Category: Isaiah

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Renewal by Fire

I read those three words yesterday while we were visiting the Gila Cliff Dwellings. We had walked the trail from the base of the mountain, up past the dwellings and were on our descent when we rounded a bend and saw that the entire side of the mountain and down into the canyon had been destroyed by fire.

The Forest Service had placed an informational sign that was headed by those three words “Renewal by Fire”. The placard went on to explain how the grasses, flowers, trees and even the wildlife are renewed after a fire.

The area was scorched. The trees were downed and charred but beneath them new life could be seen. I was saddened by thoughts of fire burning this massive landscape. But then these words popped into my thinking.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has chosen me to bring good news to poor people. He has sent me to heal those with a sad heart. He has sent me to tell those who are being held and those in prison that they can go free. 2 He has sent me to tell about the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day our God will bring punishment. He has sent me to comfort all who are filled with sorrow. 3 To those who have sorrow in Zion I will give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes. I will give them the oil of joy instead of sorrow, and a spirit of praise instead of a spirit of no hope. Then they will be called oaks that are right with God, planted by the Lord, that He may be honored.” Isaiah 61:1-3 NLV (emphasis mine)

Beauty for ashes! Renewal by fire.

Life’s fires seem devastating. Things we feel are important can be destroyed. However, we have God’s promise that He will give us beauty to replace the ashes and joy to replace our sorrow. The trials and sorrows of life can deepen our faith as we draw closer to the Lord. He is the one we should turn to; He is our source of strength.

“When you have troubles, I am with you. When you cross rivers, you will not be hurt. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not hurt you. 3 That’s because I, the Lord, am your God. I, the Holy One of Israel, am your Savior. I gave Egypt to pay for you. I gave Ethiopia and Seba to make you mine.” Isaiah 43:2-3 ERV

Renewal by fire.

New growth. New life. New purpose.

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One Man’s Trash

…is another man’s treasure

That phrase came up last night as we were watching television and it got me to thinking. Thinking about our little farmhouse home in Idaho. My kitchen was small and I wanted a way to decorate with some of my favorite things so Dave brought in two old barn doors and nailed them to the walls.

I got a couple of old single trees, mounted them to the doors and hung my cast iron skillets off the cast iron hooks on each end. But I didn’t stop there. I put at least a dozen more nails in each door and hung some of my favorite antique kitchen utensils from those nails – a shifter, colander, big mixing spoons, spatulas, enamelware cups and bowls. I loved it!

Two of my uncles were passing through town and stopped for dinner and an overnight rest. While we were sitting at the table, they looked around at my decor and one of them said to the other, “Kristi has stuff hanging on her walls that we used to hang in the barn”. That’s correct.

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure!

All of my treasures had been purchased at ranch and farm auctions for pennies on the dollar. What someone thought was old and useless, I thought was quaint and worth putting on display.

I really think that’s how God sees us. The world says we aren’t worth much but He’s sees us as a treasure.

I want to go back, one more time, to yesterday’s Scripture:

“Do not be afraid. For I have bought you and made you free. I have called you by name. You are Mine!” Isaiah 43:1 NLV

One version of this verse says “I have redeemed you”. The Lord saw value in us when others saw nothing of the kind. He rescued us, redeemed us and brought blessing to our lives.

“Christ bought us with His blood and made us free from the Law. In that way, the Law could not punish us. Christ did this by carrying the load and by being punished instead of us. It is written, “Anyone who hangs on a cross is hated and punished.” 14 Because of the price Christ Jesus paid, the good things that came to Abraham might come to the people who are not Jews. And by putting our trust in Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit He has promised.” Galatians 3:13-14 NLV

One man’s treasure!

We are God’s treasure. We are His children. He loves us.

“And they shall be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I publicly recognize and openly declare them to be My jewels (My special possession, My peculiar treasure). And I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him.” Malachi 3:17 AMPC

Don’t let anyone call you trash. God has called you His treasure!

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To Err Is Human…

…to forgive divine!

That is a saying I heard many times growing up and I’m not really sure where it came from. I just know those are the words that were forefront in my heart this morning.

