Isaiah 65:1-7 -- The Lord will punish the guilty

As I read this passage I'm reminded of people who aren't in relationship with the Lord 24/7.  It's reminding me of the concept of giving everything to Christ...and this story in from My Heart Christ's Home

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

Father, please forgive us for taking You and our need for You for granted.  Lord, You know how much I need You today.  Fill me with Your Spirit and help the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart to be acceptable in Your sight oh Lord.

Isaiah 64:9-12 -- Father, forgive Your people

I find this prayer significant.  It's highlighting that God (not satan) is responsible for the devastation hitting God's chosen people and it's suggesting that it's because God is mad at His people.  I can remember the day, as a teenager, when I finally woke up to the fact that my parents had feelings too!  They had always taken care of me and God started to reveal to me how I was taking them for granted.  I think this is true with God too.  If we think we're so smart that we can carry on without Him..after all we can now clone animals so do we really need Him?... then He says, fine...just do it without me...but use your own sheep and your own soil, don't use Mine! (I'm quoting an Alpha joke)

...and now Isaiah pleads to His compassion

"Don't be so furious or keep our sins in your thoughts forever!  Remember that all of us are Your people!" Isaiah 64:9

Lord, as the Salvation Army High Council meets today would You forgive the sins of the Salvation Army.  Pride, jealousy, envy, malicious,... and would You move in such a way that Your leaders would recognize that they need You now more than ever before.  Would you humble them and help each person who needs to turn from their wicked ways to have the courage to confess what needs to be confessed and give them the strength to turn from their wicked ways so that You will "answer their prayers, forgive them, and bring healing to their lands" 2 Chronicles 7:14b

Lord, we need you now; in my neighbourhood too.  Guide me today as I determine what Your will is for our prayer meeting tonight.

Isaiah 63:15 - 64:8 -- Father, You are the potter and we are the clay.

Father, thank you for stopping the rain for us for the party yesterday and thank you for our God connections. Thank you too for my time together with Henri and Monika.  Father, we remembered the good times we had with You but now we're asking You to come again.  I know You don't want to because of the sins of this world; pride, unbelief, jealousy, envy, malice...yet Lord, we need You and we need You now.  This world needs to see that You rule so Lord, have Your own way in us.  You are the potter and we are the clay.  Would you mold us and use us just now?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9R5bQhxnTM

Isaiah 63:10-14 -- Remember when

If you read Isaiah 63:11-14 you'll see tremendous testimonies of remembering when the Holy Spirit really worked in the lives of the Jewish people so the question is:

 "What went wrong?"

...and the answer is found in verse 10 "The Lord's people turned against Him and made his Holy Spirit sad.  So he became their enemy and attacked them."

Have you ever had a tremendous experience with God working and then everything seemed to go wrong? In Job's case it seemed that God allowed satan to test Job to show satan what Job was really made of but in today's reading it implies that sometimes things go wrong because we turn against God.  This begs the question:

"What does it mean to turn against God?"

• Are we jealous or envious of how God is working in someone else's life?
• Are we no longer dependent on God?
• Are we taking the credit for the work of the Holy Spirit?
• Are we freaking out because God is working in ways that we no longer have any control over?
• Are we too proud to admit that we were wrong?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Kuo3lg-LBU

Isaiah 63:1-9 -- God steps in

I can imagine God trying to explain His amazing ways and plans to us.  As a powerful King we fear Him. Through words we don't really get it...especially since His ways seem completely opposite to ours, so what is the best way to teach us?

I just love God's brilliance.  He chooses to come as an approachable baby!  It reminds me of this story:

http://holytrinitynewrochelle.org/yourti82598.html

He chose to walk the walk and show us how to live and then ultimately He fought for us so that we can be saved.

• "It troubled the Lord to see them in trouble and his angel saved them."
• "The Lord was truly merciful, so he rescued his people."
• "He took them in his arms and carried them all those years." 

"I HAVE WON THE BATTLE" 

says the Lord.  

And it was with great cost.

"For food in a world where many walk in hunger

For faith in a world where many walk in fear

For friends in a world where many walk alone

We give You humble thanks dear Lord"

Isaiah 62:10-12 -- Do the possible

We must do the possible and leave the rest in God's hands.  It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking it's just about prayer but the reality is we must "repair the roads and clear the stones"...and God will reward us with a place that is known as a good place to live and a city full of people that God has rescued.

