Keeping it Salty

Women of Courage – Anna – Mar. 15, 2014

We discussed the easy step into sin.  How we can be deceived to follow the wrong and errant road. We looked at the “devotional” page from Sarah Young’s book and how easy it is to follow the emotion and not the scripture.  God’s word is sufficient!! God’s revelation is complete and inerrant.  There are many that will follow wrong teaching, their minds have been blinded. We need to pray that the Lord would keep us on the straight path.

2 Cor. 4:3-4 Satan is strong and is at work to deceive us, to lead us into destruction.  We need to stay strong in the Lord and pray for his discernment.  God is in control.  We need to lean on God’s word and his strength.

We have to have the courage to speak for God, to speak against the perversion of scripture. Many false prophets are in the world, we need to be God’s salt.

 

Women of Courage – Anna – Mar. 1, 2014

Women of Courage – Anna – Mar. 1, 2014

2. Three verses in Luke tell Anna’s story, from them what do they tell us about Anna?

^{Luke 2: 36} And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; ³⁷ And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. ³⁸ And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

She was at least 84 yrs. old, a prophetess who fasted and prayed night and day, she was married 7 yrs. She had suffered this loss, then lived at the temple, and was content to serve God night and day.  She was a young woman when she began her service in the temple. She was obedient to her God. She knew the scriptures and placed her life in God’s hands. She had lived a long time before Christ, and therefore had seen a lot of sin in the land.  She thanked God and spoke to others that came in and out of the temple about God’s redemption.  She came from the tribe of Asher. She was placed in the pages of scripture. God wanted us to know these details about her. As quoted, “she was not defined by a husband’s absence but by God’s presence”.

At the very moment that Christ was brought to the temple, she was allowed to see and know who he was. She did not doubt who he was and began immediately to proclaim God’s great gift.

3. Anna and Hannah are similar in what ways?

Hannah was faithful to visit the temple. They both loved the Lord and prayed to the Lord a lot.  They both looked for the redemption of Israel.  They both served and fasted. Both had sorrow and trusted God through it. Hannah fasted for her sorrow.  They both served, either at home, around her, or at the temple. They prayed fervently. They were dedicated to their service and were committed to stay in the service for God.  They both lived during corrupt times, saw a lot of evil, and yet they both depended upon God.

Are we committed to our service for God?  This is a question we need to ask ourselves.  When we age and our bodies weaken we should still seek ways in which to serve God.  We are the temple of God and we should be serving God where we are and where God leads you.  Are we putting the effort into what we do as a joyful service, or is it a burdensome task.   Why are we in service? Is it all about you, the attention, or because you are praising God with the tasks that you are doing? 

4.  How was Anna like or unlike the five women called prophetesses in the Old Testament?

Shera gave us the scriptures to read about all these women and then mentioned a handout that she would be sending out to us that would help us understand these prophetesses.

 

 

Women of Courage – Anna, Feb. 15, 2014

Women of Courage – Anna, Feb. 15, 2014

We began with the shepherds that knew that Jesus was the Christ at his birth.

We read Luke 2:8-20   And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. ¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

¹⁵ And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. ¹⁶ And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. ¹⁷ And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

¹⁸ And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Shepherds were hard working, common folk, unremarkable people. They are not named; they were the everyday working people. The function of the shepherd as a symbol or metaphor of what God is like. Shepherds have been mentioned throughout the Bible, from the beginning in Genesis, Abel was a shepherd.  Then many of the main people that followed God were shepherds or shepherdesses. 

Sheep supply a great deal: clothing, food, milk, fertilizer. They were an important product for the people.  Shepherds were the caretakers of this important commodity.  Kings, because of their caring for their people, were often referred to as the shepherds of their nation. 

These shepherds were anticipating the coming of the Messiah. God sent his message to those that he knew were full of faith and looking to God.

The other words that really pop out are about the Glory of God.  It was a glory that had not been seen before in this way.

 Isaiah 6:2-3 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. ³ And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

This is a picture of the Angels and their recognition of God.  These angels knew the glory of God and praised God through it.  This was not a quite event, many knew and proclaimed it to many others and the words spread.

