But the saints of the Most High

shall receive the kingdom

and possess the kingdom

forever,

forever,

and ever.

                       Daniel 7. 18

(What I am facing,

whatever I am going through

is preparing

the way of the LORD

     in the lives of others

and revealing

   that His kingdom is now

and not just yet to come.

The saints of the Most High

run on a different operating system,

       and are marked radically

       by the reality of His Presence.)

When Daniel knew

that the document had been signed,

he went to his house where he had

windows in his upper chamber

     open toward Jerusalem.

He got down on his knees

three times a day

and prayed

and gave thanks before his God,

as he had done previously.

                     Daniel 6. 10

(Deeply engraved

     patterns of faithfulness,

the source of his strength,

the daily equipping

   of Daniel's trust in the Almighty.

Praying and

spending time in God's Word

     always bears profound fruit,

more than we can know

for this day

and for the time to come.)

I have heard of you

that the Spirit of God

            is in you,

and that light

and understanding

and excellent wisdom

    are found in you.

             Daniel 5. 14

("There is something different

                about you."

A relationship with God

does not just

change the trajectory of your life,

     but He changes you,

                   for His glory.

When we follow Him fully,

we point others to the Almighty,

    sometimes even when 

    we are even unaware of it.)

          

...but you are able,

for the Spirit of the Holy God

            is in you.

            Daniel 4. 18

(Not "you can do it!"

but "what God does

         through you."

God Himself empowers you

to fulfill your mission,

because He is with you,

and the power of the Almighty

        surrounds you.

Be faithful to Him in this.)

If this be so,

our God whom we serve

is able

      to deliver us

from the fiery furnace,

and He will deliver us

out of your hand, O king.

But if not,

be it known to you,

                O king,

that we will not serve

your gods or worship

    the golden image

    that you have set up.

              Daniel 3. 17-18

(No matter the situation,

no matter the outcome,

    faithful to God in this,

that in everything

        God may be glorified.)

...always be prepared

to make a defense to anyone

who asks you

for a reason for the hope

      that is in you;

yet do it with gentleness

              and respect.

             1 Peter 3. 15

(Others are always watching you

not to see if you are perfect,

but to see if this God of yours

                         is real.

Always be prepared to point

             others to Jesus.

The most profound moments

    are those which are unexpected.)

...but they shall bear

fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows

from the sanctuary.

Their fruit will be for food,

and their leaves for healing.

                 Ezekiel 47. 12

(That which flows from

          God Himself,

that which bears fruit,

sustains,

and brings about healing.)

...that you may proclaim 

the excellences of Him

who called you

out of darkness 

into His marvelous light.

            1 Peter 2. 9

(Called not to a job,

but called to Christ.)

O give thanks to the LORD,

       for He is good;

for His steadfast love

        endures forever.

                Psalm 113. 1

(Thanksgiving is a 

           daily practice,

not an event,

nor a meal,

nor an emotion,

     but a response.

Not even

        "I am thankful"

but "I am thankful 

             to God.")

...to make a separation 

between the holy

and the common.

            Ezekiel 42. 20

(Learn to distinguish 

between what draws 

      you closer to God

and what pulls at you. 

Not all things

          are helpful.

Everyone struggles

     with something.

Know when 

      to walk away

and follow Him.)

But He 

   gives more grace.

           James 4. 6

(How to handle

   any situation.)

...look with your eyes,

and hear with your ears,

and set your heart

upon all that I shall show you,

for you were brought here

in order

  that I might show it to you.

                 Ezekiel 40. 4

(Be very aware

of God's Presence

and profound purposes

            right where you are.

Even here

     in this impossible place

     or difficult situation,

His divine purposes

             are deeply embedded.

God is revealing Himself

 to you

         ...and to others.

This very well may not

         be just about you.

Probably isn't.

God never works

    in singular dimensions.)

...let every person

    be quick to hear,

slow to speak,

slow to anger;

for the anger of man

does not produce

the righteousness of God.

             James 1. 19

(Boy, do we have that backwards.

Live in such a way

that the grace of God

                is seen in you.

Even in

      this impossible situation.

May others see

    something different in you.

And that would be Jesus.)

 

I will seek the lost,

and I will bring back the strayed,

and I will bind up the injured,

and I will strengthen the weak...

                Ezekiel 34. 16

(God has placed them

            in your life

for a reason.

Bring the love of Jesus

    to those who surround you.)

Strive for peace with

               everyone...

             Hebrews 12. 14

(No exclusions.

Strive means

  to make every effort

  and to fight vigorously

                    for it.

