God Declared Innocence!

The men then told the king, “That Jew named Daniel, who was brought here as a captive, refuses to obey you or the law that you ordered to be written. And he still prays to his god three times a day.”  The king was really upset to hear about this, and for the rest of the day he tried to think how he could save Daniel.  

At daybreak the king got up and ran to the pit. He was anxious and shouted, “Daniel, you were faithful and served your God. Was he able to save you from the lions?”

Daniel answered, “Your Majesty, I hope you live forever!   My God knew that I was innocent, and he sent an angel to keep the lions from eating me. Your Majesty, I have never done anything to hurt you.” 
Daniel 6:13-14 and 19-22

What happens when the world decides you are guilty of wrong doing, but God declares that you are innocent?  This is the case when man's law and God's law collide!  The rule of man always disappears in the face of the will of God.  Daniel refused to obey a law that said that he could not pray to God, even for a time and God sent an angel to rescue him from the hungry lions.

Even today, there are laws that must be disobeyed by followers of Jesus Christ!  God says that we are to "pray without ceasing," but some nations have told their people that it is illegal or unconstitutional to pray in certain places and at certain times!  If we obey those mandates and "cease" praying are we not disobeying the God who created us?

If you are confused about whether or not you must disobey a law of man, then you need to spend more time in God's Word, listening to the Holy Spirit!  We must make it our daily goal to KNOW THE WILL OF GOD IN EVERY SITUATION!  When you know what God wants it is simple to know whether or not you must disobey the commands of men!

The law said that Daniel was guilty, but God declared Daniel innocent and sent an angel to rescue him from the mouths of lions!

"Lord Jesus help me to seek to know You and Your Word more today, so that I will know for certain if I can follow You and obey the laws of men!  And may You be praised forever.  Amen."

No Nameless Stars!

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No Nameless Stars!

Don't you know?Haven't you heard?  Hasn't it been clear since the time of creation?  God is the one who rules the whole earth, and we that live here are merely insects.  He spread out the heavens like a curtain or an open tent.God brings down rulers and turns them into nothing.They are like flowers freshly sprung up and starting to grow.  But when God blows on them,they wilt and are carried off like straw in a storm.  The holy God asks,“Who compares with me? Is anyone my equal?” Look at the evening sky!  Who created the stars?  Who gave them each a name?  Who leads them like an army?  The Lord is so powerful that none of the stars are ever missing.

Isaiah 40:21-26

When I see all the evil in the world today, I am tempted to believe that Satan is the one who is ruling the world!  He is not!

The Evil one did not create the world and all the beings that live in it.  He did not set up the "laws of nature" that keep the earth in it's place and insure that green plants are able to grow year after year and provide food for all of mankind.  The devil is not the author of life and cannot give "good and perfect" gifts to those who follow him, and he did not name the stars!

The next time you look at the evening sky and see the stars consider this: Every little point of light in the heavens not only was created by God, but has a name that He gave it!

A number of years ago someone offered to name the stars as a way to make money!  If you would send them money, they would publish your name as the name of a star!  It sounds like a good idea, except for the fact that the stars are already named, everyone of them!

God paid attention to every detail of Creation!  He even named the stars!  And the same God who named the stars, knows your name and mine!  He knows when I am happy and when I am sad.  God knows the desires of my heart and He knows my weaknesses. There is nothing about me that is unknown to God!

 "Lord Jesus, I once again give You the heart that You gave me and that You know better than even I know myself!  And I praise You Lord because when I look up at the evening sky there are no nameless stars!  You call them all by name, and You call me by name as well.  May You Lord Jesus be praised forever.  Amen."

All I Want!

All I Want!

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Your advice has been my guide,and later you will welcome me in glory.In heaven I have only you,and on this earth you are all I want.My body and mind may fail,but you are my strength and my choice forever.

Psalm 73:24-26

Aladdin's three wishes have prompted the imagination of many story tellers over the years.

If you could have anything you wanted on this earth what would it be? Would you want fame and fortune, or perhaps you would simply desire to live a happy and peaceful life? 

Would you want a beautiful or handsome spouse? What about success and respect in your field of work? 

The writer of Psalm 73 says that God is all he wanted on this earth! Consider this: If God is the only thing you truly want on this earth, then your wishes will come true! Jesus promised that He will be with you always, even to the end of the world! No one, not even Satan himself can take Jesus away from you! So if all you want is Jesus, then you will have everything you want!

Yesterday, a dear friend left this earth after living only 63 years! She now knows why it makes total sense to want only Jesus on this earth! Every blessing we have on earth is a gift from the giver of life itself! Although Kathy is absent from the body, she is now and forever will be present with the Lord! 

So the challenge for me is this: How much do I want Jesus and how much do I want the things of this world? May I every day let go of some of my desire for the things of this world and grab hold of Jesus. May I grow to the point of wanting only Jesus here on this earth and then forever!

"Lord Jesus, I want to want You more than anything else! And may You be praised forever. Amen."

Calvary Coming?

Calvary Coming?

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Two criminals were led out to be put to death with Jesus.When the soldiers came to the place called “The Skull,” they nailed Jesus to a cross. They also nailed the two criminals to crosses, one on each side of Jesus.Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people! They don't know what they're doing.”While the crowd stood there watching Jesus, the soldiers gambled for his clothes. The leaders insulted him by saying, “He saved others. Now he should save himself, if he really is God's chosen Messiah!”

Luke 23:32-35

Apparently the headline writer at Fox News got confused about the difference between "Cavalry" and "Calvary." 

The headline read, "CALVARY COMING? Pentagon wants to send 400 more US troops to Iraq." 
Of course Calvary is the place where Jesus died. It means "the skull." Cavalry is part of a military force composed of troops that serve on horseback.

Most of the people in this world today are confused about "Calvary." They don't know who Jesus is and they certainly don't know what He did on the "Cross of Calvary."

In the United States our political leaders are being criticized again for wanting to vote on a bill that they have not read! How can they make a responsible decision when they don't know what the bill says? But lots of people, and maybe even you have decided to vote "no" on Jesus without ever knowing who He really is and why He came to this world. 

You may be confused about many things in this world, but do not be confused about Jesus! Find out who He is and read about why He came in the Bible! 

"Lord Jesus, I want to know who You are and why You came. But most of all Lord help me to know You and to know what You did on Calvary! May You be praised forever! Amen."

Dire Warning!

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The earth is polluted because its people disobeyed the laws of God, breaking their agreement that was to last forever.The earth is under a curse; its people are dying out because of their sins. Grapevines have dried up: wine is almost gone—mournful sounds are heard instead of joyful shouts.

Isaiah 24:5-7

The predictions are ominous and they are everywhere! There are serious and very educated men who are saying that an economic and even social collapse of the world's systems is certain and may be imminent. 

In the wake of the doom and gloom predictions are those who can tell you how to prepare and even "prosper" in bad times. In fact, "Bad Times" is big business!

So how do you prepare for the worst? You can store food, water, silver and gold and even learn how to "live off of the land" by hunting and fishing. But there is something much more important than all of these.

If God has decided to protect you from harm during difficult times, you will be protected. And if God has decided that you should suffer, all of your preparations will not shield you from the trouble that is heading your way!

So above all else you must prepare for the difficulties to come by turning your heart to God! If God is your protector then know that He can multiply your five loaves and two fish, heal your worst diseases, send tax money to you in the mouth of a fish, and do all sorts of daily miracles to keep you strong in the storms to come!

"Lord Jesus, I call once again to You and ask You to be my protector and shield in the perilous times that seem to be so close! And I praise Your Name forever! Amen."

Continual Repentance!

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One third of all people were killed by the three terrible troubles caused by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur.The horses had powerful mouths, and their tails were like poisonous snakes that bite and hurt.The people who lived through these terrible troubles did not turn away from the idols they had made, and they did not stop worshiping demons. They kept on worshiping idols that were made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood. Not one of these idols could see, hear, or walk.No one stopped murdering or practicing witchcraft or being immoral or stealing.

Revelation 9:18-21

When a little child touches a hot stove he quickly learns not to do that again. It is the suffering of being burned that teaches him not to put his hand on the burner. But what little children learn naturally, an adult living without Jesus in his life finds hard, if not impossible to do. 

Sin brings suffering and pain. It doesn't take a genius to understand the correlation between sin and the pain that comes after it. But a stubborn, prideful man will persist in sinning as he thinks that maybe it won't be the same every time he steps outside the boundaries that God has set up in life!

So when I see the judgement of God falling on lives all around me, what should my response, or maybe even reaction be? Instead of finding satisfaction in the fact that others are "getting what they deserve," I must fall down at the feet of Jesus and repent of every sin that might still be clinging to my heart! 

"Lord Jesus, give me a heart of continual repentance so that I might turn away from everything in life that does not lead me to You! May You, Lord be the beginning and end of every day including that day that is sure to come when I leave this world to begin an Eternity with You. And may You be praised forever. Amen."

When We Please God!

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The Lord has a reason for everything he does, and he lets evil people live only to be punished.   The Lord doesn't like anyone who is conceited—you can be sure they will be punished.   If we truly love God, our sins will be forgiven; if we show him respect, we will keep away from sin.   When we please the Lord, even our enemies make friends with us.    It's better to be honest and poor than to be dishonest and rich.   We make our own plans, but the Lord decides where we will go.

Proverbs 16:4-9

If I were God it would not be difficult for me to understand the rather complicated relationship between God and men!  But I am not God and my mental capabilities are limited since I am the "created" and not the Creator! 

How can it be that when I please God, He makes even my enemies to make friends with me?  So if I want to live "at peace" with those around me who would be my enemies I must seek to please God rather than pleasing my enemies!  History has shown that appeasing an enemy does not cause him to become your friend.  But when I live my life in a way that is pleasing to God, He changes my enemies into friends!

I cannot think of a nation that was striving to please God and was overrun by her enemies while living in that pleasing relationship with the Creator!  It seems that godly nations first turn away from God and then are defeated by their enemies!

Being at Peace with God brings peace with those who would be your enemies!  Of course, the godly still suffer persecution, but you can be persecuted and at peace at the same time!


"Lord Jesus, help me to seek to please You today in everything I do!  And may You be praised forever.  Amen."