"This would commemorate a time when the Jews gained relief from their enemies, when their sorrows was turned to gladness and their mourning into joy."
Esther 9:22b
Esther 9:22b
My Take Aways
Something Old:
In my present storm I can receive relief from my enemies, my sorrow can be turned to gladness, and mourning into joy.
Something New:
- Esther reclining-she sure got comfortable in the king's quarters
- Be careful what you desire and be aware of your motives...Haman got impaled.
- The Jews did not take any plunder after their victories.
Help me anchor to you in this present storm dear Lord. I ask you for the same result you gave the Jews that day: relief from my enemies, my sorrow turned to gladness, and my mourning into joy.
20 Comments:
Heavenly Father: I lift up our Wendy today as she clings to You in the storms of life. Grant her the peace to know You are present; wash her clean of any bitterness, anger and resentment; and fill her up with Your Holy Spirit and Your Presence, restoring her zest for You and emptying her of her human weakness. Allow her to know You more each day, giving her the desire to walk in Your ways and honor You with her thoughts, words and deeds. Amen.
Blessings Wendy and all my GIG!
Morgen
Isn't it exciting to see that, when faced with heavy persecution and complete annhilation, God intervened through a most unlikely source and saved everyone - and stopped the threat of future attack all at the same time? I needed to be reminded of this, too!
I wonder how modern day Jews celebrate Purim? My Bible said something about gifts of food - are there traditional foods that are given? Just curious ... gotta do some research today ....
Lori, thanks for the vote of confidence! Brayden's mom insisted that I do some things that were not safe with Brayden, and I was not willing to risk his life to make his mother happy. I'm sad that it didn't work out, but my husband surprised me and wasn't upset - just happy to be done with the stressful mom, so we're just waiting now to see what's next! :-)
Good Morning Everyone~
Missed all you dear GIGs :)
Wendy I wanted to let you know that my prayers are with you today. Amen to your prayer Morgen.
Amy, I did a search online today before even getting on here and I found this link that you might want to check out:
http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday9.htm
It even has a recipe for the traditional cookies that are made every year to celebrate Purim.
I am celebrating today for the way God is showing His hand in my family and how He is pursing my husband in amazing ways right now. We are still in the battle. The battle is going strong right now sisters. We are fighting in prayer over him everyday. But since posting there has been so many victories I know it is only a matter of time before his heart is turned over to the Lord. He is now going to church service with my son and I weekly and he is helping me teach the 1st grade Sunday school class. He has developed a relationship with our Pastor and he has even visited our home to talk to John. God is placing men in his path as well that are leading him to Christ. I just praise Him today for all that He is doing.
You all have a very blessed Wednesday.
Brandee, TN
Good morning, GIGs,
Wendy, I feel that the Lord wants me to share this with you. There was a young boy with Special Needs who went through my elementary school. He STRUGGLED. This year he is a freshman in high school, and he has my son for English. Chuck has come home several days with praise stories (my word, not Chuck's, ha ha ha!) about this same boy and the earnest effort he is making. His answers come slowly, but he is a valued contributor to the class. Clearly, this boy is touching my son in very important ways. I thank God for putting Alex in Chuck's class! I'm going to bet that your son is, or will at some point, have the same effect on one or more of his teachers. The good Lord works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform. I have prayed Colossians 1:9-14 for you this morning, dear Wendy!
Peace and Gratitude,
Michelle in New England
Wendy,
Thanks for your tenderness and your honesty. I know often when we are the leader or teacher it is not always easy to let others know we need help.
God and I have been working through some bitterness, anger and unforgiveness in my life, and as I have obeyed the little steps He brings me to He has brought me much peace. There are several battles that God gave me victory in and I am stronger and bolder because of it.
The Daniel 30 day challenge is already paying off. I have always prayed everyday off and on all day, but I have been more specific about who and what I am praying for during my "Daniel" time. Then I still do my regular praying throughout the day as circumstances arise. I am already seeing some fruit and it is only the 5th day.
Wendy you are now on my list for specific prayer.
Blessings to all,
Lynn - OR
Today, I am celebrating the storms that God has brought me through that have changed me and brought me closer to Him. I am so thankful for His faithfulness, His everlasting love and His mercies that are new every morning!
Amen to the prayers that have been lifted for you Wendy, praying that you will be encouraged in heart and be able to stand firm through the storms with God firmly holding you by the hand.
In the reading today, I was just struck again by how God lifted up Moses, Joseph, Esther and so many others to be placed in the right place at just the right time to save His people. The journey was not always easy, but the end result was victory. I am thankful that we are part of His plan of victory.
Have a blessed day!
Michelle in VA
Good to see you, Brandee! So glad to hear about the work that God is doing in your husband's life!
Good Morning~ “That is why this celebration is called Purim, because it is the ancient word for casting lots” (Esther 9:26). “We may throw the dice, but the LORD determines how they fall” (Proverbs 14:33). The lot is cast into the lap but every decision is from the LORD. Decisions are not just by chance or coincidence, -they are from the LORD God.
The Lord longs to show us His compassion. He is a God of justice. Patience. Blessed are all who wait for him. (Isa. 30:18) During our waiting time, we can not fret, but put our trust in the Lord. During our battles, we remain hopeful, training our minds to trust in Him. It’s during this period of waiting, that we can anticipate, and look forward to the turn-around! During our “wait” God will determine when He will appear into the situation! The battle we are going through, fighting tooth and nail (through diligent and consistent prayer, while clinging to God, through His Word) will be turned into a victorious day! The glory will come.
When I took the Beth Moore Esther study, she spoke about the periods of time, when we are in the middle of our battles. Two secrets she mentioned:
(1)Deny me.
Take up my cross and follow Jesus.
Not me living my life, but Christ living through me.
(Matthew 16:24-26)
(2) Keep a servant’s heart.
Humble and loving service to those around me. (Mark 10:43,44).
I love the turn-around’s in the book of Esther! This book reassures us that our battles, will be victorious in God’s pre-determined time. “a time when the Jews gained relief from their enemies, when their sorrow was turned into gladness and their mourning into joy” (Esther 9:22).
Haman –
“boasted”
“bragged” –look what ended up happening to him!
And, Mordecai, - “He was very great among the Jews, who held him in high esteem, because he continued to work for the good of his people and to speak up for the welfare of their descendants” (Esther 10:3).
We are surrounded today by many Haman’s – those seeking self-recognition; but, look who was blessed in the end: the one who served the people around him, Mordecai.
Wendy, you will be in my prayers, during this battle, -remember God’s eyes and what is mostly successful to Him: Griffin’s faith. We get so caught up in what the world around places emphasis on, (grades, the achievements) -while God looks at his heart. He wove him in your womb and He has plans for him. Lord, thank you that Wendy is your daughter, and that you are living your life through her. Guide her each step with young Griffin. Place the tools in her lap, that will help her. Whisper your way to her. Thank you for our trials, for they are ways that bring you glory. Amen. Lori Continued…
Brandee – a REAL treat to see you pop-in! John is so close, and we are all waiting patiently, for the glory that is going to come!
As far as my big battle right now, I would have to say, - it’s my husband’s salvation. It’s been a long wait, dear sisters! Honestly, I do not see the light at the end of the tunnel. I wish I even had a tiny victory to share; however, there has not been one iota of a celebration! In fact, it seems like the more I pray, the less I see. Before my fervent praying began, my two sons were actively involved in church. My oldest –played guitar and was part of the worship band, part of the Leadership council, attended a weekly Bible Study. Now, he’s in college and not doing squat, in the way of church that is. My youngest, well, he used to, be involved in everything at church, activity wise, small group, etc. Now, he attends once a week, but, that is because it is not a choice. He does not complain, but I just don’t see him growing closer to God. It is more of a social event for him. It breaks this mamma’s heart. I long for my family to share my faith, to love talking about God’s Word, to love Jesus the way that I do. This Bible Study dear sisters is what saves me. It’s very hard to live in a home and not be able to talk about your favorite subject! I know God has brought me here - to give me a place that I can freely share my love for Him. My husband - truly seems like the least-likely person to ever be saved. But. That’s the beauty! “For nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37)~!!! Smile! Daily, on purpose & and boldly I plead my request. God hears me, and God has a plan. Glory will come as I patiently wait on Him!
