Isaiah 23:17
17 And at the end of the seventy years, the Lord will restore Tyre and she will go back into business, prostituting herself with all the kingdoms of the world throughout the earth.
How do countries prostitute to each other? How does the US prositute to other countries?
President Trump has pulled us out of some examples–and oddly enough, we were playing prostitute *and* paying!
“Whenever anything begins to disintegrate in Your life with Jesus Christ, turn o Him at once and ask Him to establish rest. Never allow anything to remain which is making the dis-peace. Take every element of disintegration as something to wrestle against, and not to suffer … Beware of allowing self-consciousness to continue because by slow degrees it will awaken self-pity, and self-pity is Satanic. -Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, August 20
Take action, don’t just sit there and take things disintegrating in your life. This is one of my difficulties. When is it something to fight, wrestle, and when is it something that I need to suffer. Do I fight something directly, take action? Or is it something that I fight, wrestle with more discreetly. No matter what, I pray. I’m a take-charge, action person, so it is difficult for me to stay quiet and still when there is something not right.
Isaiah 20:3
3 the Lord said, “As my servant Isaiah has gone stripped and barefoot three years as a sign and omen against Egypt and Cush,
Three years barefoot and naked. Three years going everywhere. How much ridicule did he receive?
Being a prophet sure wasn’t easy!
“Anything that disturbs rest in Him must be cured at once, and it is not cured by being ignored, but by coming to Jesus Christ … Beware of leakage, of the dividing up of your life by the influence of friends or of circumstances; beware of anything that is going to split up your oneness with Him and make you see yourself separately.” -Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, August 19
Isaiah 18: At the time of Isaiah, Egypt was ruled by a Cushite (Ethiopian), Piankhi. Black Pharaohs only ruled for 100 years? When was this?
“Are you more devoted to your idea of what Jesus wants than to Himself?” -Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, August 18.
That’s a slipperly slope! How many times have I tried to put God in a box? How many times have I tried to justify my actions or reactions by using Jesus?
Right this instant I struggle with this. A person is accusing me of not being who I was a couple months ago. They claim I’m not doing the quality of work I used to, bringing up some of the thoughts I’ve had with time off. Is it true? Maybe. Probably. I can see both ways–I can justify myself.
But then I have to stop. I cannot change what people think, but I can choose to obey God! What does God say to do? Love, love, love. So how do I best do that? Therein lies my new question.
UPDATE: (8/20/20) I have discovered that I have been grieving a relationship! God has laid on me to let the old pass away, and He will bring in the new. Life is constantly changing, and sometimes the people we are doing life with are not going to stay with us forever. This season of my life is wrapping up. I will always be grateful for what I learned and what I was giving in this season; I’m ready for the next season to begin!
Isaiah 14:2
2 The nations will escort Israel and bring it to its homeland. Then the house of Israel will possess them as male and female slaves in the Lord’s land. They will make captives of their captors and will rule over their oppressors.
This is not, “Everyone will get along, love and peace.” God has allowed for human nature. On earth there is a back and forth with some ruling over others. In the verse, “the nations” will escort (accompany, move) Israel and then those same nations will be slaves to Israel.
This is not moving a kid to college. The nations will move Israel back to the homeland and then be slaves, beholden, serving Israel.
Isaiah 14:20-21
20 You will not join them in burial,
because you destroyed your land
and slaughtered your own people.
The offspring of evildoers
will never be mentioned again.
21 Prepare a place of slaughter for his sons,
because of the iniquity of their ancestors.
They will never rise up to possess a land
or fill the surface of the earth with cities.
With all the evil in the US–and around the world–I’m wondering if these verses could be applicable now? Or does the last line already eliminate current times because the evil has already permeated and “built” the cities?
Lord, I have more questions than answers. Thank You for Your grace and mercy! Thank You for giving me the understanding that I will not get all the answers, but giving me Your peace that I don’t need all the answers.
“All spiritual history must have a personnel knowledge for its bedrock…His rule was there all the time, but true to His nature; now that I have received His nature I can see His rule.” -Oswald Chambers, My Utmost to His Highest, August 15
Re-read today:
2 Chronicles 28-22-23
22 At the time of his distress, King Ahaz himself became more unfaithful to the Lord. 23 He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him; he said, “Since the gods of the kings of Aram are helping them, I will sacrifice to them so that they will help me.” But they were the downfall of him and of all Israel.
Always turn to the Lord in distress. Crazy things going on in the world today–Shadowgate documentary and discussion last night–the USA cold be in more trouble than originally thought.
