I'm on a mission to use as many of the groceries I have in my house right now before the move at the end of the month. Needless to say our meals are going to be getting more and more interesting as the month moves along. However, using what you have is a concept of good stewardship that I really need to be more mindful of on a regular basis.
As I was thinking about this, I thought even how much more this concept runs true spiritually speaking. Each week I sit under 4 plus hours of sound biblical teaching, have my own personal time with the Lord and then I read more than a couple really inspirational blogs and books regularly. But how many times do I actually use what I'm learning...the Biblical instruction, the good ideas, the use of God's word....it does me no good to have it if I am not striving to apply it to my life. This is an area that I can become so complacent in...much like the groceries that are shoved to the back of the pantry...I know the can of peas is back there....and in a pinch I can use them...they aren't my first, second or even third choice...but if I am super hungry and it's all that's left...I can make do. I CAN eat them. Sometimes I find myself treating my spiritual life the same way. Rating the goodness of the verses, trying everything BUT going to the Word...looking at it with distaste as if it was not good for me.
It's a trap. One set by the enemy to entice us to go towards other fixes for our issues. But the only real fix for ourselves is His Word. It's the best there is. Friends might have good advice and well intentioned counselors might encourage your heart, but in the middle of the night when all that stands between you and your thoughts is the Word of God....realize.. you've got everything you could ever need. Right there.
Showing posts with label Bible Study. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible Study. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Days of Thanks #14
I'm thankful for the ladies that attend Bible study with me. I may be the teacher but I learn so much from them as we discuss and learn God's Word. They bless me.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Day #24 Beautiful Photography
I'm a fan of beautiful photography. I just wish I could take beautiful pictures. With the help of instagram and other photo editing programs my pictures look decent...but not near as good as some I've seen.
These pictures were obviously not taken by me. They are clear and reflective and my thumb isn't in the corner. The focus is good, the clarity and colors are vivid. Truly there is an art to this.
I like how a photo tells a story. You can imagine yourself in that scene or recall what you did. Photos bring back memories of good times and happiness. They remind us of loved ones and the power of a negative developing into something beautiful. It's a reflection of tiny details coming together to make something worth remembering.
That's life isn't it? It's our story, all the scenes...the good and the not so good...the happy and the sad...the loved ones...the negatives developing us into something beautiful...all the tiny details coming together to make something that is worth remembering. Worth passing down. Worth sharing. Worth taking a second look at.
There are no perfect pictures. There is always something the photographer would do just a tad bit differently. But sometimes the imperfections make the photo really beautiful...really interesting....worth remembering. It's those photos that tell the stories worth repeating...those stories of hope and heartache and blessings and beauty. It's those stories that allow us to share the provision, greatness and blessings of our sovereign God. Because, for those who love Him, He is working all those things out for our good, they are being transformed in the dark rooms of life. And that truly is beautiful photography.
These pictures were obviously not taken by me. They are clear and reflective and my thumb isn't in the corner. The focus is good, the clarity and colors are vivid. Truly there is an art to this.
I like how a photo tells a story. You can imagine yourself in that scene or recall what you did. Photos bring back memories of good times and happiness. They remind us of loved ones and the power of a negative developing into something beautiful. It's a reflection of tiny details coming together to make something worth remembering.
That's life isn't it? It's our story, all the scenes...the good and the not so good...the happy and the sad...the loved ones...the negatives developing us into something beautiful...all the tiny details coming together to make something that is worth remembering. Worth passing down. Worth sharing. Worth taking a second look at.
There are no perfect pictures. There is always something the photographer would do just a tad bit differently. But sometimes the imperfections make the photo really beautiful...really interesting....worth remembering. It's those photos that tell the stories worth repeating...those stories of hope and heartache and blessings and beauty. It's those stories that allow us to share the provision, greatness and blessings of our sovereign God. Because, for those who love Him, He is working all those things out for our good, they are being transformed in the dark rooms of life. And that truly is beautiful photography.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Day #16 Beautiful Quietness
I'm writing this post in my den, small corner lamp, feet propped up on an ottoman, sweet tea within reach....everyone is asleep. It's beautifully quiet. I almost want to pinch myself because in this house of piano lessons and Taekwondo forms and homeschool and nerf guns this is a rarity.
I'm learning though, that to enjoy the quiet in my home, it takes effort.
- Effort to plan ahead so there aren't distractions.
- Effort to get up early or stay up late when the eyeballs are wishing otherwise.
- Effort to settle myself, to relax, to not feel guilty.
- Effort to be prepared with Bible, books, journal, computer.
It's almost as much work to prepare for quietness as it is to get quietness. And sometimes, if I'm honest, it's too much work and in my laziness I miss the beauty of the quietness.
Because it's in the quietness that I hear things otherwise unheard. Sweet truths of Jesus fly off the pages of His Word when I sit quietly before Him. I recall things in the quiet that I would otherwise not take the time to savor....memories, answered prayer, intercessory request. In the quiet I also realize my own worth and my own sin. I have the time to confess and praise and thank.
Being still before the Lord isn't some silly mantra that we obligate ourselves to as Christians. It's a privilege....we are being still so we can KNOW the Lord God. (Ps. 46:10) Depending on your season of life, you may or may not have plenty of time to do this at anytime during the day....for me, it requires effort. A real, purposeful, decision to get up or stay up so that I can spend quiet time getting to know the Lord.
Here are a few things I do....
- Get comfortable
- Sit quietly for a few minutes, settling my mind down
- Consider things to be thankful for, write them down if desired- Pray
- Read God's Word
- Confess sins that are brought to mind- Pray
- Think about the gift of salvation and praise God for giving me salvation - Pray
- Think about others and their needs and requests - Journal these
- Meditate on 2-3 scriptures that have something to do with something I'm struggling with
- Listen for anything that God may be saying to be through His Word.
There's no set rules for spending time with God. No time limit. No list of things you must do in order. Find what works for you. I can honestly tell you, when I start my day sitting in the beautiful quietness with the Lord, it does help me through out the day. I'm finding too, that when I don't have time for some quiet time with the Lord, in reality, that's really all I do have time for.
I've come across journaling ideas through pinterest and thought they might inspire you to document your beautiful quietness:
What's On Your Mind Today (printable)
Story Analysis (printable)
I'm learning though, that to enjoy the quiet in my home, it takes effort.
- Effort to plan ahead so there aren't distractions.
- Effort to get up early or stay up late when the eyeballs are wishing otherwise.
- Effort to settle myself, to relax, to not feel guilty.
- Effort to be prepared with Bible, books, journal, computer.
It's almost as much work to prepare for quietness as it is to get quietness. And sometimes, if I'm honest, it's too much work and in my laziness I miss the beauty of the quietness.
Because it's in the quietness that I hear things otherwise unheard. Sweet truths of Jesus fly off the pages of His Word when I sit quietly before Him. I recall things in the quiet that I would otherwise not take the time to savor....memories, answered prayer, intercessory request. In the quiet I also realize my own worth and my own sin. I have the time to confess and praise and thank.
Being still before the Lord isn't some silly mantra that we obligate ourselves to as Christians. It's a privilege....we are being still so we can KNOW the Lord God. (Ps. 46:10) Depending on your season of life, you may or may not have plenty of time to do this at anytime during the day....for me, it requires effort. A real, purposeful, decision to get up or stay up so that I can spend quiet time getting to know the Lord.
Here are a few things I do....
- Get comfortable
- Sit quietly for a few minutes, settling my mind down
- Consider things to be thankful for, write them down if desired- Pray
- Read God's Word
- Confess sins that are brought to mind- Pray
- Think about the gift of salvation and praise God for giving me salvation - Pray
- Think about others and their needs and requests - Journal these
- Meditate on 2-3 scriptures that have something to do with something I'm struggling with
- Listen for anything that God may be saying to be through His Word.
There's no set rules for spending time with God. No time limit. No list of things you must do in order. Find what works for you. I can honestly tell you, when I start my day sitting in the beautiful quietness with the Lord, it does help me through out the day. I'm finding too, that when I don't have time for some quiet time with the Lord, in reality, that's really all I do have time for.
I've come across journaling ideas through pinterest and thought they might inspire you to document your beautiful quietness:
What's On Your Mind Today (printable)
Story Analysis (printable)
Monday, February 18, 2013
Affirming Words
I've been working my way through "Unglued". It's the Bible Study I'm doing with my ladies this winter. The crux of the book is about learning to get ahold of yourself when dealing with raw emotions. It's a book that is full of honest, gut-wrenching questions and thought provoking text. I'm not sure that I even realized how "emotional" I am until I began answering some of the tough questions.
One of the things that the book deals with in large is negative self talk. I've blogged about this before. It's one of the most detrimental things I think women (myself included) deal with. We talk about each other, we talk about our kids, our spouse, our parents, teachers, politics, money and yes, we talk about ourselves. Talk, talk, talk. And a lot of that talk is negative. Hurtful to others. Hurtful to ourselves.
I recently sat and listened to someone complain, complain, complain. I walked away from the conversation drained, defeated, exasperated and frustrated. I wondered why they couldn't find anything good to say, anything positive, anything good, true, lovely...
Just a couple of weeks later I sat across the table from a seasoned man of God who spoke words of encouragement into my husband. I watched Bruce go from feeling somewhat unsure of himself to feeling encouraged, invigorated, energized and motivated. The transformation was unreal.
The power of affirming words....remarkable. In our Bible study this week, we've been challenged to focus on the instructions given in God's word regarding our thoughts and speech. I've been working on this and have noticed when you concentrate hard on thinking and speaking thoughts that are of good report, kind, lovely, pure...it's hard to be able to say those complaining thoughts that really don't do anything but tear down.
Sure life is hard...even overwhelming sometimes, but if we rise above the way we feel (our flesh) and obey God's word regarding how we act and think....maybe we will see life a little differently. Maybe we will see it through the truth of God's Word rather than through the lies our feelings try to talk us into believing.
One of the things that the book deals with in large is negative self talk. I've blogged about this before. It's one of the most detrimental things I think women (myself included) deal with. We talk about each other, we talk about our kids, our spouse, our parents, teachers, politics, money and yes, we talk about ourselves. Talk, talk, talk. And a lot of that talk is negative. Hurtful to others. Hurtful to ourselves.
I recently sat and listened to someone complain, complain, complain. I walked away from the conversation drained, defeated, exasperated and frustrated. I wondered why they couldn't find anything good to say, anything positive, anything good, true, lovely...
Just a couple of weeks later I sat across the table from a seasoned man of God who spoke words of encouragement into my husband. I watched Bruce go from feeling somewhat unsure of himself to feeling encouraged, invigorated, energized and motivated. The transformation was unreal.
The power of affirming words....remarkable. In our Bible study this week, we've been challenged to focus on the instructions given in God's word regarding our thoughts and speech. I've been working on this and have noticed when you concentrate hard on thinking and speaking thoughts that are of good report, kind, lovely, pure...it's hard to be able to say those complaining thoughts that really don't do anything but tear down.
Sure life is hard...even overwhelming sometimes, but if we rise above the way we feel (our flesh) and obey God's word regarding how we act and think....maybe we will see life a little differently. Maybe we will see it through the truth of God's Word rather than through the lies our feelings try to talk us into believing.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Summer Reading
I've been teaching a summer reading clinic on Wednesday afternoons this summer. At first the kids were less than excited. Read? In the summer? You've got to be kidding me! But as soon as they warmed up to the games, centers, iPad and fun books they were eager to get busy each week. I'm reading the If you Give a Mouse...books and we are having fun making our own predictions!
On a personal note, I'm doing my own reading this summer, mostly ministry driven to get ready for the fall at church.
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This book has been out a while but it is by the same author who wrote the James Bible Study we did last Fall. It was a manageable, do-able, toe stomping study. During the teaching time I added information from other studies, dictionaries and commentaries. It was so good...we still talk about it!
And....the ladies version of the Courageous Resolution....The Resolution for Women
Priscilla Shirer says this about One in a Million
Whatcha Reading? Have you done a Bible study that just really spoke to you? I'd love to hear about it!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Journaling Idea
Just passing along a journaling idea that I saw on Pinterest a few weeks ago. Of all the things I've pinned on there the last few months this idea would not leave my mind. It mixes my love of journaling with note-taking, quotes and odd facts and creates a beautiful hands-on notebook, useful for Bible study, teaching and personal reflection. Here's the pin from pinterest:
So after a quick trip to walmart for a leather bound journal and a package of these:
...because journaling is always better with 80's glam sharpies....I started my journal. I'm only a few days in and already feel like this is going to be a perfect fit for keeping my notes and quotes in one place. If you're looking for something a little different to use for notetaking in church or your own personal notetaking at home, click on the journal picture and follow the link to see more examples and ideas of creatively journaling. Maybe this will work for you too!
Do you have a favorite technique for keeping your notes and things you want to remember all together? I'd love to hear your tips.
So after a quick trip to walmart for a leather bound journal and a package of these:
...because journaling is always better with 80's glam sharpies....I started my journal. I'm only a few days in and already feel like this is going to be a perfect fit for keeping my notes and quotes in one place. If you're looking for something a little different to use for notetaking in church or your own personal notetaking at home, click on the journal picture and follow the link to see more examples and ideas of creatively journaling. Maybe this will work for you too!
Do you have a favorite technique for keeping your notes and things you want to remember all together? I'd love to hear your tips.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Beauty for Ashes
I love this:
“Of one thing I am perfectly sure: God's story never ends with 'ashes.”
― Elisabeth Elliot, These Strange Ashes
Isaiah 61:1-3
...I love that last phrase....for the display of HIS splendor. I wonder if I have displayed His splendor this week? That's the reason he has called us out....to display His splendor. We do this by proclaiming good news, binding up the brokenhearted, freeing captives, shedding light, proclaiming the Lord's favor and day of vengeance, comforting those who mourn, provide for the grieving, trading beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, and praise for despair. All this....to display HIS splendor......and to remember....He doesn't ever end with the ashes. How beautiful is that!?!
“Of one thing I am perfectly sure: God's story never ends with 'ashes.”
― Elisabeth Elliot, These Strange Ashes
Isaiah 61:1-3
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes, the oil of joy
instead of mourning, and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
The Cards....
....Before we begin....this is not a post about baseball. So if you came here looking for some inspirational talk about the Rangers and the Cardinals...well I'm afraid your google search did you wrong.
Anyway...someone recently asked me if I was "happy with the cards life had dealt me thus far." It was out of the blue...and I quickly, without thinking, said..."absolutely" and then afterward I thought maybe I should have given it more thought.
You see...here are some of the cards life has thrown me....
- loss of father at a young age
- paying my own way thru college
- fertility issues
- near loss of life in child birth
- near loss of life of firstborn
- financial difficulties
- small church ministry pitfalls
- taking a loss on selling a house
- 3 months of bed rest
- hurricanes
And...
-Salvation
- Christian parents
- Bible College
- A godly husband
- Opportunity to serve in full-time Christian service
- 2 wonderful kids
- fulfillment in employment
-A beautiful home
- steady paycheck
- sweet friends
- Freedom to homeschool
- Peace of mind
- Support
- Good health
And there's more...much more. God's allowed so many things to happen in these short years and each one of them has had its purpose. I haven't always liked it when I went through it...and even now the twinge of pain I might feel about some of these things is tough, but I know these things are just the beginning of the good things he has planned for me. He allows these things to mature me. In our ladies Bible study at church we've been studying James and how to walk a more spiritually aware life. It's difficult, but possible. I'm finding each and every day a struggle between my flesh and my spirit, but when I learn to trust Him completely....100%, then I can accept these comfortable and uncomfortable situations and all these moments in between as time designed to get focused on His goodness and His character...and to walk in HIM...under His control. There's no better place to be!
Anyway...someone recently asked me if I was "happy with the cards life had dealt me thus far." It was out of the blue...and I quickly, without thinking, said..."absolutely" and then afterward I thought maybe I should have given it more thought.
You see...here are some of the cards life has thrown me....
- loss of father at a young age
- paying my own way thru college
- fertility issues
- near loss of life in child birth
- near loss of life of firstborn
- financial difficulties
- small church ministry pitfalls
- taking a loss on selling a house
- 3 months of bed rest
- hurricanes
And...
