“Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other 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 4:13-14 NKJV

To be honest, it has been a rough summer – if I’m really honest, it’s been rough for quite some time.  I have shied away from public discussion regarding many issues (I can’t think of much worse than a debate over Facebook….. I never thought I’d actually wish for pictures of people’s dinners, but there it is. Tag me in that picture of your pork chops, okay?), but I have not shied away from personal discussions. Do not misunderstand – I have not sought out opportunity to discuss current topics, but I have not avoided subjects if they arose in reasonable conversation.  I’ve been honest, and made effort to seek the Lord and speak wisdom, but….

Jesus said in Matthew 10:16-20, “ “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.  But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you”. (NKJV, emphasis mine)

What you should speak.  You should speak.  I should speak.

I was also thinking about Esther, when a great evil was presented to her.  Mordecai’s words inspired her to action, praise God, but there was most definitely opportunity in his speech for her to make an excuse and stay behind the scenes. Mordecai tells her that “relief and deliverance will arise from another place”.  At that moment, Esther could have taken the path of least resistance and told herself: “Well, if God will deliver them anyway, why should I endanger myself?  Why should I take a chance?”  But don’t miss the most important phrase: “Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time a this?”  That’s where Esther stood up.  That’s where she takes her place in the history that was unfolding around her.  That’s where she accepted that call that God placed on her life.  Thank You, Lord!

Jesus promises that there will be hardship.  Jesus promises that men will persecute and punish.  Jesus is honest and tells us, “You are like sheep among wolves, be careful.”  However, being careful is not the same thing as being silent.  Actually, we should be careful not to be silent.

Be encouraged – relief will come.  God will rescue.  Read the end – Jesus is the Victor and we win!  At the same time, be encouraged – you were born for such a time as this. We are meant to be kind, we are meant to be honest, we are meant to be full of the love of Christ…. but we are not meant to be silent.

I still don’t think I’ll pursue the discussion, but I am asking the Lord to change my perspective.  Mistakenly, I’ve viewed my reticence as merely avoiding conflict.  I think that I’ve been wrong in that.  It’s not enough to avoid conflict – I must speak peace and shine the light of the Gospel at every opportunity.

We never thought it would be easy, but here we are and it’s no surprise to the Lord, is it?  Do not allow your light to be hidden.  We are a city on a hill.  “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (2 Cor. 4:7).  Father, thank You for trusting us with this treasure.  Thank You further for opportunities to share it with the world.

I used 687 words and didn’t really say anything, did I?  I know I’m “preaching to the choir” here.  Fill in the blanks with any current issue that breaks your heart, and ask the Father to direct you.  When He speaks, it is a treasure, isn’t it?

Praying you have opportunities to share your treasure in such a time as this,

Jennifer ❤

“Choose a good reputation over great riches;
 being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.”

Proverbs 22:1 NLT

Anyone who knows my sweet husband also knows this: he is a favorite everywhere he goes!  I’ve grown accustomed to the comment, “Oh – you are Michael’s wife?” anytime someone hears my last name.  Everyone knows Michael, and everyone loves Michael! It’s a happy and welcomed situation!

Today, my name was recognized for two different reasons: my sons. I was checking out at the drugstore, and they asked for my rewards card.  I didn’t have it, but I entered my husband’s phone number, and the cashier (precious older gentlewoman) said, “There you are, Mrs. Spivey.  Oh wait – are the Spivey twins your boys?”  When I confirmed that they were, she went on to tell me how sweet they were, how much she enjoyed seeing them when they came in, and how proud I must be.  I had to admit: I am pretty proud of these two!  I walked out smiling, thinking how nice it is that my sons have taken after their father – well-liked and welcomed everywhere they go.  It makes such a pleasant and happy life.

The Bible tells us to “choose a good reputation over great riches” because “being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold (Proverbs 22:1).  How true and how wise. It is not a difficult choice, but it must be made again and again, with purpose day after day.  You choose a good reputation every time you choose to treat others well (“do unto others as you would have them do unto you” Luke 6:31).  You choose a good reputation every time you choose your words with kindness and love (“a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in setting of silver” Proverbs 25:11).  You choose a good reputation every time you do your work in excellence (“work heartliy as unto the Lord and not unto men” Colossians 3:23). I am thankful that my boys are choosing a good reputation, and I pray that they always will.  Consistency is key.  