Thank You Lord for keeping my country, Canada, "glorious and free" all of these years.  You have given us a good economy and a peaceful nation.  Now Lord, will You help us to bring You to the younger generation and will You help us to not take You for granted.

Isaiah 62:6-9 -- Never again...with thankful hearts

"Never again will I give to your enemies the grain and grapes for which you struggled" God

Wow!   You did all the hard work and someone else got the credit for it?  I've heard it said that life isn't fair and it's true; there is always someone better off and worse off than me.  

God's promise to me this morning is a grateful heart...I'm not so sure about my wine in my temple but if that means apple juice then let's do it!

Isaiah 62:6-7 -- Give God no rest....keep praying

Father,thanks for the guards who speak out without resting day and night.  Father please establish your holy place.  Extract any thoughts that take away from Your Lordship in my mind.

"Jesus we enthrone you.
We proclaim you are king
Standing here in the midst of us
We raise you up with our praise.
And as we worship build your throne
And as we worship build your throne
And as we worship build your throne
Come Lord Jesus and take Your place."

Father, thank you for promising to establishing Your city.

Isaiah 62:4-5 -- Happily Married

Wow, this is an interesting thought.  I'd love to be happily married...the key is happy and married together!  Father, if you do choose to give me a husband please provide me on that I both love and respect.  Then we can model how You in an healthy relationship.  Thanks for Dave and Denise.  Lord please continue to bless their marriage.  Thanks too for the others around me who model healthy relationships....like Deb and Brian.

Isaiah 62:1-3 -- Jerusalem will speak up for our good

Last night I was hearing about a happiness experiment. They said if you write down why you're thankful for someone and then call them and tell them what you wrote your happiness will increase by 19%!...and today, as I read this portion I think, "and God's people will speak up for your good and spark the flame in us so that God's great victory will be seen by every nation and king"

May God be glorified today!

Isaiah 61:10-11 -- The Lord will bring about justice and praise!

Father, will you help right be right.  Father, I think just now of children who have been abused and parents who are really stretched because they don't have enough money to feed their children.  Lord, will you help right be right in this world.  I know You can only do this if people are willing to listen to You.  Father, will You help me to stay focused on You and the tasks that You have for me.  Lord, please help me to recognize You working in and through me.

Isaiah 61:8-9 -- I hate robbery and injustice says the Lord!!!

Strangely today I've been praying for people I know in the justice system and I read "the Lord loves justice!"  Father, would you watch over those who are called to uphold the law.  Please give them incredible wisdom!  Give them insight into stopping senseless destruction and vandalism.  Give them courage and wisdom as they come up against people who sincerely thinking that doing wrong is a good thing.  Father help those who are in the position of realizing they need to change their thinking to doing wrong is wrong!  As they turn their lives around I know it will be hard for them. They're so use to driving down "the highway backwards", but Father, you know that driving down "the highway forwards" is so much easier.  Would you help them with this change.  I know they won't get it perfect right away so Lord please help us support them as they change.

Father, I love the heritage of my Grandparents.  2 Chronicles 7:14 "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"

Lord, would you fulfill their promise "all that see them will realize that they have been blessed by me, the Lord"

And Lord, for those who aren't walking with you right now, would you bring them back to you.  Father I think of Jay's son. Would you bring people into his life to mentor him and would you bring his parents back to you.  Lord, I think of Mark's kid.  Father, would you walk beside them and let them know how much you love them.  Would you bring people into their lives that they connect with to help them through the grieving process.  Lord, you know the hurts and pains so Father will You minister in the areas where I can't even see.  Lord, would you help the bitterness to go away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaMPE53uP38

Isaiah 61:5-7 -- Harvest time

As I read the passage today I'm reminded of all of our immigrant farmers who come to help us harvest the crops.  Lord, will you bless them with peace and supply for their needs.  Lord I know the farmers have not always had it easy so today I'm claiming that promise for them...that they will be joyful forever.  Father, would you particularly bless Andrea's in-laws.  Would you give them the peace and prosperity that they desire and help them to recognize that each employee and each blessing is a gift from You.

