April 26, 2024

Esther: Introduction

September 2, 2013 by

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Shalom!  God’s blessing of peace to you!  May I introduce myself?  My given name is Hadassah, though perhaps you have heard me called ‘Esther.’  (You can call me ‘Esther’, if you would like.)  I am a Hebrew girl, hence my real name. Hadassah means ‘myrtle,’ which is a tree or shrub.  My name signifies peace and thanksgiving.

I would like to share with you a little about my life; do you have a few minutes?  Perhaps as I relate to you the events of my life, you might think “Oh!  My! Not for me!”  But don’t…I have lived a life overshadowed by the hand of the Great I AM!  And I am sure that you have, too.  Perhaps  you will see some similarities between your life and mine.  Perhaps you will be reminded of great and small things that Almighty God has orchestrated in your life…for such a time as this!

Throughout most of our lives, there are usually a few people—loved ones, mostly—who are the major characters in our story.  For me, God placed two wonderful men as the main men in my life and my heart.  The first is my Uncle Mordecai…can I tell you about him?   Oh, please allow me—he was such an honorable, wise, God-fearing man!  You see, my abba-leh (my daddy) died while my ama carried me under her heart.  And my ama <sigh!> died as she labored to birth me.  By God’s grace, I had loving ones who raised me…in particular, my wonderful Uncle Mordecai.  Uncle Mordecai, a member of the tribe of Benjamin, deeply loved the Almighty God, the Great I AM and lived his life to serve Him.  When the Babylonians conquered our land, they took many of our people away as slaves, amongst them my parents and Uncle Mordecai.  Eventually, they settled in what is known as Persia in the capital city of Susa. Uncle Mordecai always had my best interests at heart and raised me according to the Law.

And there is another primary character in my story—my love, the king, Ahasuerus (also known as Xerxes) who made me his queen.  It’s quite a story Esther chapter 2 how this happened…me, one of the captive Hebrews becoming the queen of a most powerful ruler of many lands and peoples.  His domain reached from India to Egypt.  Amazing!  But I was telling you how I, a young Hebrew woman, became the queen of all this…  You see, Ahasuerus DID have a queen; a stunningly gorgeous woman named Vashti.  Oh, he loved her…it was quite apparent.  But Vashti’s heart became proud.  And she turned from lovingly submitting to Ahasuerus to outrightly defying him publicly.  The king turned to his advisors to see how to handle this.

Esther 1:18-22
“This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen’s conduct will respond to all the king’s nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord.   Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she.  Then when the king’s edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest.”  The king and his nobles were pleased with this advice, so the king did as Memukan proposed.  He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language proclaiming that every man should be ruler over his own household….

Here’s where Almighty God caused my path to cross with the love of my life, Ahasuerus. After his heart (and anger!) had recovered from Vashti’s deception, he sought a new queen.  Only the Almighty God could have known that, of all the beautiful, lovely young women of the kingdom, I would be the one who would find favor in Ahasuerus’ eyes—and his heart!

Esther 2:17
And the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the maidens, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

Years went by and all was well…Ahasuerus ruled his kingdom, and let his heart be ruled by our love.  All was very well.  Let’s jump ahead a bit because in the twelfth year of the king’s reign, a dastardly, devilish plot was launched to annihilate my kin, the Hebrews. Esther chapter 3 When Uncle Mordecai heard of this, he was devastated!

Esther 4:1
When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.

I sent a trusted friend to Uncle Mordecai to find out what was wrong and he sent me the strongest message I had ever heard him speak!

Verses 13 and 14
Then Mordecai told them to return this answer to Esther, Do not flatter yourself that you shall escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews.  For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion?

You see, I had held back…well actually deceived the king.  I had never revealed to him my true heritage—that I was a Hebrew and served the Almighty God.  And so, remorseful, I sent this message back to Uncle Mordecai:

Verses 16 and 17
Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”  So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.

I felt the weight and responsibility of not only my role as queen but my identity.  Uncle Mordecai was right!  And if I perished…so be it.

Not much time elapsed and I knew I must speak.  Risking banishment at best, and death at worst, I arrayed myself respectfully and went before my king.  His favor and love for me won out, and he welcomed me before his throne.  I asked only one thing.

Esther 5:3 and 4
Then the king said to her, What will you have, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of the kingdom.  And Esther said, If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come this day to the dinner that I have prepared for the king.

He granted my request.  Ahasuerus and <hisssss!> Haman <hisssssss!> came to my home for dinner.  And upon leaving, I asked that they return again the following evening.  Time was running short and the execution of my people was imminent.  When they returned, I spoke plainly and pointedly to Ahasuerus.

Esther 7:3 and 4
If I have found favor in your sight, O king and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition and my people at my request.   For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, slain, and wiped out of existence!  But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I would have held my tongue, for our affliction is not to be compared with the damage this will do to the king.

Upon hearing my distress and fear, my king rose to my defense demanding to know how this happened and who was responsible.  ‘Haman.’ I replied.  Esther 7:5-10

Esther 8:3-5
Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews.  Then the king extended the gold scepter to Esther and she arose and stood before him.  “If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if he regards me with favor and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews… For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?”