Have you ever made comments or had thoughts like this; “I just don’t think God could ever love me, forgive me, use me, want me, etc, like He does someone else”? “If people knew who I was or the things I have in my past they wouldn’t love me or want to be my friend”.

Ever had those thoughts? I have and guess what, so did the Apostle Paul.

“But our Lord gave me a full measure of his grace. And with that grace came the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 Here is a true statement that should be accepted without question: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and I am the worst of them. 16 But I was given mercy so that in me Christ Jesus could show that he has patience without limit. Christ showed his patience with me, the worst of all sinners. He wanted me to be an example for those who would believe in him and have eternal life.” I Timothy 1:14-16 ERV

Paul felt that he was the worst sinner to have ever lived, he arrested and had Christians murdered. But God forgave him, changed his life and used him to reach the world with the Gospel.

Jesus was all about forgiving. He forgave Zacheaus, the woman in adultery, the thief on the cross, the soldiers and religious leaders that were crucifying Him. He forgave Paul. He has forgiven us too!

I shared these verses with you the other morning. They are some of my favorites on the presence and protection of the Lord. Take a hard look at the first part of verse one.

“…Do not be afraid. For I have bought you and made you free. I have called you by name. You are Mine! 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you pass through the rivers, they will not flow over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. The fire will not destroy you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, Who saves you… 4 You are of great worth in My eyes. You are honored and I love you… 5 Do not fear, for I am with you. I will bring your children from the east, and I will gather you from the west.” Isaiah 41:1-5 NLV

God isn’t holding our past against us! Our past is that – past!

In Hebrews, we are told that God won’t remember our sins and trespasses. He puts them as far as the East is from the West.

If you are being held captive by your past brreak free by accepting the Father’s forgiveness!

He has ransomed you. He has redeemed you, He is walking through life’s hardships with you and protecting you. You are precious to Him!

God isn’t mad at you. He hasn’t rejected or disqualified you. He loves you!

Thank you Father for your amazing love. Thank you that my past is past and thank you that I have been redeemed and that I am Yours!

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Too Many To Count

When our youngest daughter was in first grade I had a job where I had to be clocked in my 5:30 a.m. That, of course, was way to early for her to be up getting ready for school so Dave would get her off to school each morning.

I would have her clothes laid out and her lunch made but he had to make sure she had breakfast and her hair brushed before he took her to school. Breakfast was no problem but the hair brushing was something entirely different. She had long blonde hair, almost to the middle of her back and she liked to wear it in a pony tail or a single braid.

The hair brushing routine is something they still laugh about to this day. Dave’s big hands were clumsy as he tried to pulled up all that hair and smooth it into a pont tail with no lumps or bumps. They finally fell upon a plan that worked for them both. Our daughter would lay down on the dining room table bench, hair hanging over the edge. He brushed it, gathered it together and got the pony tail holder in place.

Success!

A labor of love! A time a father and daughter will never forget. Something special for just the two of them.

Did you know that our heavenly Father wants times like that with us? Special times – initimate times – times that only the two of us can share. He knows the very number of hairs on our head; He saw us as we were being formed in our mother’s womb and considered us perfect. He has been there every day of our lives and has been as intimately involved as we have allowed Him to be.

“But now the Lord Who made you, O Jacob, and He Who made you, O Israel, says, “Do not be afraid. For I have bought you and made you free. I have called you by name. You are Mine! 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you pass through the rivers, they will not flow over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. The fire will not destroy you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, Who saves you. I have given Egypt as pay for your life, and have traded Cush and Seba for you. Isaiah 43:1-3 NLV

“but with your own eyes you saw my body being formed. Even before I was born, you had written in your book  everything I would do. 17 Your thoughts are far beyond my understanding, much more than I could ever imagine. 18 I try to count your thoughts, but they outnumber the grains of sand on the beach. And when I awake, I will find you nearby.” Psalm 139:16-18 CEV

A friend and I were talking at breakfast yesterday morning about the goodness of God. Our Father is always working on our behalf, even when we don’t see it. His plan is for our good and our benefit. We can trust Him!

We don’t need to be looking at others and wishing we had what they have because we have our Father’s promise. He will never leave us or forsake us. Our help comes from the Lord so we should be “fear free”; our God is greater than any man.

