Isaiah 54:14 -- You will be built on fairness

Father, it's hard to understand my relationship with You let alone Your relation with the rest of the world.  There are times when I wonder why You put up with people and the cruelty they impose on each other.  Yet You do...even at the expense of Your Son!

Lord, there are 2 good Father's that I know who have lost their teenage sons here in Canada, and this isn't even a violent world!  Lord, please give these Father's peace and please help us to stop the violence.  Father, please help our teenagers to not walk into the dangerous world of drugs and thank you for all the teachers, support staff and police officers who work hard to stop this.  Lord, I just pray for our school systems here in Ontario.  Lord please give immense wisdom to the teachers and leaders because we need a world that contains authentic love!

"As He died to make men holy let us live to make men (and women) free...His truth is marching on"

Isaiah 54:11-13 -- I will rebuild says the Lord

There are some people in our lives right now who are sad and discouraged, tossed around in a storm yet the Lord says I will rebuild with precious stones.  For the foundation I will use blue sapphires.

As I read this I hear God's calling to holiness (because the blue in the Salvation Army flag represents the Father's holiness).   We need that foundation of holiness...of blue sapphires.  Yet the holiness God is after is not a holier than though attitude.  No, He wants each one of us to be whole.  He wants to give each one of us an abundant life with a solid foundation.  Father, as You rebuild would You prepare each of our lives with Your rock solid foundation of a whole life.

Lord, of all the gems I think I like rubies the best because they're red.  Yet red reminds me of the red in the Salvation flag that represents the blood of Jesus.  Can our fort walls be represented by the blood of Jesus? 

For me, the gems in this world aren't rocks...they're people.  Father, as You teach our children and make them successful in this world will You help them to be the gems in our fort?

Lord, please bless all the gems in our world as we celebrate the Body of Christ; the church; today.

Isaiah 54:9-10 -- The gospel of peace

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4ebkqtKPPE

As I listen to this music I'm reminded of Israel.  Father, thank you for sending Jesus to this world. 

Isaiah 54:6-8 -- The Lord our Protector

As a capable independent woman I still believe there is a place for a man in my life because two are better than one.  You get a second perspective and a second set of eyes from someone who wants the very best for you (of course since I'm single this is my dream world! :-)).  It's my dream world because I don't want to be the young wife, broken hearted and crying because her husband has divorced her.  I don't want to be rejected.  I want to be the woman who is taken back and loved with tenderness, and embraced again.  I don't want to be the woman who's husband is angry at me.  I want to be the woman who is loved forever by someone who wants to be my protector.

As I imagine what this would be like with a husband I am realizing what God's love for me is like.

Father, teach me how to love You.  Teach me how to pray.  Lord, teach me how to serve You better day by day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb2m9fqmgq0

Isaiah 54:4-5 -- Don't be ashamed or discouraged

As I read these verses today I'm thankful that being a widow today in Canada is not something to be ashamed of.  I was also thankful last week as I played around in a wheelchair that being in a wheelchair is no longer something to be ashamed of.  Satan is the father of lives and we may hear it; you're not beautiful enough, you're not thin enough, you don't laugh enough, you don't take life serious enough, you're not smart enough you're.......whatever the negative lie is, God is saying:

Don't be afraid, ashamed or discouraged.  Forget about the sins of your past.  God, is God and He rules.  He is our creator and he will rescue us.

Isaiah 54:1-3 -- More children

Lord, what a promise!  Jesus said "suffer little children to come unto me".  Father, in this world that we live in today I'm praying for Your children.  Lord, would you bless the Ready to Serve program.  Would you help our children to grow up with a deep and active faith in You.  Father, would you bring those teenagers to our prayer meetings so we would get excited in the family of God so see You working through all the generations.

Isaiah 53:7-12 -- The cost to Christ

Jesus, I can't believe you did this for us!  You were so focused on Your Father's business You were willing to endure abuse and suffering. Father, right now I think about Nigel Wright and the guards that got caught up with the Ashley Smith situation.  Lord, sometimes bad things happen to good people with good motives and we wonder why yet I see the very same thing happened to You.  Yet, Your very pain and suffering changed the world forever.

