Sister Soldier Saints

Greetings to my fellow sister soldiers:-) 

How are you going in the Lord? I hope you are resting and trusting in Him knowing that all things work for good for those who love Him. And we know to love God is to obey Him...and certainly not adding to His Word either or doing things our own way. We often say His will be done but that also means we accept what comes and go with it resting in the Lord and overcoming in Him. I'm glad to know a few of you sisters who are striving on in the Lord...enduring hardness as a good soldier of Christ. 

Sisters soldiers, we have been given our armour haven't we! We are not powerless in this battle we are in! What a weak Saviour if He doesn't give us power over our sins and all the battles we face in this life...but no we know we can be more than conquers through Him. 

I was just thinking how so many sadly believe that it's a guaranteed thing...our eternal life. Why do we need our armour then? We would do well to look at what armour we are to have and take and put on. You can read that in Ephesians 6 but I'm sure you know it well sisters! 

Truth 

Righteousness 

Gospel 

Faith

Salvation 

The Word of God

Prayer

All things to ponder and to examine our lives to see if we are facing this battle prepared or will fall prey to the roaring lion and attacks of the enemy. For sure there are many more adversaries against the Lord and His people...but He is mightier and in Him we can overcome. Let's keep pressing on sisters and encouraging those in our lives in the Lord to do the same. 

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 

And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6

What a great God He is sisters to give us all we need in this life in Christ.

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

2 Timothy 2:3-4

 

We want to please God as His daughters we are. 

And thank you sister saint for blessing me with all these scripture picture gifts...I appreciate them! God's Word and creation are a great blessing and gift...and the sister who loves the Lord behind them is too. Let us ponder the words of our God. 

O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

Isaiah 25:1

 

I must go now sisters but Lord willing I will be back tomorrow! You keep holding fast sister soldier saints! 

Love in Christ, 

Sister Michaela 

Find the gospel explained here. 

Read more of "Sister Soldier Saints"

The Righteous - Bold as a Lion

 

Hello sister soldier saints!

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 2:3

A good soldier of Jesus Christ...I like that! But it obviously means we need to be strong to endure hardness! Over and over Jesus Himself and those He chose told us to expect hard things in order to follow after Him. We are to deny ourselves to the point of death for His sake aren't we. We know we have eternal life to come if we remain faithful to the end but for today anyway we have a battle to fight. 

A sister was sharing these scriptures with me yesterday... 

Let us not fear, sisters! We have the God of the universe with us...why should we fear? Sometimes of course we do but we must work to overcome that. 

All strengthening verses right? (Thanks for sharing them with me sister:-) 

It's so true if we look and focus on certain situation in our lives we may not like or a trial we get swept away in our flesh. But if we focus on the Lord and things above walking in the Spirit then we truly can press through the trials. It's about having an eternal perspective that puts all this here on earth in the right place. 

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:13

Although we haven't been with Jesus, or seen Him, we have what is recorded for us that we might believe on Him through the Spirit. And we too can be bold because we trust God and because our faith in Christ is real because we know God cannot lie. What great confidence we can have sisters, today so long after our Saviour came and walked the earth. 

Imagine striving for something that wasn't lasting, that was only short lived? Well we all did that in our past in various ways I'm sure. But we sisters born by the Spirit fight for endurance to eternal life! We strive to follow after Christ, to seek that which eternal!! It's a faith worth living and dying for isn't it. Think of all God did for us. We did not deserve anything...but He sent His beloved Son Himself! What love and now we can get to the Father through Him! How can we not love and want to please such a good and gracious God who did such a great sacrifice for us? Let us keep on sisters, following after Him striving to walk as He walked, obeying every command of His as best we can with the power of the Spirit, pleasing Him! 

I made you sisters an audio with a scripture reading to go long with this... 

----------------

Here's a pretty spider web creation to marvel at... 

And look at some of God's creations on my farm duties today... 

Glory to God for all He has done! He's a mighty Creator and Redeemer as well! 

OK sisters I need to go now but hope this blessed you. Hold fast in Christ sister saints! 

So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Hebrews 13:6 

Love in our Lord,

Sister Michaela

Find the gospel to eternal life explained here. 

Read more of "The Righteous - Bold as a Lion"

The Lord Is My Rock

Greetings sister saints! 

How are you? 

Sometimes it's just refreshing to stop and think about our great God as our Rock, an anchor, and our peace especially when there is turmoil in our hearts or in the world around us. So I share a few verses to edify and encourage. 

For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.

