Phil 4:6-7 (NLT) Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
If you have never read Max Lucado's, Fearless, I highly recommend it. It is a book that helps to refocus your thoughts from fear to faith, and a reminder that God will never leave us nor forsake us, regardless of what the circumstances look like.
May God's peace rule your heart and your mind today... Blessings, Debra
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Monday, October 18, 2010
Online Bible Study
If you are interested in seeing this online study continue, please let us know. So far we haven't had much response to the study, but if anyone is interested we will be more than happy to start a new study. You can either email me or post a comment.
Thanks... Debra
Thanks... Debra
Monday, September 27, 2010
Silence, Stillness and Centering before God
Daily Office Devotional....Read Genesis 32:22-26, 30
Jacob's name can mean "cheat" or "grabber," and he lives up to his name. He is manipulative , deceptive, and aggressive - not someone who could qualify as a well-scrubbed member of First Church. Jacob is a seriously flawed person growing up in a dysfunctional family. He seems to be either getting into trouble or just getting out of it or about to make some more.
Jacob's story is so universal because it is so personal. Throughout his life, Jacob had been stubborn and unwilling to trust anyone - even God. It is at the Jabbok Brook that Jacob is finally broken by God and radically transformed. He is given a new name and a new freedom to live as God originally intended. This comes, however, at the price of a permanent limp that now renders him helpless and desperate to cling to God. And it is out of this weak place of dependence that
Jacob becomes a nation (Israel) in order to bless the world.
In the same way God, sometimes, wounds us in our journey with him in order to move us out of an unhealthy, "tip of the iceberg" spirituality to one that truly transforms us from the inside out. When these come, we can deny them, cover them, get angry with God, blame others, or, like Jacob, we can cling desperately to God.
Question to consider: In what way(s) has God put your life or plans "out of joint" so that you might depend on him?
Prayer: Father, I relate to Jacob in striving, manipulating, scheming, denying, and spinning half-truths to those around me in order to get my way. At times, I too find myself serving you in order to get something from you. Lord, I invite you to teach me to live in dependence on you. Help me rest and be still in your love alone. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Jacob's name can mean "cheat" or "grabber," and he lives up to his name. He is manipulative , deceptive, and aggressive - not someone who could qualify as a well-scrubbed member of First Church. Jacob is a seriously flawed person growing up in a dysfunctional family. He seems to be either getting into trouble or just getting out of it or about to make some more.
Jacob's story is so universal because it is so personal. Throughout his life, Jacob had been stubborn and unwilling to trust anyone - even God. It is at the Jabbok Brook that Jacob is finally broken by God and radically transformed. He is given a new name and a new freedom to live as God originally intended. This comes, however, at the price of a permanent limp that now renders him helpless and desperate to cling to God. And it is out of this weak place of dependence that
Jacob becomes a nation (Israel) in order to bless the world.
In the same way God, sometimes, wounds us in our journey with him in order to move us out of an unhealthy, "tip of the iceberg" spirituality to one that truly transforms us from the inside out. When these come, we can deny them, cover them, get angry with God, blame others, or, like Jacob, we can cling desperately to God.
Question to consider: In what way(s) has God put your life or plans "out of joint" so that you might depend on him?
Prayer: Father, I relate to Jacob in striving, manipulating, scheming, denying, and spinning half-truths to those around me in order to get my way. At times, I too find myself serving you in order to get something from you. Lord, I invite you to teach me to live in dependence on you. Help me rest and be still in your love alone. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Silence, Stillness and Centering before God
Daily Office Devotional: Read Mark 11:15-17..Jesus' intense anger and overturning of tables in the temple courts ought to make us gasp. He knows that if we don't get to God, invaluable treasures will be lost or obscured. We lose the space where we experience God's unfailing love and incredible forgiveness. We lose an eternal perspective on what is important and what is not. We lose compassion. We gain the world but lose our souls (Mark 8:36-37)
Question to Consider: How would you describe "what is secondary" in your life, the thing that might be "blocking the way" to experiencing God?
Prayer: Lord, help me to see how much I lose when I lose you. My perspective on my life and all of life gets distorted when I don't make space for you, obscuring your love for me. Your love is better than life and truly, I long for more tastes of that love. In Jesus' name, amen.
