Daniel Safari.....week 1

I'm safari-ing (is that a word?) through the book of Daniel with some online gals. Before I launch into some lofty theological discourse on the book of Daniel, let me first say that I never get beyond something like the first 5 chapters of Daniel before fear grips me as the prophecies and all those 7's start showing up and, well, scaring me. So this will be a first for me.
A couple of thoughts about the first chapter:

• Daniel resolved in his heart. In verse 8, he resolved not to defile himself. I love that. He made up his mind. "Resolve" is a word that you hear in conjunction with heroes, Olympic athletes, people overcoming great odds, and occasionally a carpet cleaner. But Daniel knew the right thing to do and did it.
  
• God blesses obedience. In verse 15, it says that at the end of the ten days of eating only vegetables and water, the 4 boys looked "healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food." Think of it: offered to you are a beautiful, multi-course meal from the finest restaurant in town. It probably smelled divine. But the boys said no, a salad from McDonald's will do me just fine. That, my friend, is resolve. And God blessed it! More than they could think or imagine.

I've tried all week to think of a time when I stood apart or took a stand for something that I believed in like Daniel did. Honestly, I've never done anything as courageous as Daniel. The only thing that comes even remotely close is simply my day to day walk with Jesus. I work part time as a nurse and talk about my life and my struggles just like everyone else. I complain and grumble. I even slip up and say a bad word every now and then. I hope that my co-workers and my patients see a little tiny glimpse of a speck of Jesus in me, but I'm not so sure they do.

However, God is teaching me. One of His most powerful tools are through my children. The 8 year old came home last week with this story:

Tucker got in the car and told me that he was talking to a few of his classmates (who are Jewish). They were talking about Christian vs Jewish holidays and finally Tucker said, "I know you don't believe in Jesus. But all you have to do is read the New Testament. Then you will see that Jesus is God's Son." The kids replied, "Yeah, but Tucker, the NT isn't part of *our* Bible. We don't believe it." And Tucker said, "Well, just read it. Then you'll see." Very simple. Very straighforward. But to an 8 year old who is as social and friendly as they come, he risked them making fun of him or ostracizing him to share the truth of Jesus.

When I grow up I want to be like Tucker.