The different people complaining Donald Trump wants loyalty. I don’t blame him! Faithfulness!
I, myself, have been having some rough times with a supposed-friend. I need to be better about it–either ride it out or break it off but it cannot continue the way it has been.
I feel the same for the United States. I pray America–en mass–will turn to God. It isn’t about Donald Trump being a good Christian. It isn’t about him being outwardly righteous. God knows his heart; and God will use anyone He wants to fulfill His plans.
Does Revelation say anything about controlling the masses? Is Shadowgate prophesied? I ask, but I will probably never look it up.
Trust on the Lord. Lean not on your own understanding .Our ways are not His ways; our thoughts cannot compare to His thoughts.
Isaiah 13:5-6
5 They are coming from a distant land,
from the farthest horizon—
the Lord and the weapons of his wrath—
to destroy the whole country.
6 Wail! For the day of the Lord is near.
It will come as destruction from the Almighty.
Who is this reference to? Destroy the whole country…How easily could that be done in this day and age? But Donald Trump is brokering peace in the Middle East, Nobel Peace Prize worthy!
Isaiah 13:9
9 Look, the day of the Lord is coming—
cruel, with fury and burning anger—
to make the earth a desolation
and to destroy its sinners.
Terrifying! We must not be lax in our rejection of sin. Firm, even staunch, but loving. What a difficult thing at times! Lots of times!
Isaiah 13:22
22 Hyenas will howl in the fortresses,
and jackals, in the luxurious palaces.
Babylon’s time is almost up;
her days are almost over.
If the US is “Babylon” as some speculate, this warning is scary, especially in light of the evil that has been going on with pedophilia and worship of–and human sacrifice to–false gods. The Lord has been ignored, ridiculed, and basically flipped off. How much longer can a nation with that lack of character stand?
What would replace the US? What government would move in? Closer to globalism? Or would it be singularly communistic? Would Us Patriots stand for it? How could the Us military fit in? The soldiers are to defend and protect the citizens, as stated in The Constitution. Would they? Or would they be more inclined to follow a general’s murderous orders?
Lord, I pray You life this worry from me–the strain of trying to understand and foresee. I trust You, Lord. Let me rest in You, knowing You have the perfect plan, perfect timing, all the details handled, and everything will bring You glory.
I ask that You wrap me in Your love, keep me level-headed, alert,and still loving You, my neighbors and my one anothers. I pray these things in your Son’s name, Amen.
“We get into sulks with God and say — “Oh, well, I can’t help it; I did pray and things did not turn out right, and I am going to give it all up.” Think what would happen if we talked like this in an other domain of life! … Sanctification is not my idea of what I want God to do for me; sanctification is God’s idea of what He wants to do for me and He has to get me into the attitude of mind and spirit where at any cost I will let Him sanctify me wholly.” -Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, August 14
Attitude – (Google) a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person’s behavior.
How much of our life is shaped by our attitude?
2 Chronicles 28:20-21
20 Then King Tiglath-pileser[a] of Assyria came against Ahaz; he oppressed him and did not give him support. 21 Although Ahaz plundered the Lord’s temple and the palace of the king and of the rulers and gave the plunder to the king of Assyria, it did not help him.
Robbing the Lord of things–time building the relationship, not giving credit, etc.–to try and satisfy some earthly want or reduce/eliminate some pain. How does this relate to our current times?
Some are saying people with dark skin should be paid reparations. This reminds me of the above verses. The groups demanding reparations will never be satisfied. The way the looters and rioters are acting–will they ever be satisfied? Doubtful.
Is there racism in the US? Yes. Is there systematic racism? No. There has been a shift over the past few decades. Will the US cease to exist and go to communism? Please don’t have that happen, Lord!
Turn hearts back to You. Open eyes, ears, hearts, and minds. You are our only hope, Lord! Please heal our nation!
2 Kings 17:14-17
14 But they would not listen. Instead they became obstinate like[a] their ancestors who did not believe the Lord their God. 15 They rejected his statutes and his covenant he had made with their ancestors and the warnings he had given them. They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves, following the surrounding nations the Lord had commanded them not to imitate.
16 They abandoned all the commands of the Lord their God. They made cast images for themselves, two calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed in worship to all the stars in the sky and served Baal. 17 They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire[b] and practiced divination and interpreted omens. They devoted themselves to do what was evil in the Lord’s sight and angered him.
