10/12: Esther - Week Seven - A Hung-Up Life
Category: Esther - It's Tough Being A Woman
Posted by: Luann
As the character's from the Disney movie Bolt would say, "Oh, snap!"
We are heading (pardon the pun) into the final turn of the story, but not before we pause to dissect the noose.
On page 169 Beth says:
"The story line will loop around the neck of Haman and hang him from the top of the ladder he spent his life climbing."
What a TELLING sentence! We are all on a ladder. When and if we get to the top, I wonder what we will find? I'm afraid for years my ladder was in the wrong stinkin' location! Quiet on the set! I hear some of you that know me oh so well, giggling!
I can look back with regret at the 40 years spent balancing rungs that were in outer Mongolia----OR-----I can choose to be thrilled that I have a gracious and patient God who patted my poor, clueless head while I struggled. Because quite honestly, I believe I would not have the same compassion for single moms, had I not been one. I would not feel the ripped up heart of living with an alcoholic, had I not experienced it. I would not know the hunger of poverty had I not been hungry and without.
Am I advocating living in Outer Mongolia? NO! I am just saying that beating ourselves up for the past is useless and unproductive! It can be a mighty blessing in the life of a hopeless child seeking a Savior.
Xerxes is a piece of work, isn't he? I could say, boy do I know some Xerxes in my life....but then I might catch a glimpse of him in my own mirror! Beth says,
"He had no vision for the effect on others and the greater catastrophe..."
Oh, snap, guilty again. I have made some bonehead, heat of the moment decisions in life that did not take into consideration for a milli-second the impact on EVERYONE around me! So before we go being the good church-lady who says, "Oh, I wish so-and-so could be here to hear this sermon," let's look in the mirror and see if there is a hint of self-absorption lingering in our own lives.
Beth used the phrase,
"I'll get you my pretty," when speaking of how the devil looks at us when we win a battle. He thinks, yea, yea, whatever...you may have had "victory" over this thing, but in the end I'm gonna get ya. He isn't going to give up, especially if he thinks that your life just might impact someone else!
If he is leaving you alone, there is a reason. Maybe you aren't really a threat to him. Maybe he sees no fire or conviction in your heart for others...maybe he sees instead a judgmental attitude that places the stamp, "Good Egg or Bad Egg" on everyone. Maybe you have that Good Egg stamped on yourself and think that the rest of the world should fall in line with your agenda.
What does my life say to Satan? Does it say, "You can't stop me from singing praises to my Wonderful Savior! I'm going to shine no matter what!" or does it say, "I'm no threat to your plan to overtake the world with darkness."...? Don't be just a pretty face....get out there and stomp him!
At the bottom of page 171 she says,
"Extraordinary things happen around us continually. We just don't always recognize them.....lives don't always seem great while we're living them."
Babies are a blessing. All of them. God did not make one mistake. He allowed each one to be the product of just the right mom and just the right dad. He brings them into this world and then says to you and me, love this life. For years my girlfriend called herself a 'mistake' because that is what she heard her parents say her entire life. It painted a picture of insecurity across her face every time she looked into the mirror. Her stamp said, "unwanted" "oops" "unevenly yoked" - and so she could never see her value and still struggles to this day.
You and I are called to love. We are never called to be the judge or jury or prosecuting attorney. We are only called to be witnesses of His great love. That God cared so much He sent His one and Only Son this season as the greatest gift we will ever receive! Then He said, love one another as I have loved you. Love those who feel like throw-aways. Love those who don't deserve it. Love those who break your heart at times. Love covers a multitude of sins.
Years ago, my daughter Jennifer was comparing herself and wondering if she 'would ever get it right.' We actually used the analogy of a ladder. I said, "Honey, look how far you've come! God is never finished with us!"
We each have a God-given need to MATTER. As we walk through this Christmas season, may we splash cool springs of joy on those around us, so that Jesus might look at us as he did in Mark 14:6 and say, "She has done a beautiful thing to me."
Oh, to be a heavenly tidal wave!
We are heading (pardon the pun) into the final turn of the story, but not before we pause to dissect the noose.
On page 169 Beth says:
"The story line will loop around the neck of Haman and hang him from the top of the ladder he spent his life climbing."
What a TELLING sentence! We are all on a ladder. When and if we get to the top, I wonder what we will find? I'm afraid for years my ladder was in the wrong stinkin' location! Quiet on the set! I hear some of you that know me oh so well, giggling!
I can look back with regret at the 40 years spent balancing rungs that were in outer Mongolia----OR-----I can choose to be thrilled that I have a gracious and patient God who patted my poor, clueless head while I struggled. Because quite honestly, I believe I would not have the same compassion for single moms, had I not been one. I would not feel the ripped up heart of living with an alcoholic, had I not experienced it. I would not know the hunger of poverty had I not been hungry and without.
