For Such A Time as This

This phrase, spoken by Mordecai to Esther, in Esther 4:14, ".... for such a time as this," has been spoken in my heart these past weeks.   The full sentence is, "Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"  My Bible has a foot note that explains it a little further.  What Mordecai is saying, is that if she is silent (and does not go to the king to help the Jewish nation), she may miss the opportunity, purpose, and privilege for being where God has put her, in relation to their nation. Another note says, "... the lives of Esther and Mordecai are a classic example of successful teamwork.  Their relationship vividly portrays the unity that the Lord Jesus prayed for His disciples to experience(John 17).  The success of their individual roles , even their very survival, depended entirely on their unity.

For such a time as this.... being placed in the right place, doing the right thing, having surrounded myself with the right people, and at the right time, for such a time as this.

Michael and I had attended a non-denominational, "full gospel" church all of our married years until 5 years ago when, for reasons not completely understood by us, God brought us to Redeemer Presbyterian church.  We served and loved the people of our previous church. Michael was Catholic all of his life until we met.  I grew up as a pastor's kid in the Christian Church and Congregational Church.  There were no Presbyterians on either side of our families.  One of the obvious reasons to us for going to Redeemer was that it was one of our community churches.  It is committed to the community and that resonated with us.  What we did not know, is that very reason would play such an important role in the healing process of me and my children during this time of our lives. We can walk to our pastor's house, the church, or the homes of our close brothers and sisters in Christ.  The structure of the church leadership, and the order which the church has in place, has also met our needs. The honest, real, and compassionate way that they have approached this tragedy in our lives has been exactly what we needed.  Redeemer is a young church, but God brought it about to meet the needs of our community, and the people of Jackson, for such a time as this.  We were placed in this church, for such a time as this.

I have always home schooled my children. We were, of course,  often asked why we chose to do this.  For awhile, I would start giving a long list of the detailed reasons.  We quickly realized that the main reason was the only one that mattered.  This was something that we knew deep in our spirit that it was what God wanted for our lives.  It was what He chose for us. We desired to be in His perfect will in all things in our lives... even if it meant home schooling our children and going against the grain. I received my degree in education, which did not make sense to me at the time, for such a time as this. Our children are gifted, beautiful,  musically talented, highly social, and a joy to be around.  Because I have spent so much time with them one on one, we communicate well together.  Needs are easily expressed or noticed.  This relationship has been priceless, for such a time as this.  By home schooling, I have been able to allow them to rest and pull away for as much time as they need. Their musical abilities have been great therapy for them, since their father has gone to heaven.  There has been lots of guitar playing, piano playing, and singing.  By home schooling, they have always had a little more time to put into there musical endeavors.  Ten years of music and twelve years of home schooling, for such a time as this.


We live in a beautiful neighborhood with people who have beautiful hearts.  I had wanted to live here since I was in high school.  We moved into this home in 1999.  I always told Michael that there is not any place in Jackson where I would rather live.  If we ever moved, it would be to the country for bigger pets, bigger gardens, and bigger sunsets.  It had been our desire for several years to move to the country, but we just could never feel like the timing was right.  Imagine if I was in the country right now, without any neighbors stopping in to check on me or help me at a moment's notice?  We were placed in this neighborhood, for such a time as this.


I discovered I loved to write while taking a creative writing course, during my senior year at Woodland Hills Baptist Academy.  It took me totally by surprise.  I had always loved to draw, but had never even  written in a journal, and drug my feet on completing term papers. After Michael and I married, the writing came out in full force as we would write our feelings for each other.  Letters written to friends and thank you notes became an opportunity to use the gift of the written word for other people.  During my prayer time in the mid 90's,  I  heard God telling me to develop my writing, in any little shape or fashion, on a daily basis.  I could not always find the time, but I became aware of it and used it as a creative outlet in different ways.  I have written 3 books that have copyrights, but are unpublished, and three unfinished screenplays.  I did not understand the purpose of what God was doing with me doing any of this. I am now thankful for the written gift.  Writing is helping me to feel, understand, and grieve, for such a time as this.


The success of my "role" in life, even my very survival, depends entirely on my unity with God's will and the people he has placed in my life.... for such a time as this.