Monday... It can be confusing.

Isaiah was a prophet who was given the task of telling God's chosen people what was to come and a big portion was bad but there also was some very good. Now some of it wasn't confusing but some could have been at least when it was happening.

In Isaiah 9:8-9 (NLT) he says, "The Lord has spoken out against Jacob; his judgement has fallen against Israel. And the people of Israel and Samaria, who spoke with such pride and arrogance, will soon know it."

And then down to verse 13, "For after all this punishment, the people will still not repent. They will not seek the Lord of Heaven's Armies." That was not a message that was easy to give and not one that was easy to receive, but Isaiah was faithful in giving it.

But there was another message God gave him to share. It was a very encouraging message but one that later could have been confusing. Verse 2 says, "The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in the land of deep darkness, a light will shine." Verses 6 & 7 says, "For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven's Armies will make this happen."

Now move forward to when Jesus was born in a manger. God's chosen people were being ruled by Rome and they were not really looking for a child to save them even though that is what Isaiah said. They were looking for someone that the physical government would rest on his shoulders. This one that they had been looking for for so many years did not come as they expected. They were looking for someone to save them from the outside punishment for their rebellion not from their individual rebellion toward God. Yes, they were confused but if they had really had a great desire to serve God and were not searching for a political leader but for a spiritual one then they would have reached out to Jesus and for the kingdom he had come for us to live in.

Could it be that we too are confused? We too are looking for one that the government will rest on his shoulders. We may be confused as to what God's kingdom is all about. He wants to be the king of our heart and he came to live on the throne of our hearts. His is not a physical throne but a spiritual one.

Hebrews 7:25 says, "Therefore he is able, once and forever to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf." Satan wants to confuse us from what Jesus came to save us from. He didn't come to save us from the Republicans or the Democrats or whatever our form of government we may be.

The Amplified Bible says it this way. "Therefore he is able to save forever (completely, perfectly, for eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede and intervene on their behalf [with God]." That is why Jesus came to earth.

He came to save us personally and for us to be a part of his kingdom. So let's not be confused. Let's serve him! Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

Tuesday... It is so worth it. It really is!

Tuesday... It is so worth it. It really is! Look at this, Proverbs 5:21-23 (CEV) says, "The Lord sees everything, and he watches us closely. Sinners are trapped and caught by their own evil deeds. They get lost and die because of their foolishness and lack of self-control." That is true of so many. Now look at this, Luke 15:1-7 says, "Tax collectors and sinners were all crowding around to listen to Jesus. So the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses started grumbling, 'This man is friendly with sinners. He even eats with them.' Then Jesus told them this story: If any of you has 100 sheep, and one of them gets lost, what will you do? Won't you leave the 99 in the field and go look for the lost sheep until you find it? And when you find it, you will put it on your shoulder and carry it home. Then you will call in your friends and neighbors and say, 'Let's celebrate! I've found my lost sheep.' Jesus said, 'In the same way there is mo...

Friday... Yes, we need them. We really do

Psalm 8:3-4 (NLT), "When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers - the moon and the stars you set in place - what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?" Friday... Yes, we need them. We really do. No, not the fact that I can go out my front door and look out at night at the marvels of the sky. I can do that and it is amazing and it takes my breath away each time I see it. Yes, that is a fact but the reality of who did that and the wisdom and the faith that I have to believe that and to marvel that the one who did that cares about me makes such a difference in how I live my life. Yes, God really does. That is so wonderful for us to believe. And that is why faith and wisdom are so important. Now whatever belief you have at how that marvel happened must also be believed through faith. And the sad thing to me is that more and more people have been taught that there is no God and therefore he did not have a h...

Monday... Three ifs and two thens. They go together!

Monday... Three ifs and two thens. They go together! They really do. And this is what caught my attention this morning as I was reading Proverbs 2. Verse 1 (NRSVUE) says, "My child, if you accept my words and treasure my commands within you." Verse 3 (NIV), "Indeed i f you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, Verse 4, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, Verse 5, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." And verses 9-11, " Then you will understand what is right and just and fair - every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you." There will always be some effort we must do, some ifs for the thens to be realized in our lives. So many of us want to understand without the ifs. But the thens are so worth, so very worth the effort. Verses 5-6 in the Ampli...

Todays Beginning

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