The In Between..

“…in the 1^st month…they cast the pur…And the lot fell on the twelfth month” Esther 3:7.

In Esther the lot was the decision to annihilate the Jews…a death sentence…a decision that would rock every Jew’s world. We note that there would be eleven months between the decision and the act being carried out. Every Jew had to live with this death sentence over their head for almost a year.

When my sister was given 3-6 months to live our family felt the same way as we became residents of the hourglass. Every grain of sand represented a looming disaster and took a great amount of spiritual work to not allow Satan full reign in our ‘shadow of death.’ Everyone has a valley of living between the now of our lives and the future of our hopes and dreams. This valley is the playground of Satan who will reek havoc in a psychological battle in our mind. ‘Because Satan has a limited leash where believers are concerned, his most powerful tactics are psychological. Though he cannot possess our minds, he profoundly and destructively influences our thoughts.’ Esther, It’s Tough Being a Woman, p. 67. Satan’s most effective tactic with God’s children is to trap us in our own mental torment.

He tells us that we will never be that person…we will never attain that dream…our children are not safe. We must build a Psalm 23:4 life to combat his mental attacks. ‘Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me, your rod and staff they comfort me.’ Sometimes we hand over God’s most effective weapons to Satan. God’s rod is the authority over our lives which should not be questioned as Eve did when Satan won that war in her mind. God’s staff is the protection over our life, with only God knowing why we are not given certain things in our timeframe. Satan will wage war in our minds convincing us that our dreams will never be attained and our fears will always be realized.

Let us surround ourselves with the promises of God as we walk through our valleys of the in between.

Magic 8 Balls

“In the twelfth year of King Xerxes…they cast the pur…to select a day and month. And the lot fell…” Esther 3:7.

‘Pur is the Babylonian word for dice-shaped clay cubes inscribed with prayers for good luck rather than dots. These specially marked stones and sticks were placed in a jar or the fold of a garment and shaken until one fell out, indicating the ‘divinely approved’ answer to the question being posed.’ Esther – It’s Tough Being a Woman, p. 66.

When I was a little girl I loved the Magic 8 ball. The thought was thrilling of having some unknown power give me answers to my important questions. The best part is that I could keep shaking that thing until it matched my preconceived desire. Would he like me – most definitely yes. Would Mother and Daddy let me go - probably not. Oops, I would shake it again! Fast forward 20 years and you could find me asking anybody what I should do about any certain decision. I would not seek out godly counsel but ask whomever I was close to at that moment. If I didn’t like their answer, I would shake the Magic 8 Ball asking another person until I found the answer I wanted. It seems as if the original Magic 8 Ball was in the hands of the Persians. It was just as ridiculous back then as it is today to think that important answers would be given through sticks, stones and Magic 8 Balls.

When we live our lives seeking our own answers in our own way we will fall into the hands of Satan. He loves to tell us what we want to hear and give us credit for the answer. He confirms our flesh agendas and entices us to be in charge of our own decisions. God is crystal clear as far as seeking answers through Him. ‘The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD’ Proverbs 16:33.

We must use the Word as our direction when seeking answers to our questions. God alone will reveal the correct answer the more intimate we become with Him. He desires our pursuit of His thoughts on the little things just as the big things. In order for us to get the ‘divinely approved’ guidance to our decisions we must shake up His word to obtain the revelation from Him.

Embers to Fire

“When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged” Esther 3:5.

We continue to peek into the life of an angry little man who felt entitled and enraged over the past.  He just couldn’t turn the corner when it came to his bitterness.  ‘The Hebrew word hamah (anger) is a very strong term referring to ‘an inner and emotional heat which rises and is fanned to varying degrees.’ Esther – It’s Tough Being a Woman, p. 65.

At some point along the way, we have all experienced anger in our inner self and witnessed it in others.  Neither is pretty and both are destructive.  Just like Haman, we look towards others and become angry that they didn’t respond or behave in a certain way.  We have predetermined expectations of what is right and wrong regardless of our inability to know what is going on in their heart or mind.  Anger doesn’t just happen – anger is the result of a past wound that was never forgiven.  It is an ember that stays dim but fans to a flame in an instant, eventually turning into a raging fire.

