Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem

Yesterday morning there was a horrible attack on Israel. This morning I felt it was appropriate to share King David’s prayer for safety.

“I come to you for protection, O Lord my God.
    Save me from my persecutors—rescue me!
If you don’t, they will maul me like a lion,
    tearing me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
O Lord my God, if I have done wrong
    or am guilty of injustice,
if I have betrayed a friend
    or plundered my enemy without cause,
then let my enemies capture me.
    Let them trample me into the ground
    and drag my honor in the dust. Interlude

Arise, O Lord, in anger!
    Stand up against the fury of my enemies!
    Wake up, my God, and bring justice!
Gather the nations before you.
    Rule over them from on high.
    The Lord judges the nations.
Declare me righteous, O Lord,
    for I am innocent, O Most High!
End the evil of those who are wicked,
    and defend the righteous.
For you look deep within the mind and heart,
    O righteous God.

10 God is my shield,
    saving those whose hearts are true and right.
11 God is an honest judge.
    He is angry with the wicked every day.

12 If a person does not repent,
    God[b] will sharpen his sword;
    he will bend and string his bow.
13 He will prepare his deadly weapons
    and shoot his flaming arrows.

14 The wicked conceive evil;
    they are pregnant with trouble
    and give birth to lies.
15 They dig a deep pit to trap others,
    then fall into it themselves.
16 The trouble they make for others backfires on them.
    The violence they plan falls on their own heads.

17 I will thank the Lord because he is just;
    I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.” Psalm 7

Pray Always

This morning my heart is heavy. When I woke there was a news story of a rocket attack on Israel. By the story’s account it was an unprovoked attack. Immediately I began to do what God’s word has commanded us to do.

“Pray for peace in Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper. O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls  and prosperity in your palaces.” Psalm 122:6-7 NLT

I hope all of you will stop now and pray for the leaders and the people of Israel. Pray for wisdom for their leaders and for the safety and protection of their citizens. Thank you.

One of the things I enjoyed most about our experience in Greece was the churches. We toured several of them – the grand, exquisite cathedrals and the small chapels. The doors were open and welcoming to anyone who wanted to stop and pray.

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening,” Psalm 92:1-2 NLT

I kind of expected to see people stopping to pray in the larger cathedrals but what surprised me was that they also stopped at the little prayer rooms in the shopping district and at the Mariner’s Chapel at the harbor.

We saw chapels high on the hills, with no houses around. There was a chapel on an island that only had two other buildings, it had been built by the fisherman who lived there to honor God and be a place of prayer. There were chapels as we traveled along the roadway from one town to another, sometimes they were less than a quarter mile apart. Always a place to pray. To me, it was a living example of the command we have been given:

“Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT

I think that we often get too busy to remember to pray. Oh, if it’s a time of crisis we stop to pray. But during the ordinary routine of life our focus on prayer can wane. I definitely pray when we are on the freeway and over meals. I pray in the morning for friends and family, for society and for our leaders.

But I want to be more mindful to pray. Thankful for the warmth of the sunshine and the cool breeze. Praying when I see someone less fortunate than I, asking the Lord to provide for their needs and to use me if that’s what He desires. Seeing someone with a sad and downcast countenance and praying for them to have a renewed joy.

Praying always.

As you’re reading this maybe the face of a friend has come to mind, maybe a situation at work or a family issue – now is a good time to stop and pray.

Jesus often spent the day healing and preaching, ministering to people who needed a touch from the Father and then He would spend His evenings in prayer.

 After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.” Mark 6:46 NLT

My desire is to cultivate a more consistent and deeper prayer life. I hope that’s your desire as well. Let’s purpose to never stop praying!

The Hills Are Alive

Today we will look at the final verses of Isaiah 55. What a great way to start the weekend!

“You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! 13 Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.” verses 12 & 13 NLT

I toyed with two titles for this blog – The Hills Are Alive or Blessings of Peace and Joy. Both are appropriate for these verses.

Step back to one of yesterday’s verses.

“It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”

God’s word is the tie in to our joy and peace. The Israelites learned that often. As long as they were serving God and following His word they had peace in their land. However, when they followed after false gods and ignored God’s word they would be defeated in battle and at times were taken into exile.

