Pampered or Purposed?

Esther 4: King Xerxes of Persia, not knowing his wife is a Jew, has issued an order to destroy all Jews. In this chapter Queen Esther realizes that it’s up to her to reveal her secret to the king and in doing so to save her people.

I am a dreamer, an idealist really. Some say my cup is half full, I say my cup over-flows! But it hasn’t always been that way. I was a latch key kid and checking in with my mom after school often times meant going to the local restaurant or grocery store where she worked. My stepdad was a truck driver which took him away from home days or weeks at a time. Money was always tight and occasionally we were the house that a stranger, a blessing, had left groceries on the step for us to find. Often times I would escape that reality by going into my dream world. In my dream I was a grown up, I had a little family and I was able to stay home with my kids, instead of having to juggle work and child rearing. Every night was family dinner and we’d sit down together to learn about each others day. I didn’t know at the time that it could actually happen...in REAL life. No one on either side of my family was free of divorce or alcohol abuse or just plain drama of some sort! But it was my dream. Now, as an adult living the dream, I often wonder if God Himself placed that dream in my mind at a young age just so He could bless me all these years later. It’s possible, and whether He did or not I thank Him for my blessings each day.

Esther did not have an ideal childhood either. She was raised by her cousin, Mordecai, because her parents had died. She and Mordecai, along with all Jews, were exiled from Jerusalem into the Persian Empire and lived scattered among the people. I wonder if Esther also had a dream. Something so different from what she knew. Something only God could orchestrate. Maybe she wondered what the inside of the kings palace looked like. Or what it would be like to have servants and care takers making sure her every desire was met. Did she dare dream that one day she would be the queen?

Acts 17:26 says that God determined the times set for each one and exact places where they should live. So the question begs- For what purpose did God place Esther in the position of queen? For what purpose did God place me in suburban America, a stay-at-home mom raising these kids? For what purpose did God place you in your circumstances today?

Mordecai warns Esther about the danger to the Jewish people, herself included. He asks her “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (v14). I think it boils down to this- while God wants to lavish us with the life of our dreams, once we get it there is still a purpose for which He has brought us to this place. Mordecai was a wise man to point that out to Esther. We know from the rest of this story that Esther’s purpose was to reveal to the king her true identity as a Jew and convince the him to stop the order to murder the entire Jewish nation. Queen Esther succeeded in stopping the Jews from being killed, and in doing so she was able to gain the respect of the king. Between her and Mordecai’s influence on the king they were able to pave the way for the Jews to return to their home in Jerusalem, continuing the line for the Messiah who was still to come.

As I’m writing today I am thankful that a whole nation doesn’t rest on my shoulders. But there is great purpose in raising my family to follow the Lord, to love others and to know that they, too, have a purpose from God.

Dear Heavenly Father- Thank you for making me a dreamer and for giving me the life of my dreams. I am forever grateful to You. ~Beth

Living Victoriously

Nehemiah 6: Nehemiah was a Jew who loved the Lord. In chapter 1 you see his repentant spirit and contrite heart. Because of that he was called by God to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city wall so that the rest of the exiled Jews could return to their city, in essence, to their God. Beginning in chapter 6 the wall is almost complete, but Nehemiah has some opposition that wants to distract him from finishing his God given task. Nehemiah has a great sense of purpose and drive in this task and we’ll see how that enables him to complete the job.

Looking at this passage of scripture from today’s perspective I see two opposing forces: rebuilding the city wall (equivalent to building a relationship with God) vs. some Arab men who try to get Nehemiah distracted (equivalent to anyone or thing that distracts you from your relationship with God). Please know that God is always working for our good, to draw us into an ever deeper relationship with Him, but there is one who is always working against God’s goodness and he’ll use anything to try to distract us from the very One who loves us the most.

It’s easy to see Nehemiah’s heart reflected in his desire to follow God by his actions (not to say that actions equal relationship- they do not! But, when you love someone you express it with actions). When I’m being honest with myself my desire is to walk closer with God. My desire is to see His hand at work in my life and in the lives of my family. My desire is to be ever maturing in my faith. My desire is that others might look at me and see God at work in me. But do my actions each day show that desire? It’s an important question to ask. Do I allow myself time to sit with my bible each day? Or do I allow the hecticness and busyness of disorganization steal away those quiet moments? Do I enforce the self-discipline it takes to turn off the day time tv shows that have pacified my thoughts and allowed me to become physically and spiritually lazy? Do I buy into the idea, like so many American families today, that a busy schedule full of classes, activities and sports will make my children well rounded and happy more so than teaching them the bible and showing them first hand knowledge of what having a relationship with God looks like?