We can feel that inner rise of emotional heat when the ember has been doused by an accelerant.  We can sense when we have fanned the ember in others.  All anger must be surrendered at the same place we are afforded our own forgiveness – the cross.  We are not entitled to our anger and it will be a barrier between us and our fellowship with Jesus.  We have no justification for bitterness and will forfeit the very thing we refuse to give others – forgiveness on all levels in all things.

‘And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander…Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you’ Eph. 4:30-32.

We are called to action in our bitterness and anger according to Scripture.  Scripture instructs us to get rid of it by showing kindness and compassion based on the way God forgives us.  He does not withhold His kindness and forgiveness until we are perfect people.  He blesses His children even while we are still sinning against Him.  Our forgiveness towards others cannot be based on their past, present or future performance.  God gives us daily grace when we have done nothing to deserve it.

As Scripture states, by not taking action to get rid of our unresolved anger we run the risk of causing grief to God's Spirit.  Freedom from self is one of the most liberating freedoms we can ever experience.  I should know...I am still in the process of becoming liberated!

Bowing to Wrath

“All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman…But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor. Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply” Esther 3:2.

‘Chapter 3 begins with awkward unfairness as the king promotes a rival of Mordecai’s instead of his true benefactor.’ Study of Esther, p. 57. We learn in Esther 3 that although Mordecai exposed an assassination attempt on the king’s life, the king promoted and exalted Haman, Mordecai’s arch enemy who had hatred towards God’s chosen people. Oddly enough, the Hebrew word most closely translated to the name Haman is heman, meaning wrath. We notice that Mordecai was the only one among the king’s people not to bow so we must surmise that the easy thing to do was to simply kneel and worship. Mordecai had every right to feel entitled to a better life and angry for being looked over for favor, and yet he remained faithful to God's plan, not his own.

Let’s face it – at some time or another all of us feel entitled to something we don’t have and ungrateful for the things we do have. We lose our spiritual humility and genuine gratitude for things we have such as health, financial blessings, a loving family and a God who places our good ahead of our desires. It is easy to approach our days with anger and a sense of discontent as our flesh egos demand our honor and our worship. Our egos entice us to worship our own desires and agendas instead of walking in the wisdom of the Lord.

If we are to be God’s people, Christians setting themselves apart from the rest of an ungrateful, earth-focus people we must be intentionally committed to kneel and honor God alone. Though tempted to bow at the gate of our flesh, God has not put us in situations that are more than we can bear. ‘No temptation has seized you expect what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.’ 1 Co. 10:13. Notice that Mordecai stood and never bowed to wrath.

Our knees can only kneel before one master - will it be the Master or will it be the flesh who masters over us?

Royal Journals

During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate...two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai…All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king” Esther 2:21-23.

Back in Mordecai’s time, anyone who sat at the king’s gate was most likely recognized as holding a high position in the kingdom. The gate was as close as one could get without having access to the king, unlike the king’s officials who had the authority to approach him. While going about his daily work he overheard these men plot an assassination against King Xerxes. He sent a message through Esther who told the king and gave her cousin the credit. After the investigation and confirmation of the plan, the men were hanged and the king wrote the details in his royal journal. He recorded the actions of Mordecai in his book, but failed to reward and acknowledge him with favor.

I cannot tell you the times I have been ‘sitting at the King’s gate informing Him of the sins of others.’ I have had times when I have taken the high road only to see the one who wounds get away with their actions. Being well aware that God sees all things and knows the hearts of all people, it is a tough pill to swallow when we feel we are being overlooked for favor. To make matters more difficult, we see those who plot and plan to go against our King get kudos and approval from society.

We must take several principles from this passage. We must live our lives so close to God that we can recognize when someone threatens His message. We must communicate our circumstances with God so He may reveal His truth, not our perception. Our actions must not be motivated by gain, but by love. No matter the outcome, we must remain at the gate of our King and continue with our job of protecting His reputation and His message.

There will be a time when we sit before the Throne of God and His royal journals will be opened to our page. Every wrong on earth will be made right in Heaven. Every act of love and service to God’s children while we inhabited earth will be assigned a heavenly blessing. Both on earth and in Heaven we have a King who gives us the authority to approach Him. We do not have to sit on the other side of the gate hoping to catch a glimpse.

