“So the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther. And on the second day, as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther, “What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king.””

Esther 7:1-4 ESV

http://bible.com/59/est.7.1-4.esv

All,

This stands out because the writer says, “Then Queen Esther answered.” How difficult is it to actually finish the plan in tough situations. I will try to rationalize for better timing or different moods, but Esther faced her fear. Please pray that we and our friends complete the task God has laid before us today. Please pray for Jeff Keppen’s family.

“”All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.” And they told Mordecai what Esther had said. Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.””

Esther 4:11-16 ESV

http://bible.com/59/est.4.11-16.esv

All,

This stands out because Mordecai says, “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place”. God has a purpose for all of us. He also has us in certain places at certain times to bring His Word to exactly what is controversial at the moment. We can chose to be silent at those times, but God’s purpose will prevail from another source. Please pray that we and our friends have the courage to bring Gods light. Please pray for John Roney whose wife went to Jesus 6 months ago.

“The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.”

Psalms 92:12-15 ESV

http://bible.com/59/psa.92.12-15.esv

All,

This stands out because the psalmist says, “They still bear fruit in old age”. The fruit of the Spirit doesn’t have a age. Older people have the blessing of experience and seeing God’s providence play out over and over again. Please pray that we and our friends seek to be closer to Jesus with everyday that passes and know we will spend eternity with Him. Please pray for Jeff Keppen’s family as his father passed away yesterday.

“The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.”

Ecclesiastes 12:11-14 ESV

http://bible.com/59/ecc.12.11-14.esv

All,

This stands out because Solomon says, “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” God created us to be in relationship with Him. He knows us better than we know ourselves and He also knows we will believe certain harmful things to be beneficial. Jesus says He came to “give us life to the full”(John 10:10)in this life and everlasting. Do we believe Him enough to obey Him? Please pray that we and our friends abide in Christ every second today. Please pray for Jeff Keppen’s Dad as he is on life support.

“For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

Psalms 90:4-6, 12 ESV

http://bible.com/59/psa.90.4-6,12.esv

All,

This stands out because Moses says, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Do you know how long you will live? Ken Boa says, “We should in light of two days: today and that day”. How is today different if you think about that day? Are relationships more rich? Are we grateful for seemingly small things? Please pray that we and our friends see today in light of that day. Please pray for Hunter as he builds his group.

“Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face, who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted. For you are the glory of their strength; by your favor our horn is exalted. For our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel.”

Psalms 89:15-18 ESV

http://bible.com/59/psa.89.15-18.esv

All,

This stands out because the writer says, “who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face”. Augustine said, “Thou has formed us for thyself and our hearts are restless thill they find rest in thee.” There is nothing better than walking and abiding in Christ. We may be tempted to seek worldly pleasures, but God created us and knows what gives us joy. Please pray that we and our friends walk in the light of “God’s face” today. Please pray for Leslie as she questions God’s purpose in worldly occurrences.

“Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city. Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.”

Ecclesiastes 7:19-22 ESV

http://bible.com/59/ecc.7.19-22.esv

All,

This stands out because Solomon says, “Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.” We judge ourselves by our intentions and other people by their actions. We can chose to live in the Spirit or the flesh and so can others. Please pray that we and our friends realize other people may act out of their flesh instead of the Spirit at times. Please pray for John and Anthony as they go through co-facilitator training today.

“You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst. Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell. “And you gave them kingdoms and peoples and allotted to them every corner. So they took possession of the land of Sihon king of Heshbon and the land of Og king of Bashan. You multiplied their children as the stars of heaven, and you brought them into the land that you had told their fathers to enter and possess. So the descendants went in and possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hand, with their kings and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they would. And they captured fortified cities and a rich land, and took possession of houses full of all good things, cisterns already hewn, vineyards, olive orchards and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and became fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness. “Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you and cast your law behind their back and killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed great blasphemies.”

Nehemiah 9:20-26 ESV

http://bible.com/59/neh.9.20-26.esv

All,

This stands out because Nehemiah says, “You gave your good Spirit to instruct them.” Israel, like the rest of us, has been given much, but didn’t appreciate that God gave it to them. Instead of being grateful, they worshipped the created instead of the Creator. It’s even easier to worship the created now or ourselves. God wants to guide us in His purpose, but He will not let us continue harming ourselves. Please pray that we and our friends seek God first today and be grateful for His instruction. Please pray for Gary Adam’s recovery.

“Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.”

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 ESV

http://bible.com/59/ecc.5.18-20.esv

All,

This stands out because Solomon says, “to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God.” We are commanded not to covet. Ken Boa says, “Comparison is the enemy of contentment”. It is a gift from God to be grateful for what we have. Everyone reading this email lives better then Kings did 200 years ago. Please pray that we and our friends express gratefulness to God today, especially when we are inclined to complain. Please pray for Gary Adams surgery. It was moved to 7:30 this morning.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV

http://bible.com/59/ecc.4.9-12.esv

All,

This stands out because Solomon says, “For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow.” How peaceful is it when you know a friend is walking with us through a trial? We will all go through trials and God will be with us and He wants us to be comforted by a friend in the process. Please pray that we and our friends are present in the present with our friends in need. Please pray for Gary Adams as he has heart valve replacement surgery tomorrow at noon.