Lifting You Up

Snow and Fire

2012-02-10T05:30:00.000-08:00

Daniel 7:9-10

⁹ “As I looked,

   “thrones were set in place,
   and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was as white as snow;
   the hair of his head was white like wool.
His throne was flaming with fire,
   and its wheels were all ablaze.
¹⁰ A river of fire was flowing,
   coming out from before him.
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
   ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
   and the books were opened.

What a marvelous description of God. First, Daniel calls him Ancient of Days. What a title of years. Most of us do not want our kids to call us ancient, yet for God, because he has been forever, it fits.

Next, He always is associated with snow and the color white. I think white is purity and yet, it seems to have a softness about it. God is also described with fire many times. Snow and fire? I think this makes his presence fierce. His throne was blazing, as was his wheels...wait, what wheels? Maybe his throne was more like a chariot. Also the river that he has coming out before him is on fire. Strange description. But, as always, it is fitting for him.

Daniel has not scared us with this description, he has given us a clear glimpse of what may be expected when we do get our turn to see God. I can not wait for that!

Foggy Vision

2012-02-09T05:01:00.000-08:00

Daniel 7:4-8

⁴ “The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a human being, and the mind of a human was given to it. ⁵ “And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’

⁶ “After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.

⁷ “After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.

⁸ “While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a human being and a mouth that spoke boastfully.

What a terrifying vision. Four beasts all powerful and smart. A lion with eagle wings, a bear that needed to eat, a leopard with wings and four heads. Then the vision turned dark and a scary monster with iron teeth and horns and one of the horns had eyes of a human and a mouth. That would be enough to scare me. These qualities make for uneasiness in the pit of one's stomach. I' sure Daniel was not sure what to make of it at first. But as always, God had a purpose in this vision. Sometimes we just have to go along until it's revealed, no matter how scary. I think it's like being in fog. Sometimes your visibility is through the distance. Sometimes it's clouded and you can only see what's right in front of you. I love fog, especially in San Francisco. It is always dense, cool, yet pretty and gives a sense of uncertainty. When the fog comes in thin and high, the sun burns it off quickly. When the fog comes in thick and dense, it may take all day to clear. Either way, you have to wait for it to lift before you can see clearly. Daniel gives that uncertainty words, as he speaks of this vision. But he trusts God and so should we. He will lift the fog from our eyes when he feels the time is right.

Dreams Scare Me

2012-02-08T05:18:00.000-08:00

Daniel 7:1-3
¹ In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying in bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream.

² Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. ³ Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

I think dreams that I have in my sleep are the worst. I think it is because I don't understand why I have them most of them time. Am I worried about something? Did I eat something I should not have? Did God want to show me something? I can't answer any of these, and I think that unknown is what drives me crazy. Also, do all dreams mean something? Boy, I hope not. I have heard of some weird stuff. If they mean anything, I don't want to know. I think in these cases ignorance is really bliss.

In the Bible, when someone had a dream, there was usually someone around that was an known interpreter. Nowadays, I am not sure I'd trust anyone to tell me what a dream means. It is creepy that someone else would know what I am dreaming. It doesn't seem normal.

But Daniel interpreted dreams for many people. It was a gift that was given to him by God. He even interpreted his own dream. As we will see, Daniel's dream was strange, but as usual, God was trying to send a message. I'm glad my messages usually come from the Bible or people around me.

Let God Take Over

2012-02-07T08:54:00.000-08:00

Daniel 6:25 - 28

²⁵ Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:

“May you prosper greatly!

²⁶ “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.

   “For he is the living God
   and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
   his dominion will never end.
²⁷ He rescues and he saves;
   he performs signs and wonders
   in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
   from the power of the lions.”

²⁸ So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus^[b] the Persian.

This decree bothers me. King Darius seems to be sincere, wanting everyone to pay homage to God, but Darius still referred to God as ..."the God of Daniel". With everything that has happened, why doesn't he realized and accept that God can be his God too? It baffles me that we can be so hard-headed at times about things like this. Things like, admitting we need each other. Admitting that we need help. Admitting that God is awesome and in control, whether you like it or not. We harden our hearts and minds toward him, toward everyone. We don't like to be told what to do or how to do it, so we turn away. Each of need to wake up and figure out what God wants from us, not what we want from God. Let go and let God do his thing for your life.

The Kevin Bacon Game

2012-02-03T05:14:00.000-08:00

Daniel 6:24
²⁴ At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

Harsh! What you do, no matter what, affects others. It doesn't matter if it is good or bad. The trickle-down affect may be in place, or the "Kevin Bacon degrees game". It all started with the actor Kevin Bacon. He has worked with so many others that they were measuring how close people are to him. You know, how many people are between you and someone else? Like, I sing in choir with one person, they were in a trio with another, who is married to so-and-so. That is three degrees between me and so-and-so. Same with your actions. What you do today can cause riffs for quite a long time.

The men who tried to accuse Daniel ended up in that lions' den, as well as their wives and children. Was it really that important? I guess to them it was, but to make their families suffer this terrible death too? So be careful. Think hard about your actions. Be coming a Christian was a positive affect on your family. But do you really act like one around them? Do you keep your language clean? Do you talk about others negatively, do you blow up at everything? Look at your life and see what changes you can make that can affect your family in a positive way. Then for this weekend, act on it. Pray and talk to someone outside your family to keep you accountable. I will do the same and if you see some changes, let me know.

Have a great weekend!

Miracles Do Happen

2012-02-02T04:42:00.000-08:00

Daniel 6:19-23

¹⁹ At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. ²⁰ When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

²¹ Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! ²² My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

²³ The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

How nervous King Darius was as he ran out to the lions den. He was hoping for the best, fearing the worst, and his stomach was in his mouth. As he called out Daniel's name, he could feel his emotions rising. What had he done? His friend, his advisor, was the recipient of a terrible plot scheme and the king had no control. The king just had to have a little faith that this God that Daniel quietly, yet faithfully served was real and would save him from the starving lions.

As the king came closer, he heard nothing. Not a sound was coming from the pit. He yelled out for Daniel. Daniel yelled back that he was safe! His God sent an angel to close the lions' mouths and keep him from harm all night. His God was truly a God of rescue.

Have you felt rescued lately? Are you in need of a miracle? God gives them out every day. We take so many things for granted that we don't even see it. The trees budding, a baby being born, safety in the eye of a storm. Look around today and listen to God. He will show you a miracle.

Worries For Us All

2012-02-01T06:15:00.000-08:00

Daniel 6:17-18

¹⁷ A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. ¹⁸ Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.

I hate nights where I'm up all night, especially if I can't control what's going on. That was the kind of night King Darius had. He knew that what was going on was wrong, but he didn't try and change it. He followed through with the plan that the others had devised. When we do not have the power to change things, we need to get on our knees and just pray. Turn it all to God and pray hard. God wants us to depend on him for everything. From an injury, to our family, from our money to our addictions. We just need to trust in him. Daniel was doing just that in the lions den. He was probably scared (and it's alright to be scared) but he knew that no matter the outcome, God loved him and would take care of him. Have you given everything over to God? I haven't. I am trying, but it hasn't happened yet. I worry, think of what to do next, but I do pray and just wait. God will be there when his time is right.

Trust God

2012-01-30T05:16:00.000-08:00

Daniel 6:15-16

¹⁵ Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”

¹⁶ So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”

How horrible King Darius must have felt. But a law is a law. For Daniel, he must of been praying furiously. The group of men must have been feeling smug. They finally got Daniel right where they wanted him. Down in the lion's den. Which person(s) are you feeling like today? King Darius for letting others mislead him? The advisers for pulling one over on someone, or Daniel, being caught in the middle of something and not able to control the situation. The good news is, that even though Daniel couldn't control what was happening, his God, the Living God, already had it under control. We just have to let God have the situation and his will will play out. How cool is that? So turn over your troubles, situations and grief to him and let him do his will. God will take over and you can be sure that you will come out okay. It may be scary for a while, but as we are learning in our sermon series this month, we have to trust God like Daniel.

Listen to Yourself

2012-01-26T04:35:00.000-08:00

Daniel 6:11-14

¹¹ Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. ¹² So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

¹³ Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” ¹⁴ When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.

That last sentence must have made the men out to get Daniel mad. King Darius, who liked Daniel, had been tricked. For thirty days anyone who prayed to anything or anyone other than King Darius would be thrown into the lions' den. They then watched and waited for Daniel to pray, three times that day and caught him. He agreed until he found out it was Daniel that was disobedient. When he heard this, the king was upset and tried everything he could think of to save Daniel. In our Sunday School class the other day, we discussed this. It was stated by our group leader, that he did not understand that why as king, Darius just didn't repeal the law. I think it may be because it may have made him appear weak.

When you do something and realize it is wrong, don't you want to fix the problem as soon as possible. He tried, but Darius had already let these men dictate to him a new law, and realized it was bad advice. But it was too late. God wants us to seek advice, from him, from our elders and family. But beware. God and your gut are the best at instinctive advice you have. I tell my kids and husband, if you have a problem or a choice, listen to yourself. It usually tells you exactly what you need and should do, because you know, all others want to push their agenda. Go for the gut!

Talk to God

2012-01-25T06:59:00.000-08:00

Daniel 6:10
¹⁰ Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

Some rituals are not meant to be stopped. Each day, I get up, start making lunches for the day, get the kids up for school, see them and Mike off. Then depending on my day, I do my devotion or get ready for work. There is certain things I do. I always take a shower in the morning. I read emails, Bible verses, and plan my day. I pray for my family and others. Daniel had a ritual. He prayed toward Jerusalem three times a day. And everyone knew it. So when the wisemen, administrators and magicians decided to get him. This is what they did. That pinpointed that one area of prayer and persuaded the king to make a law to only pray to him.

That didn't stop Daniel. It would not have stopped me either. I pray a lot during a day. (! Thessalonians 5:17 says..."pray without ceasing.") It's a habit. I hear a siren, I pray. I get word that someone hurts or is sick, I pray. But I don't go to a prayer closet, get down reverently on my knees and pray for a period of time. Do you? Daniel didn't let this decree stop him. He knew it was wrong and he knew that it was God, not the king, who had got him through all the times before. He knew from the time he was very young that the Lord Most High is to be exalted above everyone else and that God listens. Daniel knew what the world doesn't. God wants us to talk to him. God listens to our needs. God wants that conversation. Daniel gave his relationship with God an important place in his life. He made sure he talked with him three times a day.