Upon realizing what Haman had been devilishly plotting and hearing my pleas, he immediately revoked the order and saved my people, the Hebrews.  Prior to this, Ahasuerus had had a dream (perhaps that was our Almighty God?) reminding him of the loyalty and devotion to the throne of Ahasuerus that Uncle Mordecai had always had.  As an added blessing, Uncle Mordecai was rewarded for his loyalty to the king.

Verses 10 and 11
Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes, sealed the dispatches with the king’s signet ring, and sent them by mounted couriers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king.  The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves;

Esther 9:20-23
Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far,  to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.   So the Jews agreed to continue the celebration….

Verses 28-32
These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim should never fail to be celebrated by the Jews—nor should the memory of these days die out among their descendants.  So Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter concerning Purim.  And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of Xerxes’ kingdom—words of goodwill and assurance—to establish these days of Purim at their designated times, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had decreed for them, and as they had established for themselves and their descendants in regard to their times of fasting and lamentation.  Esther’s decree confirmed these regulations about Purim, and it was written down in the records.

Imagine!  A simple, orphaned Hebrew girl raised by her uncle in the midst of slavery brought by the hand of God through hard and evil times—for such a time as this!  My people, the Hebrews, to this day celebrate the Festival of Purim and the joy of God’s deliverance during the reign of my king, Ahasuerus.

At the beginning of our chat, I had said that perhaps you might be reminded of great and small things that Almighty God has orchestrated in your life.  Have you thought on this?  I pray to the Great I Am that He would open your eyes to these things…for such a time as this!

* * * * *

Dear Lord, please help us to recognize Your mighty hand of blessing…Your directing our path as You did the path of Esther’s life.  May we see how You have done this, too, in our lives.  We praise You, Lord, for Your sovereignty!  Please help us to never doubt Your goodness and grace and favor; may we rest in Your care knowing that all is well.  May Your perfect will be done in and through our lives.  In Jesus’ precious name.

Amen.

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“I AM” Chapter 7 – Day 4: I AM…The Root and Offspring of David

August 22, 2013 by

2Samuel7_IAMI am where I am because of my family.  Faith in Jesus and a strong relationship with Him is a legacy that has passed down from generation to generation.  I am so blessed to have known Him all my life.  My grandparents on both sides were faithful Jesus followers.  My parents made sure that above all else, my salvation and my relationship with Jesus trumped all.  I want to make sure that my children know Him and will spend eternity with Him.  To follow only Him and to faithfully see His word.  It’s true that we cannot choose our family, but God did choose them for us.

Have you ever looked at Jesus’s family? Did you know James was His half-brother? Did you know that James did not believe in Jesus until after the resurrection? The Book of James is written as a letter addressing many issues about how faith in Jesus needs to affect the way we act. It also addresses some misunderstandings about the relationship between salvation by faith in Jesus and the need for believers to live a godly life.  James 1:2-4 says “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

The scripture from today’s lesson is Hebrews 11.  It has been called the “Hall of Faith” because it mentions a long list of people who were used by the Great I AM because of their faith.  No doubt the author of Hebrews confused the readers by calling it this.  These mighty Jewish people, heroes if you will, never received all that God had promised them because they died before Jesus came.  In God’s plan, they would be rewarded together for enduring much testing.  Old Testament faith was also a heartfelt trust in a personal God.  Many before us faced difficult times and persevered by faith.  Notice that in every illustration in this chapter, it starts with “It was by faith that….”

Hebrews 12 begins “Since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run the race that God has set before us….”

Maybe the weight that slows us down is our past or maybe it is what we are dealing with right now.  You and I both have had the awesome privilege of meeting Jesus and have formed a real relationship with Him.  Now, what are you going to do with Him? Don’t you love this question that Teresa asks in this book?

It is God’s will for us to win this race we call life, for us to lay down our recurring sin that weighs us down sometimes. There will be pain from exertion, but we are told to pace ourselves and bear the pain with grace and with patience. And remember that others, who have run the same race and finished, will be cheering us on!

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Let’s Pray:

Dearest Lord,

Thank You so much for all those who went before us to show us that all Your promises do come true and if we trust You we will be rewarded.  What a day that will be when we see Abraham, Isaac, David, Mary, Martha, Peter, Noah (and the list goes on and on), rejoicing when we cross the finish line all together.  You are our great reward and You are worth it.  I end with a prayer from 2 Samuel 7:25-26, “And now, O Lord God, I am Your servant: do as you have promised concerning me and my family.”  In Jesus’ Name I pray.

AMEN

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“I AM” Week 3 – Day 4: The Day of The Lord

July 25, 2013 by

Memory Verse:

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; 

he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, 

he enables me to tread on the heights.

Habakkuk 3:19

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You, my friends, are God’s chosen people, and He wants to lavish you with His love and shower you with blessings that only He can give. But you have to put Him first in your life, above everything else and constantly seek Him. Friends, the day of the Lord is coming. Are you ready? Are you serving Him only? Or are you still dabbling in worldly behaviors?

