To Be Hannah

Hannah, a woman of the Old Testament, the mother of Samuel. Hannah was a woman of deep conviction, faith, and spiritual character. She was a prayer warrior and loved God. But she was also human. If you aren't familiar with the story of Hannah and how she became the mother of Samuel, give 1 Samuel Chapters 1 & 2 a good read.

You see, Hannah had no children. Her husband had two wives, and the other wife, Penninah, had many children. Not only did Penninah have children, she mocked Hannah for having none. In her desperation to have a child, Hannah made a costly promise - she asked God to give her a child, and if He did, she'd give her child back to Him.

Have you wanted something so badly, needed something so badly, that you 'cut a deal' with God? Did you promise Him something if He would just bless you with that one thing? God is not in the business of bartering. However, He does allow us to make promises to Him, to require something of us, in order to fulfill our request of Him. Perhaps it is to make us recognize the significance of His answer to our prayers, perhaps it's to grow our character, or maybe it is to grow us spiritually. Maybe He allows this so that we recognize that all we are and all we have are His to begin with. Perhaps the answer to that prayer and results of our keeping our promise is designed to bless others as much as, if not more than us. When God answered Hannah's prayer for a son, God delivered on that promise. Samuel was born. When Samuel was weaned (about 3 years old), Hannah kept her promise and delivered Samuel to Eli the priest - thus giving her son over to God. Samuel grew up to become the last judge of Israel, a prophet of God, and annointed two different men as Kings of Israel (Saul, the people's choice, and then David, God's choice). The answer to Hannah's prayer and her fulfillment of her promise worked out not just for Hannah's benefit, but for the benefit of the Nation of Israel...and, incredibly, for us today.

We must be careful in what we promise to God. He may actually take us up on it! So, when we pray, before we promise God anything, we need to make sure we will follow through on that promise no matter how hard or painful it will be for us to keep. And remember, when promising God anything, whatever you promise is already His to begin with.

In His Love,
Cathy

Fall is My Favorite Time of Year

I love the fall! I don't know what it is about the fall that I love so much. I love the cooler temperatures. I love the fall foilage. I love college football...Auburn football. WAREAGLE!!! Yeah, I know, their record isn't as great as in the past. So what? It's Auburn! That is great in and of itself! WAREAGLE! In fact I'm wearing my AUBURN hoodie as I'm typing this. WAREAGLE! Can't say that enough!

I love the fall! I had to laugh today as I got an email at work warning of the cold temperatures expected to hit tonight. It advised us teachers to turn on our heat in the classrooms and set it to 55 to 60 degrees. It then advised us any burning smell was just the heaters kicking back into action and the smell would be due to dust that settled on the heating coils while they were inactive. Well, duh! I love that burning heater smell...it means fall has arrived. I love the fall!

I also love the fall because of fall holidays...Halloween and Thanksgiving. They hold such special memories of my childhood. Memories of my family as I was growing up. Loving memories of my grandparents. Such warmth in those memories. Such comfort. Such unconditional love. This is the type of love I imagine God has for us, only greater. We have continued these warm family traditions with our children. We want them to have the blessings associated with such endearing traditions. These build a strong bridge from one generation to the next. And though loved ones have been lost along the way, and very much missed, I'm so thankful for the legacy of love they instilled in us. Yes, I love the fall!

Not only do I love the fall because of the holidays, but it is full of family celebrations as well. Two of our three children have fall birthdays. Between our immediate and extended family, we have three Sep Birthdays, 4 Oct birthdays (two on Halloween), three Nov birthdays, and 4 Dec birthdays. Our daughter, Britt, is one of the Halloween birthdays. Yep. She was actually born on Halloween, which makes this date even more special to us. She'll be sweet 16 this Friday. Hard to believe! I just love the fall!

I love the fall festivities, hayrides, pumpkins, and bonfires. Fall camping is so much fun! I love the Seafood Festival in my home town, homecoming, and making hand turkeys! Yes, I love the fall!

"For everything there is a season,

a time for every activity under heaven.

A time to be born and a time to die.

A time to plant and a time to harvest.

A time to kill and a time to heal.

A time to tear down and a time to build up.

A time to cry and a time to laugh.

A time to grieve and a time to dance.

A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.

A time to embrace and a time to turn away.

A time to search and a time to quit searching.

A time to keep and a time to throw away.

A time to tear and a time to mend.

A time to be quiet and a time to speak.

A time to love and a time to hate.

A time for war and a time for peace."

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

I love the fall! Grace and peace!

In His Love, Cathy

Sin is like...

A brick wall between you and God. Each time you sin, another layer of brick is added. The more you sin, the more layers of brick are added. The wall becomes higher and higher, coming between you and God. But for each sin you confess and ask forgiveness for, a layer of the wall is removed. Confessing all of your sins to Him who forgives destroys the wall built by sin.

Pretty insightful, huh? I can't take the credit for this analogy. My young sister in Christ, Amelia, shared this as we were discussing sin during our children's Bible Study group on Wednesday night. Amelia is nine, by the way, and a prayer warrior, I might add.

God is doing some amazing things in the hearts of the children of PCC. WEDNESDAY NIGHT CHILDREN'S BIBLE STUDY is IMPACTING LIVES & HEARTS FOR JESUS CHRIST! Invite others to come join us not just on Sunday mornings, but also on Wednesday nights. Children are hungry and thirsty for the Word of God. They are seeking Him just like adults. If your child isn't joining us on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings on a regular basis, please, by all means, get them to church. God loves them and wants them there!

I look forward to seeing you and your child THIS Sunday!
Grace and Peace!
In His Love, Cathy

PCC NEWS - Fall Family Fun Night & Children's Ministry

FALL FAMILY FUN NIGHT
Wednesday, Oct 29 at 6 p.m.

On the agenda: TRUNK OR TREAT,Hay Ride, Bonfire, Costume Parade/Contest, Pumpkin Painting Contest, FOOD!

What to bring: Candy to share for Trunk or Treat, Pumpkin to Paint, Hot Dogs to Grill, & Marshmellows to roast!

What to Wear: Nonscary Costume or Country Fair Attire

In SEARCH OF...VOLUNTEERS WITH A HEART FOR CHRIST & KIDS
The children's ministry is in search of additional teachers and helpers for our successful Wednesday night Kids Bible Study! WE WANT YOU to PLUG INTO an exciting ministry! Contact me, Cathy Denny, if you are interested at 449-8516 (weekdays only before 5 p.m. please.)

Grace and Peace!

In His Love,
Cathy

Renewal

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10

We are sinners from birth. Our natural instinct is to please ourselves rather than God. This past Wednesday night, the children learned how even King David, a man after God's own heart, was sinful (having a man killed and stealing his wife). But like David, we can be cleansed of our sins...no matter how bad. We need only ask God to forgive us, to purify our hearts. When we do, He will forgive us, filling our hearts and spirits with new desires and thoughts. Only God can create in us a pure heart and renew us with a steadfast spirit.

In His Love, Cathy

A Comforting Verse

I would like to share a verse that encouraged me through some tough times. I clung to this verse as I was battling cancer and I still cling to it today. I hope it blesses and encourages you as it does me.

"My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,

but God remains the strength of my heart;

he is mine forever."

Psalm 74:26

Grace and Peace,

In His Love, Cathy