O Brother, be Faithful

Uriah Smith, 1853.

Isaac Woodbury, 1847.

O brother, be faithful!

Soon Jesus will come,

For whom we have waited so long;

O, soon we shall enter our glorious home,

And join in the conqueror's song.

O brother, be faithful!

For why should we prove

Unfaithful to Him who hath shown

Such deep, such unbounded and infinite love

Who died to redeem us His own.

O brother, be faithful!

The city of gold,

Prepared for the good and the blest,

Is waiting its portals of pearl to unfold,

And welcome thee into thy rest.

Then, brother, prove faithful!

Not long shall we stay

In weariness here, and forlorn,

Time's dark night of sorrow is wearing away,

We haste to the glorious morn.

O brother, be faithful!

He soon will descend,

Creation's omnipotent King,

While legions of angels His chariot attend,

And palm wreaths of victory bring.

O brother, be faithful! and soon shalt thou hear

Thy Savior pronounce the glad word,

"Well done, faithful servant; thy title is clear

To enter the joy of thy Lord."

O brother, be faithful! Eternity's years

Shall tell for thy faithfulness now,

When bright smiles of gladness shall scatter thy tears,

A coronet gleam on thy brow.

O brother, be faithful!

The promise is sure,

That waits for the faithful and tried;

To reign with the ransomed, immortal and pure,

And ever with Jesus abide.

Jangan Pernah Menyerah with David Lintong

God never promises 
the sky is always blue. 
But He promised 
always be with us. 
God never promises
the road is always flat. 
But He promised 
give us the strength.

Tuhan tak pernah janji
langit selalu biru.
Tetapi Dia berjanji
selalu menyertai.
Tuhan tak pernah janji
jalan selalu rata.
Tetapi Dia berjanji
berikan kekuatan.

 
 Never give up
don't despairing
Miracles of God exist
when the heart worships.
Never give up
don't despairing
Miracles of God exist
for the faithful and believes.


Jangan pernah menyerah
jangan berputus asa.
Mujizat Tuhan ada
saat hati menyembah.
Jangan pernah menyerah
jangan berputus asa.
Mujizat Tuhan ada
bagi yang setia dan percaya.

God never promises
the sky is always blue. 
But He promised 
always be with us. 
God never promises
the road is always flat. 
But He promised 
give us the strength.

Tuhan tak pernah janji
langit selalu biru.
Tetapi Dia berjanji
selalu menyertai.
Tuhan tak pernah janji
jalan selalu rata.
Tetapi Dia berjanji
berikan kekuatan.

 Never give up
don't despairing
Miracles of God exist
when the heart worships.
Never give up
Don't despairing
Miracles of God exist
for the faithful and believes.

Jangan pernah menyerah
jangan berputus asa.
Mujizat Tuhan ada
saat hati menyembah.
Jangan pernah menyerah
jangan berputus asa.
Mujizat Tuhan ada
bagi yang setia dan percaya.

 Never give up
don't despairing
Miracles of God exist
when the heart worships.
Never give up
Don't despairing
Miracles of God exist
for the faithful and believes.


Jangan pernah menyerah
jangan berputus asa.
Mujizat Tuhan ada
saat hati menyembah.
Jangan pernah menyerah
jangan berputus asa.
Mujizat Tuhan ada
bagi yang setia dan percaya.

Alone Doesn’t Have to Mean Lonely

The Plan today is really good. I don't know why I read this plan but more I read more I know what God wants me to do.  So I want to share with you guys what I read today from Bible plan with a title Captured & Crowned: 7 Day of Promises and today is day 4 I read the Bible plan.  Hope you enjoyed the article.

Loneliness is a state of mind, more than a state of being. Have you ever been in a crowd of people, and still felt all alone? We tend to get caught up in our feelings because we are made to connect with others. If we have been hurt in a deep way, we might feel this way more often than others. As long as we are alive, there will be opportunities for us to try and fill that empty feeling with someone or something other than a relationship with Christ. Some people may try shopping it away, others may eat to comfort themselves. Poor relationship choices are often made because we just want someone to be there to love us and keep us from feeling alone. Why do you think there are so many dating sites with millions of paid members? These sites are giving people what they want, someone to “connect” with.

