The birth of Jesus Christ is one of the coolest stories in the entire bible. I think it's sometimes easy to forget that story and the major significance that it has. So in Matthew 1 the genealogy of Jesus Christ is written about and the chapter concludes with the telling of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Before I share the story, my hope is that you are encouraged to not be afraid of any dreams or visions you have. It is a real thing for the Holy Spirit to communicate with you through dreams and visions. It's totally real. Now I honestly can't think of a time where the Holy Spirt communicated with me through a dream but I can think of other people who have had dreams like this. The people I know who have had dreams like this seem to be those who have an extra amount of faith. I hope you know what I mean. We all have faith and faith is faith, but those who are more aware of it are the ones who might catch these dreams and visions that are happening.
Awareness is important. We must be aware of how living, loving, and powerful our God is. Our God is always at work and we need to recognize that. If we are not aware of God's power on daily basis than what are we aware of? Probably our own self-interests and our own agendas. If we can become a little more aware, everything becomes so much more real.
So you're probably wondering how having faith and being aware ties into the brith of Jesus?
When Jospeh found out that Mary was pregnant, he didn't believe her and he wanted a divorce because he had thought that she was a virgin and he immediately thought that she would've had to cheat on him. He didn't want to put her to shame so he wanted to resolve to divorce her quietly.
He wanted nothing to do with Mary when he found out. He had not faith in her that she was telling the truth and not much faith in God either. Mary had tried to tell him that the child was from the Holy spirit and he was not very aware of that being a possibility.
Jospeh has very little faith and awareness about the situation until the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying, "Jospeh, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
An important thing to remember about this story is that it took place to fulfill what the Lord has spoken by the prophet:
"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel." (which means, God with us)
Jospeh woke up from his sleep and he did as the angel of the the Lord commanded him: he took his wife.
Jospeh went from wanting to divorce his wife, to having a dream where the angel of the Lord spoke to him, to having faith and taking his wife.
Jospeh was scared and was fearful, and it took the Lord having an angel come to him in his dream to give him faith and make him more aware.
It's real to be spoken to through a dream or through a vision, and a lot of time those dreams and visions are freaky. Dreams are so freaky. I know whenever I have a dream, most of the time it is crazy and not realistic. Next time you have a dream if you are able to, have a sense of awareness that maybe God was trying to tell you something. That's no small task. I have had the same dream probably 10 times where dinosaurs have taken over the taken over the town and there was nothing I could do about it...every single time. Some dreams, aren't meant to be interpreted like Joseph's was.
Be aware and have faith in your freaky dreams and visions.
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Monday, October 22, 2018
Ants in your pants
The title of this post probably caught you a little off guard. I am not sure how appropriate it is, but it makes sense with what I want to share with you. "Ants in your pants." Has anyone ever said that to you? We get in a hurry sometimes and we get super impatient and antsy...that is when you have probably heard your parents or grandparents say: "What is the matter? Do you have ants in your pants?"
My parents and my grandparents have said that to me before, and I have heard other parents say it as well. Maybe it's just a small town in Ohio thing...
This morning I read Daniel chapter 12. I was sad that it was the last chapter of such an awesome and exciting book that really changed a lot about the way I think.
Daniel chapter 12 is a short chapter about The Time of the End. If you happened to read any of the other posts I made about Daniel, you might have heard The Time of the End referenced a couple of times.
In the beginning of chapter12, someone is writing about what he thinks The Time of The End will be like. I am not sure who this someone is.
"At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." (Daniel 12:1-4)
What I take away from this that Daniel is in this place where he wants to know everything about The Time of The End. He was given a little bit about what it might be like and now he wants to know everything. That is what we are like as humans. We can be so nosy sometimes. Think about when you're driving somewhere and you see an accident on the side of the road. Everyone drives by so slowly wanting to know what happened and wanting to know every little detail. We get a taste and then we want the whole thing. We are wired that way as humans...I believe that we are a peace when we know all of the information. I also believe we don't need to know everything. We aren't meant to know every detail about every little thing that happens on a daily basis.
You know what else we aren't supposed to know every detail about? God. If we new every little detail about God, God wouldn't be God. God would be god. If we new everything about God there wouldn't be anything that we would want to learn about. If we aren't meant to know everything about God why would we think that we are meant to know everything else?
I think that is a pretty fair question to ask!
Daniel wanted to know all of these things. He was told to "shut up the words and seal the book, until The Time of The End."
