A FEAST
Today’s Reading: Esther 7-8
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
A meal is prepared in first century style at Nazareth Village in Nazareth. The feast Esther prepared for the King and Haman would have had more expensive tableware, but was probably not any more delicious.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Esther 8:3
Now Esther spoke again to the king, fell down at his feet, and implored him with tears to counteract the evil of Haman the Agagite, and the scheme which he had devised against the Jews.
In today’s reading, the Jews of the entire Persian Empire are still under the decree of Death. Unless the order of the King was modified in some way, every Jew would die. As a result of the intercession of Esther, a new decree went out. Jews were to defend themselves against attack. Not only were the Jews saved, but it became so attractive to be a Jew that Esther 8:17b tells us that many Persians were converted to Judaism. The Feast of Purim was established to celebrate the deliverance of the Jews from destruction. This feast is celebrated to this day.
Think of all that can be accomplished if we, like Esther, refuse to put ourselves first, refuse to play it safe, and refuse to hide our true identity as God’s people. We have the opportunity and obligation to intercede, not with an Ahasuerus, but with the God of the Universe. He desires only the best for us, but He has limited Himself to acting on our behalf in response to our prayers. James 5:16 says, “The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man (this includes women) avails much.” His sceptre is extended to us. Scripture urges us to “Come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I come before You now. Thank You that in Your great love and mercy, You have extended the invitation to come to You. I am here in Your presence. Once again I ask for Your help. This is a time of need! People are about to perish without Your direct intervention. I come in the Name of the One who “ever lives to make intercession for them,” Jesus, our High Priest. I pray that I will share today the greatest possible help anyone can ever receive. John 1:12 is Your promise, Lord (read John 1:9-18). Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
On pages 166 to 171 of my recently published book, This Far by Faith, there is a story of intercession on behalf of Elena, a little Russian girl who is now my granddaughter. I don’t have the space to tell the story here, but let me assure you that it is one of the most powerful stories you’ll ever read (below is a photo from the book). If you haven’t already, please consider ordering my book. You can call Crossroads to check on its availability at 1-800-265-3100.
As was the case in Persia, government officials can be turned around. The story of Elena is a particular miracle of God, as in the communist system, everyone was, at one time, a government employee. A statement I’ve picked up somewhere throughout my life is, “We need to attempt things for God so humanly impossible that they will surely fail if God is not in them.” My practice is to pray fervently, then move forward boldly into something that seems impossible. If God desires what I desire, He will go before me, and “with God all things are possible” (Jesus – Matthew 19:26). My book illustrates this truth. Please get your very own copy.
Yours for bold intercession at God’s throne of grace,
David
P.S. Coming up, August 31st, is the financial year end for Crossroads/100 Huntley Street, and we all need to help the ministry finish strongly! Our CEO, Lorna Dueck, needs our prayers and support right now… and YOU can help! Here is an important message from Lorna which I’ll repeat often this month on my blog…
This has been a remarkable year at 100 Huntley Street with a growing audience on TV and an exploding audience on the web through our website, social media platforms and on You Tube (where we now reach 
almost 1 million views every month). It’s also looking like a turnaround year financially because we’re SO CLOSE to finishing our fiscal year (August 31) with a balanced budget…the first time in six years! Lots of hard work, cost-cutting, financial restraint and generous donors who believe in this ministry have made this goal achievable. We have exciting, new plans in mind for our new media mission year that begins in September. I’m so committed that Crossroads be Canada’s “megaphone of the Gospel”…and we will not be silent about how Jesus can change lives… Jesus alone offers hope! Your donation today will make a difference in many lives. – Lorna
CLICK HERE TO MAKE A SPECIAL YEAR-END GIFT TO HELP US BALANCE THE BUDGET AND YOUR DONATION WILL BE MATCHED THROUGH A SPECIAL $10,000 CHALLENGE GRANT! YOU CAN ALSO CALL 1-800-265-3100 TO DONATE BY PHONE.
Elena at age six in a Russian orphanage meeting my daughter Elaine for the first time. Today, Elena is a wife and mother of her own little girl!
