God Speaks All Things New

Kari Farnell

For this posting, I’d like to focus on a couple Scripture passages that have touched me during the Christmas

and New Year season. 

One particular passage is Luke 1:68-70 and is from The Voice translation. If you recall, Zacharias was the father of

John the Baptist. When he went into the temple to perform his duties, a messenger of God met with him and

told him he would have a son and his name should be John. Because Zacharias doubted the message, he

became mute. It wasn’t until this message had been fulfilled that Zacharias regained his voice. Once Zacharias

declared in writing that his son’s name would be John, which was what the messenger told him to name the

baby, he regained his voice. Once the prophecy or message had been fulfilled, Zacharias began praising God.

Among his praises, he proclaims the meaning for the birth of his son and that of the coming birth of Jesus

. 

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This is what he says in Luke 1, verses 68-70, “May the Lord God of Israel be blessed indeed! For God’s intervention has begun

,and He has moved to rescue us, the people of God.

And the Lord has raised up a powerful sign of liberation for us from among the descendants of God’s servant, King David.

As was prophesied through the mouths of His holy prophets in ancient times”  I love the line “for God’s intervention has begun”.

Zacharias acknowledges that his son John will be used as a messenger for Jesus, who will save the world. The Scriptures from the old

prophets are being fulfilled and Zacharias is making sure everyone knows that Jesus IS the Savior and God’s intervention, necessary for our salvation, is beginning.

Another Scripture passage that touched me is a familiar one but goes nicely with the previous passage. It is from Isaiah 43, “See, I am doing a new thing!”

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This may have been one of the Old Testament prophets that Zacharias was referring to. In this passage, Isaiah tells people not to focus on

the past and old way of doing things. It could be said, not to dwell on the sinful ways.

God is doing a new thing; He is sending His son to earth to lead, guide, and direct us in our

lives and then to die, not just physically, but to die our spiritual death as well.

In so doing, He has paved a way for all of us to spend eternity in Heaven, if we accept what He has done. God created a new thing!

Kari Farnell

The last passage I would like to address is from Revelation. Rev. 21:5 says, “Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”

It ties into this Isaiah passage as well. Not only did God do a new thing by sending His son Jesus to begin the intervention for our souls,

but He will also make all things new again when Jesus returns. At that time, those who have accepted and

acknowledged the intervention done by Jesus, will be in Heaven and God will create a new Heaven and new Earth where

we will live with our new bodies. He will make ALL things new!

God Speaks Through Queen Esther

Were you ever in the wrong place at the wrong time? Or maybe even the right place at the right time?  I have been. Sometimes I wonder what in the world am I doing here, or why am I here? Other times, it is very clear why I am where I am. Confused? I hope not!. The scenario is a little bit like the story of Queen Esther.  

Not the picture you expected to see of Queen Esther? I must digress for just a moment. This IS a picture of Queen Esther, but not the one from the Bible. I cannot talk about the story of Queen Esther without thinking of my grandmother, who is pictured. Her name was Queen Esther; named for an aunt. Much like the Biblical queen, my grandmother was a woman of great hospitality, caring, and godliness. 

Now back to the famous Queen Esther. If you are familiar with the story at all, you know that Queen Esther was Jewish and was unexpectedly chosen to be the new queen for King Ahasuerus, also known as Xerxes. As the story goes on, Haman, side kick to Xerxes, decides to do away with the Jewish nation because he has a bone to pick with Mordecai, Esther's cousin. To make a long story short, because Esther is queen, she is able, with God's help, to prevent the execution of all the Jews and to cause the death of Haman. 

One of the passages in the story of Esther that I enjoy the most is Esther 4:14 (NIV): "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

The last part of this verse was especially helpful to me as I approached my first week at a new school. After being in a Christian school and Christian atmosphere for 20 years, I was feeling intimidated and very out of place. I was unsure how I would cope with the very different tone and spiritual differences then I was used to. As the week went on and I continued to read the story of Esther, that portion of the verse really stuck out to me. "...who knows but that you have come to your...position for such a time as this?" God began to speak to me and placed a little excitement in my being to see what I might be able to do for HIm in my new bearings. Ideas began to race through my head and although they are still racing, I know that God will let me know what my place is in this position. I look forward to seeing how I can best exemplify Esther this year.