Isaiah 61:3-4 -- "Trees of Justice"

In 2001 I was reading Matthew 13 and asked God "What category am I in? Why am I not seeing fruit"?    Many amazing things have happen in my world since that time and one of the highlights in my world was a November night in 2001 when I saw dancing at the Salvation Army because we were SOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited; 3 people had just accepted Christ into their lives.

This however, was followed by a season of sorrow because on July 28th Nicole, one of our Alpha kids,  was taken home to be with our Lord, yet even in this mourning God was working.  As I read this today I'm wondering if this is where the tradition of sending flowers to those who mourn comes from. I also think of Mina and our decision to plant a tree in her memory as I read "Trees of Justice" planted by the Lord to honour His name.

Is it really true, that this is the route to rebuilding cities that have been in ruins for many generations? As I read this I think of the churches in Canada and how so few have young people in them today. Father, will You help us to rebuild Your Kingdom here in Your nation?  Lord, I want to claim this promise for our land today.

Isaiah 61:1-2 -- The Spirit of the Lord has chosen to take control

This is Jesus mission statement.  Father please help me to:

• tell the oppressed the good news
• heal the brokenhearted

Lord, I also ask for freedom for those who are in prison or captive because of an injustice.  When one spouse goes to prison as a result of another spouse's actions, when people are in prison for believing in you, when someone has set someone up and they're not really guilty etc ....but Lord, if there are people out there who really aren't safe in our society please help them to never get out in the general public. Help us to set up a system that encourages authentically love of You, ourselves and our neighbours for we know that perfect love casts out all fear.

Thanks for your promise
"This is the year when the Lord God will show kindness to us and punish our enemies"

Isaiah 60:19-23 -- Jesus is my light and song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKvbk1esUxE

Isaiah 60:17-18 -- God will replace violence and destruction with victory and praise

As I read this I'm asking the question, what makes me mad.  For me there is nothing more frustrating than an objective, and a plan that meets the objective and people who say they subscribe to the objective but not the plan.

Now if I ask myself why this happens I'd say fear, jealousy, envy and pride...and then malice kicks in, which definitely leads to hurt and pain and can lead to violence, destruction and ruin and so the very things that will could led us out of poverty are destroyed.

God says that he will give us bronze, iron, gold and silver (ie equivalent to $ for us) AND appoint PEACE and JUSTICE.  To me this helps with the malice but the roots of fear need to be dealt with by love.  Scripture says:

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18

To get rid of the jealousy, envy and pride we need to live by the Spirit.  Galatians 5:13-26 is an wonderful piece of scripture to mediate on in this regard.

Then the end result is Victory and Praise!   Thank you LORD!

"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 it bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Thank you Lord on this day
Bless our friendships forever!"

Isaiah 60:15-16 -- God turns things around

Although I don't like the idea of "draining wealth of kings and foreign nations" I do like the idea of things turning around from the negative to the positive and I do like the idea of the world knowing that the Lord God of Israel saves His people.

Father, would You draw my friends and I into a deeper relationship with You.  Would You draw my family too.  Lord, I'm thinking of Jay right now and his family.  Lord would You help him to understand how much You love him and would you bring him into a circle of friends that really understand him.

Lord, would help us all to:

"Authentically love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul and mind and authentically love our neighbours as much as we authentically love ourselves."

Also:
"May Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" Amen

Isaiah 60:14 -- When they look at us may they glorify God

When I look at the history of the Jewish people I think two things:
a) I don't want to ever go against a Jewish person because God's hand is on them
b) How could they have possibly survived without God's hand upon them

Then when I read this verse I think, if you don't deny God during the hard times His hand will be upon you and restore you.  It's like the story of Job.  Satan wanted to push him to the point where he would deny God to prove it was just because he had life so easy that he served God but Job proved him wrong and ultimately God restored Job.

Father, when things get tough would you help us to come closer to You, learn from You and allow others to see Your good works so that they may worship You.

Father, please guide me in regard to the finances You have given me.  I believe I've been using them as You have directed me so I'm not sure why this is on my mind right now, yet Father, I know I need to wait on You for the next little thing you tell me to do.

Isaiah 60:11-13 -- God rewards people who are faithful to Him

I find this passage interesting because people are choosing to be a blessing, they are not being plundered or forced to do anything (accept maybe by their leadership).  It seems to me this is an illustration of what happens when one is trusted.  Resources come to them because they believe in the cause.

