Ezra - In Truth, We Were Afraid

By Mary Vee
Ezra 3

From Ezra's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Ezra. Our seventy years of captivity in Babylon has ended. King Cyrus gave us permission to return to Jerusalem. I have led those Hebrews who chose to return back to our homeland

We'd settled into our homes and already have spent seven months here. The time flew by so fast.

The day we agreed to meet in Jerusalem had come. Many families joined me on the road toward the temple. Their wagons and arms filled with sacrifices they'd planned to offer. 

A huge crowd formed outside the temple.The building had been burned years ago. There wasn't even a foundation. Our first plan, though, was not to clean the site. Before any steps to fix the temple were taken we wanted to thank our God who brought us out of the land of Babylonia back to our home. 

The priest built an altar for the God of Israel following the instructions in the Law of Moses. 

We should have been happy. Excited to honor our God in our homeland. In truth we were afraid.  

The walls around the city had been ruined. Any person, rebel, trouble maker, or army could enter. 

We were not strong. No one had a decent meal in a while. Our homes still needed repair. Businesses and crops didn't have a chance to get established. We didn't even have enough time to teach our children all they needed to learn. The ways of our God.

Have you walked somewhere and heard a noise? You didn't know who made it or exactly where the person was? That is how we felt.

Even with this fear in our hearts, the sacrifices continued, because that is what God wanted us to do. We started with the morning and evening sacrifices. Next we celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles with the required number of burnt offerings, the New Moon sacrifices, and all the sacrifices for the appointed sacred feasts of the Lord. Many of the families also brought freewill offerings for the Lord.

After the sacrifices, the people gave money to masons and carpenters to start building the foundation to the temple. Drink and oil was set aside and sent to the nations of Tyre an Sidon in payment for cedar logs. These logs floated by sea from Lebanon to Joppa as Cyrus, king of Persia, ordered. 

Temple jobs were assigned to the Levites.

The construction began.

I didn't count the days, but like the other Hebrews who watched, I sang praises to God each day while the workers laid the foundation. 

Photo Courtesy

On the day the work was finished, the priests dressed in their robes and carried trumpets. Levites carried cymbals and walked to their place. They led all the Hebrews who had returned from seventy years of captivity in Babylon in this song:

He is good. His love to Israel endures forever.

As we sang the last note, men, women and children shouted praises to the Lord. The foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. Praise God.

Suddenly, the voices changed. Many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads who had seen the former temple cried. They fell to their knees and covered their eyes. I did the same. The beautiful temple of God that once stood here had been burned by Nebuchadnezzar...and it was our fault. All our fault. We had sinned.

God warned us so many times--so many times to not worship idols. Jerusalem had been consumed with worshipping other idols. We listened to the countries around us.  I'm so sorry to say these idols had even been brought into the temple. Sigh. We were so wrong. So very wrong.

The younger Hebrews shouted for joy. They had never seen how magnificent a temple for the Lord could be.What it does to the heart and soul. At this second, though, they began to understand. 

The young people's shouts mixed with the weeping of the older Hebrews. The sound carried far beyond our borders. News traveled among our enemies: the exiles have returned and are building a temple for the Lord.

In truth, we were afraid.

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1.  What did the people do first after the seven months of rest ended?

2.  What did the people do second?

3.  What were the people afraid of?

4.  What did the people sing?

5.  Why did the older men cry?

6.  Why did the younger men rejoice?

7.  Why were the people afraid?

Amy Carmichael-Paying the Jewel's Ransom

By Mary Vee

Year: January, 1899-1904 

Amy Carmichael: 30 years old

From Amy's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Amy Carmichael. I am a missionary in India.

I have joined the Walkers in their ministry in South India.

In order to help the people of India, I need to understand their culture. Those who live in my village were Hindus.

I learned:
A Hindu father wanted sons. Many sons. Daughters held little value. At a father's funeral, the sons would be the ones who would pray for him. These prayers were suppose to help him have a better life after his death. The girls were not allowed to pray at the funerals.

If a person born to the lowest cast became ill or needed help, those in higher casts would not give him or her anything. No money. No medical treatment. No sympathy. This was expected.

Hindu families often owed a lot of money for things they bought. In their culture, the women were expected to wear a lot of jewelry. Expensive jewelry. Bracelets from their wrist to their elbow, necklaces, earrings, in their hair, and ankle bracelets. All this jewelry cost money. Lots of money.

