Daniel 2:21
He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
God is the wisest and most intelligent. He is the one who gives us the wisdom and knowledge that we need to get through life.
Daniel 2:23
I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.
When we ask humbly for wisdom and knowledge from God, He will bless us with that. Like Daniel and his brothers who prayed for wisdom to interpret the king's dream. God blessed them that wisdom because they loved God and were obedient in the Lord's ways. If we also are able to at least strive for a God-glorifying life, then God Himself will bless us with gifts of wisdom and knowledge for our challenges in the world.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Monday, September 15, 2014
Daniel 1
I watched the movie called "The Book of Daniel" and I thought it was such a great visual representation of what the book is about. I never read Daniel from front to back but after watching I was motivated to do so.
The first thing that stood out to me about the book is that it's written like a story. It attracts me as a reader to read the text and as a disciple I strive to see what God is trying to tell me through the story of Daniel.
The choice food given to the servants from the king's table must have tasted delicious and seemed like a privilege. However, Daniel chose to only eat what his people would eat and declined the choice food. From this, the thought that entered my mind was that sometimes things that may seem expensive or rich may not always be the best out there. It's very easy to follow society and become a consumer for the trendiest things on the market. However, one needs to avoid this temptation and become good stewards of their money. This can also be learned in terms of temptation in general. We get tempted by worldly and sinful things because it seems good, but really isn't. We need to look through biblical lenses in order to really know what's really good in God's eyes and be able to say no to the things that really aren't.
Daniel 1:8
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.
Sometimes you have to put yourself out there and stand up for what you believe in. It may be against social norm.
When you are faithful and are following God, He will provide and bless you in the good times and will be there for you in the bad times. He will help you through any circumstance.
Daniel 1:17
To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
The first thing that stood out to me about the book is that it's written like a story. It attracts me as a reader to read the text and as a disciple I strive to see what God is trying to tell me through the story of Daniel.
The choice food given to the servants from the king's table must have tasted delicious and seemed like a privilege. However, Daniel chose to only eat what his people would eat and declined the choice food. From this, the thought that entered my mind was that sometimes things that may seem expensive or rich may not always be the best out there. It's very easy to follow society and become a consumer for the trendiest things on the market. However, one needs to avoid this temptation and become good stewards of their money. This can also be learned in terms of temptation in general. We get tempted by worldly and sinful things because it seems good, but really isn't. We need to look through biblical lenses in order to really know what's really good in God's eyes and be able to say no to the things that really aren't.
Daniel 1:8
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.
Sometimes you have to put yourself out there and stand up for what you believe in. It may be against social norm.
When you are faithful and are following God, He will provide and bless you in the good times and will be there for you in the bad times. He will help you through any circumstance.
Daniel 1:17
To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Philippians 4
Philippians 4:3-9
Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Paul's exhortation to the Philippians is just as applicable to me. As a follower of Christ I should be helping others in their work for the advance of the Gospel. I should value my relationships and to treat them like how Jesus would: gentle, understanding, helpful. I should be thankful for everything that happens, no matter how good or bad it seems because there is always a reason for it happening. I should only be thinking about things that will not make me stumble into sin because I am striving to be more like Christ.
All of this matters even more since I started attending a new school. In the midst of developing friendships with people in my program, I hope to be a light and that God will touch their hearts if they haven't been touched yet.
Philippians 4:11
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
This is hard, but when you look in retrospect and see how God has taught you in your moments- especially in the bad times- you realize how amazing God is at helping you become a better and stronger person.
Philippians 4:13
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Yes I can. God provides, it's a trait that is very evident in all aspects of your life. Energy to study. Money to buy. Friends to socialize with. A church community for support. These are all blessings from our God.
Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Paul's exhortation to the Philippians is just as applicable to me. As a follower of Christ I should be helping others in their work for the advance of the Gospel. I should value my relationships and to treat them like how Jesus would: gentle, understanding, helpful. I should be thankful for everything that happens, no matter how good or bad it seems because there is always a reason for it happening. I should only be thinking about things that will not make me stumble into sin because I am striving to be more like Christ.
All of this matters even more since I started attending a new school. In the midst of developing friendships with people in my program, I hope to be a light and that God will touch their hearts if they haven't been touched yet.
Philippians 4:11
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
This is hard, but when you look in retrospect and see how God has taught you in your moments- especially in the bad times- you realize how amazing God is at helping you become a better and stronger person.
Philippians 4:13
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Yes I can. God provides, it's a trait that is very evident in all aspects of your life. Energy to study. Money to buy. Friends to socialize with. A church community for support. These are all blessings from our God.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Philippians 3:12-21
Philippians 3:13-16
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things: And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
We have been freed from our past self, our past mistakes, our past lifestyle so that we can put on our forgiven self, our new mission in becoming worthy disciples and children of God, and a new lifestyle that glorifies our Heavenly Father. Jesus has already made us ready so that we can continue his work here. We can all be thankful and do everything in the spirit of joy because we know that God will take us to heaven when our time comes... and it'll be free of sin, evil, disappointment, and suffering. I can't even imagine what that is like.
However, this type of thinking really does require maturity, as Paul states in this passage. It's not suppose to be an easy task to complete. It's something that we have to continue pressing towards, despite all the obstacles and hurdles that may come in our way. There may be times when we get lost and blinded by the earthly temptations of the world, but God will pull us out of that hallucination and clear our minds from all the wrong things. We just need to continue living up to what Jesus has given us as a gift: a life that has been cleansed and forgiven so that we are adopted into God's family.
Philippians 3:20-21
But our citizenship is in heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
It'll be a glorious day when Jesus takes my body and gives it new life in heaven.
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