Author: nofearlinda

I am a retired public school teacher that has developed a love of writing. God has lead me to write after many years of study and a life full of experiences. God has shown Himself faithful as I desire to share His love and unlimited character with others. Besides writing, I love to quilt, cook, garden and travel. I enjoy spending time with my grandson, friends and family.

Good News from God Brings Hope and Joy

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Before we get into the 4th and final song about Messiah, I cannot skip the beautiful words of Isaiah 52:7-12. Isaiah is excited about the coming return of the Jews to Judah, after their time of captivity, and it foreshadows Christ’s 1st and 2nd coming. The immeasurable joy and hope that the returns bring are mirrored here.

“How beautiful on the mountains
    are the feet of the messenger who brings good news,
the good news of peace and salvation,
    the news that the God of Israel reigns! Just as the people await the messengers with battle news in ancient days, similarly they are to wait expectantly for the return from captivity and the coming Messiah.
8 The watchmen shout and sing with joy,
    for before their very eyes
    they see the Lord returning to Jerusalem. The arrival will be greeted with great joy and rejoicing. They will see it for themselves!
9 Let the ruins of Jerusalem break into joyful song,
    for the Lord has comforted his people.
    He has redeemed Jerusalem. When they return from Babylon, they will find things in ruins but their comfort will come from the Lord. They will see the hope and possibilities in it.


10 The Lord has demonstrated his holy power
    before the eyes of all the nations.
All the ends of the earth will see
    the victory of our God. The miraculous return to Jerusalem by the Jewish captives was only something that could have been provided by God’s hand. He caused Cyrus the ruler of Persia to look favorably on the Jews and provide them what they needed to return and rebuilt. Similarly, Jesus’s coming to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday just as prophesied and his ultimate return at the end of the age are provided by God alone. 11 Get out! Get out and leave your captivity,
    where everything you touch is unclean.
Get out of there and purify yourselves,
    you who carry home the sacred objects of the Lord. They were to return for their fresh start with hope in their hearts and carrying the sacred objects that Nebuchadnezzar took when they were taken into captivity. God had preserved them from the time they were taken until Cyrus ordered them returned! 12 You will not leave in a hurry,
    running for your lives.
For the Lord will go ahead of you;
    yes, the God of Israel will protect you from behind. When God is directing our pathways, we do not need to run in fear for we have His promise that He is with us 24/7, ahead and He also has our backs!

I pray these images from our promise keeping God remind and encourage you today that He is with us always, He has our backs, He had a plan for the Jews who languished in Babylon and He has a plan for us. He will not forget us because we are His. Reflect on belonging to Him. Psalm 100:3 “Know that the Lord is God.  It is he who made us, and we are his;  we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.“

Linda

God’s Word Protects

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The majority of our time this week will be spent in Isaiah 53, or the 4th Song within Isaiah. However, before we get to Isaiah 53 we encounter some incredibly rich and beautiful passages in Isaiah 51-52. Isaiah 51:7-8 is where Isaiah encourages the Israelites to have a NO Fear attitude towards the adversities that surround them now and those they will face in the future.

“Hear me, you who know what is right,
    you people who have taken my instruction to heart:
Do not fear the reproach of mere mortals
    or be terrified by their insults.
8 For the moth will eat them up like a garment;
    the worm will devour them like wool.
But my righteousness will last forever,
    my salvation through all generations.”

I love the fact that God’s Words that He has given us to live by in the Bible are our protection against those who would seek to intimidate or ridicule us. God says they will be devoured and His righteousness will endure forever. Take lessons to heart from this passage and be encouraged.

  • Knowing God and having His words in my heart protects me!
  • Others seek to put me down, scorn, terrorize and hurt me, but God promises to deal with them, devouring them.
  • God promises to put holes in them, either literally or figuratively, so that the will be destroyed.
  • God promises His righteousness and salvation are eternal.

What do you know about God’s Word? Here are a few verses to show you that the Word of God has power. *Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” God’s Word gives guidance and direction.

Psalm 119:120 “My flesh trembles in fear of you;  I stand in awe of your laws.” God’s Word is worthy of our awe.

Psalm 18:30 “As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.” God’s Word is our flawless shield provided by God.

Ephesians 6:17-18 “ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” God’s Word is included in the armor given to all believers and it is one of our offensive weapons to strike at the heart of unbelief.

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” God’s Word is alive, penetrating and helps us discern truth.

1 Peter 1:23 “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” God’s Word is eternal; it will never be out of date in any circumstance.

