Today's Reading: Daniel 10-12
He said, "Do not fear, greatly beloved, you are safe. Be strong and courageous!" When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Let my lord speak for you have strengthened me." Daniel 10:19 NRSV
The angel Gabriel is rather frightening and basically seems to cause Daniel's knees to weaken and he falls down on his face. Daniel is afraid. Yet, Gabriel tells him not to be afraid. In fact, Gabriel tells Daniel that he is greatly beloved. Daniel is safe with this angel present. Gabriel wants Daniel to be more than brave, though. Daniel needs to be both strong and courageous -- words that Joshua spoke to the people after Moses' death.
Who can you go to when you need courage or strength for life's crazy situations?
Would you rather just be alone to gather your strength?
Are you able to give others courage?
May you have strength and courage to face this day!
God, help us all to be strong and courageous. Take away our fear and remind us how greatly beloved we are. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims
Showing posts with label Daniel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Daniel. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Writing Down the Dream
Today's Reading: Daniel 7-9
In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head as he lay in bed. Then he wrote down the dream.... Daniel 7:1 NRSV
Have you ever kept track of your dreams?
The best way to do it is to keep a notebook and pen right by your bedside. When you wake up from a dream, quickly write down what you remember. Even if you only wake up when the alarm goes off, if you begin to do this on a regular basis you will recall more and more of your dreams and will begin waking after each dream cycle. You will also have more "control" over what happens in your dreams.
Obviously, keeping track of dreams is not a modern thought!
Daniel writes down his dream or vision. I would imagine that he has been doing this for some time. The biggest difference is that his dreams seem to come directly from God. The visions that Daniel has are messages about what God is going to do in the world and many of them are quite horrific. In his dreams, Daniel has an angel guide to help with the interpretation.
For many of us, we have no one to help guide us or provide interpretation. We must do what we can to figure out what our dreams are trying to say and where God has sent any kind of message to us. Yet, dreams can be invaluable ways of listening to God; God does have our undivided attention when we sleep!
God, thank you for dreams. Help us to know when you speak to us in our dreams. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims
In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head as he lay in bed. Then he wrote down the dream.... Daniel 7:1 NRSV
Have you ever kept track of your dreams?
The best way to do it is to keep a notebook and pen right by your bedside. When you wake up from a dream, quickly write down what you remember. Even if you only wake up when the alarm goes off, if you begin to do this on a regular basis you will recall more and more of your dreams and will begin waking after each dream cycle. You will also have more "control" over what happens in your dreams.
Obviously, keeping track of dreams is not a modern thought!
Daniel writes down his dream or vision. I would imagine that he has been doing this for some time. The biggest difference is that his dreams seem to come directly from God. The visions that Daniel has are messages about what God is going to do in the world and many of them are quite horrific. In his dreams, Daniel has an angel guide to help with the interpretation.
For many of us, we have no one to help guide us or provide interpretation. We must do what we can to figure out what our dreams are trying to say and where God has sent any kind of message to us. Yet, dreams can be invaluable ways of listening to God; God does have our undivided attention when we sleep!
God, thank you for dreams. Help us to know when you speak to us in our dreams. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Know Thyself
Today's Reading: Daniel 4-6
...Because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called and he will give the interpretation. Daniel 5: 12 NRSV
The queen remembers Daniel's powers of interpretation. In fact, she lists his Spiritual Gifts: an excellent spirit, knowledge and understanding. She also knows his strengths: dream interpretation, explaining riddles and solving problems. No one else seems to recall Daniel and his assets. When the writing appears on the wall, it is the queen who knows who to ask.
Do you know your strengths? Your Spiritual Gifts? Personality inventory?
In other words, how well do you know yourself? Can you clearly articulate to others your gifts and graces? Do you believe that there are at least one person out there (besides immediate family members) who know and would share your abilities with others?
Knowing ourselves and letting others know what we are capable of is very important if we want to serve God with all that we are and all that we have.
God, help us to use our gifts, strengths, and talents for your glory. If we don't know what these are, we ask that you provide the means for us to discover them. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims
...Because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called and he will give the interpretation. Daniel 5: 12 NRSV
The queen remembers Daniel's powers of interpretation. In fact, she lists his Spiritual Gifts: an excellent spirit, knowledge and understanding. She also knows his strengths: dream interpretation, explaining riddles and solving problems. No one else seems to recall Daniel and his assets. When the writing appears on the wall, it is the queen who knows who to ask.
Do you know your strengths? Your Spiritual Gifts? Personality inventory?
In other words, how well do you know yourself? Can you clearly articulate to others your gifts and graces? Do you believe that there are at least one person out there (besides immediate family members) who know and would share your abilities with others?
Knowing ourselves and letting others know what we are capable of is very important if we want to serve God with all that we are and all that we have.
God, help us to use our gifts, strengths, and talents for your glory. If we don't know what these are, we ask that you provide the means for us to discover them. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Prayer Request
Today's reading: Daniel 1-3
....and told them to seek mercy from God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions with the rest of the wise men of Babylon might not perish. Daniel 2:18 NRSV
The King of Babylon is mad because no one will tell him what his dream was nor interpret it. In fact, the reason for his anger is that his advisers said they could interpret but he figured that they were just going to lie about it. The king plans to put all the wise men to death unless someone comes forward to do as he asks. I am finding it hard to get the logic with this decision. Won't he be out of wise persons to advise him if he carries this out?
Daniel is among the king's wise advisers. Daniel needs God's help to tell the king what he wants to know and save many lives, including his own. To get God's help, Daniel asks his three friends to be praying on his behalf.
They pray on his behalf, and Daniel receives knowledge and wisdom from God. He is able to tell the king what he dreamed and the meaning of his dream. He not only saves his life and the life of the other advisers, but gets a great promotion at court as well.
What prayer requests have you recently given to others and clearly received God's mercy as a result? Is there anyone you know who might request a prayer from you?
God, have mercy on us and bless us. Cause your face to shine upon us and grant us your peace. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims
....and told them to seek mercy from God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions with the rest of the wise men of Babylon might not perish. Daniel 2:18 NRSV
The King of Babylon is mad because no one will tell him what his dream was nor interpret it. In fact, the reason for his anger is that his advisers said they could interpret but he figured that they were just going to lie about it. The king plans to put all the wise men to death unless someone comes forward to do as he asks. I am finding it hard to get the logic with this decision. Won't he be out of wise persons to advise him if he carries this out?
Daniel is among the king's wise advisers. Daniel needs God's help to tell the king what he wants to know and save many lives, including his own. To get God's help, Daniel asks his three friends to be praying on his behalf.
They pray on his behalf, and Daniel receives knowledge and wisdom from God. He is able to tell the king what he dreamed and the meaning of his dream. He not only saves his life and the life of the other advisers, but gets a great promotion at court as well.
What prayer requests have you recently given to others and clearly received God's mercy as a result? Is there anyone you know who might request a prayer from you?
God, have mercy on us and bless us. Cause your face to shine upon us and grant us your peace. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims
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