Week 6 - Days 3 and 4 (Prohibition, Bible, Pride and Humility, Mordecai and Esther)

Prohibition

"We've all heard that man wants what he can't have, but I'd like to ask why." - (page 142)

"We trace this tendency all the way back to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In the garden of Eden the serpent convinced Adam and Eve that God was holding out on them. Mind you, they'd been told they could eat the fruit from every other tree (Gen. 2:9). Unimaginable variety!" - (page 142)

"The moment we rename caution prohibition, our flesh throws a fit." - Beth Moore

Bible

9/12/13

This morning, I noticed my Bible bookmark had gotten caught in between two pages. They weren't pages associated with anything I had read recently. Since the bookmark was there, I decided to read the two pages because I feel sometimes the ribbon bookmark might be there for a reason. So, I read Ezra 10:25 through Nehemiah 2:10 or so. Then, shortly after, I was doing Bible study homework and, in the workbook, it read:

"In Nehemiah Xerxes' son and successor, Artaxerxes, would note the sadness of his cupbearer's face and inquire what was wrong (Neh 2:2)." - (page 145)

I don't know if I've ever done any Bible study homework with Nehemiah 2:2 in it until today.

Pride and Humility

"Matthew 12:34 tells us ... ... "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." God created man with an undeniable heart-mouth connection."

"... this heart-mouth connection also serves a purpose in hidden sins such as pride."

"At any moment we can make a choice to humble ourselves."

I've learned we need to humble ourselves or we will be humbled...

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. - Proverbs 16:18

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. - James 4:10

Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor. - Proverbs 29:23

For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." - Luke 14:11

Esther and Mordecai

On page 146, regarding Esther and Mordecai, Beth points out that "... we have witnessed impressive strength and courage in both as well as a willingness to do what was right at great personal risk." 

"We might glean several things from Mordecai's example. If we get overlooked for affirmation or promotion, so be it. Let's just do our jobs. If we get elevated and celebrated, so be it. Let's just do our jobs. Let's pursue a walk with God so close that the spotlights of this world - be they for us or against us - are eclipsed by His enormous shadow cast on our path." - (page 147)

The above is some stuff in regards to week 6 - days 3 and 4. Feel free to leave a comment below with your thoughts and/or things you took away from these days' lessons. (If you are reading this in your email, you can click HERE and it will take you to this post on the seek Him blog where you can comment.)

Thanks!

Cari

Week 6 - Day 2 (Presumption, Entitlement, Wheel of Fortune)

Presumption and Entitlement

When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?” Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” - Esther 6:6

Haman assumed King Xerxes was referring to him. Reminds me of how easily we, as humans, can make assumptions. 

In Haman's case, I think he was blinded by pride.

On page 136, Beth Moore points out that "Among the things that made Haman mistake himself for the person King Xerxes wanted to honor" were "presumption and entitlement". 

Side note:

"Continually thinking others are talking about us - whether positively or negatively - is an unhealthy self-preoccupation." - (page 137)

Wheel of Fortune

On Monday (9/9/13), as I was doing this day's lesson, I was reading a paragraph on page 138 where Beth Moore wrote about the gameshow "Wheel of Fortune". As I was reading, all of a sudden, I heard "ding ding" coming from the tv in the other room, so I looked up at the tv in my room (which was on mute) and "Wheel of Fortune" was on the tv. Ha.

I can honestly say that I don't know when I had seen "Wheel of Fortune" on the tv prior to that. It's not a usual occurance to have it on.

The above is some stuff in regards to week 6 - day 2. Feel free to leave a comment below with your thoughts and/or things you took away from this day's lesson. (If you are reading this in your email, you can click HERE and it will take you to this post on the seek Him blog where you can comment.)

Thanks!

Cari

Week 6 - Day 1 (Timing, Circumstance, Irony, Sleep)

Timing and Circumstance

That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. "What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked. “Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered. - Esther 6:1-3

I love two of the elements of the situation Beth discusses in this day's lesson.

1) "the timing" - (page 132)

2) "the circumstance" - "The king couldn't sleep." - (page 132)

Mordecai had been the reason King Xerxes had found out about a plot by Bigthana and Teresh against the king and it had been recorded in the annals. However, nothing had been done to recognize Mordecai for it.

King Xerxes didn't just "happen to" realize that Mordecai had been overlooked while reading his book of chronicles the night before Haman was going to tell the king to have Mordecai impaled. That was God's timing.

God hadn't caused Mordecai to get recognition previously because He was planning to keep the king awake to realize it the night someone was conspiring against Mordecai. 

"The Lord took sleep from the king that night." - (page 132)

Irony

There is irony in the fact that Mordecai saved the king from someone conspiring against the king. 

The king would end up saving Mordecai from someone conspiring against Mordecai. 

