Hi friends!

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Today America woke up to an end and a new beginning. An end to the smear campaigns that have caused so many turmoil, and a beginning to a new leader for our country (this may be good or bad news for you!)

I felt like the Lord wanted me to share some encouragement in the midst of what seems like the end of the world to so many on social media. If you are not a Christian and think that sounds odd or goofy that I felt the Lord talk to me, thats OK. I pray that you can still find some peace from my post if you continue to read.

My sweet husband stayed up all night stress eating anxiously awaiting who was going to be named our new President. I, on the other hand, was in the bed and slept as best as I could with the bright glow from the tv that radiated from down our teensy hallway in our little apartment.

Why was I not concerned? Because we serve a God so much bigger than any man or woman here on this earth today.

The past few weeks at Declaration (the church we have been visiting..Hi Blake and Travis!) we have been studying in Daniel. I have found SO much peace from the messages, and I would like to share a tidbit with you.

If the book of Daniel has never been on your reading list, I will try my best to give you some simple details. Daniel was written during the Babylonian exile, when the Israelites (God’s chosen people) were forced to leave their land. During this exile, there were a few kings who obviously didn’t believe in God and tried to force the Israelites to conform to their way of worship, which was bowing down the various kings.

In the first chapter of Daniel, we are introduced to Daniel and three of his friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were forced to train for King Nebuchadnezzar’s army for three years and would then be part of his military. They were to be given the choicest meats to eat to keep them fed well so they could train hard and gain strength. However, Daniel refused to eat the king’s food because he did not want to defile himself that way against God.

Daniel and the three others were allowed to eat only vegetables and water for 10 days to see if they would still be well and nourished enough to “look tough.”

“At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food…To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.” Daniel 1: 15-17

God was in control and protected these men who stood up for Who they believed and worshiped.

Moving on to Daniel Chapter 3, the story about the fiery furnace. King Nebuchadnezzar made a hug gold statue of himself (ninety feet high and nine feet wide) and issued an order for everyone to bow down and worship it when they heard any type of musical instrument.

“Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” Daniel 3:6

Yikes, right? Well again Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to do so, so they were thrown into the furnace, and it was even made hotter than it normally was. But guess what? They survived, they weren’t even slightly smokey. Why? Because God was in control again. He protected them.

The main message of what I am trying to obey Him to share is simple. God is in control, always. One thing that stood out to me from the past couple messages is that those in “power” (read: leadership) only have the amount of power that God allows them to have to fulfill His purpose.

God has the whole world in His hands (I bet you can’t read that without singing it huh?!) But it’s true. It really, really is friends, in His hands.

King Nebuchadnezzar thought he had enough power to kill men for not obeying his command to worship a golden statue of himself, but nope. “They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair on their head singed;their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.” Daniel 3:27

So moving forward today I rest in the fact that everything that happens is part of God’s plan. And ya know what? The things we may not understand in this world (like why does God allow bad things to happen, and the like), we will one day (if you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior) get to sit at His right hand and ask Him “all the things.”

But for now, I leave you with one of the most recent scriptures I have memorized, “Let us hold unswirvingly to the Hope we profess, for He who promises is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23.

Praying this gives you some peace today friends!

Now who wants something for free?!! I am giving away Cultivate What Matters desk print and a Write The Word journal!

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All you have to do is comment with one thing you are grateful for today, and I will pick a winner at random on Friday!

In His love, Tamara