For This Purpose {Five Minute Friday}

Happy Friday my friends! I can't believe that we are already in the month of March...yet here we are. I have gotten slack in completing the Five Minute Friday posts the last couple weeks, so I want to get back in gear for them starting this week. 

AND GO

Purpose \pər-pəs\
the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists
When I think of purpose, I think of all the times in the Bible that people were told by God "For this purpose I called you..." One of the main ones that pops into my head is Queen Esther. Did you know that the book of Esther is the only one in the Bible that doesn't mention God? There are some who questioned whether it had a rightful place even in the Bible. Yet all who have read the story, know that God doesn't have to be named, to clearly have a role in the story of Esther.  One of the most important lines to sum up Esther, was given by her relative Mordecai when he stated--after it became known that Haman was going to destroy the Jews and that in her unique position as queen had the power to potentially change the future of the Jews--

"For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” ~Esther 4:14

Mordecai was pointing out that Esther had a purpose. Maybe even put in place by God for such a time. For this purpose.

Could we also have a purpose from God in a situation we are in? Could you be placed in the role you are because God has a plan to use you for something great? Something that maybe only you could do? You never know. I have a friend in Australia who is closely following the health trial that a girl in our church family is going through. Long story short, the 18 year old girl had an accident in the Australian Outback, that resulted in her being pinned under a horse trailer in the over 100 degree sun for 4 hours. Now the girl is fighting for all it's worth in the hospital. Despite the best efforts made by the medical staff over the last few weeks, she just had to have her leg amputated at the hip due to severe infection. But the one thing that keeps showing up--is that the staff is amazed at her attitude and her parents' attitude. They see her witnessing her faith in God's power and protection, despite the continued crisis they face. And the medical staff is talking about it. Talking about how her resilience and the healing she's experienced thus far is a miracle--even in light of the amputation. She is continuing to be a light to the world, even when in and out of an induced coma. Even when faced with a life changing injury. She is still witnessing to the world her faith and complete trust in our God.  Perhaps this is HER purpose, strange as it may seem.  God may be working something in your life...remember, even the Pharaoh of Egypt had a purpose in God's plan...

"But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth." ~Exodus 9:16

AND STOP

I hope you and yours have a simply delightful weekend. I will hopefully be able to come back either tomorrow or Sunday and share some fun bible studies we have been doing in the Judges--one of my favorite collection of bible stories in the whole Bible.