Such a Time as This!

"And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

 Esther 4:14b

This statement comes from Mordecai, the uncle of Queen Esther. It came at a desperate time in the history of the Jews. An edict had been made by a hateful man against the Jews. They were all to be killed and plundered simply because one man's pride went unchecked. Esther was in a position of great power, yet she feared what the king would do to her if she approached him without being summoned. Death was a likely outcome.

Queen Esther, also known as Hadassah, was of Jewish decent. She was a common girl. Her parents died in her youth, so her uncle Mordecai took her in as his own and raised her. The Jewish people living in Susa, Persia at this time were there because they had been carried away as captives. They were foreigners in the land. Hadassah means myrtle. The myrtle tree was found in Babylon. It was a tree that bore beautifully aromatic flowers used for perfume. She was a beautiful girl and attracted the attention of the king's men.

Queen Vashti had been removed from her throne due to a refusal to obey a request from the king. He then sought to replace her with a more beautiful woman. All the most attractive young virgins of the land were sought and brought to the palace. They were put through an entire year of beautifying. What a spa experience! Hadassah was one of those women. She is said to have been only 14 at the time! Can you imagine what fear must have accompanied a girl of that age? This girl who was an orphan of Jewish decent. She was to go before the king of Persia herself, the king who had just sent away his beautiful Queen Vashti. Hadassah gained favor in everyone's eyes including the king. She was made Queen Esther of the Persian Empire!

So time past and the edict came because of one man's detest for the Jewish people who had been living in the Persian Empire. They were all to be killed. Mordecai makes this known to Esther. She becomes fearful and distraught. Her uncle pleads with her to go to the king, but there is a risk of death to her if she exposes her true identity. She too could be killed. And then he says it, "“Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 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?”

What time are you living in? What things are happening in your life? Where are you feeling stressed, pressured, or under tribulation? What is your reaction? Oh, I can tell you what mine is! I want to run, complain, whine, and get out of the pressure. I want to live a peaceful easy life. Truth: this may not be the Lord's will. Look at the life that Esther lived. She was pulled from all security and safety. Everything she knew was gone and she found herself in a life she did not chose. Her life was chosen for her, yet despite her circumstances, she had faith. She fasted and prayed for three full days before going before the king. In the face of death, she turned to the Lord. The outcome was unknown and uncertain, but she chose to act in faith. Perhaps this is what her life was all about. Perhaps she was created for "such a time as this." We can read the rest of the story and see the Lord's hand in it all. She as accepted by the king and given her request. Her obedience and confidence in the Lord saved her people. What a legacy!

As I read through the Book of Esther, this is the verse that jumps off the page. What has the Lord put me on the earth for? For every situation I find myself, in all of those things, to live my life before the Lord with confidence and faith. He knows my life from beginning to end. He knows the trials I am facing. He knows the struggles I am and will have. So despite it all that I would live my life in faith and obedience knowing that He has orchestrated it all, "for such a time as this."

To Be More Like Jesus

1. Compassionate and loving to the point of death.
2. Loving those who hated him.
3. Free if complained and grumbling.
4. Silent before his accusers.
5. Obedient to his Father in all things.
6. Concerned with and guided only by his Father's will.
7. Willing to suffer for the sake of others.
8. A selfless humble servant.
9. Willing to severe for a time the most important relationship he had in order be united forever with us.
10. Willing to be punished and persecuted in the place of others.
11. Always spurred on because of the deep love he had for his Father and for us!

This is a list of things that the Lord brought to my mind this morning while sitting in church. I want to be more like my Savior. He was such an amazing man in his life here on earth. He showed such love and compassion! I can't wrap my mind around who Jesus is or what it really cost him to die for me, but I am every thankful. There are no words to describe what it means. What a beautiful Savior!

Would I be so compassionate for others? Would I see hurt and have it move me to do something? Do I love those who just dislike me? Do I whine and complain about life and circumstance? Would I suffer even just a little for someone who didn't like me? Would I be willing to serve others even if I didn't have to? I could go on, but you see the idea.

 As we were driving to church this morning I was full of complaints. I realized that I would have been one of the grumbling Israelites in the wilderness, probably one of the worst. It was depressing to be so honest, but I am thankful that the Lord revealed this weakness. Then in His wonderfully sweet way, the Father brought my eyes to His Son so that I could see more clearly. It will never cease to surprise me when someone teaches on the exact subject I have been wrestling with just days or even minutes before. Our eyes were turned to Jesus and the events of His life and death. He lived through some of the worst circumstances imaginable to man. I am amazed that he lived through such things and never voiced a complaint or bitter word. The Son of God, the creator, willingly allowed men to taunt, beat, accuse, and humiliate him for my sake. He endured such terrible things at the hands of man. He could have called his angel armies to the rescue and finished us all off, but He chose to endure the suffering for our sake! What love! Lord, make me more like you!

Tell Me About Yourself

I have been seeing alot of visitors on the blog from different countries. I would love to hear from you and get to know who it is that has been able to share in the things the Lord is doing. Please leave a comment or send me a message. I would love to be able to encourage you individually as well as be able to pray for you. God bless.

Redeemingmoments@gmail.com

The Good Commander

Like it or not, we are in a daily battle. There is a war ever raging, and our hearts and minds are the target. It is important to acknowledge this as a fact. Hiding from or ignoring it does not take you out of the battle. It simply leaves you uninformed and vulnerable. You can be sure the battle still rages on. When in battle, a soldier must know whose orders to follow. Who is it that commands? Who has the oversight and intelligence needed to defeat the enemy? Our commander is amazing. He is powerful. He cares about each one of us. He has equipped us with everything we need. We are never abandoned at the post. He gave His life for each one of us. Trust me, you will be blessed to know Him better. In knowing Him better, you will get to know yourself better.

In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an

inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works 

all things according to the counsel of his will, 

(Ephesians 1:4-11, ESV)

When I think about a military leader, it usually doesn't conjure up pictures of a very kind welcoming man. But notice what things are stated about our Commander. He does things in love. He is full of grace. He lavishes it on us. He has adopted us as His children and given us an inheritance. I love knowing that God is my Father and that He deals with me as a Father would.

God is always fulfilling His will. His will was to unite all things to Christ. God has a very clear will, one that will not be thwarted. He is in command and His plan will come to pass. It is so amazing to know that my Commander knows the outcome of everything. When He gives an order, it comes with full knowledge of the enemy, of God's will, and of me! 

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, 

and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the 

guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:12-14, ESV)

I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
(Ephesians 1:16-23 ESV)

Our God is powerful. He has immeasurable great power and might. We are not talking about a little bit of strength. The God who created all things. This is a God who has the power over life and death. I don't know about you, but that is pretty amazing. He raised Jesus from the dead. He can raise us from the dead. When your Commander can raise the dead, then the battle doesn't seem so scary or intimidating anymore.

So we can confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper;

I will not fear;

what can man do to me?”

(Hebrews 13:6 ESV)

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. 

Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

(Matthew 10:28 ESV)

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:4-10 ESV)

We have a merciful Father. The Merriam Webster's Dictionary defines mercy as: compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power, lenient or compassionate treatment, a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion, and compassionate treatment of those in distress. I am thankful that God is merciful. He gives us everything. We deserve none of it. He is compassionate towards those in distress. Feeling distressed? I have been struggling lately, but the Lord has blessed me even now as I type these words with the knowledge of His compassion and mercy. 

Our God is one of great love. Not just brotherly love, but the unconditional, unchanging, unfading love of God. And He gives it to us freely. My Commander loves me. He loved me even when I was completely without reason to love. Everything He does comes out of that great love. There isn't anything He would ask of me that would not be rooted and grounded in love. Sigh...so good.

He is kind. See that? Immeasurable riches of grace in kindness toward you and I. Does it make you ask why? I know I have been asking that a lot lately. His answer always stays the same, "Because I love you.". These kinds of truths leave me nearly speechless. I am thankful, oh so thankful that my God loves me and is kind toward me. He is so good. It is hard to understand and wrap my little mind around. For now, I choose to bask in His goodness. I really need to spend more time just soaking it up. 

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

(Ephesians 3:14-19 ESV)

Our commander is strong. He is above all, all powerful, all knowing, and always present. This is the God who can strengthen us. He is the one who is behind the "plan". So I ask, why do we seem so weak? I see in myself a lack of faith. I know that I didn't really see God for who He really is. A faulty weak view of God leads to a weak faith and a weak walk.Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." And again to the Thessalonians he writes, "But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one." Who does our strength come from? The Lord of course. That seems like the obvious answer, but do we really get that the God of the universe that is strengthening and establishing us? Nothing we will ever face is a surprise to Him. There is nothing too difficult for our Father to handle. Big truths lead to big changes. That is if they are grasped and applied. Don't let the enemy snatch these away! 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

(1 Peter 5:6-10 ESV)

and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of 

God in true righteousness and holiness.

(Ephesians 4:24 ESV)

This is a command to us, but it comes with some great information about our Commander. He is righteous and holy. He is a Commander who only does what is good, right, and just. There is nothing evil in Him. His commands will never be marred by biased opinions, personal flaws, sin, or any evil intent. We know that anything He does or asks us to do is based on His righteousness and holiness.