Question to Consider: How would you describe "what is secondary" in your life, the thing that might be "blocking the way" to experiencing God?
Prayer: Lord, help me to see how much I lose when I lose you. My perspective on my life and all of life gets distorted when I don't make space for you, obscuring your love for me. Your love is better than life and truly, I long for more tastes of that love. In Jesus' name, amen.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
DAVID VS GOLIATH
Hi Everyone! I apologize for the late post. I had some family stuff come up that needed my attention.
The scripture reference (from our EHS Workbook)is I Sam 17:26-45. In this famous story, the army of Israel faces the great army of the Philistines. For forty days, Goliath, described as nine feet tall and dressed in powerful weaponry, challenges any Israelite soldier to come out and fight him. When the Israelites saw him, however, "they all ran from him in great fear." The story begins after David hears, for the first time, Goliath's humiliating challenge to Israel's army.
Read I Sam 17:26-45 and answer the questions below.
#1) What question does David ask after hearing Goliath's challenge? (vs 26)
#2) What are some of the challenges, accusations, and messages David is getting from the people around him: From David's family (Vs 28), From Saul (vs 33,38) From Goliath(vs 41-45)
#3) What feelings might you be experiencing if you were David? For example, what feelings might you have towards your sibling? Towards a person in authority over you like Saul? Towards a Goliath.
#4) How does David live out his true self against the powerful forces and pressures that seek to mold him into someone he is not?
DEBRA'S COMMENTS: Before this confrontation with Goliath, David spent many years tending his father's sheep. During his wilderness experience, two things happened. First, David honed his skills as a warrior, protecting his sheep. Second, he came to intimately know his heavenly Father. Both of these things contributed towards his attitude towards Goliath (see vs 36-37, 45). Another important thing that happened during David's wilderness experience is that he had a lot of time to examine his own heart and get things straightened around before this moment. For example, he had been anointed by Samuel to be king over Israel, and here he was still tending sheep.
When the time for the confrontation came, David held onto his faith in spite of those around him; even his own brothers were against him. (vs 28) Satan loves to come and rob us of our faith, any way he can. So not only do we have to hold onto our faith, and fight the good fight, so to speak, but we also have to examine our own hearts and determine if there is something we are holding onto that is keeping us from exercising faith. It could be a buried emotion, a bad experience that we had, or something else that undermines our faith. Any place in our hearts that is not healed and not open to the light of the Lord is an area where the enemy can shipwreck our faith. God is never surprised by what's in our hearts. All He wants to do is forgive us our sins and heal us, but He can't do that until we open ourselves up to Him.
After you've had a chance to look at these questions and think about them, please feel free to comment, either by answering the questions or posting your comments related to this discussion. I look forward to hearing from you!
The scripture reference (from our EHS Workbook)is I Sam 17:26-45. In this famous story, the army of Israel faces the great army of the Philistines. For forty days, Goliath, described as nine feet tall and dressed in powerful weaponry, challenges any Israelite soldier to come out and fight him. When the Israelites saw him, however, "they all ran from him in great fear." The story begins after David hears, for the first time, Goliath's humiliating challenge to Israel's army.
Read I Sam 17:26-45 and answer the questions below.
#1) What question does David ask after hearing Goliath's challenge? (vs 26)
#2) What are some of the challenges, accusations, and messages David is getting from the people around him: From David's family (Vs 28), From Saul (vs 33,38) From Goliath(vs 41-45)
#3) What feelings might you be experiencing if you were David? For example, what feelings might you have towards your sibling? Towards a person in authority over you like Saul? Towards a Goliath.
#4) How does David live out his true self against the powerful forces and pressures that seek to mold him into someone he is not?
DEBRA'S COMMENTS: Before this confrontation with Goliath, David spent many years tending his father's sheep. During his wilderness experience, two things happened. First, David honed his skills as a warrior, protecting his sheep. Second, he came to intimately know his heavenly Father. Both of these things contributed towards his attitude towards Goliath (see vs 36-37, 45). Another important thing that happened during David's wilderness experience is that he had a lot of time to examine his own heart and get things straightened around before this moment. For example, he had been anointed by Samuel to be king over Israel, and here he was still tending sheep.