A family might starve, but the females in the family would have jewelry.

A couple of weeks ago I wrote you about the time thieves stole the few pieces of jewelry I wore. Actually, I freely gave it to them when they told me to. Those thieves never bothered us again. In fact, they protected us when we traveled since we didn't have anything worth stealing. 

The Indian women traveling with me chose to sell their jewelry as well, not to keep the thieves away, but to use the money for God's work.

Because of the huge amount of money many Hindus owed for their jewelry, they took their baby girls to the temple and sold them into a terrible slave system. Not many people knew this was going on. It took me three years to find the answer for why these little girls ended up at the temple.

One day I dressed like the other women going to the temple. I listened and saw terrible things happen to these girls. To save them I waited outside the temple and watched for a family bringing an infant girl. 

"Let me take care of her, please." I said softly and holding my arms out to them.

"Why should we give her to you? We can sell her in the temple."

"How much would you be paid?"

They told me the amount. I gave them the money. "Now, give her to me." The family handed me the little girl and walked away counting their money. 

The other women from our mission sold their jewels, too. The money helped to ransom the freedom of more little girls. I brought each jewel to my home to take care of her. I gave them dolls, hugs, and fed them. Paperwork was done to let me adopt them. My family grew almost everyday. We listened for news and traveled many miles to the homes of little girls about to be taken to the temple. I offered to pay the ransom for the girl to protect her from the temple. Sometimes we succeeded, sometimes we didn't. If the baby passed through the temple doors we could no longer rescue her.

The little girls who came to live at the mission learned about God's love. They were given a chance to play, laugh, be loved, and be little girls.

Perhaps now you can see why I called them jewels the last time I wrote. Our jewels were used to pay for the freedom of these little jewels created by God.

The newspapers and the churches said I was telling false stories. I was taking the girls away from a wealthy life in the temple and there was nothing wrong with spending money on jewelry instead of buying food for a family.

One day a crowd gathered outside our mission compound demanding one of the girls. I held the little girl's hand and walked out to meet them. "That girl belongs to the temple. Her parents gave her to them," a woman shouted.

"Ask her to choose. She may go or stay. It is up to her."

The woman shouted to the girl, "Come with me, now. You must go back to the temple. You will have jewelry, dresses, and much more."

The girls eyes widened. She buried her face in my skirt. I pulled her away and told her to give an answer. "No. Please. Don't make me go. They are very cruel to the girls at the temple. I want to stay here."

The crowd went away. Another jewel saved. Praise God.


photo permission for reuse.
Resources used for this series:
Benge, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Amy Carmichael: Rescuer of Precious Gems. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 1998. Print.
Davis, Rebecca Henry. With Daring Faith: A Biography of Amy Carmichael. Greenville, SC: Bob Jones UP, 1987. Print.
Dick, Lois Hoadley. Amy Carmichael: Let the Children Come. Chicago: Moody, 1984. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Amy Carmichael: Rescuing the Children. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 2002. Print.
Wellman, Sam. Amy Carmichael: A Life Abandoned to God. Uhrichville, OH: Barbour Pub., 1998. Print.

Don't forget to comment! 
Let Amy hear from you!

Ezra-Stolen Temple Pieces Taken Home

By Mary Vee
Ezra 1

From Ezra's Journal

Photo Courtesy King Cyrus returns what was stolen

I am here on the streets of what is now called Persia with many other of my Hebrew brothers and sisters. 

Many are packed and ready for the journey back home.

Yes, you read that right. Many. Not all. Some Hebrews didn't want to leave their home in Babylon. They'd grown up in this land, learned the language, had businesses, and felt settled. 

No one judged those who chose to stay. No one judged those who chose to leave.

Those of us who chose to take the long journey home were helped by our neighbors. They gave us goods, livestock and valuable gifts. Most of this will be used to dedicate the temple once it is restored. The rest will help us settle back into the city.

King Cyrus ordered the silver dishes, gold dishes, silver pans, gold bowls, matching silver bowls and other articles which Nebuchadnezzar had stolen from the temple in Jerusalem to be given to us. He asked us to return them to their rightful place.

In all 42,360 Hebrews, 7,337 servants, 200 singers, 736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys set out on foot for Jerusalem.

We sang and bonded together as we'd never done before. 

God had blessed us.

