Session 9 - Fill Ins

acted in concerted power and authority

Neither of them aspired to the role; perhaps neither of them deserved it.

Nevertheless, their unlikely partnership accomplished

God entered history through this people as the Messiah.

where beauty is a treatment

"man as the counterpart of woman and/or distinguished in his maleness."

"He has made EVERYTHING beautiful in its time."

In man's realm time diminishes beauty

In God's realm where we will spend forever, time perfects beauty.

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."

Session 8 - Fill Ins

God can't turn a table that was never set against you.

The Jews weren't just delivered, they were empowered.

The power wasn't just Mordeai's. It was all of theirs.

Every time you're in a tight fist of fear, remember you're in something much tighter. Isaiah 49:16 says, "See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands."

God always has the upper hand. Exchange the burden for a weapon. "However, The Lord your God . . . turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you."

"Implies an ardent and vehement inclination of the mind and a tenderness of affection at the same time."

"Ephraim is a flat cake not turned over."


In a mean world, New Testament believers are called to a good fight.

...you may fight the good fight holding on to faith and a good concience.

"When, because of your faith, your life too becomes perceptibly different; when your reactions are quite opposite to what the situation seems to call for and your activities can no longer be explained in terms of your personality; that is when your neighborhood will sit up and take notice. In the eyes of the world, it is not our relationship with Jesus Christ that counts; it is our resemblance to Him!"

Session 8 - Praise/Prayer Requests

Debbie G - Please Aunt Sylvia diagnosed with cancer on her birthday April 6th (70 yrs old).

Chris Coleman - Her sister just passed away this week.

Jackie Straut - fighting Respiratory infection and Bell's palsy.

Kim Hale - Praise - Brittany, my daughter, committed her life to Christ.

Anita - Veronica and Jesse, pregnant with baby with heart issues, pray for possible adoption process to run smoothly for them and for the adoptive mom-to-be.

Diane Sutton- husband had surgery - smooth & quick recovery

Session 8 - Email

It was wonderful looking at the "turn arounds" available to us through God's word in Session 8. I don't think I'll ever look at pancakes in quite the same way again (Hosea 7:8). Oh, that we would be golden brown on "both" sides! Making sure that we are allowing God to "flip" us and "cook" us to be golden brown and perfect to reflect Him!

Have a wonderful time in your last week of homework this week. I don't know about all of you but this has flown by and what a honor and pleasure it has been to study His word together and share our walk's in Christ together! You TRULY have been a blessing! Thank you Lord!!

A few housekeeping items. We will be wrapping up this glorious study next Wednesday, April 13th at the church and we will be combining the Celebration Dinner to that night as well. So, we will NOT be having the Celebration Dinner on the 20th but instead next week the 13th! It is a Potluck - we all decided to not have a "theme" but bring what you feel you are in the mood for that night - it will be a mystery until that night! Suspense! Drama! See at bottom of e-mail what has been volunteered already and what is still available!

If you are interested, which I hope you will be, our next study will be The Inheritance/Beth Moore on Monday nights, starting on May 16, 2011 at the church "office" located at 14545 W Indian School Road #900, Goodyear. Starting at 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Cost $15.00. Listed below are the dates of class. Please e-mail me if you will planning on attending so that I can get the workbooks ordered! I appreciate it tremendously!


May 16

May 23

May 30 - no class

June 6

June 13

June 20

June 27

July 4 - no class

July 11

July 18

July 25



Please remember to pray for each other throughout the week we have a lot of hurting people dealing with the loss of loved ones, illnesses, relationship difficulties, family situations that seem overwhelming, etc. But, our God is a God of - turn arounds! Praise you Lord! Reversals of Destiny and Reversals of Fortune!



Debbie G - Please Aunt Sylvia diagnosed with cancer on her birthday April 6th (70 yrs old).

Chris Coleman - Her sister just passed away this week.

Jackie Straut - fighting Respiratory infection and Bell's palsy.

Kim Hale - Praise - Brittany, my daughter, committed her life to Christ.

Anita - Veronica and Jesse, pregnant with baby with heart issues, pray for possible adoption process to run smoothly for them and for the adoptive mom-to-be.

Diane Sutton- husband had surgery - smooth & quick recovery.



Just FYI. 'One Night with the King' is the story of Esther in movie format if you want to "see" how it might have looked back in the day!



Be blessed with God's wisdom, power and might as you fight the GOOD fight! You are mighty in Christ!!! Eph 6:10-17 put on the "whole" armor of God - don't leave any piece off!



Here's a list of what has been signed up for the Celebration Dinner in case you were unable to be there this past Wednesday.



Drinks: Doris Mancini

Salads: Debbie Garcia - fresh fruit

Cathy Deadman - taco salad

Anita Currie - macaroni salad

Main Entree: Lisa Jarvis, Kim Hale, Lisa Bohaannan, Martha Spector

Desserts: Renee Contreras, Rena Backhuas, Donnia Soto, Ashley Wijbrandts

Utensils: Plates, (Forks, Spoons, Knives), Cups, Napkins (still needed )

Ice: (still needed)



See all of you Wednesday!

Session 7 - Fill Ins

turn-around starts with a step.

1. Esther stepped through

'what he was to her'
'that he was related to her'

2. Haman stepped off
3. Xerxes stepped in
4. Mordecai stepped up

The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials

"For he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust."

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you

Blessed are all who wait for him.

The Lord waits... blessed are all those who wait

"Rather than love, than money, than fame give me truth!"

Session 7 - Praise & Prayer Requests

??: Prayer for legal battles with business
Cathy: Prayer for her and her daughter Elizabeth who are traveling to California for Elizabeth's Volleyball Team. They are leaving 3/31/11. Prayer for safe travels. Also prayer for her grandchildren Ronnie age 3 months and his sister Alexandria age 22 months who both have upper respiratory infections.
Jackie: Prayer for Doris and Skip who continue to travel to NY and Florida to visit family. Also for peace with the loss of their dog of 13 years.
Group: Prayer for Kim, her husband and family as they reunite and transition to being together again!

Session 6 - Email

I LOVED digging for the treasure in Session 6! Chiastic structure, inverted parallelism, and peripety took on a whole new meaning! God doesn't cease to amaze us does he not? Seeing the different levels of His word is breathtaking! It never gets old or boring!

In addition to studying the depths of structure in His word, we studied The Reversal of Destiny also known as Reversal of Fortune. Situations of this occur over and over again throughout the Bible and as we reflect on our own individual lives we can identify the moments that has happened in our lives as well. Seeing God's providence in our own lives and recognizing his "hand" on specific circumstances or situations in our lives emphasizes how truly precious God is in our lives. He is reliable, faithful, just, healer, intercessor, refuge, patient, merciful and gracious just to name a few of his precious attributes.

God bless you as you study in His word and search for areas that He would like to have apply in your lives!

I would like to encourage those who haven't been able to come to class due to work, illness, life, or whatever - to come back! You won't be disappointed with what He want to reveal to you through this study! In addition, we MISS YOU!!

Updates on the class blog are available at www.estherpalmvalley.blogspot.com

Be strong and courageous - our God reigns! He will never leave you or forsake you!

Session 6 - Fill Ins

The Reversal of Destiny also called the Reversal of Fortune

1. The beauty of the book's construction.

work to see the wonder?

The first is called "chiastic structure."

Chiastic structure is inverted parellalism.

it is a reversal of structure to emphasize an overarching point

*The "chi" that begins the word chiastic is the 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet.

written like this: X. The letter itself represents the crisscross literary structure of a chiasm.

repeated occurrences of feasts of banquets

2. The beauty of the book's instruction.

Esther's best theology is in its subtlety.

literary device called "peripety."

Peripety: a sudden turn of events that reverses the expected or intended outcome

It's tough being a woman who feels responsible for the "how"

sequence of events into a story worth telling

Session 6 - Praise & Prayer Requests

? - Prayer for Doris and her husband, Skip, who are traveling to NY and Florida the next few weeks. Also, for peace as their dog passed away.

? - Prayer for Kim and a wonderful reunion with her husband.

? - Pray that I can prioritize my Bible study above other things in my life. Dig deeper in my spirituality.

Martha - Praise! Our family is feeling better from the flu and I hae had energy to work on the weeds in the backyard.

? - Husband's health. Niece has pneumonia. Relationship with biz partner.

Kim - Praise my husband is coming home and the memorable times God gives to study his word!

Session 5 - Email

Reminder - no class this week March 16th (Spring Break)! Definitely hope to see all of you back next week - March 21st for a powerful Session 6. One of those you DON'T want to miss if at all possible!!!

Another reminder! This Saturday March 19th is the Phoenix Rescue Mission lunch drive starting at 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. at the church. I encourage you to attend and help out in this wonderful opportunity to serve our Lord Jesus Christ!

This week we studied that time is one of the most important providences of God. Within the world today we can be easily caught up with so many diverse things to "fill" up our schedules that we forget that we need to keep the priority of our time with God as first! Remember to be deliberate, determined, decisive, delighted, and daily with Him!

May God bless you with your time this week in His Word! We all get an extra week to review and dig deeper still into the wonderful truths in God's word. I know Beth had us going back to Joseph's story in Day 3 of this week's homework for a few verses and how I love that I couldn't stop reading through Joseph's story. I was brought to tears seeing Joseph's reactions on seeing his brothers so many years and the whole drama being played out seeing God's use of His perfect timing again! Beautiful and precious!

God bless you with all understanding, peace and wisdom! Fill ins, prayer requests, & praises are updated on the class blog at www.estherpalmvalley.blogspot.com

Session 5 - Fill Ins

Sometimes God forces the issue of time. Amazingly, other times He seems to entrust it.

1. time
2. time to wait

a time to be silent and a time to speak
need to be silent ween when mean invites us to speak

Sometimes the words sound right but they don't taste right

3. wait for someone else's time

The time wasn't right for Xerxes
The time wasn't right for Haman

Haman's personal weakness.
Haman's misguided self confidence to mature

4. When the meantime is God-time

It's tough being a woman who can balance passion with patience.

Session 5 - Praise/Prayer

? - Praise - things getting better with co-worker
Bertha - Praise - thank you for your prayers - Gabriela's health - on her way to complete recovery - yeah God! Continued prayer for Dustin (cysts on head) and for spiritual - him to come to know Jesus Christ.
? - Pryaer for Doris who is preparing to travel to see her grandchildren and continued prayer for her dog, Penny.
? - Prayer for Anita's father who is ill this week
Rena - Prayer for a peaceful visit with my mother in law that will be visiting for 2 weeks. Also prayer for Cathy and her family for some family issues they are struggling with.
? - Unspoken requests
Martha - Please pray for healing for stomach flu our family - we are in our 3rd week.
Kim - Praise - Sarah was feeling well enough to come to class! Praise - my son turned 21 yesterday and we had a wonderful time celebrating! Praise - my husband is coming home in 2 weeks! Prayer - that I keep priorities in check!

Session 4 - Email

It was an absolutely wonderful session looking straight into Esther's life of going from self-preservation to brave determination! We took a good look at facing "fear" and looking at the definition of the Proverbs 31 "virtuous/noble" woman passage." Gideon was told, God is with you, mighty man of valor. Valor being the same as virtuous/noble. We are to be brave in whatever we might be facing! Be not afraid, do not fear - who knows? I am the Lord your God! We should know!

