Isaiah 49

But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me,
And my Lord has forgotten me.”
¹⁵ “Can a woman forget her nursing child,
And not have compassion on the son of her womb?
Surely they may forget,
Yet I will not forget you.
¹⁶ See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;
Your walls are continually before Me.(Isaiah 49:14-16 NKJV)

 

During this time Zion ( a hill in Jerusalem – and the place of Gods people by association) was going through a tough time. Basically they were held captive by the babylonians and during this time, they questioned whether God loved them or that even God cared.

Its amazing how we go through that even now.

I mean God has our names, our lives, everything about us inscribed in the “….palms of..” His “…hands..” We are so precious to Him.

The thing is? To remember that.

Its so easy to get bogged down in the circumstance – believe me I am talking to more myself than anything – but God has a plan.

He is in control! Friend, lets remember the next trial/tribulation/hardship/what-you-wanna-call-it we remember how much God loves us.

Isaiah 20

² at the same time the Lordspoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, and remove the sackcloth from your body, and take your sandals off your feet.” And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.³ Then the Lord said, “Just as My servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder against Egypt and Ethiopia, (Isaiah 20:2-3 NKJV)

I read this this morning and was floored. My pastor talked about it a little last night too. Isaiah walked around barefoot and naked for 3 years. Wow right? I mean yeah, he was a prophet so he knew when God was talking to him – but still dude! To have that type of faith! Made me think about listening to Gods voice…or even Gods call on your life and having faith in that calling.

Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; ¹² and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. (1 Kings 19:11-12 NKJV)

I know and agree – its hard. Feeling God call you to leave that job, or talk to that person or just reaching out to someone for ministry. How can you be sure? Is it you or is it God? How can you know? How do you listen to hear Gods still small voice?

Faith.

I asked my pastors wife about this. She said in her experience, you just feel an unbelievable urge to do something. Usually thats the Lord trying to tell you something. Then she gave me an example: This one person was standing in an aisle of a grocery store – just ready to do something (sorry I can’t be more specific, my memory is shot). The person cried a simple prayer in the most ridiculous way they could think of: “God please show me you are real by making someone come in here and do a handstand in the middle of this aisle”. A minute passes by and a woman walks in to the aisle, looks around and does a handstand. The person, who prayed, ran up to her and asked why she did that; to which she replied she just felt an unbelievable urge to do this. In fact, she almost didn’t do it too.

What if that woman ignored God? I don’t know. I don’t have this all figured out – I’m learning like you. But friend, what is God calling you to do? Call upon the Lord. Let God use you in a mighty way, by blessing someone…anyone.

I know its scary – I’m right there with ya. But trust. Trust God and know He’s in control. Pray continually for wisdom and open your heart and? Have faith.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (1John 4:18 NKJV)

Open your heart to God and let Him work through you – mighty things will happen.

Cry out to Jesus

He’ll meet you wherever you are.

Cry out to Jesus

– Third Day

“I will never become a Christian. You don’t know what I’ve done.”

“I’m going to heaven; I’m a good person”

And on and on. But, my friend? God.

They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”^[a]

Romans 3:12 NKJV

 No one and I mean no one is good. Why? Cause everyone sins. Its apart of our reality…our fallen world (this sin cursed world, evil world). The thing thats awesome? God loves us so much that He sent His son to allow us a way into heaven. But Why? Why does God love us? Well, because He thought of us and He spent precious time making us. But? We turned our back on God and … well, sinned.

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— (Romans 5:12 NKJV)

Whats sin? Its like my kids say: sin is when you do something wrong. Lies (even white lies), lustful thoughts (really anything lustful), gossiping, hate, in the end its anything you do wrong. Everyone and I mean everyone does wrong and we do it constantly.

God doesn’t care what you did – as long as you are repentant. What is repentant? Well, that you realize your sin and your need for Jesus. Even more basic, that you are sorry for what you did, and you want Jesus to clean you of all sins.

 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NKJV)

Now, in order for you to get into heaven. You must realize your sin, ask God to clean your heart and ask Him to come into your heart…your life. God sent His son so that, if we accept Him into our heart, we can live forever in heaven.

Do we actually live in heaven? Well, if you really want to know that – email me: mydearsaviorreigns @ gmail.com. But basically, yeah.

My friend, God doesn’t want you to die. He wants you to enter heaven and live with Him. Don’t let the thoughts that you are not good enough for heaven stop you. God sees you where you are and still loves you. No matter what you did, what have done, what you are doing – God loves you.

