GOD WORKS THROUGH WHOEVER HE DESIRES TO

Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed:  “I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron,  I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.  For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me.  I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me,  that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other.  I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things. —Isaiah 45:1-7

            Our Lord God Almighty works through anyone and everyone He desires to.  He said of Cyrus that:

• he was His anointed
• He grasped his right hand
• He would subdue nations before him
• He would open doors before him
• He would level exalted places by him
• he would know the God of Israel called him by name
• he was called for the sake of Israel His chosen
• he was called by name
• he was named by the Lord
• he did not know the Lord
• he was equipped by the Lord

All this was the Lord’s doing with a King that did not know Him, but he would know that the Lord was doing these things through him.  God is always at work and He is working through the leaders of today’s world to accomplish His desires.  We can take great comfort in knowing that God is ultimately in control and He is accomplishing His purposes today, will accomplish them tomorrow and forever.  It is exciting that we are a part of what He is doing in this world.  May we be faithful in the part that our Creator of light and darkness, of well-being and calamity has called us to.  Yes, let us be faithful regardless of what is happening in our world.

Dear Father it is a great comfort to know that Your plans and purposes are being carried out today as they have been in the past and will be in the future.  Oh, that I would be faithful to what You have called me to by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.  So be it!

GOD LOVES YOU FOREVER!

Let those who fear the LORD say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” —Psalm 118:4

            Praise God for His forever enduring love to those who fear Him!  Brother and sister our God loves us more than we can fully comprehend.  In the familiar verse John 3:16 we are told that God “so loved” that He gave His only Son.  God “so loves” you.  How much does He love you?  The eternal Son of God died for you!  How much does He love you?  “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6-7).  How much does He love you?  “Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Romans 8:17).  How much does He love you?  “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” ()Ephesians 3:16-19).

            Fellow follower of Jesus never forget— “God loves you!”  When life is going well God loves you.  When life is hard God loves you.  When you are living faithful God loves you.  When you fail God loves you.  When He blesses you He loves you.  When He disciplines you He loves you.  When you have much God loves you.  When you have little God loves you.  God loves you!  Never forget!

Dear Father I am so grateful to know You love me.  Surely You show that every single day!  I know, regardless of the circumstances, that You love me.  You have shown that through Your Son and by the power of Your Holy Spirit.  May I be faithful to Your desires.  Yes, so be it.

BE STRENGTHENED BY OUR LORD GOD ALMIGHTY

 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.  Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;  but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. —Isaiah 40:29-31

The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. —Exodus 15:2

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. —Isaiah 12:2

The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. —Habakkuk 3:19

            We really have no strength of our own.  How sad it is when people live thinking they are living by their own strength.  Whether a person is living for God or not it is He who gives them the ability to live— “For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring’ (Acts 17:28).  Brother and sister rejoice that He has drawn us to Jesus so we can understand that it is our Lord God Almighty who “is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else” (Acts 17:25).  Our God is a gracious God, a patient God, a compassionate God and blesses every person whether they acknowledge this or not.  As followers of Jesus we ought to praise His Name for the ability to live and move that He gives.

            That breathing you are doing right now— praise His Name for the wonder of that ability He has designed that keeps you alive.  The strength He gives your heart to be beating— what a wonder that is.  The joy of being able to walk or move our arms, fingers and toes is a marvel.  Your brain and eyes are so complex.  It is through His strength that they even work.

            Brother and sister, we know our strength to live comes from Him.  Let us look to Him for the strength to run “the race set out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).  He is our strength.  Let us yield to His strength as His Holy Spirit guides us to live a life for Him.  Yes, let us honor Him by living in His strength and acknowledging that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC617kE1maU Dear Father, I need the strength that You give to live a life that is pleasing to You.  Oh, that I would not live as if strength comes from me.  No, may I trust in Your strength to live and may this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus. So be it!

DEATH COMES TO ALL!