Zephaniah, Haggai, and Zechariah were all prophets, chosen by God to send messages to His people about the coming day. They had messages of hope and blessings for His people after years of persecution, captivity, and darkness. The only thing they had to do was seek God. They had become complacent, content in their lives, desensitized to the evil that was going on all around them. Some were worshipping idols, others were worshipping their own lives. God loved them enough to send some hard words, warnings of what is to come if they didn’t turn from their wicked ways and follow hard after God.

Zephaniah 3:14-18 is a beautiful, love letter from God to His people then and to us now. You can make this personal and find such hope in these words from your Father. No matter what your life may have looked like, God wants to rescue you and redeem you.  I want you to substitute your name in these verses. (Italics mine)

“Sing, O daughter of Zion (your name), be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The Lord has taken away your punishment. He has turned back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you. Never again will you fear harm. On that day, they will say to Jerusalem (your name). “Do not fear, O Zion, (your name), do not let your hands hang limp, the Lord your God is mighty to save. He will take great delight in You! He will quiet you with His love and He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:14-18

I’m in tears, aren’t you? God, the Great I AM is rejoicing over you with singing!!!

Next  comes  the book of Haggai. He brings a message of encouragement to the people of Jerusalem. He wanted them to return to the task of building the Temple. When they were first released from exile, they were filled with hope, excitement, and on fire for God. But life and the pressure got to them and they became selfish and they quit doing the work God called them to do. Can you relate?

Haggai was to get them back on track. To get them to stop making excuses and to show them the reasons they were suffering, which were directly related to not putting God first in their lives. How true this is in our own lives. We can get back on track just by asking. It is that simple. And we will be better than we were before because of what we learned in the battle.

“The future glory of this temple will be greater than its past glory, says the Lord Almighty. And in its place, I will bring peace. I, the Lord Almighty, have spoken.”

Haggai 2:9

And last, Zechariah leaves us with the hope of the coming Messiah, the coming of Jesus! He wanted God’s people to know that even in times of discouragement and turmoil, and trials, God is working out His plan in our lives and guides and directs us if we trust and follow Him. Is He going to be your Savior or your judge? Some of His promises are conditional. We must obey Him to receive them. He will give us consistent blessings when we consistently live our lives for Him.

 “When that day arrives, The Lord, their God, will rescue His people, just as a shepherd rescues His sheep. They will sparkle in His hand like jewels in a crown. How wonderful, how beautiful they will be. The young men and women will thrive on the abundance of grain and new wine.”

Zechariah 9:16

You will be a sparkle in God’s hand! A jewel in a crown. He calls you beautiful and wonderful. Amazing grace! We may feel like our life is a battlefield!  As long as we are on this earth, there will always be a battle going on between good and evil. When we turn our lives over to Him, the Great I AM, He will rescue us and keep us secure; safe and in His arms we will dwell. We will never be fully satisfied in life without Him. We were made to need Him.

The Day of the Lord is coming! In the blink of an eye this world will be no more!  All that we have endured will be worth it when we look into the eyes of our Savior. Is there something that you need to turn from today? Dear friends, He is worth the sacrifice. Eternity with Him is your reward. You are worth it!

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord of Heaven’s Army, Messiah, we praise You for sending Your Son to die so that we may live in eternity forever with You. Thank You for all these promises that we are seeing come true in our lives. Thank You that no matter where we have been or what we have done, You will forgive us and set our paths straight again. You long to be our Savior and Redeemer. Thank You for Your Word, and for these prophets You sent before us with Your messages of hope that relate to our lives today. We love You and Praise You. We can’t wait to meet You face to face one day. In Jesus’ name we pray.

AMEN

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What’s Next for Girlfriends Coffee Hour?

July 1, 2013 by

Now that our Girls with Swords study has been completed, what’s next for GCH?  I’m glad you asked!

1)  We are very close to releasing our next online Bible study, titled “I AM“, written by Teresa J. Bolme.  You may have read some of Teresa’s blogs right here, every Monday, for the past 12 weeks, as she blogged for the Girls with Swords study.  She has spent many hours writing this next study, exclusively for GCH!  You won’t find this study anywhere else on the World Wide Web!!  It can only be found HERE!  If you have not already registered for this study, please CLICK HERE to be taken to the Registration Page.

2) “I AM” is in the final editing stages, and we are anticipating the release date of July 3rd.  When that happens, we will make an announcement right here and give you instructions on how you can purchase and download the study!  Remember, to purchase the study, all you have to do is make a donation to GCH in ANY AMOUNT to help us cover the ministry and website costs that we incur; AND this gives us the ability to offer free Bibles to those who don’t have one.