Psalm 31:3

He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

Psalm 62:2

 

I love that..."I shall not be greatly moved"! Let us hold on to Him and His truth sisters! 

Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

Deuteronomy 32:3-4

To shew that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Psalm 92:15

He isn't changing and is the truth. So much deception and compromise around us that we must cling to Him! Build our house upon the rock by being a hearer and a doer...not a hearer only. 

Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 

He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 

But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Luke 6:47-49

And if we are hearers and doers of Christ's commands we shall not be moved off our foundation in Him! 

Let us be doing all what is right in the sight of God sisters! 

All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

1 John 5:17

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Acts 10:34-35

If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

1 John 2:29

 

Sometimes I share a collection of verses I come across or find. It can be like looking for treasures and finding great riches in encouragement and truth in His Word. And I share some here with you sisters but I'm sure you all have times when you find great riches and strength through His Word of truth. So sometimes I switch subjects abruptly...but that's ok I'm sure you don't mind:-)

We know that even our enemy the devil knows the scriptures don't we. We learn to hide God's Words in our heart through our knowledge of it over time and so we can contend for the faith whether that be in the ways we can for godly women or also in our own minds. Our mind can be a battlefield as we sort out truth from error and strive over our flesh. 

As we go about our lives we will face daily situations where we must learn how to respond. We don't all act the same way in all situations. This life calls for a range of responses of course. Of course we women aren't out doing exactly what the godly men can do but we know to be prepared because the enemy or people will be coming after us at some point. We have to be able to stand...in truth of course and we know to examine our own lives first and constantly. 

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Ephesians 6:13

Gentleness, boldness, meekness, rebukes, and contending (and more) are all part of what we may need to do in this life in Christ. It's all in love. We know this matter of people's souls is a matter of eternal life or death. It has great urgency to it. Sometimes people may need to be awakened from their slumber. If the saints won't do it...who will? If the bridge was out down the road you wouldn't just talk softly to the people driving by, no. Praise God for those who are sounding the alarm while it's day, while there's time, before the judgment comes, as the waters of the flood, and takes them all away. 

For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Matthew 24:38-39

We sisters hope some lost sheep will hear the call that they are in great danger and repent. What great news of the gospel we have to proclaim! We know the way is narrow and few will find it but we can each do our part in whatever that is in each of our lives. 

Well I must go now sisters! Hope your day is joyous in the Lord and you are pressing through all things, running this race with patience and endurance. 

In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. 

Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me. 

Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

Psalm 71:1-3

Love in Christ, 

Sister Michaela 

Find the gospel explained here. 

Read more of "The Lord Is My Rock"

Running the Race...

Greetings sisters! 

I hope you are doing well. 

I'm back here again after a busy day. 

I had to go on another trip into town for gas and I was able to give the friendly woman behind the counter a gospel card (and also pin one on a bulletin board in a store). 

And I also had to do a little bit of grocery shopping... 

Thank you sister for sending these encouraging scripture pictures... 

A sister and I were messaging and I commented that I needed to think of something to make for tea with tuna...so she suggested tuna patties. And that's what I made:-)

And as I was cooking them, a family member was telling me about where the marathon race got it's name. I didn't care to hear such things but I commented about what Paul wrote about the spiritual race of this life we are to run. And it's exactly what this Christian life is; it's a hard race and not an easy relax in a church pew as sadly most seem to believe. 

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."

Hebrews 12:1-3

"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 

And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 

I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

A sister and I were edifying and encouraging one another... 

Exactly. Where are we promised an easy life? No where!

As Paul taught... 

"Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." 

Acts 14:22

But we can have peace and joy and the Lord will give us strength in it all. 

Let us sisters edify one another the best we can...until this race is over and we can rest from our labours with the Father. 

And here's a flower for you sisters who love the Lord and are running the race in faith and obedience... 

Lord willing I shall be back again tomorrow to help cheer you on in this spiritual race!

"And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." 

Hebrews 6:11-12

Love to you in Christ, 

...from one of God's daughters. 

See the biblical gospel here. 

Read more of "Running the Race... "

Encouragement Notes for Trials in Christ

Greetings sisters! 

I hope you are striving and strong in the Lord! 

Today I wanted to share what I was writing down in my notes for myself to check back at when facing trials. I had one or two thoughts so I started writing and these are what came to me in about ten minutes of thinking so I'm sure there is much much more. And then I included some encouraging and appropriate scriptures here which can strengthen us all! They are in no particular order or anything but I share them anyway. (I use some of my older scripture pictures and some new too.) 