We walked through fields, over mountains and around lakes. The days swept by as we neared Jerusalem. Then, one amazing morning, we saw the broken walls and ruined city. on the hill in front of us. We didn't weep in sorrow. No. We wept with joy. This was the City of David. The city God gave to us. The place where the temple was built.

My heart stirred, as I ran up the hill. No need to open the gates. They lay in ruins. But I didn't care. I was home. We were home. And we would rebuild.

The whole group went straight to the temple. Even in it's ruined state we rejoiced. Some of the heads of the families came forward and gave an offering toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site. Altogether, they gave 61,000 drachmas of gold, 5,000 minas or about 3 tons of silver, and 100 priestly garments.

After our celebration, the people went to their homes. Some had lived in nearby towns. We agreed to give ourselves seven months to settle in, adjust to our new life before regathering back in Jerusalem to start the rebuilding.

That night I slept in my own bed, in my own house. Sure it was dirty. Broken items laid on the floor and broken furniture needed repairing. It was the best sleep I'd had in a very long time. 

Thank you, God. I am home.
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1.  Where did this journey begin?

2.  Where were the people going?

3.  Why didn't all the Hebrews go home?

4.  What did King Cyrus give the Hebrews to take home?

5.  What did the heads of the families do when they saw the house of God?

6.  How long did the people take to get settled.

7.  What did they do then?

Ezra-Go or Stay? Which is Right?

By Mary Vee
Ezra 1

From Ezra's Journal

Photo Courtesy

I am here on the streets of what is now called Persia with many other of my Hebrew brothers and sisters.

The herald left after delivering his message. He had many other places to announce King Cyrus' words. 

During the seventy years we've lived here, we built homes, let our children marry, planted crops and started businesses. Many of the people learned the Babylonian language.

While so many of us were excited to go home. Some were not so sure.

Hebrew children had lived their entire lives here. Grandchildren had been born. The only information the young people had about about their homeland was nothing more than words. There were families who said they wanted to stay.

Some said they would have to start all over in Judah. Their homes would need repair. There would be a lot of work to restart their businesses. 

That was their head speaking. Their hearts said they wanted to go home. 

Men gathered and talked about their ideas and thoughts. Women did the same. Meetings were held where large groups came to discuss the benefits to going home or keeping the family business in Babylon.

So let me ask you. If your family actually came from another country. And it's quite possible that many readers really have. And your family built a new home in the new country. As kid of the house, you learned the new language quickly and helped your parents by translating for them. You understand the culture here. Maybe didn't learn about some of the Hebrew ways because the Babylonians wouldn't let you. 

Now someone is giving you an opportunity to go back to the country of your grandparents. Your heritage. You are being given money and supplies to get started. Which would you do? Go. Or stay.

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Amy Carmichael-Fragile Jewels

By Mary Vee

Year: January, 1898 

Amy Carmichael: 29 years old

From Amy's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Amy Carmichael. I am a missionary in India.

I have joined the Walkers in their ministry in South India.

In a village where one and sometimes two-room huts with no furniture except sleeping mats and a chest for storing grain, few women responded to our words about the God who loves them.

These women were kept in seclusion, hidden in an inner room with no windows.

I witnessed women working long hours at a spinning wheel or hand looms weaving fine cloth to make rugs, shawls, and carpets. 

There was an Indian deacon in the Christian church. His son married a lovely nineteen-year-old girl named Ponnammal.

Unfortunately the son suddenly died and the girl became a widow. His family and the people in the village blamed her for his death. This was only one of many superstitions Indian people believed, even the Indian Christians.

As a punishment, Ponnammal was not allowed to bathe or comb her hair. She could not wash her clothes and was not allowed to wear clean clothes.

The family made her the lowest person in the whole household.

She became so unhappy she sneaked out of the house one evening and ran to the well. She looked down at the cool water and considered letting herself down and never return to the surface. 

Someone came behind her in the dark and took her back into the house.

After a time, her in-laws let her go to church. They said they did this to keep up proper appearances and for no other reason. Ponnamai listened to the words of the preacher. He said, "There is One who can heal and forgive you. He cam bring new meaning to your life."

She asked Jesus to be her Savior.

Days passed. Ponnamai was given permission to leave her in-laws home. "You're no good to us. Go. Leave us. It was your sins in a previous life that caused the death of our son. We don't want anyone else from our family to perish because of you."

She walked to the mission compound where I worked and asked for refuge. We happily took her into our group. She joined the Starry Cluster women and helped us tell others about Jesus.