She Asked For Nothing

“And this is how she would go to the king:  Anything she wanted was given her to take with her…When the turn came for Esther to go to the king, she asked for nothing...The king loved Esther…and she found favor and kindness with him…so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen” Esther 2:13, 15, 17.

This little teenager name Esther was up against some of the most beautiful girls in all the surrounding areas.  Each one of them had everything at their fingertips to enhance their beauty.  The most gorgeous garments, intoxicating fragrances no doubt, jewelry to adorn every part of their body, and the shoes….let’s not even go there as women.  The culture for which they had found themselves over the past 12 months had no doubt been a focus on image and beauty …competition and entitlement.  And yet, Esther chose to trust the eunuch.  We are not told what he encouraged her to take to the king because it is not important.  Whatever was taken or not taken to the king made her stand out and set her apart from the others.

We are not much different in our daily walk as we live in earthly palaces indoctrinated with image, beauty tips, competition, and eyes on the earthly prize, whatever it may be.  Our King never intended on us to all look alike, think alike and focus on the earthly things of this world.  The less we have when we come to Him we more we gain from Him.  The more we appear to be set apart from others in this world the more beauty we radiate. 

When we approach our King there is nothing we need to bring with us – He owns everything we have and made us everything we are.  When we come to Him in our spiritual bareness, we leave His presence with the fragrance of Christ.  We waltz out in His beautiful robes of righteousness and He crowns us with His glory.  We come into His presence with little of ourselves and leave with the fullness of our King.

‘….she asked for nothing.’

The Middle Man

“Esther also was taken to the king’s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem…Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food.” Esther 2:8-9.

So the Bachelor show continues in the palace, but with a twist.  The king’s eunuch is put in charge of deciding who is chosen to be presented to the king.  My dictionary gives quite a disturbing definition of a eunuch.  Apparently, eunuchs were castrated men who were employed to be in charge of the harem within the king’s palace.  Oddly enough, the Greek translation for eunuch is ‘keeper of the bed.’ In this instance, the approval of the eunuch guaranteed the hopeful hearts time before the king.  The girls spent an entire year having intense beauty treatments in an effort to catch the eye of the eunuch, the middle man.  All of their attention was spent on seeking the approval of the man lower than the king.

Personally speaking, I have spent my life seeking the approval of others, paying attention to the details guaranteeing that I am accepted, chosen and loved.  My beauty treatments entailed doing for others in an attempt to gain their recognition.  The special food I digested was flesh nourishment opposed to the Bread of Life.  It humbles my heart that my King stood up almost seven years ago, personally approaching me with new beauty treatments, and provided me with a better menu of special foods.  He tenderly lavished me with oils of the Holy Spirit and clothed me with His garments.  He did not enlist a middle man for my makeover but personally attended to my enhancements and nourishment.  My King is our King and He offers the same to all of His children.

‘…just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless…’ Eph. 5:25-27.

By the way of the cross, Jesus did the work for our spiritual makeovers for the King.  He was the middle Man – the man who hung in the middle of the cross for our righteousness and salvation.  We never have to look any further than the cross for our beauty treatments.

 

Plush But Pointless Imprisonment

“Then the girl who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti” Esther 2:4.

The Book of Esther may seem like a couple thousand years ago but we have our own version in the present.  We only have to look to Hugh Hefner and shows like the Bachelor to see examples of present day King Xerxes…a man who surrounds himself with a group of hopeful hearts.  They sign up for a chance to be chosen or rejected by a stranger.  They hand over their worth to a man who cares primarily about his own happiness.  Their focus is on the image they create and the work of outward beauty.  I would be a hypocrite if I told you that I have never watched this show.  I have been hypnotized into the show on more than one occasion. 

There are so many women who hand power over to another in the name of love…or comfort.  I have seen up close and personal the effects of putting up with the demands of a ‘King Xerxes’ in exchange for a ‘perceived better life.’  The price eventually paid is staggering and all encompassing…fear of loss, loneliness and sadness.  My Bible Study regards living in the palace as follows:  ‘…more like widowhood than marriage.  The prestige of living in the royal palace was small compensation for the king’s neglect, though girls with a passion for luxury could not doubt indulge it to the full…plush but pointless imprisonment.’