When the time for the confrontation came, David held onto his faith in spite of those around him; even his own brothers were against him. (vs 28) Satan loves to come and rob us of our faith, any way he can. So not only do we have to hold onto our faith, and fight the good fight, so to speak, but we also have to examine our own hearts and determine if there is something we are holding onto that is keeping us from exercising faith. It could be a buried emotion, a bad experience that we had, or something else that undermines our faith. Any place in our hearts that is not healed and not open to the light of the Lord is an area where the enemy can shipwreck our faith. God is never surprised by what's in our hearts. All He wants to do is forgive us our sins and heal us, but He can't do that until we open ourselves up to Him.
After you've had a chance to look at these questions and think about them, please feel free to comment, either by answering the questions or posting your comments related to this discussion. I look forward to hearing from you!
Monday, August 23, 2010
About to get started again
Hi Ladies!
Just wanted to let everyone know we'll be getting started again with the book club here soon! Debra Macon will be helping me out with posting and discussion. Please let us know if you'll be participating with us! I'll let you know as soon as we start up again!
Have a great day!
Pamela
Just wanted to let everyone know we'll be getting started again with the book club here soon! Debra Macon will be helping me out with posting and discussion. Please let us know if you'll be participating with us! I'll let you know as soon as we start up again!
Have a great day!
Pamela
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Summer
Just wanted to check in with everyone. Are you interested in continuing a study through the summer or are we needing a break? Let me know your thoughts. If we do something over the summer, Debra Macon has agreed to help me with the study and would be doing the posting. But I do want to make sure that we are all in agreement to move forward and not take a break. Please write your comments below! Thanks!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Keep Pluggin Away
Since everyone is at different places in this, please just let me know where you are or if you need anything. If you want me to post more pages that are completed so that you can see them, I'd be happy to do that.
If this is just too overwhelming, please just set it aside and just read the chapters. We aren't doing this to overwhelm everyone but just to look at a different way to study. So if it isn't for you, no worries. We'll do something different next time.
Let me know what you need, what tools, what questions you have or if you have scrapped this all together and are ready to move on to something else.
Where would you like to go now???
If this is just too overwhelming, please just set it aside and just read the chapters. We aren't doing this to overwhelm everyone but just to look at a different way to study. So if it isn't for you, no worries. We'll do something different next time.
Let me know what you need, what tools, what questions you have or if you have scrapped this all together and are ready to move on to something else.
Where would you like to go now???
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Titus 2 & 3
Hi Ladies,
I apologize for not posting more this week. It has been a bit crazy. I will email you a new worksheet (also below) that you can take a look at and work on filling out. It will help you break down the book even a little further. Let me know if you have any questions on it.
Have you marked all your key words in the 3 chapters? Have you found themes for the paragraphs and the book itself? I want to hear how you are doing so please post something, even if it is saying you are behind but working on. I know a couple of you have told me how you are doing but haven't heard from the rest of you. Please let me know.
Have a great day!
I apologize for not posting more this week. It has been a bit crazy. I will email you a new worksheet (also below) that you can take a look at and work on filling out. It will help you break down the book even a little further. Let me know if you have any questions on it.
Have you marked all your key words in the 3 chapters? Have you found themes for the paragraphs and the book itself? I want to hear how you are doing so please post something, even if it is saying you are behind but working on. I know a couple of you have told me how you are doing but haven't heard from the rest of you. Please let me know.
Have a great day!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Continuing On
Hi Ladies!
Not seeing much chatter on here. Let us all know how you are doing, things you have found, etc. What do you think is the theme of Titus? Let me know what you think. I'll give you the answer tomorrow.
Please continue to go through the chapters (2 & 3) and circle key words, find themes for each paragraph and then for the whole book if you haven't already.
I'll give you something new to look at tomorrow. Have a blessed time studying!
Not seeing much chatter on here. Let us all know how you are doing, things you have found, etc. What do you think is the theme of Titus? Let me know what you think. I'll give you the answer tomorrow.
Please continue to go through the chapters (2 & 3) and circle key words, find themes for each paragraph and then for the whole book if you haven't already.