What if we were like the songwriter in today’s scripture? Could you imagine telling God how you crave His presence? What if you could lose your regret about getting older or losing your physical and mental strength? With a foundation built on something that will last longer than our bodies, we could be totally secure. Are you at a place in your life where you haven’t figured out how to be happy alone? It might be time to start taking a deeper look at your relationship with yourself, God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. That is truly the only way to be more secure in your own skin.

Talk to the King | Prayer
God, I admit that sometimes I choose other things to fill the empty space instead of coming to you. I want to take a closer look at why I make those choices and begin working to change my behaviors. There are times when I don’t feel you near me. Help me to know and understand, that even if I don’t feel your physical presence, you are with me all the time. I want you to be the one I turn to before I run to others for comfort or affection.

Whom have I in heaven but  You? And there  is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalms 73:25‭-‬26 NKJV

About The Rumors of Christian Community

Why are you afraid O God's people?
Why do we have to boil our hearts over insults?
Isn't the God we worship is a strong God?
Isn't God is omniscient to know the hearts of every human being?
Wouldn't He show Himself true if He was humiliated?
He who is insulted will show Himself to those who insult Him.
All we need to do is believe, pray, and remain faithful to the Lord Jesus.

Why are you angry, God's people? Is it because your God is insulted?
Why are you angry, God's people? Is it because your God is insulted?
Is not He the Almighty and Holy One was capable of defending himself, so we expect the human defense to Him?
That is the attitude of those who don't believe that the One you worship day and night is Almighty God, the Most Holy God, the God of Love.

 I AM NOT ASHAMED

We’re an anchor for those who are hurting
We’re a harbor for those who are lost
Sometime it’s not always easy bearing Calvary’s Cross

We’ve been ridiculed by those who don’t know Him
And mocked by those who don’t believe 

 Still I love standing up for my Jesus ‘cause of all that He’s done for me 

That’s why I am not ashamed of the gospel, the gospel of Jesus Christ
No, I am not afraid to be counted and I’m willing to give my life
See, I’m ready to be all He wants me to be
Give up the wrong for the right
No, I am not ashamed of the gospel
No, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ 

For every moment His hand has held mercy
For all the love that He showed all my life
A simple thanks doesn’t say how I’m feeling
I get tears in my eyes

So as for me, I’m gonna keep on believing in the One who’s been so faithful to me
I’m not out to please this whole world around me
I’ve got my mind on eternity

That’s why I am not ashamed of the gospel, the gospel of Jesus Christ
No, I am not afraid to be counted and I’m willing to give my life
See, I’m ready to be all He wants me to be
Give up the wrong for the right
No, I am not ashamed of the gospel
No, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ

I’ve got too much behind me to let this world bind me
To some He’s a name but to me He’s my everything
I am not ashamed of the gospel
No, I am not ashamed of the gospel

I’ve got too much behind me to let this world bind me
To some He’s a name but to me he’s my everything
I am not ashamed of the gospel
No, I am not ashamed of the gospel
No, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ 

This is one of my favorite songs. "I am not ashamed" always remaining me how to be a child of the Almighty God.
Just believe He is able to defend Himself and He will show Himself and His Power to those who insult Him.

All we have to do is keep believing, remain faithful and hold on to His loyal love and sufficient grace every day.

Jesus, I Need You Part 1 Day 5 (Bible Plan)

QUIET MOMENT

Isaiah prophesied of the chosen one who would come, more than 700 years before His birth.

GOING DEEPER

Let’s continue to build a framework to understand more about the mission and the message of Jesus as we read additional Scriptures from the Old Testament describing our Lord. What does each of the following passages teach you about Jesus?

1. Psalm 22

2. Isaiah 9:1-7

(See also Isaiah 53, 2 Samuel 7:12–13, and Zechariah 9:9 for further insight if you have time.)

Isaiah prophesies about Jesus in Isaiah 61:1-4, this time wording it as if Jesus were speaking. As you read this passage, meditate on the thought that we are to be the body of Christ now. We are to be a continuation of what Jesus began.

