THE FINGERPRINTS OF GOD (Bible Study That Transforms)
CHUCK SWINDOLL SAID:
THOUGH GOD IS NOT MENTIONED IN THE BOOK OF ESTHER
HIS FINGERPRINTS ARE EVERYWHERE
YES.
THE BIBLE IS NOT ABOUT US, BUT ABOUT GOD.
AND WE MUST BE ALERT TO SEE HIS FINGERPRINTS EVERYWHERE.
IN SCRIPTURE
AS IN OUR WORLD.
In giving me four grand-daughters from four daughters in one summer
in the intricacy of everything He creates
In being fearfully and wonderfully made
In every snowflake (Actual snowflake magnified)
In every storm
This week in our series on Bible study that transforms I want you to be alert to the fingerprints of God in the book of Esther. When we read the Bible as it is meant to be read, with God at the center instead of with us at the center, we read it differently. In the same way, when we look at life with God at the center, and not us at the center, everything changes.
This week be alert to the fingerprints of God in Esther in our study, but also in your life. Take a walk and really see the fingerprints of God in creation. Watch the people in your life and be alert to see the fingerprints of God in them. And even in the hard things in your life this week, be alert to see how God is in them, how He is with you, and how that helps you to trust Him.
It’s a shorter lesson because many of you will be traveling this Labor Day Weekend.
Sunday/Monday Icebreakers
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
2. Share a few ways you have seen the fingerprints of God this summer:
A. In the beauty of the earth
B. In the joy of human love
C. In the storms of life
Monday-Wednesday: Bible Study
If we make Mordecai the hero in Esther, we have to put up with some big chinks in his armor. In fact, we might be tempted to put a spin on his behavior that is a distortion of reality. He’s lived in Susa for most of his life, and no one even knew he was a Jew. What does this tell you?
Some say, for example, that it was noble for him to refuse to bow to Haman. Yet we are told to show respect for those in authority because God instituted the office. Though it is true there are times we are called to disobey because they are asking us to disobey God, it is also true that we are to pray for them and show respect for the office — for it was instigated by God. Daniel models bowing to a king and yet also, when asked to disobey God, respectfully refusing.
There was an ancient feud between the Agagites and the Jews (note how often it is mentioned that Haman is an Agagite and that Mordecai is a Jew) and most commentators agree it was the feud that aggravated Mordecai’s pride and kept him from bowing. It was Mordecai that caused everything to come crashing down — so it takes a lot of stretching to make him the hero of the book of Esther.
The hero of this story is not Mordecai but God. He is with Mordecai and uses him, not because Mordecai is wonderful, but because God is a God of mercy and grace and faithfulness.
There is so much we cannot cover, for this is not meant to be a study of Esther, but a study showing you how to study the Bible in a way that transforms. I am going to show you glimpses of the real Hero.
3. Read Esther 2:19-23
A. What fingerprints of God can you see in this account that prepared Mordecai to have favor with the king?
B. What does it mean to you that God was with Mordecai and was preparing to use him?
4: Observe these “fingerprints of God”
Read Esther 3:7
It is helpful to know that the roll of the dice caused the date for the planned holocaust to be a long way 0ff — in fact the longest possible. This gave time for the Jews to prepare, to become aware of who there real enemies were, and to fast and to pray.
5. Read Esther 4 s l o w l y!
A. When Mordecai tells Esther to go and tell Xerxes that she has hidden from him that she is a Jew, why is she afraid to do it, according to verse 11. (Find at least two reasons)
B. Then God quickens Mordecai in a very persuasive speech. He is using Mordecai, not because Mordecai is a hero, but because God cares for His people. Read it in The Message and then find all the persuasive points that you can.
When Hathach told Mordecai what Esther had said, Mordecai sent her this message: “Don’t think that just because you live in the king’s house you’re the one Jew who will get out of this alive. If you persist in staying silent at a time like this, help and deliverance will arrive for the Jews from someplace else; but you and your family will be wiped out. Who knows? Maybe you were made queen for just such a time as this.”
What persuasive points do you see?
6. How does Esther respond? What transformation do you see?
7. In Esther 5:9, how does God turn the sin of each of these men into His purpose to save His people?
8. In Esther 5:14, how does God use Zeresh to bring down Haman and his descendants?
9. In Esther 6:1, how do you see the fingerprints of God?
10. What have you learned about the importance of putting God at the center of your Bible reading?
11. How have you seen the fingerprints of God in your week thus far? (In creation, life, or Scripture) Share two ways.
Thursday/Friday: Read the following essay at this link and share your thoughts: Link
Saturday:
12. What is your take-a-way and why?
I love the picture of Sadie and Mia…the 4 granddaughters all one summer…so amazing, so God. It is the same for me with Creation and my life, as with Scripture, when I SLOW down, when I drop my agenda…I see Him, and He is everywhere. And just as He gave the abundance of children, He is so lavish with His fingerprints. As I open my eyes, my ears..I just see more and more, more than I can even take in. He over-doses us with Him, surrounds me, hems me in. It is as if, in this world, whatever the circumstance of my life, if I can slow down to see Him, hear Him–I can still feel safely held by Him, because He is all around. His presence surrounds me.
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
The very detail that God puts into everything He has created. Beautiful!
2. Share a few ways you have seen the fingerprints of God this summer:
This summer I have learned through this study that God is not just relevent in the significant times; births, death,weddings & funerals , when we face certain challenges. He is relevent in the day to day. When only the ordinary is happening.
I needed to know that because I feel as though I’m stuck . I can’t seem to move in my Spirit,my job, my finances and where I live. I needed to know He is still moving in my life.
A. In the beauty of the earth
I have place where I like to walk in the mornings. I am learning not to be in a hurry to get the walk done but to enjoy the nature around me.
B. In the joy of human love
My grand-son , I love him so much.
C. In the storms of life
He has been in my storms, just needed to be reminded.
Laura Marie, that is an excellent point about God being relevant in the ordinary.
Laura Marie, I totally did not finish reading your comment. I saw something I wanted to comment on and then did not go back. I do that all the time. I am sorry that there is so much difficulty for you right now and I am praying.
Praying for peace and contentment for you Laura, for you to feel the freedom that is your in Christ!
Father — this is huge for Laura Marie — and I do pray You will take her higher — even if her job and her finances and her location stay the same — I pray she will experience a deeper intimacy with You even in these next few months — and that will color all the rest. If it is Your good will to change any of the circumstances, I ask for that as well.
In Jesus Name
Excited to see what He will do, Laura Marie.
Laura Marie-
I had to respond and encourage you! About 5 years ago I was in a very rough place! Just thinking about it reminds me how dark and stressful those times were. Money, marital stressors, work that was killing me, a house that wouldn’t sell….it sort of sounds like what you may be going through. Anyway I heard an amazing sermon from an unlikely source….it was about Esther….and I was so blessed to hear it being presented as God being the hero! That gave me hope in the desert and I will always remember that. The stress and loneliness that can come from times such as these (when nothing seems to go our way) can truly be turned into something beautiful. Jesus did meet me….my circumstances didn’t change for quite a while….but as trite as it sounds He was soooo Alive to me then. I mentioned about how I remember those dark days….but honestly when I remember them I reminisce about all the praying I did and it is very clear to me now that He was a great shield to me…in retrospect I see how the whirlwinds were really only around me….God was my shelter! I continue to rely on the Lord but it is so true that when you see how weak you are…that is when Jesus can finally show you how strong He is! (II Corin. 12:9)
Sarah, I love this and can so identify with it….”it is so true that when you see how weak you are…that is when Jesus can finally show you how strong He is! (II Corin. 12:9″
Sarah P.
Your post is rich, I agree so much with your last sentence. I think sometimes he allows us to see that we are at the end of ourselves so that we might know without a doubt that it was Him who rescued us.
I hope to read more from you Sarah
Laura Marie,
This is such a good observation from you, “that God is not just relevant in the significant times; births, death, wedding & funerals, when we face certain challenges. He is relevant in the day to day. When only the ordinary is happening”.
I needed to be reminded of this, b/c most of my life is just that – ordinary! And I can miss Him in the mundane, daily things – laundry, cleaning, etc… I think the danger is that we sometimes think that we have to be having some kind of extraordinary day in order to experience God.
Thank you everyone for you words of encouragement!
Sunday in church my Pastor gave an eye opening message on how we can make those “landmarks” in Christ just common places. He used the enology of his recent trip to Europe with his wife for a 25th wedding anniversary. His scripture reference is from 1 John 3:2.
He mentioned about being in places like Greece, Turkey, Italy and seeing these ruins which have been there for centuries , and seeing graffiti drawn on them. Ancient symbols of another time, landmarks.
How often do we take for granted the Presence of a Living God working in our lives and become so familiar with it that He has become common?
I got a revealation about my current circumstance. I’m not stuck. He is waiting for me.
This is wonderful, Laura Marie!
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
That is such a beautiful picture of your granddaughters, Dee.
One of the things God is teaching me is that God is at the center of life, not me. As you say, “when we look at life with God at the center, and not us at the center, everything changes.” I need to keep reminding myself of this; expecting life to be about me is my default mode of operating. I have to keep humbling myself and turning back to God and allow Him to be at the center.
Yes, Diane — it is my default mode too, the default mode of every human heart — but we can help each other remember!
Any September birthday’s? Anne, My daughter will be here Oct 1st to 11th…thanks for thinking of me.
Sunday/Monday Icebreakers
1. What stands out to you from the above and why? – I love all the pictures that were posted. The granddaughters are so cute and looking up at something that is making them smile. Is it their grandma, their mom or dad or just something that makes them happy. God is around in everything from happy little girls to pretty sunflowers and snowflakes to devastating pictures of storms. If we truly look and slow down our pace and take time to look we will find God in all things.
2. Share a few ways you have seen the fingerprints of God this summer:
A. In the beauty of the earth – As I sit in my sunroom with my IPad on my lap and my husband playing Christian music on his guitar I watch the birds flying from the neighbors roof to various branches in my trees. I see the Hummingbirds race to the feeder and fly away again after being refreshed. This beauty and peacefulness can only be made by God and God alone for us to enjoy.
B. In the joy of human love – Having another day on this earth to try and live the life God has set before me. To be what He wants me to be and what He has created me to be. To see the love my husband has as he praises the Lord while playing his guitar. For the love my husband shows to me and our kids and grandkids. I can see when someone hurts one of us how upset it makes him. He doesn’t like to see us hurting it just tears him up.
C. In the storms of life – Oh the storms how there are many that are close to me right now. A friend of mine who watched my boys grow up at the YMCA just found out her second baby that will be here in January has medical issues. She is not saying to much at this time only because it’s hard for her to absorb right now but she is asking for prayers for the baby which I know God can heal him in her womb before he is even born. In my own sons life who doesn’t even know if his marriage is still intact and if the baby, who may have downs, his wife is carrying is his and because she has come back to Indiana i am know having to fly out there on the 19th to be there for him after his next back procedure to help where I can. What a mess we are facing right now and I’m trying hard to see God in this storm but oh how hard this is. I’m trying hard to stay open about it all in case they restore their marriage and I’m sitting here trying to find the good in it all and praying all works out in the way God wants it to.
Julie, I am praying for your son and his wife. I see what you mean about how hard it is to see His footprints now. We will pray.
I will pray too Julie, for your son & his wife & for your friend from the Y
Praying for your son and friend too, Julie…so thankful you have such a wonderful husband.
I like the new edit, David..Thank you!
This is a beautiful post and we pray with you for your son and his wife…and to see God in this storm.
Oh Julie,
My heart goes out to you for your son and this situation. This is so terribly hard, and I’m praying for all of you. (and for your friend’s baby)
Julie I am praying for you. You are wise to mind what you say. If your son and his wife work things out you’ll be glad that you did.
1. The very first thing that stood out to me this morning was the picture of the fierce and terrible storm. Can we see His fingerprints there? I hesitate to say yes for it may be presumptuous on my part since I have not yet been in a storm that terrible. But maybe later one could look back and see those fingerprints?
All of the pictures are great. Mia and Sadie are so precious! I always enjoy their pictures and they are growing so fast!
2. Share a few ways you have seen the fingerprints of God this summer: I have not slept well for some time. I ended up going for a sleep study last Monday. I thought it was a waste of time and money but prayed that if there was an issue it would show up. I don’t have the results yet but when the nurse came in the morning to wake me up she said that she could understand why I don’t sleep. I suspected that my throat was closing but blew it off. So what I see is that God has led me into provision for something that I need when I really was unaware.
Keller’s definition of prosperity in last week’s sermon was excellent. Nothing is ever wasted. I see this blessing all over my life.
A. In the beauty of the earth: There is beauty in the earth at every turn. This is the place that I most often see His fingerprints. The heart of a loving dog comes to mind right now. They are so amazing! Their love is unconditional and hearts are loyal no matter what. They love to work and take their perceived jobs very seriously. My husband loved our previous dog and did not want the one we have now. He was not ready and she can be very annoying at times, but she has won him over. He is now her greatest advocate (because sometimes, she needs one). She has been priceless for my youngest in all that he has been through. The other evening when he took her out she kept him from stepping on a copperhead. How does she know? I was talking with a man the other day who had a dog and he was sure this dog had never seen a snake. Yet when the dog encountered a snake it knew there was danger. In this I see God’s fingerprint.
B. In the joy of human love: This area is my greatest weakness and failure. I don’t seem to be able to express love and often spoil my relationships. My oldest has a very loving heart and when he was little we had a wonderful relationship. When he went through that push away from Mom as a teen it was hard to get back to where we were. The time that he lived here before leaving again was very helpful and I can see God in that. The other day he sent me an email, I don’t remember what it was about but he signed it Love, Alfred. That looked like gold lettering to me. I remember the day God showed me the spider web that never lets go. He has him.
C. In the storms of life: Sometimes, I can only see Him in the storms when I look back. All I can do in the storm is trust. I always remember Ann Voskamp’s reference to the ‘ugly beautiful’ that I must give thanks for. I give thanks because I know He is good and He loves me, though I can’t see.
Anne, your seeing Gods fingerprints in the instincts he gave the dog reminded me of this from Job 39:
13 “The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully,
though they cannot compare
with the wings and feathers of the stork.
14 She lays her eggs on the ground
and lets them warm in the sand,
15 unmindful that a foot may crush them,
that some wild animal may trample them.
16 She treats her young harshly, as if they were not hers;
she cares not that her labor was in vain,
17 for God did not endow her with wisdom
or give her a share of good sense.
18 Yet when she spreads her feathers to run,
she laughs at horse and rider.
You always help us see the beauty of the earth.
Love the Love Alfred.
Anne,
I smiled when I read this, “…he signed it Love,Alfred. That looked like gold lettering to me.” I can almost sense what you were feeling.
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
I thought as I read how unnatural it is to remove ourselves as the being at the center, it takes time and maturity to stop demanding at we be at the center.
I love the snowflake picture, that God makes something so temporary, something that most often never even is seen, so very intricate & beautiful.
2. Share a few ways you have seen the fingerprints of God this summer:
A. In the beauty of the earth
I have seen the sky looking so stunningly beautiful, putting on different colors and moods, Bill & I saw a rainbow on the way home from on of our counseling sessions that seemed to stretch across the entire horizon.
I have seen so many butterflies this summer, again remarkable that God would put such effort into the beauty of such a short lived fragile creature.
B. In the joy of human love
I am relishing the love of my husband & the good gift he is to me, he has been so supportive and has said some things that have sunk a bit of healing down into my soul.
C. In the storms of life
This is harder to answer, but I have seen that even though I hide from Him, even though I run away from spending time with Him sometimes, He never ceases to keep calling to me I feel really humbled when I think of that.
Chris, your attention to God’s care for the small, short lived things that mostly go unnoticed really tells of His character. Loving creator.
Chris, I love that about God too…your last sentence.
What stands out to me is how I need to see God’s hand even in the hard things in life. I’m still having a hard time with depression, mostly the changes that I need to make. I have to admit that I am getting to the point of totally giving up trying to change. I’m having difficulty seeing God’s hand, but I do know that it is there.
We are taking our time going back to MI from GA right now we are in WV enjoying the fingerprints of God in the beauty and majesty of the mountains.
Rebecca, I am still not able to send or receive email until I get back home.
Lord, I lift up DAWN MS and ask for a fresh wind from your Spirit to give her hope
Amen Dee. Dawn, I am sorry I missed this but I am praying for you now.
Lord, I pray that You will come alongside Dawn now. May she feel the warm glow of Your love for her. You know her intimately and I pray that You will speak to her now in a way most precious to her. Help her to focus on You and forget for now the pressures and things that need to change. May Your love and glory overshadow all of these things. In Jesus name, amen.
Love you Dawn and will continue to pray.
Dawn–I love that while you are so honest about the difficulty seeing His hand, you do not doubt that it is there. I have seen in you a continual “speaking truth to your soul” even when it is so hard. I am praying for the depression to lift, and for you to feel hope. Remember the ‘door of hope’–He will bring beauty out of ashes.
1. The hand of God in His careful crafting of the beautiful sweet faces of Sadie and Mia.
-The fingerprints of God in the relationship He is weaving between them. God’s design of man is the most miraculous if all.- for we are made in his image.
-The picture of the snowflake is amazing. It shows God is the master artist designer. He is my favorite artist. :-)
I also love how Kellers sermon from last week ties into this week. The Bible is about God and it is alive and powerful, and when I prayerfully go into reading it with an expectation of seeing Him He quickens me..and I love it when a verse or a word
Quickens me and sets my heart on fire..I love love how The word is alive.
2. A. I hear God’s fingerprints in the sound of the birds, in the wind blowing through the trees. THERE IS BEAUTY ALL AROUND. HIS HANDIWORK EVEN IN A SIMPLE BLADE OF GRASS.
- I see God’s fingerprints in a thoughtful gift from a friend. In the covering and love of my husband. In the relationships here on the bog. :-) when my boys look at me and smile and i can see their love for me in their eyes-this is the hand of God.
-okay, so this is going to make me cry! Sunday I got into Job-:-) It seemed God wasnt providing for Job in his suffering, but he was. In bigger ways than if he didnt suffer. I have seen in my own life this same fingerprint of God in my suffering.
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
“In the same way, when we look at life with God at the center, and not us at the center, everything changes.”
I wonder how God is the center of these two situations?
I am still struggling with my daughter. She is very difficult as you all well know. She wants to be an adult but struggles in how to do that. She is impatient. I sometimes lose my cool; it’s not pretty. She pushes me to the edge. I wonder how to see God in her and that situation. My friend tells me we learn from our children and I remember studying in this place something to that effect; we are refined to perfection by the end.
I wonder how to see God in my moms failing health too. I suppose I am talking to her more and that is good. Maybe she is showing me how to grow old gracefully. I don’t know.
Laura, so much you are dealing with…praying for your daughter and mother and your strength.
Oh what I wouldn’t give to have Kendra able to want her own life..away from mom. But she is mentally delayed..like a child and siezures and depends on me for dressing, bathroom, showers, eating, sleeping with her (because of siezures) and just wanting me with her all the time. I get away once a week for about 2 hours for bible study. I don’t mean to hurt you, but be thankful she has her own spirit and wants her independence. Hopefully she will be able to have her own life one day…maybe even get married and you won’t have to worry if she will be okay when you are old or gone. Love you:)
Thanks Joyce, you are right. I hope one day she realizes how trying she has been to our family. I would like her to see that she needs to be nicer to us. You are a saint to be able to do all that for Kendra and still keep your head clear. I need constant breaks from Sarah because it is always something stressful. I’m glad you get to get away for a couple of hours. Sarah has no idea how she affects the family. I told her she needed to find another place to live because she was causing too much stress on us, but she won’t leave! Hopefully we will come to a happy place soon!
I pray so….I’m sorry if I was too harsh.
Joyce, I’m sure we all agree you could never sound harsh! I appreciate what you shared with Laura too, it helps me to keep things in perspective. You have such a heavy load, Joyce. I don’t know anyone who could handle what all you do with such grace and compassion.
2. Share a few ways you have seen the fingerprints of God this summer:
A. In the beauty of the earth
Yellowstone – great prismatic hot spring:
http://www.google.com/search?q=great+prismatic+hot+spring&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari#miuv=0
Plus many other beautiful landscapes, animals, and people I saw on my trek across the northwest this last summer!
B. In the joy of human love
My nephews (2) weddings and my sons love for his girlfriend. It is sweet.
C. In the storms of life
As I hit each storm God seems near. I am calm and have faith even when I don’t really feel that He is with me. It turns out ok in the end. There is a blessed assurance. As I look around during the storm I see things that help me focus on being calm. The silence of the day, a bird chirping, the cats sleeping, etc. It helps to remind me in the storm that “life goes on” even when the storm is seemingly taking over.
I like this Laura-dancer “As I look around during the storm I see things that help me focus on being calm.”–that is REALLY good. A good reminder to slow down, even in the midst of the storm, and see Him in nature, there is such a calmness that brings to our soul
3. Read Esther 2:19-23
A. What fingerprints of God can you see in this account that prepared Mordecai to have favor with the king?
He was sitting at the gate at just the right moment. Esther was the queen and had some influence over the king.
B. What does it mean to you that God was with Mordecai and was preparing to use him?
Well, God has asked regular people over the years to handle situations where they thought they weren’t “qualified.” I’m thinking of Moses here. He was to be a leader who spoke to the Israelites and brought them out of their terrible trials, but he was a stutterer. Mordecai held a position in the king’s court that could potentially influence the king. Because he was in close proximity to the king, he could win his favor and (without him knowing) lead the king to make decisions that normally wouldn’t have been made. God was using mordecai, and esther, for that matter, to once again save His people.
I don’t know if I really answered the question though. To me, it is a story of God orchestrating the whole scenario so He could save His people. I could take this story and use it in my life. It shows me how complete hopeless situations can be used for good. It reminds me of the times in the Bible when wars were occurring and a small little army overthrows a large forceful army because of Gods hand. It is surreal, but God is at work.
You hit the heart of Esther, Laura-dancer.
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
The moment to read the title for this week this is the song that came into my head:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gvf8ZRdO-o
It’s one of my favourite songs by Stephen Curtis Chapman. He wrote it for his daughter when she was a young teen, I believe. :)
I love the picture of your granddaughters, so sweet! Oh and the baby feet. I LOVE baby feet. :)
2. Share a few ways you have seen the fingerprints of God this summer:
A. In the beauty of the earth:
Oh how much I have see God in creation this summer! Through a rainbow, through the different shapes of the clouds, though the lightening, the stillness of the water in the lake, sunsets especially just last night as I was driving home the sunset made a bunch of clouds all pink! It was so beautiful!
B. In the joy of human love
My husband’s unconditional love, and constantly telling me how beautiful I am. :) Sure, our marriage has its issues, but Jeff truly is a gift from God.
Also this summer I’ve been becoming very close to a friend of mine from church. We know we can trust each other and we have been opening up to each other. We’ve had similiar struggles so we understand each other. Her love is so encouraging to me. She is truly an answer to prayer.
C. In the storms of life
Though it’s better there are still some days my depression/anxiety is very difficult. Last week was one of those times. Yet even in those times I can feel God’s hand on my life, reminding me that He is there and how much He loves me.
Nice song, Krista. Steven Curtis Chapman is so real. He always touches my heart. Beautiful pictures too.
Sorry you had a rough week. Hugs! Isn’t it good to know that God is always there for you?
Yes, it is VERY good. :)
I’m glad you brought us up listening to Steven Curtis Chapman, Mom. He is truly a man of God. I’m so glad I finally got to see him in concert, and actually talk with him briefly afterwards, in 2011. He such a down to earth guy. :)
I’ve had that one in my head this whole study too! I so admire his heart for the orphan, he truly has a humble heart that seeks to bring Him glory
Yes, he certainly does. I wish so much I could adopt someday, God-willing. Seeing him & his wife, their love for orphans, makes my desire to adopt even stronger.
Krista I feel like I know you a little better after reading your post, I love that you LOVE baby feet, that you see your husband as a gift from God, and that God has answered your prayer for a friend.
Thank you Chris, that warmed my heart. :)
Okay, I got a little ahead of myself and read the article. I won’t get into details right now, but it definitely touched my heart. A very good reminder, I needed to read that. :)
Krista, I loved that song you shared…thank you, because it reminds me that God made Kendra just like she is and he will take care of her. It’s daily; trusting in him and giving her over to him…everyday. Why is it so hard, then? I hurt all over with this arthrits and back and knee pains, but if I didn’t have to keep on keeping on for Kendra, I may be much worse, so it is a blessing, that I have to keep doing things for her. I just get so tired and just want to lie down and dream of heaven.
Praying for your anxiety and depression, Krista. I am on anti-depressents also, but don’t seem to help, and the Dr. just increased them a couple weeks ago.
praying for you both too Krista and Joyce. I personally admire those who can humbly seek help through medicine when needed. I believe there are effects from the Fall that God can use medicine to aid, and anti-depressants can be a great help–but it is so tricky to find the right one and dosage. Praying for you both in that and thank you for your humility and honesty. I think it’s a help to others to know it’s “OK” and something God definitely can use to bring healing. (sorry–soapbox alert ;)
Thank you Elizabeth, your words are encouraging to me. :)
Praying for you both Joyce and Krista.
Thank you Joyce & Anne.
Joyce, I’m guessing Kendra is your daughter? Sorry I don’t know the background story. As for my depression medication it seems to be helping. Some days I wonder. But it is definitely helping me more then the first kind I was on. It still bothers me the amount of medication I’m on, but I just try to deal with it, take it, and go on with my day. I try not to think about it too much. I keep hoping I will be able to decrease it someday.
I will be praying for you.
I’m so thankful the medicine is helping you, Krista — I see it as a gift from God.
