War and Empty Words!

In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them. Then the king of Assyria sent his field commander with a large army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. When the commander stopped at the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field, Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder went out to him. The field commander said to them, “Tell Hezekiah: “ ‘This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing this confidence of yours? You say you have counsel and might for war—but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me? Look, I know you are depending on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff, which pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it! Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who depend on him. But if you say to me, “We are depending on the LORD our God”—isn’t he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, “You must worship before this altar”? “ ‘Come now, make a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses—if you can put riders on them! How then can you repulse one officer of the least of my master’s officials, even though you are depending on Egypt for chariots and horsemen? Furthermore, have I come to attack and destroy this land without the LORD? The LORD himself told me to march against this country and destroy it.’ ”Then Eliakim, Shebna and Joah said to the field commander, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Don’t speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.” But the commander replied, “Was it only to your master and you that my master sent me to say these things, and not to the people sitting on the wall—who, like you, will have to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine?” Then the commander stood and called out in Hebrew, “Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria!  This is what the king says: Do not let Hezekiah deceive you. He cannot deliver you! Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the LORD when he says, ‘The LORD will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.’ “Do not listen to Hezekiah. This is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then each of you will eat fruit from your own vine and fig tree and drink water from your own cistern, until I come and take you to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards.“Do not let Hezekiah mislead you when he says, ‘The LORD will deliver us.’ Have the gods of any nations ever delivered their lands from the hand of the king of Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they rescued Samaria from my hand? Who of all the gods of these countries have been able to save their lands from me? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?” But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, “Do not answer him.”Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary and Joah son of Asaph the recorder went to Hezekiah, with their clothes torn, and told him what the field commander had said. Isaiah 36 NIV

Oh what lessons we can learn by reviewing history about wars and words.

Liars didn’t just start lying in the 21st Century; they’ve been around for a long time–and they lied to gain an advantage over gullible people–people easily swayed and deluded.

In this passage of scripture–the field commander–(unnamed at this point) lies to Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah in the hearing of the people–attempting to make them doubt what they already knew–The Lord would deliver them. In other words–the commander was trying to “gaslight” the people, but the people refused to answer him because they had been warned not to say anything. And saying nothing, means more than spewing empty words that will only provoke violence.

Someone should read this passage to the #WHidiot before he gets us all killed with his empty rhetoric. He doesn’t have a foreign policy plan and has never had a plan. He didn’t realize the enormity of the job in the Oval Office and thought he could make up stuff as he went. His empty words–not understood by anyone–fell on the ears of the world watching and wondering, what he meant about Assad getting a message. Representative Maxine Waters had the best advice for him, “Shut up!” He needs to be quiet and stop trying to sound tough, when he’s shaking in his boots because he doesn’t have a clue and he won’t listen to anyone who does.

While he was running his mouth, the king of Jordan looked stunned at the ignorance displayed by the so-called president of the United States. What a joke we are to those watching this ship sink!

It would be interesting if he ever did any homework about anyone he’s hosting at the White House and it would even be more interesting if he learned diplomacy and etiquette for a real leader.  Attempting to have “policy talks” with King Abdullah and his 35 years of military service compared to a repeat draft dodger–is laughable at best! The idiot-in-chief knows nothing about being in the military, procedure or foreign policy, nor does his son-in-law, or daughter. And they’re in the White House advising him because what…?

At any rate, The Lord delivered and Hezekiah proved to be faithful to the God of Heaven and remained steadfast in his belief that His God–was God.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to know that we had a “modern-day Hezekiah” praying and acting on our behalf–even in the face of danger–knowing that God is not a man that He should lie?

Unfortunately, we don’t have a Hezekiah in the White House and we know because he suffers from a “savior-complex,” thinking he has all the answers and he alone can fix stuff. So the rest of us–who do know God, must pray and be faithful unto Him who is able to deliver us and not count on the #WHidiot and his empty words or we shall surely fall by the wayside.