Everything that Daniel wanted to know, wasn't meant for him to know yet. Once we die and go to heaven someday, I believe all of our questions will be answered. I can't wait for that because I have a lot of questions I am going to ask. My point with this, is that someday we will know everything, and we don't have to know everything right now.
Fast forward a couple of verses and another man asks a question about how long will these wonders last and then Daniel asks what the outcome of things will be and again, the voice said: "Go your way Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end." You can see here that there is more impatience. Daniel again wanted to know the answer to these things and it wasn't time. The voice told Daniel to go his way. I believe that is what God is telling us. He wants us to continue to do our thing. To live the lives that we live. To stop worrying about wanting to knowing everything and to be patient. We will know everything someday. The time to know everything is not right now.
I am not saying that we won't know anything until that time comes. That would be a little dark. God will show us things and give us answers to things in our life every step of the way. We need to do a better job at being more aware of that. When we are aware and more attentive to what God is doing in our lives on daily basis, we will notice those things. It's just not everything yet and we need to be okay with that.
So instead of being antsy, and having ants in your pants, take a breath, and come to the realization that someday we will know everything and someday we will be able to ask God all of the questions that we have.
My parents and my grandparents have said that to me before, and I have heard other parents say it as well. Maybe it's just a small town in Ohio thing...
This morning I read Daniel chapter 12. I was sad that it was the last chapter of such an awesome and exciting book that really changed a lot about the way I think.
Daniel chapter 12 is a short chapter about The Time of the End. If you happened to read any of the other posts I made about Daniel, you might have heard The Time of the End referenced a couple of times.
In the beginning of chapter12, someone is writing about what he thinks The Time of The End will be like. I am not sure who this someone is.
"At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." (Daniel 12:1-4)
What I take away from this that Daniel is in this place where he wants to know everything about The Time of The End. He was given a little bit about what it might be like and now he wants to know everything. That is what we are like as humans. We can be so nosy sometimes. Think about when you're driving somewhere and you see an accident on the side of the road. Everyone drives by so slowly wanting to know what happened and wanting to know every little detail. We get a taste and then we want the whole thing. We are wired that way as humans...I believe that we are a peace when we know all of the information. I also believe we don't need to know everything. We aren't meant to know every detail about every little thing that happens on a daily basis.
You know what else we aren't supposed to know every detail about? God. If we new every little detail about God, God wouldn't be God. God would be god. If we new everything about God there wouldn't be anything that we would want to learn about. If we aren't meant to know everything about God why would we think that we are meant to know everything else?
I think that is a pretty fair question to ask!
Daniel wanted to know all of these things. He was told to "shut up the words and seal the book, until The Time of The End."
Everything that Daniel wanted to know, wasn't meant for him to know yet. Once we die and go to heaven someday, I believe all of our questions will be answered. I can't wait for that because I have a lot of questions I am going to ask. My point with this, is that someday we will know everything, and we don't have to know everything right now.
Fast forward a couple of verses and another man asks a question about how long will these wonders last and then Daniel asks what the outcome of things will be and again, the voice said: "Go your way Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end." You can see here that there is more impatience. Daniel again wanted to know the answer to these things and it wasn't time. The voice told Daniel to go his way. I believe that is what God is telling us. He wants us to continue to do our thing. To live the lives that we live. To stop worrying about wanting to knowing everything and to be patient. We will know everything someday. The time to know everything is not right now.
I am not saying that we won't know anything until that time comes. That would be a little dark. God will show us things and give us answers to things in our life every step of the way. We need to do a better job at being more aware of that. When we are aware and more attentive to what God is doing in our lives on daily basis, we will notice those things. It's just not everything yet and we need to be okay with that.
So instead of being antsy, and having ants in your pants, take a breath, and come to the realization that someday we will know everything and someday we will be able to ask God all of the questions that we have.
Sunday, October 21, 2018
Outside These Walls
I woke up this morning and I had no doubt in my mind that I was going to write a post about what I was going to read in Daniel. As I was sitting here in the church library back home, that was not on my heart. I tried, I wanted it to be. As I sat here thinking, what else am I supposed to write about today, it hit me.
I got to church with my mom in between services this morning. When we got there, the first service was just finishing. In our church, the sound system plays whatever is going on in the sanctuary. It's probably like that at a bunch of churches. Outside the walls of the sanctuary is was quiet. It was peaceful. I could hear a couple of people in the cafe sitting down and talking and enjoying a break from life.
You know how the end of services go, I could hear everything that was being said. The pastor was closing the sermon with a powerful prayer, an alter call, and encouraged everyone to love like Jesus does. All of that was happening inside the walls of the sanctuary.