As we've read, the Old Testament prophesied of the Messiah to come. Finally the new day dawned, and the time came. Read Matthew 1:18-25 for the fulfillment of prophecy specifically surrounding His birth.

Make your response to this passage one of worship. Praise God as the King of kings, Lord of lords, Sovereign over all, and a lover that knows no bounds. Bow your head, quiet your heart, and worship the mighty, merciful God we serve.

REFLECTION AND PRAYER

Praise God for His perfect plan, for knowing our deep need, and for His lovingkindness to send Jesus in the flesh to die for us. Praise Jesus for His lasting presence with us as our Immanuel. How privileged we are!

TAKING THE TRUTH TO HEART AND BRINGING IT TO LIFE

Choose one truth from today and apply it to your heart. Take it with you throughout the day.

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
Isaiah 7:14 NKJV

My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why  are  You  so far from helping Me, And  from the words of My groaning? O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; And in the night season, and am not silent. But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them. They cried to You, and were delivered; They trusted in You, and were not ashamed. But I am  a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people. All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, “He trusted in the Lord , let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!” But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts. I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother’s womb You have  been My God. Be not far from Me, For trouble is near; For there  is none to help. Many bulls have surrounded Me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me. They gape at Me with their mouths, Like a raging and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, And all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots. But You, O Lord , do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me! Deliver Me from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog. Save Me from the lion’s mouth And from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered Me. I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You. You who fear the Lord , praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel! For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from Him; But when He cried to Him, He heard. My praise shall  be of You in the great assembly; I will pay My vows before those who fear Him. The poor shall eat and be satisfied; Those who seek Him will praise the Lord . Let your heart live forever! All the ends of the world Shall remember and turn to the Lord , And all the families of the nations Shall worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord ’s, And He rules over the nations. All the prosperous of the earth Shall eat and worship; All those who go down to the dust Shall bow before Him, Even he who cannot keep himself alive. A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation, They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, That He has done this.
Psalms 22:1‭-‬31 NKJV

Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, As when at first He lightly esteemed The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, And afterward more heavily oppressed her, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, In Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined. You have multiplied the nation And increased its joy; They rejoice before You According to the joy of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For You have broken the yoke of his burden And the staff of his shoulder, The rod of his oppressor, As in the day of Midian. For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle, And garments rolled in blood, Will be used for burning and fuel of fire. For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There  will  be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah 9:1‭-‬7 NKJV

Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There  is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was  wounded for our transgressions, He  was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was  any  deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53:1‭-‬12 NKJV

“When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
II Samuel 7:12‭-‬13 NKJV

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.
Zechariah 9:9 NKJV

“The Spirit of the Lord God  is upon Me, Because the Lord  has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those  who  are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord , And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord , that He may be glorified.” And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.
Isaiah 61:1‭-‬4 NKJV

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus , for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus .
Matthew 1:18‭-‬25 NKJV

Jesus, I Need You Part 1 Day 4 (Bible Plan)

QUIET MOMENT

Jesus tells us in John 15:2 that any branch that does not bear fruit is removed. This statement is a warning so that we will examine our hearts and our actions to be sure that we are in Him, to be sure that we are bearing fruit. If we are in Christ, we will never be removed! But we need to take a careful look; if there is not a single iota of fruit of any kind in our lives, that could be a good indicator that we are not in Him.

Jesus also says in John 15:2 that every branch that does bear fruit will be pruned. Be ready to be pruned! When we are in Christ, we are a part of the stem of Jesse (see Isaiah 11:1-2, 5), we are a branch of Christ.

How incredible! Listen carefully. Be sure that you are in Christ. If you are in Christ, draw near to God, lay yourself before Him, and allow Him to do what He needs to do so that you will bear fruit. Make that your prayer this week. Ask Him to be your Immanuel. What do you fear when you think of Him pruning you?

GOING DEEPER

Read of God’s lovingkindness as expressed through His warnings in Isaiah 30:1-17 and Isaiah 31. What does God say through Isaiah in each passage?