God and His Word will last forever and He will be victorious over any and all circumstances we may encounter in life. Fear does not come from God. He wants us to stand for Him with NO FEAR in our hearts and minds.

Linda

Let Holy Week Begin- Palm Sunday, 6th Sunday of Lent

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All 4 of the gospel accounts of Jesus’ life and work, record his entry into Jerusalem on the Sunday before their Jewish Passover.  Matthew, Mark and Luke tell the story of how Jesus obtained the donkey upon which He entered as it was prophesied that Messiah, king, would come riding a donkey.  Zechariah 9:9 was written hundreds of years before the event “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!  Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!  Your king comes to you gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the fold of a donkey.”   John was the only writer to mention the palm branches that were waved by the crowds as Jesus humbly rode into the city. “So the took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’” John 12:13  The waving of the palm branches signifies a celebration of victory, and was a reminder of Jesus’ royalty.  The only other place that palm branches are waved is in Revelation 7 where John records the following scene in heaven. 9″ After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

As you worship Jesus today, cry out in praise to Him for who He is- our mighty King and Savior.  He is and always will be the victor now and forever!  Raise your palm fronds high in praise to your savior and proclaim Him the one who came to save you and me.  He was indeed the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world! Christ is the Holy one, the Only one, who can Save us.

Linda

Isaiah-Song #3 Servant’s Obedience

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Song #1 introduced God’s Messiah as the chosen Servant in Isaiah 42:1-9, Song #2 spoke of Messiah’s mission in Isaiah 49:1-13, Song #3 today speaks of Messiah’s obedience in Isaiah 50:4-11 and #4 to come will talk about Messiah’s suffering in Isaiah 52:13-53:12.

The Lord’s Obedient Servant Isaiah 50:4-11

4 The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom,
    so that I know how to comfort the weary.
Morning by morning he wakens me
    and opens my understanding to his will.
5 The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me,
    and I have listened.
    I have not rebelled or turned away.
6 I offered my back to those who beat me
    and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard.
I did not hide my face
    from mockery and spitting. The servant to come would be obedient and responsive to God unlike the Israelites. He listed and offered himself for suffering at the hands of men. These actions point to the fulfillment in Matthew 27:26 and 30 by Jesus. “So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.” 30 And they spit on him and grabbed the stick and struck him on the head with it.”

7 Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
    I will not be disgraced.
Therefore, I have set my face like a stone,
    determined to do his will.
    And I know that I will not be put to shame.
8 He who gives me justice is near.
    Who will dare to bring charges against me now?
Where are my accusers?
    Let them appear!
9 See, the Sovereign Lord is on my side!
    Who will declare me guilty?
All my enemies will be destroyed
    like old clothes that have been eaten by moths! We are reminded here of the resoluteness of Jesus as shown in Luke 9:51 “As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” Later in prayer he became resolved to the Father’s will. Luke 26:42-46 “Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open.44 So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”

10 Who among you fears the Lord
    and obeys his servant?
If you are walking in darkness,
    without a ray of light,
trust in the Lord
    and rely on your God.
11 But watch out, you who live in your own light
    and warm yourselves by your own fires.
This is the reward you will receive from me:
    You will soon fall down in great torment. Isaiah ends this song with a warning. If you fear the Lord and walk with Him, you will see and experience the Light His light shown to the world in Christ Jesus. It calls for trust and reliance upon God. If you seek to live by your own power and light, beware as your rewards will lead you to great downfall and eternal death. Remember Romans 3:23 “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” and Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The suffering of the Obedient Servant of God, Messiah, Jesus Christ, would be great. This suffering is further shown in the 4th Song of the Suffering Servant. During this Season of Lent, let us reflect on the suffering of our Lord Jesus and sing a song of praise to Him for all He accomplished on the cross and to God the Father for vindicating Him by raising Him from the dead. Victory in Jesus!


Linda

I love this old hymn- it never disappoints. I smile as I consider the victory I have in Jesus.

3 Mighty Verses from Isaiah 49! (My Opinion)

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As I mentioned yesterday Isaiah 49 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. After the song about the coming Messiah, God enclosed some precious gems to encourage the Israelites and all who believe in Jesus. God wanted to assure the Israelites that He would not forget them, and He will not forget us either.

Isaiah 49:15-16 “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
    and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
    I will not forget you!
16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
    your walls are ever before me. Just like a mother cannot forget her child, so God cannot forget us. He has us engraved in the palms of His hands and He is always in front of me protecting me. What a fabulous image for us as believers. We can know and be assured that God knows us, our needs and is always holding us close. This image is one I call upon for strength and assurance as who would engrave something on your hand that you did not love? The engraving is permanent and He cannot and will not get ‘rid’ of us. I love John 10:28 “ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” Nothing can remove us from the grasp and hold of Jesus! Praise God!

In Isaiah 49:23 God is speaking about the future and how God will restore the nation of Israel and the world will know that He is God. Look at the end of this verse in particular.

Kings will be your foster fathers,
    and their queens your nursing mothers.
They will bow down before you with their faces to the ground;
    they will lick the dust at your feet.
Then you will know that I am the Lord;
    those who hope in me will not be disappointed.” As God revealed Himself further in history, we can see for sure that He alone is God, the Sovereign one. We can be assured that putting our faith and hope in Him will not leave us disappointed. This is a promise we can cling to. God does not disappoint, ever! Perhaps we can’t see the reason for things happening the way they do, but God knows and we can trust Him in all things. We know from Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,” and Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” that God is good and desires to care for us and provide for us a future filled with hope. We can know from Psalm 16:6 “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” that God has drawn His boundaries in our lives in places to fill us with hope and beauty. Be assured of this wonderful promise from God’s Word and believe that hope in Him will not disappoint!

The last verse that speaks loudly to me is Isaiah 49:25. God is affirming that He will avenge the Israelites and see them returned to Jerusalem. The last portion of this verse gives me hope for my future and that of my children.

25 But this is what the Lord says: “Yes, captives will be taken from warriors,
    and plunder retrieved from the fierce;
I will contend with those who contend with you,
    and your children I will save. God promises to fight for us. When we are standing for Him, He will be with us, beside us and engage in the fray. I am reminded of God’s promises in Deuteronomy 32:43 “Rejoice, you nations, with his people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants; he will take vengeance on his enemies  and make atonement for his land and people.” and Hebrews 10:30-31 “ For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” God promises to avenge wrongs done to us and protect us. We need to trust Him and leave the timing to Him. When He says it and He will do it! God also promises to save our children- keep on praying that they will turn to Him. He is here and will save them if they will call upon Him. Romans 10:13 “for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” and Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Keep on praying!

Remember: God has you engraved on the palms of His hands. He will not forget you! He will not disappoint. He will fight for you! He will save all who call upon Him. Such precious promises!

Linda

Second Song in Isaiah about Messiah

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The second song about the Messiah to come is included in Chapter 49 verses 1-13. It speaks of Messiah’s character as a servant and his purpose in coming. This chapter of Isaiah is one of my favorites as it has some special verses that speak to me personally. First let’s look at Song #2.

The Lord’s Servant Commissioned

49 Listen to me, all you in distant lands!
    Pay attention, you who are far away!
The Lord called me before my birth;
    from within the womb he called me by name.
2 He made my words of judgment as sharp as a sword.
    He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand.
    I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver. Here Isaiah uses symbolic language of the sword and arrows. Both the Messiah will use to show and execute judgement.

3 He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel,
    and you will bring me glory.” The coming Messiah will be the perfect servant bringing glory to God where the nation of Israel had failed.

4 I replied, “But my work seems so useless!
    I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose.
Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand;
    I will trust God for my reward.” Just as the nation of Israel has failed so will the Messiah seem to fail as he meets opposition during his time here on earth. The reward mentioned here refers to the reward of all believers both Jews and Gentiles who will be vindicated by Messiah’s work on the cross.

5 And now the Lord speaks—
    the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant,
    who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him.
The Lord has honored me,
    and my God has given me strength.
6 He says, “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me.
    I will make you a light to the Gentiles,
    and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” Israel was brought back from Babylon at God’s request. The coming Messiah will restore the people to God and will open up salvation to the Gentiles. It is like the message from Jesus in John 8:12 “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” and John 9:5 “But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”

7 The Lord, the Redeemer
    and Holy One of Israel,
says to the one who is despised and rejected by the nations,
    to the one who is the servant of rulers:
“Kings will stand at attention when you pass by.
    Princes will also bow low
because of the Lord, the faithful one,
    the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.” Messiah would be the despised and rejected one by the nations. 1 Peter 2:4 ” As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—” Luke 17:25 “But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.” Isaiah 53:3 “He as despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.”