I love some other strong points such as the following:

We can protect ourselves right out of our calling.
You are the only person who you are and will be responsible with before God. Are you heading in the direction you want to end up?
There is no denial in courage. Face your "issues" head on!
No need to fear death - We were already dead and now we are alive in Christ.
Phil 1:6 He is faithful to complete it!
Don't live fearfully.
Don't make decisions out of fear but out of wisdom.
1 John 4:18 Perfect love casts out fear.
Ps 138:8 All things which concerns thee, He'll perfect! (All things - love that part!!!)

Remember the homework, it is wonderful so far - I've finished up to day 3! Okay, I have to share "one" thing that was awesome to see on Day One - Our conditional trust not only makes us an open target for enemy torment; it also positions us as negotiators and beggars before God instead of secure children who trust their lives to their faithful Father!

We need to trust Him - period!!! If ______________________, then God!

Blessings of God's abundant love, peace and joy rain down on you mighty this weekend!
See you Wednesday night Lord willing!

Oops, I almost forgot. Blog has been updated - Praise/Prayer requests, fill ins - www.estherpalmvalley.blogspot.com

Session 4 - Fill Ins

1. Esther had a choice.
She had to overcome herself in order

2. Esther faced the fear.

Facing any fear

And if ____________________________, then God. (You fill in the blank withwhatever you need to address with God.

It's tough being a woman in the tight fist of fear.

Facing fear of death

Freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death.

Walking in the shadow of death was as perilous as dying

3. Esther took the courage she was offered.

Session 4 - Praise/Prayer Requests

Cynthia and Sarah - Both have been ill - pray for healing and energy to return

Martha - Please pray for wisdom for a friend in her personal and business decisions. Also, please pray for confirmation on some decisions I have to make.

Lisa J. - Please pray for my mom and step-dad they are both having surgery next week! More importantly their salvation!

Jackie - Praie for Kim's husband coming home. Prayer for Doris who was recently diagnosed with a possible ulcer. She continues to have testing. Prayer for Doris and Skip whose dog, Penny, is 13 years old and very ill.

Debbie - Praise! My sister, Vera, was baptized this past Sunday! Praise God!!

Kim - Praise for God's kindness and goodness! Prayer for Saturday 3/5 for God to cover me with his strength power and words to speak at a prayer for a memorial service.

Session 3 - Email

Timing is everything as the saying goes and you are in your "prime" because it is God's time for you! "You are in your Prime!" Feels good to hear that doesn't it?

How many of us might be traversing through a season of life that certainly doesn't seem like our prime right now? We might be facing illness, loss of a spouse, challenges at work, financial issues, relationship struggles and basically feeling overwhelmed with all the pressures of life in general. These "times" certainly feel anything but prime to us. But, I love the "bird dog" illustration of Beanie, Beth's dog, where her husband would have to physcially lift up Beanie and physically turn her in the opposite direction after she would become "on point" on a squirrel they would encounter on their walk. It will often be by a crisis that God uses to "pivot" our direction. There is always human dilemma in destiny as we see in Queen Esther's life this week in homework.

We can trust in our God's providence in our "dilemma's" no matter what the circumstance or situation we might be facing. The following verses give us a little insight into His providence.

Phil 2:13 - For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Eph 1:11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

And, I love His promises to us when we face those delimma's in destiny!

Deut 31:6 "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you!" Amen to that one!!!

Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him!

Don't be discouraged if you haven't been able to attend the last couple of sessions! Keep at it! Do what you can - God will bless your time with Him! Ask for a fresh new revelation that will change and transform you into a more brilliant reflection of Jesus Christ! You and I precious diamonds - diamonds in the rough - but diamonds nevertheless!

Who Knows? I pray that each of us would know that the Lord is our God during every season of life. Isaiah 43:10 "You, are my witnesses, says the Lord. And my servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe me and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed nor shall there be after Me.

Fill Ins, praises & prayer requests have been updated on the class blog - www.estherpalmvalley.blogspot.com.

Bless you with all the richness of Christ! See you Wednesday night!

