Hosea 9:7a “The days of punishment have come, the days of retribution have come;”
Oh, how well I remember those words, “Wait until your daddy gets home!” My momma would be so put out with my misbehavior, and nothing she did could correct it. I wasn’t a terribly disobedient child, but I had my stubborn, rebellious streak at times. But when she uttered those words I knew what was coming. Continue reading
Daniel 3:16-18 “16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.’”
Have you ever been faced with an impossible decision? It seemed no matter which answer you decided on was going to end wrong. Well, that’s exactly the story today. If Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego bowed to the statue, they were disobeying God. If they didn’t bow, they were disobeying the king. Continue reading
Daniel 11:32b “‘but the people who know their God will display strength and take action.’”
Daniel 11 is all prophecy. The man who appeared to Daniel (whom I believe is Jesus, but that’s a whole other study) is telling Daniel what is going to happen in the future. But the last half of verse 32 caught my eye. Even in the midst of all the trouble God’s people will face it says, “but the people who know their God will display strength and take action.” Continue reading
Daniel 8:27 “Then I, Daniel, was exhausted and sick for days. Then I got up again and carried on the king’s business; but I was astounded at the vision, and there was none to explain it.”
When I read this verse, I said to myself, “I can relate to that.” There have been times in my life when I felt just like that. I have wearied myself with ministry. I have been literally sick from seeing the world around me reject the truth and head straight toward hell. Continue reading
Daniel 4:37 “‘Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.’”
Chapter 4 of Daniel is the story of Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation. He had a dream. It was interpreted by Daniel. Daniel warned him. He didn’t listen. The dream came true. AND then he realized God was right all along. Continue reading
Daniel 1:8 “But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.”
It is so easy to just go along with the crowd, isn’t it? When everyone around you is choosing the wrong things, it is easy to get caught up in the moment. Making the right choice can be frowned upon by society. Taking a stand for purity is scoffed and made fun of. Continue reading
Ezekiel 45:9 “Thus says the Lord God, ‘Enough, you princes of Israel; put away violence and destruction, and practice justice and righteousness. Stop your expropriations from My people,’ declares the Lord God.”
The Lord has always given His people’s leaders instructions to lead. If they would have only listened to His directions, their nation would have run so much smoother. But most of the leaders of all nations get into power and well…get powerful. They forget about the Lord. Continue reading
Ezekiel 41:4 “He measured its length, twenty cubits, and the width, twenty cubits, before the nave; and he said to me, ‘This is the most holy place.’”
I have probably read this description at least 32 times (seeing this is my 32ndread through the Scriptures), and I have never seen this verse like I saw it today. God is showing Ezekiel the blueprints for the temple. He is describing the exact measurements of each wall and room. Continue reading
Ezekiel 39:29 “‘I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I will have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,’ declares the Lord God.”
Chapter 39 of Ezekiel is a prophecy about the end times. It is often preached on when someone is addressing the last days and how God will judge the world. But I was struck with something at the very end of the chapter. Verse 29 is a promise to Israel. God’s Spirit will be poured out on it. Continue reading
Ezekiel 34:2c “‘Should not the shepherds feed the flock?’”
That’s a pretty simple thought. Shepherds shepherd. That’s what they do. They don’t fish or milk cows. They don’t tell the priests to go out to the pasture and watch the sheep while they tend the temple. No! Shepherds shepherd. Continue reading
A Moment In Time 