As soon as those doors opened and the people poured out the cafe of the church got louder and louder. It was subtle at first, and once everyone came out, it was pretty loud. It was beautiful to hear. That is something that always happens at church! Inside the walls of the church we love on people, talk to everyone, introduce ourselves to new people, be nice, put on a smile, etc. Inside these walls we love like Jesus.
What happens as soon as you leave church on Sunday? It's back to life. It's back to not seeing everyone as the same beautiful creations from God. It's back to seeing somebody you don't know and not introducing yourself. It's back to letting little things make you angry. Basically, we get exposed as soon as we leave these walls.
I am not saying everyone does this because I know for a fact that not everyone does! It's just something that happens. I am just as guilty of it, I think of meeting new people at church and then I think of myself sitting in the coffee shop back at school...I go in there everyday and there are so many people who I don't know. Some of those people are the same people that I see every single day. Think about when you go back to work tomorrow, or for some go back to class at school. The temptation to fall into the trap of gossip and judgment hits us heavily. The opportunity also arises as well. An opportunity to be different, to not participate in talking bad about someone, to not have a bad attitude like everyone else, to be a light, and to love!
As I sit and listen to everyone talk, love, and encourage one another, image the power of that outside these walls. As humans we are meant for relationships with other people, it's how we thrive. I encourage you with that. Because how often do we sit in church on a Sunday, hear an amazing sermon, feel God do work in our lives and then quickly forget what had happened?
The way we love and encourage isn't just for Sunday's it's for everyday. I encourage you to think about what you are doing outside of these walls. The walls don't even have to be church walls, they could be the walls where you grow and where you experience God. Our identity lies in Christ, how are we going to act? Our we going to be who we say we are?
Outside these walls are what is most important...the opportunity to love one another just like how God loves us, by sending his one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
I got to church with my mom in between services this morning. When we got there, the first service was just finishing. In our church, the sound system plays whatever is going on in the sanctuary. It's probably like that at a bunch of churches. Outside the walls of the sanctuary is was quiet. It was peaceful. I could hear a couple of people in the cafe sitting down and talking and enjoying a break from life.
You know how the end of services go, I could hear everything that was being said. The pastor was closing the sermon with a powerful prayer, an alter call, and encouraged everyone to love like Jesus does. All of that was happening inside the walls of the sanctuary.
As soon as those doors opened and the people poured out the cafe of the church got louder and louder. It was subtle at first, and once everyone came out, it was pretty loud. It was beautiful to hear. That is something that always happens at church! Inside the walls of the church we love on people, talk to everyone, introduce ourselves to new people, be nice, put on a smile, etc. Inside these walls we love like Jesus.
What happens as soon as you leave church on Sunday? It's back to life. It's back to not seeing everyone as the same beautiful creations from God. It's back to seeing somebody you don't know and not introducing yourself. It's back to letting little things make you angry. Basically, we get exposed as soon as we leave these walls.
I am not saying everyone does this because I know for a fact that not everyone does! It's just something that happens. I am just as guilty of it, I think of meeting new people at church and then I think of myself sitting in the coffee shop back at school...I go in there everyday and there are so many people who I don't know. Some of those people are the same people that I see every single day. Think about when you go back to work tomorrow, or for some go back to class at school. The temptation to fall into the trap of gossip and judgment hits us heavily. The opportunity also arises as well. An opportunity to be different, to not participate in talking bad about someone, to not have a bad attitude like everyone else, to be a light, and to love!
As I sit and listen to everyone talk, love, and encourage one another, image the power of that outside these walls. As humans we are meant for relationships with other people, it's how we thrive. I encourage you with that. Because how often do we sit in church on a Sunday, hear an amazing sermon, feel God do work in our lives and then quickly forget what had happened?
The way we love and encourage isn't just for Sunday's it's for everyday. I encourage you to think about what you are doing outside of these walls. The walls don't even have to be church walls, they could be the walls where you grow and where you experience God. Our identity lies in Christ, how are we going to act? Our we going to be who we say we are?
Outside these walls are what is most important...the opportunity to love one another just like how God loves us, by sending his one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Do you know why I have come to you?
Do you ever wonder why some things happen...whether it's to you, someone else or whatever the case might be?
Sometimes those things shock you and you never thought those things would happen to you. It's like you getting knocked on your butt.
In Daniel chapter 10, he got knocked on his butt by one of the visions that he had. This vision that he had was a terrifying vision of a Man. When Daniel had this vision he was standing on the bank of the Tigris river. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and he saw a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.
