The Children's Chapel
	     A Ministry of Lorain County Free-Net Chapel






Donnie was SO afraid. He KNEW what he had to do, but couldn't seem to get the 
COURAGE to do it. Then he remembered his Sunday school teacher's words: "God 
has promised NEVER to leave you alone. He has promised to always stay by your 
side." 

"Maybe what I need to do right now is kneel beside my bed and ask God to help 
me," Donnie thought to himself. When he got up from his knees, Donnie felt SO 
much better. He knew, with God's help, he COULD do it! 

Can you think of a time when you were very AFRAID to do something you knew you 
HAD to do but really didn't WANT to? Did you stop to pray and ask God to help 
you so you could have the courage to do the right thing? 

It's not always EASY to do the right thing, but it's always RIGHT! 


   		   The Girl Who Moved to a Palace - Part 4
			    by Rosemarie Ann Haas


(Continued from Part 3) 

Esther leaned against one of the tall pillars and sighed heavily. This was 
HARDER than she had expected. The three days of fasting and praying were over, 
and she was going to see the King. No one had stopped her - not yet at least. 

She pushed her hair out of her face and took a deep breath. Her servants had 
made Esther look very pretty to see the King, but she was still VERY nervous. 
After all, the King only saw people he INVITED and NEVER allowed anyone to 
come at the spur of the moment, without his telling them to come. The only 
exception would be if the King held out his golden scepter. Then the person's 
life would be spared - but ONLY then. 

Esther walked away from the security of the pillar and stepped into the throne 
room quietly. King Xerxes sat on his throne talking to his advisors softly. 
When he saw Esther approaching, the room became [WHISPERING] VERY quiet - even 
QUIETER than it had been before.

Everyone looked back and forth between the King and the Queen. "Would he 
pardon her?" they wondered. Esther continued to walk closer to his throne. She 
closed her eyes for a moment and breathed in slowly. [PAUSE] 

A broad smile spread across the King's face. Esther felt relieved as he 
majestically held out his golden scepter to her. Esther reached out and 
gracefully touched the top of the golden scepter. 

"What is it that you wish, Queen Esther? Whatever you want, you will get, even 
if it is HALF my kingdom," King Xerxes said with a welcoming smile. 

Esther swallowed and said in a rush, "My lord, if it please the King, would 
you and Haman come to a banquet I have prepared for you both today?" 

King Xerxes smiled even wider. Esther smiled back. "I think it's going to 
work," she thought to herself. 

The King turned to his aides and said, "Tell Haman to hurry and get ready that 
he may do as Esther has said." 

So the King and Haman came to Esther's banquet. King Xerxes knew Esther wanted 
to ask some sort of favor of him, so he asked her again what it was. "My 
Queen, what is it that you wish for? I will give it to you, even if it means 
HALF my kingdom." 

Esther answered, "Please come with Haman to another banquet that I shall 
prepare for you tomorrow. Then I will tell you what it is that I want." 

Haman was proud that he had been invited to both banquets - he and no one but 
the King - but, as he was leaving the palace, he passed Mordecai outside the 
gates, who STILL refused to bow. He was VERY angry, but did not say anything. 

When he got home, Haman called for his friends and family, and bragged to them 
about how wealthy he was. "The King has promoted me above all the princes and 
servants," he boasted. "Queen Esther let only ME and the King into a banquet 
with her tonight and I am invited again TOMORROW night to be with the Queen 
and the King." 

But there was MORE than bragging. Haman came home VERY upset about Mordecai 
the Jew, who kept getting under his skin. He went on and on about how Mordecai 
NEVER bowed to him and REFUSED to stand and give him the respect he thought he 
deserved. 

Then his wife made a suggestion. "Make a gallows seventy-five feet high and 
tomorrow ask the King for permission to hang the man! Then you can be happy at 
the Queen's banquet." 

Haman was SO pleased with this suggestion, he had the gallows made the VERY 
next day. 

That night, the King could not sleep. He called to his servants to bring him 
the history book telling of the most important events of his reign. As the 
servants read to the King, he noticed the item about how Mordecai had saved 
his life, for he had been the one to tell him about the plot through Esther. 

"Stop! Wait a minute!" King Xerxes commanded. "How has Mordecai been rewarded 
for this?" 

"My lord, nothing has been done for him," they replied to the King. 


THINK! 
What do you think King Xerxes will do to reward Mordecai? What would have 
happened if the King had not held out his golden scepter to Esther? Have you 
ever been jealous over someone else? Did your jealousy hurt YOU or THEM? 
Tell about a time you've been afraid. How did God help you? 


REMEMBER 
Whenever you are afraid, you can cry out to God and He will help you. 


A VERSE TO LEARN 
"I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears" 
(Psalm 34:4). 


LET'S PRAY
		 ****************************************************
			  Dear God, help me to remember that
			  you will never leave me alone. Help
			   me to love everyone just like You
			    love me. In Jesus' name. Amen.
		 ****************************************************


CAN YOU FIND THIS STORY IN THE BIBLE?
Esther 5; 6:1-3 


---------------
Used by permission. Copyright © 2006 by Rosemarie Ann Haas. You may NOT 
re-post this story without permission from the author.



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