It's such a blessing to be a part of a small group that is willing to give up a Sunday afternoon to go to the Dollar Tree, buy 80+ gifts for children, and then deliver them at a trailer park........ in the pouring rain. Here's to you Trevor, Parker, Thomas and Eric (we missed the rest of you).
While there, we were so very blessed handing out gifts to these kids. Many of their faces lit up upon receiving the gifts! It's exciting to be reminded that we are truly blessed to be a blessing... we are merely stewards of the money God has given us and need to use it wisely.
Two quick stories from the last 25ish hours:
While at the trailer park, a kid named "Alfonso" became our guide and pointed out all of the trailers with children. But before we began walking around, we gave him two gifts. He asked us what kind of church we were from, and when we replied 'Christian', he said that he was Catholic and asked, "Are we enemies?" Also, upon hearing that we were Christian, he became very downcast and told us that he needed to return the gifts (because he is Catholic). Oh my- what kinds of things is he being taught?! I pray that the love of Jesus was shining through us to him today...
Also, although I have never technically cried during a movie, I have come close or at least wanted to in a few movies (The Passion of the Christ, West Side Story, Pearl Harbor, and The Power of One to name a few)... but last night I came closer than I ever have before. As Dad and I were watching the end of It's a Wonderful Life together, the tears were welling up in my eyes as Jimmy Stewart was running down the street yelling, "Merry Christmas!", kissing his children, and the neighbors and friends were all blessing him with gifts and encouraging words because his wife had spread the word that he was in need. It was a wonderful picture of community and love... it's just a fabulous movie and it really moved both Dad and me (although we have seen it many times before). If you haven't seen it yet, forgive me for ruining the ending but be sure to watch it this Christmas season.
I was reading Daniel last night (chapters 1 and 2) and was reminded how much I love Daniel. He is one of my favorite characters in the Bible because of his faithfulness and dedication to God in a foreign land. The second chapter contains the story of King Nebuchadnezzar's dream and interpretation. Quick recap: Nebuchadnezzar had been having some dreams, didn't know what they meant, and told all of his "wise men" that unless they could interpret the dream, all of the wise men in his whole kingdom would be put to death. Oh- but there was a catch: he wouldn't tell them the dream. They had to not only interpret the dream, but know what dream to interpret!
The Chaldeans (wise men) start freaking out, but when Daniel hears of the decree, he "replied with prudence... and discretion" (v. 14). And the first thing he did after setting up an appointment with the king? He went to his buddies, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and asked them to "seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery..." When God revealed the dream and interpretation to heaven, the first thing Daniel did was he "blessed the God of heaven." (v. 19) Verses 20-23 are a beautiful prayer of praise and thanks... this was how much Daniel valued God!
Finally, Daniel goes to the king and when the king asks him, “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” (v. 26), Daniel's response is beautiful and brilliant and gives us a great view into his heart after God (v. 27-28): "No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days."
Daniel automatically throws away any notion that he did this one his own or even had any part in it. "No wise men..." Daniel discredits himself in this listing of people that can not "show to the king the mystery that the king has asked", but God is the one that makes this mystery known to the king. And what is the result? The king's response to the interpreted dream (v. 47): “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.” So Daniel was living out Matthew 5:16 and 1 Peter 2:11-12 before they were written: doing goods deeds so that others would praise God, not him.
The biggest thing I took from this story last night was that when the king decreed that all the wise men would be killed if no one could not only interpret but tell him what the dream was, God was merely setting the stage for him to receive the greatest amount of glory. Daniel understood that God was in control and trusted and loved Him enough to believe that God would do what was best for Himself, even if it meant Daniel dying (this is even further revealed through chapter 3, especially verses 16-18).
I was reminded of this principle in this morning's message at Commonwealth Chapel. John Wagler was talking about how much joy he got from a lunch with his son Max, and a main reason for this joy was because of the hardships he and his wife faced when they had trouble having children for some years before Max and Neveah's birth. But in all of this time, God was setting the stage so that He would get the greatest amount of glory.
This brings me great encouragement as I'm at a point in life where I don't know what exactly God has for me next. The exciting thing is that I know that God is merely setting the stage to get the maximum amount of glory through my life- one of my greatest desires and my purpose in life. How is God setting the stage in your life?
During these times of trial and "mystery", do as Daniel did: don't freak out (respond with prudence and discretion), call upon friends and family to pray with you in the situation, and when God brings you through, be sure He alone gets the glory.
Father- grant me the heart of Daniel, that You may receive all honor, glory, power and praise through my life.
Grace and peace...
Luke
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