Daniels and Elijahs part 2

Daniel, a man who God regarded as very precious, a man who was given visions so mighty that he lost his own strength, a man who God trusted to obey every Word He Divinely spoke. A prophet of His time, very highly respected. In a place of authority at his job, and this was one man that faced opposition on everyside. But he did not waver, he did not back down, and he did not cower in fear. I was going to take one particular event thats written in Daniel and use it to make my point, but everything is so amazing, that i couldnt just take one thing.

The first thing that i wanted to point out, or draw attention to, is the beginning of the book. First: he's strong, wise, skilled... and good looking. He is chosen by the king in order that whats written in Isaiah 39:7 would be fulfilled. (I noticed that it doesnt actually say what the kings actual intent was in bringing these boys in for training) So he is brought in and placed in front of him are meats and wines, things that as we know, smell amazing! However great this temptation might have been, he decided that regardless of what their rules were, he was not going to eat the foods that according to Moses' Law would defile his body. That's such a great act of boldness for the sacrifice of doing what's right! He put his faith to his words! He told the prince of the eunichs that was guard over them that he and his servants would prove to be wiser in better health, and look better eating the foods which would not defile them.

So a test was set up, and of course Gods Chosen four were healthier/wiser/better looking at the end of the ten days. This act of boldness from Daniel was one that I admire. Instead of looking around at his peers he stood up for what he believed and he knew God's way is far better then man's ways. But at the end of the trial, God blessed him with an extaordinary gift of visions and the interpertation of visions and dreams. But it took an act of boldness and sacrifice before he recieved that.
The other thing i wanted to point out was later on in Daniels life he is the wisest and most favored man in the Kingdom, and at the time the king was thinking of putting Daniel in charge of the other princes in the kingdom because Daniel was wiser than any of the others, so to keep their position of power, the other princes conspired against Daniel to get him thrown in the Lions Den. (Sound familiar?)

Soo they get the king to sign a decree stating there will be no prayers made to anyone but the king for 30 days, or they will be cast into a den of lions. In my carnal mind, I wonder if I would ever be as faithful and bold as Daniel is in this situation... I hope so. Daniel doesnt seem moved bythis at all. Instead, he continues as he always has, praying on his knees 3 times a day in front of an OPEN window!
I think to myself, how hard would it have been to keep the window shut for just that month? But Daniel had strength and courage, and didnt change a thing! Even in the face of death! He trusted God, just as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when faced with a furnace said : our God will save us, but even if He chooses not to, we will never bow to any one but Him. A willingness to sacrifice their lives in order to do whats right. Each of these men knew the consequences if they didnt follow the law of the land, but that did not deter them.

In each case, these men were exalted for standing up... did it go to their head? Did they said "yea, im so good, i dont do what they do, look how good i am at following God's law". No! they were humble. Daniel repeatedly tells the king "it is not I who tells you the meanings of these dreams, but the God of all who has shown me". That kind of humilty is so rare these days! Almost unheard of actually. Even amongst preachers and self proclaimed prophets. They say things acting on their own opinion and boasting of the gifts they are given. God loves the humble! Read a couple of proverbs and you are given many examples of what happens to the proud. It's become a disease in America. Everyone walking around boasting about their great deeds. Even in the church, people boasting of what they fast and how hard it is, Jesus had a name for people like this...

Anyways, this could easily turn into a book, so I think i will stop with this. But if anyone is looking for an exciting book in the Bible, Daniel is one of the great ones! This book has helped me place my priorities in the right place. I want to be like Daniel... I'm far from it now, but I wont stay the same forever. God doesnt let me. Haha.
God bless you, and I hope this was at least entertaining :)

True reverance of the Lord

Proverbs 2:5 Tells us that Understanding the fear of the Lord is finding knowledge and wisdom!

When I was growing up I seriously thought that unless I was scared of and frightened by the very thought of God then I couldn't truly make God happy. And while in some aspects I really was afraid of God, I thought it was kind of messed up that I was supposed to cower in fear of someone who supposedly loved me enough to give me His only Son so I could spend an eternity with Him.
This extreme misunderstanding pushed me pretty far from my loving Savior. The true and right fear of the Lord certianly did not reside in my heart, and neither did any clue to what true fear of the Lord was. I just simply thought that if I lied or sinned I should be afraid of a lightening bolt striking me right then and there! I know I was not alone in this very wrong belief.
My eyes had yet to be opened to the magnitude of His truly incomprehensible greatness! Sure I knew He made the heavens and Earth, but I was still blinded to His greatness, and will not see The full extent of His greatness untill the day I see Him with my true eyes. In Job 38 God repremends Job for talking about God as if Job knew everything, God says how He fashioned the earth and clothed her in garments of clouds, how He made the stars and named the constilations, how He knows the number of stars because HE made each and every one! And Job was not there, who does he think he is talking as if he knows the plans of God?! God simply spoke, and it came into being! And all that, God can fit the universe in the palm of His hand, yet he knows every little detail about you Matthew 10:25-30 talks about how God made beautiful lillys (which happen to be one of my favorite kinds of flowers) and how God loves you so much more than a simple lilly that dies in a day, God has clothed you AND knows every itty bitty detail, down to the very hair and freckle on your body! Godknows you have x amount of split ends and if you're like me He knows the amount of freckles that you couldn't count if you tried. Because Gods very hand formed you and continues to form and fashion you.
So there is more to fearing the God than just knowing How big He is or How much He loves and cares for you. The other part is about knowing how Good and perfect God is. Psalms 25:8 says good and upright is the Lord! And in verse 10 it says ALL the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful to those who keep His commandments. God is so good, He hates sin, He hates evil, and he hates all the injustice in this world! And if you are thinking that maybe God doesn't hate it enough to punish them, then check yourself! Though corruption is all over this planet and continues to go on, it is not without Gods knowledge. And NO God has not let them get away with it. Gods word says that the have not been given light and knowledge. The gift of Knowlegde is prized and those who search after it find it in the Hands of God, in the Word of His mouth. Hosea 4:6 says Gods people die for lack of knowledge. God wants you to have knowledge, and wisdom, God wants you to come to Him for it. And those who don't die. (No, not by some lightening bolt) die spiritually. Die without light ever entering their life.
If you read Malachi it makes a very clear distinction of what the fear of the Lord looks like. Those who say God doesn't see the injustice and that they get away with whatever... there...lack of fear. Lack of respect lack of knowledge of how Great our God is. Nothing is Hidden fromGod, and those who fear the Lord are written down in a book or rememberance, and they are spared. Honor God, Obey God, Trust God, and challenge yourself to obtain as much knowledge of God as you can. The knowledge of God is limitless. Don't fool yourself.
I encourage you, if you've ever doubted that God punishes the wicked, first, repent, and ask God to open your eyes, then go read that tiny book in the Bible, right before Matthew, called Malachi. Its gonna really give you the description of the kind of fear of God, that we are called to have. I am so glad I don't need to be frightened by God every time I fall short. I am excited to be loved and cherished when I feel like I don't deserve any amount of it. It may be true, I don't deserve Gods grace, but God is merciful and amazing to me. And I am so thankful and grateful That He is MY God and nothing will ever change that! :) God says do not be afraid for I am with you. So there ya have it. Don't be scared. But hate what is evil.

That's just what's on my heart right now. Hopefully it sheds some light on the truth for ya :D
Peace out my friends