Warning: long blog ahead in which you will learn of Leigh’s
detailed and thorough nature (in case didn’t already know) and that she likes
to write, yet is hard to find the time usually…
So I’ve read Esther today…primarily because I was asking God
what He wanted me to share today with kids. Well…due to rain our ministry today has been cancelled. But I’ve read Esther and thought about her a
lot today. Jewish girl…her parents died
and she was adopted by her cousin Mordecai. He works for King Xerxes (ruler of Persia), in his palace. Esther marries Xerxes and becomes queen. Haman becomes second in command and requires
that all bow to him…Mordecai does not…Haman hates Mordecai…finds out he’s Jewish
and so plots to kill him and all Jewish people in the kingdom. Tells Esther- you have to save us! She says, are you crazy, everyone knows that
anyone who enters the King’s court is dead unless he lowers the scepter towards
you. And its been 30 days since he’s
called for me. Mordecai says, “Do not
think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will
escape. For if you remain silent at this
time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but
you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” Esther replies, “Gather all the Jews who are
in Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or
drink for 3 days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king,
even though it is against the law. And
if I die, I die.” (Esther 4)
Esther boldly enters the inner court, and the king extends
his scepter and her life is spared. She
invites the king and Haman to a banquet and then requests their presence at a
second banquet the following day.
During the second banquet she begs that her life as well as the lives of
all her people are spared. The king is
infuriated with Haman who devised such a plot, and he is hung from the gallows
that Haman had built for Mordecai.
Although a reluctant heroine, I am struck by the courage of
Esther. She risked her life to prevent
the genocide of her people. I’m sure she
was terrified as she was walking toward the inner court, knowing those steps
could be her last. Hope the king still
likes me, hope he’s not in a bad mood. And there’s the chance that he may allow her to enter his court and
live, but not grant her request of saving the lives of the Jewish people.
I’m also surprised by Mordecai’s comment to Esther- if you
don’t step up to save the Jewish people- God’s will choose someone else to
deliver us…you’re not off the hook just because you married the king. I know that if I don’t step up, God will
gladly accomplish His will through a more willing vessel. I don’t want to be so stubborn or afraid to
change or break out of my comfort zone that I miss what God is doing.
Just yesterday Amanda lead a bible study about fear, filled
with verses throughout the Scriptures and many examples in the Scriptures where
God said again and again not to be afraid. I am with you. She concluded that it is only normal to have
fear. Courage is not the absence of
fear, but persevering, doing it anyway, even when you are afraid.
So how does this relate to me in Romania? I’m glad you asked.
Let me begin by stating the obvious: Romania is not like Latin America. Different
side of the Atlantic, different food, different language, different ministry,
and different spiritual feel. We
arrived here last Friday, the 6th I think…and that Saturday, the 7th
was our first day of ministry. We did
not know it when we left at 3:30…but we were headed to a 5 hour church
service. We got there at 4pm…no one
else at church yet…he had brought us there an hour early to pray. So we prayed most of the time…honestly I
don’t think any of us are accustomed to praying that much. Just about 5pm…when
the service should start and about 5 people have arrived the pastor says he must
leave..and so we just decide to sit in the pews, sing a little, then those who
had planned to share their testimony do so, and then Dan begins to share his
message…the Pastor returns with maybe 20 people about 7 minutes before Dan
finishes. We had finished doing
everything we had planned and prepared. The pastor requests that we get up in front of the congregation and
sing…after what seemed like an eternity of awkward, who should go up front and
what to sing..a few of us are up front, sing a few songs. Then he wants a testimony. More awkwardness. Those who prepared had already shared…no one
else was really ready. Finally Becky
steps up. They sing…and then he
preaches for probably 2 hours…or more. There was a girl interpreting for us. He talked about Spiritual warfare, resisting Satan, how tired and
exhausted Christians can become when they aren’t filled by the Spirit. This man is average in appearance, perhaps a
little shorter than I, yet he speaks with such passion and authority. He challenged us- if we are missionaries and
haven’t got passion or desire for God, its going to be a tough journey. I don’t remember what he said verbatim, but
it was a challenge for us to be bold, to step out in faith, this isn’t a game,
but a significant battle in the spiritual realm.
That day was a wake
up call to all of us. And then again
today just reading about Esther. In
Guatemala and Nicaragua, we did construction work, and some other things that
others had planned out. Minimal opportunities to step into unfamiliar areas
where nothing was planned or expected to have songs, testimonies ready on the
spot. We were so passive that first
day. I was embarrassed by my/our lack of
boldness and initiative. I’ve been
challenged to pray more..and so have others on my team. I think this month will have more spiritual
battles and as we walk into less structured ministry like initiative
evangelism, and meeting and loving on people in various villages.
Please pray for me, and the 14 others (teams Azariah and
Agape 8 and Patrice) here with me. That
we’d step up to the challenge set before us. That we wouldn’t wait for a
feeling to believe God speaks to/through us. We would be courageous- in whatever we sense God is telling us to do.
That like Esther we would do the right thing even when it is hard. That we’d encourage one other in our gifts
and to build up one another. And that
we’d be mindful of what they told us at training camp- often our biggest
opportunities for ministry and growth are not locals but to each other, to our
teammates who we live with, work with, play with, do laundry with, eat with,
etc.
