It's Tough Being A Woman: The Whole Megillah

      This past Monday welcomed the first ladies bible study of the fall semester. We are so excited to be using Beth Moore's video study over the book of Esther, appropriately themed, "It's Tough Being a Woman".


     
      Diaspora:
              1. to scatter seed
              2. the movement, migration, or scattering of a people away from an established or ancestral homeland.

     Literally, calling Esther a Diaspora story refers to the scattering of the Jews like seed outside of Palestine after their release from exile in Babylon. We may not feel like we can easily relate to what life was like under the King of Persia, but we certainly can relate to what it feels like to be somewhere we dont belong. Scattered and far from our comfort zones.

Just like the Jews were out of place in the secular and lavish Persia, Esther doesn't easily fit the mold of the other books of the Bible. Esther bears a few very unique properties that distinguish it from it's biblical counterparts.
 
The first, is the total absence of any reference to God. At first glance, it may seem that if it doesnt mention the Lord then the book of Esther may not belong in the scriptures. However, Beth is quick to point out that our God is a mysterious God and doesn't need to sign His name to make His mark.
She continues to say that because of the lack of 'the character God' we see in other stories, we are forced to look at the tools He uses to make Himself known in other ways. Another unique characteristic is simply  the God-ordained emphasis on human responsibility. Scripture is God-breathed, so we are forced to wonder why He so purposefully left His name out and emphasized the names of those so much lesser than He.
  
These two unique design characteristic challenges our faith, but offers hope. We are force to face the questions like "what do we do when the Red Sea doesn't part?", when God doesn't remove our obstacles in one fell swoop. Instead, we find great theology in not seeing Him, but knowing He is there. And instead we see traces of Him in the lives of everyday people.

"Maybe there is no bigger miracle than God working in the natural realm, God working mightily even in us"

                                      

     The third unique characteristic abut the book of Esther is simply that the title bears a woman's name.  Woman were made to complement men, and in that are very different from their partners. Beth warns us not to forget that this book is about a woman who had all the struggles and 'stuff'' of a woman.
  
In a survey she conducted on over 400 women of different backgrounds and beliefs, Beth collected lists of the toughest things that being a woman entails. There are many blessings to be afforded by these glimpses into those women's lives. The first revealed to us this week is simply that we women have these challenges in common. The following are the top three most common responses from her survey, how well can you relate?

1. Yielding
2. Balance
3. Hormones

     We would encourage you over the rest of this week to really dwell on this question, and when you have your list. Know that you are not alone in your struggles. We deal with it too. And so did Esther.

The session ended with a glimpse into what we will be studying in the daily personal study sessions over the week. We hope to see you next week as we discuss how we've wrestled with and learned from our first scenario.


    
   It's tough being
           a woman in another
                        woman's shadow.











Posted By: Kimberly Bailey

The Heart of All Creation

Just a little food for thought...

     The next time you escape the stress of our world by putting your minds for a few minutes on fellow creatures and things that "take life blithely", or the next time you soak in the warmth of the sunshine or marvel at the vast beauty of the ocean, remember that there is a sacrifce at the heart of it all. 

     "The Lamb became Shepherd, bearing and caring for the sheep, laying down His life for them both as Shepherd and as Lamb, and, in the end [still]...shall wipe away every tear from their eyes".    Jesus paid it all.

             Paraphrased from Love Has a Price Tag by Elizabeth Elliot.

Posted By:  Kimberly Bailey

Story of Grace: Holla Hallelujah!

Ify Nwachukwu

Favorite Color: Gold

Animal: Cheetah

Major: Nursing

Classification: Junior, 20yrs old

Quote:

"No God- No Peace, Know God-Know Peace"

      If you've had the pleasure of meeting Ify Nwachukwu then you know that there is never a dull moment. You also know that she is a woman after the Lord's own heart. When we asked her when she first became a Christian she answered us with an even better question:

"Generic Christian or full throttle Christian?"

    Ify was 17 and a senior in high school when she decided to go full throttle. She had been raised in the Catholic church as part of growing up in a Christian home. In the beginning, she had no idea what to expect when it came to really pursuing God.

"I thought it would be easy, like Holla Hallelujah! But its never easy for me"

     Her favorite passag of scripture is John 16:33: "I have told you these things so that you may have peace, in this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world"

    Ify told us that she has come to learn that it is a struggle everyday - every harsh word, every inconsiderate driver, every rude customer - she has to make the conscious decision to live like Christ. Despite the frustration, Ify doesnt shy away from a challenge. Last summer, when working at a camp she hit an all time low. It was at this extremely difficult time in her life that she was able to see the Lord the most, and she's grateful for it!

"Miserable and low, I was refined by fire into purity"

     Now Ify says she has been praying and asking the Lord to help her be more open with people, she wants to be a listening ear for others. She believes in the importance of really relating emotionally to others and being able to connect with them on a deeper level. She is also trying to learn to connect deeper with her Lord through prayer, she plans to combine the two by faithfully commiting to pray unceasingly for two young women she meets over this year.

 "I'm learning patience, and pray, pray, pray!!!"

     Advice to Freshman: Stay above the influence, don't try to be something you're not. Be real with yourself and surround yourself with good people who accept who you really are and want to be. You can do it!
    






Posted By:  Kimberly Bailey