by Linda L. Scisson

When God wants to get my attention, He speaks to me in more than one way. That happened during the sermon series on the Book of Daniel: a life lesson in exercising the courage of our convictions.

The sermons were given at the same time a movie on American chef Julia Child (1912-2004) played in local theatres. One of the quotes by Julia Child in “Julie & Julia” was, “When you flip anything, you just got to have the courage of your convictions.”

Also, in August and early September of 2009, I re-visited Daniel: Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophecy by Beth Moore (Living Proof Ministries in Houston, Texas). As I re-watched Beth Moore’s DVD messages that coincided with the chapters in our sermon series, I noticed that what she emphasized, our pastors did, too: “To be resolved to live undefiled; to live in a passionate pursuit of Jesus; and to live captivated by the King,” as quoted in the series’ opening sermon on August 9.  

Like the courageous men in Daniel, Chapter 3 — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego — teaching pastors Brandon Barnard, Mark Henry, and Bill Parkinson led us through the “fiery furnace” of exhortation with “Resolution: A Life of Clarity & Conviction.” Sermon titles were (1) “Captivated by the King,” (2) “Testing Your Resolve,” (3) “One Burp Away,” — taken from a quote in Dr. Seuss’ Yertle the Turtle (which now graces my bookshelf) — and (4) “Facing Your Lion’s Den.”  

With summer’s end and school bells ringing, I’m reminded I can’t allow myself to be “too cool for school.” I’ve got to drop my pride, as demonstrated by the lives of three kings: Nebuchadnezzar (Ch. 2-5), Darius (Ch. 6), and Turtle King Yertle.

And I’ve got to . . .

Keep my faith captivated on “the Most High God.”

Be resolved to trust God at all times.

Welcome opportunities to show my devotion to God.

And seek wise people to help me sort through life’s complexities, like Nebuchadnezzar sought interpretation of his dreams (Ch. 2) and the strange inscriptions on the palace wall (Ch. 5) from Daniel “because an excellent spirit was in him” (Dan. 6:3b).

Regardless of what challenges I face in the “lion’s den,” may I keep in mind that all of God’s works “are right and His ways are just” (Dan. 4:37b); that God “delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth” (Dan. 6:27a); and “light dwells with him” (Dan. 2:22).

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might” (Dan. 2:20).

Now, that’s some “handwriting on the wall” one wants to recall.

I’m glad God teaches me through the weekly sermons presented by our teaching pastors at Fellowship Bible Church—and then adds a second helping of instruction through others: like a turtle named Yertle, a Bible teacher in Texas, and a chef mastering the art of French cooking.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.