Category: Isaiah

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Peace Beyond Comprehension

While looking through my index cards of verses I have come across several there that are promises of peace.

 

“ Be full of joy always because you belong to the Lord. Again I say, be full of joy! 5 Let all people see how gentle you are. The Lord is coming again soon. 6 Do not worry. Learn to pray about everything. Give thanks to God as you ask Him for what you need. 7 The peace of God is much greater than the human mind can understand. This peace will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7 NLV

How well I remember the first time I was truly blanketed with peace. Dave and I had just moved back to Arizona from living in New Mexico for two years. The kids were little, 2 and 4, and I had recently had a miscarriage.

We were back home and I was glad to be here. Getting reacquainted with old friends, Mom and Dad were close but my heart was heavy. We had received a cold and chilly rebuff to moving to this home.

One neighbor, who wanted to live in a Senior’s Only neighborhood, came to the door as we were unpacking boxes and told me that she was circulating a petition to have our lease nullified…really!

Oh Lord, my heart was overwhelmed and I felt no peace. I was really in turmoil and for the next few days I kept busy unpacking boxes, helping the kids get settled in while Dave went off to work. Agriculture work in Az is in full force in the Spring and so he had some pretty long hours.

The anxiousness grew and peace was gone. One night after the kids were in bed, I went out into the backyard and sat on one of the kids swings. It was a clear night and when I looked up the sky was filled with stars. I began to cry.

Don’t you love it! Crying is such a good thing especially for us women. It allows us to release emotion that we really can’t do any other way. With tears running over my cheeks I said “Lord, I want to trust you but my heart is aching and I really don’t know why. I need to be a good mom and wife. I need to be strong and I feel like I’m falling apart.” Transparency with the Lord is best; He’s knows what in our hearts.

And then that verse I had known since I was little came rushing into my thoughts.

“My God will use his glorious riches to give you everything you need. He will do this through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 ERV

What I needed was peace! Looking up at the stars I was also looking up to God for his strength. I began to think of all those people I knew from the Bible. God had Abraham look at the stars and it was there he received a promise from God. David, as a young boy, tended sheep at night under these stars and God was there. Jesus would go out at night and pray under these stars and His Father would meet him there.  As long as there had been stars God had been there and He was in control.

“You will keep the man in perfect peace whose mind is kept on You, because he trusts in You. 4 Trust in the Lord forever. For the Lord God is a Rock that lasts forever. ” Isaiah 26:3-4 NLV

It was like a blanket fell from the sky. A warm comforting blanket and I was wrapped snuggly within it. The tears were gone, the anxiousness was gone, joy was there. Not a laugh-out-loud kind of joy but a settled peace.

Circumstances hadn’t changed but my outlook had. I knew I could trust God and He would take care of my worries. It was His peace that wrapped around me and I felt His presence. Everything was going to be alright!

As I’m finishing up this morning, this verse just came to mind (another good one for you to write down).

“God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him.” I Peter 5:7 CEV

Was that the last time I worried or was overtaken by anxious thought? Not hardly! But it is a mile stone – it is a place in my life that I mark with calm assurance that God revealed his loving character and met my need.

I hope you don’t mind me sharing these life experiences with you. I feel it’s important that you know that God’s word is trustworthy – He does keep his promises. If He will meet me like this, He will do the same for you!

Moses gave instruction to the people of Israel to remember what they had seen God do and to teach their children and grandchildren so they wouldn’t forget the Lord.

“You must be very careful not to forget the things you have seen God do for you. Keep reminding yourselves, and tell your children and grandchildren as well. 10 Do you remember the day you stood in the Lord’s presence at Mount Sinai? The Lord said, “Moses, bring the people of Israel here. I want to speak to them so they will obey me as long as they live, and so they will teach their children to obey me too.” Deuteronomy 4:9-10 CEV

When worry comes, and it will, let peace guard your heart! Keep your mind focused on God who always was, who is and who always will be!

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The Hope at Sunrise

Each morning God gives us proof that He can be trusted. The sunrise reveals God’s consistent, actually eternal, promise of provision and care. Since the beginning of time God has faithfully delivered a sunrise to remind us that we have a new opportunity to walk in His love.

“Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.” Isaiah 58:8 NLV

The theme or focus of today’s verses seems to be righteousness. Righteousness is an old English, religious word but it  can be defined as right standing with God.  Do you see yourself as righteous? Ponder that for a moment. If you’ve answered no – then I trust that today’s teaching will open your eyes to the wonderful power of God in your life.

“You are righteous, Lord, and Your judgments are just. 138 The decrees You issue are righteous and altogether trustworthy. 139 My anger overwhelms me because my foes forget Your words. 140 Your word is completely pure, and Your servant loves it. 141 I am insignificant and despised, but I do not forget Your precepts. 142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your instruction is true. 143 Trouble and distress have overtaken me, but Your commands are my delight. 144 Your decrees are righteous forever. Give me understanding, and I will live.”  Psalm 119:137-144

There’s that word “understand” again. As David grew in the word he grew in understanding. He experienced firsthand the faithfulness of God’s righteousness.  He knew that he was in right standing with God because he was devoted to God’s word.

Genesis 15 says that “he (Abraham) believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness”.  That’s where righteousness was birthed, in believing God. David followed the example of righteous Abraham and he believed God.  If God said it, that was good enough.  In Psalm 23, David said that the Lord leads him in paths of righteousness. And he willingly followed His shepherd.

As an old man, David penned in Psalm 37 “I have been young and now I am old; I have never seen the righteous  forsaken or his seed begging for bread.”  In Psalm 112, which I call the righteous man’s Psalm, David describes the life of the man who lives righteous. This is God’s inspired word and so I am willing to live the truth of this Psalm in my life.

“Praise the Lord! How happy is the man who honors the Lord with fear and finds joy in His Law! 2 His children will be powerful in the land. Each family who is right will be happy. 3 Riches and well-being are in his house. And his right-standing with God will last forever. 4 Light rises even in darkness for the one who is right. He is kind and has loving-pity and does what is right. 5 Good will come to the man who is ready to give much, and fair in what he does. 6 He will never be shaken. The man who is right and good will be remembered forever. 7 He will not be afraid of bad news. His heart is strong because he trusts in the Lord. 8 His heart will not be shaken. He will not be afraid and will watch those lose who fight against him. 9 He has given much to the poor. His right-standing with God lasts forever. His horn will be lifted high in honor. 10 The sinful man will see it and be troubled and angry. He will grind his teeth and waste away. The desire of the sinful will come to nothing.” Psalm 112 NLV

We can’t be “righteous” on our own. It’s just not possible, no matter how hard we try. We are influenced by our prejudice and judge situations from our limited scope of understanding. While God on the other hand sees all things through His eyes of unconditional, unprejudiced love and judges justly in every situation.

“But God has a way to make people right, and it has nothing to do with the law. He has now shown us that new way, which the law and the prophets told us about. 22 God makes people right through their faith in Jesus Christ. He does this for all who believe in Christ. Everyone is the same. 23 All have sinned and are not good enough to share God’s divine greatness. 24 They are made right with God by his grace. This is a free gift. They are made right with God by being made free from sin through Jesus Christ.” Romans 3:21-24

Some of you may ask why I am spending time on this this morning. Simply put, if you can be convinced you that you aren’t righteous, then it’s easy  to steal God’s word and His promises from you because you feel unworthy.  I know – been there, done that, hated it! But once the Lord showed me that He considered me righteous, not because of what I had done but because of who I am in Christ, my life of defeated Christianity turned around and I began to face every giant, physical, mental and spiritual, with the same confidence and conviction that David had when he faced Goliath.

Standing complete in my righteousness in Christ turned conflict into conquest, battles into blessings and struggles into success.

So I’ll ask you again – are you righteous?  Let me give you this answer.  “Christ never sinned but God put our sin on Him. Then we are made right with God because of what Christ has done for us.” II Corinthians 5:21  NLV

Yes, yes you are if you are in Christ!

“Lord, I don’t want to live a defeated life. I want to have the kind of life that is described in Psalm 112. Show me who you made me to be. I want to live to my full potential. You made a way for me to be right with you – I choose Your way. In Jesus name. Amen.”