8 This is what the Lord says: “At just the right time, I will respond to you.
    On the day of salvation I will help you.
I will protect you and give you to the people
    as my covenant with them.
Through you I will reestablish the land of Israel
    and assign it to its own people again.
9 I will say to the prisoners, ‘Come out in freedom,’
    and to those in darkness, ‘Come into the light.’
They will be my sheep, grazing in green pastures
    and on hills that were previously bare.
10 They will neither hunger nor thirst.
    The searing sun will not reach them anymore.
For the Lord in his mercy will lead them;
    he will lead them beside cool waters.
11 And I will make my mountains into level paths for them.
    The highways will be raised above the valleys.
12 See, my people will return from far away,
    from lands to the north and west,
    and from as far south as Egypt.” Messiah will bring salvation, restoration, help and a renewed covenant. He will be a shepherd to the people, a light, one who brings freedom, and He will satisfy their needs. He will guide them and walking with Him will be like being beside cool waters. He will lead them with mercy and hope.

13 Sing for joy, O heavens!
    Rejoice, O earth!
    Burst into song, O mountains!
For the Lord has comforted his people
    and will have compassion on them in their suffering. With the Messiah there will be rejoicing in heaven, and He will bring great comfort and compassion for the people in their suffering.

The language of the song is very poetic in nature but much could be confirmed about the coming Messiah and then was affirmed by Messiah’s life and mission.

Jesus executed judgement on sin and yet brought healing and forgiveness to sinners. Jesus was rejected and despised and yet would provided the light of life for both Jews and Gentiles. Jesus brought healing, guidance, hope and renewal to all who would listen and follow him. Jesus brought compassion on all who came to him and treated them with mercy. What a beautiful song of praise and hope to all who awaited Him. What a glorious reminder of who Jesus is and what he accomplished for us. Christ is the Holy one, the Only one, who can Save us.

Linda

Only God Could Do This!

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Do you believe that God has power over nations and governments? Isaiah 44:24-28 gives us proof that God knows who governs by name and can use powers on earth to affect His people for good. These prophesies were given hundreds of years before they occurred in history. When Isaiah wrote them during the reign of Hezekiah and the captivity of the Israelites by Babylon was in the distant future.

Isaiah 44:24-28 This is what the Lord says—
    your Redeemer and Creator:
“I am the Lord, who made all things.
    I alone stretched out the heavens.
Who was with me
    when I made the earth? God is the Creator.
25 I expose the false prophets as liars
    and make fools of fortune-tellers.
I cause the wise to give bad advice,
    thus proving them to be fools. God exposes false prophets.
26 But I carry out the predictions of my prophets!
    By them I say to Jerusalem, ‘People will live here again,’
and to the towns of Judah, ‘You will be rebuilt;
    I will restore all your ruins!’ The prophesies of God’s prophets are always true.
27 When I speak to the rivers and say, ‘Dry up!’
    they will be dry.
28 When I say of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,’ God will use Cyrus, the future leader of Persia.
    he will certainly do as I say.
He will command, ‘Rebuild Jerusalem’;
    he will say, ‘Restore the Temple.’”. God will cause Cyrus to order the people returned and the temple rebuilt!

Amazing! God was going to use a pagan king, an unbeliever, to restore the Jews to their homeland of Canaan and then have the temple rebuilt. This story is given in Ezra 1:2-4, “This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Any of you who are his people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you! 4 Wherever this Jewish remnant is found, let their neighbors contribute toward their expenses by giving them silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock, as well as a voluntary offering for the Temple of God in Jerusalem.”

A short while later King Cyrus added to this decree of letting the people return to rebuild, Ezra 6:3-5, “In the first year of King Cyrus’s reign, a decree was sent out concerning the Temple of God at Jerusalem. “Let the Temple be rebuilt on the site where Jews used to offer their sacrifices, using the original foundations. Its height will be ninety feet, and its width will be ninety feet. 4 Every three layers of specially prepared stones will be topped by a layer of timber. All expenses will be paid by the royal treasury. 5 Furthermore, the gold and silver cups, which were taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar from the Temple of God in Jerusalem, must be returned to Jerusalem and put back where they belong. Let them be taken back to the Temple of God.”

Not only did God provide for the people’s to return to their homeland, but He had neighbors contributing to their expenses. God had all the treasured articles taken from the temple by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon returned with them!

I love this amazing story of God’s provision in the face of total opposition. The Jews were held in captivity for 70 years and then God arranged for their release, money to travel and settle back home and for His temple to be rebuilt. Only God could foretell of this event and then carry it out exactly.

