Daniel 1-3 I love the story of the fiery furnace!  Most of all, I am captivated by Daniel’s prayer at the opening of the book of Daniel: “Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power. 21 He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. 22 He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he is surrounded by light. 23 I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors, for … Continue reading Following into the flames

Joel Again my head is filled with prophetic language…language that just so happens to be reflected in the words that Jesus spoke when he talked about the signs to look for at the end times.  In Joel, we read: 15 The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will no longer shine. Then in Matthew 24, Jesus repeats the same message: 29 “Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. One of … Continue reading When the lights go out

Ezekiel 44-45 Ezekiel’s vision continues.  This time he is taken through the north gate and sees the glory of the Lord there.  He fell face down and heard the Lord give him instructions for the proper use of the Temple.  It appears to me at a first glance to be a re-telling of the rules for the Temple that God had already given but that the Israelites disregarded and forgot over their years of idol worship. There is a distinct flavor of a second chance through these chapters.  Over and over again in my journey through the Bible, I see … Continue reading Second chance

Ezekiel 42-43 Ezekiel’s vision continued with the man showing him the priests’ rooms and the altar.  His vision also included a view of the Glory of the Lord returning to the temple from the east : 1 After this, the man brought me back around to the east gateway. 2 Suddenly, the glory of the God of Israel appeared from the east. The sound of his coming was like the roar of rushing waters, and the whole landscape shone with his glory. Can you imagine what that must have looked/felt/sounded like?  In the next verse, Ezekiel writes that he fell face … Continue reading Reflections of His glory