DO NOT FLATTER YOURSELF
As the Jewish community celebrates Purim this 15th of March, Christians too should celebrate this day, not so much in the same way as Jews do but by reflecting on what really happened this day.
Purim comes from the word Pur which means ‘lot’ and refers to the evil doings of Haman who cast lots to determine the day he would kill the Jews of Persia. We can find this story in the Book of Esther which took place during the period of the Babylonian exile.
The story begins when the King of Persia, King Ahasuerus, decided to divorce Queen Vashti because of her refusal to come to the king when she was called. When the wrath of King Ahasuerus was pacified, his servants who ministered to him advised him to let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king, and whoever pleases him will be queen to replace Vashti. And so it happened and the search began.
There was a certain Jew in the capital in Shushan whose name was Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives taken away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried into exile. He had brought up Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden was beautiful and lovely, and when her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter. So when the king’s command and his decree were proclaimed and when many maidens were gathered in Shushan the capital under the custody of Hegai, Esther also was taken to the king’s house into the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. And the maiden pleased [Hegai] and obtained his favor. And he speedily gave her the things for her purification and her portion of food and the seven chosen maids to be given her from the king’s palace; and he removed her and her maids to the best [apartment] in the harem. Esther had not made known her nationality or her kindred, for Mordecai had charged her not to do so (Esther 1:5-10).
There was a certain Jew in the capital in Shushan whose name was Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives taken away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried into exile. He had brought up Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden was beautiful and lovely, and when her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter. So when the king’s command and his decree were proclaimed and when many maidens were gathered in Shushan the capital under the custody of Hegai, Esther also was taken to the king’s house into the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. And the maiden pleased [Hegai] and obtained his favor. And he speedily gave her the things for her purification and her portion of food and the seven chosen maids to be given her from the king’s palace; and he removed her and her maids to the best [apartment] in the harem. Esther had not made known her nationality or her kindred, for Mordecai had charged her not to do so (Esther 1:5-10).
Each maiden went through a 12 month period of beautification, after which each one was presented to the king. When Esther’s turn came, she won the favor of all those who saw her. She was then chosen as the new queen and was taken into the royal palace.
And the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the maidens, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti (Esther 1:17).
And the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the maidens, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti (Esther 1:17).
There was a certain man by the name of Haman who was promoted by King
Ahasuerus and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with
him. The king commanded all his servants
to bow down before Haman, and they did, except for Mordecai. This made Haman very angry. However instead of simply punishing Mordecai,
he sought to destroy all the Jews throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.
In the first month, the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, Haman caused Pur, that is, lots, to be cast before him day after day [to find a lucky day for his venture], month after month, until the twelfth, the month of Adar.
Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from every other people, neither do they keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not for the king’s profit to tolerate them.
If it pleases the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king’s business, that it may be brought into the king’s treasuries.
And the king took his signet ring from his hand [with which to seal his letters by the king’s authority] and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy.
And the king said to Haman, The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you.
Then the king’s secretaries were called in on the thirteenth day of the first month, and all that Haman had commanded was written to the king’s chief rulers and to the governors who were over all the provinces and to the princes of each people, to every province in its own script and to each people in their own language; it was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and it was sealed with the king’s [signet] ring.
And letters were sent by special messengers to all the king’s provinces—to destroy, to slay, and to do away with all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to seize their belongings as spoil.
A copy of the writing was to be published and given out as a decree in every province to all the peoples to be ready for that day.
The special messengers went out in haste by order of the king, and the decree was given out in Shushan, the capital. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was perplexed [at the strange and alarming decree] (Esther 3:7-15).
Esther eventually found out about this incident. Her servant who spoke with Mordecai gave her a copy of the decree to destroy the Jews. Mordecai also asked the servant to charge Esther to go to the king, make supplication to him, and plead with him for the lives of her people. Esther gave a response to Mordecai through her servant that said:
All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that any person, be it man or woman, who shall go into the inner court to the king without being called shall be put to death; there is but one law for him, except [him] to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter, that he may live. But I have not been called to come to the king for these thirty days (Esther 4:11).
Mordecai’s response to this was pretty powerful. It said:
Do not flatter yourself that you shall escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion (Esther 4:13-14).
In the first month, the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, Haman caused Pur, that is, lots, to be cast before him day after day [to find a lucky day for his venture], month after month, until the twelfth, the month of Adar.
Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from every other people, neither do they keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not for the king’s profit to tolerate them.
If it pleases the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king’s business, that it may be brought into the king’s treasuries.
And the king took his signet ring from his hand [with which to seal his letters by the king’s authority] and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy.
And the king said to Haman, The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you.
