More Lessons from the Desert

Over the past couple of weeks I have been really meditating on a verse out of the book of Daniel. It seems to consume my thoughts as I seek to know my Savior better today than yesterday.
Ironically, while you are all familiar with Daniel, Chapter 3 and the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, it is a small part of one verse (18) that has me celebrating the remarkable word of God.
The 3 Jewish men had found favor with King Nebuchadnezzar and were set over the province of Babylon. Now, however, they were being accused of breaking the King's decree which required all men to bow down and worship a golden idol made by the King himself. In fact, they refused to worship any god, but their own, the God of Abraham. This of course took remarkable faith and courage. Their punishment was to be thrown in to the blazing furnace. Well we all know how the story ends and indeed God did rescue them.
But, they didn't know how the story would end when they responded to King Nebuchadnezzar's threat to toss them into the furnace. They knew God could save them and believed that He would save them, but they did not know. And still they responded;
"But even if He does not"... This statement spoke volumes to me. These men were prepared to remain faithful to their God whether He chose to save them or not. Can we have this kind of faith in today's world?
Not only can we, but we should if we truly believe that God is faithful to His word and faithful to us, His children.
I am sure right now there are things from which you would love to be rescued. I am sure that some of you believe that God will rescue you. What I hope is that we all understand that He may not, at least not how we expect, yet our faith should not be shaken.
I do not pretend to understand the ways of God, but I do intend on being faithful during all times, good and bad. If I stumble, and I am sure I will, He will pick me up again, not because of who I am, but who He is and in His Amazing Grace!
God bless you!

Lessons from the Desert

Hello Everyone! As my time draws to an end over here I want to thank you all for the support in the form of prayers, cards, and letters. Yesterday and even this morning I was overwhelmed by the many Birthday wishes I received. I am really grateful to you all. Spending my birthday far from home and family is not what I would have wished, but it was nevertheless another mile marker, or goal reached, along this journey.
Over here, more so than at home, I get in the habit of looking at the calendar and setting mile markers that draw me closer to home. I wouldn't call them goals, but there are goals met along the way with the ultimate goal of finishing well and reaching the end of a long journey.
I have set a goal of reading as many books as I can while here and I have read many. I have set a goal of drawing closer to Christ and, with out a doubt, have drawn closer. All of us have something we want to achieve and will often set goals to reach them. This is a good practice when the goal is a righteous one.
This morning I read a story of a man who happened to die yesterday on my birthday. The story is about a man from Kenya, Joseph Stephen Kimani Nganga Maruge, who at the age of 84 decided to enroll in primary school. Why is a pretty logical question to ask. Why would an 84 year old man decide it was time to go to primary school. Why put up with the embarrassment, the ridicule, the hard work and effort, which I am sure gets harder as we get older(and yes I am speaking from experience)? Joseph had a goal.
Joseph had set a worthwhile and righteous goal. He wanted to learn to read the Bible before he died. Joseph reached his goal. He didn't complete primary school, but he did learn to read the Bible.
I have no idea what kind of quality of life Joseph had during his 89 years of life in Africa, but I am sure the last few were full of amazement, discovery and peace few will ever know.
While this applies to all of us, the following is for the men who read this.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we would set righteous goals that advance the truth of God and enhance people's lives without concern over what others might mock, or ridicule? Not caring about what the world thinks, but only of what God thinks. Becoming leaders, armed with the truth, for our families, for our communities. Ask yourself this; are we building an earthly or heavenly reputation? I encourage you to read 1st Timothy 6:12 and take hold of the eternal life to which you were called.
My prayer is we all get to the point in our life when God is first and all else seems unworthy of worry.
God bless you all and I will see you soon.