Fiery Furnaces

 by Macy Johnson

“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace,

the God we serve is able to save us from it,

and He will rescue us from your hand.”

(Daniel 3:17 NIV)

 

I firmly believe when I am taught a new lesson from scripture, I can expect a test along those lines pretty soon after.

 

The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel chapter 3 is one of my favorite Bible truths. Paige Brown of West End Community Church recently brought it to life for me in her online study in the book of Daniel. Although the three men were bound with ropes when thrown into the furnace, they walked around with a visitor. The blaze burned off their ropes, but did not singe a single hair on their heads. They were free!

Adopt-A-Shelf

 by Macy Johnson

“Dominion and awe belong to God;

He establishes order in the heights of heaven.”

(Job 25:2 NIV)

 

Benjamin Franklin is credited with the quote “A place for everything, everything in its place.” According to BookBrowse.com, “the first known use of the exact expression appears in The Naughty Girl Won, a story published by the Religious Tract Society in 1799.”

Ping!

 by Macy Johnson

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart O God, you will not despise.”

(Psalm 51:17 NIV)

 

I sat quietly and read through my weekly Bible Study on the book of Ephesians while my piano received its annual tuning. The sporadic sounds of notes played repeatedly were a distraction. Ping! A sudden “crack” reverberated through the house. 

Open Doors

by Macy Johnson

“Ask and it will be given to you;

seek and you will find;

knock and the door will be opened to you.”

(Matthew 7:7 NIV)

 

I took my seat at the large table for the quarterly meeting of the Friends of Greene County Library. I visited with the Vice President and prepared to take minutes as the new Secretary when a member sat down next to me. I met Kim at a previous library function many months ago. She laid down a copy of one of my God Sightings books, pointed to the picture on the back cover, and excitedly asked, “Is this you?” “Yes,” I replied. “I want to talk with you after the meeting,” she whispered.

 

Celebrate Life!

by Macy Johnson

“For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”

(Psalm 139:13 NIV)

 

I recently attended the memorial service for a dear friend. Many years ago Sally and I sang in the church choir and played handbells together. She passed away on her seventy-fifth birthday after she fought a long battle with cancer. The same day she was welcomed into heaven, my daughter celebrated her birthday. Sally ran into the arms of Jesus while Libby strolled on a sunny beach in the Caribbean with her husband.

Glory

by Macy Johnson

“Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

let your glory be over all the earth.”

(Psalm 57:5 NIV)

 

The word glory appears almost three hundred times in the Bible, forty-four times in the Psalms alone. It can be defined as the manifested presence and uniqueness of our Creator God.

Unseen

by Macy Johnson

“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’

before men, to be seen by them.

If you do, you will have no reward

from your Father in heaven.”

(Matthew 6:1 NIV)

 

I recently read a story about a master craftsman who labored at the site of a new cathedral. A bystander asked him why he worked with diligence on a piece of stone that would not be seen. The man replied, “God will see it.”