We read yesterday where Jesus compared our hearts to soil and God’s word to good seed but not all seed is good. Some seeds produce thorns, nettles and stubborn weeds. Those are the seeds of bitterness, anger, self-righteousness, jealousy, maliciousness, envy, strife…

“But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,” Colossians 3:8-10 NLT

When we let God’s word take root in our hearts – in our thinking and our actions – He will give us the wherewithal to pull up the weeds. New trees will grow, new life with prosper.

 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 NLT

God knows there will be times we struggle with thoughts of doubt and anxiousness; He’s always there to see us through.

“When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.” Psalm 94:19

Have you ever asked yourself why, why would God do all of this for me? Why would He spend so much time and effort on my well-being? If you have, here’s the answer:

“These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.” verse 13 NLT

There are lots of gods in this world but they enslave instead of bringing freedom. They curse instead of bless; they damn instead of enriching. God is not the damn-er, He is a blesser.

When we walk in His word the world will see the blessings of God in our lives and it will be a testament of his power and love. Even the mountains and the hills will sing and the trees will be clapping with joy!

Bumper Crop

I hope you are learning some new things about the Father’s character and devotion to us through the last few days study.

Yesterday we ended with these words: ““And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”

Who could imagine a man 600 years old building an ark, or a barren woman giving birth to her first child at the age of 90? Who could have conceived the idea of a teenager being a great warrior, or a leader marching around a city for 7 days with men, women and children and the walls falling down when they shouted? What heart devised a plan for a baby to be born of a virgin and then die on a cross to save us from our sins?

““And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” Those words are followed by these:

“For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. 10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. 11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.” Isaiah 55:9-11 NLT

All of the miracles in the Bible are a result of God’s word. He spoke His word, His plan, to Noah, Sarah, David, Joshua, Mary and Jesus. God’s word is life-giving, life-changing seed and when we plant it in our hearts it bears fruit.

“I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. 12 I praise you, O Lord; teach me your decrees.” Psalm 119:11-12 NLT

Jesus said this:

“And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.” Luke 8:15 NLT

When Jesus was tempted by Satan after His forty day fast, it was the word of God that He used to successfully resist the temptation. Three times He answered Satan with “It is written”.

God’s word is just as true today as it was when it was given. God does not and cannot lie.

“God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” Numbers 23:19 NLT

Keep planting God’s word in the soil of your heart and it will bring a huge harvest.

So Much More!

I hope you are enjoying this little study in Isaiah 55. I am!

Just yesterday Dave and I were talking about some decisions we were making, seeking the Lord’s direction and acknowledging that we would only do certain things if we had the Father’s peace. We prayed, we talked, we prayed some more and then we were reminded of yesterday’s teaching – “I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.” There you have it, the peace came!

Since we’ve been back from Greece, we have been asked several times if the trip was what we hoped it would be. Our answer was immediate, everything we hoped for and more.

That’s how I feel about the verses we will go over today, everything we hoped for and more!

“Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:6-9 NLT

Some people read verse 6 and get the impression that God is elusive or that He is hiding. Not so. The Lord is always near to us, we’re the ones who often hide. Just like Adam hid in the garden because he was ashamed of his sin, we often pull back from God, from prayer, from fellowship.

Jesus said in His teachings, “ask and it will be given you, seek and you will find, knock and the doors will be open”. Isaiah is saying the same thing here – seek for God, you will find Him; ask (call) and you will receive.

Receive what? Forgiveness!

We’ve all done things we are ashamed of; we’ve all sinned. Big sin or little ones, they all interrupt our relationship with the Father. We read the word “wicked” and think “I’m not that bad” but that my friend is self-justification. According to God’s standard we’ve all missed the mark.

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Romans 3:23 NLT

‘Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.’ (vs 7) Let that sink in – turn (seek) to God and He will forgive generously. Right now, take a deep breath and breathe in the forgiveness of God. Don’t run, don’t hide, come to receive forgiveness and the healing it brings. It’s not like the conditional forgiveness that we give. The “I’ll forgive you now but if you ever do it again, that’s it” kind of forgiveness.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”

God doesn’t just love us; He is love and love never fails. We, in our thinking, can’t imagine being able to forgive and forget completely but that’s exactly what God does. He promises to remember our sins no more!

“He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” Psalm 103:12 NLT

His ways and thoughts are definitely higher than ours. He wants us to take on His way of thinking, learning His character and knowing His heart.