Yes, I guess it can be a gift from God, can’t it? One of my pastors, Laura, keeps reminding me that if I had diabetes or some other kind of illness I wouldn’t hesitate to take medication to help. Depression is an illness and I need medication to help me. Maybe it will be life-long (I hope not, but I realize it is possible) and there is nothing wrong with getting the help I need for it, medication being one of them.
Yes, she is my daughter…she is 25. I’ve been on so many different anti-depressants over the years, I can’t even remember all of them. The Dr. keeps trying diffent ones. Praying for you, Krista
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?Always love the reminder that God is the center…sometimes I drift and I am the center…wish I would stop that completely!! :)
2. Share a few ways you have seen the fingerprints of God this summer:
A. In the beauty of the earth – Oh the ocean and its mystery. Dolphins! Even going to the aquarium seeing the amazing creation we would otherwise miss because of the oceans vastness.
B. In the joy of human love – Oh my time with my husband and how he loves me well. Then the love our family demonstrates for our little guy accepting him as our own.
C. In the storms of life – How God loves me so much He will not allow me to stay the same and in the fire of trial His beautiful hand controls it perfectly to draw me out. Less of me more of HIM. I was in a real crisis of faith and needing desperate direction, God heard, gave many answers through His word, prayer, and people. Then when I finally felt His deep peace in this trial He gave another rainbow in the sky!! So meaningful to me because when this trial all started He did the same thing then too. I am not signs girl but this was extravagant ! He is amazing. His fingerprints everywhere!
this is beautiful Angela, “How God loves me so much He will not allow me to stay the same”–what great truth. And yes, the way your family has loved this little boy so desperately needy for love and family, reflects God’s heart so well
3A. What fingerprints of God can you see in this account that prepared Mordecai to have favor with the king? He happened to learn of a plot to assassinate the king and reported it to the king through Esther who happened to be queen. The plot was proven true and the culprits hanged. Mordecai was not recognized at that time but the event was recorded. This is another fingerprint of God for the appropriate time came later.
B. What does it mean to you that God was with Mordecai and was preparing to use him? God did not use Mordecai because he was very, very good. He used Mordecai because He loved the Jews and because of His covenant with Abraham because they could have been a people no more because of this edict. Mordecai was loved also but it was not only about him or Esther or even the Jews. It was about God and His character.
I started to say that Mordecai could have been the cause of the edict because of his friction with Haman but that could only be if it was known that he was a Jew. But I think it is possible that Mordecai was known as a Jew but that he was not connected with Esther because so many women were taken. Records might not have been kept of all the women taken. It is possible that he had trusted sources at the gate who would give him information about her without revealing her connection to him.
It means a great deal to me that God was able to protect His people through a broken and sinful man because it means that maybe my broken sinfulness will not stop His purposes. It would mean even more to me if we knew that Mordecai could have brought about such danger for a people because of his own sinful, bigoted heart. But I know that God rescues the broken and contrite heart for I have experienced this many times.
Oh, I just read chapter 3. Mordecai WAS the cause. Wow. I never saw that before.
YES! YOU SAW IT. WE MISS IT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT HE WAS A HERO.
5A. Esther is afraid for her life because of the law and because she must reveal that she is Jewish.
B. The first persuasive point I see is his faith in God. It seems to be new or at least inconsistent with Mordecai’s former behavior. He seems to hone in on just what Esther is thinking namely that she can be saved because of her position and the fact that no one knows she is Jewish. Then I love his pure faith in what he says next, God will deliver the Jews by some other means even if she remains silent. He points out that she has no hope of saving herself or her family by her silence. His last sentence is like a wake up call. This had to be the moment when they both put it all together!
6. Esther responds in faith. She calls for a fast and even though God is not mentioned, this is a cry to Him. Her transformation is out of fear, possibly because she now sees God’s fingerprints. She accepts the possibility of her own death.
7. In Esther 5:9, how does God turn the sin of each of these men into His purpose to save His people? Mordecai’s bigotry enrages Haman and Haman’s pride blinds him to Esther’s trap.
8. In Esther 5:14, how does God use Zeresh to bring down Haman and his descendants? Zeresh encouraged him to build a gallows and ask the king to hang Mordecai on it. It was there and ready while the king’s anger was hot and Haman was hanged on it. His 10 sons were later killed by the Jews and their bodies hung on the same gallows.
9. In Esther 6:1, how do you see the fingerprints of God? In 6:1 I see God’s fingerprints in the fact that the king could not sleep. He ordered the daily record books read to him. I used to think this seemed like dry reading but I guess for the king it was like a rich man counting his money. The forgotten account of Mordecai’s deed was remembered at just the right time to give him favor with the king and to inflame Haman’s pride.
10. What have you learned about the importance of putting God at the center of your Bible reading? Unless God is glorified, there is no point. If He is glorified I am drawn to Him, I know Him better and my faith grows. This reminds me of the verse in Hebrews that says: Without faith it is impossible to please Him. It is not our reading that pleases Him, it is the resulting faith. With God at the center, the flame is fanned and we burn with hunger for more.
Love your careful reading.
Mordecai was a man like us — afraid, cowardly, proud — and yet capable of faith!
Yes! And it seems that his faith came from God along with his eloquent argument at just the right time.
4: Observe these “fingerprints of God”
Read Esther 3:7
There was time for the Jews to escape. Esther was queen (how fortunate for mordecai), and the king was eventually shown that mordecai had saved the kings life. He felt indebted.
They were actually told what was to happen before it did. They were warned.
Good.
Woke up at 4:00 a.m. to my sweet 8 year old throwing up. Didn’t make it to the bathroom either-poor guy. :( Looks like the stomach flu has hit our home. :(
3. Read Esther 2:19-23
A. What fingerprints of God can you see in this account that prepared Mordecai to have favor with the king?
God had Mordecai sitting at the right place at the right time to hear the King’s officers plotting to kill him.
B. What does it mean to you that God was with Mordecai and was preparing to use him?
Mordecai had huge kinks in his armor-This is so like God! He uses those with flaws who stumble in their faith to show me He is with me and to help me see His great mercy and love despite my flaws and that he can use my flaws to accomplish his redemptive purposes in my life and in other lives.
So sorry Rebecca. Icky stomach flu. Praying for all of you.
Yes, Rebecca — so sorry.
Oh Rebecca,
That’s a “rude awakening” – praying for you all! (and Lysol, Lysol, Lysol…it helps!)
I tried taking that when I had the stomach flu once, it just made me sicker.
praying continually dear one! praying for mercy on you all!
Praying for your son! I hope it is just a short stomach bug.
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
The reminder, again, to be God-centered, and not self-centered. To see His fingerprints in the Bible and in life. I so need this. From a very young age, I was so self-centered. I always remembered Chuck Swindoll, in one of his messages, talking about hypocrisy and it’s root meanings in classic Greek. It can mean acting or pretending, as in a stage actor. But he said something like some people can go through life as if they are an actor on a stage, and everything is all about them, and they are at the center.
I’ve been taught in Bible studies that the Bible is a “love letter” and that I could say a love letter written to ME. Or, God did create such a beautiful world for us to enjoy, but I can twist that as if His creation is all for ME. It is just so easy to get everything backwards and put myself at the center, put myself on the “stage of life”. I think this is at the very heart of what Satan tempted Eve with – “and you will be like God”.
I love the expressions on the faces of Sadie and Mia and their holding hands – precious!
I also love sunflowers – how do they ‘know’ to turn their faces toward the sun? It’s Him.
This post is excellent Susan, may we like the be like the sunflowers and seek to keep our faces in the Light, turned toward Christ
Thanks so much ladies. Jake has been throwing up about every 30-45 minutes-waiting for the store to open so I can get some Popsicles and sprite..Susan, great reminder! I need to get some Lysol too! :)
Aww, poor guy. :( Ginger ale (make sure it has real ginger in it) seems to help when we have the flu bug here.
Poor Jake & poor Rebecca, Gatorade is good too, I hope the rest of you are spared.
2. Share a few ways you have seen the fingerprints of God this summer:
A. In the beauty of the earth
It is amazing to me that there is such beauty in the earth itself—literally, even a grain of dirt is unlike the one next to it. That we can witness a flower that was once a seed, that He did all of this, for US. Just because He loves us. And yes, it all points to His creativity, His perfection, His concern for the smallest of details. And so it is in my life—He notices all. God has “an eye for detail”—He cares about each tiny speck in my life, and will use each grain to reflect Him, as I surrender all for His purpose.
B. In the joy of human love
I have struggled much of my life with women friendships. Getting too dependent, hurting feelings, feeling rejected or inadequate. But recently, the Lord has been so gracious to grant me a few dear friends and the fellowship is unlike anything I have ever known. I prayed last night for them and considered what is different now—and I think it is that when you find friends who are more concerned with growing in Christ, with drawing near to Him themselves, than they are with approval—it changes everything. There can be transparency, truth-telling, forgiveness. Jealousy is absent when we are all desiring to simply be more like Christ rather than approved by man. And to find that, even for a brief time in my life, is a gift only He can give.
C. In the storms of life
I hope that I am beginning to see that as I desire more and more of Him, my suffering only drives me deeper, closer to Him. As Job says, there are things “too wonderful for me to know” and I can either cling to my world and things the way I want them, and become bitter and angry in my suffering. Or I can go to His Word again and again, remember Who He is, He is good. He loves me. He hates the suffering too, and He will not leave me. The suffering is NOT His absence. He told me there would be suffering, so that is one way I can know it doesn’t mean He’s not here. If I have read and listened, He told me this would happen. But He also promised He would be with me. When,(not “if”) I walk through the fires, the flames will not set me ablaze—because He is God. I admit when the storms are the worst, I still want to get out—but not without Him, and I know even as the waves are crashing, He’s holding me, I won’t drown. He already took care of that. And there is no way He doesn’t care or doesn’t love me enough—He proved that on the Cross. But the worst will pass, it always does, and He lets me catch my breath, and He says ‘see, I am still holding you, you’re OK, I’ve got you’. And I think there is a sweetness then, He knows I can trust Him, because He has put His Spirit within me, and in a way, it becomes a privilege, to go trough the terrifying storms, with the intimacy of Him holding me.
Oh no! this became my sleep-deprived journal-sorry, I’ll stop here ;0
Can’t tell you how this blesses me!
Oh Elizabeth, your words truly touched my heart. And I have to say I’m soo glad you have found some godly female friends. I’ve also struggled with close female friends so I know how you feel.
So loved this, Elizabeth:)
Tears Elizabeth, tears! This so blessed me..Love your heart and love how I see Him in you just pouring out.
Love your post, Elizabeth.
I have been dwelling this morning on the way Jesus has kept calling me to Himself through the years, how truly He has chosen me and not the other way around.
I thought of this hymn, I always thought of it as a sort of evangelistic sort of song, calling to those who had not yet yielded to His call for the first time, but this morning I thought of how He has softly and tenderly called to me over the course of my whole life, and how when I choose my idols over Him, He is waiting and watching for me to come home.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf_glkmbNbQ
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
calling for you and for me;
see, on the portals he’s waiting and watching,
watching for you and for me.
Refrain:
Come home, come home;
ye who are weary come home;
earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, O sinner, come home!
2. Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not his mercies,
mercies for you and for me?
(Refrain)
3. Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
passing from you and from me;
shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
coming for you and for me.
(Refrain)
4. O for the wonderful love he has promised,
promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, he has mercy and pardon,
pardon for you and for me.
(Refrain)
Thank you for sharing that Chris. What beautiful words, touching.
Chris this is beautiful, especially with the long view of it over our years. Years of open rebellion and idolatry for me. Something that comforts me is the thought that we have come a very long way closer to home as we have studied here with Dee.
Beautiful Chris!
This was a beautiful song, Chris. I had never heard it before. I think how we all have a longing to “come home”.
3. Read Esther 2:19-23
A. What fingerprints of God can you see in this account that prepared Mordecai to have favor with the king? God used Mordecai by having him in the right place at the right time. By reporting the men conspiring to kill the king Mordecai became like an ally for the king, someone the king trusted and respected.
B. What does it mean to you that God was with Mordecai and was preparing to use him?
That God was preparing Mordecai to help keep his people safe by becoming a friend of the kings.
It is Tuesday and I am behind already. Life is busy and our internet has been very sporadic today. We have a major storm system moving in tonight and I am afraid that I may not have internet for the next few days.
2. Share a few ways you have seen the fingerprints of God this summer:
A. In the beauty of the earth
I love wild flowers (well, almost any kind of flowers). I take pictures on our hikes and canoe trips and try to identify them later, but mostly because they are so beautiful. It amazes me the detail and perfection of the tiniest little flower and creature.
B. In the joy of human love
It amazes me that people are capable in some measure to love me and forgive me even when I fail so often. I have two special people in my life who have proven that over and over again. I have hurt them in major ways and they have forgiven me. They have taught me so much about the unconditional love of God.
C. In the storms of life
I used to think that if I loved God and did what he asked that life was supposed to be easy. I felt bitter when things did not go as I thought they should. Now I am beginning to see that God has His plans to make me more Christ-like that will involve suffering. Suffering is the only way He can pry me selfish little claws off of my own plans and turn my eyes toward Him. Suffering is painful, but the fruit is a greater closeness to God as we moment by moment surrender our lives to Him.