Is there anyone you talk to three times a day, every day? I know I talk with my kids and husband that often. I don't talk to my parents everyday, but I'm okay with that. I do talk to God a lot during every day. So today, make it a point to talk to the most important people in your life and make God one of them.

What's Your Agenda?

2012-01-24T05:35:00.001-08:00

Daniel 6:6-9

⁶ So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever! ⁷ The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. ⁸ Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” ⁹ So King Darius put the decree in writing.

Sunday during Sunday School, this story was mentioned as part of our story. It is funny how when we trust people, we do not think they would ever do anything to lead us astray. At least not on purpose. But, we are not a people of honesty. Most people have an agenda of their own and doesn’t look out for others. Many times, I have been chided because I “let people walk all over me.” People think I am a door mat or weak. But I don’t think that. I always try and look at the big picture and see what really other people want to do and how much it will hurt others. Normally, I go along with things because I don’t want to fight or it is not a big deal. If I am passionate about it, I will stand up for whatever I need. This shows that I too, sometimes have my own selfish agenda.

King Darius believed in his advisors, administrators, prefects, and all. He thought they would always give him good advice. But he did not realize that the law they wanted him to put in affect would be against one of his favorite people. He just willingly agreed to enforce this law. It is crazy for any of us to think that someone would pray to us. Why would you pray to me? I cannot do a thing for you. In fact, I am sure I have and will let you down. God, on the other hand, has never let you down. Whether you chose to believe in him, or believe and trust him, he will always step up and do what is needed for you. Not what you need, mind you, but what is needed for the situation. Sometimes that gets us in trouble because we are expecting something totally different. But, he is the true one you can trust.

Being a Christian in the Workplace

2012-01-20T04:02:00.000-08:00

Daniel 6:1-5

¹ ^[a]It seemed good to Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, that they would be in charge of the whole kingdom, ² and over them three commissioners (of whom Daniel was one), that these satraps might be accountable to them, and that the king might not suffer loss. ³ Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself ^[b]among the commissioners and satraps because ^[c]he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom. ⁴ Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to ^[d]government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him. ⁵ Then these men said, “We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard to the law of his God.”

Up until now, Daniel has shown all the sign of being a great man whom we all would be glad to know, talk to, and help. But this one verse shows that Daniel has a human side..." Daniel began distinguishing himself ^[b]among the commissioners and satraps..." Distinguishing himself among his peers and King Darius did not make him friends, did it. I am not saying that you have to be like your peers. I try to give everyone else the same consideration as I want from them. I try not to gossip, criticize, keep my head up and do what I need to do at my job. I think Daniel did the same thing and it made those under him in position dislike him. They tried to find fault with him and realized that they couldn't. They went looking for the bad in him. It didn't work. They did realize that they would have to look at how he dealt with his job and with God. Isn't that something a lot of deal with? It is hard to be a Christian in a non-Christian environment, isn't it?
Lord, grant me your grace for today. Give me the attitude I need to be your messenger in my job. I thank you that I have a job and I praise you for it.

The Handwriting on the Wall

2012-01-19T04:14:00.000-08:00

Daniel 5:24-30

²⁴ Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.

²⁵ “This is the inscription that was written:

MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN

²⁶ “Here is what these words mean:

Mene^[e]: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.

²⁷ Tekel^[f]: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.

²⁸ Peres^[g]: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

²⁹ Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.

³⁰ That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians,^[h] was slain, ³¹ and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.^[i]

King Belshazzar realized too late that the handwriting on the wall was the end for him. We all

seem to realize too late (at times) that the path we are on is not the best one. We all need to

step back at times and see the bigger picture. For us humans, that is sometimes impossible.

I am not a big visionary. I have a fault for not seeing what is to come, what may come, and all the

possibilities around me. That's why I have great people around me. They bring things to the

table that I wouldn't even dream of. I do learn from the mistakes of others and do not have to

make my own mistakes "just to see if it will happen again".

Daniel read the writing and told him that the king would be dethroned and the kingdom would be

pulled apart. That is what happened. Belshazzar gave Daniel his reward, and that night, he was

killed. What can we learn from this story? Sometimes we need to step back and see the bigger

picture before God has to send a clear message.

Lord, open my eyes and let me see clear, the path you want me on and the decisions you

want me to make. I love you and want to serve only you.

Learning from Parental Mistakes

2012-01-18T04:34:00.000-08:00

Daniel 5:18-24

¹⁸ “Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor. ¹⁹ Because of the high position he gave him, all the nations and peoples of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled. ²⁰ But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. ²¹ He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like the ox; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.

²² “But you, Belshazzar, his son,^[d] have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. ²³ Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. ²⁴ Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.

Learning from your parents mistakes. King Belshazzar's father was a prideful man, thinking he created his kingdom and accepted all the glory. But God, in his wisdom, showed King Nebuchadnezzar who really is in charge and the king finally acknowledged the Lord Most High. King Belshazzar watched and saw, but did not learn from that. Maybe it was the young and his sense of "it will never happen to me, I'm invincible!" Whatever it is, it seems that children take their parent's mistakes to the next level. Not all of them. Some do their best not to make the same mistakes.

When we are trying to help or correct Timm, he always asks me the question that drives me crazy..."How do you know?" Seriously? How do I know what will happen or what happened when I was in that situation? Maybe because I'm older, wiser, more experienced and have been through it? Some never learn, some have to go through it themselves no matter what. I guess that is how God looks at us when we mess up. I never seem to get certain things, even when I read the Bible and see what is to come or what the consequence will be. Sometimes we never learn. I pray today that I will break that pattern and do as my Heavenly Father asks.

Parental Teaching

2012-01-17T07:05:00.000-08:00

Daniel 5:12-17

¹² He did this because Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.”

¹³ So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah? ¹⁴ I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom. ¹⁵ The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it. ¹⁶ Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

¹⁷ Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.

So in verse 12, the queen tells King Belshazzar of Daniel, whom his father relied on to tell the meaning of his visions and dreams. Wisely, the young king heeded her advice and brought Daniel in. The king gave Daniel the same spiel about how he would be made third highest ruler in the kingdom if he could read the writing on the wall. Apparently, this did not impress Daniel. He told him to keep his gifts and reward others.

So what motivated Daniel? It wasn't riches or power. I think it was just the satisfaction of following God's word. As a child he was taught the importance that his family placed on God and following His teachings. He truly took all that, kept it in his heart and lived his life through that. As a parent, I feel so inadequate sometimes. I am not doing justice to God or his teachings. All I can do is keep trying. I try to give advice when needed, to pray, to show my kids what God expects of me, but sometimes I am not sure they are listening. Then other times, they surprise me! Those are the times I know I might be on the right track. Teaching my kids that they do not have to be motivated by power or riches is a goal is hard. But I keep at it. I pray for them and pray that each day brings them closer to God and a personal relationship that I long for them to have with Him. That's what God wants us to do. Pray for each other and not expect anything in return. It's not about what others give you, it's about storing your treasures in heaven, right? That's what we are striving for.

Adventures through God

2012-01-16T05:51:00.000-08:00

Daniel 5:7-12

⁷ The king summoned the enchanters, astrologers^[b] and diviners. Then he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

⁸ Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant. ⁹ So King Belshazzar became even more terrified and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled.

¹⁰ The queen,^[c] hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. “May the king live forever!” she said. “Don’t be alarmed! Don’t look so pale! ¹¹ There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners. ¹² He did this because Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.”

Why is it that when we get in a predicament that we can't figure out how to get out of, we immediately offer the best of the best to those who can? Experts, specialist, and such doesn't always have the answers. My family and I watched the last Indiana Jones movie over the weekend. I grew up with those movies, and this one did not disappointment. But, because it had been about twenty years since the last one, I found myself saying (to no one in particular), yep, that's how Indy is. This comment referred to the fact that always, always, always, Indy rarely had a plan, he was forever "making it up as I go!" It always made me laugh, because I am that way. I don't mind going where God wants and doing what he wants because I look at it as an adventure. My daughter, on the other hand, has to have a plan. She is a junior in high school and wants to know where she's going to college, what her major is and plan as much out as possible before she starts her senior year. I love that about her. She totally cracks me up about it. I honestly admire her, but I have no idea where this comes from.

So I guess this devotion today took a totally different turn. King Belshazzar is just another adventure that Daniel took on. When the king's father, Nebuchadnezzar, took Daniel and his friends all those years ago, he didn't know what was going to happen. But instead of fighting it, he accepted what happened and kept his faith in God. He knew God knew what he was doing. That is what I try to do. It's hard when you feel like you are doing the worst job and barely keeping your head above water though. Prayer, devotions, and talking about it is the best way to get through it. God promised to take care of us and our needs if we trust him. His plan may not be laid out for us, but that is okay. Sometimes a need to know basis teaches us patience, frugality, and contentment. As Paul said in Philippians 4:11-13, " ¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength." I pray I can someday be like Paul.

Paranormal Activity?

2012-01-13T05:47:00.000-08:00

Daniel 5:1-6
King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. ² While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father^[a] had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. ³ So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. ⁴ As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.

⁵ Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. ⁶ His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his legs became weak and his knees were knocking.⁷ The king summoned the enchanters, astrologers^[b] and diviners. Then he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

Is it funny that when I was reading this, the television show Ghost Hunters came to mind? This is a show where people use night cameras and try and capture paranormal activity on tape. In our house, when something falls, or a door opens or whatever, we don't blame the dog, we holler "Paranormal activity!" We as a society try very hard to explain everything. Whether it is our actions, the weather, or things we don't understand. And if we don't understand, we explain it away with thoughts of the unknown.

But can you imagine King Belshazzar's confused mind when this hand appeared and started writing on the wall. I think I would have ran away scared. I can't imagine seeing a floating hand. This was scary to the king. Having things that can't be explained are nothing new, but as a leader, you need to be prepared for anything. I was asked a question, "What if you don't know the answer? I said, "I'll find it out and get back to you." That should be true to all of us. As parents, teachers, leaders, don't lie and make something up, let them know you don't know and follow through with the answer. It sure makes life a lot easier!

Pride Goeth Before a Fall.

2012-01-12T04:20:00.000-08:00

Daniel 4:34 - 36

³⁴ At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.

   His dominion is an eternal dominion;
   his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
³⁵ All the peoples of the earth
   are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases
   with the powers of heaven
   and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand
   or say to him: “What have you done?”

³⁶ At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. ³⁷ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

The most important line in this, the fourth chapter of Daniel is the last sentence. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. What a revelation that King Nebuchadnezzar found. He who thought he was the greatest, set up idols, threw men in furnances because they didn't obey him, was made to fall farther than most of us can imagine. He became like an animal, with no sanity, living on grass and looking like something out of a horror movie.

King Nebuchadnezzar learned that God has dominion and can take power away and give power back. The King of heaven did this to show him that Nebuchadnezzar is not any different than any other creation of this earth. So if a king can turn his heart from pride to one that is humble, so can I.

Lord, take my pride away and help me to always be humble so that all can see your glory.

Pride

2012-01-11T04:39:00.000-08:00

Daniel 4:29 - 33
²⁹ Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, ³⁰ he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”

³¹ Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. ³² You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”

³³ Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

Being puffed up and taking the credit for things undeserved get you in trouble. We all like to be recognized for the good we do, but I don't like taking credit for things that are not really of my doing. Like the song I sang on Sunday. This song has been in my repertoire for 25 years! I praise God that I can sing this song well. I am blessed that it touched many people. That is God's doing, not mine. I just am a messenger. I say thank you for the compliments, but take no credit. I am just the instrument.

King Nebuchadnezzar didn't realize this. He said (to paraphrase) Isn't this city great that I built to show my greatness and power. What an ego! What can we learn from this story? We need to remember that pride comes before the fall. And fall he did. I can't imagine what he really looked like, but it would have scared me. We should all pray that we keep our pride in check and remember that God creates all things and the credit goes to him. Just as Tim Tebow bows in the end zone of a football field after a win to thank God, we too, should always bow to the Lord of all creation in reverence and thankfulness for all we have and been given.

It Came Upon...

2012-01-10T05:16:00.000-08:00

Daniel 4:28

All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.

Well, we are back to Daniel. My last post was about how King Nebuchadnezzar needed to accept God as God, and the weird dream he had. He was going to lose his kingdom, his wealth, and his mind for seven years. Daniel told him exactly what it meant, and it happened. No matter what, God let this happen. What sadness for his family. What embarrassment they had to feel when he lost his mind. When we all try to do things without God, we just make a mess, don't we? I pray that today I don't mess things up to bad and that God will bless all my efforts. Besides, he is the ultimate cleaner! Praise him.

Encourage yourself today. Ask God to lead you in the right path. Talk about your situation with him and with others. You will feel better, and you my not lose your mind.

Wait Upon the Lord

2012-01-09T05:37:00.000-08:00

As a Christian, I try to find the best and positive in everything. Yesterday was an emotional church service. One of our church families had some devastating news last week and it affected a lot of us. Our minister had been planning this sermon for a couple of weeks and realized that this is not the direction he was originally going with the sermon, but when the news came, he knew it was exactly what God had planned all along. Isn't it funny how God gets sneaky like that? Just when you think that what you are doing is either correct or not, God takes it and shows you that he can use it for his good, if you let him.
It's always good to try because with out trying, you will never know if you can succeed. Even if you are not good at something, I always think that is better than succeeding. Last August, I was let go from my job. It wasn't my favorite job, but I enjoyed most of the people there. I tried my best, but it wasn't as good as they expected. It wasn't a huge shock and I had been looking for a new place of employment. It worried me because of our bills, but God is helping us make it work. I found another job, in a totally different field and you know what? I am really enjoying myself! I never thought I could sell anything, but I am doing well. I like my co-workers, the company and the customers. What about that? God has put me where he needs me to be at the moment. We are still trying to pay bills and catch up, but we have faith that God will give us the wisdom to do it all.
The verse that our minister came back to and I have always loved is Isaiah 40:31.

28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

This verse can be seen a lot of places and it never ceases to amaze me that it really works. Wait on God and he will restore you, give you rest, and let you rise higher than you ever expected!

New and Old

2011-12-27T04:14:00.001-08:00

This year, Christmas was different for us. I had to spend Christmas Eve working late. I am not complaining though, I have a job. When I lost mine a few months ago, it didn’t make things easier, that’s for sure. But I am going on faith and praising God that we are still here, still working an still able to provide. It isn’t easy and we have had help along the way. But God never lets us go through anything alone. He may not blow you away with his presence, but he places special people in your life that you may or may not realize are working for him. For those people we are so thankful. Our family loves each of you for all you have done for us.

As the 2012 approaches, things are still tight, but looking up! We all have our health, we have a loving family and Christian family, and we are still praising God. Yes, it’s hard and sometimes sad for the kids, and it breaks my heart, but God is providing for us every day. 2012 will be a challenge for us to downsize more. I may be working more hours (which is good). We are trying to get by one less. But we are spending more time together as a family and for me that’s more important. So thank you to all who are apart of our lives, we love you. Thank you for concerns, gifts, and especially prayers. I keep praying for each of you and I hope you will keep praying for us. May God bless each of you in new and exciting ways this year. May we all praise him together starting January 1^st at our churches around the world and may we get back on track for what he wants in our lives.

2 Peter 3:13

¹³ But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

Listen To the Memories

2011-12-26T03:01:00.001-08:00

Listen! Can you hear them? That sound, that glorious sound filling the air with beautiful melodies reminds us that the holidays are on the way. That sound reminds us that we can rejoice with family and friends, that we can be thankful for all our blessings, and that feeling we get can carry us toward a season filled with love, a renewed remembrance of God’s gift to mankind, and sustain us through the New Year with hope.

In my childhood household, we knew it was Christmastime when the sleigh bells jangled on the doors of our home. Mom would put bells on the front and back doors. Every time you would turn the knobs, the bells would announce the comings and goings of family members and visitors. They were a welcomed cheer that, as kids, we come to expect. It was a special touch that Mom always gave.

Sleigh bells bring such memories as falling snow, horses pulling sleighs, Kris Kringle and many songs. Some of you remember gliding over the cold, frozen snow in a sleigh, pulled by a horse, bells jingling with each trot. I always feel excitement at each Christmas concert when the orchestra started playing Sleigh Ride. The cracking of the whip, the clip-clop of the horses’ hooves, and the bells being shook to keep the time transported me back to another place. It still takes me back to a scene that is quiet, dark, cold and very special.

Just as the Herald Angel made the first announcement of Christ’s birth to the lowly shepherds, sleigh bells noisily announce the holidays. We anticipate the traditions, the wide-eyed wonder of the children, and of course the busyness of the holiday.

Today, take a moment to hear the sleigh bells. Hear them in the songs, in the crafts, and in the messages. I hope you will let the cherished memories that you have stored away jingle into the front of your mind, wrapping you in warmth. I also hope today will bring a happiness and great anticipation for what is yet to come as we wind down 2011.

One King

2011-12-23T07:12:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas from all of us here in the Fox household. May your holiday be full of family, love and Christ.

Matthew 2:3-12

³ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

⁶ “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’^[b]”

⁷ Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

⁹ After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

The wisemen had been following the star. They weren't sure exactly where the new King was, but they were in the right area. They stopped to ask King Herod because of course, a King would know of other kings in the area. But they were wrong. So they searched. We do not know for how long or how they found the family, but they found him. They must have been in awe of the sight. I know I would be. My favorite verse is "...Then they opened their treasured and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh..." How thoughtful, how nice, how kingly! In our cantata this year we sang a song that said, "One king held the frankincense, on king held the myrrh, one king held the purest gold, on king held the hope of the world." How fitting for us to remember on this eve of Christmas Eve that there is still hope for the world. I hope you give some of it today.

One King

Written by Jeff Borders, Gayla Borders, Lowell Alexander

Kings of earth on a course unknown
Bearing gifts from afar
Hoping praying
Following yonder star

Silhouette of a caravan
Painted against the sky
Wise men searching
For the Holy Child

(Chorus)
One king held the frankincense
One king held the myrrh
One king held the purest gold
One King held the hope of the world

A star hangs over Bethlehem
A journey ends in the night
Three kings trembling
Behold the glorious sight

Heaven's treasure Emmanuel
Drawing men to bow down
Tiny baby born to wear a crown

(Repeat Chorus)

God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from satans power
When we were gone astray

Oh tiny baby born to wear a crown

(Repeat Chorus 3 x's)

One king held the purest gold
One King held the hope of the world

Seeking Him

2011-12-22T06:23:00.000-08:00

Matthew 2:1-2
¹ After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi^[a] from the east came to Jerusalem ²and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Wise men still seek him. We have all heard this saying. It is a wonderful saying that says that when we seek him we are wise. Sometimes it takes us a long time to become wise. Even after I was baptized at 10 years old, understanding some of the teachings of God is not clear, and it's been 33 years! As a child I understood what it meant to accept Jesus as my Savior and to follow him in baptism and eternity...to an extent. But only by staying in church, Sunday school, Bible Study, devoting my family to Christ, have I learned so much more. Sometimes I feel I am not doing enough to teach my kids about God. It scares me how quickly Satan can grab someone. I pray every day for my kids to make the right choices, stay in God's will and to not fall to the peer pressure around them every day.

It's not just kids, though. Adults can fall away from God. Truly those we touch with our spiritual lives can be changed, just as the birth of Jesus touched the wise men, the shepherds, and the inn keeper. Just live your life God's way and be yourself. The truly wise will seek Him.

Wisemen Still Seek Him
Lyrics: Paul Overstreet

Lyrics to Wise Men Still Seek Him :

For years they must have watched the heavens day and night,
How else would they know that a new star was in sight,
Wasn't in the paper, wasn't in the TV guide,
Not really sure how they did but somehow they got wise,

They rode their camels 'cross the deserts burning sand,
They couldn't fly you know there were no planes back then,
Then they met old Herod who was out to steal their joy,
But they brushed old Herod off and found God's baby boy,

CHORUS:
Wise men still seek Him, those on earth who realise how much they need Him,
following Jesus where ever He may lead them, wise men still seek Him.

Well today they travel different, but they're wise men just the same,
Still talking about the old days and that blessed night he came,
I hear old Herod's out there still trying to deceive,
But a whole world full of Herod's can't stop those who believe,

CHORUS:
Wise men still seek Him, those on earth who realise how much they need Him,
following Jesus where ever He may lead them, wise men still seek Him,
Wise men still seek Him.

A Baby's First

2011-12-21T04:19:00.000-08:00

Luke 2:19
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

As a young mother, I remember lots of little things about my children. I remember the first time I held them. I remember that I never felt alone. I remember that first time Allie walked or Timm actually told his first joke. I remember the kindness of family and friends and even the exhaustion I felt. There are things that I never talk about with anyone. The things that are private to me. The little things that I love about my kids, that maybe others would not understand. How precious those moments are to me! Mary must of have been the same way.
Each child comes with his/her own little "firsts". Those moments that happen for the first time and if you aren't there, you miss them forever. Most of Jesus' firsts were normal every day things. His first fist, his first cry, his first smile. But then the shepherds showed up. Then the wiseman. The escape to Egypt. Most of us didn't have those experiences. Because he was the Messiah, some of his unique firsts are shared with us as examples of how special he is. Not just as a baby, God's Son, but how it shaped him to become the man he grows into.

The First Noel
Words: Traditional English Carol
Lyrics: W. Sandys' CHRISTMAS CAROLS

The first Noel, the angel did say,
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the east, beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

And by the light of that same star
Three wisemen came from country far;
To seek for a king was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

This star drew nigh to the northwest,
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest,
And there it did both stop and stay,
Right over the place where Jesus lay.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

Hurrying to Meet God

2011-12-20T04:02:00.000-08:00

Luke 2:16-20
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

During this time of year, everyone is hurrying. We are hurrying to finish our shopping, baking, wrapping. Kids are wishing that time would hurry up and Christmas Day would get here. When the shepherds heard that Jesus was in Bethlehem, they hurried to see Him. When was the last time you hurried to go to church, not because you were late, but because you were anxious to meet God there?

Sometimes when we hurry, we miss things. Are you missing Christmas this year? Have you missed the message of the child in the manager or the love of this time of year? Take some time to sit and relax. Watch a Christmas show with your children. Take some time and look at the Christmas lights. Don't let Christmas pass you by.

Where Are You Christmas?
Songwriters: Mariah Carey, James Horner, Will Jennings

Where are you Christmas? Why can't I find you?
Why have you gone away?
Where is the laughter you used to bring me?
Why can't I hear music play?

My world is changing
I'm rearranging
Does that mean Christmas changes too?

Where are you Christmas? Do you remember
The one you used to know?
I'm not the same one, see what the time's done
Is that why you have let me go?

Christmas is here
Everywhere, oh
Christmas is here
If you care, oh

If there is love in your heart and your mind
You will feel like Christmas all the time

I feel you, Christmas, I know I've found you
You never fade away
The joy of Christmas stays here in silence
Fills each and every heart with love

Where are you Christmas?
Fills your heart with love

Peace On Earth

2011-12-19T04:10:00.000-08:00

Luke 2:13-14

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When we recite verses, or do a responded reading, how monotone is it. When we recite the Pledge of Allegiance, is it fun? I always imagine that the angels are singing, or at least their voices are in sing-song voices. I bet they are booming as the say "Glory to God..." Especially since there was a bunch of them joining their voices together. They were praising our Lord and Savior. They also were letting us know that if God loves you, you will have peace. I'm sure Mary and Joseph, after traveling from Nazareth, finding a place to stay and giving birth needed the rest and peace. May you find peace this week, as we close in on our celebration of Jesus' Birthday!

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Words: Charles Wesley

Music: Mendelssohn

Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King!

Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!"

Joyful all ye nations rise; Join the triumph of the skies;

With th'angelic hosts proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem!

Mild, He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die;

Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth;

Veiled in flesh the God-head see; Hail th'incarnate Deity;

Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel!

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings, Ris'n with healing in His wings,

Christ, by highest heav'n adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord;

Come, Desire of nations, come, Fix in us Thy humble home;

Come, Desire of nations, come, Fix in us Thy humble home.

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

2011-12-16T04:07:00.000-08:00

Luke 2:8-12
⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Imagine that it's pitch black. Maybe there is no moonlight tonight, so all you see is shadows, and here the sheep grazing, rustling the grass, or even sleeping. You are just sitting there, trying not to be cold, trying not to go to sleep, when BAM! A light as bright as the sun rains down on you. You are alert, but you see a messenger from God. An angel is right in front of you. You wonder, did I go to sleep? Am I going crazy? You look at your friends that are with you and realize that they see the same thing.
Then the angel tells you to not be afraid. Is he kidding? He pops up right in front of you and you are suppose to be happy and not worry? Then he tells you that the Messiah has finally come. You may not be the greenest leaf on the tree, but you do understand what this means. You've heard the stories of a king that will come and save The People.
What a story these shepherds had to tell their families for the rest of their lives.

While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks
Words: Nathan Tate
Music: G. F. Handel

1. While shepherds watched their flocks by night, 
 all seated on the ground; 
 the angel of the Lord came down, 
 and glory shone around, 
 and glory shone around. 

2. "Fear not!" said he, for mighty dread 
 had seized their troubled mind. 
 "Glad tidings of great joy I bring 
 to all of humankind, 
 to all of humankind." 

3. "To you, in David's town, this day 
 is born of David's line 
 a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, 
 and this shall be the sign,
 and this shall be the sign:" 

4. "The heavenly babe you there shall find 
 to human view displayed, 
 all meanly wrapped in swathing bands, 
 and in a manger laid, 
 and in a manger laid." 

5. Thus spake the seraph and forthwith 
 appeared a shining throng 
 of angels praising God on high, 
 who thus addressed their song, 
 who thus addressed their song: 

6. "All glory be to God on high, 
 and to the earth be peace; 
 good will henceforth from heaven to earth 
 begin and never cease, 
 begin and never cease!"

Child of Promise

2011-12-15T04:38:00.000-08:00

Luke 2:6-7
⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

What a message in just these two verses. It is God's promise come true..."she gave birth to her firstborn, a son." This is the most important verse in the whole Christmas story, for without this part of the verse, how would we know that Jesus was born? Do you have room in you for Him? Is there no room in your life for Christ' promises to take root? Don't shut Him out. Don't send Him away. Wrap him in your heart and keep him close.

Read the chorus of this song. It's a little different than we normally sing at church.

What Child is This?
Words: William Chatterton Dix
Music: Sir John Stainer

1. What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

2. Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.

Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

3. So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

The Hard Trip

2011-12-14T04:00:00.000-08:00

Luke 2:1-5

¹ In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

In high school, my English teacher made us memorize Luke 2:1 -20. It's amazing how I have never forgotten most of it. I love saying this in my mind with whoever is reading it, where ever and whenever I hear it. I especially love Linus, from A Charlie Brown Christmas reciting the words every year on national television.

Counting has never been one of my strong points. We have to take inventory of our stores, factories, to get at least a close count of what we have. It amazes me every time the government takes a census. It's easy now. The government sends us a form in the mail, we fill out the form, and send it back. If we fail or forget to do that, then they send someone to your door to ask you those questions! But back in Mary and Joseph's day, you had to travel to your family's hometown and register. Joseph was a long way from his hometown. Nazareth is 80 miles from Bethlehem. There was no cars or trains or planes then. All Joseph could afford was a donkey for Mary. She was his responsibility so she had to go with him. I'm sure the road was not paved and it took them quite a while to get there.

Being really pregnant, it probably wasn't a good idea for her to ride a donkey to much. But she probably couldn't walk much either. How tired she must have been. How much longer the travel must have felt for both of them. When I was eight months pregnant with my son, we moved, in January. We luckily had a lot of help and we appreciated that. I couldn't have helped much if we didn't. But it was a very tiring experience. I'm sure it was nothing compared to what Mary went through.

Breath of Heaven

by Amy Grant and Chris Eaton

I have traveled
Many moonless night
Cold and Weary
With a babe inside
And I wonder
What I've done
Holy Father
You have come
Chosen me now
To carry your son

I am waiting
in a silent prayer
I am frightened
by the load i bear
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone
Be with me now
Be with me now

Breath of Heaven
Hold me together
Be forever near me
Breath of Heaven

Breath of Heaven
Lighten my darkness
Pour over me, your holyness
For your holy Breath of Heaven

Do you wonder
As you watch my face
If a wiser one, should of had my place
But I offer-all I am
For the mercy-of your plan
Help me be strong
Help me be
Help me

A Loving Father

2011-12-13T06:34:00.000-08:00

Matthew 1:18-24

¹⁸ This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about^[d]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet^[e] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,^[f] because he will save his people from their sins.”

²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”^[g] (which means “God with us”).

²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Let's talk of Joseph. Here's a man who is excited to be marrying a nice young girl. Or so he thought. Then he found out she was pregnant. How could she do that? How could she be like that? How betrayed he must have felt. How stupid. How angry.

Then, God sent an angel to talk to him. He told him not to doubt Mary's story. How he was picked to take care of Mary and the child she was carrying. This child was to be the Savior of the world. The Bible doesn't tell us if he questioned anything God said to him. He just did what God asked of him. I'm sure he and Mary had long talks and felt they were sharing a secret. In society's eyes, he was a fool. But to God and us, he is a quiet hero. We don't know much or hear a lot from him, but he was obedient, he cared for them in every way a father should and he loved Mary. That is very important in this story.

A Strange Way To Save The World
by Fred Hammond
Written by Dave Clark, Mark Harris and Don Koch
Album: Christmas... Just Remember

I'm sure he must have been surprised
At where this road had taken him
Cause never in a million lives
Would he have dreamed of Bethlehem

And standing at the manger
He saw with his own eyes
The message from the angel
Come to life, and Joseph said

Why me, I'm just a simple man of trade
Why Him, with all the rulers of the world
Why here, inside this stable filled with hay
Why her, she's just an ordinary girl
Now I'm not one to second guess
What angels have to say
But, this is such a strange way to save the world

To think of how it could have been
If Jesus had come as He deserved
There would have been no Bethlehem
No lowly shepherds at His birth

But, Joseph knew the reason
Love had to reach so far
And as he held the Savior in his arms
He must have thought

Why me, I'm just a simple man of trade
Why Him, with all the rulers of the world
Why here, inside this stable filled with hay
Why her, she's just an ordinary girl
Now I'm not one to second guess
What angels have to say
But, this is such a strange way to save the world

Now I'm not one to second guess
What angels have to say
But, this is such a strange way

This is such a strange way
This is such a strange way
I don't claim to really know
Why You gave this King
But I really thank You, thank You

Mary's Song

2011-12-12T12:02:00.000-08:00

Luke 1: 46-56
⁴⁶ And Mary said:

   “My soul glorifies the Lord
⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has been mindful
   of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
   holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him,
   from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
   he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones
   but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things
   but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
   remembering to be merciful
⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever,
   just as he promised our ancestors.”

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

I love these verses. Mary shows her heart and why God chose her. She is the humblest person. She doesn't take any credit for anything. She states that generations will call her blessed, because of what God has done great things for her. He noticed her, he lifted her up, he has done good things for all people.

In one cantata, these verses were made into a song. It is a song I will always remember when I think of Mary. it shows that she praised God because he picked her, even though she didn't know what was going to happen. She just new that God needed her and she would do her best for him and the baby she was carrying.