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

(Ephesians 4:32 ESV)

This just might be one of my favorite things about my Commander. He is forgiving! He has forgiven me. He continues to forgive me. The meaning of forgiveness has been tainted by our human understanding. Too often we say we have forgiven, but in reality we have only paid lip service. The Webster's Dictionary gave this statement: The original and proper phrase is to forgive the offense, to send it away, to reject it, that is, not to impute it to the offender. This is God's version of forgiveness. He removes the offense from us as far as the east is from the west to remember it no longer. I love knowing that the wrongs I have done in my life will not be brought back up by God. He will not bring up past offenses. He constantly provides a clean slate so to speak. Lord, please help me forgive others with your forgiveness.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 

(Ephesians 6:10-21 ESV)

Our Commander does not leave us unarmed and vulnerable. I love this passage and the deep meaning that comes from it. There is so much information in these 12 verses! I had no idea how rich this passage was until I dove in and started learning about each piece of equipment, the way the Roman guards used it, and what the deeper spiritual meaning is. We will get there, but for now just know that the Lord has provided you with every weapon and defense necessary. Our choice is whether or not to put them on. God is the best commander. He provides for our every need. He gives us every provision. He offers training and equipment. He gives us the Word so that we can know the plan and the final outcome of the battle! We do not need to be unaware or unprepared. Talk about empowerment!

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.,

(2 Timothy 1:7 ESV)

Pray Before Battle

Does the world around you seem all too dark and hopeless? Are you worried about your future? Everywhere we turn it seems we are bombarded by images of grief, violence, and corruption. It can be so easy to be bogged down by the darkness in this world. It is easy to look around and feel hopeless and defeated. At first glance it appears that we are alone. It may seem like God is no where to be found. It may seem like the attack is coming from every angle and there is no way out.  Don't lose hope, there is much more to what is going on then we can see on the surface. We have a hope offered to us that can conquer all. The truth we are about to delve into is so exciting. Hold on! It just might change you life! I know it is changing mine! Praise the Lord.

Are you ready? Let's embark on a journey into life changing truth. This is nothing new. It is simply the Word of God that is active and sharper than any sword. Let it cut deeply. Let it strip away false thinking and skewed perspectives. Let the Lord work on your heart and draw you close! There is change on the way. That is something to get excited about.

Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness, by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace, and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints. Pray for me also, that I may be given the message when I begin to speak – that I may confidently make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.

Ephesians 6:10-20

Read this passage every day for a week and see what the Lord will do with the truth found here. It is amazing! I have been so encouraged by my studies in Ephesians. I have learned some things about God and myself that change how I view the struggles in this life. I am no longer fearful of the enemy, and I know that the possibility of living a victorious life is very real. I know there is hope in the Lord and the place I have in Him. 

I first want to go all the way to the end of this passage and focus on something very important. Do you notice a word that is repeated? Pray. Prayer must be important! Paul repeats the command three times. I think it would be best to note this in our minds. First we are told to pray at all times in the Spirit. My prayers should always be prayed in light of God's will and in the Spirit. So my thoughts should be those that are in unity with God and the Holy Spirit. I am still working this out in my own life. Application is the hard part! I am so thankful that the Spirit is able to intercede on my behalf when I don't have words to say (Romans 6:26). 

How often should we pray? Paul tells us to pray at all times. This reminds me of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 where we are told to pray without ceasing. It is great to have set times to pray. Some of us need those times set so that we stay diligent and consistent, but God desires so much more. He wants our hearts and minds fixed on Him at all times. He wants constant communication with us. I love knowing that the God of the universe desires to speak with me all the time. Amazing! There are no words to express what this means to me. I have tried and end up speechless and tears every time.

So we are to pray in the Spirit all the time, but what are we to pray about? We are to make requests of God on behalf of other believers. Notice that we are also to be alert and persevere. It is obvious that we can be taken off guard and fail to do what is being asked. And apparently other believers need prayer too! This should not be a surprise. Unfortunately, I have believed the lie that everyone else has it together but me. This verse is an encouragement to those of us who struggle because we realize that we all struggle! Just read James 5:13-18. Apparently prayer is needed and is given by God as a gift to be exercised. Paul was a man who was always praying for the saints. Just read a few of his letters and you will see for yourself. His heart was in prayer.  Read I Thessalonians 3: 9-10; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5, 1:11-12; Colossians 1:9-1; and 2 Corinthians 13:9. Why was he always praying for the believers? Paul knew we would struggle. He knew life as a believer was not going to be perfect or free from hardship. In fact there are times when we are told the exact opposite. Read 1 Peter 1:6-8 and 4:12-19. There are many other places where we are told that there will be trials and struggles in our life as a christian.
We are not guaranteed a life free from struggle. In fact it is in the struggle that we grow. Romans 5:3-5 says that we should rejoice in our sufferings. They are what bring endurance, build character, and build our hope. All one must do to see that we will face difficulties is to do a word search for suffer in the Bible. There is much written on the topic. What I have found so encouraging is not that we will struggle, but that the struggles don't have to beat us. God has provided a way to overcome. He will not give us more than we can handle. Hallelujah! Keep that in mind always. 