There are many jewels like Ponnamai, held deep in India. Some are prisoners. Some are wandering, lost, in need of help.

I can see now why God sent me to India. To find the lost jewels.



photo permission for reuse.
Resources used for this series:
Benge, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Amy Carmichael: Rescuer of Precious Gems. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 1998. Print.
Davis, Rebecca Henry. With Daring Faith: A Biography of Amy Carmichael. Greenville, SC: Bob Jones UP, 1987. Print.
Dick, Lois Hoadley. Amy Carmichael: Let the Children Come. Chicago: Moody, 1984. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Amy Carmichael: Rescuing the Children. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 2002. Print.
Wellman, Sam. Amy Carmichael: A Life Abandoned to God. Uhrichville, OH: Barbour Pub., 1998. Print.

Don't forget to comment! 
Let Amy hear from you!

Cyrus-The Great Decree

By Mary Vee
Ezra 1

From Ezra's Journal

Photo Courtesy

I am here on the streets of what is now called Persia with many other of my Hebrew brothers and sisters. The cheering is so loud!

As you probably remember, we the people of Judah were taken captive to the land of Babylon. God had told Jeremiah we would be slaves for seventy years due to our disobedience to Him.The seventy years have ended!

The Babylonians who first captured us were conquered by the Medes. And now the Medes have been conquered  by the Persians. Cyrus is the king of Persia, and the ruler over us.

The Babylonians and Medes liked to take their prisoners away from their homeland and make them slaves in their country.

Cyrus, king of Persia, preferred to let the people live in their homeland and be under his power. He felt the people would not rise up against him that way and be easier to control.

The year is 539 BC and a herald has just read this decree from Cyrus:

"The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Anyone of his people among you--may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. And the people of any place where survivors may now be living are to provide him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem."

We get to go home.

Imagine that.

We can go back to Judah, plow our fields, worship in the temple, do everything we use to do. I imagine we'll have to pay tribute to Cyrus, but going home is worth it.

We're going home.

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1. Who first took the Hebrews from Judah?
2. Where were they taken?
3. Who conquered the Babylonians?
4. Who conquered the Medes?
5. Who is the new king?
6. Why did he make this decree?
7. What made the Hebrews from Judah so happy?

Daniel-What I Did in the Lion's Den

By Mary Vee
Daniel 6

From Daniel's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Daniel, I am a prophet of God and am living in captivity in Babylon.

Yes, I am alive.

All because God spared my life.

This morning the rock rolled away from the opening of the den where I was held prisoner all night. 

The den wasn't empty. Several lions kept me company along with an amazing angel. 

The angel kept the lions away from me. I didn't sleep. No. I took advantage of the opportunity to speak with the angel. We sang praises to God..it was amazing. 

All night long we sang together, praising God. The lions sat there, they might have been humming along.

When the stone rolled away, sunlight and fresh air poured into the hole where I'd been. I looked behind me and didn't see the angel, yet the lions still stayed away from me.

The king called down to me. "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve faithfully, been able to rescue you from the lions?"

Did you hear that? The king saw my faithfulness to God. 

I walked to the opening, but stayed down in the den. I called up to answer him, "O King live forever!" I laughed so delighted to tell him what had happened. "My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight." Then I became serious. "Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king."

King Darius leaped and laughed. He clapped his hands and ordered the guards to lift me out of the den. They brought me to him. He looked me over and slapped my arms. "You have no wounds. Anywhere. This is amazing."

Then he furrowed his brow. He turned away from me and faced his satraps and administrators. He yelled, "Take every man who falsely accused Daniel and throw them, their wives, and their children into the den.

The guards did as they were told. Before my accusers reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. What a horrible sight.

That afternoon, King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and men of every language throughout the land:

"May you prosper greatly!

I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. 

For he is the living God and he endures forever. His kingdom will not be destroyed. His dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves. He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions."

As for the rest of my story, I continued to serve King Darius while he was in power. When Cyrus the Persian took power and conquered Babylon, I found favor in his sight and served there until the first year of his reign.  

I was pretty old. The end of my story is not important. What matters is I found that serving God everyday even while in captivity brought joy and peace to my heart.

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1. What did Daniel do all night in the den.
2. What did King Darius do as soon as the sun rose?
3. After seeing Daniel was not harmed, what did the king do to the ones who accused Daniel?
4. What did King Darius decree to the people?
5. Who ruled over the land after Darius?
6. What was most important to Daniel?

