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Monday Morning Minute ~ For such a Time as This

Monday Morning Minute

“For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 ESV)

This past weekend, I read the book of Esther. It is an interesting story of plots, secrets, drama and intrigue. After Vashti gets disposed by the King of Persia, Esther becomes the new queen. Esther has a secret though; she is one of the exiled Jewish people. Haman (a high official of King Xerxes) plots against the the Jewish people, because he has a run-in with Esther’s uncle, Mordecai. At the end all turn out well for Esther, Mordecai, and the Jewish people.

What baffled me most about the book of Esther is that God was not mentioned once. So, why is this book in the Bible, I am wondering. I really don’t have an answer, but maybe it shows that God places us in certain areas so that we can be faithful, no matter what?!? I don’t know.

But one thing I know for sure is that God has placed you and me where we can be best utilized by Him. I have shared more than once that I really do not enjoy Arizona. But I know in my heart that He has me here for such a time as this to serve Him. I just need to be open to Him so that He can use me wherever He needs me.

Lord of Mercy and Grace. You know my heart and You know that I would be rather somewhere else. But I also know that You are faithful and placed me here for such a time as this. May I follow You without resistance and keep close to You. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen

Photo Copyright © Iris Nelson

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New Year’s Meditation 2009

***Scroll down for Thankful Thursday***

NewYear

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” ~ Matthew 19:26 (ESV)

A brand new year…new goals, dreams, hopes for a year ahead. As Lori mentioned on her blog, she does not like to make new years ‘Resolutions’ — I don’t either. I break them within the first week. But I do have goals, dreams, and hopes for 2009…Allow me to share them with you:

  • Spiritual Growth: Realizing in 2008 how much I like to be in control of things, having pride-issues (still), self doubt, feeling worthless…I believe that the study of Esther by Beth Moore is just perfect for me. Reading through Esther is the last part of 2008, I realized how much Esther relied on God’s timing. She didn’t rush anything but waited on His ‘green light’. I also plan on attending the Phoenix “Women of Faith Conference” in October 2009

  • Marriage: With God’s help taking the focus off of my own needs. Continue to pray for our marriage. We have been married for almost 26 years, waves hit our marriage, but I trust God to continue to protect it.

  • Motherhood: Keeping out of the affairs of our son. He is grown up — I need to acknowledge that (hard one for me – 😆 )

  • Work: Let God handle the details. Keep my eyes focused on my own tasks to complete. Don’t worry about the work ethics of my co-workers.

  • Writing/blogging: Take one day/blog at a time. Continue hosting Thankful Thursdays — as long as the interest is there. Sharing His Word, grace, love with a world to read/see/respond. With His help, I will find the time to do so. As I have mentioned often (but can’t say it enough), God truly has blessed me with a wonderful writing team at Laced with Grace. I hope to deepen the friendships I have made through the team blog this year. These women are an incredible encouragement to me personally.

  • Photography/Scrapping: My dream for photography — get published or sell a photo or two (I know dreaming here 😉 ). One thing that I want to finish though this year is my Faithbook to have it printed. I hope that God uses my scrapping to make Him known through a different medium – digital layouts.

Maybe some of my goals, dreams and hopes for 2009 are a little lofty…but you know – all things a possible with God (thus Matthew 19:26 as my verse for the year 😛 )

If you would like to read more bloggers sharing their goals for 2009, stop by Lori’s blog “New Year’s Meditations”…

Be blessed today and as always…

grace_iris1