Monthly Archives: August 2011

“Speaking the truth in love, let us grow up into Him who is the head”  (Ephesians 4:15 )  Have you seen the movie “The Help”?  Holly and I went on Friday.  It is an inspiring story of black maids in the 1960′s South who were willing to speak about their experiences despite the negative reaction that was sure to [...]

“For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. . .I do not know which to choose.”  (Phil. 1:21-22)  The Apostle Paul and Queen Esther had arrived at the same place– a calm heart in the face of death.  “If I perish, I perish” were her words.  It was a possibility that she [...]

“In every province there was GREAT MOURNING among the Jews. . .MANY lay in sackcloth and ashes.”  (Esther 4:3)  It is both painful and necessary for us to become desperate.  Complacent people don’t make spiritual progress.  God would rather us be cold than luke-warm.  Cold hearts at least realize the spiritual distance/danger.   Stripping away the support systems of life and [...]

“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”  (Esther 4:16)  The Esther story touches a familiar truth from God’s word.  People who serve God need the prayers of others for support and strength.  Esther requests others [...]

(Re Verse reading this week–Esther 4.)  Esther faced a dilemma we know well– remain silent or speak up,  seek safety or get involved.  It is always a costly choice.  We may not face death (a real possibility for her).  It will cost us our time and our energy, our comfort and sometimes our friendships.  Thank God for the [...]

It is a matter of stewardship–recognizing that what God gives me (talent, health, opportunity, friendship) is not for selfish purpose but for service.  “Who knows whether you have attained to royalty for such a time as this” says Mordecai to Esther. (Esther 4:14)  He begs her to consider the underlying purpose of God in the events of [...]

This week, we will be reading the story of Esther.  It will be rich reflection for followers of Christ.   While the book never mentions God (a fact that caused great consternation for the Reformers), it points to his presence and providence in the events and choices of Esther’s life.  The Jews still celebrate this story [...]

It came one night this week as I slept–a burden to “get the word out” to people who do not know God through trust in Christ.  It is a focus that I often lose.  I get so caught up in the immediate and urgent (me) that I forget the truly important (others).  Sometimes, God be praised, [...]

It is a choice that will be made in the quietness of a morning prayer.  It will be a decision between several options.  I will be tempted to PLEASE others–to believe that approval and support is what I need most.  I will also be tempted to avoid PAIN–to find the easy road, to follow the fun.  [...]

It is not complicated.  Childlike actually.  Serving God is first a matter of NOT doing what He says NOT to do and then depending on Him to bless and protect.  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Daniel 3) are examples.  (I always wondered why they were called “the three Hebrew children)  “We do not need to defend [...]