-Salvation
- Christian parents
- Bible College
- A godly husband
- Opportunity to serve in full-time Christian service
- 2 wonderful kids
- fulfillment in employment
-A beautiful home
- steady paycheck
- sweet friends
- Freedom to homeschool
- Peace of mind
- Support
- Good health
And there's more...much more. God's allowed so many things to happen in these short years and each one of them has had its purpose. I haven't always liked it when I went through it...and even now the twinge of pain I might feel about some of these things is tough, but I know these things are just the beginning of the good things he has planned for me. He allows these things to mature me. In our ladies Bible study at church we've been studying James and how to walk a more spiritually aware life. It's difficult, but possible. I'm finding each and every day a struggle between my flesh and my spirit, but when I learn to trust Him completely....100%, then I can accept these comfortable and uncomfortable situations and all these moments in between as time designed to get focused on His goodness and His character...and to walk in HIM...under His control. There's no better place to be!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Dumb...and Dumber
Sheep are the dumbest animals alive. I'm not 100% sure this has been proven scientifically but all you have to do is watch HERE HERE HERE to be persuaded.
It's no joke that God, in His Word, likens us to sheep. We aren't always the smartest when it comes to life, love and logic. In fact...if I was completely honest there are times that I am just flat out dumb. In my Sunday School class Sunday we were talking about the importance of God's Word being our #1 source for EVERYTHING...emphasis on EVERY. In my own life I've watched myself put confidence in others and have been so sadly disappointed when they failed me. I've also watched people put their trust in me...and well, I am a sad example of perfection, so of course, they were disappointed. God's Word will never fail me or anyone else....after all it is GOD's WORDs given to us....it is HIM. He is the Word...John 1 tells us. So why in the world would I go to some dumb sheep before I go to HIM about anything.
In fact, I think there are MANY times when I wouldn't need to talk to another human being about a matter if I would just get in the WORD and find what I need there. We depend a lot on friends....especially as women, and well, just bluntly put....we're emotional, we're opinionated...sometimes we're wrong...and well....we're sheep. The Bible talks about burdening a weaker brother or sister in Christ with your own baggage may in fact cause that person to stumble. WOW....am I completely guilty there. Suffice it to say...my heart, my feelings, my opinions are better off in the hands of the Lord than anywhere else. These are lessons I pray this sheep can grow to master. His Word is the only best place for my soul to find what it needs. Get smart...and get in it.
It's no joke that God, in His Word, likens us to sheep. We aren't always the smartest when it comes to life, love and logic. In fact...if I was completely honest there are times that I am just flat out dumb. In my Sunday School class Sunday we were talking about the importance of God's Word being our #1 source for EVERYTHING...emphasis on EVERY. In my own life I've watched myself put confidence in others and have been so sadly disappointed when they failed me. I've also watched people put their trust in me...and well, I am a sad example of perfection, so of course, they were disappointed. God's Word will never fail me or anyone else....after all it is GOD's WORDs given to us....it is HIM. He is the Word...John 1 tells us. So why in the world would I go to some dumb sheep before I go to HIM about anything.
In fact, I think there are MANY times when I wouldn't need to talk to another human being about a matter if I would just get in the WORD and find what I need there. We depend a lot on friends....especially as women, and well, just bluntly put....we're emotional, we're opinionated...sometimes we're wrong...and well....we're sheep. The Bible talks about burdening a weaker brother or sister in Christ with your own baggage may in fact cause that person to stumble. WOW....am I completely guilty there. Suffice it to say...my heart, my feelings, my opinions are better off in the hands of the Lord than anywhere else. These are lessons I pray this sheep can grow to master. His Word is the only best place for my soul to find what it needs. Get smart...and get in it.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Quotes from God's Girl
I'm reading the book God's Girl by Hayley DiMarco. I also am reading the companion devotional guide by the same author. I am amazed by the insight and extreme clarity this gal writes with....she is my hero.
This book is really written for younger women who might be on the verge of adulthood, college age, maybe beginning their career. I had originally picked it up when I was looking at doing a Bible study with the teen girls, but now I am just reading it because. And now is definitly the best time for me to be reading it....because now I am ready to receive what God has for me. Before, I don't think I was ready.
Here are a few quotes from the book:
When Christians love only the people who love them, they don't prove anything to anyone about who God is.
Obsess only about one thing, your relationship with God, and then everything else will fall into place.
If you want more of God then learn more about Jesus.
Worry calls God a liar.
As long as you are looking for approval in the eyes of another human being, you are going to be completely distracted from God.
Troubled relationships start with a lack of humility.
I could truly go on and on and on. She has a way of saying things that knocks you square in the eyes and sets you straight. I'm pretty sure the Holy Spirit is also involved.
Anyway....I'm in love with this book and highly recommend you go straight to amazon.com right now and buy it. ....go....now.....yes, you....go...now.
This book is really written for younger women who might be on the verge of adulthood, college age, maybe beginning their career. I had originally picked it up when I was looking at doing a Bible study with the teen girls, but now I am just reading it because. And now is definitly the best time for me to be reading it....because now I am ready to receive what God has for me. Before, I don't think I was ready.
Here are a few quotes from the book:
When Christians love only the people who love them, they don't prove anything to anyone about who God is.
Obsess only about one thing, your relationship with God, and then everything else will fall into place.
If you want more of God then learn more about Jesus.
Worry calls God a liar.
As long as you are looking for approval in the eyes of another human being, you are going to be completely distracted from God.
Troubled relationships start with a lack of humility.
I could truly go on and on and on. She has a way of saying things that knocks you square in the eyes and sets you straight. I'm pretty sure the Holy Spirit is also involved.
Anyway....I'm in love with this book and highly recommend you go straight to amazon.com right now and buy it. ....go....now.....yes, you....go...now.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
The Word
I'm sitting here late on Saturday night just reviewing the notes for my ladies class tomorrow at church. The lesson was written on Monday and I've been chewing on it all week long. It's all about the Bible. I know...crazy, right? But how many times in one day do I basically just do my own thing without regard to what God has to say about it? Do I even know what His word says about the struggles I face, the decisions I need to make, the issues I deal with on a daily basis.
What I've been reminded of this week is how stable, unchanging and completely reliable my God is. We can count on Him. The same words that were written thousands of years ago are still relevant and applicable to our lives now. The hard part is that I've got to be disciplined enough to get in the book and find out what it says about life, love and everything in between. It's not enough to own a Bible. You've got to open it up and read it!
So whether I'm struggling with parenting issues, friend issues, spousal issues, diet issues, health issues, money issues or anything else big or little or in between, God's got it covered. The principles found in His Word have 2011 written all over them. I just need to do my part and open the pages.
I'm tremendously grateful that we have a God who doesn't try to hide or tease us with His promises. They're all written down for us all to see....or at least those of us blessed enough with a copy of His Word....And might I add that there are many who don't have one...let alone one in their own language. Read about that situation HERE
So if you have a copy of the Bible, read it. Believe it. Test everything you say and hear against the standard of God's Word, trust it, live it, dive into it, memorize it and above all love it...for it is Jesus. He is the Word.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Safety in the Light
How many times do you get up during the middle of the night and stumble getting to the bathroom? This is a regular occurrence at my house. I stumble to the bathroom nearly every night...through the maze of dirty laundry piled on the floor, stray shoes and misplaced toys. It's probably one of the most dangerous feats of my daily life (ok...besides tasting Bruce's tuna chili or BBQ wienies.)
Wednesday (after I lost my Internet connection- which I just got back tonight- in case you've wondered where I have been) Tucker and I were playing a dangerous game of Nerf football in the house. It was terribly overcast outside, maybe even raining, and the living room was darker than usually for 5pm in the afternoon. I over-threw the ball and it bounced down the very short hallway we have. Due to the overcast skies and the solar screens on the widows, the hallway seemed way too dark to Tucker. He looked at me and with a timid look said, "You get the ball?" I said "You can turn on the light". He looked at me as if I had just given him such tremendous truth- a light bulb moment for sure! -and ran to the light switch and tip-toed to turn it on. Then he triumphantly returned the Nerf ball with an excited winner's smile.
