Saturday, July 14, 2012

Isaiah 40

     I've been reading my "Breaking Free" devotional today, and man!  Beth Moore takes us through some powerful verses on God's sovereignty in Isaiah chapters 40, 45-46.  They inspire such natural worship.  I challenge you to check them out and think about these 4 categories she presented us with : Creation, Idols, Humanity, and God's uniqueness.  They're all delineated and displayed very well in these verses. 
     Now some background: I got started on birth control recently to fix my ongoing iron depletion.  I'm sorry if that's too much information for you; I tried to deliver that as stomach-friendly as possible.  So I can already tell my emotions have been a little wonky leading up to this trip.  I'm sure there's also been some attack from the Enemy.  I've seen evidence of that as early as immediately following the prayer service our church had for us and another missions team Sunday night.  Thankfully, a friend had spent significant time in prayer over me prior to that incident, so unbeknownst to me, God was getting me to ready to weather that one.  He provided me unnatural peace and grace to get me through it relatively unscathed.  He's so good to me, and I'm so thankful that she was so faithful in obedience.
     However, the rest of the week it's been sneakily subtle.  (I don't know if that's a word, but I like it, so I'm going with it.)  I struggle with overthinking things, so he just throws in some wacky thoughts that if given attention, serve to distract me from the main things: loving God and loving others.  But after reading those verses, it's so satisfying and refreshing to read about Who God is and His power and goodness!  He's so solid and unchanging; He's the only thing that is!  And if He's unchanging, then so is His love for me and my worth in Him.  Come what may, those are are unchanging because of Who He is. 
     I'm so blessed by this.  It truly strengthens my heart.  I invite you to check out those verses.  God is so gracious to reveal Himself to us through His Word.  Take and eat, friend.  Let your heart rest in the One Who is like none other. 

P.S.  "This trip" is that I leave for India on Monday with Kyle.  We'll be heading down to Ankoor Children's Home to visit these people.  Kyle lived there for 4.5 months back in 2009.  We're taking a ton of school supplies and plan on getting pics, videos, and crafts that will help raise money at next year's auction.  The son of the couple who run the home will be meeting us at the airport in Delhi and escorting us down there (there's another flight down to Nagpur involved).  Please pray, and I promise to update with pics as soon as I return. 

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Girl...the devil is always attacking, and God is always protecting. I can't wait to hear about your trip...and have a happy birthday while you are over there!

penman@originalgospel.org said...

Like at least one of your other commenters, I stumbled on you blog by hitting the "next blog" button. I just thought I would let you know that people do read your blog, so you don't think you are just writing for the computer.

As Isaiah 40 (and the whole Bible) point out, God is in control. Satan can only do what God allows him to at this time. God is letting Satan remain on his throne over the earth for a while so mankind gets a bellyful of Satan's wrong way of life, so we can learn our lesson that only God's way works, but when God's time comes, He will send Jesus Christ to cast out Satan and rule this world and bring peace and happiness to the earth, and then He will set His hand to save all mankind.

Isaiah 40:1 says, " 'Comfort, yes, comfort My people!' Says your God".

Why will we need to be comforted, and when will this take place? The answer is given in the next verse.

"That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD’s hand Double for all her sins" (Isaiah 40:2).

This is referring to a time of punishment when we will receive double for all our sins, and after that, God will forgive our sins and comfort us. That time is just ahead, so we have some hard times to go through first.

Like a loving parent, God disciplines us for our own good, to teach us lessons for eternity.

penman@originalgospel.org said...

Like at least one of your other commenters, I stumbled on you blog by hitting the "next blog" button. I just thought I would let you know that people do read your blog, so you don't think you are just writing for the computer.

As Isaiah 40 (and the whole Bible) point out, God is in control. Satan can only do what God allows him to at this time. God is letting Satan remain on his throne over the earth for a while so mankind gets a bellyful of Satan's wrong way of life, so we can learn our lesson that only God's way works, but when God's time comes, He will send Jesus Christ to cast out Satan and rule this world and bring peace and happiness to the earth, and then He will set His hand to save all mankind.

Isaiah 40:1 says, " 'Comfort, yes, comfort My people!' Says your God".

Why will we need to be comforted, and when will this take place? The answer is given in the next verse.

"That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD’s hand Double for all her sins" (Isaiah 40:2).

This is referring to a time of punishment when we will receive double for all our sins, and after that, God will forgive our sins and comfort us. That time is just ahead, so we have some hard times to go through first.

Like a loving parent, God disciplines us for our own good, to teach us lessons for eternity.

penman@originalgospel.org said...

Like at least one of your other commenters, I stumbled on you blog by hitting the "next blog" button. I just thought I would let you know that people do read your blog, so you don't think you are just writing for the computer.

As Isaiah 40 (and the whole Bible) point out, God is in control. Satan can only do what God allows him to at this time. God is letting Satan remain on his throne over the earth for a while so mankind gets a bellyful of Satan's wrong way of life, so we can learn our lesson that only God's way works, but when God's time comes, He will send Jesus Christ to cast out Satan and rule this world and bring peace and happiness to the earth, and then He will set His hand to save all mankind.

Isaiah 40:1 says, " 'Comfort, yes, comfort My people!' Says your God".

Why will we need to be comforted, and when will this take place? The answer is given in the next verse.

"That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD’s hand Double for all her sins" (Isaiah 40:2).

This is referring to a time of punishment when we will receive double for all our sins, and after that, God will forgive our sins and comfort us. That time is just ahead, so we have some hard times to go through first.

Like a loving parent, God disciplines us for our own good, to teach us lessons for eternity.

Anonymous said...

Keep writing for His glory!

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Maintenance Man said...

Wow your posts get comments all the time. Regarding your latest post, are we supposed to know who Beth Moore is?

I just took a peek at your prior blog post as well. Wait. The state of Washington cannot be the most unchurched state in the USA. You did still live in WA I presume.

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