Oh what a wonderful God we serve.  What a wonderful Heavenly Father we have!  Is it not just the most absolute breath taking thing to think upon how truly blessed we have been.  To know that we have a constant friend and security and strong tower in the middle of any mess that life may bring our way!  Doesn't it just make you want to get up out of your seat and PRAISE THE LORD!!!  Well, get to it I'm not stopping you...I'll be right there with ya praising him   He is so wonderful, he really is!

Today's entry was inspired by my wonderful Pastor, who God has blessed so strongly!  Goodness gracious, God has blessed me so very much by this man.  He is truly a man of God, and I am so very thankful that God would make it possible that our paths should cross in life.

"Prayer may not keep you out of the den, but it will keep you safe from the lions."
~My Pastor / 08-28-05~

16. Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions.  Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
18. Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
19. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
20. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

Okay, now listen...here it is...get ready to shout...because PRAISE GOD...I'd SHOUT when God answered a prayer like that!

21. Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
22. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
23. Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den.  So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

How wonderful!!  To believe on God, and have God tend to your needs.  It is so very wonderful to think on, and oh how much more amazing it is to see it happen!!  To see the word of God be carried out.  To see how when God says "Ask in faith believing" and then you ask in faith believing and it happens; How God says "Some things come only by prayer and fasting" and then prayer and fasting is done and WOW...God shows you just how serious his word is, just how good he is at keeping a promise!!  WOW we serve a great God!!  Daniel prayed, the king prayed...and their prayers did not keep Daniel OUT of the lions den....Oh but how wonderful out God truly is, because even though Daniel had to go into the den of the lions, he did not have to go alone.  The Lord sent one of his precious angels to sit with Daniel to protect Daniel, to close the mouths of the lions.  The very thing that enemy had planned to be a danger to the life of a precious child of God...Well God just turned it into a miracle and a living testimony for his wonderful glory!!! How's that Satan!! Take that and munch on it for a while!!! I love my God, and what is so great, is that he isn't only my God...but he is your God to, and if you don't claim him as your God...OH OH OH what you are missing out on...He is so precious and so wonderful, and has so much love to offer you.  He offers it to you now, if you would only reach out and take hold of it!! 

So, Prayer may not keep us out of the trial, it may not keep sorrow out of our life, it may not keep temptation, and woe, and hurt, and difficulties from coming into our life...but Prayer...oh the wonderful power of prayer...keeps us always in contact with God, and when we are in contact with God...we have a protection that no restraining order could attain, no witness protection service could provide, and no money could buy...We have the shield of our Heavenly Father protecting us from the darts that the enemy would have come our way to harm us.  Not only that, but he takes the very thing that the enemy wants to destroy us with, and while it may hurt like the dickens God still takes that situation, that trial, that sorrow, that hurt, he takes it and puts it to a greater use.  He turns it into this wonderful miracle.  The miracle may be one that touches the multitudes, or it may go unnoticed by the masses and be the very thing that saves the life of a sorrow stricken child.  You may not even know that God has taken the thing that Satan would use to try and destroy you and used you and the situation to save someone else!!  Prayer may not keep you out of the den, but it will keep you safe from the lions!!  You may hurt, you may cry, you may doubt, and any other thing you could possibly imagine...but If you have a communication line open with God (and God always has a line open for you!!!) then even though you have to go through the trial, even though you may experience the hurt, even though you may endure the difficulties God will shut the mouths of the lions, and in the morning, oh in the blessed wonderful morning, You will be able to step out of the lions den and wave to the one who is standing there to greet you and you will be able to say  "My God shut the mouths of the lions, he has delivered me, he has kept me from death, he has saved me from the enemy once again and I'm going to praise him for it I'm going to take this and let him use it for his glory in hopes that it will help another child of God!"

Oh, I don't know what else to say except PRAISE BE TO JESUS!!!  He is so wonderful, and tonight I am just flooded with his wonderful love and mercy, and I just feel his heavenly presence all around me, and it is the safest feeling you will ever experience.  I just want everyone, EVERYONE, to be able to feel the safety that you feel when you are resting in the precious protection of God!!! 

"Prayer may not keep you out of the den, but it will keep you safe from the lions."
~My Pastor / 08-28-05~

I am going to end this entry with a song that I heard on the radio coming home from church tonight.  Had myself a nice little praise service in the car (I'm sure I got some strange looks lol, but it was worth it).  I want to share the song lyrics.  Let your mind soak up just exactly what the words are saying and let your heart feel the precious love and protection that God is holding out in front of you!!!

Song: Where You Are
Artist: Rich Mullins and Beaker

Talkin' Daniel in the den of the lions
Talkin' Jonah in the belly of a whale
Talkin' three Hebrew children
And they're standing in a furnace, fiery furnace

But the fire didn't burn them, and the lions didn't bite
And the Lord reached down and you can be sure that
Everything turned out right
Oh you'll meet the Lord in the furnace
A long time before you meet Him in the sky

And where you are ain't where you wish that you was
Well your life ain't easy and the road is rough
But where you are is where He promised to be
From the ends of the world to every point of need

Talkin' Daniel in the den of the lions
Talkin' Jonah in the belly of a whale
Talkin' three Hebrew children
And they're standing in a furnace, fiery furnace

But the fire didn't burn them, and the lions didn't bite
And the Lord reached down and you can be sure that
Everything turned out right
Oh you'll meet the Lord in the furnace
A long time before you meet Him in the sky

Meet Him in your time of trial
Meet Him in your hour of prayer
You can reach out and I'll bet
That you'll find that He's right there

Where you are, however grim it may seem
This is real life, baby
This ain't no Hollywood dream
And where you are no matter what you may face
You're gonna find out real soon what they mean when they say

Talkin' Daniel in the den of the lions
Talkin' Jonah in the belly of a whale
Talkin' three Hebrew children
And they're standing in a furnace, fiery furnace

But the fire didn't burn them, and the lions didn't bite
And the Lord reached down and you can be sure that
Everything turned out right
Oh you'll meet the Lord in the furnace
A long time before you meet Him in the sky

Meet Him in your time of trial
Meet Him in your hour of prayer
You can reach out and I'll bet
That you'll find that He's right there

But the fire won't burn you, and the lions won't bite
And the Lord will reach down and you can be sure that
Everything will turn out alright
Oh you'll meet the Lord in the furnace
A long time before you meet Him in the sky
Then you'll meet Him in the sky