Daniel was with some of his buddies when this was happening and he was the only one who saw this. The guys he was with got scared because they felt a presence and then they went and hid.
Daniel was left alone and saw this great vision and all of a sudden all strength had left his body. His radiant appearance that he had was fearfully changed. Then he heard the sound of his words and when he heard these words he fell on his face.
Sometimes there are things in our lives that happen where we feel totally helpless. We are put into situations where we feel like there is nothing that we can do. What happened to Daniel is what happens to us. He was seeing the great vision and nobody else could see it. We experience what we experience. When God is trying to tell you something in your life and do work in your life, the people around you most likely won't have that same feeling because they are not you. They can understand what you're going through but they can't feel it exactly.
It's like when I get back from going to China. The experience was absolutely amazing. There are things I experienced over there that I cannot bring back here because nobody else can experience those things in the same way. I can share all the stories I want to, the affect might just not be as powerful as the way I was affected.
Back to the story, Daniel is on the ground completely powerless. All of a sudden he feels a hand touch him, and a voice say to him: "O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words the I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you." When this had been spoken to him, he stood up.
When we get knocked on our butts, that is when God speaks to us, and that is when we need to hear his voice. That is also when God uses others to speak to us. God uses people in our lives to tell us things that we need to hear. I could not be more thankful for those people and that God has placed them into my life.
The voice then had something else to say to Daniel: "Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words."
Daniel was been heard sine the first day he set is heart and humbled himself before God. The entire time he had been heard. Ever since we have accepted Jesus into our hearts, our prayers are heard, our thoughts are heard, everything is heard. Don't forget that. You also have to have patience with that. We have all been in that place before where we pray for something and the prayer is not answered, it takes time and your prayer might be answered in another way. Never forget that you are always heard by God. I challenge you to have that perspective: God hears everything!
When the words from above were spoken, Daniel again turned his face toward the ground and was mute. When this happened, he spoke again about not having any strength.
Again, Daniel was touched by a hand and was strengthened. The voice said: "O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage." Daniel was encouraged by this and said: "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me."
When we get knocked down, God is always there. We have no reason to fear. We need to be peaceful. We need to be strong and have courage.
Daniel had quite the experience in this chapter of Daniel. He had a vision, got knocked on his butt, and then lost all the strength that he had. He was touched by God, told that he was greatly loved and regained his strength.
Throughout all, he was heard. We are heard forever and always. Use the things that knock you down to start something new and to listen to what God is telling you.
Do you know why I have come to you? Do you know why God has come to you today? Or in the past couple? I challenge you to search for that reason and to find it.
Sometimes those things shock you and you never thought those things would happen to you. It's like you getting knocked on your butt.
In Daniel chapter 10, he got knocked on his butt by one of the visions that he had. This vision that he had was a terrifying vision of a Man. When Daniel had this vision he was standing on the bank of the Tigris river. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and he saw a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.
Daniel was with some of his buddies when this was happening and he was the only one who saw this. The guys he was with got scared because they felt a presence and then they went and hid.
Daniel was left alone and saw this great vision and all of a sudden all strength had left his body. His radiant appearance that he had was fearfully changed. Then he heard the sound of his words and when he heard these words he fell on his face.
Sometimes there are things in our lives that happen where we feel totally helpless. We are put into situations where we feel like there is nothing that we can do. What happened to Daniel is what happens to us. He was seeing the great vision and nobody else could see it. We experience what we experience. When God is trying to tell you something in your life and do work in your life, the people around you most likely won't have that same feeling because they are not you. They can understand what you're going through but they can't feel it exactly.
It's like when I get back from going to China. The experience was absolutely amazing. There are things I experienced over there that I cannot bring back here because nobody else can experience those things in the same way. I can share all the stories I want to, the affect might just not be as powerful as the way I was affected.
Back to the story, Daniel is on the ground completely powerless. All of a sudden he feels a hand touch him, and a voice say to him: "O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words the I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you." When this had been spoken to him, he stood up.
When we get knocked on our butts, that is when God speaks to us, and that is when we need to hear his voice. That is also when God uses others to speak to us. God uses people in our lives to tell us things that we need to hear. I could not be more thankful for those people and that God has placed them into my life.
The voice then had something else to say to Daniel: "Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words."
Daniel was been heard sine the first day he set is heart and humbled himself before God. The entire time he had been heard. Ever since we have accepted Jesus into our hearts, our prayers are heard, our thoughts are heard, everything is heard. Don't forget that. You also have to have patience with that. We have all been in that place before where we pray for something and the prayer is not answered, it takes time and your prayer might be answered in another way. Never forget that you are always heard by God. I challenge you to have that perspective: God hears everything!