Father, thank you for rewarding Jesus with "honour and power for sacrificing His life"

Jesus, You are so amazing. "Others thought You were a sinner but You suffered for our sins and asked God to forgive us".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrPAZbD6fG0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uZcGaixMhg

Isaiah 53:1-6 -- What are you using to judge?

Way before Jesus was born Isaiah wondered...has anyone seen the mighty power of the Lord in action?  I think our Canadian young people are asking the same question.  In fact it was a man in his twenties who first told me I needed to get into the book of Isaiah.  Thanks Dan.  Thanks too Dan for your prayers.

Jesus was someone who:

• grew up obeying the Lord
• was bullied hated, rejected.
• His life was full of sorrow and terrible suffering
• no one wanted to look at Him
• we called Him a nobody! (and many still do)
• we despised Him
• He suffered and endured great pain for us (but we thought his suffering was punishment from God)
• He was wounded and crushed because of our sin (isn't this why people don't believe in Him...because the Christians so often fail Him?)

Jesus wasn't someone who:

• was good looking

"All of us were like sheep that had wandered off.  We had each gone our own way but the Lord gave him the punishment we deserved."

Father, I pray right now for each person who has been bullied and each person that is grieving.   Lord, will you bring them closer to You.  Will You bring the comfort You have promised and the significant friends they need, and Lord, will You turn their lemons into lemonade like you did for Chris Hadfield.

Lord, help me too to remember to not judge.  Only you really know the heart.

Isaiah 52:14-15 -- No pain, no gain

I've heard the phrase, "no pain, no gain" in the world of sports but is it true in our spiritual life too? Knowing the verses I was going to blog on today I went for a walk and was thinking about why Jesus was actually killed and a song came to my mind.

"Root them out, get them gone
All the little rabbits in the field of corn
Envy, jealousy, malice, pride
They must never in my heart abide"

I wonder if this is really what sent Jesus to the cross.  Envy, jealousy, malice and pride.  I also wonder what the church would look like and what the community would look like if all envy, jealousy, malice and pride were gone!

Would we see more Holy Spirit fruit of love, joy, peace, kindness, faithfulness, meekness and self control?

Would we see more people recognizing where they fit into the body of Christ and would we see us celebrating our differences and recognizing the need for our differences?

Spirit of the living God fall afresh on us
Spirit of the living God fall afresh on us
Melt us, mold us, fill us, use us
Spirit of the living God fall afresh on us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BagH-zTfnsQ

Jesus, thanks for your sacrifice.  If I were you I would have come off the cross but You didn't.  You're amazing and to think, You want to be our friend.

Isaiah 52:13 -- The Lord's servant will succeed!

This is an interesting title for this verse because in my bible verses 13-15 are titled the Suffering Servant.  This is a clear indication that success doesn't equal no pain.  We know this from sports yet we'd like to think this is not true in our spiritual life too.  I was watching http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q06YIWCR2Js this weekend and realized that God has made us with the ability to receive information, emotions, feelings, and the ability to think and some of these emotions are sadness, and anger, love and awe.  Tuning into God helps us to center ourselves given all of the input that we receiving....and the truth is, Jesus believed he would succeed in His mission even when things weren't pleasant because He was doing what His Father told Him to do.

Isaiah 52:11-12 -- The Lord will lead

I like this, the Lord will lead and protect.  Father, please give us love and wisdom as we live in this world of love and pain, joy and sadness. 

http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/i/tismyfw.htm

Sherrill

Isaiah 52:7-10 -- I love God's promises

I like it when God is allowed to be God and this promise is amazing!

 "You're saved. There will be peace.  Your God is now King."

Let's CELEBRATE!  "Look! You can see the LORD returning to Zion."

"The Lord ...comes to your rescue."

"The Lord has shown all nations his might strength; now everyone will see the saving power of our God"

Father, I know we live in a world of choice and some people are making some very, very bad choices...and others are making some very, very good choices...where the best is making You Lord of their life.  Father, that's the choice I want to make again today.  Would You guide and direct my steps.  Lord, we need revival in this country and only You can bring it.  Would you help every person who calls themselves a Christian to make You Lord of their lives today.  Thanks a million!!!

Sherrill

Isaiah 52:3-6 -- The suffering will end...

as we learn to trust You.  Father, as You draw people to You will you help the fruit of the Spirit
to replace our evil desires.  Galatians 5:16-26 in my bible is wonderful.