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Cor. 5:17) – May my family want what I have. May they see the new creation coming out and be drawn to it. May my light give light to everyone in my house. (Matthew 5:15)
Another day – to love those around me!
Lori
Dear Sweet Wendy,
Thank you for your honesty and for allowing us the privilege of praying for you in your storm. Father God, I lift Wendy up to you. Lord, where there is bitterness and anger bring our dear Wendy peace, healing, and the strength to persevere through this difficult time. Help her Lord, equip her to help Griffin and to also remember to care for herself as she ministers to her son and her family.
We praise you, Lord, for through the storms of life are the times when we learn the most from You and can become closer to You, if we will but surrender it all to You.
Thank you for loving us, for never forsaking us. Keep our eyes on You, Lord, not our circumstances.
In Jesus precious name, Amen.
Brandee, Hallelujah! So wonderful to hear what God is doing in your husband's life. For those of us with unsaved husbands, this is such an encouragement to hear.
Continued prayers that your husband will draw ever closer to Christ with each day.
Lori, oh how I do relate to all that you've said. I could say ditto to almost all of it. The more I pray for my husband's salvation the further away from God he seems. My 5 yr old son, whom I've shared about before, just last night said he didn't like the Bible and would close his ears if I read to him from it (though we did manage to read about Daniel and the lions' den after he saw the cool pictures and couldn't resist :D
After the story, though he continued right back to saying he didn't care about God.
So, Lori, my heart breaks for my son as well.
It feels like a enormous battle of spiritual warfare that my family is in, and though my feet are trying to move forward taking my boys to church each week it often feels we are standing still, making little progress.
Yet...I know nothing is impossible with God. So today I praise Him and thank Him that through this most difficult trial of my life, He is teaching me to be solely dependent on Him, to truly learn the meaning of having faith in Him, despite what the circumstances look like.
So, even though I want to at times, I will not lose heart because I know my God is bigger than all of this.
God gave me this verse just this morning in the midst of this storm and I want to share it with all of you who are "in the wait" of your current storm...
Ps 27:13-14: "I would have lost heart,unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!" (NKJV).
Dear FIGs this is my prayer for all of you, that we not lose heart and that we will be strengthened as we wait on the Lord, having faith we will see His goodness bring us through our storms.
Amen.
Have a blessed day,
Jodi (in New England)
Father,
We lift up our teacher Wendy to you. She has been so faithful daily in her service to You, Father. Please be with her as she goes through these trials. Give her the strength to endure and give her eyes to see what You want her to learn so she comes out pure as gold. We ask that you remove the dross from her heart: bitterness, resentment, and anger. Replace them with the fruit of your Spirit. We just ask that You comfort her, Father and give her the desires of her heart. In Jesus' wonderful name we pray. Amen.
Brandee,
Hello! Nice to see you back here again. We look forward to your next post in which you report that John finally took that one final important step.
Lori and Jodi,
I hear ya, sister on our children not walking the way of the Lord. We'll keep praying right along with you.
I found this article by Chuck Missler. I remember him saying that the book of Esther is the only book that does not mention God anywhere but He is in the background, figuratively and literally.
The Feast of Purim was instituted by Mordecai to celebrate the deliverance of the Jews from Haman's plot to kill them. Our Jewish friends continue to celebrate this feast to this day, which is based on the events in the Book of Esther. Purim (from Akkadian, puru, "lots") is so called after the lots cast by Haman in order to determine the month in which the slaughter was to take place.