Peace doesn't just happen.

"Show me Your way

in this,

          O LORD,

             for Your glory.")

...let us run with endurance

the race that is set before us,

      looking to Jesus...

              Hebrews 12. 1-2

(No matter the course

set before me today,

running faithfully,

bringing glory to His name.

Even in this,

      eyes on Him.

Run with Jesus.)

By faith

the people crossed the Red Sea

as on dry land...

                Hebrews 11. 29

("Show me Your way,

             O LORD,

through this impossible,

       difficult situation."

Do we even stop

         to ask His way in this?)

And Abraham went out,

not knowing where

          he was going.

           Hebrews 11. 8

(That is what

           faith looks like:

following God,

even in what we cannot

              fully understand,

even in the really hard stuff,

even in what

    may make no sense at all,

                    to us.

God is going someplace

                     with this.

       Walk with Him.

Even in this mess,

even in this failure,

even in bleak wilderness,

                 God is.)

And let us consider 

how to stir up    

          one another 

to love and good works,

not neglecting 

       to meet together,

as is the habit of some,

but encouraging 

            one another,

and all the more

as you see the Day

          drawing near.

      Hebrews 10. 23-25

(Living without community

with other believers 

       is not an option, 

 not a matter of

     "I don't fit,"

     but how you do,

not connected 

    to the Church

but being the Church,

a vital part of the family.

Stir up,

love well,

and encourage 

 everyone around you.)

With God

we shall do valiantly;

it is He

who will tread down

            our foes.

               Psalm 108. 6

(With God.

Not "you can do it,"

nor "believe in yourself,"

       but with God.

This is way too big,

too hard,

too overwhelming 

              for me!

"Exactly. 

 But not for Me.

 Follow Me through it."

He turns a desert

     into pools of water,

a parched land

     into springs of water.

               Psalm 107. 35

(Now watch what God does

 with your impossible situation.

"Trust Me in this.")

If a man is righteous

and does what is just

            and right...

            Ezekiel 18. 5

(As a direct result,

God changes

the trajectory of your life.

And what you choose

   impacts everyone

around you

and who comes after you.

God did not promise

that life with Him will be easy

    but "I am with you.")

He rebuked the Red Sea,

and it became dry,

and He led them

through the deep

      as though a desert.

So He saved them

from the hand of the foe

and redeemed them

   from the power of the enemy.

              Psalm 106. 9-10

(A foe or enemy

is anything you fear,

     both real and imagined.

Don't allow the past

to define or enslave you.

Forgiven, released, redeemed.

God meets us

    in our deepest need.

He may not deliver us from

an impossible situation,

          but leads us through.)

            

...and you shall know

that I have not done

without cause

all that I have done in it,

     declares the LORD.

 

              Ezekiel 14. 23

(Even though 

I do not understand,

God always bears

profound purposes

     in many dimensions 

     and delicate layers

of which I am not aware

   nor cannot comprehend.

Nothing is ever random 

but by His intricate design.

Even the really hard stuff 

does not lay

beyond His redeeming.)

In the morning

the word of the LORD

came to me:

"Son of man,

has not the house of Israel,

the rebellious house,

said to you:

     "What are you doing?"

               Ezekiel 12. 8-9

(Live in such faithfulness to God

that others can't help but ask

               "why?"

What makes you different?

And that would be Jesus.

People are always watching you

  to see if God is real.)

The Spirit lifted me up

    and brought me to....

                Ezekiel 11. 1

(Sometimes not where

               I intended.

What am I doing here?

Even in what

    I can't understand,

God's profound purposes

           are seamlessly woven,

no matter the circumstances,

no matter how things appear.

Not to find a place for God

              to fit into my plans,

but to let the LORD

     lay His day before me.)

And behold,

the glory of the God of Israel

            was there...

            Ezekiel 8. 4

(Sometimes

   in the most unexpected places,

always

    in following Him.)

And He said to me,

"Arise,

go out into the valley,

and there

    I will speak with you."

           Ezekiel 3. 22

(Seek the LORD,

listen,

respond,

follow

     even where it makes no sense,

and "wait for Me there."

Even here.

Even in this.

There appear to be

no trails in the wilderness,

         at least paths that we

         cannot yet see.

God knows the way.)

And you shall speak

       My words to them,

whether they hear

            or refuse to hear,

for they are

       a rebellious house.

              Ezekiel 2. 7

(God does not call me

  to be successful.

God calls me

          to be faithful,

wherever I am,

even here,

even in this,

even among those around me.

I will be very surprised

by who is watching,

who is listening,

even more at who responds.)