I'll give you something new to look at tomorrow. Have a blessed time studying!
Friday, May 14, 2010
What to do now...
Today or over the weekend I'd like you to begin marking the key words in Titus 1. Please print out the copies of the chapter that I emailed you so that you can mark and write all over it. Here is an example of what I mean by marking key words. Use your colored pencils and as you go through the text...
So every time you see Paul or a reference to Paul, such as I, you will circle those words in purple. Every time you see Titus or a reference to him you will do a red rectangle around the word. Every time you see a conjunction word... but, for, or, so that, for this reason....etc. mark them with three dots above them in green.
And so on.
This is to help you see the meaning or purpose of the scripture more clearly. See point 3 below.
You want to begin a book study by doing an overview. Scripture should always be interpreted according to context. (understanding what the text means)
When you are looking at doing an overview of the scriptures, these are the things you want to pay attention to...
1) What type of literature it is (listed below)
2) Historical Setting - we need to understand the culture it was written in, mark people to identify this better and look at the who, what, when, where, why, how What do you think it is for Titus? The WHO is Paul, the author Titus the recipient and it is about those who contradict (you can mark the who contradict by underlining them in brown 2x)
3) Mark Key Words - this helps unlock the meaning to the text, they are usually repeated words, they are key to understanding the books message, if the word was removed the text would lose it's meaning
4) Lists (key word mapping), there are several lists in Titus. The first one starts in Vs 6 and goes to the end of Vs 9. It starts with 1 - above reproach 2 - the husband of one wife 3 - having children who believe 4 - above reproach 5 - not self- willed .... there are 18 points in this list. See if you can see the rest of them.
5) Theme/s - what is the key theme throughout this book?
6) Purpose - why was this book written?
Books like Song of Solomon, Psalm & Proverbs are poems or poetry.
Joshua & Exodus are narratives.
Kings is historical.
Etc.
OK - I know I have given you a lot of information here. I have already given you the type of literature it is as well as the historical setting. Here is what you can do today and over the weekend:
1) Find explore the type of literature & historical setting for yourself.
2) Find an overall theme for the book of Titus
3) Find themes for each of the paragraphs in Titus 1
4) Mark the words listed on the "marking key words"
If you have more time and want to continue... go ahead and start marking the lists by putting a subscript 1, 2, 3, etc at each point of the list.
We will do the same for Chapter 2 on Monday. I'll send you Chapter 2 & 3 in your email today so you can mark all key words if you want to. Please let me know if you are struggling with anything or need help! Blessings!
So every time you see Paul or a reference to Paul, such as I, you will circle those words in purple. Every time you see Titus or a reference to him you will do a red rectangle around the word. Every time you see a conjunction word... but, for, or, so that, for this reason....etc. mark them with three dots above them in green.And so on.
This is to help you see the meaning or purpose of the scripture more clearly. See point 3 below.
You want to begin a book study by doing an overview. Scripture should always be interpreted according to context. (understanding what the text means)
Context
Con = with
Text = the weave
We start with the overview because it helps with the frame workCon = with
Text = the weave
When you are looking at doing an overview of the scriptures, these are the things you want to pay attention to...
1) What type of literature it is (listed below)
2) Historical Setting - we need to understand the culture it was written in, mark people to identify this better and look at the who, what, when, where, why, how What do you think it is for Titus? The WHO is Paul, the author Titus the recipient and it is about those who contradict (you can mark the who contradict by underlining them in brown 2x)
3) Mark Key Words - this helps unlock the meaning to the text, they are usually repeated words, they are key to understanding the books message, if the word was removed the text would lose it's meaning
4) Lists (key word mapping), there are several lists in Titus. The first one starts in Vs 6 and goes to the end of Vs 9. It starts with 1 - above reproach 2 - the husband of one wife 3 - having children who believe 4 - above reproach 5 - not self- willed .... there are 18 points in this list. See if you can see the rest of them.
5) Theme/s - what is the key theme throughout this book?
6) Purpose - why was this book written?
Types of literature written in the Bible.
- doctrinal
- letter
- poem/poetry
- phrophetic
- biographical
- historical
Books like Song of Solomon, Psalm & Proverbs are poems or poetry.
