Refuge for a Single Mom

Daniel’s Friends Protected   [Daniel 3:19-30]

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath, and his facial expression was altered toward Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. He answered by giving orders to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.

20 He commanded certain valiant warriors who were in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego in order to cast them into the furnace of blazing fire.
21 Then these men were tied up in their trousers, their coats, their caps and their other clothes, and were cast into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire.

22 For this reason, because the king’s command was urgent and the furnace had been made extremely hot, the flame of the fire slew those men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego.

23 But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up.

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up in haste; he said to his high officials, “Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?” They replied to the king, “Certainly, O king.”

25 He said, “Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!”

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he responded and said, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the Most High God, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego came out of the midst of the fire.

27 The satraps, the prefects, the governors and the king’s high officials gathered around and saw in regard to these men that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men nor was the hair of their head singed, nor were their trousers damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them.

28 Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God.

29 “Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way.”

30 Then the king caused Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego to prosper in the province of Babylon.

Often, (very often, in fact) I fall back on God’s promise to get us ‘through’ adversity … That really sparked my interest of the word ‘through’ and I started thinking about how very deep it really is!

We must go ‘through’ hardship, ‘through’ difficulty, ‘through’ danger, ‘through’ trials, not over, around or under, but THROUGH!

From there, I got to thinking about how we could overcome adversity ‘through’ Him and pass ‘through’ it OR we could let the adversity go ‘through’ us and potentially destroy us!  Provocative?  Yeah, I thought so too!  *wink*

Through

The bible often talks about how we can get ‘through’ trials and tribulations by going ‘through’ the Lord.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  Philippians 4:13

By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.  Hebrews 11:29

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.  Romans 11:36

Through God we shall do valiantly, And it is He who will tread down our adversaries.  Psalm 60:12

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.  Isaiah 43:2

He led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water; He brought water for you out of the rock of flint.  Deuteronomy 8:15

Serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews.  Acts 20:19

Simply put, when we share a deep and profound relationship with God, we are better able to trust in Him.  We can filter our problems, grievances, sadness, confusion, etc. ‘through’ Him and come ‘through’ our circumstances with something much more manageable.

Every bad thing in your life can produce something good if you’ve learned and grown from it.  Just as gold must pass ‘through’ the fiery kiln to become beautiful, we must pass ‘through’ the trials and tribulations of this world to fulfill the amazing plans that God has for us!

But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.  Job 23:10

So that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  I Peter 1:7

“And I will bring the third part through the fire, Refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ And they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”  Zechariah 13:9

Labels: Adversity, Perseverance, Strength, Tests, Trials, Tribulation, Victory

But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.  Deuteronomy 30:14

But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART "-- that is, the word of faith which we are preaching.  Romans 10:8

On Wednesday, our pastor, and the men of the church, prepared a fantastic Mother`s Day meal for us ladies.  They prepared a delicious mushroomy, cheesy, puffy appetizer thingy (that`s the `official` name now), crab soup and for the main course we had steak, mashed, garlic potatoes and asparagus wrapped in bacon!  Yum! Yum!  (Our pastor is quite the chef!)  They even served us!

It was a fantastic dinner.  We spent some wonderful time together with our mothers and children and we all ate until we were stuffed.  In fact, I spoke to the pastor`s wife on Thursday morning and we both still felt stuffed!  *smile*

Later that day, I got to thinking about how the Lord feeds us with His Word.  It is the `food` which our soul so desperately needs and hungers for.

I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.  Job 23:12

You know how you get SO hungry that your stomach feels like it will jump out of your skin and serve itself?  I think our spirit can get that way too!

This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me.  Psalm 119:50

Sometimes, when we are very busy or the trials of life are a bit overwhelming, we tend to neglect the needs of our spirit.  We think that we can handle the pressure on our own and off we go to `deal` with things.  Neglecting the one true nourishment we always need!

