blessings

Singing a new song - Psalm 96

11:17 AM

 


Psalm 96, Hebrews 3:7-11


Growing up I remember listening to America’s Top 40 with Casey Kasem. Each week I was excited to hear who held the coveted spot of the new number one song. And each week we too have a new song to sing. One of praise and worship to the Lord for His blessings, glory, and gift of salvation. Because His goodness and mercy are new each morning. (Lam. 3:23) And in our daily Christian walk, when we look, much is the evidence of Him lovingly, working in our lives daily. So how can we help but sing, “great is the Lord and greatly to be praised.” (Ps. 96:4)


Each day God is busy doing something new. He’s building up, tearing down, blessing, intervening, answering prayers, working miracles, and saving souls. For as He says in Isaiah, “Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them. Sing to the LORD a new song, His praise from the end of the earth. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland”  (Is. 42:9-10, 43:18-19)


The “new song” we sing comes from when we experience God in a new way. I love how gotquestions.org puts it. “A new song springs forth unrehearsed from the heart of a worshiper who has been struck anew with wonder at the greatness of God and the salvation He has provided. When we see the mighty hand of God working in a way we’ve never observed before, we can’t help but burst forth with a song we’ve never sung before.” Every day the Lord never ceases to amaze me. Because just when I think I know all there is know about Him, He overwhelms my heart with something new! 


All of creation cries out in worship to God’s glory, splendor, and majesty. The heavens, earth, sea, fields, and even the trees, sing to the Lord a new song. For one day God will restore everything His hands have made to its original perfection. From the beginning, God has had His master plan in motion. And with the birth of Jesus Christ, that plan was made real before all mankind. In His amazing love, God planned to once and for all destroy evil and reconcile everything back to Himself, our great Creator. And one day soon, all will sing a new song praising and giving glory to Him alone! 


Pause and Reflect -

In this Psalm we are encouraged to sing to the Lord. What songs do you most enjoy singing to the Lord? Why do you like singing those? Why is the Lord worthy of our praise? What changes in nature are you most eager to see when the Lord reigns over all the earth?


Finally, let’s pray together, 

Our dearest Father in heaven above, hallowed be Thy name. Father we lift up our voices in praise and thanksgiving for the wonder that You have done in our lives. And we pray that our lives in thought, word, and deed, may be a song of praise to You, and the goodness of Your grace. Father may we declare Your glory, not only among those who know You, but also among those who do not. For You have sent us into this world to bring the good news of Your marvelous works, most of all Your salvation through Jesus Christ. And we thank You for the newness of Your goodness and mercy each morning. In Jesus precious name we pray, Amen.


Don't' forget to head over to our Facebook group at, https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenintheword2 to join in on the discussion. Also check out our public Facebook page at, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083156569388 and give us a like!


I can’t wait to hear your thoughts, and I pray your day overflows with love and blessings.


💖Lisa

healed

Holy Ground {Isaiah 53}

12:00 AM

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 53

Isaiah 53 is holy ground.
"Isaiah’s prophetic pen allows us to peer into the events of Calvary and witness their spiritual significance. The physical horrors Jesus suffered on the cross are enough to move the most cynical person to emotion, but understanding their spiritual importance will inspire the most sinful person to devotion. The cross calls for more than just our tears, it is meant to capture our allegiance." -Tim Jennings
What we see in Isaiah 53 should shock all believers. This chapter has the power to transforms us, and soften every stony heart If we're willing to look at it closely!
Think about this a moment: Adam was called to obey God perfectly, but failed and all those who have come after him were cast out of the Lord’s presence (Gen 2:15-16; 3, Rom 5:12-21).
God’s own people, who were rescued from Egypt and called to obey God,—even its leaders—broke the covenant and were not permitted into Promised Land.
If even those called and rescued by the Lord failed, what hope do any of us have!?

 “He grew up before Him like a young plant,
    and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
    and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men,
    a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
    he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs
    and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
    smitten by God, and afflicted.
 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
    and with his wounds we are healed.(Isaiah 53:2-5)

The chapter begins by revealing that Jesus would deliver His people, not by the power of a sword, but through the power of suffering. And His suffering would begin by the way He chose to enter this world, in poverty. Like “a root in a dry, [parched] ground” (picture that for a moment) He would struggle to survive. (Isa. 53:2).
Not only that, but His suffering would intensified by the rejection He experienced from others (Isa. 53:3). The Amplified Bible tells us that He was as one who people would hide their faces from. I’m sure most of us know what it feels like to be rejected by another.
BUT what is most shocking to me is that man’s rejection of Jesus resulted in the horrific, physical abuse. Isaiah says, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] we are healed. Once more the Amplified Bible tells us that He was beaten “beyond human likeness”.
AND what so amazes me is that Jesus didn’t have to suffer. He chose to! It's one thing to suffer when you have no choice or when you have done something to deserve it, but Jesus willingly chose to suffer on our behalf. (John 10:18; 12:27)
The coolest part of all of this is, Jesus purposely suffered for a reason! We were always on His mind and in His heart! And I believe had God’s Law called for a thousand deaths, He would have done that for you! “He shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days… . Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities” (vv. 10b–11).
I'd like to leave you with this thought, for I don’t want you to  miss what is perhaps the most beautiful truth taught in Isaiah 53: Jesus our Messiah did not fail to save His people!
Born in Adam, we were God’s enemies as long as we remained in Adam. When Jesus our Messiah went to the cross, He did so willingly! The spotless Lamb - His righteousness was offered for our unrighteous and "by His wounds we are healed"! And made whole. Reconciled, redeemed [bought back] to God our Father forever.

I can't help but to give Him thanks and pray that He never has to face our rejection again!

God's unique thoughts

SoulSearching Sunday~God's thoughts

12:00 AM

Sunday, July 15, 2018


Week Twenty-eight

Welcome!  We pray that you have all had a precious time worshipping the Lord this morning!  Below you will find some thought provoking questions that will provide you a starting point to your journal writing to complete this week.  We hope that you will find this time soul satisfying!

Our reading this week was Isaiah 36 - 66...

 1. Write about a crisis or decision you are facing, as a way of spreading it out before the LORD. Then worship God by simply listening to Him in prayer. How does it feel to be silent before God? 

 After Hezekiah received the letter he read it, he went up to the LORD’s Temple and spread it out before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed. (Isaiah 37:14-15)

 2. When you think about getting old, how do you feel? Our bodies will fail us, but God never will. What lifelong worship habits can you establish that will bind you to Christ with bonds that time can never weaken? 

 I will be your God throughout your lifetime-until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. (Isaiah 46:4)

 3. In Isaiah 55, what particular phrases strike you as being God’s unique thoughts? How are they different from the way you reason? Ask God to help you apply His thoughts to at least one situation in your life today. 

 “My thoughts are completely different from yours,” says the LORD. “And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)




faithful

Life's Ultimate Goal {Isaiah 40-44}

8:00 PM


What is our ultimate goal in this life? Do you know why you're here?
The answer is actually found in the chapters we were to read today. The Bible has made it abundantly clear that God created us and that we were created for His glory (Isaiah 43:7). Therefore, our ultimate purpose is simply to glorify God. But that's just the beginning...

 
Romans 9:23 puts it a bit differently, “He does this to make the riches of His glory shine even brighter on those to whom He shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory.” This means that if you are His and can call yourself a Christian  — if you’ve confessed with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believed in our heart that God raised Him from the dead (Rom 10:9-10) —you are His child of mercy, prepared ahead of time to know the riches of the His glory. Can you imagine? But it gets even better,

We didn’t deserve to be chosen, or called by God. We did absolutely nothing to deserve being saved, transformed and heaven-bound! (Eph 2:8-9). It was all because of His mercy. Nothing in us ever influenced God to make it happen, and nothing could ever make Him change His mind! This is what it means to be a child of mercy. It means we can say as David said, “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life…”(Psalm 23:6) , for there will never be a day when The Lord in His mercy does not track us down and make us a vessel of His blessing…

That very thought humbles me, but I must admit there are still days where I feel like this boat:
Barely able to keep afloat. Doing all I can to simply keep my head above the water. In fact, I shared a few weeks ago on Women in the Word that I’ve felt this way pretty much all year! Each time I thought I was beginning to get ahead and come out from all that was pressing in around me another wave would wash over me, and I was sunk again! The very next morning after I shared my woes on WitW this poster below arrived on my Facebook page to assure me that He's got this and together we are much more than conquerors! The first thing I noticed after the verse was the water --- there aren't any WAVES!


But why is it we must often become desperate for Him before God steps in to help His children? Notice Isaiah 43:1-7,

But now, thus says the Lord, your creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; ... Since you are precious in My sight, since you are honored and I love you... Do not fear, for I am with you...
 Isaiah 41:13, also arrived that morning and I began to wonder what exactly was The Lord trying to tell me just then.


Can you hear Him speaking to you? Does all this humble you as well?  The sad truth is when things are going well, or when I'm busy and distracted with a mounting "to-do" list, I often forget The Lord is right there with me. I forget to call on Him so we may share our day together. Did you see His heart in these verses, for one can't possible read them with out sensing God's love for His own? The answer to my question as to why He waits until I become desperate, isn't because He has moved, it's only because I've finally begun to call out to Him. I'm not proud to admit it, only being honest. 

 So I asked Him if my goal is to bring Him glory, how I could best do that and here's a few ideas I received:
•  Live right before Him, free from sin. Confessing right away when we fall short. 1John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
• Be Content with all God has already done and given us rather than longing for more. .
Paul testified, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am...I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:11,13).
• Give Praise to God. Psalm 50:23, “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me.” Praise honors our Lord and one way to praise God is to give Him credit for EVERYTHING! 
 • Bear Fruit. Jesus told us in John 15:8 “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit.”Also Colossians 1:10 says, “Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work.” Good works = fruit. .”
• Pray without ceasing. (1Thesalonians 5:18) Talk to Him throughout your day, thereby including Him in everything!
• Tell others about Jesus! Share God’s Word with others, and tell them all He has done for you! We always want to talk about the ones we love so that they will love Him too!

BUT most importantly, ENJOY Him! Be filled with joy in the midst of everything going on around you! I believe that when we live to glorify God, He responds by giving us overwhelming joy! Our joy in Jesus should act as our barometer as to whether we're living to bring Him glory or not! And if there ever comes a time when there is no longer any joy, I think we only need to go back to the verses on this post and so many, many others that speak of His love for you!

Blessings!

sue


Isaiah

Who Dares Mock God {Isaiah 36:1-39:8}

10:22 PM


In Isaiah chapter seven, the kingdom of Judah is being threatened by surrounding nations. God sends the prophet Isaiah to king Ahaz to deliver a message telling him to have no fear and stand strong. For the plans of the enemy, “shall not stand, nor come to pass.” (vs. 7:7) But instead of trusting God, Ahaz turned to the Assyrians, (with disastrous results), for protection. Now some 34 years later the son of Ahaz, Hezekiah, is king and Judah is once again being threatened. This time it’s by the Assyrians themselves led by king Shennacherib.

After Sennacherib and his army capture the fortified cities of Judah, Sennacherib sends his messenger, Rabshakeh, to deliver some serious smack talk to King Ahaz. The message mocks God saying, “Who among all the gods of these lands have delivered their land from my hand, that the Lord would deliver Jerusalem from my hand?” (vs. 36:20) Hezekiah sends men to Isaiah and like He did with his father, Isaiah gives Hezekiah a message from God. He tells Isaiah, “Do not be afraid.”(vs. 37:6) God is going to put a spirit in Sennacherib so that he'll hear a rumor and return to his own land, where he'll end up getting killed. And because, unlike Ahaz, Hezekiah prayed, trusted, and obeyed God, during the night the angel of the Lord went into the camp of the Assyrians and killed 185,000 men. Suffering such a great loss forced Sennacherib to return to his own land where he was murdered by his sons who then claimed his throne.

Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” As powerful as Sennacherib thought he was, neither his army nor his threats could stand against God. He quickly found out that the Lord is not one to be played with, and reaped the consequences of his mockery. The Bible has much to say about mockery. It is described as a “behavior and attitude shown by the fool (Psalm 74:22), the wicked (Psalm 1:1), the enemy (Psalm 74:10), the hater of knowledge (Proverbs 1:22; 13:1), the proud (Psalm 119:51; Isaiah 37:17), and the unteachable (Proverbs 15:12)....gotquestions.org

Only those who hate God would dare mock Him. Surely no Christian would do such a thing...right? Preacher Charles G. Finney wrote, “To mock God is to pretend to love and serve him when we do not; to act in a false manner, to be insincere and hypocritical in our professions, pretending to obey him, love, serve, and worship him, when we do not.” 

No true believer has to pretend to love God. Yet even though our devotion to Him is strong, we’ve all been guilty of behavior that could be called many things, except godly. I myself have disobeyed God, not walked as Jesus teaches, and at times acted more like a Pharisee than a Christian. And even though I may not have threatened Judah or her king, my actions are as much a mockery as Sennacherib’s.

Think of Messiah Jesus. He was mocked by Herod and his men (Luke 23:11), by the Roman soldiers (Mark 15:20; Luke 23:36), by the thief on the cross (Luke 23:39), and by the Jewish leaders. (Matt. 27:41). And even though He had twelve legions of Angels at His command who could have destroyed those who taunted Him, (Matt. 26:53), He endured the ridicule and scorn. He endured for you and me and for all who call Him Savior. I am humbled by His sacrifice and pained by the thought of my actions which mock the Lord and grieve the Spirit.

But thankfully we serve a loving God who, when we confess our sin and repent, is faithful to forgive and restore our fellowship with Him. We live in a society where God is not welcomed and both He and His followers are openly ridiculed. We are the ambassadors of Jesus. The world is constantly looking at us to see if we practice what we preach. By living lives of integrity, sowing seeds of the Spirit, and being examples of the grace of God, instead of seeing mockery and hypocrisy, the world will see shining lights that glorify our Father! (Matt. 5:16)


Complacency

SoulSearching Sunday~Creation

12:00 AM

Sunday, July 8, 2018



Week Twenty-seven

Welcome!  We pray that you have all had a precious time worshipping the Lord this morning!  Below you will find some thought provoking questions that will provide you a starting point to your journal writing to complete this week.  We hope that you will find this time soul satisfying!

Our reading this week was Isaiah 5 - 35...

 1. Reflect on each of the names of Jesus listed here. When have you encountered Him in each of these ways? What other adjectives describe your relationship with the LORD?

 For a Child is born to us, a Son is given to us. And the government will rest on His shoulders. These will be His royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

 2. Consider God’s creation. What is most amazing to you about what He has made? In view of God’s supreme purposes in designing the universe and our lives, what can you do to honor His handiwork?

 Should the thing that was created say to the One who made it, “He didn’t make us”? Does a jar ever say, “The potter who made me is stupid”? (Isaiah 29:16)

 3. When has security or a steady routine made you complacent? What was your wake-up call? How can you shake your complacency and move toward complete trust in God and His faithfulness today by doing something totally different?

 Listen, you women who lie around in lazy ease…In a short time - in just a little more than a year - you careless ones will suddenly begin to care. (Isaiah 32:9,10)

assurance

Scripture Saturday~He will carry us

12:00 AM

Saturday, July 7, 2018


Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

This coming week's memory verses are Isaiah 46:4...

 Even to your old age I am He, and even to your advanced old age I will carry you! I have made you, and I will carry you; Be assured I will carry you and I will save you. (AMP)

 Have a blessed and precious day and week everyone!

