And When You Pray ...: Daniel 10 – 12, Santa Barbara, In God We Trust, and Empty Chair

Daniel 10 - 12

Chapter 10 recounts another vision of Daniel’s, one which “concerned events certain to happen in the future—times of war and great hardship.”

We get a good picture of Daniel’s spiritual life. In this case he had been in mourning for three whole weeks – we don’t ever learn what he was mourning about, but we do know he had eaten no rich food, no meat and no wine. Also he didn’t use fragrant lotions.

This vision concerned a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. His body looked like a precious gem and his face flashed like lightning. His eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze and his voice roared like a vast multitude. Daniel’s response to this was to faint with his face to the ground.

How warmed his soul must have been when the man in his vision reached out, touched him, lifted him up, and said, “Daniel, you are very precious to God.” He tells Daniel not to be afraid. God has noticed that Daniel was praying and humbling himself before God. The man was there to answer Daniel’s prayer.

He goes on to tell Daniel how the prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked his way for 21 days and that Michael, one of the archangels, came to help him. He is there to explain what will happen in the future in the time yet to come.

Daniel’s response to this was an inability to speak, but the man touched him and he became stronger and spoke.

The man speaks not only of a spirit prince of Persia, but also of a spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece. He tells Daniel that there will be three more Persian kings who will succeeded by a fourth who is richer than the others. He goes on to tell about a mighty king who will rule Greece and accomplish all he sets out to do. His kingdom will be broken into four parts, but not be ruled by that king’s descendants. He goes on in great detail about what will occur.

He talks of a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence, but that everyone whose name is written in the book will be rescued. He tells Daniel to keep the prophecy a secret and seal it up until the time of the end when many will rush here and there and knowledge will increase. He gives specific times about what will happen from the time the daily sacrifice is stopped and the abomination of desolation is set up to be worshiped.

He also promises Daniel that he will rest and at the end of the days, will rise again to receive the inheritance set aside for him.

Tomorrow, we’ll read Ezra 1 – 3.

Santa Barbara

The first picture and the last picture are taken at the beach in Santa Barbara right next to the pier. There is a veterans group that started putting a cross and candle for every death in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The amazing thing is that they only do it on the weekends.

They put up this graveyard and take it down every weekend. Guys sleep in the sand next to it and keep watch over it at night so nobody messes with it.

Every cross has the name, rank and D.O.B. And D.O.D. on it. Very moving, very powerful??? So many young volunteers. So many 30 to 40 year olds as well. Amazing!

Did you know that the ACLU has filed a suit to have all military cross-shaped head stones removed?

And that they filed another suit to end prayer from the military completely. They're making great progress. The Navy Chaplains can no longer mention Jesus' name in prayer thanks to the ACLU.

Prayer:
'Heavenly Father, hold our troops in Your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in this our time of need. These things I humbly ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, Amen.'

GOD BLESS YOU

In God We Trust

US POSTAL TIP - IMPORTANT
Payback is fun!
WE THINK THIS IS A GREAT IDEA. WE' L L START WRITING IT ON THE FRONTOF OUR ENVELOPES, TOO!
----------Including Bills

You may have heard in the news that a couple of Post Offices in Texas have been forced to take down small posters that say
"IN GOD WE TRUST."

The law, they say, is being violated. Anyway, we heard proposed on a radio station show, that we should all write "IN GOD WE TRUST" on the back of all our mail.

After all, that's our National Motto. We think it's a wonderful idea.

We must take back our nation from all the people who think that anything that offends them should be removed.

If you like this idea, please pass it on and DO IT. The idea of writing or stamping "IN GOD WE TRUST" on our envelopes sounds good to us.

SOME PEOPLE ARE HAVING A RUBBER STAMP MADE TO ENSURE IT IS SEEN. Let's use it as our signature on e-mails, too!

It's been reported that 86% of Americans believe in God. Therefore, we have a very hard time understanding why there's such a mess about having "In God We Trust" on our money and having God in the pledge of Allegiance.

Could it be that WE just need to take action and tell the 14% to "sit down and shut up"?