Nuggets of Truth

I want be honest with you:  I was not jumping for joy when I heard we were going to study Daniel.  Yes, I know Timothy tells us “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness …” (2 Timothy 3:16 ESV) but deciphering the symbolism, understanding the relationship to ancient history, and trying to understand Daniel’s visions all seemed a bit overwhelming.  Fast forward 12 chapters, several months and my feelings have changed.  Do I understand it all?  No!  But, now I see the nuggets of truth woven throughout the book that have indeed been good for training in righteousness and profitable for teaching.

Nugget #1 – Daniel shows us what Paul tells us in Romans 12:2: “… do not be conformed to this world.”  One of the first things we learn about Daniel is his willingness to remain faithful to the Lord and not give in to the temptations (the king’s food and drink) of his environment.  In chapter 3 he was asked to worship a false god or face a fiery furnace and again he chose to remain faithful to the Lord.  It would be much easier to adopt the “When in Rome, do as the Romans” mindset especially when the alternative is a fiery furnace or a lion’s den but, Daniel shows us that a faithful man of God wants no part of moral or spiritual compromises.  Our experiences may not be as dramatic as Daniel’s but each day we must consciously decide to honor God in all we do and say.

Nugget #2 –  Daniel’s life was full of turmoil:  he was taken hostage, stripped of everything he knew, thrown in a fiery furnace, had to spend the night in a lion’s den and if that wasn’t enough turmoil he was given disturbing visions that made him sick for days.  But what did Daniel do throughout his life?  He turned to God for all his needs and the people around him took note.  Do the people around you see you turning to God in the midst of chaos?  Are you worrying about the next election cycle or remembering God’s word that there’s no authority except that which God has set? (Romans 13:1)

There are so many more nuggets I could write about:  Power of a faithful prayer life, hope that only our Lord can provide and in the end resurrection and the delights of spending eternity with God.  The book of Daniel is complex, challenging and at times violent but through it all we see God’s hand working all things together for those who love the Lord (Romans 8:28).

Brenda Wooff

That's NOT Jesus

There’s only one King Jesus and the Bible says the fruit of His Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  As a follower of Christ Jesus, there have been many times in my life that I have acted contrary to His Spirit and it can get ugly.  One thing I’m still learning is to rapidly repent and acknowledge the difference between my sinful idolatrous behavior and the way directed by His Spirit in me.  I deeply desire for no one to confuse the broken things in me and this world for the perfect wholeness and majesty of Jesus.  In my repentance I am continually transformed by His grace to abide more fully in Him.  I have that same hope for those who bear witness to the redeeming power of Christ in me.

Forty-five verses this week show the spirit of many earthly kings throughout history and onward.  None of these compares to King Jesus.  These are all kings seeking their own interest at the peril of everyone else.  Like Satan, they steal, kill and destroy while making great claims for their constituents.  One thing stands abundantly clear to me in this passage – none of these kings is like Jesus in any way.  King Jesus is perfectly faithful, loving, good, merciful, and so much greater than anyone who has ever walked this earth. His reign is over all and eternally secure.  His triumph is ultimate!  No earthly kingdom can compare to the glory of King Jesus. 

As God’s people suffer, we need to know deep down in our souls who has the ultimate triumph in the spiritual war of good vs evil.  Only one stands in complete victory.  That one is Jesus Christ – our eternally gracious King who gets the final word.  His word makes every bit of the rest of the story concerning His people worthwhile.  While I can’t understand that fully now, it will be revealed to all when the Son of Man comes again on the clouds.  May our hearts yearn for His coming and may our actions today reflect the True King over ALL that is Jesus.

Grateful and hopeful in Christ, 

Jon

From the First Day

On October 12, 2018, I was visiting the crèche where my three Haitian born children had lived prior to their adoption. I took a selfie with a young boy. Dressed in a neon green shirt, he had a smile that would melt your heart. I sent that picture, along with a few others, to my friend Jennifer. She and her family were planning to host him in their home for the holidays, but also strongly felt the Lord calling them to adopt him. Even before October 12, they had prayed, asking the Father of the fatherless to set this particular child into their home, their family, and their waiting arms.

