Daniel 3:19-30
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.
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, O king."
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."
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.
It's like Thunder and Lightning - the way Nebuchadnezzar loved that Image - was Frightening!
Did Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego know persecution was coming? You bet. Daniel had said that Nebuchadnezzar was going to become insane. Jeremiah had said the end was coming and they had lived the destruction of their Temple, the end of the two countries Israel first and then Judah. And they had been enslaved for the 1,000 mile walk and they were, and all the people they knew - enslaved. So - the answer is definitely - they believed persecution to this extreme was coming - and they were BRAVE. They could probably even muster up the courage to say "God Bless You" when someone sneezed. And physically say, "Jesus will help you - I believe this and I will pray for you diligently. And now, if you'd like!"
Climb Every Mountain! Search HIGH and LOW - Speak up America - !!! We are going to have to un-learn Monty Python's "The Art of Not Being Seen"!
Pirates Movie - Barbossa - "Dying is the day worth living for!"
We get to pick our destinies in self-fulfilling prophecy? Yes, to a certain extent we are given this FREE WILL - WILL OF GOD. Did you know that Hospice says a few very interesting facts that the people who minister to the dying record?
One - that people mostly these days thanks to belief in Jesus and baptism - go Home to Jesus' New Kingdom of Heaven. Not ol Sheol where the dead go. And it is plain and clear, we have had two people in our family go to Hell, screaming about fire and anguish. (Oh cough, cough, the man everyone said was reliving World War II never even visited World War II and truly was not the type to care about the fate of others from nightly tv reports.)
Two - People uniquely do not want to worry their loved ones with their passage. Death will occur when their loved ones go to the bathroom, finally sleep, or have to have a meal and leave the room. Grief - something America does not want to focus on. The grievers in America are alone a lot. As well as the newly divorced. Because the people going Home - vastly prefer not to grieve their loved ones with their departure to Home.
One Cardiologist recorded seeing the differences of his patients. Some in terrible pain of heart failure - Richard Pryor described so well with precision - see Heaven and Jesus and the Light and Pray Towards Home. Others start screaming about ...Hell. And the people, the Cardiologist wrote about in this autobiography, who survive don't really recall seeing Hell, but almost all the time told the good Doctor about their new commitment to Jesus Christ. And, dang, if I could recall that book I read in the 1980's - I'd surely tell you the name of that Biography. Dang.
This is the Day that the Lord Hath Made!
We WILL Rejoice and Be Glad in This!
Give us the Day, Lord!
Texas Senator Ted Cruz was asked about being Gay and what Ted focuses on. Ok. Ted spoke up. I AGREE! However, this is important - 89% of all communication is non-verbal.
Pirates :
Salaman: You're either with us or against us!
Philip: I'm not with you, neither am I against you!
Salaman: [to Jack] Can he do that?
Jack Sparrow: He's religious, I believe it's required.
I betcha, I betcha, I betcha - you bet -
The pirates in this country believe, think and know that is the JOB of the Christians - to be Neutral - nope Jesus said "Be Salt! And Light~" (Like a good potato chip - you don't want just one!)
With 89% of all communication is non-verbal - HOW we speak up - is Cruz-shall.
If we get in someone's face and expect to be angry - the reaction is going to be???
Love -
If we Give the Overwhelming, Pervasive, Why, God Would Love You - Uniquely You - Response - you get - sometimes Tears. Of Joy. That the Father and Creator of ALL the Universe says HE LOVES YOU.
The Bible says we live by every Word of God -
Ephesians 3
in the heavenly places!
11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
GOD NAMED - YOU -
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God! (WOW)
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.
To Quote Handel ~Amennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
Every Day !
Hebrews 13:15
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name.
The Psalms are lived to be understood.
When we actively look for reasons to Thank God and be Grateful - we see more of His Plan and His Love. We are restored, renewed to Love, Peace, Joy, Goodness.
Psalm 68:3
The righteous are glad and rejoice in his presence; they are happy and shout for joy
Father God, in Jesus we give you thanks that This is the Day! And You ARE still Working!
Help us to give Gratitude to rejoice in Your presence. Help US SPEAK UP - WITH LOVE. We will have joy and be happy seeing Your presence. We pray these blessings for ourselves, our loved ones, our friends, co-workers, Church, neighbors, State and Nation. Cover us in Jesus, we pray. We Thank You for the Rain in Jesus! Amen.
P.S. One of the reasons this photo of being in the thick of fire is interesting to me - the fire looks like lungs. What we say that precedes out of us - is important. Expect Peace, plan peace, pray peace. Rome left being a Republic and became a Dictatorship through war. Expect Jesus and Your Prayers to Make a Difference. Expect the Words of Jesus to Live. This is His Day and He and His Father Are Still Working!
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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