But First She Prayed

“When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. 

And if I perish, I perish." Esther 4:15

These are the very courageous words of the Queen of Persia, Esther, as she prepared to approach a very young, inexperienced and emotional King Xerxes to plead with him to stop the TOTAL annihilation of the Jewish people. If the king was in a bad mood that day, he could have her killed instantly, even though she was Queen, and more importantly, his bride. What courage this must have taken, what a magnificent statement of faith Queen Esther displayed as she unselfishly prepared to sacrifice her life for her people.

Do you know that the Name of God is NOT mentioned anywhere in the story of Esther in the Bible, yet we see such magnificent evidence of HIS Hand all over the story. And the greatest evidence that we see of His mercy and grace in Esther, the absolute beauty of what we call “Reversal of Destiny”.

 

In Esther, we are given a close up look at the ongoing struggle of satan against the purposes of God and especially against His promised Messiah. The birth of Christ into the human race was totally dependent upon the existence of the Jewish race. Just as Haman plotted against the Jews in order to destroy them, so has satan set himself against Christ and God’s people. Just as Haman is defeated on the gallows he built for Mordecai, so does Christ use the very weapon that his enemy devised to destroy Him and His spiritual seed. For the cross, by which satan planned to destroy the Messiah, was the very means through which Christ “having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” Colossians 2:14-15

Haman was hanged on the gallows he built for Mordecai, 

so the devil was crushed by the cross he erected to destroy Christ.

Esther proved to have a godly and very humble spirit that also showed great strength and willing obedience. Esther’s humility was very different from those around her, 

and this caused her to be elevated into the position of queen.

Woman everywhere would do well to emulate her godly attitudes in all areas of life, but especially in trials. Not once is there a complaint or bad attitude exposed in the Book of Esther. Many times we read she won the "favor" of those around her. This “favor” is what ultimately saved her people. We can be given such favor as we accept even unfair persecution and follow Esther’s example of maintaining a positive attitude, coupled with humility and the determination to lean on and fully trust in God.

So, in closing, it does not matter whether in prison or the free world, Jew or Gentile, white or black, rich or poor. We are all placed here to show love, grace, mercy, humility and unselfishness to ALL people, regardless of our circumstance, regardless of the cost!

Who knows but maybe God has placed YOU in such a position, for just such a time as this?

"Love Never Fails"

Love Never Fails

1 Corinthians 13:8

My favorite scripture, because in my life God has shown me over and over through His Love for me that Love Never fails. I had to choose to receive His Love. I need to be filled with His Love contunually. I receive that Love through a love relationship I have with Him. It's a journey of Love. He then turns what He poured into me and somehow pours out that Love into the lives He places along my path. It's truly incredible. His Love is relentless and because it never fails, with His help we can all Love from a place of Our Father. I'm still a work in progress, but I believe with everything in me that Love never fails. I also believe 

He will never called us to do something He doesn't equip us to do. 

He calls us to Love.

Below is a 1 Corinthians 13:3-8 in the messages version, I love it. I hope you will too. As you read each verse, ask God to help you Love like He loves.

“If I give everything I own to the poor 

and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, 

but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. 

So, no matter what I say, 

what I believe, 

and what I do, 

I’m bankrupt without love. 

Love never gives up. 

Love cares more for others than for self. 

Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. 

Love doesn’t strut, 

Doesn’t have a swelled head, 

Doesn’t force itself on others, 

Isn’t always “me first,” 

Doesn’t fly off the handle, 

Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, 

Doesn’t revel when others grovel, 

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, 

Puts up with anything, 

Trusts God always, 

Always looks for the best, 

Never looks back, 

But keeps going to the end.” 

Love never dies.

1 Corinthians 13:3-8

Brokenness by James MacDonald

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise (Psalm 51:17, ESV).

Before a horse can be useful to its owner, it has to be broken. An unbroken stallion is proud and strong. It will paw and snort and let no one ride it. But then a bit goes in its mouth, a saddle goes on its back, and someone climbs up and hangs on. The stallion immediately starts to buck, because it doesn’t want to be broken—but eventually it stops fighting and surrenders to the will of its master.