We're living in a world that no longer blindly follows; yet sometimes the truth that they discover is a very biased truth.  In fact, most times, when we discover the truth we only find a portion of the truth. This is actually reminding me of the story of the 5 blind men who discovered an elephant.
http://www.k4care.net/index.php?id=44

In my world I realize that God is far greater than I and that I am only one part of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12-14).  I also realize that the whole truth is hard to come by yet Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

Jesus's teachings and lifestyle were radical!  He:

• He treated prostitutes and single men as his authentic friends
• He engaged in the lives of individuals but wasn't afraid to teach a crowd
• He saw through and reacted to the hypocrisy in the church
• He cared for the vulnerable
• He didn't store up riches for Himself
• He asked one of His bests friends to take His Mother in when He died
• He walked away from angry crowds yet willing went when it was His time 
• .... and most importantly
• He was killed, yet He rose again.

Isaiah 60:10 -- After discipline there is mercy

After a testing and disciplining period God rebuilds and He provides others to help us rebuild.  I don't like the idea of slaves but being placed next to co-workers in the Kingdom is a wonderful experience.

Isaiah 60:8-9 -- The ship is coming...

Today's story reminds me of the ship the Anastasia found in the book "Is that Really You God" by Loren Cunningham.  As I googled this book I was surprised to see the publishing date of 2001 because I had a copy of this book back in the early 80's.  I'll have to get a more recent copy to see if any of the stories have been changed...
http://www.amazon.ca/That-Really-You-God-Hearing/dp/1576582442/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372936046&sr=8-1&keywords=is+that+really+you+god

The ship story is a good one because it reminds us to keep our eyes on God and not on God's projects or people.  The story goes something like this.  YWAM had discovered how to pray  with Joy Dawson's guidance.  They prayed in a group with these simple request:
God, take away my thoughts
God, take away other people's thoughts
God, take away satan's thoughts
God, leave me with Your thoughts

Then after some moments of silence each person shared what they believed God was saying.  This worked so much for them that one day they went to the newspapers in New Zealand (where Joy Dawson is from) and announced that God was going to supply them a ship. This ship would be used to train and carry supplies and once they got to a destination they'd share the love of Jesus by helping the people practically.   They were pumped and they had a nice donation for the down payment of the ship...but then no more money came in and they eventually lost the ship.  (This happened way before I knew anything about YWAM)

With this history, Loren wasn't too excited about hearing that God wanted another ship but they felt that God was saying like a seed the vision was to die before it could give birth again and in 1983 I was in New Zealand when the ship was visiting.
http://ywam.org.nz/about-ywam-nz/ywam-nz-history/

Before I continue with this story I need further clarification on how God is currently working but I know this ministry continues to exist today.

Isaiah 60:4-7 -- Crowds are coming....

Wouldn't it be just AWESOME if we saw crowds coming in search of the Lord! Father, would you do this? Would You show the people where You  are working such that they would come to You and worship You! Thank You for the awesome funeral today!  Lord, would you bring Mark's children into a deep faith in You. Thanks for Debbie; Lord, raise her up and give her the desires of her heart.  Lord, in our lives please be glorified!

Isaiah 60:1-3 -- A New Day

How wonderful it is to have a fresh start!  I'm reminded of a song "After the rain the sun, after the sun rain, this is the way of life until the work is done'

As things go well today remember it's God glory shining on us.

Isaiah 59:21 -- God will give you His Spirit!!!

What a neat promise for Canada Day!!!!  As you can see if you look through the history of this blog I've been taking a varying number of verses each day to blog on.  There has been no preset agenda and I don't even know right now how many more days I have before I finish the book of Isaiah so the fact that I'm on Isaiah 59:21 today, Canada Day is a complete blessing from God!!!

What a WONDERFUL promise!

"My people, I promise to give you my  Spirit and my message.  These will be my gifts to you and your family forever.  I the Lord have spoken!"

Father, thank you for my family both my physical family and the family of God!

Father thank you for answering our prayer God keep  our land country glorious and free all of these years.  You have given us a peaceful country and a good economy.  Lord, please forgive us for taking you for granted!  Please help us to recognize that if we can do so much with out You, how much more we can do with You!