Esther 8: The Follow Through

At the end of Esther chapter 7 we see Haman heading for the gallows—the ones he built for Mordecai. His pride cost him his life. (And boy does that make me stop and look at the pride in my own life!) In chapter 8, we watch as Queen Esther is given all of Haman’s wealth. All that he worked for and schemed for is given to a Jewish woman. Not only that, but Mordecai replaces Haman in the palace.

What a turn of events! It’s been ten weeks since Haman issued the decree to wipe out the Jews. Ten weeks of mourning and worrying for the Jews. Now Mordecai is in the palace, but the clock is still ticking because even after the evil man dies the consequences of his words and deeds continue on.

What Haman started—the annihilation of the Jews—was still in the books so Esther went back in to the king, risking her life again for her people. She knew her goal, kept her eyes on it, and kept working. If she had only wanted revenge, she would’ve quit when Haman was killed. If she wanted restitution, she would’ve quit when the king gave her Haman’s estate. But she didn’t want those things. So she risked her life by going to king, uninvited. Again. King Xerxes extended his scepter to her, granting her the privilege of approaching him.

This is the part that struck me the most. Maybe because of all that’s going on in my life right now, maybe because it’s a message that keeps coming before me…

Then Esther spoke again to the king, fell at his feet, wept and implored him to avert the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite and his plot which he had devised against the Jews. Esther 8:3

Esther approached the king to intercede for her people. She wanted them to be delivered from death. She wanted it badly enough that she was willing to risk her life—repeatedly—for it.

Deliverance. We all know people who need delivering. We all probably have family members who need delivering. Are we interceding for them? Would we even consider risking our life for their deliverance?

It was a master stroke of the Devil when he got the church and the ministry so generally to lay aside the mighty weapon of prayer. ~R. A. Torrey

Intercession is life changing. Because Esther interceded, her people were delivered. James 4:3 says we don’t have things because we don’t ask for them.

How about us?
Are we getting side tracked from the work God has for us to do?
Are we giving up before the real objective is accomplished?
Are we interceding for our people?

“One concerned person devoted to prayer can make a great difference in this world, for prayer is the key that releases the power of God.” ~Warren Wiersbe

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Rechopping

It's been months and months since I've been at Jewels of Encouragement, and I'm so excited to be back there!

We've had a lot of rain lately, and although it's wonderful, it's made getting the lawn mowed tough at times. It taught me a lesson on mowing. I'd love to have you join me there to see why.

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To Make a Difference

Intercessory prayer has been on my mind a lot lately and as I studied for the Esther 8 post, I came across this quote in Warren Wiersbe's commentary.

I've been so blessed to have people who pray for me. During my teen years in Ecuador, then through my time at Moody, there was an older couple from Maine, Cecil and Evelyn Arrington, who prayed for my family--and me--each and every Tuesday without fail. I didn't find out Tuesday was our day until after I was married and Mrs. Arrington sent me a card. When I looked back through my journals, it was incredible to see how many answers to prayers were given and needs were met on Tuesdays. Their prayers made a huge difference in my life.

They aren't the only ones who pray for me--my parents pray for me and my family. They pray every day, remembering and holding up to God specific things for each one in their family. I learned long ago not to pour the milk on my cereal until after they prayed for breakfast. I don't like soggy cereal but I treasure their prayer for each of us! It makes a difference in our lives.

Monday was my mom's birthday. There have been times she's called to see how things were going and listened as I talked and talked and talked. She'd say "You just keep coming to mind..." and I knew she'd been praying. Often, just knowing she was praying was enough to give me energy and courage to keep going.

Today is my dad's birthday. He may be unable to do the things he used to due to the bone cancer, but he prays. He keeps a prayer list by his bed and prays when he wakes at night. I know that his interceding for his children has...IS...making a difference in their lives.

Your turn...
Tell me about some of the people who pray for you and the difference it's made in your life.

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Esther 7: The Reversal

A couple years ago I started a series on the book of Esther and we made it through chapter 6 before life went wild on me and my time to write became scarce. You can find that study here. I want to finish the series, even if it quite match or have the bells and whistles the first six parts do. So, please humor me as I limp to the finish line with this and for not getting these last posts looking pretty and tied with a bow so they match the first part.



When we left Esther in chapter 6, Haman had just come in from parading through the city streets, declaring the greatness of Mordecai the Jew—the very man he was trying so hard to kill.

God wants each person to repent and turn to Him. He gave Haman chances to change his ways but Haman’s stubborn pride kept him hurtling to the end of his rope.

