Beloved

Lots I would like to put into the blog...but it will be later. Running, running! Off to hear Anita Keagy and her "Joyshop" this morning at Petra Christian Fellowship. But I will be sharing some thoughts and impressions the Lord gave me as I studied in the book of Daniel yesterday. Know this, you are beloved of God!

(later same day) Anita's ministry was so valuable this morning! Her passion to encourage women to seek the Lord echoes my own heart. Her focus is to challenge women at every stage in life to seek the Lord daily through his word and in prayer. The only way we can be godly mothers and wives is through abiding in Christ. And we aren't abiding if we aren't spending time with Him. I know we've heard it all before. But the application is what is so crucial. Your husband and children can not have the Christian life knocked into them, they will watch you and learn. What are they learning? Is Jesus seen as top priority by the way you set your time with Him each day? You can check out her ministry at www.joyshop.org . I wish some of you could have come with me. I was even able to pick up The Valley of Vision book of Puritan Prayers and Devotions at her book table! Now there's a feast for the soul!

Oh, where to begin? Yesterday's reading from C.H. Spurgeon's Morning and Evening had the reader intrigued with the phrase "beloved of God" from Daniel. So after I finished the little devotional, I turned right away to Daniel to check out the story behind the reference. Turns out this is from Daniel 10, where Daniel has just had a time of fasting and mourning and receives a vision from God. A man clothed in linen with a belt of fine gold, with the appearance of lightning, eyes like flaming torches... (I believe this was the form of Christ rather than Gabriel, who we saw back in chapter 8) appears and says "O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you." (David stands up, but is trembling) the man says "Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words." (then the man goes on to give the prophetic vision to Daniel) I am speechless for a minute as I read this. To be told face to face that you are "greatly loved" by God's messenger, and then to be told that because you have humbled yourself and set yourself to understand God's ways, your words have been heard by Almighty God, and He is replying to you.....this is unfathomable! Yet, for those of us who come before the Lord just as Daniel did, with faith not in ourselves, but in His Son, in humility and recognition of our utter helplessness, God's favor is toward us! Oh Lord, may this be true of me. That I would humble myself before you all the days of my life and set my heart on understanding your precepts. How can it be that you call me "greatly loved?" Yet you do. I am overwhelmed. And you don't stop there, but you answer me! To think that my cries in prayer reach God's ears and that He listens and responds is too great to comprehend. I want this to dramatically change my prayer life! Well, I ended up reading most of the book of Daniel and reflecting on this man of humility and virtue. Standing for God when others persecuted him. And God spares him each time. Humbly seeking to honor God even when his life is on the line. What faith! Beloved, beloved....beloved. A Beautiful name God gives His children. If you are in Christ, know today that you are His Beloved!