God to the Rescue (Daniel 3:8-30)

Nebuchadnezzar was a powerful king, but he hungered for more power. He set up a golden statue of himself and demanded that at the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum and every kind of music, his people should fall down and worship the image.

Some Chaldeans accused three young Jews, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They told the king, "These men do not worship your gods or your golden statue."

This made Nebuchadnezzar very, very angry, and he had the three brought to him. "Is it true you do not serve our gods or worship the golden statue?" Then he ordered the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum and every kind of music to sound off, but Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did not worship the image. They said their God would rescue them in the fire, and even if He didn't, they would not worship the golden statue.

Nebuchadnezzar ordered the temperature in furnace to be raised seven times hotter than normal. It was so hot it killed the men who threw Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the blazing fire.

Then something amazing happened. The king looked into the window of the furnace and saw, not three but four men walking around in the fire. He said, "One looks like a son of the gods!" The men's robes did not catch on fire and their hair did not burn. Nebuchadnezzar had them brought out of the furnace. The Jews didn't even smell like fire or smoke.

Do you know what the king did? He praised the God of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego, because He rescued the men who trusted Him.

Think About It
Has anyone tried to get you to do something you knew was wrong? Did they persuade you? Next time remember how God protected Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. You can trust Him to protect you too.

Pray About It
Father God, it's hard to stay true to you when our friends want us to go along with things that are not right. Be our strength and help us to trust you, even when it's not the popular thing to do.

Abigail, The Peacemaker (1 Samuel 25)

When King David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal, a very rich man, was in Carmel shearing his 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats. All the time Nabal traveled to the shearers King David and his men protected Nabal, his people and flocks.

King David sent 10 men from his army to request provision from Nabal, but Nabal would not even give them water and bread. This made King David angry. He said to 400 of his men, "All of you, put on your swords!" They were ready to kill Nabal and his people for returning evil for good.

One of Nabal's men went to Abigail, Nabal's wife, and told her the terrible way he treated King David. He said, "When we were in the wilderness we were not harassed. King David and his men were a wall of protection around us."

Abigail knew how bad her husband was and she prepared to meet King David. She and Nabal's men loaded donkeys with 200 loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five butchered sheep, a bushel of roasted grain, 100 clusters of raisins, and 200 cakes of pressed figs. When she saw King David she got off her donkey and fell at his feet. She took on the guilt of her husband, Nabal, and asked the King to forgive him. Because of her gracious act, she kept King David from killing all Nabal's people.

King David said to her, "Praise to the Lord God of Israel, who sent you to meet me today! Blessed is your discernment and blessed are you. You kept me from participating in bloodshed today."

Think About It
Nabal did evil in God's sight and died for it. Abigail brought peace between two nations and lived to marry King David. Maybe you and I will not marry a king for doing what is right, but God honors what we do. Nothing we do for His glory goes unnoticed. Think of ways this week to be brave and act in ways that honor God.

Pray About It
Holy God, thank you for stories in your word that show us how to live. May we think of them when we face bad people, and trust you to carry us as you did Abigail. Amen.

Parable of Talents - Matt. 25:14-30

Before a man went away on a long journey he entrusted his possessions to people who worked for him. To one he gave five talents. To another two talents and another one talent.

Do you know what a talent is? During the time of Jesus, it was seventy five pounds of gold. That would be about fifteen years' pay for a soldier. Does that give you the big picture?

The first servant put his five talents to work and earned five more. The second earned two more. The last one buried his talent in the ground. When the man returned from his trip the ten and four talents impressed him and he said to the first two servants, "Well done, good and faithful servants."

Then the man turned to the third servant who said to him, "I know all about you. You're a difficult man, reaping where you haven't sown and gathering where you haven't scattered seed. I was afraid, so I buried your talent in the ground. Look, here is your talent."

This made the man furious! "You evil, lazy servant! So you know all about me? Why then didn't you at least put my money on deposit in a bank so it would earn interest?"

The Master of the three servants invited the first two to share in his joy and put them in charge of many things, but he took away the talent from the lazy servant and gave it to the one with ten talents. Then he threw him out of his presence and that's a terrible place of darkness and crying and grinding teeth. (Based on Matthew 25:14-30).

Think About It
As with all the parables Jesus told, there is an underlying truth in the story. The man who went on a journey is God and we are His servants. He gives each of us time, talents, abilities, and money. How would you feel if you gave someone a gift and they threw it away or failed to put it to use? Me too. I would feel hurt. That's how God feels when we don't use the gifts He gives us. We owe Him all we have because He gave all He had, His only Son, for us so we could live with Him forever. However, He is happy with our first fruits, whether it is time, talent, abilities or money. Write down the gifts God gave you. Then write down how you will use them this week to serve God and others

Pray About It
Father God, You are our Treasure. We thank you for all the ways you bless us. Help us to learn to be faithful with small things so you will trust us with big things. Amen.

