Wk 1 Day 5: R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Esther 1: 16-22

On to the consequences. No wife will treat King Xerxes that way…and this royal decree suggested by Memucan to be spread about the land will let the Kingdom know this. Men are the ruler of the household. The leaders demanded respect.
I must confess I do have to keep myself from the male bashing here, but scripture makes it clear from the beginning of the Bible in Genesis that God created man and he is to look after woman, family, and the kingdom God entrusted to that man. The age old argument comes in how the “ruler of the household” is to act and the responsibilities. It is easy for a man to see this as a way to do what ever he wants. It is easy for a woman (and yes I am definitely talking to myself here) to get angry from this and wonder where she stands in all of this. Beth shares Ephesians 5:22-30. These are tough scriptures. My thoughts are this: yes- man is to be the head of the household- but he is also to be submitted to God first. God will always be the ultimate head of our lives- male or female. If King Xerxes had submitted to God’s rule first, he wouldn’t have had to make a decree to have his wife respect him- he would have earned his wife’s respect through his own actions and how she is treated by him. Let God be the Lord of our lives and all will fall into place. Not easy, but the respect of others is in the balance. Not to mention our very lives depend upon it.

Wk 1 Day 4: Drunken orders

Esther 1: 13- 20

 

                   Ok- so what do you do when your drunk and your wife embarrasses you in front of all the the important people you know? You are the King. You're throwing a party to look good and throw your power around to further your ambition to rule the world. Then the unthinkable happens. Your wife refuses to obey a quite simple order. That is were King Xerxes was when he called his advisors to help him figure out what to do. The drunk King asking his even drunker friends what he should do with his wife. So much for looking good and throwing your power around. He almost had no choice to follow there suggestion once he brought the issue to them.

                  Today's reading and homework just reminded me of how important it is to pray for those in power. It must be hard for them. From people in lower management right on up to President Obama. We might not like those in these positions, but they all need God's wisdom- whether they know it or not. Pride can not get in the way. That goes for us in our everyday lives as well in all of our relationships. A few lapses in judgement, a few wrong words-and things get out of hand. It has happened and will happen again if we don't 1st surrender to God's control. Pray before you react- especially in very difficult or uncomfortable situations. I know I need to do that more myself for sure. 

Wk. 1 Day 3- The "trophy wife" say enough ?

  Esther 1: verses 9 through 12

                Enter Queen Vashti. We are not told in scripture exactly what happened when the King's eunuchs (I had to look up the definition of the word to be honest) went to the Queen. It only tells us she refused the King's demand and the King became furious and angry. Even though we are instructed not to gossip, who wouldn't want to have been a fly on that palace wall. Beth sites from commentaries as to some possible reasons, but we will never know for sure. 

                The personal question for the day was to rate "how haunted are you by the pictures of physical perfection that loom nearby? I wrote down 10. I am greatly affected. I guess for me I am definitely affected and want to compare- that is only natural of a human. Most of the time I can notice and try to shake it off- but it does make it worse if the people around me verbalize that they too notice. It doesn't matter the company- male of female. If someone mentions another's beauty, I immediately feel inferior. Feel I can't measure up. 

                Interesting enough, these 4 verses due not actually mention any superlatives. It doesn't speak like the mirror in Snow White saying that Queen Vashti was most beautiful woman in the land. Just that the queen was "lovely to look at." Reading this alone outside of the homework, this did not spark too many negative feelings. I have a feeling this when come in to play later as Esther is chosen the new Queen- but I am trying NOT to jump ahead in the story. The homework, I feel, kind of makes you do that for this particular day. Again, the scripture does not mention superlatives and just that the King called for the Queen, and she refused bringing anger to her husband. I suppose in this situation, any husband would be angry. You are among a huge crowd of important people and your wife makes a fool out of you. From scripture we know the Queen was absorbed in her own party and no husband of hers was going to disturb her time with her BFF's. From the homework, we can assume she must have had a REALLY good reason to refuse the order of her husband- who just happened to be the King of the land. Was she really wanting the "wear the pants" of the kingdom? Was she tired of just being only considered eye candy for her husband? Or, was it actually her vanity and she was busy discussing with the girls her bad hair day and how bloated she felt- and just plain didn't feel like she was "lovely to look at" in that particular moment to be made such a spectacle over at her husbands grand moment? We are left to only wonder. 

Kings and splendor--Week 1 Day 2

Today in this study I read Esther 1 verses 1 through 8. As an avid reader and person who loves to write, these verses are very intriguing to me. The visuals the words create are wonderful. They truly do make you feel, like Beth points out, that you are watching a movie. You see the grandeur of the palace. You are drinking out of the golden goblets. Wow. I remember for the "Sunday School" version of the story that there was a grand party, but taking the time in this study to really reflect on how over the top this scene really is- is really eye opening.
The personal question we were asked in the homework is "Describe a time when you toured an estate or attended a party that left you saying something like, "Oh, the ____________!". Well, I immediately went back to the summer of '85 when I was not quite 11. My family took a vacation and went by car from our home in Florida to Nashville, TN. My Dad decided that we would take the longer way and drive through Memphis on our way. We spent one whole day with "The King"- Elvis. Talk about splendor. I don't think I still have seen again the likes of the enormous chandeliers and the fixtures all made of pure gold. Even a baby grand piano that was gold plated. It is 24 years later and the impression is still so strong. Even at that young age, I couldn't believe Graceland and all of the planes and cars. It also happened to be the anniversary of his death, so there were tons of flower arrangements and decorations. It was beyond belief. No wonder Elvis is still called "The King" seeing how he lived. And to think King Xerxes would probably even thought of Elvis as barely more than a pauper. Craziness. Foolishness. Beth had us read Psalm 49: 6-20. To sum it up- it states we shouldn't value wealth because it can't buy us our life. We all will die- as unpleasant as that thought is for most. We will not be able to take a cent with us. King Xerxes didn't take it with him. Elvis sure couldn't take it with him. I know I spend many hours stressing over my finances. I am again reminded to lay that in God's hands again. I pray for God to change my heart everyday. I will leave you with this for the night: Jesus himself, as recorded in the Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. "

