Yesterday was a special day in our family. My youngest sister celebrated her 5 year out from breast cancer! Praise Jesus! At 33, with 4 young children, Jennifer was diagnosed with breast cancer. As we celebrated - (my early morning phone call to her was "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!") I couldn't help but think of session 3 of my study of the book of Daniel. We were walking with Mishael, Hananiah & Azariah (Meshach, Shadrach & Abednego) - I now have a hard time calling them by their Babylonian names since I have learned their meaning and what Babylon wanted to accomplish by changing their names. The story of our boys and the fiery furnace is very familiar to many of us. This week's study had a section where we concentrated on fiery trials. When faced with bowing down to an idol of the King, our boys refused, standing firm in their God - But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego - who pay no attention to you, O King. Daniel 3:12 Our boys were quite aware what would happen to them if they disobyed the instructions - they would be thrown into the fiery furnace. But they would stand firm and bow to no one except their God and Father. They knew, that God would be with them in that furnace, they knew that God could deliver them from the furnace and they knew that they could also be delivered straight into His loving arms by the fire of the furnace.
We were given three different scenarios when we, the people of God face fiery trials and the outcome...
#1: We can be delivered from the fire and our faith is built.
#2: We can be delivered through the fire and our faith is refined.
#3: We can be delivered by the fire straight into the arms of our Loving Father and our faith is perfected.
I pondered the trial of my sister's cancer. How she was delivered through the fire and her faith refined. I thought of my friend Eden, who passed from cancer at the age of 37, and how she was delivered by the fire, and her faith was made perfect as she walked into the arms of Jesus. I thought of a friend in our small group Bible study, who was diagnosed with tumor in his brain, and the power of a neighbor's prayer which was this: that the tumor to be completely eradicated. When he went for more testing prior to his surgery - that tumor was gone - he was delivered from the fire and his faith, I guarantee you, was built. Yes siestas.... God can do what He says He can do! God is so good, that in those trials - He is with us, He will not abandon us, He delivers us - in His divine plan.
I pray, whatever your trial, that you know the Lord your God will be walking with you and will deliver you!
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Delights!
This past Friday, my sister's horse Halle gave birth to her first foal - a filly - whose name is now Pippi (she has two long white socks on her back legs - remember Pippi Longstocking?)
As I marvelled at this lovely creature, who only 12 hours before, was still comfortable in her mother's womb, and was now standing, nursing and nuzzling us with her soft, velvelty nose. I couldn't help but be overwhelmed with our Lord and His creation! What a delight! I couldn't get enough of her - I spent the whole day at the barn just soaking up His love!
I pray dear sisters, that each day you recognize the delights the Lord gives you. They might be more subtle than the birth of a foal, but recognize the gifts. Thank and praise Him for delights! Ask Him to delight you! It could just be a butterfly fluttering around a flower, a sunrise or sunset, a rabbit bounding through the yard... delight in them and delight in Him. He is our ultimate delight and He delights in us.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
In Christ Alone... On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand!
I saw this on a blog I visited... this is one of my favorite songs and I wanted to share it with you! Travis Cottrell is one of my favorite Chistian artists. I was blessed in May of 2005 to attend Living Proof in Indianapolis. Travis is part of Beth Moore's worship team - thousands of believers sang this song along w/ Travis... as my fellow "siesta" stated "This says it all!"
Glory!
Fair is the Sunshine
This morning as I was driving to the office, singing my praises to my Lord! I have a CD called Hymns & Voices - track 5 is Point of Grace singing Fairest Lord Jesus/Beautiful Savior. As I turned east into the sun this verse was streaming from my car speakers:
Fair is the sunshine,
Fairer still the moonlight,
And all the twinkling starry host.
Jesus shines brighter,
Jesus shines purer,
Than all the angels heaven can boast.
Jesus shines brighter - that line hit me hard - the sun in the sky was blazing - so bright that I could hardly see - it was glorious - and I said out loud, very loud in fact, JESUS SHINES BRIGHTER! Wow - I cannot even fathom Jesus' glory - no matter how hard I try... His glory is brighter than the blazing sun. It took my breath away.
Fairest Lord Jesus, I thank you for taking my breath away. For delighting me with nature, the gift of the blazing sun that pales in comparison to you!
Beautiful Savior,
Lord of the nations,
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor,Praise, adoration,
Now and forevermore be Thine!
AMEN!
Fair is the sunshine,
Fairer still the moonlight,
And all the twinkling starry host.
Jesus shines brighter,
Jesus shines purer,
Than all the angels heaven can boast.
Jesus shines brighter - that line hit me hard - the sun in the sky was blazing - so bright that I could hardly see - it was glorious - and I said out loud, very loud in fact, JESUS SHINES BRIGHTER! Wow - I cannot even fathom Jesus' glory - no matter how hard I try... His glory is brighter than the blazing sun. It took my breath away.
Fairest Lord Jesus, I thank you for taking my breath away. For delighting me with nature, the gift of the blazing sun that pales in comparison to you!
Beautiful Savior,
Lord of the nations,
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor,Praise, adoration,
Now and forevermore be Thine!
AMEN!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
What's in a name?
Well... I am through my first week of study of the book of Daniel. There is so much packed into just a few verses that I could share... I would be typing for days. So, with that said - what is speaking to me today to share with you... Day 4 of Week 1 Was titled Renaming and Resisting.