Sometimes we have that same stubborn, rebellious, self-sufficient spirit within us, and God often breaks those attitudes because they keep us from experiencing true intimacy with Him. 

Have you ever been broken? Brokenness is empty-handedness before God. It makes no demands. It is falling into the embrace of your loving Father and finding Him to be enough. It says not only “God, I need You,” but “God, You are all I need.”

What are some of the things God breaks? Here are some of the big ones:

Stubbornness. “I am going to do this my way.” If you are one of God’s children, that attitude is on its way out. You can fight with Him for a long time if you want, but your stubbornness will eventually be broken.

Pride. “I know better; I am better.” God hates pride in the hearts of His children. He hates it in my heart; He hates it in yours. People who have been greatly used by God have come to grips with the need to dispense with all pride and to humble themselves.

Willfulness. “You can’t make me! You can’t tell me! I’ll do what I want, when I want.” That’s willfulness, and it is also on its way out. God will use whatever He has to use to remove it from your heart and life.

Independence. “I can make it without You.” Nothing will inhibit your intimacy with the Father like an attitude of self-sufficiency. Recognize your weakness and rely on His strength.

God will use broken health, careers, dreams, relationships, promises, and hearts to rid our lives of the things that hinder intimacy with Him. Some say a loving God wouldn’t allow pain, but God’s love is not a pampering love; it’s a perfecting love. God is producing something in us—the likeness of His Son—and He is going to do whatever it takes to make that happen. You might want to get off the program, but any other path will lead you to a place you don’t want to be. 

You will never experience true intimacy with God until you are able to come before Him in genuine humility, utterly desperate for Him. You need to be broken. 

JOURNAL

• Describe a time in your life when you’ve experienced true brokenness before the Lord. What brought it about, and what resulted from it?
• What are some areas of your life you need to loosen your grip on and surrender to God now?

PRAY

Lord, I confess that I am naturally proud, stubborn, willful, and prone to believe I’m self-sufficient. I confess that I resist the thought of being broken, but I believe that, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Please help me to let go and allow You to have Your way in my life. Thank You that the more I surrender to You, the more intimacy I can have with You. God, you are all I need. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Friends

I've been deeply hurt over and over by a friend who I thought was a true and faithful friend. I think many can relate. I've done everything that God has showed me to do to reach out in Love to somehow try and fix the friendship over the years- anything but to let it go. But I had to learned the hard way-she wasn't a biblical-faithful-friend.. I have given this friend to God and continue to pray for her. I still believe that one day we can be friends  because...Love believes, Love never ends-never fails...and I still love her and I still believe in us.

This is what God has shown me in the process, and I hope it will help you...

A friend loves at all times-loves is an active word. It doesn't mean sometimes I love you sometimes I don't. It loves at all times-through all circumstances-through all differences-

I realized that "I" wanted a "Biblical" friend-not one of the flesh, or a friend that was here today gone tomorrow-but one that we can be bonded together for life through Christ. Let me add I have some wonderful non believing friends who are very loyal and love me and I love them...I am writing this to have more Christ center friends..and this might be a tall order-but since God says I can have that (and you can too)-(in His word) it's what I desired. My motive was to love her and each other like Jesus I just assumed we were each loving that way. My fault.  Never-ever assume-verbalize your friendships..

What is a biblical friend?

Loves at all cost

Fierce Loyalty 

Holds you up when you are down

Is there for you in your highs and lows

Doesn't think of you as a "second thought" when making decisions, because they value your faithfulness

Are committed and continually show that 

They don't counsel to your flesh-they share God's truth

They strengthen you through God's Word

They pray for you

They protect you

They show acts of kindness 

They ask how you are-and talk less of how they are

Relentless givers-their time and their resources 

There are so many more attributes of a true and biblical friend, my point is for you to search your hearts and ask God to show you if you're a faithful friend or just a passing friend.

Are you an absolute-totally-committed-friend?

With God's help lets become friends that love at all times and ones that reflect a true bond of loving each other through Christ.