What Does Your Cross Look Like?

Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" Mark 8:34-36

Many think when suffering comes along that God isn't paying attention, that He doesn't hear their cries for healing. Did you know He was the beginning of Job's problems? He said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant, Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." Job 1:8. Satan was sure Job would fall away from God if he had to suffer. Not so! God allowed Job to lose seven sons, three daughters, his health and wealth, but Job remained faithful.

God also allowed Naomi to suffer. She and her family left Bethlehem during a famine and found a living in Moab. Her sons married Moabite wives and all seemed well for a while, yet not for long. Naomi's husband and two sons died, but she kept her faith in God.

God's perfect plan for us meant His own Son would suffer persecution, crucifixion and death. Thanks be to God, that is not the end of the story. Three days after His death, Jesus rose from the grave, rolled away the stone and lived among His people for forty days before He ascended into Heaven. More than five hundred people witnessed seeing and hearing Him. He is now preparing a place for us to be with Him forever. A place for Job and Naomi too. However, even when they were on earth, God more than restored them from their losses. Job had ten more children, good health and more wealth than he could imagine. Naomi became a grandmother and God took care of her the rest of her life on earth.

Think About It
What does your cross look like? Is your family going through a tough time with bad health or financial stress? Whatever problems you may have, Jesus promised in Matthew 28:20 that He would always be with us. Because He suffered much, we can trust Him to be with us in our in our suffering. By remaining faithful as Job and Naomi did, God will build strong character in us too.

Pray About It
Lord Jesus, whatever problems we face, help us stand firm and trust You. Thank you that in our weakness you work your strength and give us hope.

Jesus--God's Gift of Love

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end." Isaiah 9:6-7

Did you know that these two verses, often quoted at Christmas, were written by Isaiah more than seven hundred years before Christ was born? Isaiah worked during troubling times when people had no regard for the deeds of the Lord, no respect for the work of His hands. God spoke through Isaiah to warn the people they would be exiled because of their life choices, but that He would bring hope and peace through one Man.

Application

While we celebrate the first coming of Jesus at Christmas, we prepare for His second coming. That means we respond to God's amazing love by loving Him and others. Loving God means doing what is right and good. Sometimes that means standing alone. Have you ever had to do that? I have and I feel like the lone ranger Christian. Be encouraged! God says in Isaiah 7:9, "If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all." Hard words, but words that hold great hope and eternal life with God. How will you show God's love this week? Will it mean that you will stand alone to do what God wants you to?

Prayer

Father God, thank you for your incredible plan for us. Strengthen us to stand firmly in our faith and to reach out to others with your love, especially during this season when many people feel left out and lonely. Amen.

Don't Misuse God's Name

The third commandment of God's Big Ten is, "Do not misuse God's name. Yet, I hear people say, "Oh my god!" even though they are not thinking about God at all. The TV show OMG uses the acronym that means the same. Other times people say "Jesus" or "Jesus Christ" when they are not praying to or talking about our Lord. Such careless use of God's name grieves Him. It is down right disrespectful to our God.

God loves us and calls us by our names. He wouldn't think of calling us by any other name. If he did, we probably wouldn't answer. Have you heard Him call your name? I have and it makes me feel loved. It makes me feel special. We should respond to God's call by returning the favor--by saying His name with reverence.


Application
I wouldn't like for you to say my name in a curse. Would you like me to yours? I didn't think so. Let's  not use God's name unless we are praying or speaking reverently of Him.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, help us to use your name with love and care. We pray for the people who think nothing of using your name so carelessly. Teach them your ways, Oh Lord. Show them your paths." Amen.

A Wish and a Prayer--Review

An ambulance siren startled Jason's pet parakeet, Sonny, and he flew out the window. Distraught, Jason whistled, "Twitter-twitter-tweet," but Sonny didn't answer. Jason and his mom looked for the parakeet up and down the street and in the park, but they didn't find Sonny.

Jason made wishes on a clock and at the fountain in the park and on his birthday and on a star, but the wishes didn't bring Sonny home. Jason's mom asked him who heard his wishes. Realizing no one heard his wishes, he knew Who would hear his prayer.

Thunder rumbled and lightning lit up the sky. Rain pounded down on Jason's home. Would God bring Sonny home? A Wish and a Prayer is a sweet story how Jason trusted God through the power of prayer.