2 King 17:30-31
30 The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, 31 the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
2 Kings 17:34-41
34 They are still observing the former practices to this day. None of them fear the Lord or observe the statutes and ordinances, the law and commandments that the Lord had commanded the descendants of Jacob, whom he had given the name Israel. 35 The Lord made a covenant with Jacob’s descendants and commanded them, “Do not fear other gods; do not bow in worship to them; do not serve them; do not sacrifice to them. 36 Instead fear the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm. You are to bow down to him, and you are to sacrifice to him. 37 You are to be careful always to observe the statutes, the ordinances, the law, and the commandments he wrote for you; do not fear other gods. 38 Do not forget the covenant that I have made with you. Do not fear other gods, 39 but fear the Lord your God, and he will rescue you from all your enemies.”
40 However, these nations would not listen but continued observing their former practices. 41 They feared the Lord but also served their idols. Still today, their children and grandchildren continue doing as their ancestors did.
“Our trust is in God up to a certain point, then we go back to the elementary panic prayers of those who do not know God. We get to our wits’ end showing that we have not the slightest confidence in Him and His government of the world; He seems to be asleep, and we see nothing but breakers ahead … It is when a crisis arises that we instantly reveal upon whom we rely. If we have been learning to worship God and to trust Him, the crisis will reveal that we will go to the breaking point and not break our confidence in Him.” -Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, August 12
This is a prime time, prime example of when our trust and confidence in God is tested. As Americans we are discovering there were many evils that we were not aware of that have been going on for decades; they are just coming to light to the masses. Our country is being ripped apart by various groups, various agendas. Many are confused as to what to believe, who to believe. Some are blindly going where they are told, doing what they are told.
We must be careful to recognize God, His role in all of this, and trust Him. Even when things seem like they are at their worst (they can always get worse) we will always be okay when we have the Lord!). Trust in the Lord. Love Him with all your body, all your heart, all your soul and all your mind. Love Him with everything you have, every resource you have.
Micah 7:2
2 Faithful people have vanished from the land;
there is no one upright among the people.
All of them wait in ambush to shed blood;
they hunt each other with a net.
Thank goodness for social media, where connection with like-minded people is possible! If on sits and watches the news all day, they are bombarded constantly with such negativity–looting and rioting…uh, peaceful protesting–all bad, depressing.
Maybe I’m wrong, but the TV is always so negative…I stopped watching. Twitter is my new source, or my husband’s secondhand radio news report that I can then look up specifics on Google.
Micah 7:3-4
3 Both hands are good at accomplishing evil:
the official and the judge demand a bribe;
when the powerful man communicates his evil desire,
they plot it together.
4 The best of them is like a brier;
the most upright is worse than a hedge of thorns.
The day of your watchmen,
the day of your punishment, is coming;
at this time their panic is here.
Pedophiles are panicking. Deep stat is panicking./ Satan worshipers are panicking. Evil doers, the time to panic is here.
Micah 7:10
10 Then my enemy will see,
and she will be covered with shame,
the one who said to me,
“Where is the Lord your God?”
My eyes will look at her in triumph;
at that time she will be trampled
like mud in the streets.
The enemy is referred to as female. Who would today’s female enemy be? Public enemy? My list: Hillary Clinton, Oprah, Nancy Pelosi, Omar, AOL (and “The Squad),and I’m sure there could be more, but that is off the top of my head. Satanists, pedophiles, and last in the ranking, socialists.
For how much I’m against socialism/communism/Marxism, the Satanism and pedophilia are so much worse.
All of these things culminating. Thank you, Lord, for loving and caring for me! Only through you is there hope. A only through You am I able to enduring, knowing of these atrocities and being able to continue on the path, waiting for you to meet out justice–vengeance shall be Yours.
Micah 7:13
Then the earth will become a wasteland
because of its inhabitants
and as a result of their actions.
Because of it’s inhabitants–we cause the wasteland–physically and spiritually.
“God puts His saints where they will glorify Him, and we are no judges at all of where that is.” -Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, August 10
Micah 6:8
8 Mankind, he has told each of you what is good
and what it is the Lord requires of you:
to act justly,
to love faithfulness,
and to walk humbly with your God.
Another key to life verse. Short, simple, sweet. Do this!
“Is the Lord Jesus Christ being abundantly satisfied in your life or have you got a spiritual strut on? Never let common sense obtrude and push the Son of God on one side. Common sense is a gift which God gave human nature; but common sense is not a gift of His Son. Supernatural sense is the gift of His Son; never enthrone common sense. The Son detects the Father; common sense never yet detected the Father and never will.” -Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, August 9.
This passage is a giant relief to me. All my life people have commented how intelligent I am, but I have always lacked “common sense.” People wouldn’t point that out, except those closest to me, but they couldn’t have been the only ones to notice. Finally I’m thankful for my lack!
“Children and fools,” … I’ve always been thankful that God has been gracious and merciful–extra, extra in my case. I have done things that common sense would say are crazy; God has always protected me.
Thank you Oswald Chambers for turning what I thought was a negative into a positive!
Micah 5:5-6
5 He will be their peace.
When Assyria invades our land,
when it marches against our fortresses,
we will raise against it seven shepherds,
even eight leaders of men.
6 They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword,
the land of Nimrod with a drawn blade.
So he will rescue us from Assyria
when it invades our land,
when it marches against our territory.
Jesus prophecy. Where is this on the timeline? Sounds like Jesus would be military, but then the first line of verse 6 says “They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword…” Who is they?
But then it says “So he will rescue us from Assyria.” I need a Bible that capitalizes pronouns when referring to God or any part of the Trinity!
Micah 5:13
13 I will remove your carved images
and sacred pillars from you
so that you will no longer worship
the work of your hands.
How guilty am I of thinking something my hands created as important? Lord, thank You for the simplicity of this verse. Help me to keep perspective; help me to keep my priorities straight.
Micah 4:11-12
11 Many nations have now assembled against you;
they say, “Let her be defiled,
and let us feast our eyes on Zion.”
12 But they do not know the Lord’s intentions
or understand his plan,
that he has gathered them
like sheaves to the threshing floor.
The first verse brings to mind the many nations that are against the US, typically, and the number that many Americans perceive as being against us. Saw people the other day claiming that there were “so many”countries against the US, they held us in contempt, were better than us, insinuated that we were to be conquered (or at least the US cower). One person actually claimed that the US was the most evil country on earth!
Yes, I have seen what some claim is evidence of various countries–powerful countries on the world stage–submitting to President Trump. The evidence is rather convincing in that all the submission actions–if really acts of submission–are on video. Like the Queen of England allowing Donald Trump to walk in front of her! That one I can see as submissive!
The action I don’t know know as submission is hands clasped together. There’s even video of Nancy Pelosi with her hands clasped–has she really submitted?
But, as I’ve said before, Donald Trump is mortal human. There is danger in placing so much dependence on him. We should truly depend on the Lord–pray for the Lord to guide Donald Trump, to conquer the evil that has permeated our nation: from pedophiles, idolizing and worshiping other gods, to people being dumbed down and willfully ignorant to give up and actually fight to give up their God-given freedoms.
I pray for America. I thank God He gave us this land, laid on men to put into writing our Constitution and Bill of Rights, creating a unique government system. This, to me, is the greatest country on earth; a unique country, nowhere else like it in the world.
Is God gathering countries to the threshing floor? Will there be a giant cleansing? Will He us Donald Trump to execute justice and eradicate these evils from our nations, societies, and world? I’m waiting upon the Lord and His perfect timing.
“The abiding Reality is God, and His order comes through the moments. Am I always in contact with Reality, or do I only pray when things have gone wrong, when there is a disturbance in the moments of my life? … Let Him have His way, keep in perfect union with Him.” -Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, August 7.
Micah 3:2-3
2 You hate good and love evil.
You tear off people’s skin
and strip their flesh from their bones.
3 You eat the flesh of my people
after you strip their skin from them
and break their bones.
You chop them up
like flesh for the cooking pot,
like meat in a cauldron.”
There is nothing new under the sun. All the things that are being revealed, the terrible evils done by leaders, it has all been done before–and for worshiping the same worthless gods, Baal and Molech! Truly, there is nothing new under the sun.
“If we pray because we want answers, we will get huffed with God. The answers come every time, but not always in the way we expect, and our spiritual huff shows a refusal to identify ourselves with the Lord in prayer; we are here to be living monuments of God’s grace.” -Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, August 6
Micah 2:1
2 Woe to those who dream up wickedness
and prepare evil plans on their beds!
At morning light they accomplish it
because the power is in their hands.
People with power accomplish evil plans. The evil of #pizzagate and the others being exposed right now–Satanism, worship of Baal and Moleck are so much worse.
Thought: Antisemetics. If they are claiming they are Christians, isn’t that a bit backwards, since Jesus was a Jew?
Heard yesterday that the “protesters” are calling Christianity a “white supremacist religion.” Probably really interesting to Jesus, since was middle eastern.
