following the light through the darkness...

August 16, 2012

Isaiah 8:18-22, 9:1-2

V2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; whose who dwelt in a land of deep darkness

Many times while we are in the midst of great trouble we forget that we are also in midst of His great mercy, love, and faithfulness. In those times, we forget that though darkness surround us the “light” protects us and leads us through. We can hold on to it. We can be lead by it, but mostly we just concentrate on the darkness!

being in awe...

August 15, 2012

Psalm 40:10 As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!

Every time I read a verse that describes what God does for me I am always overwhelmed; I mean isn’t salvation enough? He doesn’t stop there though. I constantly rest in His unrestrained mercy, even though on many occasions I certainly don’t deserve it! I am amazed at His steadfast love. I am in awe at His faithfulness to me. When others around me have deserted me, He is one that sticks closer than a brother. For that I am undeserving!

waiting...

August 14, 2012

Isaiah 8:15-17

V 17 I will wait for the LORD…I will hope in him

Waiting on the Lord is one of the hardest things ever; I think. I think that we want to hurry up and make what we think should happen occur that we run ahead. Now we will always mess things up when we do this but that doesn’t seem to stop us. When God just wants us to wait, to rest, to learn from our waiting, many times there are great lessons to be learned while we are waiting. Yet, we are always so busy trying to find our way out that we miss those lessons. We should rest and hope knowing that God will deliver us. But do we wait like we know He will deliver us?

a refuge...

August 13, 2012

Isaiah 8:11-14

V 14 And he will become a sanctuary…

One of the several definitions of “sanctuary” is, “any place of refuge.” Verse 14 of Isaiah chapter 8 is talking about Jesus. Jesus is our sanctuary, he is our place of rest. Jesus said come to Him all who are weary and He will give them rest. He said that His yoke was easy and His burdens were light. He is our place to rest. He is our place to run to. He will always be there. He is our sacturary…

having God...

August 9, 2012

Isaiah 7:17-25, 8:1-10

8:10 …speak a word, but it will not stand for God is with us

Ever looked as certain aspects of your life and been totally surprised because you never thought you would find yourself here? Well, it can catch you by surprise trust me. So can the actions of people for that matter; those that you think you know, maybe you don’t. Or perhaps what they go through in private doesn’t allow them to fulfill what you would have assumed they should. This is when those who are there for you shine even brighter. This is when you realize that God is there with you in His Word, in His providing others to come along and strengthen you when you are down, and in His Spirit filling you with what you need. This is when you find yourself not quit as tired and rundown or scared as you would have assumed you would be because God is with you!

being honest...

August 7, 2012

Isaiah 7:5-16

V 16 …knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good

Isaiah is speaking of Jesus here; so naturally He will be much better at this than we will ever be. However, He is our model. How easy it is to lie to ourselves that we do this. As I have said many times we put to high a definition on what is evil. Anything that does not bring God glory is evil. Anything we choose to do that is not worshipping or obeying His word is evil. If we get honest with what constitutes as evil; I think that we would see that we more often than not choose evil over good. We want to do good, there’s not doubt yet, it is very hard for us to do so! We must constantly battle our flesh, and the first, and perhaps hardest battle, is learning to recognize what is evil and what is good!

no fear...

August 6, 2012

Isaiah 7:1-4

V 4 …do not fear and do not let your heart be faint…

This is so hard to do, isn’t it? To not fear, and really it could mean anything. We as humans fear all manner of things, but clearly here in Isaiah we are told not to. We are also told that God did not give us a spirit of timidity but one of strength. This is of course not because we are powerful in ourselves but that God is the power in us. It is because of His Holy Spirit that we do not have to fear. We can be strong in our conviction, we can carry out what He has put on our hearts to accomplish, and we can walk the hard path that is sometimes set before us simply because He lives in us!

me and my prince...

August 2, 2012

Song of Solomon 3:4 …when I found him whom my soul loves

After 15 years of marriage I have come to know one thing…although not everyday is a fairy tale, for there are sometimes bad days, the majority of your marriage can be a fairytale if you are willing to work for it. I am so blessed to be married to a man who thinks I am worthy of this work. We both feel that our marriage is the most important relationship in our lives, apart for our relationships with God that is. I had no idea what was in store for me 15 years ago when I said “I Do”. There have been many highs and lows, there have been arguments, there have been tons of laughter, and yes, since I’m involved there have probably been some screaming! Yet, not one day have I regretted getting married to Terry; not for one second have I wished that I had made a different choice. As we get ready for another year together, I love him more today than I ever thought I could love someone else! I will love him forever and I know he will love me too

faith...

August 1, 2012

Isaiah 7:5-9

V9 …if you are not firm in faith you will not be firm at all

Faith—one of the biggest foundations in our Christian belief system, it sets us apart. Yet, it is so very difficult to get and maintain. We think we are doing well then something happens and we lose it. To have faith is something that we must cultivate daily, well, really every minute. It’s what makes us able to follow paths set before us that the world will never understand. Faith gives us the strength to walk through the valley of shadow and death. Faith tells us that the eagle will lift us on His wings and carry us. It only takes just a little bit of faith to move mountains; this is how powerful faith is. This is how important faith is.