Perhaps This is the Moment for Which We Were Created

I almost bought this metal wall hanging, shown here, because it spoke to me. I took a photo instead. It spoke to me because I remember at the birth of my children – I knew I was created to bring them into this world. It spoke to me because there have been times when I encouraged someone to carry on and not give up. Maybe I was the one that helped save their life. Right now, I am gently and intentionally encouraging a friend toward a relationship with Jesus Christ. I’m not force-feeding them and I’m seeing a difference in their “tone” and softening of their heart. I keep thinking about this sign as I pray for them. I believe, in all of us, God placed potential and purpose for moments that assure us why we were created.

I love the story of Queen Esther. She risked death by her boldness as she spoke out for her people, Israel. I often quote from her story when I, or my friends, may be experiencing turmoil, chaos, and even loss. I'm reminded -- that just like Esther, “I may have come here for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14) As children of God, every day we can suit up for our royal positions too! We belong to our King. We have been set apart. Christ died on the cross for us. We are not our own. We have been bought with a price. Immersed in His truth, there should be no doubt in our minds that there is a purpose for us.

The story of how God worked in Esther's life encourages me to move forward in faith. With all the negativity and dreadful "stuff" that's in our world today, it's quite easy to pull the cover over our heads, ignore it all, and hope it goes away. We think "That's not my responsibility to get involved. Leave that to politicians or missionaries or other people that are 'called' to do that." We even close our eyes to our neighbors who need a word of encouragement or a gesture that says "I care".

You and I are here on this earth right now, during these times, and it's not by accident that we ARE here for a greater purpose than "our four and no more". What if we are supposed to be part of the solution in turning the tide of a crisis in someone's life, in our community's need for change, and in our world's need for hope. I know this....God's master plan for our lives includes us being a conduit of hope and peace to others.

We should feel honored that God purposed and planned us to be here RIGHT NOW, for a reason that's bigger than ourselves. What if He put us HERE to be His light in the darkness, to be the "chosen ones" to positively impact and make a difference in this world -- that so needs life and light? Are we realizing that God has us here ""FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS" to be that life and light?

Let’s Be Hope Dealers

I looked up “hope dealer” and ran across a website that literally “deals in hope”. Behind the website is its founder, Kyle Michael Miller, who uplifts and encourages people with powerful faith-filled stories that embody hope, resilience, strength, and trust in God while journeying through life’s toughest challenges. He says: "The heartbeat of what I do is uplift people with powerful stories of faith that offer inspiration and hope through all media. My intent is to give people the courage to victoriously charge through their days. I spend my time working as a creative in the digital, social and television storytelling space. For 7 years, I worked at NBC’s TODAY Show where I told uplifting stories on the air and on the show’s digital and social platforms. The greatest honor and privilege has been planting King’s Church in Cleveland, Ohio where I serve on the creative, host and leadership team.

Now, that’s what I call a “hope dealer”. What is God's plan to deal with the darkness in our world? We don’t have to look very far to find despair, but if we look for hope dealers and if we, ourselves, are hope dealers, we’ll find hope everywhere. Maybe, just maybe, we were born for such a time as this to be difference makers and hope dealers.

We can see that the world is troubled -- and increasingly so. Politicians and newscasters lack the answers. If we stop listening to the naysayers and all the trash talk that isn’t far from us, and if we turn on the “Joy to the world, the Lord has come” music in our ears AND in our mouths, if we intentionally are bearers of good tidings of great joy, great faith, great hope, great joy, great peace to our world, then we'll become a magnet to those who want what we've got! Lives will shift from seekers of darkness to seekers of light.

The closer we get to our Lord and get to know Him and receive Him fully in our hearts and lives, the more empowered we will be to be like Him. We can be a HOPE dealer – just like He is. Like the disciples and prophets of old, our God is calling His people to be voices of truth to a lost and dying world. Your voice matters. My voice matters. Silence isn’t an option.

If you’re reading this, God is calling YOU to boldly declare His truth, love and hope to people everywhere. Every voice matters. All voices are needed. This is a time for boldness and confidence that God is Who He says He is and will do what He says He will do. I sense His tap on my shoulder reminding me, He’s calling me to emerge from my cocoon of “all about me” to slipping my butterfly wings on and be who He destined me to be: a HOPE DEALER. Won’t you join me and emerge as a hope dealer too?

For Such a Time As This

Queen Esther is one of my heroes of faith. Her example proves my point about being motive-driven. I love her story. She risked death by her boldness as she spoke out for her people Israel. I often quote from her story when I, or my friends, are having to make some really tough life decisions like who we are aligning ourselves with, who we are helping and serving, and making sure we are doing and saying the right things in particular life-altering situations. I want my daily decisions to be royalty-conscious, like Esther: “I may have come to a royal position for such a time as this.” Esther 4:14.

For Such a Time as This

I love the story of Queen Esther. She risked death by her boldness as she spoke out for her people Israel. I often quote from her story when I, or my friends, may be experiencing turmoil, chaos, and even loss. I'm reminded -- that just like Esther, “I may have come to a royal position for such a time as this.” As children of God, every day we can live with the understanding that we have royal positions. We belong to Him. We have been set apart. Christ died on the cross for us. We are not our own. We have been bought with a price. Immersed in His truth, there should be no doubt in our minds that there is a purpose for us.

The story of how God worked in her life encourages me to move forward in faith. With all the negativity and dreadful "stuff" that's in our world today, it's quite easy to pull the cover over our heads, ignore it all, and hope it goes away. We think "That's not my responsibility to get involved. Leave that to politicians or missionaries or other people that are 'called' to do that." We even close our eyes to our neighbors who need a simple touch or word of encouragement or a gesture that says "I care". We think "I've just got too much to do with my own set of circumstances to get involved in someone else's cirmstances and plight,"

Here's the deal. You and I are here on this earth right now, during these times, and it's not by accident that we ARE here for a greater purpose than "our 4 and no more". What if we are supposed to be part of the solution in turning the tide of crisis in someone's life, in our community's need for change, and in our world's need for hope. I know this....God's predesigned master plan for our lives includes us being a conduit of hope and peace to others.

Shouldn't we be honored that God purposed and planned us to be here RIGHT NOW, for a reason that's bigger than ourselves? What if He put us HERE & NOW -- to be the LIGHT in the darkness, to be the "chosen ones" to positively impact and make a difference in this world -- that so needs LIFE & LIGHT? And, just wondering, are we realizing that God has us here ""FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS" to be that LIFE & LIGHT?? (Esther 4:14)