The story is told of a US Marine during World War II that got separated from his unit on a Pacific island. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and crossfire he had lost touch with his unit. Alone in the jungle he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for cover he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves. Quickly he crawled inside one of the caves. Although safe for the moment, he realized that once the enemy soldiers looking for him swept up the ridge, they would quickly search all the caves and he would be killed. As he waited, he prayed, "Lord, please protect me. Amen." After praying, he lay quietly listening to the enemy beginning to draw close. He thought, "Well, I guess the Lord isn't going to help me out of this one." Then he saw a spider begin to build a web over the front of his cave. As he watched, listening to the enemy searching for him --- all the while the spider layered strand after strand of web across the opening of the cave. "Hah, he thought. What I need is a brick wall and what the Lord has sent me is a spider web. God does have a sense of humor." As the enemy searched closer he watched from the darkness of his hideout deep inside the cave. He watched as the enemy systematically checked and cleared each cave. As they came to his he readied to make his last stand. Rifle at the ready and three hand grenades within reach. Suddenly to his amazement the enemy glanced at his cave and walked away. Then it quickened him that the spider web over the entrance looked as if no one had entered for quite a while. "Lord, forgive me," prayed the young man. "I had forgotten that in you a spider's web is stronger than a brick wall." We all face times of great trouble. When we do, it is so easy to forget what Jesus can work in our lives --- sometimes in the most surprising ways. And remember with Jesus --- a mere spider's web becomes a brick wall of protection. Prayer: Father thank you for your protection in my life. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen! (Chriatian Cyber Ministries)
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Testings
Testings
Esther 4
1 When Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. He cried out with a loud and bitter cry. 2 He went as far as the front of the king’s gate, for no one might enter the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. . 5 Then Esther called Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs whom he had appointed to attend her, and she gave him a command concerning Mordecai, to learn what and why this was. 7 And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries to destroy the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the written decree for their destruction, which was given at Shushan, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her, and that he might command her to go in to the king to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people. .
10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a command for Mordecai: 11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days.” 12 So they told Mordecai Esther’s words.
13 And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”
17 So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him.[a]
The 4th chapter of Esther has only 17 verses, but contains one of the greatest challenges anyone could face. It also shows us that if we step out with God, there is nothing that can overcome us.
All of us who serve God face challenges whether big or small; what we do and how we handle them makes all the difference.
Esther knew that even though she was a queen, she was not guaranteed safety. She also knew that if she didn’t step out, no one else would, and her people would be slaughtered.
Did she step out or back off? She stepped out but not alone; her and her people petitioned God to intervene and protect her.
There may be times when a test may come to you, (and there will be) that you know that you alone cannot do it; God is not trying to take you down, He is trying to teach you to rely on Him. Courage is not the lack of fear; it’s fear that has said its prayers.
For life’s adventure Lord, I ask
Courage and faith for every task;
A heart kept clean by high desire.
A conscience purged by holy fire.__McDermand
Esther 4
1 When Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. He cried out with a loud and bitter cry. 2 He went as far as the front of the king’s gate, for no one might enter the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. . 5 Then Esther called Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs whom he had appointed to attend her, and she gave him a command concerning Mordecai, to learn what and why this was. 7 And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries to destroy the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the written decree for their destruction, which was given at Shushan, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her, and that he might command her to go in to the king to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people. .
10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a command for Mordecai: 11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days.” 12 So they told Mordecai Esther’s words.
13 And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”
17 So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him.[a]
The 4th chapter of Esther has only 17 verses, but contains one of the greatest challenges anyone could face. It also shows us that if we step out with God, there is nothing that can overcome us.
All of us who serve God face challenges whether big or small; what we do and how we handle them makes all the difference.
Esther knew that even though she was a queen, she was not guaranteed safety. She also knew that if she didn’t step out, no one else would, and her people would be slaughtered.
Did she step out or back off? She stepped out but not alone; her and her people petitioned God to intervene and protect her.
There may be times when a test may come to you, (and there will be) that you know that you alone cannot do it; God is not trying to take you down, He is trying to teach you to rely on Him. Courage is not the lack of fear; it’s fear that has said its prayers.
For life’s adventure Lord, I ask
Courage and faith for every task;
A heart kept clean by high desire.
A conscience purged by holy fire.__McDermand
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