Check out the last few verses of the Ephesians passage. What is Paul asking? Why did he say he needed them to pray? One thing that I am learning to appreciate about the Apostle Paul is that he was a man. He was human just like me. He struggled with the same things we face. He was humble and weak in his own flesh. Read through 2 Corinthians and see just how weak he admits to being. He knew that it was in his weakness that the Lord could be strong. It was in his struggles that the Lord's power would be seen. Ooh, so good! Read Colossians 4:3-4; Hebrews 13:18; Ephesians 6:19-20;  and Romans 15:31. These are just a few of the many places that prayer was requested from other believers. Notice the reasons why they were asked to pray.  Even Paul needed prayer to stay strong in his ministry. Why then would we ever think that we are exempt from needing prayer? How much more should we see that all believers need to have requests made known to God on their behalf? 

We are in a heated battle and prayer is a powerful tool. Take a look at what Jesus said about prayer. 

"And whatever you ask in prayer, if you believe, you will receive.” Matthew 21:22

"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask 

whatever you want, 

and it will be done for you." 

1 John 15:7

"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may 

be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it."

John 14:13-14

"For this reason I tell you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received it, 

and it will be yours. Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone,

 forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your sins.”

 Mark 11:24-25

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that remains, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you."

John 15:16

“I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven,

 and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven. Again, I tell 

you the truth, if two of you on earth agree about whatever you ask, my Father in heaven

 will do it for you. For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:18-20

Precious, precious words from our Savior. Read them, meditate on them, rest in them, and then believe them! Be in prayer and get ready to put on the Armor of God. It is going to be good! Are you ready to be equipped to handle the struggles of life and the enemies attacks? Spend some time praying. Ask the Lord to prepare your heart and mind. Ask him to show you where you have not been trusting Him. It is crucial to be in prayer about these things. I know too well. Prayer is our number one defense. It is what keeps us in communication with our leader. We are able to get our orders and battle plan from the General. As we gear up with the Armor of God, we should be looking to Him for our commands. Be blessed by the simple truth that you can enter into that place of communication with God! He is there at any moment ready to hear us. Go dear one. Speak to your heavenly Father. Enjoy your ability to come into His presence. 

Feeling Defeated?

Ever feel completely vulnerable and too easily tossed here and there by depression, anxiety, or mood swings? Do you feel unable to deal with the pressures of life? Oh how we all struggle with life and the pressures that surmount against us daily. The burden in my life was getting too large to bear. I was beginning to feel like I would crack and be crushed under all the pressure. That was until my eyes were open to a wonderful scripture. It is one of those empowering passages. One of those segments of scripture that we can turn to in time of need. Let me tell you, I was blessed so much by my studies of these verses that I am even considering writing a book for children on them.

Ok, so I bet you are wondering what part of the Bible was so amazing? Ephesians 6. I simply studied the age old passage of the Armor of God. If you have been a christian for years, you have probably been taught this passage a number of times. Most of us learn it at a young age. It should be precious to us and one of our "go to" passages, but for some reason it was not one of mine. I now believe that might be part of the reason why I have been living such a defeated life. How are we to have victory in our spiritual life if we aren't even engaged in the battle? 

I took a crash course in Spiritual Warfare this last week. It is far too information to share, but one of the key subjects was being equipped with the Armor of God. I am going to take a few weeks or so to really delve into this subject. My interest has been sparked and I want more! I tell you, I believe this is the key to deliverance from all of those things that weigh us down in life. I have already taken steps into freedom from those things that have been so heavy. I can't wait to share what the Lord has shown me through the last week. For now begin by reading through the book of Ephesians. The background is important and the book is amazing! Ask God to show you something new that you didn't know while you read. I tell you...you just might have your socks knocked off! I know I did! Happy reading!

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

No, the blog is not under construction, it is I who am being worked on. The Lord is doing some amazing things in my heart, soul, and mind. It is a bit of a refining process and I am so thankful for it. Because it is so intense, I simply do not have the time to share. I will leave you with one of the most impactful thoughts that The Lord has impressed on my heart as of late.

Read Ephesians 1. Look at what The Lord has done for us.

Now read Ephesians 2 and let The Lord bless your socks off! Where are you in regards to The Lord and the powers of the earth? I have so been blessed by this truth. There is so much power behind it...and oh the conifidence that comes with the understanding!

I hope The Lord is blessing you in your own studies. If you are not in the Word...get in it! Be under construction. Let The Lord work in your life.