A small preface: My Bible Study group is doing the same Bible Study as Thoughtful mom -- Daniel by Beth Moore. I promise I'm not repeating! My group is a few weeks behind Thoughtful's. I'm also enjoying technology!  On the nights that I miss the video session in the main group, I've been downloading them and watching them via the internet. (I love cable internet! That would not have been possible to do with Dial-up) End of preface.

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Week 3 - Video Session

Tonight's session was powerful and all about Daniel's friends.

Shadrach, Meshach & Benny (to quote VeggieTales)

The King built an 8 story statue. Made of Gold. Look back on Chapter 2 - Beth suggests that he got the idea from that vision. I sort of think that he wanted to be remembered...and an 8 story statue sounded like something that couldn't be easily forgotten.  And hey - since we've got the statue - let's worship it.

The three amigos refuse. Here's a funny I noticed.

In Scripture - they're only supposed to bow down and worship the one statue. But when The 3 are called onto the carpet - it's not just the one statue - but also the other gods that they weren't worshipping. That was funny to me...talk about trumped up charges.

They were given a second chance and refuesed.  They were tied up - and then were thrown into the firey furnace!

They went through a firey trial...choosing to believe God instead of bowing down. They were thrown in fully dressed, Daniel even lists the items of clothes they were wearing and, yet, the only things that got burned up were their bonds.

Those things that hold us in bondage are the things that get burned away during a firey trial.  It's going through the firey trial that our faith is perfected! Refined! Thrilling...to be refined is to have no impurities...bondages are impurities. Keen Gear.

Then the 4th man showed up - way to go Jesus!!

When they emerged from the furnace - they didn't even smell like smoke. I've always loved that part of the story. I've been around campfires and could smell smoke in my nose for hours after!! Hair, clothes, skin all smell like smoke. Beth Moore pointed out that even Fajita's leave a smell on us!! That made me giggle because she's right.

When we go through the firey trial (and Isaiah points out that it's "When" not "If"), we have a choice to make. Will we go through it praising and believing God (like the Famous 3 in Daniel?) Or will we go out smelling like smoke? The smoke of bitterness, resentment, anger, self-pity...the list could go on and on.

Of course, I reflected on my life and circumstances: important and not, serious and not, homeschooling and not.  I do NOT want to smell like smoke!

I want to go through with my joy intact.

With praise on my lips!!

The question I need to ask myself - Smoking or non??