Romans 5:3-5 “3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
I can imagine you on canoe trips in Canada — am flying to your beautiful country on Sunday!
So true about suffering.
Where are you going to be, Dee?
Such good truth Diane, so thankful for you. ” Suffering is the only way He can pry me selfish little claws off of my own plans and turn my eyes toward Him. Suffering is painful, but the fruit is a greater closeness to God as we moment by moment surrender our lives to Him. “
Diane, I loved these comments of yours…you have such a special, sweet spirit! (the three S’s!)
I found this on fb, but it was wrote just for me.
LORD, empty me of me, so I can be filled with you.
Lord, empty me of the selfishness inside; every vain ambition and the poison of my pride, and the foolishness my heart holds to.
Lord, empty me of me, so I can be filled with you.
So beautiful, Joyce.
I must be incorporating “s l o w l y” because I still am processing last week! I listened to the second Keller sermon on my cell phone. My first response was that I’m going to do that (meditate). My next thought was that I should order the whole series. I decided not to order the series (yet, anyway) because I can study, listen, etc and never get around to DOING, and he did give enough of a description that I was ready to go.
I appreciated that he talked about John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila and others I can’t spell. So often, in some evangelical circles, they are written off as “mystics” (implication: dangerous). I was so encouraged to hear someone talk about connecting with God through the head AND the heart/emotions. Plus, I liked the affirmation the “old” saints. That helps me see God at work in the world throughout time. Life was rough then, too.
I had a difficult time coming back to town, to work after the holiday weekend. During the weekend I learned of a suicide, experienced fresh waves of grief, didn’t sleep last night because I worked in front of the computer too long, and then this morning, I received a difficult (i.e., annoying) email. This morning, I had a conversation with someone. One of the few things I remember is that I was exhausted and totally distracted. And after I was a very worthless participant in the conversation, we prayed. God’s grace and His love did soak down to my heart. I believe He “primed” me for meditation last week and He prevented me from self-destructing today.
I’ve seen so MANY examples of God’s fingerprints this summer. Just in the past few days, I’ve seen sunsets reflecting off a glassy-smooth lake, drought-stricken plants and flowers come to life after watering, friends (who some won’t associate with because of lifestyle) ask me questions that showed they cared, continuation of relationships developed during the very tough times, and God’s faithfulness during the tough times. Today was tough, and I wasn’t always so well-behaved.
This is jumping out at me: “The hero of this story is not Mordecai but God. He is with Mordecai and uses him, not because Mordecai is wonderful, but because God is a God of mercy and grace and faithfulness.”
When I focus on myself as a failure, I’m doing something similar to looking at myself as the hero of my own story. This summer, through reading and conversation, I’ve received a better glimpse of God’s fingerprints on my story. Some parts of my life, I’d rather ignore; and to a certain extent, I often am able forget that they ever happened. But I’ve never been able to completely ignore that God’s fingerprints were on the horrible times because during those times He changed me to be able to connect with people FAR outside evangelical circles; yet at the same time, I’m afraid to look too closely at His fingerprints because I am afraid of all the other crap under His fingerprints.
I see God’s fingerprints in Mordecai’s “parenting style,” the death of Esther’s parents, even in the desire for worldliness that led Mordecai’s ancestors to stick around the area (although I don’t totally get that).
I can spend hours staring at rocks in the bottom of the lake, looking for stones with particularly pretty patterns, or gazing at the patterns in the bark of a tree. A couple days ago, I kept going back to examine the center of echinachea flowers (which I’ve looked at for many years). A week ago, I spent awhile laying in the grass, examining the blades of grass from different angles. I wonder if that’s an example of God intervening to slow my thoughts and prepare me for deeper encounters with Him ?? (some interactions at work have the opposite effect.) After various events of the weekend, I have a better idea of how much He has protected me and is the center of “my” story.
I’m glad you are still processing because your processing is a blessing to us.
You are a contemplative in how you look at His world — the blades of grass, the echinachea flowers — and His Word and your own heart.
I am grateful you are here.
Renee–I just love your profound depth “When I focus on myself as a failure, I’m doing something similar to looking at myself as the hero of my own story.” Amazing how even when we whine we are still making it all about US! ;)
So true, Renee and Elizabeth. Sad but true! “even when we whine we are still making it all about US! ;)”
Need to remind myself of this on “I hate my job” days!
3. Read Esther 2:19-23
A. What fingerprints of God can you see in this account that prepared Mordecai to have favor with the king?
He was in the right place at the right time and overheard the murder plot. He was able to communicate with Esther when he wanted to.
B. What does it mean to you that God was with Mordecai and was preparing to use him?
That God always has a plan. His plan is perfect and his plan will accomplish his will. I know that God has a plan for me and a purpose to my suffering and the events of my life, but I don’t like suffering and I know that there is a possibility that it will be lifelong and that is not a pleasant thought.
I’m reading Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard. It’s an allegory about a fearful, crippled sheep being called and lead to higher places by the Shepherd. I am enjoying it very much and identifying with it a little too much I think.
I think that is a truly anointed book. She went astray after that book (New Age) but still, God used her mightily in that book — like He can use anyone He chooses — Mordecai, Cyrus…
I love that book too. I also agree that I identify with that book “a little too much”. It is so sad to hear that Hurnard went “New Age”. I haven’t read any of her other stuff.
I love that book too!!
B. Then God quickens Mordecai in a very persuasive speech. He is using Mordecai, not because Mordecai is a hero, but because God cares for His people. Read it in The Message and then find all the persuasive points that you can.
When Hathach told Mordecai what Esther had said, Mordecai sent her this message: “Don’t think that just because you live in the king’s house you’re the one Jew who will get out of this alive. If you persist in staying silent at a time like this, help and deliverance will arrive for the Jews from someplace else; but you and your family will be wiped out. Who knows? Maybe you were made queen for just such a time as this.”
What persuasive points do you see?
Mordecai was pointing out that Esther had the same fate as the other Jews if nothing was done. She was the one who could help the entire group. He also suggests that someone else may do as she should do, meaning that help may come from others. She wouldn’t be the hero of the people, someone else might.
That’s good, Laura-dancer.
I think with the last point he was saying, “God will always have a remnant — and He’ll save a remnant of the Jews somewhere else with someone — but not here, not us.”
6. How does Esther respond? What transformation do you see?
Esther asks for a Jewish fast. I suppose this is like collective praying? Going to God for the answer. It is what we should do when we have a problem we need to solve. He has the answer. We need to listen.
7. In Esther 5:9, how does God turn the sin of each of these men into His purpose to save His people?
Well, Haman has these evil thoughts against Mordecai. Mordecai refuses to acknowledge Haman. I had to read chapter 6 to get the full story though. The king learns of Mordecai saving him and not being honored. Haman shows up at just the right time in the court, to be chosen to go get Mordecai to honor. Thd king also has Haman state the reward! This is hysterical to me!
So this brought to mind a situation I had this last week in my class at school. It is the first official week of school and I had a student who refused to stand to say the pledge of allegiance. In 17 years of teaching even the hardest of kids, I have never had this occurrence. The student claimed they were told they didn’t have to because of their religion. I had never heard this either. Mind you, the student was dressed in extreme “Gothic” attire. Well, this was very offensive to me (that they wouldn’t stand), for several reasons. 1) my father fought in two wars so that they could have freedom. 2) there are women and girls around the world who are oppressed and not allowed to learn to read. 3) the peer role model to others is negative and troublesome. 4) it was as if their beliefs were more important than mine, and I didn’t count. I was going to be forced to watch them exercise their right everyday for the next 184 days of school. It made me not care for the student at all. I was emotional and upset by this issue.
I called the dean to have a meeting. In the past, students were required to stand for the pledge but they didn’t have to cross their heart or say the words. Even cuffed students of mine have always stood! The dean informed me that last year the supreme court (!) ruled that students didn’t have to stand. I was heartbroken. I talked to a close friend (a peer teacher of mine whom I trust) and she reminded me that I should pray. I didnt know how to solve this problem i had. I wanted to call the parents to confirm the religion. I thought the student could go to the office and come to my class late after the pledge. I thought to change everyone’s seats so I didn’t have to look at the student. I thought I could have a conversation with the student stating my views and ask them to consider standing for me.
I prayed and waited. I decided not to call the parents, lest I offend them. The dean suggested if I asked the student to not come to class until after the pledge that the parents might say I was singling them out. In the end, I decided I would change the seats so they are positioned where I can’t see them when i stand to say the pledge. It isn’t what I prefer, but it is what I thought was the least problematic solution. I am still upset and sad. I don’t mean to offend anyone who may have this religion. I just would hope my beliefs would be considered as others’ are. We live in a great country and I think it should be honored as such. To me, the flag isn’t something that represents any one person or spiritual being. It represents an idea. it gives us all equal and common ground.
Am I Haman? Was the student mordecai? Wow.
That is a sad situation Laura, but I’m impressed with how you handled it–waiting, praying,not wanting to offend or stir up anger…I think that was the wisest way you could have dealt with it. Sad though, realizing our culture today.
2. Share a few ways you have seen the fingerprints of God this summer:
A. In the beauty of the earth
Recently I have been moved by the beauty in the sounds of nature. God could have created a world without sound, but He didn’t. Even the silence, the stillness, has a “sound”. Sometimes the wind whispers. Recently, very early in the morning, I was outside, and it was so still, and I heard a soft “fffpppp” and looked up to see a large bird flying overhead. I had heard the soft sound of its feathers. I love the nighttime music of the crickets, and I always anticipate the noise of the cicadas in August.
Last night, I was watching this pale green delicate insect munching on the center of one of my zinnias; he looked rather distinguished, for a bug!
B. In the joy of human love
I like summer especially because my children are home from school. Days I spend just being with my daughter, the joy of her hand in mine, or having our morning “lovey time”, being able to hold her and cuddle her. I love to see the joy my children give to my elderly parents through their loving them, hugging them, listening to their stories. My oldest son is a really good “hugger”, and he never fails to say, “I love you mom”.
C. In the storms of life
This summer, I’ve had a few storms that were a result of my own sin and idolatry. I have found that if I’m willing to turn to Him and repent, He will be able to turn the tide and unravel the mess I’ve made of things. The biggest storm this summer was my middle child leaving for college. I know God is here for me and is willing to help me and comfort me, but I have to be careful to run to Him and not to an idol for comfort. I don’t think it is a coincidence that His timing of a particular gift to me of having deep fellowship with a few women occurred the following week after my son left for school. I now have 2/3 of an “empty nest” and have really been struggling with loneliness and wondering of what is in store for me for the rest of my life? I received some needed ‘food for my soul’ and encouragement and some things that I need to think and pray about.
Susan–I smiled at your oldest son being a really good “hugger”–oh what a gift!There is such a difference between a “pat pat” hugger and a good hug that gives you such a feeling of love and acceptance
just re-read this, this is just so true–I need to daily remind myself!! “if I’m willing to turn to Him and repent, He will be able to turn the tide and unravel the mess I’ve made of things”
Susan, I am so glad for your blessing of friends! And at just the right time for Him to say “I am here with you”. He will be there then too. I know you know that but I think it helps to hear it and see it in writing.
5. Read Esther 4 s l o w l y!
A. When Mordecai tells Esther to go and tell Xerxes that she has hidden from him that she is a Jew, why is she afraid to do it, according to verse 11.
1. Because you can’t go before the King unless you are summoned first. If you do go when not summoned, you will die.
2. This may be a stretch but could Esther be so bathed in the King’s approval and her comfort in her safety in this position as Queen that this has become her satisfaction and she is resting in her comfort idol which is causing her not to step out in faith? I can see why she feared but I also see a bit of forgetting who God is as well. I guess because of Mordecai’s response to her in v.13 and 14-I kind of get that clue.
B. Then God quickens Mordecai in a very persuasive speech. He is using Mordecai, not because Mordecai is a hero, but because God cares for His people. Read it in The Message and then find all the persuasive points that you can.
When Hathach told Mordecai what Esther had said, Mordecai sent her this message: “Don’t think that just because you live in the king’s house you’re the one Jew who will get out of this alive. If you persist in staying silent at a time like this, help and deliverance will arrive for the Jews from someplace else; but you and your family will be wiped out. Who knows? Maybe you were made queen for just such a time as this.”
What persuasive points do you see?
Point #1. Don’t rest (trust) in your position as Queen-it isn’t as safe as you think.
#2. If she remains silent, God will deliver the Jews from someplace else and if so she and her family will be wiped out anyway. #3. God may have called her to be Queen for such a time as this.
God is directing her eyes back on Him through Mordecai-helping her to see. I think she might have known this was from God because she turns quickly after receiving this-love that about her-love to see God’s mercy and Grace toward her here in the midst of her fear and idolatry. I also see His sovereignty again-He knew her heart so well.
The persuasive points all point to God being bigger than the King. God picked up on her fear of dying by the King’s hand and turned that around to see the bigger picture and to remember Him. I DO UNDERSTAND HER FEAR THOUGH! I am not sure what I would have done!
Rebecca, I wondered too about the possibility of an approval idol with Esther because she was so compliant.
He’s lived in Susa for most of his life, and no one even knew he was a Jew. What does this tell you? THIS IS SO GOOD to make you think…And apply…Do people around me suspect I am a Christian.
3. Read Esther 2:19-23
A. What fingerprints of God can you see in this account that prepared Mordecai to have favor with the king? He was in the right place at the right time to hear this plot in turn tell Esther who would tell king.
B. What does it mean to you that God was with Mordecai and was preparing to use him? So much because nothing is coincidence. God is with us like that too. There are places we are at at the right time that prepare us too.
4: Observe these “fingerprints of God”
Read Esther 3:7 – I always enjoyed this part of the story! How it is the furthest away and allows the Jews to be prepared and see. Gives time to set up the actions of Esther…etc.
Angela,
Thank you… I needed to ask myself: “THIS IS SO GOOD to make you think…And apply…Do people around me suspect I am a Christian.”
I agree.
I want them to know me by my love — not by the sense that they are feeling judged by me.
3. Read Esther 2:19-23
A. What fingerprints of God can you see in this account that prepared Mordecai to have favor with the king?
First, I see Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate – he was at the right place at just the right time to overhear. (Many call this good luck or coincidence, but it is a ‘divine intersection’)
Next, I see that even though Esther and Mordecai are separated physically, they still have maintained a connection, as “she continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up”. Even though she is now the queen, she still has a submissive heart to follow Mordecai’s instructions.
I find it amazing that the two king’s officers didn’t seem to notice Mordecai sitting there as they were obviously talking loud enough to be overheard, plotting to kill the king. Either they didn’t notice him, or they thought him of no special importance that he would be able to say or do anything to stop them. If they had perceived him to be a threat, surely they would have killed him.
Mordecai tells Esther about the plot – somehow he is still able to get communication through to her, and Esther gives all the credit to Mordecai – Esther makes sure the king knows it is Mordecai who exposed the plot.
Lastly, fingerprints of God seen in that all of this was written down – lasting proof, in writing; just in case it needs to be remembered!
B. What does it mean to you that God was with Mordecai and was preparing to use him?
It is significant to me that for Mordecai, this was just an ordinary day, sitting at the gate. He had no power or noble position. He was just sitting! He wasn’t even thinking about, “How can I serve God today?” I often think that I have to DO something “big” to be used by God, when perhaps I can just “BE” and be used by God.
I just answered the first three questions and it wouldn’t allow them to be posted b/c the email address was one letter off. (I am on my husbands computer) I guess I will have to redo after work. :(
3. Read Esther 2:19-23
A. What fingerprints of God can you see in this account that prepared Mordecai to have favor with the king?
He was sitting at the king’s gate when he overheard a plot to kill the king. He was at the gate because he wanted to care for Esther, watch over her. God blessed that and allowed Mordecai to hear the plot and intervene. I imagine it must have been difficult for him to find a way to tell Esther—but God allowed it, and she told the King, giving credit t Mordecai—shows her loyalty to him.
B. What does it mean to you that God was with Mordecai and was preparing to use him?
It’s like watching a grand chess game—we have no idea what is coming next, but God is always working, orchestrating, perfectly aligning things according to His plan. And Mordecai was alert, listening, willing to respond.
4: Observe these “fingerprints of God” Read Esther 3:7
I’m thinking that when they rolled the die, they expected the outcome to be by chance, random. Or maybe influenced by their gods. But we see that God Himself worked in this too, causing the date to be almost a year away, giving Esther and the Jews more time to prepare.
5. Read Esther 4 s l o w l y!
A. When Mordecai tells Esther to go and tell Xerxes that she has hidden from him that she is a Jew, why is she afraid to do it, according to verse 11. (Find at least two reasons)
She has not been summoned by the king, she fears for her own life. I’m thinking she is already feeling insecure of the king’s approval of her because he also has not called for her in 30 days. She may feel like his affections for her have already waned, making her fate even more grave.
B. Then God quickens Mordecai in a very persuasive speech.What persuasive points do you see?
He tells her don’t think you are so admired by the king that you’ll be safe. Then Mordecai reminds her to think of her family and that maybe God purposed her as Queen for this very reason. He helps her think beyond herself!
6. How does Esther respond? What transformation do you see?
Esther seems to have the light flick on. She is humbled by the reality that God is using her. She asks Mordecai and the Jews in Susa to fast and pray. She commits to as well. There is a heart of humility, obedience, faith. She is willing to risk her life to follow God. I sense that after all the time of hiding her faith, there is this surge within her that finally says, nothing else matters, she will follow Him whatever the cost.
1. What stands out to you from the above and why? I love learning to really see the truths of scripture.
2. Share a few ways you have seen the fingerprints of God this summer:
A. In the beauty of the earth. Years ago I heard of someone finding a feather on their Bible after an altar call. I thought wouldn’t it be great to get something tangible like that from God but doubted it would ever happen to me. A little later my mom was giving me some important documents and inside the manilla envelope was a beautiful feather which could not be explained. Since then hundreds of feathers have come my way in very unusual circumstances. My friends and family who know this story even have them come to them in crazy ways. One day my husband was kidding me about my suspect feathers and as we were waiting in an alleyway downtown feathers came swishing down covering his big truck. So many hundreds that we could not see out the windshield – he stopped kidding me. For me this is a reminder of the covenant God and I share and reminds me of His love for me. Oh and I found one this morning. ;)
B. In the joy of human love
We have a large family on both sides and it is wonderful when family comes for a long weekend. We had so much laughter this past weekend and I saw God in it.
C. In the storms of life. I am learning so much through pain. It’s funny we long for God and His presence but we want to dictate how He comes. We don’t want Him to come in pain but He does come and as I recognize this I am comforted. I am also getting more beautiful to Him so, with some grace added in, I can embrace it.
Kim–love your story of the feathers, reminds me of Chris’ posting of job 39 above, to Anne. I love how God is so personal with each of us–how He shows us that He has heard every unspoken thought of our heart.
Yes, unspoken thoughts of our hearts – neat way to put it.
Kim, I remember when we were looking for houses years ago (before we had to move out of state), I really wanted a “mud room” and a view to the outside when you opened the front door. I never told anyone because it sounded so picky and petty. After months of searches, we found the best house for us in price and neighbor-hood, and it happened to have both a mud room and the view to the back, we bought it. It was sweet to me because only He knew those thoughts and He showed me He heard, He cared, about even the smallest cares of my heart.
You have given me a new insight. What I once considered an added blessing was actually Him caring for my unspoken desires! Thank you, Elizabeth, you blessed me with this.
How are you feeling? I often think of you when I am suffering. I think it helps to get my mind of my own stuff and pray for you and others here on the blog.
It’s in being tuned in to Him that we can be used to be a blessing to others. Often we want to be used mightily but there is great joy in a word fitly spoken, like apples of gold in settings of silver.
Love the feathers :)
my trip to the mountains took my breath away! Gods beauty is so amazing….its amazing outside my back door too:-) i have just got used to that amazing! I have seen most of Gods hand print in my marriage this summer.
I hate to write this but we have not had a knock down drag out all summer…this is a miracle girls!!! He told his mom (that he called on his own,that also never has happened) that he was learning to let the stress of work go and not let it bug him so much! praise GOD! He has also gone out to a movie with a friend and gone back to our room by himself and rested when it was busy in the house. all these things are amazing gifts to me from an amazing God.
He has also used spiritual duct tape on me, many times I would have criticized in my flesh but God humbled me and shut my mouth! We were able to do an entire project (painting our basement) this weekend with out a single harsh word, and HE started the project! this is HUGE ladies! it is the first time in my married life that i do not get stressed out when he walks in the house at night. I feel like we are a united front against the kids:-) and its nice to have someone who has my back instead of always questioning my parenting. He praised me the other day for a way i handled something with Lily. so many wonderful fingerprints to remind me that all those years of tears and prayers did not go unheard.
this is beautiful, cyndi–i feel your joy oozing out–what a praise!
Wonderful, Cyndi. He’s still answering those prayer for a healed marriage.
and yours Kim! thanks so much for praying for us, you too Elizabeth:-)
So encouraging, Cyndi. I like the duct tape analogy :)
All such great praise — and such real life!
3. Read 3. Read Esther 2:19-23
A. What fingerprints of God can you see in this account that prepared Mordecai to have favor with the king? The perfect timing.
B. What does it mean to you that God was with Mordecai and was preparing to use him? God will use me. God will prepare me for the task.
4 A. When Mordecai tells Esther to go and tell Xerxes that she has hidden from him that she is a Jew, why is she afraid to do it, according to verse 11. (Find at least two reasons)She cannot go before him without being summoned. She had not been with the king for a month.
B. Then God quickens Mordecai in a very persuasive speech. He is using Mordecai, not because Mordecai is a hero, but because God cares for His people. Read it in The Message and then find all the persuasive points that you can.
Her nationality will be found out and she will not be spared, deliverance will rise from another place, you may be in this position for a reason.
6. How does Esther respond? What transformation do you see? She requests a fast and prayer for three days and agrees to go before the king. She says she is willing to perish.
7. In Esther 5:9, how does God turn the sin of each of these men into His purpose to save His people? Haman becomes even angrier.
8. In Esther 5:14, how does God use Zeresh to bring down Haman and his descendants? Suggested Haman build gallows so that Mordecai could be hanged before everyone as punishment for not trembling in Haman’s presence.
9. In Esther 6:1, how do you see the fingerprints of God? God caused the king to be unable to sleep so that he would reward Mordecai.
10. What have you learned about the importance of putting God at the center of your Bible reading? I can read because it is a good thing to do or I can read because I want to usher the presence of God into my day. I want to be changed and washed in the Word so that I will not miss what I am called to do for such a time as this.
11. How have you seen the fingerprints of God in your week thus far? (In creation, life, or Scripture) Share two ways. We had a decision to make that we could have just made without prayer but we were uneasy and prayed and waited and it turned out something was revealed we could not have forseen so we were spared a mess. I also see God helping me to focus on Him first in my day and the blessing that has been.
love your 11, its amazing what happens when we wait and pray:-)
Amen!
If we make Mordecai the hero in Esther, we have to put up with some big chinks in his armor. In fact, we might be tempted to put a spin on his behavior that is a distortion of reality. He’s lived in Susa for most of his life, and no one even knew he was a Jew. What does this tell you?
He obviously was not living a Jewish lifestyle. They are distinct in dress, public worship, festivals, etc. Do people we know and work with know that we are Christians?
3.A. What fingerprints of God can you see in this account that prepared Mordecai to have favor with the king?
God placed Mordecai in exactly the right place where he could overhear the plot to assassinate the king. And God made sure it was recorded in the chronicles of the king.
B. What does it mean to you that God was with Mordecai and was preparing to use him?
God is in control. He wanted someone to be in place to help rescue God’s people who would soon be in danger.
7. In Esther 5:9, how does God turn the sin of each of these men into His purpose to save His people?
Mordecai refuses to rise before Haman, after having previously refusing to bow. Haman is filled with defensive pride—now more determined than ever to go to the Queen’s dinner, which will be his fall.
8. In Esther 5:14, how does God use Zeresh to bring down Haman and his descendants?
His wife tells Haman to have a gallows built for Mordecai, ironically, he is creating the tool for his own death.
9. In Esther 6:1, how do you see the fingerprints of God?
After dinner that night the king was unable to sleep. This is obviously God’s hand for normally a big meal and wine would have likely caused him to sleep. He asked that the journals be read to him since he couldn’t sleep, and this is when he discovers Mordecai had prevented his death.
10. What have you learned about the importance of putting God at the center of your Bible reading?
Every story points back to Him. He orchestrates all things, and when we see this, our perspective shifts. We see how deep and high and wide His love extends. Nothing is out of His sight, His realm of power.
5. Read Esther 4 s l o w l y!
A. When Mordecai tells Esther to go and tell Xerxes that she has hidden from him that she is a Jew, why is she afraid to do it, according to verse 11. (Find at least two reasons.)
Appearing before the king unbidden is to be put to death. She has not been called before the king in more than a month.
B. Then God quickens Mordecai in a very persuasive speech. He is using Mordecai, not because Mordecai is a hero, but because God cares for His people. Read it in The Message and then find all the persuasive points that you can.
When Hathach told Mordecai what Esther had said, Mordecai sent her this message: “Don’t think that just because you live in the king’s house you’re the one Jew who will get out of this alive. If you persist in staying silent at a time like this, help and deliverance will arrive for the Jews from someplace else; but you and your family will be wiped out. Who knows? Maybe you were made queen for just such a time as this.”
What persuasive points do you see?
You are not safe. Your identity as a Jew will be discovered and you will be killed as well.
6. How does Esther respond? What transformation do you see?
She decides to fast and then go before the king. She is transformed and embraces her Jewishness.
