Click here to read more about the pineapple, a symbol of hospitality
This week we discuss the life and times of yet another woman who lost her son. Once again, let us consider this as another reminder to keep our dear sister, Yvette Miller and family close in prayer.
In the book, A Plentiful Harvest by Terrie Williams, the author defines gifts as something God gives to us unconditionally because of his love for us; however, whether we choose to use our gifts for good or evil is simply up to us. Nevertheless, the author encourages her readers to use their gifts for good. “Why? Because the seeds you plant will certainly grow.”
Last week’s story began with a woman who obviously possessed the gift of discernment. She knew that Elisha was a man of God and wanted to display her hospitality by providing a place for him to stay when he visited their town. The Shunammite woman’s good deeds caused Elisha to want to reciprocate the kindness shown to him. While she was unaware of the joys and heartache that would await her, ultimately the seed that she planted grew and has been written about in the key scriptures above.
Do you know what your gifts are? Are you using them for good? We are encouraged from last week's reading to ask God for an opportunity this week to perform an act of practical kindness or hospitality for someone else. Why not do it today, come back to our Blog and write about it, or answer one or all of the questions below:
1. Why do you think stopping at this woman's house became a habit for Elisha? Why do you think she wanted to go so far as to add on a room for him?
2. Why do you think the Shunammite woman responded the way she did when Elisha told her she would have a child?
3. Why did the woman tell her husband and Gehazi that everything was "all right" when it obviously was not? What was her goal?
4. Have you ever been able to say, "It's all right" even when something bad has happened to you or to someone you love? Why would you say such a thing during a difficult time?
5. Who is an Elisha in your life--someone you immediately go to when you're in need of support and help?
10 comments:
The Shunamite woman said It's okay. The Bible doesn't say why she a said that, when it was obvious to Elisha that she was distressed. It appeared that she wanted to get to Elisha for comfort.
There have been times in my life when I've had to say it's okay, because my pain was so deep I couldn't express the heaviness of my heart. One time that really stands out for me was when I lost my first child. Her name was Kaylan Marie Nail. She was born on October 13, 1996. Michael and I tried for years to have a child and when I found out that I was pregnant. We were elated. Little did we know 8 months later we would be waiting to hear from the doctor if our pre-mature baby would make it. She didn't make it and we were devasted. I wanted to die. The dreams I had of me holding her was unbearable, I can still see her face today. The doctors told us not to give up, but my chances of getting pregnant again were slim, BUT GOD intervened and He blessed Michael and I to have Jonathan. Jonathan names means a gift from God. God not only blessed us with Jonathan , but Anthony also. Now I have two beautiful boys. I will never forget my daughter's face and how she felt when I held her, BUT God carried me through the loss and brought me out on the other side victorious.
Question 1:
Why do you think stopping at this woman's house became a habit for Elisha? Why do you think she wanted to go so far as to add on a room for him?
Response:
I think stopping at the Shunammite woman’s house became a habit for Elisha because she made him feel welcomed. Think about the number of places you return to based on how you were treated when you visited. As I mentioned in my opening statement, I think that the Shunammite woman possessed the gift of discernment. She knew that Elisha was a man of God and she felt that she could trust him. Ultimately, I think that she was led by the Holy Spirit.
Question 4:
Have you ever been able to say, "It’s all right" even when something bad has happened to you or to someone you love? Why would you say such a thing during a difficult time?
Response:
I’ve been able to say "It’s ok" to myself and to others because I always try to reflect on past experiences where God has brought me through difficult times. I have confidence in my Lord, knowing that he will not give us more than we can bear. He’s my Father and I am depending on him to come to my aid. He may not come when I call him, but he is always right on time!
Question 5:
Who is an Elisha in your life--someone you immediately go to when you're in need of support and help?