He felt safe in the light...the same way I feel scared for my safety as I wander through my house after "lights out"- he felt scared of the darkness looming in the 6 feet of hallway space in my house. But as soon as the light was turned on....BINGO! Everything was A-OK.
I've thought about that a lot since Wednesday. The spiritual corelations are just too obvious. Isn't it true that when we are stumbling around in this world of darkness that it can be very scary. We don't want to walk around without a light, we don't know what might be looming, ready to trip us up, hurt us or cause us to stumble. Yet, as soon as we turn on the light, things appear brighter, better and more clear. The things that lay in our way are still there but we can walk around them avoid them and even clean them up when they are exposed by the light.
I'm so thankful that I have a relationship with the Light of the World- that His Word is a light to my path- He is the bright and morning star....leading the way, shining the light and exposing the darkness. With him, we are safe.
Wednesday (after I lost my Internet connection- which I just got back tonight- in case you've wondered where I have been) Tucker and I were playing a dangerous game of Nerf football in the house. It was terribly overcast outside, maybe even raining, and the living room was darker than usually for 5pm in the afternoon. I over-threw the ball and it bounced down the very short hallway we have. Due to the overcast skies and the solar screens on the widows, the hallway seemed way too dark to Tucker. He looked at me and with a timid look said, "You get the ball?" I said "You can turn on the light". He looked at me as if I had just given him such tremendous truth- a light bulb moment for sure! -and ran to the light switch and tip-toed to turn it on. Then he triumphantly returned the Nerf ball with an excited winner's smile.
He felt safe in the light...the same way I feel scared for my safety as I wander through my house after "lights out"- he felt scared of the darkness looming in the 6 feet of hallway space in my house. But as soon as the light was turned on....BINGO! Everything was A-OK.
I've thought about that a lot since Wednesday. The spiritual corelations are just too obvious. Isn't it true that when we are stumbling around in this world of darkness that it can be very scary. We don't want to walk around without a light, we don't know what might be looming, ready to trip us up, hurt us or cause us to stumble. Yet, as soon as we turn on the light, things appear brighter, better and more clear. The things that lay in our way are still there but we can walk around them avoid them and even clean them up when they are exposed by the light.
I'm so thankful that I have a relationship with the Light of the World- that His Word is a light to my path- He is the bright and morning star....leading the way, shining the light and exposing the darkness. With him, we are safe.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Things I am learning at Bible Study
The ladies at church get together once a week to discuss our Esther Bible Study, what God is showing us, and for fellowship. It's one of the highlights of the week.
God is showing me so much in this study. Here's a glimpse of what I am learning this week:
1. "I" am not as important as I sometimes think I am. (Haman)
2. God's timing is perfect (King Xerxes reading the journals just in time to make a way of escape for Mordecai)
3. Prayer and Fasting releases me from doing anything and gives God permission to do everything.
4. God takes care of His people...no matter who or what...He will always take care of Israel.
5. Past experiences of trusting God should help me trust easier, quicker and more fully in the future.
6. Less of me=More of HIM.
7. No recognition, praise, honor, money, thing can compare to the glorious moment when I stand before Christ. My prayer is He will be able to say "well done". Nothing else should matter.
8. Fear of failure is more than likely for me, fear of humiliation...which is pride.
9. My insecurities should be checked at the door as I am reminded who I am in Christ.
10. Dying to myself will be the hardest battle I will ever face.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Sabbath Rest
Life is busy...yours, mine...everyone's. Recently I had a few days off in a row and realized how energized and clear headed I was after taking those days off. Then it came...that strangely quiet conviction that comes over you when you gently realize that maybe you haven't been doing something right. Yes, I've been living a life with no Sabbath for quite a while. Shame on me...and I am serious!
What on earth convinced me that working 7 days straight for many months could produce anything but fatigue, discouragement and pride? When did I begin to know better than God? When did I discover that my body didn't need some downtime? What a joke!
After those few days off, I began to realize that my goals could all be accomplished in a much shorter time if I took time to stop, rest, worship and rejuvenate. WOW! What a difference the past two weeks have made. Since Sunday's are a little crazy in our house, I've chosen to enjoy a little time on Saturday's to rest. That coupled with Sunday worship and the fellowship of having others in our home really has made an amazing difference to my overall life.
God never intended us to fill our lives so full that we wouldn't have the time to take care of ourselves, worship, fellowship, relax, enjoy downtime...He set the example by taking the 7th day to rest....did He need it? NO! But the reflection of His love for us is evident by Him acknowledging that WE need it. He wants us to take care of this temple. He wants us to slow down and enjoy the things He has created. He wants us to embrace worship with all our hearts.
I'd love to hear how you spend your day of rest. Comment below and share your thoughts.
What on earth convinced me that working 7 days straight for many months could produce anything but fatigue, discouragement and pride? When did I begin to know better than God? When did I discover that my body didn't need some downtime? What a joke!
After those few days off, I began to realize that my goals could all be accomplished in a much shorter time if I took time to stop, rest, worship and rejuvenate. WOW! What a difference the past two weeks have made. Since Sunday's are a little crazy in our house, I've chosen to enjoy a little time on Saturday's to rest. That coupled with Sunday worship and the fellowship of having others in our home really has made an amazing difference to my overall life.
God never intended us to fill our lives so full that we wouldn't have the time to take care of ourselves, worship, fellowship, relax, enjoy downtime...He set the example by taking the 7th day to rest....did He need it? NO! But the reflection of His love for us is evident by Him acknowledging that WE need it. He wants us to take care of this temple. He wants us to slow down and enjoy the things He has created. He wants us to embrace worship with all our hearts.
I'd love to hear how you spend your day of rest. Comment below and share your thoughts.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Rejection
At Bible study last night we were examining the first chapter of Esther. The story goes something like this:
King Xerxes throws this 180 day party with tons of wine to show off his wealth. After this time, he throws another 7 day party for the locals. At the same time his wife is having a party for the women. While Xerxes is intoxicated he asks for his wife, Vashti, to come before all the men. In this day when most women would have felt obligated to say "Yes, dear", she said, "No, thanks". Xerxes got really angry, called a meeting with his "counsel" who were also intoxicated, and decided this wasn't a good example to the women of his kingdom, so he had Vashti dismissed of her queenly position.
Anyway, the question was posed "How do you deal with rejection?" (In reference to how Xerxes handled Vashti's rejection) And for some reason, diarrhea of the mouth hit at that moment and I decided to comment. If you know me, that usually means I find a funny way to express something that really hurts me.
Here's my take on rejection:
I come in contact with someone who rejects me on a regular basis. It's been happening for a while now. Depending on when it happens sometimes I get mad....I mean really mad, sometimes I get defensive, sometimes I cry and sometimes I ignore it. The gamut of emotions is as varied as the 31 flavors at Baskin Robbins. I ask my self all sorts of questions: Why does she hate me? Why does she reject me? What have I done? Why is this so important to me? What can I do differently? But the bottom line is that I haven't done anything to her. She probably doesn't hate me. She might have her own insecurities, and I bet, I've made someone feel this way before too.
I'm not terrible sensitive so it took me a while to realize I was being rejected. Like about 6 months. I've wondered...what if I had a better house? what if I were skinnier? what if I wore better clothes? And then it hit me last night...if I had all these things, and she and I were friends, would this really be what I would want our friendship based on anyway? WOW!
I don't know about you, but either way, rejection isn't pretty. It hurts, it degrades, it embarrasses, it humiliates, it's a poor reflection of who Christ is and what He has done. He was the ultimate ACCEPTOR! I want to walk and share in that acceptance, not wallow around in the rejection I feel here on earth.
Sometimes I think about this situation and I think "how junior high" and it makes me mad! Why can't we grow up. But after last night, I realize that there is a great possibility that although this behavior is extremely childish that others might somehow benefit from hearing that they are not alone. That others feel like they do. Maybe it will make us all a little more sensitive to those around us who need acceptance.