So perhaps these can bless you too in your own life sisters, because we all know we are not going to have an 'easy' life! And we all face many of the same things as we walk in the truth of His Word and deal with those around us. 

---------------------------------------

*Don't look at the wind and waves look at Christ! (don't look at the problem. Trust in Christ and live right no matter what.) 

"But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 

And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 

But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"

Matthew 14:27-31

*Rejoice in persecution!

"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." 

Matthew 5:11-12

*Don't fear being alone. 

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." 

Psalm 23:4

*I am accountable for myself to God!

*Don't compromise to please people!

"For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." 

Galatians 1:10

*Don't be partial! 

"I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality." 

1 Timothy 5:21

*God is holy!!!

*Know God's Word. 

*Stand on truth!

"Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;" 

Ephesians 6:14

"I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father." 

2 John 1:4

*Be strong in faith! 

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." 

1 John 5:4

*All things work together for good! 

*Don't worry about tomorrow! 

"Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." 

Matthew 6:34

*Be ready to give an answer! 

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" 

1 Peter 3:15

*Shine a light so God is glorified and others may see the truth!

*Pray for wisdom, strength and peace! 

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." 

James 1:5-6

*Trust in the Lord! 

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." 

Proverbs 3:5-6

*Bless enemies and those who persecute you! 

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."

Matthew 5:44-45

*Put on the armour! It's a spiritual battle! 

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

Ephesians 6:10-13

 

*Jesus said few will find it and narrow is the way! 

*I can do all things through Christ! 

*God is in control! 

"But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand." 

Isaiah 64:8

 

"For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that." 

James 4:15

*Christ is coming back for His own! 

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

 

*If we stand the test and overcome we shall be with the Father and all His holy saints! 

"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels." 

Revelation 3:5 

*Nothing in this life is worthy to be compared with the glory to come! 

*Rejoice in the Lord! 

So I hope my notes might edify and bless you as well. They were rather impromptu but it will be good to look back over them at times myself. I'm starting to think of more I could add but I'm going to stop there. 

Lord willing, I shall be back tomorrow. 

Strive on in Christ, sisters! 

"Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 

Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 

For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."

Hebrews 13:12-15

Love, peace, and joy in Christ, 

...from one of God's daughters 

See the biblical gospel here. 

Read more of "Encouragement Notes for Trials in Christ"

Strong Sister Soldier Saints Striving

 

Greetings sisters!

I truly hope you are all standing strong in the truth of God. And may the title I gave this post be us, daily! It can be such a battle we have to get through in this life of course. But we have been given the necessary things to get through. Praise God for that. And we all face similar battles wherever we are. 

So what are some things that we can be strong in and overcome with. No of course these are just a few things and by no means everything but I hope it can encourage you. (You can read more about our armour for this battle in Ephesians 6.)

 

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:"

Ephesians 6:17

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

Hebrews 4:12

We sisters must study, know, and live the Word of God. It's a powerful weapon for us to have in our hearts, our lives, and in defending truth and reaching the lost with the gospel. You have to know what you believe in order to stand strong. 

And as Jesus said... 

That's what we sisters have to do...and strive until the end.  

First we must have come through the right way and that is the gospel of Christ. That has been so twisted over time so please make sure you are grounded in the right foundation. 

Let us come through Christ and His truth and not our own ways and not the Christian religion of our day either. 

"I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."
John 10:9

We have been told by God that this life of following and obeying Christ will be hard. Sisters, don't get swept away in the things of this life (entertainment, politics, media, man made religion/church etc). All those things are easy but... 

"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."

2 Timothy 2:3-4

Let us not think we are going to have an easy life but prepare our minds to face hardship for Christ's sake. 

Let us walk in the Spirit and not the flesh. 

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

What mighty weapons we have been blessed to have available for our use! 

"This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:"

1 Timothy 1:18-19

 

"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;"
2 Corinthians 3:5

Amen. Without the power of God to keep us we would be back in the world living in our sins. 

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."
John 15:5

We can overcome in Him...but we have to do our part of course and fight to kill our flesh. You don't just sit back and relax and expect to enter the kingdom of God in the end. What a lie that so many have been told. 

Let us be strong in faith in such a faithless world where so many are questioning God. But we know He will come with vengeance when it's time. And we know so many are falling back away from the faith. Let us not look at them because then we may fall back to. Let us press on and look to Christ. He is faithful and worthy. 

"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses."

1 Timothy 6:12

 

Yes it's a spiritual war we are in, no doubt.

