Thought for the Week-All the Single Ladies

Good Afternoon Girlfriends!

I've been thinking (dangerous, I know) about my past.  See, I've got a birthday coming up...and it's sort of a big one...it's not THE big one, but I'm getting closer.  Then yesterday, I was downloading a song for Ethan and I noticed a new album out from a group called Pistol Annies--spearheaded by Miranda Lambert.  Naturally I had to have it.  The very first song on it could have been written for me and a couple of my running buddies from about fifteen years ago.  Cringe.  Here is my disclaimer for the rest of today's Thought: Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.  Remember that.

You see, I wasn't always a Bible teacher, a MOPS speaker and a Women's Ministry Director.  Nope.  I spent plenty of time hanging out in the wrong places, with the wrong people doing things my mother prayed fervently that I wasn't out doing.  I hung out with women I was sure had made the Devil himself a deal because it simply wasn't natural to be that good-looking and smart at the same time.  I thought I was bullet proof and indestructible.  I was also eighteen and S-T-U-P-I-D.  Eventually I saw the Light.  Why am I telling you all of this...really good question. 

Today I want to tell you about a real life single gal who probably did make a deal with the Devil.  She was smart and beautiful and had a string of broken hearts to prove it.  And when the dust finally cleared, she had one broken, beaten, fallen hero of Israel to prove it as well.  Let's take a peek at Delilah.  Here's the Reader's Digest version on Samson and Delilah: Samson was Israel's great hero.  There wasn't really anyone or anything that could stand in his way.  He had been consecrated (set apart) since before he was born to be in God's service.  He was intelligent.  He spoke in riddles.  He had unbelievable strength...except when it came to women.  Women were his Achilles heel; his weak spot.  He was always falling for the wrong ones, despite his Momma's pleading.  We read in Judges 16:4 "...he [Samson] fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah."  Delilah is then approached by the leaders of the Philistine army with promises of a large payoff if she can secure the necessary information of the secret to Samson's great strength.  Night after night, Delilah uses every trick, every caress, every sensual touch and smoldering look she has in her arsenal, until finally she hits Samson with the ultimate Ace: "'How can you say, 'I love you,' when you won't confide in me?  This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven't told me the secret of your great strength.'  With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was tired to death." Judges 16:15-16  Can't you just see her?  Arms crossed.  Lips stained red, in a full pout.  Smokey eyes tilted up, half masked by her thick dark hair...poor Samson never stood a chance.

Well, the rest of the story isn't very pleasant.  He told her that the secret to his strength lies in his hair.  Shave his head, and his strength will leave.  Wouldn't you know that's just what she did!  The Philistine officials came and took Samson (brutally) away.  This capture eventually and ultimately caused the death of the great Samson.  For the full and sordid account, please read Judges 16:1-31.

So, why did I tell you this story?  We often underestimate the power we have as women.  No, I'm not about to get into some long and drawn out rant about how being a woman is SO much better than being a man...however, we need to be careful.  I would like to think that Delilah had feelings for Samson.  We know from the Biblical text that he was in love with her.  Unfortunately the Bible isn't as clear as to her feelings for him.  Fifteen years ago getting married wasn't even on my radar screen.  Breaking hearts and taking names--now that was something that sounded like a bit more fun.  I wasn't living anywhere close to God's potential for me.  Neither was Delilah.  I'm not sure how her story ended.  I do know what happened in mine: you see, I wasn't looking for God's path.  Good grief, I didn't even really know I was lost!  Thankfully He was already looking for me.  In fact, He never lost sight of me.  I'd been doing a really fantastic job of keeping His angels busy keeping watch over me!  He redirected me.  He got my attention.  He spoke to me in a language that only I could understand.  He will do that for you.  All my single ladies...I'm talking to you.  There's not a path too twisted or too far gone for Jesus to straighten out.  I was afraid my path would make His hair curl!  He knew where I was all along.  Come to Him.  He's waiting.  Have a great week.