Back to Nehemiah, there are opposing forces at work right off the bat in verse 2, the Arabs try to meet with Nehemiah, but he sees the situation for what it is “a scheme to harm me” he calls it. Nehemiah’s response is wonderful “I am carrying on a project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it to go down to you” (vs3). For Nehemiah the priority is rightly placed on his building project. For us the building project must be our relationship with God. By doing so I am trusting Him for the prioritizing of my daily life. In addition to that I’m telling the distractions, the enemy, that God is leading me and that they need to fall in line. This elevates God to His rightful position in my life and places satan under my feet where he belongs.

But that’s just the start of it, look at verses 4-8. Four more times they send the same message and Nehemiah doesn’t waiver. He isn’t personally offended, emotionally weary or even second guessing his original response. What a great example Nehemiah is! He continues to “give them the same answer”. How can he be so confident in his answer? Because he is certain about the building project that God sent him to do. As we read on the opposition gets more intense. Isn’t that just like life sometimes, never relenting? These men try intimidation, so Nehemiah prays for strength (v9). Then they set up a trap, even using God and His temple to try to get Nehemiah to fall into sin to then turn on him, discrediting him, but he responds by praying for them by name (v14). I, too often, become an emotional wreck, distraught by my circumstances. I need to look to Nehemiah as an example of how to respond to my daily struggles, even when they seemingly pile on top of one another.

In the end the wall was successfully rebuilt in just 52 days! What an amazing victory! Is there something that God might victoriously bring to you if you got down to the business of your relationship with Him? Let me give you a 52 day challenge. For the next 52 days would you spend the first 10 minutes of your day in prayer and scripture and see what God does in you over that time. Report back and let me know what He has accomplished.

Here is the fruit of Nehemiah’s prioritized life. This is the fruit of the Spirit that God wants to produce in and around you. This IS what He’ll do when your priority is on God first. God enabled the enemy to see that Nehemiah was doing God’s work and they gave glory to God. Isn’t that an amazing and powerful witness? Not only was Nehemiah victorious in finishing the building project, but the work became a witness in the unbelieving culture around him. He knew his God-given purpose, he trusted God rather than relying on his own strength. On top of it all Nehemiah wasn’t trying to “witness”, but his life became a witness because God was working through him. Jesus summed it up nicely when He said “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing” John 6:63

Dear Heavenly Father- As I wake each day draw me into Your presence, remind me of Your priorities for my life, please work in me and through me. ~Beth

Moving Over

Genesis 22:1-19 God tells Abraham He is going to test him. God asks him to sacrifice his son, Isaac, on a mountain. Abraham obeys, takes his son, ties him up and places him on the firewood. Abraham raises his knife to slay Isaac & God intervenes, commending Abraham for his complete trust and obedience. God then provides a ram to sacrifice in Isaac’s place.

The story takes place over a three-day period. On the first day God gave Abraham instructions, on the second day Abraham travels to the mountain, and on the third day he and Isaac go up the mountain for the ceremony.

Many people look at this passage from Abraham’s point-of-view (obedience), from Isaac’s point-of-view (fear and then relief) or from God’s point-of-view (testing Abraham followed by His provision). I want to reflect on what Sarah must have been going through. Being an American Christian woman, I am certain I have a very different life than Sarah did, to say the least! But I’m also certain we would have connected on many levels, like both desiring to follow and please God, submit to our husbands and being mothers of boys- I have two.

I’m sure that while my desire to submit to my husband is strong, my American culture has gotten in the way at the same time. For example, I easily recognize my strengths and my husband’s strengths, and allow that to influence our decision-making, in general. In other words, if I feel like I’ll make a better choice than he would, then I’ll fight harder for what I want. This can easily be justified in many ways, but does that make it ok? Does it please God?

