Reading: Isaiah 49, 50
My Verse: 50:11 "Behold, all you [enemies of your own selves] who attempt to kindle your own fires [and work out your own plans of salvation], who surround and gird yourselves with momentary sparks, darts, and firebrands that you set aflame! . . . . But this shall you have from My hand; you shall lie down in grief and in torment."
Here it is - ever so plain. This is what happens to those that reject God's Love, that seek their own way.
Revelation 1:3 says "Blessed are those who heed My words." Lord, I cannot just read Your Word, I must also "heed" it. This reminds me of a lady that I had in an adult education class I was teaching. She was a lovely Christian lady. She read through her Bible twice each year with two different guides. She strove constantly to draw closer to You and it was so evident in her life. One Sunday after one of our adult ed class sessions she came up to me and said, "I finally get it!" There was a plaque on the wall that said, "LOVE IS AN ACTIVE VERB". We had been studying nouns and verbs. She was so excited. She said the plaque never made any sense to her but now that she knew what a verb was she understood that God's Love was an active thing. It was a great Aha! moment for her.
Lord, help me to not just read your Word as an empty exercise because anything that is of You is alive and active! Though you would have me to be organized and prepared, I know that I must ever seek out your guidance in all things and not be so dependent on my own plans that I am devastated when they don't work out. I don't want to become my own worst enemy! Thank you for this reminder.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
He, Who Leads
Reading: Isaiah 47, 48
My Verse: 48:17 "Thus, says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way that you should go."
We seem to be forever searching, seeking, wondering where we should go, how or what we should do. Here, Lord, You cry out to us that You will lead us "in the way that we should go". Not only will You lead us but You "will teach us to profit". It comes down to how much do I 'trust' You, Lord?
The trust test comes to mind here. You know the one where you fall backwards, hoping your friends will catch you. Falling backwards into Your arms Lord is scarey - but, the alternative is not better! I realize that the alternative is flaying about in darkness - going first one way then another, with no idea of what's ahead because I am blind to the future.
These last few weeks have been difficult. I would often fret because I felt so helpless, things were so uncertain. Then, Lord, You would remind me that yes, You are there and yes, You do care. Once I realized this, I could fall backwards into Your arms, . And You were there to catch me, Lord. Your arms felt firm and sure. "The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore." (Psalm 121:8) I didn't need to fret about what was coming up because as your child, I can trust in the promises You have given me.
Lord, thank you for saving me from a life of constant seeking and never finding, a life of constant fretting about my tomorrows. Thank you for that wonderful feeling of assurance and peace. "in Me you may have perfect peace and confidence". (John 16:33)
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: 48:17 "Thus, says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way that you should go."
We seem to be forever searching, seeking, wondering where we should go, how or what we should do. Here, Lord, You cry out to us that You will lead us "in the way that we should go". Not only will You lead us but You "will teach us to profit". It comes down to how much do I 'trust' You, Lord?
The trust test comes to mind here. You know the one where you fall backwards, hoping your friends will catch you. Falling backwards into Your arms Lord is scarey - but, the alternative is not better! I realize that the alternative is flaying about in darkness - going first one way then another, with no idea of what's ahead because I am blind to the future.
These last few weeks have been difficult. I would often fret because I felt so helpless, things were so uncertain. Then, Lord, You would remind me that yes, You are there and yes, You do care. Once I realized this, I could fall backwards into Your arms, . And You were there to catch me, Lord. Your arms felt firm and sure. "The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore." (Psalm 121:8) I didn't need to fret about what was coming up because as your child, I can trust in the promises You have given me.
Lord, thank you for saving me from a life of constant seeking and never finding, a life of constant fretting about my tomorrows. Thank you for that wonderful feeling of assurance and peace. "in Me you may have perfect peace and confidence". (John 16:33)
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
In His Image
Reading: Isaiah 44, 45, 46
My Verse: 45:12 "I made the earth and created man upon it. I, with my hands, stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host."
