Isaiah 5:1-12-- God's disappointment

As I read this scripture I wonder how often I have disappointed God.  I know there have been times when I had lots of time to do for Him but very little time to appreciate the gifts He has given to me.  It is reminding me to count my many blessing and remember how much He enjoys the fruit of His Spirit.  "Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self control" Galatians 5:22-23

This scripture is also reminding me of another God principle.  "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows.  The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportuity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers" Galatians 6:7-10

Isaiah 5:1-2 -- God's Vineyard and the Fruit

As I read these verses I think of the many wonderful people I know who dearly love the Lord.  They have seen God's amazing Vineyard.  How He toiled in the garden and removed the stones; planted the best plants; built a watch tower; and prepared for the winepress and yet the fruit is not what they had hoped for; the fruit of the Spirit of "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control" Galatians 5:22-23

Then, I think of Jesus at the well in John 4.  How excited He was to see good fruit.  So excited He didn't want physical food.

My challenge today is found in Galatians 5:13-16.  Although we have all freedom I must not let my freedom indulge the sinful nature (I say this after a mentor of mine told me last night "you want it all to be easy; there's discipline involved! :-)).  "Rather, serve one another in love.  The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbour as yourself.".  If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature."

Yes, I'm sure there are many disappointments with the crops as we read in Isaiah 5:2 so I am challenged.  How will I let the Lord develop His fruit in me today?

Isaiah 4:2-6 - The Branch of the Lord

What is interesting is even in all the chaos or maybe because of all the chaos God is more obvious.  It is then that we recognize that He provides the fruit of the land;  the righteous will have a chance to shine as holy people; people will no longer take God for granted and God's glory will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.

Isaiah 3:11-4:1 -- God's vineyard

What a mess!  People taking advantage of people.  This is obviously not of God.  May we never forget that this is God's vineyard!  May His Kingdom come and His will be done.

"Every blessing we receive is only by His grace."

Isaiah 3:1-10 -- Tell the righteous it will be well with them

"I will make boys their officials; mere children will govern them. ..." Isaiah 3:4

"I have no remedy.  I have no food or clothing in my house; do not make me the leader of the people" Isaiah 3:7

".. their words and deeds are gainst the Lord, defying his glorious presence."  Isaiah 3:8

As I read these words I think of our young people, who have access to the world like never before and I think of my own life as a person who has been raised in the church and I am drawn to the question; am I living a life that denies His glorious presence?

The answer is a definite NO!  I could not live the life God has given to me without Him because I need His wisdom, His presences; His protection; His love...

I'm reminded of Romans 12:1-2
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrificies, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- His good, pleasing and perfect will"....I find it funny that yesterday I discovered a DVD called "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers and today God has led me to the verse about the renewing of the mind! :-)

Thanks Lord, for providing friends that have been encouraging me to enjoy "Living Room time" with You.  Lord, I need you today because I know You've set up some God appointments for me.  Help me to listen Your voice and go where you need me to go and say what you need me to say.

Isaiah 2:19-22 - What/Who to trust?

"You should stop trusting people to save you, because people are only human; they aren't able to help you." Isaiah 2:22

"At that time people will throw away their gold and silver..." Isaiah 2:20

This passage is reminding me; who or what can we really trust????

This question makes me turn to Christ?  Who did He trust and what did He trust?  Jesus started His ministry at the age of 12 by telling His parents "He must be about His Father's business" (Luke 2:49 King James).  I don't know how this statement got into my brain but I remember quoting it many times when I was volunteering at a prison because I never wanted to be associated with "a group"; whether it was inmates or officers, victims or offenders; I was their because Christ placed me there and I needed to do what He needed me to do. 

For me this is just as significant at our workplace, at our church, in our neighbourhoods etc.... Christ told us "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16

Jesus was so confident in His relationship with His Father He did not worry about public opinion.  In fact, when He became popular He usually left town and He warned His followers that they should carry little and not worry about where they were going to sleep.

