iSLEEP

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I mentioned last week that I love the book of Daniel,
and by reading a commentary about him, I discovered
some exciting things.

Last week I shared that I found out Daniel was only 14
when he was captured.
And his three best friends—Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego—
were even younger than he was!

I’m impressed with their strong relationship with God,
and I’m impressed with their backbones of steel.

I sure hope we’re bringing up some Daniels today.
I challenged you last week to grab a student and help him/her become a Daniel by participating on our Susie Shellenberger Ministries missions trip to Haiti June 27 to July 10, 2016.

BUT I gave the wrong address to our Website!

Here’s the correct address if you’d like to get the info:

www.neverthesamemissions.org

I mistakenly put a period after org and you told me you couldn’t connect.
Try it again with this correct address.

OK. Let’s get back to Daniel.

Here’s another amazing thing I’ve discovered.
Most Bible scholars believe Daniel was 87 years old when he was
thrown into the den of lions.

87!!!!

And most Bible scholars also believe that he just slept the entire night.
I know what some of you are thinking.
Some of you are saying, “Susie! When you’re 87, that’s all you do—sleep!”

Maybe.
But I think he slept not simply because he was getting up in years.
I believe he was able to sleep because of his strong relationship with God.

In other words, Daniel’s relationship with Jehovah God was so intimate . . . so secure . . . so strong . . . that he could simply sleep
IN THE MIDST of persecution.

Wow.
That’s what I want.

When I feel as though my world is falling apart, or people make fun of my convictions, I want to be able to simply relax and think,
God has my back.
So I don’t need to worry.
I can just sleep right through this.

Maybe sleeping can become my spiritual gift.
Ha!

iSLEEP

Wouldn’t it be great to actually be so calm during trials or persecution that we could actually just sleep right through it because we know God is in complete charge?

Let’s “dare to be a Daniel” (as the old hymn says).

And let’s reach out to some students and help them become intimate with God. We need more Daniels today.

Will you join me in becoming a Daniel?

He Was How Old???

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I love the story of Daniel.
In fact, I love his life so much, I’ve been reading a Bible commentary about him.
I discovered some interesting things. Here’s just one:

• Daniel was only 14 years old when he was taken captive.

I love the fact that even at the young age of 14, he had such a strong relationship with God, that he was able to say no to the things that were set before him.

You know a 14-year-old boy who was hungry and had traveled for miles in captivity, was certainly tempted by the rich and plenteous food and drinks that were offered him.

But he said no.

I hope we’re raising some young Daniels and Danielle’s today.
Maybe you know a 14-year-old.
If he or she were kidnapped by terrorists and thrown into a room with all the latest tech gadgets (iPODS, iPADS, iWATCHES, video games, etc.) would they look around and say, “Ooooh. Amazing. I want it. BUT . . . I’m not sure God is a part of this, so I better say no for now.”

I know some young Daniels and Danieles.
I meet them each summer on the annual two-week missions trip I lead. They’re students who are sold-out to God.
Students who want to make a difference.
Students who give themselves to others.
Students who respond in obedience to God’s leading.

This next summer, we’ll be going to Haiti.
BEFORE the earthquake in 2010, experts say the number of orphans in Haiti was approximately 380,000.

Experts now estimate that the number of orphans has doubled to about 750,000 SINCE the earthquake.

So I need a lot of Daniels.
I need students.
And I need adults—
people who will come alongside me for two weeks to make a difference.

Yes, we’ll work with orphans.
We’ll also get our hands dirty with some work projects.
And, of course, we’ll spread the gospel . . . the students will do this through a 22-minute drama pantomime that’s set to Creole (the Haitian language).

We’ll also set up small one-day medical clinics in a variety of places and offer light medical attention to those who needs it. So, physicians, nurses, P.A.s, and other medical workers are desired.

Would you take the hand of a student and bring him or her on this missions adventure? If so, you’ll both return never the same.

That’s what we’re calling the trip.
Never the Same.

If you’d like more information, we’ve set up a Web site: www.neverthesamemissions.org.

IF you decide to download the application and apply to attend, it’s important that you put MY NAME at the top of it. Just write “Susie told me about this.”

Why?
Because for the past 17 years, I’ve used Big World Ventures (Tulsa, OK) to put the details together for me and to handle all the applications that come in. If they see my name on your application, they’ll speed up the process and will get back with you faster.

Will you dare to be a Daniel?
Will you invest in the life of a student and help him or her become a Daniel?

(If you know a genuine Daniel, please tell me about him/her!)

Next week, I’ll share another exciting fact I’ve learned about Daniel.
But until then, there’s an old, old hymn I want to leave you with:

 

“Dare To Be a Daniel”
Standing by a purpose true,
Heeding God’s command,
Honor them, the faithful few!
All hail to Daniel’s band!
Refrain:
Dare to be a Daniel,
Dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm!
Dare to make it known.

 

I Need a Break

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I love what I do.
I’m an ordained evangelist.
That means God is allowing me to speak and write fulltime.
I travel 42 weeks/weekends every year opening God’s Word
to a variety of groups.
And though there’s absolutely nothing I’d rather do more . . .
sometimes I get physically tired.

So He has helped me discover a way to “take a break”
and still do what I love to do—talk about Him!

I have put together a Christian ladies cruise.
I’m calling it “Girlfriends, a Giant God and a Really Big Boat!”

The dates are next May 28—June 4, 2016.
Lots of laughter,
swimming with dolphins,
growing together spiritually.

I’m so excited, I can’t stand it!
And I’d love for you to come WITH me.

Maybe you, too, need a break from the pressures,
deadlines
and chores of life.

And if those dates don’t work for you?
I’m involved in another Christian cruise January 16-21, 2016.
I’m not running this one, but I’ll get to speak.
It will have a completely different feel than the ladies cruise.
The January one is for men AND women,
and it’s a Southern Gospel cruise.
Lots of good music and preaching.

The prices for both cruises are amazing!
If you need a break . . .
or if you’re wondering what to get a loved one for Christmas . . .
send me an email with your complete mailing address,
and tell me which cruise you want more information on,
and I’ll send you the brochure.

Let’s take a break.
Together.
I need one.
And I’d love to take it with YOU!

 

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God: my hope comes from him”
(Psalm 62:5).

 

susieshell@comcast.net

I’m Stuck on This Copycat Thing . . .

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I know. I know. I know.
I’ve been rambling on about imitating Christ for the past few weeks.
But I can’t help it.
It’s where I am.
It’s what God is teaching me.
And I want to share it with you.

I’m still stuck on the apostle Paul.
We already looked at what he said in 1 Corinthians 4:16:
“I urge you to imitate me.”

Let’s also look at what he said in 1 Corinthians 11:1:
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (NIV).

And in Acts 20, Paul encouraged the new believers to
emulate him,
to watch him,
to listen to him,
to be like him.

Could it be that Paul knew something we’ve forgotten?
That we’re not simply called to speak the gospel—
but that we ARE the gospel!

Even though Paul was tortured,
shipwrecked,
misunderstood
and jailed,
he was living in the kingdom of God.

His eyes weren’t focused on his situation.
He looked past the pain
the discomfort
the hatred . . .
and focused instead on simply being Jesus.
And acting on earth as he would act in heaven.
He was living in the kingdom of God—
while he was on earth.

Father, help me to live in Your kingdom
right here
right now
regardless of what I’m experiencing.

Help me to imitate You.
Help me to live the kingdom life—
on earth.

Oh, Paul!

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At first I found myself in awe of the apostle Paul
as he said, “I urge you to imitate me” (1 Corinthians 4:16).

But I have to admit . . . later, I began to feel frustrated with him.
I mean, after all, Paul wasn’t perfect.

After his conversion, he determined to the “the great voice”
to the Jews. But they hated him. And almost every time they
heard him preach, they tried to kill him. The disciples had to
pack Paul in a basket and lower him by ropes over the city wall
at midnight just to keep him safe.

But Paul kept preaching to the Jews.
And he kept getting death threats.
And being persecuted.
And causing all kinds of division.

Finally, the disciples said, “Hey, Paul. We know God has called
you to preach. And that’s exciting. And we know He’ll use you.
But He’s just not using you here. I mean, can’t you see it?
It’s obvious that God has something else for you.
This isn’t working! Please leave and wait for God’s direction on
your ministry.”

The disciples said that!
It’s kind of funny.
It was like Paul just kept banging his head against the wall:
“This SHOULD work. It CAN work. It HAS to work.
I’m the right person for this job!”

But it wasn’t working!

If Paul could have only seen into the future:
If he could have known THEN that God would use him to bring
the Gospel to the Gentiles . . . and that he would write most of
the New Testament . . . that his ministry would be talked about,
read about and preached about for centuries . . .

Maybe it would have been easier to stop what he was doing
and move on. And wait for God’s direction. For God’s open door.
For the new ministry God wanted to give him.

After leaving the disciples and spending about a decade making
tents and waiting for God’s direction, Paul finally realized his ministry was to the Gentiles. And look what God did through Him!

Two things stand out to me:

  1. Paul wasn’t perfect. But he WAS so united with Christ, that he was able to say, “Imitate me.” God would use the Holy Spirit to seal up the cracks . . . so that when people DID watch Paul’s life, what the Holy Spirit allowed them to see was Paul’s obedient side.
  2. When God tries to shut down something we’re involved in, why do we often keep trying to force it to work?

Let’s ask God to:

  • help us live in such intimacy with Him that we’re able to say,
    “Imitate me,” because I’m copying Christ.
  • give us discernment to know when to move on and trust Him
    to open a new door.

    Thoughts?