 

 

 

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A Well Lit Path

We live in a rural area and there are only a couple of street lights up on our mesa. It makes walking at night interesting. Something we don’t do much of because there’s always an opportunity to run into javelina out foraging or a pack of coyotes on the hunt. We don’t often walk at night but when we do we carry the proper equipment to light our path so we won’t stumble or be surprised by what may be in the shadows.

“Your word is like a lamp that guides my steps, a light that shows the path I should take. 106 Your laws are good and fair. I have promised to obey them, and I will keep my promise. 107 Lord, I have suffered for a long time. Say the word, and I will live again! 108 Lord, accept the praise I want to give you, and teach me your laws. 109 My life is always in danger, but I have not forgotten your teachings. 110 The wicked try to trap me, but I have not disobeyed your instructions. 111 The rules you have given me to follow will be mine forever. They give me great joy. 112 More than anything I want to obey your laws always, until the end of my life.” Psalm 119:105-112

At times, this road called life can be a dark path. One where the next step may seem uncertain but when we seek and follow the counsel of God’s word it becomes like a flashlight shining brightly on our path, illuminating the way we should go. We also have God’s promise that He will be our guide.

“But now you will again see the Lord, your teacher, and he will guide you. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice saying, “This is the road! Now follow it.” Isaiah 30:20-21

David was a man of his word; he had promised to obey God’s commands and he vowed that he would continue to keep that promise. People depended on him the way he depended on God. As the king of Israel, David’s actions affected the entire nation. He would lead the country to battle their enemies and he would lead them in peace. He needed to know that he was hearing God’s voice and being faithful to follow His word.

We might not rule countries and lead nations but we do have a sphere of influence and we need to be following God’s word. It is essential for us and for those who follow us; our families, co-workers, associates. David refers again to the dangers and enemies he faced. If you read about David’s life in the Old Testament you will see that each time before he faced an enemy he sought the Lord’s direction; each time he waited for the Lord’s answer before he went out and each time he returned victorious.

God’s word will provide the same direction for us. We need to determine that we will follow God’s word at all costs. Live committed to what He says – make it our primary purpose and goal. We can say with David, “The rules you have given me to follow will be mine forever. They give me great joy. 112 More than anything I want to obey your laws always, until the end of my life.”

The greatest gift we can give our children is a godly heritage, standing strong for God even when our children think we are fanatical and/or old-fashioned. God has entrusted us with our children’s lives; we are responsible to teach them to love and respect God and His word. If your children are small or grown, live within your home or are separated by miles, depend upon God’s word to guide you and them and God will be faithful to you both.

Let the Word light your path and encourage them to follow.

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Waiting During Construction

If you read my posts on a daily basis, you’ll remember that a few weeks ago I asked the question “what do you do when God seems silent”? David is dealing with that very thing this morning in the verses of this segment.

“I feel weaker and weaker as I wait for you to save me. But I put my trust in your word. 82 I keep looking for what you promised, but my eyes are feeling tired. When will you comfort me? 83 Even when I am like a dried wineskin on the trash pile, I will not forget your laws. 84 How long must I wait for you to punish those who persecute me? 85 Proud people have tried to trap me and make me disobey your teachings. 86 All your commands can be trusted. Those people are wrong to persecute me. Help me! 87 They have almost destroyed me, but I have not stopped obeying your instructions. 88 Show me your faithful love and let me live. I will do whatever you say.” Psalm 119:81-88

Personally we waited on the Lord to change a situation for almost 7 years. I know what it’s like to tell the Lord – “Hope deferred makes the heart sick” but we WILL continue to trust you! There were days when I felt things would never change and that’s when I would have to remind myself that God is faithful and He will keep His word and bring it to pass.

I can get a real sense of David’s heart in these first verses – he’s tired, he feels like he is drying up inside but he will continue to trust. You may have been waiting now for a very long time, waiting to see a promise that you have from the Lord come to pass. I want to share with you some of the verses God put in my heart to encourage me.