When we ask the question “where is God now, does He know what I’m going through?”, the answer rings clear.

“I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!” Psalm 139:7 NLT

What is your situation today? Are your eyes filled with tears? Is your heart breaking? Do you feel lost and alone? Your Father knows the number of hairs on your head and He is with you in every situation. He has good thoughts of you – so many that they are to numerable to count!

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A Healthy Tree

There is a single verse in the Psalm 40 that I want us to look at this morning.

“O Lord my God, many are the great works You have done, and Your thoughts toward us. No one can compare with You! If I were to speak and tell of them, there would be too many to number.” Psalm 40:5 NLV

Now look at this phrase “many are the great works which You have done”.

Think about that for a moment – what great works do you see that God has done? Was it last night’s sunset or this morning’s sunrise? Was it the love and compassion you felt for a stranger who was in need? Or was it the unpretentious love and acceptance of a child? What did you experience just yesterday that you can see was a wonderful work of God in your life?

“Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!” Psalm 107:8 NJKV

“He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; The Lord is gracious and full of compassion.” Psalm 111:4 NJKV

“O Lord, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them.” Isaiah 25:1 NLT

Our Father is a planner; He plans good things. The things that are “wonder full” are the things that have the character of God woven through them. Things like faithfulness, truth, love, forgiveness, peace, gentleness, patience, joy…

Oh wait, did I just list the fruit of the Spirit? When God’s love fills us, we begin to produce fruit.

In the natural fruit a tree produces fruit for the kind of tree it is. Apples, oranges, bananas, and so on – you know what I’m saying. Nothing tastes as good a peach picked fresh from the branch. When we grow in Christ we will begin to produce fruit that is consistent with the vine we are growing on – we will begin to produce godly character.

Our lives should be producing Father-fruit. Do you know that He is wanting to use us to do wonderful things in the lives of those around us? And don’t think that everyone will be happy that we are an example of the Father – they won’t be. Jesus faced that opposition.

“God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things he had already planned for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 ERV

The love of the Lord will grow in our lives as we stay connected to Him. Just as a fruit tree first breaks forth with buds in Spring and those buds ripen into mature fruit we will produce the fruit of God’s character.

May the trees in our yards and neighborhoods be a reminder that we were made to produce the fruit of godly character.

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What Are You Looking For?

I know I’ve told you that I really enjoy “hidden object” search games. Even when I was young I liked doing the word search pages in the newspaper or magazines.

Down the side of the page would be a list of words that were hidden somewhere in the maze of letters. If I was really feeling confident I would do them with an ink pen. These were the earliest versions of computer games before there were computers.

We all seem to be on a search, one way or another. It can be a search for fame and fortune, the perfect mate, a healthier lifestyle – any one of a vast number of things – all in hope of making life better.

My search was complete when I found Jesus!

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 NKJV

Seek, search for Me, and you will find Me! This was the Lord’s instruction hundreds of years ago and it’s still valid today. The Lord isn’t trying to hide. We find Him in plain sight. The shepherds found Him in a stable. The wisemen found Him at His house with His mother. His mother found Him in the temple teaching.

Zacchaeus went searching for Jesus. He even had to climb a tree to get a better vantage point. What Zacchaeus didn’t know was Jesus was also searching for him.

“Jesus said, “Today is the day for this family to be saved from sin. Yes, even this tax collector is one of God’s chosen people. 10 The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them.” Luke 19:9-11 ERV

After His resurrection Jesus found his disciples behind closed doors. He came to them just like He comes to us. He came searching for those He loves. When we are in our darkest hour He comes. He comes to bring life, light, hope and joy.

Jesus searches to save the lost. We seek a Savior. When we meet, the search is over. No point to look any further.

“Look for the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the sinful turn from his way, and the one who does not know God turn from his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and He will have loving-pity on him. Let him turn to our God, for He will for sure forgive all his sins.” Isaiah 55:6-7 NLV

When we find Jesus our search ends, we are complete in Him!

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At the Cross

Our Easter weekends used to have a way of being a bit abnormal.

When the kids were small we founded an outreach ministry to the working cowboys and their children. One Easter Sunday we had folks preaching at four different rodeo arenas in AZ. Those were wonderful days of seeing the Lord meet the needs of the cowboy community!

How I praise Him for giving us that opportunity to take His good news to these special folks. Everyone needs to have someone tell them about Jesus’ love, his forgiveness and his wonderful plan to give us life everlasting. That was our way of taking the gospel into all the world.

Our world was alfalfa and cotton fields, youth rodeo arenas and ropings. Your world may be a medical office, an IT programming center, the front seat of a big rig, a classroom or a bank lobby. No matter the occupation or career we are all welcome at the foot of the cross.

He died so that we could live, He was oppressed so we could live free from fear and anxiety, His body was bruised and wounded so ours could be healed, His heart was broken so we could live in an unconditionally loving relationship with the Father. There is only one place to find this free gift and that’s at the cross of Jesus.

“He was hated and rejected; his life was filled with sorrow and terrible suffering. No one wanted to look at him. We despised him and said, ‘He is a nobody!’ 4 He suffered and endured great pain for us, but we thought his suffering was punishment from God. 5 He was wounded and crushed because of our sins; by taking our punishment, he made us completely well. 6 All of us were like sheep that had wandered off. We had each gone our own way, but the Lord gave him the punishment we deserved. 7 He was painfully abused, but he did not complain. He was silent like a lamb being led to the butcher, as quiet as a sheep having its wool cut off. 8 He was condemned to death without a fair trial. Who could have imagined what would happen to him? His life was taken away because of the sinful things my people had done.” Isaiah 53:3-8 CEV

The verses above describe what Jesus went through to pay the penalty for our sins. He was sinless and deserved none of it but He took our place. His death on the cross was only part of the story. Three days later, Easter, He rose from the grave victoriously. His life’s mission was complete. Our mission is to spread the news of what He has done.

“We are Christ’s missionaries. God is speaking to you through us. We are speaking for Christ and we ask you from our hearts to turn from your sins and come to God. 21 Christ never sinned but God put our sin on Him. Then we are made right with God because of what Christ has done for us.” II Corinthians 5:20-21 NLV

All are welcome at the cross!

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Peace Like A River

As I sat here this moring one word came to mind – Peace.

It’s the start of a new month, a new week, a new day and my heart is wrapped in a warm blanket of God’s peace!

The image I used this morning is a picture I took years ago near our home in Montana. The air was still and when we quieted our voices all we could hear was the sound of the river rolling over the rocks and splashing the snow covered banks.

Peace!

Peace doesn’t mean the absence of adverse circumstances. I can think of two examples from the Bible where people were in dire straights but they were at peace.

Daniel had been condemned to the lions’ den. His crime was prayer. His enemies were committed to having him destroyed and since they could find nothing else to accuse him on, they chose his faith in God and his commitment to prayer.

“The next morning, King Darius got up just as it was getting light and ran to the lions’ den. 20 He was very worried. When he got to the lions’ den, he called to Daniel. He said, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God been able to save you from the lions? You always serve your God.”

21 Daniel answered, “King, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel to save me. The angel closed the lions’ mouths. The lions have not hurt me because my God knows I am innocent. I never did anything wrong to you, King.” Daniel 6:19-22 ERV

Peter is the second example that came to mind. There was great persecution of those who followed Jesus and preached about His resurrection. The leaders of the day were out to stop this message, even if it meant killing the messengers. One of the apostles had already been killed and now Peter had been arrested and imprisoned. He was to be the next to die.

“The night before Peter was to be put on trial, he was asleep and bound by two chains. A soldier was guarding him on each side, and two other soldiers were guarding the entrance to the jail. 7 Suddenly an angel from the Lord appeared, and light flashed around in the cell. The angel poked Peter in the side and woke him up. Then he said, “Quick! Get up!”

The chains fell off his hands, 8 and the angel said, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” Peter did what he was told. Then the angel said, “Now put on your coat and follow me.” Acts:12:6-8 CEV

It was a heaven sent jail break. What I find so interesting about this story is that Peter, facing death, was in such a deep sleep that the angel had to poke him to wake him up. He was at peace.

When we focus our thoughts and attentions on God and His love; His provision and His strength, we find peace.

