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!  †

1 Corinthians 4:1-6 ~ Regard the Lord

1 Corinthians 4:1-6

 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. 

It is the Lord who judges me. 
Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written

Who wrote 1 Corinthians 4?

Well, a very young copy of the entire Chapter of 1 Corinthians 4 is found from the late 1st or early 2nd A.D - intact at the University of Michigan. And no one disputes 1 Corinthian 4 was written by Paul.

Christian doctrine accepted in the Bible fits together. We might explain Year A, B or C or perhaps Year 1,2 or 3. Yet the Ideas and Words of God flow. We are all going to the same Banquet of God in Heaven.

If we wander down the Road of Wonder...
we could say Timothy - in later years  -would advise later-in-life loved ones  with 1 Corinthians 4

Timothy was given to in his youth:

Timothy 4:12 
Let no one look down on your youthfulness, 
but rather
in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.


The two principals flow.

Life - is flowing. Pushing us on in God's Plan. We are sorting fiercely in just about all we do.

Some people say the Scriptures are very harsh. Terrible.

And others are pushed out by life rushing them by - other things are more pleasing than listening to "The Good Word."

This is true when we approach Scripture feeling not very loved or nourished by Father God.

We have assailed ourselves with doubts of our self esteem - our worth - in Father God's Eyes, Mind and Heart. This is all of us.

Paul said Fight the Good Fight. Realize how astonishing God truly is. God placed His only Son in His Creation just as wealth swept rural Israel. Foreign Culture. The Jews were mocked and attacked in their own Proud Nation by money. BIG, BIG MONEY. The World would not see this prosperity again until the Renaissance was well, well past first bloom 16th Century.

Mary well understood culture and class and religion and ideas and modernization - war on earth.

If we allow one Scripture to be all our Scripture - we are limited. We have to stand on the Foundation of Jesus.

Jesus is the Light of the world. Jesus is the Light of mankind.

All things are made of Jesus Christ.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Our God is the fire in us - not consuming. Our Light. The Image of God Himself, our Father dwells within.


1 Corinthians 6:11
You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

John 1

12 To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, 
he gave the right to become children of God,
 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, 
but of God.

How did we go from being Born and Blessed of God to Fighting the Good Fight.

The path, and the birds came pecking and eating.

The path was rocky without deep refreshing soil to grow and nourish into.

The Glory of day, turned to be brilliantly about moi..

Others crowded out the Light. Shallow, scorching, withering.

Continue traveling with Love and the Light - a hundred, sixty or thirty times Hope what was sown.



To hear the Word of God in all it's Glory
we must realize

How Very Precious we are to God.

A Loving Father provides lessons on maturity and growth. Assuring us of His Complete Love. He tells us about David doing all he could and finding Mercy. Needed Mercy. Telling us of trial and failure. The Glory of Hope to try again.

Some of the lessons will be for us. Some will be stored to remember in later days.

And in our ability to Learn Father God.s Mercy  and Wisdom , we sort the Living Word of God to apply the right part of the path and the seeds to our day.  Allowing the Word of God to dwell in our Eternal Richly.

Realizing we are on all different steps in the path of life going back and forth. Allowing God's Living Water to rush past to reveal what God is giving us yesterday, today and tomorrow. Letting the Wisdom of God help us learn our own comfort and the comfort we must provide others to make life meaningful and worthy with the Riches of His Goodness.

Our doubts worry us.

Our Father, our Abba,

Each day we seek Your Blessing.

Help us to remember the truthful Word of God. The forward of Life, the fail, the re-group, the Victory of God.

Remembering the Prodigal Father had Joy.

And we place the ones we love in Your Hand and Love.

Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God
and the exact imprint of His nature,
and He upholds the universe by the Word of His Power

We will rest with trust in our prayer requests. God is God.

And for all our prayers, we Rest in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Isaiah 49:15-16 ~ engraved on the palms of His Hands

Isaiah 49:15-16

 “Can a woman forget her nursing child,
that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget,
yet 
I will not forget you."