As Isaiah said, “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” God’s love is everything we have hoped for and so much more!

Listen & Learn

“Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.
See how I used him to display my power among the peoples. I made him a leader among the nations. You also will command nations you do not know, and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey, because I, the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious.” Isaiah 55:3-5 NLT

Ears wide open. Years ago, we heard a preacher use the phrase “Got your catchers on?”. He was talking about the two appendages we have on either side of our head. We actually used this same phrase when we were about to tell our kids something important.

So, get your catchers on.

Yesterday I shared a verse with you that was life changing to me. I had grown up knowing that the Jewish people were God’s chosen. The Lord did so many miracles for them; they were given so many promises. And then one day as I was reading, I saw these verses:

“I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ.

In the same way, ‘Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.’ The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.

What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in his sight because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’ So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith…13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. 14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:5-14 NLT

(at this point let me say, If you haven’t read the book of Galatians, especially chapter 3, this would be an excellent time to read it)

Because of Christ’s death on the cross, we who are Gentiles (not Jews) have come to receive the blessings and promises that God made to them. Amazing!

Why?

“Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! 47 And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” I Samuel 17:46-47 NLT

“The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God…26 ‘I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end. 27 He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” Daniel 6:23,26-27 NLT

The show of power and strength that David displayed against Goliath was for one purpose – “the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!” The deliverance of Daniel in the den of lions was a testimony that “He rescues and saves his people”.

Isaiah said God wants to use us to display His love to the people of the world. It’s a promise.

Hear what God is saying. Do you have your catchers on?

The Price is Paid

For the next few days we will be going through Isaiah 55. It is a wonderful chapter, filled with promises of God for those who love Him.

A couple days back we talked about heart health. I truly believe that one of the biggest worries people have concerns finances. Worried when they don’t have enough and when they are financially prosperous, they worry that they may lose it.

“Is anyone thirsty?  Come and drink— even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk— it’s all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food.” vs. 1-2 NLT

When God, the Father, first established a relationship with Abraham, the man who would be the father of the nation of Israel, God promised to be his provider.

“Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.’…18 And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.” Genesis 22:14-18 NLT

Because of our relationship with Christ we have become a descendant of Abraham and the blessings and promises God made to him are also available to us as his descendants. Paul, the Apostle, wrote this:

“Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:14 NLT

The Lord delivered Abraham’s descendants from the bondage of Egypt and He provided for them while they wandered in the desert.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!  His faithful love endures forever…For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” Psalm 107:1, 9 NLT

One of the first teachings Jesus gave is what many call the Sermon on the Mount. A multitude was following Jesus – they longed to hear what He had to say. So, from the mountainside Jesus delivered this message:

“Those who are hungry and thirsty to be right with God are happy, because they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6 NLV

and His message continued

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?…So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:25-33 NLT

We are more precious than the birds. When we give our lives to Christ, we become children of God, most high.

Thirsty?

“…Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”39 (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)” John 7:37-39 NLT

Come drink. Our heavenly Father has provided for our needs!

Hungry & Thirsty?

We are still getting our sleeping and eating habits back on track after living on Greek time for the last month. This morning I woke up at 1:30 am, hungry and thirsty.

But instead of making something to eat, my mind went to the Scripture verses I read yesterday morning in my quiet time. I will tell you now that this will be a long read so, please be faithful to read it all.

Before you do, let me pray for you. “Father, your word is the bread of life. Just like you provided manna, meat and water for the Israelites in the desert I believe that You will provide nourishment from Your word for those of us with hungry souls. Holy Spirit, speak to our hearts through the Word of God this day. In Jesus name. Amen.”

“Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink— even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk— it’s all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food.

“Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.
See how I used him to display my power among the peoples. I made him a leader among the nations. You also will command nations you do not know, and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey, because I, the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious.”

Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. 11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. 12 You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! 13 Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.” Isaiah 55 NLT

Did any of those verses speak to your heart? A number of them spoke to me.

When we arrived home from Greece there was a lot to unpack, four suitcases to be precise. Everything had to be taken out, looked at and put away. That’s how I feel about this chapter – there’s a lot to unpack.

The Lord has placed it on my heart to spend a few days on these verses, sharing other verses that go along with these. As we go through this short study re-read Isaiah 55, ask the Holy Spirit to show you, personally, what these verses mean for your life.

