Standing For Freedom

We all know the story of Esther and how she replaced Queen Vashti who would not appear before King Ahasuerus during his feast while entertaining all his nobles and princes in the Provinces of his kingdom.

After Esther is settled into her duties as Queen for about seven years, trouble arises. The King decides to promote Haman, the Agagite, to be second in command and he despises Mordecai, Esther's older cousin, because he would not follow the command  to bow and also because he was a Jew. Haman was a descendant of the Amalikites who are descendants of Esau and they were enemies with the Jews since the book of Genesis, and this mutual contempt carries on today.

Esther 3:5 says that when Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow or pay him reverence, he was filled with wrath! Once wrath and bitterness enter into a person's heart, if not taken care of immediately, that person can come under a bondage that festers and controls every thought and imagination of vengeance until that anger is pacified. For a whole year, Haman, his family and friends schemed a plan of revenge towards Mordecai and his people.  Revenge never just affects one, but it reaches to everyone around us and can eventually destroy the person who harbors it.

Finally, Haman presents his deceptive plan to the King. But he doesn't name names, he just informs the King that there were "certain people" who didn't keep his laws and they should be destroyed.  Of course the King is going to agree.  Kings have always feared takeover of their kingdoms.  They surround themselves by trusted friends and counsellors in order to protect their thrones.

The plan is put into action and proclamations are distributed throughout the entire Province which was most of the Middle East into Africa and north to Greece. The really heartbreaking thing is this action was proclaimed publicly on the day before Passover, the Jews’ most holy time of remembrance celebrating their deliverance and freedom from captivity under Egyptian rule. What a horribly cruel punishment this must have felt like to them. Here they are getting ready to celebrate freedom only to find out their lives could be snuffed out in a few months.

We will soon be celebrating Independence Day when our country declared separation from Great Britain. There was so much fighting and warring between our two countries that it was inevitable something had to give, and our forefathers crafted the Declaration of Independence which was adopted July 4, 1776.  Every person that signed that document paid a price but they had to stand for freedom for themselves, their families, and for the future of this country.

We are living in such perplexing and unpredictable days with worry and anger all around us, It looks like the enemy is winning.  I wonder if this is how they felt in Esther's day. Even though they were far away from their homeland and settled into the culture to which they were accustomed to living, they were making the best of their circumstances, and then the ax falls only to remind them this isn't home.  The prophets had prophesied that one day the Jews would be back to their promised land and they would one day be free of their adversaries.  This hope was passed on from one generation to the next. They did not give up hope because they knew their God was a covenant keeper and never went back on His promises.

We know Esther goes before the King after she asks her people to fast and pray for three days. Her daring words in Esther 4:17 "...if I perish, I perish" have gone down in infamy.  Because of her bravery, her people were delivered and set free from their enemy and they celebrate every year still to this day the Feast of Purim commemorating their victory and what God did for them. 

God has positioned us in this time of history and has placed in each and every one of us His glorious Spirit.  I am reminded that this world is not our home, it's only temporary until He takes us to our heavenly home that He is preparing (John 14) located in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21). He has entrusted us to fulfill His plan in this dark hour to be the light wherever we are.  Esther had no idea what she was walking into when she became Queen. Vashti lost her position when she refused to appear before the King and now Esther was making her appearance without pre-approval.  She knew her life was on the line, but what else could she do? She made a choice.  The King not only granted her favor by holding out his scepter, but he also helped to turn their dire situation around.  We have to make a choice and know that we're in God's favor and trust that He's got our back!

When Haman's proclamation was stamped with the King's ring, it could not be reversed.  Today's circumstances are not permanent for the Child of God.  It may not look that way but our God has a plan and it is stamped with His ring of approval and nothing can reverse it!

John 8:36:  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

The trouble that is going on around us is the result of sin and bondage. The enemy knows his time is short and is working overtime to pull everyone into his snare hoping that even God's people will get all caught up into his trap of hate and division.  I have news for him, our God has set us free from his power and he has no hold on us.  If we will keep seeking God's face and continue sharing His Word, we will see others delivered from the enemy's grasp.  We can stand on God's Word and know He has everything under control.  

Isaiah 54:17:  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Freedom didn't come for Esther and her people just because she was queen, it came because she took a stand for the sake of her people and followed a plan of action. Freedom didn't just show up in this country on its own, but brave men and women had a plan of action and stood and fought to protect the rights that we hold dear today.  Jesus Christ stood for the sake of His Kingdom and followed a plan of action to set the world free from sin by His death, burial, and resurrection.  We too must take a stand for the sake of our world and follow the plan of action by speaking God's Word into people's lives and fighting our spiritual enemy wherever we are.