When I sent the pictures, Jennifer was at soccer practice but she quickly responded. “He's just so perfect. Girl, how can you love someone so much and never have met them? I'm so overwhelmed with joy!!!!” Their love for him only grew as he spent weeks in their home, and when the time came for him to leave, his little boy heart was overcome with grief. For the first time in a long time, he knew the comfort and joy of being in a family. Jennifer knew she would move mountains to bring him home, and as soon as he headed back to Haiti, she began to do all she could to bring his adoption to fruition.

Today is January 25, 2023. That sweet little boy is now 15 years old. While we all thought he’d be home years ago, he is still in Haiti, living in that same crèche, waiting for the day his adoption will be complete.

The past four years have held multiple set backs. And at times, Jennifer and her family have wondered if God has heard any of their prayers. The prayers once uttered in faith and assurance eventually turned to pleas and groans of “how long, o Lord?!”

Then last night, Jennifer sent a message to our Bible study group. Finally, progress. Forward movement. As we all rejoiced with her, I thought of the words the angel told Daniel in chapter 10. “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.”

Daniel mourned and prayed for 21 days with no word from the Lord, yet his humble prayer was heard the first day. Why, then, the delay? In the heavenly realm, battles were being fought that Daniel could not see. The angel whom had been dispatched by God, was detained by an encounter with an evil force of darkness.

In our world of materialism, we have to see it to believe it. An invisible war waged around us seems unbelievable, and yet, in Ephesians 6, Paul tells us events like these are happening all of the time, and that is why we are to put on the armor of God.

Christian, be reassured, just as God has heard Daniel’s prayer from the first, so has he heard yours. Your adoption was finalized at the cross, and while you were once an enemy, now you are the beloved child of the King.

While there is one who wars against you and me and all of heaven, “There is none like God, who rides through the heavens to your help, through the skies in his majesty. The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” You are “greatly loved, so fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” God has heard our prayer and he will bring us all the way home.

And Jennifer, may the day be soon when He brings your son home to you. Your cries have been heard.

-Natalie Runyon

Petitions, Fasting, Sackcloth & Ashes… Repent.

Daniel is in full conversation with the Lord in chapter 9. He has read God’s words and recalls what was said to the prophet Jeremiah. He has remembered God’s warning about the desolation of Jerusalem. Overcome, he prays a prayer of confession and petition with fasting, sackcloth and ashes. He repents, not just for himself but for all the people of Israel and Judah.

This was not a quick prayer. Daniel is tormented. I am not sure how long religious fasting lasted in those days, but likely over an extended period of time. He is also wearing sackcloth, probably made from goat hair. It’s not comfortable nor is it chic. He is humbling himself before the Lord. With ashes on his head, he prays. He repents of his sins and the sins of all Israel and begs the Lord to remember him and His people. Daniel sees God and His righteousness and in comparison, he and his people all fall short. Daniel knows shame and banishment are what belong to him, his kings, leaders and ancestors for they all have sinned and turned away from God.

My heart is racing as I read this, and I have a lump in my throat. I remember I have felt this heavy burden. I didn’t have ashes on my head, but my heart felt like ashes. I wasn’t wearing a sackcloth, but I wore my sin outwardly and in front of God. Full of shame and guilt, I prayed for forgiveness, repented and committed my life to Jesus, repeatedly. Jesus. I prayed to Jesus but Daniel, didn’t yet know of Jesus. Until… Gabriel showed up!

Gabriel reaches out to Daniel in his extreme weariness and tells him that God, who treasures him, has an explanation for him.  Gabriel speaks of an Anointed One, who will make a covenant and put a stop to sacrifice and offering. The Anointed One will finish transgression, make an end of sins, give reconciliation for iniquity and bring everlasting righteousness! God would come to man and dwell with him. Moses had a mercy seat, Daniel had a word from an angel, but God would one day send Jesus to us all and even give us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. It’s all right here in Daniel, 500-600 years before Jesus is born!

Nikki Fiedler

The King is Coming

The king is coming. He’s not a good king, but bad doesn’t even begin to describe him. This king is ruthless and skilled in intrigue. He will successfully cause outrageous destruction in everything he does. He will destroy the powerful, along with the holy people. Under his reign, deceit will prosper. He’s cunning, influential, not a man of humility, but one who exalts himself, even above God.

In chapter 8, Daniel records a vision that he can not completely understand, even after the angel Gabriel explains it to him. It involves a ram, a goat, and a horn that throws truth to the ground. What Daniel gathers is this: his people, already exiled to a land not their own, living under one godless king after another, now have an exceedingly wicked king on the horizon. Daniel is overcome by his vision and lays sick for days. And while this prophetic vision found fulfillment in the distant past*, in the future it will be fully fulfilled by Antichrist. That awful king? He’s still yet to come.

If you think about all of this for very long, you may start to despair. When is he coming? How bad will things be? And how bad will they get for ME? There are many rabbit holes we can go down when we contemplate a coming Antichrist. While there is a terrible king coming, we don’t have to be terrified because we are people of the true King. He’s different in every regard.

He’s not cunning and influential.  In fact, He had no form or majesty that we should look at him and no beauty that we should desire Him (Isaiah 53:2)

He’s not ruthless but has compassion on all he has made (Psalm 145:9).

He’s not here to destroy humanity but to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10).

Our King is not self-exalting but humble. He came to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45)

Salvation, glory and power belong to this King because His judgements are true and righteous (Revelation 19:1).

Jesus is the King who will break the Antichrist. He holds the keys to death and hell and He is coming again! On that day, He will be with us to wipe every tear from our eyes, and the death and destruction from every evil king- every antichrist- in history will be no more. No more death. No more grief, or crying or pain.

Church, let us comfort and encourage ourselves with the truth, no matter how dark the days get. And like Daniel, may we rise and be about the King’s business.

-Natalie

*For an overview of the past fulfillment of Daniel 8, see https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/daniel-8/

Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover

A story that includes characters like a lion with wings, a tusked bear, a four-headed leopard or a beast with ten horns is not what I prefer reading.  If Daniel chapter 7 was a novel I’m sure they would have illustrated the cover with these disturbing creatures and I would have never picked the book up.  But as my mom always said, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”.  

Pastor Chuck Swindoll writes that while Daniel chapter 7 “appears to be a confusing collection of animals, persons, nations and events, it is actually a harmonious collage of the Lord's sovereign activity in human history." [Bible Study Guide: Daniel - God's Pattern for the Future, page 62, 1986].

The prophecies given to us in the book of Daniel reminds us that God is in control, He has anticipated every event and He has a plan for the future.  The never ending news cycle filled with stories of war, acts of violence, political and social unrest does not have to overwhelm us. “Because of God’s sovereignty in the past we can remain confident that the present is not falling apart but coming together for the capstone event: the Second Coming of Christ.”  [https://www.preceptaustin.org/daniel_7_commentary1https://www.preceptaustin.org/daniel_7_commentary1]

It was the sixth game of the 2011 World Series and the Cardinals were down 7-4 in the eighth inning and guess what I did?  I went to bed.  I thought it was easier to bury my head in a pillow and let slumber take me rather than watch my beloved Birds on the Bat lose game 6.  I didn’t know what was to come.  But today, thanks to the Bible and the prophecies in Daniel and Revelations, we know what is to come.  God has shared his plans, he will overcome evil and we will spend eternity singing His praises!

Brenda Wooff

A New Year

A new year is on our doorstep. With it comes many considerations. One of the most common acts to consider, what will be your resolution, or will you even make one? We have knowledge from the previous verses that the Spirit helps our weakness and that it groans for us too deep for words. That He who searches the heart will know the mind of the Spirit because He intercedes for us according to the will of God. We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, called according to His purpose.

So what do we say to these things at the start of a new year knowing God is deeply for us? As you prepare for your New Year’s Eve celebration, will you set a place for Yahweh? Will you greet your friends and family with a holy kiss? Will you go to be alone with God, have him search your heart so that your decisions for the year will be the mind of the spirit? Will you invite Jesus into your life and accept him as your Lord and Savior? For how can one make plans without the one who made the world?

Even still, if you fear the coming year and what it may or may not bring for you - know that there is nothing, not one thing that can separate you from the love of God. No things present, no things to come can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. With those words so greatly given we can face a new year knowing, no matter what, the greatest love, God’s love, is given to us forever!

Happy New Year Bridge Family!

