Esther - Week Two - Day Two - Winning Favor
Have you ever been around someone that you are simply 'drawn' to? It's not that they have a bigger than life personality, they just have a certain magnetism that makes you want to be near them. I think that must be Esther. She is that girl who has endured some tough knocks in life and yet she finds a way to shine. I'm thinking she is ''the glass is half full" kind of girl. Being orphaned no doubt left her with some life-altering choices. She was different, right out of the gate of life! She could choose to be bitter and angry at the world or she could be thankful that God provided an uncle who lovingly took her in. I'm sure nothing could replace the emb

We Interrupt This Life - To Feel the Burn!
If you found me this morning because you read Feel the Burn on Encouragement For Today, either on Crosswalk or Proverbs 31, WELCOME! I'm glad you're here. We also have another site you might want to visit called Encouragement Cafe with Luann & Friends Every Saturday we gather around a cafe table and talk about topics that are relevant to women today. We invite you to call in and join us, download a podcast or read our Daily Specia

Esther - Week Two - Day One- When His Anger Subsided
Whew! This one is packed! Slam-packed with good stuff!! (side note: I have had hundreds tell me they are doing this study...so where are your comments? we are on this road T-O-G-E-T-H-E-R) First, let's unpack the flood receding. Several years ago hurricane Floyd hit NC with a vengeance. Our church took teams to Tarboro to help clean up. I've never seen anything like it. We were assigned to help an elderly couple who had lived in their farm house their entire married life. Never had water even caused a puddle in their yard. The river that overflowed was 5 miles away! They never realized they were even in a danger zone! But the waters came a

Esther - Day Five - Dispatched Reprisals
So the very thing the king wanted was to see his queen and show her off to his buds. When she said no, he got even by NEVER SEEING HER AGAIN? Now at first glance you might say, "What a wimp. Had to get his buds to tell him what to do. And then didn't get the result he was wanting in the first place!" hmmmm I've got to get the mirror out here. Today, I think I might see king-like resemblances in my life. There have been times when I have been too weak to stand up for what I believe. Times when I sought the advice of someone, anyone who could make the decision for me. Can I tell you, I never got the result I was hoping for either.

Esther - Day Four - A Royal Fit
A royal fit. I've seen my grandchildren throw them and they get that gene through my bloodline! Sorry kids. Has anything ever thrown you into a tizzy? I mean you were riding high on life and WHAM! a blow from out of nowhere knocks you into next Tuesday? And you react impulsively, with anger. We could spend a week right here because there is so much to chew on. The line: The unraveling of "the first stitch of thread in the king's 'power suit.' I described life one time to a friend as a tapestry and she said, "I'm the loose thread hanging off the bottom." What is your first stitch? Has your p