Then the king’s secretaries were called in on the thirteenth day of the first month, and all that Haman had commanded was written to the king’s chief rulers and to the governors who were over all the provinces and to the princes of each people, to every province in its own script and to each people in their own language; it was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and it was sealed with the king’s [signet] ring.
And letters were sent by special messengers to all the king’s provinces—to destroy, to slay, and to do away with all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to seize their belongings as spoil.
A copy of the writing was to be published and given out as a decree in every province to all the peoples to be ready for that day.
The special messengers went out in haste by order of the king, and the decree was given out in Shushan, the capital. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was perplexed [at the strange and alarming decree] (Esther 3:7-15).
Esther eventually found out about this incident. Her servant who spoke with Mordecai gave her a copy of the decree to destroy the Jews. Mordecai also asked the servant to charge Esther to go to the king, make supplication to him, and plead with him for the lives of her people. Esther gave a response to Mordecai through her servant that said:
All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that any person, be it man or woman, who shall go into the inner court to the king without being called shall be put to death; there is but one law for him, except [him] to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter, that he may live. But I have not been called to come to the king for these thirty days (Esther 4:11).
Mordecai’s response to this was pretty powerful. It said:
Do not flatter yourself that you shall escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion (Esther 4:13-14).
These words were enough for Esther to risk her life for the sake of her people. She instructed Mordecai to gather all the Jews that are present in Shushan and fast for her and with her – no food or water for three days, night or day. Then she will go to the king, though it is against the law.
And if I perish, I perish (verse 16).
This particular Scripture (Esther 4:13-14) should remind us that God puts us in certain places of prominence not so much for ourselves but for Him – for a greater purpose. Most often than not, we get carried away by our positions of prestige and power, forgetting that it is God who even allowed us to be in that position. Just like Esther, we get comfortable with our good and peaceful lives and positions of power, blinding us from seeing the bigger picture. We think it is about us when it is about God.
We get married, have children, buy houses, acquire investments, get promoted in our jobs, and start businesses or ministries. Our focus turns from God to our accomplishments. Then when critical issues are presented before us – threatening issues to our belief as Christians such as homosexuality, abortion, pornography, and the like – we act like there is nothing we can do about it.
This was exactly the case with Esther until Mordecai rebuked her with these words:
Do not flatter yourself that you shall escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews.
How I love those first four words: DO NOT FLATTER YOURSELF. We forget that it is not us but God who even gave us what we have.
And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion.
Esther was reminded, and so should we, that her position was given to her for such a time as that.
This was exactly the case with Esther until Mordecai rebuked her with these words:
Do not flatter yourself that you shall escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews.
How I love those first four words: DO NOT FLATTER YOURSELF. We forget that it is not us but God who even gave us what we have.
And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion.
Esther was reminded, and so should we, that her position was given to her for such a time as that.
So Esther, her maids, and all the Jews present in Shushan went on a three day fast.
On the third day [of the fast] Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the royal or inner court of the king’s palace opposite his [throne room]. The king was sitting on his throne, facing the main entrance of the palace.
And when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight, and he held out to [her] the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near and touched the tip of the scepter.
Then the king said to her, What will you have, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of the kingdom.
And Esther said, If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come this day to the dinner that I have prepared for the king (Esther 5:1-4).
On the third day [of the fast] Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the royal or inner court of the king’s palace opposite his [throne room]. The king was sitting on his throne, facing the main entrance of the palace.
And when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight, and he held out to [her] the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near and touched the tip of the scepter.
Then the king said to her, What will you have, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of the kingdom.
And Esther said, If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come this day to the dinner that I have prepared for the king (Esther 5:1-4).
Esther did not only take the challenge that Mordecai gave her but she prepared for it. This is another concept that all of us should keep in mind – that we can’t fight a battle without preparation. The corporate prayer and fasting catapulted Esther to a level of courage and confidence that she would not have had if she just approached the king without the strong anointing of God upon her.
I can just imagine how radiant she must have looked that when the king saw her unexpectedly, he was baffled. I can imagine his jaws dropping as Esther walked in. She was glowing with the anointing of God.
I can just imagine how radiant she must have looked that when the king saw her unexpectedly, he was baffled. I can imagine his jaws dropping as Esther walked in. She was glowing with the anointing of God.
So the king and Haman went to the dinner that Esther prepared. And the king asked Esther, What is your petition? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom, it shall be performed. (Esther 5:7)? Esther replied: If I have found favor in the sight of the king and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the dinner that I shall prepare for them; and I will do tomorrow as the king has said (verse 8).
While God was working on Esther’s side, He was also working on Mordecai’s turf. At the time of Esther’s coronation as queen, Mordecai exposed to the king the plot of two of his eunuchs to kill him.
When it was investigated and found to be true, both men were hanged on the gallows. And it was recorded in the Book of the Chronicles in the king’s presence (Esther 1:23).
The night before the 2nd dinner that Esther prepared, the king could not sleep. He ordered that the Book of the Chronicles be brought and read to him. It was found written there what Mordecai did – how he told of the two eunuchs who plotted to kill the king. The king asked what honor or distinction has been given Mordecai for what he has done and the servants told him that nothing has been done for him.
The events that happened next were very exciting.
The king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman had just come into the outer court of the king’s palace to ask the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows he had prepared for him.
And the king’s servants said to him, Behold, Haman is standing in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.
So Haman came in. And the king said to him, What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor? Now Haman said to himself, To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to me?
And Haman said to the king, For the man whom the king delights to honor,
Let royal apparel be brought which the king has worn and the horse which the king has ridden, and a royal crown be set on his head.
And let the apparel and the horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes. Let him array the man whom the king delights to honor, and conduct him on horseback through the open square of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.
Then the king said to Haman, Make haste and take the apparel and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Leave out nothing that you have spoken.
Then Haman took the apparel and the horse and conducted Mordecai on horseback through the open square of the city, proclaiming before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor (Esther 6:4-11).
While God was working on Esther’s side, He was also working on Mordecai’s turf. At the time of Esther’s coronation as queen, Mordecai exposed to the king the plot of two of his eunuchs to kill him.
When it was investigated and found to be true, both men were hanged on the gallows. And it was recorded in the Book of the Chronicles in the king’s presence (Esther 1:23).
The night before the 2nd dinner that Esther prepared, the king could not sleep. He ordered that the Book of the Chronicles be brought and read to him. It was found written there what Mordecai did – how he told of the two eunuchs who plotted to kill the king. The king asked what honor or distinction has been given Mordecai for what he has done and the servants told him that nothing has been done for him.
The events that happened next were very exciting.
The king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman had just come into the outer court of the king’s palace to ask the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows he had prepared for him.
And the king’s servants said to him, Behold, Haman is standing in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.
So Haman came in. And the king said to him, What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor? Now Haman said to himself, To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to me?
And Haman said to the king, For the man whom the king delights to honor,
Let royal apparel be brought which the king has worn and the horse which the king has ridden, and a royal crown be set on his head.
And let the apparel and the horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes. Let him array the man whom the king delights to honor, and conduct him on horseback through the open square of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.
Then the king said to Haman, Make haste and take the apparel and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Leave out nothing that you have spoken.
Then Haman took the apparel and the horse and conducted Mordecai on horseback through the open square of the city, proclaiming before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor (Esther 6:4-11).
Hallelujah!!! I love how God reversed everything. But this was only the beginning.
The next night, the king and Haman went to Esther’s dinner.
And the king said again to Esther on the second day when wine was being served, What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted. And what is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom, it shall be performed.
Then Queen Esther said, If I have found favor in your sight, O king and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition and my people at my request.
For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, slain, and wiped out of existence! But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I would have held my tongue, for our affliction is not to be compared with the damage this will do to the king.
Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, Who is he, and where is he who dares presume in his heart to do that?
And Esther said, An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and queen.
And the king arose from the feast in his wrath and went into the palace garden; and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Queen Esther, for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.
When the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the drinking of wine, Haman was falling upon the couch where Esther was. Then said the king, Will he even forcibly assault the queen in my presence, in my own palace? As the king spoke the words, [the servants] covered Haman’s face.
Then said Harbonah, one of the attendants serving the king, Behold, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman has made for Mordecai, whose warning saved the king, stands at the house of Haman. And the king said, Hang him on it!
So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath was pacified (Esther 7:2-10).
And the king said again to Esther on the second day when wine was being served, What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted. And what is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom, it shall be performed.
Then Queen Esther said, If I have found favor in your sight, O king and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition and my people at my request.
For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, slain, and wiped out of existence! But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I would have held my tongue, for our affliction is not to be compared with the damage this will do to the king.
Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, Who is he, and where is he who dares presume in his heart to do that?
And Esther said, An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and queen.
And the king arose from the feast in his wrath and went into the palace garden; and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Queen Esther, for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.
When the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the drinking of wine, Haman was falling upon the couch where Esther was. Then said the king, Will he even forcibly assault the queen in my presence, in my own palace? As the king spoke the words, [the servants] covered Haman’s face.
Then said Harbonah, one of the attendants serving the king, Behold, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman has made for Mordecai, whose warning saved the king, stands at the house of Haman. And the king said, Hang him on it!
So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath was pacified (Esther 7:2-10).
What a faithful God we have. This reminds me of another Scripture that says:
“They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves.” (Psalm 57:6)
The events that followed sealed the deal of God’s faithfulness to His people, more so for their obedience.
Haman’s house was given to Queen Esther and the king’s signet ring that was taken from Haman was given to Mordecai.
And Esther spoke yet again to the king and fell down at his feet and besought him with tears to avert the evil plot of Haman the Agagite and his scheme that he had devised against the Jews.
Then the king held out to Esther the golden scepter. So Esther arose and stood before the king.
And she said, If it pleases the king and if I have found favor in his sight and the thing seems right before the king and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces.
For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come upon my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?
Then the King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows because he laid his hand upon the Jews.
Write also concerning the Jews as it pleases you in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s [signet] ring—for writing which is in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s ring no man can reverse.
Then the king’s scribes were called, in the third month, the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day, and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, to the chief rulers, and the governors and princes of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in their own language and to the Jews according to their writing and according to their language.
He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king’s ring and sent letters by messengers on horseback, riding on swift steeds, mules, and young dromedaries used in the king’s service, bred from the [royal] stud.
In it the king granted the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives; to destroy, to slay, and to wipe out any armed force that might attack them, their little ones, and women; and to take the enemies’ goods for spoil.
On one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar,
A copy of the writing was to be issued as a decree in every province and as a proclamation to all peoples, and the Jews should be ready on that day to avenge themselves upon their enemies.
So the couriers, who were mounted on swift beasts that were used in the king’s service, went out, being hurried and urged on by the king’s command; and the decree was released in Shushan, the capital.
And Mordecai went forth from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, with a great crown of gold and with a robe of fine linen and purple; and the city of Shushan shouted and rejoiced.
The Jews had light [a dawn of new hope] and gladness and joy and honor.
And in every province and in every city, wherever the king’s command and his decree came, the Jews had gladness and joy, a feast and a holiday. And many from among the peoples of the land [submitted themselves to Jewish rite and] became Jews, for the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them (Esther 8:3-17).
Haman’s house was given to Queen Esther and the king’s signet ring that was taken from Haman was given to Mordecai.
And Esther spoke yet again to the king and fell down at his feet and besought him with tears to avert the evil plot of Haman the Agagite and his scheme that he had devised against the Jews.
Then the king held out to Esther the golden scepter. So Esther arose and stood before the king.
And she said, If it pleases the king and if I have found favor in his sight and the thing seems right before the king and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces.
For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come upon my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?
Then the King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows because he laid his hand upon the Jews.
Write also concerning the Jews as it pleases you in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s [signet] ring—for writing which is in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s ring no man can reverse.
Then the king’s scribes were called, in the third month, the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day, and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, to the chief rulers, and the governors and princes of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in their own language and to the Jews according to their writing and according to their language.
He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king’s ring and sent letters by messengers on horseback, riding on swift steeds, mules, and young dromedaries used in the king’s service, bred from the [royal] stud.
In it the king granted the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives; to destroy, to slay, and to wipe out any armed force that might attack them, their little ones, and women; and to take the enemies’ goods for spoil.
On one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar,
A copy of the writing was to be issued as a decree in every province and as a proclamation to all peoples, and the Jews should be ready on that day to avenge themselves upon their enemies.
So the couriers, who were mounted on swift beasts that were used in the king’s service, went out, being hurried and urged on by the king’s command; and the decree was released in Shushan, the capital.
And Mordecai went forth from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, with a great crown of gold and with a robe of fine linen and purple; and the city of Shushan shouted and rejoiced.
The Jews had light [a dawn of new hope] and gladness and joy and honor.
And in every province and in every city, wherever the king’s command and his decree came, the Jews had gladness and joy, a feast and a holiday. And many from among the peoples of the land [submitted themselves to Jewish rite and] became Jews, for the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them (Esther 8:3-17).
So my dear brothers and sisters in Jesus/Yeshua/Yehoshua, let us celebrate the day of Purim with praise and thanksgiving to our faithful God. Let us also bear in mind that whatever position we have, whether in the secular or in church/ministry, is from God and for His purpose. If we don’t do our part in this calling, He will not only hold us accountable for what may happen as a result of our disobedience, but even lose the position that He has entrusted to us. Though God will always be faithful even if we are not, as His partners in this walk we are expected to do our part, so He can fulfill His part. When we decide to take that step of obedience, we will also receive the grace and strength to fulfill what we were called to do.
Lisa Maki is the founder/editor of God'z Gurlz, a Bible-based online magazine for women. She and her husband Jason are part of the growing movement of Christians who are discovering their Hebrew roots, and who are studying the Torah and its parallelisms to the New Testament. Lisa is likewise a Professional Writer with over 15 years of experience in the field. Jason and Lisa are part of El Shaddai Ministries, a First Century Believers Church headed by Pastor Mark Biltz.