Accountability

God's Justice Prevails (Isaiah 17-23)

12:30 AM


Last week, I wrote about how life is not fair.  Isaiah reminds us however, that God is in control and He holds the scales of justice. All of mankind is accountable for his choices, beliefs, and actions. 

According to Billy Graham: “Modern man does not like to think of God in terms of wrath, anger and judgment. He likes to make God according to his own ideas and give God the characteristics he wants Him to possess. Man tries to remake God to conform to his own wishful thinking, so that he can make himself comfortable in his sins.
This modern god has the attributes of love, mercy and forgiveness, but is without justice. Man doesn’t want to be judged and punished for sin. He “reconstructs” God along the lines of tolerance, all-embracing love and universal goodwill.”

In today’s modern world this is very true. Many live without regard for God’s truth and holiness.  Often, it seems that they also prosper in their endeavors. In these chapters, Isaiah gave warning to the people of His day that God would bring to ruin what man had prospered to build with his own hands and would destroy the very things that man depended on apart from God. At some point, all of mankind has to acknowledge his Maker. 

“In that day man will look to his Maker, and his eyes will look on the Holy One of Israel. He will not look to the altars, the work of his hands, and he will not look on what his own fingers have made, either the Asherim or the altars of incense. In that day their strong cities will be like the deserted places of the wooded heights and the hilltops, which they deserted because of the children of Israel, and there will be desolation.” (Isaiah17:7-9)

Even Egypt in all of its wealth and prosperity would know hard times when the “sacred Nile”  they depended on ceased to provide its resources. The idols and magicians they turned to for counsel and deliverance would fail to deliver and the Egyptian empire would struggle as its power weakened. But, God would also show that even though he must judge sin, He also chooses to show mercy to those who realize their need for His salvation. This mercy would be extended to those in Egypt who acknowledged Him. 
“And the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day and worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows to the Lord and perform them. And the Lord will strike Egypt, striking and healing, and they will return to the Lord, and he will listen to their pleas for mercy and heal them.” (Isaiah 19:21-22)

When we stray from God, He lovingly and justly disciplines us too. But, He longs to get our attention and reconcile us to Him. Do not be discouraged when evil seems to thrive around you.  God sees all and He is always in control.  Because He is Holy, all will be judged.  Because He is merciful, we who trust in Christ will know His salvation and restoration.  God’s justice will prevail! 

independence day

Your Day of Independence {Isaiah 12-16}

10:00 PM


The Day of Salvation


What better day, then when the United States of America celebrates it’s independence from Great Britain, to speak of our own independence! Do you remember that day; the day you chose freedom from the consequences of your sin and accepted God’s salvation? Do you still celebrate?

Imagine for a moment this young nation celebrating their independence. I’ve often wondered how the common folk back then must have felt. Were they elated, or nervous about how Great Britain would retaliate, or perhaps a little of both? Either way, there was no turning back now. I found a portion of a letter John Adams had written to his wife Abigail on July 3,1776 just one day after the Declaration of Independence had been approved:


The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.

John Adams's prediction was only off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress” (Wikipedia)


Up until now in the Book of Isaiah, Isaiah has spoken of the day of coming judgment, but here in verse 12:1 he begins pointing to the day of salvation!

“And on that day you will say, “I will give thanks to You, O Lord; for though You were angry with me, Your anger has turned away, and You comfort me.”

Has there ever been a day when you were allowed to see and feel the full weight of your sin and how it harmed you, others, and especially God? Did you ever wonder how God could possibly forgive you? Do you also remember that overwhelming feeling knowing you’d been set free; forgiven and given the gift of salvation? Of being assured of spending all eternity in paradise? Isaiah is pointing to that day in this brief chapter,


“Behold, God, my salvation! I will trust and not be afraid, For the Lord God is my strength and song; Yes, He has become my salvation.”
Therefore with joy you will draw water
From the springs of salvation.
 
And in that day you will say,
“Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name [in prayer].
Make His deeds known among the peoples [of the earth];
Proclaim [to them] that His name is exalted!”
 
