Numbers 1

¹⁹ as the Lord commanded Moses. And so he counted them in the Desert of Sinai:....⁵⁴ The Israelites did all this just as the Lord commanded Moses.




Someday I'll be interested to hear why God felt it was important to include certain information in the Bible.  This chapter is chalked full of information that seems irrelevant to me today in 2016.  That said maybe it felt that way to Moses as well and to the Israelites but at this moment in time they were doing a good job following instructions rather than objecting or doing taking their own approach.  Maybe that's the lesson for 2016, be obedient.


We are starting another tough book.  I can imagine this will be the one time we go through this one on our journey but I really do want to be able to say I have read every word in the Bible and therefore its time to git it done!


knut


ps--prayers for a couple families today.


We go to the funereal of a dad of two of our kids classmates.  He was 59 and fell ill in and died in a days notice.  Rick was a friendly person and I pray that his wife and kids feel support and love from our Grimes community.


The other is a 4 year old girl from Oregon.  She drowned in Cabo last Monday.  We watched two mom's get swept off of the beach with their 4 and 6 year old daughters.  We ran and helped get the 6 yr old daughter back out of the water and others helped get the two mom's.  We would have been celebrating but the 4yr girl had drowned in a matter of minutes before others could find her.  I can't imagine their pain and don't even know them but feel connected to them through being there and involved in trying to help in the midst of the tragedy.  I tracked down the dad's at another pool and had to break the news of an accident on the beach.  They were enjoying a cocktail as I interrupted their conversation with the news that in an instant changed their vacation into a horror story.  It is so tragic.  I just pray for healing for both of those families.

Daniel 12

² Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt




So this one disturbs me a bit.  I like to think when a loved one dies who believes in Jesus that he/she is immediately reunited with Jesus in heaven.  But this suggests that nothing happens until the Rapture.  So I did a little research and found some things confirming that line of thinking.  Do you understand it that way?  I guess I shouldn't worry about it, it is just one more thing I don't have a full understanding of that is in the bible and it caught my attention this morning.  The one thing I do know is I will ultimately be with Jesus and all others who believe.


knut

Daniel 11

I'm not sure what to take from today's reading.  Its extremely detailed.  It reads like a history book,.....only looking forward, and without names.  I find it tough.
But, I did find this link that helped a little bit.
http://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/understanding-the-book-of-daniel/daniel-11/


tp

Daniel 10

¹² Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.


I like this verse, because to me it proves that if we seek him.....he will respond to us.  The more we seek him, and humble ourselves at the same time, the more he will communicate with us.  I am not one that hears the voice of God.  But, to know that he is listening and responding is fantastic.  This chapter seems a little open ended, just because we didn't hear the vision or meaning of it.  I'm sure that will be completely confusing in the next chapter....hahaha..


have a great trip home.


tp

Daniel 9

²⁴ “Seventy ‘sevens’^[c] are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish^[d] transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.^[e]


I enjoy reading the prophesies and seeing how they have played out over time.  Admittedly I with the time I am dedicating to it, I am really just relying on others research and slant on the fulfillment of the prophesy but I still like seeing how God has woven together all the elements of his word through time.  Though we humans will lack full understanding until the day Jesus returns we can still take a lot of strength and faith of its total perfection based on those limited observations that can be made to demonstrate how he has been true to his word over time.

here is one linik to some timelines contained in Daniel 9
http://www.gotquestions.org/seventy-sevens.html


out---probably a week as we head to Cabo tomorrow. 
knut

Daniel 8

²⁷ I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay exhausted for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding.


Well I'm not sure what to take from this chapter, but for some reason this is the verse that jumps out the most to me though I don't have any takeaways to share.  I'm a bit blank, maybe a bit preoccupied and distracted during my reading.  Any good takes?

knut

Daniel 7

²⁶ “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. ²⁷ Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’

Well there is lots of prophetic imagery in this chapter and I am not enough of a scholar to even begin to try and interpret it all.  For those that do try it is interesting to read their thoughts but at the end of the day they really don't have any more idea than I do of the timing of the return of Jesus. 

But what we all do share is that we can take comfort in no matter how dark and dirty this world becomes we have the absolute promise that in the end Jesus will return and all the power of the devil on this earth will be destroyed for ever an ever.  In the midst of all the scary news filling our airwaves this is a peace giving promise to know in our hearts.

knut

Daniel 6

¹⁰ Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.