3)  When you purchase and download your copy of “I AM“, you will want to store it in a 3-ring binder, or take it to an office supply store to have it bound.  I am planning to take my study to the office supply store and have them bind it, so it will stay neater and more functional.  I’m really trying to figure out how I can get an actual signed copy of “I AM” from the author!! (hint hint)

4)  Everyone who has registered so far has already been placed into our GCH Fellowship Group.  Please don’t confuse this group with the actual Facebook Chat Room, which is where we will dig deeper into the “I AM” study.  The Fellowship Group is where we…well, fellowship!!  It’s a place to just let your hair down and have some fun!  It’s a place to make some new friends, share your favorite recipes, show pictures of your cute little animals, or even the kids/grandkids.  We share devotionals, and prayer requests in the Fellowship Group, as well!  It’s really just a place where faith, friends, and fellowship flourish!

5) Toward the middle of this week, we will start adding you to the actual study group (Facebook Chat Room).  THIS is where you will go each day to get that day’s reading assignment, and the link to the blog lesson that is posted for the day.  You will read the blog, and if you want, you can comment there; but you will come back to the Chat Room to dig a bit deeper into the study, and discuss it more as a group.  This is an awesome place to really ask your questions about the study, and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you through what is shared in this group!  If you are not on Facebook, you will just read and comment on our blog each day.

6)  You will want to set aside some time every day, Monday thru Friday, to check into the FB Chat Room to see what your daily reading assignment is, and t0 find the link to the blog lesson for the day; maybe use this as your devotional time each day.  A lot of women use the GCH blogs as their morning devotional.  It’s a great way to start the day!  One word of advice:  Don’t give up on the study if you begin to fall behind on the study.  Just take some time to get caught up, and/or jump in right where we are in the study, and catch up later!  Just don’t quit!  We try to encourage women to stay on board even if you have gotten behind!  We all do that, but we are here to help you get back on track again!

What will you need for the study?

1. The “I AM” Bible study, of course.  Without it, it will be impossible to follow along!  You will need the book!

2. Your Bible

3. A journal

4.  Pen & Highlighter

 

So let’s run through this one more time:

  • The study will be released for purchase & download on Wednesday, July 3rd!  
  • Be sure to have the study downloaded no later than July 7th.  If you have any problems with purchasing or downloading the study, PLEASE email us at GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com.
  • Have all your study tools on hand & ready for when the study begins July 8th!
  • You are more than welcome to invite your friends to join us, but REGISTRATION ENDS JULY 7th.

We look forward to studying God’s word with you through this amazing study “I AM“.

God bless,

Christi Wilson, Founder of Girlfriends Coffee Hour

 

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Girls With Swords: Chapter 14 Weekly Review – “Cross Carry.”

June 28, 2013 by

Welcome to Campground USA

Log Cabins, Nature Trails, Canoes, Paddle Boats, Bikes, Fishing

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Once upon a time there were 5 girlfriends–Teresa, Jennifer, Tonya, Diane, and Martha–headed to a weekend retreat. They were riding down the road giggling so hard that their sides were splitting. Then all of a sudden, they saw a road sign up ahead that read: 

 You are now entering the Prince of Darkness Territory.

You are a Target!

Deciding that they would not allow fear to defeat them, they continued on their journey, and met up with 2 bu loads of women.  Previous plans were cancelled and all 150 plus women ended up camping at Campground USA studying Girls With Swords by Lisa Bevere.

What a time they have had!  Tonight was their last night together before heading back home.  I can’t wait to hear what my 4 girlfriends have to say about  the final chapter: Cross Carry.  Let’s head on down to the bonfire.

Teresa

Throughout our study of Girls With Swords, we have learned that we are Chosen, Equipped, and Armed.  This week, we have been COMMISSIONED to enter active service.  ‘Commissioned’ means: the act of granting certain powers or the authority to carry out a particular task or duty; a group of people officially authorized to perform certain duties or functions; in active service; authority to undertake or perform certain duties.

Preparation for Active Service

1.  Jesus gives The Great Commission:  “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.  Therefore, GO and make disciples of all the nations, BAPTIZE them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  TEACH these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this:  I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

2.  How to carry out this job?  “If anyone would COME after me, let him DENY himself and TAKE up his cross and FOLLOW me.”  (Matthew 16:24)

3.  What is OUR cross?  It is our part of the Kingdom.  We each have a job that only we can do.   

Take up your cross, do your job, and be honored to lay your crown down at the feet of Jesus.

Jennifer 

Quoting Lisa:  “Jesus didn’t hold formal crusades, conferences, or even weekly services.  Yet every waking moment of his life was a message.  There is nothing wrong with these, but they are rarely part of our everyday lives.  Jesus carried God with Him every day, everywhere He went, and He is asking you to do the same.  Embracing all of what God has done for you and reflecting this new life to others can be likened to taking up the cross.  As we lay hold of this truth, we carry ourselves and see our world differently.”

How does each of our lives become a living message? 

  • It comes down to TRUST.
  • Will I let God use me, this fragile clay jar, in order to further the gospel message? 

For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.  

(2 Corinthians 4:6-7)

Tonya

I have loved learning about the various crosses we are to carry, the true power we have as girls with swords, and the true power that those swords possess.  We are instructed to wield different kinds of swords, to possess different characteristics.  