This time, when King Xerxes asked Esther what she wanted and made his generous offer, she presented her request—but she didn’t just blurt it out. She carefully crafted it making it so she didn’t attack his favored right-hand man. Remember, Xerxes had just had a late night refresher course on conspiracy so he may have connected the dots... First they were after the king, when that was exposed (thanks to Mordecai the Jew), they went after the queen.

The king is outraged that someone would dare attack his queen and when the king stormed out of the room, Haman made one last bad choice. He chose to stay in the queen’s presence and plead his case with her.

What a paradox! Haman had been furious because a Jewish man wouldn’t bow down to him, and now Haman was prostrate before a Jewish woman, begging for his life! ~Warren Wiersbe

Persian law dictated that no man other than the king was to be alone in the presence of a harem member or the queen, and that no man was to be within seven paces of them, unless they were one of the eunuchs appointed to serve the queen or harem member. When Haman stayed with the queen he broke the law. When he went to the couch Esther was on to plead for his life, he was much closer than seven paces, and he REALLY broke the law.

If Esther had pressed on, ignoring the quiet voice in her heart to delay her request, King Xerxes wouldn’t have had his sleepless night and heard what Mordecai the Jew had done to save his life. But now he remembered. A Jew had saved his life, so why should he kill the Jews? Besides, Haman, who had issued that decree in the king’s name was assaulting his queen, right there in the palace. No other reason for his death sentence was needed.

Haman must have boasted around the palace about the high gallows he’d built for Mordecai because when the king came in and saw Haman, the eunuch in attendance at the banquet mentioned there just happened to be a gallows all ready to go. He even knew that it was intended for Mordecai—the man who had saved the king’s life.

Often it seems as if God’s people are losing and the wicked ones are winning. We need to remember that just because God is longsuffering, it doesn’t mean He doesn’t care and that the bad guys get away with all the evil they plan.

…for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. ~Gal. 6:7

He who sows iniquity will reap vanity… ~Prov. 22:8

He has dug a pit and hollowed it out, and has fallen into the hole which he made. His mischief will return upon his own head, and his violence will descend upon his own pate. ~Ps. 7:15-16

And that’s exactly what happened to Haman. The very evil he had planned for Mordecai happened to him. It’s something we see happen often in Scripture—but even if we never witness it, we can be sure God does.

God orchestrated these events so everything lined up perfectly, creating a straight shot to accomplishing His plan. Our part is to be sensitive to His leading and to obey.

Things to think about:

• Are we sensitive to God’s quiet leading or do we charge ahead?
• Is our pride hanging us?
• What kind of things are we sowing?

You can find the earlier posts on the book of Esther here.

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When I Grow Up…

My older daughter, years ago.

Have you ever noticed how hard it is deciding what you want to be when you grow up? Please, if you’re one who’s always known, don’t feel you have to tell me. At forty-mumble-something years old, I still think about what I want to be when I grow up. Oh, I know some things I’d like to do, but then I begin the second-guessing and then the doubt sets in. Next thing I know, a year has passed and I’m being slapped upside the head with a question that clears the glaze for a moment.

Sunday was one of those times. In Sunday School our teacher threw out a question and it’s been rattling around inside my head ever since.

The question?

If you had no restrictions (money, time, health, family issues, etc.), what would you like to accomplish for God?

Some of the ladies knew their answer without having to think about it. One lady would love to match resources with needs for a mission board or church ministries. Another wanted to be able to pray for and with people, and yet another wanted to rescue babies.

Same girl but not too long ago. ;-)

I wanted to slide under the table. There was no way I could admit to wanting to become a hermit who split her time between her comfy-cozy cave on a deserted island and the hammock in the palm tree—on the deserted island.

Too often I feel like I don’t even know what I want to be when I grow up, and knowing what I want to accomplish for God is tons bigger and far more important than that. What’s a girl to do? Hide in the willows and wail?

Okay, so that’s what I want to do, but it’s not the right answer.

So tell me... 

How do you figure out what you want to accomplish for God? 
What would YOU like to accomplish for God?

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Life in Limbo

Me and Toby.

That would be where I'm currently at. Limbo. My least favorite place to be. This time around is different though. I'm okay with not knowing what's coming next in my life--it's become normal for me. I'm okay with being between things--one thing has ended and the next hasn't yet begun. It's a stage--temporary, like the doldrums.

But this is different...