Ephesians 6:12-13:  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

-Written By: Becky Spann

Bold Women Of The Bible

Bold Women of the Bible

Deborah (Judges 4), prophetess and judge of Israel, had to humble herself and become bold. When Barak asked her to go to the battle with him instead of trusting God for himself, she said she would. But, God would not let him have the glory for the victory promised. Sisera was killed by Jael, another bold woman. Israel became victorious because of Deborah’s humility, bravery, and obedience in hearing from the Lord.

The Syro-Phoenician woman (Matthew 7:26) became desperate for her child. She would not entertain the thought that Jesus would not heal her child! She kept up her desperate plea even when he called her a dog! Did that make her slink off and whimper? No way! She became persistent until her daughter was healed. Ladies, we need powerful, desperate, and persistent prayers to set the lost free and to heal the sick and diseased. Don’t give up. Keep knocking!  Luke 11:9, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto.”

Hannah was another bold woman of God who was accused of being an alcoholic! Eli thought she was drunk.  She was praying desperate prayers for a child quietly. Eli could not figure out what she was doing. He definitely was not in tune with God. She cried to him, “No, my Lord! My spirit is sorrowful because I have not been able to conceive.” (1 Samuel 1) The Lord promised her a child and sure enough she conceived. But, she kept her vow. She had promised that this child would be given into the service of the Lord. When we make a vow, we must keep it. She gave praise and glory to the Lord. When a need is answered we must be quick to give God the glory. We must praise Him! God honored Hannah’s vow and praises to Him, and she was later blessed with three more sons and two daughters! What a victory!

The only qualifications we need to be bold women is faith! Speak to the situation as though it were already accomplished.  I recently read about another bold modern mother stricken with polio. Her husband was an evangelist and away when she fell ill. She literally stayed on the floor. She couldn’t walk and could barely breathe. The Lord led her to ask her son to pray for her. He was a very young child. He prayed for Jesus to heal his mother. In a matter of just a few minutes she gradually received strength. She was brave and bold! She was obedient to the voice of the Lord and had taught her son as well. What a heritage to pass on to our families!

I learned very early in our ministry to be bold when asking requests of the Lord. Many times we had to rely on God supplying our needs. One doesn’t always learn everything from attending a Bible college. Ever hear of the school of hard knocks? As a young minister’s wife, I had to get ahold of the Lord! I had to be as bold as Deborah in the book of Judges. We were at war, a spiritual war with consequences if we weren’t victorious. Souls were at stake. Loved ones were in jeopardy! Souls came to the house late at night to be set free from their sins. What a harvest we had! We took the church having 17 members and it grew with souls to a record breaking 90+ before the Lord directed us to St. Augustine.

In our young ministry I realized how important prayer was. Ministers are targets of the enemy. Satan wants to neutralize them. Ministers’ wives have to learn early on that they must fight for their husbands’ protection from temptation. We had only been married a couple of years when I became a Deborah for my husband. I saw the danger and went to battle for him. We were victorious! Ladies become Deborahs against the enemy! With humility, acknowledge you need God’s help and then lead the battle and fight in the Spirit! Humble yourselves before the Lord. You will have victory. You will be guided. Times will not be easy, but they will be fruitful.

Be humble.  Be persistent.  Be bold.  Be a woman of prayer.  Be a worshipper.

You will win your battles!  

Written By: Sis. Jeannie Collins

A Brand New Mother's Day

On our calendars is a date to celebrate mothers.  It is to bring attention to women who have had children.  Correct?  I don’t think so.  There are many women who haven’t been mothers, but they have the motherly instinct built in them.  This comes from our creator.  Maybe you know a woman who loves to do things for people, but doesn’t have children of her own; perhaps a neighbor lady or a “crazy aunt”.  A mother (to me) means a woman who loves taking care of others and puts their needs before hers.  There are many mothers mentioned in the Bible.  Mary, the mother of Jesus, being the most famous.  She had a hard job even though she had the perfect child.  Mary had to teach and train her son in what was right and wrong.  The responsibility of raising children is an enormous endeavor.  Endeavor means to work with a set purpose.  We as mothers have a set purpose in mind.  As our children are born, we start teaching and training from day one.  We do our best to raise them as GOD instructs us.  We have a manual called the Bible to teach us how.  GOD gives us examples throughout His word.  Do not deviate from His wisdom.  We want our little blessings to be saved and live for GOD.  As women of GOD we should seek out newborn babes in Christ to take them under our wing and love and be a mentor to them.  They may not have had a loving mother as they were growing up.  We, as mothers, when we had our first baby, loved that child so much and probably thought we couldn’t love another one as much as we loved the first one.  But we found out we have so much love for all of our children.  GOD’s love is unending, and it is a good thing because he has a lot of children.  When we come to GOD, we should have an unending supply of love.  Sinners are usually saved when they feel the love of GOD drawing on their heart.  Let us love people to GOD.  By GOD’s love they will know us, and by HIS mercy and grace and perfect love they can have eternal life with Him. 

