“Can we, too, be as beautiful and celebrated as Queen Esther has been and still is? Absolutely yes — and it begins with a mindset rooted in God.”

As we celebrate Thanksgiving this year, I want to encourage our amazing CHARLÍS Community to pause, look around with your heart, and focus on the things that elevate your life and honor God the most.

Life can be a real struggle. But God, in His kindness, has given us a pathway through it all — a way to move through and rise above the noise, the chaos, and the negativity. He calls us upward toward Himself, where true beauty and joy last forever and where His grace and love have no limits.

We know you’ve faced trials. We all have. But there is purpose in the pressures. There is refinement in the fire. And no story reminds us of this more vividly than the story of Queen Esther — the beautiful orphan girl chosen to be Queen in place of the grumbling and unhappy Queen Vashti.

Vashti’s rebellion led her to be banished, and Esther — humble, pure, teachable, and favored — rose in her place. All the trials of Esther’s life ultimately positioned her for an elevated calling: to become Queen of the greatest empire of her day, the Persian Empire.

But Esther wasn’t just chosen for royalty. She was prepared for her mission — a mission to save her people from complete annihilation.

A wicked plot was brewing. Haman, who lusted for power, hated Esther’s uncle Mordecai because he refused to bow to him. Wounded in pride, Haman deceived King Xerxes into signing an irrevocable edict allowing the slaughter of every Hebrew in the kingdom. Haman painted them as the king’s enemies — when he himself was the true threat.

When Esther learned of the plot, she knew only God could intervene. She also knew she had a role to play. Mordecai’s famous words still echo across time:

“Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13–14)

With trembling courage, Queen Esther replied:

“Go, gather together all the Jews… and fast ye for me… I and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king… and if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:16)

Approaching the king uninvited meant death. Haman had poisoned Xerxes’ heart so thoroughly that the king had not even called for Esther in over a month. But Esther walked in prayed up, dressed up, prepared, and willing to die if necessary — trusting God to work His will through her obedience.

And the moment she stepped into the king’s presence, her God-given beauty melted his heart. He turned to her like butter in the sun and offered her up to half the kingdom. Esther asked only for him — and Haman — to attend a banquet she had prepared.

Haman, swollen with pride, assumed he was being honored.

But at the second banquet, when the king asked Esther what she truly desired, she asked only for her life and the lives of her people, exposing Haman’s wicked plot. In righteous fury, the king ordered Haman to be hanged on the very gallows he had built for Mordecai.

(Esther 7 is a breathtaking chapter.)

God always blesses obedience.
And Esther’s obedience, humility, and beauty — inside and out — won the favor of everyone around her, from Mordecai to the keeper of the women, to Hegai the chamberlain, to the king himself. Scripture tells us repeatedly that Esther “found favor” with all who saw her.

Her story ends gloriously. Haman — the enemy — is defeated. Mordecai is promoted and given rule over Haman’s estate. The people of God are saved.

What the enemy meant for evil, God meant for good.
And Esther lived happily ever after.

And you can, too.

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The point of this story is to encourage you — right where you are, with everything you have walked through — to keep your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of your faith. The One who created heaven and earth. The One who placed you here with purpose and intention.

What is your purpose? My roles are clear: wife, mother, business owner, servant of Christ. Each one is defined by the Word of God.

If we look to the world’s standards and culture for guidance on what it means to be a woman, or how we should live, we would be misled, misguided, and disappointed. Culture cannot define us. Only our Creator knows what we need and how He designed us to live “happily ever after.” and He has revealed it all.

We must rise above the noise of culture and media and look to the Living Word for answers to everything.

As we serve others before ourselves, we mirror Christ — who came not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many. This is Philippians 2 in action. This is the calling of Queen Esther and of every hero of the faith.

And the same God who called and used Esther is calling you now.

Can you hear Him?

If not, Jesus told us exactly what to do:

“Ask… seek… knock…” (Matthew 7:7–8)

In this life, the real warfare is in the mind. What we think about, we become. That’s why God gives us a list to guard our thoughts:

“Whatsoever things are true… honest… just… pure… lovely… of good report… if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

If Esther had chosen a spirit of grumbling like Vashti, she would have forfeited her calling — and history may never have remembered her. Instead, Esther focused on what was true, lovely, noble, and praiseworthy.

And that is the recipe for gratitude, contentment, and joy.

Women, we set the tone in our homes.What we dwell on is what we carry into our families and our daily interactions.

Esther focused on service and on beauty — prayerful beauty, prepared beauty, God-centered beauty.

When we walk into a room, we bring a presence with us. Let it be the presence of Christ. Let it be a gentle spirit of thanksgiving that brings joy to others.

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My Top 10 Things I’m Thankful For This Year

1. Jesus Christ
2. The Word of God — the Bible
3. My Braveheart, Ty
4. My children: Brianna, Bryce, Tabitha, Charity
5. Our extended family and friends
6. Our happy home, pets, healthy food, and all the provisions the Lord has given
7. Knowledge of truth about God, the world, health, history, geography, and Creation
8. The Truth About Cancer & The Truth About Vaccines — our mission
9. CHARLÍS Beauty — our Beauty for Ashes ministry
10. You!

We’d love to hear your Top 10. Tell us what you’re thankful for and how God is moving in your life — your stories truly bless us.

And as a thank-you for being part of our community, we are overjoyed to offer you 50% OFF the CHARLÍS Body Collection during “Gracefully Grateful — The CHARLÍS Black Friday Event” from Friday through Monday.

Keep rising above the noise and distractions that steal joy. Fix your heart on things above, where Christ is seated in the heavenlies.

With love, humility, and gratitude,
Charlene