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

Wait – something we don’t do well for the most part but this verse isn’t talking about a passive action of sitting back; it’s active, like a waiter or waitress, this wait means to pay attention too, to actively participate in meeting the requests of others. So we are told to “wait on the Lord”. During this time, I try to keep my focus on the Master and His desires, not mine. There’s a promise attached with waiting, my strength will be renewed. I will be able to soar above the storm clouds, I will be able to run with race with endurance. Yes, I will learn to wait!

Another verse that ties into this one is Isaiah 26:3 “3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusts in Thee.”

Staying focused on God and His word will keep me in a place of peace. When I find that I am anxious or upset, weary or weak; I realized that my focus has changed from being on the Lord to looking at the circumstances. In times like that I must return to focusing on God and His word. Because His word says…

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” I John 5:14-15

God’s word is His will so if we are asking for things that He has promised in His word we know that we are asking according to His will and can have confidence that He not only hears our prayers but answers them. We are then able to go from a place of continually asking to asking confidently and then begin to thank Him for the result we know we will see. It’s hard to be discouraged when you are saying thank you.

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ…” II Corinthians 1:20-21

God is the one that confirms His word by promising to watch over it and perform it; our job is to trust Him. This is something that I have considerable experience with. These are just a few of the verses that the Holy Spirit has confirmed to my heart when it comes to waiting for answered prayer to come. If our focus is distracted we will become like a dried up wine skin, good for nothing but when our hope and trust is in God we will continue to live fruitful lives during the wait.

Verse 88 is the kicker in this segment. Show me your faithful love, in the King James version that word is “lovingkindness” and it carries the meaning of a blood covenant or what we know to be “blood brothers”. When a blood covenant was struck between two people or two nations, it meant you have available to you all the resources that I have and vice versa. I give God all that I have (which compared to Him is seriously lacking) and He gives to me all that He has; His strength, His power, His promises, His provision, His life eternal! That’s what David was talking about – he had entered into covenant with God. This is why he could say I will do whatever You say because he had willingly entered into a relationship with One so much greater than he was. He was willing to do whatever the Lord had to say because David knew it would be the right way to go.

Look at waiting like you do building a house or doing a remodel. We said at the beginning of this study in Psalm 119 that God’s Word is our firm foundation that makes our life unshakeable in the storm. Prepare while you’re waiting for the construction to be complete. Live expectantly – pick out the flooring and the paint for the walls. God is building your life and you can trust Him to make it wonderful!

Again today, I reaffirm “Show me your faithful love and let me live. I will do whatever you say.”

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Your Defender

We are going to learn how to accept correction from the hand of the Lord and to let the Lord defend us from our enemies. So many times we want to jump right in and defend ourselves in circumstances where we aren’t being treated right. It’s only natural to speak up and defend what’s ours but that’s not always the wisdom God wants us to use. We need to use God’s wisdom when our reputation is being ruined by liars.

“I am your servant, Lord, and you have kept your promise to treat me with kindness. 66 Give me wisdom and good sense. I trust your commands. 67 Once you corrected me for not obeying you, but now I obey. 68 You are kindhearted, and you do good things, so teach me your laws. 69 My reputation is being ruined by conceited liars, but with all my heart I follow your teachings. 70 Those liars have no sense, but I find happiness in your Law. 71 When you corrected me, it did me good because it taught me to study your laws. 72 I would rather obey you than to have a thousand pieces of silver and gold.” Psalm 119:65-72

David mentions twice in this segment that the Lord corrected him and that this correction was a good thing – it brought him back to obeying God’s word and that was more precious than silver or gold.

How does God correct us?

“16 All Scripture is given by God. And all Scripture is useful for teaching and for showing people what is wrong in their lives. It is useful for correcting faults and teaching the right way to live. 17 Using the Scriptures, those who serve God will be prepared and will have everything they need to do every good work.” II Timothy 3:16-17

The Word of God is profitable for correction and instruction. It’s amazing to me how some folks can get so off base and say that the way God corrects is to cause us to lose our job, create financial hardship, make us sick, destroy our marriage, send a tragedy all to teach us something. Rubbish! Now these things happen but they are not a result of God teaching us a lesson. We need to recognize that there is a real enemy, seeking to destroy us. And we also need to recognize that sometimes we bring things on ourselves by being selfish and foolish, but they aren’t a result of God “teaching” us.