Joshua & Exodus are narratives.
Kings is historical.
Etc.
OK - I know I have given you a lot of information here. I have already given you the type of literature it is as well as the historical setting. Here is what you can do today and over the weekend:
1) Find explore the type of literature & historical setting for yourself.
2) Find an overall theme for the book of Titus
3) Find themes for each of the paragraphs in Titus 1
4) Mark the words listed on the "marking key words"
If you have more time and want to continue... go ahead and start marking the lists by putting a subscript 1, 2, 3, etc at each point of the list.
We will do the same for Chapter 2 on Monday. I'll send you Chapter 2 & 3 in your email today so you can mark all key words if you want to. Please let me know if you are struggling with anything or need help! Blessings!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Titus 1
For today & Friday ONLY read Titus 1. Do not try to do too much or you will feel overwhelmed and frustrated. Try to do the following:
Jesus bless you as you study His word!
- check your email - I have given you the handouts to help you read, mark and explore these chapters. I have only emailed you Chapter 1 to work on for today and tomorrow. (if you have not received this in your email let me know so I can send it to you.)
- get a set of colored pencils (you'll need these soon)
- begin to see a common theme for this chapter
- begin to recognize a theme for each paragraph... the chapter is broken up into the following paragraphs: Vs 1-3, V 4, Vs 5-9, Vs 10-16 (when a verse number is BOLD, that is the beginning of a new paragraph)
- look for key words (words that are used more than 2 times), you can write these down and soon we will learn to mark them
- Recognize who wrote the book, who the book was written for
- read Titus Chapter 1 as many times as you need to in order to see the things above
Jesus bless you as you study His word!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Titus
Good morning Ladies!
We are going to get started on a new book today. We will be going through Titus "precept" style. We chose this book because it is short and precepts can be pretty intense so we are doing this as a starting point and to help each of us learn how to study the word of God even better. I will give you instructions and also scan in some resources for you as we go.
For today we will ONLY be reading through the book of Titus. There are things I want you to be thinking about as you read it but I don't want you to do anything else but read today. Part of doing precepts is to really read and study the word of God in an "inductive" way. This means to use your Bible as our primary source of study. Please refrain from using commentaries or any other sources to help you understand. We will be looking at ways for you to understand the word on your own. I'll give you more pointers as we go and if at any time, this gets confusing or you get lost at all, please let me know. I'll be there to help you every step of the way.
Precepts Mission: To establish people in God's word
Vision: People living as exemplary followers of Jesus Christ
Goal: to know God
Using the Bible as our primary source for study
There is a lot more information I can give you and I will give you more tomorrow but for today, I just want you to understand what it means to study the word inductively and just begin to ask yourself Who, What, When, Where, Why as you begin to read the book of Titus...
Who wrote the book?
What is the book written about?
When was the book written?
Where was the book written?
Why is the book written?
A couple things you will need... Get a notebook, folder or 3 ring binder so that you can begin to write things down as you study and find the answers. Get a set of colored pencils. Tomorrow we will mostly just be reading again. Friday, we will begin to do some markings. I'll give you a "key" as well as the worksheets with the text.
I hope you enjoy this. Please let me know if you have any questions. May the Lord reveal himself to you in a new way as you begin to study.
Blessings,
Pamela
We are going to get started on a new book today. We will be going through Titus "precept" style. We chose this book because it is short and precepts can be pretty intense so we are doing this as a starting point and to help each of us learn how to study the word of God even better. I will give you instructions and also scan in some resources for you as we go.
For today we will ONLY be reading through the book of Titus. There are things I want you to be thinking about as you read it but I don't want you to do anything else but read today. Part of doing precepts is to really read and study the word of God in an "inductive" way. This means to use your Bible as our primary source of study. Please refrain from using commentaries or any other sources to help you understand. We will be looking at ways for you to understand the word on your own. I'll give you more pointers as we go and if at any time, this gets confusing or you get lost at all, please let me know. I'll be there to help you every step of the way.