The Greatest Fairy Tale (Week 1 Day 1)

            The book of Esther begins with the phrase "This is What Happened... (NIV)" Beth Moore compares that phrase as used here to that of the famous words used to open fairy tales, "Once Upon A Time."  Well, you've heard of 4 letter words (no offense meant here) but this is a 4 letter phrase in my life. As a girl I just loved fairy tales. All little girls want to be the princess- just ask the people at Disney merchandising. I, too, when young was no exception. I knew my tall, dark, and handsome prince would find me any day. I would be rescued from all harm. I never thought twice about it. It would just happen. 

         Fast forward about 15 years. I was in my early 20's, single, told by doctors that I could never have children, and broken hearted. It was about that time that I began to despise the words "once upon a time"  because I stopped believing them.  I knew they were just that- things of fairy tales. Reality hit me very hard. Fast forward another 12 or so years to today. Less than 2 weeks from my 35th birthday. Engaged, yes, but still broken hearted about many things in my life. And I am reading those dreaded words again. Beth quotes from her research about how those words usually mean "impending catastrophe or doom" (cue scary sound effects) but after going through the grief all ends well. Again, it brought me back to the struggles from about 12 years ago and me crying out to God so many times, asking Him when do I get my "happily ever after?" 

                    As Beth illustrated using Romans 15:4 in both the intro video session and today's lesson, God, through His scriptures, longs to bring us hope. And, as she pointed out, every single person, man and woman alike, can use a dose of God's hope every day. I know that is what keeps me going. So....What am I hoping for as I begin this study? To better understand my biblical role as a woman (as tough as it may be) and to find the path that God has ahead for me. 

                   So, to put this all together. I am encouraged to again believe in a fairy tale. YEAH! But not any written by the Brothers Grimm or franchised by Disney. The fairy tale that my very Creator has for me. God's word promises me as a Christian many things. I may not be modern day beautiful princess with the lineage of the great leaders of that day that Esther marries into. I indeed will have the trials, but just like in the beginning of the first chapter of Esther, a grand royal feast is being prepared for me. A Holy Kingdom will have a place for me. God still has a Happily Ever After for me. In fact, it is the ultimate of happily ever afters. The greatest fairy tale ever. 

Intro

                     The "Esther" study by Beth Moore (from Lifeway Publishing.) I have been anxious to dive in to this study for about a year now- since I first learned last summer it was coming out. Now, almost a year since it was released in November 2008, I got my first taste of this wonderful work last night at the first night of the Wednesday Night "working women's" Bible study at Portland Christian Center. I must say, like everything I have studied by Beth Moore, I was captivated from the beginning of the introductory video lesson. I have decided to "blog" as I go through this study. It is not to copy others, but to help me push my own self and share more deeply with the others as I go deep in the wonderful Word of God. So here it goes...         

                     The book of Esther. I must confess...even as a Sunday school teacher this is one story I am familiar with, but have not really gone too deeply into. I only really know small pieces of the story. I remember bits of Esther not feeling worthy or beautiful enough to replace the magnificent queen. I remember she took a major chance to ask her husband, the King, to save her Jewish ancestors from the harm that was about to come to them. I remember the phrase "for such a time as this." That is basically it. That phrase I have always loved- as do many women- so that is one reason I named my blog as such. The other

is my own way to assure me that God does have a purpose to fulfill through me...I just must be open as to not miss the chance. 

                     Until I read the forward, I had never realized nor heard that this book of the Bible did not contain the name of God in any way at all. Definitely an eye opener. In the video, however, I loved how Beth described the providence of God and that God is in the book, even if his name isn't, and the book is filled with hope. I think every woman could use some hope in our day to day lives as we try to be every thing to every one.  I loved the verse she threw out....Ephesians 1:11 (NIV):  In Him (God) we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will.".....such powerfully inspiring words that the Lord gave Paul then and wants us to hold in hearts today. I often worry about things way too much and want to know the future right now. I struggle with patience for sure. so, when reading this is gives me such assurance and yet another reminder that even when I am frustrated that I don't know all of the whens and hows and whats and wheres, that God does know and it is in His hands.

                    One of the biggest things that struck me (even though it really shouldn't have) is how universal the struggle with yielding, balance, and, yes, hormones really are among women. I can't tell you how many hours I have wondered how do I fit in this world with everyone else and with God, how can I possible finish everything that I need to get done, and why I go from yelling to crying in a split second.  

                    The last item I want to mention in this intro blog is this weeks "scenario":  It is tough being a woman in another woman's shadow....WOW. Have I ever lived those words in many, many unique ways in many very different situations. I am so excited for this week's homework to see what comes from that while ready through Esther- Chapter 1.

                   I am so encouraged by the intro video that God, yet again and as only He can, is bringing me these lesson at just the right time when I really need it. My heart is open, God. I read the story of Esther to find my own story. I am ready for the whole "megillah."