A Baby Changes Everything

2011-12-08T04:08:00.000-08:00

Luke 1:39 - 45
³⁹ At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, ⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³ But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

I love these verses. Mary goes to see her cousin, Elizabeth, and God reveals to Elizabeth that Mary is the mother of our Messiah. It must have been a relief to Mary to have someone to talk to. Someone that understood what she was feeling. The physical aspects of being pregnant as well as the looks and whispers. For Elizabeth was pregnant with John, but she was very old. How odd that must have been to her friends and neighbors.
Both women had a lot to talk about, but when Mary first greeted Elizabeth, Elizabeth's baby leaped in her womb. Leaped! We aren't sure how far along Elizabeth was, but even at 6 months, and could have been around a pound in weight and twelve inches long. Doesn't sound like much, but that probably surprised her. Timm was so big that if I stretched out, I would need help getting up. I'm sure Elizabeth had to sit down after that. But then the verses tell us that she was filled with the Holy Spirit. She knew exactly what was going on. What a comfort to Mary that must have been, because as we all know, this baby changed everything.

A Baby Changes Everything
Songwriters: Nichols, James Timothy; Wiseman, Craig Michael; Wiseman, Kim;

Teenage girl, much too young
Unprepared for what's to come
A baby changes everything

Not a ring on her hand
All her dreams and all her plans
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything

The man she loves she's never touched
How will she keep his trust?
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything

And she cries!
Ooh, she cries
Ooh, oh

She has to leave, go far away
Heaven knows she can't stay
A baby changes everything

She can feel it's coming soon
There's no place, there's no room
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything

And she cries!
And she cries!
Oh, she cries

Shepherds all gather 'round
Up above the star shines down
A baby changes everything

Choir of angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything
Everything, everything, everything

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

My whole life has turned around
I was lost but now I'm found
A baby changes everything, yeah
A baby changes everything

[| From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/f/faith-hill-lyrics/a-baby-changes-everything-lyrics.html |]

Mary, A Strong Woman

2011-12-07T04:15:00.000-08:00

Luke 1: 26:38
²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

²⁹ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

³⁴ “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

³⁵ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called^[b] the Son of God. ³⁶ Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. ³⁷ For no word from God will ever fail.”

³⁸ “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Every day now, children are born. A lot of them are born to very young, unprepared girls. Some of them are able to deal with the pressure, the criticism, the feeling of disappointment that may come their way. God takes this story and shows us that we shouldn't judge someone in their circumstance just because we do not understand it or think it is appropriate. We probably all know a young lady that became pregnant out of wedlock. Did we disapprove or help them plan a wedding? We all have sinned. Some sins are known, others not. And everyone in Nazareth thought they knew what Mary had done. What a fool she made of Joseph, they said. But no one knew or believed what Mary told them. An angel came and told her that God loved her and wanted her to be the mother of the Savior. Being who she was, how could she say no? How scared and alone she must have felt at first. No matter how much ridicule she would have to overcome, no matter how much humiliation she endured, she knew that God chose her! That would get me through the looks, whispers, and broken friendships. I'm sure it gave her the courage to become who she became. The mother of Jesus, Christ our Lord!

Mary, Did You Know?
Buddy Green and Mark Lowry

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am.

Preparing Hearts

2011-12-06T04:06:00.000-08:00

Luke 1:26-38

²³ When his time of service was completed, he returned home. ²⁴ After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. ²⁵ “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

In the verses of Luke I posted yesterday, Luke told us of Zechariah, the priest that saw an angel. I focused on how God had been quiet for around 400 years. The Israelites were ready for a Savior, but God had more groundwork to lay. So he told Zechariah that his wife, Elizabeth would have a baby in her old age. He did not believe the angel Gabriel, and for that his tongue was silent. When he came out of the temple, he came out and the people realized he saw a vision, but had no idea what it was, even though he tried to tell them.

The impact this had on Elizabeth, being barren for so many years must have been shocking. For her, after so long of watching all her family and friends celebrate the births of children, being pregnant couldn't have made her any happier. She probably was concerned for her health and that of her child, but she seemed calm and accepting. This child, we find out is John, aka John the Baptist. He also was related to Jesus. John became the announcer of Jesus. He made the people see their wicked ways and turn to God, preparing their hearts for Jesus. Who prepared your heart for God? During this time of year, it's easy to talk and see God's goodness. But is that how you came to God? Did a Sunday School teacher, a parent, or a mentor give you the advice you needed to make your decision for Christ? Thank them for preparing your heart to accept God.

Christmas Shoes

Written by Eddie Carr and Leonard Ahlstrom

The Christmas Shoes lyrics

It was almost Christmas time, there I stood in another line
Tryin' to buy that last gift or two, not really in the Christmas mood
Standing right in front of me was a little boy waiting anxiously
Pacing 'round like little boys do
And in his hands he held a pair of shoes

His clothes were worn and old, he was dirty from head to toe
And when it came his time to pay
I couldn't believe what I heard him say

Chorus:
Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight

He counted pennies for what seemed like years
Then the cashier said, "Son, there's not enough here"
He searched his pockets frantically
( From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/n/newsong-lyrics/the-christmas-shoes-lyrics.html )
Then he turned and he looked at me
He said Mama made Christmas good at our house
Though most years she just did without
Tell me Sir, what am I going to do,
Somehow I've got to buy her these Christmas shoes

So I laid the money down, I just had to help him out
I'll never forget the look on his face when he said
Mama's gonna look so great

Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight

Bridge:
I knew I'd caught a glimpse of heaven's love
As he thanked me and ran out
I knew that God had sent that little boy
To remind me just what Christmas is all about

Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

2011-12-05T04:27:00.000-08:00

I am taking a break from Daniel because it's Christmas! There is so much to talk about. Last year I did a series on unusual Christmas songs. This year I am going to combine the Christmas story with songs, and maybe throw in a few of my favorite stories as well.

Luke 1: 5-23

⁵ In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. ⁶ Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. ⁷ But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

⁸ Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, ⁹ he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

¹¹ Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. ¹³ But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. ¹⁴ He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, ¹⁵ for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. ¹⁶ He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

¹⁸ Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

¹⁹ The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. ²⁰ And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

²¹ Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. ²² When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

Many people do not see this as part of the Christmas story. But as my minister pointed out yesterday, it had been about 400 years since God had spoken with mankind. He sent the angel Gabriel to talk to Zechariah and announce that in his old age and that of his wife, Elizabeth, they would have a son that would make ready a people prepared for the Lord. This is the first mention that a Savior was on the way.

God kept quiet for what seemed like eternity, but his people prayed and pleaded for him to come to earth, to talk to them. They felt distant, cut off, and lost. Sometimes we feel like that. We are so lost that we cry out to God. We do not what to do. But we have to have faith that he will come, in his time.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Author - unknown

Music - Thomas Helmore

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.

O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.

Rejoice, rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Have You Truly Accepted God as God?

2011-12-02T04:15:00.000-08:00

Daniel 4:19 - 27

¹⁹ Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.”

Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! ²⁰The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, ²¹ with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds— ²² Your Majesty, you are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.

²³ “Your Majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’

²⁴ “This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king:²⁵ You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. ²⁶ The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. ²⁷Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.”

God had had enough! if you remember, every time King Nebuchadnezzar described Daniel, he said he was filled with the spirit of the holy gods (verse 9). God wanted the king to recognize him as the one and true God, and he knew that this would be the way to do it. King Nebuchadnezzar would be cut down and stripped of his kingdom for seven years. He would be out in the wilderness and people would think him insane. But God also had mercy on him. The king would return to his kingship after he professes God as the Most High. God is a God of second chances and he loves each of us and wants to give everyone a chance to acknowledge and come to him. It's just that some of us are more stubborn and take longer to let the word hit our heart and mind than others. Has it truly hit the mark of your heart? Have you truly accepted God as God? I pray that we have.

The Weird Dream

2011-12-01T04:47:00.000-08:00

Daniel 4:9 - 18

⁹ I (King Nebuchadnezzar) said, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. ¹⁰ These are the visions I saw while lying in bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. ¹¹ The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. ¹² Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.

¹³ “In the visions I saw while lying in bed, I looked, and there before me was a holy one, a messenger,^[c] coming down from heaven. ¹⁴ He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. ¹⁵ But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.

“‘Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. ¹⁶ Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times^[d] pass by for him.

¹⁷ “‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.’

¹⁸ “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

As usual, this is a strange dream. But that is what makes it interesting. I hardly ever remember the dreams I have. So to remember one this detailed is interesting to me. A tree so high it touches the sky, it feeds and houses every living thing. Someone tells King Nebuchadnezzar to cut it down. Then the dream says that someone will become like the animals for seven years. These decisions are from God and his word is law. How strange. It would have scared me. This is a nightmare, not just a dream. I am not sure I would want my dreams interpreted. I think that sometimes it's better not to know, than to anticipate the worst.

But King Nebuchadnezzar asked Daniel to tell him what the dream meant. He now trusts Daniel, even making him the chief of the magicians. The king knows that no one else can tell him what it's all about. What confidence the king has in him. What jealousy must rage under the surface of all the other magicians and wise men. If I was Daniel, I would first pray, but then question the dream. Is the King crazy? Did this dream really happen? But I am sure Daniel, already had ideas.

Take the Blinders Off!

2011-11-30T04:01:00.000-08:00

Daniel 4:4 - 8

⁴ I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous. ⁵ I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me. ⁶ So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. ⁷ When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers^[b]and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me. ⁸ Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.)

As I read these verses, I found myself thinking about verse eight. For the second time, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that bothered him. For the second time, he first turned to the wise men, enchanters, magicians, and others that let him down last time. For the second time, he had to wait for Daniel to do the work. My first thought? Some people never learn.

Then the king tells us that Daniel's Babylonian name is Belteshazzar because he has the spirit of holy gods in him. Totally got that wrong. He has God on his side and the spirit of God was in him. God gave Daniel the gift of interpreting dreams. God has kept Daniel and his friends safe. King Nebuchadnezzar sees only what the blinders show him, but as one of God's children, I feel lucky to have the insight that the king didn't have. ...was blind, but now I see. - Amazing Grace

Good Graces

2011-11-29T03:59:00.000-08:00

Daniel 4: 1-3
1 [a]King Nebuchadnezzar,
To the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth:
May you prosper greatly!

