Tuesday, July 5, 2011

You ARE my offering

On Sunday morning at offering time, the pastor always tells everyone to lift their offering in the air. Then he prays over the congregation. I grabbed my 9 year old son's hand and lifted it in the air. He asked me what I was doing. I told him, "You are my offering." He looked at me, perplexed. As the pastor prayed, my son bowed his head. When the prayer was over he asked," What do you mean? I'm your offering? Not like Abraham and Isaac... I hope." He smiled. I smiled back. I whispered to him," No, like Hannah and Samuel." He gave me a half-knowing look.

Ladies, do you remember the prayer Hannah prayed in 1 Samuel? She prayed earnestly for the Lord to give her a child. Within that prayer she made Him a promise that she would offer the child back to the Lord. She was so sincere in her prayer that God sent the man of God, Eli, to confirm that He'd heard her prayer. In return she promised this child to the Lord all the days of his life.

I've been struggling with trusting God with my finances and also with my son possibly returning to school. I don't know if that is God's plan but I do know He has a plan. I know that on a daily basis I need to offer my son back to God the way Hannah did. Trusting in the One who created Him for His perfect will and use.

I was reading a couple of new blogs this morning when I came across this scripture again. This time I saw it on the wall behind a crib of a newly adopted baby from Ethiopia. This child is not in perfect health but he has been given over to the Lord by his adoptive parents. They are trusting the Lord for so many things. He needs so much from them and from the Lord. Yet they have vowed to trust the Lord for his provision, his healing, his timing. You can read about it here.

Pray with me as I seek to always remember that God is in control. I've handed my child over to him and He will keep watch over him. I love the last part of verse 28. Insert your child's name into it as you pray.My son's name is Hannan. It means "gracious giver". What do your children's names mean?

27 I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD.” And he(Hannan) worshiped the LORD there.

2 comments:

  1. Great post and reminder! :-)

    I'm sure your son was glad you weren't offering him like Abraham did Isaac! :-)

    New follower from Blog Frog - www.brewingdaily.blogspot.com

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  2. Oh, I love this! Yes, I know what my childrens name mean :)

    Jadin "God had heard"
    Zion "Where God dwells"
    Naomi "Beautiful"
    Gabriel "The Lord is my strength"
    Liam "Mighty Warrior"

    Bless you Lady,

    Thanks for linking up!

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