Great article for Women!
Man! I tell u.. (*haha note the pun..)
This article really came at the right time for me...
For women in ministry: Accept the challenge
by Mary Southerland
Key verse: Esther 4:16 "I will go to the king ..." (NCV)
Step one: Understand that we are chosen.
Jeremiah 1:5 says, "Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you." (NCV)
Step two: Accept the challenge.
Queen Esther was a woman just like us. Not only did she have hopes and dreams, strengths, and abilities, she was also imperfect, and insecure - just like us. Yet, Esther was chosen to be the queen of Persia and lived an extraordinary life. Why? Because, in her fear, she was still willing to accept the challenge before her, take the right steps, and make the right choices. If Esther can take those steps, so can we.
Esther certainly understood stress. When the king's law to destroy the Jews was published, Mordecai and the rest of the Jews lost it. Mordecai told Esther that she needed to go to her husband and beg for mercy. Esther initially refused, but with good reason. If she went to the king without being invited, she would be killed. Quite a test. Like Esther, every time life delivers a cruel blow, we must make a choice. We can choose to accept the challenge or we can refuse it and miss the opportunity it offers. Yes, I said "opportunity." If you are like me, when a trial comes, I tend to look for the nearest exit, hoping to avoid the pain and examination that every challenge affords. At the center of every challenge is an opportunity. Behind every problem is a purpose. Each and every crisis is a concentrated opportunity.
Life and ministry are punctuated with trouble and trials. The only people who have no problems or face no challenges are in the cemetery. When the Lord wants to give us precious truth, he doesn't wrap it in a sophisticated package and hand it to us on a silver platter. Instead, he buries his life-giving message, his priceless truth at the heart of a big, tough problem. Then, I can almost see him as he watches and applauds when we have what it takes to break that problem apart and find the treasure hidden there.
Isaiah 45:3 says, "And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness - secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name." (NLT)
Don't miss this truth! God has gone before us, and in every problem, every darkness and trial, has buried a "treasure" and stored "secret riches." The only way we can discover that treasure or uncover the secret riches is to face the challenge, walk through the darkness, and confront the trial, refusing to give up until the lesson is learned and the truth gained.
When golf balls were first manufactured, their covers were smooth - until the manufacturers discovered golfers could get more distance out of a ball that had been roughed up a bit. And so it is with life. It takes some "rough spots" to make us go our furthest. Jesus did not come to eliminate our problems. He came to fill those problems with himself. Someone once said: "When God permits his children to go through the furnace, he keeps his eye on the clock and his hand on the thermostat." I love that. I celebrate the fact that we don't have to worry or be afraid for one simply profound reason - God is with us.
Isaiah 41:10 says, "So don't worry, because I am with you. Don't be afraid, because I am your God. I will make you strong and will help you; I will support you with my right hand that saves you." (NCV)
In Chinese, the word "crisis" is made up of two characters, the first of which means "danger" while the second means "opportunity." In other words, we can view each crisis as a dangerous opportunity. When we choose to embrace a challenge, we are choosing obedience. And God always, always honors obedience, especially when it is in blind obedience to his plan and his purpose. Embrace that trial that is staring you in the face. Right now, welcome the crisis that is breaking your heart, knowing that whatever drives us to our knees and makes us cry out to God can be considered a blessing.
Queen Esther came to this truth when she accepted the biggest and, I am sure, the most frightening challenge of her life when she stood for truth and against the enemy's schemes. In doing so, she saved her people and won a place of honor.
This article really came at the right time for me...
For women in ministry: Accept the challenge
by Mary Southerland
Key verse: Esther 4:16 "I will go to the king ..." (NCV)
Step one: Understand that we are chosen.
Jeremiah 1:5 says, "Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you." (NCV)
Step two: Accept the challenge.
Queen Esther was a woman just like us. Not only did she have hopes and dreams, strengths, and abilities, she was also imperfect, and insecure - just like us. Yet, Esther was chosen to be the queen of Persia and lived an extraordinary life. Why? Because, in her fear, she was still willing to accept the challenge before her, take the right steps, and make the right choices. If Esther can take those steps, so can we.
Esther certainly understood stress. When the king's law to destroy the Jews was published, Mordecai and the rest of the Jews lost it. Mordecai told Esther that she needed to go to her husband and beg for mercy. Esther initially refused, but with good reason. If she went to the king without being invited, she would be killed. Quite a test. Like Esther, every time life delivers a cruel blow, we must make a choice. We can choose to accept the challenge or we can refuse it and miss the opportunity it offers. Yes, I said "opportunity." If you are like me, when a trial comes, I tend to look for the nearest exit, hoping to avoid the pain and examination that every challenge affords. At the center of every challenge is an opportunity. Behind every problem is a purpose. Each and every crisis is a concentrated opportunity.
Life and ministry are punctuated with trouble and trials. The only people who have no problems or face no challenges are in the cemetery. When the Lord wants to give us precious truth, he doesn't wrap it in a sophisticated package and hand it to us on a silver platter. Instead, he buries his life-giving message, his priceless truth at the heart of a big, tough problem. Then, I can almost see him as he watches and applauds when we have what it takes to break that problem apart and find the treasure hidden there.
Isaiah 45:3 says, "And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness - secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name." (NLT)
Don't miss this truth! God has gone before us, and in every problem, every darkness and trial, has buried a "treasure" and stored "secret riches." The only way we can discover that treasure or uncover the secret riches is to face the challenge, walk through the darkness, and confront the trial, refusing to give up until the lesson is learned and the truth gained.
When golf balls were first manufactured, their covers were smooth - until the manufacturers discovered golfers could get more distance out of a ball that had been roughed up a bit. And so it is with life. It takes some "rough spots" to make us go our furthest. Jesus did not come to eliminate our problems. He came to fill those problems with himself. Someone once said: "When God permits his children to go through the furnace, he keeps his eye on the clock and his hand on the thermostat." I love that. I celebrate the fact that we don't have to worry or be afraid for one simply profound reason - God is with us.
Isaiah 41:10 says, "So don't worry, because I am with you. Don't be afraid, because I am your God. I will make you strong and will help you; I will support you with my right hand that saves you." (NCV)
In Chinese, the word "crisis" is made up of two characters, the first of which means "danger" while the second means "opportunity." In other words, we can view each crisis as a dangerous opportunity. When we choose to embrace a challenge, we are choosing obedience. And God always, always honors obedience, especially when it is in blind obedience to his plan and his purpose. Embrace that trial that is staring you in the face. Right now, welcome the crisis that is breaking your heart, knowing that whatever drives us to our knees and makes us cry out to God can be considered a blessing.
Queen Esther came to this truth when she accepted the biggest and, I am sure, the most frightening challenge of her life when she stood for truth and against the enemy's schemes. In doing so, she saved her people and won a place of honor.
Opportunities Missed
There was a very cautious man
Who never laughed or played.
He never risked.
He never tried.
He never sang or prayed.
And when he one day passed away
And when he one day passed away
His insurance was denied.
For since he never really lived
They claimed he never died.
~ Author Unknown ~
~ Author Unknown ~
What challenge is before you, my friend? Accept it - welcome it - embrace it - and just see what your God does through it!
2 Comments:
"In Chinese, the word 'crisis' is made up of two characters, the first of which means 'danger' while the second means 'opportunity.'"
+++
Sorry, that's a myth.
Oh ok, thanks for enlightening. Well, gotta tell that to Mary Southerland.. heh..just borrowing her article here.. :) Thanks!
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