Until events play out on life’s stage, current issues can be unimaginable. Today’s chapter is about a stage setting that’s gone down in history…
Read ESTHER 1 Make notes, if you’d like, of what stands out for you. Feel free to use the “Leave a Comment” box below to also write some of your thoughts.
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
I’ve lost count of the number of times that I’ve become frustrated, angry and depressed at a messy life. Upfront, I can appear to have a level of control. Behind the scenes however, things pile up around me. Unwanted things at a high level are moved strategically into place without warning, while significant things or people (that have almost become part of the furniture), are suddenly taken away. But if Shakespeare was right – “All the world’s a stage while we are merely players”[a] – then, in order to play out any scene on Life’s stage, I need to make room in my thinking for what goes into planning the stage scene.
After covering the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah in my previous Breadcrumbs, we now turn to the Book of Esther where life for a young Jewish girl becomes seriously out of control. But because it’s normal for actors not to know what’s going on behind the scenes, we’re likely not to understand the mess around us, or the planning behind the scene that we are currently in (however joyful or harrowing), until those seemingly useless props are used. But the Creator God is the Great Playwright of HIStory. Our Maker and His ‘Director’ are in control, intimately involved in every detail, and seeing everything through to completion.[b] Our job is simply to look up and keep walkin’…
Read More? …CLICK on “13 July – Additional Notes”
But what about your thoughts – can you tell me what today’s “breadcrumb” is? Leave a note in the “Comments” box below to tell me what you think of today’s chapter.
Wanting to speak directly with the One in control of everything we see? The rest of this webpage uses Jesus’ own prayer to help…[c]
THE LORD’S PRAYER:
1. Praise: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your Kingdom come! Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven …”
My Father in Heaven, I choose to shout joyfully to You along with all the earth. I’ll serve You with gladness and come before You with joyful singing! [Psalm 100:1-2]
2. Ask: “…Give us today our daily bread…”
The World: The people of Indonesia[d]
Your Country: A restored interest in the Creator God
Yourself: Love for your Maker
Your concerns for today
Thank-you for Your ancient promise, Lord, that You’ll shake all nations, and what’s desired by all nations will indeed come, and that You’ll fill Your house with glory! [Haggai 2:7]
3. Admit: “…Forgive us our sin as we forgive those who sin against us…”
Forgive me, Father God, for neglecting You – the Rock who begot me. Every day I can go about my daily business and easily forget the God who gave me birth. [Deuteronomy 32:18]
4. Protect: “…Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.”
Help me to remember, Lord, that those who grab what they see, feed the appetite of the mind, or jump to retaliate, will rush headlong into destruction. But if I wait for You when I’m tempted, I’ll gain new strength. I’ll mount up with wings like eagles. I’ll run and not get tired. I’ll walk and not faint. [Isaiah 40:3]
“For Yours Lord is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory now and forever. Amen!”
When questioned, tested, tricked or in His hour of great need, Jesus spoke what was previously written in God’s Word.[e] So, the final section on this page is about memorizing our Maker’s script through 10 topics. Following these will help you learn 52 portions from His Handbook in a year! THIS WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE: Our Maker’s Handbook
“Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.” [Psalm 119:11]
[a] As You Like It, spoken by the melancholy Jaques in Act II Scene VII.
[b] Philippians 1:4-6; Colossians 1:28 and Hebrews 12:1-2a
[c] Matthew 6:5-15
[d] http://www.operationworld.org/country/indo/owtext.html
[e] Matthew 4:4,6,7,10; 11:10; 21:13; and 26:24,31