Psalm 72:18-20 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. ¹⁹ And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen. ²⁰ The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

These people are recognizing from the birth of Jesus that he is the promised Messiah.  He is the fulfillment of all the prophecy. 

Simeon would be the next one to recognize the Christ.  Luke 2:25-33. It says specifically that he was filled with God’s spirit.  He had seen other babies, but he knew that this was the one.  The Holy Spirit was revealing it to him. Anna came at the very moment that this was happening and shared in this moment of joy.

The wisemen became proclaimers of God’s gift as well. They praised and worshiped God.  We read Matthew 2:1-23

Women of Courage – Anna, Feb. 1, 2014

Women of Courage –  Anna, Feb. 1, 2014

We can’t comprehend how God came down and became a man.  We understand our humanity, but it is linked to sin, whereas, Jesus was sinless.  So, it is difficult to really understand.  Shera shared with us a devotional related to Jesus’s humanity by Bob Coy and gave scriptures to our ladies to share when we get to those passages.   

These are the passage addresses:

Hebrews 7:25, 4:15; Col 1:15; 1 John 2:6; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 2:1-2; 1 Tim. 1:15-17; 2 Cor. 5:18-19

If you were unable to attend this meeting, Shera would be willing to share the devotional with you if you ask her.

We continued to talk about those that were aware of who Jesus was at his birth.

Matt. 1:18-25 we visited Joseph again in these scriptures. Joseph was a righteous man, he was supposed to uphold the law; so, what he had to deal with was immense.  Joseph didn’t know the truth for sure until he was told by the angel, but once he was told he did not sway from the truth, he dealt with it as he was supposed to and was most likely relieved.   Joseph was the “son of David” which is a title from royalty.  Joseph and Mary most likely had an arranged marriage and grew to love one another over time.   He was similar to the kinsman redeemer in his actions.

Luke 2: 1-7 - This is the time when Joseph and Mary had to travel because of the census and when Mary would give birth.  Mary’s lineage went back through David’s line as well.  V.16 Joseph is there when the shepherds and then the wisemen came.  V.22 They went through the purification time.

 Lev. 12:1-8- Mary’s purification and Jesus’s circumcision.

Luke 2 :33 -  Matthew 2:1-23 – after the visit of the Magi; Joseph was told to flee to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod, and fulfilled the prophecy( Hosea 11:1). Then an angel told him to return to Israel, and being afraid of the new ruler, God directed him to Galilee.

Matt. 2:39-40 this is the last time we hear of Joseph until Jesus was in the temple when he was 12. 

Bible Study - Anna - Jan. 18th, 2014

Women of Courage –  Anna – Jan. 18^th, 2014

Shera brought us a large number of scripture to help us understand our first question: Who recognized Jesus’s birth and on what basis did each person or group recognize him?

We read Luke 1:1-45

Luke 1 King James Version (KJV)

1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, ² Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; ³ It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, ⁴ That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

⁵ There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. ⁶ And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. ⁷ And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

⁸ And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, ⁹ According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. ¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. ¹¹ And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. ¹⁴ And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. ¹⁵ For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. ¹⁶ And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

¹⁷ And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. ¹⁸ And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. ¹⁹ And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

²⁰ And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. ²¹ And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. ²² And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

²³ And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. ²⁴ And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, ²⁵ Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men. ²⁶ And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

²⁷ To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. ²⁸ And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. ²⁹ And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. ³⁰ And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. ³¹ And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. ³² He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: ³³ And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

³⁴ Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? ³⁵ And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. ³⁶ And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

³⁷ For with God nothing shall be impossible. ³⁸ And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. ³⁹ And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; ⁴⁰ And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. ⁴¹ And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

⁴² And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. ⁴³ And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. ⁴⁵ And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

Then we visited the whole recounting of Jesus’s birth and the events around him.  First was Zacharias- Luke 1:1-45

He was an old priest and was serving his required service.  He had married within his tribe and both he and his wife were righteous in God’s sight, believing His word.  He walked blamelessly in the law, doing things right.  So, why did he doubt? Perhaps he was still afraid, his humanness was still there.  It was 400 years since God had given a message to his people.  Gabriel was an angel that stood in the presence of GOD!!  But in Gabriel’s words the fact that Zacharias did not believe, trust, his own doubts caused his silence.  His questions were similar to those asked by Mary.  The sign of his silence was a proof of the revelation he had been given.   