King Xerxes throws this 180 day party with tons of wine to show off his wealth. After this time, he throws another 7 day party for the locals. At the same time his wife is having a party for the women. While Xerxes is intoxicated he asks for his wife, Vashti, to come before all the men. In this day when most women would have felt obligated to say "Yes, dear", she said, "No, thanks". Xerxes got really angry, called a meeting with his "counsel" who were also intoxicated, and decided this wasn't a good example to the women of his kingdom, so he had Vashti dismissed of her queenly position.
Anyway, the question was posed "How do you deal with rejection?" (In reference to how Xerxes handled Vashti's rejection) And for some reason, diarrhea of the mouth hit at that moment and I decided to comment. If you know me, that usually means I find a funny way to express something that really hurts me.
Here's my take on rejection:
I come in contact with someone who rejects me on a regular basis. It's been happening for a while now. Depending on when it happens sometimes I get mad....I mean really mad, sometimes I get defensive, sometimes I cry and sometimes I ignore it. The gamut of emotions is as varied as the 31 flavors at Baskin Robbins. I ask my self all sorts of questions: Why does she hate me? Why does she reject me? What have I done? Why is this so important to me? What can I do differently? But the bottom line is that I haven't done anything to her. She probably doesn't hate me. She might have her own insecurities, and I bet, I've made someone feel this way before too.
I'm not terrible sensitive so it took me a while to realize I was being rejected. Like about 6 months. I've wondered...what if I had a better house? what if I were skinnier? what if I wore better clothes? And then it hit me last night...if I had all these things, and she and I were friends, would this really be what I would want our friendship based on anyway? WOW!
I don't know about you, but either way, rejection isn't pretty. It hurts, it degrades, it embarrasses, it humiliates, it's a poor reflection of who Christ is and what He has done. He was the ultimate ACCEPTOR! I want to walk and share in that acceptance, not wallow around in the rejection I feel here on earth.
Sometimes I think about this situation and I think "how junior high" and it makes me mad! Why can't we grow up. But after last night, I realize that there is a great possibility that although this behavior is extremely childish that others might somehow benefit from hearing that they are not alone. That others feel like they do. Maybe it will make us all a little more sensitive to those around us who need acceptance.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
For Such a Time as This
I was doing some studying today on the book of Esther and came across this devotional. Thought it was something worth sharing. Copied from- http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=1296
The situations in our lives are not always to our liking: the places we must live, the people we must associate with, or the problems we encounter. And these things may not always be our fault. We may have been the victims of circumstances, or we may have made decisions which we thought were right but which have not worked out as we expected. Some people feel that way about their marriages—the woman, for example, who thought the man she married was a believer. She later found out that he had deceived her. His actions continually reflected his disinterest in the things of the Lord and caused her endless grief. There is a story in God’s Word that will encourage folks in adverse circumstances such as these.
The man of the house was none other than the king of the greatest empire in the world of his day. The Jews called him Ahasuerus, the Hebrew form of his Persian name. Secular history knows him better by his Greek name, King Xerxes I who ruled Persia from 486 to 465 B.C. His powerful empire spread from India to Ethiopia (Esth. 1:1). But that wasn’t enough for him. The real passion of his life was to do what his father, Darius I, had never been able to do—conquer Greece.
The Word of God tells us that “in the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his princes and attendants, the army officers of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of his provinces being in his presence, when he displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty for many days, 180 days” (Esth. 1:3, 4). Such a high-level conference, lasting six months, had to be more than just a big party. It was probably a strategy session for Xerxes’ forthcoming invasion of Greece. Secular history tells us that he began that invasion not long after this magnificent convocation, in 481 B.C.
To conclude the conference, however, he planned seven special days of celebration and feasting (Esth. 1:5). When he was a little tipsy from his wine, he called for his beautiful queen, Vashti, so that he could show her off before his friends (Esth. 1:11). She refused to be made a public spectacle, and Ahasuerus was enraged. At the advice of his trusted counselors he decided to depose her by royal decree—the law of the Medes and the Persians which could never be reversed, not even by the king himself (Esth. 1:19). It was a rash decision which he would live to regret, but Ahasuerus was known to be an impulsive and headstrong man.
Besides that, he had more important things to do than worry about his harem. He was ready to conquer Greece. His armies were superior to theirs and the momentum of history was on his side. But in a succession of famous battles familiar to students of ancient history (Thermopylae, Salamis, Plataea), his military might was finally broken, and he returned to his capital at Susa a beaten man. How he must have longed for the comfort and companionship of his deposed queen to soothe him in his shame and put his fractured ego back together. “After these things when the anger of King Ahasuerus had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what had been decreed against her” (Esth. 2:1). But it was too late. His decree was irreversible.
That is when his aides suggested an all-Persia beauty contest to find a queen for King Ahasuerus. “Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king. And let the king appoint overseers in all the provinces of his kingdom that they may gather every beautiful young virgin to Susa the capital, to the harem, into the custody of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who was in charge of the women; and let their cosmetics be given them. Then let the young lady who pleases the king be queen in place of Vashti” (Esth. 2:2-4). The whole thing sounded like fun to the king, so he gave his permission, and the search was on. A beauty contest is not a bad way to find a wife, if good looks are all you are looking for. But our sovereign God was going to give Ahasuerus a great deal more than good looks, whether he wanted it or not. God already had a wife picked out for this heathen king. Although God’s name is nowhere mentioned in this book, His providential hand is clearly visible, ruling and overruling in the affairs of men.
Unknown to Ahasuerus, the next queen of Persia was to be a young Jewess. She would probably have rather been in Jerusalem with her countrymen, but for some reason her parents had declined to go back when King Cyrus gave his permission fifty years earlier. The Jews in captivity had been allowed to settle down, open businesses, and live normal lives, and only 50,000 of them chose to return to Israel when they had the opportunity.
This woman’s parents were dead and her older cousin, Mordecai, was raising her. Scripture says, “And he was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. Now the young lady was beautiful of form and face, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter” ( Esth. 2:7). She was a lovely woman, and there was no way she could escape the clutches of the king’s servants who were scouring the land for beautiful women. “So it came about when the command and decree of the king were heard and many young ladies were gathered to Susa the capital into the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken to the king’s palace into the custody of Hegai, who was in charge of the women” (Esth. 2:8).
Mordecai checked on Esther’s welfare daily, since he was a gatekeeper at the palace. He instructed her not to make her nationality known to anyone, probably to guard her against the unkind treatment directed against Jews in almost every country they have ever lived in, throughout their history, and she dutifully obeyed. Then when it was her turn to be ushered in to the king’s presence, she asked for nothing special with which to impress him, as the other girls had done. Her natural God-given beauty and evident loveliness of spirit alone captured the heart of the king. “And the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she found favor and kindness with him more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti” (Esth. 2:17).
Scripture never says that Esther wanted to marry Ahasuerus. It was a flattering offer, but she must have known that he would be less than an ideal husband, especially after what had happened to Vashti. But how do you say “no” to a tyrannical monarch without losing your head? So it was that this simple Jewish girl became the queen of the Persian empire. It was a rags to riches story unexcelled in human history.
The chronology of the book indicates that it was about five years later when the bubble burst and we find a crisis for God’s people. The culprit who caused the trouble must have been Hitler’s Old Testament hero. He was a vicious, anti-Semitic Amalakite named Haman, evidently a descendant of Agag, king of the Amalakites, whom King Saul had kept alive in disobedience to the command of the Lord (1 Sam. 15:8, 9). When Ahasuerus made him prime minister, everybody in the palace bowed down to him except Mordecai. He would bow his knee to none but God, and that infuriated Haman. He vowed not only to punish Mordecai, but to exterminate every living Jew in the Persian empire, and incidentally, that would include those in the land of Israel as well, for they were part of the empire. Haman got the king to agree to his plan and it was sealed with the king’s ring, the irreversible law of the Medes and the Persians. It was another hasty decision that Ahasuerus would live to regret.
“When Mordecai learned all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city and wailed loudly and bitterly. And he went as far as the king’s gate, for no one was to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth. And in each and every province where the command and decree of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay on sackcloth and ashes” (Esth. 4:1-3).
Strange as it may seem, prayer is never specifically mentioned in this book, just as the name of God is never mentioned, but you can be sure that these Jews were praying. Fasting is referred to, and that is usually associated with prayer in Scripture. And the wailing probably indicates a desperate cry to God. These Jews were away from their land by their own choice, out of the place of blessing, separated from their place of worship, and that may be why neither God nor prayer are directly mentioned. But they were praying, and God was watching over them, superintending their circumstances to glorify His own name. He is doing the same for us even when we are not aware of it.
We are about to discover that there is a purpose for God’s appointments. This revelation is made through an exchange of communications between Esther and Mordecai. Esther sent one of the king’s chamberlains to find out why Mordecai was in mourning. Mordecai sent a message back explaining the whole diabolical plot, of which she was unaware, and encouraging her to intercede with the king. She answered quickly, reminding him that no one entered the king’s presence without being invited unless he was tired of living, and that the king had not invited her into his presence for a full month. There was one slim possibility—if the king saw her and extended his golden scepter, she could enter.
Mordecai may have missed God’s best by not returning to Israel, but his spiritual insight had increased since then. He was beginning to understand something of God’s sovereign grace and divine providence, beginning to see that God can use even the adversities of life to accomplish His purposes. He sent word back to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” (Esth. 4:13, 14). Esther is really no safer than any other Jew. When it becomes known that she is Jewish, her life will be endangered too. Mordecai is convinced that God is going to care for His people Israel, however. They may be far from Him, but He cannot let them perish, for that would be contrary to His promises. If He does not use Esther to deliver them, He will use some other means. He is a sovereign God.
You see, Mordecai had grasped the fact that God allowed them to remain in Persia, and may now be ready to turn their decision to stay into glory for Himself and deliverance for the Jewish people. “And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this.” What an outstanding illustration of the greatness of our God. He can take not only the circumstances of our lives that are beyond our control, but He can take the wrong decisions we have made, and even the sins we have committed, and work them out for good. The psalmist says: “For the wrath of man shall praise Thee” (Psa. 76:10). If God can make man’s wrath praise Him, He can certainly make our sins and shortcomings praise him.
That obviously does not mean we should live our lives in total disregard for the will of God, and then expect Him to work out the mess we make. There is an enormous load of unhappiness and sorrow on that road, as many Christians will testify. The consequences of willful sin can be unbearable. It does mean that when we put our lives in Christ’s hands and yield ourselves unreservedly to Him, we can be certain that He has a great plan for us from that moment on. He can use everything that has happened to us in the past and every circumstance in our present experience to help carry out that plan.
God has a purpose for you, right now, right where you are, no matter who you are, where you live, to whom you are married, what you have experienced in the past, or what you are facing in the future. In fact He has allowed you to come to this place in your life for a definite purpose, “for such a time as this.” He has something specific for you to accomplish in your present situation, and He wants you to look for the opportunities in that present sphere of influence.
You see, believers are a part of God’s great program on earth; they should be living with confidence as people of destiny. God does not want us moaning over our plight and looking for a way out. He will be honored when we claim His grace to be what He wants us to be and do what He wants us to do in our present circumstances. We must take advantage of the opportunities He has made available to us in the here and now. He may later open wider spheres of opportunity if that suits His purposes, but that is in His hands. Our responsibility is to let Him use us where we are.
Esther responded positively to Mordecai’s godly advice. She sent word saying, “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish” (Esth. 4:16). Her reference to fasting would reveal her great confidence in the power of prayer, particularly in the fellowship of other believers in prayer. If we are facing trying circumstances, it might be wise to solicit the prayer support of other Christians. We do not need to air all our dirty linen, run down our spouses or gossip about anybody else involved in the problem. All we need to do is admit that we have a need and ask our friends to stand with us in prayer.
With that shroud of prayer surrounding and protecting us, the next step is to determine in our hearts that we shall do the will of God in that situation, whatever the cost or consequence. “I will go in to the king,” Esther affirmed, “and if I perish, I perish.” God may want us to carry out some unpleasant task. It may involve confronting someone whom we would rather avoid or admitting something we have tried to hide, as it did with Esther. But if we know it to be the will of God, we must do it. And God will honor it. He did for Esther.
God worked in a marvelous way. In fact, he performed a miracle for our encouragement. First of all, He laid it on the king’s heart to extend the golden scepter, and Esther approached the throne. She spoke with quiet dignity rather than selfish demands or angry accusations. And instead of blurting out the problem, she invited Ahasuerus and Haman to dinner that evening. At dinner, she ignored the problem again, but rather invited them both to a second dinner the following evening. It was not that she was softening him up or trying to manipulate him. She was using good wisdom, and most husbands and wives could learn a lesson from Esther about how to speak and when to speak. Grace and tact are the key words in her approach.
God works in unusual ways. On the night between the banquets, Ahasuerus could not sleep. He asked for the record of his reign to be read to him. That would probably put him to sleep when nothing else could. In the record was the story of an assassination plot against him that Mordecai had discovered and exposed, for which act he had never been rewarded (Esth. 6:1-3). That incredible little episode set the scene for the events of the next day.
First, Haman was forced to honor Mordecai for his patriotism. And then it was time for Esther’s second dinner party. As they feasted together, the king said to Esther, “What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done,” Esther’s reply was brilliant: “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me as my petition, and my people as my request; for we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed and to be annihilated. Now if we had only been sold as slaves, men and women, I would have remained silent, for the trouble would not be commensurate with the annoyance to the king.” The king was shocked. “Who is he, and where is he, who would presume to do thus?” And Esther put the finger on Haman, much to his horror (Esth. 7:1-6).
The results of that dinner party were awesome. Haman was hanged on the gallows he had built for Mordecai, and Mordecai was promoted to prime minister of Persia. And while the order to kill the Jews could not be rescinded, they were given permission to defend themselves against their enemies. Over 75,000 of their avowed adversaries were slain and God’s people were delivered. It was nothing less than a miracle! But God loves to perform miracles for people who see themselves as part of His program, who view their circumstances as part of His appointment, and who live to do His will right where they are.
But there is one more thing we should notice in this narrative, and that is a memorial for all time. Both Mordecai and Esther were so grateful to God for His faithfulness that they sent letters to the Jews in all the provinces in Persia instructing them to celebrate the two days of their deliverance every year. They called it the Feast of Purim, from the word Pur, meaning “lot” or “dice.” Haman had cast lots to determine the day the Jews should die (cf. Esth. 3:7; 9:24, 26). God turned it to a day of victory, and they were grateful to Him for deliverance. The Jewish people celebrate the Feast of Purim to this day. It is a lasting memorial to God’s faithfulness.
God is at work in our lives just as definitely and decisively as in Esther’s. Our circumstances may not be all we would like them to be. But we can thank God for them anyway. They provide Him with the opportunity to demonstrate His sovereign love and care, and they provide us with an opportunity to glorify Him. Let us believe that He will work those circumstances together for good, then look for ways to serve Him in them
The situations in our lives are not always to our liking: the places we must live, the people we must associate with, or the problems we encounter. And these things may not always be our fault. We may have been the victims of circumstances, or we may have made decisions which we thought were right but which have not worked out as we expected. Some people feel that way about their marriages—the woman, for example, who thought the man she married was a believer. She later found out that he had deceived her. His actions continually reflected his disinterest in the things of the Lord and caused her endless grief. There is a story in God’s Word that will encourage folks in adverse circumstances such as these.
The man of the house was none other than the king of the greatest empire in the world of his day. The Jews called him Ahasuerus, the Hebrew form of his Persian name. Secular history knows him better by his Greek name, King Xerxes I who ruled Persia from 486 to 465 B.C. His powerful empire spread from India to Ethiopia (Esth. 1:1). But that wasn’t enough for him. The real passion of his life was to do what his father, Darius I, had never been able to do—conquer Greece.
The Word of God tells us that “in the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his princes and attendants, the army officers of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of his provinces being in his presence, when he displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty for many days, 180 days” (Esth. 1:3, 4). Such a high-level conference, lasting six months, had to be more than just a big party. It was probably a strategy session for Xerxes’ forthcoming invasion of Greece. Secular history tells us that he began that invasion not long after this magnificent convocation, in 481 B.C.