Suddenly  a silly little movie quote has popped into my thoughts…. One of my favorite movies is “Harvey” with Jimmy Stewart (oh, you’ve never seen it?  It might not be in the RedBox, but it’s worth a little digging around to find it!).  At one point, the main character is trying to explain himself and he says, “My mother used to tell me, ‘In this world, you must be oh-so-smart or oh-so-pleasant.  For years, I was smart. I recommend pleasant.”  What a sweet choice he made!  I recommend pleasant as well!

Today my treasure is seeing my babies grow into men whom I admire very much.  It’s an example that we all can follow – me too! I hope that you find a treasure today!  God is generous and kind to us, and I am praying that you find Him so in your life ❤

Jennifer

I’ve been busy on my own little DIY project – want to see it? Click this link: http://flipagram.com/f/YRwQMoKrwi

At the beginning of the summer, my husband began to consider a small unused space in our church offices.  I decided to jump in with my idea: I need an office!  Our church offices are housed in the former parsonage, and this room is the smallest and in the very back.  Perfect!  (I may have mistakenly thought that this would also mean it was the quietest, but happily I was wrong – let’s come back to that in a minute!)

Once the decision was made and work began, I went to shopping.  Anything from a clearance rack or any forgotten items in my attic or my mother’s basement or trinkets from local thrift stores was fair game – I love re-purposed items, and I love anything with a story.  Furniture was collected and walls were painted.  My little office was quickly filled with treasures!  Chalkboards, bulletin boards, dry-erase boards that will continually be changed (fun!), favorite pictures and favorite books that will stay the same (comforting!). My daughter sewed curtains (darling), my husband painted walls (on his day off, no less – what a sweetheart he is) and I painted trim and hung pictures and sanded tabletops…. I love the finished product!

Since I moved in 3 days ago, my “quiet corner” has been full of activity!  Constant stream of visitors: invited guests as well as friends who know their invitation is always open. A young missionary came to share her heart for her new mission field, and I was honored to pray with her and offer monthly financial support.   One little visitor brought her recorder and her book so we could “practice together” (I gotta be honest – I didn’t see that one coming, but I loved it!).  I am praying that this space will be a respite and sanctuary, a place of ministry and purpose, a place of visits and smiles and sharing, but I have to be careful about maintaining the balance.

You see, we can easily become tied up with “busy-ness” and “things”, and we lose sight of the real treasure.  Luke 12:34 says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  The entire chapter of Luke 12 is warnings and encouragements straight from the heart of our Savior Jesus Christ.  In my life, I need to keep my focus on the most important thing: pursuing and growing my relationship with the Lord, and loving His people well. First and foremost, I am a child of God.  All the other roles (wife, mom, teacher, pastor, friend, sister, the list goes on and on) are secondary – and I won’t be successful in any of those other roles unless I take time to quiet myself and spend time in the presence of the Lord for the sole purpose of spending time in the presence of the Lord.

Take a moment for yourself.  Don’t pray to be a better “fill-in-the-blank-for-yourself-here” just yet – just pray about being His child.  Don’t read the Bible so that you can teach others around you just yet – just read the Bible so you can get to know His character better.  Don’t allow your relationship with the Lord to become about serving Him or His people just yet – foster your relationship with the Lord so that you will have a relationship with the Lord.  I know you are busy (me too!), but let’s stop for a minute or two and just be His.

If you can slow down enough to pursue God, you know what will happen?  You will be a better “fill-in-the-blank-for-yourself-here”!  You will be so full of His presence and peace that you will be able to minister to others around you out of your overflow!  You will be a better servant to the people blessed enough to be within your sphere of influence. Remove the self-imposed pressure to be “the best”.  In this same chapter of Luke, Jesus encourages us, “seek God’s kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well” (12:31).

The treasure is the presence of God.  I’m praying that you will take a minute to seek it today, just for you.  I believe the Lord will meet you!  Be blessed by His generous spirit today – He is so kind to us!

Praying that you find the treasure of His presence today,

Jennifer 🙂