Daniel Dilemma!

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They all went to the king and said:

“Your Majesty, we hope you live forever!  All of your officials, leaders, advisors, and governors agree that you should make a law forbidding anyone to pray to any god or human except you for the next 30 days. Everyone who disobeys this law must be thrown into a pit of lions.  Order this to be written and then sign it, so it cannot be changed, just as no written law of the Medes and Persians can be changed.”

So King Darius made the law and had it written down.

Daniel heard about the law, but when he returned home, he went upstairs and prayed in front of the window that faced Jerusalem. In the same way that he had always done, he knelt down in prayer three times a day, giving thanks to God.

The men who had spoken to the king watched Daniel and saw him praying to his God for help. They went back to the king and said, “Didn't you make a law that forbids anyone to pray to any god or human except you for the next 30 days? And doesn't the law say that everyone who disobeys it will be thrown into a pit of lions?”

“Yes, that's the law I made,” the king agreed. “And just like all written laws of the Medes and Persians, it cannot be changed.”

Daniel 6:6-12

Daniel was thrown into a pit of lions because he refused to obey a law that prohibited prayer for thirty days. Today in the United States we are faced with what might be called a "Daniel Dilemma." For many years now we have been told that praying in public is "unconstitutional!" We are especially intimidated when we even think about praying at a school function, or governmental meeting.

What we have is the perfect opportunity to let God show His power. When I refuse to stop calling on the Name of the Lord no matter who may try to stop me, then I step into the tradition of Daniel. When I do that am I guaranteed that God will shut the mouths of the Lions that are sent to devour me? No I am not, but there is still very good news.

When I run to the arms of Jesus and cling to Him, the "lions" have no power to hurt me. The worst thing the "lions" can do is to send me on to Heaven where I will rest in the sweet arms of Jesus forever!

The story of Daniel teaches us clearly that there is never a time when we should hide our faith in and relationship with Jesus from the world around us. And God wants us to disobey any and every law that would try to interfere with calling on Him!

"Lord Jesus, I call on You, the God of Daniel to rescue me from those who try to stand between us and keep me from praying! Give me the courage to always call on Your Name no matter what the law says or the world around me threatens. And may Your Name be praised around the world today and forever. Amen."

Think About Jesus Today!

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Always be glad because of the Lord! I will say it again: Be glad.  Always be gentle with others. The Lord will soon be here.  Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God.  Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.

Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don't ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.

Philippians 4:4-8

In the world of Journalism there is "Good News" and there is "Bad News." But the saying "If it bleeds, it leads" lets us know that Bad News always wins in the reporting of news. Bad news includes, murders, wars, cheating, thievery, wife beating, child abuse and all sorts of sadness, grief and misery! Every day we all have ample opportunity to fill our minds with things to ponder that do not come under the categories of "true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper."

If beautiful thoughts are to be in the forefront of your mind you cannot be passive in the struggle for your mind and heart. If I were to tell you not to think about an elephant, and I repeated "don't think about an elephant" over and over all day long, how effective would that be in keeping your mind away from elephants? Well of course it would not. The more I tell you not to think about something, anything, the more your mind has that thought available for you to grab. You are then tempted to start thinking about the very thing I warned you about.

The other day my wife ask me about a situation and I told her that I had never heard of it before. She responded that I had definitely heard about it because she told me herself! Even though my ears had heard the words my mind had not stored the information away so that I could recall it later. It is not good that I forgot something my wife told me, but it is very good for me to forget the things the world tells me. The Bad News of this world drags me down and keeps my mind from thinking about the really good stuff!

Today, keep your mind on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don't ever stop thinking today about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.

Here is a good place to start. Think about the very first person who truly loved you. Maybe it was your mother or even someone else, but you cannot think about that love without feeling the blessing of it in your heart.

"Lord Jesus, help me today to think about You and Your love for me. Show me another way that Your love is evident in my life and how You have cared for me for all these years. You Lord Jesus are the beautiful thought that I need for today. Amen."