To conclude the conference, however, he planned seven special days of celebration and feasting (Esth. 1:5). When he was a little tipsy from his wine, he called for his beautiful queen, Vashti, so that he could show her off before his friends (Esth. 1:11). She refused to be made a public spectacle, and Ahasuerus was enraged. At the advice of his trusted counselors he decided to depose her by royal decree—the law of the Medes and the Persians which could never be reversed, not even by the king himself (Esth. 1:19). It was a rash decision which he would live to regret, but Ahasuerus was known to be an impulsive and headstrong man.
Besides that, he had more important things to do than worry about his harem. He was ready to conquer Greece. His armies were superior to theirs and the momentum of history was on his side. But in a succession of famous battles familiar to students of ancient history (Thermopylae, Salamis, Plataea), his military might was finally broken, and he returned to his capital at Susa a beaten man. How he must have longed for the comfort and companionship of his deposed queen to soothe him in his shame and put his fractured ego back together. “After these things when the anger of King Ahasuerus had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what had been decreed against her” (Esth. 2:1). But it was too late. His decree was irreversible.
That is when his aides suggested an all-Persia beauty contest to find a queen for King Ahasuerus. “Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king. And let the king appoint overseers in all the provinces of his kingdom that they may gather every beautiful young virgin to Susa the capital, to the harem, into the custody of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who was in charge of the women; and let their cosmetics be given them. Then let the young lady who pleases the king be queen in place of Vashti” (Esth. 2:2-4). The whole thing sounded like fun to the king, so he gave his permission, and the search was on. A beauty contest is not a bad way to find a wife, if good looks are all you are looking for. But our sovereign God was going to give Ahasuerus a great deal more than good looks, whether he wanted it or not. God already had a wife picked out for this heathen king. Although God’s name is nowhere mentioned in this book, His providential hand is clearly visible, ruling and overruling in the affairs of men.
Unknown to Ahasuerus, the next queen of Persia was to be a young Jewess. She would probably have rather been in Jerusalem with her countrymen, but for some reason her parents had declined to go back when King Cyrus gave his permission fifty years earlier. The Jews in captivity had been allowed to settle down, open businesses, and live normal lives, and only 50,000 of them chose to return to Israel when they had the opportunity.
This woman’s parents were dead and her older cousin, Mordecai, was raising her. Scripture says, “And he was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. Now the young lady was beautiful of form and face, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter” ( Esth. 2:7). She was a lovely woman, and there was no way she could escape the clutches of the king’s servants who were scouring the land for beautiful women. “So it came about when the command and decree of the king were heard and many young ladies were gathered to Susa the capital into the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken to the king’s palace into the custody of Hegai, who was in charge of the women” (Esth. 2:8).
Mordecai checked on Esther’s welfare daily, since he was a gatekeeper at the palace. He instructed her not to make her nationality known to anyone, probably to guard her against the unkind treatment directed against Jews in almost every country they have ever lived in, throughout their history, and she dutifully obeyed. Then when it was her turn to be ushered in to the king’s presence, she asked for nothing special with which to impress him, as the other girls had done. Her natural God-given beauty and evident loveliness of spirit alone captured the heart of the king. “And the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she found favor and kindness with him more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti” (Esth. 2:17).
Scripture never says that Esther wanted to marry Ahasuerus. It was a flattering offer, but she must have known that he would be less than an ideal husband, especially after what had happened to Vashti. But how do you say “no” to a tyrannical monarch without losing your head? So it was that this simple Jewish girl became the queen of the Persian empire. It was a rags to riches story unexcelled in human history.
The chronology of the book indicates that it was about five years later when the bubble burst and we find a crisis for God’s people. The culprit who caused the trouble must have been Hitler’s Old Testament hero. He was a vicious, anti-Semitic Amalakite named Haman, evidently a descendant of Agag, king of the Amalakites, whom King Saul had kept alive in disobedience to the command of the Lord (1 Sam. 15:8, 9). When Ahasuerus made him prime minister, everybody in the palace bowed down to him except Mordecai. He would bow his knee to none but God, and that infuriated Haman. He vowed not only to punish Mordecai, but to exterminate every living Jew in the Persian empire, and incidentally, that would include those in the land of Israel as well, for they were part of the empire. Haman got the king to agree to his plan and it was sealed with the king’s ring, the irreversible law of the Medes and the Persians. It was another hasty decision that Ahasuerus would live to regret.
“When Mordecai learned all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city and wailed loudly and bitterly. And he went as far as the king’s gate, for no one was to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth. And in each and every province where the command and decree of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay on sackcloth and ashes” (Esth. 4:1-3).
Strange as it may seem, prayer is never specifically mentioned in this book, just as the name of God is never mentioned, but you can be sure that these Jews were praying. Fasting is referred to, and that is usually associated with prayer in Scripture. And the wailing probably indicates a desperate cry to God. These Jews were away from their land by their own choice, out of the place of blessing, separated from their place of worship, and that may be why neither God nor prayer are directly mentioned. But they were praying, and God was watching over them, superintending their circumstances to glorify His own name. He is doing the same for us even when we are not aware of it.
We are about to discover that there is a purpose for God’s appointments. This revelation is made through an exchange of communications between Esther and Mordecai. Esther sent one of the king’s chamberlains to find out why Mordecai was in mourning. Mordecai sent a message back explaining the whole diabolical plot, of which she was unaware, and encouraging her to intercede with the king. She answered quickly, reminding him that no one entered the king’s presence without being invited unless he was tired of living, and that the king had not invited her into his presence for a full month. There was one slim possibility—if the king saw her and extended his golden scepter, she could enter.
Mordecai may have missed God’s best by not returning to Israel, but his spiritual insight had increased since then. He was beginning to understand something of God’s sovereign grace and divine providence, beginning to see that God can use even the adversities of life to accomplish His purposes. He sent word back to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” (Esth. 4:13, 14). Esther is really no safer than any other Jew. When it becomes known that she is Jewish, her life will be endangered too. Mordecai is convinced that God is going to care for His people Israel, however. They may be far from Him, but He cannot let them perish, for that would be contrary to His promises. If He does not use Esther to deliver them, He will use some other means. He is a sovereign God.
You see, Mordecai had grasped the fact that God allowed them to remain in Persia, and may now be ready to turn their decision to stay into glory for Himself and deliverance for the Jewish people. “And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this.” What an outstanding illustration of the greatness of our God. He can take not only the circumstances of our lives that are beyond our control, but He can take the wrong decisions we have made, and even the sins we have committed, and work them out for good. The psalmist says: “For the wrath of man shall praise Thee” (Psa. 76:10). If God can make man’s wrath praise Him, He can certainly make our sins and shortcomings praise him.
That obviously does not mean we should live our lives in total disregard for the will of God, and then expect Him to work out the mess we make. There is an enormous load of unhappiness and sorrow on that road, as many Christians will testify. The consequences of willful sin can be unbearable. It does mean that when we put our lives in Christ’s hands and yield ourselves unreservedly to Him, we can be certain that He has a great plan for us from that moment on. He can use everything that has happened to us in the past and every circumstance in our present experience to help carry out that plan.
God has a purpose for you, right now, right where you are, no matter who you are, where you live, to whom you are married, what you have experienced in the past, or what you are facing in the future. In fact He has allowed you to come to this place in your life for a definite purpose, “for such a time as this.” He has something specific for you to accomplish in your present situation, and He wants you to look for the opportunities in that present sphere of influence.
You see, believers are a part of God’s great program on earth; they should be living with confidence as people of destiny. God does not want us moaning over our plight and looking for a way out. He will be honored when we claim His grace to be what He wants us to be and do what He wants us to do in our present circumstances. We must take advantage of the opportunities He has made available to us in the here and now. He may later open wider spheres of opportunity if that suits His purposes, but that is in His hands. Our responsibility is to let Him use us where we are.
Esther responded positively to Mordecai’s godly advice. She sent word saying, “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish” (Esth. 4:16). Her reference to fasting would reveal her great confidence in the power of prayer, particularly in the fellowship of other believers in prayer. If we are facing trying circumstances, it might be wise to solicit the prayer support of other Christians. We do not need to air all our dirty linen, run down our spouses or gossip about anybody else involved in the problem. All we need to do is admit that we have a need and ask our friends to stand with us in prayer.