I have asked, “How do I do this and do it the right way, Lord?”  Two words:  “Follow Him.”

Christ:

  1. Loved the people  (Matthew 4:23) 
  2. Forgave the people  (Matthew 9:2-8)
  3. Fed the people  (Acts 10:38)
  4. Redeemed the people  (Psalm 107:2)

As Lisa said:  “The Cross is our sign and you are His wonder.” 

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:23-25)

Love.  Forgive.  Free.  Heal.  Redeem.  Encourage.

Diane

In Zechariah 9:13, God tells us He will make us like a warrior’s sword:  “From now on people are my swords.”

1.  A Sword

  • As God’s warrior swords we put Him on display each morning as we begin our day letting His love shine through our imperfect human flesh.
  • Quoting Lisa:  “Daughter of God, turn from your reflection, deny its limitations, and reflect Him.”

 2.   A Hero

  • Being a hero is getting rid of yourself, and filling up your life with Jesus.
  • When we let ourselves be God’s sword, we become His hero as well.
  • Being a hero has nothing to do with us, it has everything to do with what we let flourish inside of us:  Jesus
  • Quoting Lisa:  “Live like a hero, and you will strike a sure blow to the enemy, and the captives will be set free.”

Be sensitive and obedient to the Holy Spirit’s leading in your life.  As He leads you, Satan will be cut by the living Sword you have let flourish.  Lost, lonely, hurting captives will be set free, and you will be nowhere to be found but living as a hero in Christ!

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And so it was a night to end all nights around the campfire.  “Something” got a hold of everyone in that campground. 

  • Such singing like you never heard led by Coleen
  • A pink bedazzled sword group led by Diane marched around the bonfire as in the Jericho March
  • The prayer team of Coleen, Merol, and Mary laid hands on every single woman in attendance
  • Much scriptures were given by Mary, Clella, Colleen, Amy, and Kim
  • At midnight, Christi started preaching again

And just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, Laurie started dancing around that bonfire.  To put it mildly, she danced, shall we say a Freedom Dance. She stopped long enough to say:  “Come on everybody, join in with me, and let’s dance!”

Oh, how I do love to worship the Lord, but I have got to tell you that, in public, I am a little conservative.  But, when I saw Laurie dancing, something moved in me, and I said to myself;  “I want that kind of freedom, too.”  And so I began to move out slowly at first, but then, it happened.  What came upon me next was not, shall we say, a little charismatic skip and hop, it was a warfare dance.  Bondages fell off me, and I felt like The Great Commission had now taken root and would become active in my life. 

And that’s the way our time together ended—worshipping the Lord, and dancing into the night.

 *****

Let’s Pray: 

Lord, how we thank You for this time of studying Your Word together.  We thank You for using Lisa Bevere in our lives to learn more about the sword You have given us to wear daily.  We pray Your blessings upon her as she travels around the globe ministering to the lost and hurting.  I close with:  May we all fulfill The Great Commission in our lives.  In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen!

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Now a word from our Founder, Christi Wilson:

Ladies, I pray this last study has been as much of a blessing to you, as it has been to us!  We have enjoyed learning from Lisa Bevere, and will continue to lift her in prayer, as we have each day of this study.

We hope you will join us for our next study that begins July 8th.  

Written by Teresa J Bolme, especially for Girlfriends Coffee Hour, “I AM” will be a study about discovering who the great I AM is, who you are in the great I AM, and what your eternal hope is in the great I AM!  This is an amazing study, and we are so excited to share it with you.  I want to personally thank Teresa for all the many hours she put into writing this study!  The Holy Spirit truly led her in the writing of this book, and we are very appreciative!  We feel very blessed to have such a talented person, as Teresa is, on our Leadership Team!  THANK YOU TERESA!

We will release the study next Wednesday, July 3rd.  You will be able to purchase it then with a donation to Girlfriends Coffee Hour, in ANY AMOUNT.  This helps us defray the ministry and website costs that we incur; as well as helping us provide Bibles to those who are in need of one.   

You are able to REGISTER TODAY, but will not be able to purchase the study until July 3rd.  Once you register, we will email you when the study is ready to purchase and download to your computer.  

Once again, thank you for joining us again in this “Girls With Swords” study.  May the good Lord bless you, and all that you put your hands to, in Jesus’ Name, AMEN

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Girls with Swords: Chapter 14 – Living Swords (pgs 220-222)

June 27, 2013 by

page 222

 

I am back!  If you were wondering where I was the last two weeks, it was India.  I was working with young girls who have been rescued from human trafficking to put on a retreat for other young girls who have been rescued from brothels, where their mothers have been trafficked and are still currently living and working.  To say the trip was the most amazing experience I could have ever imagined it would be is a huge understatement.  God is good!  I am so glad to be back with you ladies for the last blog post of our study.  HUGE shout out to the amazing Kim Spring for filling in for me while I was away, thanks dear!