 "Behold, 
I  have engraved you on the palms of my hands"




John 10:29
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

Isaiah 41:13-14
For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand;
 it is I who say to you, 
“Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”

Isaiah 48:13
My hand laid the foundation of the earth, 
and my right hand spread out the heavens; 
when I call 
to them,
 they stand forth together.

1 Peter 1:5
Who by God's power 
are being guarded through faith 
for a salvation 
ready to be revealed 
in the last time.

John 10:28
I give them eternal life,
they will never perish, 
and no one will snatch them out of my hand.


John 3:16 
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Matthew 28:20 
Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. 
And behold, 
I am with you always, to the end of the age.

In Loving Remembrance 

Isabelle Claire Gardere

September 23, 2008

Romans 14:17

For the Kingdom of God is

of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit

Matthew 6:21 
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also

Joshua 1:9
The Lord your God 
is with you 
wherever you go

Abba, Father God,

Where You are, the Great I Am, we will dwell and have our Joy with You Forever in Jesus Christ.

I have seen my loved one smile as Joy unbelievable in the sleep in death

We do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.

We Believe Jesus died and Lives

And so we Believe God will bring with Jesus.

So many people are told misfortune, life, death and grief end our lives.
No. We have the sweetest of all expectation in the Fulfillment of God's Word.

For the Lord himself will come down from Heaven,
with a loud command,
with the voice of the archangel
and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

... for this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

We pray of the riches of His glory
He may strengthen us with power
through His Spirit in our inner being.

Covering us in Jesus. Our Loved ones. The People He has given us.
Our Nation trusting in Him.
The Nations of the world trusting in Jesus.
And His Children
covering His earth
with their prayers of more
Heaven on earth.

In Jesus we ask. And will have our Joy
and Blessings each day Renew.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Jude ~ through Jesus the Christ, our Lord

Jezreel Valley - Looking up at the Ridge of Nazareth. End of winter, beginning of spring.

The view of Nazareth of Mt Tabor - Transfiguration - and of Jezreel Valley. March - Spring.

The Finish of Summer in September - Nazareth overlooking Jezreel Valley.

And in Winter when the clouds are low and the earth rests.

Jezreel 

Nazareth drew Mary's family out of Bethlehem. Higher than other cities 325 feet above sea level on Mount Precipice, Nazareth dwells having: a view, a breeze, cooler temperatures and the safety to see advancing weather and advancing armies. A splendid place. Nazareth like all of Israel was part of Tribal Jews settling. "Nazareth" is one of the Hebrew words for 'branch',from the prophetic, messianic words in Book of Isaiah 11:1, 'from (Jesse's) roots a Branch will bear fruit'. And toponym might be an example of a tribal name used by resettling groups on their return from exile. Including the name may derive from na·ṣar, נָצַר, "watch, guard, keep," in the sense of "watchtower" or "guard place."

The Gospel of John reveals ancient Jews did not connect the town's name to prophecy.

Seasons come and they go and seasons arrive again.
Those terrible, terrible people to forget "ISAIAH!!!"

Except.... maybe...Mary and Joseph had something in common with Nazareth.

Luke 2

47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”

49 And Jesus said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?”

50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.

Regular life - the bells and whistles of God are in the Bible.

One of the Holy Family knew God's arrival and the approach of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Luke 2

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.








From a Lithograph of 1800s Mount Tabor - easy to climb.

Mount Tabor has become a reflection of God's Promise Israel is a land flowing with milk and honey.

Mt Tabor is not hard to climb, nor farm.

There is another set of people who wander in and out of faith in God's Plan. One day, Jesus invited them on a local walk.


Matthew 17

Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.


An interesting choice from the 12. Peter - the Rock, the Pope - sure. John - ok His buddy pal. James - the brother of John - sons of Zebedee - - - why? Jesus is the Word made Manifest. God's Word Alive. Words matter. We would have to consider the Words of these men of God.