Session 3 - Fill Ins

1. The poor timing

2. The unreasonable expectation

It's tough being a woman thrown a giant-size weight
3. The risky identification

Destiny appoints one but affects many

The revelation of a person's destiny always demands a revelation of the person. Consider the wording "if you remain silent at this time." The Hebrew word translated silent in this verse can also be translated conceal.

4. The unanswered question

sudden breaking off of what was being said

what is left unsaid, it being too wonderful

'sudden silence'

Session 3 - Praise/Prayer Requests

Bertha - Health issue for Gabriela. Health and faith for Dustin

Kim H. - Praise - my husband will be coming home!!! After almost one year working on the East Coast and coming home 3 days a month, he received a job offer working for a company out of CA but working here in AZ. He'll be coming home March 27th - praises, praises - thank you Lord! Please pray for our "adjustment" time for harmony, patience and love for one another!

Sarah D - Please pray for healing. She's been not feeling well!

Session 2 - Email

stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me! Brings back memories from childhood does it not? Unfortunately, even today as women we still come across "mean" individuals who would love nothing more than hurt our feelings. Yes, names can hurt us and wound our spirit along with the many other ways we discussed in class this week.

Our focus of Session 2 was it's tough being a woman in a mean world. Many of you shared the struggles and difficulties you face in "today's" world. I am extremely grateful and appreciated your openness by willing to let some "guards" down. We should as sister's in Christ be the first to step up and be that "safe" place for each other. A place where we can encourage, support and exhort each other to live a successful life through Christ where we strive towards peace and live out LOVE, Christ's love, in our lives towards one another!Remember we all wear "red" shirts 24/7 if we know Christ as our Lord and Savior. So, conscientiously walk in the Spirit with Him to reflect His brilliant glory!

Thank you for your "Red Book" homework! If you were not able to turn yours in this week, please bring that with you on Wednesday. Just write or type down three reasons why you feel "It is Tough Being a Woman" in toady's' world. We'll be sharing those later in the study and seeing truly how "normal" we are!

The class blog is updated with praise/prayer requests in addition to the fill-ins this week.
www.estherpalmvalley.blogspot.com.


Be blessed this week in your homework study this week with knowledge, wisdom, discernment and understanding! I'm looking forward to seeing each of you Wednesday night!

Session 2 - Fill Ins

It's tough being a woman in a mean world!

1. Meaness always has a history

Mordecai - Jew from the tribe of Benjamin and a decendant of King Saul
Haman, a presumed Amalekite and descendant of Agag , their king during Saul's reign.

The disobeyed instruction
The revealed history

Exodus 17:16 - The Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.

2. Meanness perceives a threat

3. meanness catches like a virus

"to be powerful, vehiment, angry."

Hebrew word for wrath (Hebrew, heman)

"Surely as Christians we must recobnize the spirit of haman, not only in our world but within ourselves.

4. Meanness is curable.

Session 2 - Praise/Prayer Requests

? - Family Harmony

? - Prayer for Peter in ICU after OD on Vodka. Student at ASU 21 years old. He's our son's and families friend.

Lisa Jarvis - Please pray for Carol Jarvis's Father. He went to the ER Wednesday and isn't well. Please pray for my husband and I to focus on the Lord during this season. That we come out of this time victorious in the Lord. That we decrease and He increases.

? - Pray for Becky to make up her mind on going back to work or staying home with her babies.

? - Prayer for a friend in NY, Sue Hansen. Her husband lost his job 1 1/2 years ago and never told her. He withdrew money from pension to "cover" the expenes. She is ready to walk aay from the marriage. So asking for prayer, strength, understanding and truth.

Kim Hale - Praise for God's wonderful timing and HIS Perfect LOVE! Praise my husband, Scott, was able to come home this weekend!!! Wahoo!!! It's been 7 weeks since he was home last and I'm thrilled to have him home at least until Sunday!!!

