17/02: Esther - Week Nine - These Days Were Called Purim
Category: Esther - It's Tough Being A Woman
Posted by: Luann
What a difference a day makes! Whew! Our new friends who stopped by two days ago made my head spin. My iPhone kept dinging, telling me a new comment had just been delivered. Carnival was fun! Now I'm afraid I might have scared away all of our first time visitors yesterday with my realness.
My friend Carol said, "Luann, you have to stop wondering if your site is effective based on the comments. God uses your obedience."
And so today we crack open the Esther study and hear those words from Beth, "Life goes on, whether we want it to or not."
Have you ever wished you could just hit the pause button on life and really soak in a moment? There are a few I would like to hold on to, what about you?
Some of those classic moments like when my children or grandchildren said something so cute and priceless or maybe they just had that "look" - you know what I'm talking about, that little 3 year old face that cocked gently to the right with big eyes smiling up at you - yea, that one. And for a moment you said, "Wow, I hope I remember this forever."
Today we realize that God allowed this book of Esther to remain a staple in His scripture so we would REMEMBER that God remembers His people even when they forget about Him.
Beth points out, "Getting the credit is the wrong reason to do the right thing."
Esther and Mordecai really are not the heroes of this story. No, God is. He delivered them even though they had blended into the society and were really unrecognizable in the day-to-day happenings of their country.
I wonder if we could be accused of the same thing? Do we blend in with the scenery? Could someone spot us as a child of God? Not because we wear our dresses to the floor or our sleeves to the wrists, but because His light shines in us and through us in the everyday mundane things of life?
She challenged us to think today about holidays and why we celebrate them. The levitical feasts of the Old Testament versus holidays like Purim and Hanukah, might be this:
Some were prescribed by God to bless man;
Others were prescribed by man to bless God.
What holiday, feast or tradition do I celebrate that blesses God?
I loved hearing about Anne Rice, the former atheist novelist, who wrote:
"The mystery of the survival of the Jews....It was this mystery that drew me back to God. It set in motion the idea that there may in fact be God. And when that happened there grew in me for whatever reason an immense desire to return to the banquet table."
Has God revealed Himself to you? He has to me. When my chin starts to drag, He lifts it by showing Himself in a beautiful sunrise.
He shows Himself everyday, if we open our eyes to see Him.
My prayer is that just like Anne Rice described, an immense desire will grow in me and all who have wandered away, to return to the banquet table.
Are you one of His children? You can be. If you click these words, DO YOU KNOW HIM? you'll find your way to a personal relationship with Jesus.
How fitting that Beth pointed out today the 3-sided triangle that depicts divine providence in our lives.
I SUPPLIED FOR YOU - Ephesians 1:11 He works out everything
I WORK IN YOU - Philippians 2:13 According to His purpose
I WORK FOR YOUR GOOD - Romans 8:28 In all things, God works for our good
God moves heaven and earth and allows every move of your life, for your good.
Universally, personally and beneficially God is at work.
If you peeked into my life yesterday you may have had different emotions. You may think, what in the world is she doing speaking and writing for God! Or you may have wanted to pat my head and think to yourself, poor, poor soul.
It seems upside down.
No coincidences in life.
I'm sure Esther wondered at times, what in the world, Lord! But in the end, God turned their world upside down to give them the best.
I love My Story because it has God's fingerprints all over it, the good, the bad and the ugly.
Will you let Him touch yours?
My friend Carol said, "Luann, you have to stop wondering if your site is effective based on the comments. God uses your obedience."
And so today we crack open the Esther study and hear those words from Beth, "Life goes on, whether we want it to or not."
Have you ever wished you could just hit the pause button on life and really soak in a moment? There are a few I would like to hold on to, what about you?
Some of those classic moments like when my children or grandchildren said something so cute and priceless or maybe they just had that "look" - you know what I'm talking about, that little 3 year old face that cocked gently to the right with big eyes smiling up at you - yea, that one. And for a moment you said, "Wow, I hope I remember this forever."