 

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Rising Stench!

See now, the Lord, the LORD Almighty, is about to take from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: all supplies of food and all supplies of water, the hero and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor, skilled craftsman and clever enchanter.“I will make mere youths their officials; children will rule over them.” People will oppress each other— man against man, neighbor against neighbor. The young will rise up against the old, the nobody against the honored. A man will seize one of his brothers in his father’s house, and say, “You have a cloak, you be our leader; take charge of this heap of ruins!” But in that day he will cry out, “I have no remedy. I have no food or clothing in my house; do not make me the leader of the people.”Jerusalem staggers, Judah is falling; their words and deeds are against the LORD, defying his glorious presence. The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves. Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds. Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done.Youths oppress my people, women rule over them. My people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path. The LORD takes his place in court; he rises to judge the people. The LORD enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: “It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty. The LORD says, “The women of Zion are haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, strutting along with swaying hips, with ornaments jingling on their ankles. Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion; the LORD will make their scalps bald.” In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces, the earrings and bracelets and veils, the headdresses and anklets and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, the signet rings and nose rings, the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls. Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a sash, a rope; instead of well-dressed hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, branding.Your men will fall by the sword, your warriors in battle. The gates of Zion will lament and mourn; destitute, she will sit on the ground. Isaiah 3 NIV

Do we get it yet?

God is not pleased with what He sees,

Soon, the world will be brought to its knees,

With the poor abandoned and without hope,

Because the ill-informed, and ignorant did vote,

For the clown who claimed business acumen,

And proudly boasted of his deeds of sin.

Those who led the charge of change with lies,

Have let all know–darkness in their heart resides,

And reigns–saving money but resulting in early deaths,

Of those uninsured, covered indeed with casket wreaths.

A little literary license with words this morning to make the point–God is not dead, nor is He blind or deaf, nor is He indifferent to the plight of the poor or the deeds of the wicked. He will take care of the righteous though they be few, in Him on a daily basis our hearts can renew our hope in Him and Him alone, since lawmakers have made their positions known and unless we are part of the 1%–who don’t have to worry about rent– they could care less about us.

The stench from the ugliness and smokescreens in Washington have not reached the height or depth–with fuel constantly being added to the smoldering tinderbox that is bound to implode or explode with all the new revelations coming forth.

Get out the gas mask, the shovel and hip boots because it’s about get deep and the stench, could kill–clogging respiration, digestion, circulation, as the desperation becomes apparent and finally–truth emerges.

Just a little while longer and we’ll all be free to see the death hold of lies, Russian connections and ties and false propaganda cease with complete purging of the White House and Capitol Hill.

Hallelujah! Soon and very soon, we will be free from the wickedness that rules in the guise of  being Christian leadership.

And It Shall Be!

And so it shall be:

Instead of a sweet smell there will be a stench;
Instead of a sash, a rope;
Instead of well-set hair, baldness;
Instead of a rich robe, a girding of sackcloth;
And branding instead of beauty.

Your men shall fall by the sword,
And your mighty in the war.

Her gates shall lament and mourn,
And she being desolate shall sit on the ground.  Isaiah 3:24-26 NKJV

Whenever we as a people–men and women–male and female–all created by Him who created all things–refuse to obey God and do things His way, we find ourselves on the receiving end of the consequences of disobedience. And when we see these things coming to fruition, most don’t acknowledge the role they play in helping us get there and instead, point fingers–blaming others–never accepting responsibility for what they do.

This has been the story of mankind–from the beginning when we are discovered in our muck–blaming others. In the garden, after succumbing to temptation and listening to the serpent who influenced doubt about God’s Word (“you shall not surely die”), Adam and the woman both blamed others for their act of disobedience. Adam blamed God for giving him the woman and the woman blamed the serpent because they apparently forgot that God knows all. Even though they refused to accept responsibility for their actions, they all received the consequences of their disobedience--the man having to work the land in order to eat; the woman having children accompanied by pain, and the serpent–once able to walk upright–having to crawl on his belly.