Fear God or Man?

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My friends, don't be afraid of people. They can kill you, but after that, there is nothing else they can do. God is the one you must fear. Not only can he take your life, but he can throw you into hell. God is certainly the one you should fear!

Five sparrows are sold for only a few cents, but God doesn't forget a single one of them. Even the hairs on your head are counted. So don't be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows.

Luke 12:4-7

In the hearts of all men there is a battle that rages every day. The two sides of that war are the "FEAR OF MAN" and the "FEAR OF GOD!" If you fear man more than you fear God then you will not be obedient to the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit. But if you fear God more than men then you will be willing to disappoint and even disobey men when the rules of men come into conflict with the Word and Will of God!

Persecution of Christians is not dependent on how evil the world is around them. Persecution happens when Christians fear God more than they fear men. When men who govern others require that you engage in an activity of which God disapproves you must decide whether or not you fear God more than men.

A man or woman of faith is one that always obeys God and only obeys men when the command of man does not contradict the will of God. When you walk with God with that unfaltering determination you will suffer from persecution by men who do not trust God.

"Lord Jesus I choose today to fear You more than I fear men! May Your Will and Word be the itinerary of my life. May I go with You and not with the world every day for the rest of my life. Praise Your Name forever. Amen."

Wealth in Heaven

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Everyone on this earth,

now listen to what I say!

Listen, no matter who you are,

rich or poor.

 

I speak words of wisdom,

and my thoughts make sense.

I have in mind a mystery

that I will explain

while playing my harp.

 

Why should I be afraid

in times of trouble,

when I am surrounded

by vicious enemies?

They trust in their riches

and brag about

all their wealth.

 

You cannot buy back your life

or pay off God!

It costs far too much

to buy back your life.

You can never pay God enough

to stay alive forever

and safe from death.

 

We see that wise people die,

and so do stupid fools.

Then their money is left

for someone else.

Psalm 49:1-10

The economy of Heaven does not use money! With all the money on earth you cannot buy one minute in Heaven. Even if you had all the gold in the world you would only have the material to fill a few pot holes in the City of God.

So why do we put so much emphasis on the wealth of this world? If you desire to be rich on this earth you are revealing the fact that your heart is here on earth and not in Heaven. When you die and take the "Flight to Heaven" nothing goes with you. No luggage is allowed on that flight! Everything you have accumulated here on this earth stays here.

The follower of Jesus who lives in abject poverty will enter the "Gates of Glory" just like the man who was wealthy on this earth! In fact Jesus said that it is easier for a poor man to go to Heaven!

Are you spending your life trying to get things that you cannot take to Heaven, or are you "laying up treasure" in Heaven. Of course it is necessary to have "things" on this earth, but Jesus said that we should seek first "His kingdom and His righteousness" and God would see that we get the things that we need!

"Lord, may I seek You today and not the things of this world. May my heart be thrilled with the thought of the treasures of Heaven and not the treasures of this earth. And Jesus may Glory and Praise be given to You forever. Amen."

Heal My Eyes!

 

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Jesus was followed by a large crowd as he and his disciples were leaving Jericho. Two blind men were sitting beside the road. And when they heard that Jesus was coming their way, they shouted, “Lord and Son of David, have pity on us!”

The crowd told them to be quiet, but they shouted even louder, “Lord and Son of David, have pity on us!”

When Jesus heard them, he stopped and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”

They answered, “Lord, we want to see!”

Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. At once they could see, and they became his followers.

Matthew 20:29-34

These two blind men thought that all they wanted from Jesus was to be healed. It must be very hard to live in a world without the ability to see anything around you. But when Jesus touched their eyes He also captured their hearts! They asked to be and were healed but also received an Eternity with Jesus as His followers.

In a real sense every man and woman alive today is blind and needs the touch of Jesus in order to see. If everyone were physically blind, then no one would know what they were missing. But when one Man comes who can see the light and offers to heal everyone else, everything changes!