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Ephesians 6:12

 

Did you get any picture of ease in all that? I didn't. 

What are some ways we as sisters can prepare and be strong. 

We have to get over the "first things" like our biblical dress and headcoverings. In that I mean there's far harder things coming and to strive against so let us not be found in our flesh in regards to our clothing and what people will think about it. Maybe some of you are just starting to dress biblical and headcover. And if you know the Word teaches it then you can't keep putting it off as that is disobedience and is dangerous for your soul. Let us live to please Him who has chosen us to be soldiers. May we not be entangled in pride and vanity; the things of the flesh in relation to our clothing and looks.  

"Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;"

1 Peter 2:11

We can make sure we are sure of our role we are to have as women. By that I mean we are to be helpers to the men and silent in the body of believers. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't study and think about how we ought to answer everyone who asks us about truth. And at other times we have to defend the truth against error in appropriate ways as godly women. 

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"

1 Peter 3:15

If a sister is blessed with a biblical husband or elder she can ask him spiritual questions and learn much that way as it is supposed to be according to 1 Corinthians 14.

When you realise how big of a battle we are in you know you could never do it on your own. We have a strong adversary as a roaring lion, and a sneaky "angel of light" in satan. But we know... 

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."

1 John 4:4

I speak to myself in this. We all have different lives but yet in the spiritual battle we face much the same. 

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

1 Corinthians 10:13

No we are never to be the spiritual leaders and teachers but that doesn't ever mean we are to be weak in the battle against sin and the flesh. 

Perhaps that edified and encouraged you in your walk. There's so much more to it and more I could write on; on how we can grow stronger in reaching out and sharing the gospel with those around us. Or about how we can share our lives with other sisters that we might be blessed to know and love the brethren. We can serve and bless others in ways we can. For sure we will all have to be strong in order to overcome all we must in this battle. 

And in fact we can also do this... 

"We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification."
Romans 15:1-2

Let us all strive to be pleasing to our Lord as strong sister soldiers in Him. May we draw strength from Him and His Word. When we are weak let us trust in Him and look to Him and His Word for our strength.

"That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;"
Ephesians 3:16

And a rose for my sisters...

Love to you!  

...from a fellow sister soldier

"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

See more on the biblical gospel here. 

Read more of "Strong Sister Soldier Saints Striving"

Nothing Compared

Greetings sisters in the Lord. 

Today I have a few scriptures and thoughts from them and how they can encourage us in our walks and battles. 

We all know this account well I am sure, but it's always encouraging to think about it again. 

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. 

Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 

And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.

And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 

He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. 

Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire. 

And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. 

Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 

Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort."

Daniel 3:16-29

That's amazing! And we get to serve such a mighty God today, sisters! 

It makes me also think how weak so many are who claim to be Christians (and even me at times) compared to this example. What we fear today is thoughts and words from man mostly. But these people faced death in the fiery furnace for any disobedience, yet they stood and refused to disobey their God in worshipping another god. Now these days, women compromise in many areas just for fear of loosing friends and family; for fear of standing out in a crowd by being biblically dressed and headcovered; for fear of what people will think of them; for fear of what they will look like. Oh we must all push through these things and overcome...or we shall never stand and endure through any trials or tribulations to come. And it does not bring glory to our God, sisters, Who has given us His Spirit to overcome if we don't walk in the flesh. These things we face today are nothing compared to what we must be willing to face for Christ, death and the most cruel tortures. 

"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:"

1 Peter 3:18

I sometimes think of Christ in the Garden too. I feel a bit reluctant to share this scene to be honest. It's so precious and holy. I find it sad when people just talk about these things flippantly. He suffered so much because of our sin. We deserved to die! 

"And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 

And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 

And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,"

Luke 22:41-45

That must have been so hard in the flesh but He did it for us...and was obedient to the Father's will. I'm so thankful! I want to have that willing attitude too. 

"Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 

And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;"

Hebrews 5:7-9

What a mighty Author of salvation...for those who obey Him! Are you obeying Him today? 

And sometimes we have to face hard things too...no nothing compared to our Saviour...but we want them to pass also, but we must yield to the Father's will. 

Remembering..

Press on sisters, with your hopes set on things above. 

So that is all for today. Sometimes I think you can say more in less at times. At least I found those scriptures and accounts very faith strengthening to ponder. 

Love to you, fellow sisters, 

...from a daughter of the Highest 

"Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen."

Ephesians 6:23-24

See the gospel to eternal life here.

Read more of "Nothing Compared"