We have been going through an Answers In Genesis study in Sunday School. Last Sunday Dr. Menton did this lesson on the ear, then conception and it all just blows us away! I think we kind of stagger out of each session because we are in such awe of the minute, intricate and awesome details involved. I do not understand how anyone, especially scientists, can continue to deny God after truly examining this creation, this world and all that is in it.
Lord God, You shout out to us Your authority, Your majesty and Your love for us through all the workings of this world. Oh, the beauty of it all. And because I am created in your own image, I am able to marvel at the beauty of all your creation.
I need to but look to You for my salvation. "Look to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other." 45:22
Thank you, Lord. Thank you for creating me and opening my eyes to Your Truth - the truth of who I am, a being created in Your image.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: 45:12 "I made the earth and created man upon it. I, with my hands, stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host."
We have been going through an Answers In Genesis study in Sunday School. Last Sunday Dr. Menton did this lesson on the ear, then conception and it all just blows us away! I think we kind of stagger out of each session because we are in such awe of the minute, intricate and awesome details involved. I do not understand how anyone, especially scientists, can continue to deny God after truly examining this creation, this world and all that is in it.
Lord God, You shout out to us Your authority, Your majesty and Your love for us through all the workings of this world. Oh, the beauty of it all. And because I am created in your own image, I am able to marvel at the beauty of all your creation.
I need to but look to You for my salvation. "Look to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other." 45:22
Thank you, Lord. Thank you for creating me and opening my eyes to Your Truth - the truth of who I am, a being created in Your image.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Friday, March 18, 2011
No Other God!
Reading Isaiah 41,42,43
My Verse: 43:10,11 ". . . Before me, there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me. I, even I, Am the Lord, and beside me there is no Savior."
Talk about exclusivity! There is so much talk about being tolerant of all religions. That we all worship the same God after all. I know that I have often been made to feel badly - that perhaps I was not 'understanding' or that I was close-minded. Yet God is pretty clear here - "Before me there was no god formed neither shall there be after Me."
Then He goes on to say that "besides Me there is no Savior." In John 14:6 He says "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by Me."
Dear Lord, You are my Creator God. You alone. I can be assured of that. You alone can be called Savior, for "No one comes to the Father but by me."
Thank You for being so definitive on this. I can live my life based on this truth knowing that in the end "every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that You are Lord." Romans 14:11
It is so good to be firmly grounded on the Solid Rock. The Bible is Truth! Truth that proclaims that there is one and only one God.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: 43:10,11 ". . . Before me, there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me. I, even I, Am the Lord, and beside me there is no Savior."
Talk about exclusivity! There is so much talk about being tolerant of all religions. That we all worship the same God after all. I know that I have often been made to feel badly - that perhaps I was not 'understanding' or that I was close-minded. Yet God is pretty clear here - "Before me there was no god formed neither shall there be after Me."
Then He goes on to say that "besides Me there is no Savior." In John 14:6 He says "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by Me."
Dear Lord, You are my Creator God. You alone. I can be assured of that. You alone can be called Savior, for "No one comes to the Father but by me."
Thank You for being so definitive on this. I can live my life based on this truth knowing that in the end "every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that You are Lord." Romans 14:11
It is so good to be firmly grounded on the Solid Rock. The Bible is Truth! Truth that proclaims that there is one and only one God.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Monday, March 7, 2011
All is Transitory
Reading: Isaiah 38, 39, 40
My Verse: 40: 6,8 "A voice says, Cry [prophecy]! And I said, What shall I cry? [The voice]answered. Proclaim.] all flesh is as frail as grass, and all that makes it attractive is transitory, like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God will stand forever."
I am overwhelmed by Isaiah here. Our Lord poured out so much truth and wisdom through him. I look around me at all the intracacies of the world. An eagle just flew across my view of the sky. Snow has dusted the tall dark spruce trees. Soft, deep red petals fall from the roses sitting on the dining room table. My hand writes this. God, you were not sparing in Your creation - a creation that is temporary.
I think of those that make the beautiful, intricately designed and colored sand paintings.
