It is both a Paul Simon song lyric and also scripture that we are born for times like these… “Born at the right time” Paul Simon sings…

And this is true. God has us born now. Because he wants us now in the now.

I can easily tell you I’m grateful that I was born in an era, at a time, when there is modern plumbing and clean water and yes electricity. I can say that I’m grateful that I have seen the dawn and evolution of computers but also have had a childhood without them. Yes I’m of the generation who drank water from a garden hose, sat outside on our backs to watch clouds go by, chased butterflies and lightning bugs. I even rode my banana seat bike everywhere…

My friend Linda, who has since past, said she wished she would have been born in post colonial times, even in the south, with the manners, dresses, gentleman soldiers, fancy parties, servants… wow… but I’ll take my indoor plumbing and jeans and shorts and convenience of restaurants and grocery stores over that… the truth is there’s lots of non-glamor in the eras we see glamorous, just like now.

Let us be grateful for what we have…

One truth thing we have is knowing the Lord. We are born for times like these because we have opportunities for sharing, knowledge of strengthening, and fulfillment in faith. We best know our Lord has secured our future, so we can live our life here now. 

Those of us who want to keep busy know there is work to be done. Those of us just watching the world as if it’s craziness passes by like those clouds, well, we too have to rest knowing that God is in control of the chaos. Even using the chaos of the day and the world to motivate us to reach for Him and/or teach the reverent fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom. 

Yes, I know we could have been born in many time frames, eras, but I’m grateful that we are born now and reborn in Him. We have opportunity to know, live, teach, be.

Maybe we aren’t Queen Esther in statue or power, ready to plead for people for their lives, but God has work for us to do, pray for all people – for new opportunities to be His Hands and Feet… Keep sharing life, love, hope, joy… Keep living in these times… Keep keepin’ on!

And appreciate… born at the THIS time. 

Amen

[ One wisdom that I know God has given me is to continue to be the sparkle. I got some nice sparkle in a card which I didn’t spill, haha… but then I recently dropped glitter all over the floor and when I picked it up, plenty stayed in the cracks, and I probably will leave them there.. It’s a reminder of my friend Bonnie who sparkled even in pain. A reminder to keep sharing JOY with children of the day, keep JOY in your heart because we DO have this JOY of the Lord! Be grateful, times like these need Jesus JOY and HOPE. amen again to sharing in sparkle…]

—

Esther 4 NIV

Mordecai Persuades Esther to Help

When Mordecai learned of all that had been done [plotting against the jews], he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.

So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.

Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”

When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.

Continued in Ester 5, and in all our lives…