Chapter 4 - "Purpose, Presence, Position"

(ok - I just realized I said "um" a whole lot in that video! :)

This week, we looked at three elements in Esther and Mordecai's lives:

1. They each had a Purpose

Just like God had a specific purpose for Esther and Mordecai, He has a unique plan and purpose for each of us as well.

2. They had Presence

I personally struggle with the part of the story of Esther where God allowed her to be forced to have pre-marital sex with an evil king. I don't understand why God would allow this, but I do understand that God is sovereign and used the place that Esther was in to bring about His will. "We know that in ALL THINGS God works together for good, to them who love God, and to them who are the called according to His purpose." (Rom. 8:28)

3. God gave them Position

God placed Esther and Mordecai in the exact positions He needed them to be in to fulfill His purpose in and through them. God will do the same for us also. In this chapter, Shelley wrote, "God puts each of us in the right place at the right time when we choose to walk with Him."

Questions to answer in the comments section below...

1. Knowing the truth that God has given you everything you need to accomplish His purpose for you today, does this change your outlook of your future? If so, how?

2. What is the main thing that God has taught you in chapter 4?

(click on the word, "Comments" below and leave your answers.)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Week 3 of On Purpose For a Purpose

Hi Ladies! No video today~ There just seems to be so much going on these days, and I am confident you all can relate. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, which also brings with it, lots and lots of things to do--on top of the normal craziness most of us live with every day! Am I right?

For this post, I want to do a couple of things. First, I want to ask you to please let me know who's out there. We only had 3 comments posted this past week and 1 of those one from Yours Truly. Even if you're shy or you don't have a Blogger account, we'd still love to know you're out there and with us. Feel free to comment using the "anonymous" option, and then just sign it with your first name. Jenifer and I are really hoping to help our community, even this online one, grow and we need YOUR help to make that happen. Are you with me?

Secondly, I want to let you all know that next week's Bible Study post will come from Jenifer! Make sure you check back. We won't "meet" for the week of Christmas or the week of New Year's, but we will plan to begin updating the blog with more stuff for all Chicks to enjoy--whether you're participating in the blog study or not, so make sure to keep checking back!

Okay, on to the post!

In the story of Esther, we see the sovereignty of God throughout the entire book. I don't know about you, but it is often very difficult for me to embrace the truth that God is sovereign when I see and experience things that hurt me or those I love, or when I see atrocities that take place on any given day around the world. It's often difficult to experience peace when we find experience the thoughts and emotions that we do when confronted with such realities. Jenifer and I were blessed to get to attend the Casting Crowns Christmas Concert (Check out her blog for some great pics). Mark Hall, the lead singer of the group, reminded us that Peace is a Person and His Name is Jesus Christ. With that being true, then what that also means is that if we know Jesus Christ, and if He lives in us, then WE carry peace WITH US wherever we go.

His words have continued to speak to me these past few days, and as I consider what the times were like for Mordecai and Esther, and how they experienced governmental leaders who didn't honor the One True God and as they experienced some very unfair situations, the God of Peace was sovereignly overseeing the entire thing.

That same God oversees every bit of every tiny detail of our lives as well. And just as He cared for Esther and Mordecai IN their circumstances, He cares for us in the same way as well.

So, my discussion question this week is brief: What is your response to the truth (not how you feel about what you may be going through or would like to see changed in your life) that this same God, and Prince of Peace, is very concerned about YOU and the challenges and circumstances you are facing? How do you respond to the fact that He doesn't always change our circumstances, but that He desires to do what is absolutely best for us in them?

Remember, too, that just as at this point in the study we aren't seeing HOW all of this will work out for Esther and Mordecai, they had to live this out without knowing how it would all work out either. May we be people who walk by faith when what we see isn't so convincing.

I am looking forward to hearing from you all--it's your turn. Press "comments" and type away!

Until Next Week~
Shelley

Welcome to Week 2 of On Purpose For a Purpose!

In this past week's Chapter, our topic was on how we can be women of purpose and not lose our position that God has destined us to fill. In our longing for true security and significance, which can only be found in a personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus, we often look to external sources that only leave us wanting, rather than filling us up. Have you identified some of those places you go to for security?-For significance? (We'll pick back up with Vashti in the comments' section below.)

In Chapter 2 of Esther, the Bible tells us that Ahasuerus/Xerxes regretted what he had decreed against Vashti. When his false sources of security and significance failed him, he felt all the emotions that inevitably follow such a reality.

Pause to consider this: when your false sources of security and significance fail you, what emotions do you feel? What thoughts do you struggle with?

When Xerxes felt all of those unpleasant feelings and had all those haunting thoughts, he wanted to find a source of comfort. He wanted something or someone that would make him feel better.

