Another In The Fire – Get Me Outta Here!

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One of my recent favorite worship songs is, “There is Another in the Fire” by Hillsong United. The first stanza and chorus of the song go like this:

There’s a grace when the heart is under fire
Another way, when the walls are closing in
And when I look at the space in between
Where I used to be and this reckoning
I know I will never be alone

(Chorus)

There was another in the fire
Standing next to me
There was another in the waters
Holding back the seas
And should I ever need reminding
Of how I’ve been set free
There is a cross that bears the burden
Where another died for me
There is another in the fire

You should listen to the whole song—it’s really powerful!

When I think of the faith of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, I feel like a spiritual wimp! Celebrating my 32nd spiritual birthday February 16th, I wonder how I would respond if placed in similar circumstances. I believe, should that happen, the assurances from Jesus in Luke 12:11-12 would be true for me:

“And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.”

I want to think that my witness of perseverance under trials and stress would, just like these young men demonstrated, draw people to Jesus. I want to present another way of dealing with the challenges of our time. These thoughts give me pause to intercede for our Christian brothers and sisters in Ukraine and Russia, for all the leaders to seek peace and pursue it. The love of Jesus changed that part of the world before, and we must pray that it happens again!

Jesus told us that we would experience all of this. In John 16:33 he said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Take heart, Jesus says. In other words, have hope—faith-filled hope. The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 5:5, “And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”

As Pastor Ben said this weekend, faith-filled hope moves us from an “if only” to an “even if”.

The YouTube version linked above features an ending not found in the original lyrics. It goes:

Even if he doesn’t
I will praise him
Even if he doesn’t
I will stand tall
Even if he doesn’t
I’m not bowing to this world
Even if he doesn’t
I ain’t changing my confession

That’s the faith I want to present to the world. I pray that through the power of the Holy Spirit I will have this faith, even if….

Questions:
How are your faith muscles holding up? What spiritual exercises might you engage in to strengthen your confidence in the power of Jesus to hold you, even if…?

Are you spending daily time reading God’s Word and praying? If not, why not? How can you begin?

Next Steps:
One of the most important things you can do as a Christian is to find fellow Christ followers, 2 or 3 people who will walk with you through your life as a believer. They will love you enough to encourage and strengthen you, and call you out when you drift in the wrong direction. And you will do the same for them. Join a Group to help you find these people.

Most importantly, become the hands and feet of Christ in your world. One way to do this is through the Hope It Helps campaign.

Take 15 minutes each day to read God’s word and pray.

Prayer:
My Jesus, thank you for never leaving or forsaking me! I trust that and know it to be true, even if (fill in the blank). Every time I seek you and your will, you will use every circumstance I find myself in to teach me more about your love for me! I know you will always stand in the fire next to me! Prince of Peace, shower your grace, peace, and mercy on our world.

This post was written by Lauri White. Lauri is one of the 25 people that God used to start CedarCreek in the Fall of 1995, and was on staff until 2013. Lauri loves Jesus, and loves helping people, especially women, live out of the truth about who we are in Christ. She and her husband Mike live in Oregon, but now spend winter months in Florida near daughter Kelda and her family.

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Trust Without Hesitation – Get Me Outta Here!

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Have you ever had your identity stolen? It’s not fun. It becomes difficult to trust people, especially when the theft is personal. It happened to me about 24 years ago. Sharing it now is easy because I’ve moved past it, and if I hadn’t, well, 24 years is a long time to hold a grudge.

The actions weren’t enough to do any permanent damage, but it was enough to embarrass, shame, and build up rage in a young man.  The person at fault admitted their guilt and tried to do what they could from a distance, but they weren’t willing to make it right in person. I found myself alone and angry and needing to figure out how to get my good name back.

Even with a notarized document of truth on my side, it was hard to escape the fire of my identity theft experience.

Daniel 3:23
So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego couldn’t escape the fire either, but God didn’t abandon them. In fact, he was right there with them. He also used it as an opportunity to reveal himself to Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel 3:25
“Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”  

Honestly, I didn’t necessarily choose to trust God as well as I could have at that time, but he made sure I wasn’t trapped. Eventually, through God’s faithful love, I was in a place where I could forgive. God grew me through the process, even though it wasn’t enjoyable at the time. I had to walk through the flames, but God used the challenge to develop my faith, and I can now share my experiences to help others see God’s faithfulness.