Precepts Mission: To establish people in God's word
Vision: People living as exemplary followers of Jesus Christ
- Studying the Bible inductively
- Viewing the world biblically
- serving the church faithfully in the power of the Holy Spirit
Goal: to know God
Using the Bible as our primary source for study
- observation - examining what the text says (ask: Who, What, Where, Why, When)
- Interpretation - understanding what text means
- Application - applying meaning of text to my life 1) change of belief 2) change of behavior
There is a lot more information I can give you and I will give you more tomorrow but for today, I just want you to understand what it means to study the word inductively and just begin to ask yourself Who, What, When, Where, Why as you begin to read the book of Titus...
Who wrote the book?
What is the book written about?
When was the book written?
Where was the book written?
Why is the book written?
A couple things you will need... Get a notebook, folder or 3 ring binder so that you can begin to write things down as you study and find the answers. Get a set of colored pencils. Tomorrow we will mostly just be reading again. Friday, we will begin to do some markings. I'll give you a "key" as well as the worksheets with the text.
I hope you enjoy this. Please let me know if you have any questions. May the Lord reveal himself to you in a new way as you begin to study.
Blessings,
Pamela
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Coffee & Conversation - Postponed
Hi Ladies,
There are only a couple of you that are able to make it tonight so I am going to postpone Coffee & Conversation until Friday, May 7th if that works for everyone. We will meet at my house at 6:30pm. We'll just do snacks and drinks. If anyone would like to bring anything, please feel free. I will have things available too. Hope you have a great couple weeks off!
Blessings,
Pamela
There are only a couple of you that are able to make it tonight so I am going to postpone Coffee & Conversation until Friday, May 7th if that works for everyone. We will meet at my house at 6:30pm. We'll just do snacks and drinks. If anyone would like to bring anything, please feel free. I will have things available too. Hope you have a great couple weeks off!
Blessings,
Pamela
Chapter 10
Last chapter. Short and sweet. Mordecai, in all his humility, faithfulness, loyalty, respect and trust worthiness is considered great. It is like that scripture... if you want to be great in God's kingdom, learn to be the servant of all. Well Mordecai is not only great in God's kingdom but also was honored on the earth. What an amazing blessing to be trusted to be second in command only under the king and to also be written in history as someone with authority and someone who was relied on by the king. I don't think the king even knew he couldn't trust Haman but I believe he knew without a shadow of a doubt that he could trust Mordecai. "...he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews." What an incredible legacy.
Blessings to each of you! I'll be on vacation next week so we will start up something new in the beginning of May. Let me know if you have suggestions... another book of the Bible or a book.
Blessings to each of you! I'll be on vacation next week so we will start up something new in the beginning of May. Let me know if you have suggestions... another book of the Bible or a book.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Coffee and Conversation
Only one very small chapter left. Let me know if it would be possible to get together for conversation on Wednesday or Thursday evening - maybe around 6:30pm. Everyone is welcome to come to my house and we can sit in the backyard and enjoy some snacks and hot beverages. Please let me know which day would work better for you. Have a great Monday!
Esther 9
What an amazing victory again for the Jews! God saw them through every aspect of this trial and took care of them. The Jews took victory over their enemies but did not take the plunder because it was a holy war, a war commanded by the Lord and not for their financial gain. Haman and his sons had been made an example of as a deterrent if anyone would think to attack the Jews again.
Purim became a time of celebration for the Jews instead of a day of destruction for the Jews. This would be a celebration that would never die throughout the ages and would be a reminder for all generations of how the Lord had delivered the Jews. It was made to be a day of generosity and goodwill to all people. What an amazing God we serve!
Purim became a time of celebration for the Jews instead of a day of destruction for the Jews. This would be a celebration that would never die throughout the ages and would be a reminder for all generations of how the Lord had delivered the Jews. It was made to be a day of generosity and goodwill to all people. What an amazing God we serve!