Session 1 - Email

Well, week one of homework has been completed and we had a gloriously life challenging opportunity to watch Session One of our study! Whew! So, many truths from this study already that I ask God to pierce my heart and soul with! Some of which are as follows:

*Behind and future have the same root base word.
*Col 2:10 I am complete in Christ
*Song of Solomon 7:10 I am my beloved's and his desire is for me!
Ps 90:17 Beauty of the Lord be upon me
Eccl 7:9 Don't become angry quickly because getting angry is foolish.
I Pet 3:8 Be of one mind, having compassion for one another.
Prov. 14:29 Patient people have great understanding, but people with quick tempers show their foolishness.

Isn't it absolutely beautiful how God works in and through our lives giving us opportunities to "use" the truths His word provides to us? The Word of God to a believer/follower of Jesus Christ is our weapon to use on the daily fiery darts of Satan which seem to come flying by at a moment's notice.

Remember our "extra" homework for the week. We are creating our own Red Book! So, please write or type out your three top reasons in your opinion as to why "It is Tough Being A Woman!" You can put your name on it or do it anonymously!

The class blog (www.estherpalmvalley.blogspot.com) will be updated with the Fill Ins for Session 1.

I look forward to hearing what God has been revealing to you in homework through the study of His Word! God bless you with all grace, mercy, long suffering and kindness!

Session 1 - Fill Ins

Jew

Only time in the whole OT that a native member

exile

carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah King of Judah whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.

sudden parent to his cousin

Hadassah

myrtle and means fragrance


orphaned

brought up by her male cousin

lovely

world where beauty is a treatment

known as Esther


"star"


conceal

Intro Session - Email

It was lovely to meet so many of you at Wednesday's kick off of the Esther/It's Tough Being a Woman study! I know we had several who were unable to make it to the first night due to family, work, illness etc. You were missed and I can't wait to see you next Wednesday!

Listed below is the link to watch on-line any of the sessions you might miss during the Spring session. The cost is approximately $3.99 to $4.99. I believe once you purchase a session you have 48 hours to watch it. The link is as follows:

http://www.lifeway.com/search/results/?o=Quick&sp=esther+download

Okay, how are you doing with homework? This week is laying the foundation and history of the book of Esther. So, hang in there as you will see the importance in being able to understand the whole Megillah! Oh, I couldn't resist using it!

The class blog site www.estherpalmvalley.blogspot.com is updated with the fill-ins to the intro session.

On a serious note, I want to ask for prayer for a dear family, the Locke's, who lost a family member unfortunately to a terrible tragedy in which another family was impacted as well. The Locke's are precious people and are hurting deeply tonight! The two people who passed away had been attending Palm Valley for about 5 months in which I praise God that they heard the gospel. Life is hard and can be life altering without a moments notice. I am very grateful for my God who is a refuge in trouble and that he cares for those of us who trust in Him. But, please lift up the Locke's before the Lord and ask that God would be able to bring them through this tragedy to a saving knowledge of Him.

God bless you in the study of His word and your quiet time in pursuit of life changing knowledge and understanding!

Intro - Fill Ins

Megillah
Esther is a Diaspora story.
1. absence of any reference to God
It's part of God's Word
God's name may not be in it but it is on it
It offers tremendous hope
It extends a vital perspective on the providence of God
God conceived as the power sustaining and guiding human destiny.
but also to those that seem both mundane and trivial
within creation that nothing happens by chance.
God works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will
God works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.
2. The title bears a woman's name
It's tough being a woman in another woman's shadow.
3. The God-ordained emphasis on human responsibility
lays all the stress on the human contribution to the divine-human synergism.

This is sure to be an exciting journey through the book of Esther. I can't wait to get started as I know God has something profound for each and every one of us He is wanting us to learn to change something within our lives.

As Beth Moore states in the introduction of the study, "His word is living, healing, restoring,enlightening,directing,and empowering. It invades every part of our life if we will let it. You will never waste a moment you spend with an open heart in God's Word."

So, let get started on this study together, with a fresh new look to truths we might have known but with a deliberate determination and a fresh step in becoming more like Christ!