Now, I am able to enter those heated, “Get Me Outta Here!” situations trusting God no matter what. My faith has developed from “if only“ to an even if”. Sometimes we have to walk through the flames, but God can use that to not only refine our faith, but be a witness to others.

Questions:
Do you have a personal story of trusting God no matter what? What went wrong when you decided not to trust God?

Next Steps:
Continue reading the Book of Daniel and explore other books in the Bible to see examples of God being there when people trusted in him. Share those stories with others.

Participate in the Hope It Helps campaign. It’s a great way to share the love of Jesus and open the door for conversation.

Prayer:
God, you are always here to ease our troubled minds. Thank you for loving us through our pain and our triumphs equally. Let those we forgive see what it does to our hearts so they may forgive as well. May we all be willing to love as we are loved. Amen.

This post was written by Jaron Camp. Jaron is a storyteller and a professional ghostwriter who enjoys using his gifts to write for the LivingItOut. When he’s not developing fictional worlds, researching, and writing, Jaron enjoys watching sports, participating in family game night, and spending time with his wife and four kids.

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Even If, We Can Trust God – Get Me Outta Here!

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Have you ever been stuck in a situation where a peer, friend, or mentor makes a negative comment about something you care about? From the small topics, like a sports team or favorite musician, to the large ones, like your children or ostracized people, we all have things that are important to us. Things we want to be willing to fight for. Yet it is so easy for us to think, “If only someone else would say something; if only someone else would stand up for this.”

In the Book of Daniel, there is a story of three men who bravely stood up for their faith in God. When Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah—better known as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—were ordered to worship a giant statue, they refused. King Nebuchadnezzar personally threatened to toss them into a burning furnace, offering them a final opportunity to obey.

Daniel 3:16-18 (emphasis added)
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18 But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

They didn’t whimper among themselves, crying “If only God would save us, then we could continue to worship him!” No, they bravely and respectfully told the king that even if God didn’t rescue them, they would still place their trust in him.

Almost six hundred years later, after Jesus returned to Heaven, many of the letters written about Jesus and the faith encouraged the young church to stand firm. Experiencing dangers not unlike the troubles Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced, the young church was being persecuted by the Roman leaders. Peter, one of the original disciples, wrote to them, “But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats” (1 Peter 3:14, emphasis added).

He didn’t say, “if only we didn’t have to suffer, then we could trust God,” but “even if we suffer, we can trust God.” The same is true for us. We can place our faith and hope in God, even if.

Questions:
Is there anything you need to take a stand for today? How can you take a risk and do the right thing? Where can you turn your thoughts from “if only” to “even if”?

Next Steps:
Find a way to stand up for what you believe in, whether it is big or small. Respectfully explain the way you see something. Read verses like 1 Corinthians 15:58 and Philippians 4:1 about standing firm in the Lord.

Prayer:
Father, you are good and honorable and loving. Help me stand firm in all that you are. Please, let me have the courage to do what is right, with respect and love for everyone around me. I trust you, no matter what. Amen.

This post was written by Lydia Snyder. Lydia has been a story-lover for as long as she can remember, often found reading books or writing. She is thrilled to be making a difference by inspiring others to take part in the best story ever – God’s story. Lydia lives with her three wonderful siblings and two amazing parents.

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“Even If,” Not “If Only” – Get Me Outta Here!

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I have traveled down life’s well-trodden path for over 68 years now, and as I look back and reflect on days gone by, it amazes me how far I have come, especially in my spiritual growth. For most of my life (minus my few rebellious years), I have considered myself a reasonably strong Christian man. But over the last four years, since I started attending CedarCreek Church, I see that I still have room to grow. Looking back, I have realized that, even though I believed in God and was trying my best to follow him, most of the time I was still trying to control life’s situations on my own.

If you are anything like me, you have found yourself in situations where you wished you had more control. I can remember times I thought or said things like, “If only I could get that promotion I want,” or “If only I had that new pickup truck I have been wanting.” The big one for me: “If only I could make life slow down for a moment, so I can catch my breath.” Yes, my past has been filled with “If only” moments and, at times, so is my present. “If only I could do more for my kids,” or “If only I could retire.”

Lead Pastor Ben Snyder continued the “Get Me Outta Here” series this past weekend by discussing the “if only”. He used the story in the Book of Daniel involving King Nebuchadnezzar and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Daniel 3:13-15
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in, 14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? 15 I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?”

Daniel 3:19-23
19 Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. 20 Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. 22 And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. 23 So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.

King Nebuchadnezzar was trying to exercise his power and control all the people in his kingdom. So, when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused his command, he may have been thinking “If only I can make these men obey me, everyone will see how powerful I am.”

Pastor Ben explained that when we enter into situations thinking “if only,” then we are not putting our faith in God and relinquishing control to him, and our hope is fragile. “If only” very rarely produces positive results. Continue reading tomorrow to learn more about moving from an “if only” to an “even if” type of faith.

Questions:
How often do you find yourself saying “if only”?

Do you struggle to relinquish control during “Get Me Outta Here” situations? If so, why do you think that is?

Next Steps:
Continue exploring the Book of Daniel for some inspiring examples of faith and hope.

The next time you find yourself in a “Get Me Outta Here” moment, pray, and relinquish control to God.

Offer hope to others! Participate in our Hope It Helps campaign.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, so many times when I find myself in pressure-filled situations, I try to take control myself. Help me to do away with the “if only” mindset and put my faith in you. Give me the strength to avoid what produces fragile hope and always turn my eyes to you. Amen!

This post was written by Ned Miller. Ned loves serving through writing on the LIO team, prayer team, group leader and as a greeter. He loves spending time with his family and working on his model railroad.

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Fragile or Faith-Filled? – Get Me Outta Here!

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This past weekend, Lead Pastor Ben Snyder spoke about hope in the face of fear. Stepping into Daniel 3, the dilemma of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is revealed. Things literally began to heat up around them—talk about a “get me outta here” moment!

The stage is set in Daniel 3:1-6:

“King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 Then he sent messages to the high officers, officials, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the dedication of the statue he had set up. 3 So all these officials came and stood before the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then a herald shouted out, ‘People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king’s command! 5 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue. 6 Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.’”

King Nebuchadnezzar made perfectly clear the consequences for anyone who disobeyed his decree. Imagine the king’s rage when some of his astrologers told him that the administrators over the province of Babylon paid no attention to the decree. The astrologers even reminded the king that the decree stated those refusing to obey must be thrown into a blazing furnace.

Maybe you’ve been in a position similar to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s (well, probably without the literal fiery inferno). Many can relate to experiencing outward manipulation, as demonstrated here by the enraged king. These are the very situations God has possibly allowed for our good—not our harm—and for his glory!

This week’s bottom line, “Faith-filled hope moves from ‘if only’ to ‘even if’”, can easily be merged with last week’s bottom line: “Real faith produces radical hope.” It is radical, faith-filled hope that makes it possible to step firmly into an “even if” way of thinking.

As we travel through Daniel 3 together, make an effort to personalize this week’s message. Take the role of one of Daniel’s friends; then, you decide. Is your faith fragile—the faith that says, “if only … ”? Or, do you possess faith-filled hope—the faith that says, “even if … ”?

Questions:
Who have you bowed to out of fear and intimidation? Do you possess the emotional fortitude to take a stand, and remain standing, especially when that stand represents the minority, the few, or the unpopular truth? Do you need to develop and exercise spiritual disciplines to increase your knowledge of God?

Next Steps:
Identify where fear and intimidation show up within you. Develop the spiritual strength of taking a stand for the righteousness of God. Join a Group or have accountability with a fellow Christ-follower who is further down the path in their spiritual growth.

Spend 15 minutes each day reading Scripture and praying to get to know God better.

Choose to embrace/grow into an “even if” faith as portrayed via the lyrics of MercyMe here.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, you have brought me far in my spiritual development. Thank you for the patience you have extended to me. I want to know you deeply—your character. It is not about what you can give me materially. There is no greater joy than having the assurance of an “even if” faith that will not be shaken at the slightest breeze of uncertainty or discomfort. In Jesus’ name, amen.

This post was written by Karen Peck. Karen retired in March 2018 from Lucas County Information Services. She has been married to her husband, E. Michael, for over forty years. Karen is extremely grateful retirement has afforded her several soul-fulfilling opportunities to engage in deeper, meaningful relationship with Him and others.

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