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. —Psalm 116:15

Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’ —Ezekiel 33:11

            This is a fact of life that we all have to face— we will all die one day.  150,000 die everyday world-wide.  One day you and I will be included in that number!  It is eternally wise to be ready for that day.  It is eternally folly not to be prepared for that day!

            We are told that “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.”  Why is the death of His saints precious?  Because they will be with Him forever in glory!  Oh, happy day!  The Apostle Paul said that “we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord” (II Corinthians 5:8).  Is that where you would rather be?  If not, what do you see as more important than being with Jesus?  Are you ready?  Live life now like you are ready to die now that you would hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d3qcogAqh0

            On the other hand, our Lord does not take any “pleasure in the death of the wicked.”  No, He desires the wicked to “turn from their ways and live.”  This is His desire— “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other” (Isaiah 45:22).  Yes, God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (II Timothy 2:4).  “The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9).  Jesus has not come back yet because He desires more people to respond to Him for salvation.  He is patient.

            Brother and sister that is why we are still living!  We are to be bringing the message to them.  “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach?  And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:13-15).  Jesus sent us! (John 17:18).  Death is quickly approaching every living person.  Let us be passionate to reach them with the gospel of our Lord Jesus.  Yes, Father, please help us to be faithfully bringing the gospel message to others that they can also know You through Jesus and by the Holy Spirit’s power.  May it be so! https://youtu.be/bo9ZWX1lEKI?t=1028

OUR AWESOME GOD!

You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, “He did not make me”; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?—29:16

Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them. —Psalm 115:3-8

            Mankind has the natural inclination to make a god of their own choosing.  They turn things upside down.  Instead of God being the authority man makes a god that he can control, a god that will bend to his liking.  Just as ridiculous as “the thing made should say of its maker, “He did not make me”; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding” is mankind who says this about God. 

            But man makes a god after his own image and after his own likeness according to how he sees himself.  But just as idols do not have any life themselves, nor can they give life, so also are the gods man makes after his liking.  They are lifeless, powerless and useless.  They do not and cannot give life to anyone or help anyone.  Yet this is what the majority of mankind seeks after.

            “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.”  He is the creator and sustainer of all things.  He gives life and breath to every living creature.  He it is who placed all the stars in their exact location and named every one.  Even if we knew all the names of the stars in creation we would not be able to repeat their names in our lifetime.  Yes, God is awesomely grand and we cannot grasp His infinite being.  His understanding is so far beyond ours.  He is so much greater than we are.  And yet, He has revealed Himself to us through His Son, Jesus.  How marvelous!

            Those who make idols, gods after their own thinking, will be like them… lifeless.  Those who follow the Lord God Almighty will take on His characteristics: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23) and others such as compassion, servant hood, honesty, justice and righteousness to name a few.

            Brothers and sisters rejoice in knowing him who is the creator and sustainer of all things.  Rejoice that He has not only given us life, but new life in His Son.  You and I are fortunate to know Him!  And now let us be faithful to share Him with others.  So be it!

Dear Father I thank You for life and new life in Jesus.  Out of the gratitude of my heart may I faithfully serve You and all that means.  May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIpnW3rtRQ4

PEACE

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.  Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. —Isaiah 26:3-4

            People want peace from war, from conflicts of any sorts.  Only the wicked in heart truly want conflict and seek the destruction of others.  From the beginning of time there was only one time frame where absolute world peace reigned on earth.  That was before Adam and Eve disobeyed God and sin and death entered the world.  Since then world peace has not been known.  There has always been conflict since then.  It started immediately with conflict in their own family (Genesis chapter 3 & 4).