Jesus was the only man who had seen God and by His death on the Cross He gives us the opportunity to receive our sight and see God as well! Has Jesus touched your spiritual eyes and healed you of your blindness? Because of Jesus do you see things that you have never seen before?

"Lord Jesus touch my eyes that I may see the things of Eternity. Open the eyes of my heart today and let me gaze on the Glories of Heaven! Show me things I have never seen before and haven't even imagined! And may You, Jesus be praised and glorified forever. Amen."

Greatest Man Ever Born!

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After John's messengers had gone, Jesus began speaking to the crowds about John:

What kind of person did you go out to the desert to see? Was he like tall grass blown about by the wind?  What kind of man did you really go out to see? Was he someone dressed in fine clothes? People who wear expensive clothes and live in luxury are in the king's palace.  What then did you go out to see? Was he a prophet? He certainly was! I tell you that he was more than a prophet.  In the Scriptures, God calls John his messenger and says, “I am sending my messenger ahead of you to get things ready for you.”  No one ever born on this earth is greater than John. But whoever is least important in God's kingdom is greater than John.

Luke 7:24-28

Jesus said that John the Baptist was the greatest man who ever lived! How did John qualify for such praise from Jesus? It was not because of John's education or social position in Israel. John was not a rich man and he certainly was not powerful in the government of the country. John's clothes were rough and his diet was simple and he lived in the desert, but John was used by God to deliver the message which prepared the way for Jesus.

God had a purpose for John the Baptist and John set his hand to fulfill that purpose. John did the thing that God created him to do.

Did God make your life without a purpose? Did He just create you and set you down on this earth with nothing in His mind about what your life should mean? Are you simply one of millions who try to muddle though life the best they can and "hopefully" go to Heaven when they die?

Remember John the Baptist had none of the things in his life that would have caused the world to say that he was a success. But Jesus did not agree. How does Jesus see your life today? Are you faithful in doing the things that the Holy Spirit is leading you to do? Or are you trying to judge your importance to Jesus by your college degree, social standing, salary, and of course your ability to "dress for success?"

Remember that the greatest man ever born according to Jesus had none of the world's characteristics for success. Judge yourself by the standard of Jesus not the world around you!

"Lord Jesus, You created me for a purpose. I ask You to show me how to fulfill Your desire for my life today. Give me the courage to stand up for You and do Your will, today and always. Amen."

Where is Jesus?

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If you serve me, you must go with me. My servants will be with me wherever I am. If you serve me, my Father will honor you.

John 12:26

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, then what you are is simply that a "follower." Jesus does not follow you, you follow Him!

We are sometimes tempted to think that when Jesus said, "I am with you always," He meant that it doesn't matter where we go or what we do because Jesus will be there with us. If you serve Jesus, then you go with Him. Look around and ask yourself, "Did I follow Jesus to this place?"

Is Jesus in the place where you are right now? Or do you know for sure that the Lord is not with you in what you are doing?

Have you stopped along the road in your walk with Jesus and said "Jesus, You stay here while I go in there and in a little while I will come back?" Maybe the first time or two when you come back He is there and you continue on your walk with Him. But then one day you linger longer in a place without Jesus and you forget that He is waiting for you. Then when you come out and look for Him, He has moved on without you, and you begin to question whether or not He was really there in the first place. For some who have such an experience it is years before they start walking with Jesus again.

The great lesson for me to learn is this: Never go anywhere that Jesus will not go with you! Don't separate yourself from Jesus even for a moment. When you walk away from Jesus you are like an alcoholic who takes "just one" drink. One minute away from Jesus can be a tragic experience for any follower of Him.

"Lord Jesus, convict my heart today every time I am tempted to step away from You for even a minute. Give me the courage and strength to say "No" every time my feet want to wander from You. And Lord show me now where You are leading me today! Praise Your Holy Name. Amen."