There is so much more to be said on correction but time and space limitations move me on.

Now how do we deal with those that criticize, lie and seek to destroy our reputations? David said to keep following and obeying God’s commands.

“I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart. I will tell about the wonderful things you have done. 2 You make me happy, so I will rejoice in you. God Most High, I praise your name. 3 My enemies turned to run from you, but they fell and were destroyed. 4 You listened to me from your throne like a good judge, and you decided that I was right.” Psalm 9:1-4ERV

David knew to follow God’s command was to let God be his defender.

“Do the best you can to live in peace with everyone. 19 My friends, don’t try to punish anyone who does wrong to you. Wait for God to punish them with his anger. In the Scriptures the Lord says, “I am the one who punishes; I will pay people back.” Romans 12:18-19 ERV

Jesus lived this way – He could have retaliated against His accusers and those who persecuted him but He kept silent on His own behalf and just kept on doing what God had called Him to do – He healed the blind, raised the dead, cleansed the lepers, healed the broken hearted and preached the love of God.

Paul was persecuted in nearly even town he entered and his comment was

“13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

He kept his focus – he didn’t get off course but just kept pressing forward in doing what God had called him to do.

Isaiah 54:17 also tells us that “Weapons made to attack you won’t be successful; words spoken against you won’t hurt at all. My servants, Jerusalem is yours!  I, the Lord, promise to bless you with victory.”

When we take time to answer our critics and defend ourselves we are being drawn away from what God has designed us to do. If we enter into the conflict of self-defense we are doing exactly what the enemy wants us to do. We need to learn from David, Isaiah, Jesus, and Paul and when adversary and accusation come – we keep our eyes on Jesus, standing on his Word and we will win the battle!

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What Do You Remember

A few weeks back my Mom came to stay for a several days. At 94 her memory isn’t as sharp as it once was but she still has a good memory for someone her age. It’s always fun for me to talk with her about things that we did as kids – places we lived, friends we grew up with and special times we had as a family.

Dad was a blue-collar worker so we never had lavish gifts or big vacations. What we had instead were times of fishing at the lake, picnic lunches from the tail gate of the station wagon and day trips to the National Parks. We fed salt water taffy to the chipmunks in Zion, caught trout on salmon eggs and had rain water pour through the rotted roof of a travel trailer. (big smile) Yes, wonderful memories.

I also have wonderful memories of when our children were growing up and we saw the Lord do numerous miracles in our day to day life. Miracles of healing and provision, miracles of safety and protection. Answered prayers and expressions of God’s faithfulness.

Oh, how I love God’s word! It is such a joy to read it and know that for thousands of years it has never failed or been proven false and God will continue to protect it and bring it to pass. It won’t fail me or my children or my grandchildren.

“Heaven and earth shall pass away but my word shall never pass away” Matthew 24:35

We’re about 1/3 way through Psalm 119 and I hope you are enjoying our study and that the Lord is ministering to you personally as we cover each segment.

“Remember your promise to me, your servant. It gives me hope. 50 You comfort me in my suffering, because your promise gives me new life.
51 People full of pride are always making fun of me, but I have not stopped following your teachings. 52 I remember the laws you gave us long ago, Lord, and they bring me comfort. 53 I am overcome with anger when I see wicked people, who have stopped following your teachings. 54 Your laws are the songs I sing wherever I am living. 55 Lord, in the night I remembered your name, and I obeyed your teachings. 56 This happened because I carefully obey your instructions.” Psalm 119: 49-56

Remembering God’s promises should give us hope and create an excitement in our hearts just like it did for David. I once heard it said that God has never had anyone, other than Jesus, qualified working for Him yet so don’t get hung up on your shortcomings. Look at those who God has used. Abraham was too old; David was too young. Mary Magdalen was a prostitute; Peter denied the Lord and Paul, the Apostle, killed Christians. (Just to name a few.)

We can either get puffed up with pride or become discouraged if we compare ourselves to others but when we see that God gave His promises to common everyday people, just like us, we know that His word isn’t just for a select few or the very elite. One verse that is ringing in my memory this morning is my favorite verse in the Bible. If you’ve been reading my posts very long at all you will know that I am talking about Numbers 23:19.

