For The Love Of.....

Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this? Esther 4:14 (NLT)

Our sermon series and Bible Study theme at church right now is “Fleshing Out Love.” Have you ever read the Bible with this in mind? Recently, I put on this lens and read Esther. What an eye-opening experience. And boy does the lesson apply to our world.

As you read the first chapter, you can see what King Xerxes is in love with. He is in love with his wealth, his things, his pleasure, his power, his self-importance. Pretty much he is in love with himself. All of his actions demonstrate this. Because of this, Esther ends up in the palace in his harem.

Chapter 2 and 3 moves through the story and Esther is chosen as Queen. All throughout, her cousin Mordecai comes to the palace to hear word of her. He adopted her when his Uncle and Aunt died. He loves Esther and his family. He also loves integrity. When he overheard a plot to kill the King, he didn’t harbor bitterness because of what the King did to Esther, he revealed the plot and saved the King’s life.

Chapter 4 introduces Haman. He is also in love with himself and his power, his money and his position. Oh, and he’s in love with his belief that anyone that doesn’t believe like he does is useless and needs to be done away with. He acts on this and goes to the King asking permission, offering to pay for it and unfortunately, the King says yes. They issue a decree saying all Jews will be slaughtered on a specific day.

In Chapter 5 Mordecai goes into mourning and sits outside the palace gates in sackcloth and ashes. Esther hears and a conversation ensues. Mordecai demonstrating love for his people and his family asks her to help. Here, Esther demonstrates love for her own life and says that she can’t. She will die. Mordecai says “You are going to die anyway. This is why you are here!” Esther agrees and she goes before the king loving her people and her calling more than her life.

As you read through this story, I bet you thought of people that may have fit in every single role. Right? Can I challenge you with a thought? We probably all fit in every role at some time in our week. None of us is above the self-love that is demonstrated that caused harm to others. We do it every time we judge. What we need to get to is the sacrificial love exhibited by Mordecai and Esther. The love that puts others first always. The love that sacrifices what we think for what is best for human beings.

This is the love that was lived out by Jesus. I know I have a long way to go but this is what I want my life to look like. How about you?

Let Him Be God

Your ears will hear sweet words behind you: “Go this way. There is your path; this is how you should go” whenever you must decide whether to turn to the right or the left. Isaiah 30:21 (VOICE)

All throughout the Bible God spoke to people. He spoke to them in many different ways. I would venture to say that he never spoke to anyone in exactly the same way.

He spoke to Adam and Eve face to face.
One of the ways he spoke to Abraham was through angels he sent.
He spoke to Moses in a burning bush.
He spoke to Samuel audibly.
He spoke to Balaam through a talking donkey.
He spoke to the disciples through Jesus but also through miracles and experiences.
He spoke to Saul by appearing to him and stopping him dead in his tracks.

Those were just a few of the ways he spoke. He also spoke through people, dreams, visions, circumstances and answers to prayer.

Can you imagine if Moses was talking to Esther and she explained how everything had happened in her story and Moses said “That wasn’t God. He has to appear in a burning bush for it to be God.” Moses would never say that because he knew that God could show up any way he wanted to.

The Bible is so clear when it tells us that God’s walk with us, his journey for us and his communication to us is personal. He is going to call me to do something different than you. Even if we are serving in the same area, our service is going to look very different. We should celebrate that!

God meets us where he created us to be. He takes that heart and passion that he lit on fire and uses it for his glory, in his way, in his time.

When God gives someone a vision of service, we should celebrate and encourage each other! We should say “You can do it! How can I help?” We should pray for each other, support each other and remember that God is in control of this world. And most importantly, let’s stop putting God in a box He doesn’t fit. Can you imagine what life would be like if we let God be God?

A Not-So-Subtle Difference

When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry. Esther 4:1 (ESV)

King Xerxes kingdom was a powerful machine. And the people that worked with him and for him knew this all too well. One of the men, Haman, had King Xerxes’ ear. Haman didn’t like Mordecai. As a matter of fact, because he didn’t like him, he didn’t like all Jews. He told the king that they were different. They didn’t do things the same as everyone else. They didn’t believe the same as everyone else. So they should be destroyed.

The King agreed and a proclamation went out announcing the date of the destruction. Maybe it was like a “get your affairs in order.” kind of thing. Can you imagine being a Jew and reading that notice?

Mordecai read the decree and immediately kicked into action. He didn’t try to have meetings at the palace. He didn’t try to let the local media know where he stood. He didn’t try to cause discord between the two groups of people involved. He went to God. He and all the people began to fast and pray. He did do one more thing. He sent a message to the one person he could reach asking for help.

Esther, although reluctant at first, also began to fast and pray. She then decided to stand up for what was right and try to get help from the person she knew that had influence, the King. God intervened and the Jews were saved.

So often we feel that we cannot impact what is happening in our world, our country, or our neighborhood but we can. Each and every one of us can make a difference where we are. Be a Mordecai. Do something. The difference you make might impact one person or it might impact many.

We may not be able to influence people in power but there is something we can do. The Bible is clear on what really makes a difference. .Loving each other. Loving each other will produce an immediate, long-lasting result. We can’t stand around watching the world hurt and choose inaction.

When we seek God and ask “What do you want me to do today?” the answer will always start with love. Let’s reach our world, even if it is only one human at a time.

Today's Promise

Some days there is a promise that just catches your eye. One to write down and reflect on. That’s what today’s post is. Just a simple promise from God to carry in our hearts. A promise to reflect on and remember….remember who is in control….remember what it’s really all about.

God will be what holds things together,
    fast and firm during these times.
He will be boundless salvation,
    the roots and fruits of wisdom and knowledge.
Zion’s most precious possession
    is the people’s awe-filled respect of the Eternal.
Isaiah 33:6 (VOICE)

In that day he will be your sure foundation,
    providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge.
    The fear of the Lord will be your treasure. (NLT)

God keeps your days stable and secure—
    salvation, wisdom, and knowledge in surplus,
    and best of all, Zion’s treasure, Fear-of-God. (MSG)

And there shall be stability in your times, an abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the reverent fear and worship of the Lord is your treasure and His. (AMPC)

Get Your Bold Back

Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.”  He said, “Come ahead.” Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!”  Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, “Faint-heart, what got into you?” Matthew 14:28-31 (MSG)

The disciples were just doing what they were told. Jesus told them “Get in the boat and go to the other side of the lake.” Probably sharing stories, managing the business of rowing the boat and maybe even relaxing a bit. Unexpectedly a storm showed up. The winds began, the waves swelled and the boat started tossing and turning in the black sea. I can imagine this would be frightening if not terrifying.

As Jesus came near them, Peter was emboldened and asked to get out of the boat. I do this. Feeling great after some time with God, trusting his plan, I say something like “Lord, I want to serve you! I want to do what you want! Let me do that please.”

And God says “OK. Step out and do this.”

I look around like Peter and focus on the size of the waves, the force of the winds and what I can’t see under the dark sea. I start to sink. My reaction is to stay in the boat. It’s super easy to get out of the boat when the sea is as smooth as glass. That’s not scary. It’s predictable. But when getting out of the boat involves a stormy mess, well….that’s different.

What we want to say is “Lord, I want to follow you anywhere as long as it’s a smooth ride and there are no problems.” But that is not how it usually works. Trust is most often built when you are in the thick of it.

When Peter realized he was in over his head, he did cry out to Jesus. And immediately Jesus reached for his hand. I love the word used in the MSG when Jesus addressed Peter. Faint-heart which means lacking courage.

I am so Peter. I am bold one minute and faint-hearted the next. But Peter did a couple of things I could learn from. First, he believed that Jesus could make him walk on water. Next, he did step out of the boat. Because he did, he had an experience with Jesus that no one else had. And finally, when he started focusing on his own abilities instead of what Jesus was doing, he refocused himself and cried out for help.