Lord, what am I to take away from this? I have written in the top margin of my Bible in 1Peter 1 & 2. "LIVE EXCELLENT LIVES!"
Dear, Lord, help me today to relish the details of my world - to see your hand in the complex intricacies of life around me and to appreciate those details. To somehow let each person I come into contact with know that they are an important part of Your creation. Perhaps with a smile or a word to acknowlege their existence, to somehow impart Your importance into those lives I touch.
For while while our lives here are transitory, eternity is coming. Thank you, Lord, for this reminder.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches! He truly does.
My Verse: 40: 6,8 "A voice says, Cry [prophecy]! And I said, What shall I cry? [The voice]answered. Proclaim.] all flesh is as frail as grass, and all that makes it attractive is transitory, like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God will stand forever."
I am overwhelmed by Isaiah here. Our Lord poured out so much truth and wisdom through him. I look around me at all the intracacies of the world. An eagle just flew across my view of the sky. Snow has dusted the tall dark spruce trees. Soft, deep red petals fall from the roses sitting on the dining room table. My hand writes this. God, you were not sparing in Your creation - a creation that is temporary.
I think of those that make the beautiful, intricately designed and colored sand paintings.
Lord, what am I to take away from this? I have written in the top margin of my Bible in 1Peter 1 & 2. "LIVE EXCELLENT LIVES!"
Dear, Lord, help me today to relish the details of my world - to see your hand in the complex intricacies of life around me and to appreciate those details. To somehow let each person I come into contact with know that they are an important part of Your creation. Perhaps with a smile or a word to acknowlege their existence, to somehow impart Your importance into those lives I touch.
For while while our lives here are transitory, eternity is coming. Thank you, Lord, for this reminder.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches! He truly does.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Comforting Or Invasive?
Reading: Isaiah 35, 36, 37
My Verse: 37:26 " have you not heard that I purposed to do it long go, that I planned it in ancient times?"
& verse 37:28 "I know your sitting down and your going out and your coming in and your raging against Me."
All leaders of the world beware! You are not in your position because of your own strength - only because God allows it. In His own words, "I have planned it in ancient times." Poor boastful, arrogant Sennacherib - how he did fall! And this is repeated so oft throughout our history.
I can be comforted by this or perturbed. I know there was a time when I did fret because I worried a bit more about my 'free will'. Because we live within the parameters of 'time' this concept is difficult for us to grasp - and it comes up so often.
Does God actually 'change' His mind? In looking at the story of Abraham and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah where You, God actually tell Abraham what you are going to do then take his appeal into consideration. Then the story of King Hezehiah where you give him more years to live after he cried out to you. Yet, You are Soveriegn and omniscient.
Oh, Lord, all I know is that You love us and being omniscient - You know what is best for each of us. That I can trust in and hang onto. I don't need to understand all. By trusting You, verse 28 becomes comforting instead of invasive. Thank you for bringing me along so that I can see comfort here.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: 37:26 " have you not heard that I purposed to do it long go, that I planned it in ancient times?"
& verse 37:28 "I know your sitting down and your going out and your coming in and your raging against Me."
All leaders of the world beware! You are not in your position because of your own strength - only because God allows it. In His own words, "I have planned it in ancient times." Poor boastful, arrogant Sennacherib - how he did fall! And this is repeated so oft throughout our history.
I can be comforted by this or perturbed. I know there was a time when I did fret because I worried a bit more about my 'free will'. Because we live within the parameters of 'time' this concept is difficult for us to grasp - and it comes up so often.
Does God actually 'change' His mind? In looking at the story of Abraham and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah where You, God actually tell Abraham what you are going to do then take his appeal into consideration. Then the story of King Hezehiah where you give him more years to live after he cried out to you. Yet, You are Soveriegn and omniscient.
Oh, Lord, all I know is that You love us and being omniscient - You know what is best for each of us. That I can trust in and hang onto. I don't need to understand all. By trusting You, verse 28 becomes comforting instead of invasive. Thank you for bringing me along so that I can see comfort here.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Read Your Bible!