Of all of the things I have always thought of myself as, sword has never been one of those things.  In Zechariah 9:13 we find God telling us He will make us like a warrior’s sword.  I personally contend that this realization is a perfect way to end our study.  We are no longer just carrying God’s sword to church each Sunday, or meditating on God’s sword each Easter when His cross is displayed on stage.  God is carrying us, His swords, each day we follow Him in His will for our lives.  As God’s warrior swords we put Him on display each morning as we begin our day letting His love shine through our imperfect human flesh.

Daughter of God, turn from your reflection, deny its limitations, and reflect Him. (Page 221)

This is one of my favorite things Lisa tells us to do.  In our imperfect selves we sure do have limitations.  Thankfully though, we have a perfect Savior who gives us His strength to do all things (Philippians 4:13).   Stop looking at your reflection.  Start living your life how God intended it to be and I promise you, your eyes will be open to seeing Jesus’ love and beauty pouring through your soul.  This look is not just for you to see in the mirror, it is for the entire world you pass by for the rest of your life to see so they can see Jesus in you.

The last sentence of this book has hit me the hardest; I cannot read it without crying.  Live like a hero, and you will strike a sure blow to the enemy, and captives will be set free.  (Page 222)

Even more than a sword, I never ever thought of myself as a hero.  I feel uncomfortable with that sentence even as I type it.  We need to realize though what a hero is.  Being a hero is getting rid of yourself, and filling up your life with Jesus.  When we let ourselves be God’s sword, we become His hero as well.  Being a hero has nothing to do with us, it has everything to do with what we let flourish inside of us—Jesus!  When we are being God’s hero, we will not be found; only Jesus inside of us will be found for all the hurting to see.

While in India, it became time for me to share my talk with the girls.  It was about the weapons of our warfare.  After the talk, I decided to share my testimony with the girls.  This is something I did not want to do, but I was simply following the Holy Spirit’s lead to do so.  In that moment, I truly disappeared.  The Holy Spirit filled me, and what came out of my mouth was all Him…I was nowhere to be found.  As each of His words fell out of my mouth, the room became filled with His presence.  And GOD MOVED!!!  (If you would like to hear more about Diane’s trip to India, please join us on our next Girlfriends Coffee Hour Conference Call on July 16th.  Details will be posted soon on our Facebook Community page)

I share this because I want you to understand the importance of being sensitive to and being obedient to the Holy Spirit’s leading in your life.  As He leads you, I promise you, Satan will be cut by the living Sword you have let flourish and lost, lonely, hurting captives will be set free, and you, my dear, will be nowhere to be found but living as a hero in Christ!

*****

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

I praise You, and thank You, Lord.  I have no words right now, only tears.  I know You know the words expressed in each and every one of my tears right now.  I pray that the women reading this today will be touched by Your mighty power.  I pray that whatever is holding us back from being a hero for You would be demolished.  Help us, Lord, to live as Your limitless sword and not a reflection of our limitations.  Lord, it doesn’t even feel right that You would give us the title of hero-but let us never forget that without “in Christ” after the word hero, we are nothing.  You are what makes the word ‘hero’ true in our lives.  Let us never ever keep You out of our lives.  Keep us out so You can fill up inside of us.  I pray all of these things with thanksgiving in Your Precious Holy Name.  Thank You, Jesus!

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Girls With Swords: Chapter 14 – “A Conversation About the Cross” (pgs. 210-214)

June 25, 2013 by

2Cor4_6

 

There is so much I can write about the Cross – what it is, what it represents, what it means to me personally, and what is has done in my life. But, I want to go a step further today. I am challenged by the author’s words at the bottom of page 213 and the top of page 214:

Jesus didn’t hold formal crusades, conferences, or even weekly services. Yet every waking moment of his life was a message. (There is nothing wrong with these, but they are rarely part of our everyday lives.) Jesus carried God with Him every day, everywhere He went, and He is asking you to do the same. Embracing all of what God has done for you and reflecting this new life to others can be likened to taking up the cross. As we lay hold of this truth, we carry ourselves and see our world differently.

When I first read this, I thought that there was no possible way that every waking moment of my life could be a message. I mean Jesus could do it, because, well—He’s Jesus! But, me? I’m just a frail, selfish, fallible human who does a lot of things wrong most of the time. Thankfully, God’s grace and His power see me though. He lifts me up when I fall; He redirects me when I stray off the path; and He shows me how to make my light shine to those around me who most need to see it.

So, how does each of our lives become a living message? It essentially comes down to all the all-important ingredient in our Christian walk: TRUST. Will I lay down my will for the will of my Father? Will I lay down my cross(es) (burdens, disappointments, hurts, pains, betrayals, past sins, unforgiveness, etc.) and let Him pick it up for me? Will I let God use me, this fragile clay jar, in order to further the gospel message?

