If My People...

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
It has been a year since I first began this blog.  I want to thank those of you who have been on this journey with me, and encourage you to keep praying and seeking God for an awakening of the Church--not just in America, but all over the world. One thing that completely surprised me is that God is able to take His message all over the world (without my help). The words that I thought were meant for the Church in America ended up being read in Russia, China, Afghanistan, Germany, Latvia, Netherlands, Brazil and many more countries all over the world. Our vision is so small and God's is so large--he takes our tiny offering of a few fish and loaves and makes a banquet of it. I thank Him for letting me be His messenger.
The biggest lessons I have learned on this journey are that God wants and expects us to live holy lives--it's not optional, that it only takes a handful of people humbly seeking God to spark a fire, that God uses ordinary people--do not think because no one knows your name that you can't make a difference--God knows your name and that is what counts. Nothing is too hard for God--He is a covenant-keeping Father, and if we keep our part of the covenant (to humble ourselves and pray, and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways), He is bound to keep His word (to hear from heaven, forgive our sin and heal our land).
I leave you with these words from the book of James:
"The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops." James 5:16-18

God Never Stops Working

 

What to Fear

"The LORD has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does. He said, “Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don’t live in dread of what frightens them. Make the LORD of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life. He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble. He will keep you safe." Isaiah 8:11-14 (NLT)

In these days, we can find much to fear--an increasingly unstable world, chemical and nuclear weapons in the hands of evil men, uncertain financial markets, the threat of terrorism. The world is looking for whatever will bring them peace. Will we react as the world does or will we take these words of Isaiah to heart. Don't think like the rest of the world thinks--don't fear what the rest of the world fears. Make God holy in your life--fear Him and He will keep you safe.

The Proper Perspective

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff."

“To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing...

"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." Isaiah 40:21-27, 28 (NIV)

Rejected?

"For the LORD has rejected his people, the descendants of Jacob, because they have filled their land with practices from the East and with sorcerers, as the Philistines do. They have made alliances with pagans. Israel is full of silver and gold; there is no end to its treasures. Their land is full of warhorses; there is no end to its chariots. Their land is full of idols; the people worship things they have made with their own hands. So now they will be humbled, and all will be brought low—do not forgive them. Crawl into caves in the rocks. Hide in the dust from the terror of the LORD and the glory of his majesty. Human pride will be brought down, and human arrogance will be humbled. Only the LORD will be exalted on that day of judgment. For the LORD of Heaven’s Armies has a day of reckoning. He will punish the proud and mighty and bring down everything that is exalted. Isaiah 2:6-12 (NLT)

Has God rejected America? We once called ourselves "One Nation Under God". He rejected Israel for the very things we see in our country today. We are rich and powerful, we have made alliances with pagan nations and even allow practices from the east (yoga, for example) in our churches! Greed, prestige, and entertainment are just a few of the gods we worship. Will God not judge us by the same standards He applied to His own people?

America's Destiny?

"See how Jerusalem (America), once so faithful, has become a prostitute. Once the home of justice and righteousness, she is now filled with murderers. Once like pure silver, you have become like worthless slag. Once so pure, you are now like watered-down wine. Your leaders are rebels, the companions of thieves. All of them love bribes and demand payoffs, but they refuse to defend the cause of orphans or fight for the rights of widows. Therefore, the Lord, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the Mighty One of Israel, says, “I will take revenge on my enemies and pay back my foes! I will raise my fist against you..."

"You will be like a great tree with withered leaves, like a garden without water. The strongest among you will disappear like straw; their evil deeds will be the spark that sets it on fire. They and their evil works will burn up together, and no one will be able to put out the fire." Isaiah 1:21-25, 30-31 (NLT)

Pay Attention, Earth!

God spoke through the prophet Isaiah to the rebellious people of Judah. He could easily speak the same words to America in these days--not just America but the church in America!

"Listen, O heavens! Pay attention, earth! This is what the LORD says: “The children I raised and cared for have rebelled against me. Even an ox knows its owner, and a donkey recognizes its master’s care—but Israel doesn’t know its master. My people don’t recognize my care for them. Oh, what a sinful nation they are—loaded down with a burden of guilt. They are evil people, corrupt children who have rejected the LORD. They have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him. Why do you continue to invite punishment? Must you rebel forever? Your head is injured, and your heart is sick. You are battered from head to foot—covered with bruises, welts, and infected wounds—without any soothing ointments or bandages."

“What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened cattle. I get no pleasure from the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. When you come to worship me, who asked you to parade through my courts with all your ceremony? Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me! As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days for fasting—they are all sinful and false. I want no more of your pious meetings. I hate your new moon celebrations and your annual festivals. They are a burden to me. I cannot stand them! When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look. Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims. Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. "Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat. But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies. I, the LORD, have spoken!”

Isaiah 1:2-6, 11-20 (NLT)