The Lions' Den

I'm currently working on week 6 of my Beth Moore Bible Study of the Book of Daniel. This week we learned about the story of Daniel in the Lions' Den. Can I just say how right Beth is when she says, "This isn't a "cute" Sunday School lesson." She showed pictures of and read crazy stories about lions and what they can do. I don't keep scary pictures of lions on hand to one put in my blog but my sons have a toy lion and so that is who you see in these pictures. Scary little thing, isn't it? NOT! :)

1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." We learned in class that we live in a lions' den and must know the Word of God because it is our sword. It is our only offensive weapon against our enemy. "What do we know?" We default to what we know; that is why we need to know the Word."-Beth Moore.



In closing, I just wanted to provide an excerpt from the listening guide regarding how we can react in an emergency.

1. We can panic. (Doing the wrong thing)
2. We can become paralyzed. (We do NO thing)
3. We can pray. (We do the power thing)

Psalm 55:16-18 "But I call to God, and the LORD saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice. He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me."

Daniel 6:22 "My God sent His angel to shut the lions' mouth, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm."

Just like for Daniel in the lions' den, He can do that for me. He can shut the mouths of the lions' on my behalf and allow me to escape unharmed. We serve a great, big God who can do anything. He IS the Lion of Judah!

I can and I will!

Today I am using my authority and taking a day off from homeschool! YAY! We started school 34 days ago and haven't taken one day off. Not bad, if I do say so myself. I was gone all weekend photographing weddings with my dear friends from Cunningham Photography (www.cunninghamphoto.blogspot.com). We had such a great time but honey, I'm tired and have a long list of things to get caught up on today.

Like what? Well, I did most of my laundry yesterday so today I have ironing, of course! Everyone knows how much I love ironing! Call me crazy, but you get instant results! :) I also have to clean the fridge, wash the kitchen floor, clean the bathroom, livingroom, bedrooms and the downstairs. Jordan requested a playdate today with my mom so she is picking him up in a few minutes. Brandon is going to hang out here with me and have some uninterupted play time. I've got to take him to piano lessons this afternoon and also go to bank and make a deposit and go to Town and Country to close out an account we no longer use as well as go to the Post Office and mail out a belated birthday gift. Niccccccccccccccccccceeeee. You know what, though? I love cleaning my home. I find such peace in it. I love order and having a place for everything. I just have to look past the exposed window trim and missing curtains for a couple of months while we have our new windows and siding installed. Praise the Lord for new windows and siding!

Tonight, my husband has band practice at church so it'll be me and boys hanging out at home. I've got to plan my lessons for the next month of school and do some homework for my Daniel study and then watch the Yankees game at 8. I mean, we do have our priorities, afterall! LOL

Did I mention I need to workout today too? Well, I do. I'll remind myself what I say to my boys, "I can and I will!"

Treasured Up

Living Proof Live will forever be a treasure to me!



Beth taught out of Luke 2:19 a familiar verse that we all know and love, "But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart." She asked us what it means to 'treasure something up'? She provided the Greek definition 'syntereo' which means 'to hold or treasure up in one's memory; to guard, keep, to preserve, to keep safe, to keep close.'



I love when Beth said, "God is intimately involved in our life, and shows Himself in these treasures, not always in the obvious." She provided 8 statements about the lost art of treasuring and I would love to share them with you here.

1. There are treasures out there. She said, "We are so overstimulated in our culture; we want to be amazed. God never amazes us for amazement sake; being amazed doesn't change us. He wants us to treasure stuff."

2. They're not my treasures until they make it past my defenses. She said, "Whatever we treasure we have an emotional attachment to" see Matthew 6:19 "anything we treasure has the potential to rust."




3. Treasures strung together can bring healing.

4. Most people will miss the treasure entirely. "You have to have an open heart to receive the treasures."




5. The fine art of treasuring got lost in the same trash as our time. "Treasuring takes time." O U C H!

6. Where there is one treasure, there could be many. Matthew 13:44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."



7. We'll minimize our treasure if we look past the hardship and pain. Isaiah 45:3 "I will give you the treasures in darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name." She went on to say that in God's economy it is "falling and rising" not rising and falling (see Luke 2:34) and night and day not day and night. That was profound to me. She asked, "what has God enabled you to do that you literally can't do on your own? That is a treasure." She also said, "all it takes to treasure something is to store it up; which means that we could be storing up bitterness, unforgiveness, anger, resentment, addiction, lust, covetousness, etc." She encouraged us to, "deal with our toxic treasures and make room for the Divine treasures."

8. When you feel like you've lost the treasure, look for Jesus. Colossians 2:3 "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge ."



Travis Cottrell led us in beautiful praise and worship. I was sick as a dog, but still made a joyful noise to the LORD. :)



Thanks, Travis!



Amen, sister!

PS You might be wondering why it took me so long to do a recap post 13 days later? Well, Beth told us "Eat it, before you TWEET it!" HA HA HA