Giving Praise to God

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It was good to have the day at home and to be back into my somewhat regular routine. I did have several repair and maintenance issues that needed to be addressed. With our sprinkler system blown out and our furnace repaired we are ready for the cold weather.

I did have an unexpected appointment today with my neurologist. Nothing wrong, they just had some openings and wanted to move up my next scheduled appointment. It was good to get an explanation from some of my recent tests last month and to assess my strength and progress. There are some treatments he believes could be helpful, but I will determine the timing on those as I see how I progress in building my strength. I will have some additional blood work done that he believes will be helpful to detected any deficiencies in my nuro-muscular system.

This past Tuesday night it was good to run into some friends who have been a great support to me over the years of my political career. Dona Troyer gave me a book on “How to Win a Local Election” when I was first nominated to run for the State House. She has been a faithful supporter to me as well as a leader in some women’s political groups for many years.

Bill and Shirley Setiz (pictured with me) have been good friends as well. Shirley has been a tireless supporter and political advocate for many years. I know that she will need a few weeks to recover from her efforts during this past campaign. Shirley was such a great support during my illness, even coming and spending the night with me when having that assistance was so important.

Both Dona and Shirley have been a part of an ABC (Active Biblical Citizens) Group at Southern Gables Church in Lakewood.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,  and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”  Daniel 4:34,35

“…for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth….” Daniel 6:26,27

Who uttered these words of praise to God? Perhaps without the reference to the book of Daniel it would be more challenging. When you look at the words they could come from David in the Psalms. They sound like words that could come Isaiah or one of the prophets. Instead these words come from two different kings who worshiped idols yet they had a dramatic encounter with the true God of Heaven.

The first passage from Daniel 4, comes from the testimony of Nebuchadnezzar and how he was humbled by the Lord, drove from his position of power and then finally restored in body, mind and his royal position. This mighty king who was considered as a “king of kings” and a ruler over the known world of his time came to understand that God is the only true sovereign. He does what is right and his actions and authority are unquestionable. The kingdoms of men come to an end, but God’s rule is from generation to generation and is everlasting.
The second passage from Daniel 6, comes from the lips of King Darius. In an attempt to disparage Daniel the king is talked into issuing a decree that no one could pray to any god other than himself. The punishment for disobedience was to be thrown into a den of lions. One of the more well known stories of the Bible is “Daniel and the Lions Den.”
What isn’t as well known is the rest of the story and the lesson learned from this pagan king. Darius realized that the true God of heaven is the One who works signs and wonders and who delivers and saves. His kingdom cannot be destroyed and His dominion is forever. What a great contrast, once again, to human kingdoms, whether ruled by a monarch or governed by “constitutional” authority. Any political structure that exalts itself with pride over the precepts of the Lord can find themselves learning a difficult lesson.
Paul wrote to the Philippians and said, “at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10,11)
We have a choice to freely worship the Lord for who He is, or to be forced into recognizing who He is, much like the kings of Daniel’s time. I would rather be one who daily recognizes the greatness of our God that Nebuchadnezzar and Darius learned the hard way thousands of years ago. He is the Lord above all, who rescues and saves and provides security to all who follow Him. He can’t be replaced, voted out of office, or become subject to term limits, because His dominion lasts forever.