My first thoughts about this study and the book of Ester have defiantly been how fairy tale like it is and how Beth Moore really calls your attention to that. So I am thinking what where some of my stories as a kid? What did those stories teach me? I don't think that i actually ever learned a single thing from one of the stories that ever stuck with me over time. They where just stories something to sooth me, entertain me, not develop me.
Beth Moore made a bit of a side note of Romans 15:4. Did you read it? I hope so. I pray that as we go through this study that Ester doesn't become just a fairy story to entertain us but that we allow it to sink deeply into the pores of our heart and truly changes our lives. I pray that each of us find hope and peace in the pages of God's fairy story and that we take the bits of truth he has placed before us. My heart has been revisiting a bible memory verse from years ago. Look at James 1:22, and allow it to be a goal and a challenge to you.
One last thought for me for today. Look at the passages from Ezra. Have you ever been far from home for a long time like the Israelites? I remember being far from home and missing everything that makes home home. Not so much the people but the relationships, the places, the memories everything that I knew and loved was many miles away. It made me feel lost inside and gave me such a longing that truly made my days uncomfortable. I remember coming home and seeing everything i loved again and it was a wonderful feeling. I hope that as we go along we look at every opportunity to relate our own lives to the story and make it real for us so that in turn we are truly motivated for change.
Did everyone get the answers to the questions in the study book?
What do u hope for this study?
Did anything really make you think?
2 comments:
I have been reading so many different things lately I am not real sure what day I should or shouldn`t be on but I will share some thoughts.
First is my "fairytale". The reading seams a little like Disneyland. It is always clean even though there are so many visitors. Even though at night there must be a major overhaul of every single spot, during the day the smallest of paper is immediately removed.
And it is like a good farmer. You see evidence of his work by an perfectly plowed, weedless field with an abundance of produce, but seldom do you see him at work. Just the results of his work.
I don`t know what I will end up with but I would love to see me more patient, kind and giving with a look out for the other person. A sense of hopefulness in all situations. Anyone else out there?
We are off to a great beginning here! Krissy's words had me going back to revisit this 1st lesson and looking up some verses... How about you? Did you find a favorite? Mine was Romans 15:4 - Here are the words from the Message - "Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it’s written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next."
The last 2 pages of this 1st day's homework talk about that how God writes us in the story, as Beth puts it, "Don't just wait and see. Live and see."
We are in for a great read!
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