Nikki Fiedler

The Spirit of God is our Helper

The opening questions posed for a group Bible study this week were -  What is your favorite holiday movie?  Which character stands out most to you?  Why?  

These might be fun questions to discuss with your families as you gather around rooms and tables this Christmas.  I pose the same questions to you as you reflect on the text this week. 

Many favorite holiday movies have some magical character or angelic persona that must arrive and intervene for a miracle to happen.  Why do you think we as humans resonate with that so much?  Why will we watch these movies again and again?  I think there might be something in these stories that renews our hope of an outside help on the way even when it looks like the world is crumbling around us. 

Our text this week reminds us of an ongoing phenomenon greater than any holiday movie.  The actual reality of our lives as Christians is that we have a supernatural Helper that leads us to hope in Christ Jesus amidst the broken dreams and empty promises of this world.  Through the power of God’s Spirit, Christian life is restored to reveal the glory of God’s Son as Christian life is shaped by His image to reflect Christ Jesus to our world. 

May the Helper continually announce and affirm to us the good news of great joy that God is with us and in us!

May we delight in the wonder of the Son of God and point others to His amazing truth and grace! 

May the peace of God rule in our hearts right now and forevermore as we know our Heavenly Father is for us! 

Merry Christmas to all!

Grateful and hopeful in Christ, 

Jon

Emmanuel - With Us in Our Sufferings

“For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.  And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” Romans 8:22-23

Throughout my career as a nurse, I have been invited into the sufferings of patients. This is a very intimate place to be, as people feel vulnerable, frightened, and confused as to why this suffering is happening, why they are experiencing such circumstances. This is a sacred space for many times I have seen the work of the Holy Spirit firsthand. We as believers will all endure trials in our lifetime. This is not something that should be considered strange, as we are told in the scriptures that we will suffer. It is often here that the Spirit teaches us things we wouldn’t be able to grasp any other way.

Many years ago, I had a conversation with a friend whose daughter was seriously injured in an accident. She required months in the hospital and was left with permanent debilitating injuries.  One night, my friend went to the hospital chapel to pray. He asked God how anything good could possibly come out of this circumstance and the suffering of his daughter. In his Spirit he received his answer. God replied, “Nobody thought the suffering of my Son would bring about anything good - but look what it has done.” There in the hospital chapel, he was able to understand the deep love of his Heavenly Father in a profoundly different way than he had before. Throughout the weeks his daughter was hospitalized, he and his wife were able to share the hope and comfort of the gospel with others.

When we are at the end of ourselves, when we are completely empty, we are able to listen and hear God’s voice more clearly. As my patients did with me, we invite Christ into our intimate space of suffering. These are precious, sacred times. We learn in these times that we can rely completely on Him, and we begin to lean into all of His promises. We grow more and more dependent on God for all our needs, and realize that His grace is sufficient, and His power is made perfect in weakness. He is faithful- and as we look back on our times of suffering, we can rejoice in what God has done in our lives. We see that God was always with us, and that he is with us still. Because of these God appointed experiences, we can share in the sufferings within community, offering words of hope, and the reassurance of all that we have in Christ.

As we long for those things unseen that will one day be revealed, let us be reminded of what we as believers have waiting for us-eternal joy and glory with Jesus, our Emmanuel.

-Eileen Cheatham

Ready to Run

I’ve sat for hours reading our passage this week (Romans 8:12-17), looking at commentaries, typing sentences that did not turn into cohesive paragraphs and questioning why I agree to write these reflections! Then the evil one enters the drama and starts telling me: “You can’t write. You don’t have anything to say. You’re not worthy to write about God, inheritance or the Holy Spirit.” So I go to bed with the chorus to Kenny Rogers’ song “The Gambler”:  “You got to know when to hold ‘em.  Know when to fold ‘em. Know when to walk away. And know when to run.”

I was prepared to run, ready to throw in the towel and let the devil have a win. But morning brought a new perspective, just as it says in Lamentations 3:22-23:

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

As I sat with my coffee and the fog of a restless nights’ sleep began to fade, the voice in my head said, “you have everything you need”.  I immediately pulled out my laptop and started an Internet search for poems about the Holy Spirit.  My thought was I’d find a poem and that would be my reflection.  I found a poem, began to type but it wasn’t the poem I was typing, it was my experience.  I didn’t think I had anything of my own to share.  Isn’t that just like God, the Father who provides all our needs?  Isn’t that just like the Holy Spirit to guide us and remind us that with Christ “I can do all things” (Philippians 4:13)?  

