Today I offer a prayer of honoring and remembering sacrifices others have made for our rights and freedoms. In doing so, they have served us well, and serving / loving one another is in alignment with God’s moral will for mankind. May we never forget to pay it forward, loving others in the name of…
Month: November 2021
Esther 3
This chapter introduces Haman, a man promoted to be the King’s second in command. Haman is furious when Mordecai refuses to bow to him, so he gets the king to issue an edict to kill all of the Jews. “Then the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and an…
Esther 2
In this chapter the king decides to replace Queen Vashti and has several women prepped in order to choose the one who most pleases him. Ultimately, the king chooses Esther, a young Jewish woman, as his new Queen. “In those days, as Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate… two of the king’s eunuchs, who…
Esther 1
The book of Esther takes place between the rebuilding of God’s temple and the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. The first chapter introduces King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) of the Persian Empire, and his wife Queen Vashti. “…when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded… to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her…
A Prayer of Praise for our Rock and Shelter
Today I offer prayer of praise for the Lord our Rock and Shelter. Breaking from tradition slightly, this entire prayer is inspired by psalms. Father God, our Refuge and our Fortress, our God whom we trust, You are our dwelling place. You are our Strength and Shield, a very present help in times of trouble….
Nehemiah 13
This final chapter describes Nehemiah’s last reforms for the Israelites which include cleansing the temple, restoring tithing, reinstituting the Sabbath, and removing pagans (those who don’t follow God) from their midst. “…I saw in Judah people treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain… wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads……
Nehemiah 12
This chapter contains another ledger of names of returned exiles, as well as a description of the wall and temple dedications. “Then I brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall and appointed two great choirs that gave thanks… So both choirs of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, and…