NIV MATT. 23:11 The person who is greatest among you must be your servant.

Nothing is to strongman you are not alone

Women of the bible (shortened vers.)

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Esther

Her name means: "Ishtar," the Babylonian Goddess of Love, or from the Persian Word for "Star." Her Hebrew Name, "Hadassah," Means "Myrtle"

Her character: An orphan in a foreign land, she was willing to conceal her Jewish identity in a bid for a pagan king's affection. Esther seemed willing to made moral compromises by sleeping with the king and then taking part in a wedding that would necessarily have required her to pay homage to foreign gods. Even so, she displayed great courage in the midst of a crisis. Prior to risking her life for her people, she humbled herself by fasting and then put her considerable beauty, social grace, and wisdom in the service of God's plan.
Her sorrow: To learn that her husband, the king, had unwittingly placed her life and the life of her people in jeopardy.
Her joy: To watch mourning turn to celebration once the Jews enjoyed relief from their enemies.
Key Scriptures: Esther 1-10

Her Promise

God often uses the most unlikely characters to fulfill his purposes. He elevates a Jewish orphan to become queen of a great empire. Esther begins as a nobody and becomes a somebody, a woman who somewhat reluctantly risks her life to make a stand.

Again, God reveals his penchant for using the most unlikely, ordinary people to accomplish his divine purposes. But, you may wonder, could God ever use you to accomplish his purposes, with all your foibles and imperfections, your lack of talent or influence? Yes, he can! He isn't looking for people who are perfect or talented or influential. He is only looking for people who are willing.

Weekly wisdom

Don't run from your trials.
Everyone faces many trials; however, these trials are not in vain. God uses them to do a work in us, developing us into mature Christians.

In James 1:2-4, we are told, Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. In other words, God uses the tough times in life to sharpen us, making us mature and complete Christians.

Furthermore, God will not permit you to remain in the same trials all of your life; in His proper timing He will deliver you. Psalm 34:17 says, The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.

So don't run from your trials, because the testing of your faith develops you into a mature and complete Christian.

Daily devotions.net

And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world.
(1 John 4:14 NRSV Bible)
I remember a story of a lady who went to a local pet shop. She browsed around for a while and saw a beautiful parrot. She told the owner of the store that she just had to have the parrot. The owner said, "Oh, I can't let you have that parrot." The lady insisted. The owner said, "I'm sorry I can't let you have that parrot. It lets out the worst profanity you could ever image." The lady said, "That's OK. I will train it." The owner finally gave in and sold the parrot.
The lady, with great excitement, takes her new parrot home. She gets the parrot's cage all set up and puts the parrot in the cage. After the parrot checks out its new home, it lets out the worst profanity that you could ever imagine. The lady says, "I'm going to teach you an important lesson." She then takes the parrot out of the cage and puts it into the freezer for a few minutes.

After she takes the parrot out of the freezer, the parrot rubbing its wings says, "I have just one question for you. What did the turkey in there say?"

The turkey in the freezer was no doubt frozen, but we don't have to be frozen in the past. It does not matter what we have done in the past or what mistakes we have made. With Jesus Christ as the king of our lives, we are forgiven and brought into the loving presence of God. That is the best image we can have of Jesus Christ. Now, let's share that image of Christ with others, like others have done for us.

Dear God, thaw out my hard heart that I may truly live with Jesus as my king. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Ron Newhouse

Words of reflection

"When we look at what we want and then compare it with what we have, we will be unhappy. When we think of what we deserve rather than of what we have, we will thank God." A. Tremblay