Blog Carnivals are a collection of entries from blogs that fall under a specific category. There are blog carnivals for every topic under the sun. I've participated in two Christian Carnivals in the past two weeks. You will want to visit the hosts of the carnivals to find great blogs that have entries with Christian topics.
Ask me, I'll tell you. The safest place that I know is in the presence of The Lord. You can be surrounded by chaos, strife and persecution-yet you will be safe.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were put in a furnace of fire. They stood for their faith and refused to bow down before other Gods. Although there were three young men in the furnace, four were seen. They stepped out of that furnace, without a burn. They were exactly where they were supposed to be...and God was with them.
Here is a beautiful song by Commissioned that reminds you God will always show up on time because he is The King of Glory!
Daniel 3:14-29 (New International Version)
14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O king."
25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."
26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way."
There are so many images and ideas constantly bombarding us. Companies, Hollywood and our communities attempt to persuade us to believe we are one thing or another.
Sometimes we reach a time in our life, when we stop from all the activity and wonder: "Who Am I?"
You may be a mother, father, wife, husband, sister, brother, pastor, banker, democrat or republican...but is that all there is? Do any of those titles define: Who We Are?
Here are some things to ponder: 1. God created you in your mother's womb. Jeremiah 1:5 (New International Version) 5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew [a] you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." 2. God knows the number of hairs you have on your head. Luke 12:6-8 (New International Version) 6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies[a]? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 8"I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. 3. God has plans for your life that are full of hope. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 4. You are more than a conqueror. Romans 8:36-38 (New International Version) 36As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."[a] 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
Who am I? Who are You? When you are a child of God, you are a child of the King.
Our time on this earth is short. Use your life to touch as many lives as you can. Be God's vessel. Today and everyday, surrender to Him and say..."I Am Yours."
This is a video of the song Who Am I? by The Casting Crowns.
Scriptures for your day: Isaiah 41:10 (New International Version)
10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Zephaniah 3:17 (New International Version) 17 The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
1 Thessalonians 1:4-6 (New International Version) 4For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
Whatever you are going through, praise Him in the midst of it. In case you didn't know, the Word says: No weapon formed against you shall prosper (see below). You may be in the middle of a trial: you lost your job, you were given bad news related to your health, your kids are acting up, your finances are under attack.... be encouraged.
Here's what you can do while you are in the midst of the storm: 1. Pray fervently. 2. Praise him, even when you don't see the rain ceasing. 3. Stand on His Word. 4. Meditate on all He's done for you. 5. Prepare for your miracle.
Did you ever think that you are in the middle of a trial because there is a lesson you need to learn, before you can handle your miracle?
Let Him prune you. You will floursih like never before...
Here's a song by Fred Hammond (Yolanda Adams accompanied him in this video): Are You Ready For Your Blessing?
Here are a few scriptures for your day:
Isaiah 54:16-17 (New International Version) 16 "See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc;
17 no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (New International Version) 3For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
John 15:1-3 (New International Version) 1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