Though there are many who refuse to understand and accept God’s Word in totality--the refusal to accept does not change the reality of the consequences we shall all feel when we disobey. God’s Word shall stand long after all the “politically correct” nonsense fades away, long after mankind enters a new phase of generated extinction because of “feelings” and long after lies are exposed–about everything the enemy has influenced, God’s Word shall stand and it shall be as He warned us.

What we have overlooked–time after time–is that we are simply to obey God–no matter how we feel. No where in the bible will we find God telling us to function based upon our feelings. Though He wants us to be compassionate–loving and helpful to others–He does not tell us to act out of emotional turmoil. He recognizes all the feelings–the emotional capacity He placed in us, but He expects us to obey Him in all things and that includes–being self-disciplined (not submitting to our feelings).

That’s the biggest problem we face and have faced throughout history–people operating in their feelings. Wars have started because of a lack of discipline and disobedience. When people don’t control their emotions–they ignite negative environments and we see strife, bigotry, and hatred towards others because of “feelings” and not because anyone has actually responded to another person’s feelings.

When we allow our emotions to overrule common sense–we end up with problems that run rampant causing all sorts of evil against humanity. Emotions are fickle at best and for some–their feelings change as often as they blink their eyes and every time their feelings change, they allow their tongue to wag--without control–speaking when they should be thinking and then they wonder how–they arrive at the door of destruction. If we refuse to read God’s Word with understanding, then we dig a hole in which there will be no way out and then–it shall be as God said.

It’s past time we woke and smelled the stench that pervades the atmosphere–the hatred, the bigotry, the lies that lead to people living by their feelings and expecting others to embrace their disobedient, emotionalized feelings. All of this comes before God as a stench so strong there will never be enough air freshener to change it. Disobedience is a horrible smell and it leaves a stain for all to see–and Tide can’t clean it. And since it smells horribly and makes God cringe–all of the consequences promised to us for our disobedience–shall be.

It’s time we got our act together and stopped stinking up the atmosphere and send up a sweet fragrance of obedience to God in all things and submit our feelings to His Will.

Who Will Be Exalted!

The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. The LORD Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled), for all the cedars of Lebanon, tall and lofty, and all the oaks of Bashan, for all the towering mountains and all the high hills, for every lofty tower and every fortified wall, for every trading ship and every stately vessel. The arrogance of man will be brought low and human pride humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day, and the idols will totally disappear. Isaiah 2:11-18 NIV

What is an idol? An image or material object representing a deity to which religious worship is addressed or any person or thing regarded with blind admiration, adoration or devotion, or a false conception or notion, according to the dictionary.

Given the definition of an idol and rightly interpreting the use in The Word, what idols do we have that we exalt above God?

Notice the last part of the definition–a false conception–that which is not true. The carved images to which some have given “power and authority” are false. The manufactured things given power and authority are false. The people for whom some have blind admiration and devotion to are not real--they are false and should never be exalted above God. But that’s what we do–we exalt celebrities and their opinions above God’s Word.

We exalt sin above righteousness and don’t even recognize that the words we use underscore where our hearts really are when we “idolize” celebrities and other well-known people or ideologies that are opposed to God’s Word.

We celebrate confusion and chaos that reign in the lives of all who believe God doesn’t know what He’s doing or did when they were born–idolizing that confusion and exalting it above God’s Word and intent for mankind.

We idolize foolishness and ignorance as long it supports and promotes emotionalized views of bigotry and hatred against others.

In all of this idolatry and idolizing of things and people–we must understand the spirit behind our behavior. If we are not influenced by the Spirit of Righteousness, we are influenced by the spirit of evil by the arch enemy of God–Satan. It is Satan’s influence that moved upon people to exalt their carved images above the obedience of God. The idols they created were given power and authority they did not have. But because the masses were blinded to truth, they worshiped the idols–out of ignorance.

We are yet doing the same thing today–worshiping idols, worshiping things and people–out of ignorance–giving them exalted status–false power and authority that doesn’t really exist–above understanding God’s Truth and intent for mankind.

But the day is coming–and it will be soon–when all the false gods will be exposed and fear will be embedded in the hearts of all who held the idols in greater esteem than God alone. When they see the consequences of their actions rising to crush them, they will attempt to run and hide, but there is no hiding place from God. He alone has created all that was ever created and He knows every nook and cranny of every mountain, every divide in all the bodies of water and He knows our hearts–whether they are good or evil.

Those who love The Lord and obey His Word know they have no need to fear the calamity that will fall upon all who have ignored God. They know a place has been established for them for all eternity to live in the presence of the Most High God. And in the day the calamity occurs–utter destruction–of all idols–whether people or things–then they will know that The Lord alone will be exalted!

Prayer For The Nations!

Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth! For the LORD has spoken: “I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Woe to the sinful nation, a people whose guilt is great, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the LORD; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him. Isaiah 1:2-4 NIV

Is this how The Lord sees us today?

I can imagine–I have a very vivid imagination–that God is looking down upon the earth, shaking His head in pure amazement at how far we’ve turned from Him. I can imagine Him thinking about all He has done for the creation–mankind–whom He loves and yet time after time, we have forsaken Him in pursuit of our own carnal desires. I can imagine Him thinking about the lessons we have not learned from events of the past which will revisit us again. I can imagine Him thinking how He wasted His time, coming down and living among men, determined to show us how much He loves, by His death and resurrection. I can imagine the tears falling–in the rain that decimates–because He is so sad with our plight in life. I can imagine Him turning His back to us, stopping His ears so He won’t hear us–just as some of us have stopped up our ears and won’t hear Him. I can imagine the pain He must feel–when our sin–deliberate actions–opposed to His Word–piercing Him even sharper than the nails that held Him on the cross and the spear that pierced His side. And I can imagine–that the blood flowing–all across the land–is the result of the anguish, He feels–gushing out from Him– because we will not obey. I can imagine and I’m sure I’m not the only one!

Will we ever learn? Do we not see how our behavior causes God to grieve for us?

There is so much devastation across the globe that has led to loss of life and hope that the only way we can recover is to submit to God, completely. And if we don’t, we’ll continue to reap the just reward for our behavior.

Father, in the name of Jesus,

We stand before You–guilty as charged–of all You have asked us not to do as Your Children, and repent of our sins. Help us O Lord, to be mindful at all times that You and You alone are worthy of all praise and that we can grieve Holy Spirit when we refuse to obey. Help us to learn from the history recorded in Your Word so we’ll not see the captivity of Your children by enemy forces. Help us to understand that every Word–written by inspiration–and recorded has a purpose for our lives. Help us O God to know with certainty when You speak and help us to quickly obey. O God, You have told us repeatedly what we must do in order to receive the blessings You have in store for us. Speak to the hearts of all who belong to You, and ignite in them–repentance and complete submission to You, so all can benefit from the obedience.

Father, You have said in Your Word, that if, “Your people (we) who are called by Your Name, will humble themselves and pray, seek Your face, and turn from their wicked ways, then You would hear and heal the land.”

I am Yours and will not seek to please another. I’m seeking Your continued mercy and guidance for all the land and submit to the direction and leading of Holy Spirit and will speak as You give me direction to speak to all who will hear.

Keep us O Lord from receiving the full brunt of Your wrath because of our disobedience and disregard of Your Word. Forgive the ignorance in the minds of all who do not know You and create in them a heart and desire to know You and become one of Yours.

All this we ask and thank You for in Jesus’ Name, Amen!

We Can’t Get Tired Now!

