that those who pray for him, in the process, draw nearer to God, bringing their requests for John. How beautiful is that! Is it a miracle?