Reading: Isaiah 32, 33, 34
My verse: "Seek out the book of the Lord and read; not one of these [details of prophecy] shall fail . . ."
We get this visiting pastor from India, who is a vibrant little man. He will often start his message off with. "Read Your Bible! Read Your Bible! Read your Bible!" Isaiah would have loved him! I like how Isaiah goes on to say "not one of these [details of prophecy] shall fail. . ." The Bible is truth. Revelation says we are not to just hear and read but we must heed it. Heed is such a funny word. The dictionary says that it means to pay attention or mind.
I have this great quote in my Bible: "Reading your Bible may be hazardous to your status quo." This is what I love about being a believer. I know I have a lot of bad habits, I just barely get rid of one and then acquire another! Thankfully, my Lord takes care of that. "And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit." ( 2 Cor. 3:18)
Thank you Lord, that I don't have to depend on myself to improve. You want to transform me into ever increasing glory! But for that to happen I must actively read the Bible and heed what it says. So thank you for this from Isaiah and thank you for pastors that remind us to "Read the Bible!"
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My verse: "Seek out the book of the Lord and read; not one of these [details of prophecy] shall fail . . ."
We get this visiting pastor from India, who is a vibrant little man. He will often start his message off with. "Read Your Bible! Read Your Bible! Read your Bible!" Isaiah would have loved him! I like how Isaiah goes on to say "not one of these [details of prophecy] shall fail. . ." The Bible is truth. Revelation says we are not to just hear and read but we must heed it. Heed is such a funny word. The dictionary says that it means to pay attention or mind.
I have this great quote in my Bible: "Reading your Bible may be hazardous to your status quo." This is what I love about being a believer. I know I have a lot of bad habits, I just barely get rid of one and then acquire another! Thankfully, my Lord takes care of that. "And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit." ( 2 Cor. 3:18)
Thank you Lord, that I don't have to depend on myself to improve. You want to transform me into ever increasing glory! But for that to happen I must actively read the Bible and heed what it says. So thank you for this from Isaiah and thank you for pastors that remind us to "Read the Bible!"
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Guiding Voice
Reading Isaiah 30, 31
My verse: "Ah, "stubborn children," declares the Lord, "who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin." 30:1 (ESV)
Isaiah goes on to warn against seeking aid from the wrong places, closing our minds to truth. He further spells out how the results or consequences of our waywardness "comes suddenly and swiftly, in an instant." And yet . . .and yet our Lord "will not hide Himself anymore. . ." v. 20 He loves us so and will stll be there to help us come back to Him if we would listen. "And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it." v. 21
Oh, Lord, how I need to shut out the clamor of the world so that I might hear and recognize "that still small voice" - Your Voice, seeking to guide me, teach me, and grow me. And that I will not be fearful of obeying You when I do hear your Voice. You tell me, as I often need to be reminded, "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." 2 Tim.1:7
Thank you, Lord, for your continual blessed guidance. Thank You for that sweet voice, "This is the way, walk in it."
Ditat Deus - God Enriches
My verse: "Ah, "stubborn children," declares the Lord, "who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin." 30:1 (ESV)
Isaiah goes on to warn against seeking aid from the wrong places, closing our minds to truth. He further spells out how the results or consequences of our waywardness "comes suddenly and swiftly, in an instant." And yet . . .and yet our Lord "will not hide Himself anymore. . ." v. 20 He loves us so and will stll be there to help us come back to Him if we would listen. "And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it." v. 21
Oh, Lord, how I need to shut out the clamor of the world so that I might hear and recognize "that still small voice" - Your Voice, seeking to guide me, teach me, and grow me. And that I will not be fearful of obeying You when I do hear your Voice. You tell me, as I often need to be reminded, "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." 2 Tim.1:7
Thank you, Lord, for your continual blessed guidance. Thank You for that sweet voice, "This is the way, walk in it."
Ditat Deus - God Enriches
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