Friday, April 16, 2010
Esther 8
What a beautiful thing. God's favor poured out once again on the Jews through King Xerxes. Mordecai must have stood back and looked at Esther as proud as any father could be for her courage and willingness to sacrifice all for the good of her people. However, the trouble is not yet over. In those days, what the king said was it. They couldn't just change their minds and say we aren't doing that now. So the Jew were still in danger. Esther, once again, pleads with the king begging him to put an end to Haman's plan. Even though Haman was dead - he plan was still very well in tact. The only way to help the Jews was to allow another decree to be written and sent out in the king's name that could supersede the previous one. This one would allow the Jews to fight back, to protect themselves instead of just be lined up and executed with no chance of survival. I love that this was the king idea to have them write this decree. I don't know if that shows that he really cared but it was a decision that HE made. All throughout the rest of the book, I'm not sure he made any good decisions and the majority of them weren't his ideas. Maybe this shows hope for King Xerxes. The Lord must have looked favorably upon that decision.
This chapter also shows us just how organized and together the king's palace is. The secretaries were there ready to get things in order and did the job of writing a new edict very quickly and getting it out by courier prior to the time it would have been too late for action. I can't even imagine the work that went in to this. It wasn't like they had copy machines and FedEx. This was all done swiftly by hand and by horse. Pretty amazing.
I love how this chapter end with Mordecai wearing royal robes... Haman must have rolled over in his grave or on his stick. There was much celebration and joy and many came to be Jews because of it. What a great encouragement for them.
Hope you all have a very blessed weekend! See you again on Monday!
This chapter also shows us just how organized and together the king's palace is. The secretaries were there ready to get things in order and did the job of writing a new edict very quickly and getting it out by courier prior to the time it would have been too late for action. I can't even imagine the work that went in to this. It wasn't like they had copy machines and FedEx. This was all done swiftly by hand and by horse. Pretty amazing.
I love how this chapter end with Mordecai wearing royal robes... Haman must have rolled over in his grave or on his stick. There was much celebration and joy and many came to be Jews because of it. What a great encouragement for them.
Hope you all have a very blessed weekend! See you again on Monday!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Esther 7
Half the kingdom - again we see this being said by the king. It isn't a literal meaning of I will actually give you half the kingdom but it was a "stock phrase used by ancient monarchs to express favor." There's that word again... everywhere around Esther is favor. It's a promise to grant anything that is asked. My footnotes say that "Xerxes knew Esther would not dare approach him unless she had a very important reason. Esther had succeeded in arousing both his admiration and curiosity."
Grant me life and that of my people - Esther's requests were already half granted. Xerxes granted Esther her life when she came before him unannounced and he extended to her the scepter. As for her people, he didn't even know who they were. Slavery didn't have the same "negative connotation" as it does today. So for slavery she wouldn't have risked everything.
Haman nails his own coffin - The word says that pride comes before a fall. Not all people's pride leads to hanging but in this case, Haman's did. Not only did he threaten the queen and her people but then he appears to throw himself at her leading to more of the kings wrath. For a king like Xerxes, an explanation just wouldn't do. He had sealed his coffin before he could even begin to explain. To add insult to very serious injury... he was hung on the gallows that he intended to humiliate the very person who received all the honor he expected. Ouch!
Grant me life and that of my people - Esther's requests were already half granted. Xerxes granted Esther her life when she came before him unannounced and he extended to her the scepter. As for her people, he didn't even know who they were. Slavery didn't have the same "negative connotation" as it does today. So for slavery she wouldn't have risked everything.
Haman nails his own coffin - The word says that pride comes before a fall. Not all people's pride leads to hanging but in this case, Haman's did. Not only did he threaten the queen and her people but then he appears to throw himself at her leading to more of the kings wrath. For a king like Xerxes, an explanation just wouldn't do. He had sealed his coffin before he could even begin to explain. To add insult to very serious injury... he was hung on the gallows that he intended to humiliate the very person who received all the honor he expected. Ouch!
Monday, April 12, 2010
Esther 6
I just have a few question for today.... Why do you think that Mordecai was never honored for saving the king? How do you think you would feel if you were Haman thinking the king was going to honor you and then realize he means to honor the very person you were getting ready to kill? Can you image walking through the streets in shame as the man you hate is sitting on the kings horse being honored? What do you think Haman was thinking when he was told he could not stand against Mordecai or his people? Now off to another banquet!
Haven't heard from many of you.... if you are still with us and studying - let us know! Have a blessed week! See you Wednesday!
Haven't heard from many of you.... if you are still with us and studying - let us know! Have a blessed week! See you Wednesday!
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