Another thought: President Trump is doing good things. Things are coming into the light–evil that most people can’t even imagine. God uses anyone He wants for any purpose He wants. I’m seeing people who have gone as far as practically worshiping President Trump and I think we need to be really careful. There is a strong possibility that Biblical prophecy could be coming to pass and there are people who are not who or what they seem.
Always worship only God and give all glory to Him.
“If we have a purpose of our own, it destroys the simplicity and the leisureliness which ought to characterize the children of God.” -Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, August 5.
Micah 1:13
13 Harness the horses to the chariot,
you residents of Lachish.
This was the beginning of sin for Daughter Zion
because Israel’s acts of rebellion can be traced to you.
What started at Lachish? Worship of other gods?
“We do not know what God is after, but we have to maintain our relationship with Him whatever happens. We must never allow anything to injure our relationship with God; if it does get injured we must take time and get it put right.” -Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, August 3
We must trust God, regardless of the circumstances of this world. This year–2020–has been crazy: attempted cup of the US government (which quite honestly I was naive enough to think I wouldn’t see in my lifetime), a flue-like virus that was exaggerated and used for political gain and a social control experiment, and basically the US is tearing apart at the seams. The major downfall? God was kicked out, ignored, and completely eradicated from so many parts of people’s lives and decisions.
According to Google, “Christianity is the most adhered to religion in the United States, with 65% of polled American adults identifying themselves as Christian in 2019, down from 75% in 2015, 78% in 2012, 81.6% in 2001, and 85% in 1990. About 62% of those polled claim to be members of a church congregation.” Another search reveals there are “240 million Christians” in the US and that is the world’s largest Christian population in a nation, although it is not the highest concentration, as other countries have higher percentages of their population as Christian.
Just some interesting statistics, continent-wise: Africa has the highest number of Christians, with 631 million, Latin America 601 million (I presume this includes Catholicism, which I do not consider to be Christianity by many standards, but because they believe in Jesus, I suppose it counts for this…I need to write a piece comparing denominations and beliefs), and Europe had 571 million. That means the US (north America) isn’t even in the top 3 and there are only 7 continents…and Antarctica is basically uninhabited!
Turn back to God, US! Teach your children! I don’t foresee this being some massive come to Jesus miracle moment, revivals of mass proportions– although I could be wrong, God can do whatever He pleases. However, people are going to have to invest their resources–time, energy–into their relationship with God, and then also invest their resources–time and energy-into their children. Oh, wow, I could totally write a paper on this! Just jotted down a quick brainstorm.
Every level–individual to the whole nation, preferably the whole world–needs to invest their time in their relationship with God. I believe the individual level is most important, the base, and then the church comprised of individuals is absolutely important–“For the Bible tells me so”–as the group supports and encourages one another. Will the whole nation of the US turn to God? I don’t think that is the plan .I hope I’m wrong, but the Bible doesn’t tell me that, so I really have no reason to believe it will. Gee, how different the world would be!
The other aspect is that the statistic is how many identified as Christian, not how many were/are Christian. How many follow Christ, have surrendered to Him completely? I identified as Christian for my whole life, but it wasn’t until I was almost 40 that I repented, did a 180 and really gave my life to Jesus, surrendered to Him and made (make) an effort to imitate Him as best I can.
How many people go to church on Sunday, but are so-no-Christian the rest of the week? God is a Sunday-only. That’s how I mostly grew up. Home life was so very different from what I portrayed at church and what other church-goes portrayed was going on in their lives. There is a broad spectrum…and just because someone “identifies” as Christian doesn’t mean that they are steadfast enough in their belief to stand up to degradation and persecution.
Lord, please come into the hearts of the US citizens. Heal their hearts, heal our land. Evil is here; it has been among us, hiding in the shadows. Now it is coming to light. Heal our land, Lord. Draw the people to You, especially the children. Save the children, Lord, please.
Thank You, Lord, for speaking to me through Your Word this morning! Right after I wrote the above, I opened my Bible to my reading to this morning and read:
Isaiah 12:2
2 “Indeed, God is my salvation;
I will trust him and not be afraid,
for the Lord, the Lord himself,
is my strength and my song.
He has become my salvation.”