"If you are guided by the Spirit, you won't obey your selfish desires....people's desires make them give in to immoral ways, filthy thoughts, and shameful deeds.  They worship idols, practice witchcraft, hate others, and are hard to get along with.  People become jealous, angry, and selfish. They not only argue and cause trouble, but they are envious. They get drunk, carry on at wild parties, and do other evil things as well.  I told you before, and I am telling you again: No one who does these things will share I n the blessings of God's kingdom.

God's Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled.

God's Spirit has given us life, and so we should follow the Spirit.  But let's not be conceited or make others jealous by claiming to be better than they are."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD2PJ0xbAdY

Isaiah 52:1-2 -- Wake up and stand strong

If I were to change the word Jerusalem with the church in Canada we'd be charge with waking up and standing strong.  It seems to me that as the church we quit believing in the life changing relationship we can have with God so we allowed others to mock the church... and they could easily do it because we were acting in our own strength under our own power and we forgot that God is God and He wants a relationship with us!

As I read verse 2 I'm reminded of the testimony that I heard last night..."I had a rope around my neck and then Jesus told me He had a better way".  Father, I also think of Brian's family right now.  Lord, will You be their comfort and strength.

Father, would you raise up the church around me.  Father, I need men, women and children who will join me in putting You first in their lives.  Father, I know what You've given me to do is way beyond me so I acknowledge right now that I need You and I also need the church.  Father, fill this land with Your glory.

Lord, thank you for the joy the kids in my life get when they connect with folks in their neighbourhood.  Will You make this an amazing neighbourhood to be in where we celebrate You and Your creativity in our lives.

Isaiah 51:17-23 -- Lord, my children!!!

Father, I don't know if my life is scripted by others or by You yet I know, even if it is scripted by others ultimately only You can co-ordinate things like You have. 

For instance, today You woke me up early and called me to go walking even though there was thunder in the air and ultimately there was some rain...but nothing to really get me wet...and by the time I got home the sun was shining!  I don't know if that was a miracle or not all I do know is two songs came to mind.

The first one I know is for our prayer meeting for the Campaign of Hope
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr5Y63bDNNg

The second one is a reminder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfXOgRKB-zw

And then I discovered:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_usu1HYIZ8c

I say all of this because the verses I just read make me think it's time to pray for the kids who are out of control.  Lord, please place barriers in the way of our children who are going in the wrong direction! And help us to empower them to make positive differences in this world.

To make this even more interesting, today as I was walking I encountered a Mother who stopped me on the sidewalk to ask me to pray for her son...and others!  As it turns out, she's a neighbour of mine and has been in the neighbourhood a lot longer than I have been!  (Go God go!!!)

Father, these verses imply that as adults, we need to change and then You'll help us with the children.  We need to pay close attention to You Lord!  Lord, please make me sensitive to Your still voice and put a wall of protection around each child that a parent has prayed for today.

Isaiah 51:12-16 -- Trust the Lord

I will encourage you and I will never die says the Lord.  I gave you the heavens and the foundations for the earth.  Please don't forget Me, your Lord and Creator.  Don't be afraid of those who are angry and want to abuse you.  I will help you.  I will tell you what to say and I will keep you safe in the palm of my hand.

Isaiah 51:9-11 Spectacular Miracles

Father, so often we want the spectacular miracles at the expense of knowing You. 

Lord, I think of Dorothy and her longing heart for her Granddaughter.  Would You draw Dorothy really close to You during this time.  Reveal Yourself to her.  I think of Helen, the stranger I met the other day.  How she felt that memorizing the book of James was the only thing keeping her sane...and how little she knew about how her story played into mine and my neighbourhood.  Father, I didn't buy into Helen's thoughts that through my disappointed eyes You were working miracles in my church yet yesterday I left church seeing some of those miracles.  Lord, if the pain/disappointment brings us closer to You and closer to each other then let it happen.  Father, draw my neighbours into an amazing fellowship with You as we begin to pray together.  May it be so amazing that my non-Christian friends will want to join us.  Lord, thank You for both Andrews.  The Andrew he was willing to give his lunch and Christ used it to feed the multitudes and the Andrew who is willing to serve, who God will use to reach the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuOfOBPLqy0

Isaiah 51:7-8 -- Don't be discouraged

The truth is people may say discouraging and hurtful things and insult you but God's victory will last and His saving power will never end so stay focused.  Pay close attention to Me.

Father, You know my needs even before I voice them.  I want life to be where we were when the Alpha teams were at their best.  Lord, what changed?  What do I need to learn from these experiences?  Where are you taking us now?

Isaiah 51:6 -- For this life or for the next???

I saw that Chris Hadfield was on my facebook last night.  The Canadian we've put on the moon...and my Mother, our family tree expert, tells me he's related to me!  Yet God, you're putting this into perspective; even the stars can disappear and the earth can wear out.  This begs the question, what are we left with?  If we wrestle with what we have here on earth it may not be much but if we recognize that like we see in Star Trek; this world is just one place in our Eternal life maybe we would comprehend the love of Christ and the fact that God's saving power never ends.

Today I'm aware of two very rich families who lost a teenager in the past month.  All the money in the world won't take away their pain.  The best comfort comes from God through a friend.  Although I find God's principals so hard to grasp "Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted" there is truth in Jesus's words.  Father, would you protect the marriage of these two families.  This type of grief is so hard on spouses.  Would you turn the lemon into lemonade and draw the spouses together like they've never been drawn together before.  Lord, would you help the husbands share their love with their wives on this incredibly hard Mother's Day.  In Jesus name.

And Father, would you continue to grow the fruit of the Spirit 'love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness and self control' Galatians 5:22 in my life because ultimately this, along with my friends and family are the only investments I have beyond this world.

Thanks

Isaiah 51:4-5 Pay attention...I have a lesson; God

Are you listening?  You belong to me, says the Lord, and I want to teach you so that justice will shine like a light for every nation.

Lord, I'm thinking about the folks that work for the Salvation Army in other countries and I'm wondering what fair pay is for them.  This week I've heard that the average Canadian makes $42,000/year so I'm wondering if we should strive for those working in the Salvation Army to get paid what the average person does in the country where they work?  So in Zambia this may mean $2,000/year and in South Africa this may mean $11,000/year.  Father I struggle with this because one Salvationist not working in Canada could pay for 21 Salvationist working in Zambia.  Lord, I know that our expenses are higher here.  Should we only worry about our own nations?  Father, I so need Your teaching on justice.  It's hard for me to believe that people I know, in Canada, only went to school every other day because they shared their siblings shoes!  It was also an interesting thought last night...we can put someone on the moon but struggle with getting medicine (or water for that matter) to a remote village in Africa.  Father, will You teach me how to
"Authentically love You and authentically love my neighbour as much as I authentically love myself"?

Thanks for allowing me to work in Your Kingdom and thanks for the partners in ministry around me.  Lord, please unite us in a powerful way so that the world may know You have sent your Son!

Isaiah 51:3 -- It usually gets messy before it gets better...

Have you ever noticed you can't renovate a house without making a mess first?  If this is true with our physical homes then what about our Spiritual homes? 

Thanks God for reminding me that even when things look like Your Kingdom is in complete ruin You're not done with your creation.  As quickly as the leaves came out on the trees and the flowers came out in the garden You can change the complete ruin into something beautiful where we celebrate.  Then, in Your Kingdom, we will be thankful and sing joyful songs.

Father, I pray for this celebration in Your Kingdom.  Lord, will You help us celebrate and value each other.

Father, please continue in your renovations.

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

Isaiah 51:1-2 If you want to do what's right; follow your ancestors!

What an interesting thought.  The truth is I never realized I was doing it but people have told me, in hindsight I have.  I have been blessed with wonderful Grandparents and parents. 

Today I'm thinking of my friend who told me how his Grandfather led the way of faith for him and has helped him get his life back on track.

Today I'm thinking about my friends who had Godly ancestors who like the prodigal son have turned their backs on God and are too embarrassed to come back.  Father, help them to realize that You love them and so desire an abundant life for them.

Today I'm thinking of my friends who haven't had the blessing of Godly ancestors and they are in the process of changing that cycle and they need all the encouragement they can get.  (People who have a heart for God, our Father's business, and His Kingdom, fit my family profile so I'm more than willing to adopt these folks into my family so that they may have the blessings of the contributions of my ancestors.)