2 It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.

3 How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
his dominion endures from generation to generation.

At the beginning of this chapter, King Nebuchadnezzar decides to reveal another dream he had. Knowing how strong Daniel's faith is, he acknowledges God with praises. He tells the nations he is over about the wonders of God and how awesome he is. This man, a heathen, praises Daniel's God. Is it because he really is impressed with God? Is it because he wants something? Why would someone who doesn't love God, spread his praises? This, my friends, is called change. King Nebuchanezzar's words in verse three sound more like King David's psalms. He is changing, but he is not totally convinced yet, as we will see later. But he respects Daniel and wants to be in Daniel's good graces. He does this probably to make sure that the God who blesses Daniel will bless him. Maybe he isn't totally convined yet, but why take that chance?

Only God

2011-11-23T04:23:00.000-08:00

Daniel 3: 26 - 30

²⁶ Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, ²⁷ and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

²⁸ Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. ²⁹ Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”

³⁰ Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

Can't you just see the headlines in the Babylon business section of the news? Was everyone talking about the appointments of the three young men from Jerusalem? I think we all would talk about the craziness that had just happened. How King Nebuchadnezzar had an idol built and expected everyone to bow down to it. How he got mad when Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego would not bow and kept their loyalty to God. How the king threw his fit and got thrown in the fire. But especially how there was rumored to be a fourth man walking in the fire with the three others, but only three came out unharmed. Not one hair singed, nor did they even smell like smoke. Now to me that is the miracle.

Yesterday, Mike smoked a turkey for someone. I was so hungry every time the door opened because the fragrance of the smoked flavor was wafting about. But even more so, just because I walked out to check on him and the turkey a few times, or to get something from the garage, my clothes smelled of smoke too. How can you be near or in a fire and not smell like smoke? Only God can do make that happen.

God changed those men's lives forever. Even the king gave an order that no one could say anything against God without punishment. Change is a great thing, and usually comes at a large price. That price is not just an outward change, meaning that other people notice right off. The price has to be an inward change that may be only significant to the one making the change, unnoticeable to others, at first. But if God's change truly takes place, only later will others see what a transformation has been made. And only God can and you can make the change happen.

The Beginning of Change

2011-11-22T04:33:00.000-08:00

Daniel 3:24 - 25

²⁴ Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”

They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”

²⁵ He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

The book of Daniel is mainly about Daniel, but this chapter is about his friends. This chapter is about how God is with you when the bad things happen and how he can change opinions about you and him in an instant. This is one of them. King Nebuchadnezzar had Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego thrown into a roaring furnace that killed the men that threw them in. It should have instantly consumed these three godly men too. But instead, the king watched and realized that a) the men did not die and b) there were more than three of them. He stated that the fourth man looked like a son of the gods. Well of course he did! He was actually sent from God! In the king's mind, there were many gods, not just our Holy God. When the king realizes something supernatural has taken place, he is amazed. God opened the king's mind to what really is, not what he expects.

Do you look for what really is, or what you expect God to do? I think we all just expect certain things and take God for granted. We pray, expecting God to answer yes to whatever we want. We expected him to heal our loved-ones, keep them safe, help us all to make the right choices, etc. But as we all know, God has three answers for us...Yes; No; and Not right now. We ask and plead and want it now, but we don't always get it. This story is not actually about the three godly friends of Daniel, it is about the start of changing one man's heart, King Nebuchadnezzar.

God and His Blessings

2011-11-21T05:38:00.000-08:00

Daniel 3:19 - 23

¹⁹ Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual ²⁰ and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. ²¹ So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. ²² The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, ²³ and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

Sadly, sometimes our anger gets the better of us. We hear everyday of some violent act between people and the results and consequences of it. We hear of dictators and kings of countries giving orders for genocide and unspeakable acts against women. King Nebuchadnezzar was no different. Daniel's three young friends were taking a stand against the idol and him and the king got mad. Really mad. He didn't care about anything except showing his power against those who went against them. As a result, the soldiers that took Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to their punishment were killed by the hot furnace.
A fiery death has to be one of the worst types of death for medical examiners to deal with. Trying to find evidence of who the victim is, how they were burned, makes it difficult. Not to mention the memory that they will forever have from their senses, seeing, smelling, hearing. Yeah, I know, it's graphic.

But God had other plans for these men. They weren't lucky, like some would think. They were blessed. This week, look at your life. Each of us is blessed. No one will ever take that away from you. Only you can decided if something is a blessing or not. So look around. What are you most thankful for this week? Focus on that. Stay positive. Even if it looks impossible and bleak, it probably isn't. You just have to make it to the other side. Keep your eyes there. Keep your eyes on God and his blessings.

Lifting Us Up

2011-11-17T04:55:00.000-08:00

He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting
in the LORD.
Psalm 112:7 (NIV)

Most days are better than some. When the good times are here, we are grateful for all we have. But when the times are bad, what do you do? We turn to the Lord. No matter what. I receive a verse-a-day through my email (www.verse-a-day.com). This was the verse I received. We always fear the worst and hope for the best. Sometimes the best is not good. I always fear what could happen and what does happen, usually doesn't seem so bad. This verse is a big help. This verse is talking about a righteous man and how he has God in everything he does. How he depends on him, loves him, keeping himself upstanding and humble. I am trying to give my fears and my worries to God. It is so hard to do, but I keep in constant prayer with Him. I am talking, walking and seeking during this dark time, but I know that God is in the situation and is keeping us safe. It's not easy being in Satan's sights. But we have all been there some time or another. Keep us in your prayers, that is what we need from you.

Not Gonna Bow!

2011-11-10T05:38:00.000-08:00

Daniel 3:8 - 18

At this time some astrologers^[b] came forward and denounced the Jews. ⁹ They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever! ¹⁰ Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, ¹¹ and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. ¹² But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”

¹³ Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, ¹⁴ and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? ¹⁵ Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us^[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. ¹⁸ But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

When I was a teenager, I loved Russ Taff's music. He is a Christian singer who first toured with Amy Grant, and later the Gaither Vocal Band. He based a song on these verses, that I still hear in my head when I read about idols. This song, Not Gonna Bow, even today, plays a big part of my thinking when it comes to idols.

Not Gonna Bow
Michael Landau/James Newton Howard

Ninety feet tall and nine feet wide
Solid gold – “it must be a god”
They were told
“when you hear the music play
Fall on your knees and begin to pray”
They were told
But when the trumpet sounded
The whole world bowed
Three men stood there all alone
– they said

[Chorus]
Not gonna bow to your idols
Not gonna bow, oh no
Not gonna bow to your idols
I won’t bow down

All Bobby wanted was just to fit in
To be accepted he must act like them
He said no
“everybody does it – so what’s the fuss?
Come on, Bobby – won’t you be like us?”
He said no
And when the pressure came
He watched them bow
Bobby stood there all alone
- he said

[Chorus]

We don’t have to give in to it
We can choose to go against the crowd

This story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego teaches me that it is okay to stand up for your beliefs, especially if it is God's way and not the world's way. I think these verses, and this song is one of the greatest stories for teens today. God wants all of us to stand up for Him and for what we truly believe. It is hard with the peer pressures of the day, but it is possible, especially if we support each other and help each other as a family should. This is one good reason to have small groups of support for us, and to have your children in Youth Group and activities of your church. They can make lasting friendships and a firm foundation of beliefs. Join a small group or start one. It will be make the difference in eternity!

Idols

2011-11-09T05:14:00.000-08:00

Daniel 3:1-7

1King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide,^[a] and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. ² He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. ³ So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.

⁴ Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: ⁵As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. ⁶ Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”

⁷ Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

We don't know how much time has lapsed, but obviously it isn't too much. Daniel had given the King the meaning to his dream and now he (the king) is having a golden image made. And not just any golden image, a huge one. The king decided that at the dedication, the nation should bow down to the idol.

Growing up in a Christian home, I really don't understand statues that people make into idols. I understand how someone can be deceived by a talking serpent, or an idealistic movie star, but an inanimate object? If it can not talk to me and give me it's ideas and sway my opinion, then I really don't give it a thought. I try to keep my thoughts on God and what he wants me to do. Usually in my family if you tell us to do something, that is just an excuse for us not to do it. But, if God is my focus, then I won't bow down to the world's idols.

Daniel's Reward

2011-11-08T11:36:00.000-08:00

Daniel 2:44 - 49

⁴⁴ “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. ⁴⁵ This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.

“The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.”

⁴⁶ Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. ⁴⁷ The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”

⁴⁸ Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. ⁴⁹ Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.

Daniel explained the meaning of the dream to King Nebuchadnezzar. When all was revealed, the king payed him honor and gave him many things. He made Daniel be over all of Babylon and put him in charge of the wise men. Daniel did not forget his friends. He asked if they could be overseers of Babylon.

When you do not understand something, isn't it a relief when you do know the meaning? It frustrates me when people think they know what it is all about, but in honesty, they are wrong. The wrong may be something they were told and chose to believe, or it was a miscommunication, but in either case jumping to conclusions until all sides of the story are in can be frustrating. When you hear the whole story, then the light bulb can come on and you can wade through and find the facts. If you are lucky enough to have a mentor, then it makes it easy. But for most of us, we chose to believe things that are not true and usually do not want all the facts because we rely on half truths.

King Nebuchadnezzar heard what Daniel said and knew it was true, because he did not tell anyone what his dream was about. He lavished great gifts on Daniel and trusted him. Daniel relied on God for this and because of his faithfulness, was rewarded in kind.

Foundation

2011-11-04T04:50:00.000-07:00

Daniel 2:36-43

³⁶ “This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king. ³⁷ Your Majesty, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; ³⁸ in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.

³⁹ “After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. ⁴⁰ Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. ⁴¹ Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. ⁴² As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. ⁴³ And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.

I am so glad I do not have to interpret dreams. Kingdoms represented, countries torn apart, and such bad news to give. I would rather people come to realizations on their own. I do not want to spell it out for them. That's why I am not in the psychic business.

As Daniel described what the statue was, a lot of emphasis was on the feet and toes. At first I thought that was strange, but then I realized that your feet are a foundation. No matter the size, they help you stand up. Most of you know that I have small feet. My Dad's mom had even smaller (and wider) feet, and my Dad has little feet too. But, we usually stay upright and they get us where we need to go. I just started a new job a week ago and after the first half shift, my feet hurt! I am not use to standing on them for more than a few minutes. I did not sit down but one time during the shift and my dogs were barking! But then next two shifts, my feet took it in stride. I didn't even notice if they were in pain or not until I got home. The more you stand on them, the more support. The more I stand on God's Word, the more support I get from Him and his book. My foundation is something that I try to keep a focus on. For with my foundation is my faith, my joy and my hope. The hard part is trying to help my family with their find their foundation. I think I could have done a better job at it, but, I see some rewards already. Next week, Allie and I are going to Cincinnati Christian University in a couple of weeks for our first college visit. How exciting! Her foundation is starting to grow. It may not be her choice in college, but she is excited to consider it. And, so am I.