So here you are – you realize your sin, you want your heart clean and you want to ask God into your heart. Yes, but HOW? Pray. Now, how to pray? Thats so really between you and God – I can’t tell you how to pray. Thats a personal thing between you and God but I won’t leave you without an example. here is one I used with my kids:

Dear Jesus, I’m sorry for my sins. Please forgive me and come live in my heart. amen.

God has made a way for you to come live with Him in heaven. All you hafta do is cry out to Jesus.

Isaiah 13

And they will be afraid.
Pangs and sorrows will take hold of them;
They will be in pain as a woman in childbirth;
They will be amazed at one another;
Their faces will be like flames.

Isaiah 13:8 NKJV

I was thinking about this for a while and was like….hmmm. Yeah hes talking about Babylon but why?

…This prophecy was probably never published in Babylon, so it wasn’t really given as a warning to them. Instead, the reason was for the help of the people of God. First, by showing them that God was indeed just, and would judge the wicked nations around them. …

– David Guzik 

Thing to remember is that whenever God is talking to Israel we know, He’s also talking to us right? well, this whole chapter is prophetic, so I was like: “Ok God what are you trying to tell me?” So, I prayed about this and I couldn’t stop thinking about the things happening in my life – tests, trials, whatever they’re called – have been happening a lot since I started focusing on God. You see when you start living your life right with God? Life does not become easier. But it does become blessed.

You see the enemy hates when we grow closer to God, so he throws things, situations, problems, people in our paths to make us fall back into old habits, even drift from God. The more and more people he can entice from God – the more people he takes with Him during the tribulation and even to hell.

BUT!

The more people out there proclaiming God’s deeds, the more people are being witnessed to and given a chance to accept God as their Savior.

⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 (NKJV)

Things will get hard – thats the enemy wanting you to fail. Thing to remember is that God will always deliver you from the pain, the heartache. Just hold on.

“I will punish the world for its evil,
And the wicked for their iniquity;
I will halt the arrogance of the proud,
And will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

Isaiah 13:11

The enemy knows his future, he knows the hell he is going to. But he wants to bring as many people with him that he can. Keep that in mind. Don’t give up.

We got sweet victory, lets share that news.

Isaiah 12

And in that day you will say:

“Praise the Lord, call upon His name;
Declare His deeds among the peoples,
Make mention that His name is exalted

(Isaiah 12:4 NKJV – bold type mine)

 

“…declare His deeds…” What does that mean? Does that mean screaming from the roof tops Gods love? Or loving on an unlovable person? I think its both – though around here I wouldn’t recommend the first.

Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

(Phil 2:4 NKJV)

Declare His deeds – I’ve been thinking of it over the past couple of days. In my head, I’m thinking its being in ministry. I mean duuuhh right? How else can you declare His deeds? Then I thought more – hello?! At home Jessica. First and foremost we must remember the number one rule of ministry – “ministry starts at home”.

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. (Ephesians 5:2 NKJV)

Its so easy for us to get mired down in everyday life forgetting who is around us. Our kids, husbands/wives, parents, brothers/sisters…whatever – they get pushed to the back so easily because we figure: “They understand“. But thats not what Christ wants us to do.

For example? My mom. She is heavily involved in the women’s ministry. But she has been there almost every time to help with the kids and me. You see, the past couple of months I’ve been going through some intense health problems, causing many doctors appointments and biopsies and what-have-you.

In her willingness to minister to me, she is declaring His deeds. No, you are right she’s not exactly screaming from the rooftops – but thats not what we need every time. God works where we are, on our level. We should do the same.

Think about it, pray about it…do it. Show His deeds by being an example of His love. Now thats an interesting challenge for me to take on. I’m so quick with a comeback, Lord use me please.

No one deserves anything

If you follow me on twitter – then you probably saw my rant this morning. But, I took sometime to breathe and more importantly pray and? I thought this would be a good subject.

Let me catch you up.

This morning, I saw a fellow instagramer post what was called a "devotional" (you'll see why I put that word in quotes). Anyways, I read it and it said: "I deserve better". Uh, wanna pass that by me again?

"I deserve better" thats all the "devotional" said. Nothing and I mean nothing on there to point anyone to Christ. Just a demand that we deserve better.

I floored by that and the fact that it was a "devotional".

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—

(Romans 5:12 NKJV)

No one deserves anything.

We don't deserve anything. Not a thing.

First? Where is that even implied in the bible? I searched and most of them are about how marvelous and wonderful it is and how much we don't deserve it.

Why don't we deserve heaven? Because we sin. EVERYONE sins.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23 NKJV)

With that in mind, how can anyone deserve heaven? God has made a way to get to heaven, but only if we accept it.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16, NKJV)

If God is giving us a gift…how can we deserve it?