Response:
I am blessed to say that I have many Elishas in my life. I recently sent out a photo me and my sisters as we supported my younger sister, Franni when she received her MBA last month. We came from far and near to support her, and they did the same for me when I graduated from high school and college. I love them all the same, but I call on different ones for different reasons. As I glance at your beautiful pictures to the left of this page, I realize that I have the same relationships with my sisters in Christ. Trina has always been a rock for me. Roslyn always supports my endeavors. Tangela is my accountability partner. I knew that I could count on people like Miriam and Lauretta to support me in the efforts of this Blog. The primary reason for this medium of communication is to bring us closer together so that we can act as an Elisha for one another. I want you all to know how very much I appreciate you! The bonds that we share are truly a blessing!
Sometimes in Life we don't know what the outcome may possibly be, but we know who does the outcome of ALL our situations. Sometimes we may not want to but we have to say, "OK." Others on the outside may not understand but God always has a plan.
_Shanita_
The Shunammite Woman
Hospitality and faith are the focus of this lesson. I need to be more hospitable, this is something commanded by God. The Bible teaches, we can entertain angels unaware when we open our homes to others. It was awesome to know that the Shunammite woman asks her husband to make a place available for the man of God anytime he was in town. This woman trust so much in the Lord that when her child died, she said to the man of God everything was well when it wasn’t. She trusted in God wholeheartedly and new it will be ok! I make connection with this remembering when I was ill, having faith that God will not leave me nor forsake me. God has really blessed me restoring back my health. I thank him and praise him everyday. Having faith and trusting in God is powerful sisters. There is nothing that he cannot fix. He will see us through whatever difficult situations we are facing. We have an awesome Father and God let us believe and trust in Him!
Love,
MJ
Who is an Elisha in your life--someone you immediately go to when you're in need of support and help?
In my life, I have alot of Elisha's, people I know I can turn to for certain things. Without giving names, there are 2 people who are my favorites. I know I can go to them for ANYTHING! One is Male the other Female. I call them my own personal gifts from God. Until I met these two people, I would keep certain things to myself. I learned the hard way that you just can't trust everybody. I feel so much better spiritually, mentally,and emotionally now that God has placed the right people in my life at the right time. I have people I can actually trust to talk too and share with them the things I go through, and they can come to for the same. When we ALL really know GOD for who HE is and how HE works in our lives, we can easily say "it's ok". Because we know God will NEVER forsake us, He always comes through On Time Every Time All the Time!
Sorry it took me so long to comment. I've had a lot going on but I had every intention on responding, late or not. I love this blog.
The Shunamite woman was content in her state without children. She had really given up hope for a child but she was alright with it until Elisha gave her a sense of hope. She was a wealthy and generous woman with the gift of hospitality as we can see how she took care of Elisha whenever he was in town. Elisha appreciated her hospitality and must have felt right at home whenever he was there. In a sense, she and her husband must have been like family to Elisha. Have you ever been to visit friends who are so welcoming that you feel right at home? When you have friends that you love dearly, there is not much you would not do to help them in any way possible and when you can't help them, you become sort of stressed because you love them and their burdens become yours.
I believe the Shunamite woman was rather disappointed and upset when she approached Elisha after her son's death, hence the questions, "did I ask for a son?" did I not say, do not deceive me?". Remember, she was satisfied with her life before Elisha promised her a son. I know this had to have bothered Elisha because he apparently cared deeply for the Shunamite woman. Just seeing her in distress was likely painful for him. The bible says, Elisha sent his servant ahead but the Shunamite woman would not leave without Elisha. She saw what the man of God was capable of and I also believe she actually wanted him to see the boy for himself so that he could feel the distress she felt after she had been blessed with a son and then to lose him in such a way.
Ohhhhhh but the providence of God. God placed the Shunamite woman in Elisha's life to help him while he was on his journey and for him to help her in her time of need so that He (God) would get the glory!! Can you imagine the faith the Shunamite woman probably had after her son was risen from the dead? Can you imagine how thankful and relieved Elisha must have been when God gave him the power to bring the boy back?
As christians, we have to trust that God places people in our lives for a reason. You may need them one day and in return, you may be able to help them in their time of need. We all have moments when we need others. No man is an island so we cannot always stand alone. We need people who care about us to be our strength at times when we are weary.