7. In Esther 5:9, how does God turn the sin of each of these men into His purpose to save His people?
Haman’s anger causes him to act rashly and incriminate himself. Mordecai’s pride causes him to not bow to Haman but God uses it to save the Jews.
8. In Esther 5:14, how does God use Zeresh to bring down Haman and his descendants?
She suggests that Haman build a gallows for Mordecai, and that gallows is that Haman himself is hanged on.
9. In Esther 6:1, how do you see the fingerprints of God?
God kept the king awake. When the king cannot sleep, he calls for reading of the king’s record. Instead of putting him to sleep, he hears about Mordecai saving him from an assassination attempt, and he is reminded that Mordecai was never rewarded for that good deed.
10. What have you learned about the importance of putting God at the center of your Bible reading?
Scripture is God-breathed. It tells God’s story. It is not a collection of moral stories like Aesop’s Fables, for example. It is God’s saving work among His undeserving people.
11. How have you seen the fingerprints of God in your week thus far? (In creation, life, or Scripture) Share two ways.
1. I have been reading Ezekiel this week. I am using the ESV Study Bible. In Ezekiel 16, God uses the analogy of Jerusalem being a faithless bride who, though God found her deserted and filthy as a baby and cleansed her and raised her, made her beautiful and married her, she left him to seek after other men. Though the imagery is of Jerusalem’s political unfaithfulness, it reminds me of how often we forget God’s love for us and chase our idols who we think will give us what we want.
2. Early this week, we heard that a young pastor who dropped dead after his evening run. (He was an athletic runner.)We got to know him when we were on a short term mission to India with him a year and a half ago – a wonderful guy. He leaves behind a young wife and two preschool girls. My heart cries for his young wife and daughters. I do not know how or why God has done this but it has to be God because nothing else makes sense. Pray with me for Natasha and her young daughters.
oh Diane, praying with you for Natasha, the kids, their family. So tragic, so hard to understand.
Oh, so sad… joining you in prayer. Thankful that God is in control in the midst of this fallen world
Oh my, so very sad, Diane. Praying for this family.
Such good answers to Esther, Diane.
“It has to be God because nothing else makes sense.” How often we must rest in his sovereignty. May the Lord be with this grieving family.
Ezekiel 16 is such a powerful passage — showing how deeply loved we are.
Diane,
This is so sad, I will pray. I have been reading recently several medical studies that suggest that runners, those who really train hard (like marathon runners)actually scar their hearts, and this is why many runners who appear so fit and healthy die suddenly from heart attacks.
Oh how awful, Diane…I will be praying
Oh dear, just (q u i c k l y) read the essay at the “link” before I finished the Bible study part of this lesson. Umm, demonstrated an attempt at the Personal Shopper approach while doing this study (also evident during the times I listened to Keller’s sermon before doing the Bible study!). GUILT!! However, I’m more likely to be guilty of the Xanax approach. I laughed at the names (e.g., Xanax, personal shopper) of the “self-constructed” approaches because I’ve tried most of what’s described in the titles, as well as the descriptions of “Bible study.”
I think I’ll need the s l o w l y reminder FOREVER!
My take away from this study is that….it’s not all about me! I am reminded of how childish we Christians can really be be! My 3 year old will tell me she wants something ridiculous like airheads for breakfast….when I explain that this will just not be happening she generally proceeds to explain her desire in a more passionate way and often tells me she “needs” whatever it is she wants. When I stop and reflect I realize how I can be the same way with the Lord. Sometimes I (just like my toddler) am surprised when things don’t go my way. “Excuse me, God, I NEED this….obviously you didn’t understand my prayer….” Although I don’t actually speak to the Lord this way….I might as well. With every toothache, failed plan and disappointment I HAVE to remind myself that this life is not all about me. This life is meant to bring us closer to the Lord…every relationship or situation that causes us stress or requires us to rise above….it’s all part of the Refining fire. I smile as I write this because our Heavenly Father is ever so patient with us as He waits on us to figure these things out. He is the Ultimate Parent….but of course I am sure He is eager for us to mature so we can understand why those airhead candies aren’t a good idea for breakfast….or….er….why our home didn’t sell….we didn’t get that job….whatever the case is. Thank you Jesus, for being such a loving Father, with me…..your bratty little kid!
Great analogy, Sarah P. Funny but with a serious point. “Excuse me, God, I NEED this….obviously you didn’t understand my prayer”. Isn’t it a good thing that God is a loving, patient Father?
So good to see ourselves in our children…lots of truth here, Sara.
Renee — we all need s l o w l y forever!
This article really has me thinking. The Bible studier profiles are funny because they are true. I know I have done probably every one of them at some time. The really tough point is that women are not learning the Bible but rely on teachers to give them what they need. The problem is that as humans we tend to elevate those gifted by God to positions that only God should inhabit. I notice in myself the desire for a church with dynamic teaching but I am rethinking this lately. A church has to be balanced and the ones that are heavy on teaching can be light on love and vice versa. I remember you taught us about that Dee and I am seeing it. This really makes sense to me that I should learn to get my own teaching straight from personal Bible study.
The last section about the change in definition of disciple really resonated with me. A disciple is first a learner but we define her as a doer. Doing will come naturally out of the transformation of learning but as we humans tend to do, we look for the result and forget the process. The old cart before the horse routine.
12. My take-a-way is a greater understanding of what a treasure God’s word is for me. It is His gift to me, not just for my comfort or enjoyment. It is food for my soul, meant to be ingested to fuel its spread to all that are around me. As I am transformed those around me are affected. Cyndi, it seems like that is what is happening in your marriage.
This week 2 Cor 9:8 has spoken to me and I see how it fits into this concept. We are blessed so that we may bless others.
I have been trying to decide if I should try to do BSF this year. It is hard sometimes to do 2 studies and though they often come together, sometimes I feel sort of split. But this answers my question. It is the kind of study that she talks about in the article. It sends you straight to the word, leaving nothing out and then expounds on it after you have searched it for yourself. I will keep doing 2 studies and Mom’s in Prayer will be my ministry until God leads otherwise.
Dee, this study is life changing for me. You and all of the women here are like family and the best friends one could have, encouraging and praying for each other at all times of the day or night. It is a phenomenal, marvelous and new work of God.
I so agree with you Anne, what a wonderful group of woman:-)
Anne, I love your word pictures (It is food for my soul, meant to be ingested to fuel its spread to all that are around me) as I am very visual.
Anne,
Great insight as usual, and after reading what you wrote I can’t wait to get to that link! :-)
Dee–I’m thinking Anne’s quote here needs to go on the front page of your site!–at least I hope it’s a great encouragement to you–we all echo it: “Dee, this study is life changing for me. You and all of the women here are like family and the best friends one could have, encouraging and praying for each other at all times
of the day or night. It is a phenomenal, marvelous and new work of God.”
Anne — we love having you here so much. I try not to influence you because I really do want you to hear from the Lord — but another part of me wants to persuade you to stay! You are such a joy here.
I think there is a value in a face to face study because it provides fellowship — at least it often does.
I know fall is an intense time for Bible studies, so I will keep that in mind with homework.
Dee, I was not thinking of leaving this study. That is why I was thinking about dropping BSF. If I dropped one it would have to be that. There is so much good in any study but we can’t do them all. If I have to do just one it will be this for the reasons above and because nothing has ever grown me so much. My testimony on the blog site remains true for me. I am more excited now than ever, especially with this new teaching from Keller. I think God would have me do both for now. That is why I mentioned it. It is part of my take away.
Thank you for your encouragement. Sometimes I get out in left field and sometimes I say the wrong things. I so appreciate the grace I find here.
I’m into another bible study also Anne, that’s why you hear less from me, but my heart is with you all here!
This is so encouraging.
Thank you, Anne. We are all in left field at times! :-)
Anne, I agree with Dee, we all get into left field sometimes-I do more than I would like. ;) but you are so loved by Him and us regardless. ;-)
3. God put Mordecai in the right place at the right time. I find it interesting that he had to use Esther to get the word to the king, why didnt he just tell him himself? I guess not anyone could see the king….
God will use who God will use.
4-7 I see PRIDE everywhere in this story, everywhere. I wonder if God sat up there and just shook his head at all the chest pounding, look at me, see how good I am stuff that went on. first the king gets rid of his wife because of PRIDE then Mordecai wouldnt bow, because of pride(if he was a practicing jew it would have shown) then Haman gets a bee all up in his bonnet because ONE person refuses to bow and Im not sure H even saw this, it was the others by the gate that “told on him” once again, PRIDE….then king X is reminded that there are a people who will not bow to him and THIS HURTS HIS PRIDE and is convinced to kill them all, really, kill them all??? this is a VERY week minded man who is very open to stupid ideas…
Then H goes and brags to all his friends how great he is and complains that none of all the “wonderful things he is” are enough because ONE man will not bow! Then his wife, to pander to his PRIDE tells him to build a monument (75 foot gallows is a monument to his power and greatness) to hang the man who is “steeling his joy”
THEN God does the amazing, he uses all this pride for his own glory….the king cant sleep so what does he do, he has a book about how great he is read to him, makes sense to me, thats what I do when i cant sleep…oh wait, I actually do this bible study:-)
This gives me hope…you see I am a very prideful person, I struggle with it every day and if God can use all the pride that is in this book for HIS glory then I can be pretty sure that he can use me.
I also learn a lot from the way she talks to her husband….first she prays for 3 days and has others pray with her, this is a great model for us as wives to follow when something is really bothering us and we want to talk to our husbands about it, talk to GOD about it first! some times i find that after prayer God deals with the issue, or he applys the Holy duct tape or the kindness filter:-) THEN she butters him up:-) also a really good thing to do if you want the best chance to be heard, then she makes him WANT to hear what she has to say….gives him a reason to come back and I also think they probably where “united” on the first night and it had been over a month since he had been with her so she wanted to remind him why he picked her! which made him more likly to listen on the 2nd night:-) also not a bad thing to do:-)
My take away, God can use anyone! Pride is really yucky! pray before you speak. do not seek to “get credit” God knows and HE has it under control.
I just love your insights on pride in Esther (and about pride in ourselves).
Ditto.
Cyndi, this is great insight about how to talk to our husbands. I am a world famous blurter. I am going to try to do this, not just with him but also with my sons.
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/popups/media_player.aspx?MediaId={B209F970-997B-4130-BACF-E38B9BA30200}
not sure if this link will work but it is an amazing talk on overcoming pride with RT kendall that goes so well with what we have been learning. if it doesnt work just go to focus on the familys program guide and put in overcoming pride
nope, they have the wrong link up, it takes you to an adventures on odysee about being to busy……hmmm wonder if God is trying to tell me something:-)
7. In Esther 5:9, how does God turn the sin of each of these men into His purpose to save His people?
Haman was prideful-his idol was control and approval and he trusted in his wealth and position to bring satisfaction to him. He was on cloud 9 to be the ‘only one’ to be invited to the feast with the King and Queen. Mordecai, in his pride, still refused to honor him and it made Haman mad.
If Mordecai had shown some fear or respect of Haman during this encounter then Haman wouldn’t have been mad and set up the pole to impale Mordecai.
8. In Esther 5:14, how does God use Zeresh to bring down Haman and his descendants?
Zeresh gave Haman the idea to put the pole up to impale Mordecai.
9. In Esther 6:1, how do you see the fingerprints of God?
Wow..The King couldn’t sleep-(the hand of God)..So, he had the book of Chronicles which is a record of his reign read to him. (typical of someone who is narcissistic, yet God uses it.) God used this time to ready King Xerxes for what Esther was going to tell him. The king fondly remembered Mordecai after reading the Chronicles. He wanted to reward him, so he was in the frame of mind of remembering what a loyal man Mordecai was by the time Heman got to him with his request to be rewarded. The King turned it around on him and had him reward Mordecai.
Xerxes not being able to sleep and then reading the book of his reign is definitely due to God’s hand-God softened his heart toward Mordecai and God did it by Mordecai over hearing the two guards plan to kill Xerxes. Well all of this shows God’s fingerprints. Amazing!
10. What have you learned about the importance of putting God at the center of your Bible reading?
I have learned I miss Him! I miss the beauty and wonder of what He wants to show me about Himself. I miss His quickening. In regard to Esther God is showing me He is the great redeemer, and He is sovereign in the mundane-He doesn’t always come in a burning bush or in the parting of the sea, yet He still can come in huge ways-mostly he is like a shy lover and his fingerprints are in the details of life.
His fingerprints in the details. I like that Rebecca.
11. How have you seen the fingerprints of God in your week thus far? (In creation, life, or Scripture) Share two ways.
Two ways, Scripture and in my life: Reading Psalm 107:9—“He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things”—the prerequisite for His satisfying me, for His filling me with good things—is thirst and hunger. He does not say He satisfies those who are not in need of food and drink. He comes to those in need of Him, in our brokenness.