When the words from above were spoken, Daniel again turned his face toward the ground and was mute. When this happened, he spoke again about not having any strength.
Again, Daniel was touched by a hand and was strengthened. The voice said: "O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage." Daniel was encouraged by this and said: "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me."
When we get knocked down, God is always there. We have no reason to fear. We need to be peaceful. We need to be strong and have courage.
Daniel had quite the experience in this chapter of Daniel. He had a vision, got knocked on his butt, and then lost all the strength that he had. He was touched by God, told that he was greatly loved and regained his strength.
Throughout all, he was heard. We are heard forever and always. Use the things that knock you down to start something new and to listen to what God is telling you.
Do you know why I have come to you? Do you know why God has come to you today? Or in the past couple? I challenge you to search for that reason and to find it.
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
You can't google: why am I feeling this way?
In life, we go through so many things. We go through something tough and we want to know why. As humans we naturally want to know the reasoning behind everything. It's the world we live in today. Most of the time we have the power, because of technology, to figure out whatever we want to. Unfortunately you can't google the answer to why am I feeling this way, or why didn't I understand this. The way to do that is alone time with God and really learning about yourself.
In Daniel chapter 8, he had another vision. This vision was about a Ram and a goat. Of all things...a ram and goat.
In the dream he had, he saw a ram standing on the bank of a canal. It had two horns, and both horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. Daniel saw that the ram was charging westward and northward and southward. No other beast could stand before him. While Daniel was considering this, a male goat came from the west across the face of the whole earth, without touching the ground. The goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. Then, this goat came at the ram, and struck it between the horns. The goat then became exceedingly great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four more horns towards the four winds of heaven.
I don't know about you, but none of that makes any sense to me. Daniel sought to understand this vision. When this happened, the arch angel Gabriel showed up to interpret this dream. Daniel was frightened when he saw Gabriel. Gabriel than said this to Daniel: "Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end."
Gabriel interpreted the entire dream to Daniel. Daniel was as lost and confused as I was and as you probably are as well. Daniel then said this. "The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been told is true, but seal up the vision, for it refers to many days from now." He understood that the vision was true. He also told him to seal it back up. There was going to be a time where it was meant for Daniel to understand it and right now wasn't the time. He was going to know...when the time was right.
During this time of not knowing what the vision was about, Daniel got up and went about the king's business. He was appalled by the vision even though he didn't understand that.
We can learn an important lesson from Daniel here. He didn't understand what was going on, yet he got back to doing what he does, and was appalled by it. He didn't get frustrated because he didn't understand the vision, he got back to doing what he does.
We we don't know the answer to something, it's okay. Most likely it's just not the right time. In those times of wondering, we need to stay on our feet and do what we do. Be appalled by the unknown! Be curious, be excited!
Trust me. We don't have the answer to everything that is going on in our lives. We are humans and aren't capable of that. Let what you don't know excite you and motivate you. Don't let it bring you down. Remember...when Daniel didn't understand, he got on his feet and continued doing what he does.
In Daniel chapter 8, he had another vision. This vision was about a Ram and a goat. Of all things...a ram and goat.
In the dream he had, he saw a ram standing on the bank of a canal. It had two horns, and both horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. Daniel saw that the ram was charging westward and northward and southward. No other beast could stand before him. While Daniel was considering this, a male goat came from the west across the face of the whole earth, without touching the ground. The goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. Then, this goat came at the ram, and struck it between the horns. The goat then became exceedingly great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four more horns towards the four winds of heaven.
I don't know about you, but none of that makes any sense to me. Daniel sought to understand this vision. When this happened, the arch angel Gabriel showed up to interpret this dream. Daniel was frightened when he saw Gabriel. Gabriel than said this to Daniel: "Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end."
Gabriel interpreted the entire dream to Daniel. Daniel was as lost and confused as I was and as you probably are as well. Daniel then said this. "The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been told is true, but seal up the vision, for it refers to many days from now." He understood that the vision was true. He also told him to seal it back up. There was going to be a time where it was meant for Daniel to understand it and right now wasn't the time. He was going to know...when the time was right.
During this time of not knowing what the vision was about, Daniel got up and went about the king's business. He was appalled by the vision even though he didn't understand that.
We can learn an important lesson from Daniel here. He didn't understand what was going on, yet he got back to doing what he does, and was appalled by it. He didn't get frustrated because he didn't understand the vision, he got back to doing what he does.
