DANIEL

I am in Hammond, Indiana at the Pastor's School at Hammond, IN.  So I missed some days as I have traveled.  The preaching has been great and the fellowship wonderful.  Preachers sure love Church and being with God's people.  I sure do!  But, I also miss the good people of Grand View Baptist Church.  Here are a few thoughts about what Daniel says:   1) STARVING YET STRIVING- Daniel 1:1 Nebuchadnezzar went to Jerusalem and "besieged it".  This means that before the king gave up the people were starving.  Daniel was one of the boys in that starving city.  He was of the king's seed or one of the princes' children, but he was starving like everyone else.  Now, in verse 8, he is refusing to eat the king's meat.  He was starving but now he is refusing food!!  It makes it even more outstanding that Daniel took this stand for His God. 2) HE IS ABLE TO DELIVER US- Daniel 3:17 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were in trouble.  They were about to be thrown into a heated up furnace.  Here is what they said:  "our God whom we serve is able to deliver us".  Notice it was not our God…; but, "our God whom we serve…"  Their confidence came as they served their God.  Perhaps we would have more faith if we served God more?  Sounds like something to me!  Notice it also worked for Daniel in 6:16 "Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee."  Darius knew that Daniel served his God, so he knew God would deliver someone who served Him so faithfully!! 3) HIS to MY to HIS AGAIN!!  That's right, Nebuchadnezzar talked about God and "HIS" sings, and "His" wonders, and "His" kingdom, and "His" dominion (4:2) ; but then it deteriorated to "my" power and "my" majesty and he then lived like a wild animal for seven years in the wild (4:30); but then after he got right with God it came back to "His" kingdom and "His" will and "His" hand (4:34,35).  What's it all mean?  It means we had better keep giving God "His" glory and honor.  For only "HE" is worthy!! 4) WHAT GETS GOD'S ATTENTION?  Dan. 9:3 "I set my face unto the LORD God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:" Humility with prayer and fasting, get's God's attention.  Try it, it works!! Hope this helps you today.  May God's blessings be upon you!  Pastor Mike Mutchler