Small Straws In A Soft Wind by Marsha Burns:
It is time to reset and consider how you spend your time and energy. There are things you can do to maximize your effectiveness without overlooking things that are vital for your well being. It will require some planning before you forge ahead. Lean on Me for wisdom, says the Lord.
James 1:5-6 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in belief, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
Daniel 3:8-30
Then came near certain Chaldeans, and accused the Jews to the king, saying, O king, live for ever. You O king established a decree, Every man who ever should hear the sound of the trumpet, even flute and harp, even sambuke (similar to a trombone) and psaltery, and harmony of sound, and every kind of music, and should not fall to do obeisance to the image in gold, shall be put into the burning furnace of fire.
Three Jews Refuse to Bow
There are men Jews whom you placed over the works of the region of Babylon —Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-nego. These men obeyed not, O king, your decree, and they serve not your gods, and to the image of gold which you stationed they do not worship. Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and anger said to lead in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. And they led them before the king. And Nebuchadnezzar responded and said to them, Is it truly, Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-nego, you serve not to my gods, and to the image in gold which I stationed, you do not do obeisance to? Now then if you are ready that whenever you should hear the sound of the trumpet, also flute and harp, also sambuke (similar to a trombone) and psaltery, and harmony of sound, and every kind of music, falling you should do obeisance to the image which I made — good. And if you should not do obeisance this hour, you shall be put into the furnace burning of fire and who is God who shall rescue you from out of my hands? And Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered, saying to king Nebuchadnezzar, We have no need to answer you concerning this matter. For our God in the heavens in whom we serve is able to rescue us from out of the furnace burning of fire. And from out of your hands, O king, He shall rescue us. But if not, let it be made known to you, O king! that we will not serve your gods or the image which you stationed. Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled of rage, and the appearance of his face changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. And he said to burn the furnace seven times hotter until which it everything should be consumed. And he told strong men of strength shackling Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego to cast them into the furnace burning of fire. Then those men were shackled with their pantaloons, and tiaras, and leggings, and their garments. And they were thrown into the midst of the furnace burning of fire, since the saying of the king prevailed and the furnace burned away over even extra seven times. And these three — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego fell into the midst of the furnace burning of fire, being shackled, singing praise to God, and blessing the Lord. And Nebuchadnezzar heard their praising. And he wondered, and rose up in haste, and said to his great men, Was it not three men we threw into the midst of the fire being shackled? And they said to the king, Truly, O king. And the king said, Here, I see four men being loose and walking in the midst of the fire, and there has no harm happened to them; and the appearance of the fourth is like the Son of God. Then Nebuchadnezzar came forward to the door of the furnace burning of fire and he said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego O servants of the most high God, come forth and come! And Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came forth from out of the midst of the fire. And the satraps were brought together, and the commandants, and the toparchs, and the mighty ones of the king. And they viewed the men, for the fire did not dominate over their bodies, and the hair of their head was not ablaze, and their pantaloons did not change, and the scent of fire was not on them. And king Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel, and delivered His servants, because they trusted in Him; and they have changed the king’s word, and delivered their bodies to be burnt, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. Wherefore I publish a decree: Every people, tribe, or language, that shall speak reproachfully against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be destroyed, and their houses shall be plundered: because there is no other God who shall be able to deliver thus. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the province of Babylon, and advanced them, and gave them authority to rule over all the Jews who were in his kingdom.
September 4, 2024. I speak to those with a heavy heart. I know your situation, your hurt and your pain. It wafts across My throne and I hurt when you hurt. I am empathetic and compassionate. I am also the God of Justice and will bring about a ruling in favor of the weak and the hurting. Lean on Me during these days, allow My comfort to surround you and minister to you. You are not forgotten or discarded.
Isaiah 30:18 “Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; how blessed are all those who long for Him.” Robin Robinson Bohlin
September 4, 2024. You can count on Me and you can count on My Word. You can put your hope in Me. I will NEVER fail you. Know that you are in Me and I am in you. You are in the world but not of it. No matter what things look like in the world, you can count on Me. I will never fail you. I am a good, good Father. You will prosper in the days ahead.
Psalms 130:5 “I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on Him. I have put my hope in His Word.”
1 John 4:13 “And He has given us His Spirit within us so that we can have the assurance that He lives in us and we live in Him.” Jennifer Peikert
