{"id":2390,"date":"2022-03-24T11:10:55","date_gmt":"2022-03-24T11:10:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2390"},"modified":"2022-03-30T19:13:08","modified_gmt":"2022-03-30T19:13:08","slug":"27-march-2022-a-mother-tested-and-rewarded","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2390","title":{"rendered":"27 March 2022: A mother tested and rewarded"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:26% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"510\" height=\"340\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/20220327.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2388 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/20220327.jpg 510w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/20220327-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/20220327-24x16.jpg 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/20220327-36x24.jpg 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/20220327-48x32.jpg 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-090a7876-6b6f-475f-bd24-2fdf9d5343ad\"><strong>Bethel Baptist Church<br>Worship Service @ Home<br>27 March 2022<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2367\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"15\" height=\"10\" class=\"wp-image-1006\" style=\"width: 15px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow.png 120w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-24x16.png 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-36x24.png 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-48x32.png 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 15px) 100vw, 15px\" \/> <strong>Previous Service<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2398\"><strong>Next Service<\/strong> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"15\" height=\"10\" class=\"wp-image-1007\" style=\"width: 15px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow.png 120w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-24x16.png 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-36x24.png 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-48x32.png 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 15px) 100vw, 15px\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Service available on Youtube, or as text (below), or for audio see the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=72\">Podcasts<\/a>&nbsp;page<em>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"27 March 2022: A mother tested and rewarded\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UcD3K22r7aw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Welcome<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Let us continue to pray for an end to the war in Ukraine. Let\u2019s pray for the Lord\u2019s blessing on all mothers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Worship<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Lord Bless You and Keep You [with lyrics for congregations]\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BYUJQIF8-7c?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Word<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Please read:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/biblia.com\/bible\/niv\/1%20Sam%201.1-28\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1 Samuel 1:1-28<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.<\/p><cite><a href=\"https:\/\/biblia.com\/bible\/niv\/1%20Sam.%201.16\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1 Sam. 1:16<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Today we are celebrating \u2018Mothering Sunday\u2019 which will bring to the surface a whole range of emotions in various people from celebration, appreciation, to mourning and pain. In this remarkable story of Hannah, whose name means favour or grace, and for sure she needed both in the impossible situation she finds herself in. It was enough for her to be barren, a terrible stigma attached to barren women in those days and amongst her people. To make matters worse we read twice in two verses (<a href=\"https:\/\/biblia.com\/bible\/niv\/1%20Sam%201.5-6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1 Sam 1:5-6<\/a>) that the Lord had closed her womb. That must be very difficult to deal with. If that wasn\u2019t enough we read that probably according to the culture of the day Elkanah had taken another wife, Peninnah, and she had provided him with the necessary children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Things would have been a lot easier for Hannah if Peninnah had been gracious and showed her love and favour, empathising with her and even offering Hannah the responsibility of bringing up a couple of her children. But we don\u2019t see any of that rather what do we read:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Because the Lord had closed Hannah\u2019s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.<\/p><cite><a href=\"https:\/\/biblia.com\/bible\/niv\/1%20Sam%201.6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1 Sam 1:6<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>One thinks of an oyster and the pearl it produces as a result of an irritant within. If this was just for a short time maybe Hannah could bear it but we also read about Peninnah\u2019s provocation of Hannah:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>This went on year after year.<\/p><cite><a href=\"https:\/\/biblia.com\/bible\/niv\/1%20Sam%201.7a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1 Sam 1:7a<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, it seemed to get worse when Hannah went up to Shiloh to worship the Lord,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.<\/p><cite><a href=\"https:\/\/biblia.com\/bible\/niv\/1%20Sam%201.7b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1 Sam 1:7b<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>If we make a list of all that Hannah went through in these years in addition to the above, she had a very depressing time of it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>a) A husband who didn\u2019t understand her,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Her husband Elkanah would say to her,&nbsp;<em>\u201cHannah, why are you weeping? Why don\u2019t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don\u2019t I mean more to you than ten sons?\u201d<\/em><\/p><cite><a href=\"https:\/\/biblia.com\/bible\/niv\/1%20Sam%201.8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1 Sam 1:8<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>b) &nbsp;A priest who didn\u2019t understand her,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord\u2019s house. In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying,&nbsp;<em>\u201cLord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/em><br><br>As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her,&nbsp;<em>\u201cHow long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;<em>\u201cNot so, my lord,\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;Hannah replied,&nbsp;<em>\u201cI am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.\u201d<\/em><\/p><cite><a href=\"https:\/\/biblia.com\/bible\/niv\/1%20Sam%201.9-16\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1 Sam 1:9-16<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>All this pain that Hannah went through though amounted one remarkable answer to prayer in the birth of Samuel who went on to be a deeply devout and godly man, a prophet and priest used by God to bring the nation back to Himself, and anoint the right future king in the line of Messiah. Such power and effect do a mother\u2019s prayers generate, Amen!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Quote of the week<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cYou have omitted to mention the greatest of my teachers \u2013 my mother\u201d<\/em><br><br>Winston Churchill, on being asked to check a list of those who had taught him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Verse<a><\/a>&nbsp;of the week<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her \u2026 a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.<\/p><cite>from&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/biblia.com\/bible\/niv\/Prov%2031.28-31\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Proverbs 31:28-31<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Let\u2019s Pray<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Gracious loving heavenly Father, we thank you for all mothers and pray that they might know your grace and favour upon them; in and through Jesus Christ fill them with Your Holy Spirit, Amen!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Service available on Youtube, or as text (below), or for audio see the&nbsp;Podcasts&nbsp;page. Welcome Let us continue to pray for an end to the war in Ukraine. Let\u2019s pray for the Lord\u2019s blessing on all mothers! Worship Word Please read:&nbsp;1 Samuel 1:1-28 I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief. 1 &#8230; <a title=\"27 March 2022: A mother tested and rewarded\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2390\" aria-label=\"Read more about 27 March 2022: A mother tested and rewarded\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2390","page","type-page","status-publish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2390","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2390"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2390\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2401,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2390\/revisions\/2401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2390"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}