Am I advocating living in Outer Mongolia? NO! I am just saying that beating ourselves up for the past is useless and unproductive! It can be a mighty blessing in the life of a hopeless child seeking a Savior.
Xerxes is a piece of work, isn't he? I could say, boy do I know some Xerxes in my life....but then I might catch a glimpse of him in my own mirror! Beth says,
"He had no vision for the effect on others and the greater catastrophe..."
Oh, snap, guilty again. I have made some bonehead, heat of the moment decisions in life that did not take into consideration for a milli-second the impact on EVERYONE around me! So before we go being the good church-lady who says, "Oh, I wish so-and-so could be here to hear this sermon," let's look in the mirror and see if there is a hint of self-absorption lingering in our own lives.
Beth used the phrase,
"I'll get you my pretty," when speaking of how the devil looks at us when we win a battle. He thinks, yea, yea, whatever...you may have had "victory" over this thing, but in the end I'm gonna get ya. He isn't going to give up, especially if he thinks that your life just might impact someone else!
If he is leaving you alone, there is a reason. Maybe you aren't really a threat to him. Maybe he sees no fire or conviction in your heart for others...maybe he sees instead a judgmental attitude that places the stamp, "Good Egg or Bad Egg" on everyone. Maybe you have that Good Egg stamped on yourself and think that the rest of the world should fall in line with your agenda.
What does my life say to Satan? Does it say, "You can't stop me from singing praises to my Wonderful Savior! I'm going to shine no matter what!" or does it say, "I'm no threat to your plan to overtake the world with darkness."...? Don't be just a pretty face....get out there and stomp him!
At the bottom of page 171 she says,
"Extraordinary things happen around us continually. We just don't always recognize them.....lives don't always seem great while we're living them."
Babies are a blessing. All of them. God did not make one mistake. He allowed each one to be the product of just the right mom and just the right dad. He brings them into this world and then says to you and me, love this life. For years my girlfriend called herself a 'mistake' because that is what she heard her parents say her entire life. It painted a picture of insecurity across her face every time she looked into the mirror. Her stamp said, "unwanted" "oops" "unevenly yoked" - and so she could never see her value and still struggles to this day.
You and I are called to love. We are never called to be the judge or jury or prosecuting attorney. We are only called to be witnesses of His great love. That God cared so much He sent His one and Only Son this season as the greatest gift we will ever receive! Then He said, love one another as I have loved you. Love those who feel like throw-aways. Love those who don't deserve it. Love those who break your heart at times. Love covers a multitude of sins.
Years ago, my daughter Jennifer was comparing herself and wondering if she 'would ever get it right.' We actually used the analogy of a ladder. I said, "Honey, look how far you've come! God is never finished with us!"
We each have a God-given need to MATTER. As we walk through this Christmas season, may we splash cool springs of joy on those around us, so that Jesus might look at us as he did in Mark 14:6 and say, "She has done a beautiful thing to me."
Oh, to be a heavenly tidal wave!
(RSS)
Joy wrote:
In thinking of my "ladder", I'm wondering where I've positioned it and what I desire to achieve. Is it a competancy ladder or a character ladder I'm climbing? As Beth reminded us at the end of Day 5, the way up is down. Denying self. Becoming a servant. Losing my life to find it.
I feel like the evil one has been all over me lately, and I wish I could say I have resisted. I've given in and felt the pain of God's disappointment in my choices. I've been quick to confess and He's so very gracious to restore.
I loved the illustration Beth shared on page 172. I am a bit of a perfectionist. (OK...more than 'a bit'.) The question the psychologist posed spoke to me. "You can write a good book, can't you?" Beth said paraphrased that asked, "Do you have to do something great? Can you be happy to do something really good?" Beth continues, "Think about it, Sister. Couldn't the craving to do something great keep us from doing something good?" Perfectionism can paralyze. "Living just to be great will prove at least empty..." "What if we awakened to what a dream-killer perfectionism is? To how pitifully small and unworthy a goal personal greatness is? We were meant for so much more. Everyone of us who embraces the glory of God as our purpose will end up doing great things precisely because we do God-things. His holy hand resting on the least act renders the ordinary extraordinary....He beholds the sight like a breathtaking work of art, tilting His head to study each subtle detail. 'She has done a beautiful thing to me'....In effect Christ says, 'I'm already great enough for both of us,' relieving the willing of their woeful burden. 'Just follow Me.'"
AMEN!!!! I need to really take that teaching to heart. Get those words rooted deep.
Luann, you wrote, "Love those who feel like throw-aways. Love those who don't deserve it. Love those who break your heart at times. Love covers a multitude of sins." Loving my nephew who continues to walk away. I'm praying for a covering of love over my nephew - not to hide his sin, but so that he will know and experience God's love over him.
Love ya my friend.
Hugs,
Joy