Isaiah 50:10-11 -- Who are we respecting?

Wow! What a reprimand today!  Who are you respecting?  Who are you obeying? Who are you trusting?

Father, my hearts desire is to be in relationship with You. Thanks for Andrea's encouragement to do this blog.  It has been so good for me.

It is so true, we can walk in our own fires or we can walk in the fire of the Holy Spirit.  Lord, we both know that walking in our own fires is not acceptable so Lord please fill me with Your Spirit today.  Use me hands, feet and mind to represent You well.  I love You.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c6_tlBVtHA

Isaiah 50:8-9 -- God will protect

When I think of these verses I think of how Jesus was accused, mocked and beaten and it seemed like God was not there.  Yet Jesus refused to defend Himself...and then ultimately no one could say anything...He had risen.  In fact the mocking could go the other way.

For instance, have you ever heard of anyone having a tomb guarded before?  and if so, was there more than one guard guarding it?  Why on earth would a legend of  soldiers be sent to guard Jesus tomb...after all, He was dead!!!  It just provided one more reason why people couldn't say his friends stole the body!  My God is good!

Father, today there are some people who need to know more than ever that You will protect.  In fact, Father, there are some people that You're calling today to be Your arms and feet to help protect the most vulnerable.  Would You give them the courage they need.  And Lord, today there are some pretty tough things going on in some people's lives.  As they cry out to You, would protect their hearts and bodies and turn the lemons in their lives into lemonade.  Lord, I love You.

Isaiah 50:4-7 -- I refuse to give up...because I know God will never let me down

When I look at verses 6-7 and think of what Jesus went through; when He was going through it, it didn't seem that God was there for Him.  In fact even He didn't think God was there for Him as He cried out "My God, my God why have You forsaken me"  Matthew 27:45-46

Yet 3 days later, He had risen and today is 2013 because something significant happened two thousand and thirteen years ago.  And today we know the power house of his day, Herod, was a baby killer, and Jesus of Nazareth is being talked about and discovered all over this world.

So here's an interesting statistics link
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
yet when I checked China Christianity wasn't mentioned
and I see:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14838749
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2013/03/29/67-Million-Chinese-Christians-And-Growing

And my prediction is that as the Chinese turn to God their economy will get better and as North Americans turn away from God their economy will decline.

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sins and heal their land' 2 Chronicles 7:14

God, thank you for hearing our prayer "God keep our land, glorious and free" all these years.  Please help us not to take You for granted.  Lord, as this country embrace the Billy Graham Hope project would you bring healing and hope to this nation!

I love you Lord and lift my voice to worship you oh my God and King.

Isaiah 50:1-3 -- A loving parent does discipline

I realize how we get messed up when we pray.  It's easy to slip into the "I'm in control" prayer and it's easy to take God for granted; especially when things are going our way so why wouldn't God stop things from going our way for a perspective adjustment!

Father, please forgive me for the many times I've taken You and others in you body for granted.  Help me to develop and attitude of gratitude.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TC0fkWA2INw

Isaiah 49:24-26 -- Injustice

Probably the most asked question when people are searching for God is "Why is there suffering in this world?"  As I read about the children in this passage my heart goes out to children in abusive situations and I begin to pray for the police officers, social workers, teachers, youth workers, Sunday School teachers, pastors, parents.... who play a role in making this world a better place for them.  I also ask God to turn the lemons in these children's lives into lemonade.  Father, I think of the Salvation Army officers I know who have come out of abusive situations and with their knowledge and compassion have made a positive difference in other people's lives.  Father, I pray for the spouses who are currently living with an abusive spouse.  Please give them the tools and support they require to handle the situation and the wisdom and courage to know whether to stay or leave.  Lord, please give parents what they need to stand up to anyone who is abusing their child (as opposed to discipling their child).  Father, please give us a good understanding of what healthy love is and help us to implement it in our lives with those in our circles. 

Father, please watch over each person who has accepted You as Lord of their lives in Alpha.  Give them the wisdom and the infilling of the Holy Spirit so that they can be salt and light in this world   We know we are not in charge of this world, nor can we fix every situation but we can obey the next little thing You tell us to do.