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV

Day after day, week after week, year after year, no matter how much we attempt to do to change what happens around us, we don’t see the change we want to see, but we can’t get tired, now.

Though adversity after adversity confronts us, wearies us, and angers us, we must keep doing what we know is right–guided by Holy Spirit--maintaining our hope in Him who is the Light who dispels the darkness.

Even when we are walking in the Light of Love, we must guard our hearts and recognize the wolf in sheep’s clothing or the smiling faces who hide the poison in the conversation. Not every smiling face is a friend and when we look closely at the eyes–those orbs that reflect the depth of the soul, we know who is a friend and who is the enemy’s tool.

Every day we wake, we will face some known and some unknown challenges. Many we will overcome, but there are some that drain us dry, leaving us weak and wondering why we bother to continue. That’s life–we can’t take it personally and we must never get tired of trying to do the right thing. When we are weak in our strength, we can count on Him to strengthen us. When our thoughts attempt to defeat us, we have to encourage ourselves in The Lord.

Living for The Lord is not easy, but it is gratifying beyond the description of mere words. Those who don’t understand cannot fathom why we keep on the path He has set before us. They participate in the scorn and ridicule and wait for us to become as they are and when we don’t–they are confused, while we just smile and give God the glory!

If you’re like me and have been facing all sorts of challenges–physical, emotional, and spiritual--praying fervently for those in need, while it seems that no one is praying for you; strengthening yourself in the Word just to keep from going off on those around you, mumbling to keep from saying the wrong thing since words once spoken can never be retrieved; and living in the hope we have in Jesus–don’t get tired now!

When people say all manner of things about you that aren’t true–just thank God for them spending so much and attention on you. You really matter to them! When your body acts like it belongs in a morgue, speak life to your body and tell it to get up and get going. When your heart hurts because people disappoint you, focus on the One who never disappoints. We have an advocate in the midst of every trial and temptation and His name is Jesus!

Until He returns, we are victorious in Him on this side of heaven, so we can’t get tired now!

Is Holy Spirit Infilling Wasted On Us?

“This is what God the Lord says–the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison, and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” (Isaiah 42:5-7 NIV).

The Spirit of the Lord–poured into His Servant (Jesus Christ) and for all who choose to serve Him–this is the promise fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ and is still being fulfilled in those who follow Him and obey the Father. When He returned to heaven, He promised that He would provide us with the Comforter–His Spirit–so we would be able to do all things.

Through the record of events as noted by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, we know that Jesus did all that had been prophesied by the prophet Isaiah and what is more notable is–Jesus telling us that we would do greater things than He did because we would have the power of His Spirit to guide us, strengthen us, and teach us.

We know what Jesus did being filled with the Spirit of the Father–but what are we doing–being filled with His Spirit? Has His promise atrophied in those who claim to be filled or do we need to stay before–seeking constant refilling and when we are filled, are we doing the greater works that He said we would do?

If we are filled (not just sealed as some would argue) with Holy Spirit–are we seeking to open blinded eyes, laying hands on the sick so they will recover, interceding on behalf of those in far-away places as well those under our own roof? Are we visiting those in prisons promoting the message of Good News–a Risen Savior has taken upon Himself all of our sins that we might abundant life? Are we the beacons of light that shine brightly, leading those in darkness out of the dungeons of circumstances and oppression?

Before you ask yourself these questions, please think about what being filled with Holy Spirit means versus being sealed by Holy Spirit. Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:30, ” And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” To understand the difference between being sealed and being filled–think about the contents of an envelope. We are the envelope–an empty vessel–until we are filled and then sealed. Now, many are filled with various content which is why Paul admonishes us to not be filled with bitterness, anger and slanderous tongues. Once the envelope is sealed–nothing else should be able to get into it, unless it is opened and its content revealed. When we first repent and accept Jesus as our Person Savior, we are sealed against the wiles of the enemy, but when we receive the infilling of Holy Spirit, we are empowered from within to withstand the fiery darts the enemy throws our way.