I have a family member for whom this statement was written...plush but pointless imprisonment.  But she has a King who will not settle for less than her best.  She has a King who trumps self-appointed kings with self-made kingdoms.  In losing her position in his kingdom she has inherited a better Kingdom, a Kingdom built on eternity.  This girl has indeed pleased the King and is being made into His royal family. 

We all have a King who chooses out of love not out of gain.  We are all invited to approach the throne and claim our rightful place in Royalty.  What is the catch?  We must trust that everything we are and everything we need … we already have in Christ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remembering Others

“Later when the anger of King Xerxes had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what he had decreed about her” Esther 2:1.

In the Book of Esther we continue to follow the actions and consequences of a king who was led by the opinions of those who surrounded him. Four years earlier, he had been strongly encouraged to permanently ban his wife from his presence. He jumped on the ‘ban’ wagon and Queen Vashti no longer held her position. Years later, after much water under the bridge and the calming of his emotions, he was more able to see his part in the previous circumstances. My Bible Study states that ‘to remember implies a note of compassion, that Ahasuerus [King Xerxes] has become melancholy in the absence of his wife and regretful of the severity of her punishment’ p. 37.

If we are walking on planet Earth we have all experienced our own version of Xerxes and Vashti, the one who wounds and the wounded…the inflictor and the inflicted. Most likely, we have all been on both sides of the fence and neither feel good. When we are the recipient of another person’s anger, we feel the judgment and long for mercy. When we are the one with the anger, we live with the peripheral emotions of judging and condeming. Justified or not, anger can cause an array of distorted thinking prompting a series of horrible decisions. When our anger subsides and the waters are once again calm, hopefully we are able to see things with a better sense of understanding and consideration. The reality of our past situations are never the complete truths of our perceptions. Emotions always speak lies to the heart which is when the Holy Spirit takes over if we allow Him access.

When surrendering our anger to the Holy Spirit, who will sort out the emotions of our soul, we give Him the license to tenderly show us new truths about an old hurt. We allow Him to gently open our tightly fisted grasp on past circumstances and remove the power for which it enslaves us. Once King Xerxes had moved beyond his anger and resentment, his reflection upon the situation moved his heart to a new place. He was indeed regretful of the severity of the punishment he inflicted upon her. The Holy Spirit cannot sort and remove what is never surrendered. We gain freedom from whatever we surrender to the Spirit. ‘Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom’ 2 Co. 3:17.

We all have a choice in every situation with every person on earth. ‘This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life…and that you may love…’ Deut 30:19.

Where God Rules

“He sent dispatches…proclaiming in each people’s tongue that every man should be ruler over his own household” Esther 1:22.

In the time of Esther, dispatchers were messengers sent by the head of the kingdom.  It was a tag team means of communication as one messenger on a horse would hook up with a second messenger.  They were chosen based on the ability to speak the language of their specific audience.  This morning as I am considering this mode of communication I cannot help but to think of the sneaky ways that Satan bombards us with his messages.

He sends people into our lives who can tempt us to think the way of the flesh instead of the spirit.  He sees how we respond to temptation so it isn’t difficult for him to speak our language, and worm his way into our own little kingdoms.  We build our lives much like we build our homes, surrounding ourselves with things that are important to us.  We become rulers over the things with which God has blessed us, but convinced that we have built our own household. Satan will try to convince us that we are in control of our lives, and have the right and entitlement to operate in whatever manner we wish. 

When we build our spiritual homes with God being the head of our household, we have a watchman at the door.  Satan and his messengers are uninvited trespassers in the household where God rules.  We have but one Messenger who proclaims everything we need to know in the unique language of every heart– the Holy Spirit.

The Broken Link

“This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil…‘Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has?  You have blessed the work of his hands…But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face’” Job 1:2, 10-11.

‘When good people suffer, the human spirit struggles to understand.’  NIV Study Bible, p. 730.   Since the time of the garden, Satan maintains that the righteousness of God’s people is linked to the blessings they receive.   His agenda is clear and precise:  Seek to alienate the heart of the righteous from our God, and place an irremovable wedge between God and His children.  ‘Satan is sure that he has found in the very structure of creation an opening to accomplish his purpose’ p. 730 – breaking the link between righteousness and blessing.  As much as I abhor Satan I must admit that his theory has merit in certain seasons for all of us.

How many of us face our seasons of adversity and spend more time feeling like God has abandoned us?  We question God’s faithfulness as we sit in the bank line to deposit our paychecks.  We complain and accuse God of not loving us as we enjoy the health of our children and the love of our family.  Our demands of understanding the why’s of our experience fall short with our limited human understanding.   If Satan can attach his evil intentions to our relationship with God then he has temporarily hammered in this wedge.  If we allow those evil thoughts and lies into our adversity we create a stronghold for Satan to sow instead of God to grow.

God treasures our righteousness above all else and His patience and love will outlast our ungratefulness and confusion.  It is our natural tendency for the flesh to demand answers but we also must acknowledge that there is a war in the spiritual realm between good and evil, Light and darkness.  ‘Righteous sufferers must trust in, acknowledge, serve and submit to the omniscient and omnipresent Sovereign, realizing that some suffering is the result of unseen, spiritual conflicts between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan’ p. 731.  If Satan has attacked you with tough circumstances, continue to trust God for His goodness, His faithfulness and His unfailing love.  Never forget that all suffering was ushered in as a result of Satan convincing mankind that God was withholding His best.  His theory has been working since the beginning of time so why would he change his ammo? 

Our righteousness and devotion to God is our weapon for which we must hold up.  Let us remember that while our times may be overwhelming, God is the Overcomer!

Groanings of Anguish

“Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony.  My soul is in anguish.  How long, O LORD, how long?  Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love…I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping…My eyes grow weak in sorrow…The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer,” Psalm 6:2-9.

I can just feel the agony in my spirit for David as he was stretched out crying to God in his severe illness.  In this particular case, God had allowed the illness to enter his life in rebuke for his sinfulness.  Regardless of whether his agony was rebuke or at the hand of his enemies suffering is suffering.  We can all relate to this plea of complete desolation in body and soul.  My commentary states, ‘How long expresses the anguish of relief not (yet) granted.   In the vivid language of the OT, eyes growing weak are dimmed by failing strength…by grief…by longings unsatisfied or hope deferred’ p. 796.

…longings unsatisfied…hope deferred…relief not yet granted.  Who can relate to this plea this morning a couple of thousands years later?  Who among us feel as if our prayers are bouncing off the back of God as He faces another direction?  We can have the same confidence in God today as David did in his own time of suffering.  Whether we are afflicted in our physical bodies or in our emotional bodies we have the same promises today.  David penned his deepest beliefs in this Psalm.  His question of ‘How long, O LORD, how long’ is his battle cry of belief in his eventual deliverance.  He doesn’t question if God will rescue, heal, deliver and save, but how long will it take before he is rescued.  His prayer in his despair implies that above the discipline, above the circumstances and above the suffering is a God who will deliver and save…a God who hears our cries…and gives mercy to the failing and acceptance to the believer’s prayer. 

If your longings are still unsatisfied this morning…resolution in your situation seems far away… relief from your impossible season has not yet arrived…remember:  ‘As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you…Be strong and very courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go’

Joshua 1:5, 9.

Shoes Made for One

“…let him issue a royal decree…which cannot be repealed…that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes.  Also, let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she” Esther 1:19.

Well with friends like this, who needs enemies!  In a drunken stupor the king sent for his queen, not out of love and devotion, but rather to adorn his own arm.  The queen refused, the king became enraged and his wise men (also intoxicated) advised him to be done with her forever.  While there are many considerations, the Bible stays silent on why she was disobedient to the king by refusing his command.  I believe the reason isn’t as important as to the manner in which we can apply it to our lives.  We have all walked in these royal shoes at one point in our life or another, whether be it the queen’s disobedience or the unforgiving advisers.

