Judges 11:1  Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior. His father was Gilead; his mother was a prostitute.

Sent away by his father's legitimate sons, denied his inheritance, Jephtah seemed to have curse over him, and limited possibilities for his future.  But God had a plan and a purpose for Jephtah that were not hindered by man, or the difficult circumstances he faced.  What has God said about me?   Anna, the daughter of Sam and Katie is a mighty _____?  What is the truth of who God created you to be?  He creates us each with a specific purpose and gifts to accomplish that purpose, knowing that we will sin, we will mess up and we will struggle to keep our eyes on him.  Looking at this story of Jephtah the Gileadite, a mighty warrior, I can see how God used the years he was exiled from his family, how the hardships he faced were the very things that prepared him and developed the skills he needed to be not only be a mighty warrior, but a leader.  When the very people who had rejected him asked him to come back and lead them against the Ammorites, he was willing and prepared to answer God's call.  In 12:7 it says,  "Jephthah led [a] Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died, and was buried in a town in Gilead."  In the same way, the trials and hardships we face prepare us and make us strong, they train us up to be ready when God calls u to serve Him.  God, help me to keep my eyes on you and your truth instead of the circumstances in front of me.

Anna Estrada