But when the sun sets, he will be clean, and afterward he shall eat of the holy gifts, for it is his food.  Leviticus 22:7

Maybe we just feel like our problems are too `today` for the words in the Bible?  Maybe we don`t think that the authors of the Bible anticipated the problems we`d face `today`?

23 For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

24 For, “ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS.  THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,

25 BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.”  And this is the word which was preached to you.  I Peter 1:23-25

You have been born again from a seed that is imperishable through the living and enduring Word!  The Word of the Lord endures forever!  The things of the flesh, like grass will wither and pass away.  The pain, suffering, disappointment and sadness of the flesh is temporary!  The Word of God AND His promises, however, they endure!  They last FOREVER!  Through EVERYTHING!

It doesn`t really matter what we are `hungry` for!  Whether it be peace, joy, love, friendship, companionship, our Father God in Heaven is the most readily available and constant source we will ever need!

Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.  Proverbs 30:5

Who gives food to all flesh, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.  Psalm 136:25

That says`tested.  According to another translation it reads “proven to be true”.  It also says that His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Honestly, we need to immerse ourselves in the Word.  It is truly a manual for living a life pleasing to Him and for life everlasting.  

Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.  II Corinthians 9:10

It is also important to not only guide ourselves and trust in the Lord, but to share that with non-believers.  So many people out there are lost.  So many people think they are on the `right track`!  Maybe WE think we`re on the `right track`?  The only way to truly glorify God is to use His manual!  Feed your soul!  If you are confused, hurt, angry, lost, trust in His way!  It is a sure fire way to help yourself and those around you!

In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.  I Timothy 4:6

Labels: Comfort, Discouraged, Encouragement, Learning, Restoration, Salvation, Victory, Way of Thinking

Along the same lines as tests are trials. (A fine line indeed.) We learn and grow from our trials too. Strength, Patience and Faith all grow from the trials we face. (As long as we trust in the Lord and seek guidance from Him.) But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37

What is the difference? Well, in my `humble` opinion, a test is something initiated more by God. Something that is intended as a lesson.

A trial, on the other hand, is initiated by the enemy; it`s a result of the world we live in, an attempt to break us down. It is more relentless and merciless. These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

For born again Christians, this isn`t bad news. Consider it a `challenge`. A challenge to rise to victory and prove that you are a conqueror. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. I John 5:4

I mean, are you really going to let any device of the enemy have power over you? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Romans 8:35

Or are you going to have firm roots planted in the Word of God? Those on the rocky [soil are] those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no [firm] root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. Luke 8:13

Don`t get me wrong. All adversity, tests and trials are uncomfortable. The Lord does not promise us that there will not be discomfort. What he does promise is that the rewards will far outweigh the sacrifices. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have [its] perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which [the Lord] has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12

WOW! `Perfect and Complete` and `Lacking in Nothing` – I`d say that`s a worthwhile result. What about `Crown of Life`? Yeah? Me too! I want nothing more than to spend eternity with my Heavenly Father!

The world we live is full of sin and trials, girls. Most of us, single, married, widowed - we`ve seen a lot. (Many of us more than we`d like too.) Some days it simply amazes me at the sin and filth that lies in wait to overtake me, my children, my family, friends, etc.

How awesome is it to know that there is a better place? We do have refuge in our Savior! We have hope and promise. We can dream and aspire to be great women that make a difference! In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, [being] more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. I Peter 1:6-7

Ladies, no matter where you are in life, no matter your position. You are someone to God! With Him you can be a perfect woman, a fantastic Mom, clever businesswoman, invaluable employee, reliable daughter, thoughtful sister, loyal friend – the list is endless. And don`t for one minute think that what you do is lacking by any means. Being a Mom is a huge responsibility! Minister to your children! Be a wonderful example for them! Right now that is where God has you. I`m sure it`s for a reason!

All My Love

Labels: Adversity, Conqueror, Discomfort, Distress, Trials, Victory