Friday, August 31, 2012

Isaiah 9:2 -- Darkness has become light!

Just as the morning comes so light replaces darkness.  I've heard in some traditions children becoming of age are blindfolded and led into the forest where they must sit all night.  Their Father watches out for them but they are unaware of this.  They are left to face the darkness of the forest alone. 

Sometimes this is the way it is with us.  We don't hear from God, we feel we are all alone and it's dark so we do not know what is around us, yet God our Father is with us.

Jesus said "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12) yet He said it in the context of a dirty world.  Just before this statement He was challenged by the men who brought to him a woman caught in adultery (so where was the man she was with???).  Just after this statement the church leaders pointed out that only He thought He was the light yet Jesus said "I have many things to say and decide about you.  But I tell people only the things I have heard from the One who sent me, and he speaks the truth" (John 8:26)

The reality is they still didn't get it so Jesus said "When you lift up the Son of Man you will know that I am He"(John 8:28) (Did He mean when they lifted Him up on the cross or when they lifted Him up in praise?)

Note Jesus measuring stick "The one who sent me is with me.  I always do what is pleasing to him, so he has not left me alone." (John 8:29)

And then Jesus went on to share our measuring stick "If you continue to obey my teaching, you are truly my followers.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free". (John 8:31)

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Isaiah 8 - 9:1 -- Warnings to Isaiah

V 11 -- Don't follow the lead of the rest of the people
V 12 -- Don't be afraid of what they fear; do not dread those things, but remember that the Lord All-powerful is Holy.  He is the one you should fear; He is the one you should dread.  Then He will be a place of safety for you. 
V19 -- ask God not mediums and fortune-tellers for help.
V20 -- You should follow the teachings and the agreement with the Lord.
V 9:1 -- But suddenly there will be no more gloom for the land that suffered...but in the future those lands will be made great.

Father, may we not forget You; may we not take You for granted.  Thank You for giving us a peaceful nation and a good economy.  Now Lord, may we represent You well at work and/or as we try to get work.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Isaiah 7:15-25 Immanuel, a child, will come to a hardened world

The truth is I like the Waltons.  I want everything neat and pretty so reading these verses isn't very comforting to me. I wish it was true, that everything was neat and pretty yet it seems to me that the more God gives, the more we take Him for granted so ultimately He quits giving; yet He's still there.  Immanuel, "God is with us".  It's during our toughest times that something begins to birth itself.  This passage talks about a virgin but fails to mention labour pains.  There is pain at a child's birth. (now you know why I'm not a Mother! :-)).  It seems to me that it's during the tough times that we turn to God and form an intimate bond with each other.  May we not forget, God is with us...and may we learn to love each other well.
http://www.5lovelanguages.com/...because I know the Power of Love.

Isaiah 7:14 -- The sign is Immanuel

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Isaiah 7:10-13 -- Signs

"Ask for a sign from the Lord your God to prove to yourself that these thigs are true.  It may be a sign from as deep as the place of the dead or as high as the heavens"

Ahaz, the king, said he didn't want to test the Lord by asking for a sign but Isaiah made it clear; it's okay to ask for sign for the sake of the people and God Himself.  As I type this I'm remembering my MP and Prime Minister in prayer.  What responsiblity they have to lead the people.  Lord, please give them the courage to ask for a sign and please give them one that they know is, without a doubt, from You.

I know we can fake many things.  I went to Hawaii and saw real water falls and a real volcano and then I went to where the rich people hang out in hotels that are full of fake experiences.  There was a pool so you could get into the water and "swim" with the dolphins but I only saw people standing and touching them.  There were the manicured lawns, there was the opportunity to get your picture taken with a parrot (and then pay a lot of money for the picture)... It was beautiful and almost instant but I knew it was fake.

Lord, today I'm asking for a sign.  I'm asking for a real awareness of your presence.  You continue to give me glimpses like the songs in my heart, the treats I receive with the weather, the re-uniting of friends, the support of strong mentors, yet there is nothing like experiencing You in an intimate living room relationship.  Lord, today I need a fresh touch of Your Spirit.  I need You to take over this body of mine and use it wherever and however you need me to use it.  Would you show me what You want to say to Your people this evening...and thanks Lord for allowing me to partner with You in ministry.  I know you don't need me but it's fun being in ministry together with you.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Isaiah 7:1-10 -- Watch what you hear; it may not be the truth

"Be careful, keep calm and don't be afraid. "... "It will not take place, it will not happen" ...."If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all."..."Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or the highest heights"

It is important not to allow the talk of others influence what you're hearing from God.

Today, may we listen to truth and stand firm in our faith.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Isaiah 6:9-13 -- Tell them; but I hope they won't listen?

I was finding this passage hard to really figure out until just now.

It seems that God can't stop healing if His people really understand what they see with their eyes and hear with their ears but He doesn't want to do this because He feels taken advantage of.

It's reminding me of how often I take people for granted.  The body of Christ is large and everyone plays a part and when everyone is playing their part the body works well but when it's working well I don't thank my body for not hurting...I just complain when I am hurting.  The same seems to be true in the body of Christ. When everything is working well we take it for granted but when it's not we complain.

Hebrews 10:23-25
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another —and all the more as you see the Day approaching. "

Thank you Lord on this day
Every blessing you give us
Food and friends
Love and joy
For our dreams and ambitions

Blossom of love may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever

Thank you Lord on this day
Bless our  marriage(friendships) forever

 (Word by Sherrill; to the tune of Edelweiss)

Monday, August 13, 2012

Isaiah 6:8 -- Here I am send me

The call..."Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said "Here I am. Send me!"

This sounds like such an honour but then we read the challenging message!  God has decided to show His power and doesn't seem to want the people to see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts or turn and be healed.

As we move into life we Christ we see in Galatians 5:13-16
"You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; 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'"

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Isaiah 6:3 -- Earth full of His glory

I was having a hard time really understanding "Holy, holy, holy...".  I've heard and sang the words many times but I never really understood them but God has given me a God revelation this weekend.

This video helped.
http://www.godofwondersvideo.org/trailer.htm



Saturday, August 11, 2012

Isaiah 6:6-7 -- A touch on the lips

Today I am praying "Lord, what are the right words and when shall I speak"? 

I'm also reminded of Nicky Gumbel's illustration of the power of the Holy Spirit. He talks about many Christians having a pilot light Holy Spirit experience but we have the opportunity to have a full blown Holy Spirit fire.  If I take this illustration and bring it back to the coal an angel touches Isaiah's lips with and says "your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for" I think of the pain of this experience.

It takes me to the verse in James 3:5-6

"Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.  Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.  The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.  It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell."

My prayer today is for us to commit our mouth to His use so it only starts fires that He wants started.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Isaiah 6:2-5 -- A Holy God encounter

As I read this I'm reminded of the booklet "My Heart Christ's Home" and the resolve to give the home over to God for how can we as mere humans maintain it on our own.

"Use us Lord, use us for Your glory, use us Lord; help us tell the story.  Lord we will obey, for there is no other way, use us, use us Lord"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHLDcCXUgCA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKlF6WbWBMg

Monday, August 6, 2012

Isaiah 6:1 -- I saw the Lord

"King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord."  As I read this first line I'm reminded that some times we just need to be out of the way for people to see the Lord.

As the Director of Evangelism I'd rank myself very low in my skill of greeting new people at my church door.  I know this is a very important task because one summer, years ago, I had 3 people make it to the street my church was on but not one of them managed to make it in the door.  I can understand this because I don't even like going to the gym all by myself for the first time.  Knowing this, when I got a phone call from a stranger to me, saying he'd like to come to my church I told him I'd meet him there.  I then hung up the phone and realized I wouldn't be at church that Sunday!  I felt so bad and then I contacted my backups and left them with a note.  As a result this gentleman had an incredible welcome to church.  He didn't just have my note, he had my brothers and sisters in the Lord...and he's been coming ever since! 

Even through the terrible experience of grieve I've observed that this experience has allowed people to "see the Lord".

My prayer is that we each see the Lord, in all His fullness, and that we stay out of the way of others seeing the Lord.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Isaiah 5:18-30 -- In His Time

"In His time, in His time; He makes all things beautiful, in His time.  Lord please show us every day as You're showing us Your way, that you do just as You say, in Your time"

What is stopping our commitment and trust in Him today?

Is it:
  • sin
  • cords of deceit
  • wickedness

Is it our desire to:
  • see the end result of God's work?
  • be wise in our own eyes?
  • be heros at drinking wine?

Or is it our ability to acquit the guilty for a bribe but deny justice to the innocent?

I am reminded once again of Galatians 6:7 "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"

Today, may we value God's presence in our lives even when we do not know or understand the fullness of His plans.




Friday, August 3, 2012

Isaiah 5:17 -- God, our provider

When we recognize Him He does provide for us even if it's among the ruins of the rich.

When I moved back to Canada I use to walk the neighbourhood as a paper carrier and discover all the treasures people were throwing away and I'd bring them home for my family.  This week one of the folks in my bible study suggested that if we listed all the things we want/need there are probably people in the church that have those things just sitting around.  My cousins told me their story of how this happen for them in their church small group. They wanted a "treat"; a car radio; and someone in their group said they had one just sitting in the garage.

May God richly bless us with not only what we need but also what we want and may we remember to say thank you.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Isaiah 5:12-16 -- Let's remember His deeds

As I read Isaiah 5:13-16 I'm reminded of Galatians 5:7-8

"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"

In Canada we have prayed "God keep our land glorious and free" for many years now and God has given us a good economy and a peaceful nation yet my fear is that we've taken Him for granted and believe we don't need Him anymore. 

Isaiah warned us in 8th century BC and Paul warned us again in Galatians.  I must not forget the deeds of the Lord because no matter what;He will make Himself known as holy and just.

Thank you Lord for Your deeds!

"He is Lord, He is Lord, He is risen from the dead and He is Lord
  Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord" (Philippians 2)