“We have no conception of what God is aiming at, and as we go on it gets more and more vague. God’s aim looks like missing the mark because are too shortsighted to see what He is aiming at. At the beginning of the Christian life was have our own ideas as to what God’s purpose is–‘I am meant to go here or there;’…and we go and do the thing, and still the big compelling of God remains. The work we do is of no account, it is so much scaffolding compared with the big compelling of God.” -Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, August 3
I am guilty of this. I thought when I first came back to Christ, “This is my purpose,” and “God wants me to do this.” I could see all the scaffolding over the previous 40 years. As I go on, I question my purpose. I’m not able to comprehend how all the pieces fit together. He has given me such a variety of experiences, exposed me to so many different people and cultures, so many industries and avenues to do good works.
Then I realize the good works are “dirty rags” and go back to questioning my purpose. In the end it is such a quilt–a multi-colored, elaborate quilt–that I can do nothing to plan its ultimate completion. I just have to depend on Him to guide me and walk through the doors He opens.
Isaiah 11:10
10 On that day the root of Jesse
will stand as a banner for the peoples.
The nations will look to him for guidance,
and his resting place will be glorious.
A Jesus prophecy. Interesting to call it ” the root of Jesse” when the connection is so commonly made through David.
It was commonly thought by the Jews that the Messiah would come as a conqueror in the physical sense, but Jesus wasn’t that. How much more important is the spiritual part of us than the physical? Earth is Satan’s domain, we must separate ourselves from it but still be here. How very difficult!
“The saint is hilarious when he is crushed with difficulties because the thing is so ludicrously impossible to anyone but God.” -Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, August 2.
I’ve experienced this crushing strain, except ironically I still had peace and joy inside! God is the only explanation. Circumstances so bad, no light at the end of the tunnel, yet to have inner peace and joy–inexplicable. God relieved me of the strain in ways too complicated for me to think up.
Is one able to believe without this experience? I’m not sure; but these experiences solidify one’s belief!
Isaiah 10:1-2
1 Woe to those enacting crooked statutes
and writing oppressive laws
2 to keep the poor from getting a fair trial
and to deprive the needy among my people of justice,
so that widows can be their spoil
and they can plunder the fatherless.
So many current applications today! Black Lives Matter, Inc., false organization that neither cares for blacks or lives, but does bring to attention the number of black babies aborted and the number of black on black crime. Also brings to attention how many children within the black community are raised without a father.
BLM, Inc is plundering the black community–and white ANTIFA is also depriving people of justice–all the burned and looted businesses. Where is their justice?
Then there is the human trafficking and the pedophilia rings. How absolutely appalling and sickening!
Never did I think I would hear the words Baal and Molech named outside a Biblical discussion! People within the United States are still worshiping and sacrificing to them!
Lord, help us, please! Thank You for bringing these things to light. As much as they hurt, they cannot be stopped and healing begin without seeing them, You light shining on them.
Isaiah 10:12b-13
He will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for his arrogant acts and the proud look in his eyes.” 13 For he said:
I have done this by my own strength
and wisdom, for I am clever.
I abolished the borders of nations
and plundered their treasures;
like a mighty warrior, I subjugated the inhabitants.
America needs to come back to God, especially her leaders. God must be brought back in, or even after He defeats all this evil, the leadership will believe and claim it was their own strength, wisdom, and cleverness.
Donald Trump is so very clever; and his long game is strong. However, God should be given all the credit. While I appreciate President Trump, I worry that he may be a little too prideful and self-centered. Only God knows his true heart. I pray God gives President Trump the wisdom, strength, and anything else to extinguish the pedophiles and Satanists from the earth.
When we are certain of the way God is going to work, He will never work in that way any more…Wait on God and He will work, but don’t wait in spiritual sulks because you cannot see an inch in front of you! Are we detached enough from our own spiritual hysterics to wait on God? To wait is not to sit with folded hands, but to learn to do what we are told. -Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, August 1.
Like “Be still,” doesn’t mean to sit and be idle, do nothing physically. Doing nothing = spiritual sulking, pouting.
I’m guilty. Even in my 40s I can pout and throw fits with the best of them. Just the other day the 8-year-old daughter gave me a look after I chastised/corrected her on something, and I cam unglued. “Don’t look at me that way! I’ve had that look for oh-so-much-longer than you!”
It’s not the look that is the problem. It’s the thought process going on behind it. Instead of being kind and loving, behind the look is resentment and pride. “I’ll show you; you don’t know.”
If I can save my children from the YEARS of that wrong attitude that I endured and somehow managed to survive, I’ll consider that a job well done! Please, God, help me! Lay on my children to change their attitude!
Isaiah 9:16
16 The leaders of the people mislead them,
and those they mislead are swallowed up.
