Wednesday, April 28, 2010

For Such a Time as This: Positioned Where and When God Chooses

By Pat Pentecost
“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have attained royalty for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14, NASB).

The story of Esther is one of my favorite Old Testament stories. It is such an exemplary model of how we as women need to be intercessors for our sons, daughters or those God has placed in our lives.

Esther was not in the regal line to become a candidate for the position of queen as she had been raised by her cousin as an orphan and Jew, a people who were considered to be enemies to the king and his provinces. Yet, Esther was among those chosen to stand before the king and immediately found favor with those in authority and was given special preparation treatment. As the story unfolds, we see that the king loved Esther more than all the virgins and crowned her as queen (Esther 2:17).

We may feel that we are not in a position to be used of God, but He needs us as a mom, grandmother, aunt or friend to be available and willing to receive God’s special preparation treatment of grace and ability to be ready for our Heavenly King to choose and use.

When Esther heard the decree of death for the Jews, she and her cousin, Mordecai, were in great anguish. Mordecai requested Esther to plead for favor from the king but she reminded him that she had not been summoned by the king for 30 days and could be killed if he did not invite her by holding out his scepter. But Esther and the Jews fasted and prayed, and as we know, God had placed Esther in the right position at the right time—“for such a time as this.” When she petitioned King Ahasuerus, she was granted favor, the Jews were delivered from the edict of death, and Mordecai was advanced to a position of great authority over the whole nation.

Sometimes we may be in great anguish for the situation that our sons and daughters are facing. God desires that we take our petitions to Him with boldness as Hebrews 4:16 states “…come boldly before the throne of grace, that we might obtain mercy and grace to help in time of need.” My three sons are now grown and starting their own families, but there have been many times that I called out “when my heart was overwhelmed within me” and God reassured me that “he knows my [and their] path” (Psalm 142:3) and brought peace to the situation. He needs us to be in a position of availability to intercede when the report or situation seems hopeless; then He will be faithful to help in the time of need.

Monday, April 12, 2010

I Wouldn’t Trade It for the World!

By Rebecca Bogle
Boy, has my life changed in the last few years! I was first a friend, then became a stepmother to my little girl, Lydia. Never in my life would I have seen myself raising a child that wasn’t my own.

It’s funny how God works sometimes!

I’ve been married for a year-and-a-half, and I am still learning to “mother.” I’m sure it’s not easy for anyone to be a mother, but sometimes I wish children came with an “Easy Button!” Regardless of the stress that comes with “mothering,” I would not trade it for the world. I’ve experienced her first days of learning to swim on her own, watched and helped as she memorized her Bible verses and looked on as she rode the swings at a carnival for the first time. She loves the swings! On the other hand, I’ve also experienced her being sick, fussy and talking back. (Already!) We’ve had good times and bad times, but that’s life, right?

I pray for Lydia daily. I pray that she would be kept safe at school and that her day would go well. I pray that Jesus’ light would shine through her to those around her. I also pray that she grows up to be a good girl, a prayer that I’ve picked up from her dad. Praying for these things puts a great responsibility upon my shoulders. Without a good example to follow, how will she ever be a good girl? When I think of that, I begin to pray for good mothering skills. I ask God to show me how to be a good mom and that He would help me provide the right answers to Lydia’s questions, regardless of how serious or silly they may be. I pray that she would grow closer to Christ, just as I grow closer to Him.

“And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4, NKJV). This applies to moms, too!

I try my best to be a good example for Lydia to live by. I’ll also admit I’ve asked several times why God chose me to be that example for her. Every night we snuggle up in bed and read a story together; as I tuck her in, she takes my hand and begins to pray. It is at that moment that I begin to see how great a gift it is to be a mother!

I wouldn’t trade it for the world.