It was good to sit back in listen to a message I did not have to prepare.  I really enjoyed Joe’s take on Esther and it was a good reminder to me (and I hope to you) that God knows all about the circumstances and the situations we are facing.  And the reason why we are facing those circumstances and situations is because God has a purpose by placing us in those circumstances and situations.  So we should not focus on the question why we are in such circumstances and stiuations, but how we can be used by God “in such a time as this”.

The Battle of Mt. Carmel was a showdown for the ages.  Elijah was about to stand up against the wicked King Ahab.  That was tough enough.  He had the power to kill Elijah.  That is why it took Elijah 3 years to stand before him.  But the question I have for you is would you have been tough enough to stand up to the 650 prophet of Baal and Asherah.  That would have been much tougher.  One on one maybe, but one on 650?  That took guts.  And to challenge them at this dual and putting yourself at a disadvantage as well (with the water).  That was true faith.

The Battle of Mt. Carmel was a showdown for the ages.  Elijah was about to stand up against the wicked King Ahab.  That was tough enough.  He had the power to kill Elijah.  That is why it took Elijah 3 years to stand before him.  But the question I have for you is would you have been tough enough to stand up to the 650 prophet of Baal and Asherah.  That would have been much tougher.  One on one maybe, but one on 650?  That took guts.  And to challenge them at this dual and putting yourself at a disadvantage as well (with the water).  That was true faith.

This is posted a few days later than usual since I was out of the office the first part of the week.  But I want to go back to our topic on Sunday about Hell.  Jesus was given power over hell by breaking it’s chains and claiming victory over sin and the grave.  Because of that we never need to fear hell and death again.  If we trust in Jesus’ power, including the power over Hell, we will live forever with him.  This is why we too can say, “O death, where is your victory, O death where is your sting!” (1 Cor 15:55)  We have the power and the victory with Christ.  It no longer has a claim on us.  It can no longer overwhelm us.  We have hope that cannot be taken away.  Praise the Lord!

Mothers are truly a blessing.  And the way God created females with their gifts, tendencies, graces, etc. is remarkable.  We should never take for granted those who love us like mothers.  And I hope that all the mothers out there felt special yesterday.  And as I shared yesterday that God even has some feminine characteristics.  But that might be looking at this a bit backward.  Because it is some of the qualities of God and his image in which females are given those “feminine” qualities.  So I should not say that God has feminine qualities but females have God-like qualities.  So whether you have been created male of female, thank God for the qualities of Himself that he has put uniquely in you and your gender.

We are now in the month of May.  Things are starting to grow outside.  But my question this week is are you growing on the inside?  Are you a May Christian?