Excerpt from "Hope When the River Rages"

VULTURES- I believe that everyone, at some point in his or her life, has felt the circling of the vultures. Have you had times when you’ve cried out, "NO, I'M NOT DEAD YET!" Possibly your vultures aren’t waiting for your physical death. Maybe they’re circling to watch and wait for the demise of your emotional, financial, or spiritual well being. Perhaps you’re exhausted from the battle you’re waging against the vultures of unbelief. When the hard times come and keep coming, it’s often difficult to hang on to our beliefs. We feel forsaken by the Lord. We feel that He’s absent, that He’s not looking; that He’s stopped caring and working on our behalf. It’s hard to trust that God is doing a good work in our lives.

It seems that so many people today choose to believe in God, sing His praises, give Him glory, as long as He answers their prayers as THEY see fit. As long as the storms of life pass by leaving them only a bit damp and disheveled, as long as it’s raining hardest on the surrounding areas, then their faith remains intact. I’ve been there.

Praise from the mountaintop is easy. Praise that reaches up from the valley is the true measure of our faith.

Remember the familiar story of Shadrach,Meshach, and Abednego?  These three young men were uprooted, taken captive, and forced to live in Babylon after Jerusalem had been destroyed.  King Nebuchadnezzar, took his pick of the spoil of the city of Jerusalem.  The spoil included young men like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  They were hand picked because they were strong and because they were young.  Nebuchadnezzar hoped to be able to brain-wash them, change their thinking, eradicate their faith in God Jehovah, and eventually train them to be, not only good citizens of Babylon, but valuable advocates and assets within his service.  After several years in captivity, King Nebuchadnezzar took notice of these three young men (Daniel 2:49) and promoted them to serve as administrators over the province of Babylon.  This well-deserved season of their lives was threatened, however, by jealous accusers in verse 8 of chapter 3.  Because Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were bold enough to stand up for what they believed, they stood out as being different. They found themselves in a position of grave danger when they refused to bow down before the image of gold set up by King Nebuchadnezzar.  I’m drawn to their response when Nebuchadnezzar tells them they will most assuredly be thrown into a blazing furnace if they don’t bow down. 

He asks them, "What God will be able to rescue you?"  I love it when they answer in verse 17, "The God we serve is able to save us."  Those few words say it all.  They were walking the talk…living out their steadfast, unconditional belief, their trust and faith in God Almighty.  Their response goes on in verse 18 with the words, "But even if He does not, we will worship Him anyway."  There it is…I know without a doubt He has the power to deliver me from harm, from hard times, of any kind.  But even if He does not…I will worship and praise Him anyway.

I don’t want mine to be a 911 kind of faith.  I don’t want my connection with God to be initiated by emergency or crisis.  I don’t want to have to dial up, be connected or re-connected. I want a REAL relationship with my Lord.  I want my own dedicated line, one that’s always open, frequently used throughout each and every day and night, and one that never disconnects.  My Lord offers me that kind of access. What a privilege to have a private line, a personal link, an audience with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Nancy Kaltenberger is an author and dynamic inspirational speaker who lives in Loveland, CO. Contact her at:  nk4m@comcast.net

“In writing this book, my HOPE is that I will be able to ignite a fire, nudge, urge someone, somewhere to reach out and open the gifts that God has given them.  My PURPOSE is to awaken dreams, visions, and missions long ago forsaken for lack of hope.  My DESIRE is that you will see the Creator, the Savior who made the ultimate sacrifice for mankind in order for you to “live out” hope in your life.  May God receive the glory, honor, and praise.”   Nancy

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Hope- When the River Rages
by Nancy Kaltenberger

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