With God at the center of this Scripture, I know that He alone can fill me. I also know that He uses circumstances and trials in me to create a hunger and thirst. Because of His mercy through trials, my thirst and hunger have increased greatly, to a desperate state. I want the Living Water to fill me up. But I must be continually emptied before I can taste Him. I must remember there is no other satisfaction. The pain and struggle is not comfortable. But like time walking through a desert, I am longing for lasting nourishment, hungry for it every morning. Desperate to be filled up anew to have strength for the day. So many things in my world, stresses, threaten to dry me up. Make me weak, hardened, without hope. But if I am filled up first with the Living Water, I am finding that the desert can be a blessing—it creates such desperate desire and leads me to the only One who can provide.
My thoughts from Jen Wilkin’s essay:
Scripture is living and active and given to us to pierce and transform us. I was thinking—the Word has power because it is God. But instead of letting it have power over us, we treat it as if it is a tool that we can manage and manipulate. It is as if we are trying to use Scripture for our purpose, manage it, rather than allow it to be in its Holy place over us, transforming us.
I like Jen Wilkin a lot and think this article is very insightful. I feel like I have “wasted” much time using these approaches to studying the Bible. Each approach puts me at the center—what can I get out of this? How can I feel better? How can I get my answer? Fill me up quickly because I have things to do! It’s almost as if I am so impatient in reading Scripture that I want to force it to either entertain, avoiding any hard to read OT books, or I want it to give me my answer so I can get to my agenda.
I thank Him that I feel less and less and less this way in reading His Word. It IS His Word. Living and active. It is a gift, from Him. I want to be a learner, a student of His Word. A good Counselor doesn’t give you all the answers on your first visit. I have to be patient, wanting more than just answers—wanting to listen, learn, be transformed–wanting HIM. I want to learn to always read in context, with God always at the center.
Good stuff. Many times we don’t even recognize how much “we treat it (Scripture) as if it is a tool that we can manage and manipulate.” It is good recognize the dangers of trying to fit Scripture into our agenda to make us feel good about ourselves.
Elizabeth and Diane,
You both make such good points here. I love your last paragraph, Elizabeth – you sound like a “good student” (and I know you are!) and you so have the heart of a learner, desiring Him above all else.
4. Observe these “fingerprints of God” Read Esther 3:7
Rolling a dice to pick a date – anyone would think that is totally random and fair.
However, I see God’s fingerprints in that it was the 1st month when they cast the die,
and it fell on the 12th month, giving the Jews plenty of time to react.
5. Read Esther 4 slowly!
A. When Mordecai tells Esther to go and tell Xerxes that she has hidden from him that she is a Jew, why is she afraid to do it, according to verse 11. (Find at least two reasons)
First, she knows that any man or woman who approaches the king in his inner court without being summoned by the king, by law, will be put to death.
Secondly, she knows there is one exception to this law: that the king extends his gold scepter to the one who barged in without invitation, and their life will be spared. However, Esther says, “BUT thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king”.
It seems that she is unsure of his feelings toward her – it sounds as if this is not the usual length of time for them to be apart; maybe she fears that she has done something to fall out of favor with her husband.
B. Then God quickens Mordecai in a very persuasive speech. He is using Mordecai, not because Mordecai is a hero, but because God cares for His people. Read it in The Message and then find all the persuasive points that you can.
Don’t think the king will protect you because you are his queen and you live in his house, that though all the other Jews perish, you will be the only one left alive – you won’t.
If you think your silence will save you, it won’t – you and your father’s family will be wiped out. Then, God will send help and deliverance, but you will have missed your chance to be His vessel; He’ll use someone else.
Think about it, Esther…ponder how you came to be queen. Have you considered that God placed you here for a time such as this? Who really “made” you the queen?
6. How does Esther respond? What transformation do you see?
She responds by telling Mordecai to gather together all the Jews in Susa, and to have them fast and pray for three days. And Esther, along with her maids, will do the same. At the end of the three days, she will go into the king, even though it is against the law. I love her last words, “And if I perish, I perish”.
The transformation I see is Esther moving from fear to trust in her God, the God that she had hidden away in a box a long time ago, keeping it all a secret. What a huge leap of faith toward a God that she may not have really “known” very well. I can tell it is trust in Him because she does not say, “Okay, here’s what we’ll do….” – it’s not her plan.
It is fasting and praying and throwing themselves on the mercy of God, crying out to Him for help. And she trusts her God enough to say that if she perishes, then it will be His will for that to happen, but she is placing herself entirely into His hands.
7. In Esther 5:9, how does God turn the sin of each of these men into His purpose to save His people?
Both Haman and Mordecai are two really stubborn mules, neither is willing to meet the other “in the middle”. Mordecai, in his stubborn pride, refuses to acknowledge Haman’s presence or give him honor. Haman, in his puffed-up pride, thinks that he deserves even for men to show fear in his presence. Because of their sin, Haman’s anger remains fueled against all the Jews and the plan to annihilate all of them is still very much in motion.
8. In Esther 5:14, how does God use Zeresh to bring down Haman and his descendants?
Haman has been at home, boasting and bragging about all his wealth, his sons, and his popularity with the king and queen. Yet he complains about the one thorn in his side – Mordecai. Zeresh is riding high with her husband and also filled with pride, so she suggests that he build a 75 foot tall gallows on which to have Mordecai publicly hanged.
Little did she know….
9. In Esther 6:1, how do you see the fingerprints of God?
The king could not sleep. Yes, I believe that God can keep a person awake at night. And what thought is planted in the king’s mind? To bring out the book of the record of his reign and have it read to him. (This is funny b/c Xerxes thinks he’s so great but it seems that he thought it would be a boring read and would put him to sleep?) And back in Esther 2:23, it said that it was recorded in the book how Mordecai reported the plot to kill the king – recorded so that it would never be forgotten. Wow. And the king hears this read to him the very night before Haman is going to ask that Mordecai be hanged on the gallows!
Ok my life is crazy so I am skipping to the article part for Thurs. but hoping to get back to the rest of the study when I have quiet slow reading time…
Really like this article and how it exposes wrong ways to read the Bible. It especially stood out to me as how we read the Bible often to serve us not the other way around. The xanax approach is really true and what I see so often. Now when I am in a hard spot I need to quote these kind of Scriptures to myself but I understand the context of them…I don’t need to push this approach on others though…Making disciples is also the way I need to go. I think this was a great article exposing our errors.
8. In Esther 5:14, how does God use Zeresh to bring down Haman and his descendants?
She is the one who suggests the impaling on the pole.
9. In Esther 6:1, how do you see the fingerprints of God?
The king couldn’t sleep and he read the historical record that professed Mordecai saving his life years before.
I got my “Idol Lies” book today from Amazon!! Can’t wait to dive in!!!
Well — save it to give away — cause you are getting an autographed one, dear one. You were a big part in that study.
I got your book to me in the mail today, Dee! I feel so honored, as I don’t participate in the studies like my sister’s do, but that study on Idols has helped me tremendously! I have a whole new outlook on life from this study and I know I will learn much more from reading your book, Dee! I detest idolatry, even in the form of parental love, now. Thank you so much!
me too Joyce! I ordered for some friends–came in a day! So fun to open the box and see the beautiful cover!
I noticed too on amazon, you can “like” the book :)
Oh I “like” all of Dee’s books! I could not believe how many books/study guide’s you have wrote, Dee! Oh my Goodness..there is alot!!
10. What have you learned about the importance of putting God at the center of your Bible reading?
I suppose it helps us to learn more about Him. These aren’t just stories with interesting plots. These are stories with deep meaning. We need to study to understand. For me it is difficult. I wouldn’t have known to read keeping in mind it is a satire if Dee had’t told us. Maybe just bringing that forward means I will wonder what “genre” I am reading in the future. I don’t know if I got what I should have out of this study. I missed reading a lot of the discussion posts because of time. I think it would have helped me to have a different perspective. I felt like I needed to read more than just the one verse to understand the true message behind the story.
11. How have you seen the fingerprints of God in your week thus far? (In creation, life, or Scripture) Share two ways.
Well, my daughter and I really “had it out” yesterday. It was a low point. I decided to text her and say I was sorry. As I was texting she called me to do the same.
My husband and I went to new jersey to visit his mother last weekend. The beach was absolutely gorgeous. I rested for a couple of hours just listening to the seagulls and waves. lovely.
Great fingerprints.
In regards to the article, I think it was well stated and definitely something to think about. I haven’t been a person to read the Bible just to read it (in the past). I have been a Christian since I was a young girl though, and read the Bible in church.
I learned a lot of what i knew from teaching VBS in the summers!
About a year and a half ago I decided to join this Bible study because I felt like I needed to learn more about the stories and about Jesus. I admit, I felt at the time that if I died I wouldn’t know what I needed to when I got to Heaven to meet Jesus. I have learned so much in this time and I am grateful to Dee and this blog. The most learning during this time was when Dee would link our Bible study with something familiar to me like a movie. I will never forget the study on how Jesus loves us last summer! She linked the message to Fiddler on the Roof! It was so meaningful and I went around singing the songs for weeks! This helped me remember His love for me! Praise God for Dee and this blog :)
That encourages me, Laura-dancer. Thank you!
“Do you LOVE me?” I still sing it to myself..thinking of God!
11. How have you seen the fingerprints of God in your week thus far? (In creation, life, or Scripture) Share two ways.
I was reading in James 4 and stumbled across this passage and I just stayed there. This passage deals with Idolatry and how that grieves God’s heart. God jealously longs for the spirit He has caused to dwell in me. When my heart is divided it breaks his heart-yet there is Grace. When I submit to God, Satan will flee.
Since God has put His spirit in me even if I were stubborn for a while He would melt my heart, compelling me to yield like He did two or so years ago when I first came here. He was jealously longing for me when I was in the arms of my idol and He didn’t stop pursuing me. I thought he must have given up on me-I knew I was still His but that perhaps he was saying to me, okay if that is how you want it then I will just be distant. But look at His passionate love for me as He journeyed to the cross-He was pursuing me then-He was willing to take that humiliation, shame and pain for me-He didn’t stop-He went all the way to the cross, and while that melts my heart-this does even more-He was willing to be separate from God so He could have me. He wants so much more than a shallow relationship-He wants to take me deeper in and higher up.
He is a God who shows grace to the humble and if I have any humility in me it is because He is the one who put His spirit in me to make me Humble. He is the one who convicts, quickens, and redeems me-He is my Shepherd and He is faithful. This is all about Him, not me. OH I NEED TO REMEMBER THIS! Because of my default mode, I tend to stumble just about daily!
Good thoughts, Rebecca. Tracing His fingerprints in His pursuit of you. It’s always good to remember.
10. What have you learned about the importance of putting God at the center of your Bible reading?
I used to read the Bible thinking along the lines that there were “heroes of the Bible” – men like Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, etc… I have learned that God is the True Hero behind every story, and that when mere men and women do exemplary things, it is because God enabled them to do them. Now when I read, I approach with the mindset that I am meeting with God. I now anticipate looking for His fingerprints which are all over the place.
11. How have you seen the fingerprints of God in your week thus far? (In creation, life, or Scripture) Share two ways.
I am seeing Him everywhere when I go outdoors, seeing the work of His hands. This is such a beautiful season – feeling the late summer warmth of the sun on my skin, hearing the quiet music of the crickets, mums coming into bloom with their warm fall colors.
I am seeing His fingerprints in the mundane activities of every-day, like Mordecai, when he was just sitting at the gate. Helping my mom by washing her outside windows, being there to listen at the right moment and to carry another’s burdens, the timing of certain events, an open heart to read a book.
A keeper comment:
I have learned that God is the True Hero behind every story, and that when mere men and women do exemplary things, it is because God enabled them to do them. Now when I read, I approach with the mindset that I am meeting with God. I now anticipate looking for His fingerprints which are all over the place.
LOVE this Susan “I am seeing His fingerprints in the mundane activities of every-day, like Mordecai, when he was just sitting at the gate. Helping my mom by washing her outside windows, being there to listen at the right moment and to carry another’s burdens, the timing of certain events, an open heart to read a book.”
Such a good reminder to just open my eyes–He is always present, always working–and as you said, always the Hero.
Yes Susan, love, love this post both answers to 10 and 11. :) You are such a beautiful woman inside and out. So honored to be your friend. ;)
Thursday/Friday: Read the following essay at this link and share your thoughts:
I liked the article on Bible study in the sense that she clearly pointed out what we should not do. It was humorous and well done. However, I wish she had spent more time on how we should do Bible study. Also, I missed the humorous point about Xanax being a drug until one of my family pointed it out as we were discussing the article.
I understand what you mean, Diane. I will say, the article first appeared on Jen’s blog (before Gospel Coalition), and there, it had some resources and additional posts within the series that were helpful.
Would you have that link, Elizabeth?
Sorry–just saw this, here’s the link. At the bottom she has links to similar posts and a few Bible study resources: http://jenwilkin.blogspot.com/2012_04_01_archive.html
Thanks for the link, elizabeth. I’ll get sure to check it out when I get a few minutes.
Thanks for this link. I will look at it later today because I do need clarification and applications for some of the words she used in her last paragraph.
Would love your take-a-ways!
OUR BELOVED REBECCA IS FLAT OUT WITH THE FLU — PLEASE PRAY FOR HER!