The Invisible Protector
God had declared that if His people forsook Him, He would hide His face from them. Here, in this very episode, that threat was fulfilled. But even though He was hidden from them, God still was working for them behind the scenes. And this is further emphasized by some surprises hidden behind the text itself.
It has been noted by many commentators that Esther is the only book of the Bible in which there does not appear the name of God, or any divine title, anywhere in the book. (Martin Luther favored eliminating it from the Bible on this basis.) However, the name of God does appear in a number of places if one knows how and where to look!
Hidden Acrostics
An acrostic can be a mechanism for including a hidden message. In the Book of Esther we encounter some remarkable surprises. The name of God is hidden no less than eight times in acrostics in the text. Four times it appears as an acrostic, the famed Tetragammaton, "YHWH" or "Yahweh" or "YeHoVaH"; once as "EHYH" or "I AM" as at the Burning Bush. Also, Meshiach ("Messiah"), Yeshua ("Jesus"), and El Shaddai ("The Almighty"), also appear as equidistant letter sequences.
As Gentiles, we need to remember that we are grafted into the true olive tree by the skin of our teeth. We must not forget that we were joined into what was a Jewish Church-with Jewish leaders, a Jewish Bible, and are worshipping a Jewish Messiah. Baruch HaShem.Bless His Name!
Deeper Roots
The more we look, the more we realize that there is still much more hidden, and thus reserved for the diligent inquirer. (Would you expect anything less in the Word of God?) The entire drama has deeper roots. Haman was a royal Amalekite, a descendant of the very king Agag whom King Saul was supposed to have slain (1 Sam 15:1-28). If Saul had followed his instructions, there wouldn't have been a Haman. For Saul's failure, his kingdom was taken away. Mordecai, too, a key benefactor in the tale, was a result of David having refused to take vengeance upon Shimei so many years earlier. It was Esther's marriage to the King of Persia that ultimately led to the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
The story of Esther also appears to be an elegant anticipatory preview in the Old Testament of the Book of Romans! Like so many books of the Bible, there are always surprises for the diligent student!
Sweet Wendy, I am lifting up your family in my prayers today. I echo the other GIGs in thanking you for sharing these concerns with us.
Brandee, you all are in my prayers also.Lori and Jodi, praying for the slavation of your hubbies too.
God's timing with Esther is a great reminder that His timing is perfect still today for us.
Hugs,
Susan
Thank you FIGS for the love and prayers. Believe me...I sense them.
Good Afternoon, I am new to the study (about 3 weeks) and Praise God that I found you. I believe it is a "such a time as this" moment. I desire and need fellowship of sisters in Christ. Wendy, AMEN to all the prayers spoken over you this day. Asking for relief from your enemies, sorrow turned to gladness and your mourning turned into absolute JOY.
God Bless You all.
Nancy LA
Good Afternoon, I am new to the study (about 3 weeks) and Praise God that I found you. I believe it is a "such a time as this" moment. I desire and need fellowship of sisters in Christ. Wendy, AMEN to all the prayers spoken over you this day. Asking for relief from your enemies, sorrow turned to gladness and your mourning turned into absolute JOY.
God Bless You all.
Nancy LA
Good Afternoon, I am new to the study (about 3 weeks) and Praise God that I found you. I believe it is a "such a time as this" moment. I desire and need fellowship of sisters in Christ. Wendy, AMEN to all the prayers spoken over you this day. Asking for relief from your enemies, sorrow turned to gladness and your mourning turned into absolute JOY.
God Bless You all.
Nancy LA
Hi ladies,
Sweet Wendy - what a privilege to be able to stand for you in prayer. Lord I lift up our sweet sister Wendy and ask that You remove the heavy burden of anger and bitterness from her heart. Lord, help her to cast her cares and concerns to You. Help her to see that when we turn our problems to you - Your yoke is easy and the burden light. Lord - I ask that you fill Wendy with a double portion of your peace and comfort. Give her strength to endure and hope in Your faithfulness - that You have plans to prosper her and her family.