We need to be careful not to only focus only on being righteous in our walk that we lose sight of the movement of God.

Elizabeth and baby John – vs. 39-45 She was in seclusion for 5 months until Mary came and she felt her baby leap within her as both were filled with the Holy Spirit.  Her reaction to seeing Mary was a filling of the Holy Spirit and she proclaimed a blessing on Mary.   She knew that the Lord had entered her house!

Zacharias’s Prophecy – Luke 1:67-80

John the Baptist- Luke 1:57-66

Word of the birth of John and the prophecy proclaimed spread throughout the countryside of Judea.  By the time that Jesus began his ministry, there were many that knew of the prophecy and the movement of God. They knew the stories their fathers had told and many generations had past.  God had been silent for so long and now they knew that God was certainly with him. What would this boy become!

Because we studied Mary in our last study, we won’t spend time going through her experience again.

Joseph – Matthew 1:18-25 Matthew got his knowledge from his firsthand accounts from Jesus and Jesus’s mother and possibly Joseph.  Joseph knew that Jesus was the Son of GOD.  But he was Jesus’s earthly father and so he trained him in the ways that he knew. Joseph trained him in carpentry.  Joseph relied on the Lord to direct him in keeping Jesus safe.  Joseph instructed him in the Torah. 

Because of Jesus’s humanity he has allowed us to know him on a human level. We know he was a friend, a son, a brother, cousin, etc. and because of that we identify with him.

Christmas Devotional

This isn’t going to be a typical Christmas devotional. This is a devotional for those that are hurting as well as those that are doing ok, to remind us that God is in control.

Sometimes it seems like people hurt more during this season.

Sunday Jon asked for the people in our congregation that were going through difficult times to raise their hands.  There were hands raised all over our congregation. We experience times of difficulty when it seems like things should be peaceful or joyful.  Then we get frustrated that we are going through difficult times and bring our cries to God.

I am going to start with Isaiah 40:1 - God gives Isaiah a command and we have the same words given to us:

1.     1. Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.  2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem (Cornerstone),and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed,  that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.

Today I hope to bring comfort to you.  Your sins have been paid for and your hope is toward God.  God is calling to you from your emotional wilderness and your empty hearted desert. He wants to show you his ways and his love.

3 A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

The people that Isaiah ministered to couldn’t see an end to their troubles.  They complained and felt that God wasn’t there.

27 Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”?

They didn’t understand what they were going through and they felt that God wasn’t even paying attention to them.  Their prayers were being ignored and they were facing tough times alone. 

Or so they thought. 

To illustrate this on a smaller scale, I found this story about Christmas shopping..

I am sure you all have had experiences of frustration when shopping for Christmas.  Here is the story:

Several weeks before Christmas, a woman’s daughter called and asked, “Mom, could you go get some toys, hot chocolate, and Bibles for our military in Iraq, because I don’t have the time?” She explained, “That is what the military men and women are asking for.” and her place of business was going to send boxes of wanted things over to Iraq for Christmas.

The mom agreed to help and headed to a certain store, because Bibles there cost one dollar.  However, she could only find a few when she got there.  She asked several clerks and they said, “I don’t know where they are.”  After asking God to show where the Bibles were and combing the store, she thought, “They must not have anymore.”

She then got in a long line and paid for what she had. As she was walking out, she looked over at a man carrying about 10 Bibles.  She asked, “Hey, where did you get them?” Sure enough, he pointed 7 feet away to stacks of Bibles. 

She questioned God by saying, “God, I asked You to let me see where the Bibles were but You didn’t.  Now I will have to stand in another long line.”   She was frustrated with God and her situation.  

Can you relate?

We want things to run smoothly, without incident.  But God allows heartache, frustrations, and tribulations come into our lives.

Her shopping basket had already purchased stuff in it, so she went back and filled the kid seat part with Bibles. The Bibles were stacked very high so everyone saw them.  Little did she know that God was at work.