Covering you my sweet sister Rebecca–so sorry for this attack ;(
Would give anything to be there with soup and lysol!
Lord, please be with Rebecca right now. It is so hard to be sick like that but add to it responsibilities to children and family and it is overwhelming. Be with her personally now calming her heart and her stomach. Please let none of the boys be sick right at this moment. May they be united in caring for each other and for Rebecca. I pray for Your presence and Your peace over this household. Amen
Oh,thanks so much for praying for me! I feel so much better this morning-a little queasy, but better.
Yesterday was horrible. I had to take Drew to the Doctor and felt sick to my stomach the whole morning..finally, I had to pull over somewhere on the way home from the Doctor and throw up..then fever, chills and horrible headache all day and night, and wasn’t able to stand up and walk without feeling like I need to throw up..Thankful the stomach flu only lasts 24 hours! I know I need to rest today but have so much to do.
Rebecca, PLEASE REST. I know there is so much to do–but it won’t be worth it if you relapse…take care of yourself!
Elizabeth, you are so sweet! I am on the computer for now..Not up and doing things yet. I will take your advice though. :)
Glad you are feeling better, Rebecca. Stomach flu is really nasty stuff.
Praying for you, Rebecca…please get well soon!!
Thanks so much for praying for me! I must say I ended up doing too much today..had to go to the store and now I am feeling kind of achy all over. SO I am going to rest tomorrow. :-) Need to get better at just lying around.
We have a big family get-together today. My brother and wife from North Vancouver, British Columbia (that’s west, just north of Washington State) is here plus grand-children and cousins and kids from Ontario and Nova Scotia. Of course, my 82 year old father as well. I am in charge of coordinating. I would appreciate your prayers for a good, God-honouring day.
Please be with Diane, give her peace — and may Your love flow throughout — I know there have been hurts, but I pray this will be a healing God-honouring day full of grace and blessing for Diane’s 82 year old father.
In Jesus Name
Oh Diane, I agree with Dee in prayer–sounds like a LOT! Praying He will be glorified and for you to feel His peace and strength. Let us know how it goes!
Dianne,
Yes, I agree with Dee’s prayer and will pray your father will be honored and God glorified-such a sweet fragrance that you are honoring him. ;)
12. What is your take-a-way and why?
I love what Dee said above “when we look at life with God at the center, and not us at the center, everything changes”.
Sometimes it’s easier to see His fingerprints than others. In the sweet things, in nature, in a really good day—I can see Him easily. In the stress of parenting, sickness, and conflict—it’s harder. But the truth that He is still there, that His hand-prints are still all over my circumstances, gives me peace. And by seeing Him more and more in the everyday, it helps me know He really IS there when it’s just harder for me to see.
I read an article from Sally Lloyd Jones on Desiring God, where she said “When we drill a Bible story down into a moral lesson, we make it all about us….When we tie up the story in a nice neat, little package, and answer all the questions, we leave no room for mystery…When we say, “Now what that story is all about is…”, or “The point of that story is…” we are in fact totally missing the point…Because the power of the story isn’t in the lesson. The power of the story is the story.”
It is so instinctive for me to make everything about me. If the kids are disrespectful, surely it is mostly my fault…if I am sick, surely God is telling me something. If a friend seems distant—I wonder what I did wrong. And when I read Scripture, my default is ‘what can I learn from this, how do I apply it to this situation in my life…?’ But when I stop and remember that the world, the Bible, does not orbit around me, I can breathe. I can relax a little and say, I don’t know all the answers. But He does. And I know Him. It takes a LOT of reminding, but it’s getting a little easier…baby steps!
Elizabeth, this is a great post! How I want to stop making everything about me. How freeing that seems. The picture of the small child in her father’s lap comes to me right now.
Wow! Love what Sally Lloyd Jones says. “When we drill a Bible story down into a moral lesson, we make it all about us….When we tie up the story in a nice neat, little package, and answer all the questions, we leave no room for mystery…When we say, “Now what that story is all about is…”, or “The point of that story is…” we are in fact totally missing the point…Because the power of the story isn’t in the lesson. The power of the story is the story.” But how do we STOP making morals out of the Bible? Sunday School teachers, preachers, everyone interprets. I need to read and think about this. Do you have the link for this as well?
Sure Diane, I started to post it with the quotes–glad you asked:
http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/teach-children-the-bible-is-not-about-them
TERRIFIC ARTICLE — HOPE EVERYONE WILL READ!
For those who love Storybook Bible like I do–she has a new Devotional for Kids book coming out (can pre-order now) called Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing–looks so good!
That new devotional should be good. I’m always looking for goood Christian children’s books for my grandkids.
Yes, I really liked this article too. Teachers, when we need to make application to our Bible lessons, make sure it is about God and not us.
“That the Bible isn’t mainly about me, and what I should be doing. It’s about God and what he has done.
That the Bible is most of all a story — the story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them.
That — in spite of everything, no matter what, whatever it cost him — God won’t ever stop loving his children… with a wonderful, Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love.
That the Bible, in short, is a Story — not a Rule Book — and there is only one Hero in the Story.”
11. I have thought a lot about this question and what I want to focus on as a fingerprint of God. Could we not count every part of our lives as orchestrated by Him? Dee, your pictures were very descriptive. The miracle of human creation, and birth along with the love of parents for children is a picture of God’s love for us. I keep thinking of the big things that direct our lives like a ship’s rudder but I would like to break it down to the little things. Only thing is I can’t think of the little right now.
The incident that keeps coming back to me is one that I think I shared a few weeks ago when Joey almost stepped on a poisonous snake in our back yard. It was the dog that alerted him to it. When I think of what could have happened I am so deeply thankful to the Lord. I am amazed by the instinct He wired our Darla with and how seriously she takes her job as protector.
I see the fact that my oldest is now in Brooklyn a fingerprint of God. I can’t see the working out of it right now but I sense such significance in the fact that he is in the place where his father’s family originated from Italy. We will see won’t we?
Anne–your last line especially spoke to me-immensely. “I can’t see the working out of it right now but…” and then how you end with “We will see won’t we?”–You are embracing the mystery! And that’s just IT–that is what I must remember–embrace what I cannot see, embrace the mystery.
Oh wow Elizabeth! You see it. Thanks for helping me to see it. This is what I mean about this blog. It is how iron sharpens iron.
Anne,
I love this: “Could we not count every part of our lives as orchestrated by Him?” I love your insight into the incident with your dog and how she protected Joey, and your peering into the mystery of Al being in Brooklyn. Dee is so right about you, Anne – you are a contemplative, always peering deeply and seeing what most of us often miss.
12. What is your take-a-way and why?
That we read a lot into the bible that just isn’t there. Sometimes it’s because we are trying to identify with the people so we project on them. Sometimes it’s because of stories that we have heard that make the people of the bible the heroes instead of God. We need to read the bible with God as the total focus. What is HE doing and how does this apply to u in the way of bringing Him glory with our lives.
We do know that regardless of our shortcomings and failures God will redeem us and it is His will that will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
The Essay: I loved it! Especially the last part:
“A disciple is, literally, a learner—one who follows another’s teaching. But the modern church has tended to define a disciple as a “doer” instead of as a “learner.” We have been asked to do service projects, join home groups, find an accountability partner, get counseling, fix our marriages, sing on the worship team, get out of debt, help in the nursery, hand out bulletins, go on mission trips, give to the building fund, share the gospel at Starbucks—but we have so rarely been challenged to pursue the most fundamental element of discipleship—earnest study of the Word. Yes, a disciple does, but we’re motivated to act by love for the God revealed in the Word.
Stop waiting for your community of believers to call you to be what Christ already has. Be a student. Be a good student. Read repetitively and in context, line by line. Keep the God of the gospel at the center of your study. Strive for comprehension before interpretation. Give application ample time to emerge from a passage. Watch ignorance flee and transformation flourish. Study the Word. Master it, master it.”
I have been guilty of all approaches to studying the Bible but have found when i wait for application and see the Gospel at the center-and look at it in context, and background-I can understand more deeply who God is and what He is saying to me. Though sometimes God quickens me in a passage and I stay on that for a while.
12. What is your take-a-way and why?
How crucially important it is to slow down and spend time in the word-to see Him and not hurry to application. God desires for me to be transformed-that is why He died for me-to be saved from the penalty of sin but also to be saved from the power of sin. Obedience without love is doing all the right things and abstaining from all the wrong things but missing Him in the center. It is me trying to save myself from the power of sin-I am leaving Him out. Does that make sense?
The Bible isn’t a book full of do’s and dont’s or quick fixes to make me happy..I think that is the issue with Christianity today-and I know I am guilty of it too. I have found His peace and contentment when I just gaze my eyes on Him, but when I approach Bible Study as a ‘to do’ on my list for the day-that is when I miss Him.
When we become real students of the Bible and seek to see HIM in every book-not approach it as book of morality, or a book to make us happy and fix our problems, but to approach it with a Gospel Centered approach. We become transformed and the serving and doing will naturally flow-as a fruit of being with Him and as we are with Him our love for Him grows as we meditate on the Gospel-we will truly be transforming into His image. As a matter of fact I wonder if the church might find more people who are less self centered as they serve and more Christ centered-it would really transform the church as a whole.
I am also learning to accept the mystery. I admit I tend to fall into the category of trying to figure out what God is doing, or to comprehend some incomprehensible things about God. I can’t comprehend some things about God-but am learning to rest in the mystery. It is so healing to rest and trust in Him.
Good thoughtful response, Rebecca. This is helpful. “When we become real students of the Bible and seek to see HIM in every book-not approach it as book of morality, or a book to make us happy and fix our problems, but to approach it with a Gospel Centered approach. We become transformed and the serving and doing will naturally flow . . .”
Dee, I am so excited! Thank you for sending me a copy of your book! When Joyce said she got hers today I hoped but thought it would take more time for one to come to me because I live farther away. I went to the mailbox just now and there it was! It has been threatening to rain off and on all day but almost as soon as I came in from the mailbox, the sky opened up. Perfect time to curl up with a good book…
Diane, how did the party go today?
Anne–I just emailed you a question if you have time, no hurry–just wanted you to know it was me ;)
Diane–how was your get together? I’m amazed you’re here!
Thanks all for praying and asking. The party went really well. It was so good for extended family to get together. My younger brother was not there, but two of Dad’s sisters and some of their kids were there. The older cousins don’t see each other enough even though most live fairly close and the littlest cousins don’t know each other because they live too far apart. It is so good to have four generations together once in a while. One of my brothers was there from Vancouver and one of my nieces (and family) now live in Germany.
Is it the younger brother that we have been praying for (your relationship with)? I’m glad it went well. I think that is really neat and special that you could bring so many together.
Yes, it is my younger brother and his relationship with the family that needs your continued prayer.
Dee, I am just finishing the first chapter and I have to tell you this is excellent! The language is strong enough to wake the dead. I pray that it does. The points are well made and it is infused with your heart. I praise God for what He has done through you.
Thank you Anne — from you that means a lot! So thankful for that prayer.
Anne – that was an excellent review!
Yes, Anne. LOVED your review! :)
I just got home and got my mail. THANK YOU, DEE! I’ll start it tonight. (Who ever heard of reading one book at a time? ;) )
My take away is that as I recognize that life is ALL ABOUT HIM, my life becomes better — as a side effect. I had a very difficult week at work. As I moved from 1) feeling hurt and angry to 2) wondering what God is trying to teach me to 3) realizing that He in in control and focusing on HIM, I felt more sane. But worshiping Him is not about my sanity; it’s about His glory, holiness, and praiseworthiness.
Blessings to all — headed to Canada this morning — thankful for your prayers.
Praying, Dee. Have a great time.
Hi Diane,
I’m sorry I missed the opportunity to pray about your family get-together, but I’m glad it went so well and the cousins got to reconnect with each other! Family is certainly a gift, isn’t it? Sorry though that your brother, the one we’ve been praying for, did not come.
I read the essay and thought yes, how many times I’ve been in a Bible study and failed to be transformed. Unfortunately, in the past, I would fearfully conclude that perhaps the reason was that I was not really a Christian, which led to prayers begging God to save me, for real, this time.
I’ve done the “Xanax Approach”, but…okay, if it is not a time that you are doing serious Bible study, is it always wrong? Like when I went through anxiety and fear several years ago, I did turn to passages about fear, and how God is with us, for comfort, even memorizing a passage that really helped me. I know we shouldn’t make the Bible about us at our every encounter with it, but Jesus called the Holy Spirit also our Advocate, our Counselor. So sometimes when I need some “counseling”, or advice, or comfort, I don’t think it is wrong to turn to the Bible for help. Sometimes in my life, it was a big shout for “Help!” – I needed help right then and there. In a way, I think it can still be making the Bible about God, because I’m not trying to solve my problems myself, or with positive thinking, or by calling a friend, but I’m going to Him because I believe He can and will and wants to help me. I learn things about His character and that I can depend on Him.
And it can transform me from being afraid and doubting into resting in His care and provision and love for me.
I appreciate your perspective, Susan. I love that you are thinking the issue through.