“You will keep the man in perfect peace whose mind is kept on You, because he trusts in You. 4 Trust in the Lord forever. For the Lord God is a Rock that lasts forever.” Isaiah 26:3-4 NLV

Start your day with your mind stayed, focused, on the Lord. Let His peace flow through your heart like a river. Let it carry away the anxieties of life and bring refreshing to your mind.

Trust in the Lord and you will have peace!

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Smile & Feel Better

Today’s blog is amazingly practical.

Late yesterday Dave and I were watching a program on television that was dealing with some real life, very emotional issues that face teenagers. They were completely without hope and it left both of us sad and downcast.

I knew I couldn’t let this premeate our evening or we’d both go to bed feeling depressed. I asked him to find something funny we could watch, “I need something to make me laugh”. He switched to YouTube and there we found old clips of Tim Conway and Harvey Korman. We watched a few of those and then Dave found an old Abbott & Costello movie – more laughter.

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.” Proverbs 17:22 NLT

“Happiness makes you smile; sorrow can crush you.” Proverbs 15:13 CEV

We went to bed last night with a smile on our faces and our spirits were lifted.

Somedays it’s hard to be joyful. I understand that completely but we must take these verses on joy and happiness for what they are – instructions from the Lord. He wants us to have a glad heart, He wants us to be “care free” and roll all our worries over on Him. When we do He promises to replace our worries with His strength.

“Ezra said to them, “Go, eat and drink what you enjoy, and give some to him who has nothing ready. For this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be sad for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 NLV

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” I Peter 5:7 NLV

A couple of weeks ago I had to go into the pharmacy to pick up a prescription for my mother. As I was standing in line waiting for the pharmacist the woman at the counter turned and looked at me. Behind her mask, I saw that her eyes were filled with sadness. She turned back and then turned around one more time, we made eye contact and I gave her my biggest smile, behind my mask. She said to me “I can tell you are smiling. Your eyes are twinkling. Thank you I needed that”. I said a simple “God bless you” and our encounter was over.

Lord, I want you to use me and all who read this to bring joy to a hurting world. We have a message to proclaim “Joy to the world, the Lord has come”!

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed… 3 To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.” Isaiah 61:1-3 NLT

The words above were written about Jesus. This is why He came – He came to bring God’s favor (His life) to the earth.

The next time you are feeling down ask the Lord to fill your heart with joy. He will! With joy will come strength and with His strength we can do all things!

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Big Mess!

One of our grandsons had a saying when he was about two, “Ooo mess”! This was his comment when things were out-of-order or just didn’t look the way he felt they should.

On occasion I have looked in the mirror and thought ooo mess. Have you? I’ve sometimes felt that I was the world biggest mess.

Let’s evaluate yesterday. Was it a good day? Was I productive and helpful or did I let self-pity and hurt feelings rule? Was my speech kind or harsh? Was I critical or complimentary? Did I look like Jesus or did everyone see an old version of myself, that should be buried?

Were the words “ooo mess” the best description of my day or was it “wow, message”?

If you were more of a mess than a message I have good news for you.

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” 25 The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.” Lamentations 3:22-25 NLT

As I sit here looking out my front window the sun hasn’t come up yet. It’s still dark but I know a new day is coming and with it I have God’s promise of mercy for whatever the day holds.

I am so thankful that the Lord doesn’t look at us and say – ooo, mess. Instead He sees us and says “wow, I have a message of mercy for you”. It’s a new day and the Father is covering us with mercy.

“‘Come now, let’s settle this,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.'” Isaiah 1:18 NLT

The little boy in this morning’s picture was a mess; his Mom saw a masterpiece. Her lovingkindness covered him with warm water and soap bubbles and what had been a mess was now clean.

“O God, favor me because of Your loving-kindness. Take away my wrong-doing because of the greatness of Your loving-pity. 2 Wash me inside and out from my wrong-doing and make me clean from my sin.”Psalm 51:1-2 NLV

The message of this morning is this: yesterday’s mess, big mess, has been taken care of. The Lord has washed and cleansed us with His love and mercy. Before the sun comes up, He has given us new mercies for the day and He is faithful to His word, “come boldly to the throne of grace and find mercy and grace in our time of need”.

We are no longer a mess but our life is a message!

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