A Question for this week is this: "Where am I going to find comfort when my source of security and significance fail me?" You don't have to answer this in the comments section, but I do ask that you get honest with God and yourself about this so that you can begin walking away from that false source as you walk toward the true source of comfort. (See II Corinthians 1:3-7)

I heard it said in recent days that there has never been a day when Christians were more comfortable and yet less committed than ever before. May this not be the case with us. May we purpose to lives our lives on purpose and for a purpose!

Comments' Section:

1. As a woman, what "position(s)" do you fill?

2. Where do you have influence? Try to put these in order of most influence to least.

3. How can you be more intentional in those areas of greatest influence?

4. Sometimes the most difficult choices are not between what is good vs. what is wrong, but what is good vs. what is best. How can we be careful to give our energy, strength, and resources to what is best? How can we discern what is best?

5. From the Homework Section of Chapter 2, what is the main thing God spoke to you? How will you apply that to your life this week?

Week 1 Discussion/Week 2's Assignment

***Update: See comments for Shelley's update to the questions for Chapter 1~Please leave comments so we're all keeping in touch with each other through this Winter Blog Study.***

Hello everyone! Welcome back to the blog study. I hope you all took some time to read Chapter 1 and to complete the short study at the end of the chapter. Your assignment for this post is to click on comments and leave your answers to the questions from Chapter 1.

In Chapter 1 of On Purpose for a Purpose, we read about King Ahaseurus/Xerxes and his drive for power and fame. We narrowed his behaviors down to a basic motivation that every human being has in common: a need to feel secure and a need to feel significant. This is what God placed into every human being to draw us to Himself.

I just read about another monarch who lived a very extravagant lifestyle. Her name was Elizabeth and she ruled and reigned in Russia in the 1700's. Her quest for luxury knew no bounds! Apparently she owned over 15,000 gowns (some made of spun silver, inlaid with gems). She "needed" this many gowns because she changed her entire outfit every day, 3 times each day, and refused to ever wear the same gown twice. The parties she threw were unmatched. In fact, since she appalled the idea of anyone wearing a dress twice, she ordered her servants to stamp with dark black ink the backs of every woman's gown as she left the party so no woman could ever wear a party gown twice! She owned more castles than she could ever live in or even visit. The writer of the devotion I read describing her exuberant lifestyle also reminded the reader (me!) that although Elizabeth had all of this luxury, we don't know if she made investments into her eternal portfolio or simply into her temporary one. It was Jim Elliot who said, "He who takes care of this life only is wise for a moment but a fool for eternity."

What about you? Are you using what God has entrusted to your stewardship to make investments into God's Kingdom and your own eternal destination, or like Xerxes and Elizabeth, are your resources mainly focused on the here and now? This was a sobering reminder for me today and so I simply pass it along to you all.

I can't wait to check the blog later to see what God is showing you through your time of study. My time is short today with the Holiday week, so I'll try to post a video next week! After you complete the assignment for today, your homework for next week is to read Chapter 2 and complete the short study at the end.

Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for YOU!

Shelley

It's finally here!!

Hello Everyone!!

The day we've been waiting for is finally here! The first day of our first ever online Bible Study through the Atlanta Encounter "Church 4 Chicks!" I hope you're all excited about being a part of this with me and with each other. I've posted a video here to give a little more info, but make sure to scroll down to the bottom for some more important 411 after the video ends.

Okay, please be patient with me while I get this whole video blogging thing figured out. :-) I am planning to post a video each week as long as everything is working with me (including my hair--I have my priorities!)

If you've purchased your book and have it with you, please read Chapter 1 and then complete the "Going Deeper" section at the end of the chapter. Be prepared to share your answers when you come back to the blog for Week 2 on November 25th.

Your assignment for TODAY is:

1. Click "Comments"

2. Tell us your name (or how you'd like to be known in our blog community)

3. Children? Husband? Single? You don't have to tell us everything, but tell us a little something about you to help us know you better.

4. How did you find out about the Atlanta Encounter Blog Study?

5. What is the single greatest thing God has shown you in your life this year?

Bible Study Starts TOMORROW!

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to stop in and wish you all a great Monday and remind you to check back in tomorrow for the first post of our online Bible Study. If you've not yet gotten your book, there is still time to get it and get started. Tomorrow will be an introduction that will include more instructions on what to expect from the study and such. Probably the quickest way to get your book ordered would be to go through amazon.com. (Click the link and it will take you right to it.) We will read Chapter 1 before Tuesday, November 25th, so you still have plenty of time to jump in with us.

I'm honored to be on this journey with you through the story of Esther. I know God will use it in each of our lives as we listen for His voice to us personally and as a group.

See you tomorrow!

Shelley

Shelley is hosting Atlanta Live November 11th!

Check it out on WATC TV in Atlanta, Channel 57 or Comcast Channel 2. The show airs live from 7-9 p.m. and will re-air on November 12th from 7-9 a.m. on the same channel. If you are outside of the Atlanta area, you can go to www.watc.tv to find local showtimes.

Blessings!

And don't forget to sign up for the winter blog series by leaving a comment in the post below.