Now read God’s encouragement in Isaiah 30:18-22. What did you learn? How can you apply this to yourself today?

REFLECTION AND PRAYER

Let this be your prayer today: Lord, may I trust in you, your Word, and your power more and more each day. May I look to you and not to the answers and solutions of this world. Pour over me, in me, and through me, Lord. Be my all in all.

TAKING THE TRUTH TO HEART AND BRINGING IT TO LIFE

Choose one truth from today and apply it to your heart. Take it with you throughout the day.

Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
John 15:2 NKJV

Behold, the Lord, The Lord of hosts, Will lop off the bough with terror; Those of high stature will  be hewn down, And the haughty will be humbled. He will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, And Lebanon will fall by the Mighty One.
Isaiah 10:33‭-‬34 NKJV

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord .
Isaiah 11:1‭-‬2 NKJV

Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist.
Isaiah 11:5 NKJV

“Woe to the rebellious children,” says the Lord , “Who take counsel, but not of Me, And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, That they may add sin to sin; Who walk to go down to Egypt, And have not asked My advice, To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, And to trust in the shadow of Egypt! Therefore the strength of Pharaoh Shall be your shame, And trust in the shadow of Egypt Shall be your humiliation. For his princes were at Zoan, And his ambassadors came to Hanes. They were all ashamed of a people who could not benefit them, Or be help or benefit, But a shame and also a reproach.” The burden against the beasts of the South. Through a land of trouble and anguish, From which came the lioness and lion, The viper and fiery flying serpent, They will carry their riches on the backs of young donkeys, And their treasures on the humps of camels, To a people who shall not profit; For the Egyptians shall help in vain and to no purpose. Therefore I have called her Rahab-Hem-Shebeth. Now go, write it before them on a tablet, And note it on a scroll, That it may be for time to come, Forever and ever: That this is a rebellious people, Lying children, Children who will not hear the law of the Lord ; Who say to the seers, “Do not see,” And to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits. Get out of the way, Turn aside from the path, Cause the Holy One of Israel To cease from before us.” Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel: “Because you despise this word, And trust in oppression and perversity, And rely on them, Therefore this iniquity shall be to you Like a breach ready to fall, A bulge in a high wall, Whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant. And He shall break it like the breaking of the potter’s vessel, Which is broken in pieces; He shall not spare. So there shall not be found among its fragments A shard to take fire from the hearth, Or to take water from the cistern.” For thus says the Lord God , the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” But you would not, And you said, “No, for we will flee on horses”— Therefore you shall flee! And, “We will ride on swift horses ”— Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift! One thousand shall  flee at the threat of one, At the threat of five you shall flee, Till you are left as a pole on top of a mountain And as a banner on a hill.
Isaiah 30:1‭-‬17 NKJV

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, And  rely on horses, Who trust in chariots because they  are many, And in horsemen because they are very strong, But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, Nor seek the Lord ! Yet He also is wise and will bring disaster, And will not call back His words, But will arise against the house of evildoers, And against the help of those who work iniquity. Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; And their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out His hand, Both he who helps will fall, And he who is helped will fall down; They all will perish together. For thus the Lord has spoken to me: “As a lion roars, And a young lion over his prey (When a multitude of shepherds is summoned against him, He will not be afraid of their voice Nor be disturbed by their noise), So the Lord of hosts will come down To fight for Mount Zion and for its hill. Like birds flying about, So will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem. Defending, He will also deliver it; Passing over, He will preserve it. ” Return to  Him against whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted. For in that day every man shall throw away his idols of silver and his idols of gold— sin, which your own hands have made for yourselves. “Then Assyria shall fall by a sword not of man, And a sword not of mankind shall devour him. But he shall flee from the sword, And his young men shall become forced labor. He shall cross over to his stronghold for fear, And his princes shall be afraid of the banner,” Says the Lord , Whose fire is in Zion And whose furnace is in Jerusalem.
Isaiah 31:1‭-‬9 NKJV

Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord  is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him. For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; You shall weep no more. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; When He hears it, He will answer you. And though the Lord gives you The bread of adversity and the water of affliction, Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, But your eyes shall see your teachers. Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left. You will also defile the covering of your images of silver, And the ornament of your molded images of gold. You will throw them away as an unclean thing; You will say to them, “Get away!”
Isaiah 30:18‭-‬22 NKJ

Jesus, I Need You Part 1 Day 3 (Bible Plan)

QUIET MOMENT

The more Isaiah saw God, the more Isaiah realized his sin and how much he was just like the world around him. His heart so broken and so grieved, he cries out to God in anguish. Isaiah felt like nothing in the presence of the Most Holy God. He was undone. When Isaiah saw God more for who He was it brought him down. He was humbled. Will you follow Isaiah’s example?

GOING DEEPER

When we humble ourselves before the Lord and draw near to our God who is with us, He does a miraculous work in our hearts. When we bow before the Lord, low in humility, He comes near and saves: “…a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:17). Read Isaiah 6:6-13, asking the Lord to speak to your heart. What does God do in response to Isaiah’s confession and repentance? What is Isaiah’s response? What is yours?

Do you feel numb, apathetic, or indifferent? Confess that to the Lord just as Isaiah confessed his condition. Lay your wooden heart before the Lord and ask Him to bring it to life. Read Isaiah 12:1-6 and Psalm 51. Open your heart to God. Allow His Spirit to search your heart and then confess your sin.

REFLECTION AND PRAYER

Will you preach the gospel to yourself? Will you remind yourself daily to pick up your cross? Take time now to bow before your merciful Shepherd, admitting your sin and confessing your need for the mighty Savior.

TAKING THE TRUTH TO HEART AND BRINGING IT TO LIFE

Choose one truth from today and apply it to your heart. Take it with you throughout the day.

 'In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. ' Isaiah 6:1-5

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.
Psalms 51:17 NKJV

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with  it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.” Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ “Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed.” Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered: “Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, The houses are without a man, The land is utterly desolate, The Lord has removed men far away, And the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. But yet a tenth will  be in it, And will return and be for consuming, As a terebinth tree or as an oak, Whose stump remains when it is cut down. So the holy seed shall  be its stump.”
Isaiah 6:6‭-‬13 NKJV

And in that day you will say: “O Lord , I will praise You; Though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For Yah , the Lord , is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ ” Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation. And in that day you will say: “Praise the Lord , call upon His name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, Make mention that His name is exalted. Sing to the Lord , For He has done excellent things; This is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion, For great is  the Holy One of Israel in your midst!”
Isaiah 12:1‭-‬6 NKJV

Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight— That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by  Your  generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise. Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem. Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.
Psalms 51:1‭-‬19 NKJV

Jesus, I Need You Part 1 Day 2 (Bible Plan)

QUIET MOMENT

We need Jesus. We need to cry out to our Immanuel to open our eyes so we can see things from His perspective, because we have wandered from the truth. We are not much different than the Israelites thousands of years ago. We have lost our focus and our vision. We have become so influenced by the culture around us that we have wandered away unknowingly.

The people of Israel were God’s chosen people. God delivered them from their oppressors, provided for them miraculously, and demonstrated His power and love to them in many ways, but they continued to be enticed by the people and things around them and wander away. Do you long for the things of this world? Do you doubt God’s ways?

GOING DEEPER

Can you hear God’s heart in today’s passage from Isaiah 1? Read all of Isaiah chapter 1 and answer the questions that follow.

1. How does God describe Israel and their behavior? What is their heart condition?

2. What does He ask them to do?

3. How does He encourage them in verses 18-20?

Read Paul’s exhortation to the church in Ephesus and to the church as a whole in Ephesians 4:17-19.

Pray and ask the Lord to reveal your heart to you, to make known to you any areas of darkness, hard-heartedness, callousness, or impurity. What did He show you?

REFLECTION AND PRAYER

Find a cozy spot to sit. Take just a few minutes and continue to ask the Lord to search your heart. The Lord appreciates your earnestness and your diligence. A repentant, contrite heart the Lord will not despise.