We we don't know the answer to something, it's okay. Most likely it's just not the right time. In those times of wondering, we need to stay on our feet and do what we do. Be appalled by the unknown! Be curious, be excited!
Trust me. We don't have the answer to everything that is going on in our lives. We are humans and aren't capable of that. Let what you don't know excite you and motivate you. Don't let it bring you down. Remember...when Daniel didn't understand, he got on his feet and continued doing what he does.
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Four Beasts and the Ancient of Days
The last couple of days when I have read in the book of Daniel there have been these amazing stories that have really made sense. This morning, chapter 7 was a little different. It was super fun to read and I really enjoyed reading it, but there wasn't a story that really stuck out to me as much as the stories have in the previous couple of days.
Daniel chapter 7 starts out with Daniel having a vision about four beasts.
The first beast: The first was like a lion and had eagles' wings. When Daniel looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it.
The second beast: This beast was like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, 'Arise, devour much flesh.'
The third beast: The third was like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it.
The fourth beast: The fourth beast was more terrifying than the rest. The fourth was dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all of the beast that were before it, and it had ten horns. Daniel considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. In this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.
When these dreams were interpreted, Daniel learned that the four beasts represented four kings that were going to come from the earth.
The fourth beast was different. It was worse than all the rest. Here is what was interpreted about the fourth beast:
'As for the fourth beast,
there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth,
which shall be different from all the kingdoms,
and it shall devour the whole earth,
and trample it down, and break it to pieces.
As for the ten horns,
out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise,
and another shall arise after them;
he shall be different from the former ones,
and shall put down three kings.
He shall speak words against the Most High,
and shall wear out the saints of the Most High,
and shall think to change the times and the law;
and they shall be given into his hand
for a time, times, and half a time.
But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away,
to be a consumer and destroyed to the end.
And the kingdom and the dominion
and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven
shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High;
his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions shall serve and obey him. '
I wanted to tell you about all of these beasts to show you that there are some pretty crazy stories in the bible. The bible isn't some boring book with lame stories. Every time you open your bible you will most likely read something really cool. The bible is for everyone. Maybe if we change our perspective on the bible we will read it more? Do you ever think about that? If you have the mindset that you are going to learn something and read some pretty cool things every time you read your bible, you will!
Speaking of learning some pretty cool things every time we open our bible, I learned something today for the first time. I learned that: "The Ancient of Days," is another name for God. I would've never known that.
Check our the scripture about The Ancient of Days.
"As I looked,
thrones were placed,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat;
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.
A stream of fire issued
and came out from before him;
a thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousands stood before him;
the court sat in judgment,
and the books were opened.
This post was a little different this morning. It was more of story telling than encouragement. I hope that these cool stories helped changed our perspective about reading the bible. If there is one thing I hope you can take away from this, is that when you have a 'ready to learn' perspective when you open up your bible, you will learn more than ever.
Daniel chapter 7 starts out with Daniel having a vision about four beasts.
The first beast: The first was like a lion and had eagles' wings. When Daniel looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it.
The second beast: This beast was like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, 'Arise, devour much flesh.'
The third beast: The third was like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it.
The fourth beast: The fourth beast was more terrifying than the rest. The fourth was dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all of the beast that were before it, and it had ten horns. Daniel considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. In this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.
When these dreams were interpreted, Daniel learned that the four beasts represented four kings that were going to come from the earth.
The fourth beast was different. It was worse than all the rest. Here is what was interpreted about the fourth beast:
'As for the fourth beast,
there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth,
which shall be different from all the kingdoms,
and it shall devour the whole earth,
and trample it down, and break it to pieces.
As for the ten horns,
out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise,
and another shall arise after them;
he shall be different from the former ones,
and shall put down three kings.
He shall speak words against the Most High,
and shall wear out the saints of the Most High,
and shall think to change the times and the law;
and they shall be given into his hand
for a time, times, and half a time.
But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away,
to be a consumer and destroyed to the end.
And the kingdom and the dominion
and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven
shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High;
his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions shall serve and obey him. '
I wanted to tell you about all of these beasts to show you that there are some pretty crazy stories in the bible. The bible isn't some boring book with lame stories. Every time you open your bible you will most likely read something really cool. The bible is for everyone. Maybe if we change our perspective on the bible we will read it more? Do you ever think about that? If you have the mindset that you are going to learn something and read some pretty cool things every time you read your bible, you will!