John keeps his oath of secrecy and the great change within John is represented as Jesus as the Light of all mankind and the world of John's Gospel - Chapter 1 for importance.


2 Peter 1:16-21

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, 
and you will do well to pay attention to it, 
as to a light shining in a dark place, 
until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 

20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.


And we have arrived!!! THE TRANSFIGURATION.

Except Jesus has understood this for a long, long, long time Genesis 1 - Let There Be Light. Jesus was not about to see Himself as newly made.


God is the same yesterday today tomorrow. If anyone could now understand in hind sight - Jesus had known all along about Capernaum, His Ministry, His Sacrifice, His Gift to all of mankind and a new Heaven for His Father. A new earth. Jesus was thinking of you.




Jude, Brother of Christ records this:

Jude 1:25

To the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord,
be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.







About minute 5, the chicks appear!

When Jesus told us He wanted to hold us as a Hen holds her chicks, we see in the Video - this mother hen is not a hug - she is the living, moving, having their being example of a Temple to dwell in - in love, in care and in tenderness.

These chicks are planned and prepared for long before they arrive.  No matter the season, the time, all is Love. Care. Dwelling.



Abba,

You are the Shepherd of our Souls. We always want You to Dwell within us. Help us to make our eternal being a good and joyful place for Your Holy Spirit.

Help us to stay with You in Faith.

Giving our hearts to You, to tend to us and the ones we love. We rest our cares with You.

In Jesus our Alleluia will be found.

We believe You are the Willing and Good Father.

In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Luke 2:48-51 ~ He went with them

Luke 2:48-51

49 And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" 

50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 

51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. 

And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

Jesus Later Life -

Jesus wanted and planned to live over on the other side of Mt. Tabor - right beside the Sea of Galilee - the life of Jesus shows us. We saw the Valley of Jezreel in yesterday's photo. And we learn of the walk Jesus went on to Nain, so really, Jesus stayed in the neighborhood.

Jesus and His Childhood Years

Mary and Joseph seemed pretty convinced regular life and ordinary life is going on. Jesus tells us Life is a test of our soul's fiber. Their usual life is our regular life and - - - yet - God has a different idea and is pointing us in His Direction.

If we want a small taste of the life of Jesus before His Ministry - we, yes, read the early life of Jesus in the Gospels. And - an important and - you may read Luke 1:44-55 and see many of Mary's lifelong viewpoints. With Scripture being real, honest and true - you will find the family lived together for decades - the viewpoints are so similar in the Books of James and Jude - both follow Luke 1:44-55. Indeed, indeed, indeed Jesus, James and Jude were children of Mary.

The Book of James
Jude

 1800s Vintage photo of Nazareth - didn't really change for millenniums.

 Interior of a typical house.

Families added on and lived in Family.

 Most homes would have a sheepfold - a place the sheep slept.

Typical Kitchen for the time in Nazareth.

Abba, Father God,

We welcome Your Blessing. Come, please, and find our heart, soul and mind open to You. Bless us with Jesus Christ, Your Son's Love, Joy, Peace and Salvation.

Find the words of my mouths and the thoughts of my heart to be pleasing to You, I pray. You are welcome in all aspects of me. Come to my eternal being and bless my life to be in the Joy of You. Let me Live and move and have my being finding You load us with Blessings daily.

Bless our homes. May our homes be places of Love and encouragement. May this dwelling bless all the family living here and living in our heart and mind. As we have our family memories, encourage our soul to remember the days of warm blessing. We ask this Blessing to be carried in our Nation. Trusting in You.

We pray for our cares to held as You'd want us to do. Knowing the Comfort of Your Holy Spirit to guide our lives. And know the homes and cares of Your Children all over the world carry the prayer of Bringing More Heaven to earth - in The Holy Spirit.

Thanksgiving for our answered prayers of health in our family and healing we are asked to pray for.

The Blessing of Jesus is ours. Amen and Amen and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †