Part 1, The writing is on the Wall

The palace is a buzz there are noblemen all over the place, I am hoping to find a seat as close to King Belshazzar as possible.  Being here today is such a great honour.  As I take my seat I am watching the King and his wives’ laughing and drinking wine.  

‘Bring me the gold and silver goblets that my father King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, we want to drink out of them.’  King Belshazzar called out to one of the slave girls.  The goblets were brought into the banqueting hall, placed before the King and the noblemen.  

‘Pour the wine, praises to the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone.’ Laughing the King took the goblet in his hand and drank the wine from the gold goblet placed before him.  While the king was still drinking his wine suddenly a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace.  

The king was watching the hand as it wrote.  His faced turned pale and he was so frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way.

‘Enchanters, astrologers and diviners come here.’ The King shouted.  ‘Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.’

All the wise men of the king came in but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant.  Fear and terror griped the heart of King Belshazzar and he grew even paler.  The nobles around him stared at him in amazement.

Hearing the commotion in the banqueting hall the Queen ran in and said ‘O king, live forever!’ she run up to him saying ‘Don’t be alarmed! Don’t look so pale! There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him.  In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods.  King Nebuchadnezzar your father - your father the king, I say – appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners.  This man Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems.  Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.’

Daniel was brought before the king.  ‘Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah?  I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom.  The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it.  Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems.  If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.’

Daniel answered the king, ‘You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else.  Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.’

To be continued …..

The Whole Armour of God

Good morning Darlings if there is one movie that I absolutely love then I need to say it is the Gladiator.  Russell Crowe of course is one of the people I really and truly admire.  The movie as you will recall was about General Maximus Decimus Meridius who lead the Roman army to a decisive victory against Germanic tribes at Vindobona.  Maximus was a fierce and determined gladiator; he lost everything and didn’t fear death.  The thing I like about this story is that this character had integrity even in the most horrendous circumstances.  He stood out among the other captives and he still took a stand.  Darlings let us also take a stand for the Lord Jesus Christ and let us focus our attention on God and be courageous as Maximus and put the full armour of God on as we face today.

See Ephesians 6: 10 – 18 I really like the Amplified Bible.  

Father God today I want to put the whole armour of God on as a soldier in Your army, so that I am able to successfully stand up against all the strategies and the deceits of the devil.  I know Lord that I am not wrestling with flesh and blood but against the despotisms, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly sphere.  Lord I put on the complete armour that I may be able to resist and stand my ground on the evil day, and, having done all to stand.  Holding my ground, having tightened the belt of truth around my loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God, having shod my feet in preparation of the Gospel of peace. Lift up over all the shield of saving faith, upon which I can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked.  Taking the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.  Praying at all times, on every occasion, in every season in the Spirit, with all prayer and entreaty.  To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints in Jesus holy name.  Amen  

Praying the Scriptures

Daniel 2: 19 – 23

During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision.  Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said:

‘Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;

Wisdom and power are his.

He changes times and seasons;

He sets up kings and deposes them.

He gives wisdom to the wise

And knowledge to the discerning.

He reveals deep and hidden things;

He knows what lies in darkness,

And light dwells with him.

I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers:

You have made known to me what we asked of you,

You have made known to us the dream of the king.’

When studying the word of God this morning I read my daily reading in Daniel this morning and as I was feeling a downcast and without hope I read these words and it made sense to me.  I redirected my focus and took it off myself and turned it back to the Lord my God.  Reading the first two books of Daniel and seeing that our God revealed to Daniel the Kings dream.  What an awesome God we serve.  In reading the passages I came to the conclusion that I need to stay focused on God and not me.  God will make my paths straight and He will direct my footsteps.  

Praise the Lord with me today and take heart that we can focus our attention on a Higher being, our Lord Jesus Christ.  J

Calling on the Lord in my weakness

2 Corinthians 12: 10 ‘That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.’

Good morning Darlings this morning I got such a fright, I was taking my children to school and as I stopped at the stop street a Taxi with school children in it bumped into me.  The road was too busy to just get out and confront the man so I had to drive to school and drop off my child.  On getting there I got out of my car and confronted the man.  He said something in his language and pointed his finger at me.  I asked him what was wrong with him and if he was drunk?  Did he not notice he was driving children around in his Taxi?  He jumped back into his Taxi and speed off.

This brought me down to earth, I realised that if he was driving any faster he would have crashed into us and it would have been an extremely ugly accident.  I am just glad that the Lord has been with me all this time. 

All I can do today is but call on my Lord and saviour.  This verse springs to mind that we will be persecuted and we will face difficult time and hardships will come our way.  Not forgetting the insults that come to us but we should shirk it and turn to our Lord and saviour.  

Lord Jesus I pray that in my weakness I can draw on Your power.  I pray Lord that You will help me face today, I plead the blood of Jesus over our cars, our homes, our children, our grandchildren and everything we have.  I ask Lord for the courage to face today and the strength I need for living my life as You will it.  Amen

Building character ….

Hello Darlings you must have been wondering why I have been M.I.A for a couple of days.  My goodness it has been hectic at home.  As a “Home Executive” I rise at 05h00 week days and go to bed at 22h00.  You must say ah, what on earth can keep you busy all day?  I must be honest and tell you there is a lot of work when you have to clean, cook, wash and iron.  The maintenance of our home is hectic and I must be honest the two younger children aren’t very good at keeping to the rules.  

Now this evening is the first time in a couple of weeks that I have been able to come and sit down behind my computer and write something.

As a wife, stepmother, mother and grandmother I have to be on my best behaviour constantly and it is hard work.  My own children believe I am the best mum they will ever have, my stepchildren don’t really like me at the moment as they are learning manners, cleaning house and doing homework.  My grandchildren are still to tiny to understand me.  As a wife I hope and believe that my husband loves me for who I am.  

My own characterises are something like this:

I am stubborn, demanding and very arrogant, working constantly towards my own goals and purposes. I don’t want to compromise or negotiate I want my way.

I love the finer things in life and things that appeal to my sense not forgetting that I can be critical at times.

I hate being manipulated or tricked.

I am constantly analysing my relationship in order to know my next move.

Being honest is something I live by.

I am constantly looking to broaden my horizons and I believe that my dreams and hopes will be realised.

My surrounding must be peaceful and quiet.

Then I was thinking of the Lord my God, looking at God’s character and want to grow spiritually.

Now as far as my knowledge goes I know that God is omnipotent, all-knowing, everlasting and everywhere.

Purity – Holiness, Righteousness and Justice

I know that there is no trace of evil or wickedness within God

Deuteronomy 32: 4 ‘He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He.’

Psalms 33: 4, 5 ‘For the word of the LORD is right and all His work is done in truth.  He love righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.’

1 John 1: 5 ‘This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.’

Integrity – Geniuses, Veracity and Faithfulness

John 14: 6 ‘Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.”

Titus 1: 2 ‘This faith and knowledge make us sure that we have eternal life. God promised that life to us before time began—and God does not lie.’

1 Thessalonians 5: 24 ‘The one who chose you will do that for you. You can trust him.’

Love – Benevolence, Grace, Mercy, Persistence

1 John 4: 8 ‘The one who chose you will do that for you. You can trust him.’

John 3: 16 ‘ Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life.’

Exodus 34: 6 ‘That is, the Lord passed in front of Moses and said, “Yahweh, the Lord, is a kind and merciful God. He is slow to become angry. He is full of great love. He can be trusted.’

Psalm 103: 13 ‘The Lord is as kind to his followers as a father is to his children.’

Romans 2: 4 ‘God has been kind to you. He has been very patient, waiting for you to change. But you think nothing of his kindness. Maybe you don’t understand that God is kind to you so that you will decide to change your lives.’

Think about this we must be concerned for one another’s welfare – benevolence.  Do undeserved favours for your neighbour – grace.  Mercy – so tender-heartedness and compassion towards others. Persist and be patient. 

Father God humbly I come before You this evening and I want to pray about my writing, Lord should this be Your will for me to write about Your character please give me the necessary wisdom and understanding to share with my fellow bloggers.  By teaching me and other more about You Lord, I want to say thank you Lord.  Lord bless my blog and help me not to write rubbish but help me to write more to the point and may Your Holy Spirit help me speak the truth.  I ask this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour.