Far or Near, God Restores

I have seen their ways, but I will heal them;
   I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners,
   creating praise on their lips.
Peace, peace, to those far and near,”
   says the Lord. “And I will heal them.”
Isaiah 57:18-19 (NIV)

God saves us because. Because of his grace, not our goodness. 
He sees our ways, but, he still will heal us. 
We go astray and he still guides. 
We wander and he restores and comforts us.
We could be far or we can be near and he still offers us peace with him in Christ. 
Whatever the wound, he will heal. 

Father, help us to walk with you in humility and willingness. Thank for your healing love for us. Praise be to you in us today!

Time To Call A Professional

And it will be said: 
“Build up, build up, prepare the road!
   Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.”
For this is what the high and exalted One says—
   he who lives forever, whose name is holy:
“I live in a high and holy place,
   but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly 
   and to revive the heart of the contrite.
I will not accuse them forever,
   nor will I always be angry,
for then they would faint away because of me—
   the very people I have created.
Isaiah 57:14-16 (NIV)

Amazing! God, is high and lifted up, who lives forever, also lives with those who are contrite and lowly in spirit. My problem is that when I am feeling down I don't always look to God. I kind of want to pull myself together first. 

The truth is that the more I try to pull myself together the worse things get. Once I was going to try to fix a drain pipe below the sink in one of our bathrooms. As soon as I started to remove it I realized it was beyond me. The previous owners had tried to just throw more pipes onto the problem. It was a mess. We had a plumber come and he fixed it. 

This is kind of like us with our problems, we try to fix things and just add more problems. When we are lowly in spirit it means that we realize that God alone can make things right. Joy comes in knowing that God wants to revive us. 

God knows our weaknesses, our frailty and our need for him. He wants to build us up and remove the obstacles from our way. 

Father, we need you to work in our lives, to build us up and remove the obstacles from our ways. We look to you and wait upon you to lift us up in you. Praise be to you in us today!

Do You remember Who You Are?

“Remember these things, Jacob,
   for you, Israel, are my servant.
I have made you, you are my servant;
   Israel, I will not forget you.
I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
 your sins like the morning mist.
Return to me, for I have redeemed you.”
Isaiah 44:21-22 (NIV)

As stubborn and rebellious as Israel was I have been. But, the amazing truth is that God, in his grace, sweeps away our sins. He made and and makes us his servants. When we stray he calls us to return to him because he has redeemed us. 

Father, help us to rest in your grace return to you when we stray. Praise be to you in us today!

Do You See Your Stream in the Wasteland?

“Forget the former things;
   do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
   Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
   and streams in the wasteland.
The wild animals honor me, 
   the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the wilderness 
   and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
   the people I formed for myself
   that they may proclaim my praise."
Isaiah 43:18-21 (NIV)

Do you notice that God does not say that he will take you out of the wilderness or remove you from the wasteland? What he does say is that he will provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. I think I usually pray to get out of the wilderness and removed from the wasteland. 

When I met my wife, I was at church, trying to serve God. I didn't find her at a dating service or a different church's singles group. I did feel a bit like I was in an emotional wilderness. But, that is where God provided. 

So my point is that you may be in a wilderness, a wasteland where it is really hard to see how God could provide, but, he can and he will. He will provide not just water, but streams. Think about that. When God provides he doesn't just want to give you enough to revive you, he wants you to know what you need is always at hand. I like watching survivalist shows sometimes and they always need water. Having a ready supply of drinkable water is essential for life. God promises to supply us with ready supplies of water to give us what we need. 

Father, open our eyes to see the steams you have provided for our lives. Praise be to you in us today! 

Is Your Trial God's Protection?

The living, the living - they praise you,
   as I am doing today;
fathers tell their children
   about your faithfulness.
The LORD will save me,
   and we will sing with stringed instruments
all the days of our lives
   in the temple of the LORD.
Isaiah 38:19-20

It's funny how some "tough" situations can be God's protection. When I first started teaching I was worried that some more experienced teacher might bump me out because of seniority. Finally, one of the veteran teachers said, "No one wants your job. No teacher who is from one of the "good" areas is going to want to come down here to South Central and teach." She was right. Although I got pink slips (saying my position was in danger) for my first few years, never once did I come even close to losing my job or position. God placed me in a class that no one else wanted. I was safe there. 

Where are you now? Are you in a tough position? Maybe a job or assignment that is not all that glamorous? Maybe God has you there to protect you. He definitely wants to reveal his faithfulness to you. Remember that  God's love for you is unfailing and his faithfulness is unchanging. Thank you, Lord!

Father, help us to trust you where we are at and thrive. Praise be to you in us today!

WHICH SIDE OF PRAISE ARE YOU ON?

Which side of this Song of Praise are you on? 

Songs of Praise 

In that day you will say: 
      “I will praise you, Lord.
   Although you were angry with me,
your anger has turned away
   and you have comforted me.
Surely God is my salvation;
   I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense;
   he has become my salvation.”
With joy you will draw water 
   from the wells of salvation. 
In that day you will say: 
“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
   make known among the nations what he has done,
   and proclaim that his name is exalted.
Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things;
   let this be known to all the world.
Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion,
   for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”
Isaiah 12:1-6 (NIV)

I think I have found myself on both sides of these verses. There have been times where God has worked and I am filled with relief, joy and thankfulness. And there are times when I am looking for salvation, for "glorious things" to be done in my life. I think I am looking for some more glorious things to be done in my life, but, I look back to what he has done to give me hope and faith to seek him at this time.

What side of praise are you on today?

TELL US WHY YOU ARE THANKFUL!

For to us a child is born, 

     to us a son is given,

     and the government will be on his shoulders. 

And he will be called 

   Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 

   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, 

establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. 

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)

The reason to be thankful!

I am also deeply thankful for my family! 

BIG COURAGE

"So do not fear, for I am with you;
     do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
 I will strengthen you and help you;
     I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
 Isaiah 41:10

When I think of people I have know who have shown courage in their faith I am always reminded of a little lady from Uganda I met while attending Capernwray Bible School in England. She seemed so small and so fragile but, after talking to her I was blown away by her courage and faith.

She told me that while she, her husband and her sons were attend a home bible study the notoriously brutal Idi Amin's (Uganda) men barged into the house and told everyone to lay face down on the ground. They were warned to not look up or be shot! After 20-30 minutes someone finally looked up and said they were gone. All the men and boys were gone! Although she searched for them she never saw her husband or sons again. 

I asked her how she was able to move on from that. She told me that she did not know how, she only knew that God gave her the strength each day to make it through that day.  

Father, help us to courageously hold on to you by faith. Thank you for giving us the strength we need for today. Praise be to you in us today!