Maybe the lesson is this. Throughout life, you are going lack courage and you are going to want to stay in the safety of the boat. As long as you know where to go to get your bold back, you will do just fine.

A Minute In It - Pray Like This

A minute in God’s Word will change your life. Take a moment to read the text below and then pray this prayer using the prompts at the bottom of the post.

Pray like this:

Our Father in heaven,
    may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
    as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins,
    as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation,
    but rescue us from the evil one.
Matthew 6:9-13

Our Father in heaven, may our name be kept holy.
[Pray to God about his holiness. Praise him for who He is.]
May your Kingdom come soon.
[Pray about God’s Kingdom; for the world, your country, your town, your neighborhood. Pray that he moves in a mighty way to grow his children everywhere.]
May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
[Pray for God’s will. What would it look like if this earth were like heaven? Pray that we will live according to his will.]
Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
[Ask God. Place your needs before him and then thank him for what he has already given. Pray to forgive others and for forgiveness for yourself.]
And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
[Pray for protection. Pray for the things that tempt you. Praise God because he has already overcome the evil one.]

For more inspiration, I found this video from desiringgod.org beautiful.
https://www.desiringgod.org/pray#modal-V-_lmGR9EdE

God's Word - Never Failing

For the word of God will never fail. Luke 1:37 (NLT)

This text is so powerful. The Word of God and everything it encompasses will not fail. It will not fail to come true. It will not fail to deliver. It will not fail you.

Below are some reminders of what God’s Word says.

God Loves You

You saw me before I was born.
    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
    before a single day had passed.

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
    They cannot be numbered! Psalm 139:16-17

God Will Rescue You

Do not be afraid—I will save you.
    I have called you by name—you are mine.
When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you;
    your troubles will not overwhelm you.
When you pass through fire, you will not be burned;
    the hard trials that come will not hurt you.
For I am the Lord your God,
    the holy God of Israel, who saves you. Isaiah 43:1-3

God Has A Plan For You

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

You Can Trust Him

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
    and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6

God Will Not Abandon You

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
    Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
    I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Today, when it looks like everything is going to fall apart. Remember, you are not alone.

For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Counting The Cost

But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. Acts 3:6 (NLT)

As Peter and John went about their day, they came across a lame man. The man was calling out asking for money. When Peter and John stopped, the Bible says he looked up at them expectantly, hoping to get the same thing he always got.

Peter said to him, I don’t have any money but I do have something else to give you.

Lately, I’ve been praying for guidance during the shutdown of the US Government. There are so many people being hurt by this situation. Government workers, contractors (if the government is not working neither are they and they are also not getting paid) and business owners who rely on the government staff to generate business so they too can pay their bills.

I own a business that is impacted by this shutdown. In my humanness I want to hunker down and pull everything in so we are impacted as little as possible. But that is not what I feel God is saying to do. As I was praying about how to help folks who are going through this situation, I was talking to God about the financial implications of something he put on my heart. I was explaining to him that it didn’t make fiscal sense.

Two texts flashed into my mind.

One text was Acts 3:6. I might not have silver or gold (or paper money for that matter) but I do have Jesus and a peace in knowing that if I follow God’s directive, it will work out for his glory.

The second text was Matthew 25:40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” If I reach out to help people, I am helping Jesus. If Jesus were standing there, would I say, “Well Lord, you are asking alot. It is not logical.” NO! I would not. So why would I not respond to others in the same way when he makes it clear that if I help people, I am helping him?

I am not sure what the future holds in this situation (and you better believe I am praying about it) but I do know this. The most valuable thing I have is my relationship with Jesus. How do you weigh the cost of sharing that with folks? Even if it does cost all of my silver and gold, wouldn’t it be worth it if they saw just a tiny glimpse of him?