God knew you before you were born. (Jeremiah 1:5)

Jeremiah 1:5

The Message (MSG)


 

⁵ “Before I shaped you in the womb,
    I knew all about you.
Before you saw the light of day,
    I had holy plans for you:
A prophet to the nations—
    that’s what I had in mind for you.”




God knew you as He knew Jeremiah. long before you were born or even conceived. He thought about you and planned for you. When you feel discouraged or inadequate, remember that God has always thought of you as valuable and that He has a purpose in mind for you.



Joe




















 

Apply God's Word (Isaiah 58:6-12)

Isaiah 58:6-12

New International Version (NIV)



 

⁶ “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
    and break every yoke?
⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
⁸ Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
⁹ Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
    with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
¹⁰ and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
    and your night will become like the noonday.
¹¹ The Lord will guide you always;
    he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
    and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like a spring whose waters never fail.
¹² Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
    and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
    Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.



 
We cannot be saved by deeds of service without faith in Christ, but our faith lacks sincerity if it doesn't reach out to others. Fasting can be beneficial spiritually and physically, but at it's best fasting helps the person doing it. God says He wants our service to go beyond our own personal growth to acts of kindness, charity, justice, and generosity. True fasting is more than what we don't eat; it is pleasing God by applying His Word to our society.





Joe


























 

Don't try to fit God into your mold. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Isaiah 55:8-9

New International Version (NIV)


 

⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.


 
The people of Israel were foolish to act as if they knew what God was thinking and planning. His knowledge and wisdom are far greater than man's. We are foolish to try to fit God into our mold - to make His plans and purposes conform to ours. Instead, we must strive to fit into His plans.



 
Joe


















 

Do you have Beautiful Feet ? (Isaiah 52:7)

Isaiah 52:7

New International Version (NIV)



 

⁷ How beautiful on the mountains
    are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
    who bring good tidings,
    who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
    “Your God reigns!”




God says that the feet of those who bring good news are "beautiful." It is a wonderful privilege to be able to share God's Good News with others, His news of redemption, salvation, and peace. To whom do you need to give the Good News?





Joe






















 

Happy 30th Birthday Amanda (Isaiah 42:3)

Isaiah 42:3

 

 A bruised reed he will not break.

 

 

 

When you feel broken and bruised, God won't step on you or toss you aside, but He will gently pick you up.

 

 

 

 

Dear Amanda,

 

 

You were that bruised reed as you struggled in your teenage years. God picked you up and took you home so young at 19.

 

 

I often wonder if God chose to heal you, what your life would be like...

 

 

Would you have a magical time at your prom?

 

 

Would I have had the opportunity to teach you how to drive?

 

 

Would you of met the man of your dreams?

 

 

Would you be married?

 

 

Would you be dropping your kids here for Mom and I to babysit?

 

 

Today is your 30th birthday. I just want you to know that I love you and miss you.

 

 

 

Happy Birthday...

 

Love,

 

Dad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bad times = refining. (Isaiah 45:7)

Isaiah 45:7

New Living Translation (NLT)



 

⁷     I create the light and make the darkness.
I send good times and bad times.
    I, the Lord, am the one who does these things.




 
God is ruler over light and darkness, over prosperity and disaster. Our lives are sprinkled with both types of experiences, and both are needed for us to grow spiritually. When good times come, thank God and use your prosperity for Him. When bad times come, don't resent them, but ask what you can learn from this refining experience to make you a better servant of God.





Joe




















 

Forget about it ! (Isaiah 43:25)

Isaiah 43:25

New Living Translation (NLT)


 

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



 
How tempting it is to remind someone of a past offense! But when God forgives our sins He totally forgets them. We never have to fear that He will remind us of them later. Because God forgives our sin, we need to forgive others.



 
Joe