TAKING THE TRUTH TO HEART AND BRINGING IT TO LIFE

Choose one truth from today and apply it to your heart. Take it with you throughout the day.

The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the Lord has spoken: “I have nourished and brought up children, And they have rebelled against Me; The ox knows its owner And the donkey its master’s crib; But Israel does not know, My people do not consider.” Alas, sinful nation, A people laden with iniquity, A brood of evildoers, Children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the Lord , They have provoked to anger The Holy One of Israel, They have turned away backward. Why should you be stricken again? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick, And the whole heart faints. From the sole of the foot even to the head, There  is no soundness in it, But wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; They have not been closed or bound up, Or soothed with ointment. Your country is desolate, Your cities are burned with fire; Strangers devour your land in your presence; And it  is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. So the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, As a hut in a garden of cucumbers, As a besieged city. Unless the Lord of hosts Had left to us a very small remnant, We would have become like Sodom, We would have been made like Gomorrah. Hear the word of the Lord , You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the law of our God, You people of Gomorrah: “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” Says the Lord . “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, Or of lambs or goats. “When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your hand, To trample My courts? Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow. “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord , “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; Righteousness lodged in it, But now murderers. Your silver has become dross, Your wine mixed with water. Your princes are rebellious, And companions of thieves; Everyone loves bribes, And follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, Nor does the cause of the widow come before them. Therefore the Lord says, The Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, “Ah, I will rid Myself of My adversaries, And take vengeance on My enemies. I will turn My hand against you, And thoroughly purge away your dross, And take away all your alloy. I will restore your judges as at the first, And your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.” Zion shall be redeemed with justice, And her penitents with righteousness. The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall  be together, And those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed. For they shall be ashamed of the terebinth trees Which you have desired; And you shall be embarrassed because of the gardens Which you have chosen. For you shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fades, And as a garden that has no water. The strong shall be as tinder, And the work of it as a spark; Both will burn together, And no one shall quench them.
Isaiah 1:1‭-‬31 NKJV

This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Ephesians 4:17‭-‬19 NKJV

Jesus, I Need You Part 1 Day 1 (Bible Plan)

Jesus’ world is completely God-centered. Ours is predominantly me-centered, which is what most hinders a real, tangible, intimate relationship with Jesus. It is often hard to discern how different our ways are from His ways because no matter what kind of home we have been raised in, we acquire habits, behaviors, thought patterns, and reasoning from many sources other than Jesus Christ without even knowing it. And these become real to us and completely “normal” and acceptable. We don’t even realize how much our Christian life is flavored with the world.

We no longer want to be knowingly or unknowingly fused with the culture. We want Jesus. We need Jesus. We need our Immanuel to accomplish this work in us! We want our mind, our energies, and our heart focused more and more on Him and less on ourselves and our circumstances. We want Him and Him alone.

We can know Him more intimately than a spouse, a sister, a mother, or a life-long best friend. Can He be that real? I believe He can. His love for us and His interest in our lives is greater than we know. We underestimate what the Lord wants to be to us. We get in the way. It is my prayer, though, that He will take us out of the way.

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PRAISE HIM
Begin by praising God for sending His Son, the Living Word, the One who loves us with an everlasting love. Use John 1:14-18 as inspiration.

 

ADMIT TO HIM
Put your pen to paper and make a list of the things you crave more than the Lord or that keep you from fully surrendering everything to the Lord. What do you hunger and thirst after? Acceptance? Popularity? Position? Perfection? Power? Success? Comfort?

THANK HIM
Take time now to thank Him for his willingness to be always waiting for you and always ready to hear your cry and come to your aid.

ASK HIM
Without holding back, ask Him now, in faith, to change your desires – that you would desire Him more than yourself or any other thing. Ask Him to help you want less and less of you until you can truly say, “Only Christ.”

TAKING THE TRUTH TO HEART AND BRINGING IT TO LIFE

Choose one truth from today and apply it to your heart. Take it with you throughout the day.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.  

John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.  

And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.  

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.  

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
John 1:14‭-‬18 KJV

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
John 15:5 KJV