Do nothing out of selfish ambition…

 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition….

My version of the day….

 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Phil.2.3-4

How appropriate…when reading Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 9…

“He prayed to the Lord and confessed “ not for himself but for his people…and then for himself…looking out for them first and then himself…speaking scriptures back to God on their behalf because he knew that their time in Babylon was coming to an end…having understood the words of Jeremiah …

 “But when the seventy years are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation, the land of the Babylonians, for their guilt,” declares the Lord, “and will make it desolate forever. I will bring on that land all the things I have spoken against it, all that are written in this book and prophesied by Jeremiah against all the nations. They themselves will be enslaved by many nations and great kings; I will repay them according to their deeds and the work of their hands.”

Jer.25.12-14

Daniel pulls out the character of God …

Great and mighty God…

Promise keeper…

Righteous….

Merciful and forgiving…

Truthful…

Hearer of prayers and petitions…

Forgiver…

  “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”

Dan. 9:17-19

This man who was brought to a foreign nation as a slave, but chosen to be educated in a foreign nation, who rose to leadership , respected by kings and leaders, even though he remained true to God through much turmoil….he knew why he was here…the rebellion of his people…but he chose to pray for them and himself …to the God who keeps his promises from ages past to present to ages future …and we can still count of that …

Thank YOU…

 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Heb.13.8

 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

Heb.13.14-15

The name of God…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T5-6gwssX0Y&pp=ygUbc29uZ3MgYWJvdXQgZ29kJ3MgY2hhcmFjdGVy

You are God alone…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOargNFiDd4&pp=ygUbc29uZ3MgYWJvdXQgZ29kJ3MgY2hhcmFjdGVy

God is not mocked…

 God is not mocked….

I play “words with friends…” with a friend…we many times chat as we play..(we live in different states)..good for brains and down time before bed…

Confession-words, I was taught over the year that are bad ,disrespectful, swear, etc., I cannot write down…every time I try,   I am checked in my Spirt and can’t do it..I feel as though I am mocking God…

This is a very simplified example of a huge story in the Word about one of the kings of Babylon…

When you think of  the history of the gold used in the tabernacle and the temple, the amounts used and the meaning of each, their specialness to worship…wow…

God spoke, he was not taking this king’s mocking anymore…nor his attitude…this was it and it was the beginning of the time for the   Israelites to return to their land…

Thank YOU….

 “But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. 

But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. 

Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription. “This is the inscription that was written:mene, mene, tekel, parsin “Here is what these words mean:

Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. 

Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” 

Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom. 

That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.

Dan.5.22-31

 And make its plates and dishes of pure gold, as well as its pitchers and bowls for the pouring out of offerings. Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me at all times.

Exod.25.29-30

 “Make a lampstand of pure gold. Hammer out its base and shaft, and make its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them. Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. And on the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. One bud shall be under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all. The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold. “Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it. Its wick trimmers and trays are to be of pure gold. A talent of pure gold is to be used for the lampstand and all these accessories. See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.

Exod.25.31-40

 These are the amounts of the materials used for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the covenant law, which were recorded at Moses’ command by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest. (Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made everything the Lord commanded Moses; with him was Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan—an engraver and designer, and an embroiderer in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen.) The total amount of the gold from the wave offering used for all the work on the sanctuary was 29 talents and 730 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel. one beka per person, that is, half a shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone who had crossed over to those counted, twenty years old or more, a total of 603,550 men. The 100 talents of silver were used to cast the bases for the sanctuary and for the curtain—100 bases from the 100 talents, one talent for each base. They used the 1,775 shekels to make the hooks for the posts, to overlay the tops of the posts, and to make their bands. The silver obtained from those of the community who were counted in the census was 100 talents and 1,775 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel— The bronze from the wave offering was 70 talents and 2,400 shekels. They used it to make the bases for the entrance to the tent of meeting, the bronze altar with its bronze grating and all its utensils, the bases for the surrounding courtyard and those for its entrance and all the tent pegs for the tabernacle and those for the surrounding courtyard.