May the power of our God motivate you to cling to Him and His promises today. What He says He will do! God keeps His promises.

Linda

God is the ONE and ONLY!

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How often do you need to be reminded that God is God and that there is no other! The people of Israel were reminded of this truth repeatedly by the prophets God sent. Isaiah is taking up this task in Isaiah 44:6-8 after he has just given them a word of hope and love from God in Isaiah 44:1-3.

“This is what the Lord says—
    Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last;
    apart from me there is no God.
7 Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it.
    Let him declare and lay out before me
what has happened since I established my ancient people,
    and what is yet to come—
    yes, let them foretell what will come.
8 Do not tremble, do not be afraid.
    Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago?
You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me?
    No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.”

Truths you can know for certain from these verses:

  1. God Alone is God. There is no other and He is Sovereign., verse 6.
  2. God was there at the beginning and will be there at the end, verse 6.
  3. He is Omniscient. He knows all: past, present and future, verse 7.
  4. God is a rock- solid, stable, the foundation of my life, verse 8.
  5. God is unique. there is no other like Him, verse 8.

What problems are you having today that cannot be known, addressed, solved, or helped by Omniscient, Sovereign God? NONE. What doubts do you have that cannot be solved if committed to God Almighty? NONE David attested to his in Psalm 86:8 “Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours.” The prayer in Jude 24-25 sums it up, “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” To whom else can we pray? God is God and there is no other like Him!

May these truths about our loving, merciful and all-knowing God bring you comfort and courage as you face today!

Linda

Oops! God’s Word as my Shield

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Chapter 44 of Isaiah begins with another powerful No Fear passage. God is sending the Israelites more encouragement to help them face those long years that were coming during their exile in Babylon. The words of encouragement are just as real and profound for us today! Ancient words with help and love written all over them from our God. Isaiah 44:1-3

“But now listen, Jacob, my servant,
    Israel, whom I have chosen.
2 This is what the Lord says—
    he who made you, who formed you in the womb,
    and who will help you:
Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant,
    Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
    and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
    and my blessing on your descendants.

Here are truths and promises I can claim as a believer in Jesus from this passage:

  1. I am chosen by God and special to Him verse 1. 1 Thessalonians 1:4 “For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you
  2. God created me and knew me before I was even born verse 2. Psalm 139:13 “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”
  3. God promises to help me during my life verse 2. Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.“
  4. God says I can live without fear because He chose me, blesses and helps me verse 2. Romans 8:15 “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Galatians 3:26 “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,”
  5. God promises to pour out His Spirit upon me and bless me verse 3. John 16:3 “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”
  6. As a child of God, my descendants and I will receive blessings verse 3. Deuteronomy 30:19 “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”

God meant for us to find and claim these verses as God had placed them repeatedly throughout scripture. Which of these will you claim in your life today? Are you in need of feeling special to God? See verse 1. Are you doubting that God created you for a purpose in a special way? See verse 2. Are you doubting God will help you in your current circumstances? See verse 2. Are you living in fear because of your current situation or pressures in your life? See verse 2. Do you need an outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit upon you today? See verse 3. Are you concerned about your children and grandchildren? See verse 3.

God’s Word is complete and has answers and hope for all of life’s situation! Praise God 2 Samuel22:31 speaks of the flawlessness of God’s Word and how it can be our shield for living. “As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.” David gives the same idea in Psalm 18:30,“As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.” Solomon also says in Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” Why not claim God’s promises over you life today and use His word as your shield for living?

Linda

Keys to Repentance, 5th Sunday of Lent

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This 5th Sunday of Lent I want to draw your attention to 2 verses in Isaiah 43. Why Lent? Why have an attitude of repentance and gratitude? Look at these 2 verses:

Isaiah 43:7 “Bring all who claim me as their God,
    for I have made them for my glory.
    It was I who created them.’”

God calls each of us unto Himself. He has made us and created us for a purpose for His glory and our good! I love Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.“

Isaiah 43:25 ““I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake
    and will never think of them again.

God has the ability and the desire to forgive our sins. When God forgives, the sins are gone to be remembered no more! What is required of us is that attitude of repentance. I am reminded of 1 John 1:9 “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” 2 Corinthians 7:10 “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”

Both of these verses from Isaiah speak to the heart of the Lenten Season. Check your attitude today. Are you thankful for how God has made you and are you looking for His purpose in your life? Do you feel sins burden or are you free in Jesus? I pray as you worship today that you would sense a new purpose and freedom knowing and trusting God. He is good and loves and cares for you.

Linda