As Christians we sometimes think that because God is a good and powerful God, we will be saved from anything bad ever happening to us! But there are countless stories in the Bible of God’s servants experiencing hardship, trials, and even fire because of their faith. Join us today as we talk about what happens when God doesn’t save us from the fiery furnace in our lives.Contributor: This week our story comes to us from Shelly and Bethany Powell as they share with us the journey of walking through the flames of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrigs Disease. At this time, Shelly is not able to talk anymore, so her daughter Bethany tells their story of how they have seen Jesus as they walk through this fiery furnace. To learn more about their story go to http://mountingwithwings.blogspot.com or Facebook: Mounting With Wings.

As Christians we sometimes think that because God is a good and powerful God, we will be saved from anything bad ever happening to us! But there are countless stories in the Bible of God’s servants experiencing hardship, trials, and even fire because of their faith. Join us today as we talk about what happens when God doesn’t save us from the fiery furnace in our lives.Contributor: This week our story comes to us from Shelly and Bethany Powell as they share with us the journey of walking through the flames of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrigs Disease. At this time, Shelly is not able to talk anymore, so her daughter Bethany tells their story of how they have seen Jesus as they walk through this fiery furnace. To learn more about their story go to http://mountingwithwings.blogspot.com or Facebook: Mounting With Wings.

Free sharing permitted under the Creative Commons <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/">BY-NC-ND 3.0 (US)</a> license.

Starting with Jesus

Reflect and Renew May 2023

Heather Bennett

Missionary Prisoners

A King’s Nightmare

The Fiery Furnace

The Unseen Watcher

In The Lion’s Den


My mom started having some strange slurring of her speech. She was diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. She now has a ventilator, feeding tube, can't walk, talk or do anything for herself. We could either question God's goodness or trust that suffering is never for nothing. Welcome to Reflect and Renew.

Hey, I'm Katie. I'm so glad that you'll be joining me today. We will be learning and growing together in our walk with Jesus. You will surely be encouraged and challenged as we study week by week and hear from the experiences of others. There was a time when I was fearful about the unknown of the future.

I knew that I had experienced a relatively easy life and not much bad had happened, but I saw so much suffering around me that it was almost like, when is it going to be my turn kind of feeling. Life has continued on but the anxiety has faded through the years because I have seen God give strength to those going through trials. I have seen him orchestrate circumstances, people, and events along the road of suffering. I have experienced his strength when unexpected curveballs come my way. Seeing his orchestration, experiencing His strength, has given me faith and a trust in His plan.

Have you read the devotional this week? We're focused on the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refusing to bow down to the image King Nebuchadnezzar set up in the plain of Dura. If you want to join us in this study, you can go to our website startingwithjesus.com slash renew so that you can read the free PDF devotional. I read through it every week and then use it as a springboard for our weekly study, but I don't get to cover everything and there's some things in there that I know that you'd really enjoy. So you'll want to check it out for yourself starting with Jesus.com slash renew.

All the officials are gathered on the plain of Dura. They are there by the king's command for a special worship service. A magnificent, imposing statue is in the center of their midst, towering 90 feet above the ground, the gold flashing, glinting in the sun. In fact, if you were standing in the wrong place, you could almost be blinded from the reflection. The music plays, and everyone is to fall before the image in worship.

Everyone does except for 3 young men standing boldly with hundreds probably thousands of prostrate forms all around them. The Chaldeans are the tattletales on this particular day, informing the king that 3 Jews were refusing to obey the orders. Daniel chapter 3 verse 13 says that the king calls for the 3 men in a rage and fury. They are to come and speak with him. As they stand before this enraged King, they're calm.

They answer his question with an answer oozing with faith and confidence. Listen, Oh Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us from your hand, O King. But if not, let it be known to you, O King, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." They made it clear what God could do. But if not, they would still be faithful to Him.

They would still follow him without question. Their faith was put to the test as the mighty men of valor bound the 3 Hebrews and cast them into the exceedingly hot, fiery furnace. Nebuchadnezzar's mighty men died instantly of the heat. But although Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace, they were unharmed. The flames didn't touch them.

It burned the ropes that held them fast, allowing them to move freely about the burning inferno. As they walk around, the king is astonished. He doesn't see just 3 men, but 4, And he says that the fourth looks like the Son of God. What a witness. What a testimony.

God did not save these 3 faithful men from the fiery furnace, but he walked with them through the fire. Did you know that he wants to do that with us today? We go through trials and struggles. It may be family dynamics, a bad health diagnosis, financial insecurities, or a tragic loss. God wants to walk with us through that fire.

This week our story comes to us from Shelley and Bethany Powell as they share with us the journey of walking through the flames of ALS. It's also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. At this time, Shelly is not able to talk anymore, So her daughter Bethany tells their story of how they have seen Jesus as they walk through this fiery furnace. I wanted to share of God's faithfulness even in the fiery furnace our family has been experiencing the last few years. I grew up in a beautiful country setting in Virginia with my 3 siblings, an older sister and brother, and a little brother.

My dad was a pastor of 4 churches which kept him busy. He always would make time for his family though. All of his Children were homeschooled by mom for almost the entire way up to high school. We always had woods to explore, donkeys and dogs to play with, and a very loving home. It was an idyllic childhood, really.

Nothing seemed to mar our happiness and close family. When I was 11, we moved to Washita Hills College and Academy in Arkansas where dad worked and my siblings and I attended school through the years. Mom would often have people over to our house and did such a wonderful job making people feel included and welcome. Then in July of 2019, my mom started having some strange slurring of her speech while on a mission trip to Jamaica. When we returned, she started a couple long months of doctor's appointments, testing, and waiting.

Long story short, she was diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease in October 2019. This seems so foreign and totally out of the blue for our dear mama and queen of our home to be experiencing. She's always eaten right and taking good care of herself. It just didn't make sense. We didn't even know much at all about this disease beforehand and had to search it up for ourselves.

If you haven't known already, ALS is a disease affecting motor neurons of the spinal cord, which causes progressive weakness and atrophy of muscles. There's no human cure. There's a continuing debilitation as more motor neurons die. So basically over time, you become paralyzed with your mind still completely there. Slowly over the next months, we saw slight changes in her voice and abilities.

Then in December of 2021, she fell, hitting her head on a sidewalk, which seemed to really speed up her progression and symptoms. She now has a ventilator, feeding tube, can't walk, talk, or do anything for herself. She is totally dependent on us for her care. Some might become bitter or question God for allowing this huge trial for her and our family. But we have faithfully seen Christ walking in the fire with us.

I remember after her fall thinking that I may have to delay my college graduation a year so that I could care for her. It was a hard time figuring out how to juggle everything and come to a realization of mom's condition. The Lord worked it out for me that I was able to do my practicum at a nearby school and still be at home and graduate on time. Throughout the whole fiery time, I saw God working, supplying our needs, bringing help and support and comfort. Some days people would help to lift the burdens and I would be amazed at God's perfect timing.

The Lord even provided for me to be able to teach English at Washington Hills Academy so that I could still be at home and help with the many needs. I honestly feel that it is a privilege to take care of my mom every day and see her trust in God firsthand. It really helps to boost the faith of all those around her. Whenever I'm tempted to be discouraged by fiery circumstances, I think of how my dear mom has chosen to trust even though her trial is so much bigger than any of mine. Yes, we are human and don't always trust perfectly, but we press on regardless.

We have a promise that Jesus is the author and the finisher of our faith. He grows our faith as we exercise it. Here's a quote from my mom in her own words, I didn't sign up for this. I've always felt so healthy, almost invincible to serious illness. Growing up in a pastor's family and married to a pastor, we were always the ones visiting and encouraging the sick.

How could this happen to me? But 1 Peter 4.12 reminds us, Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you? Instead of saying, why me? I should say, why not me? I'm no more immune to challenges or better than anyone else.

God has allowed this for some purpose. I can confidently say that God has shown himself strong in my behalf in this fiery trial. It's not easy and I wouldn't wish ALS on anyone, but he has been very close and walking beside me in the midst of the flames. Many times when I'm struggling and feeling so helpless, I picture him holding me close and being cradled in his arms. That is such a comforting thought.

