1. A L ASTING L EGACY MARKED BY HOPE 1 Samuel 1:10-2:1, 12:23-24

2. T HE B ASIS OF O UR H OPE  Things that have better odds than winning a multi-state lottery (120M to 1) … Two players in a foursome getting a hole-in-one on the same hole during the same round (17M to 1) … Dying from snakebite or bee sting (100k to 1) … Earth being struck by an asteroid (40 to 1) … Being involved in a fatal accident on the way to buy a lottery ticket (6M to 1) Place your hope in God and pass that hope along to others.

3. M ARKED BY H OPE  We’re in the middle of a four-week study, that helps teach us what it means to leave a spiritual legacy for our children and their children.  Today, we shall see that leaving a mark on our children begins with our own lives. If we want our children to learn to place their hope in God in every situation, we must begin to hope in Him as well.  Today we will look at the life of a mother who faced a hopeless situation but decided to place her hope for the future in God’s hands.  We’ll start with the end of the story and see just how much impact her life had on her child.

4. S AMUEL, AT THE E ND 1 S AMUEL 12:23-24  23 "As for me, I vow that I will not sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you. I will teach you the good and right way. 24 Above all, fear the Lord and worship Him faithfully with all your heart, considering the great things He has done for you. How did Samuel get this way?

5. H ANNAH, AT THE B EGINNING 1 S AMUEL 1:10-20  10 Deeply hurt, Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept with many tears. 11 Making a vow, she pleaded, "Lord of Hosts, if You will take notice of Your servant's affliction, remember and not forget me, and give Your servant a son, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut."  12 While she was praying in the Lord's presence, Eli watched her lips. 13 Hannah was speaking to herself, and although her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and scolded her, "How long are you going to be drunk? Get rid of your wine!”

6. H ANNAH, AT THE B EGINNING 1 S AMUEL 1:10-20  15 "No, my lord," Hannah replied. "I am a woman with a broken heart. I haven't had any wine or beer; I've been pouring out my heart before the Lord. 16 Don't think of me as a wicked woman; I've been praying from the depth of my anguish and resentment."  17 Eli responded, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the petition you've requested from Him."  18 "May your servant find favor with you," she replied. Then Hannah went on her way; she ate and no longer appeared downcast.

7. H ANNAH, AT THE B EGINNING 1 S AMUEL 1:10-20  19 The next morning Elkanah and Hannah got up early to bow and to worship the Lord. Afterwards, they returned home to Ramah. Then Elkanah was intimate with his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. 20 After some time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, because she said, "I requested him from the Lord.” Samuel means “asked of God.” All of his life, he was both an answer to prayer and a great man of prayer.

8. G OD, T HROUGH I T A LL 1 S AMUEL 1:27-2:1  1:27 I prayed for this boy, and since the Lord gave me what I asked Him for, 28 I now give the boy to the Lord. For as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord." Then he bowed and worshiped the Lord there.  2:1 Hannah prayed: My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is lifted up by the Lord. My mouth boasts over my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation.

9.  Hopeful confidence through God is especially important in an increasingly hopeless culture.  People try to fill the vacuum in their lives with the wrong things. When those things fail to satisfy, doubt, disappoint, discouragement, and finally despair result.  We honor God and help others by continuing to pray for the people entrusted to us in family, friends, a class, and any other circle of influence.  We demonstrate and deepen our faith by continuing to hope in God even during difficult situations.