Exod.38.21,Exod.38.22,Exod.38.23,Exod.38.24,Exod.38.26,Exod.38.27,Exod.38.28,Exod.38.25,Exod.38.29,Exod.38.30,Exod.38.31

 He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace. He also took hostages and returned to Samaria.

2Kgs.14.14

 and Jehoiachin the king of Judah gave himself up to the king of Babylon, himself and his mother and his servants and his officials and his palace officials. 

The king of Babylon took him prisoner in the eighth year of his reign and carried off all the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold in the temple of the Lord, which Solomon king of Israel had made, as the Lord had foretold.

2Kgs.24.12-13

 How long will the enemy mock you, God?Will the foe revile your name forever? Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them! But God is my King from long ago;he brings salvation on the earth.

Ps.74.10-12

 Lord, you understand;remember me and care for me.Avenge me on my persecutors.You are long-suffering—do not take me away;think of how I suffer reproach for your sake.

Jer.15.15

 The Lord is gracious and merciful,slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Ps.145.8

 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power,and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.His way is in whirlwind and storm,and the clouds are the dust of his feet…

Nah.1.3

Psalm 145…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AhOUSFgvJnc&pp=ygUOUHNhbG0gMTQ1IHNvbmc%3D

80 years old…

 80 years old…

Moses led the Israelites at 80…

Daniel is in the lions den at 80…

Anna at the temple at 84…

I Thought of these three, devoted followers of God in their own right, in the paths that God had for them…

A leader of a nation…a Jew in a foreign land who was counted trustworthy to foreign kings….a widow who “ and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.”

Luke.2.37,Luke.2.38

I have friends and relatives who are 80…what a delight each one of them are…

 Moses said …”The years of our life are seventy,or even by reason of strength eighty;yet their span is but toil and trouble;they are soon gone, and we fly away.”

Ps.90.10

My husband used to say,,there is no retirement in the Bible…we serve the Lord as long as we can…

Erma Bomveck ..”when I stand before God at the end f my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say “ I used everything You gave me”…

Whether we lead a nation, face a den of lions or worship in the temple or whatever God has in store for us….find us faithful…

Thank YOU…

 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 

My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.” 

So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Dan.6.10,Dan.6.11,Dan.6.22,Dan.6.28

Find us Faithful…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKT5BCmvmq0&list=RDMKT5BCmvmq0&start_radio=1

Almost persuaded…

 Almost persuaded….

 There are times in our lives when the truth is so close and we still can’t believe it…we test it, argue it, until we either accept it or reject it all together…

Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged “Daniel’s God”  several times, but he did not say “my”God…we won’t know until we get to heaven if he ever had a personal faith in the God of the universe…

It reminded me of Paul speaking over and over before people, Festus, Agrippa in the New Testament…did his words fall on deaf ears, as well?

Or in our everyday life, with our neighbors, friends, family….how deep do the words we speak dwell in the hearts of others…only Holy Spirit knows ….but speak and live we must, as Daniel did…

God knows the hearts of others…

 The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.”

Dan.2.47

 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.”

Dan.3.26,Dan.3.28,Dan.3.29

  King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me. How great are his signs,how mighty his wonders!His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,and his dominion endures from generation to generation. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Dan.4.1,Dan.4.2,Dan.4.3,Dan.4.37

Thank YOU….

 “‘This people honors me with their lips,but their heart is far from me;

Matt.15.8

 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.” Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

 Acts.26.24-32

Majesty…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNnTFDNPT3U&list=RDSNnTFDNPT3U&start_radio=1

Acorns ….pride..

 Acorns….pride….

For several years before the end of my dad’s life, he propagated acorns…trying to replenish areas that once had a “forest” of oak trees…some he was successful with, others not so much…

So, anywhere I went that had oak trees and acorns, I would pocket a few acorns and send them to him…Ming tombs in China, the 911 memorial in New York City, pastures along the way….(the oak trees at the Ming tombs have leaves the size of a plate, so big and beautiful). Those acorns have grown into trees now, not needing fencing from the cattle which range there.   I wish my dad could see the fruit of his labors now and tell  the stories of each tree and where they came from…he would be so proud….(he was a story teller)…

In Daniel 4 , King Nebuchadnezzar tells of his dream of a tree…

 “I said, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. These are the visions I saw while lying in bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed. “In the visions I saw while lying in bed, I looked, and there before me was a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven. He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.“‘

Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times pass by for him. “‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.’ “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. 

Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.” 

Your Majesty, you are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth. “Your Majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’ 

“This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. 

Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.” 

All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” 

At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.His dominion is an eternal dominion;his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing.He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.No one can hold back his hand-or say to him: “What have you done?” 

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.”

Dan.4.9,Dan.4.10,Dan.4.11,Dan.4.12,Dan.4.13,Dan.4.14,Dan.4.15,Dan.4.16,Dan.4.17,Dan.4.18,Dan.4.22,Dan.4.23,Dan.4.24,Dan.4.25,Dan.4.26,Dan.4.27,Dan.4.28,Dan.4.30,Dan.4.34,Dan.4.35,Dan.4.37

Pride…. Exaggerated self-esteem, conceit…Merriam Webster…

Pride takes us down a road of “me” and what “I “ accomplished…leaving out the real creator and His control…we can look at all we have acquired, all the good things we have done, the “trees” we planted, but, they were only given as gifts from the One who controls all…

Thank YOU…

 In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

Ps.10.4

 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,but with humility comes wisdom.

Prov.11.2

 Pride goes before destruction,a haughty spirit before a fall..

Prov.16.18

 The eyes of the arrogant will be humbledand human pride brought low;the Lord alone will be exalted in that day. The arrogance of man will be brought lowand human pride humbled;the Lord alone will be exalted in that day,     and the idols will totally disappear.

Isa.2.11,Isa.2.17,Isa.2.18

Humble thy self…

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=humble+thyself+to+walk+with+god+hymn

The Story of the 9/11 Survivor Tree and What It Means

Binding…

 Binding….

When Reading Daniel 3, there are so many lessons, thoughts..but my heart kept focusing in on “bind, tied up, firm tied, bound”….

What am I bound by, what are my thoughts tied up with…who controls those bindings…

These men in were willing to die for their worship of the true God…their hearts were bound with the love, not fear of dying…they had made their stand for God…they knew the Word would save the no matter what…

The kings bindings had no power over them….it was another instance of…”choose whom you will serve”…

Thank YOU….

 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.” Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 

So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. 

Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” 

He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” 

Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. 

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”

Dan.3.16-29

 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 

Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 

Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.

Deut.6.5-8

 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 

Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Deut.11.18-19

 Though the wicked bind me with ropes,I will not forget your law.

Ps.119.61

 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;bind them around your neck,write them on the tablet of your heart. 

My son, keep your father’s commandand do not forsake your mother’s teaching. 

Bind them always on your heart;fasten them around your neck.

Prov.3.3,Prov.6.20,Prov.6.21

 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Col.3.12-14

Bless be the tie that binds…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RUu93KoX-0&list=RD_RUu93KoX-0&start_radio=1

Pray for one another…Praise is the voice of faith…

 Pray for one another….

Praise is the voice of faith….

With this new round of cancer, I get notes, phone calls, texts, cards, etc saying that they are praying for me…in turn I am doing the same for others…the circle of prayer, concern, praise continues on…

I thought of this while reading Daniel 2…when finding out distressing news, he went to his friends, who in turn prayed with him for answers…he praised God who is in charge of all things…wisdom, power, times, seasons, knows all, sees all, etc…

The chapter may seem to be about the king’s dreams, but it is so much more…it is about the faithfulness of God, the faithfulness of Daniel to God…faithful friends…in the rough times….

Thank YOU….

 He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him. 

Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven

Dan.2.15-19

 and said:“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons;he deposes kings and raises up others.He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things;he knows what lies in darkness,and light dwells with him. I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:You have given me wisdom and power,you have made known to me what we asked of you,you have made known to us the dream of the king.”

Dan.2.20-23

 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.

2Thess.1.3

Faithful One…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PjSO5Ihl0M&list=RD7PjSO5Ihl0M&start_radio=1