 Let us make a new calendar and add “Love someone to Jesus” day and celebrate it 365 days a year.

Written By: Sis. Linda Tatman

When Your Children Ask

When Your Children Ask

The moment I discovered I was going to be a mom, my life changed! I wanted nothing more than to protect the unborn baby that I now carried. I would eat right, take my vitamins even though they made me sick, rest when I felt the need to, go to monthly appointments because life was about taking care of this baby that would soon be. At my son’s birth I felt love like I had never felt before. The helplessness of a newborn causes the heart of new parents to swell in a way that it causes them to spend several hundred dollars to purchase everything from a box of diapers to throwing money into a future college fund!

As our children become toddlers, Pre-Schoolers, and on into the teens and adulthood years, a mother never stops wanting to protect, teach, pray for, guide, and counsel her children. As we have entered into a place we have never journeyed before because of the pandemic called Covid-19, or the Coronavirus, I have wanted to reassure my young adult sons that God is with us and is going to take care of everything! A mother is always hopeful that she is giving the right advice, counsel, and reassurance. I believe the Lord understands our uncertainty in all of this.

Because Journeys and Devotions is a blog written by women and about women, I would like to come to the story of the crossing of the Jordan found in Joshua 4:8-24 from a mother’s point of view. If I had my two small boys by the hand and was looking at a sea of water that could not be crossed without being swept away and the man of God said we are going to cross! My heart would be pounding and there would be a feeling of panic because I would not be sure I could keep hold of my children in the midst of heavy wind, tons of water, and to the physical eye, no way through this river. But God! But God opened the water for Joshua just like he did for Moses. I can just see Miriam trusting the words of Moses as he stretched out his rod and said “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord!” Miriam knew her brother to be a man of God who was in tune with the voice of the Lord. Can you just see her grabbing her children and being the first to take them by the hand and saying come, children! And because of Miriam’s trust in God and the man of God, other moms took heart. A holy boldness came upon them and they began to lead their children across the Red Sea!

Miriam is gone, Moses is gone, most of those who left Egypt have died off except Joshua and Caleb. Here they are at the Jordan River. Joshua may have been thinking I remember you doing this for Moses, but I am not Moses. Mothers standing at the bank of the River. Maybe Miriam is still alive but much older and frail, but her grand-children and great -grandchildren are standing at the bank of the river and a mom is worried about if God is really going to come through for her and her children. I can see Miriam making her way to the edge of the Sea and standing with her shoulders as straight as her body will allow and a wave of faith comes over her along with a flood of memories of that day so long ago when the Red Sea opened to them. Miriam puts a foot into the water and assures the other moms that it is ok to take their children through a place they have never been!

Rocks were taken out of the middle of the Jordan and set up as a Memorial and God said to Joshua, this is a place you can bring your children. “When they Ask,” you can tell them the story of how God was with Moses, with Joshua, and now with you!

Stories will be told of how God brought us through this pandemic! Testimonies will be written down and read by our children and children’s children. As we are in the midst of an uncertain time, crossing territory we have never been through, gathering new information each day, gather some stones, write some stories, record testimonies of things God shows you along the way so “When Our Children Ask!” we will have details and we will show them how God was with us and hopefully we can tell them about a few lost people we picked up along the way!

-Written By: Patty Hollaway

An Awesome Christmas

An Awesome Christmas

In 2015, my life was completely changed. I went from pastor’s wife to being a divorcée, a stay-at-home mom to working and going to school. Every aspect of my life was turned upside down. I knew divorce was painful. I just didn’t realize how painful. And it wasn’t just for me, but for my children, church, family, and friends. Chances are it was hard for you, too.

But God. 

You’ve heard my testimony many times and I hope I’m not bothering you by telling it again. I’m just still in awe of the touch of God. I’m still in awe of what God used to minister to my brokenness. I am in AWE.

The Lord used YOU. From every hug and word of encouragement, to all the prayers for me and my children. For the gifts, and for the time and space you gave us to heal—all while you were hurting too. That’s the God we serve and the love He puts in us.

Christmas is a time to be in AWE. For the believer, we see the greatest gift of all—Jesus Christ. Angels heralded His coming to a meek virgin, to a shocked fiancé, to an old priest and soon pregnant wife, to wisemen halfway around the world, and last but not least, to the lowly shepherds in the field. It was AWEsome. God was coming to earth—as a baby! Gifts were brought, songs were sung, and hearts melted at the sheer wonder of it all. Christmas is a time to be in AWE.

This is also a part of my testimony. In the middle of all our pain, our church family reached out with love, cards, and monetary gifts. It didn’t stop our pain, but the love helped ease it. That’s selfless love. That’s CHRISTmas. 

