Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Would You Do Anything for God?

So, I have just finished an incredibly good book.  It's right up there with A.W. Tozer's Pursuit of God, David Platt's Radical and Francis Chan's Crazy Love.  The book is Anything by Jennie Allen.  I'm getting ready to read it again and no doubt again and again and again.  Yes, it is that good. 

I wanted to share my favorite quotes but there are just too many so I will share just a couple in hopes you will not only get the book for yourself (Go to Lovely Branches  Book Recommendation page to find out how to get your copy) but that you will also get so pumped you will want to do the Jennie Allen Stuck study we are getting ready to start at the end of August at the Taste & See Coffee House. 

Here you go:

From this point on things are changing.  I am living for the moment when I will face You.  I want to get to heaven out of breath, having willingly done anything that you - the God of the universe asks... anything.

In one act God did what no amount of effort on our part could do.

It is too easy in this country for blessings to become rights, for stuff and money to become what calls the shots in our lives. And before we know it, God's gifts have replaced God Himself.

Why had I loved people more than Him? Why had I sat on every gift he had given me to make Him known? Because I cared more about being judged by everyone else but Him?

I knew if God wanted me to do something more, I would need to wait on Him to pull it off. I did not want to create something and then wonder if it had been me or God. I would obey as He revealed the next step, and, in the meantime, live as faithfully as I could through the typical stuff.

God was writing a story for my life that I never would have written.

God was in all of this... all of the chaos He was initiating in beautiful ways.

Yeah, yeah... I know that was more than just a couple quotes.  You say you want more? Okay here's just a few more:

Those of us who know Christ, we live for a different reality.  We live for things we can't see and make decisions based on that different reality.  Our reality is a cross, a heaven and a God who sees us and gives us His Spirit so we can do something while we are here. And that's not building a cute easy life for ourselves where the pros outweigh the cons.  We build for Him.

Now that I have tasted being all in, I don't want medium. We weren't made for medium.

Abandonment only makes sense if there is a God worthy of abandoning everything for.

It is this Anything book which is the foundation for Jennie Allen's Stuck Bible Study.  We are beyond excited to get started on this incredible journey. Hope you join us at Taste & See Coffee House for what might be our most breath taking study to date: Stuck by Jennie Allen

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Rooted & Grounded Summer Activities

Summer Psalms

A time to gather and bask in the Psalms
Hosted by Melanie Johnson and Keva Farney
Thursday Mornings June 28th – July 12th at 9:00 a.m.
Taste & See Coffee House
111 Broadway in Stafford, KS

Walk By Faith Park Gathering

This event specifically geared for young moms with kids.
A time set aside for moms to visit and even get some exercise in walking the perimeter of the park
while their children play. Bring a stroller if needed.
Hosted by Carrie Hildebrand
Wednesday evenings at 7:00 from June 27th to July 25
Pool Park in Stafford

Six Week Summer Video Series

A video series answering some serious questions on prayer.
Hosted by Edna Ziegler
Thursday Evenings June 28th -August 2nd at 7:00 p.m.

Taste & See Coffee House

“Sacred Echo” by Margaret Feinberg

When we pray, does God answer?
Was that God’s voice, or my own?
When God really wants to get your attention, He doesn’t just say something once, He echoes. He speaks through a Sunday sermon, a chance conversation with a friend the next day, and even a random email. The same theme, idea, impression, or lesson will repeat itself in surprising and unexpected ways until you realize that maybe, just maybe, God is at work. As God’s voice echoes to us, we are invited to echo back to Him in prayer.
In each of the six Sacred Echo sessions, Margaret Feinberg provides Biblical and practical teaching that will offer a fresh perspective on our interactions with God through prayer. Each session also includes interviews with people who share their personal times when God was silent and times when God was at work.
Sacred Echo book ($17.00) and workbook ($8.00) are optional. Workbook recommended but not necessary to attend.
Call 620-234-6856 or email lovelybranchesministries@yahoo.com to register.

Thursday, May 31, 2012

As we enter into the summer months, the Rooted & Grounded Team hopes to put together some activities to keep us reconnected. Please check back here in a couple weeks or at the Rooted & Grounded page at Lovely Branches Ministries.

In the meantime check out June's Devotion as well as our Vine Press bloggers:


Moments in Focus by Adrienne

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Session Six - Dreams and Visions

We opened our last session of this study on Daniel, chapter 7 on predictions and why we think people spend so much time trying to predict the future? Some of our answers were to "feel in control" or the "fear of the unknown".
The first six chapters of Daniel are narrative stories that we can read and understand without interpretation, but in chapter 7 things change dramatically as we enter into a kind of literature called apocalyptic. Apocalyptic is forecasting the ultimate destiny of the world as "revealed" by God. Thus the book of Revelation derived from the Greek word "apokolupsis" or what we know as "apocalypse". We have to remember when reading these portions of the Bible that such images made much more sense to people in the ancient world than they do to us today.

Predicting the future can cause many problems such as false profits predicting the end of the world which can make all Christians look like lunatics. It also makes it much more difficult to witness to people. We need to always keep our eyes on Jesus. That is what is important. And to hang onto what we know is not debatable - that Christ said He would return even if we don't have all the times and details.
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Be Ready for Serious Problems. Daniel 7:2-3
Daniel said in his dream that he saw four great winds from heaven churning up the Great Sea, which could easily be a picture of the Mediterranean Sea. Stirring up has the idea of chaos. The four great beasts come up from the sea. Each one distinct from the other. The first was like a lion which most scholars agree represented the Babylonian Empire. The second beast, a bear, represented the Medo Persian Empire. The next beast was like a leopard known for its sudden unexpected attacks, represented the Greek Empire. The fourth beast was dreadful and terrible which represented the Roman Empire which has not fully diminished but just transformed into Europe, most likely. The images of these beasts remind us that there are spiritual forces in this world that are hostile to God. Forces that we humans can not imagine. These forces work against us in our every day lives as well as what we see in the news every day - evil world leaders, political corruption, abortion issues, religion, breakdown of the family, etc. There are so many things that are going on in our world where powerful forces of evil are still at work.

Question 5 on page 62 asks: How can awareness of these points (above) help followers of Christ stand strong against evil powers. Answers from the gals: We can be ready; get involved; be certain of where God wants us to be; be in Gods Word so that we can overcome; never give up; wear the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20); be prepared, watch, obey and trust the Lord.

God is on the ThroneDaniel watched all of this until the Ancient of Days (God the Father) was seated. 'Ten thousand times ten thousand times' represents humanity standing before God in Judgment. When the Ancient of Days sits on the thrown we can be sure that he will make all things right. When we are captured by the glory of the Ancient of Days and the wonder of the Son of Man (Jesus Christ), hope fills our hearts, no matter what we might face because God is just, pure, and powerful. When we feel powerless, we are assured that He offers a reservoir of resources that has no end. God is on the throne. His justice will prevail, His purity will refine us and His power is made available to all who follow Him.

God WinsWhen we read Daniel 7 we see the tension mounting; powerful and evil beasts; the battle is on; the war is raging Then we read:
I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.) Daniel 7:11-12

Then, my friend, it becomes very clear. The Ancient of Days and the Son of Man have ALL AUTHORITY and SOVEREIGN POWER. God's dominion and kingdom WILL NEVER pass away. GOD WINS. We Know how the story ends and we are a part of the story, a part of this eternal kingdom.

That's right, God will win and overcome evil. Through Jesus we have hope for He has already won the final battle with sin, death, and the devil. Question 10 asks how these truths might impact certain times in our lives like:


How we face temptation - Come boldly against the enemy
How we deal with persecution - Joy for the privilege to suffer for Christ

Our desire to share God's love with others - Embrace all opportunities

The way we serve and care for others - Abandon yourself and love generously

The way we pray - fervently with impact, without ceasing
 
Remember the God you belong to. For those who have given their hearts and lives to Christ you carry the true treasure of His Holy Spirit within you. So stand with confidence in your position as a victorious child of God and look for opportunities to share your treasure with others. Always be ready to speak the truth in Love and Grace to those God has placed in your life.

