Devotions: Esther 8-10 & 1 Peter 1-3...and Some Other Stuff

Here it is Friday already! Time flies when I am having fun and seemingly right where I am supposed to be. Today I link up with Good Morning Girls over at womenlivingwell.org. I wanted to provide a summary of my devotions for the week, as well as share some other little tidbits I have picked up along the way. I hope and pray everyone has been enjoying time in God's word this week, and hearts are already feeling full with gladness, steps are a little lighter, and lives are beginning to take on deeper meaning...

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Monday: “I am reminded it is important to celebrate the times I gained relief from my enemies, when my sorrow was turned into gladness, and my mourning into joy!”

Tuesday: “Knowledge without action has the potential to affect many, rather than just the individual with the information or knowledge. Isn’t this so true? We oftentimes have the knowledge about truth, ways to live healthy, what “not to do”, and yet, we struggle to APPLY what we know. This not only impacts our lives, but it impacts the lives of those closest to us, and potentially for generations to come.”

Wednesday: “Chosen. Chosen is the word that stands out to me this morning as I read through 1st Peter chapter 1. God has chosen me like He chose Christ, to provide peace, grace and joy, through all of life's  trials. He has chosen me to love others as He has loved me, which is proven in His sacrifice for me."

Thursday: “I am to GROW in salvation, by the nourishment of His Spirit. I have been brought out of darkness into Light. My conduct should align with Christ's, not so I get brownie points, but so others  may see and also believe and glorify God."

Friday: My beauty should come from that of my inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight...his beauty comes from placing my hope in God and not giving way to fear.

Wouldn’t you know? As I began writing this blog, I was flipping through posts and came across a gentlemen, Clayton Jennings, and the below video. As I watched it, I felt goosebumps. The video he created for his mother’s birthday captured exactly what I believe the verses this week were speaking to  me as a woman and mother. As you will see, he is the result of a gal who chose to celebrate the Lord, even in her trials. It is obvious, as her son describes her as a Proverbs 31 woman, she lived out the knowledge she gained from the Lord. As a result, not only was her son deeply moved and inspired, but he too is now inspiring others as the Lord leads him. She must have exuded the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit in this man’s life, for him to say he is “thankful to witness a faithful witness”.

As this week’s devotions come to a close, I am moved to seek God and His nourishment even more. I desire to be all that God summons me to be as a woman, wife, and mother - and boy am I grateful for His grace, love and mercy as I grow in the salvation only He can provide, from moment to moment, and day to day.

Have a happy Friday!