Amy Carmichael-A Girl's Plea for Sanctuary

By Mary Vee

Year: January, 1898 

Amy Carmichael: 29 years old

From Amy's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Amy Carmichael. I am a missionary in India.

I have joined with the Walkers in their ministry. 

A small group of native women have chosen to work with me. I am so grateful for their help. We have called ourselves the Starry Cluster.

Women in India are expected to wear certain jewelry. While we traveled to share God's love with women in small villages, the Starry Cluster women noticed I didn't have any jewelry. "Your jewelry has been stolen!"

I didn't have money to buy new jewelry. To show their dedication to the mission, these women gave up their jewelry. For this they were respected by other Hindus.

Soon everyone knew we didn't have anything worth stealing. Thieves left us alone.

Early in 1898, during a Bible study, we heard a young girl crying out for help. She stood at the gate for our missionary bungalows.

We ran to see what she needed. 

"Please, you must help me. I need refuge." Her eyes were wide with fright. She looked to her left and right. "Please hurry. I need refuge."

We let her inside the gate. I walked close to her. She was only sixteen. "Tell us your problem."

"I went to a missionary school in Perungulam, not far from here, and was given a Bible. I read it on my own and asked questions. I asked Jesus to be my Savior. My family is very upset with me. I'm afraid they will kill me."

She was probably right. Mr. Walker told me the Indian people would not allow Christians to live at their home. Some parents became so angry they wanted to put the Christian family member to death.

Only a few minutes passed when we heard someone banging on the gate. The girl hid behind me. "Please save me," she cried.

A man yelled through the gate. "Give us our daughter. You have no right to keep her there.

Mr. Walker and we other missionaries refused to give her to them. We knew they would go to the authorities and demand to have their daughter returned.

Mr. Walker left right away to fill out the paperwork with the officials to allow the girl to have what is called sanctuary or protection in our mission compound. 

I learned as I watched him go through the process, that because she was considered old enough, she was considered independent and could choose to live with us. She was called a Jewel of Victory. Her parents had no legal power to force her to leave.

Unfortunately her parents could decide to take her back illegally--by kidnapping her.

This girl's parents decided to punish the mission school in Perungulam instead. They burned the building.

During this same year a second girl came to us asking for sanctuary. We helped this girl as well. Since she was old enough we didn't have any difficulties with the legal paperwork. She was called Jewel of Life.

I am so thankful God has saved these young girls.
.

photo permission for reuse.
Resources used for this series:
Benge, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Amy Carmichael: Rescuer of Precious Gems. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 1998. Print.
Davis, Rebecca Henry. With Daring Faith: A Biography of Amy Carmichael. Greenville, SC: Bob Jones UP, 1987. Print.
Dick, Lois Hoadley. Amy Carmichael: Let the Children Come. Chicago: Moody, 1984. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Amy Carmichael: Rescuing the Children. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 2002. Print.
Wellman, Sam. Amy Carmichael: A Life Abandoned to God. Uhrichville, OH: Barbour Pub., 1998. Print.

Don't forget to comment! 
Let Amy hear from you!

Darius-The Longest Night of My Life

By Mary Vee
Daniel 6

From King Darius' Chronicle

My name is Darius, I am the king of many countries. Babylon has been recently added to my empire.

I placed a man who was a hard working and an honest person at a top position in my kingdom. His name was Daniel.

Days later I fell into a trap made by the satraps and administrators working in my kingdom. I didn't realize how jealous these men were of Daniel.

They conned me into signing a decree forbidding anyone from praying to anything but me.

What was I thinking?

At this very moment Daniel is in the lions den for violating that decree. He had prayed to his God. His God had done some amazing things here in Babylon. But, I don't know if his God will save his life. 

I went to my palace and ordered everyone to leave me alone. I couldn't eat or drink. I paced for hours, waiting for the sun to rise. No one was allowed to move the rock keeping Daniel in the Den before the sun shined over the horizon, not even me. 

With each turn of my pacing I looked out the window. The night lasted longer than any other night in my life. I replayed the last moments by the lion's den over and over in my mind:

"Wait," I cried. I had hurried to Daniel's side and said the only thing that came to my mind. "May your God, whom you serve continually rescue you!"

I meant those words with all my heart. I didn't know how any god could rescue someone from the lions' den, but if one could, it would be Daniel's God.

