Fire!

Daniel 3:16-18
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

When King Nebuchadnezzar installed a 90 feet tall golden image in the middle of his city, he expected every person in his kingdom to fall to their knees and worship. But three young men said no. They defied the king and refused to worship anyone or anything but the God who created them. He threw them into a fiery furnace, clothing and all and they survived. When the king looked into the furnace he saw them walking around and speaking to a fourth person, no doubt God. I’m sure his mouth dropped open and he said, “What on earth?” Immediately, he commanded the men to come to him and they stood before him without even a singed eyebrow hair or a fiery furnace smell. King Nebuchandnezzar fell to his knees and worshipped the one true God.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego embraced their faith. They knew that God had their back and that he promised to go with them through the fire. This week I prayed for God’s guidance and his reassurance that I was on the right path. When I opened my Bible to the book of Daniel, he reminded me of the faith of three young men and how he walked with them in the fire and carried them out unharmed. God is with me, no matter what I go through. When life takes me through the fire, I trust him to protect and guide me. Praise God that he keeps his promises! 

Person of Interest

Romans 12:2-3
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 

My husband and I have been watching the television show, Person of Interest. I watch it because I find the premise of the show interesting but a bit scary. In the show people are being watched either because they are about to do something evil or because they need protected. Throughout the episodes we’ve noticed the many cameras that tape people’s movements. I want to think that I am not watched like that every day. But I am.

 I may not have cameras following me (or men with weapons), but I do have eyes on me. Everything I do, say, or act on is witnessed by other people. They know that I am a follower of Christ and they watch to see whether I show it or not. If I profess to love others, I better be doing it. If I say that I follow the words of the Bible, I need to keep that in check. If I’ve let Jesus change my heart, then I need to let him change my mind. Of course I will stumble and make mistakes, but that is my opportunity to talk about grace and forgiveness. God gives us his desires for our life, I want to tap into that and show to the people around me how he has changed my life and that I am a soul saved by grace. When people watch me, I pray they see Christ. 

Icing on the Rolls

2 Timothy 3:14-17
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

One evening as I worked at my computer, I heard the sound of crinkling plastic. I thought maybe one of the dogs was playing with something they found on the floor. The noise continued for a few minutes longer than I thought it should. When I walked into our extra bedroom to investigate, I found our daschund/corgi Olive looking mighty guilty. For Christmas, Maggie made cinnamon rolls with a package of butter cream icing for Tim. With all the rolls eaten, I threw away the bit of left over icing. Dear little Olive, who craves food, sniffed out the sweet confection and helped herself to the leftovers.

Before we adopted her, Olive was abandoned with several pups to feed so she learned that she had to scavenge to stay alive. Her natural instinct was to dig in and find whatever she could to survive. I want that attitude when it comes to reading my Bible, that incessant craving in order to survive. I see the Bible as a precious gift that I am fortunate to have. I can read Jesus’ own words and letters from the people who walked with him. And I love the Old Testament stories that teach me so much about life. His book is filled with incredible stories, amazing wisdom, and the path to salvation. He leads with his word. Praise God for the scripture!

I Know I Can (through Christ)

Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

In January, I reacquaint myself with my treadmill and wave good-bye to the sugary treats from the holidays. I’m not one to make resolutions in the New Year, but I do like to set goals. Since I am tired of all the rich food by the time New Year’s rolls around, giving some of it up seems easier. But, I know at some point the temptation to eat the fattening stuff will creep up and I will need to engage self-control. Through prayer and positive thinking, I rely on God’s word to keep me in check.

Titus refers to self-control several times in his short book. He encourages the men, women and young people of the church to develop self-control. When I am disheartened and let go of my resolve, I need his help and the support of my brothers and sisters in Christ. As I seek to reach my goals (no matter what they are) and stay obedient to God, I keep my eyes on the hope that I have in Jesus. With him all things are possible.


Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.