“Friendships” and acquaintances….. the Peninnahs in our lives…

Over the years, and they are getting to be many…in business and personal life, my husband and I have met many, many people…both rich and poor, a variety of cultures, those who we have given our trust and friendship to…those who have given their trust and friendship to us…

There have also been those who ridiculed, who embezzled, who have scoffed, who lied to us…those who caused us to miss many a night’s worth of sleep…as well as tears of anguish,  frustration…

Thankfully the good have far outweighed the bad…no matter what , we knew God would see us through…even in the tears…

Now as a widow, I still meet a variety of people…

Reading about Hannah and Peninnah, brought up some of those hard memories…

My Bible notes…”rather than dwelling upon our problems, we can enjoy the loving relationships God has given us…by doing so, we can exchange self-pity for hope”…

Thank YOU…

 There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite 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. He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. 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. 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. But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb. Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 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.

1Sam.1.1-7

 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” 

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. 

So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”

1Sam.1.17-18, 20

 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?.

Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Luke.6.27,Luke.6.32-36,Luke.6.31

 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Rom.8.28

Turn your eyes upon Jesus…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X85txs60yY