For those of you who posted about children not saved - I was brought up in a very Christian home, but in university - I became angry and bitter with the circumstances in my life. I felt God had abandoned me and I walked away from everything to do with my faith. But God patiently waited on me, and 6 years later I turned my heart back to him wholeheartedly. There is hope my friends!
As for walking through storms...sigh the last 18 years of my life feel like one giant storm. My parents separated as a teenager, I was in a toxic job and suffered from depression and anxiety, my father that I was estranged from died from cancer, my siblings remain estranged from my mother, I continue to experience chronic pain, I have many people in my life who are dying of cancer right now...but I am still here, still standing and still believing for miracles in all these areas.
Also, there have been blessings in the battle. I was reunited with my father for the last 2 years of his life. God has healed me of my anxiety disorder/depression although I still walk through surrendering my fears on a daily basis. I left my terrible job and God helped me find a new path and is doing so again as a stay at home mom. He gave me a Christan husband and a beautiful baby boy. There is much cause to celebrate.
Thank you my friends for your tender hearts, humility and encouragement. I am always glad to know you are only a few clicks away.
Love,
Jodie from Ottawa
ps Jennifer from Iowa - I did email you, did you get it?
Wendy,
Praying for you and your son.
Love, Debra
Hi Wendy. Thank you so much for your devotionals. They have been such and encouragement and have helped to spur a desire for the word again.
I loved your challenge to commemorate what God is doing even when we are still in the storm. Yesterday, I had a commemorating day depite still being in the storm and probably never getting out of it until I die. My son is 9 and has high functioning autism. Yesterday he ran in his first cross country meet and did so great. My hopes were that he just finish, but he actually did better then some of the other kids. I was so pumped and praised God for the rest of the whole day. So yes there will be hard days, probably today even, but God is good, he will strengthen, encourage and empower as long as I give him the reigns. I think he gives us these moments so we are encouraged to give striving forward and be reminded how God brought the victory in the past when the present is painfully hard. I will be praying for you Wendy. Blessings to you.
Shelly
Hellooooooo everyone,
I continue to lift up you sisters, husbands, and Wendy in prayer.
I read that it was 5 years later when Mordecai got his reward and recognition for saving the King.
From "The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible" :
The Agag thing went even further back, to Exodus 17:8-16 and
Deut. 25:17-19. During the Israelite's journey to the promised land of Canaan, the Amalekites had attacked and slaughtered the handicapped and helpless, including the children, aged, sick, and weary who had lagged behind the main body of travelers.
(Apparently, the Amalekites and Jews were bitter enemies throughout those 1,000 years.)
Warren Wiersbe said in his book, "Be Committed" :
The Jews go to the synagogue and hear the Book of Esther publicly read; and whenever the name of Haman is mentioned, they cry out,
"May he be accursed!' or 'May his name perish!' Children bring a special Purim rattle called a "gregar" and use it to make a noise every time they hear Haman's name read."
This is a lesson for us to guard ourselves and future generations against extreme prejudice, discrimination,and bitter hatred.
John MacArthur said,"When Satan put Haman into place, it was as if
he announced, "Check." God then positioned Esther and Mordecai in order to put Satan into
"Checkmate!"
Isn't it wonderful how God is in charge of the details of our lives?
Linda from Ark.
Dear GIGS,
I have been away for about 4 months now. My, doesn't the enemy whisper in your (my) ear. Well, God's whispers are louder
I am catching up on my reading, but now I'm unable to get Wendy's vlogs. I remember that back at the beginning of the year, some of y'all had tips on how to get them a different way. I would appreciate any tips you could send my way.
I have missed this so much. It's good to be back.
Stacey from TX
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