Speaking of learning some pretty cool things every time we open our bible, I learned something today for the first time. I learned that: "The Ancient of Days," is another name for God. I would've never known that.
Check our the scripture about The Ancient of Days.
"As I looked,
thrones were placed,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat;
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.
A stream of fire issued
and came out from before him;
a thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousands stood before him;
the court sat in judgment,
and the books were opened.
This post was a little different this morning. It was more of story telling than encouragement. I hope that these cool stories helped changed our perspective about reading the bible. If there is one thing I hope you can take away from this, is that when you have a 'ready to learn' perspective when you open up your bible, you will learn more than ever.
Monday, October 15, 2018
Broken Bones & Hungry Lions
I am writing to you again about another story of Daniel and his life. When Darius had taken over the kingdom he set over 120 satraps. I had to look this up, Satraps are like governors. Daniel was one of the governors and he become distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps because an excellent spirit was in him.
That brings me to my first point I want to encourage you with. Daniel was distinguished because others new that the Holy Spirit was in him. He was noticeably different because of that. He was different and people noticed. I encourage you to have a certain light about yourself. Be noticeably different than all of those around you for the right reasons.
All of the satraps then came by agreement to the king and said to him, "O King Darius, live forever!" They had put Darius above God. The decided to establish that injunction and sign a document saying that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except Darius, shall be cast into the lions den.
So if anyone who Darius ruled over praised any other gods or men they would be thrown into the lions den. They put Darius over everything.
Daniel had gotten word that the document was signed and he went to his house and got down on his knees and prayed three times a day, giving thanks to God for what He had previously done. I don't know how long this lasted but he did it day after day.
This is my second point. Daniel began to thank God for all he had done three times a day. We underestimate the power of prayer sometimes and this story shows an example where prayer did work. Faithful and continual prayer. Daniel knew that he couldn't just pray one time, he knew that he was going to have to pray over and over again. That is a good lesson for all. Be continual in the things you pray for. One time isn't going to do it. Be persistent. Be persistent and watch God work. Watch God deliver you from the things you prayed for and for others to be delivered because of your prayers for them.
All of the governors and high officials found out that Daniel was making a plea before God. They were not happy about it because he wasn't abiding by the written document. They went to Darius and told him that Daniel must be thrown into the lions den for making a plea to God and not Darius.
Darius was very distressed in this time. He set his mind to deliver Daniel. He labored until the sun went down to rescue him. Darius was going to do whatever it took to deliver Daniel, unfortunately he couldn't because it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.
My third point. Darius was distressed because Daniel was going to be thrown into the lions den. He did whatever he could to deliver Daniel and it just didn't work. I believe that Darius understood that Daniel served the Most High God. He knew that Daniel was different and did not want to see him be devoured by the Lions. Daniel labored until the sun went down, meaning he worked all day trying to figure this out. There are things in our lives that we need to fight for. There are times when we get this gut feeling that we really screwed up. We can't just give up. Darius never did.
The day came that Daniel was going to be thrown into the lions den and the King declared to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you." just like that, a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his signature signet. While this was happening, Darius fasted in his palace the entire night and did not get any sleep.
Fourth. Darius fasted all night. The power of fasting is incredible. We all like food and when we go without it, we get super hungry. But when we get that hunger, we can focus on prayer and having open ears to what God has in store for us. Fasting causes us to rely on God.
At the break of day, the King arouse and went in haste to the den of lions. Darius saw that God has delivered Daniel from the lions! Daniel told Darius that God had sent his angel and shut the lions' mouth, and that they had not harmed him, because he was found blameless and that he had done no harm. The King was so happy about this. A weight was definitely lifted off of his chest when he saw that Daniel was still alive.
Next, the King commanded that the men who had maliciously accused Daniel be brought and cast into the den of lions along with their children, and their wives. Before the reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones into pieces.
My fifth point is this. Never falsely accuse anybody for anything. Don't accuse someone of being wrong about something just because they are different than you are. The leaders had to know deep down that Daniel served the Most High God, yet they wanted to look good in the eyes of Darius, an earthly king. We can never cop out to please people and things of this world rather than God. It might be what is easiest and it might give you more clout, but it's not everlasting. We need to become more astounded by God than afraid of the world. Fear causes us to cop out. We must be still and know that God is God and that He rules over all.
After all of this had happened, King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages over all the earth: "Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,
for he is the living God,
enduring forever;
his kingdom shall never be destroyed,
and his dominion shall be to the end.
He delivers and recuses;
he works signs and wonders
in heaven and on earth,
he who has saved Daniel
from the power of the lions."
