Day 15- Esther 3:1-15

Day 15 - Esther 3:1-15 Opening Prayer: Father, open my eyes to the enemy’s schemes and enable me to guard against them, trusting You to work everything out for good.  Read: Esther 3:1-15 In your 4R journal: Record: After reading this short story, what verse stood out to you? Respond: Write a short prayer of praise in response to what God has shown you. By far this is the most tense chapter of Esther because there appears to be no way out. It seems Haman will win and the Jews will be annihilated. It’s unclear why King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the Agagite “after these things” but he did something to warrant the King’s favor. Reflection: Have you ever questioned why God allowed someone to have power? […] Read more »

Selah Day Easter Challenge 2023

Easter Selah Day 2023 To access a PDF file of this that you can then print out, click here. The Gospel – The Heart of Christianity Now brothers, I want to clarify for you the gospel I proclaimed to you; you received it and have taken your stand on it. You are also saved by it, if you hold to the message I proclaimed to you—unless you believed for no purpose. For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. —1 Corinthians 15:1-4 HCSB (emphasis mine) “The gospel is, broadly speaking, the whole of Scripture; more narrowly, the […] Read more »

Day 14- Esther 2:11-23

Day 14 - Esther 2:11-23 Opening Prayer: Father, You know my inmost parts. Thank you that I don’t have to hide from You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made! Read: Esther 2:11-23 In your 4R journal: Record: After reading this short story, what verse stood out to you? Respond: Write a short prayer of praise in response to what God has shown you. Mordecai was a concerned dad. In fact, he wore out his sandals pacing in front of the courtyard of the harem! I’m guessing he wasn’t alone. Reflection: Share a time when you’ve been bound up with concern for a loved one. How did God reveal himself Twelve months passed as Mordecai marched and Esther endured a spa-year. Finally, Esther’s time came. […] Read more »

Day 13- Esther 2:1-10

Day 13 - Esther 2:1-10 Opening Prayer: Father, give me the boldness of Vashti and the courage and faith of Esther to obey You without fear, believing that You are my protector and defender. Read: Esther 2:1-10 In your 4R journal: Record: After reading this short story, what verse stood out to you? Respond: Write a short prayer of praise in response to what God has shown you. King Xerxes no longer had a Queen and he wanted one. Thus, the King’s attendants, appealing to his vanity, suggested that all the beautiful, young virgins be gathered into his harem so he could choose a Queen among them. Like a modern-day spy novel, the drama opens with a conflict that instantly leads to a crisis. For […] Read more »

Who Am I?

“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? —Numbers 23:19 NKJV My father told me I was Italian. Growing up in Las Vegas, our family went regularly to the local Italian-American Club and ate Italian food with the other Italian families. My father spoke Italian and competed in bocce ball tournaments. But … although we had olive skin and dark hair, we were not Italian. It was all a lie. Seven years after my dad’s death and days before my wedding, my real ethnicity was exposed. My father’s sister, Aunt Lee, had been estranged from her […] Read more »

Day 12- Esther 1:10-21

Day 12 - Esther 1:10-21 Opening Prayer: Father, infuse me with faith so I can see You working even amid chaos. Give me peace that defies human understanding and help me point others to Jesus because of it. Read: Esther 1:10-21 In your 4R journal: Record: After reading this short story, what verse stood out to you? Respond: Write a short prayer of praise in response to what God has shown you.  If King Xerxes (Ahasuerus) was anything he was audacious. At the end of the banquet, he asked his wife, Queen Vashti, to parade before everyone (officials and townspeople) wearing ONLY her crown. No wonder she refused him! Furious with her rejection, the King inquires of his closest advisors who have also been partying […] Read more »

Day 11- Esther 1:1-9

Day 11 - Esther 1:1-9 Opening Prayer: Father, open my eyes to the divine appointments in my own life. Give me the faith to trust you when I don’t understand and the courage to do what You call me to do because Your ways are so far above my own.  Read: Esther 1:1-9 In your 4R journal: Record: After reading this short story, what verse stood out to you? Respond: Write a short prayer of praise in response to what God has shown you. Here we are in the palatial palace of King Xerxes only a few years into his reign. The story opens at the end of a party lasting one-hundred and eighty-seven days. (The last seven days he opened it up to the […] Read more »

Meet Our Worship Leaders

We are thrilled to introduce you to Benjamin and Chelsea Peck, our worship leaders for the REFUGE Retreat. They are pictured here with their little baby, Gabriella, who just *might* make a short appearance or two at our retreat! Benjamin and Chelsea live on the West Coast, and have experience not only as worship leaders, but as popular folk singers as well. You can take a peek at their website, where they are known as Mr. and Mrs. Something. (When you meet them, ask them the story of how they got their stage names!) We chose them for this event for many reasons: their incredible harmonies, their desire to join in worship with us and not simply perform for us, their simple instrumentation that lends […] Read more »

Day 10- Ruth 4:7-22

Day 10 - Ruth 4:7-22 Opening Prayer: Abba, thank You for being my guardian redeemer and rescuing me from spiritual poverty. Thank you for covering me with Your garment and giving me eternal life! Read: Ruth 4:7-22 In your 4R journal: Record: After reading this short story, what verse stood out to you? Respond: Write a short prayer of praise in response to what God has shown you. In ancient Israel, when property was transferred, a sandal was removed and offered to the purchasing party. In the same way, a Kinsmen Redeemer who refused to fulfil his role would remove his sandal and offer it to the next in line. Like a handshake, this was a promise that the sole of his foot would not […] Read more »