Whether the followers knowingly are mislead, are conscious or just mislead because they blindly follow, they are swallowed up. “On purpose” has no bearing on consequences. Commit the sin, physically, in though, in heart–physical, mental, or spiritual–get swallowed up.
Many of us are all right in the main but there are some domains in which we are slovenly. It is not a question of sin, but of the remnants of the carnal life which are apt to make us slovenly…He never tires of bringing us to the one point until we learn the lesson, because He is producing the finished product. -Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, July 31.
Isaiah 8:12-14 (Christian Standard Bible version, BibleGateway.com)
12 Do not call everything a conspiracy
that these people say is a conspiracy.
Do not fear what they fear;
do not be terrified.
13 You are to regard only the Lord of Armies as holy.
Only he should be feared;
only he should be held in awe.
14 He will be a sanctuary;
but for the two houses of Israel,
he will be a stone to stumble over
and a rock to trip over,
and a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
With so many conspiracy theories, and many being shown as being reality, not theory, of the evil in the US, this verse caught my attention. (To be noted, Holman Christian Standard translates conspiracy as “alliance” which to me is a completely different meaning; this discussion is from my thoughts this morning reading my CSB Chronological Bible).
What conspiracies is he talking about? America is so divided right now, the Republicans and Democrats, the right and left, conservatives and liberals. The leadership of the left has shown what they want–and that is to disregard God, eliminate Him from their lives and the lives of the American people. If for no other reason than this, I cannot support them. I cannot even rationalize their thought process. Everything they are trying to do will fail, end in disaster. The Lord will have His justice.
The left is so self-centered and prideful, they don’t have the ability to see, let alone recognize their sin. Lord, I pray You open their eyes, open their hears. Show them Your grace and mercy–have them recognize truth. You’ve turned so many recently. We call it “redpilling”, but it is them recognizing the truth, and I know it is You opening their eyes.
Isaiah 8:20
20 Go to God’s instruction and testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, there will be no dawn for them.
And there it is. They rely on themselves, think they have the power and the ability to make things happen. I’m still convinced You use the non-believer–exact more control over them, shape their circumstances, determine which choice they make–more than the believer. That’s ironic, too.
The non-believers are puppets. I pray You would draw them to Yourself. Show them, open them, give them the ability to receive You, Your gift of salvation, the desire for a relationship with You. I ask this in Your Son’s Name. Amen.
My study this morning, 2 separate books (Oswald Chambers’ book and the Holy Bible) had a common theme. I always find it interesting that God brings to my attention something, in three completely separate passages. After reading the devotion from Chambers, it brought to mind the verse in Psalm, and then I continued into my Bible and reading Isaiah chapter 7.
“There is only one Being Who can satisfy the last aching abyss of human heart, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Why our Lord is apparently so severe regarding every human relationship is because He knows that every relationship not based on loyalty to Himself will end in disaster…If our trust is placed in human beings, we shall end in despairing everyone.” – Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest, July 30.
Psalm 118:8
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humanity.
Isaiah 7:9b
If you do not stand firm in your faith,
then you will not stand at all.
What can God not do? We know He can do everything and anything. He doesn’t always do it on our desired time frame. We have to believe God–Father, Son, Holy Spirit. We have to TRUST God. Believe He has a plan, know it is the best plan, with perfect timing.
Don’t think it will be rainbows, roses, and unicorn farts. It will be hard. There will be suffering. Trust God, have faith.
Isaiah 6:9-10
9 And He replied:
Go! Say to these people:
Keep listening, but do not understand;
keep looking, but do not perceive.
10 Dull the minds of these people;
deafen their ears and blind their eyes;
otherwise they might see with their eyes
and hear with their ears,
understand with their minds,
turn back, and be healed.
What dulls the mind? Why is the tv called a “boob tube”?
“Otherwise” they might see…and hear…understand, turn back and be healed.”
Tells us what we need to do to be healed. We must ask God o open us, though. It is not something we can do on our own, and it isn’t something that is instantaneous…it will take an investment of energy, time, resources to BUILD A RELATIONSHIP with God.
Refuse, resist the things that dull the mind. Spend that time with the Lord. Yeah, Randi, hours–literally hours–on Twitter? Manage your time better!
Even if we are healed–our souls, our hearts–even if given understanding, let’s not be confused and think that will somehow make our lives easier, more comfortable. Sometimes–most times–ignorance is bliss. And just because we know, doesn’t mean we can or are supposed to change it; but it must be brought to light to recognize it.