As I read this I was wondering what lesson is tucked in here for today's world.  I noticed Daniel's behavior when the government tried to disconnect him from God, I recognize that was not necesarrily their end game goal as much as getting him in trouble was their goal and this was their trap.  But none the less what I noticed was Daniel's behavior in the face of the government trying to control him and prevent his relationship wiht God.  His behavior was not to go fight back directly or make a public display and attack the government's attempt to block his time of prayer.  Instead he went to the privacy of his upstairs roo at home and got down and prayed for God's help in the matter. 

What if my first response to problems was to go to God for help?  How might my life be different?  How might the world be different if collectively we as Christians always went to God in prayer before taking actions ourselves?  I don't think it means laying down and taking it from those who seek to separate us from God but at the same time maybe we need to rely on God more than we do to help change the world we live in.  It seems our society is moving further away from God all the time, but I have to admit I don't spend a lot of time in prayer asking God for help and to use me in a way to make a difference if he chooses.

So my takeaway from Daniel today is to go first to God in prayer with any obstacles I face.
knut

Daniel 5

²² “But you, Belshazzar, his son,^[d] have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. <sup>2



So inspite of first hand knowelege of how God directly impacted his dad's life Belshazzar had slipped into the trap of believing in himself too much and ignoring God.  Its a bit scary.  How do we make sure the lessons we have learned are passed on to Max, Ben, Luke and Katelyn?  I think you do a good job of having these very real discussions with your kids. I can't say that I get that deep very often with our kids.  Hopefully we model our faith in a way that is very visible for our kids and I believe that will have a positive impact.  But at the same time if Belshazzar can not learn from such obvious and direct examples of the fact that God is in control at all times how can I be sure I am sharing this truth with my kids.  Especially when I know there are times I lack this faith myself?


Today I pray that I can renew my trust and faith in God in way that is obvious to my family and glorifying to Him.

knut</sup>

Daniel 4

 ³⁷ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble

This chapter continues the conversation of yesterday.  I am not in control and all the good things in my life are not of my making.  If I believe I am in control or have too much pride I can be quickly humbled. 

I am blessed in so many ways, the thing that matters most to me in life is my relationship with Gina, Luke and Katelyn.  I love this time of life with these guys but I am at the moment caught on a treadmill that seems to be sucking my physical, mental and emotional energy...my job.  I don't want this to suck this precious time from me.  Maybe a very typical journey for those of us in the US, maybe just a 1st world problem.  I want to be careful of the balance and be weary that the treadmill I am on is potentially driven by pride and competitiveness that does not align with how God wants to use me.  Maybe it does maybe I can be a positive influence in a swirl of stress, quite frankly I don't know.

knut

Daniel 3

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.”

In chapter 2 Nebuchadnezzar becomes convinced of God's all knowing power due to Daniel's interpretation of his dream.  We don't know how much time has passed but here we see Nebuchadnezzar has apparently forgotten about that and is building his own golden gods for people to worhsip.  Then through God delivering Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the fire he becomes convinced again of God's greatness.

I just thought it was interesting that he feels the need to take control and issue a decree for anyone who doesn't workship the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  On the surface it looks well intentioned display of wanting to make people accountable to God.  But you would think he would have learned at this point God doesn't need his help.  To me it looks more like he wants to continue to demonstrate his control that wanting people to truly follow God.

I think I'm no different than Nebuchadnezzar.  I get convinced of God's greatness over and over yet revert to trying to be in control over and over.  Probably a struggle that will go on for my entire life.  I do pray that I get better at trying to follow him faithfully rather than trying to always thinking I am in control.

knut

Daniel 2

⁴⁶ Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. ⁴⁷ The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lo rd of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”


Happy New Year!  I must say I am feeling extremely overwhelmed right now.  We had a great Christmas break but now getting back to work I feel already out of control and in over my head in and inadeqate in several areas.  I can't sleep, been up since 3:30am.  I'm not telling you to complain but just sharing my heart. 

I read today's chapter and what struck me is God is in control...thankfully.  Its hard to imagaine how the King must have felt when Danile shared the meaning of his dream, without being told by the King even what the dream was about.  It must have been overwhelming to know with certainty that God knows his every thought and was able to demonstrate that through Daniel.

I need to take comfort in the fact that God knows my every thought and concern.  My concerns from a big picture are pretty small, certainly not life or death just things that take over my mind.  I am praying for some peace right now.

knut