“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”

God doesn’t lie – that gives me hope! He doesn’t lie about salvation, healing, peace, joy, comfort, protection, prosperity, wisdom, victory…He doesn’t lie! And what’s more, He tells us to remind Him of His word. Not because He’s old and senile and might forget but because He wants us to boldly trust our relationship with Him.

“Turn to the Lord! He can still be found. Call out to God! He is near. 7 Give up your crooked ways and your evil thoughts. Return to the Lord our God. He will be merciful and forgive your sins. 8 The Lord says: “My thoughts and my ways are not like yours. 9 Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, my thoughts and my ways are higher than yours. 10 “Rain and snow fall from the sky. But they don’t return without watering the earth that produces seeds to plant and grain to eat.
11 That’s how it is with my words. They don’t return to me without doing everything I send them to do.” Isaiah 55:6-11 CEV

Moses instructed the nation of Israel to teach their children the things that God had done; deliverance from Egypt, the miracles in the wilderness and the victory of entering the promised land. Then Peter says that it was important for him to remind the believers of all that God had done for them so that they, we, wouldn’t be deceive and fall away from God’s plan.

In Hebrews we are instructed to come BOLDLY to the throne of grace to find help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) That boldness can only come as we stand on God’s word and rely on Him to be faithful and loving. Each time I think of this verse I remember an incident that happened when our kids were small. We live out in the middle of nowhere, and I do mean nowhere; thirty miles from the closest small town and 70 miles from Phoenix. We were farming 900 acres of alfalfa – we had told the kids that on Friday we would go to the Dairy Queen. That was a big deal! We had promised!

So Friday when the kids got home from school they quickly reminded us that this was Friday and we had said we were going to Dairy Queen. Of course we went – tired but we went – we had promised! We didn’t scold the kids for reminding us – they weren’t being arrogant or demanding – they were being kids and we had promised so they expected that we would have kept our word.

If we as natural, earthly parents make promises and keep our word to our children should we think that God in all His power and glory would do any less? If He didn’t want us to believe that He was faithful, then He shouldn’t have included promises in His word but He did and He IS!

When I remember God’s word, His promises and how He has provided in the past it causes me to sing. Just this last week, while I was out on a walk, I had been battling discouragement in a particular matter. As I focused not on the problem but on God’s faithfulness, I began to recall times in the past when God had “come through” and shown Himself faithful. There were so many times – large and small. It didn’t take me very long before I was singing praise to God.

“Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:” Jeremiah 32:17

Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing. Nothing is too difficult for thee!!

Put God in remembrance of His word today!

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White As Snow

Yesterday morning after I had written and posted my blog I took Glory on a morning walk. There’s a new house being built down the road and we stopped to good through it. It was interesting to see the bedrooms, the closets, the bathrooms – it was all framed in. We had walked by when they were clearing the lot and when the footing was being dug and even the day the concrete trucks came and poured the foundation. But I hadn’t seen it up close since they started the framing.

While I was there I noticed the concrete. As often happens in this area, there were some cracks in it. Those will be covered over soon and no one will realize they had ever been there. That made me think again about what I had written on “No Shame” just that morning. As I finished my walk, my mind was racing considering the other side of the coin.

When we follow the Lord he won’t lead us to do anything that we need to be ashamed of. However, we all know that there are things in life that we aren’t proud of and would prefer to keep covered. Things of our own making, things God had nothing to do with. It could be something as simple as being a High School dropout; an arrest record; a failed marriage; a bankruptcy; an affair; an abandon relationship; or whatever event or action you would know about yourself that no one else does.

The Lord knows how to deal with those areas of shame.

“Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. 2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. 3 But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.” Psalm 3:1-3 KJV

These words were written by King David when his son Absalom was trying to kill him and take his throne. David said that the Lord was his shield of protection and the lifter of his head.

When you’ve experienced shame in your life it’s hard to look others in the eye. Someone who has been shamed will walk around head down but the Lord comes in, forgives our failure and our intentional sin and lifts our head. He brings a change to our countenance and restoration to our lives.

“And I will forgive the wrongs they have done, and I will not remember their sins.” Hebrews 8:12ERV

“His love for his followers is as high above us as heaven is above the earth. 12 And he has taken our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west.
13 The Lord is as kind to his followers as a father is to his children.” Psalm 103:11-13 ERV

“I, the Lord, am the one speaking to you. Come, let’s discuss this. Even if your sins are as dark as red dye, that stain can be removed and you will be as pure as wool that is as white as snow.” Isaiah 1:18 ERV

Our failures, our shame, our sin should by all rights keep us separated from a perfect and just God. In our own efforts we can never be good enough to remove our own shame. God knew that and He had a plan, a wonderful plan.

“Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful. 7 No one is really willing to die for an honest person, though someone might be willing to die for a truly good person. 8 But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful.

9 But there is more! Now that God has accepted us because Christ sacrificed his life’s blood, we will also be kept safe from God’s anger. 10 Even when we were God’s enemies, he made peace with us, because his Son died for us. Yet something even greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, we will be saved by his Son’s life.” Romans 8:6-10 CEV

What a great way to start the new year – shame removed! Head help high, walking in peace with God!!

“But if we confess our sins, God will forgive us. We can trust God to do this. He always does what is right. He will make us clean from all the wrong things we have done.” I John 1:9 ERV

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The Gift of Memory

My Christmas tree is probably like yours; decorated with ornaments that have been collected over the years. I love angel ornaments!

Each year as I hang different “angels” on the tree I remember fondly the friends that have given them to me. And as they are hung in a special place I pray for that dear friend or family member.

I was thinking this morning, if each ornament were a picture my tree would be filled with images of those I hold dear all year long! You know God has done that – He has drawn our picture in the palm of His hands.

“But the Lord says,
“Can a woman forget her baby? Can she forget the child who came from her body? Even if she can forget her children, I cannot forget you.

16 I drew a picture of you on my hand. You are always before my eyes…” Isaiah 49:15-16 ERV

He not only holds us in His heart but He keeps our pictures close so He can always be looking at us! See He is a loving father. If heaven had a mantel all our pictures would be on it and He would be glad to show them off to the angels.

When our children were still at home I made three new Christmas ornaments each year, one for each child and when they grew up and left home each of them received a box of ornaments. I’m not sure if they still have those, to be honest some weren’t very good, but there was a memory attached with each one.

But the thing about God’s memory is what He chooses to forget. He is omniscient so He knows all things, things from the beginning and the events of the future. He knows it all. However, He allows himself the opportunity to forget.

“Here is the new agreement that I, the Lord, will make with the people of Israel:

“I will write my laws
on their hearts and minds.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.

34 “No longer will they have to teach one another to obey me. I, the Lord, promise that all of them will obey me, ordinary people and rulers alike. I will forgive their sins and forget the evil things they have done.” Jeremiah 31:33 & 34 CEV

How can He do this? Why does He choose to forget? God can do this because he’s God and the answer to the why is because he is love! We’re told in I Corinthians 13, the love chapter, that love thinks the best of a person at all times and that love doesn’t hold on to things that someone has done wrong. That is a perfect description of God the Father. His memory is filled with the good we’ve done and He has removed our sin as far as the east is from the west.

So I ask you to exercise your memory today. Follow God’s example and wipe from it those times that you’ve been wronged and chose to think the best. Remember with a heart of love today and take time to thank the Lord for the way He sees you. Smile, he’s drawn your picture on his hands.

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The Gift of a Father

For the last several days we’ve been looking at the different names and characteristics of Jesus that are mentioned in Isaiah. He was given to us for a purpose, to restore us in relationship to God the Father. One purpose but it was multi-faceted in execution.

“This will happen when the special child is born. God will give us a son who will be responsible for leading the people. His name will be “Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God, Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 ERV

We have looked at Jesus as the Counsellor, Almighty God and the Prince of Peace. This morning we will look at him as the eternal father or as the translation above says, the Father who lives forever.

I lost my dad almost 12 years ago and I miss him! But before he died, we lost him to dementia. I don’t think it was called Alzheimer but all in the same I saw him fade away. He was a wonderful man; tough but loving!