Come hungry and thirsty for God’s truth.

Time for a Checkup

Nothing says back-to-normal-routine quite like a medical checkup. Our second day home and Dave got a voice message reminding him he has a routine checkup on Monday.

One of my least favorite things is the stack of papers we receive at nearly every medical appointment. It’s the same form from last year, I’ve always felt the first question on should be “has anything changed since your last visit”. If no, then you should get to go to the end of the forms and sign your name. But it doesn’t work like that, does it?

You answer all the questions on paper and then you are asked them again once you’re in the exam room. Since I’m following out this train of thought I have a question for you.

Do you have heart trouble? Has anyone in your family had heart issues? Are there triggers in your life that have or are now affecting your heart?

Then let me write you a prescription that will cure that immediately.

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” John 14:1 KJV

My Mom was such a sweet soul but she was a worrier and occasionally I find myself showing signs of that same dis – ease.

When we read through the Gospels and look at the life of Jesus, we see that He led a campaign for heart heath. His words were often “peace, be still”, “fear not”, “be not afraid”. Jesus spoke the words above to his disciples right before His crucifixion. If anything would cause “heart trouble” for them, it would be this. Jesus’ command was don’t be troubled.

“My son, pay attention to my words and be willing to learn; Open your ears to my sayings. 21 Do not let them escape from your sight; Keep them in the center of your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, And healing and health to all their flesh. 23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:20-23 AMP

King Solomon knew that the way to prevent “heart trouble” was to pay attention to God’s word. It provides health and healing to all who choose to live by it.

If you are experiencing heart trouble this morning, I’m sending you to my cardiologist, He’s never lost a patient yet.

“But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you. 27 Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]” John 14:26-287 AMP

Keep your heart healthy – fear not!

More Than A Dream

We are back at home. We arrived on Wednesday morning. According to American Airlines flight tracker, traveled 11, 285 miles but that doesn’t even begin to cover it.

There were 4 additional local Greek airline flights, 8 bus trips, 9 taxi rides, 4 ferry rides and 100+ miles walked. It was, in a word, amazing!

We ate foods we had never eaten before, had bucket list items fulfilled, talked with countless people from at least 10 to 12 different countries and experienced a month of adventures that we had been dreaming of.

And there wasn’t one day or one experience that we didn’t stop and thank the Lord for providing – it was time of basking in His love. It was also a time of recognizing that every day of life should be just as adventurous as we look to the Lord and His leading.

This morning, I’ve been thinking about Jacob. You know the guy – Abraham’s shifty grandson. He had duped his father with his mother’s help, stolen his brother’s birthright and been sent off to his uncle’s to find a wife.

Not your typical “dream filled” vacation.

On the way, Jacob’s caravan stops for the night and devoid of the comforts of home, he uses a stone as a pillow. Until this time, Jacob had been self-absorbed. He had no time for a relationship with God – oh yes, he knew the stories of the Lord making promises to his grandfather and his father but he hadn’t experienced anything personally. 

“Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 He came to a certain place and stayed the night there, because the sun had gone down. He took one of the stones there and put it under his head for a pillow. 12 And he had a dream. He saw steps going up from the earth to heaven. He saw the angels of God going up and down these steps. 13 And he saw the Lord standing above them. He said, ‘I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham, and the God of Isaac. I will give to you and your children after you the land where you are lying…15 See, I am with you. I will care for you everywhere you go. And I will bring you again to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done all the things I promised you.’ 16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ‘For sure the Lord is in this place and I did not know it.’”  Genesis 28:10-16 NLV

How many times have we experienced that same mindset? “For sure the Lord is in this place and I did not know it.”

For Jacob it was just a routine day. A night on the road but he came face-to-face with God’s presence.

It’s easy to see God’s provision when it’s something like a “dream vacation” but it’s also easy to overlook the miraculous when we are in our daily routine.

“For You have been my help. And I sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings. My soul holds on to You. Your right hand holds me up.” Psalm 63:7-8 NLV

My prayer for you and for me is this, “Father, open my eyes to see that ‘you, Lord, are in this place’. Let me recognize the miracle of my daily walk with you. May Your presence be as real while I’m doing the laundry as it is while I’m living out a dream come true. Your presence, each day is what I long for”. Amen.