Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah arose.

( 1Samuel 1:9)

The arising of Hannah at Shiloh is one of the most pivotal moments in the history of both Israel and of Christianity; for this is the spiritual moment of decision in the mind of a young woman that will change history.

Hannah had been grieving for not having a child, though she was married to an attentive husband. Hannah stood up when she had come to a resolution that she would make a direct appeal to God, with a bargain, that if He enabled her to conceive a son, she would give the son back to God. She had come to believe that God Himself might want a son as much as she did, and so accept her request. When she arose, it was to go to the tabernacle and to present her petition at the altar. She spoke her bargain to the Lord.

Hannah prayed “in her heart”while her lips shaped the words. At this time, no one in Israel had the faith of this young woman, whose faith was shaped by her need. Even Eli, the high priest, failed to recognize a real prayer when he witnessed her speaking with God. When Hannah arose from her prayer, she had ceased grieving and no longer wept in the presence of her rival wife, for Hannah was the second wife of her husband.

God answered Hannah’s prayer, and she gave birth to the little boy who became a great prophet in Israel. One more time Hannah rose up, to take her little boy back to the tabernacle to Eli. There without tears she left him, probably two, three, possibly four years old, to be brought up by Eli the priest. Only once a year Hannah could visit him, bringing him a new robe every year. Hannah never tried to get out of her bargain with God, and God blessed her with three more sons, and two daughters. (1 Samuel 1:21)

Even so, Hannah never forgot her firstborn. When Samuel grew up, he lived in Ramah, the home town of his parents.

Hundreds of years after Hannah arose, another young Hebrew woman arose, and traveled to Bethlehem, where she, too had a baby after a conversation with the Lord, this time with His angel. Mary said, My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. ( Luke 1:40) Hannah had said, My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted up. (1Samuel 2: 1) Both women arose toward their God, and our God.

Love in Him,

Prue

One day when our Sunday School class was discussing Corrie ten Boom’s description of Amsterdam at the end of World War II; of the eighteen wheeler trucks from Canada waiting at the border for the Armistice, to move in and deliver food for the starving Dutch population, Peggy DeRuyter exclaimed , “I saw those trucks! I saw them in Holland!” She had been a child at the time. “It must have been a big relief to see them,” I said. “Yes, she answered, but the real relief, the food we lived on, was the food that came from the sky.” “Do you mean the CARE packages from the U.S.?” I asked. “Yes, she said. “Those are what saved our lives and fed us.”

It has been estimated that more people in Europe , and especially in The Netherlands, died of starvation than on the battlefields during World War II.

Peggy was a Dutch woman who had immigrated to the United States with her family and with the sponsorship of a Lutheran church. She passionately loved the country that sent food, and that she now called “home.”

Peggy could identify with the Hebrew people as they found “food from the sky” every morning on the floor of the desert. She knew what it was to be aware that someone was conscious of her plight and moving out of sheer fellowship with her and her people to come to her relief.

The manna that Moses’ people received sustained them for forty years in the desert. It was part of the glue that bonded the people to their God. It was the most elemental means by which God displayed His Fatherhood, by feeding His family of human beings: I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. . . This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. (John 6:48-51)

More than three thousand years after the Hebrews woke up to manna on the desert, we go to communion and partake of a piece of bread or a wafer and a sip of wine or grape juice to celebrate the very flesh of God’s presence with us. The communion opens the door to the passionate gratitude of souls who are offered eternal life from the son of God. We receive a glimpse of the joy Peggy received, and the stirring of grateful love for the One who calls us His own, even when we barely know Him. This is the bread that comes down from heaven. . . whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.

(John 6:58)

Love in Him,

Prue

When my sister Holly and I visited our childhood home after many years away from there, she rang the doorbell and we were met by two young girls who were home alone. I explained that we had once lived in their house; and would we be allowed to visit them? They answered that they would have to call their mother to know if it was OK, which they did; and surprisingly, their mother said “Yes, you can show them the house and yard.” We promised not to stay long.

It was a nostalgic visit. The girls were eager to know how the house had changed. It was almost the same, but the kitchen had been made into a family room, with a fireplace added, and what had been our dinging room was now their kitchen. The experience left a deep impression on me, and the girls seemed intensely interested as well. Saying “Thank you, and good by,” was like a second and final good bye to a period of my life. I was quite sure that I would not see that house again.