Written by Shari

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Session Five - The Cost of Character

We started Session 5 (The Cost of Character) with a summary of Daniel Chapter 5:1-31 before proceeding to Daniel 6:
The Writing on the Wall
Belshazzar replaces Nebuchadnezzar as King of Babylon in the storyline. Once again a disturbing vision- this time a hand mysteriously appears leaving letters on a wall which can only be interpreted by Daniel. They signal the end of the Babylonian era and point to Belshazzar's imminent death, resulting in a takeover by the Medo Persian Empire.
Daniel 5 addresses a pride that not only ignores the proper use of power but also challenges its divine source. Belshazzar threw himself a self centered party that grew with many guests. As they started drinking wine from the temple vessels taken from Jerusalem many years before they began worshipping other gods of gold, silver, wood, iron - objects of creation but not the God of creation.
Here we meet a king that was too proud to have learned from his forefather so it is not surprising that Belshazzar did not acknowledge God. When the king called for Daniel, it was clear that he knew his gods were of no use. Daniel the servant once again interprets the vision and is once again honored because of his God given gift.

SESSION 5 -  The Cost of Character

A Life of Exemplary Character (Pages 52-53, questions 2-4)

Daniel chapter 6 begins with Daniel being in his older years, maybe 70ish or so.  He was one of the top three administrators to King Darius the Mede. Daniel continued to work diligently and responsibly and lived with a high level of integrity and character. No one was able to find any corruption in his many years in the king’s court or find fault in him for anything.  Daniel was one of the few men in the Bible of whom nothing bad was spoken. Daniel held his convictions and honored God. He stayed true to what he believed no matter the consequences.

We discussed how our character, lifestyle and faith will stand the test of time. What are we showing to people in our lives - people we see each day in the work force, in our daily chores such as going to the store or post office? How are we greeting people or treating people? Are we holding convictions that honor God and letting our beliefs shape what we say and do.... even when no one is watching?

In Babylon the King’s rule was law in the Medo Persian Empire and when a law was made it could not be changed. The satraps and other government officials got together and talked the king into passing a decree stating that during a 30 day period anyone who prayed to another God or man besides the king would be thrown into the lion’s den. Even though Daniel knew of the decree he continued to pray three times a day because he had a disciplined prayer life and a love for God. The conspirators knew exactly when Daniel prayed and walked in on him while praying. Then quickly went to tell the king so Daniel would be convicted.

King Darius, who loved Daniel, tried to save him but the decree could not be changed. That night Daniel was placed in the lion’s den. In verse 16 the king tells Daniel, “May your God, who you worship continually, protect you."  That evening the king could not eat or sleep. At dawn he went to the lion’s den and yelled down into the den, asking Daniel if his God had protected him.  Isn't that odd!  The King asked Daniel?  If he had not believed in Daniel’s God he would have thought him dead.

Daniel answers the king, "My God was faithful and sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in His sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O King." ( Daniel 6:22)

Unyielding Devotion to God  (pages 54-55)

In accordance with questions 7 and 8 we moved on to discuss some spiritual disciplines or habits of faith that help us express our love and devotion to Jesus. Some that were mentioned were:

Devotions….

Prayer…

Reading the Bible…

Bible studies....

What are some of the spiritual disciplines in your own life?

Maybe you have some spiritual discipline you have wanted to develop but it seems difficult to get it going or keep it going. I would have to confess that mine would be memorizing verses. I have never been great at this but we discussed that our small groups could keep us accountable for the spiritual disciplines that we need to work on.

The king was overjoyed that Daniel was unharmed because he had trusted his God. Then King Darius issued a new decree which stated that people would fear and reverence the God of Daniel. Darius was acknowledging the dominion of the one true God.

The Power of a Witness (page 55)

Daniel’s willingness to die for what he believed became a witness to King Darius and the world.  The word "martyr" literally means "a person who shows Christ's passion in life and death”. What are we showing the world?  Like Daniel, are we willing - in life and death, to honor our God? A good question to ponder.

Written by Shari

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Session Four - It's Hard to Be Humble

As we opened our fourth lesson in Daniel we read the very telling paragraph on page 41 by Gregory the Great, "Pride makes me think that I am the cause of my achievements, and that I deserve my abilities. Pride leads me to despise other people who don't measure up. Pride causes an illusion of self-sufficiency."  On the flip side we discovered, "Humility comes from the reality of God dependency". I encourage you to re-read both of those last statements and let them sink in.