Daniel's Humble Pie

2011-11-03T07:09:00.000-07:00

Daniel 2:28-35

²⁸ but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these:

²⁹ “As Your Majesty was lying there, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen. ³⁰ As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.

³¹ “Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. ³² The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, ³³ its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. ³⁴ While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. ³⁵ Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.

As I read this portion of Daniel, Chapter 2, what I thought was the most interesting part of it was that Daniel did not take credit for any of it. He said that God showed him the vision so he could explain it, not to make himself greater than anyone else. How often to we take the praise (or blame) for something that was not of our own doing? Daniel, from the beginning of this journey, has never taken credit for anything. In doing so, he made himself likeable to the king. Isn't that what we all want? To make people like us. We usually go about it the wrong way, by taking the credit for things to make us look better. But Daniel has the correct idea. Give God the glory and humble himself. That is what we all need to do. Have a piece of humble pie.

Never Impossible

2011-11-02T04:29:00.000-07:00

Daniel 2:24-27

²⁴ Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him.”

²⁵ Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means.”

²⁶ The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), “Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?”

²⁷ Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about,..."

After Daniel was praised and thanked God, he immediately went to the commander of the guard and asked him to not kill anyone and take him to Nebuchadnezzar. That's a lot to ask from a prisoner. How many times does the prisoner ask for favors without giving something in return? But Arioch was on Daniel's side. He had already presented Daniel and his three friends to the king. But now, Daniel took what God had revealed to him and wanted an audience with the king.

The king accepted and wanted to know if he knew what the dream was. Daniel started out saying that no one can explain that mystery. How could anyone know any part of the dream when the king wouldn't reveal any of it to them? It was more a trick. God wouldn't have any of it and showed Daniel the vision. When up against the wall, sometimes divine intervention is all we have. Have you noticed that when we think it's impossible, God comes through and as you look back on the situation later you realize how simple the answer really was? God's way is not always about impossible, but about possibilities. I am thankful for that.

The Thankful Month

2011-11-01T10:15:00.000-07:00

Daniel 2:17-23

¹⁷ Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. ¹⁸ He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. ¹⁹ During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven ²⁰ and said:

   “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
   wisdom and power are his.
²¹ He changes times and seasons;
   he deposes kings and raises up others.
He gives wisdom to the wise
   and knowledge to the discerning.
²² He reveals deep and hidden things;
   he knows what lies in darkness,
   and light dwells with him.
²³ I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:
   You have given me wisdom and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you,
   you have made known to us the dream of the king.”

Daniel was concerned. He had heard that the king wanted to kill everyone because he couldn't find anyone to interpret his dream. Daniel bought some time for himself and his friends. He then asked the his friends to plead with God that they have revealed to them the king's dream and save them. God gave Daniel the knowledge of the dream. Then what did Daniel do? He stopped and praised God. He didn't run to the king and take the credit, he thanked God for his wisdom and his revelation.

Sometimes we get so excited we forget to thank others, don't we? And especially, we get an answered prayer and then forget who made it happen. We all do it. I try, even the little things, like paying the bills, or a good day, to thank God for them. And, I feel guilty when days later I realized, Oh, I forgot to thank God, and then I quickly send up a prayer of thanks.

As I just wrote that, I realized that this is the first day of November, or in my mind, the Thankful Month. American's celebrate Thanksgiving this month and I am grateful for all we have. Last night, Mike came home and told me that he now officially on mandatory overtime. This means that starting Friday and through Thanksgiving, he may have to work almost everyday. He can take a couple of days off for things already planned, but he will be working a lot. He is not crazy about it, but he did confess that he wasn't too upset. I see the sunny side in everything, and thought, Yay! that will pay some bills and Christmas! As we talked last night, I thanked God that we both have jobs. Not everyone does. So, this month, let's focus on being thankful and making sure everyone is aware they have something to be thankful for. It will make you feel better.

Time Constraints

2011-10-31T04:13:00.000-07:00

Daniel 2:13 - 16

¹⁴ When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. ¹⁵ He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. ¹⁶ At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.

Daniel was such a logical person. He started asking questions, trying to figure out what what was going on. He then went to the king and asked for time. Time to tell the dream. Time is something that we all need. Time is not always there, and normally, we all want more of it. There seems never enough hours in a day, never enough minutes during a contest, and never are we happy with time constraints. But honestly, we just need to budget our time better. For the past two months I have had all the time in the world. I did not rush in cleaning, looking for a job, or dealing with things. I now need to learn to budget my time because I have a part time job. Luckily it has started just as Marching Band is over, so I am not doing too many things at once.

Daniel asked for time and logically talked to the king about it. The king agreed and gave that time to Daniel. We just need to do as Daniel and use our time wisely.

God's Plan for Me

2011-10-24T04:56:00.001-07:00

It’s turning out to be a long journey. I found myself unemployed at the end of the summer and we have been okay with that. We are trying to follow God’s leading and appreciate all the advice and encouragement from our family and friends. It’s been a blessing to be able to help my kids, parents and others during this time. When I was first let go, I wasn’t even that sad. The place I left was not my favorite place. I liked a lot of my co-workers, people I met, but there were aspects of the job that left me sad and longing for something else. I can honestly say that it was not a shock to be let go. I was in the process of looking for something closer to home and something that I thought would be more my style.

I have found that God always has a plan. I saw this from the beginning. My kids and I needed to reconnect better. I have been able to be at all their school functions, and luckily, they are okay with that. They don’t get angry that I am around and for that I am grateful. My husband has expressed that he likes having me home has been a blessing for him too. He knew I was unhappy, more than I knew. Again, God’s hand was there. My father is going through some heart issues and will be in the hospital part of this week. Again, God has not led me to a job so I can be there for both Dad and Mom. I see God’s hand everywhere in my life. Even my dog has enjoyed that during this cold weather, she doesn’t have to spend all day out on the back porch. She can come in and be warm.

Isn’t it amazing that what most people would have found as devastating, my family has turned into a blessing? It doesn’t mean that that house is cleaner, and we are still worrying about how to pay bills and have a nice Christmas for everyone, but we are enjoying our time together. As a family, we are learning to get by on less, though some days it doesn’t feel like it. I thank God everyday for what we have and what we are trying to do.

I am still looking for a job and have been on several interviews. I’m not in a hurry, and I know when God has a place for me, I’ll be happy and take it. But for now, it’s nice to be a stay-at-home mom. I think my faith and the faith that we have developed as a family has helped me not turn this in to a pity party. I just praise God for what he has given me, and continues to supply for us. I hope that this encourages you, as it has encouraged me. It’s a journey and an adventure that I do not wish on anyone, but if you are going through this, keep your attitude checked in to God and his promises. It changes your whole outlook on what is important.

Doing the Impossible

2011-10-21T06:40:00.000-07:00

Daniel 2:10 - 12

¹⁰ The astrologers answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. ¹¹ What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans.”
¹² This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. ¹³ So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.

The demands placed on workers by unrelentless and selfish employers can sometimes get crazy! Take King Nebuchadnezzar as an example. He wants the wise men, magician, enchanter or astrologer to tell him what he dreamed without revealing any of it himself. As most people would react, those around him, told him that it was impossible! Of course, this made the king so angry he decided to put them all to death. No one got a chance, no once was looked on any other way. Unreasonable. That's what I call it. But that is the way of the boss, right? I don't think it is always, but it does seem that sometimes the employer puts hard tasks on the employee. In this day and age of downsizing-getting-more-work-for-less-time/pay, the crunch to do our best is always there, but sometimes hard to find. But remember, Daniel was a level-headed young man who did not seem to let a lot of things excite him.

"...with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26b

Failing to Succeed

2011-10-18T05:52:00.000-07:00

Daniel 2:8-9

⁸ Then the king answered, “I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: ⁹ If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one penalty for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me.”

To be in charge, you must be able to show the authority, be smart and able to lead. King Nebuchadnezzar did all these. He realized that the astrologers and wise men around him were trying to trick him. He set a trap of sorts for them. He wanted them to tell him what he dreamed. If any of them could do that, then he would know that they could tell him the meaning.

Knowing someone so well that you know what they are thinking is one thing, but to actually know about a very strange dream they had is next to impossible. I am not a huge risk taker. I would not want to be in this predicament. I am sure neither did the astrologers and wise men. But Nebuchadnezzar was cunning and new how to get to people. It makes you think that he really was setting people up to fail, with terrible consequences. I always feel that people are already waiting for me to fail. Sometimes I do, sometimes I succeed. But God wants us to rely on him and know that no matter what he will make all our successes or failures turn good for his glory. Just trust him!

Tell Me Your Dream

2011-10-11T07:29:00.000-07:00

Daniel 2:5-7

The king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. ⁶ But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me.”

⁷ Once more they replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”

Do you look at dreams as a gateway to the subconscious? Do you think it may be a way of unlocking something you would rather not remember? Do you think that God is trying to tell you something by giving you the dream? I think many people read way to much into things. The media over-analyzes every syllable, every action, and every job people do or say. But that is today. In ancient times, God did send messages through prophets, seers, and everyday people. So when Nebuchadnezzar had this dream, he wanted an answer. But, he wanted the real meaning to the dream. He was very specific with his request. He made sure that those who wanted to "help" (and with that I mean impress the king), knew that if he wasn't satisfied, they would suffer.

That seems like a lot of pressure. If the king doesn't like your answers you would be chopped up and your house destroyed. But, if you gave a good answer, he would shower you with gifts and honor. I think Nebuchadnezzar had and idea of what the dream meant, but wanted it confirmed. I am not sure he really trusted his advisers. But he was giving them a chance to be able to prove themselves to him. And as you read, they were up to the challenge.

Dream a Little Dream

2011-10-07T10:42:00.000-07:00

Daniel 2:1-4

¹ In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. ² So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers^[a] to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king, ³ he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means.^[b]”

Do you have dreams? I usually do not remember any dreams I have. Maybe I just don't sleep long enough. But, King Nebuchadnezzar dreamed and they bothered him. Dreams can make you crazy. You can worry about what they mean, why you dreamed them and you wonder if God is trying to tell you something. So when I get to heaven, I want to ask God why some people dream.