We have all been guilty of overindulging on bitterness and unforgiveness, issuing our opinions and ideas on the actions of others.  There have been times in my life when I have determined by royal decree that punishment should come to those who failed to act according to my expectations.  Like these selfish advisers I approached the King reciting what was done against me or my family expecting Him to punish that person.  Better than she…what condemning words that have no place on our lips and no room in our hearts.  I think of poor Queen Vashti and my heart goes out to her.  We cannot know what she had experienced leading up to that public event.  We can only surmise that life was difficult back then just as it is now.  What if this was the worse season of her life? 

There isn’t enough room for two people in a pair of shoes so why do we judge the actions of others?  We have neither walked their journey nor lived in their skin.  The journey is tough for all of us on this earth.  I have said so many times that I would be heartbroken if I was judged during the most sorrowful and challenging times in my life.  During tough times, no one on this earth perfectly responds due to exhaustion, fear and downright sadness.  Times of the suffering of others are times for mercy and compassion for God’s people.  Seasons of intense sadness are times for us to step up and be vessels of love for God’s comfort. 

As Christians we need to sober up in our own emotions and intercede in prayer to the King who sees all of His people worthy of His love.

Poison or Peace?

“…served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other.  By the king’s command each guest was allowed to drink in his own way, for he instructed…to serve each man what he wished” Esther 1:8.

In my curio sits a collection of uniquely adorned wine glasses either given to me as gifts over the years or passed down to me from different family members.  The stories the glasses could tell would range from embarrassing to celebratory I am certain.  Most of them represent different times in the lives of different people who were as unique as the cut impressions on the glass. 

While considering the verse above this morning I am blessed by the reality that we are the vessels of God, each uniquely created and adorned.  We have the privilege of being filled with the Holy Spirit, ‘being served with whatever amount we wish.’  If we so desire, God will continue filling our cup with the abundant overflow of His riches.  But what about those times when we cover the mouth of our cup and politely decline His plan, filling our cup with our own agenda and desires?  Sometimes, God will allow us to drink in our own way, and to drink as much as we pour into our own lives, even if the drink is poison. 

We consider the future and get intoxicated on our own fears not allowing the peace of God to quench our thirst.  We forget to fill up our hearts with forgiveness and grace for others.  We top off our spiritual drink with judgmental attitudes which spill over into other areas. 

We have been given a golden spiritual goblet to bring to the banquet of Christ, an empty heart to be filled with the Holy Spirit.  By the King’s command we will all be allowed to drink in our own way and as much as we desire.  We must pour out the things of this world so that our lives may be filled with things of the spiritual world.  ‘…and each guest was allowed to drink in his own way.’ 

What is your drink of choice…poison or peace?

Self Made Thrones

“The garden had hangings of white and blue linens, fastened …to silver rings on marble pillars” Esther 1:6.

This is a portion taken from the Book of Esther describing the seven-day feast that King Xerxes threw in one of his gardens.  This party followed a 180 day display of wealth for the Who’s Who at that time.  His obnoxious show and tell period of time was to advance his own splendor and glory in his self-made kingdom.  ‘According to Hebrew beliefs, the marble pillars in verse 6 had been removed from Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem and carried off by Nebuchadnezzar as part of the spoils…King Xerxes threw a party to display his own…Xerxes didn’t earn an ounce of this…He inherited it.’ Esther – It’s Tough Being a Woman.

In an atmosphere of the upcoming election, I feel that we are experiencing our own version of this story.  We have candidates who are exalting themselves instead of exalting God.  In an effort to show their own glory and splendor, God seems to be missing on their lips and absent from their hearts.  They have taken the things of God, just like Xerxes, and have fit them into their own self-made kingdoms, using them inappropriately and claiming credit for what God has accomplished in their lives.  I have no heard either serious candidate profess with their tongue that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior.

It is only fair to drill down into my own life when reading this verse.  There are things in my past that I have attempted to ‘borrow’ from God and claim as my own…show and tell for anyone who will hear, just as our obnoxious king.  I have hung my own linens with my own colors of pride, ego and boasts on the pillars that belong to the King of another kingdom.  I am so grateful that God refused to leave me in my feeble attempt at glory.  He will never share the limelight with us, but will transform us to have the reflection of His central light.  Everything belongs to God and nothing belongs to us.  We are His vessels through whom He works and the recipients with whatever we are entrusted at His bequeath. 

