Safari Through Daniel- Week 10 Discussion Questions

Hello, friends! We just completed our TENTH week of the Safari through Daniel (the topic was Strength vs Weakness) And I am still playing catch up from my vacation.  I have a majillion posts that I want to write- but first I have some serious deadlines I have to tie up in 'real life' before I can return to blogging. For now, I am pleased to provide a forum for these amazing Safari Sisters to link up the posts they've been working on this week....

Here are the details:

If you are a participant, you can write your answers to one of the following questions as follows and then use the mr. linky to lead us to what you wrote:

a) on your own blog-or-

b) on your Facebook 'notes' area -or-

c) in the comments section below

OR

Come join us over at the Facebook Safari Page!  You can answer each question on the discussion page after you join the group.

If you are not a participant, you can still pipe in! You can leave your two cents in the comments section below, too!

*if you're participating... be sure to come back and check out (and comment on) at least 3 other's entries.

_____________________________________________

Have you ever found yourself the recipient of encouragement when feeling spiritually weak? Share the story.
-or-
Tell of an experience you’ve had with fasting. What were the results?
-or-
Post scriptures that have a strengthening effect on you.

 



“Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!”
Daniel 10:19

Safari Through Daniel- Week 9 Discussion Questions

Hello, friends! We just completed our NINTH week of the Safari through Daniel- We took a week off (due to me being on vacation- more about that to come!!!) and now we're ready to rock!

Here are the details:

If you are a participant, you can write your answers to one of the following questions as follows and then use the mr. linky to lead us to what you wrote:

a) on your own blog-or-

b) on your Facebook 'notes' area -or-

c) in the comments section below

OR

Come join us over at the Facebook Safari Page!  You can answer each question on the discussion page after you join the group.

If you are not a participant, you can still pipe in! You can leave your two cents in the comments section below, too!

*if you're participating... be sure to come back and check out (and comment on) at least 3 other's entries.

_____________________________________________

* Time for some brutal honesty– have you ever struggled with repenting? Has there ever been something you knew you needed to turn from and didn’t want to? How did that work out for you? What did you learn?
-or-
* If you’re a parent, tell of a time your child refused to repent. How did that affect your relationship with your child? How does that relate to our relationship with God?
-or-
* Why do we need to repent? Discuss the benefits of repentance. What are the consequences of behaving defiantly?

 

(click the graphic above to add your link, and to read responses from others)

O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands.
Daniel 9:4

More Silliness

Hello, Friends!

It's the last night before I fly home, so I won't spend too much time here- just wanted to upload some of the silly wedding video outtakes.

If you're looking to watch the rest of the Vlogs from my grand southern adventure, you can click HERE

We were filled with laughter,and we sang for joy. And the other nations said,“What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”

Psalm 126:2

Covert Vlog- GGG's Wedding Edition

Because we could see that GGG's wedding was going to be a real tearjearker, S4J and I made for ourselves a little distraction so we could enjoy the wedding and not be a big spectacle, what with our happy wailing and all.

FDM loaned me her flipcam, so we decided to put it to use in this wacky Vlog- where hopefully, you can get the sweetened, condensed 3 minute version of what was truly one of the most beautiful, touching weddings I've ever had the honor of attending.

Have so much more to tell you about this amazing Southern Adventure... but I still have some more of it to experience- stay tuned!

love to all,

HGA

ps: If you're not yet caught up on the Vlog series, you can swing by by clicking HERE.

‘God made them male and female’ from the beginning of creation.  ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one,  let no one split apart what God has joined together.

Mark 10:6-9

Wedding Reception Vlog- Musical Edition

Greetings!

Most of you know I'm on a Southern Adventure with my BFF Judi of Sing 4 Joy fame. In case you're unfamiliar with the amazingness of our itinerary, you should know that we drove out to Ft Hood, TX on Friday to come to see our dear friend, Kim of God' Guitar Girl fame be all married up on Saturday.

I intend to tell a little of how the ceremony just melted my heart, but I'm actually still mid-adventure, so we'll have to get back to that. For now, here's a vlog from the reception, where S4J and GGG did a completely impromptu, unrehearsed, amazing a capella performance of 'Your Holiness Surrounds Me.'

I am singing right along with them, in my heart, for I was just in awe of the Holiness of God too. I am not in this video for a couple of reasons. #1 Someone had to hold the camera, #2 I didn't want to show off. It's wrong to upstage the bride on her wedding day (har, har).

Though they are quiet in the beginning, and though they struggle to remember some of they lyrics, I will cherish this video for years to come, for it's a unique peek into the inner workings of two women who love God and each other so much, and who use their giftings to praise Him and bless others even at the drop of a pin.

Yesterday, I got in a couple of more MIRLS and today, we're off to meet Lisa of Glad Chatter fame... I want to blog about it all, but for now I suppose I need to get moving so I don't miss a second of this grand Southern Adventure. 

If you've missed the other Vlogs from this trip- you'll want to click HERE to catch up.

Who is like you among the gods, O Lord—glorious in holiness,awesome in splendor,performing great wonders?

Exodus 15:11

S4J & His Girl- Caught in the Act Edition

Had a fantastic time at the wedding. Working on editing the vlog for that, but thought we'd entertain you with this tale in the meantime...
Oh My Goodness, K-I-M... you can't take us ANYWHERE...

I have hidden your word in my heart,that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:11

The Night Before Vlog Edition

for your viewing pleasure, a Vlog of GGG, S4J, and yours truly giggling the night before Kim's wedding... with a cameo of the groom sitting in the background:

I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God!

Isaiah 61:10a

MIRLS

FIRST AND FOREMOST:

I completely forgot to post my Texas MIRL (meet in real life)last month! I had the EXTREME honor of meeting ms Karen from Sweet Brown Sugars- she DROVE ALL THE WAY OUT to visit me while I was at a conference, and she even brought her very very adorable girls for me to just fawn over! It was a pure pleasure- Karen is the sweetest girl, and I just loved every single of our way-too-short minutes together.

Today, I got to meet Wonderful Whimzie & Awesome Ashleigh (who MUST blog), as well as play with my BFF Sing 4 Joy. I can't seem to summon up a way to tell you HOW INCREDIBLE these girls are.

I wanted to Vlog, but I have discovered I stink at the vlogging so far. Instead, I will bless you with a photo taken by S4J the professional:

and then I will come back and tell you all kinds of things about our adventures when I'm not so tired I fear I will fall asleep standing up. I just had to take a moment to tell you how chock full of love I feel this exact minute.  *happy sigh*

Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

John 13:35

Stuck in the airport.

So, I'm currently stuck in the airport.

as in...

an original 8 hour delay,


plus an additional 50 minutes.

so far I've had a donut, a massage, and a GINORMOUS diet Dr. Pepper.

fixin' to rustle up some supper soon.  (been here so long I'm becoming southern, y'all)

We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.

2 Corinthians 6:6

MIRLapaloooooza!*

I can BARELY CONTAIN MYSELF!!!In just a matter of hours, I leave for a MIRL*xravaganza! My bags are nearly packed and I just have to make it through today and sleep one more time (after tonight since I guess it's technically Monday right now at 11:28pm) then I am on VACATION!!! I don't want to tell y'all exactly where I will be, on account of all the stalkers, but I can't just go without sharing with all my friends who live in my computer the joy of what is about to transpire. Feast your orbs on this dream come true:

Wednesday: I fly out to see Sing 4 Joy, my bestie, my bff, my sistahcousinfriend in the great state of  Louisiana!
by the way, prepare yourselves... Brandy, (of ForceDotMom fame) my BeFri and all around supercool chick has loaned me her flip cam! can you say VLOG? (me either... do you say it VEE-LOG or V'LOG or Va-log?) anyway, I'll be recording and posting one of those nightly. consider yourselves warned.

Thursday: S4J and I will meet up with her dear LA friend, the blogless (but very enjoyable in every way) Ashleigh and take a road trip to meet the famous and amazing and wonderful Whimzie. Together, we shall letterbox. SQUEEEEEEEE!

Friday: Me and S4J will take another roadtrip... this time to go see the unstoppable KIM (aka God's Guitar Girl- GGG) in TX. Kim is a fellow chica, and a dear, dear friend that I met years ago through S4J.

Saturday: WE GET TO SEE GGG GET MARRIED!!!!!!!!!! Lots of tears and love and smiling will happen there. Also at the wedding, I will also meet Christine from Red Lipstick Diaries. hoooty hooo hooo. After the wedding we will go and have dinner with Tawnya, one of our best friends from high school, whom I miss so so so so much and can't wait to see. (She's also blogless... but her husband David is not!)

Sunday: Road Trip home to S4J where we will make one INCREDIBLE stop... to go visit the famous, victorious, beautiful LISA from Glad Chatter!!! I can't even believe that God cleared the path to be able to be able to make this unbelievable side trip!!!

Monday: Back in LA where I get to meet a buncha S4J's friends and go on their famous Kid Free Adventures in the Swamp! I can't even know how great it will be! I just know it will be tremendous!

Tuesday: I'm not sure who knows what's happening on this day, and S4J isn't online to ask about it, so I am going to leave this vague so I don't let the cat out of the bag. This is going to be the grand finale for sure!
then...

I head home! Which normally would be maybe sad news because it would mean I wasn't with s4j and not on vacation anymore....except I am SO EXCITED ABOUT MY AMAZING CHILDREN'S MINISTRY TEAM that I'm actually looking forward to getting back, rested and exhilarated, and rolling up my sleeves and setting about the King's business.

oh yeah, and I'll be really anxious to see these guys again, too:

 

and this handsome guy:

seriously, there is no amount of money you could pay me to trade lives right now. not for a bajillion, mizillion dollars.

And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God.

Ecclesiastes 5:19

*MIRL= Meet In Real Life

Safari Through Daniel Week 8 Discussion- Dilligence vs Lethargy

*note: I posted my answers to last week's post last Wednesday- you can read it here: Spiritual Education

Hello! Welcome to the travel log of the Safari through Daniel adventure! We just finished up week EIGHT and it's time to share what we've learned on this leg of the trip:

Here are the details:

If you are a participant, you can write your answers to one of the following questions as follows and then use the mr. linky to lead us to what you wrote:

a) on your own blog-or-

b) on your Facebook 'notes' area -or-

c) in the comments section below

OR

Come join us over at the Facebook Safari Page!  You can answer each question on the discussion page after you join the group.

If you are not a participant, you can still pipe in! You can leave your two cents in the comments section below, too!

*if you're participating... be sure to come back and check out (and comment on) at least 3 other's entries.

_____________________________________________

Define Spiritual Diligence and Spiritual Lethargy. Why do you think we have so many spiritually lethargic people in the church today?
-or-
Talk about a time in your life when you found yourself spiritually lethargic. How did you get out of that rut? Discuss.

 

Then I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for several days. Afterward I got up and performed my duties for the king, but I was greatly troubled by the vision and could not understand it.

Daniel 8:27

Happy Birthday, Gretchen!

Today is my dear friend Gretchen's birthday. I wish I could put into words what a blessing she is to me. She is such an encourager, a truly amazing girl who always knows just what to say. She loves her people... so much... not in spite of who they are, but because of who God made them. I am humbled by her deep adoration of her family and friends... and of her cheers to me to strive to be better, but enjoy who I am. 

Because of her I use the word 'lurve' when something's especially fantastic, I wear a Whidbey Island sweatshirt on days when I need some tangible comfort and brownies aren't an option, I have read some really incredible books, I am easier on the people in my world, I am more compassionate, I laugh more, and I am closer to God.

Hop over and give her some birthday lurve, will ya? She's over at Jewels in My Crown...Someday

As iron sharpens iron,so a friend sharpens a friend.

Proverbs 27:17

Happy Birthday, Gretchen. Thank you for your ever-sharpening friendship.

One Million Arrows

 

When I was asked about reviewing this book, I was hesitant. For some reason these days, I can't seem to really get into any nonfiction books other than the Bible. I prayed about it, I fished about the website. 

Then, I read the endorsements- Josh D. McDowell, Franklin Graham... and David Guzik- the director of the Calvary Chapel Bible College in Siegen, Germany... (cool small, small world story: I met David a few years ago when I was speaking at a conference in Siegen! I had the honor of hearing him teach, seeing his heart for ministry, and seeing some of the sights in Germany through his eyes. I totally trust his opinion.)

That was recommendation enough, so I agreed to participate in the blog tour and eagerly awaited my complimentary preview copy of One Million Arrows.

What I didn't realize is how perfectly inline this book would fall with what God has been nudging me about lately. I've really been finding lately that parents just don't know how to go about, or don't realize the importance of, equipping their children to be useful to God. I've been praying about how to help improve this.

As a mother, (who also teaches parents and teachers), I've been feeling this increasing urgency to really turn my ear to what my responsibilities are. My kids are growing, and though they've been raised nearly literally in the church, I fear there's something I've missed. I believe that God is faithful to fill the gaps, yet I don't want to be the reason there is a gap, you know? 

Anyway, back to this book. The premise is based on this verse:

Children are a gift from the Lord;

they are a reward from him.

Children born to a young man

are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.

How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!

He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.

Psalm 127:3-5

The idea is that if children are arrows, they are meant for a purpose! Arrows are not for decoration, for collecting, to wear as accessories, or for entertainment purposes. They are to be sent out! They are to be used by the Warrior! God doesn't grant us arrows so we can take photos of them and show them off to friends, he doesn't give us kids solely so we can be happy and enjoy their company, He gives us kids because He has a purpose for them... and we have a job to do to get them ready for that purpose.

In this book, the Author, Julie Ferwerda addresses many areas- including what we can do to contribute to turning the statistics around that say that in all likelihood your kids... my kids... a grand percentage of them anyway... will leave the church as soon as we aren't making them go.  There are also many tips for other ways to help ensure that our generation is not the last to know Christ. Topics include Orphans, charities, projects, heart changes, no stone is left unturned.

I could go on and on about how much I enjoyed the book (very much) and if you should read the book (you should)  but instead I'm just going to link you up so you can find out more and get the book yourself....

READ MORE HERE

FIND OUT HOW TO BUY THE BOOK HERE

As for me, I've got to get off this computer and go tend to some little arrows of my own....

Blessings,

Spiritual Education

This is a post in response to the Daniel Safari Week 7 discussion questions. You can read my Safari Sister's responses by clicking HERE

In chapter 7 of Daniel, we read that he saw one CRAZY vision, and didn't understand it. So, he went right up to a person right in his vision and asked 'WHAT ON EARTH IS THIS ALL ABOUT?'- well, maybe those aren't the exact words, but you get the point.

Anyway, I was really impressed by this, because as I study through the Bible, I find there are lots of lots and LOTS of things I don't understand.  I am comforted that Daniel could just ask, and that God made it make more sense to him.

Years ago I was reading the story of King Hezekiah waaay back in Isaiah 38.  It seems God told King Hez that it was time for him to die. And King Hez prayed... NO! I DON'T TO DIE... IT'S NOT FAIR!!! PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME DIE!" ... or something like that.

So, God granted King Hez this plea. Many people think this is a victory for King Hezekiah, but many others see this as more of a cautionary tale. You see, in his 'extra' days, King Hez had a son who grew up to be one of the worst kings in history and led enemies right into the treasure room in his palace that eventually led to the conquering of his kingdom.

When I first read this, I began to get worried. If it were possible to pray for the wrong thing, and God would give it to us, and disaster would happen, THEN WHY PRAY? I mean, really... I know God, and I know me. I know that it is altogether possible that on any given day I could unknowingly be praying for something that would lead to my eventual complete destruction. (hello, when I was 10 I prayed to marry Scott Baio!!!) If it were even possible that my prayers for the wrong thing could cause more harm than good, why even ask?

This went against everything I knew to be true, and I was so troubled!  I started praying. God... "I don't get it. This seems to contradict your commission to us to pray and to ask what we desire.  Show me!"

Then I started really just leaning on the things I knew to be true about God- He is fair and just. He is sovereign . He tells us to pray. He tells us to seek. He tells us to knock.

It took a while, but eventually, I got it!  One day while I was praying and reflecting on this confusing passage, I realized a point: God told King Hezekiah that it was His will that King Hez would die.  King Hezekiah then prayed that God's will would not be done... but that he could live instead.

A-HA!

It didn't go badly because King Hez inadvertently prayed for the wrong thing by accident... it went badly because King Hez asked for something contrary to God's will.*lightbulb*

Now, I know that if I am asking for something I know from God's Word is in His will, I pray in confidence... boldly! I know that He wants that not one should perish, that He wants us to love one another, that He wants justice. I can ask for those things without reservation. Help me to love her! Help me to forgive! Let him be saved! Protect their hearts!

The other stuff, the requests I have that are not scriptural, I ask for still! But I follow Jesus' example and add "... nevertheless, not my will but Thine be done."  May the surgery happen today? May I get on the plane on time? May he get that job? I know this- if God doesn't want that surgery to happen, if He doesn't want me on that plane, if He doesn't want that person working at the job... I don't want it either!!!!

I felt so much better after I understood just a little bit more. Like Daniel, I didn't get complete understanding (Who besides God really completely understands how and why Prayer works?) but I knew that God revealed to me exactly what I needed to know.  I love when I allow Him to be my Educator. It keeps me from the gullibility of my youth (once when I was young, a pastor preached that if you asked God for something more than once, it showed you didn't have faith in Him.  Was YEARS before I understood how wrong that was!) and helps me bear fruit for His glory.

May each of us want His understanding more than our own...

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; 

do not depend on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5

Sweet Time with God

click to enlarge

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim His greatness.

Let the whole world know what He has done.

Psalm 105