Sing praises to the Lord, for He has done excellent and glorious things;
Let this be known throughout the earth.

Rejoice and shout for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,
For great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah 12:2-6


What a moment of rejoicing is on display here, but not for Israel alone, for verse 4 speaks of all nations! And not just for a moment, but continuously! If we have experienced the joy of God’s salvation, there’s still proclaiming to be done. Still trusting, still rejoicing and forever giving thanks! 

Therefore, may I ask you, how are you doing in light of all that’s here? Are you still rejoicing and giving thanks in the gift of your salvation? Are you still trusting and still telling others of what Jesus has done for you?

Are you just as excited TODAY about your salvation as the day you were set free?

And if you can’t recall THAT day (the day of salvation), let me assure you that you can know for certain TODAY of where you’ll be spending all eternity! In fact, you need to know, for if you wait, it could be too late.

Are you certain (100% certain, no doubts whatsoever) that if you were to die at this very moment the next one you'll see is Jesus? 

If you aren't 100% certain that you have reason to celebrate the day of your salvation and independence from the controls of sin, I pray you won't leave here without nailing this down! 

I found a pretty simply, clear cut explanation on what we all must do to know for certain that our sins have been forgiven by a holy God, and all of heaven is waiting to welcome us home. Just click this link.   
And if you do nail down that assurance TODAY, please let us know so that we can celebrate as well!!

Blessings!

sue

Banner

Whose Banner Are You Following? {Isaiah 8 - 11}

12:30 AM


Have you ever taken a tour and your tour guide holds up a little flag so as you walk you can locate her?  Verse 11:10 reminds me of how Jesus is who we need to look to in all areas of our lives.

So often the things of this world cloud our vision.  The car breaks down, a child gets sick, or the houseful of children and your job turn into such a routine that you can lose your focus.  You end up dreaming about a new car, or the perfect house and yard, you plan your yearly vacation.  Or you have expectations of how your children will grow up and become such and such.  The next thing you know, you’ve reached a point in your life and disillusion has set in and you are disappointed with how things have turned out.

Where was your tour guide through all of this?  Did you take off on your own route?  Now you are lost with no sense of direction.  I’ve mentioned a couple of times that I am coming to terms with not meeting some expectations in my life, and honestly, I’ve been a little disappointed.

God has been leading me through all of this and I believe that I haven’t always, in all things, allowed Jesus to govern my heart.

 Related image
When Isaiah prophesies that the Messiah that God raises from the root of Jesse would not only be the deliverer of Israel and Judah, but be His instrument to bring ALL people to Him.  We who are Gentiles were once enemies of God, cut off from a relationship with Him and cut off from His blessings.  But now, God has raised Jesus as a banner and a signal, calling all of us to run to Him and be saved.  Verse 10 says, “His resting place will be glorious.”  Isn’t that amazing?  No more striving, no more suffering, but an eternal life enjoying perfect rest in Him.

In John 3:14, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

The banner that God has raised is not like a campaign ad – with false promises and half-truths.  This is a banner of God’s unconditional love for us through His Son.  Everyone who acknowledges their need for forgiveness and believes in God’s perfect sacrifice, will be saved.  There is no distinction, Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, weak or strong, anyone who runs to the banner will be saved.  By God’s wisdom and grace, Jesus now stands as the rallying cry and only hope for all men to be restored to God.  Under the banner of Jesus, people like me and you, can be called the children of God and be part of God’s kingdom.

v11,12 says, “In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the surviving remnant of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the Mediterranean.  He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; He will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth.”

God will also bring together Israel and Judah and remove all barriers and hostility between them.  God’s plan is to gather and restore all those who put their trust in the Jesus.  Though God’s people are scattered, He knows them by name and will make a way for them to return to Him and to enjoy Him forever.  So as we anticipate Jesus’ coming and God’s restoration of His remnant, what kind of people should we be and how should our lives look?  God is looking for a faithful remnant, those who do not compromise with the world, but hold onto Jesus and follow Him.  God rewards those who are faithful to Him even when it is difficult to do so.  Even though we face confusing and troubling times, may God help us to be faithful in seeking Him in His word and in prayer.  May God help us to be faithful in serving our families and friends.  May He help us to be faithful in encouraging our fellow believers and in the building up of our church.  May He help us to be faithful in obeying His commands and in proclaiming His name to those around us.  And let us eagerly pray for Jesus’ kingdom to come that we may be with Him and enjoy Him forever.

Isaiah

Here I am. Send me! {Isaiah 5:1-7:25}

11:00 PM



The Bible teaches about many prophets. Men and women blessed to be used by God in awesome ways. But far from enjoying peaceful easy living, God’s prophets were often despised, persecuted, and imprisoned; the messages they brought, hated and disregarded. Even though many came to tragic, violent ends, they still stayed true to revealing God’s messages. Why? Because of divine encounters with the Lord. Encounters that transformed both their hearts and their lives.

This was the case with one the greatest prophets, Isaiah. When God was looking for someone to deliver a message to Israel He said, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” (vs. 6:8) Isaiah stepped right up saying, “Here am I. Send me!” (v. 6:8) Why was Isaiah so eager to serve God? The Bible tells us that in the same year the king of Judah, Uzziah, passed away, Isaiah received a prophetic vision. “I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of his robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings; with two he covered His face, and with two he covered His feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is filled with His glory.” (vs. 6:1-3) 

Surrounded by the glorious majesty and holiness of God, Isaiah is convicted by the filthiness of his own life in comparison and cries out in despair, “Woe is me, for I am ruined. Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” (vs. 6:5) In response, God sends a seraphim to place a burning coal on the lips of Isaiah allowing his iniquity to be taken away and his sin forgiven. (vs. 6:7) Transformed, cleansed, and ready for service, Isaiah humbly volunteers to carry out God’s mission.

Have you ever thought you washed a window to crystal clear perfection only to find it full of streaks when the rays of the sun shined on it? That’s how it is with us. No matter how hard we try, or how clean we think our lives are, they are nothing more than dirty, streaky windows compared to the perfect goodness of God. But because of His boundless love, just like He did for Isaiah, God provides a way for our iniquity to be taken away and our sin forgiven. That way is Jesus Christ. Through His work on the Cross and the shedding of His precious blood the minute we receive Him as our Savior, the Holy Spirit goes to work. First he humbles and convicts us about the filthiness of our lives, then begins transforming, cleansing, and getting us ready for God's service. No longer unworthy, and like the prophets before us, we can be eagerly obedient to God’s calling. And after our own life changing encounter with the Lord, with a thankful heart we too can say to God, “Here am I. send Me!”

Ecclesiastes

SoulSearching Sunday~Power of Love

12:00 AM

Sunday, July 1, 2018


Week Twenty-six

Welcome!  We pray that you have all had a precious time worshipping the Lord this morning!  Below you will find some thought provoking questions that will provide you a starting point to your journal writing to complete this week.  We hope that you will find this time soul satisfying!

Our reading this week was Ecclesiastes 1 - Isaiah 4...

 1. What does it mean to have “eternity planted in the human heart”? When do you sense that truth in yourself? Beauty? Pain? Longing? As you worship, enjoy the eternal meaning, significance, and joy that comes from God alone.

 God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

 2. When has anger caused you to act foolishly? In what areas, situations, or even times of day do you tend to have a short fuse? How can you remind yourself to see God in a way that honors Him when you face these situations?

 Don’t be quick-tempered, for anger is the friend of fools. (Ecclesiastes 7:9)

 3. Remember a time when you felt the power of love. Human love can be strong, but the love of a heavenly Father is stronger still. How do you feel when you ponder the nail prints in Jesus’ hand and feet? Worship God as you contemplate His amazing love for you.

 Place me like a seal over your heart, or like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, and its jealousy is as enduring as the grave. Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame. Many waters cannot quench love; neither can rivers drown it. (Song of Songs 8:6,7) 

 Happy 4th of July everyone! Enjoy!