Melody has always had a sense of style and design. She used to color coordinate her dad’s outfits because he couldn’t pick a tie or shirt to go with a suit to save himself. She loved her options; she knew some things work better than others depending on the situation.
She’s graduated from clothes to our headquarters. She and her friend Lauren are in charge of the Great Transformation that is happening on our property. The buildings’ interiors needed refreshment–the wear and tear of twenty-seven years of usage had taken its toll. Plus we’ve had to add space for almost double the people which the space was built for.
She was here working on specifics for the buildout. Walking around with my daughter and introducing her to people made me a proud momma showing off her skill set.
Melody walked me through the construction area, and we both had to put on hard hats. I know wearing hard hats is necessary for areas like this, but I’ve never had to use one before. My response to this precaution? Look up and question what could fall on me.
We all take protection seriously because we value our safety.
What happens when our values and beliefs are more important than our safety?
Daniel was a Jewish man living under bondage with his people to the Persians and Medes. King Darius chose Daniel as one of his administrators, a move that irritated other officials. They wanted to find a way to lessen his value in the eyes of the king. They knew the only way to do that was to use his faith against him. They made a law that, for thirty days, no one could pray to anyone other than the king.
Daniel believed in God and refused to follow the orders–which was the response these men hoped for. They found him praying to God, arrested him, and brought him before Darius, who needed to find him guilty because of the law he’d approved.
He had Daniel thrown into the lions’ den; a huge stone was placed over the entrance so he couldn’t escape. The king couldn’t rest while Daniel was trapped with the hungry beasts.
Early in the morning he returned to the lions’ den and called to see if Daniel’s God had saved him.
Daniel answered, “My God has sent His angels to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in His sight. And I have not wronged you, your Majesty.” Daniel 6:22
Those who maliciously accused him were thrown into the lions’ den, where they didn’t fare as well as Daniel had.
Who we are and how we live out the truth are important. Standing up for righteous living, especially in light of our age of relativism, is a challenge because people want to adjust truth according to circumstances. Being faithful to Biblical truth takes courage.
“So be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid and do not panic before them (your enemies). For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
In life, we don’t need hard hats as much as bold hearts to cling to what is right.
That kind of courage we can take wherever we go.
Tip of My Iceberg 
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