Why are you even here?

Happy New Year Divas!!! Can you believe it is 2020? Not only is it a new year but it is a new decade!!!! Wow. Although everything is “new” we brought 2020 in the same way we have for years with our annual glow party.

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We just danced through our first classes of the new year this week! Class on Wednesday was amazing! There were lots of new faces and tons of sweat.

Our first “Soulful Saturday” class was this morning and we truly got our “praise and tone” on. After class, we were blessed to have Bible study led by one of our very own Divas, Wanda Applewhite. Not only is Wanda a great dancer and friend, she is also an ordained minister! (Isn’t God Good?)

This post is entitled, “Why are you even here?” because it was the title of our Bible Study this morning. When I say God spoke to each woman in attendance, I mean it. We had a smaller group than normal because we had to change our venue at the last minute. Instead of having Bible Study at the Parks and Rec Center, we were able to secure a table at a local coffee shop called Local Roots.

The change in scenery was awesome and the coffee was outstanding. More than any of that, the “word” Wanda delivered was transformative.

Several ladies who could not stay asked for the notes. The message was so life-changing, I decided to post my notes so people who are not even associated with our class can read them.

Here are my notes:

Title: Why are you even here?

Wanda shared a story about working with her trainer who asked her to complete a set of excercises with dumbells that resembled burpees.

Instead of immediately doing what she was asked, Wanda said she told her trainer she would not be able to do what he asked. When he asked her why , she began to tell him all of her excuses (her knee injury, her lack of perfection with the move, embarassment about other people looking at her, etc). She even tried to negotiate with him to do another exercise.

While looking her straight in her eyes and lowering his voice low enough for no one else to hear him, he asked an infamous question:

“Why are you even here?”.

OUCH.

Text: Esther 4:1-17.

Go read it for yourself but to catch you up:

Chapter four began with a Jewish man name Mordecai mourning over a legal decree to kill his people.  He sent word of the King’s plan to his niece (the King’s wife) Queen Esther.  Upon first hearing about the decree, Esther resigned that there was not much she could do. (She had not been summoned to see the King. It was against the law to just “roll up” on the king with requests. Men or women who entered the King’s presence without permission risked being banished from the kingdom or death if he did not accept them by extending the golden scepter.) 

When we pick up the story in Esther 4:13, Esther has given Mordecai her excuses (valid) and he politely reminds her not to forget who she is and where she came from: 

“Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 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?”

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:13-17

Message Points:

• God has not placed you in your current position for your own benefit.
  • We have a level of responsibility .
  • What are you doing in your current position that glorifies God?
  • Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

• What is your response?
  • Esther’s response was “If I perish, I perish”.
  • She trusted God either way (banished from the kingdom, death, or acceptance)
  • When Wanda’s trainer asked her;”Why are we even here?”, she initially responded with excuses but ultimately made a decision to move forward (even though she knew it would be challenging).
  • Wanda completed the exercise, but it wasn’t absent or void of fear or worry.
  • How will you respond when you are asked to do something difficult?

• What is God’s Outcome?
  • God often has a different agenda than ours.
  • The long way isn’t the wrong way because God is more committed to who you are becoming than where you are going.
  • Love the long way because on the long road people don’t just behave differently they become different.
  • Romans 8:28– And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Wanda’s Closing remarks:

“I encourage each of you…It takes alot of courage to keep going and make the hard decisions..but let me speak this into your life…start or finish the book, design the app, take the exam, create the screenplay, open your business, build your brand, call your love one and say Hi!!. etc.. whatever you do,do it with intention AND just comply. ”

-Wanda Applewhite

I told you it was good!

Join us for one of our classes! Click HERE for information.

Blessings,

Katina