Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “The God We Can Trust”; "The God Who Reveals"; & "The God Who Reigns" – Wednesday, 25 June 2014; Thursday, 26 June 2014 ; Friday, 27 June 2014 - Scripture: Proverbs 29:12-27; Daniel 5:1-12; & Daniel 5:13-30

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “The God We Can Trust”; "The God Who Reveals"; & "The God Who Reigns" – Wednesday, 25 June 2014; Thursday, 26 June 2014 ; Friday, 27 June 2014 - Scripture: Proverbs 29:12-27; Daniel 5:1-12; & Daniel 5:13-30
Proverbs 29:12 If a ruler listens to lies,
    all of his officials are wicked.
13 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:
    Yahweh gives sight to the eyes of both.
14 The king who fairly judges the poor,
    his throne shall be established forever.
15 The rod of correction gives wisdom,
    but a child left to himself causes shame to his mother.
16 When the wicked increase, sin increases;
    but the righteous will see their downfall.
17 Correct your son, and he will give you peace;
    yes, he will bring delight to your soul.
18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;
    but one who keeps the law is blessed.
19 A servant can’t be corrected by words.
    Though he understands, yet he will not respond.
20 Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?
    There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 He who pampers his servant from youth
    will have him become a son in the end.
22 An angry man stirs up strife,
    and a wrathful man abounds in sin.
23 A man’s pride brings him low,
    but one of lowly spirit gains honor.
24 Whoever is an accomplice of a thief is an enemy of his own soul.
    He takes an oath, but dares not testify.
25 The fear of man proves to be a snare,
    but whoever puts his trust in Yahweh is kept safe.
26 Many seek the ruler’s favor,
    but a man’s justice comes from Yahweh.
27 A dishonest man detests the righteous,
    and the upright in their ways detest the wicked.
“The God We Can Trust” by Mark A. Hendrickson
Last summer our son Nicholas learned how to jump off the diving board without wearing any “floaties.” This was a pretty big leap for a four-year-old! I was in the pool, right under the diving board, trying everything I could to convince him to jump, trying to convince him that this leap would not result in immediate death.
Fear kept Nicholas trembling on the edge of a diving board. Fear can keep us from sharing our faith, saying “yes” to God’s call, and letting go of our pain, engaging someone for Christ, or embracing new ideas. Fear can paralyze individuals, families, churches, even nations. Fear will trip us up every time.
God calls us to be free from fear and be filled instead with His perfect love. If we learn to really trust Him we will discover a whole new life of freedom and vibrancy.

I’ll never forget my son’s face when he finally made the leap. He was grinning ear-to-ear. Heading for the diving board again, he said, "That was awesome!" What would your life and mine look like if God set us free from our fear?
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"The God Who Reveals" by Mark A. Hendrickson 
Daniel 5:1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. 2 Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, might drink from them. 3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of God’s house which was at Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, drank from them. 4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. 5 In the same hour, the fingers of a man’s hand came out and wrote near the lamp stand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace. The king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 6 Then the king’s face was changed in him, and his thoughts troubled him; and the joints of his thighs were loosened, and his knees struck one against another. 7 The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whoever shall read this writing, and show me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. 8 Then came in all the king’s wise men; but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation. 9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his face was changed in him, and his lords were perplexed. 10 The queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: the queen spoke and said, O king, live forever; don’t let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your face be changed. 11 There is a man in your kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and the king Nebuchadnezzar your father, the king, your father, made him master of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; 12 because an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of dark sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.
"The God Who Reveals" by Mark A. Hendrickson
One of the foundational beliefs of the Christian faith is God reveals himself. God shows up in the course of human history, many times in unexpected ways. Even, and sometimes especially, where people are intentionally denying God’s existence; God shows up anyway.
Such was the case in today’s passage from Daniel. King Belshazzar thumbed his nose at the God of Israel by using sacred articles from the Jerusalem temple for a drunken bash, all the while praising the gods of gold and stone. In the midst of the revelry, God revealed himself in a profound way. God was not silent. Even though Belshazzar didn’t understand what God was saying, it was evident to all that God had showed up.
In the midst of every culture, in the midst of great ignorance and great sin, God is not silent. God lets his own secret out: its in God's nature to reveal himself in, through, and to His creation. He then uses his people to help the world understand what he is saying. On this day God used Daniel. I wonder when he will use me and you?

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"The God Who Reigns" by Mark A. Hendrickson 
Daniel 5:13 Then was Daniel brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, Are you that Daniel, who are of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah? 14 I have heard of you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. 15 Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known to me its interpretation; but they could not show the interpretation of the thing. 16 But I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations, and dissolve doubts; now if you can read the writing, and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. 17 Then Daniel answered before the king, Let your gifts be to yourself, and give your rewards to another; nevertheless I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation. 18 You, king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty: 19 and because of the greatness that he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him: whom he would he killed, and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he raised up, and whom he would he put down. 20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: 21 and he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the animals’, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys; he was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the sky; until he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and that he sets up over it whomever he will. 22 You, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, 23 but have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which don’t see, nor hear, nor know; and the God in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your ways, you have not glorified. 24 Then was the part of the hand sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed. 25 This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. 26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God has numbered your kingdom, and brought it to an end; 27 TEKEL; you are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting. 28 PERES; your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. 29 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with purple, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. 30 In that night Belshazzar the Chaldean King was slain.
"The God Who Reigns" by Mark A. Hendrickson
My son has a teddy bear. It is a blue bear he was given as a baby. He’s a big boy now, playing little league baseball, climbing trees, and starting school soon. Even though he’s growing up, he still loves his teddy bear. It’s soft, cuddly, and friendly; without any rough edges. Every so often my son still finds Blue Bear and snuggles up with it for the night.
Many folks view God much like a teddy bear. He’s soft, cuddly, and cute. He’s there when we need Him or when a storm is raging. He’s great to snuggle with, keeping us warm and comfortable. This view of God has no rough edges, no real boundaries, and is not worthy of our respect. This was King Belshazzar’s view.
The word of the Lord through the prophet Daniel shatters this teddy bear image of God. He reminds Belshazzar God has his “very breath” in His power (NRSV). Because he did not honor God, Belshazzar lost his life (v. 30).
God is not our teddy bear. The God who is dealing with us created everything; delivered Israel, conquered death, and is coming again. He is the undeniable King of the universe. This is the God who saves us, and He is not tame.

Hymn for Today:
“’Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus” by Louisa M. R. Stead
1. 'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, 
and to take him at his word; 
just to rest upon his promise, 
and to know, "Thus saith the Lord." 
Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him! 
How I've proved him o'er and o'er! 
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! 
O for grace to trust him more! 
2. O how sweet to trust in Jesus, 
just to trust his cleansing blood; 
and in simple faith to plunge me 
neath the healing, cleansing flood!
Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him! 
How I've proved him o'er and o'er! 
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! 
O for grace to trust him more!
3. Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus, 
just from sin and self to cease; 
just from Jesus simply taking 
life and rest, and joy and peace.
Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him! 
How I've proved him o'er and o'er! 
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! 
O for grace to trust him more!
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"Open My Eyes, That I May See" by Clara H. Scott
1. Open my eyes, that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.
Refrain 1:
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
2. Open my ears, that I may hear
Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave notes fall on my ear,
Everything false will disappear.
Refrain 2:
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my ears, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
3. Open my mouth, and let me bear,
Gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare
Love with Thy children thus to share.
Refrain 3:
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my heart, illumine me,

Spirit divine!
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"I Sing The Mighty Power of God" by isaac Watts
1. We sing the mighty power of God 
that made the mountains rise, 
that spread the flowing seas abroad 
and built the lofty skies. 
We sing the wisdom that ordained 
the sun to rule the day; 
the moon shines full at his command, 
and all the stars obey. 
2. We sing the goodness of the Lord 
that filled the earth with food; 
he formed the creatures with his word 
and then pronounced them good. 
Lord, how your wonders are displayed, 
where'er we turn our eyes, 
if we survey the ground we tread 
or gaze upon the skies. 
3. There's not a plant or flower below 
but makes your glories known, 
and clouds arise and tempests blow 
by order from your throne; 
while all that borrows life from you 
is ever in your care, 
and everywhere that we can be, 

you, God, are present there. 
Thought for Today:
“Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in the same way partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2:14-15)
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"From the Garden of Eden on throughout history, whenever human pride and arrogance tries to take control of its own power and authority, it always results in destruction and los"(Scott Daniels).
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"and said, “I beg you, Yahweh,[Nehemiah 1:5 “Yahweh” is God’s proper Name, sometimes rendered “LORD” (all caps) in other translations."(Nehemiah 1:5-6).] the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments: Let your ear now be attentive, and your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your servant, which I pray before you at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants while I confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Yes, I and my father’s house have sinned.
Prayer Needs:
Developing Christian leaders in Guinea-Bissau!
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Many people in Guinea-Conakry will come to know Jesus the Christ, Yeshua the Messiah, and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
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Developing Christian leaders in Guinea-Conakry!
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Embrace holy living…visit reflectinggod.com.
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