09.27.06
Posted in Thoughts on Isaiah at 9:26 am by Administrator
Text: Isaiah 38:9-20 Theme: God uses our pain to benefit us. Key verses: “‘In the prime of my life, must I go through the gates of death…?’” (v. 10) “‘I cried like a swift…I moaned…My eyes grew weak…I am troubled; O Lord, come to my aid!’ But what can I say? He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this. I will walk humbly all my years because of this anquish of my soul. Lord, by such things men live…Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anquish.” (vs. 14-17) “For the grave cannot praise you…The living - they praise you, as I am doing today.” (vs. 18-19) “…we will sing…all the days of our lives in the temple of the Lord.” (v. 20) What God said to me: Dwayne, sometimes I must bring terrible distress into a person’s life in order to break them and get them to look up to me. Hezekiah discovered what it meant to be broken. He wept bitter tears and felt total despair as he faced the real possibility of death. Though you have been spared such anquish, don’t think you are immuned. Don’t think for a moment I won’t bring such trouble and heartache into your life if that is what it takes to cause you to praise me more. True, death can’t praise me. But life out of near death or life in spite of near death - now that is motivation to sing my adoration and fall more deeply in love with me than ever before. What I said to God: Holy Lord, I choose to praise you in all of life, whether life is good or not so good, whether I understand your ways or whether I don’t, when my path is easy and when my path grows hard. By your grace, I will praise you always. May my household, my family, and your Church worship you because you are God and you are worthy…period.
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09.26.06
Posted in Thoughts on Isaiah at 9:25 am by Administrator
Text: Isaiah 38:1-8 Theme: Seriously, God can do anything Key Verses: “‘I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the King of Assyria.’” (vs. 5-6) “‘I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the steps of Ahaz.’ So the sunlight went back the ten steps…” (vs. 7-8) What God Said to Me: When will you believe me? When will you really and completely trust me that I can do whatever I want? Nothing is too difficult for me. I give and take away as I please. I cause the waters to fill the sea and the mountains to hold their places above the horizons. I paint the skies with whatever colors I desire. Now here’s the kicker: I also love you endlessly - which means all my power and ability is turned toward helping you and making you more like my Son. See? I heard and responded to Hezekiah’s anquish for help - as only the Creator (and extender) of life could do. Fortunately for you (and all my children) I am for you, never against you. Yes, you anger me at times - all children do that to their fathers. But I am able to present you faultless before me with everlasting joy. That’s the plans, the thoughts, that I, the true, living, all-powerful El-Elyon have for you, my precious, precious child. What I said to God: What can I say? I will let my words be few. Jesus, I am so in love with you. Thank you. Thank you, most awesome and majestic One.
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09.25.06
Posted in Thoughts on Isaiah at 10:16 am by Administrator
Text: Isaiah 37 Theme: Showing Himself to be the true God Key verses: “The king (of Assyria) sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying…’Do not let your God in whom you trust decieve you, saying, ‘Jerusalem will not be given over’…Have the gods of the nations delivered those whom my fathers have destroyed?’” (vs. 10, 12) “Then Hezekiah prayed…saying ‘O Lord of hosts…You are God, you alone…” (vs. 15) “…the kings…have laid waste all the nations…and cast their gods into the fire”…”save us from his hand that all kingdoms…may know that You are the Lord, you alone.” (vs. 19, 20) What God said to me: Dwayne, my Word is chugged full of incredible and defining moments just like this one. Why aren’t you reading about them more often? I will gladly remind you everyday of the big picture of life - how that I am Lord over all, how that you need not fret or wonder who’s in charge. When my sovereignty is questioned or challenged by power-mongers and bullies around you, do you immediately turn to me for help, like Hezekiah did? Or do you shake in your shoes and secretly hope I’m big enough to come to the rescue? Need I prove myself to you over and over? Trust me, try me and once you’ve proven me, then rest in your Blessed Hope… What I said to God: Holy and Righteous God, the only true and living God, I do trust you. ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus! How I’ve proved you o’re and o’re! Even if this world and my world crumble, I will place my hope and faith in you, precious and faithful Father. Thank you for your Word that lays on my shelf begging to be read so to remind me who you really are and whose I am in you! I love you, Lord. Fill me and use me today.
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