I've heard all of these Bible stories a hundred times. And when I think of the story of Esther I think of cucumbers, French peas and do I like to talk to tomatoes, do squash really make me smile and would I like to waltz with a potatoe...up and down the produce aisle. Have I got a blog for you. Bible stories were more like fairy tales about some farfetched Narnia type land. It wasn't really until as late as my junior year when I read through the Bible that the stories became real and applicable to my life. Reading Esther was real for me, I saw her decision, hesitation and fear. I saw the corruptness and instead of having a cucumber (or whatever she was) as the image in my head, I saw a girl close to my age that had to stand up for her people and placed her life completely in God's hands.

  I'll start from the beginning. I don't think Esther is the only woman in the story that needs to be recognized. Queen Vashti denied the King's request and broke all the laws. He wanted her to parade her beauty in front of him and all of his drunk friends. Ya, no. That does not sound like fun, it took guts for Vashti to say no.

   For me Esther isn't about courage really. Ya it took guts, but before she was courageous she gave everything up to God and she recognized Him as her strength. At first she didn't want to go to the King, if he didn't extend his scepter she would die. But then Mordecai (who is super cool) told her "And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this." He reminds her that God's grand plan for her life is in motion. She then has all the Jews fast and pray for her. She recognized that the only way she was going to be able to do this is if she called on God and His sovereignty. She accepted His plan for her, "And if I perish, I perish." Those have to have been the hardest words to say. She knew the risk and she knew that alive or not, God's plan would prevail.

  I feel like I can relate to Esther in an odd and different way. No, I'm not going into Africa saying "And if I perish, I perish." But I think God is placing me, all of us in our place for such a time as this. Esther's story is full of coincidence, God set up her life. Her family had been in captivity under Nebuchadnezzer and later they were freed, but her parents decided to stay and not go back to their homeland. If her perents had returned, none of this would've happened. Esther found favor in the King's eyes, what if she hadn't? God's hand is so incredibly evident in this story. Everything fell in place and God gave Esther the strength. It's like our lives are giant puzzles and God puts it together piece by piece, for Esther moving into the castle was a piece and for me going to Africa is another piece, I just wish I could see the box sometimes so I can look at the finished product.

I love you all and can't wait to see your finished puzzles :)