My soldiers had pushed Daniel into the den. I couldn't watch. "Close it," I said.

A rock was pushed over the opening. I had to follow the usual ceremony by sealing the opening with my signet ring. So did the nobles. No one could save Daniel now. Except, maybe his God.

I walked away, so very sad. If only Daniel's God would choose to save him. 

The time eventually moved forward. The morning sun peeked over the horizon. I raced to the door. "Bring me my chariot at once."

I rode with great speed to the lion's den and ordered the rock moved. It took several strong soldiers to move it. "Hurry. Move the rock faster!"

Once the opening appeared I cried out, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you serve every day been able to rescue you from the lions?"

I waited. 

There wasn't a lion snarling. Oh, no. The lions' bellies must be full. "Daniel?"

He walked to the opening and looked up at me. "O king live forever! My God sent his angel, and He shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in His sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king."

I couldn't believe my ears. I leaped in the air and cheered. "Hurry, pull Daniel out of there." Soldiers reached down and heaved Daniel out of the den. I pulled him closer and looked at him. There wasn't a single wound on his skin. Not a single injury at all. All of this was because he obeyed and trusted his God to save him.

I had been a fool. But I wouldn't let this end here.


Come back next time to see what happens.

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1. Why did King Darius pace all night?
2. Why couldn't Darius eat or sleep?
3. What was King Darius waiting for?
4. What did he do the second time allowed?
5. What happened to Daniel?

Darius-Deceived Into Harming Daniel

By Mary Vee
Daniel 6

From Darius' Chronicle

Photo Courtesy

My name is Darius, I am the king of many countries. Babylon has been recently added to my empire.

I moved into the palace in Babylon once the former king, Belshazzar had been eliminated.

I set up an order for the people. Three men served as administrators beneath me. Then 120 satraps served under those three men.

Daniel's work impressed me the most. He was an honest and hard worker. I guess I hadn't noticed the other's jealousy when I mentioned I would promote Daniel as the top administrator, but didn't think too much of it.

One day the administrators, except Daniel, and the satraps came to my chamber. They complimented me and came up with what seemed like a great plan. They suggested I write a decree that required people of the land to only pray to me and no one else. If anyone didn't obey, they were to be thrown in the lions' den. I must admit I was honored and agreed to it right away. I didn't think at all about possible problems. 

The next day, those same men came tattling to me saying Daniel had prayed to his God and therefore should be punished. They demanded I should have Daniel thrown in the lions' den immediately.

I couldn't believe their words. How could this happen? What kind of a king was I to allow the best worker in the whole kingdom to be thrown in the lions' den? My stomach ached. My head hurt. I felt sick and unable to think There had to be some way to save Daniel. 

But the men pestered me, reminding me of the law that demanded no exceptions. I turned away and gave the order. I had no other choice.

I couldn't watch the guards escort him there. I paced back and forth in my chamber then changed my mind. "Hurry, fetch me a chariot."  I rushed to the site just before the guards pushed him.

"Wait," I cried. I hurried to Daniel's side and said the only thing that came to my mind. "May your God, whom you serve continually rescue you!"

I meant those words with all my heart. I didn't know how any god could rescue someone from the lions' den, but if one could, it would be Daniel's God.

Daniel fell into the den. I couldn't watch. "Close it."

A rock was pushed over the opening. I followed the usual ceremony by sealing the opening with my signet ring. So did the nobles. No one could save Daniel now. Except, maybe his God.

I walked away, so very sad. I didn't want to speak to anyone.

A few of the satraps and administrators came close to me. There smug faces sickened me. They had set this up and I had fallen for their trap. Now everything must play. And I had no control.


Come back next time to see what happens.

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1. Most of the questions for this story have been asked in the last post. Just one remains, how did Darius feel about what happened and why did he feel that way?

Amy Carmichael-The One-Armed Girl, the Pastor's Daughter, and the Widow

By Mary Vee

Year: December, 1897 

Amy Carmichael: 29 years old

From Amy's Journal

Photo Courtesy - Woman wearing a sari

My name is Amy Carmichael. I am a missionary in India.

I have joined with the Walkers in their ministry. Mr. Walker is like a big brother to me. He has helped me learn the language, and has many of the same ideas I have about missionary work here in India. Mrs. Walker helps me learn about the women in India.

He and his wife have run into a lot of trouble with their mission board as I have with mine. The main reason for the issues is our desire to work with the Indians, to speak their language and dress as they do. We want to show the Hindus and Muslims that there is a God who truly loves them.

