I was thinking this week about preparation in all that we do we must prepare ourselves if we truly wish to accomplish things of God which brings me to the book of ......... ESTHER. As you can tell I love the book of Esther. I love the book of Esther because it tells the story of a woman who prepared as all women had too in those days. Esther 2:12 "Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, ( for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;). Esther prepared for one year before she was to see the king no doubt there had to be other woman preparing because she was not the only maiden in the land. I could only imagine the drama that went on when all of these women got together hundreds of maidens for this one king. Weave flinging, (just kidding) attitudes ( maybe) desire to be chosen (definitely). I was watching memoirs of a geisha the other day and these young women went trough so much pain to prepare. I remember someone saying beauty is pain. The things some women go through just to look a certain way. It still holds true even today. Just look at the magazines they know that they are hungry just looking at some of those women makes me hungry.( sorry I have to be me. I know that was not nice, God is not done with me yet!). The time these women took to prepare is honorable. We as God's people need to prepare for when the spirit of the lord comes. We need to be like the five virgins that were wise. They took extra oil with them they did not know the day nor hour when their bridegroom would come. We need to prepare and be wise. In the days of Esther it took women awhile to prepare these women were skilled they mastered in preparation for the gift they desired. Esther did not just prepare her outside she prepared her inside as well. The lord will come like a thief in the night and I suggest you be ready, prepare and know your Bride groom. Meditate on his word and most importantly live God's word this is what will bring souls to Christ the Christ that lives inside of you. Love each other a s you want those to love you. That's does not mean it will be easy but who said the road would be easy? It pleases God to have a people who are stead fast in his word. Glory and honor to the most high God . Amen!