Studying The Book Of Daniel

Have you ever read through the book of Daniel and scratched your head? That one book has so much future prophecy that I spent years trying to study and figure it out. Some mysteries God reveals in His own time.
A man named Clarence Larkin wrote a book on dispensational truths that has been the best resource when studying these things. You can now get that help on the internet. 
To see what he has to say about Daniel, please visit http://earnestlycontendingforthefaith.com/Books/Clarence%20Larkin/Daniel/ClarenceLarkinTheBookOfDaniel11.html

Healthy Minute- Your Health And Trauma

My sister and her husband have been trying to get back to some form of normalcy after his coma and his rehab. To read further about their story, please read Dave's testimony. To date, he is still on a feeding tube. Currently, they are still going through rehab in Pensacola. They are also seeing a chiropractor and trying acupuncture.

Mindi, my sister, asked me about keeping Dave healthy with food while trying to go through rehab. I thought about what I would do if it were me or my husband in this situation. I thought about the damage that may have been done to his digestive system, as well as what I would do to build up my immune system and my muscle system.

The first thing would be the bone broth. Make sure that you use only bones from meat that haven't been treated with hormones or other things. He can drink a pint a day, though more isn't going to hurt him.

The next thing I suggest is gelatin. The green label doesn't gel up like he red does, so that's the one you want to get. This stuff is great for your joints and ligaments! It's very healing for the intestinal walls, too.

Another thing is cod liver oil. This one doesn't have to be refrigerated, and the way it's processed makes it easily digestible and also makes the Vitamins A and D much more concentrated. It only takes 1/8th of a teaspoon a day, so it will last a long time (3 months or more). It comes in different flavors if you're looking to get it for yourself, but the unflavored would do well for Dave.

Then, some super green foods.  This stuff will really help with his health over all. It has stuff for your immunity and probiotics. It will also help to detox your liver, and I believe your kidneys.

But, speaking of probitics, I recommend Dr. Ohira's professional. It's made from fermented soy through an old fashioned process that really concentrates the 12 different strains of probiotic batceria. Since it's fermented it doesn't have to be refrigerated. They come in gel caps that you can pierce and squeeze into the bone broth.

These are what I recommend. I would put a dose of each into the bone broth and blend it up really well, then inject it into his feeding tube.

Another thought, if you haven't had it, would be to see if he could try some of the Callinetic behind and hip exercises. Really, any of them that wouldn't require him getting off the couch, just leaning forward. I know he probably can't do the exact ones she has, but something like those to build up the muscles in small controlled movements. 

Recovering from any trauma to our bodies takes time, consistency, and discipline. Some times we do find ourselves in the condition we are in over night, but getting out of that condition won't be an overnight fix. It can be very frustrating, and the progress may come slowly. But, any sort of progress is a blessing! So keep at it.

Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends book review

When you have 2 or more children you understand that their relationship contributes to the harmony of the home. If they are best friends who play together you can smile all day long, but the second they turn into MMA fighters you feel it draining on your patience and your happiness.
In looking for a way to keep the peace in my home, I ran across a book by Sarah, Stephen, and Grace Mally- Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends.  The first thing that I noticed about this book was that it was written by siblings!
In reading through this book you not only get to see the dynamics of these siblings, but also you get a chance to look behind the story and see into the heart of the matter- what was each person thinking during the situation, what the motive behind the action, and more importantly, how the outcome effected the relationship.
I found this book gave me wisdom and hope! You will learn to look for the root of the problem, and not just focus on fixing the outcome of the problem. You will also get great tips on how to approach and diffuse a situation before it becomes a critical problem. Helping to change the attitudes of your siblings towards each other, and finding the key to building friendship in the home is the premise of this book.

Funny Happenings- Evangelist's Tale

We recently had the pleasure of having Bro. David Spurgeon and his wife in our church. Bro. Spurgeon was a military man and a member of a motorcycle gang known as The Outlaws before he came to know Christ as his Savior. During this time in his life, he had gotten many tattoos.
After his salvation, he was married to his present wife.
He recalled an account of when they had some relatives over between services. Bro. Spurgeon had only his undershirt on and his arms were exposed showing all the tattoos from his past.
As the day wore on, a young girl came up to Mrs. Spurgeon and said, "I don't like your dad!" speaking about her husband, Bro. Spurgeon. "He's loud and he had stickers all over him!"

