Hannah's song

I was saved on a Wednesday night. Anna Bruns, the woman who helped lead me to the Lord at the altar, told me some important things to do. One of the things she told me was to go home, pray, and ask God what He would want me to read in the Bible. That night I went home, and I did just that. I opened the Bible to what is today, still, my favorite scripture. John 15:16-19. He told me plain and simple that HE CHOSE ME! It was as though God had those few verses written all those years ago, just for Hannah Jo Gaston. That night, I felt a connection to God I didn’t know existed.

Well, fast forward 14 years later, about 6:30 this morning, Hannah Jo Ledbetter was sitting at her kitchen table, praying, asking God to show her what He’d like her to read.

 I opened the Bible and it said, “THE SONG OF HANNAH.”

I was named after this woman.

So, naturally it caught my attention and woke me up better than my cup of coffee was.

Many of us have names that have certain meaning or there was something that inspired your parent or parents to name the name you have today.

Perhaps you were named after a relative, your mom’s best friend, an actress, an author, a town or a month. I was named after Hannah in the Bible.

A little unknown fun fact of the day is that my husband, Grant, was named after the story of Hannah.

In First Samuel it says, “Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant you your petition that you have asked of Him.”

God granted Rhonda a baby boy, thirty-two years ago.

Grant Daniel.

Grant and I chose to name each of our children after special people and meanings.

Raylea Jo

Ray- Danny Ray, her Papa

Lea- Rhonda Lea, her Nana

Jo- my middle name and my mom’s middle name

Jack Gannon

Jack- Jack Ledbetter, Grant’s Grandpa

Gannon- Grant’s baby brother who is in Heaven

Arrow Brielle

Arrow- Zechariah 9:14 “And the Lord shall be seen over them, and His Arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the LORD God shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.”

This scripture refers to the Second Coming. We didn’t know the gender of this “Arrow” baby, but the day came and when that baby was born, Grant proclaimed (with a very shocked voice!) “It’s a girl!” I knew in that moment she would be a mighty Arrow used by God. An Arrow stays on it’s path, it is precise and can cut through many things. I see God as the Archer, just like He is in this passage above. Arrow told me today, (she is three), that we are going to Heaven and there will be babies, chocolate milk and popsicles there. Those are her favorite things. She knows God has prepared for her a place that is GOOD. I am excited to see what He does with my little Arrow’s life.

Brielle

Gabriel- Grant’s brother

I loved Gabrielle, the girl form of his name, but it was too lengthy for what I wanted. Brielle was the short form of the name, which means “God is my strength.”

In 2013 we had a sweet baby go to heaven who was in my belly.

August Shalom.

August was the month he/she was due to be born.

Shalom means peace. God gave me great peace during that trial.

So, let’s rewind and go back to the beginning of this post… I opened my Bible and read

THE SONG OF HANNAH

Hannah is praising and worshiping God.

Samuel 2 King James Version (KJV)

And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.

² There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

³ Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

⁴ The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.

⁵ They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

⁶ The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

⁷ The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

⁸ He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them.

⁹ He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

¹⁰ The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

The verse that stood out to me was verse 3.

Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.

God knows the thoughts we think and knows the words we say.

Sure, there are many different ways you could go with this verse, many different applications. For me, I was reminded to keep watch over my mouth.

Don’t say prideful things! Don’t always have one up on someone else.

Don’t always have to have the last word!

Don’t say stupid things! If it’s not UPLIFTING someone. Keep. Your. Lips. Zipped.

Ask God if He is pleased with your backhanded compliments and dry sense of humor.

Really, ask Him.

Ask Him if he’s pleased with your prideful attitude. How you’re always looking down your nose at others. How you’re always talking poorly of others. Holding grudges over things that happened half a lifetime ago. Satan tells you to hold a grudge. God tells you to show mercy.

Hannah’s song spoke to me today. It was such a great reminder that what we say, does matter. And sometimes, the way you simply look when you say it, matters too! Words can pierce a heart. I’ve been on both sides of hurtful words. And if you’ve lived past seven years old… so have you.

I want to just say to whoever is reading this an encouraging reminder that you DO matter.

In this confusing, somewhat scary time we are all living in, it’s easy to get caught up in negativity.

I want to speak life to you incase nobody has lately.

You have a special and unique calling on your life and God isn’t finished with you.

You were created by God. He loves you. More than anyone else could ever love you.

You are handsome, beautiful, pretty… even with the flaws you can’t stand about yourself.

You have a powerful testimony that needs to be shared with others.

Lastly, I want to remind you that you are not alone. You may feel alone. You may be sitting alone right now as you read this. But you have God when everything is gone. He is my Best Friend and if He isn’t yours yet, it’s not too late to make Him that.

I’m praying for you.