While Christmas is joyous, it can also be an extremely painful time for many. Whether it’s the death of a loved one, the change in a family situation, the loss of a job, or broken friendships—lifelong traditions change. And the loss can be felt that much stronger during the festive season. Many share that they wish they could skip the holidays altogether because they are hurting and the holidays magnify their pain. What an opportunity to share the love of Christ!

Just like you ministered to us, I’m hoping to help someone this Christmas. I learned firsthand how the love of my church family eased our pain. Christ alone can heal it. I was given both. What an AWEsome testimony!

Let’s all rally together to make a difference for someone that’s hurting this season. Whether it be lonely, elderly neighbors, the homeless, or someone you know with a loss, give the greatest gift on earth—the love of Christ! You can ease their pain by spending some time with them, sending a card, bringing them a pie, or by giving a little extra money to help those tight spots—ON Christmas—the hardest day of their year.

Let’s make CHRISTmas AWEsome this year ️

-Written By: Tracy Evans

Thanks, Thanks, I Give You Thanks

Thanks, Thanks, I Give You Thanks

Is. 61:10, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”

Recently I attended the wedding of one of my former Sunday School students. I was taken back to almost twenty years ago when I was the FACD Beginners Class teacher. We would always sing before beginning the lesson.  Katy’s favorite song was always, “Thanks, thanks, I give you thanks for all you’ve done. I am so blessed. My soul is at rest. Oh, Lord, I give you thanks!” As she walked down the aisle to join her groom, tears filled my eyes. I thought, Jesus, I give you thanks that Katy is still walking with you. I could still hear her tiny voice singing loudly and sincerely after all these years.

I give you thanks, Jesus, for a precious church family and pastor who care for us after all these years. We feel their love. Not every new pastor is able to welcome the former pastor to stay. We are blessed!

I give you thanks, Jesus, for my family of seven. We are small, but we all serve the Lord! That is priceless!

I give you thanks, Lord, for the friendships that have been formed over the years, priceless also.

I give you thanks because I am rich, not by the world’s standard, but rich in You!

I give you thanks because I am fearfully and wonderfully made according to Psalms 139:14. David knew this!

The list could go on. The most important thing I give Jesus thanks for is his plan of salvation! Thank you, Savior, for giving your life for not only me, but this world!

Written By: Jeannie Collins

The Road Home

After my mother took a bad fall, I drove up to see her. On the way home, the Lord began speaking to me. I don’t need a GPS to get me home, I don’t really need the landmarks. It’s the place where I grew up from the time I was eight years old. I get on I 270 N. to I 71 N. I get off at Rt. 13 and drive through Mansfield, hit Rt. 250, drive through a few towns until I finally come to Norwalk. I take League St. to Cline St. then make a left onto Spring St. I finally arrive at 52 Spring St. where I grew up.

When I got married, I made the trip once a week on my day off. I love my parents and when they are expecting me, the door is left unlocked, we have made plans for the day, one of them always greet me at the door even though it’s unlocked, and I can just walk in. When I get there, I can go to the fridge and get something to drink or eat if I want. It’s home. When the boys came along the trips became less. Life got busy, kids got sick, money was tighter and on the list went.

I never forgot the way home and there was never a time I was unwelcome, but neither did I get an invitation, direction in the mail, or a call saying we want you to come home. Why? Because I knew the way and I knew I was welcome. It was all on me and the circumstances that surrounded my reasons for not getting home as often. I had to get in the car and go!

My heart is heavy most days over young people who grew up in the church and no longer serve the Lord. I ache over friends I spent time with as a young mother who were serving God right along with me, but no longer come to church. I have often prayed and asked the Lord what will it take to get these people I love to come back to you?

It was during this particular drive home when the Lord spoke. They know the way home. They don’t need a Bible study, they know the Word. They don’t need an invitation, they know they are welcome.  They don’t need direction, they know the way all too well. They left for all different reasons. Maybe they had a fight with a brother or sister, maybe they were hurt by a happening, some just got side tracked, busy, disinterested, and the list goes on.

The Lord showed me a lot of similarities between going back home to family and coming back home to the family of God. A card in the mail will remind that child who is no longer serving the Lord that they are thought of. A phone call inviting them to a special service would be like making plans for a full family gathering and getting the information to all the siblings for a holiday dinner. A visit would be a nice gesture to reinforce the backslider that she is loved.

What really needs to happen is the child must come to a place where she wants to come home! She knows the way, she’s been there many times, many years. She has to put the past events, hurts, anger, complacency, or whatever it is that is keeping her away aside and decide I want to go home and be with my family. I want to make things right with my father and be ready to meet him. When she walks through the door, the brothers and sisters must be ready to greet her, love her, and make sure there are no grudges held, no anger harbored, and we must be ready to help her get connected again because, after all, we are family and we must take care of one another.

She knows the way home!

-Written By: Patty Hollaway