It really doesn't sound promising yet it seems to me that the real point here is quit trusting in things that are not omni-present, omni-powerful, all wise etc and start trusting in the Lord who loves us so much that He was willing to give up the thing He loved the most just to save us!  Remember, God knows us, knows what makes us happy, knows what His purpose is for our lives, knows what we can endure, knows what we need to learn, knows our circumstances and knows how to run "our home".  Let's just trust Him with the next little thing He's asking us to do. 

If you haven't heard from the Lord lately ask this question "what did He ask me to do last? Then ask, did I do it?  He may just be waiting for us to do the last thing He asked us to do before He moves us to the next task".  I wonder how often He just shakes His head when we try to tell Him what to do; as if we know anything compared to Him!

Isaiah 2:12-18 -- The proud

Wow, what a warning!  With all the sins in the bible it seems to me that being proud is the worst...or at least mentioned the most!  I struggle with this because I think there is a healthy pride.  I think we need to be who God made us to be and we shouldn't hide our talents to make others feel good.  After all, Jesus told a story about people who managed to double their talents.  I think I also stuggle with this because when I share my fun and excitement as I see God working I don't seem to be able to present it in a way that Christ gets the amount of credit that I want Him to get...yet I think this is the key to remaining humble.  It's remembering that "Every blessing we receive is only by His grace".

Thank you Lord for giving me so many blessings.  Show me how to use my time and talents wisely in Your Kingdom.

Isaiah 2:6-11 -- Priorities

I'm reminding of the Canadian National Anthem "God keep our land, glorious and free"...over my life time I remember the 100 reasons why I'm proud to be a Canadian campaign and I remember travelling around the world being proud to be a Canadian.  I know people from many countries have decided to make Canada their home so I assume this is because they've decided that Canada is a better place to be than where they were living.  God has answered our prayer; He's given us a good economy and a peaceful nation; yet I fear that we're departing from Him and our children are being raised to believe we don't need Him. 

If I were to bring this to a human perspective I'm thinking it would be something like a parent who has given their child everything they've asked for; they've protected them and provided for them and ultimately given them their freedom and the child; like the prodical son, decides to take it all and waste it. (Luke 15:11-32)

I love how both of these stories end though
"At that time only the Lord will still be praised"

Today I'm going to consiously look for things to praise the Lord for.

Isaiah 2:5 -- Mediation

Yesterday I had a fun conversation about meditation.  As a Christian we mediate on the word of God so today I decided I'd mediate a bit as I read Isaiah and I have to smile because I started with Isaiah 2:5.
" Come family of Jacob and let us follow the way of the Lord".  Isn't this just a perfect verse to spur us on into mediating on His word!

Blessings,
Sherrill

Isaiah 2:4

As I listen to today's headline about a bank being involved with blood money my prayer is found in Isaiah 2:4 that

"He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples and that they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.  Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore"

Thank you Jesus for modeling how we can do this as individuals.  I think of your challenge to Peter '"Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.' Matthew 26:52

Wow, I didn't realize that Isaiah 2:3 and 2:5 are choruses I know.  The chorus for 2:5 that comes to my mind is "Let us all get together in communion suite and walk, walk in the light.  Let's love one another 'till the Saviour we meet and walk, walk in the light. Walk, in the light, walk, in the light, walk in the light; let's walk in the light of the Lord"

Isaiah 2:3

"Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob.  He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths"

This is reminding me of a journey, through the country side, where we go to learn together, so we can walk in his paths.  I'm thankful for the opportunities I have had to do this.

As I read through Isaiah 1 I'm hearing God's heart.  He's frustrated because His children have turned from an authentic relationship with Him.  They're playing church by offering "treats" but they're not listening to His heart.  He sees them hurting each other and He knows how to stop it but they won't listen to Him.  Their leaders take bribes and they're not listening to Him.  This is what He wants:
"Quit hurting each other. Do what is right. Seek justice! Encourage the oppressed. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow".  He wants us to reason with Him.  He's willing to help us clean up our mess but we need to be willing and obedient.

Isaiah 1:1

I'm noting it's a vision for God's chosen people. Since it's a vision it's not what has taken place but a picture of what is in the process of taking place.