When we understand that our bodies are the “temple where Holy Spirit resides” we would be careful as to how we treat our bodies–providing Holy Spirit a clean place in which to live so He can clearly communicate with us all we need to know. Choosing to live in sin grieves Holy Spirit and He will leave since He will not dwell in a defiled place. When He leaves, the seal is broken and all that is within us exposed for all to see.

What are you doing with the infilling of Holy Spirit? Are you seeking the lost to bring them to the light of love and has your seal been broken because of the content within you–is not of Holy Spirit?

Looking at the world today–and the number of professing Believers–I’m not sure Holy Spirit is guiding many people and I can tell by the chaos that most of our government leaders do not even Holy Spirit has left the building and there are voids in their hearts that the enemy has filled.

But all is not lost for the Lord promised He would save for Himself–a remnant–the few who will remain faithful and filled, serving Him at all times, and allowing Holy Spirit to direct them. On that remnant–the infilling of Holy Spirit resides within and they will serve The Lord until the day of His returned, completely sealed–immune the tricks of the enemy.

Giving God His Rightful Place In Our Lives!

“LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.” (Isaiah 25:1 NIV)

When we honor God, by recognizing who He is in our lives and praise Him for it, He honors His Word to us. When the prophet was speaking to God, he acknowledged God’s authority over his life and deliberately exalted Him and praised for others to hear, proclaiming His faithfulness in all things.

When we call Him, “Lord” we are acknowledging the authority we have given Him over our lives--as defined by the use of the word at the time King James authorized that translation. Lords of the land, governed and provided for those who lived on the land. Since God is our provider, and we have given Him authority over our lives, He is rightly declared–Lord.

We exalt Him--lift Him up and declare all of His wonderful works–His provisions and the miracles He works in our lives. No one else deserves the praise for what He does–He inspires, He corrects, He motivates, He pours into His wisdom, He gives us favor with men, He never leaves us alone and His Word is true for He is not a man that He should lie or change His mind.

His faithfulness towards is enduring–everlasting and without measure. All He said He would do, He does–in His timing, not ours. All of His plans, decided before we were born, will be brought to pass when we hear Him and obey. For He has said, through the prophet Jeremiah, “I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and give you a future.”

His plans–will be fulfilled–when we seek Him first–before doing anything, hear and obey. Whenever we’re not sure of what we should be doing, we need to ask Him. And we need not be afraid to approach Him boldly because He has given us permission to do so and when we do as He desires, He knows He can trust us to do what He wants us to do.

We serve an awesome God, who only wants the best for us and He’s waiting for us to turn to Him and trust Him, implicitly. Can we give Him His rightful place as Lord of our lives and trust Him to provide–not only everything we need, but also to give us the desires of our hearts when we please Him?

He’s waiting with open arms to receive us as His own. Why are waiting to give Him what is rightfully His–Lordship over our lives and praise for all He has done and will do?

If we have yet to make that decision–to give Him His rightful place–Lord of our lives, today is a good day to make that decision. Reading beyond the first verse of this chapter, we understand that even the destruction of lands who ignore Him or won’t obey Him is part of His plans for disobedience. Today is the day–don’t wait another moment–accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and know where you’ll spend eternity.

God Still Has True Prophets Speaking His Truth!

“They have chosen their own ways, and they delight in their abominations; so I also will choose harsh treatment for them and will bring on them what they dread. For when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, no one listened. They did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me.” (Isaiah 66:3b,4 NIV)

When the prophet spoke to the those who were willing to listen, he revealed God’s thoughts and declarations and promises. And this is the role of a prophet–to hear God and speak what God says–not what they want to say.

