Five Minute Friday: She {"It's Tough Being a Woman"}

"It's tough being a woman" is the subtitle for the Beth Moore Bible Study a group of women started this week. I've never thought about that particular concept in my reading through the book of Esther ever before. The book of Esther, Beth laughs, as she conclude her introduction, gives lots of room for estrogen.

Esther is only one of the two books of the Bible with a female name.

Esther, the protagonist in the story, had to follow in the steps of the most beautiful Queen who definitely had a strong and determined way about her. After all, she refused to come before the King of Persia and Media when he summoned his wife to show her off before all his officials of his kingdom at the great feast he was hosting. Beth reminds women that it is tough being a woman in 'another woman's shadow'. Simply put, she says, 'sometimes the hardest thing about being a woman is other women.'

Esther was clearly called by God 'for such a time as this'. However, there is not one mention of God in the whole book. God dramatically used Esther to save the Jewish people at a time when they could have been wiped out. In a humbling and inspiring fashion, Esther was used by God in a brave and courageous way.

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I've also been spending precious moments reading, "The Hiding Place" to my children. Corrie Ten Boom was another woman who, thousands of years after the story of Esther, was used greatly by God at a time of extreme ungodliness and evil in the world. She willingly offered what she had been given and allowed God to work powerfully through her to help Jews escape evil and untimely death.

God can use us when we seek Him and simply offer what He has blessed us with, even though we may not always see God actively at work in the world around us.

We can be sure that He will fulfill His purpose.

Don't you want to be a part of such a generation of women that will use what He has given to them to the praise of His glory?

It's tough enough being a woman without other women dragging us down.

Let's spur on and encourage one another to be a part of God's plan to be a generation of women who love God wholeheartedly and be used by Him powerfully that His kingdom would be extended further and He would be eternally glorified.

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Reflecting and writing on the word prompt given here for Five Minute Friday at Lisa-Jo's place. This week the prompt is: She

Officially, the rules are:

1. Write for 5 minutes  {To be honest, I usually break this rule ;) }

2. Link up at Lisa-Jo's  and invite others to join in.

3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community...