After a life of being in church, I've missed attending for the better part of six months. The first months I was in Arizona, twice, then I was sick for the whole month of January, and then we worked the monkeys every weekend in Cincinnati (five hours from where we live in southern Illinois) and church wasn't an option. I'm so thankful that God gave us the Bible--His Word to us that we are free to read any time we want. I'm also thankful for my commentaries, especially good ol' Warren Wiersbe. His commentary filled the gap left by missing all those sermons at church.

But missing church stinks. I missed the preaching, the corporate worship, my friends. I feel totally unplugged.

In Sunday School, our fabulous ladies' class teacher talked about all the jobs there are in the church and how God has equipped each believer with a spiritual gift so that together we can do what needs to be done. We talked about those jobs and the spiritual gifts that would be useful in those positions. Later, before the evening service, I was caught by one of the men on the nominating committee (it's that time of year in our church) and he verified that I needed to be taken out of my spot. It hurt.

Why did I need out? Because there's a good chance that being in church every Sunday like we once were isn't going to be the norm.

Playing with Toby.

After being so plugged in and involved, becoming a spectator... almost a visitor ...is hard.

Our Sunday School teacher left us with this challenge for the week:

How am I using the spiritual gifts God gave me?

To be honest, I wanted to cry. I don't feel like I'm using my gifts at all. I've not been in church, I've not been part of a ladies' Bible study, and I've not been writing or blogging--all ways that I contributed to God's family in the past. All things that I miss greatly. So I've been doing some heavy duty thinking about this. During this season of not being plugged in at my local church, what can I do use the spiritual gifts God has given me to use for Him?

So tell me, how are you using the spiritual gifts God has given you?

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Phoebe is here!

I'm so excited about today! Not only is it my sister's ahem-mumble-oh birthday (no foolin'!) but today is the day I get to kick off a very special tour. Four or five years ago (girls, remind me...how long has it been now??) God put me with an incredible group of ladies. We've adventured together over many miles and today we get to celebrate. Yvonne Blake's book, A Home for Phoebe, is HERE and we're beyond excited.

To help us celebrate, Zeke the peddler has promised to get us safely from one home to another.

Meet Zeke...

Zeke the Peddler wears a floppy hat and a gray coat, whose sleeves seems much too short for his arms. His eyes sparkle and his mustache twitches, and he seems as tall as a weather vane on the top of the barn. Removing his hat, he bows low. “Well, good day, folks. What can I help you with? This here is a regular gen'ral store on wheels! Anything you want or need. I have it. Needles or tubs, buttons or pans - jewelry and fancy perfume, too!" As you walk around the strange wagon, your eyes widen with wonder. There are pans, kettles, tools, and things you never saw before hanging on the sides. At the back is a door that opens at the top. You can see bolts of cloth, kegs, wash tubs, and hundreds of little boxes.

One of the treasures he carries is a very special book by one of my near-and-dear friends, Yvonne Blake. The book? A Home for Phoebe.

Meet Yvonne Blake...

God has blessed Yvonne with an interesting childhood. She's lived in the deserts of Arizona, the tropic islands of the Bahamas, the rugged hills of New York, the farmlands of mid-Maine. Her father was a school teacher and pastor, and her mother was a nurse. Yvonne's memory is a parade of settings, experiences, and characters to use in her writing.

Yvonne's husband is her steady rock, loving his Lord and family. Raising a family of eight children, in Searsport, Maine, has been her focus over the last thirty years, also giving her storerooms of material to draw from. Striving to do their best, regardless of the opinions of others, they have often lived out of step with the rest of the world.

Now that Yvonne's children have grown, she's chosen to stay home and write, releasing all the stories bottled in her mind. Her prayer is to be used of the Lord, to encourage and bless others with her writing.

A Home for Phoebe

A Home for Phoebe is an historical novel of an Indian woman and a young girl wandering the hills of the Hudson Valley during the mid 1800's.

One flees prejudice, while the other yearns for a home.

Through the friendship of a peddler, a blind granny, and blacksmith's family, they learn of forgiveness and faith.

You can purchase A Home for Phoebe on Amazon.

 Find Yvonne online at her website, her blog, and on Facebook.

 Yvonne will be giving away a free copy of A Home for Phoebe at the end of the month, drawing a name from those whose comment on the blogs or on her author page on Facebook. 

 Be sure to travel along with Zeke the peddler to learn more about Yvonne and A Home for Phoebe. Their next stop will be at Catrina Bradley's blog, on Wednesday, April 3rd. 

You never know what surprises you'll discover when you travel with Zeke, so don't miss out!  See you at Cat's place on Wednesday.

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