He daily reminds me of his love and helps me fight the enemy and discouragement in many ways such as praising him for his blessings, praying for strength, listening to uplifting music and claiming Bible promises. I may not understand, but I can trust He is good. And like it says in Jeremiah 29 11, He has thoughts of peace and not of evil towards me. He does all things well, and someday I'll understand. So many have been inspired by the faith of the 3 Hebrews in the furnace.

I pray my life of standing with him in the fire can also encourage someone. It says in the book, The Great Controversy, page 88, The assaults of Satan are fierce and determined. But the Lord's eye is upon his people, and his ear listens to their cries. Their affliction is great. The flames of the furnace seemed about to consume them, but the refiner will bring them forth as gold tried in the fire.

God's love for his children during the period of their severest trial is as strong and tender as in the days of their sunniest prosperity. Mom continues, I pray he will strengthen you in whatever trial you may be going through, now or in the future as well. That's an end quote from my mom. Mom has redefined ALS to mean a loving Savior. To read about her journey with ALS and a loving Savior, you can read many inspiring blog posts in her blog, mountingwithwings.blogspot.com.

There's no spaces or capitals. Mountingwithwings.blogspot.com. Or find her Facebook page, Mounting with Wings. Our journey is not what we ever imagined it would be, just like I'm sure those 3 Hebrew men did not expect to 1 day be in a fiery furnace. But here we are, and it is up to us with how we will react to this situation.

We could either question God's goodness or trust that suffering is never for nothing. We have chosen to believe that God loves us and means to do us well. For 1 thing, we know these fiery trials here on this earth are developing our characters for heaven. 1 Peter 1.7 adds to this by saying that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ." Beautiful thought. Our faith is more precious than gold.

Even though our faith is tested by fiery trials, we can come out on the other side with praise, honor, and glory when Jesus comes. 1 day our fiery trials will seem like nothing in comparison to the joy of eternal life with Jesus. Friends, I'm not sure what fiery trials you may be experiencing today. I know that we are not the only ones going through such a time. Wherever you may be, remember that Jesus wants to walk with you in your fiery trial.

We were not meant to face these fiery trials alone. Remember, He always is a loving Savior. Isn't that a beautiful story of faith and trust in Jesus? If you want to learn more about Shelly and her family's journey, I encourage you to go to their blog, mountingwithwings.blogspot.com. Mountingwithwings.blogspot.com.

I was so encouraged and so inspired as I read through some of their blog posts. We will also have a link in the description box below. Friends, what fiery trials are you facing? There's so much hurt and heartache in this world. But like Bethany says, Jesus wants to walk with you through your fiery trial.

We were not meant to walk through them alone. Remember that He always is a loving Savior. This week we're encouraged to look around us for someone who is facing challenging circumstances. What can we do to help them in a tangible way? Can you visit?

Maybe prepare a meal? Buy a gift card? Write an encouraging note? Make a call? Babysit?

We are to choose someone who is challenged by a fire and help them this week. Get your kids, your grandkids involved. Let's make a difference for those around us. Dear Lord, you know the fiery trials that we each face in our lives. In Isaiah 43 verse 2, you say that when we pass through the waters, you will be with us.

When we go through the rivers, they will not overflow us. When we walk through the fire, we shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch us, for you are the Lord. Thank you so much for promising to protect, to be there and even though we go through hard times you will make everything right, everything new when you come again. You will take away all the pain, all the suffering. You will take away the worry, the anxiety.

You will make all things new. Thank you, Lord, for that promise. Help us to cling to it, to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. In your name, Amen. This podcast is sponsored by Starting With Jesus.

To find out more about other programs, or to find out the links that were shared in this podcast, just check out the description box below.

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Series

Reflect and Renew May 2023

The Fiery Furnace

Description

Parent Series

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Recorded

Other Teachings in Series

Missionary Prisoners

14m

A King’s Nightmare

11m

The Fiery Furnace

17m

The Unseen Watcher

17m

In The Lion’s Den

12m

Sound Doctrine