The scripture treasure for that day was:
The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar, to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. ~ Daniel 1:7
The name Daniel means: "God is my judge" Hananiah means: "Yah has been gracious" Mishael means, "Who is what God is?" and Azariah means: "Yah has helped" Aren't the meanings of each of their names beautiful... connected to God.
My given name is Kristen Ann. I looked up my name on babynames.com (I know, not very scholarly) The meaning of the name Kristen is Christian - The origin of the name Kristen is German. The meaning of the name Ann is Gracious, Merciful - The origin of the name Ann is Hebrew. I was delighted to see such a God connection with my name! Christian, Merciful, Gracious... I am a Christian and oh how I desire to be merciful and gracious like my LORD.
As we read in Daniel 1:7 - our 4 friends were given new Babylonian names... Belteshazzar (Bel will protect), Shadrach (inspired of Aku), Meshach (belonging to Aku) & Abednego (servant of Nego). We learned that assigning new names was a common practice in the ancient world.
The intention was to change the entire identity of the person until their life matched the title. The new name was meant to hail a new destiny. We were asked to meditate on the differences of their Hebrew names as opposed to their Babylonian names... I ask you to do the same. How did King Nebuchadnezzar intend to shape their desitinies by changing their names? How do you think they felt - being given a name that was connected to pagan gods of the ancient world. As I meditated...Looking at the names assigned to them and their meanings - I saw an intent to take the identity they had, change where they came from and distance them from God. Giving them new names with connection to pagan gods - the gods Nebuchadnezzar worshipped. He wanted those boys for himself. Separate them from their history, lose their identity and have it shaped by a pagan society rather than a Godly society.
(Please also note that when a name change is ordained by God that name changing can be a good thing - God Himself changed names of many of His chosen - Abram became Abraham, Saul became Paul.)
As I continued to meditate on how changing their names might make them feel I thought back to the time when my name changed. September 22, 1990 - when I went from Kristen Ann Dietel to Kristen Ann Schwark. I remembered sitting on an airplane the day after my wedding, gazing out the window wondering "who am I now? The name I had for 25 years was now different" For some odd reason I felt different. I couldn't explain how I felt, and in a way as I look back I do believe I mourned the "loss" of my birth name. I thought about that today and how differently I see it now. I had to chuckle at that young girl who mourned the loss of her maiden name. I am blessed that my name was changed on and alter, in front of God, friends and family.
My name change was in God's plan - and what I have learned as I know will be more and more evident as I continue my study of Daniel is what was contained in the last sentence of Day 4's study... "the world can call us what it wants, but it cannot change who we are." Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego's names might have been changed... but that didn't change who they were and what God called them to do. My last name might have changed, but it didn't change who I was... who God says I am! I am His!
The scripture treasure for that day was:
The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar, to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. ~ Daniel 1:7
The name Daniel means: "God is my judge" Hananiah means: "Yah has been gracious" Mishael means, "Who is what God is?" and Azariah means: "Yah has helped" Aren't the meanings of each of their names beautiful... connected to God.
My given name is Kristen Ann. I looked up my name on babynames.com (I know, not very scholarly) The meaning of the name Kristen is Christian - The origin of the name Kristen is German. The meaning of the name Ann is Gracious, Merciful - The origin of the name Ann is Hebrew. I was delighted to see such a God connection with my name! Christian, Merciful, Gracious... I am a Christian and oh how I desire to be merciful and gracious like my LORD.
As we read in Daniel 1:7 - our 4 friends were given new Babylonian names... Belteshazzar (Bel will protect), Shadrach (inspired of Aku), Meshach (belonging to Aku) & Abednego (servant of Nego). We learned that assigning new names was a common practice in the ancient world.
The intention was to change the entire identity of the person until their life matched the title. The new name was meant to hail a new destiny. We were asked to meditate on the differences of their Hebrew names as opposed to their Babylonian names... I ask you to do the same. How did King Nebuchadnezzar intend to shape their desitinies by changing their names? How do you think they felt - being given a name that was connected to pagan gods of the ancient world. As I meditated...Looking at the names assigned to them and their meanings - I saw an intent to take the identity they had, change where they came from and distance them from God. Giving them new names with connection to pagan gods - the gods Nebuchadnezzar worshipped. He wanted those boys for himself. Separate them from their history, lose their identity and have it shaped by a pagan society rather than a Godly society.
(Please also note that when a name change is ordained by God that name changing can be a good thing - God Himself changed names of many of His chosen - Abram became Abraham, Saul became Paul.)
As I continued to meditate on how changing their names might make them feel I thought back to the time when my name changed. September 22, 1990 - when I went from Kristen Ann Dietel to Kristen Ann Schwark. I remembered sitting on an airplane the day after my wedding, gazing out the window wondering "who am I now? The name I had for 25 years was now different" For some odd reason I felt different. I couldn't explain how I felt, and in a way as I look back I do believe I mourned the "loss" of my birth name. I thought about that today and how differently I see it now. I had to chuckle at that young girl who mourned the loss of her maiden name. I am blessed that my name was changed on and alter, in front of God, friends and family.
My name change was in God's plan - and what I have learned as I know will be more and more evident as I continue my study of Daniel is what was contained in the last sentence of Day 4's study... "the world can call us what it wants, but it cannot change who we are." Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego's names might have been changed... but that didn't change who they were and what God called them to do. My last name might have changed, but it didn't change who I was... who God says I am! I am His!
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