            Men can experience peace as stated in the verses above and in Luke 2:13-14— “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”  But the peace mention in these verses is not a peace between nations or even in families.  It is a peace that only comes from the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).  Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  And in Romans 5:1-2 we read that “we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in the hope of the glory of God.”  Peace comes from knowing God. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

            But it is not only in knowing God that we have peace.  We need to keep our mind fixed on Him as we walk through life and “run the race marked out for us.”  We are to keep our “eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).  There will be a “perfect peace” when we keep focused on Him, cling to Him, stick close to Him and abide in Him.  It is a peace that comes when we fully trust Him for any and every situation we may find ourselves in.  It is a complete trust in Him when we do not understand want is happening or why something is happening.  We trust Him because He is a Rock that is immovable.  He is our solid and sure foundation.  Keep your eyes focused on Jesus at all times and you will experience that peace that only He can give— “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).  Did you get that?  It is a peace the world cannot give.  Don’t try to find it there!  It is a peace that only Jesus can give.  Don’t be troubled or afraid… trust our Rock!  Yes, then you will have perfect peace! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsYyuK1w3q0&list=RDQsYyuK1w3q0&start_radio=1

Thank You Father for the peace You have given me through Jesus and by the power of Your Holy Spirit.  May I live faithfully in that peace.

NOT HOPELESS, BUT HOPEFUL

“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” —Isaiah 22:13

If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” —I Corinthians 15:32

            Here’s a fatalistic, hopeless, purposeless view of life.  Why not live for the senses if that is all life is about?  If we hope not in anything but this life then let us live it up to the fullest selfish pleasures as possible as we define them.  If we have no more purpose in life than a rock then why not look at for our own needs and enjoy life to our own heart’s content?  Short lived hope means a life shortly lived.  A short lived purposelessness means a life purposelessly lived.  This is such a defeatist attitude.

            Those with this philosophy truly think that “He who dies with the most toys wins.”  What a ridiculous statement.  Wins what?  With this philosophy what does it matter if you have toys or not when you die?  According to this philosophy life is what it is all about and there is nothing after death.  So why bother working hard to get toys that you have to work hard to maintain and hopefully get to play them a few times before you die?  It doesn’t really matter one way or the other with this philosophy because “tomorrow we die” and that’s it.

            Really, if this life is all there is then we are all hypocrites because we should be living life totally for ourselves.  Right and wrong would not exist, nor good and evil.  Everyone would totally be out for themselves.  We would be totally animalistic in our thought and behavior and not care at all what anybody else thinks.  We would think and act exactly how we wanted and not worry about any consequences.  Yes, for those who say they are atheists are really hypocrites by not living like atheists.  A person that truly lived out their belief of atheism would not care about rules or laws or care about anyone or anything.  But people do not live like this.  Whether they acknowledge it or not they yield to right and wrong which does not make any sense because who is to say what is right and wrong, good or evil.  Why would those things exist?  Yes, those who believe this life is all there is live as hypocrites.

            It is sad to live with this mindset mentioned in the above verses.  What hopelessness!  But brothers and sisters our hope is in Jesus and Him alone.  Wow!  Victory, hope and purpose fill our lives.  Rejoice! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n5w_2IXvuA

Thank You my Dear Father for all that You are and all that You have done, are doing and will do.  May I be faithful to You desires in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus my Lord!

FEAR NOT!

 For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever.  He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. —Psalm 112:6-7

            We have the righteousness of God through Christ (Romans 3:22; II Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9) and we will never be moved.  We are eternally secure in His righteousness and will be remembered forever.  Brother and sister in our Lord Jesus Christ, we are so fortunate!

            Why should we fear even bad news on this planet or in this life?  This is quickly passing away and we will be in our heavenly home.  Bad news cannot break the security we have in Jesus.  No instead bad new should cause us to be grateful for the security we have in Jesus!  Our heart should be firm, steadfast as we trust in the Lord.  Do not trust in self!  Do not trust in the circumstances around you.  Put your trust in the Lord.  He will never fail you.  So, don’t be afraid.  Instead, have a firm heart, trusting in our awesome Lord!  He is 100% trustworthy all the time! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0gu0nOaFsI

Dear Father I am so grateful to know I am safe and secure in my Lord Jesus.  May I live out that gratitude in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.

GREAT ARE HIS WORKS!

Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, and the writers who keep writing oppression. —Isaiah 10:1

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. —11:1

Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. —Psalm 111:2

            It started with the false statements about Jesus during His three year ministry among us.  Those opposing Him made false accusations about Him, sinful accusations, and blasphemous accusations against the King of kings.  Whether in writing or communicated verbally, sinful communications were made about Jesus, accusations that would lead to His death on the cross.  Even after His resurrection sinful and oppressive communication continued about Jesus.  The soldiers were bribed to say “the disciples came in the night and stole the body” (Matthew 28:13).  They were bribed with money.  We are told that “the guards took the money and did as they were instructed. And this account has been circulated among the Jews to this very day” (Matthew 28:15).

            But as sinful as communications can be to oppress people the fact remains— “from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.”  Romans 4:1-4 tells us that “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, and set apart for the gospel of God,  which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, regarding His Son, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 1:1-4).  This work of God, and all His works, is “studied by all who delight in them.”

            The stump bore a shoot which created a branch turning into a vine with many branches bearing much fruit to the glory of God (John 15:1-8).  Yes, this day we celebrate in remembrance the resurrection of Jesus our King.  His great works continue and we who delight in them study them and convey them to others.  All this for the glory of God!

            There are those whose sinfully writings seek to oppress the truth about Jesus.  They not only disbelieve but they seek to oppress others so they will not believe as well.  Woe to schools who oppress children in the knowledge of Jesus.  Woe to colleges and universities who oppress their students in the knowledge of Jesus.  Woe to the media who oppress their listeners in the knowledge of Jesus.  Woe to unfaithful churches or gatherings of people who oppress people in the knowledge of Jesus.  Woe to anyone who oppress people in the knowledge of Jesus.

Brother and sister let us proclaim Jesus to the nations! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKLQ1td3MbE

Dear Father may this be so wherever You send me on this planet in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.

GOD IS PERFECT IN JUSTICE, MAN IS NOT

But the LORD of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness. —Isaiah 5:16

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!  Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!  Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink,  who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right! —Isaiah 5:20-23

 If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all. —Isaiah 7:9

            God is not like man.  Man’s justice is far from perfect.  God’s justice is absolutely perfect.  He shows Himself to be holy in righteousness through His justice.  Man’s unrighteousness is seen in what he deems righteous.

            Men call good evil and evil good.  “New York Senate Erupts in Applause After Passing Horrific Late-Term Abortion Bill” https://www.faithwire.com/2019/01/23/new-york-senate-erupts-in-applause-after-passing-horrific-late-term-abortion-bill/.  Our nation’s house Democrats have voted at least 19 times to allow a born baby to die https://www.dailysignal.com/2019/03/18/house-democrats-block-19-times-vote-on-bill-to-protect-babies-who-survive-abortion/.  This wickedness is springing up across our nation from those who are supposed to be looking out for the best interests of the people.  They are not.  They are attacking the weakest among us.  Virginia governor defends letting babies die after birth https://www.wnd.com/2019/01/virginia-governor-defends-letting-babies-die-after-birth/.  Arizona bill would allow Infanticide https://www.lifenews.com/2019/02/19/arizona-bill-would-allow-infanticide-repeal-medical-care-for-babies-born-alive-after-abortions/.  Yes, mankind is filled with injustice, unrighteousness and wickedness.  They exchange light for darkness and think they are wise in their own eyes. 

            Brothers and sisters we need to be firm in our faith in our Lord Jesus or we will not be firm at all.  If we are not firm in faith then we will be feeble, frail, fretful, fearful and failing as witnesses and disciplers of Jesus.  Be courageous!  The Lord is with you and “With God’s help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes” (Psalm 60:12; 108:13).  He will never leave you (Hebrews 13:5).  He is with you until the end (Matthew 28:20).  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:1-3).  We are on the victory side!  God’s justice, holiness and righteousness will prevail.  Be faithful in and through the race He has for you.  Yes, be courageous and faithful.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo9ZWX1lEKI

Dear Father may this be so in my life by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.  I have not authority of my own.  I have no power of my own.  Only through You and so may I yield to Your desires.