Summer - The Heat is On!
Summer – The Heat is On!
If you live in Houston, you're used to triple degree weather, extreme humidity, and an urgent need for hydration and air conditioning! Not to mention hurricane season at its peak! But enough of that, we are coming to the end of a season of great life, the bluest blues, the greenest greens and fully matured blossoms and flowers and fruit! We pause to actually enjoy the rose garden and to catch our breath before we dive into the deeper waters! We actually take time out to enjoy the fruit of our labors and to spend quality time with family, on vacations, and doing the things we normally don't stop long enough to do! We may even plan that trip of a lifetime, as in my daughter's case, Italy, and enjoy the Glory of God's creation and the intensity of His Creative spark through the brilliance of others, whether it be art, architecture, and all of the beauty of music and culture and its people.
But not only is the Heat on in the natural world around us, whether demonstrated fully in extreme weather, or the heat of the debate that is going on in our country, we can find ourselves overwhelmed or even paralyzed with uncertainty of how things are going to work out or even our part in it!
Let me reflect on a few young boys and their response when facing a sweltering furnace. When the Heat was on and certain for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they found their center and their calm in their unwavering faith in the God who loved them and His worthiness to receive all even in the midst of their demise.
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King 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 deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, 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. Daniel 3:16-23
Interesting, that these young men had already decided long before the fire how they would respond. And they stood on their conviction, their confidence in their God, and their willingness to pay the ultimate price for their decision. Their hearts were prepared and their minds made up. And instead of dwelling on the what ifs that presented themselves, they calmed their minds, their hearts, and their speech. That was faith in the face of fire! And they did the next logical thing, step into the fire.
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, Your Majesty.”
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.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon. Daniel 3:24-30
These young men had stepped out of the realm of possibility and into the realm of the impossible, mainly God's territory! Their faith moved the Hand of God on their behalf, their peace and their assurance defied all logic, and the result was a supernatural encounter and a display of an Almighty God! Not to mention the declaration of a pagan King giving honor to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, but a turning of a nation to their God in worship and the Godly promotion recognized on earth of these young Jewish men.
So what can we glean from all of this? Take the time to savor the favor and Blessings of God that surround your life with a grateful heart. Spend the time to prepare your heart, make up your mind, and in the breath before the plunge, trust in the Almighty God who loves you in the face of the sweltering Heat before you! You might just have a supernatural Encounter with the God of All Creation in the dancing flames around you! And you might find, you are not alone there!
You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Psalm 119:114
If you live in Houston, you're used to triple degree weather, extreme humidity, and an urgent need for hydration and air conditioning! Not to mention hurricane season at its peak! But enough of that, we are coming to the end of a season of great life, the bluest blues, the greenest greens and fully matured blossoms and flowers and fruit! We pause to actually enjoy the rose garden and to catch our breath before we dive into the deeper waters! We actually take time out to enjoy the fruit of our labors and to spend quality time with family, on vacations, and doing the things we normally don't stop long enough to do! We may even plan that trip of a lifetime, as in my daughter's case, Italy, and enjoy the Glory of God's creation and the intensity of His Creative spark through the brilliance of others, whether it be art, architecture, and all of the beauty of music and culture and its people.
But not only is the Heat on in the natural world around us, whether demonstrated fully in extreme weather, or the heat of the debate that is going on in our country, we can find ourselves overwhelmed or even paralyzed with uncertainty of how things are going to work out or even our part in it!
Let me reflect on a few young boys and their response when facing a sweltering furnace. When the Heat was on and certain for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they found their center and their calm in their unwavering faith in the God who loved them and His worthiness to receive all even in the midst of their demise.
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King 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 deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, 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. Daniel 3:16-23
Interesting, that these young men had already decided long before the fire how they would respond. And they stood on their conviction, their confidence in their God, and their willingness to pay the ultimate price for their decision. Their hearts were prepared and their minds made up. And instead of dwelling on the what ifs that presented themselves, they calmed their minds, their hearts, and their speech. That was faith in the face of fire! And they did the next logical thing, step into the fire.
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, Your Majesty.”
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.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon. Daniel 3:24-30
These young men had stepped out of the realm of possibility and into the realm of the impossible, mainly God's territory! Their faith moved the Hand of God on their behalf, their peace and their assurance defied all logic, and the result was a supernatural encounter and a display of an Almighty God! Not to mention the declaration of a pagan King giving honor to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, but a turning of a nation to their God in worship and the Godly promotion recognized on earth of these young Jewish men.
So what can we glean from all of this? Take the time to savor the favor and Blessings of God that surround your life with a grateful heart. Spend the time to prepare your heart, make up your mind, and in the breath before the plunge, trust in the Almighty God who loves you in the face of the sweltering Heat before you! You might just have a supernatural Encounter with the God of All Creation in the dancing flames around you! And you might find, you are not alone there!
You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Psalm 119:114