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Thursday, August 11, 2005

Esther

Esther speaks to me of an intercessor.She felt the burden that's been given to her, and she faithfully carried out her responsibility and thus saved God's chosen people.
If we feel burdened to pray for someone or do something particular, it could be a God-given responsibility. We can choose to be like Esther, to carry out the calling God has created us for, or we can choose to be like Vashti, only thinking of the inconvenience of oneself which leads to the abandonment of the king.
The favour and grace that Esther had found before the king was not for herself to indulge, but for a much higher purpose.
If we fail to recognise the purposes, we may also lose the favour and grace that God has given us.

The greatest victory of Christ -1 Cor 1

1Cor1:22"For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified,..."

The greatest victory of Christ was not in the miracles he performed or the teachings he taught, but the cross.
Sometimes all we want is miracles, gifts, signs and knowledge. But a life with cross gives us the real victory.

Leaders and followers -Ruth 3

Ruth3
This chapter speaks to me of leaders and followers.
Leaders seek benefit and opportunities for the followers and give proper directions and guidance.
Followers follow by serving and obeying wholeheartedly, without any grudging attitute and selfish ambitions.

Opportunities -Ruth 2

Ruth2
When the heart is right, opportunities will come without even contiously asking for them.

If we put seeking opportunities before seeking the Lord, we could get frustrated easily. We could even run into wrong opportunities that will put us in bondage for a long time.

Alabaster jar -Mark 14

Mark14
Alabaster jar
To me this passage says focus.
Where do you see Jesus in your life?
Some see Him in running for the Olympics, some in leading a country, some in singing, some in cooking...
Wherever you see Him, wherever you feel that that is what He calls you into, that's where your alabaster jar goes.
"For you always have the poor with you..." there are a million things that you can do, that can distract your attention and energy.
Extravagent worship....let's live a simple life....be focused.

Famine -Ruth 1

Ruth1:1"Now it came about...that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons."
It seems that whenever there was a famine, then it could be a time that God wanted to move people around to achieve His plans. We've seen that in Joseph's time.




I posted this comment under Gen 19, where I found a connection between Lot and Ruth:

Gen19
Lot speaks to me of the family members of the righteous.
There are Christians who will answer God's call and follow God all the way through. But there're also Christians, especially the people who are around those "on fire" kind of Christians, family members, friends, relatives...
They respond to the call of salvation, but they fail to respond to the higher calling of fulfilment in their lives.
When choices come their way, they choose the valley, the easy way, the obvious, common sense way. They don't have the passion to give all their lives for God.
They soon find that the people they're involved with are corrupt people. People with no moral standards. Their lives are full of confusion: they're tempted with worldly temptations but they still keep their moral convictions. They're struggling to make a living at the gate of the city.
It's remarkable that Lot managed to keep his daughters pure in the sinful city.
In the end Lot survived at the place called Zoar, meaning small. He survived the fire of the Hell, but he only lived a small life.
But nevertheless, God's favour and grace extends to the family of the righteousness.
In Ruth 1, we find that Ruth actually came from Moab, so Ruth is a descendant of Lot. By some strange coincidence, Ruth was united back into a family of the Israelites, and she became part of the bloodline family of Jesus. Interesting hey!

Crown - Proverb 12:4

Prob12:4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband.

Crown gives identity: she'll help her husband know who he is.
Crown is a symbol of celebration: she cherishes her husband;
Crown gives honor and attracts attention and adoration: She honors her husband and generates praise and admiration for him.
Crown gives the look of dignity:she changes his way of expression and looking.
Crown speaks of power: she's submissive and honors his judgements and decisions.
Crown represents joy and pride: she helps him to be a success.

The burial of Jacob - Genesis 50

Gen50
What a burial!
I just can't get over the fact that "all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household and all the elders of the land of Egypt, and all the household of Joseph and his brothers and his father's household; they left only their little ones and their flocks and their herds in the land of Goshen. There also went up with him both chariots and horsemen; and it was a very great company."...almost the whole Egypt went to mourn for Jacob..."they lamented there with a very great and sorrowful lamentation" the Canaanites were affected also.
What a legacy! What a legend!
His life touched so many people. Even in a nation who don't know God, God's promise and God's name was made famous.

The sons of Israel -Genesis 49

Gen49
The twelve legacies and charisma of Jacob:
Reuban: preeminent but uncontrolled
Simeon and Levi: cursed be their anger and wrath
Judah: praise
Zebulun: life of blessing
Issachar: hard working, a happy slave
Dan: message of salvation
Gad: abundance
Asher:joy, fruitful
Naphtali: fulfilled
Joseph: God's favor, outstanding achievement
Benjamin: warrior, soul winner