Finally, my sixth and final point is this. King Darius had seen all that God had done and wrote to all the people on the earth telling people to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. How powerful is that? He told everyone!!! What if we shared the work God has and is doing with everyone? Whether we do that or we don't we can start with a few people. Choose somebody to share what God has done in your life. There is so much power to that.
Don't let your bones be broken by things of this world, there are hungry lions out there ready to attack. It's up to you and your trust in God.
That brings me to my first point I want to encourage you with. Daniel was distinguished because others new that the Holy Spirit was in him. He was noticeably different because of that. He was different and people noticed. I encourage you to have a certain light about yourself. Be noticeably different than all of those around you for the right reasons.
All of the satraps then came by agreement to the king and said to him, "O King Darius, live forever!" They had put Darius above God. The decided to establish that injunction and sign a document saying that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except Darius, shall be cast into the lions den.
So if anyone who Darius ruled over praised any other gods or men they would be thrown into the lions den. They put Darius over everything.
Daniel had gotten word that the document was signed and he went to his house and got down on his knees and prayed three times a day, giving thanks to God for what He had previously done. I don't know how long this lasted but he did it day after day.
This is my second point. Daniel began to thank God for all he had done three times a day. We underestimate the power of prayer sometimes and this story shows an example where prayer did work. Faithful and continual prayer. Daniel knew that he couldn't just pray one time, he knew that he was going to have to pray over and over again. That is a good lesson for all. Be continual in the things you pray for. One time isn't going to do it. Be persistent. Be persistent and watch God work. Watch God deliver you from the things you prayed for and for others to be delivered because of your prayers for them.
All of the governors and high officials found out that Daniel was making a plea before God. They were not happy about it because he wasn't abiding by the written document. They went to Darius and told him that Daniel must be thrown into the lions den for making a plea to God and not Darius.
Darius was very distressed in this time. He set his mind to deliver Daniel. He labored until the sun went down to rescue him. Darius was going to do whatever it took to deliver Daniel, unfortunately he couldn't because it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.
My third point. Darius was distressed because Daniel was going to be thrown into the lions den. He did whatever he could to deliver Daniel and it just didn't work. I believe that Darius understood that Daniel served the Most High God. He knew that Daniel was different and did not want to see him be devoured by the Lions. Daniel labored until the sun went down, meaning he worked all day trying to figure this out. There are things in our lives that we need to fight for. There are times when we get this gut feeling that we really screwed up. We can't just give up. Darius never did.
The day came that Daniel was going to be thrown into the lions den and the King declared to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you." just like that, a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his signature signet. While this was happening, Darius fasted in his palace the entire night and did not get any sleep.
Fourth. Darius fasted all night. The power of fasting is incredible. We all like food and when we go without it, we get super hungry. But when we get that hunger, we can focus on prayer and having open ears to what God has in store for us. Fasting causes us to rely on God.
At the break of day, the King arouse and went in haste to the den of lions. Darius saw that God has delivered Daniel from the lions! Daniel told Darius that God had sent his angel and shut the lions' mouth, and that they had not harmed him, because he was found blameless and that he had done no harm. The King was so happy about this. A weight was definitely lifted off of his chest when he saw that Daniel was still alive.
Next, the King commanded that the men who had maliciously accused Daniel be brought and cast into the den of lions along with their children, and their wives. Before the reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones into pieces.
My fifth point is this. Never falsely accuse anybody for anything. Don't accuse someone of being wrong about something just because they are different than you are. The leaders had to know deep down that Daniel served the Most High God, yet they wanted to look good in the eyes of Darius, an earthly king. We can never cop out to please people and things of this world rather than God. It might be what is easiest and it might give you more clout, but it's not everlasting. We need to become more astounded by God than afraid of the world. Fear causes us to cop out. We must be still and know that God is God and that He rules over all.
After all of this had happened, King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages over all the earth: "Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,
for he is the living God,
enduring forever;
his kingdom shall never be destroyed,
and his dominion shall be to the end.
He delivers and recuses;
he works signs and wonders
in heaven and on earth,
he who has saved Daniel
from the power of the lions."
Finally, my sixth and final point is this. King Darius had seen all that God had done and wrote to all the people on the earth telling people to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. How powerful is that? He told everyone!!! What if we shared the work God has and is doing with everyone? Whether we do that or we don't we can start with a few people. Choose somebody to share what God has done in your life. There is so much power to that.
Don't let your bones be broken by things of this world, there are hungry lions out there ready to attack. It's up to you and your trust in God.
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