For Such a Time as This

When looking to purchase our property, we wanted to get a better idea of the "lay of the land". Would it be adequate for pasture?
It was completely invaded by blackberry and other wild undergrowth, so to get a better idea we would have to hike it.
So on a 90+ degree August afternoon with three young children in tow, we started on our way down the hill, crawling over fallen trees and pushing through underbrush(poor realtor).
OW! OW! OW!
My city children were unaccustomed to the assult of nettle and one by one , retreated up the hill to the coolness of the car, followed closely by their mother. It would not be until years later that I would learn that the remedy for the painful stinging nettle was just within arms reach in the form of the beautiful Sword Fern.
"Just rub the spores on the rash" I was informed by an 8 year old "day camper".
I thought, now isn't that the way our good Lord works...the answer to our problems is most likely just within arms reach.
I was sitting in a church service one Sunday years ago, listening to the pastor talking about favorite quotes that are actually NOT in the bible.
"Cleanliness is next to godliness" is NOT in the bible!
Keeping house with active children "company clean" is not generally the term that would correctly define the condition of my house most of the time, so I was thrilled to know it didn't effect my "godliness".
This thought however, was contrary to what I've since learned about our God of purpose and order. Just wading through the Old Testament, story upon story describes perfect examples of our Lord of purpose and order.
From the order of the creation of the universe, His explicit detailed instruction to Noah in the building of the ark, His detailed instruction to Moses in the building of the temple.
Everything and EVERYONE by His grand design has purpose and order.
So if I wanted to imitate the character of my Lord, I would have to learn how to become more orderly, a continuing work in progress, and purpose...isn't THAT the age old question...WHAT IS MY PURPOSE?
As a Mom, I know my main purpose and ministry is that of praying for and raising my children into godly men and women that honor and serve God.
I am eternally grateful for my own mother who introduced me to Jesus at a young age and since, has spent countless hours in prayer over me, and I believe wholeheartedly in Jacki Onassis' wise words, "If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do well matters very much."
I think of the godly mothers that raised the powerful men of the bible; Mary the mother of Jesus, Sarah the mother of Isaac, the Levite mother of Moses, Bathsheba the mother of King Solomon, Hannah the mother of Samuel, Elizabeth the mother of John the Baptist, to name just a few.
Then there is Esther.
Although not a mother at the writing of her book in the bible, I love the encouragement this book of the bible brings.
Here is a true love story of God for his people. The book of Esther is a description of a series of events that lead to the protection of God's people, this book illustrates perfectly the choreography that indeed, the Lord has placed us all in the times and areas we are in for a purpose, as described in Acts 17:24-27
"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though his is not far from each one of us.
In this book, Esther receives encouragement from her uncle Mordecai in 4:14 "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 royal position for such a time as this?"
Esther, through the encouragement of her uncle, risked her own life to approach the king on behalf of her people.Mordecai's words ring true.
God's plans can never be thwarted by human decision. Not only was Esther blessed, but an entire nation through her.
As we learn more about the character of our Lord and try to imitate Him, my prayer for you is that you courageously live out the PURPOSE the Lord has planned for you wherever the Lord has placed you, and know that there most likely is a sword fern within reach but sometimes only He knows where it is, and if you are a mother, a special prayer for you, in your most important position, raising another life that honors God.
Take care and God bless.