Back in England our methods are considered offensive. Like we are giving up or mocking the English crown. That isn't our intent at all.

Mr. Walker left his assignment where he mostly spoke to the English missionaries and did a lot of paperwork. He moved his wife, and invited me to help them in their ministry at their new home. 

Not far away, in Pannaivilai, we settled into a bungalow. I had learned a great deal of the Tamil language and finally had a chance to start my own ministry. 

Using the ideas I had in the poor areas of London, I formed a Women's Evangelical Band. The women who joined me witnessed to the native people, worked together to find a place to meet for Bible study, and kept the place clean. 

The first three women who joined me were: Leyal, a pastor's daughter; Sellamuthel, whom called Pearl, (she had only one arm); and Ponnammal, a young widow mother.

I was so surprised at their dedication to helping each other. They volunteered to help, which surprised me. The English missionaries in Bangalore said natives would only help if paid to do so. 

I wore a sari like the native women. As you can see from the picture, a sari is a rectangle piece of coarse fabric. It is very long. The woman wraps the material tightly around her waist twice, then brings the material up and over the left shoulder. The fabric that is left over hangs down the back. Sometimes the left over is brought up to cover the woman's head.

My first sari was a plain white cotton material. Most Indian women wore their hair in a bun low against their head. I preferred to wear mine higher.

Rich Indians wore saris made from colorful silks. 

The woman in the picture is wearing a Hindu style sari. Muslim women's saris were tailored and gathered tight at the ankles. They usually wore a cloth over their head, and covered their face with a veil.

This was the first time I really felt a part of the Indian people. I was so excited to witness to these women and to gain their trust.
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photo labeled permission for reuse.
Resources used for this series:
Benge, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Amy Carmichael: Rescuer of Precious Gems. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 1998. Print.
Davis, Rebecca Henry. With Daring Faith: A Biography of Amy Carmichael. Greenville, SC: Bob Jones UP, 1987. Print.
Dick, Lois Hoadley. Amy Carmichael: Let the Children Come. Chicago: Moody, 1984. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Amy Carmichael: Rescuing the Children. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 2002. Print.
Wellman, Sam. Amy Carmichael: A Life Abandoned to God. Uhrichville, OH: Barbour Pub., 1998. Print.

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Let Amy hear from you!

Daniel-How to Close the Mouth of a Hungry Lion

By Mary Vee
Daniel 6

From Daniel's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Daniel. I am a prophet of God and a prisoner in the land of Babylon with many other Jews.

The guards have walked me to the lions' den. 

At first, the king didn't come with us. I listened to the satraps and administrators make fun of me the whole walk here.

Just before the guards shoved me into the den as they were ordered, the king arrived on his chariot and stopped near the den. He climbed down and walked toward me. "Daniel, May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you."

He signaled the guards to do their duty.

They pushed me down into the lions' den. I was prepared to die. The lions' snapped at first. The king then said in a very sad voice. "Roll the stone over the opening."

He would have used his signet ring to seal the opening. The nobles would have done the same. This would hold as proof that no one tampered with the rock to help me escape.

I cowered against the wall and waited for the lions to attack. A whole minute passed. I felt my arms and chest to make sure I really was alive. 

Photo Courtesy

The lions had gathered on the other side of the den. I saw men dressed in white. They had a glow around them helping me to see in the dark.

"Fear not, Daniel. For you are favored with the Most High God. He has sent us to hold the mouths of the lions closed and to keep them from harming you. God has said you are found innocent in his sight. You have not sinned and should not be given this punishment."

They smiled and then sang. Their song calmed the lions. They ran one hand over the main of the lions, treating the creatures with the kindness I have known from the Almighty God.

I'm not sure if I slept. I didn't want to. It's not often a whole evening can be spent with angels from God, sent especially for protection. I remember singing praises to God with them. We talked, but I don't remember the conversation.

What I do remember is the joy in my heart. Like a breath of the purest air--even down in a smelly lions' den.

Since I couldn't watch the sky, I had no idea of how the time passed. The lions mostly slept as the stars and moon moved in the sky above the rock.

Oh praise the Lord for he is good.



Come back next time to see what happens.

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1. What decree did the king sign into law?
2. What did Daniel do?
3. Why the the satraps and administrators tell on Daniel?
4. What was the king forced to do?
5. Where was Daniel taken?