Second, who said the Christian life is easy? Its hard and full of trials. and what are trials? Things, situations or whatever that causes hardship. Like not having anyway to pay the rent. Why does God allow these trials? To make us better.

² My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4, NKJV)

We are fallen creatures. We may have a hard life. But God will always be there to help us, to provide for us – NOT because we deserve it. No. But because He loves us. 

The only thing we deserve is death – but because God loves us….

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NKJV)

Isaiah 6

And one cried to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
The whole earth is full of His glory!”(Isaiah 6:3 NKJV)

In the beginning of this chapter, Isaiah had a vision. Such a powerful vision.

He was in a temple in which His robe filled. In his presence were seraphim (an angelic being, regarded in traditional Christian angelology as belonging to the highest order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy, associated with light, ardor, and purity.)

And they were crying out to each other: “Holy Holy holy is the Lord of hosts; the wold earth is full of His glory!”

Seeing all of this – Isaiah did the only thing he could:

“Woe is me, for I am undone!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King,
The Lord of hosts.” (Isaiah 6:5b NKJV)

He realized the sin in his heart….his being….he realized where he was and just felt the immensity of it all. Ya know? He saw his sin.

One of the seraphim flew to him and touched his lips with live coal and said:

“Behold, this has touched your lips;
Your iniquity is taken away,
And your sin purged.” (Isaiah 6:7b NKJV)

after being forgiven his sins, what does he do? He doesn’t do anything but give his body, his life, his everything back to Jesus.

⁸ Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:

“Whom shall I send,
And who will go for Us?”

Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8 NKJV)

Because of the wonderful gift Christ has given us, we should be like Isaiah. Screaming out: “Here am I! Send me!”. I know I need to work on this one. Its hard cause of my social anxiety – but you just gotta push yourself.

And? Heres the thing, you don’t hafta be “perfect”. You don’t hafta know the bibleforwards and backwards. You don’t hafta be anything but willing. Remember God ain’t gonna push you to do anything…but really how could you sit on such a message?

If you’re wondering like me, “how do I start?” Just ask God. Ask God to open your eyes for when the time is right – cause HE WILL and be ready.

 

Isaiah 5:1-2

Now let me sing to my Well-beloved a song of my Beloved regarding His vineyard: my Well-beloved has a vineyard on a very fruitful hill. He dug it up and cleared out its stones, and planted it with the choicest vine. He built a tower in its midst, and also made a winepress in it; so He expected it to bring forth good grapes, but it brought forth wild grapes (Isaiah 5:1-2 NKJV)

Ya know as someone who is a mental health advocate, I’ve come across many hurting people. People who think that no one loves them or that there is nothing here for them. But that can be farther from the truth.

You see that vineyard?

No possession is dearer to a man than a vineyard, and there is none that demands more constant and persevering toil…. (UNKNOWN)

We are that vineyard. We are that precious piece of land to the Lord. He wants to protect us and cause us to grow and flourish.

Just like any vinedresser (I think thats what they are called), when they see a struggling branch (or is it called vine?). Anyways, if a vinedresser sees a struggling vine they would splice it with another flourishing vine.

If you are struggling; mentally, physically or spiritually (Im not missing any right?) – God wants to splice you to a good church, friend, loved one.

You see that feeling of wanting to be alone? Well, that is not of God.

¹⁸ And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” (Gen 2:18 NKJV)

Yes, that applies to when God made Adam and Eve – but its true. Even look at secular (non-Christian) Scientists. There have been several studies where its proven man (or woman) need human interaction.

The enemy wants us to be alone. So when you are feeling down and out and wanting to be alone? Don’t. Join me and fight it.

The Glory of God is Man alive. So live my friend, LIVE! – Ken Davis

My friend – God wants you to live. So live. Walk outside. Play with your kids. Hug your mom. Don’t give up.

Isaiah 4

⁵ then the Lord will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering. (Isaiah 4:5 NKJV)

This was for some reason hard. It is such a short chapter. You see these chapters in Isaiah are talking about prophesies against Judah.

Then there was this chapter – almost …. whats the word …. redeeming.

When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning, (Isaiah 4:4 NKJV)

God washed them from their sins and because of that He remained there with them. God will always cover you and protect you and ….whatever. He will as long as you confess your sins.

If we are really born again, we want to be washed, have the presence of the LORD, and enjoy His protection. Many people only want the LORD’s constant presence and protection. But He doesn’t grant those apart from His cleansing. (David Guzik)

There is freedom in Christ, theres hope, theres love. You just must allow Christ to cleanse your sins.

 

2 Cor 5:17