For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. (2 Corinthians 4:6-7, NLT)

God wants to use each of us to reach the lost and broken of this world with the message of hope and life that we know is found only through the Cross of Jesus Christ. We have a light shining in us that only He can provide. His Spirit is alive and active in us, and only works when we allow Him to work. The Lord knows we are fragile humans. He knows that we need Him and His power to get through each moment of the day. We are powerless on our own. Our lives were changed when we accepted Christ, believed in Him, and fully realized the significance of the Cross. We MUST live each day remembering this and helping others, as we are led, find their new life as well.

I will end us with the prayer Lisa writes at the end of this section:

Heavenly Father, may everything that the crucifixion of Your Son provided gain full expression in and through my life today. I choose to deny sin and my former limitations as I magnify Your work and follow You. In Jesus name we pray, Amen!

Have a Great Week!
Jennifer

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Girls with Swords: Chapter 13 Weekly Review – “Sword of Forgiveness and Restoration” (Contest Included)

June 21, 2013 by

 Welcome to Campground USA

Log Cabins, Nature Trails, Canoes

Paddle Boats, Bikes, Fisher

_________________________________________

For the last few weeks, I have felt like a kid on Christmas morning as I unwrapped each gift God has literally placed in my hands.  He gave me a:

  • Sword of Harvest

  • Sword of Light

  • Sword of Song

  • Sword of Silence

  • Sword of Forgiveness and Restoration

My thanks to Lisa Bevere for helping me realize just how much God loves me.  Oh, you got the same bag of Swords?  Well, of course you did!  I feel a song coming on.  Sing it with me.

“Oh, how He loves you and me. Oh, how He loves you and me.
He gave His life, what more could He give.
Oh how He loves you, Oh how He loves me, Oh how He loves you and me!”

But, He did give more.  Not only did He give His life for us, but He gave us a bag of swords to join with Him on the battleground in which the enemy rages war against us.

Let’s go on down to the bonfire, and learn more about this Sword of Forgiveness and Restoration from my four girlfriends.  And BTW, don’t be in such a hurry to leave the bonfire tonight.  It is Bible Sword Drill Time.  You don’t want to miss it.  You will see the quiz questions below this review.  Answer the questions to the best of your ability, without using your Bible.  Submit your questions; we will announce the winner on SUNDAY, June 23rd!  

_________

Teresa

The concept of “stooping beneath” someone else is seen as subservient and undesirable.  Pride is prized above personal relationships.  Grudges are held until the reason for the anger can no longer be remembered.  Stubbornness and pride are not virtues in God’s economy; humbleness and forgiveness are.

Quoting Lisa:

  • We have to be devoted to a greater cause than our individual rights and opinions.
  • Though we are entrusted with a Sword of the Spirit, we are not armed to harm.
  • We do not fight to tear down, but to build up.  The authority heaven lends to us on earth is to destroy evil by doing good.

Someone will eventually need to “stoop” to show love.  Make 1 Corinthians 13 your guide as you break down family curses.

All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  (Romans 3:23)

Jennifer

During a visit with her father, who was in a facility due to dementia, Lisa relates a story about God’s faithfulness. Lisa sensed that her father was fully cognizant of who she and her children were; and she prayed asking God what she should say. Here is the exchange:

  • “Heavenly Father, what should I say?”
  • The response was:  “Tell him he was a good dad.”
  • I countered, “That’s a lie! I am not going to lie to him…especially not now! He was not a good father.”
  • I heard a firm assurance: “He was as good as he knew how to be.”

If you are nurturing hurt from a broken relationship and God is prompting you to move toward restoration, listen to what He has to say and then act.  His timing is always perfect and He knows just what we need to say and do every time.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior.  Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.  (Ephesians 4:31-32)

Tonya  

As a Bereavement Counselor I have seen unforgiveness

  • lead to children not visiting their parent as they die
  • breed words of hurt and hate, open wounds that were thought closed, and cause those wounds to go unhealed…opportunities gone.

I have also seen forgiveness

  • build bridges, heal hearts, create new beginnings, new opportunities relationships restored and mended.

We don’t know what will happen after we pick up that sword of forgiveness and carry it with us on our journey. But what we do know is after we forgive, after we lay the issue at God’s feet and allow love to fill the space where the unforgiveness lived, that God will take over.  He will fulfill the promises He made regarding relationships before they were even formed.

Forgiveness – -whom the Son sets free is free indeed.

Kim

What is your story, dear friend?

  • Do you have deep wounds that still need healing?
  • Perhaps you have overcome and you are in a good place, but someone in your family is struggling and you are just at your end with it. The ripple effect is reaching everyone including your children.
  • Did your daddy love you and tell you how beautiful you were, or are you still begging for his attention?
  • Was your childhood stolen by someone who had no right to do so?
  • Maybe something happened in your life as an adult and you’re ashamed of the way you dealt with it.

Your story is full of opportunities to help someone else struggling. Only when we have let go of resentment and forgive can we be free.  As Lisa said:  “How might God use you as an agent of restoration?”

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others when they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.  (2 Corinthians 1:4)

***********

Let’s Pray:  

Father God, we are so thankful that You gave Your life for us so that we might have a home in heaven with You.  But, we are also so thankful that You did not leave us stranded as the enemy tries to wage war against us here on this earth.  Help us look to You for guidance as to how and when to use the Sword You have given us.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

 

 DON’T LEAVE YET!!  IT’S QUIZ TIME!!

