Daniel 1 : 5-13 ~ So he listened to them in this matter

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Daniel 1 : 5-13

They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. 6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.
Daniel's Faithfulness

8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. 9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king." 11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 "Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see."


 14 So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food. 16 So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. 17 As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. 20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom. 21 And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.



In many ways - we are Daniel in our own lives. Using our experiences to do the challenges our lives present.

Daniel had ideas on his own life.

We learn as we listen.







We are living in a unique time. Something new to the earth and the history.

My grandmother's life began in 1898 and she and her six brothers and six daughters rode in two covered wagons to see grandparents. And Grandmother saw the landing on the moon with real joy. Mother saw the polio vaccine steady the planet and parents watching over children. I saw the internet in the early nineties unfold a story about Cardinal songbirds and the time to load up was 30 minutes. I said call me when the water warms up. And my children explained video games and computers to me that we use effortlessly now.



Something New. The Donny Doberman says a lot about today's college indebted for 30 years generation. They don't count on company retirement. They are unsure of our government systems. They don't know if they will marry. And children? 







Christianity has been changing since the end, or the duration, of World War II. Where the liturgy was just read and at the end of the war people said well, we survived and that ol' liturgy didn't help much. Leaving the congregations to be older people today.

Bringing us... To Evangelism Today !!!


Myself included, We get into Bible Studies and we do just like this post, complain the good old days are gone. We judge ex-Presidents on their souls - like we are informed. We expect us all to pony up to one opinion.

And... the result is evangelism of the newbies - has them exiting as soon as they can find people who want to know them as they are.

We aren't told that they are worried to death the spouse is an alcoholic porn watcher.
We aren't told the child is flunked out of 4 universities and likes cocaine with a pot chaser.

We aren't told that they are worried to death the spouse is an alcoholic porn watcher.
We aren't told the child is flunked out of 4 universities and likes cocaine with a pot chaser.

We aren't usually told the child has a prison record.
We can't share if there is a new car - the tithe machine might happen.

We can't say too much about cancer. It's depressing.
We don't share the child is mentally ill.

 We don't hear - kids are living with their significant other. And now, we say that and don't say, "Let's pray they get married."

We can't say the child is in-debt for college and will never own a home.

We can't say that the medical bills are eating us alive and bankruptcy is the largest case for medical bills.

Will we help someone at Church get a job? What if they bring in a host of tell the others who I really am stories.









I'm dealing with a mother who is in dementia and a husband with a terminal diagnosis of 3 damages brain lobes - with stories of my ability that could go on and on - he is 6/4" and is sometimes angry and a lot of cussing and cussing. Edward is my beloved one who houses the soul of Edward.  Even when all day there is not a kind word. And yet, if you ask for support and don't talk too much - Edward is loving. And now on loan to me. Edward worked harder for my mom to go home from the hospital than anyone expects of a spouse.

We have learned not to engage into a culture of "I Am Over You." That is sheer death in bringing the culture into Christ sharing times.







What the HECK IS EVANGELISM???

It is when you and I say, "I'm going to pray for you." And if they are delighted, you say "Let's pray Now." And generally you are going to get - "Please!"

What the Heck is EVANGELISM?

SO GLAD YOU ASKED, It's when your Grandmother says when the Uncle is a r a t - that she "is Never Going To Stop Praying for MY SON !!!" And unlike Eli and Samuel - My Grandmother got results when the R A T was in his 70s and Jesus told his heart "I Love You." And a heck of a lot of the trauma there - was solved.


My favorite Bible Study on the Planet is Bill Hybels' "Just Walk Across the Room." We give back our gratitude to God - who gives us Eternity. And we explain "I love Jesus because of ..."

No one can doubt our life lessons - our experiences

1. My eyes have seen Salvation. And no one is going to personally debunk my real dreams of seeing Heaven like Isaiah - but God had stepped out of the room - I am not Isaiah. Where I was asked to "sell chairs" and now realize these are Heaven's seats.

2. My eyes have seen the down fall of the wicked. Yes. I am in my 50s and see bad habits have shown me real and spiritual death. Living Parables.

3. My eyes have seen God goes before me. My Bible and my Church Going have taught me - I depend on God for my strength and my joy and my delight and my security and HE WILL. People - even the ones we love - come and go - but God beckons us to live in Love forever.



What is Salvation?

A Work of God the Father. Learning to single out one person you love. Salvation comes from love. When the heart is open. Surely pray for many. But we live in this Generation.


What is Evangelism?

We live in a world where God said this about this generation...

"I will put my covenant in their hearts to know I am God." Jesus says that the Light of God shines in all of mankind. If you talk down to someone who has opinions about God - you are shutting down the fact that the Body of Christ has many talents and functions and ideas.

Evangelism is LISTENING. And this is gentle. We find a thought of scripture and we share not a herd of cattle but one pearl. Because the Truth is - God Saves. We do one thing - WE PRAY.

What Works.
Studying Prayer. People are comfortable to pray for others.
Time spent in Prayer works.
When we study the Bible and we pray for the needs of people we all collectively know - we are doing the meeting and praying Jesus asks.

We have to listen to each Person's unique soul tells their Unique Father God Creator.

John the Disciple wandered around, like you and me, saying "What?"

And in the decades passing, he realized he did really well to support Jesus to the very end. Because John knew something we need to Sing Daily in our Hearts.

GOD IS LOVE.

And when we love GOD. We are seen as righteous in the Eyes of God.

And that ... is where we want to be. Eternally today the gates of Heaven are open to us in Prayer.
The very seat of Father God is available to us in Jesus.




Father God,

All sparrows are known to You. Every single one. Because in Your unlimited Creation and Ideas and Solutions and LOVE. You love all of Creation.

And just like the Doberman in the video - each Child of God relates and reacts to You in exactly the way a Vast God reacts to us.

You are the God of Love.

Unfurl and surround, uphold and uplift each loved one we have. Each prayer request we know. The desire of the Nation of  extreme worriers now. Bless the voting to Bless Your Name and Your Heaven.

We need You, We expect You, We will see You.  Thank You for Your Work. Amen Amen Amen
Alleluia Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †