THOUGHTS FROM ISAIAH

I was out of state on Friday and did not have internet connection so I'll pick up both days covering Isaiah 12 through 52.  (forty chapters)  Here are some hightlights: 1)EVERYDAY--17:7-" At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel."  I mentioned to the men at our Saturday Prayer Break-fast that when I read that verse it spoke to me that Everyday we should look to our Maker and everyday, we should have respect to the Holy One of Israel. 2)PERFECT PEACE- "Thou whilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."  We can be at peace in the midst of life's storms when our minds are kept on Jesus.  The Bible says: "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith..."  The key to peace is not the absence of trials, storms, pressure, stress, and whatever else life shows up with... the source of peace is always our faith and complete dependence upon Christ.  When we are hurt by other's actions, when we are disheartened by others who drop out of serving Christ, we must keep our focus on Christ.  I could be hurting so much when I see the choices some Christians are choosing, but I've decided to keep my mind focused on my Savior.  He is the only source of peace. 3)GROWTH-- As long as we are growing Christians, we will make it just fine.  The Bible tells us in 28:10-"For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept:  line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:"  You might think this is a litlte redundant, but God wants us to know that we grow one truth at a time, and here a little and there a little.  Are you growing in your faith?  Are you growing in your devotional life?  How about your Christian Service?  How are you growing in sharing your faith?  A growing Christian is a healthy Christian, but if we cease to grow, we are in danger of backslidding! 4)HOLY SPIRIT GUIDENCE- Isaiah 30:21-"And thine ears shall hear a word behind  thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left."  The Holy Spirit has always desired to guide those who follow God.  We must desire to be led of the Spirit, then we must be sensitive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and then we must be obedient to the guidence of the Holy Spirit.  Are you and I willing to be lead by the Holy Spirit today?  I want to be so led each and every day.  I wish I could say I am led each day by the Holy Spirit, but I can say that I desire to be so yielded by God's Holy Spirit. 5)Isaiah 34:16 tells us a wonderful truth with a great challenge to each of us.  It says:  "Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read:"  Just read.  People ask me how they can get more from God's Word, and they answer is simple.  Just read.  Just read when you don't feel like it, read early in the morning, read late at night, read each day of the week, just read and God will speak to your heart.  There are no secrets to getting MORE... unless it is this:  "Read MORE!"  6) "What have they seen in thine house?"  This is what the prophet asked Hezekiah who had just showed off his riches to the ambassadors of Bablylon.  Guess who came back for all of the wealth of the land.... the King of Babylon!!  But the question is posed about what was seen in his house.  What would people see if they could look in your house?  What books and magazines would they find?  What movies or music would they see?  What things would they see?  We need to make our homes a "safe haven" for us and our children.  Go though the house and clean house.  It will do our families good!!

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