Today we realize that God allowed this book of Esther to remain a staple in His scripture so we would REMEMBER that God remembers His people even when they forget about Him.
Beth points out, "Getting the credit is the wrong reason to do the right thing."
Esther and Mordecai really are not the heroes of this story. No, God is. He delivered them even though they had blended into the society and were really unrecognizable in the day-to-day happenings of their country.
I wonder if we could be accused of the same thing? Do we blend in with the scenery? Could someone spot us as a child of God? Not because we wear our dresses to the floor or our sleeves to the wrists, but because His light shines in us and through us in the everyday mundane things of life?
She challenged us to think today about holidays and why we celebrate them. The levitical feasts of the Old Testament versus holidays like Purim and Hanukah, might be this:
Some were prescribed by God to bless man;
Others were prescribed by man to bless God.
What holiday, feast or tradition do I celebrate that blesses God?
I loved hearing about Anne Rice, the former atheist novelist, who wrote:
"The mystery of the survival of the Jews....It was this mystery that drew me back to God. It set in motion the idea that there may in fact be God. And when that happened there grew in me for whatever reason an immense desire to return to the banquet table."
Has God revealed Himself to you? He has to me. When my chin starts to drag, He lifts it by showing Himself in a beautiful sunrise.
He shows Himself everyday, if we open our eyes to see Him.
My prayer is that just like Anne Rice described, an immense desire will grow in me and all who have wandered away, to return to the banquet table.
Are you one of His children? You can be. If you click these words, DO YOU KNOW HIM? you'll find your way to a personal relationship with Jesus.
How fitting that Beth pointed out today the 3-sided triangle that depicts divine providence in our lives.
I SUPPLIED FOR YOU - Ephesians 1:11 He works out everything
I WORK IN YOU - Philippians 2:13 According to His purpose
I WORK FOR YOUR GOOD - Romans 8:28 In all things, God works for our good
God moves heaven and earth and allows every move of your life, for your good.
Universally, personally and beneficially God is at work.
If you peeked into my life yesterday you may have had different emotions. You may think, what in the world is she doing speaking and writing for God! Or you may have wanted to pat my head and think to yourself, poor, poor soul.
It seems upside down.
No coincidences in life.
I'm sure Esther wondered at times, what in the world, Lord! But in the end, God turned their world upside down to give them the best.
I love My Story because it has God's fingerprints all over it, the good, the bad and the ugly.
Will you let Him touch yours?
(RSS)
Joy wrote:
I too have some moments I wish I could have held on to longer and desire to remember. My trip to "She Speaks" in 2008 was one of those times. I continue to pray that the Lord will never let me forget all the ways He showed Himself to me, not only that weekend, but the months prior as I had to choose to trust Him.
Right now I'd like to hold on to the moments that my son is still at home. In just 6 months he'll head off to University. Although I'm excited for him, I want to hold on to him as long as I can and cherish each second. I think of that song, "We have this moment today".
"Hold tight to the sound of the music of living
Happy sounds from the laughter of children at play
Hold my hand as we walk through the sweet fragrant meadows
Making memories of what was today
(Chorus)
We have this moment to hold in our hands
And to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand
Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come
But we have this moment, today
Verse 2
Tiny voice that I hear is my little girl calling
For daddy to hear just what she has to say
My little boy running there by the hillside
May never be quite like today
Verse 3
Tender words gentle touch and a good cup of coffee
And someone who loves me and wants me to stay
Hold them dear while they’re near don’t wait for tomorrow
To look back and wish for today
Verse 4
Take the moon of the sky and green of the forest
And the gold and brown of the freshly mown hay
Add the pales shades of spring and the circus of autumn
And review a lovely today
(Repeat Chorus)
Tag:
Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come but we have this moment, today"
I loved being reminded today that God is in complete control, whether I see Him or not. He knows, and He has not forsaken me. I am so thankful to be His.
Meet you on the other side of this screen tomorrow,
Hugs,
Joy