When I was ready to run, the Holy Spirit said; “Not so fast”.  I doubt, I suffer and in time The Spirit reminds me I am a child of God. When the reality of that hits me, my eyes fill with tears and my heart overflows with love and gratitude for our Heavenly Father. 

-Brenda Wooff

P.S. - Now I know you’d all be wondering, “What was the poem?”

Holy Spirit

by Deborah Ann Belka

[https://poetrybydeborahann.wordpress.com]

Holy Spirit, come to me,
rest right here, inside of me
guard my heart, keep my mind
let it be Your peace, that I find.

Holy Spirit, come be with me,
continually support, all of me
lead my soul, direct my ways
hear the words, my heart prays.

Holy Spirit, come anoint me,
place your seal, right here in me
Spirit of Life, Spirit of Grace
may Your wisdom, I embrace

Holy Spirit, come comfort me,
release and deliver, unto me
all Your might, all Your power
counsel me, every waking hour.

Holy Spirit, my Father’s gift to me,
Spirit of Christ, living inside me
Spirit of God, Spirit of holy Fear
Come whisper truth, in my ear!

Set Your Mind

"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.” (Romans 8:5) 

Have you ever met someone who “has their mind made up?”  It’s typically hard if not impossible to change someone’s mind. 

If you are a parent, you probably have your mind made up regarding your kids.  In your mind, your kids are incredible.  Nothing can stop you from loving them.  Your mind is set.  It is fixed. 

When God is at work in us through the Spirit, He does something miraculous.  We see Him and His beauty and our mind is set on how great He is.  We realize that everything we set our mind on before leads to death and setting our mind on the Spirit leads to “life and peace.” 

And as we set our minds on the Spirit all of God’s promises become more concrete.  He whispers to us and sometimes shouts to us – “you are mine!  I love you!  I am for you!  I am with you!  I am in you!  I will never let you go!” 

So Christian, remember today, “you, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.  Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” (Romans 8:9).  God dwells in you and this changes everything in this life and the life to come.  Set your minds on this.  If you have seen the light of Jesus you have been transferred from the realm of the flesh to the realm of the Spirit.  Live in that place.  Set your mind on it. 

See you Sunday, 

Steven          

God With Us

Dear Church Family, 

My prayer for all of us this Thanksgiving is that “the God of hope may fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  (Romans 15:13).  Overflowing with hope – how do we get there?  God – help us experience the reality of these truths this Advent Season. 

God really is for us. 

God really is with us. 

God really is in us. 

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  (Romans 8:1) 

Come these next six Sundays and let’s learn together how to live out these truths in our day to day lives. 

See you Sunday, 
Steven       

Deliverance

“There is something in us, as storytellers and as listeners to stories, that demands the redemptive act, that demands that what falls at least be offered the chance to be restored.” -Flannery O’Connor

The tale is legendary in my family. After a few times on country roads with my Dad, I felt confident in my ability to drive. I borrowed my Grandparent’s car to “cruise the strip” (which was a thing you did in small towns in the 90’s) and to grab some Taco Bell with a friend.

Except I was only 14.

And for obvious reasons, I didn’t ask to use the car.

I found the keys while everyone was gone, and headed out for a chili cheese burrito. All was well! On my way home I stopped to top off the gas. I turned my head, and pulling up at the pump beside me were my parents.

I had a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach, and it wasn’t because of the burrito. Everything had gone terribly wrong and there was no one to blame but myself.

In Daniel 6, it seems Daniel is the lead actor. That’s how the story is generally told. Despite the king’s orders, he refused to stop praying to Yahweh, and even dared to do so three times a day! In front of an open window where he was sure to be seen! Thrown into the lions’ den, the Lord miraculously delivered him and saved him from harm! Surely we should all “dare to be a Daniel”!

Daniel was certainly delivered, and while it is an amazing story of God’s supernatural protection, it’s easy to miss the equally miraculous deliverance of Darius from the consequence of his sin.

The decree Darius issued when his pride was stoked by evil men, meant that Daniel, someone he cared a great deal for, would have to die. After the stone was placed over the mouth of the lions’ den, Darius himself would have to seal it with his own signet ring. Darius couldn’t eat. He couldn’t sleep. Everything had gone terribly wrong and there was no one to blame by himself.

And yet, the God of Daniel gives salvation both to the one in the pit, and to the one whose sin put him there. He’s the God of redemption and He writes a new, and better story, for all those who call upon Him.

“May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” Darius said to Daniel as he was thrown into the lion’s den. It was a prayer of desperation that God was faithful to answer.

Today, if you’re desperate, cry out to Jesus. His body was broken to give you the chance to be restored. Will you let him write a new ending to your story?

Natalie

Faithful to All Generations

In the book of Daniel, there are dreams that need interpretation but sometimes the writing is on the wall. Daniel chapter 5 opens at a great banquet given by King Belshazzar, the son of former King Nebuchadnezzar. The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree as King Belshazzar displays behavior full of arrogance, just as his Dad did in the years before God caused him to be humbled and live as a wild beast.

Oh, how easy it is to follow in our parents’ footsteps, whether missteps or direct steps. That really puts a lot of pressure on parents, doesn’t it? While sometimes I am grieved and have wrestled with God as to why I do not have children of my own, I am an aunt to my sister's two boys Reed and Miles and my brother’s daughter Shelby. Being at The Bridge and extending my hand at baby dedications, going to Mountain Top, helping with youth Alpha and now the fun I’ve had with Drama Club, has helped heal the sometimes-gaping hole in my heart from not having my own child. I have all of you as a family! So, I may not write as a parent, but I hope I have the Cool Aunt perspective. Like you, wondering if the kids we love may make the same mistakes that we did. Will we be around to guide them or teach them a lesson we learned before we die? That kind of worry can knock the breath right out of you.

Yet even here in Chapter 5, we read how good God is! We have a Father in heaven that speaks to us and our children. Even if it means sending a hand to write it on a wall, in plaster, in front of a room of people at a banquet. Even if it means we eat grass and live as a beast. God gave Belshazzar a mother who remembered Daniel, one who was able to interpret messages from the Lord.

We read on and find out King Belshazzar’s days are numbered; he has been judged and he is told he will lose his kingdom. That very night, all that was written happened. All that was written in Daniel was fulfilled, and all of God’s Word will one day be forever fully fulfilled! Jesus was judged, hung on a cross and bore our sins so that we can be saved from eternal death- his faithfulness endures to all generations! God will continue to pursue us and our children so that we will know love that surpasses all understanding. Have faith parents, and know Jesus loves our children and will pursue them as a Mighty Warrior who saves.

Nikki 

The True Hero King

I celebrated another birthday not long ago.  One of the things I made sure to do on that day was call my mom and thank her for all she’s done to bring me into this world and nurture me as her son.  It’s humbling to think how dependent on her care I was as an infant and child.  As an adult, I still count on her in so many ways.  But it’s also easy to forget my humble origins as I’ve become more independent from her.  The reality is that she has been a hero for me then and now.  It’s a humbling reality that I’m inclined to forget from time to time.

In the text from Daniel 4 this week, we see King Nebuchadnezzar brought low in order that he and the world will know that Yahweh God is the true Hero King whose Kingdom has no end.  Some amazing words were proclaimed about Yahweh by King Neb and are worth our time to read and reflect on.  King Neb could not genuinely proclaim these truths about His Hero King without him suffering through extreme humiliation in his life.  In that humiliation, King Neb became aware of his complete dependance on Yahweh for all things he had done and accomplished.

As followers of Christ, we need to remember our humble beginnings in Christ Jesus.  It’s easy to lose sight of our Hero King because of self-righteous arrogance.  Just a few months ago, we were studying Ephesians and we were reminded how we were once dead in our sin BUT GOD who is rich in mercy made us alive in Christ.  We are served well when we remember that we are completely dependent on the all-powerful and merciful King Jesus to guide us in His way, His truth and life in His Kingdom.  We are inclined to forget that just as we needed our Hero King to save us from our sin then, we still need Him to save us now.  The reality is that God loves us too much to leave us in our pride and sin and so He moves in ways to get our attention back on Him as our true Hero King and the Giver of all good gifts.  The proof of His Heroic love toward us and the world is shown ultimately through the Son that He sent to dwell on the earth, die on a cross, rise from the dead and ascend into Heaven in order that we might live forever with Him.

May we know the amazing grace of God in our lives today.  May we be humbled as we reflect on all God has done for us in Christ Jesus.  And may our lives glorify His name as He inclines us to live by His Spirit in genuine ways with the heart and mind of Jesus.

Grateful and hopeful in Christ, 

Jon

With Us Always

In this day and age it can be easy to have idols. It might not always be your favorite musician or actress. It can be an extra hour of sleep instead of going to church, or a shiny present you got for Christmas. King Nebuchadnezzar had created a beautiful golden idol that he thought everyone should worship. Because why would you worship something or someone you can’t see instead of something brilliant and bejeweled? And that’s where I think we can relate. It’s easier to worship things our eyes can see, and our hands can hold because they seem more real.

I’m sure everyone’s had doubts. Something bad might have happened that caused you to lose sight of your faith. And you’re questioning if God really loves you and cares for you why would he be doing this? That can lead to constant doubts. But that’s okay. At some point everyone is going to have doubts about their faith and the one who created them. God’s existence doesn’t depend on how strong your faith is. He does exist and He does love you. He will be there for you whether your faith is a lot or a little, because that’s just who He is. And idolizing a new watch you got isn’t going to do anything for you. It’s cool for a minute but eventually it will break as all things on this earth do. But God, He will always be there for you. And I think that’s something we should never lose sight of. Yes, we have struggles and days where it’s hard to believe but we can persevere and be like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego because we worship the same God they did. He was good then, He’s good now, and he has reasons for the things He is doing, even if it means we find ourselves in a fiery furnace. No matter what the outcome, God will be there for us. He is with us always.

-Eva Runyon

Memory Lane

When I heard Pastor Steven say that Daniel and his friends were probably teenagers it made me pause and take a fresh look at Daniel’s story.  I went back and re-read Daniel and realized the only thing he had left of his prior life was his memories.  He had been stripped of his entire heritage.

It’s a fairly common tradition when families or friends gather to “walk down memory lane”.  Maybe it’s sharing funny stories or maybe it’s just talking about how life used to be.  My husband’s family is big on telling the same stories every holiday about all the crazy things that he and his three siblings did while growing up.  I wonder what stories Daniel’s family told?  Maybe they shared their childhood blunders like my husband’s family. But, I think Daniel also heard stories about what God had done.  Perhaps the stories of his relatives being held as slaves in Egypt helped him understand how to serve God faithfully in an ungodly world or maybe the stories of the desert years provided Daniel with a real example of how God can meet all our needs. Did the stories of Joseph teach Daniel how to treat his captors or the importance of avoiding sin?

What stories are you telling your family and friends?  Are you telling them about a time when God met you in the middle of your trials and provided the rest and comfort you needed?  Are you sharing your prayers and telling them when God grants your request?  We don’t know much about Daniel’s early life but clearly it had equipped him with the confidence and faith in God to survive and flourish in a godless environment. The fact that Daniel was only a teenager tells me he probably had limited life experiences yet he possessed the wisdom and faith of a man who had walked through the desert and remained faithful to God for decades.  If we are seeking to be salt and light, if we desire to be a godly witness, if we really want to make God known to others we must include our faith stories when walking down memory lane.

-Brenda Wooff

Before the Lion's Den

If we were playing Head’s Up, and the card said “Daniel”, I would loudly yell “IN THE LION’S DEN!” You would immediately know who I was referring to. If I were to say “wouldn’t eat meat, but asked for vegetables”, it’s possible you would get the more obscure reference…or you might think the card said “vegetarian”. Either way, most of us know Daniel as the guy in the lion’s den. And yet Daniel’s obedience began long before he found himself in a pit of hungry wild beasts.

In Daniel 1:8 we read “Daniel resolved not to defile himself…” Daniel made a conscious decision to obey God, and he asked the one put in authority over him “to allow him not to defile himself”. He asked (a pagan eunuch placed over him in the nation where his people were held in captivity) for permission to obey the Lord. That request was granted, and God honored Daniel’s obedience.

