Saturday, October 16, 2010

Compare and Contrast: The Venn Diagram

Todays lesson will be one that will focus on a news item we all witnessed or know a little about and The Visible Hand of God AlMighty in it.In school we use a strategy in Literacy called The Venn Diagram to help students compare and contrast two things,people, places,whatever it may be. This diagram is two interconnecting oval shaped circles (they don't have to be oval, but circles) in which there are now three distinct areas to write information in. One section on the left side of the circle is for the subject on that side and one section on the right side of the circle is for that subjects information and in the middle where the circles meet, that space is for the information the two subjects have in common or are alike. This diagram is successful in helping students learn how to decipher information about a subject and to put that information in the category to which it belongs. I would like to use The Venn in todays blog and the two subjects for the diagram will be the three Hebrew boys - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego on the left of the diagram and the 33(34) Chilean miners on the right side of the diagram, and in the middle - the common area, is where ministry is and I shall strive to bring words to pictures in this area The HOLY SPIRIT has trusted me to write.(Psalm 71:19). To God be all the glory for all things He allows because His Word says that ALL things work together for good to them that LOVE GOD and are called according to HIS purpose (Romans 8:28).At times those things can be bad, as this situation was for these miners and for the three Hebrew boys in their situation. So let us learn what we can. The common area of the diagram is this: both subjects were entrapped and seemingly at the end of all hope: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into a firery, flaming, furnace upon the orders of the king,(Daniel 3:19-22), the Chilean miners were stranded a mile under the earth, unable (seemingly) to be freed. Both believed and HAD FAITH IN GOD (Mark 11:22) as the miners stated upon their rescue and during their communications throughout this ordeal, and Shadrach, Meshach,and Abednego stated clearly and unashamedly that GOD would deliver them from this fire pit (Daniel 3:1-17). Both had the presence of THE LORD with them in these ordeals- the king checked on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego after they were thrown into the firery, flaming, furnace and clearly saw 4 men walking around unbound, not burned, not singed, not scorched, free,(Daniel 3:23-27) (Psalm 119:156).GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!!! One of the Chilean miners stated upon his rescue that there were 34 of them under ground.PRAISES!!!! God NEVER lets go of HIS PROPERTY no matter what happens. His LOVE and MERCY is forever and enduring through everything (Lamentations 3:21-23). It is in the pains and difficulty in life that we see that so clearly. Both captives were freed without a sign of any kind of indication there ever was a captivity.GLORY!!! You would think that with fire, something is going to get burned to some degree or another, but when THE CREATOR spoke to the fire it obeyed and was rendered powerless in HIS PRESENCE. GLORY TO GOD ALMIGHTY!! The Chilean miners emerged from this place in the deep after 69 days, without a trace of injury, illness, impairment, hindrance to them. You would think that some type of injury or impairment would accompany this kind of situation or atleast a malady of some degree, but nothing. GLORY TO GOD - SUSTAINER!! At this writing, all but 2 are released from the hospital with a clean bill of health. TO YOU ALONE GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!!!! Upon their rescue, they knelt in humble adoration and thanksgiving to God ALMIGHTY, who saved them and gave them life and returned them back to their loved ones. They knew WHO caused this situation to work out this way (Romans 8:28) and they wanted the watching world to know as well. God does great things right in front of our eyes and to such a degree, that it is without doubt that HIS hand was there.(Psalm 86:10). He provides the HEAVENLY DIVINE ASSIST that only comes from on HIGH. He alone gave the wisdom, knowledge, and fortitude to the people to come up with the device they would use to cause this rescue to be successful. They heard HIM and obeyed HIS guidance and NEVER gave up. HOSANNA!!!LET OUR KING BE LIFTED UP IN THE HIGHEST!!! Finally, both subjects were in complete faith that GOD ALONE would save them and stated it verbally and in their hearts. Faith is a vital part to GOD moving in on our circumstance. The Scriptures say that it is impossible to please GOD without FAITH and that we will need to believe that HE exists when we come boldy to HIM (Hebrews 11:6), (Hebrews 4:16) where we find GRACE and help in our time of need.All this comes as we seek to have and maintain an intimate relationship with our CREATOR.(Psalm 126). So to put and end to the compare and contrast lesson for today, look for the distinctions of GOD and His MIGHTY Hand in everything. Psalm 136. HE is SAVIOR and LORD!!! God loves you. I love you. Jesus is LORD!! Philippians 2:1-18.