So, what does Esther have to do with Lent? We know that God is in our hearts and is with us. He is Immanuel-God with us. God is at work today in us. He is moving, touching lives and shaping kingdoms. Even though in the book of Esther, the name "God" is not mentioned, we see him being present in all that is happening. Just because life's events seem to be unfair and wrong, it doesn't mean that He's not present. He is at work. Think of the events during Holy week and Christ's arrest and his crucifixon. They were tragic events. When we watch the movie, The Passion, our hearts are weeping and wailing at the unjustice. We know that our God was in the mist of every event and shaping our salvation along with His Son Jesus.
Read the book of Esther. I like to think about the fact that God's hand is not so short that it cannot save. Whether we see Him or not, He is at work in our lives. God seems to specialize in turning the mundane into the marvelous and the meaningful.
You may want to journal about times in your life when you thought God was far away and when circumstances were so unbearable you believed that God could never be close. But...He is. Later, many times we can see His presence and realize His workings in our lives. Even though we may not see Him in the beginning of a crisis, He is there, comforting us and bringing us through it all.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Lenten Bible Study for the Month of March-Esther
So, what does Esther have to do with Lent? We know that God is in our hearts and is with us. He is Immanuel-God with us. God is at work today in us. He is moving, touching lives and shaping kingdoms. Even though in the book of Esther, the name "God" is not mentioned, we see him being present in all that is happening. Just because life's events seem to be unfair and wrong, it doesn't mean that He's not present. He is at work. Think of the events during Holy week and Christ's arrest and his crucifixon. They were tragic events. When we watch the movie, The Passion, our hearts are weeping and wailing at the unjustice. We know that our God was in the mist of every event and shaping our salvation along with His Son Jesus.
Read the book of Esther. I like to think about the fact that God's hand is not so short that it cannot save. Whether we see Him or not, He is at work in our lives. God seems to specialize in turning the mundane into the marvelous and the meaningful.
You may want to journal about times in your life when you thought God was far away and when circumstances were so unbearable you believed that God could never be close. But...He is. Later, many times we can see His presence and realize His workings in our lives. Even though we may not see Him in the beginning of a crisis, He is there, comforting us and bringing us through it all.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Lent-Walking in His Footsteps
Readings for this week, beginning on Wednesday, February 13, Ash Wednesday:Mark chapter 1:1-28; Psalm 2:7; . This chapter in Mark is about Jesus' baptism and the 40 days in the desert with three temptations. Think about Moses and David and John the Baptist who spent much time in the wilderness. We think about how during our times in the wilderness of life, God uses this time to strengthen us and sanctify us.
An excellent book to read during this Lenten season is Adam Hamilton's book, The Way-Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus. Also, our children will be experiencing this study on their Prayer Walk during Fun Fest Survivor Night-Pre-Prayed for Lent which is happening in March.
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