We discussed how taking credit for our ideas, abilities and talents promotes pride in our lives.  Too many pats on our backs can lead to thinking we are responsible for our abilities instead of giving God the glory.

Question 3 about how pride seeps into our hearts and lives received several responses:
distance from God (we moved He didn't.); apathy and laziness; however the big one was selfishness.  We read from Acts 17:24-28 which puts everything into perspective.  It says that apart from God  we are and have nothing. Verse 28 states, "for in Him we live and move and have our being".

We also discussed how and why we are instructed to speak to our sisters in Christ if we see pride and sin growing in them.  Galatians 6:1 says to restore (help and guide) them gently.  Some may even benefit from the restoration example of others, according to 1 Timothy 5:20.  However, we must keep in mind Matthew 7:1-5 where we are told to examine our own lives and keep a "clean house" so that others may not fall because of our personal sins.  This may not be easy.  We might be afraid of their reactions.  However, it could be the difference between life eternal and death.

We talked about how interruptions (page 46) can really....... interrupt our day! - that we are prideful of our "lists", "agendas" and "schedules" and that our reactions to these interruptions reveal our levels of pride or humility. A prideful heart says, "ME first", "MY schedule", "Why should I have to do, be or have this?" A humble heart says, "OTHERS first", "my time is NOT MY OWN", "how might I help or do or give this?"

As we finished out Daniel chapter four it was wonderful to see King Nebuchadnezzar have a change of heart (repentance) after seven years of eating grass! He finally realized he was but a blip on the time line of history.  And after God gently humbled King Nebuchadnezzar He restored him to the power he knew previously, and more!  God also does that daily with us - It's called GRACE!

Written by Melanie

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Session Three - Meeting God in the Furnace

This week's lesson focuses more on Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and their fiery furnace experience.

We opened with ideas of what we might leave in a note to loved ones if God gave us the time to leave our thoughts. (Pg 34 - Q 1). From a couple gals we heard "Fret Not - I'm in heaven" and "This is why you put your trust in Jesus."

We talked about "furnace avoidance" on pages 34-35 where essentially we find ourseleves praying "God deliver me from pain, discomfort, suffering and inconvenience. Make my life smooth, Make my journey easy. Make my years on this earth comfortable. Remove all obstacles from my path." Interesting that we should expect this in our Christian walks when the great men and women of the Bible endured much hardship for the sake of serving and knowing God. Even Jesus himself walked a path of suffering all for the glory of the Father and for our benefit.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had heard King Nebuchadnezzar's decree to bow down to his infamous 90' statue. They knew their demise was coming and all they had to do to avoid the furnace was to bend their knees to the statue. They could have easily saved their skin and rationalized that "in their hearts they could still be devoted to God" but still save themselves by being "someone one else on the outside". However they had firmly stated that they would not give in to King Nebuchadnezzar's demand. Therefore they honored God and their witness to the Bablonian community stayed intact and no doubt even grew.

Question 3 threw me for a little loop when referring to current theological sytems and teachings that tell us that furnace avoidance is what we should practice. Sadly we learned about how some churches, pastors and Christian authors today preach a false gospel that tells us God is all about our earthly health, wealth and happiness and that God wouldn't want us to endure a furnace experience. God does want the best for us which may sometimes include good health, some wealth and even happy times but HIS BEST COMES THROUGH HARD STUFF because HE WANTS US TO LEARN DEPENDANCE ON HIM - TO TRUST HIM. God will allow furnaces for each of His children in our stay here on earth all the while walking with us step by step. Our furnaces can be the best way to experience the love and depths of God.

In question 9 regarding how Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego shaped the future of their people we concluded that their testing received much attention and probably created an environment for the Jews to worship more openly while in Babylon. At the same time they were witnesses to Nebu, other Babylonians and those from other nations of how great their God was (Q10)

In my small group the challenge I participated in was the Loving and Being Loved segment on page 39. I had to write YIKES! in the sidebar of my book as I read this:

"God spends lots of time in furnaces; He has felt the heat. In the ultimate furnace, He went to the cross and bore the weight of human sin for us. As an act of sacrificial love, consider doing SOMETHING DANGEROUS. Make a decision to stop asking for less heat and flames in your life. Don't ask for an easier, richer, more pleasent or more secure life. Instead tell Jesus you want to go with Him wherever He goes. Commit to walking with Him as He leads....even if this means stepping into a furnace."

