These events happened in the days of King Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. At that time Xerxes ruled his empire from his royal throne at the fortress of Susa. In the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. He invited all the military officers of Persia and Media as well as the princes and nobles of the provinces. The celebration lasted 180 days—a tremendous display of the opulent wealth of his empire and the pomp and splendor of his majesty. When it was all over, the king gave a banquet for all the people, from the greatest to the least, who were in the fortress of Susa. It lasted for seven days and was held in the courtyard of the palace garden. The courtyard was beautifully decorated with white cotton curtains and blue hangings, which were fastened with white linen cords and purple ribbons to silver rings embedded in marble pillars. Gold and silver couches stood on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones. Drinks were served in gold goblets of many designs, and there was an abundance of royal wine, reflecting the king’s generosity.
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3 Days
Have you ever felt like God just isn't doing anything at all? All you see is heartache and confusion? We've been there. Inspired by the song “Up To Something” by Red Rocks Worship, join us on a 3-day devotional diving into 3 stories throughout scripture where God was up to something - despite what the situation looked like.
5 Days
If you've ever felt inadequate or pushed into overwhelming circumstances, the Book of Esther is for you. Esther was given one of the world's hardest assignments: to protect God's special people from an evil plan. But it wasn't because she was extra brave or super-extraordinary. Other than her beauty, she was a normal girl. But her life reminds us that every True Girl has a purpose and sometimes, it takes great patience to live it out.
6 Days
In this six-day reading plan by Kelly Minter, you’ll dive into the daring faith modeled by Esther and her cousin Mordecai—a faith rooted in God's goodness, lived out through extraordinary circumstances, and used to change the world. Although our time looks different from Esther’s, our God is just as active and faithful today, and He has called you for such a time as this.
7 Days
If you are a woman in the workplace, you may be wrestling with a number of challenges, from finding your voice as a leader and dealing with workplace discrimination, to managing parenthood and establishing a healthy rhythm of work and rest. What biblical wisdom can women draw from to meet today’s workplace challenges?
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