With that shroud of prayer surrounding and protecting us, the next step is to determine in our hearts that we shall do the will of God in that situation, whatever the cost or consequence. “I will go in to the king,” Esther affirmed, “and if I perish, I perish.” God may want us to carry out some unpleasant task. It may involve confronting someone whom we would rather avoid or admitting something we have tried to hide, as it did with Esther. But if we know it to be the will of God, we must do it. And God will honor it. He did for Esther.
God worked in a marvelous way. In fact, he performed a miracle for our encouragement. First of all, He laid it on the king’s heart to extend the golden scepter, and Esther approached the throne. She spoke with quiet dignity rather than selfish demands or angry accusations. And instead of blurting out the problem, she invited Ahasuerus and Haman to dinner that evening. At dinner, she ignored the problem again, but rather invited them both to a second dinner the following evening. It was not that she was softening him up or trying to manipulate him. She was using good wisdom, and most husbands and wives could learn a lesson from Esther about how to speak and when to speak. Grace and tact are the key words in her approach.
God works in unusual ways. On the night between the banquets, Ahasuerus could not sleep. He asked for the record of his reign to be read to him. That would probably put him to sleep when nothing else could. In the record was the story of an assassination plot against him that Mordecai had discovered and exposed, for which act he had never been rewarded (Esth. 6:1-3). That incredible little episode set the scene for the events of the next day.
First, Haman was forced to honor Mordecai for his patriotism. And then it was time for Esther’s second dinner party. As they feasted together, the king said to Esther, “What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done,” Esther’s reply was brilliant: “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me as my petition, and my people as my request; for we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed and to be annihilated. Now if we had only been sold as slaves, men and women, I would have remained silent, for the trouble would not be commensurate with the annoyance to the king.” The king was shocked. “Who is he, and where is he, who would presume to do thus?” And Esther put the finger on Haman, much to his horror (Esth. 7:1-6).
The results of that dinner party were awesome. Haman was hanged on the gallows he had built for Mordecai, and Mordecai was promoted to prime minister of Persia. And while the order to kill the Jews could not be rescinded, they were given permission to defend themselves against their enemies. Over 75,000 of their avowed adversaries were slain and God’s people were delivered. It was nothing less than a miracle! But God loves to perform miracles for people who see themselves as part of His program, who view their circumstances as part of His appointment, and who live to do His will right where they are.
But there is one more thing we should notice in this narrative, and that is a memorial for all time. Both Mordecai and Esther were so grateful to God for His faithfulness that they sent letters to the Jews in all the provinces in Persia instructing them to celebrate the two days of their deliverance every year. They called it the Feast of Purim, from the word Pur, meaning “lot” or “dice.” Haman had cast lots to determine the day the Jews should die (cf. Esth. 3:7; 9:24, 26). God turned it to a day of victory, and they were grateful to Him for deliverance. The Jewish people celebrate the Feast of Purim to this day. It is a lasting memorial to God’s faithfulness.
God is at work in our lives just as definitely and decisively as in Esther’s. Our circumstances may not be all we would like them to be. But we can thank God for them anyway. They provide Him with the opportunity to demonstrate His sovereign love and care, and they provide us with an opportunity to glorify Him. Let us believe that He will work those circumstances together for good, then look for ways to serve Him in them
Friday, January 2, 2009
Progress
2 large black trash bags are sitting on my front porch. That's the truest sign that I cleaned out closets today at my house! I started in the laundry room...although it's not a closet it sure resembles one sometimes! Stacks of clothing on the dryer...hangup clothes on the rail...you get the picture. Well....your attention please....it's spotless!!!!....but hold your applause because although I manage to clean out my kid's closets....and Bruce managed to clean out his...I didn't make it to my own. And boy, does it need it. But progress was made...and I am thankful and happy!
Cleaning closets is a lot like my spiritual life sometimes. I can go 90 to nothing most days and fill each minute with "important" things. Yet, the closet of my heart gets cluttered. There are dust bunnies under the shelves, cobwebs in the corners and an occasional dead bug (is that TMI?) Yet, it doesn't have to be this way. I know if I will daily take the time to tidy up my heart that my spiritual life is more managable. If I make time to dust the cobwebs away (sin) and sweep up the pride, jealousy, and other disgusting human worldly tendencies (repentance) and kick Satan to the curb (dead bugs) God is glorified. Just like my closet....my heart will never be perfect...but it's a goal that I want to work harder towards. That high calling...to live above the level of mediocrity...to live for something bigger than myself. That can only happen if I am keeping my closet (heart) clean.
So, tomorrow when I get up...I'll be cleaning my closet...both of them.
Cleaning closets is a lot like my spiritual life sometimes. I can go 90 to nothing most days and fill each minute with "important" things. Yet, the closet of my heart gets cluttered. There are dust bunnies under the shelves, cobwebs in the corners and an occasional dead bug (is that TMI?) Yet, it doesn't have to be this way. I know if I will daily take the time to tidy up my heart that my spiritual life is more managable. If I make time to dust the cobwebs away (sin) and sweep up the pride, jealousy, and other disgusting human worldly tendencies (repentance) and kick Satan to the curb (dead bugs) God is glorified. Just like my closet....my heart will never be perfect...but it's a goal that I want to work harder towards. That high calling...to live above the level of mediocrity...to live for something bigger than myself. That can only happen if I am keeping my closet (heart) clean.
So, tomorrow when I get up...I'll be cleaning my closet...both of them.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Random thoughts on God's Will
This study on Proverbs is really challenging me to seek God's will on many issues in my life right now. I also see and hear how it is challenging some of the ladies in the study to really take a deeper look into what they have always thought about knowing "God's Will". I love it. It is very rewarding to see people walk away with something they can use in their everyday life. Thank the Lord for Words that don't expire, or become irrelavant after being read once.
In our house God's Will is a big deal. We are constantly finding out how much we haven't figured out about parenting! We are asking God to show us how to raise these little people. Verses that never popped out to me now jump off the page. I've recently made a career change and that has again, been a test of following God or doing what I felt was the right thing to do. One thing I guess I discovered was that just because you "feel" like you are helping or doing the right thing that if you are seeking Him and He shows you otherwise...the best thing to do is listen to HIM! Bruce is looking into hiring a secretary...need God's will for that...The church is hiring a children's minister...need God's will for that. The church is growing...moving...good things...but so much wisdom is needed in order for us to stay centered in God's will. I love it that His Will comes from His heart and that when I am seeking His Will I am closer to His heart. He is awesome!
If you are struggling to understand, find or determine God's Will for your life, get in the Words of God (Bible) and listen as He whispers it to you! I look forward to hearinng about what He has to tell you!
In our house God's Will is a big deal. We are constantly finding out how much we haven't figured out about parenting! We are asking God to show us how to raise these little people. Verses that never popped out to me now jump off the page. I've recently made a career change and that has again, been a test of following God or doing what I felt was the right thing to do. One thing I guess I discovered was that just because you "feel" like you are helping or doing the right thing that if you are seeking Him and He shows you otherwise...the best thing to do is listen to HIM! Bruce is looking into hiring a secretary...need God's will for that...The church is hiring a children's minister...need God's will for that. The church is growing...moving...good things...but so much wisdom is needed in order for us to stay centered in God's will. I love it that His Will comes from His heart and that when I am seeking His Will I am closer to His heart. He is awesome!
If you are struggling to understand, find or determine God's Will for your life, get in the Words of God (Bible) and listen as He whispers it to you! I look forward to hearinng about what He has to tell you!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Yep...we're talking about it!
Drunkenness, Illusions, Greed and Pride....the topics we will be tackling this week in our study of Proverbs. The Bible has tons to say about these issues that we still struggle with many years since Solomon wrote these words!
Most issues that we struggle with in the Christian life can be traced back to one of these four sins. Think about the issues you struggle with....can you think how one of these 4 sins has played a part in your struggle? I can!
This is going to be a great week! I hope you will make plans to be there!
Most issues that we struggle with in the Christian life can be traced back to one of these four sins. Think about the issues you struggle with....can you think how one of these 4 sins has played a part in your struggle? I can!
This is going to be a great week! I hope you will make plans to be there!
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