Destiny

I met someone this week who told me she actually reads my blogs! (Rosie, you know who you are?!) It felt good to be affirmed and encouraged. I met her when I was asked to speak to a group of women who began meeting monthly about three years ago to share fellowship, faith and spirits. (The liquid kind that is!)

I came to find out that I was their swan song so to speak. The gathering I was invited to speak at was the last for this group of women committed to their faith. There wasn’t anyone able to take over the responsibility of organizing the group going forward.

I thought maybe there is a reason I was asked to talk to this group at this time. The topic I was to speak on was my faith journey and how it led to Firstfruits. To explain what the mission of Firstfruits is and what we are all about.

And what Firstfruits is all about is gathering women for fellowship, to grow in their faith and to experience the Spirit. A perfect match. A perfect solution. Perfect timing from our perfect God.

Have you ever discovered you were put somewhere or met someone or went through something at the time you did, for a reason? That God had something to do with the timing of events? Often times we don’t see it as it’s happening, only in retrospect. How often our history plays a part in our destiny.

On Tuesday mornings we have a bible study at Firstfruits. We are studying the book of Esther. It’s all about destiny and how God shows us dimensions of our destiny throughout our lives. The providential hand of God is at work in our lives all the time.

Esther, a Jew, is crowned Queen of Persia which in that time was a miracle in itself. The timing of her queenship is perfect because a decree had gone out to annihilate all the Jews. Esther, however, is in a perfect position to influence her husband, King Xerxes, and save her people. Speaking up is risky for Esther. She possibly could face death, but if she doesn’t act on what she knows she is being called to do, not only will she die but her people too. A dimension of her destiny is before her. She has to make a decision. She’s scared and unsure.

Esther’s cousin, Mordecai, responds to her reluctance with what is the most famous chapter and verse from Esther, chapter four, verse fourteen. You’ve undoubtedly heard it before. To encourage her and point out to her in a subtle way the hand of God in her life Mordecai says, “And who knows, but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this.”

For such a time as this.

Is God showing you a dimension of your destiny? Can you look back on a particular time in your life and see why things happened the way they did? Why your paths crossed with a particular person or group. Why you suffered through what you did. And see in all of it a glimpse of what you are being called to do now. What you have been perfectly prepared for.

God is in the unfolding of your destiny and mine. He has been all along. Let that knowledge bring you the will and the courage to respond.

I hope part of your destiny will be to join us at Firstfruits on November 7-8 for our next mini-retreat! We have a great line up of offerings, a surprise musical treat for the evening session, and as usual our delicious kiwi salad for lunch!

Be sure to clear your calendar for such a good time as this!

Joan