True Greatness
Valentine's Day seemed like a good day to post Leigh's first love note to me from August 1981. Note the thumb tack puncture holes I inflicted over the last 37 years by posting it on my various bulletin boards.
Esther 9 & 10
On the day designated for the enemies of the Jews to attack and annihilate them, a reversal of such took place. Because of the king’s edict, the Jews were well prepared and able to defend themselves and even move offensively against their enemies. 9:1 says, “it was turned to the contrary so that the Jews themselves gained the mastery over those who hated them.” The unspoken “God of the contrary” continues to be intimately involved in the details of this “reversal of fortunes” story.Read more
Isn’t it Ironic?
One of the greatest joys of my ministry days in the early '80s was witnessing the transformed lives of Frank and Adam. They have both served the Lord faithfully these past 35 years and are pastors in Florida and Alabama. Both Adam and Frank subscribe to this blog.
Esther 8
Through the invisible, yet apparent, providence of God, Haman was hung on the gallows he had built. Isn’t it ironic? When Joseph’s brothers sold him as a slave to a passing caravan, who could’ve known that Joseph would rise to second in command in Egypt and his brothers would eventually bow before him. What man intends for evil, God uses for good. God is the originator of irony. Read more
What a Day!
My college roommate from 1978-1980, Don Goulding, threw me a lifeline in 1993. He hired me to work in his company in downtown San Francisco. In 1992, after 10 years as a Youth Minister, I made a transition into selling Life Insurance and struggled to make money. Don offered me a good salary and business mentoring. This picture and article was in the San Francisco Business Times.
Esther 7
Pride is a cruel and blinding master. Yesterday Haman was on the top of the world. He gathered together his wife and friends and spoke in great detail of his greatness and accomplishments. This morning he had a significant set-back when the king chose to honor the man that Haman had hoped to hang. But that was then, and this is now. Perhaps this afternoon will rebuild Haman’s dignity as he dines with the king and queen.Read more
God’s Sense of Humor
I'm running out of pictures. I'd love to post special pictures from my readers. Please send me a picture and a brief note about the picture. I'd love to post it.
Esther 6
No chapter in the Bible displays God’s sense of humor more than Esther 6. This is one of those stories where you say it would be fun to be God and orchestrate events to humiliate the wicked and proud people that you know. God has His sights set on the proud and arrogant Haman. On the day that Haman anticipates achieving his most glorious accomplishments, he instead has a very bad day. Very, very, very bad!Read more
Fleeting Glory & Riches
I love this picture!
Esther 5
Esther had settled in her mind that God had placed her in this position of royalty for the task before her. She determined to go before the king and plead the case of her people. She didn’t wait long. After three days of fasting, she put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court in front of the king’s rooms. She is going to ‘Put herself out there.’ Has she lost favor with the king?Read more
It’s Showtime!
Please don't miss reading today's post. It's contains a critical message from Esther. Forward to someone who needs to read this message! This pic is in Malawi, 2016.
Esther 4
Haman has gained consent, authority and funding to carry out the extermination of the Jews within the Persian empire. The edict has been distributed and the provinces began to prepare to carry out the gruesome act on a set day in the future. Mordecai learned of the edict and wept and wailed bitterly. In each province there was great mourning, fasting and weeping among the Jews.Read more
The Plot
This is an important post today. Please forward to a friend or family that might appreciate these devotions. River rafting in Durango, CO. Notice Nate's hat? One of my gifts to him from Augusta National.
Esther 3
Here’s what’s happened so far….the king of the reigning empire in the world at this time, Persia, was King Ahasuerus. There were approximately 40 million people in the empire including many Jews who had previously been victims of the Babylonian captivity. Queen Vashti defied the king publicly and he removed her as Queen. A beauty contest was initiated to find the king a new Queen. The most beautiful virgins in the empire were brought to the palace for the original season of the reality TV show, the Bachelor. Esther, a Jewish orphan raised by her older cousin, Mordecai, swept the king off his feet with her beauty, poise and irresistible presence. She did not disclose that she was a Jew.Read more
The Plot Thickens
My daughter Beri and son-in-law Joe in Europe without the kids. Happy and free!
Esther 3
King Ahasuerus loves Esther. In the Providence of God, the king was smitten; swept off his feet; it was love at first sight. Esther rocked his world. The king declared a holiday and held a massive banquet to celebrate his new bride. A true Cinderella-like fairy tale. Read more
The Queen
It's January and cold in the Texas hill country. But that doesn't stop Nate and Ryker from jumping into the pool. They start in the hot tub but they also take an occasional polar plunge into the pool.
Esther 2
The king wants a new Queen. An epic beauty contest is underway. Chosen women from all over the massive Persian empire were brought to the palace. They individually go through a twelve-month beautification process of oils and spices. After the twelve months, vs 13 says “the young lady would go in to the king in this way: anything she desired was given her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace.” I have no idea the kind of things they would chose to take but they were able to use their own initiative and creativity to add to their appeal. Read more