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.