Afterward Holly and I drove to Church Street, where the church of our growing up and our confirmation stood. We searched and thought we were lost in the small central New York town of Cortland, until we understood that the church had been razed some time ago, and the grassy place it used to occupy was all that we could see. After visiting the house, finding the church completely gone was a shock. It had been built in 1803, when both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were alive. I experienced a sharp sense of loss. Later I learned that the congregation had moved to a new building just outside of town, where there was plenty of room for parking and growth; both of which were lacking at the old site.

Places are not living things in themselves, yet they hold meaning for us: My Father’s house has many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come back and take you to be with me, that you also may be where I am. ( John 14:2-3)

Clearly Jesus knows the need we have to be “at home” in a place, to feel connected to a place, and he offers himself and his Father as the “place” where we will find ultimate home, the love and acceptance of family that makes places dear to us. It brings me joy to know that other children are growing up where I did, and that other people have a new church home. Jesus promises that where he is, is home.

Love in Him,

Prue

The Resurrection is the most mysterious event in the history of the world. Its mystery is enhanced by the many eyewitnesses to both the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. For forty days following his Resurrection Jesus was seen by over 500 believers.

(1Corinthians 15:6)

There is an overwhelming amount of truly pertinent information that we could not have imagined before Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene in the morning, and on the evening of the same day, to all his disciples meeting behind locked doors.

Perhaps the most mysterious meeting was on the road to Emmaus, that very same day, when Cleopas and another disciple were walking in the sad conviction that Jesus was dead. They were joined by a “stranger,” who asked what they were discussing. They answered that their hopes in a messiah had been shattered by the death of Jesus, and the stories that he had risen only amazed and confused them: He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!”. . . And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them all the Scriptures concerning himself. (Luke 24:25-27)

For a long time I was puzzled over what purpose Jesus had in walking in disguise with two of his real followers. Then I remembered That Jesus had told the disciples at the Last Supper that he would be sending an “Advocate” from the Father to be with them, to companion them, to remind them of his, Jesus’ words and life, and to “open the Scriptures” to them: But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” ( John 14:26)

These are the very things that the “stranger”did for the disciples, causing their hearts to “burn within them:” Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32) I believe that Jesus himself was modeling the Holy Spirit for the disciples so that they could receive him after Jesus returned to Heaven. As a stranger, Jesus showed the two disciples that he could still be with them, though they wouldn’t always recognize him physically. Jesus needed his disciples to experience the reality that he and the Holy Spirit are one, and that through this Advocate, Jesus would be present with them always even if they didn’t always recognize him. How can that be? Because He is Risen! Hallelujah!

Happy, Happy Easter!

Love in Him,

Prue

The remains of the cell where Paul was confined in Philippi

There are two things about St. Paul that astound me whenever I read the book of Acts or his letters. The first one is that Paul was such an intense persecutor of Christians. He displayed not the slightest human compassion for individuals who had done nothing at all to him personally: Saul (later, Paul) began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in jail. (Acts 8:3) In addition, Saul approved the stoning of Steven. The ‘milk of human kindness’ appeared not to exist in this particular Hebrew man. Nevertheless, this is the man who wrote 1 Corinthians 13: Love is patient, love is kind. . . It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres; a definition of love that more than two thousand years later is still read at many wedding and anniversary celebrations throughout the world. Something very deep, high, and wide must have happened to the man Saul for such a change to occur in him. He is a living testimony to the grace and power of God Himself, and to Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

The second thing about Paul that still astounds me, is that, while for some time after his conversion on the Damascus road, he believed that Jesus’ physical return was immanent, and would happen in his own lifetime; yet when he learned that in fact, he, like Jesus, would have to die, his faith in Jesus never wavered for a moment. It is one thing to love a God who will ensure that you will not die, and another thing to know that you will, in fact be executed, and still love your God: We who are still alive will be caught up together with the others in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. (1Thessalonians 4:17)

Later, to Timothy, Paul in prison wrote, For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2Timothy 4:6-7) Paul was enough filled with Jesus’ Spirit to know that death itself would not separate him from his God. He lived in that knowledge and it made him strong and courageous.

