1. The Strength of a Woman’s Heart MOTHER

3. Illustration: A junior high school science teacher discussed magnets and their Properties. The next day he gave a quiz with this question. “My name begins with “M,” My name has six letters I pick up things. What am I? “ Over half of the class replied: “Mother!” A mother is “The hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world”

4. In I Samuel,we learn about a woman whose name is “Hannah”. Hannah was married to a man whose name is Elkannah who Had taken two wives, Hannah and Peninah. Elkannah is described as an “Ephraimite because he lived in Ephramin. By tribe, he was a Levite (I Chron. 6:27-28) and the Levites had No territory of their own. The Levites were the priestly tribe and, as such, were scattered Throughout Israel.

5. 1. Elkanah and Hannah lived in the hill country of Ephraim. 2. Periodically they would travel the 15 miles from their Home in Ramah to worship at the tabernacle in Shiloh. 3. This helps us to understand what is forthcoming: When Samuel is later dropped off with Eli, he would be about 15 miles away from home and would be able to see his Folks when Elkanah and Hannah came to Shiloh to worship.

6. Hannah She had no children. She long for a baby. 11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O L ORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the L ORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. Eli the priest saw her lips moving but did not hear the words that she spoke in her heart.

7. 12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the L ORD, that Eli marked her mouth. 13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

8. She was misjudged by Eli 14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

9. Easy to be guilty of misjudging 15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the L ORD. 16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

10. She believed what the prophet said to her! 17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. 18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad. 19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the L ORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the L ORD remembered her.

11. The Strength of a Woman’s Heart

12. 20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the L ORD.

13. Hannah Remembered what she had vowed to the Lord! 21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the L ORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow. 22 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the L ORD, and there abide for ever.

14. 23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him ; only the L ORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him. 24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the L ORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.

15. Hannah took that which God had given her..& gave it back: She was a woman of great strength… 26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the L ORD. 27 For this child I prayed; and the L ORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: 28 Therefore also I have lent him to the L ORD ; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the L ORD. And he worshipped the L ORD there.

16. Hannah had other children 21 And the L ORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the L ORD.

17. Each year she would travel the 15 miles back to Shiloh to worship and see her son

18. Hannah was a woman that showed the strength of a woman’s heart.

19. (1) The Strength of a woman’s heart is seen in her influence as a Godly mother. 1. Godly mothers can instill an authentic faith in their children. 2 Tim. 1:5 Faith is not inherited. It must be learned. Eunice’s Faith was real and genuine. 2. Mothers need to demonstrate their faith by reading the Bible, Worshipping, teaching their children and others. 3. Someone has said: A mother must be more interested in her children’s souls Than in their clothes; more concerned about their eternal life than their success in life; more interested in their relationship with Jesus than their popularity; more concerned with their standing before God than their social status; their spirituality than their intellectual or athletic Accomplishments.

20. A Godly Mother will: Do as Eunice did: teach Timothy the word from the time He was a baby. Deut. 6:4-7

21. 4 Hear, O Israel: The L ORD our God is one L ORD : 5 And thou shalt love the L ORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

22. (2) The strength of a woman’s heart is seen in the work of a Godly mother. 1. Titus 2:3-5 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 2. Illustration: “The godly mother puts on the lipstick of a kind tongue, Blush of purity and innocence, foundation of godliness, eyeliner Of compassion, and mascara of sincerity.” (Unknown)

23. (3.) The strength of a woman’s heart is seen in being a good example to her children I Sam. 1:11,28 Hannah, gave Samuel to the work of the Lord. I Pet. 3:1-6 Sarah- (vs.5-6) For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

25. In view of all of this: Godly mothers should be honored. Proverbs 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

29. Very hard worker In the basement of our home in Cleveland, Ohio, Mom would wash clothes and hang them up to dry. In the side of the dining room, they had a bed that Would pull down and they could use it at night. Then, It would go back into the wall for additional space in the Room..

30. Thrifty… always had money in a little bag that was penned to Inside her bra. Traveling…Dad would ask her for money For gas…Mom would always descreetly get it for him.

31. Hospitable. The more the better. Folks would come home with Us from church and eat at my Mom’s table.

32. Loved coming back to Alabama for vacations. They owned a big farm in North Alabama. They would Come back for vacations…take the lumber off the windows And doors and open it up for us all the have some together.

33. Very Clean House Dishes…unless she was sick, the dishes were done Immediately after the meal. She would supervise My sisters and each had their jobs to do.

34. Neat Dresser…clothes,

35. On Time: Supper Time Knew when Dad would get home from work, and she would Have his meal ready. All of us were to get to the table when She called…and Dad would generally then have prayer for The food. There was not misbehaving. If you got tickled, after the first Or second admonishment by Dad, you were sent from the Table and no meal for you that night.

36. In our house, there were these signs on the wall Christ, the unseen Guest at every meal God bless our home Thanks, Lord, for being here with us.

37. Bible was read Both my Mom and Dad loved the Bible…and my Dad would read, study it, write notes in his bible. I have both of my parents bibles.

38. Prayers In Sickness In Good times When things were going good When things were going bad One place my folks turned to, was to God. My Dad was a Sunday School teacher He led in prayer…and even had church services in their home.

39. My Dad: Dead at 64 years of age My Mom: Dead at 92 years of age Their bodies lie next to each other. They lived together for 44 years. 1922 to 1966 They had 9 children…4 boys and 5 girls. My 3 brothers are all dead and 2 of my sisters have died. I am the only boy left in the family and we have 3 sisters left. The oldest sister: Lydia 91 years old the youngest Dian, 70 years old…and the middle Christine, 82 years old.

40. A lot of love for all of us. A farm of 106 acres…sold to the USA for Water project.. Dad died in 1966 Mom sold the farm to the government in 1970…. We bought her a new house with basement on Julie Street..3 bedrooms, l and half bath, den, 2 car garage, living room She lived in this house with my sister Lydia’s constant care for almost 20 years before her death…she was 72 when she Moved into the new house.

41. Their Faith Both were Christians. Mom came home from church when she was 90 years old, And was taking off her coat when she failed by her bed And broke her hip. This ultimately led to her death. She Was put in the Nursing Home in November of 1995 and Died on March 17, 1996. I truly believe that my Mom and Dad were faithful to death. I was the only child of the family with both of them when they Died. May God have mercy upon them and give them Rest and peace forever in Heaven with Him.