For those of you who are familiar with an older country song, Daddy’s Hands, the lyrics pretty much describe him to a T. I loved going fishing with him, Saturday mornings going to get donuts, dove hunting, watching him play with my children and taking them fishing…. A good man. He loved to sing and I loved to sing with him. One of my final visits home I enjoyed a cherished time; daddy was having a hard time sleeping so I went in and sat on his bed in the dark and sang hymns and choruses to him, sometimes he sang along and others he would just lay there and listen. He slept well those nights, I’m glad!

One of the main things I remember about Christmas was my dad reading the Christmas story each Christmas morning before we opened our presents, that’s why we did the same with our kids and grandkids. Then Daddy would pray and we would open gifts. I only remember 2 or 3 presents I received as a child but I always remember the story and the prayer.

I know not everyone had a relationship with their dad the way I did. I know not everyone can recall such wonderful memories. However, now with him gone, I also am drawn even closer in my relationship with my heavenly Father. He’s always here, I can hear His voice and feel His presence and it makes me glad. He is the Father who lives forever and will never die. My heavenly Father is my strength when I feel weak, my joy when depression would like to take over and my peace in every situation. There’s nothing that I have faced in the past or that will flood my future that He doesn’t know about and He has provided an answer for.

Everlasting Father. Just those two words bring comfort and contentment.

“Only those people who are led by God’s Spirit are his children. 15 God’s Spirit doesn’t make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father.[a] 16 God’s Spirit makes us sure that we are his children.” Romans 8:14-16 CEV

[a] “Abba” (meaning “father”), which shows the close relation between the children and their father.

To me the word Abba means daddy.

If you didn’t have a father like mine, you can have the same heavenly Father and His love is so much deeper, so much greater, so much more intimate than what I experienced with my natural Father. If you do or did have a wonderful relationship with your Father, it can bring you such joy to know that you never have to be without that closeness of the heart, the warmth, the acceptance, the unconditional love with your heavenly Father too.

What a wonderful gift we have been given – the Everlasting Father!

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The Gift of Power

Have you noticed how many movies are about Super Heroes? And it’s not just the kids that are going to see them. Adults are flocking to the theatres to see this bigger than life crime fighters. When I was a kid it was Mighty Mouse, Superman, then came Underdog, the Bionic Man, Wonder Woman and Batman. Now it’s the heroes of the Marvel comics or Storm Troopers and Jedi. So many others have been added or brought to the forefront but all them had one basic principal, they save us from evil injustice.

“This will happen when the special child is born. God will give us a son who will be responsible for leading the people. His name will be “Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God, Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 ERV

Mighty God – Powerful God. Yes, God all mighty and all powerful.

The stories in the Bible aren’t just nice little tales to give us hope when things look bad. The Bible is an accurate portrayal of God’s intervention into the lives of those He loves. Noah and the ark, Joseph and Egypt’s protection during famine, Moses and the Red Sea, David and Goliath, Daniel in the lion’s den, Joshua and the walls of Jericho, the immaculate conception and birth of Christ, the healed leper, feeding 5000+ with a small lunch, raising of Lazarus from the dead, turning the water into wine, protection on the open seas – all real, all true, all God intervening in the lives of those He loves.

“God’s Spirit doesn’t make cowards out of us. The Spirit gives us power, love, and self-control.” II Timothy 1:7 CEV

Joseph, a young Jewish man, had just learned that his fiance` was pregnant. By Jewish, custom he could have had her publicly stoned but he loved Mary and was struggling with what to do. He had decided to have her put away quietly, move her to another town, let her start life over. But God came to him in a dream and gave him this message.

23 “The virgin will be pregnant and will give birth to a son. They will name him Immanuel.” (Immanuel means “God with us.”) 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the Lord’s angel told him to do. He married Mary.” Matthew 1:23-24 ERV

Yes, Immanuel, God with us! No super hero can compare to our God. His plan was and still is to be Mighty God. His purpose is to complete our lives, He desires to give us everything we need.

” I say this because all of God lives in Christ fully, even in his life on earth. 10 And because you belong to Christ you are complete, having everything you need. Christ is ruler over every other power and authority.” Colossians 2:9-10 ERV

Thank you Father that You truly are God Almighty.

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