[JustAmy]

[JustAmy]

[The Mayor]

October 18, 2005

Courage In The Crisis

Read:
Daniel 3:8-18

We do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up. —Daniel 3:18

Bible In One Year: Matthew 12-15

Through the centuries, some of God's servants have faced the possibility of an agonizing death unless they renounced their faith. They knew that God could deliver them, but they also knew that in keeping with His own purposes He might not answer their pleas for supernatural help.

In the book of Daniel, three young Hebrew captives faced a life-and-death choice: Worship the king's gold image or be thrown into the fiery furnace. Their response was unhesitating: "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace." They added, "But if not, . . . we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up" (Daniel 3:17-18).

But if not! Those words challenge our allegiance. Suppose we face crippling disease. Suppose we are facing shameful disgrace. Suppose we are facing painful loss. We plead for God's intervention, yet in every threatening circumstance our plea should carry the proviso, "But if not!"

Is our attitude that of Jesus in Gethsemane? "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will" (Matthew 26:39).

Are we willing to endure whatever will glorify God and work out His holy purposes? —Vernon Grounds

They climbed the steep ascent of heaven
Through peril, toil, and pain:
O God, to us may grace be given
To follow in their train. —Heber

When conviction runs deep, courage rises to sustain it.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
What Does It Take To Follow Christ?

[LadyX]

Look who the cat dragged in, Amy!
'Tis The LadyX, responding to your invitation to participate
this Phine October Day with things about Phelines!!

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She brings you more Haiku - -

[What is Haiku? Haiku is a three line, unrhymed Japanese verse form
of five, seven, and five syllables respectively.
It contains only 17 syllables and yet
creates imagery in the mind of the reader.]

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Printer comes alive.
Game time! Must kill paper mice,
shred... shred.. shred... What mess?

Give cat pill... visit
to outpatients. Remember!
No more pill for cat!

Humans like furr-ball
gifts, they wrap them in tissue!
Today must leave more.

Denim needs clawing.
I call it my cat artwork,
sure, it's a cat thing.

A small Mraw gets your
attention, I have chosen
you to be my slave.

I need a new toy,
tail of black dog keeps good time,
pounce! good dog! good dog!

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"Oh no!!"

[Billie]

I love this thread, Amy - such cute kitties and poems!

Maggie, I finally fixed the "kittens-on-a-clothesline" that you gave us. :)