So consider doing SOMETHING DANGEROUS for God. Cling to His promises, not the possibilities.

Written by Melanie

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Session Two - Let God Be God

This weeks study found Daniel witnessing boldly to King Nebuchadnezzar. King "N" was operating under the illusion that he was God. After all, he was the leader of a powerful nation, directed a mighty army and when he said "jump", people asked "how high?".

The lesson revealed that we have fallen into that trap of believing we too are God. We believe that we are the center of the universe - at least our "own" little universe. This mindset affects all areas of our lives. We named a few in question 3, page 25-26.

Daniel proved he wasn't suffering from the "I Am God" syndrome by
  • seeking God,
  • thanking God and
  • praising God.

Remember every word in the Bible is true. I find myself kind of discounting the fiery furnace story. I mean no one gets thrown into a furnace and lives. And what about that fourth man? Realizing the power of prayer and faith reminds us that only God is God.

Daniel needed prayer partners during this very real time. He went to his BFF's (best friends forever) and asked them to pray with him. He knew that only God could help him in this dire situation. We looked up two other examples of good friends which remind us to support our friends through prayer and encouragement. We read in Mark 2 about the four friends who lowered their paralyzed friend through a roof. They were willing to do whatever it took to get him in front of Jesus so he could be healed. What faith!

The other story we read was in Exodus 17. Aaron and Hur were standing beside Moses, one on one side and one on the other - sharing his struggle, sharing his burden during a very difficult battle. Coming alongside a friend to offer that kind of support is essential. Have you been that kind of friend?

As a group we found the statement, "God is God and I am not so I can stop worrying" very freeing. One gal in the group whose father died when she was only four years old said she didn't ever see her mom worry because her mom's trust was totally in God. She and God "just went about it". This woman found her strength in God and truly relied on Him to be her partner in ALL THINGS. An awesome goal for all of us in EVERY situation.

Written by Melanie

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Session One - Spiritual Resiliency

(Online Bible study ladies, we welcome you to our next study. Hopefully, you have your books by now and have been able to dig in. Because of time in our Thursday studies we do not cover every question so you will notice in the text below only a select few are referenced. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment box. We are here to learn from one another so we are eager to hear from you. Ladies from the Thursday study you are also welcome to share what God is teaching you each week.)
Our first lesson in Pursuing Integrity, a study in the life and character of Daniel, starts with a chapter on Spiritual Resiliency.
Daniel was a young jewish man in his early teens when life dealt him a hard blow. He was attractive, intelligent and came from a fine upper class family in Israel. From all accounts Daniel had a bright future ahead until.......
The Babylon army led by the evil King Nebuchadnezzar attacks Israel and after much killing and bloodshed Daniel and many other young men, including three friends named Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, are taken captive back to Babylon to serve in the king's court.
Page 12 asks the question of each of us, "What will you do when the bottom drops out and you en up in Babylon?" for we all have seasons of life where our dreams and plans are dashed and we end up in an unexpected and difficult place.
Our hope is to learn through the course of the next five weeks how God was with Daniel even in his Babylon. It was God's promises Daniel had learned as a jewish lad which got him through his difficult ordeal, perhaps even the words of Psalm 139 gave him assurance where King David several hundred years earlier had written:
I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave,* you are there.
9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.

Words like these helped Daniel become spiritually resilient.
That word "resilient" can be defined two ways:
1. (Physics / General Physics) (of an object or material) capable of regaining its original shape or position after bending, stretching, compression, or other deformation; elastic
2. (of a person) recovering easily and quickly from shock, illness, hardship, etc.; irrepressible
These definitions brought to mind the phrase we know as "bouncing back" and how trees in the midst of a hurricane will sway and bounce all over only to recover straight and strong at the end of the storm if the trees root system was healthy. Below is a portion taken from the Faithful Daughter Hub Page titled Strong As A Tree ( http://faithfuldaughter.hubpages.com/hub/To-be-as-Strong-as-a-Tree):
Not long ago, as I was going through one of the many storms in my life, the Lord reminded me of something I once observed during a violent storm. During one of our worse hurricane seasons, I observed a tree in the midst of the menacing storm. I watched how the wind swayed and bent the tree to a point where I thought it was going to snap and break. As I watched, I couldn't help feeling sorry for this beautiful tree but at the same time I also felt great admiration for it and found myself thinking "hang on my friend, it will soon be over!" I reflected to that time, as the Lord spoke to me and encouraged me in my present situation and I learned something valuable that to-date I have not forgotten. In a powerful storm the tree is pruned, sort-of-speak, by the strong winds and loses many of its leaves and branches. Often times the tree does bend, but amazingly does not break. Sometimes it not only loses leaves and branches but diseased areas and harmful insects as well. If the storm is fierce enough and the tree does break, within a short time new sprouts of life will begin to form and grow because the foundation of the tree was never destroyed.
This is a great illustration of God's creation and how He uses the storms in our lives to grow us strong in Him - to make us spiritually resilient.
After we read Daniel 1:1-21 we listed some of the losses, changes and trauma that could have discouraged Daniel and his friends (Page 16 - Q2). The gals answered with "the loss of family members and friends through a violent army; taken away from homeland; stripped of their cultural identity because of their three year Babylonian education; names which had been reflective of their one true God changed to reflect the false gods of Nebuchadnezzar".
Yet through all this it is obvious that God has not abandoned them. He is with them as indicated in verse 9 and 17 as He grants them favor through the commander of the officials and grants them great wisdom in their learning. God even grants Daniel the special gift of visions and dreams which would benefit him later in the king's service.
Now, take note below of what spiriutally resilient people like Daniel do:
SPIRITUALLY RESILIENT PEOPLE RESOLVE (page 16-17)
Daniel and his friends resolved (determined) to not defile themselves with the king's food and wine even though it could have cost them their lives. Notice that the way Daniel took his stand against the commander was not of a headstrong or rude nature. It was done with respect and kindness. Daniel does as Paul commands in Ephesians 4:15, "speak the truth in love".
SPIRITUALLY RESILIENT PEOPLE RESPOND (page 18)
Much like our failed New Year's resolutions everything else we resolve to do will not succeed if not followed with a plan of action. Daniel had resolved then he responded with an action plan. By God's good graces the commander fulfilled Daniel's request. Ladies, I encourage you to look at page 19's question and follow through. Ask God what it is He wants you to resolve to do then write down how you will respond - how you will put feet to your resolve.
SPIRITUALLY RESILIENT PEOPLE RELATE
Community is so important when we are going through difficult times. Daniel understood this well as he and his three friends grew together and relied on each during the hard times away from their homeland. What about you? Do you have a friend or two who you can call on when your Babylon comes; friends who can call on you when their walls come crashing down. I encourage to begin building those friendships now. Find ways to keep in touch and offer a growing level of support (question 9) through phone calls, texting, email, snail mail, social media etc. But most importantly move beyond the above mentioned ideas of connecting to face to face contact on a regular basis - where you enjoy the pleasures of life, share the depths or your heart, share God's word and pray together.
SPIRITUALLY RESILIENT PEOPLE REMEMBER
Question 10 asks to recall a time when you knew God's presence was there to get you through a difficult life experience. If you are like many people you find that it is not the "intensity of the suffering that crushed the spirit; it's the meaninglessness of it". Daniel and his friends could not have gotten through their suffering had they not remembered the truths from years past which they learned as young lads - that God had a plan for them and their nation Israel. Keeping their eyes on God's character and truth got them through day by day. We too need to pour over God's scriptures every day, allowing it to seep deep into our minds and hearts so we can "recall" His truth when our Babylon comes; and to look back in our lives when we saw God intervene ever so lovingly in our lives. Then we should faithfully take those stories and relay them to our children and grandchildren so they, like Daniel, can lean on those truths during their difficult days. Do as Asaph did in Psalm 78:2-4

I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—
stories we have heard and known,
stories our ancestors handed down to us.
We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.