The prophet Daniel

This morning I was reading through the book of Daniel, from chapters 1-5. Daniel was famous for interpreting dreams and visions. He was also known for his wisdom and intelligence. One thing I admire about Daniel is the fact that he was faithful to the God that he served. He didn't compromise his faith for anything else. 

He was courageous in his decision not to eat the food or drink the wine, which the king provided. He chose to honor God rather than bow to the demands of the king. 

In the Daniel story, King Nebuchadnezzar threatened to destroy all the wise men if no-one interpreted his dream, Daniel and his friends asked for time so they could beseech God in prayer to reveal this information (Daniel 2:18). 

Daniel knew that wisdom and power belong to God (v.20), and praised Him.

For me, it is important to learn how to pray, but also to give thanks to God for answering my prayers.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Phil 4:6
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Col 3:15

 Daniel's journey reminds me of Heb 11:6

PC: Google images

Today is a new day

Today is a new day. It's a gift from above so smile. It's not over! Take courage and keep going!

Hold your head up high

Photo credit: Google images

 "When something bad happens you have three choices. You can let it define you, let it destroy you, or you can let it strengthen you." Author Unknown.

I just needed this reminder this morning. Don't let trying situations get to you but choose to rise above them. The choice is mine! Shake it off and hold your head up high.

Being content is my decision

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5 NIV)

I was asking myself these questions this morning.......

How can people be content with what they have? What is contentment anyway? What leads to contentment? What does it take for someone to come to the realisation that what I have is more than enough? How can people be content when the world around them is screaming out the latest, coolest, fastest, gadgets?

I think being content is being satisfied and happy with what you have! To be content you have to make the decision to be happy or satisfied with what you already have!

The 5 WHY's is a thinking strategy that I sometimes use with my students to help them explore deeper into a topic.

The Bible reminds us to be free from the love of money....WHY?
Because the love of money leads people to want more and the wanting more can lead to problems. WHY would people want more?
They are not satisfied or not happy with what they have. WHY aren't they satisfied?
 The world around them  is constantly presenting coolest, fastest, newest must haves! They don't want to be left out or they want to keep up with everyone else WHY?
 Maybe they feel that to be accepted by others or admired they have to have what others have? WHY?
 They haven't found the true meaning of happiness . Their source of happiness is keeping up with everything, everyone and money. It's a cycle so they will never be happy or satisfied. This unhappiness leads to many problems!

Amazing! Our Creator...the one who beautifully created us knew all that. That's why He reminds us in His Word to keep ourselves free from the love of money and to be content with what we have. Being content is the decision I get to make. Am I happy with what I have now?  I think being content leads to inner peace. 'Inner peace begins the moment you choose not to allow another person or event to control your emotion!' author unknown

I need to trust His promise when He says...
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5 NIV)

Father, Your presence, Your love, is more than enough for me. 

Freedom to choose

“Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14, 15 NIV)

Joshua had made up his mind...as for him and his household, they would serve the Lord. The same God who gave them land that they did not toil, cities they did not build so they could live in, vineyards they did not plant so they could eat from and who performed great signs before their eyes. This is the God that Joshua decided to serve.

Joshua had witnessed God's amazing power, provision and never ending faithfulness. Throughout his journey, Joshua developed a close relationship with His God and so he knew Who he was going to serve! He made a heart decision!

I like the way God doesn't force us to follow Him but He gives us that freedom to choose. Each day we are offered a buffet of choices.......who or what will you choose. The decision rests with me!

Choose you this day Whom you will serve...as for me and my house we will serve the Lord! That is my heart decision today.

Slow Me Down Lord

I had to smile when I read this. Sometimes I really need to slow down!!!!

Slow Me Down Lord

Slow me down, Lord!

Ease the pounding of my heart

By the quieting of my mind.

Steady my hurried pace

With a vision of the eternal reach of time.

Give me,

Amidst the confusions of my day,

The calmness of the everlasting hills.

Break the tensions of my nerves

With the soothing music

Of the singing streams

That live in my memory.

Help me to know

The magical power of sleep,

Teach me the art

Of taking minute vacations

Of slowing down

To look at a flower;

To chat with an old friend

Or make a new one;

To pat a stray dog;

To watch a spider build a web;

To smile at a child;

Or to read a few lines from a good book.

Remind me each day

That the race is not always to the swift;

That there is more to life

Than increasing its speed.

Let me look upward

Into the branches of the towering oak

And know that it grew great and strong

Because it grew slowly and well.

Slow me down, Lord,

And inspire me to send my roots deep

Into the soil of life's enduring values

That I may grow toward the stars

Of my greater destiny.

-- Wilfred A. Peterson