A Real Treasure

What would you do if you found a real treasure, something you really want on an Easter egg hunt? Would you try to get it into your basket or bag? Would you bury it and come back when no one is looking to get it?

The Bible talks about a man who found a treasure in a field. He valued it so much that he buried it. Then he purchased the field and claimed the treasure.

Did you know that you are God's treasure? He found such great value in you that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to love on you. One time Jesus was in a big crowd and parents brought their children on their birthdays to Him for a blessing. The disciples thought He wouldn't have time for the kids and began to ask them to leave. This disappointed Jesus and He said, "Let the children come to me and do not stop them." He took the little ones in His arms and blessed them. Imagine looking up into Jesus' face and seeing His eyes sparkle and the smile on His face that goes from ear to ear.

This is the hope of children who love Jesus. Only one thing will come between you and Him. It's the wrong things you do, things Jesus said we shouldn't do. But if we are sorry and willing to change and live our lives for Him, He will forgive us and let us live with Him forever. This is the real meaning of Easter.

Remember God loves you and wants to spend eternity with you. I hope you will give Him your heart today. I am praying for you.

Lord Jesus, watch over the one reading this post. Let him or her experience your amazing love so they will always want to be with you. Amen.

A Dog Named Tippy

            There was a farmer had a dog,

            And Tippy was his name-o.

            T-I-P-P-Y, T-I-P-P-Y, T-I-P-P-Y

            And Tippy was his name-o.

            Samuel sang this song about his dog in the morning and at noon and at night time too. He named his dog Tippy because he had a white tip at the end of his big brown tail.

Tippy’s tail told Samuel if he was happy or sad. Swoosh, swoosh, it swept the floor. Sometimes it pounded on the door or the furniture.

Tippy did not like thunder. He tucked his tail underneath himself and hid under Samuel’s legs. He wouldn’t come out until the storm passed.

Samuel fed Tippy every morning before he went to school and played with him in the afternoon when he got home. Tippy loved fetching balls and sticks and Frisbees. He loved doing tricks Samuel taught him. He rolled over or played dead when Samuel gave the command. He even shook hands with Samuel’s friends. Tippy loved to please Samuel.

One day Tippy wasn’t at the door after school. Samuel looked in his room but Tippy wasn’t there. He looked in the garage, but Tippy wasn’t there. Samuel looked in the back yard but Tippy wasn’t there either. Samuel saw a big pile of dirt by the fence. His heart pounded. Tippy must have dug a hole under the fence and ran away. But why?

Samuel thought and thought. Maybe Tippy chased a cat. Samuel saw him chase cats over the flowers and under the bushes. But he was always home. Tippy came to Samuel when he called him.

“I wish I was home today,” Samuel told his Dad.

“I wish you were too,” Dad said. “Let’s look for him.”

Dad and Samuel looked up and down the street until after dark. They called, “Tippy! Tippy!” but Tippy didn’t come.

Several days passed but Tippy didn’t come home. “It’s like Tippy died,” Samuel told his Dad.

“I know,” Dad said. “I’ll look at the shelters again tomorrow.” Dad went from one animal shelter to another. He walked up and down the aisles looking in every pen, but he didn’t find Tippy.

When Samuel got home from school he ran into Dad’s office, but Dad just shook his head. A tear trickled down Samuel’s cheek. “I guess Tippy is not coming home.”

“I’m sorry, Samuel.”

“Dad, do you think we’ll see Tippy in Heaven?”

“I think that's a great possibility,” Dad said. “God made animals before He made man. They were part of His original plan and He kept them through the flood of Noah’s time.”

Samuel smiled.

“There was a farmer had a dog and

Tippy was his name-o.

T-I-P-P-Y, T-I-P-P-Y, T-I-P-P-Y, and

Tippy was his name-o.

           

           

Tide Pool Discovery

Twice a day the water on the ocean shore rises and falls. These changes in water level are called tides. It’s fun to explore tide pools that form on rocky shores. At high tide the white water swooshes over the rocks and at low tide the waves do not reach the pools of water left among the rocks.     

God made ways for animals to survive when waves pound on the rocks and sand. Crabs dig into sand with their clawed legs. Clams bury themselves in the sand. Anemones have many arms called tentacles. When they close them they look like balls as big as a grapefruits. Sea urchins are covered with long, sharp spines that help them move along. They eat small plants that grow on rocks.

At low tide mussels lie closed on the mud. With their many threads, they attach themselves to the grass along the shore. When the tide comes in they open their shells to eat. Muskrats live near fresh water in salt marshes and feed on shoreline grass.

The splashing waves over the rocks, sand and grass bring shells, seaweed, driftwood and other sea life into tide pools. Next time you visit a beach, see what you can find.