God's purpose for your life does not wait for you to have everything figured out. In Judges 13, He moved toward a barren woman in a struggling tribe, setting apart her unborn son as a Nazirite before he ever took his first breath. Even when Israel had drifted from Him for decades, God remained faithful to His plan. Preparation for that plan began not with Samson, but with his mother's obedience. The same is true for us today. God is not looking for perfection before He acts. He is looking for hearts that are willing to be set apart and ready. The question worth asking is whether we are preparing for what He has already purposed.

This sermon examines the veneration of Mary within Roman Catholicism by analyzing Luke 11:27-28, where a woman blesses Jesus' mother and Jesus redirects that blessing to those who hear and obey God's word. The preacher critiques four major Marian dogmas—the Mother of God, perpetual virginity, Immaculate Conception, and Assumption—as unbiblical developments that elevate Mary to a mediatorial role reserved for Christ alone. By contrasting Catholic practices with biblical teaching, the sermon argues that honoring Mary is incomplete if it does not lead to personal obedience to Scripture. The central message emphasizes that true blessedness comes not from religious lineage or ritual veneration, but from hearing God's word and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform one's life into public testimony.

Studying God's Word requires a heart that is cleansed by God. We need to know Him and submit to Him. Alcoholic wine is not right for anyone, but forbidden for the true child of God. The word "wine" in the Bible is used in a generic manner. Attention to context is required.

The book of Samuel opens with the distress of a woman. We never got to hear the name of Samson's mother or the greatness of her distress at Samson's capture and death. But the story of David begins with God listening to the prayer of Hannah. The story of God's anointed king who mediates for His people begins with a woman who cannot have a child. God remembers, He hears and acts, not only for her in her plight but to bring about the fulfillment of the good news given in the Garden of a son who would crush the enemy. This sermon calls us to trust in Jesus Christ who reveals the mercy of God to us.

Yesterday my wife's mom turned 105. And in other news.... Also an introduction and overview of Joseph Alleine's book, An Alarm To the Unconverted 1672.

This is the story of a faithful woman that became destitute after the death of her husband. She went to Elisha and faithfully done what he said.