‘The most freeing thing we can ever do is to abdicate the throne of our own miniature kingdoms.  Our status is infinitely higher as a servant in God’s kingdom than a ruler in ours.’ Esther – It’s Tough Being a Woman.

A Mighty Hand Compels Him

“But I know that the king of Egypt will not let go unless a mighty hand compels him.  So I will stretch out my hand…After that, he will let you go” Exodus 3:19-20.

 
“The LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia…” Ezra 1:1.

“As the LORD had declared, Nebuchadnezzar removed all the treasures from the temple of the LORD and from the royal palace, and took away all of the gold articles that Solomon king of Israel had made for the temple of the LORD” 2 Kings 24:13.

As many of you are aware I am not very politically minded and dread upcoming elections requiring my vote.  May I just state that I praise God daily that His call upon my life was not politics!  I understand the need for a political system in place but do not understand how Christians can go after each other so vehemently. 

Throughout the Bible we have verse after verse that shows God’s sovereign and permissive will advancing through whomever is in leadership.  More times than not, kings reigned with overt and blatant sin against God.   Kings in power were used by God in accomplishing His will every time – no matter who was exalted as the head of the kingdom.  It didn’t matter which gods they promoted, God had the final say.  He changed the hearts of kings, moved the hearts of kings and brought down kings. 

With our candidates there are disturbing elements in all camps because mankind operates from a flesh heart.  I saw a book the other day that I would love to get called ‘Jesus for President.’ In a political temperature that is rising to no nation under God, Christians must do their part in displaying Christ-like character throughout this election. 

God, the King of kings, will put into place the person He has already chosen to carry out the next four years for our nation.  Whoever sits in Washington will be used by God, purposed by God and will only be given the appropriate power God allows.  Our prayers should be with God as head of nation and every person voted in as His vessels to accomplish His will.  No man or woman will act without the permissive will of God.

We must vote for Jesus as President and allow Him to guide our hearts for the November election.  Most importantly we must approach the election with the character of Christ when dealing with conflicting opinions.  After all, if we don’t look any different than the non-Christians during this election what good is our faith?

A Date Like No Other

“And Hezekiah wept bitterly…This is what the LORD says:  I have heard your prayer and seen your tears…And I will deliver you…” Isaiah 38:3b, 5-6.

Ever since I began doing Bible studies I have this ritual as I open the front page of the workbooks.  I date the first page and list everything that is going on in my life and the life of my family.  It helps me identify my responses in the study as they related to that particular season.  Also, on more than one occasion God has led me back to the same study in a different season.  With God leading, I am returning to that little orphaned Jewish girl named Esther, who was raised by her uncle Mordecai. 

I retrieved my original workbook and opened up the first page to read the list of events happening at that time.  There was no list…just a date…no words were needed…no prompts or reminders necessary.  My grandmother and spiritual mentor had just died, my dad’s cancer had moved into his liver and my sister was in month 8 of a 2-4 month prognosis with cancer.  It wasn’t until facilitating Griefshare a few years later that I learned that death and illness was a result from sin taking its place in our world.

When sin entered the world, illness and death was introduced.  We were not created for death but for life and eternity.   With sin surrounding us, we live in a world where a date can define us, refine us or enslave us.  I am sure that most of you on the other side of this screen remember an email, a phone call, or a conversation that stamped its date on your heart…news that rocked your world and turned it on its end…circumstances that dropped you to your knees and shattered your heart.  All of this being the by-product of sin. 

There were days when my tear ducts stung from weeping so bitterly to the Lord with a broken heart.  I remember feeling surrounded by overwhelming feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.  But, moment by moment, God laid His hand upon me, and kept His eye on me.  Though my family members were taken to eternity to claim God’s best I had to endure this world’s worst – death.  The Father who whisked my loved ones home is the same Father who delivered me from my grief and sorrow.  This Father is mine and this Father is yours.  He hears your pain and sorrow, and He sees your tears and fears.   He will be faithful in restoring your life and healing your broken heartedness. 

When we approach our circumstances with surrender and trust in God, that date may define what we endured but it will never define who we are.  We are the children of God who were created for eternity, not for this fallen world.