Anyway, Nebuchadnezzar was so disturbed by these dreams that he gathered his advisors. If a dream bothers you that much, you should talk about it. My kids tell me their strange dreams and I giggle at them because sometimes they are just crazy. I have also been there for the nightmares. Those can be awful. I am sure that Nebuchadnezzar was worried about his night dreams. But this time, God was giving Daniel an edge to get in good with the King, as we will see next time. I hope this weekend you have sweet dreams!

Connections

2011-10-06T07:08:00.000-07:00

Daniel 1:18-21

¹⁸ At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. ¹⁹ The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. ²⁰ In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
²¹ And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.

After three years of studying, teaching and being groomed for service in King Nebuchadnezzar's court, the young men that were stolen from their home finally came to the King and showed their stuff. They were wise and showed understanding about everything they were asked and he thought them to be much better than the magicians and enchanters throughout his kingdom. They did everything asked of them and impressed the king. But, in doing so, they made enemies, the magicians. Wouldn't it be upsetting to find out that these young men were essentially smarter and more impressive than your so-called magic? What you dazzled on, is no longer amusing your king. How would you feel? First things first, you want to get the offenders out of the king's sight. This is where the plot thickens.

Just know that these four young men are now known as Daniel, Shadrach, Meschah and Abednego. Did you know that they were connected to Daniel? Lots of questions, not a lot of answers today. But as we delve into the book of Daniel, lots will be answered.

Do You Trust God?

2011-10-04T08:45:00.000-07:00

Daniel 1:17

¹⁷ To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

God gives us everything. These young men that were stolen from their native land and taken to Babylon were almost perfect. They were from the royal family and nobility of the court. King Nebuchadnezzar wanted those men to help him be his servants. If you want someone to help you, why not pick those who know what it means to be in the presence of the king?

God gave these young men the smarts and know-how to reading and literature. They could carry on an intelligent conversation. God gave extra talents to David. David was a seer. He could understand visions and dreams. That was going to be helpful in times to come. Even with all these talents, all the men could do was trust God. They had no foresight of what was going to happen in the future. All they could do is what we should do. Trust a faithful God and know he will bring us to where he wants his glory to shine. Can you do that?

Eat your Veggies!

2011-10-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

Daniel 1:15-16

¹⁵ At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. ¹⁶ So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

If there was ever an argument for eating your vegetables, this is it. Daniel and the other young men who were captured by King Nebuchadnezzar, didn't want to eat the rich foods offered to them by the king. They made the deal of eating just vegetables and relied on God to keep them healthy. God blessed them and they looked better and were healthier than the men who ate the royal food. How's that for telling your kids to eat their vegetables?

It makes me giggle. I use to hate most vegetables. My tastes have changed, and I like a lot more of them now, but I might have thought twice about it if someone had told me this story. It seems silly, but to an eight year old, I'll bet eating is serious business. God wants us at our best and eating healthy is a part of that. Having a healthy body, helps with a healthy mind, and a healthy soul. All three, when working together, provides us with the opportunities that we can't create when we are sick. So, eat your vegetables and help your self stay healthy!

Veggies or Rich Food (What Would You Eat?)

2011-09-29T04:11:00.000-07:00

Daniel 1:11 - 14

¹¹ Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, ¹²“Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” ¹⁴ So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

I despise tests and being tested for anything. I get nervous, think terribly of myself, and usually second guess everything I do. I admire Daniel for his confidence. He knows that the food from the table of King Nebuchadnezzar is not in his best interest and goes against all he has learned. So he challenges the chief official over him and his acquaintances to a test. He asks that they be allowed to eat nothing but veggies and water and compare them with the other young men that eat the royal food.

Now, I like veggies, especially vegetable soups, fresh vegetables from my garden and salsas. But ten days of nothing but vegetables? Maybe there is something to that. I could make this all about how there are too many preservatives in our food and how a lot of us doesn't make anything from scratch anymore, but that is not what this is about. This is about Daniel showing that his upbringing and faith in God has been instilled in him to the point that he feels it is important to keep. How many of us would have caved and started to feed from the king's table? How many of us would have accepted what was happening and went with the flow and not made a stand? I hope none, but put in that situation, I'm not so sure what I would have done. I pray that I stay strong in the Lord and always keep his commandments, especially when I am tested.

Daniel's First Order of Business

2011-09-28T06:41:00.000-07:00

^{Daniel 1:1 -10}

¹ In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. ² And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia^[a] and put in the treasure house of his god.
³ Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— ⁴ young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.^[b] ⁵ The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.
⁶ Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. ⁷ The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
⁸ But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. ⁹ Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, ¹⁰ but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your^[c] food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”

I love this book. It gets right in to the story and doesn't mess around. The second verse immediately tells that God's hand was on this adventure from the start. God delivered King Jehoiakim to Nebuchadnezzer. Then Nebuchadnezzer decided to take the brightest and most promising young men and train them. Being taken from their country against their will was bad enough, but then he renamed them and gave them his food and wine. The plan was for them to be trained for three years, and then be servants of the king. Daniel was loyal to God and knew right from wrong, even if it meant he would lose his life. He defied the king and would not eat the food from his table. The official was concerned and tried to talk to Daniel about it. Daniel didn't budge, but instead made a deal to see if eating things other than the food from the king would have a difference in his health. This scared the official.

I think I'd be scared every day that if I messed up, I'd be killed. Daniel must have been scared. But God was watching over Daniel. He showed the official in charge of the young men that Daniel was smart, had a good head and that he was special. Sometimes, you just know who to put in charge. Sometimes, you know that there is something not right. Sometimes you know that something is not good for you and you need to fight it, no matter the consequences. I have a problem tooth. I had a root canal for it last year, but it is starting to hurt again. The dentist could not find a problem on the x-ray, but he realizes that I know my mouth as well as he does and is listening too me. Maybe I need a crown. Maybe I need to have the tooth pulled. That remains to be determined. But I know it is bothersome.

Daniel knew that the food and wine the king offered was not the best for him, so he took matters in to his hands. He didn't do it to defy God, he did it because of God. What are you doing because of God that seems to be upsetting people? Look around at friends that you have. Are any of them refusing to do something and you are not sure why? Don't push them to do something a certain way because that's the way we have always done it. Push them to resolve it in a loving, Christian manner that will help everyone, or at least give everyone an understanding of the situation. You may not always agree, but that is why God made us all different.

My little insight

2011-09-27T04:58:00.000-07:00

I have been away from this for about two weeks. I lost my job, and I've been resting and trying to find myself. I threw myself into helping the marching band and helping others. Things have been okay for us, but they are going to get hard. I'm not sure what God has planned, but I am sure it will bring me to where he exactly wants me to be. I don't know if this is true, but you know that little voice in the back of your head that tells you what you don't want to think or talk about, yet you can help it? It's been telling me that I am probably off for a very good reason, like maybe my Dad's upcoming tests. I keep saying, Nah, but what if? And, if I live by what ifs, then I will always be waiting for the other shoe to drop.

So I am going to do what I know. I don't know a lot, but I do know that I want to talk about someone else that went through a lot of ordeals or opportunities. His name is Daniel. Daniel is one of my heroes of the Bible. When my son was younger, we read the whole book of Daniel. We both enjoyed that time together and we enjoyed that God gave us something to think about. So starting tomorrow, I will start a devotion on the book of Daniel.

I pray that each of you will join me in it. I also pray that you will pray for my unemployed situation, and that we will be able to make the right choices for us. I am praying for you.

Remembrances

2011-09-13T04:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was full of tears, patriotism, sadness and hope. 9-11 for most of us was spend with in some kind of service, whether it was watching television and seeing the official memorial service from the Ground Zero Memorial, a special service at church, or a city service. The day was emotional for all of us who remembered where we were, what we were doing, and how we felt when our country was attacked by terrorists.

I was at work when the President of our company came on the paging system and told us what was going on. We had a stunned moment of silence as it began to sink in what was happening. How it was hard to fathom that someone or something attacked our country in this horrific way. I personally couldn't wait to get home and see the television, to hold my kids, and to be reassured that there was nothing else going on.

At noon, my youngest was released from school and I met him at home. He went to play, and I watched television. I am glad that at the time my children were very young and didn't understand all that was going on. Now, though, we have a generation of kids who doesn't understand the solemnness of the day, the rush of emotions most of us get when we think about what transpired, and the changes that came because of it.

Kids from all over the country does not understand what the big deal is. It's a shame that we all can't tell them our stories, our personal tributes, and how historical those events of that day were. When my daughter's eighth grade class went on their class trip to Washington D.C. a few years ago, my father and I went with them as chaperone's, as we passed through Pennsylvania, close to where Flight 93 went down, my dad got on the bus microphone and talked to the kids a few minutes about that sight and the Memorial that was being built there. Though we didn't see it, those kids were respectful and listened.

Today, as we go back to the grind of our daily lives, a lot of us are still thinking about that day ten years ago. I hope that we can instill in future generations the importance of remembering the past and learning from it. I know that I want to try.

Deuteronomy 8:2

Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.

Rejoice Always

2011-09-02T04:08:00.000-07:00

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for

this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NASB)

When you are going through something, it's easy to tell God all your problems, to ask for help, to complain, to be down on yourself and everyone else. Whether you have an illness, a hurt, or going through some other trial, you are not alone. There are people that surprise you with encouragement. I am thankful for those people. They are your true friends. They are your support and the ones that you can go to when you need to talk. They are the ones that I rejoice with, pray for and give thanks to God for.

Ask

2011-09-01T09:04:00.000-07:00

John 16:22-24
²² So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. ²³ In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. ²⁴ Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

Last night at Bible Study, my dad reminded me of these verses. If you want something, no matter how big, like money, a healing, or a job, and no matter how small, like to find a parking spot, or for a good day, you will never get it if you do not ask. And Jesus says that we need to ask for whatever it is in his name.

The biggest hinderance for us it that we feel we are being selfish or petty. If we are, God will answer our request in the correct manner. You can't out do God, so ask him for your heart's desire, or maybe ask him for his heart's desires. What a difference there will be in your life.

Crown of Life

2011-08-30T05:50:00.000-07:00

James 1:12
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

I hate tests. In school I could study and study, and still not do well. It took me a while to get over the fact that the exam was not the only important way to express your knowledge. I can do the work, I can show my character, act on the knowledge I have studied and have been given. Those things also give a lot to show you during a trial. I know God is giving me what I can handle, and I am not sure what the reason for it or the end result will be, but I am trusting that no matter what. I am learning each day, I am doing my best to keep my faith and attitude in check and trying to praise God. I know that the promise in James 1:12 will be my end result. God has given us that knowledge. I hope I past the test.