Believer's Heritage- Bill Eubanks in Zimbabwe

Bill and Janice Eubanks were evangelists in America. I remember hearing him preach when I was a teenager. They preached all over America, and the world, telling others about Christ.

They had a burden for the people of Africa. They traveled to Africa helping national pastors in many different countries. The Lord opened the door for them to have a ministry of their own in Zimbabwe where they go to schools all over the country and tell the children about the life, death, and hope of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The video below shows some of their mission work. I have passed out tracks in a few different states in America and never have I seen people accept the Word of the Lord like I see them accept it in this presentation. It is a blessing to see people hunger for the truth!

You can read more about it in the article 70,000 School Kids Get The Gospel by Chick Publication's BattleCry.

If you would like more information, or if you would like to donate to this ministry, please visit the Eubanks website. You can give a one time donation, or set up a monthly draft from your PayPal account o further the gospel to the people of Zimbabwe.

God's Work God's Way (video sermon)

God has a specific way that He wants His work done. The ends don't justify the means for God. When David first tried to bring the ark to Israel someone died, because David was doing the right thing the wrong way. And we need to remember that God never changes.

Many churches like to say, "We're getting people in and that's what counts!" But, that isn't what counts to God. God brought judgement down on those in the Bible who were doing the right thing the wrong way. Why? Because God wants His work done His way.

You come to the house of God to worship. You should also come to work. And, you should be clean when you come. Many people fail because they substitute man's ways for God's ways. The Bible says, "There's a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death." God doesn't want you to do what you feel you should do. He wants you to do what He tells you to do.

At the end of the book of Judges it states that "every man did what was right in his own eyes". Christian's make decisions based on feelings, but feelings can fool you. You don't serve God on feelings because they'll mess you up. You need to make sure that it's the will of God!

Man's ways can seem right. Man's ways can appear reasonable. Man's ways can look reliable. But, what are God's ways? God's ways have been revealed in His Word. His work won't get accomplished any other way.

Jeremiah said to ask for the "old paths". Churches are seeking out a lot of new ways to fill the pews. They are adding in new bible versions, new music, and even new standards. What's wrong with the old paths? God wants us to seek out the old paths. The world may think that the old path is ridiculous, but that's where God's will resides.

We can waste our energy trying to accomplish something for God doing things our way. But once we submit to God's way of doing things, He will give us His energy to complete the task that He asks us to do. God's work done God's way will never lack God's supply; God's work done our way will never get God's blessing.

When The Frost Is On The Punkin poem

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock,
And you hear the kyouck and the gobble of the struttin' turkey-cock,
And the clackin'; of the guineys and the cluckin' of the hens
And the rooster's hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence;
O it's then the times a feller is a-feelin' at his best,
With the risin' sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest,
As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock

They's somethin kindo' harty-like about the atmusfere
When the heat of summer's over and the coolin' fall is here -
Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossums on the trees
And the mumble of the hummin'-birds and buzzin' of the bees;
But the air's so appetizin'; and the landscape through the haze
Of a crisp and sunny monring of the airly autumn days
Is a pictur' that no painter has the colorin' to mock -
When the frost is on the punkin and fodder's in the shock.

The husky, rusty russel of the tossels of the corn,
And the raspin' of the tangled leaves, as golden as the morn;
The stubble in the furries - kindo' lonesome-like, but still
A preachin' sermons to us of the barns they growed to fill;
The strawstack in the medder, and the reaper in the shed;
The hosses in theyr stalls below - the clover overhead! -
O, it sets my hart a-clickin' like the tickin' of a clock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock!

Then your apples all is gethered, and the ones a feller keeps
Is poured around the celler-floor in red and yeller heaps;
And your cider-makin's over, and your wimmern-folks is through
With their mince and apple-butter, and theyr souse and saussage, too!
I don't know how to tell it - but if sich a thing could be
As the Angels wantin' boardin', and they'd call around on me -
I'd want to 'commodate 'em - all the whole-indurin' flock -
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock!

I'll Pray Again (song)

Red Hot Cookies recipe

Also known as Mollie's Cookies (Love ya, Mom!)

2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 TBS milk
1/2 cup shortening or lard
1 cup sugar
2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
red hots

Mix all ingredients together well.
Spoon onto a cookie sheet.
Bake at 375* for 8 to 10 minutes.

David's Wives

I would like to contrast two of David's wives. Both of these wives had husbands before they married David. But the times that they came to David were different. Their previous husbands were very diverse from one another. And the character of the women shines equally as opposite from each other.
The first woman is Abigail.
Samuel has died. Samuel had been the last judge of Israel, and it was he who had anointed the first 2 kings of Israel- Saul and David. David was running for his life from Saul, because Saul wasn't willing to give up the throne. So, David is hiding out in Paran. He and his men are protecting the shepherds of a man named Nabal.
The Bible says that Nabal was churlish and evil, but that Abigail was beautiful and had good understanding (wise).
How did this wise woman come to be married to such a terrible man? Did she choose to marry this man? Or was she placed in this situation through a family promise? We don't know; the Bible doesn't tell us. However, she came to be this man's wife, she knew what kind of a man he was.
David had his men ask Nabal for some supplies. He told Nabal that he had protected his men and his possessions and he was asking for something in return. Nabal was so rude and unwilling that David was gonna kill him and his entire house!
I Samuel 25:18, 23- Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses. And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground.
This is the first time David sees Abigail. She is trying to save the life of her household. She is humbling herself and standing between an army and a wicked man.
She persuades David to accept her gift, and his army leaves without harming anyone!
She later goes home to her drunk husband, waits for him to sober up, and then tells him what she has done. God sees fit to strike him down, and leaves Abigail open for another husband.
Abigail shows wisdom, humility, generosity, and honesty in the face of danger. And, so, David takes her during this troubled time to be his wife. She enters into his running from the current king. But, she's already proved that she could handle it.
The next woman is Bathsheba.
David is now the king of Israel. He has a castle, and a kingdom. He is ruling over the nation, winning battle, and serving the Lord.
One of David's mighty men was named Uriah. As a mighty man, he was one of the leaders in David's army. He could be counted on to fight bravely and loyally for the man who he called King.
When Nathan is talking to David about Bathsheba, he uses a lamb to illustrate his example. Nathan, the prophet, says that this lamb was nourished up with the man's children. I don't know if Bathsheba was a young servant or orphan whom he raised with his children. We don't know where she came from or how she became his wife. But, she, too, knew what kind of a man he was.
2 Samuel 11:2, 4- And it came to pass in an evening tide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
This is the first time that David sees Bathsheba. She is naked on top of her roof bathing. It doesn't seem that she is trying to hide her nakedness, or even has some sort of curtain up to maintain some modesty.
When the messengers come to bring her to David, we don't see her fighting, or even trying to tell David that she is married. She just sleeps with him, and goes home.
Bathsheba shows immodesty, a willingness to go with the flow, and later, deceitfulness when she finds out that she is expecting. In fact, no where do we see her repent! David repents in sackcloth and fasting for a week, but not her.
Because of her, David commits adultery, and murder, and pays four fold for his actions! She becomes his wife during a time of peace, and bring great trouble with her.
These are two very different women in two very different situations. One is righteous even when in the house of the wicked; one is wicked when in the house of a good man.
But, let's look at David. Because he will tell us a lot about what these women were actually looking for.
When David met Abigail, he was trying to do right. He was where God wanted him. He was trusting God to take care of him. And God gave him a truly noble gift when he allowed Abigail to show David who she was. I'm sure that she was a blessing to David during those tough times.
When David saw Bathsheba, he was suppose to be out at the battle. He was at home in the lap of luxury while his men were out in the trenches. He wasn't do what God wanted, and he certainly wasn't looking to have God guide him. When his servants told him that this woman was Uriah's wife, he couldn't care less; he still sent for her with the intent to defile himself and disobey God.
Bathsheba wasn't a blessing from the Lord. She was a temptation from the devil. She was the tool that turned David from the man after God's own heart, to an adulterous murderer. She was the device that brought the rape of his daughter, and the death of 3 sons.
Psalm 78:56- Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
How much could David have accomplished if he had just kept in God's will? What would the story of David have looked like if he had been satisfied with the godly woman that he already had? Nathan told David that God said that he would have given David more if he had only asked.
What about these women? Abigail will always be remembered well. But, Bathsheba will always be associated with adultery and murder.
Each day, and each decision of our lives determines who we will become when the going gets tough and when the times are good. The devil doesn't care what is going on in your life. He will bring the worldly desires of your heart before you to keep you out of the will of God. And unless you are actively seeking God's will for your life, you will be deceived.