Sleep

I've been woken up when trying to sleep. It felt like I was supposed to be awake for a reason. I love the following verse because I was unsure why I was awake when I felt awakened at the time, but if/when it happens again, I think it's a great idea to try to remember to say something similar to what is in 1 Samuel 3:9.

So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. - 1 Samuel 3:9

"... what could be more precious to Him than our saying, "Speak, for Your servant is listening"..." - (page 133)

The above is some of what I got out of week 6 - day 1. Feel free to leave a comment below with your thoughts and/or things you took away from this day's lesson. (If you are reading this in your email, you can click HERE and it will take you to this post on the seek Him blog where you can comment.)

Thanks!

Cari

Week 5 - Day 5 (A Woman's Influence)

A Woman's Influence

It seems I had learned, maybe in a previous Bible study, that women have a lot of influence and they can choose to use it for good or for bad. 

Zeresh used it for selfish reasons most likely. Either way, it was not in a good way that she used her power of persuasion and manipulation.

A wife seems to have a lot of influence over her husband. 

A woman with a husband in a position of power is actually, herself, in an extreme place of power. 

"As I reflected on Zeresh and Jezebel ... thoughts surfaced in reference to womanhood. ... I considered afresh how much power of persuasion - both positive and negative - the woman of the house can have." - (page 126)

In the Book of Esther, we've seen that one woman alone can make a big impact - good and/or bad.

The above are things I've learned and/or my thoughts/beliefs. Please feel free to post anything you took away from week 5 - day 5. 

Thanks!

Cari

(If you're reading this in your email, you can click HERE and it will take you to the above post on the seek Him blog, where you can leave a comment.)

Week 5 - Days 3 and 4 (Deny Self, God's Power, Discontent, Bondage)

Deny Self

"Christ's purpose in calling us to deny ourselves is that we'd deny our selfishness, ambition, pasts, or any damaged emotions the right to cheat us of His far higher plans for us." - (page 115)

"God designed the human psyche. He knows that nothing leaves us more hollow than being full of ourselves." - (page 116)

"Any time God calls us to die, His purpose is to reveal larger life." - (page 116)

We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. - 2 Corinthians 4:10-11 (NIV)

What I got out of it is that when we deny ourselves, we reveal Jesus. When we forgive, go against human default, fight the flesh, etc., etc. in any way, we reveal Jesus.

"A paramount theme in Esther is what God can do when we resolve to obey and "if I perish, I perish."" - (page 116)

Giving up our will, following God, stepping out in faith, trusting Him, following God's will, and having the attitude of whatever happens, happens.

God's Power

"A godless man had no idea the well of divine power a person could access from praying knees." - (page 117)

"A frightening circumstance may remain exactly the same, but God's child need not." - (page 117)

I've learned that, as children of God, we can experience contentment and joy regardless of our circumstances.

Discontent

"Discontent with selfishness and weary of ego, we finally become willing to lose ourselves to something greater." - (page 119)

That reminded me of a quote I read recently:

"Discontent is the first necessity of progress." - Thomas Edison

Bondage

"One of the most eye-opening things God has shown me about bondage is that we can become addicted to a person." - (page 120)

"We become fixated on the one from whom we cannot get what we want." - (page 120)

On one side of the spectrum, it might be the "hard to get" and/or "thrill of the chase" factors.

"I don't think we realize our stronghold can be a person until it is one. A person becomes a snare to us any time he or she consumes an excessive and unhealthy space in our thoughts, whether negative or positive." - (page 121)

"Make no mistake, we serve whatever masters us." - (page 120)

"The truth is, however, the person did not emotionally master us. Our thoughts about the person emotionally mastered us." - (page 122)

"We need God's healing in our minds even more than our relationships." - (page 122)

"God is the only One who can tend to the secret places where pain calls to bondage." - (page 123)

Put more focus on God. He can give us contentment.

The above are things I took away from week 5 - days 3 and 4. Feel free to comment below in regards to this post and/or things you got out of this past week's lessons.

Thanks!

Cari

(If you are reading this in your email, you can click HERE and it will bring you to this post on the seek Him Bible study blog.)

Week 5 - Days 1 and 2 (Trust, Approaching, Will of God)

Trust

"... the enemy and our own self-destructive natures combine to taunt us with "what ifs."" - (page 107)

Over the years, when it comes to my OCD, "what ifs" have been torturous.

A few other words from this lesson that reminded me of my OCD are "riddled with self-doubt" (page 109).

Beth says we should be "secure children who trust" our "lives to" our "faithful Father."

"The most critical breakthrough of faith you and I could ever experience is to let God bring us to a place where we trust Him - period." "... no matter what, even if our worst nightmare befalls us." - (pages 107 and 108)

A life-coping verse for me is:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. - Proverbs 3:5

Things are going to come up in life that are beyond our understanding and if we are able to come to a place of trusting Him "no matter what", it can help us cope with life so much easier.

"As hard as trusting can be, living with constant fears is harder." - (page 108)

That is something I still need work on. Even though I trust God, I still have so many fears.

"Sometimes God's Hand is so close that it covers the eyes." - (page 109)

"God's silence is in no way indicative of His activity or involvement in our lives. He may be silent but He is not still." - Dr. Charles Stanley

Approaching

A major difference between King Xerxes and our King is that we do not have to fear approaching the throne. We are always welcome! In fact, Scripture tells us to approach with confidence. 

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. - Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

Esther really was taking a chance because King Xerxes seemed to take disrespect very seriously. Look how he handled Vashti. Esther really was brave! Bold. A hero.

"In those few seconds, the king had to weigh Esther against his own ego. Could he take the chance of giving the officials grounds to conclude for a second time that the king couldn't control his wife?" - (page 111)

He probably really loved Esther. I imagine Esther always showed him respect, as well as others in the palace (or wherever they lived - castle - whatever). Maybe Vashti had shown disrespect often. Beth also makes it seem like King Xerxes knew something was wrong with Esther. He seemed concerned.

Will of God

"Esther did what she needed to do, clearly the will of God, but not as one perfectly collected and confident."

It's not easy to do God's will.

But... God is with us and "He knows how hard it is going to be for us."

"... what would have happened if Esther had waited to go to the king until her hands stopped shaking and her heart stopped pounding."

That reminded me of some words from part of a Bible study by Kay Arthur:

"Endurance ... ... is the will of God. You may be weak, you may be trembling, your knees may be knocking, your voice may be weak and squeaky high with fear, but hang in there. Don't give up. Persevere."

Beth also points out the fact that some people "believe the only way to do something acceptably is to do it perfectly..." 

She also says that the "stronghold of perfectionism could be a severe detriment to your destiny".

"Can't a touchdown still be a touchdown even if the boy tripped his way across the goal line?" Yes!

I was reminded me of some things I learned in the Beth Moore 'David' study: 

"We don't have to win big to win."

"David could have been furious with himself because he let some guys get away. Instead, he chose to focus on the ones he brought home:"

"Assured victory does not mean easy wins."

On the way to our win, we might make mistakes. It doesn't have to be a perfect battle to score a "W". Don't focus on the mistakes.

Don't focus on the imperfect ways we do what we need to do, keep pushing through the fears, etc. and do God's will.

Feel free to comment below in regards to this post and/or things you got out of week 5 - days 1 and 2. 

Thanks!

Cari

(If you are reading this in your email, you can click HERE and it will bring you to this post on the seek Him Bible study blog.)

Week 4, Day 5

Esther had called for a 3 day fast.  

"Whether Esther was mindful of Joel's prophecy or not, she in effect 'blows the trumpet of Zion', commanding Mordecai to call a fast for all the Jews of Susa, to see if the Lord may relent from sending this calamity on her people."

Joel 2:12-13

12 Therefore also now, says The Lord, turn and keep on coming to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning ( until every hindrance is removed and the broken fellowship is restored ). 

13 Rend your hearts and not your garments and return to The Lord, your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in loving-kindness;  and He revokes His sentence of evil ( when His conditions are met ).

So whether Esther was remembering Joel or just felt led to fast, we don't know, but what we do know is that two things were happening at this point in the story:

1. God's people were never called to fast for fasting's sake. They were called to fore go food to deny all else but God.

2. Esther came to what many would call her defining moment.

She was a woman who was thrown a giant-sized weight. She had re-invented herself, if you will. The Jews had hidden their identity, she had hidden her identity, and now she was about to reveal who she was, Hadassah the Jew.  Beth says Esther was Hadassah the Jew and Esther the Persian.  Esther had two identities and Beth asks us to describe our two identities. 

Cari and I talked about it and it seemed difficult to say what my two identities would be. 

From what Beth says, it would be like saying:

I'm Brenda the Viking and Brenda the American. 

The identities of Esther were national but I believe Beth wants something like:

Spiritual and Carnal

One foot in Heaven and one foot on the Earth.

Trying to be accepted by people and trying to be accepted by God.

In this part of the story, the Jews had come to a defining moment.  With the 3 day fast they were being brought back to their roots and back to their God.

Esther needed to believe God and not her feelings.  She needed to take the courage and strength that He had to offer her.

Many times we are thrown a giant-sized weight.  In those times we are also called to rend our hearts and return to God.  We are to not trust ourselves, families, or friends. We are to only trust in Him.

Esther was placing her trust back in God and away from the comforts that she had gotten used to having.

Placing trust in God everyday is not easy to remember.  We, being human, have feelings and emotions that like to take the front seat.  I'm sure that Esther had her own share of emotions, at this time. 

What I can say is that if she can do it, so can we.  We have all the strength and courage that God has to offer, we just need to take it.

Take that courage and step out of being ordinary because God wants you to be extraordinary!

 ~ Brenda