Hate evil. Not the person. Pray for the person. Pray God opens their eyes, ears, mind and heart; ask that He give them understanding. This is how we love our neighbors and pray for them! Love isn’t approving or condoning, love sometimes is a good whack!
Not changing something is probably the toughest part for me. I like to “fix” things. I solve problems; I reduce people’s pain. It’s why I’m good at my employment. I can help many people in a single day. Things that are difficult to them take me a few seconds or few minutes, saving them hours. They like that, they keep coming back.
But some things take pain. Some things I’m not going to be able to stop of “fix.” There are natural consequences, cause and effect. Take for exacmple the current events in the United States (we’re in 2020, which ironically the numbers for perfect vision in optometry; amazing the things we are seeing that have been in front of us for year, decades, and the things that have been hidden but are being brought to light–the evil we’ve been surrounded with is astounding!).
We are close to Civil War II. Can I stop it? No. This is way bigger than me. This is something evil that has been festering, fed, growing, encouraged for decades and people ignored it, still do. People that said anything were at least old-fashioned and conspiracy theorists, quickly discounted, ridiculed and shamed.
The Lord laid on me this morning to gather information and facts on communism. Memes, reports, bullet points. I am going to do a whole series, maybe a whole Facebook page? Will it get shut down?
Since 1963…earlier, but that is the earliest verifiable instance that I know of.
There must be a balance between judging, condemning for sin and encouraging it. How does this work on a more practical level? How did people get so far off course?
What is up with 2020? Why is it on an even year? These questions, like the number of the year, I can’t answer; and I have lots and theories and ideas for how we got to this point. But does all that matter? Maybe, but only insofar as it could help shape, recognize and understand the real issue that has caused these things to happen: Which I will surmise, hypothesize that straying from, ignoring and rebelling against God is the root of the problem.
The truth about separation of church and state needs to be brought to light. It does not mean abolish God from schools, state-sponsored entities, or even government itself. The founding fathers knew, that’s why they put God in The Constitution!
Then there is slavery. It’s been here since the beginning, hasn’t it. It still happens today. People are oblivious. I will bring it to light for some of them.
The Lord has put a lot on me–big, extensive, heavy topics, but I feel compelled to gather information and get it out there. Please share the infor and pray God opens people’s eyes, ears, minds and hearts to receive the information, recognize, and repent–whether that be recognizing each life as precious or not holding a person responsible for the sins of their great-great-great grandfather.
Lord, I pray that You will guide me, give me the information to share, put it in front of the people You want to see it, open them to it. Speak to them, Lord. Give them understanding. May all of this bring You praise and glory. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Isaiah 5:8
Woe to those who add house to house
and join field to field
until there is no more room
and you alone are left in the land.
Similar to the large farms of the US, owned not by family but corporate entities that do not run the day-to-day and try to manage dirt and animals from afar by University science instead of holism.
Isaiah 5:18-23
18 Woe to those who drag wickedness
with cords of deceit
and pull sin along with cart ropes,
19 to those who say:
“Let Him hurry up and do His work quickly
so that we can see it!
Let the plan of the Holy One of Israel take place
so that we can know it!”
20 Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who substitute darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who substitute bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.
21 Woe to those who are wise in their own opinion
and clever in their own sight.[j]
22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine,
who are fearless at mixing beer,
23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe
and deprive the innocent of justice.
Those versus are deep and heavy. Don’t need my commentary, just let them sink in.
Isaiah 4:4
4 when the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodguilt from the heart of Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of burning.
Specifies that He saves females, daughters of Zion. States it first. I believe there is definite confusion over a women’s role in the world. God holds women to be of great importance, but He also understands–created–order and put the man to be the head.
Feminist screech over this. Why? Somehow, women think that they are less because they are not superior. How about just being different?
There are things a woman can do that a man can’t: Give birth, think with both sides of our brains at the same time (logical and emotional).
I’m a strong, independent woman, and it has taken many years, but I have had wise advice and God put on my heart to let my husband lead. I have influence, but ultimately I leave decisions to him; he puts authority and responsibilities on me, like household management, day to day things, kids’ activities, etc, but I only manage what he puts to me, gives me authority for within the household.
I do have other businesses that my husband isn’t involved in, but that is by his choice. I can’t let those businesses interfere with things my husband has going on; and funny enough, God may use one of my businesses to provide provision for this family, allowing my husband to live out his life-long dream. (Women can do all kinds of things, all at the same time. Proverbs 31 is a great example!)
Funny how God works.