One of the reasons the children of Israel did not want to listen to any of God’s prophets is because they spoke God’s Truth rather than tell the people what they wanted to hear. It’s not always easy telling people the truth; especially when they choose to not hear it and then get angry because someone dared to speak truth. When the king had enough of Isaiah prophesying against all the evil they were doing, he ordered Isaiah to be cut in half–like they cut up the bulls for sacrifice.

In the face of all this persecution and ultimate death, not many people wanted to tell the people what God said out of fear. That was then and it is still true. People would rather pacify others than speak God’s Truth out of fear of persecution from those in leadership positions. We who know God, hear God and love Him have no need to fear anyone else. They can only kill the body, not our souls or keep us from receiving our just rewards from God.

Is there anyone out there who God is speaking to but afraid to say what God says? Are we yet willing to hear, but don’t want to upset the apple cart or care too much about what others will think of us? Is there anybody left on the planet who is as bold and courageous as the devil, willing to speak up when they hear God?

There are a few people who are bold enough to say what God says–no matter what others may think. I see them what they have to say on Twitter without anonymous profile pictures. I see them on Facebook, and Tumblr, and Google. We are here to stay and we have no fear of those who choose to live in opposition to God’s Word and we don’t care what their title is or what their position in government is–WE WILL SAY WHAT GOD SAYS AND BE JUDGED BY HIM AND HIM ALONE!

Every morning, the first thing I do is to read what God has said and then He speaks to my heart and I respond by writing an explanation, exegesis, poem, analysis, or whatever anyone wants to call my blogs. This is the will of God for me and I will continue to do it as long as I have life since my life belongs to Him. When people choose to live outside the will of God, they choose the consequences for disobedience and when they will not hear or heed God’s people warning them, their just reward is all they can get. Those of us who love God, love people enough to tell them the truth, and not just what they want to hear.  And we will keep saying what God says, whether people want to hear it or not!

True Witnesses!

“You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.”(Isaiah 43:10 NIV)

How is it that people make things–either themselves or buy what others have made–and worship them? If the things are made by man’s hand, how do we give them more power and honor than the one who made them? If then, we are worshipping things, can we be a true witness for what God does?

A true witness does not prevaricate, does not manipulate truth, does not quibble truth (nitpicking it selectively)–they will only speak about those events they actually see or participate in with others. If we Believe The Word, then we can be true witnesses for all God has said when we have hidden the Word in our hearts and have participated in the works of spreading the Gospel.

Do we understand that The God who has no form or origin, no beginning or end is truly The God of Heaven, all Creation and without Him, nothing was ever created; He is not “a god” as others say? Have we fine-tuned our relationship with Him so we know when we hear Him and will not listen to the lies of who speak against Him or oppose Him? Do we know that everything He did for His chosen, He will continue to do until He returns to take us to be with Him?

If we are going to be true witnesses of who He is, we must learn to model our behavior after Him. We should do what He does, according to what He has said. We love, we teach, we admonish and correct, and we forgive and move on. We know not everyone will hear us and that’s their choice; our job is to share the Gospel, not make people believe since we have no authority or ability to make anyone do anything.

We are told by Jesus if others will not hear us to shake the dust off our feet and keep going. In other words–keep it moving–we don’t have time to waste on those who are determined to allow Satan to rule their lives. We pray for them that they will see a need to turn to God, but we cannot make them. We allow them their choice and leave them to their consequences!

God has always allowed people to make choices–and what we actively and consciously do is a choice. He allowed Adam and Eve to make choices and left them to their consequences. He allowed Herod, and all the leaders of Egypt to make their choices and live with their consequences. He is the same God, using the same strategy to get us to Believe Him. He used the prophets and miracles and He’s yet using prophets and miracles and most of us are–miracles--we survived situations that should have killed us, but we are yet here–to testify of His goodness–as true witnesses!

True witnesses understand and believe everything The Word has said because they hear God speaking through Holy Spirit, confirming His Word and directing us in all things. All who believe Him (not man or men), and can act on His behalf are His true witnesses that will bring others into knowledge of Him.