Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Happy Tuesday! Was this as nearly a perfect spring day as a spring day can get? Each afternoon Bruce and I have been sitting out on the porch in the rockers for a while just enjoying the beautiful late afternoon, watering the flowers and Casey tree and catching up on the day. I could really get to like this!

Today was my last day of class at Brite for the semester. This class has been together for the last year in two semesters of Systematic Theology. I must say I have learned a lot and I realize I have so much more to learn. I sent the first 8 pages of my paper to Dr. Jones and he sent it back with some notes, but also said I was on the right track. I felt encouraged. The paper is due on May 5. Please continue to pray for my comprehension of this subject.

Tonight we took taco soup and cornbread over to Starbucks and had dinner with Travis. We ended up feeding the other two baristas, too. They are all single young men and seemed to enjoy a home cooked meal. They are all pretty sweet young people over there and always greet us with respect, kindness and wonderful smiles. They make our drinks to perfection and seemingly with gladness.

Daniel 6: vs. 26-27 says, “He is the living God…He delivers and rescues.”

The story of Daniel is such a great story. The story of Daniel is a model of obedience. Daniel was someone I would call a devout man of the living God; the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. King Darius challenged Daniel’s faith repeatedly and Daniel remained true to the living God. Daniel refused to pray to King Darius and the king threw Daniel into the den of lions.

The story goes like this…King Darius had a group of underlings who did not like the fact that Daniel was being promoted and given leadership over the kingdom. The underlings tricked King Darius to sign a decree that said that no one could pray to anyone but King Darius for 30 days lest they be thrown into the lions’ den. King Darius, not knowing why the underlings were pushing this new law, agreed. Daniel heard about the new law, yet continued in his faithfulness and continued to pray, knowing that he would be caught and thrown into the den of lions. The underlings caught Daniel praying to God and arrested him, taking him to the King who was forced to follow up on the punishment of the laws. Even as he had Daniel thrown into the lion’s den, King Darius prayed for Daniel to be rescued and delivered by the living God. The next morning, the King went out to check on Daniel and discovered that the living God of Daniel had sent an angel who sealed the mouths of the lions and saved Daniel. The king realized the faithful prayer life of Daniel was a prayer life that superseded this earth and the living God was greater than any earthly king including himself. The king then declared the God of Daniel the living God because He had saved Daniel.

Daniel was a model of faithful obedience to God and this faithfulness was witnessed by the King Darius. King Darius became a man of faith and shared his faith with the kingdom.

Have you ever noticed that the love of God is spread not by addition, but by multiplication? (forgive the classroom, please). One person loves God and is changed by His love and grace. Then that person tells more people and the story of God spreads. Daniel’s mark of faithfulness was his prayer life. So here are tonight’s questions…what is the mark of our faithfulness? What is the aspect of a life with Christ that sets us apart as a follower of Christ from those who are not followers? How do others know that we are children of God? Are we devout enough in our faith to stand before others and claim our faith in the name of Jesus no matter what it costs us? Do we trust God enough to claim Him as our Father and Christ as our Savior? Jesus did.

Take joy in the journey. Love you all so very much, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.

Gcapplenotes@aol.com

I am not moved by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved only by what I believe and I believe God.

No comments: