Rotting From the Inside Out

Friday night a week ago, I came home to my neighbor's hundred year old oak tree lying on top of my car. The men attempting to try and clean up the carnage said the tree had rotted from the inside out. So, while it still looked leafy and green- it split into three different sections and fell down- taking out my car, shrubbery, the power lines across the street and sending the tree-removal men running for their lives. Thankfully no one was hurt.

As we read Jeremiah today, we learn that the people of Judah have literally rotted from the inside out, and God has determined that to prevent the inevitable "mess"- the nation as a whole is going to have to come down. Do you remember reading in 2 Kings about one unfaithful king after another, the horrible idol worship and the wayward lifestyle of the nations? Do you remember just being discouraged? Well, here today we are reading how God felt about it all. Kind of puts things into perspective. Manassah led the people into idol worship, desecrated the temple and even sacrificed his own infant son! Even the faithful leading of Josiah after him wasn't enough to correct the hearts of the people. While the nation still looked healthy on the outside- it was rotted from the inside and just waiting to fall and leave carnage behind.

As we end Chapter 15 we glimpse a little of Jeremiah's frustration. He has been standing alone- braving social ostracism, and even at times I'm sure the rage of the people. They flocked to the "false prophets" who told them what they wanted to hear, while they mocked and hurled insults at him. He was hurt, angry and afraid. In Chapter 15 he is pouring it all out before God. It isn't pious prayers- it's the earnest cries of a hurting heart. We see that instead of rebuking Jeremiah, God gently rearranges his priorities. God wants us to come to Him with our hurting, angry and afraid hearts. As we serve God and seek to do His will, it is so easy to get distracted and worn down by the culture we are trying to reach; to let them influence us instead of the other way around. Like Jeremiah, we need prayer time with God to realign our priorities. We need to be reminded that we are to trust God no matter what, and that our purpose as believers on earth is to influence others for God.

Therefore, this is what the Lord says:

"If you repent, I will restore you

that you may serve me;

if you utter worthy, not worthless, words,

you will be my spokesman.

Let this people turn to you,

but you must not turn to them.

I will make you a wall to this people,

a fortified wall of bronze;

they will fight against you

but will not overcome you,

for I am with you

to rescue and save you, "

declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 15:19-21

Jeremiah was commanded by God to take drastic steps to set himself apart. He could not marry or have children. He wasn't allowed to take part in festivals or funerals. As believers, sometimes we have to remove ourselves from what we view as the "fun" of life. We have to make the hard choices about what we are and are not going to participate in. Sometimes this leads to us feeling lonely or outcast.

Oh Lord, my strength and my fortress

my refuge in time of distress,

Jeremiah 16:19

God will be our strength when we feel weak. Our fortress when our enemies come against us, and our refuge when we feel like we need a place to retreat from the pressures of life. As it says in Chapter 17,

Cursed in the one who trusts in man,

who depends on flesh for his strength

and whose heart turns away from the Lord.

He will be like a bush in the wastelands;

he will not see prosperity when it comes.

He will dwell in the parched places of the desert,

in a salt land where no one lives.

But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,

whose confidence is in him.

He will be like a tree planted by the water

that sends out roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes;

its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought

and never fails to bear fruit.

Are we like my neighbors tree? Rotting from the inside out? Waiting to fall and create a terrible mess? Trusting in our own flesh and strength? (The heart is deceitful above all things, and beyond cure. Jeremiah 17:9) and just trying to find joy in the temporal things of this life like the Israelites? Or, are we like the tree planted by the water- whose roots get water from the deep stream that comes from trusting in our heavenly father? Our pastor preached this Sunday on not worrying. Here we see again, the man (or woman!) who trusts in God does not worry no matter what is going on in the world around them. They don't fear the inevitable changes and trials that come our way in this life, because their hope is in something far greater. We can be like Jeremiah and turn to God with our struggling hearts and find healing in prayer. We can find strength to make the touch decisions, and peace for a troubled heart. We can always have green leaves and bear fruit!

Good Luck Charms?

After I read the chapters for today I began to think about times that I have followed a superstition or had a "good luck charm" and maybe didn’t even realize it. How many of you have ever owned a rabbit’s foot keychain? I never owned one but I thought they were cool. They even came in different colors. How familiar are these words, “Wish I may, Wish I might Have the wish I wish tonight?” I can remember searching the early night sky to find the first star to appear so I could make a wish. What about finding a penny on tails? Do you pick it up or leave it? These days I pick it up and look for more. But I remember as a little girl walking by them thinking it would bring me bad luck if I picked it up. Some superstitions are just good advice to me. I mean, to walk under a ladder is just dangerous because you could knock it over. Putting shoes on the table is not smart because of all the filth on the bottom of a shoe. (Do not place shoes upon a table, for this will bring bad luck for the day, cause trouble with your mate and you might even lose your job as a result.) Now, what about sneezing? Did you know that saying “God bless you” comes from a superstition that the devil can enter your body when you sneeze so saying God bless you drives the devil away? Here are a few more to think about:

If you blow out all the candles on your birthday cake with the first puff you will get your wish.
If someone is sweeping the floor and sweeps over your feet, you'll never get married.
Evil spirits can't harm you when you stand inside a circle.
Don't step on a crack on a sidewalk or walkway. Step on a crack Break your mother's back.
If an eyelash falls out, put it on the back of the hand, make a wish and throw it over your shoulder. If it flies off the hand the wish will be granted.
Oh the number 13!
How is fear of the number thirteen demonstrated?
More than 80 percent of high-rises lack a 13th floor.
Many airports skip the 13th gate.
Airplanes have no 13th aisle.
Hospitals and hotels regularly have no room number 13.
Many cities do not have a 13th Street or a 13th Avenue
Oh NO today’s reading ends on the 13th chapter! (Are you worried?)

I had never heard of this one; An acorn at the window will keep lightning out. This is such silliness because read this:

But God made the earth by his power;
he founded the world by his wisdom
and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.
When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar;
he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.
He sends lightning with the rain
and brings out the wind from his storehouses.

Jeremiah 10:12-13

We have no control over lightning. We should not fear the number thirteen or cracks on the sidewalk (except the big ones that can trip you). Our blessings come from the Lord and when we desire his ways he is faithful. All these superstitions, to me, are like idol worship. People put faith in these silly beliefs instead of putting their faith in what is truth - God. There is nothing wrong with blowing out candles on a birthday cake as long as you thank the one who gave you the breath to do it. I like Jeremiah’s prayer at the end of chapter 10.

LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own;
it is not for them to direct their steps. Discipline me, LORD, but only in due measure— not in your anger, or you will reduce me to nothing.

After all the hard work Josiah did to reform the people, they went right back to their idols and wicked ways. Jeremiah was giving the people warning of the destruction coming their way. The Lord even told Jeremiah not to pray for the people because he would not listen. The Lord was angry and it was time to bring judgement. The people wanted to kill Jeremiah for prophesying their doom. The proud hearted get very angry when they are told they are wrong. This message was ruining their idol-making business. If you tell people the rabbit’s foot is not lucky then no one will buy it.

Chapter 12 makes me uncomfortable. I relate too well to Jeremiah’s complaints. Sometimes I have thoughts like “Why should I walk all the way back in the store to pay for this one little garlic bulb that I forgot to pay for when it seems like everybody else gets away with so much worse and seems to live happier lives because of it?” “Why do I have to say I am sorry for my sarcastic words when they are the one that is more wrong?” “When will I get a taste of victory?” If you will notice the theme in all those questions is the word “I.” The downfall for all man - himself/myself. Just like God told Jeremiah, I feel him telling me:

“If you have raced with men on foot
and they have worn you out,
how can you compete with horses?
If you stumble in safe country,
how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?

The use of the linen belt in chapter 13 illustrated the destiny of Judah. The pride of the people made them utterly useless. I want to share the notes from my Life Application Study Bible.
“While it is good to respect our country and our church, our loyalties always carry a hidden danger - arrogance. When is pride harmful? When it causes us to
1. look down on others
2. be selfish with our resources
3. force our solutions on others’ problems
4. think God is blessing us because of our own merits
5. be content with our plans rather than seeking God’s plans.”

The scariest thing about pride is that when the pattern of living becomes so normal and satisfying that someone loses the desire to change at all and no longer fears the consequence. The consequences only cause them to fight more for their pride. It is like a blindness.

Thank you Lord for your precious Word. Thank you that it is available to us and we have the freedom to read it. Help me to understand your message and apply it to my life daily.

Is the LORD not in Zion?

Do you know that feeling in the pit of your stomach when you know you've done something wrong? I have to admit that I have that feeling while reading these chapters in Jeremiah. I'm not sure if it's in empathy for the Israelites who had strayed away from God or if it's for something going on in my own life. Either way, there are some tough questions and good food for thought in these verses.

I can sense God's frustration through these words, can't you? In Jeremiah 8:4, I believe God is telling His people that it is natural for a child of God to return to his heavenly father. The Israelites were refusing to return to God. This was not natural. God strongly warns about trusting in false words, false gods, and especially in their salvation through the physical temple structure itself. This lead me to think about what things in my life I trust in other than God Himself... maybe my health, my family, my job, the things I "do" for God, and maybe simply the existence of the physical church building. This verse struck me:

But my people do not know the requirements of the Lord.
~ Jeremiah 8:7

God is clearly stating that His judgement is because of Israel's disobedience and very bad choices they were making. Just like Pastor Chris said yesterday, these words are still very applicable to us today.

Since they have rejected the word of the Lord,
what kind of wisdom do they have?
~ Jeremiah 8:9

I'm challenged today to spend more time studying God's word. I want to know God's requirements. I want to follow His ways. I want to be in His will. God's provides protection and blessings for His children through obedience to Him. I don't want to rely on worldly wisdom or trust in temporal things.

Through these tough words, God also gives some good news and promises for His people.

• Reform your ways... and I will let you live in this place.
• If you really change your ways... I will let you live in this place.
• Obey me and I will be your God and you will be my people.
• Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you.
  

"...But let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me,
that I am the Lord who exercises kindness on earth,
for in these I delight,"
declares the Lord.
~Jeremiah 9:24

Lord, thank your for your word and your grace and salvation through Jesus! Teach us your ways. Draw us closer to you through obedience to your word. Show us areas of our lives where we are not trusting in you alone and teach us.

LORD FORGIVE US FOR OUR WRONGS

All through these chapters, God is telling the people of Israel to return to Him. He warns them what the outcome will be if they don't heed this warning. Chapter 5:19 says;
And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, "Wherefore doeth
the Lord our God all these things unto us?" then shalt thou answer
them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your
land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.

Throughout the Bible, we read of the Israelites, God's chosen people, and how they would turn their back on God. When things got bad for them, they would cry out to God. God would hear their cries and once again help them. They suffered many hard times because of the actions yet they continued to make mistakes. There were times when reading of their actions I wanted to scream at them, "How can you be so foolish? Can't you remember all the things He has done for you and your people?"

Oh, do I hear a small voice inside of me saying, "How self-righteous of you. Do you not remember the times you turned away from me? Are you not doing the same thing they did?" Sadly, I need to answer, "Yes, I am guilty." When things are going great in my life, I thank God. When things go bad, I ask God where he is and why has he failed me even though I know I have brought a lot of it upon myself by not listening to God's warning to me.

So many times I have heard people say they can't believe God would let them go to Hell because of what they have done if he is a loving God. We correct our kids because we love them, but we don't expect our Heavenly Father to do the same thing.

Father, forgive me for the wrong and sinful things I have done. Forgive me for turning my back on you when you told me I was doing wrong. Help me to live the remainder of my life living for you and to serve you.

Book 24...here we come!

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;"

                                                                              ~Jeremiah 1:5

Just take a moment to take a deep breath and to realize that we have now read 23 books of the Bible and are starting on the 24th book...the book of Jeremiah.  I would venture to say that you have been changed by your time with God by reading His Word, that He has spoken to you many times in these first 23 books of the Bible, and that you have stored away in your hearts such treasures and insights from His Word through this amazing blog.  As I  have said before, stay the course, the blessings to you will be eternal!

I feel so privileged to be the one to open up this book of the Bible because it contains my favorite set of verses.  Jeremiah 29:11-13 is the most meaningful passage to me in all of the Bible.  I absolutely LOVE the way The Message states this passage and I want to share it with you:

"I know what I am doing.  I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.  When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen.  When you come looking for me, you'll find me.  Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed."

Let those words fall all over you for a minute.  Those few verses are PACKED with some POWERFUL promises!  CLAIM THEM!!!

I would also like to share with you once again some of the words from the introduction to the book of Jeremiah out of The Legacy Bible, as I feel they do a fantastic job of bringing in some key insights to a book before you ever start reading it:

"Truth often has a very small fan club; personal opinions are much more popular...God's opinions are absolute truth.  We can ignore them, but they will not change or go away...Jeremiah's faithful legacy shows us that the life of a godly person is not always easy.  And God makes that clear to us as well.  But the eternal hope of our relationship with God makes every day worthwhile and every burden worth bearing.  We are never alone when we trust God."

Do I hear an Amen?  How true are those statements?

Chapter 1 of Jeremiah tells about the call of Jeremiah and when he fits into the picture in the timeline of the kings of Israel.  Chapters 2 and 3 tell us about the forsaking of God by Israel and about Israel's unfaithfulness to the Lord.  So I ask you...have you ever failed the Lord and disappointed God?  When someone pointed out to you the error of your ways, how well did it go over with you?  Did you take the criticism and truth of their words well or were you angry with them for saying such things to you?  Hmmm...some important things to think about!  This is EXACTLY what Jeremiah was doing to the people of Israel and his words certainly did not go over well!  There is a reason whey he is called the "weeping prophet"!  Wouldn't you want to cry all the time if your job was pointing that out to people and having to deal with their angry reactions?  But despite all of that, Jeremiah was faithful to the Lord and did his job that he had been assigned to do.  So I challenge you today, be faithful to the Lord...always...even when it causes you great pain and heartache. 

Welcome to the the 24th book of the Bible!

I Am Twice His

Isaiah 64:4, "From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides Thee, who works for those who wait for Him." What does that mean??? ...to "wait" on Him?? I wanna know! For one reason I wanna know what it means to wait, because He promised to work for those who do! Sign me up! I will wait.....pray? pray some more?? trust? trust some more?? serve? serve some more?? It may be a combination of those, or it may be different in each circumstance. Sometimes the Lord tells me to continue praying (and I'm chomping at the bit!) and sometimes the Lord tells me to "Move!"....I must be ready, either way.

Perhaps the best way to demonstrate "waiting" is given by Isaiah, himself. The analogy of the Potter and the clay has always been so real to me. Knowing that I am in His hands, and that it's His plan what I become, and that it's His tools that are chosen, and that He does the choosing is a perfect lesson in humility for me. I am not in charge, nor am I in control. (Oh that's tough to even write!) Why is it that I struggle with letting Him mold me the way I know He wants to? Why does my foolish pride continue to make the clay collapse?? The tools He uses are sometimes painful! And, that splash of cold water He gives just when I begin to feel tough! (I feel a hymn coming on!) "Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Thou art the Potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after Thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still."

Oh, how I have enjoyed this book! The name, Isaiah, is similar to Joshua, Elisha, and Jesus.....it means "the LORD is salvation." This book is quoted more than 65 times in the New Testament, which is more than any other Old Testament prophet. Isaiah is also mentioned over 20 times in the NT! He prophesied during the time the kingdom was divided. As hard as it is to understand his language (very noteworthy, by the way) it is well-worth the extra effort with your dictionary in hand.

Law vs. Grace - I read that Isaiah gives more information than any other source in the Bible about the new heaven and the new earth. He gives great detail on the nations being judged in those first chapters. We read about the status of Jerusalem, and even get an idea of how nature will change and how the animals will be affected in the new Kingdom. The first 39 chapters spoke much about the judgement and character of God.....giving warnings and promises of justice. The last 27 chapters seem to focus more on comfort and redemption....introducing the Christ as Deliver of Israel. Chapter 53 is the unrivaled picture of Jesus as the sacrificial Lamb....saving the remnant.

The end of this book proves His faithfulness to me. I will trust Him. I want to be molded and shaped, only He knows my potential. Only He knows my worth. He made me, and is making me......I am twice His.

Oaks of Righteousness

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. Isaiah 61:1-3
These are some of my favorite verses in the chapters for today. I remember taking a Bible Study by Beth Moore, and she expanded on these verses explaining that this was Jesus' ministry in a capsule. Shouldn't it be ours as well?

To proclaim good news to the poor -not the poor as in wealth, but "poor" as in needing a Savior and a touch from the Lord in their lives. What we hold, dear sisters, is so precious and comforting to us - should we not share it at every turn?

To bind up the brokenhearted . . . and comfort all who mourn - do you know anyone that has a broken heart? Or one that mourns the loss of a loved one, the loss of a dream, the loss of a job or health, or self-esteem?

To bestow the garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair - can we give praise where praise is due? Offer a word of encouragement, "a cup of cold water," a sincere thank you, a random act of kindness, a smile to a stranger?

Oaks of righteousness - a planting of the Lord - When I read this phrase, I immediately thought of Oak Hill - a planting of the Lord. That's what our church is about - planting seeds for the Lord. Offering encouragement, sharing our testimony of how the Lord has blessed us and helped us to grow and mature in Him. There are so many out there that need your witness and a hope to keep going in this troubled world. He has called us - He has called you to be that oak.

As oaks of righteousness we can reflect Jesus in our lives and be like that tree planted by the rivers of water. Have you ever seen trees planted by rivers of waters? They are green; they are lush; they are beautiful - tall and stately. They give shade from the sun and protection from the wind, and offer beauty to the eyes. But how do we grow and stay "watered" so that we can be these oaks? By reading His word and feasting on His manna - just like we are doing each day by participating in this Blog. This will enable us to grow and thrive. And the results? Others will see Jesus in us, and in that way we will be able to bear much fruit for Him and bring Him the glory.

Hunger Pains

I love food. I think it's bred into southerners to enjoy their meals. Anytime we have a social occasion, the first question is "whose bringing what to eat?" And, of course, the highlight of any good southern meal is the dessert. I blame my mother (who blames her mother) for teaching me that no meal is complete without something sweet at the end. I have a pretty strong sweet tooth, and a special place in my heart for baked goods. We can't live off of them though. They contain what nutritionists call "empty calories"- meaning you get a lot of sugar from them, but not the nutrients or vitamins your body needs to function properly. Not to mention, I can testify from experience, you just don't feel well when sweets are the main course and not the "treat."

Very few of us in the United States can say that we really know what it feels like to be hungry. I mean, we've had to maybe skip a meal somewhere or maybe you have a job like mine where sometimes you just can't eat lunch until 3:00pm. We get hungry then, sure. But in a few hours we eat and our hunger subsides. We don't know what it is to truly be "starving," even though I've made that claim many times!

Imagine though, that you are truly starving. I offer you a large loaf of bread. Instead of taking that, you go and spend the last coins you have left on cotton candy. Are you going to be satisfied after eating that? Certainly not for long. The reality is, we are all spiritually starving without God. We are hungry and thirsty- longing for something to fill us up.

Come, all you who are thirsty,

come to the waters,

and you who have no money,

come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk,

without money and without cost.

Why spend money on what is not bread,

and your labor on what does not satisfy?

Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,

and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

Isaiah 55:1-2

God is inviting all of us soul-starved individuals to come and sit at his table and enjoy the "richest of fare." I'm thinking that involves more than just a good dessert, don't you? A meal that us southerners will be talking about for days and weeks to come, because we do that kind of thing. More than that, it's free. Reality is though, we often turn our backs on that and look to what we can buy with our few measly coins- some pretty colored cotton candy. It might taste good, but it's not going to leave us satisfied for long.

God offers us free nourishment for our souls- satisfaction for life. There is a reason Jesus is called the "bread of life." While we view bread now as sort of a side item at meals- in that day and time bread was the staple food. It was literally what people satisfied their hunger with on a day to day basis. So, how do we find satisfaction?

We come, listen, and seek.

First, we have to accept God's invitation and come to the feast. Then, we have to listen to what He tells us.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are my ways your ways,

declares the Lord.

As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9

We will never be able to figure it out on our own. Isaiah spends the next several chapters outlining what God views as keeping the sabbath holy, what He truly desires from us when fasting, how God has a plan to bring all the nations to himself, and how He will judge the wicked. It's obvious that left on our own we are all too apt to keep going back to the cotton candy. It's also obvious from those chapters that God wants as many people at His feast as possible. Even the maimed, outcast and foreign. He desires for us to share pieces of His food with other people in the world, so they will be drawn to His table. When we show others kindness, charity, justice and generosity then we are giving them glimpses of the table that they are also invited to eat at. God made it clear that He wants all nations there with Him eating!

Finally, we have to continue to seek and call on God. Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Isaiah 55:6. Hopefully, the more we sit at the table with God, the more we are going to be drawn back to dine with Him. Hopefully, the more we get of "the richest of fare" the less and less likely we are to turn back to our cotton candy. The more we see God work in our lives, the less likely we are to turn back to our own resources.

Every good meal starts with good ingredients. The best ingredients are fresh and home grown; tomatoes ripe off the vine, peaches straight from the tree. Those fresh ingredients start with seeds carefully planted and tended; watered, weeded, pruned and fertilized. No, I'm not giving you a gardening lesson! Go with me for a moment:

As the rain and snow

come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55:10-11

God's feast starts with the water of His word. Ladies, we are doing a great thing by committing ourselves to read through the Bible this year. There was so much in the other chapters for today that I just couldn't even get to, but you don't need me to lay it out for you. God's word will not return empty. He will use it to accomplish what He desires, and what He desires is that the world would find satisfaction in Him. What are you hungry for today? Who do you know that is soul- starved? How can we invite them to the feast?

"Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!"

Revelation 19:8

THANK YOU JESUS!!

Can I just say that most of this is way over my head? As I have been reading through Isaiah I have been moving along gleaning from the other posts and praying that I have something to say when it is my turn again. I do know that these chapters are talking about the coming Messiah. Yay! I will do my best for Him.

Chapter 49 emphasizes that God has not forgotten Israel, but dealt with her through trials. There is hope for the captives, for Israel, and even for the Gentiles!One of our greatest failures is to trust in anything else but God. Also, we may tend to act as if our suffering is because the Lord is not able. Chapter 50 talks about how Israel rejected God and trusted in their own ways which lead to downfall. God remained faithful. As we move along through the scripture we see encouragement to look to the Lord, he is the one who offers comfort; He delivers those who have suffered from His righteous judgement.
Here is one my favorite verses of the day:

It is a wonderful privilege to tell the Good News! “Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere. Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.” Which brings us to chapter 53, written some 700 years before Christ’s life on earth. This prophecy gives the details of the suffering of the Messiah and the purpose. This prophecy pre-dates the first century by at least a couple hundred years. This is one of those things that makes God’s word so amazing!


Here is Isaiah 53 in my own words. The Messiah, savior of the world came to earth as an unpopular, unattractive, lowly human. No one recognized him as a king or anything close. He was rejected by everyone. He became everything that is despised and hated. He took on the judgement of all our disgusting sin. It was our punishment that he took on himself. Even though he was perfect he played the part of the worst criminal. He was crushed and beaten beyond human recognition. This was the Lord’s will for him to suffer for our sins. This is how we have peace with God. We still are like sheep who wander off out of safety. His sacrifice was to cover all our sin, past, present, and future. All this suffering was God’s will because He loves us and provided a way for salvation to all people who except Him. THANK YOU JESUS!!

Take My Hand

I do not look forward to the day when my son no longer wants to kiss me goodbye or hold my hand. It makes me sad just thinking about it. I love when he reaches up to grab my hand when we are walking away from the car to go into a store or church. Occasionally, we will be walking through a dark space and my son is scared. He cannot see where he's going or what me might run into. I will hold his hand and let him walk behind me as I lead the way through the dark, feeling our way step by step. I enjoy feeling the warmth of his little hand, squeezing his fingers, and being able to keep close tabs on him... knowing he is with me.

The reading today starts out with a picture of God holding Cyrus' hand. God leads Cyrus and uses him in a very special way... to free the Israelites. God went ahead of Cyrus to eliminate (or weaken) the opposition. God also led Cyrus to earthly treasures. Cyrus still had a job to do, but God was clearly preparing Cyrus and the path ahead and was directing his steps. I find it interesting that this Persian king "did not know God", but God ordained him, used him, and rewarded him for this very special purpose.

In contrast, we see that those who don't walk with God (the Babylonian's in this case) become oppressed, shamed, burdened, punished. They receive vengeance, disaster, calamity, catastrophe.

Through these chapters, God tells us over and over, "I am God, and there is no other." He's also our loving heavenly Father who cares deeply for us and wants desperately to hold our hand. He paid the ultimate sacrifice, His son Jesus, so that He can have a personal relationship with us. He wants to protect us from danger, guide us in righteousness, lead us in the dark, teach us truth, and love us tenderly. Are you holding His hand today and trusting Him? Are you allowing Him to love on you? Do you need His comfort? His direction? I do.

Lord, I pray that I will grab your hand today and allow you to be my Father!

I am the LORD your God,
who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go.
~ Isaiah 48:17

I HAVE BEEN REDEEMED

The servant in Chapter 42 is Jesus. While Jesus' early ministry was to the house of Israel, it is obvious that His ultimate ministry was to extend to the Gentiles as well. Jesus first came as a servant and a meek man. His second coming will be a man of war.

The Israelites rejected Jesus when he first came. God assured them that even though they rejected Him, He would redeem them. The theme of redemption appears 22 times in the Servant passages of Isaiah. We as Gentiles can be redeemed also by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
Redeemed how I love to proclaim it
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb
Redeemed, Redeemed, His child and
Forever I am.

When the Lord returns, He will bring destruction to the unbeliever. We as believers are to sing praise and glory to the Lord. I have read the end of the Book and we win. Sing Praise, Sing Praise. The unbeliever makes a graven image than fall down and worship it and pray to it and ask it for deliverance. He tells them that this is pure folly. Thank God, we believe in the one and only true deliverer. Sing praise, sing praise.

Chapter 44:28 is a very important verse because it shows Isaiah was truly a prophet of God. In this verse, Isaiah names Cyrus, King of Persia, as deliverer of the Jewish people to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. The amazing thing about that was he named him 140 years before it happen.

How can we read all these prophetic events and deny the reality of God. I am so thankful that God made Himself known to me so I could accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. How truly Blessed I am.

Resting in His Promises

  

Let me just start out by saying that I know this book is difficult to understand and difficult to "swallow". BUT it is also powerful, beautiful, prophetic, and poetic. When our sin comes face to face with God's holiness, things are going to get "ugly" very quickly! God MUST, by His very nature, punish sin and pass judgement on this sinfulness and this is what the Israelites are facing from their enemies and this is what those who choose to reject Jesus are going to have to face. For those of us who HAVE accepted Jesus, we will not have to face God's wrath as those who have not accepted Him. As Jaybrena said in her post yesterday, this should make us want to get BUSY with the job of sharing the Gospel so that as few as possible have to face God's wrath!

Also, keep in mind that we will never understand all of Scripture.  Certain things will remain unclear and somewhat mysterious to us this side of heaven.  God in His wisdom has chosen which of these things in His Scripture this will be.  Having said that, we are going to be shifting gears for a few chapters from the format in most of the book of Isaiah.  Chapters 36 through 39 recount a part of the reign of king Hezekiah that we have already studied in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles.  Remember that Isaiah was the prophet during Hezekiah's reign so it would make sense that he would include a "review" of these events here. 

One of the things I cherish the most from all of the things Hezekiah did is found in chapter 37, verse 14.  He took the letters that the horrible king of Assyria wrote to Hezekiah and to all of Israel and literally laid them out before the Lord and then prayed about what to do about them and how to respond.  Perhaps if we "laid out" things before the Lord and prayed about them before we acted upon them, we might save ourselves A LOT of heartache, suffering, and trouble.  I have a very good friend that is a single mom of three children and makes enough money to be at the poverty level.  With God's help, she somehow is able to make it each month.  When she does not know how she can possible pay for a bill, she will take that bill and lay it out before the Lord and plead for His help and guidance on how to pay for it.  He is ALWAYS faithful to help her and guide her.  What an example to follow!  What do YOU need to lay out before the Lord and pray about?

And then we come to some of my FAVORITE verses not only in the book of Isaiah, but in ALL of Scripture!  How many of you hold onto Chapter 40 verse 31? 

I think the reason that this verse is so VERY special to me is because of the fact that I struggle EVERYDAY with fatigue, weariness, and exhaustion due to the fact that I am an insulin-dependent diabetic and have been for 23 years as of this month.  It has taken its toll on my body in a big way!  There are days when the ONLY way I can make it through the day is because God renews my strength and He is faithful to do so EVERY TIME I ask Him!  I know that someday I will have a new body that will not be riddled with this disease, but until then, I hold FAST to this promise!!!!  What about you?  For what areas of your life do you need for Him to renew your strength so that you can soar like an eagle?  ASK HIM FOR IT!!!

A very similar promise that I hold onto VERY tightly is found in Chapter 41 verse 10.

This verse tells us to NOT fear and why???  Because GOD IS WITH US!!!  Here He promises again to strengthen us and to help us.  AND He promises to hold onto us!  And believe me when He holds onto you, NOTHING can snatch you out of His hand!  Please check out John 10:28, where Jesus Himself reassures us of this very promise.  Grab onto it and never let it go!  Do you need for God to relieve your fears?  Do you need His help?  Do you need for Him to hold onto you?  Then claim this promise for your very own!!!

So...feeling loved, cherished and cared for right about now?  YOU SHOULD!!!  Thanks to the book of Isaiah!!!

Children's Bible, Anyone???

Would you think me less spiritual if I told you that I'm really struggling to read Isaiah....let alone understand it all? Remember the good ole days in Genesis and Exodus when it was more like a story book?? As I read these five chapters, I prayed, "Lord, give me some take-away lessons in all of this." He gave three points of thought. I will say that if I ever do a Bible Study on Isaiah, I'm investing in a children's Bible version. Don't judge me.

1. "Trust in God, alone, return to Him because only He can save you." I often wonder what my life would be like if I could remember to trust Him for every single thing that I need or desire. How many times have I forgotten this??? Maybe that's why it's immediately followed by the thought of returning to Him because only He can save me. (anybody else put a "from yourself" on the end of that?) I'm my own worst enemy most days. I'm so thankful for His patience and discipline. Yes, discipline.

2. "All wrongs will be made right." and "Complacent women, be forewarned...judgement is coming." My children memorized these lines of poetry for school while studying the Chronicles of Narnia: "Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight, at the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more. When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death, and when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again." I love to study those parallels! ...but that's for another day. And the reminder that we are sometimes a bit toooooo comfy in our lives is always welcomed for me. I've shared before how I strive to avoid any pain at all, and will go to great lengths to be comfortable at all times. I must remember that judgement is coming, and I have a job to do. Don't we all?

3. "Distress and cries for help are usually followed by promises of joy for the redeemed." Now that's a promise you can take to the bank! I've made notes in the margin for all those times that distress and bondage came to the people of God. He has always come through for His people, and always will. The hard part is that we don't know how! I remember the Daniel Bible Study with Beth Moore. She said that there are three ways we are delivered when placed in the fire.....delivered from the fire (usually a miraculous circumstance), delivered through the fire (a long battle that ends victoriously) , or delivered by the fire (taken from this place, straight to Heaven). I found these to be very true. Whatever He has promised He will do. And, He has promised to care for you. He hears your cries, and sees your distress. Rest assured, it does not go unnoticed.

Now, keep reading Isaiah, I know the Lord will honor your efforts!

The Cornerstone

These chapters here in Isaiah have been hard for me to read. I don't like battles; I don't like seeing people suffer, and I don't like watching people being disciplined. Judah and Israel have strayed far from God with idols and false worship. And now God tells Isaiah that he is about to discipline them - his chosen people - using the Assyrians - a hard pill for them to swallow.

God's discipline varies from situation to situation, from person to person I think. Sometimes, it is harsh - and sometimes it is light. When we discipline our children, it is like that - the punishment fits the crime. No matter how God decides to show His discipline, He does it in love, and does it to make us better people, to teach us, and to help us grow - similar to how we earthly parents teach our children. It is no different.

(Clip art from ChristArt.com)

In Isaiah 28:16 we hear the Lord speak about the coming Messiah - Jesus Christ, the Cornerstone. I am laying in Zion a foundation, a Stone, a tested Stone, a precious Cornerstone a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed. What a wonderful promise here in the midst of this disciplining. If we will only "trust" in this sure foundation instead of riches, or possessions, or our own "smarts" how much better we would be. Do you sometimes try and rely on your own strength instead of God's? Where do you put your trust when armies of your world bear down on you? Do you trust with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding on our Cornerstone?

Isaiah 30:21 holds a verse that has always spoken to me. And your ears shall hear a word behind you saying 'This is the way, walk in it." Behind our house is a dense patch of woods. When my grandkids were younger, we cut a long winding path through these woods and marked the trees on the path with red yarn - we called it the Indian Trail. When they would come for a visit, they wanted to walk on the "trail" - but they didn't want me to come with them. They wanted to see if they could follow the path all around the woods and find their way back to the house! This verse reminds me of that trail. Without the red markings, they would not know "the way." Without God's guidance, we will not find our way either.

But how do we find "the way"? We listen for God to speak to us. When we are disobedient, we won't hear from God. When we are too busy "doing" rather than listening for His voice, we won't hear from Him. When we are not in the Word, where He speaks to us, there will be silence. I want to hear His voice. I want to be obedient. I want to follow the right "trail." I don't want to take the wrong path or lose my way in this confusing, dangerous, and "wooded" world. I want to know THE WAY intimately, and I want to walk on that path daily. Help me Lord.

The Rock Eternal

Growing up, I spent summers at my Granny's farm in northeastern Georgia. It sat in the very base of the "foothills" of the Appalachian mountains. Two of my favorite haunts on the property are the "rock pile" and the "rock pile" at the creek. The boulders are often larger than cars, fun to climb on, and there is one special rock that sits right in the middle of the creek. It's kind of tricky to get to, but once you make it out there you can enjoy the quiet sounds to the water running by and even dip your feet in it to cool off. Those rocks were there hundreds of thousands of years before I ever even had eyes to see them. They will be there long after my eyes have closed their last. They have withstood floods, hail, wind, snow...earthquakes probably. Nothing shakes them. It takes an inordinate amount of work to even chisel them, much less wear them down. They are, for all practical purposes, immovable. Solid. Steady.

Today's passage started by outlining the destruction of Tyre. Tyre was a wealthy city, an important trading seaport. I can imagine that they thought their city was untouchable. Safe. Protected by their wealth and importance in the ancient world.

The Lord Almighty planned it (the destruction of Tyre) to bring low the pride of all glory and to humble all who are renowned on the earth. Isaiah 24:9

God wanted to prove to them, and the earth, that their wealth was really nothing to stand on. So what do we stand on?

We read on to learn of the destruction of the earth as a whole, and also the glory that awaits those to hold on to the promises of God. We have a rock. Steady, immovable, and solid.

You will keep in perfect peace

him whose mind is steadfast,

because he trusts in you.

Trust in the Lord forever,

for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.

Isaiah 25:3-4

"On Christ the solid rock I stand,

all other ground is sinking sand."

What A Privilege!

When you face trials who do you look to? When you are discouraged or defeated where do you look for strength? Where do you seek hope? With whom do you have alliance? These are questions I have after reading today’s passages. I really want to share what I found in my Life Application Study Bible:

Government: We rely on governmental legislation to protect the moral decisions we want made, but legislation cannot change people's hearts.

Science: We enjoy the benefits of science and technology. We look to scientific predictions and analysis before we look to the Bible.

Education: We act as though education and degrees can guarantee our future and success without considering what God plans for our future.

Medical Care: We regard medicine as the way to prolong life and preserve its quality-quite apart from faith and moral living.

Financial systems: We place our faith in financial "security" making as much money as we can for ourselves-forgetting that, while being wise with our money, we must trust God for our needs....

Our only hope is to trust in the one true God! There is no other security, no other protection, no other success.

One part of chapter 19 struck me as I read it.

“In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the LORD at its border. 20 It will be a sign and witness to the LORD Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them. 21 So the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the LORD...”

As I read these verses my mind was brought to the chaos that has happened in Egypt recently. The turmoil sounds very similar to what is described at the beginning of chapter 19 as well. Egypt is mostly made up of Muslims but there will be a day when Jesus Christ will be their savior!



Chapter 20 was a very short chapter but had a big message. Isaiah was told to “Take off the sackcloth from your body and sandals from your feet.” He walked around naked for three years!
This demonstration was to show the humiliation that would occur to Egypt and Cush also a warning for Judah not to trust foreign governments. Putting their trust in foreign governments would only bring them shame and humiliation. They only needed God.

In chapter 22 Isaiah tried to warn his people to repent and trust in the Lord but they ignored the advice and put faith in their own strength, their weapons and their own plans for war. Ultimately they gave up hope and decided to indulge is a feast. The people of Judah did not trust God, so they had no hope. Do you have hope? Do you know who longs to have you call on Him for help? We have a very real savior, one who is God no matter what we do or think. We often waist so much energy on trying to make something work or trying to fix something. A sweet song comes to mind:

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,

Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged—

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful,

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Aretha Franklin - What a Friend We Have In Jesus

The Lord's Day of Judgement

These chapters of Isaiah paint a pretty gruesome picture of what is going to (and did) happen to the nations who have sinned against God and who oppressed the Israelites. To me, it just seems like chaos would be everywhere! We know the Israelites were not perfect either and they received their own punishment, but God also delivered punishment and judgement to the nations who fought Israel.

In the midst of the bad news for these non-Jewish nations, God promised that He would have compassion on the Israelites (14:1). As I was reading through these chapters, I was reminded of how God saved the Israelites from the bondage of Pharaoh in Egypt. Once again, we are reminded that the Lord saves His People. God is possessive and protective of His People.

So, what can we glean from these (in my opinion) rather difficult passages?

• There are consequences of sin and disobedience to God's instructions. God is just.
  
• God has a plan and it will be completed. We can rest in this.
  
• God will deal with His enemies. He can handle them!
  
• God has compassion on and for His People. Thank you, Lord!
  
• The proud will be humbled and the lowly will be victorious. A promise to claim.
  

As a believer of Jesus Christ, I find these verses comforting:

"The oppressor will come to an end,
and destruction will cease;
the aggressor will vanish from the land.
In love a throne will be established;
in faithfulness a man will sit on it -
one from the house of David -
one who in judging seeks justice
and speeds the cause of righteousness."
~Isaiah 16:4-5

For Damascus, Isaiah wrote the following: "Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins" (17:1) and "You have forgotten God your Savior; you have not remembered the Rock, your fortress" (17: 10). I'm reminded that if God is not in something (our lives, our plans, our relationships), they are worth nothing... like a heap of ruins.

Lord, thank you for your compassion on us and for saving us. Thank you for reminding us that we are your people and we belong to you. Continue to draw us closer to you through your Word. Give us the strength to be obedient to You in our lives. Amen.

IMMANUEL GOD WITH US

These chapters prophecies on the coming of Immanuel. What a great prophecy that tells of the coming of the child Immanuel who will rule upon the throne of David and will be the Savior of the world.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a child is given: and the government
shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful,
Counsellor, the Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6.

What a great promise this prophecy gives. Not only for the people of Isiah's time but for us also. This tells us that God is giving this child to us. It also tells us that He is God. Where would we all be if this prophecy was never fulfilled? We would be dead in our sins with no hope for salvation.

A woe is put upon those administrators who have perverted justice with unrighteous decrees. God's anger is on Israel who had turned their backs to him. God is going to use Assyria to punish Israel and then he will punish Assyria.

Isiah makes a prediction that the remnant of Israel will return. These are the ones that will believe in the Lord, the Holy one of Israel.

As we go into Chapter 11, it foretells of the millenial reign where the Messiah will rule. It will be a time of complete peace and harmony where the wild animals of prey will lie down with the more domesticated animals. The wild animals will no longer eat flesh but straw instead.

"The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord" ((11:9).
What a wonderful time that will be. We as saints will rule with Him.

Chapter 12 is a mighty climax to the Immanuel prophecy. The people have turned back to God and God is now their comforter.

Behold, God is my Salvation: I will trust and not be afraid for the
Lord Jehovah (Yahwah) is my strength and my song: He also is become
my Salvation (12:2).

This entire passage speaks of one person; that being Jesus our Lord and Savior. Thank you God for fulfilling this prophecy so we may have eternal life.

Here I Am...

I have heard it said that the book of Isaiah is the Gospel of the Old Testament. It has 66 chapters and the Bible has 66 books (God just loves numbers!). It has some of the most well-known verses about Our Savior and it was quoted more than any other book by the authors of the New Testament. Please take a look at this link. It is a great review of where we have been and how all of this fits into the timeline of Jesus' first coming. Once again, I would like to quote from the introduction to this majestic book out of my Legacy Bible, as the author of these introductions just seems to have a way with summarizing the books of the Bible so aptly. "In ancient Israel, people called to be prophets lived complicated lives. Their audiences seemed determined to reshape the true God into the silent and powerless idols of their neighbors, while living without thought for the results of their decisions. Unfortunately, because prophets often had to convey God's judgement to people unwilling to listen, they were regularly rejected, disrespected and killed." One Jewish tradition even states that Isaiah was sawed in half during the reign of King Manasseh!

Chapter 5: This is a poem that has been identified as a parable, an allegory, and a love poem. The message is clear and compelling...the people of God deserve the judgement that is headed their way. (HCSB Study Bible) There is NO hint at hope past this judgement as in other poems. There is a series of six woes throughout this chapter, which to me is very similar to the feeling we get from the woes that are in the book of Revelation. And so, I asked myself this question: How many woes have I truly heeded that the Holy Spirit has spoken to me? How many have I ignored that would have saved me SO MUCH trouble and suffering in my life?

Chapter 6: This chapter is hands down one of my most favorite passages in all of Scripture! The filthy sinfulness of humans comes face to face with the perfect and amazing holiness of the Lord God Almighty. The result? "Woe is me..." When we see the perfect holiness of our Lord and the filthiness of our sin, we should fall on our faces in shame and repentance. And that is just what Isaiah does. But God, in His awesome grace and mercy, touches the lips of Isaiah's mouth with a burning coal brought to him by an angel, and cleanses him instantly just as he did for all of us on the cross at Calvary. Then, and this just blows my mind, God is asking the questions, "Who should I send? Who will go for Us?" Do you mean to tell me that God is wanting to work THROUGH us?!?!?! He is the God of the Universe...He could get His will accomplished any way he desires and YET He wants to use us?!?!?!?! And Isaiah's answer? "Here I am. Send me." In a Bible study I took at one time, I learned that the Hebrew language here is one of the person jumping up and down in a crowd with his or her hand raised high in the air begging to be the one to do it! Is that the way we are when God asks this same question of us? Do we jump up and down with our hand high in the air begging to be the one to do it? God wants to use US to do His work for Him...what do you think our response should be?

Chapter 7: This chapter contains the first prophecy in the book of Isaiah of the coming Messiah. Verse 14 says, "Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel." Of course the name Immanuel means "God is with us." Again, does it not just blow your mind that God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to suffer horrifically and die all so that we could be with Him for all eternity! The God of the universe wants to be with us?!?! Do YOU know that kind of love? Do you walk with Him everyday? HE WANTS TO BE WITH YOU!!!!

Chapter 8: There is one verse that really stuck out to me in this chapter. Verse 11 states, "For this is what the Lord said to me with great power to keep me from going the way of this people." In order for US not to go the way of this people we live among today, WE have to hear the Lord in His great power speaking to us too! How do we do this? We MUST be in His Word everyday, we must hide His Word in our hearts (Psalm 119:11), we must be speaking with Him through prayer on a continuous basis, and we must worship Him! How many of these things are YOU doing daily to keep YOU from going "the way of this people"?

Welcome to the awesome book of Isaiah...ENJOY!!!

He Will Teach Us His Ways

The words of Isaiah 2:3 are so precious to me. Each year, for Thanksgiving, our family packs up the quilts and hiking boots and heads for the hills! This is not because we are running away FROM anything, but rather running TO something. It started because we had a strong desire to do something "different" for Thanksgiving and celebrate the holiday in a little more "traditional" manner. It was on one of the very first trips that I was sitting in a bay window overlooking the creek in the backyard when the Lord showed me this verse in Isaiah. I shared it with my husband that evening, and it wasn't long before it was printed on special paper and posted on our rented-cabin-frig-door! Every year, it is placed in a special place for us to be reminded why we are there.

As I began reading today's portion of scripture, these words were again brought to my mind. But, I must say, that the first chapter of Isaiah is one of the most frightening I've read to date! How had Judah come this far, only to fall this far?? How is that possible after all they had been through with Jehovah? He's had enough of their futile sacrifices! He is sickened by their "acts of worship"! Their festivals and celebrations are appalling to Him!!! The faithful city has become a harlot???!! Whoa! Those are some really strong words, ladies. I wouldn't recognize this people group as the same one in Exodus and Deuteronomy, if I didn't know better. Did they recognize themselves? They seem to almost be attempting to bribe God into blessing them based on their false humility and continuance of sin?? Even worse.........I see myself in this story. Sin is the worst captor.

Chapter two speaks of the future house of God and the Day of the Lord. This is where we find that special verse 2:3 about seeking the Lord, by climbing the tallest mountains and walking His path because we long to know Him more, and follow His ways. It reminds us of God's majesty, righteousness and holiness. Chapter three picks right back up with judgement on Judah and Jerusalem. If the words in chapter one didn't make you shudder, then certainly chapters three and four will! Such is the destiny of the harlot city, if not for the grace of God. Praise the Lord for the end of Chapter four! Matthew Henry says that Christ is the Branch, grace and the gospel spring from it, while God saves a holy seed. Such things are so intriguing to me, and I'll dare not try and explain the mind of God. I will say that I am ever grateful for His compassion and His mercy.

Our Thanksgiving trips are the single-most meaningful event in the life of our family, each year. We go up to the mountains, expecting to grow closer to Him. I look forward to them, because of the bonds that are tightened as we spend these days together. (It is not unusual for me to begin planning these trips on the way home from one!) It is a time when we re-focus ourselves on the things of God. We thank Him for the wonderful blessings through the year, and we celebrate His faithfulness. We find ways to allow Him to teach us His ways, so that we can walk on His paths. Think about the times that you have made an intentional effort to know Him more......were you looking forward to your next time together?? .....did you immediately start planning for your next journey?? .....oh, that we would long to know Him more!!!