In this chapter we are introduced to Mordechai and Esther. Mordechai gives us an example of a priceless gift - standing in to be the father of a child that is not his for Esther. Esther responds by remembering how she was brought up in the Lord as a child and continues her humble approach to counsel as an adult. In the end, iron sharpens iron and both Esther and Mordechai find favor in the eyes of King Xerxes. 

We see King Xerxes make a rash decision based on poor counsel, leaving women in his country nearly enslaved to their husbands. We discuss how in Christianity wives are instructed to respect their husband and husbands to love their wife as Christ loved the church. 

Tonight, we introduce Esther and sister Harper. Of course, we only get through part of the first chapter and don't get to meet Esther, but we do get to see a King acting poorly (of Babylon) and discuss better ways to conduct ourselves. Along the way Harper takes us down a few tangents and it is fun. 

If you like mixed martial arts then you're going to like Nehemiah chapter 13. Until this point Nehemiah has shown restraint, but after a late life return to Jerusalem finding corruption He starts let the people have it verbally and physically. Throughout Nehemiah's life we see a passionate, effective leader. In this case, maybe he gets a little too passionate, but he still leaves us a legacy we hope to leave others - which is to lead them into a stronger walk with The Father. 

In Nehemiah Chapter 12 we see good effort from the Israelite people in a cause to turn from foreign influence and dedicate themselves to the Lord's ways. We know, from experience, that this will not last forever and we know that doing it for the purpose of obtaining righteousness is not effective. However, it is part of the Christian life that sometimes we need to remove things or people from our lives that aren't sin but tend to hinder our growth in the Spirit. 

Main focus tonight is on repopulating the city of Jerusalem with tangents on the different smells of the city gates and worship principles. Fun, easy listening episode. 

Tonight we use the Israelites renewed devotion to keeping the law (in chapter 10) as a launching pad for discussing the statutes of a life lived according to the law against that of one lived by grace through Christ. 

Continuing with our theme of God never forsaking us, this back half of chapter 9 reminds us that if we choose continually to live without Him in our life, then he is faithful to accommodate our desires and allow the fullness of the sinful life we choose to reign in our lives. However, we know that when we repent and turn to Him, and do our best, leaving room for grace to save us - He will still remain even in our momentary rebellion. 

Chapter 9 ends up being an extension of what we left off with at the end of Chapter 8. That because our Lord is merciful, long-suffering, loving and patient, we are never forsaken in spite of ourselves. Come be uplifted. 

In this chapter Nehemiah takes us through several details in a different point of view of Ezra's reading the law. The greatest thing the Spirit gave us tonight was this - in spite of everything, even before Christ, God never forsook His children. He was always with them.