These two things about Paul are life altering things that give us a vision of what the Christian walk could be for an ‘ordinary’ person who experiences the presence of Another Person in His life whose character is entirely holy and just. Like David of the Old Testament, Paul received an anointing which changed his inner and outer self. He wrote exquisite passages about Jesus, as David wrote exquisite psalms. Neither time nor space has marred their messages from God.

Love in Him,

Prue

Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you , and just as you enter it, you will find a (donkey ) colt tied there, which no one has ever r1dden. Untie it and bring it here.” (Mark 11:2)

Jesus’ encounters with people of all types high and low, r1ch and poor, are so fascinating that we almost overlook the smaller roll of animals in Jesus’ life on earth. He was born in a stable, probably surrrounded by animals; and the announcement of his birth, heralded by angels was sent to herds of sheep as well as their shepherds. Nevertheless, Jesus’ most celebrated interaction with an animal, is the event of Palm Sunday, his procession into the city of Jerusalem on the long prophesied colt of a donkey: Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly, and riding on a donkey. . . He will proclaim peace to the nations.

(Zechariah 9:-10b)

Both Mark and Luke report that this animal had never been ridden before, and Jesus chose it specifically for his triumphant, noisy, crowded entry on a street of the bustling city of Jerusalem at the time of the Passover celebration. When I thought about this, it seemed to me that Jesus was displaying only to those who knew him well, the same power over the natural world that he displayed when he stilled the storm, and when he walked on water, but only the two disciples knew about the colt. The colt fulfills the ancient prophecy, and that would be sufficient for many people to connect Jesus to the prophesy, but Jesus wanted at least two, and, undoubtedly, all the rest of the disciples, to see even more than a human king in this eventually. He wanted you and I to know him as God’s son, the eternal one who would be able to give eternal life to us.

The donkey’s colt perfectly fits the prophesy, and fits the conveyor of peace to the whole world. With the colt, Jesus is identifying himself as the one that Israel longed for. Palm Sunday is a powerful celebration for Christians. What it meant to Jesus, his disciples, the crowd, or the Pharisees is not entirely known, but what it means to us will grow and expand every year that we know our God better. The event appears in all four Gospels. It was a vital part of Jesus’ ministry. It held many meanings to the people of his time, and even more meaning to us, who take a long look from different perspectives and grow deeper in our relationship with the God/man who rode a donkey’s colt into Jerusalem more than two thousand years ago.

Love in Him,

Prue

There is a small roadsid diner/cafe in Mineral WellsTexas., I will call “Jake’s”. Jack and I stop there some times coming or going to the lake. Jake and Clara, his main waitress, now recognize us and we’re warmly welcomed when they see us come through the door. Last week we stopped for lunch on the way home from Possum Kingdom Lake, and I headed for the rest room, which turned out to be locked. I mentioned it to Clara, and she loudly speculated that someone from the kitchen must be using it. When another woman asked the same question Clara pointed to me from across the room , and announced, again loudly, “That lady is waiting for the restroom, too. We’re trying to find out why it’s locked!” I received many sympathetic looks from almost every table, as Clara’s voice carried throughout the diner. Jack asked me if I would like to leave and maybe return later, but I declined, as we had already ordered lunch. Eventually the door was unlocked and the other lady was told, also loudly, “That lady (indicating me) was waiting first!”. but it fell on deaf ears. Eventually it was my turn and everyone in the place returned to their lunches. As we finally left, I received more understanding smiles from men as well as women.

I did silently pray during this fiasco that I might disappear by some supernatural means, but I dimly recalled a scripture from St. Paul: Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3;12-13)

I knew that I had nothing to forgive, for no one had acted with malice toward me; and that I had no reason to be resentful. Also, I had no reason to avoid Jake’s on future trips through Mineral Wells. After all, this was the one and only time that I had ever had an uncomfortable time in the diner. The promises of God came to mind, and I knew again that they are true: The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love Him with all your soul, and live. (Deuteronomy 30:6)

I knew that St. Paul’s heart had been circumcised , or he could not have been the spokesman for God’s son that he was.

Humility is painful to learn. It will be quite a long time before I return to Jake’s Diner, but I feel sure that I will return.

