1 Samuel Chapter 1
The Birth of Samuel
1 There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite [a] from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
3 Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD. 4 Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb. 6 And because the LORD had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. 8 Elkanah her husband would say to her, "Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don't you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?"
9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the LORD's temple. [b] 10 In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. 11 And she made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head."
12 As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine."
15 "Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief."
17 Eli answered, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him."
18 She said, "May your servant find favor in your eyes." Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.
19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, [c] saying, "Because I asked the LORD for him."
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Forward
This is the beginning of what I hope will become a long succession of posts. In this blog will be personal stories of being infertile and reactions from people about my life as a married woman with no children.
Before I get to all the details of what this book is all about I feel it important to share with you all about the love of my life, Eric, and how are journey began.
In the summer of 1999 I was determined not to date after a long line of heartaches. I had just gone through a painful previous engagement and was in the midst of allowing myself to fully rely on God for direction. I said the famous words "God, I'm not dating. I'm going to stay right here and you are going to have to bring the man to me." Little did I know that at the same time I was praying this my future husband was having his own journey. He was praying and asking the Lord for a wife, for someone to be his companion.
Not long after this declaration I spotted a man in the local mall. He was working at a jewelry store. I told a friend that I thought he was pleasing to my eyes and the rest is history. I sent in several church family members to investigate his character and when the final approval was in I made my move. After six months of investigation I asked him out.
That night we talked until 3:30 am. Eric asked to hold my hand and at the instant he put his hand in mine I knew that he was the one that God was calling me to be with forever. On our second date Eric said that he loved me and that if everything was as it was now that in three months time he would ask me Father for my hand in marriage. We were engaged on November 25th, 1999 and on April 15th, 2000 we were married.
Eric and I knew that we wanted children from the start. We began trying for children as every newlywed couple does. It wasn't until a few months past that we recognized that something wasn't right.
God does amazing works through those who believe. In the next few chapters your will learn more about my husband and me. You will follow our journey and hopefully the peace we have found knowing that our lives and future are in God's capable hands.
Before I get to all the details of what this book is all about I feel it important to share with you all about the love of my life, Eric, and how are journey began.
In the summer of 1999 I was determined not to date after a long line of heartaches. I had just gone through a painful previous engagement and was in the midst of allowing myself to fully rely on God for direction. I said the famous words "God, I'm not dating. I'm going to stay right here and you are going to have to bring the man to me." Little did I know that at the same time I was praying this my future husband was having his own journey. He was praying and asking the Lord for a wife, for someone to be his companion.
Not long after this declaration I spotted a man in the local mall. He was working at a jewelry store. I told a friend that I thought he was pleasing to my eyes and the rest is history. I sent in several church family members to investigate his character and when the final approval was in I made my move. After six months of investigation I asked him out.
That night we talked until 3:30 am. Eric asked to hold my hand and at the instant he put his hand in mine I knew that he was the one that God was calling me to be with forever. On our second date Eric said that he loved me and that if everything was as it was now that in three months time he would ask me Father for my hand in marriage. We were engaged on November 25th, 1999 and on April 15th, 2000 we were married.
Eric and I knew that we wanted children from the start. We began trying for children as every newlywed couple does. It wasn't until a few months past that we recognized that something wasn't right.
God does amazing works through those who believe. In the next few chapters your will learn more about my husband and me. You will follow our journey and hopefully the peace we have found knowing that our lives and future are in God's capable hands.
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