Focusing on the thought of submission, what might Sarah have gone through on that first day? In the text of Genesis 22 it doesn’t mention Sarah at all, so I really don’t know the conversations between her and Abraham, but I can’t imagine it was an easy, stress-free day! Here’s what would’ve gone through my head if it were me:

• I am 100 years old Abraham- there is no plan B
• We waited so long for this son, you can’t take him from me
• This isn’t the best choice for the child
• You must have heard God wrong
• the list could go on

The point I’m getting at is, in the end Sarah fully submitted to Abraham...and then what? That’s the scary part. The moment when you fully release the situation, giving up control of it, in essence being out of control. But this is also the most exciting part. Just when that control is given up is when God steps in. This is the moment that God moves. It’s a shift from me, the mama bear protecting my baby (which is a false security) to the Almighty God’s actual protection (true security). Although in this story it looks as if Isaac is in danger, he is really in the best-case scenario here, the one where God is leading and knows the final outcome!

Not only did God protect Isaac, He also worked in Abraham’s life and heart. Isn’t it amazing to watch God work in our husbands?  We see just that happen in this story because Sarah didn’t stop Abraham from taking Isaac up the mountain. She submitted, she stepped out of the way and God moved. God told Abraham this would be a test, and I love what God then tells Abraham after he passes the test:

“I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” Genesis 22:16-18 NIV


What an amazing thing God promised Abraham. I want that kind of blessing on my family too!

Lord, please remind me that when my desires are overtaking to release them to You, knowing that’s when You move. ~Beth

Pressures of Parenthood

Luke 1: The story telling the birth, conception & prophecy of John the Baptist and the revelation to Mary of the conception of Jesus the Messiah.

As I read through this passage I couldn’t help but imagine what it would have been like to be Elizabeth or Mary. I identify with these women not because one is my namesake. As long as I can remember people have asked if my full name is Elizabeth. It is not actually, “just Beth” is my typical response, but that’s neither here nor there. I identify with them because I am a mom and more specifically a mother of boys. But I have this tremendous, (albeit self-induced) pressure in raising these little children into strapping men who are strong and independant.

The ever intimidated girl in me wonders what it would be like to be Mary standing before Gabriel, the angel of the Lord. This super natural messenger came directly from God with a job, a life history changing event that had been in the works since the beginning of time. No pressure there, right?! I wonder if I would have crumbled into a ball of tears just at the thought of it all. Maybe she was like this friend I have, very project focused and goal oriented.  She must have been different than me, an over-thinker, over-analyzer, working out each idealized detail in my minds eye before ever making a move. Surely the thought of having the Son of God growing inside me would have paralyzed me to in-action.

I think about the moment that Elizabeth saw Mary. The baby John was still in her tummy, leaping and jumping at Mary’s presence. It must have been quite a leap to have been recorded in the Word. I wonder, was it one of those “bring you back to reality” moments? You know, like “Oh my, I’m carrying John the Baptist, the one in the likes of Elijah, the one who will go before the Messiah to prepare their hearts!  AHHHHH!!!” My moments were more like this “Oh my, I’m gonna have a baby, AHHHHH!” And that’s it. I’m overwhelmed just thinking about Elizabeth and Mary and their task at hand. I’m so thankful for their willingness to God and for the work they have done.  

Having two boys in our home there’s never a dull moment. While it’s not yet 8:00 in the morning I have been resolving arguments, giving instruction, preparing food, cleaning up, answering questions and the list goes on. Growing up the younger of two girls and having an absent father, this boy thing is very foreign to me.  My nature is quiet and introspective, observing and processing.  Yet, I am constantly stepping outside of that cozy box to give direction and help them understand the world around them.  Just when I think something is obvious or self explanatory I look into their faces. As I wait for a response, an action, something, it’s then that I realize more information is needed. My desire is to always take the time to help my children understand the world around them, in effect understand them better myself.  Too often I fall short of this goal. As a result I find myself on my knees, asking God to teach me, direct me, help me to understand.  I’d like to think that Elizabeth and Mary were just like me, seeking the Heavenly Father for wisdom in raising their boys into the men that God wanted them to be.  He is always faithful to that prayer.

Father- Thank you for the examples of Elizabeth and Mary.  Please help me to remember them in the things I do and the ways I serve you.  Beth