Love in Him,

Prue

Among the many passages in the Old Testament that reflect Christ, there are two passages that, with a little light from the New Testament, lead us directly to Christ. The first appears in Deuteronomy : If any of your people–Hebrew men or women—sell themselves to you and serve you six years, in the seventh year you must let them go free. . . but if your servant says to you, “I do not want to leave you,” because he loves you and your family and is well off with you, then take an awl and push it through his earlobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life. Deuteronomy 15:12-18)

The second appears in a psalm of David: Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—but ears you have dug for me—burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, “Here I am. I have come—it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will my God. Your law is within my heart.”

When I first read “ears you have dug for me”, I couldn’t understand the psalm, but one day I remembered the peculiar passage in Deuteronomy describing a person willingly entering service to another, and declaring a desire to stay for life in servitude. To the other. It was the word love, that resonated, for the whole relationship was wrapped in enough love for the servant to choose to make it permanent.

David, too , must have known the earlier rule, and experienced a relationship of service to his God that allowed him to feel that he actually belonged to God, and recognized the scriptural pierced ear as a sign of God’s ownership of himself. “Who”, I asked myself, “came willingly into servitude, and loved the ones he served so much that he chose to remain a servant forever, if it is not the Lord Jesus, himself?”

More than a thousand years after the words of Deuteronomy were given to the Hebrew people , the apostle Paul wrote about ownership of our own bodies and selves: Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit whom you received from God? You are not your own: you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) In two short passages authored in different times and by different people, we can see a loving relationship that transcends time and place, that chooses love above everything else, and that gives us a picture of our God, for the Holy Spirit of Christ has come to stay.

Love in Him,

Prue

9

Sitting near the gate at the San Antonio airport, waiting for a flight to Mexico, I discovered that I had left my Kindle in the security check bin, and went to retrieve it. At the desk I was asked the title of the book I was reading, to make sure I was really the owner. When I answered, the security officer never looked at the Kindle, but handed it to me.

I returned to the gate in time for our flight, thinking about the Kindle, and remembering that several years ago my older brother had told me that “some day” I would be able to carry a whole library in my purse. I had thought, “Why would anyone want to do that? It’s a foolish notion.” Now I was carrying a library onto the plane and feeling very glad at the thought of having retrieved it.

The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt. . .where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden. But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drink rain from heaven. It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.

(Deuteronomy 11:10-12)

The changes that the Spirit of God brings into our lives make our lives different from what they were before. Until those changes come, we cannot imagine what they will be, just as we cannot imagine what a difference a new friendship will make in our lives. In Deuteronomy God carefully explains some of the changes in store for the people who had come from being slaves in Egypt. He outlined the kind of differences they would experience when they placed their relationship with Him at the center of their lives.

The apostle Peter expressed the new life that comes with a relationship with Christ: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. (1Peter 1:3-4) God told the early Hebrews that their new life would not be like their old life. The new life would have the Person of God in Christ at its center: Behold! I make all things new! (Revelation 21:5)

Love in Him,

Prue

God is not stupid. He knows that He is invisible to His people. It was one of the issues between Moses and Himself: Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” And the Lord said, “I will cause all my glory to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, ‘The Lord’ in your presence. . . But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” (Exodus 33:19-20)

God knew that His being invisible to the people He was bringing out of Egypt would be a problem for them for centuries, as they would be living surrounded by idol worshipers, who would seem to be flourishing in their idolatry. He also knew that “seeing is believing” was in the minds of many.

In their forty years of moving about in the wilderness they received visible and constant proof of God’s presence in the fire overhead at night and the cloud in the daylight, that kept them together and mostly united. God isn’t stupid. He knows the pull and attraction of the man idols from the beginning of time and today. He knows and understands the struggle to remain faithful; and He knew that His people would ultimately need to see Him, and Jesus knew it, too: The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. (Luke 11:31)

St. Paul, who heard Jesus’ voice after the resurrection, testified that , The Son of God is the image of the invisible God. (Colossians 1:15), and, My goal is that they may have the full riches of complete understanding in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2: 2-3)

In the Scriptures we have the “Image of God in Christ,” a thing that even Moses and Elijah came to visit on the Mount of Transfiguration. We think there are things that God does not understand, but there are none.

Love in Him,

Prue