Obedience isn’t really trending in 2022. Yet our Savior said “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.” Why obey? Because we love Jesus. It’s also true our actions can speak louder than our words. Eugene Peterson wrote “Each act of obedience by the Christian is a modest proof, unequivocal for all its imperfection, of the reality of what he attests."

Daniel resolved to obey in a seemingly small matter. Those small acts of obedience, over time, gave him the courage to choose to follow God when it may have been unto death. Obedience trains and prepares us. Daniel and his friends knew their God. They knew what His will was for them. And they obeyed His voice.

What small act of obedience is the Lord calling you to today? Do you hear His voice? I pray more and more we will be a church who knows God, understands His will for us, and chooses to obey, whatever the cost. 

-Natalie Runyon

How did we get here?

Have you ever wondered – how did I get here?

I am good at getting lost.  So, I often ask myself, “how did I get here?” 

Sometimes I get lost because I am not paying attention.  Sometimes I am so busy talking to whoever is with me I get distracted and miss a turn.  Sometimes I overestimate my knowledge of an area and don’t study the map or even look at it.

All those scenarios have one thing in common – I am in the “driver’s seat” either literally or figuratively – I am calling the shots and charting the course.  I am responsible for getting lost.

But what if it wasn’t my fault?  What if someone else was not paying attention or someone else got distracted or didn’t read the map and I am the one who suffers the consequences for someone else’s carelessness?  It is one thing if I get lost and it is my fault, but it is different if I get lost and it is someone else’s fault.

We are beginning a new sermon series on the book of Daniel and in this book we see Daniel in a foreign land under the authority of people who worship different gods and they encourage him to abandon his faith and his roots.  He experiences cultural and political pressure.  He is threatened and slandered and persecuted.  And through it all he trusts in God and looks to Him for wisdom and help.

Throughout life we will all experience the challenge of “getting lost.”  Sometimes it will be our fault.  Sometimes it is not our fault but inevitably we will often feel like we are in the wrong place.  It will be uncomfortable and difficult, but we will learn through the book of Daniel that God is in control and He is Sovereign over any and every place we go or find ourselves in.

May we be those who trust in the goodness of God when we are lost and when we are found.  May we look to Him when things are good and when things are bad.  May His light shine brightly through us as He gives us wisdom and favor to walk in this world.

See you Sunday,

Steven

A Life Well Lived

How would you define “a life well lived?”  Every commercial, every hobby, every sports game, every movie, every concert, every meal whispers to us, “buy this, pursue this, attend this, eat this and you will have a life well lived.”  It is a natural human instinct for us to pursue pleasure and fulfillment and to avoid pain.

This coming Sunday we will look at some of Paul’s last words in the last letter he wrote before he was beheaded in Rome.  He shares with his beloved son in the faith (Timothy) that he has fought the good fight, kept the faith and finished the race” (2 Timothy 4:7).  That sounds like a life well lived, but it isn’t absent from disappointments and difficulties.  Paul shares that his life is being “poured out like a drink offering” and that many of his friends have left him.  Paul is freezing cold and needs Timothy to bring him his coat.  Paul is not in a comfortable room but in a dark, cold prison cell.  But Paul knows that what he sees is not all there is.

Earlier Paul penned the words “we live by faith and not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7) and God is giving Paul the ability to see things that are unseen.  As Paul ends his earthly life he remembers the One who promises that “he will never leave or forsake us” (Matthew 28:20).  So Paul is able to testify to Timothy that although “everyone deserted him”  the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength (2 Timothy 4:17).

Have you felt the Lord standing at your side and giving you strength?  At what times have you felt Him beside you?  How has that changed your life?  How has that given you hope?

A well lived life is not determined by the number of things you accumulate or experiences you have.  It is not dodging all disappointments and difficulties.  It is not by avoiding all problems and pain.  A well lived life is knowing that through all of life (the good and the bad) we have a Faithful Friend who stands with us and strengthens us and when we breathe our final breath our Faithful Friend “will rescue [us] from every evil attack and will bring [us] safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:18).

-Steven