 

QUIZ TIME

 

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Girls with Swords: Chapter 13 – Sword of Forgiveness & Restoration: What’s Your Story? (pgs. 205-206)

June 20, 2013 by

2Cor1_4

If you could see the underside of your life, you would see God your Father all over the details. He wrote your story. What is your story, dear friend? Do you have deep wounds that still need healing? Or perhaps you have overcome and you are in a good place, but someone in your family is struggling and you are just at your end with it. The ripple effect is reaching everyone including your children. How can you do this any longer? I don’t know your story. I don’t know what your childhood was like.

If your daddy loved you and told you how beautiful you are or if you are still begging for his attention; or maybe your childhood was stolen by someone who had no right to it. Maybe you had life happen to you as an adult and you’re ashamed of the way you dealt with it. Oh dear one, there is One who knows all and He came to take your shame away, to redeem and restore; release you from all that’s past and give you a future full of possibilities. Your story is full of opportunities to help someone else struggling.

We are given so many opportunities as His followers to step out and share the hope that we have in Him. One by one, story by story, lives are transformed and families restored…the list goes on and on. Hope is passed on when we walk in obedience; when we speak His words of restoration.

There’s a saying that goes: “Hurt people hurt people.”  Oh how true this is! But let me encourage you to try something if you are that hurting person. Instead of lashing out at a grumpy cashier, or anyone else giving you a bad attitude, show compassion. We don’t know their story of why they are acting the way they are. We are called to be His hands and feet in this lost world. Lisa asks us if we have any daggers of disappointment or bitterness that might threaten to misdirect a sword at hand. If so, we must willingly lay them down (pg 205).

Only when we have let go of resentment and forgive can we be free. As stated on page 206, “How might God use YOU as an agent of restoration?”

*****

Let’s Pray:

Dear God, my Daddy in Heaven, I surrender all. I lay it at Your feet. I trust You will guide each one of us and direct our steps as we step out into a hurting world and speak Your words of restoration and healing to others. Give each one of us the courage to be bold and use this story You have given us to encourage and give strength to one another as we travel together. I pray we choose to always say ‘yes!’ to You. We love You and we praise You and worship You with our whole being. We release our hurts and resentments. We release those who hurt us so that we may be whole to serve You wholly.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Girls with Swords: Chapter 13 – “Sword of Forgiveness and Restoration” (pgs. 198-200)

June 18, 2013 by

God knows every one of us. He knows our past, our present, and our future. There is nothing that we can keep from Him: no secrets, no heartaches, no fears, no doubts, no lies. He is sovereign over all. We will never understand His ways because we cannot see what He sees. We cannot see into the hearts and minds of those around us. Our only job is to follow His leading… however difficult it may be.

The author’s story about her father is heart-wrenching. In our short section today, there is much to chew on, though. Up to this point, we have learned that this man may not have been the best father. He suffered with an alcohol problem, was dismissive of his family, and generally showed a lack of caring. Do we know what was causing all of these issues? No, but God does. He knows every detail of her father’s life. He knows his struggle, his pain, his heartache.

Plus, God knows what it will take to move the relationship forward.

During a visit with her father, who was in a facility due to dementia, the author relates a story about God’s faithfulness. Lisa sensed that her father was fully cognizant of who she and her children were and prayed, asking God what she should say. Here is the exchange:

“I lifted a silent prayer: Heavenly Father, what should I say?

The response was shocking and immediate: Tell him he was a good dad.

What? Stunned, I countered, That’s a lie! I am not going to lie to him…especially not now! He was not a good father.

I heard a firm assurance: He was as good as he knew how to be.”  (pg. 199)

Isn’t that the way of God? He tells us what to do, but His answers are often not the answers we want to hear. The things He makes us do are difficult and painful sometimes. Forgiveness is extraordinarily difficult, especially when we have been severely hurt by another person.

Yet … God knows how to mend those broken relationships. He is the Ultimate Healer and Fixer. His timing is always perfect and He knows just what we need to say and do every time. It may not make any sense to us, but to God, it makes all the sense in the world.

Can you imagine if the author did not heed God’s leading and speak those words to her father? We cannot spend another day living in regret of what we should have said or done. If you are nurturing hurt from a broken relationship and God is prompting you to move toward restoration, listen to what He has to say and then act. His timing is perfect and His plans are always good. He will not lead you astray. Holding on to those feelings of resentment and anger will only inhibit your relationship with the Lord. Release them. Release the person. Let God work it out. He wants to..you just need to let Him.

Eph4.jpg

Let’s Pray: Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray for supernatural strength and boldness to take a step of faith in our broken relationships today. Help us, Lord, to move toward healing and restoration. Give us a heart of love and peace. Show us how to focus on the hope we have in You rather than on our bitterness and anger. We thank you in advance for this provision, Father. Amen.

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