I have had many Elisha's in my life at different times and for different reasons, so to God, I am very thankful. Some of my sisters in Christ are my Elisha's in my time of need and even for fellowshipping purposes. A few of them deserve honorable mentions. My Sis. Annette Jones has always been there for me with mature wisdom as my confidant. Faye has always been inspirational to me. She is truly my personal motivator and confidant. My sister Tegra has always been my reminder of humility and by being so humble she ministers to my "rough" spiritual edges. LOL! Tangela is another one who blesses me with her humility. Roslyn always says things to broaden my thoughts and make me look at things from a different perspective. I could go on and on as many of my sisters have touched me in some form or fashion whether they know it or not. I am truly grateful to have all of you in my life and to be sharing this blog with you all.
Faye asked the question, what is your gift? I did not know my gift for a long time. I was always trying to find out what my gifts and talents were. A couple of people recently pointed out to me that I have the gift of "LOVE". This brought tears to my eyes because I didn't realize that the love that I show to others is a gift in and of itself. Praise the Lord!!
You know this story really touched me in so many ways and especially the hospitality that was shown to Elisha through the Shunammite Woman and her Enormous faith!
The story lead me to believe, this woman just knew that Elisha was trully a man of God. I'm sure his personality,demeanor,behavior and humbleness affected her ability to see the Man of God, with the Spirit living inside of him.
Even though the Shuammite woman was not a woman to practice faith as an Israel people, attending worship at the temple, but she must of heard of all the Awesome Story's from the book of Moses and the Powerful God that they served.
She most definitely; believed that there was a Magnificent God.
I would have prepared a place for the man of God too, feeling that my home would trully be blessed with him being there. She made him as comfortable as she could, by not, just feeding him and given him somewhere to lay his head to rest, but making sure he had his own room to relax, to study and lay down his whole body to get maximum care and rest.
It goes to show you how hospitality with true kindness, can go a long way and a person will never forget how you made them feel being a good hostess. (God said in His word that we are to take care of God's Man Servant) He had to reciprocate her kindness in some way because it was so over whelming: (her act of kindness)and that's why I believe it became a habit for Elisha to live there when he was in town, also she insisted! and not taking no for an answer..(smile)
I loved the part in this story when she wanted only Elisha to go back to her home with her. Maybe not only Elisha, but she didn't care of no one else but Elisha whom she knew was the only someone who could revive her son, because of her faith in God and knowing that only Elisha could do it, because God was with him. It really touched me deeply, there in that story to see her running toward Elisha (With no disrespect to Gehaze) but she wanted to get her son back, there was no time to waste....I In-visioned this part very well. smile... Hey Ladies! (A thought came to mind) just as Lauretta felt, you have to be careful of who you talk to or take your problems to. It is so important, that you talk to a True Honest Believer. You can't go wrong with someone in whom you can really trust. And we know, that #1 is God. Thats where she was coming from. I know we can all relate in one way or another from this story.
Faith! is the key.
Faye, you are so right about all of us being each other's Elisha's by being encouraged through one another and supportive in this way on the Blog.. I thank you so much for who you are to us in Christ and what you bring to the table.....
I go to my sister Trina immediately for support, for listening, for encouragement, and hearing sound faith in doctrine and what ever!!!! She is always my rock and Elisha all the time.
I Love u guys... TC
The Shunammite Women and the Widow of Zarephath were similar in nature. They both had an unspoken, unfulfilled desire that they carried within. Because of their nature to provide for someone else, their desires were fulfilled. There have been times in my life when I didn't have gas money, money to buy groceries, or money to even eat lunch; however, I continued to give my tithes and offering and God always provided. Within the last two years, things have been really tight and I stopped giving my tithes and offering. I feared not having enough gas to get to work, or money to give my sons for lunch, but do you know my lack increased! Recently, I began to remember the times that God has provided because of the various seeds I planted. I am beginning to give offerings and tithes, blessing others when I am in lacking and you know, God is meeting my needs and more. Giving to others provides the doors of provision to open.
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