Upset, she got in another long line and had two women in front of her. They asked, “Why so many Bibles?”  The mom told them about the daughter’s work, and the military wanting Bibles in their Christmas boxes.  One of the gals started crying and said, “God used you to show me my prayers for our military have been answered.  I have been praying that they would turn to Him.”  The other started talking about the family in need she was buying for.  The women told her they would pray for them.  The two gals in back of the mom got into the conservation.  One handed the mom $9 and said, “I would love to have given you more to help pay for the Bibles.  I think sending Bibles to our troops is such a wonderful thing to do.  You have made my day.”  The other woman said, “This is a neat Christmas moment!”

As the mom was pushing a basket full of Bibles to her car, she was feeling in high happy spirits.  She prayed, “Lord, I am so sorry I was frustrated at You over the Bible trouble!  It made my Christmas – buying Bibles for our troops, talking to those lovely women, and seeing how You use troubles, tribulations and inconveniences to bless and strengthen us all!

27 Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”?

How can we say such things about God when we know perfectly well who he is and what he is like? He knows your situation perfectly, and he can and will do something about it.

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Here is the subject of trust.  This idea of trust appeared three times previously in the book of Isaiah (8:17; 25:9; 33:2) and will appear twice more (49:23; 64:4).

To “wait” on God is not simply to mark time; rather, it is to live in confident expectation of his action on our behalf. It is to refuse to run ahead of him in trying to solve our problems for ourselves.

Thus, just as Isaiah called on the people of his own day to trust God to solve their problems, he calls on the exiles in the age to come to do the same thing. If they are worn out and weary, hardly daring to believe that there is any future for them, the God of all strength can give them exactly what they need at the right time, whether to “soar,” “run,” or “walk.” (John Piper).

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5)

He is working for the good, let us trust in God’s reasoning always, knowing He is in control and loves us all! Christmas reminds us that God provides for us in ways that are beyond our comprehension.  He gave his son for us.  

He gave his life, a ransom for many so we can be a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that we should show forth the praises of God, who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9).

This Christmas, show the world you trust God through the good times and the bad. 

He is in control.

Finishing the Study of Mary, the mother of Jesus

Women of Courage – Finishing the Study of Mary, the mother of Jesus

Wrapping up the lesson

We returned to question 7 the attributes of God’s nature: did Mary include in her song of praise?  We read all about His greatness, his holiness, his great mercy, his power, the strength of his own arm.   We spoke about God’s faithfulness, from generation to generation.  

We returned to the blog and re-read the words that had been discussed previously.

Mary was a young girl when she was called by God, an ordinary young girl, about to experience the extraordinary.  We thought about her learning of God’s word. Children were taught God’s words, memorizing them.  Women had to depend upon the men in their lives to give them God’s instructions. 

Most Israelites were looking for a conquering king to come, but few were looking for a saving Savior.  In Luke 4 it becomes obvious.  They weren’t looking to change themselves, but for someone to change their circumstances.  People are very much the same today.  Few are willing to repent for the sin in their lives. 

When Mary was told she would bear the Christ, she was told that he would reign forever and that his kingdom would not end.  Did she also understand that He would be a suffering savior?  It may have taken time for her, as she watched his growth, wisdom, and all the things that took place in His life.  There were times throughout her life when others continued to confirm the coming kingdom.

 Luke 1- Zacharias’ prophecy when his voice returned:

67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

 

74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

His prophecy mentions the remission of sin.  Dayspring can be a new day or it can mean a shoot or branch.  This describes the messiah, the branch of the Lord and the light of the world. 

And in Luke 2:

²⁵ And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

Jesus is referred to as the consolation

29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

God is faithful.  Mary understood her part in God’s plan. 

REFLECTION QUESTION #5 In what ways do questions about God’s plan and purpose often keep a person from embracing the plan fully or trusting the Lord unconditionally?

The night of Christ’s birth was messy.  They didn’t have a room, things were not in place.  It was a difficult time.  She was labeled because of her pregnancy.  She had to watch her child grow and suffer.  It was a very hard time in her life.

These scriptures were given in response to the reflection

Zephaniah 3:17

The Lord your God is in your midst,
    a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
    he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.

Lamentations 3:22-25

²² The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
²³ they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
²⁴ “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
    “therefore I will hope in him.”

²⁵ The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
    to the soul who seeks him.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Romans 8:26-28

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. ²⁷ And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. ²⁸ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.