I shared your 100 Words with a friend…she has signed up to receive it. Love being in the Word as I have my coffee every morning.
Blessings, and good health, Colleen
My husband & I had a similar experience – a little boy from a culture that has a closed opportunity for adoption. We were not planning for a 5th child but Father God brought him into our lives. When he was near me, and heard my daughter welcome me with, hi Mom”, he would call out the same greeting! The caregivers took note & he started a temp home with us. It took years & court cases but forbidden adoption happened!
Lianne Hogg you are in my prayers, may God comfort and bless you
according to His Will, in Jesus Almighty Name, Amen! (James 5: 16)
Praise our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ in whom we trust for everything.
Yes Lianne, we are praying for you and that God will come to you and grant you His abundant blessings over and over. We love you!
dearest saints– in need of your prayers. Been struggling with clinical depression, went on medication which was started to help, but then there was a set back, don’t know what caused it, and now everything is mess, and I feel worse than before- I am trusting God- and He does strengthen me, but need a extra boost that comes from praying brothers and sister in Christ to help our Lord get me through this very dark place back into the light — Thank you dearly for your love and support
Heavenly Father, in the Name of Jesus, I pray for your intervention in Doreen M.’ life. I pray for a complete recovery from the depression that has overtaken her.
Amen! Irene Ochotta.
I agree with you in prayer for Donna M’s full recovery
from her depression, in Jesus’ Name, Amen!
Blessings to all.
I am bi polar! have been all my life! diagnosed at 47 years! Life had been pure hell; then, after each child I was GREAT! how come? hormones were shook up! so had 4 children had almost 6-7 years of a happy life THEN it hit with a SWORD! WHAM! bi polar back!
Then broke my leg and got into water therapy and THEN THANKS TO GOD I learned how to swim and have been doing so for 22 years! THIS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE FOR ME! Exercise is excellent for mental illness,
I talk to groups once in a while and I encourage people to find some exercise that they enjoy and do it….Mental Health pays for my swimming!
I found and still find it difficult to get some others to meet with and just talk and have coffee or tea or juice!
I encourage all people to talk about their mental health, it is nothing to be ashamed! Here is a true statement:
EVERY PERSON HAS A CHEMICAL IMBALANCE BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE HORMONES!
These hormones change at puberty, adult life, child bearing, marriage, losing loves ones to dying; menopause in men and women; trauma in our lives; poverty;just everyday issues in life cause our hormones to go up and/or down!
things happen in life that make us very happy and we feel so good! Thank the Lord for these times!
Thank the Lord for all the times in our lives! Remember God loves us through the good, bad and the ugly!\
I need to note the full moons and make sure I exercise.
Just remember to all people, a chemical imbalance or a mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of and NEVER let anyone tell you different!
Many persons self medicate with alcohol, drugs, obsession over things, it is really a very complicated issue dealing with a mental illness.
I want to thank you for sharing and maybe something I said will help you and everyone will be praying for you! Keep talking about it!
YOU ARE A CHILD OF THE MOST HIGH GOD! HE LOVES YOU UNCONDITIONALLY!
keep sharing; google some clean jokes and have a good laugh! Find other people who are going through the same thing and go for a walk, have a coffee, rad together, make some soup,
You are loved by all of us…….God bless you
another very useful tool; google your blood type and see what foods you can eat! We all can’t the same foods; for me I do not eat chicken, corn, mushrooms, olives, strawberries, cheese, no booze, no smokes;
a Naturapath put this portion in my life; has been very good for me!
again God bless you and keep sharing…..
Thank you Pastor David for sharing the story and photo about Elena. I recall seeing her wedding on TV, and also the Testimony of her adoption by Bruce and Elaine Stacy. What a miracle for the glory of God!
my comment in regard to my mental illness was as a result of reading Donna’s blog! Thank you again for sharing Donna, that is very helpful and very healing.
One more thing I learned is the the devil wants us to be quiet! Well, I am the wrong person for that fact. I talk and share and pray and laugh with others who are dealing with a chemical imbalance…..God is greater that any evil anywhere
PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!