Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Psalm 122:6, Isaiah 60

 
  “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love you.” Psalm 122:6

Many are fasting and praying for the election that will shortly be upon us. Eyes are focused upon this election for many reasons having to do with the economy, jobs, the direction of this nation, and more. But there are also those who as they pray and get ready to vote, are also thinking about the United States support of Israel. As lovers of God and lovers of Israel, we must view, pray for, and cast our vote in these elections with thinking of how the outcome will help aid Israel. No matter what happens in this election, without our nation wholeheartedly supporting Israel, the end result will not be good. Those that love God understand this truth. Our efforts are never wasted! Never!

Isaiah shares foresight helping us see the future result of God’s love and our prayers and efforts for the peace of Jerusalem.

 "Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all the nations to see! For the glory of the Lord is shining upon you. Darkness as black as night will cover all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord will shine over you. All nations will come to your light. Mighty kings will come to see your radiance…

    "Though you were once despised and hated and rebuffed by all, you will be beautiful forever. You will be a joy to all generations, for I will make you so. Powerful kings and mighty nations will bring the best of their goods to satisfy your every need. You will know at last that I, the Lord, am your Savior and Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel.
(Isaiah 60:1-3 & 15-16)

Dear Father,
I pray for all the families in this great nation.  Thank You for loving me. Thank You for dying for me. Lord  I pray that every christian get out and vote for moral Jesus centered people. Lord bless the men & women currently fighting to protect our freedom, as well as the freedom of those around the world.  And comfort the families and armed forces that still are serving to protect our freedoms.
In Jesus' name. Amen

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Goodbye Friend. A Tribute to Darren.

 

I was in shock to hear about Darren this morning.  I can't stop the tears.  For everyone that has lost a loved one.  I know it is hard.

I have lost so many friends and family over the past two years.  And the Lord spared my life on March 22, 2008 the day before Easter in a near death Motorcycle accident.  I do believe in miracles.  But I find it so hard to understand Gods bigger plan in people's lives.

I had just talked with Darren Wednesday, before the WBFJ Concert at Dixie Classic Fair.  I was asking him when we were going to play Golf again and that my knee was about healed for my Knee Surgery.  He just smiled and said it was going to be a while before he could play.  He went on how to explain that he had burnt his hand and had very bad burns, and that he wasn't feeling very well.  And then Kurt had told me Darren, had to have emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix Friday of that week.

I have known Darren since he joined us at WBFJ and had the honor of knowing him and even playing Golf with him in the Golf tournaments that WBFJ got invited to. It's hard for us to understand why the Lord allowed the passing of Darren so soon.  But we will know one day when we join him in heaven. I pray for Verne and Tami as they host the morning show.  

Our prayers are with all my friends @ WBFJ & Darren's family. Darren was a special person and will be greatly missed! We as Christians have to support and lift each other up especially during times like this. The Lord is our salvation and strength!  I found a few verses in the Holy Bible that I wanted to share with everyone that new Darren.  In the hope that we might find hope and comfort during this shocking time.


1-11 God Is Our Comfort.  As we look at these passages from Isaiah, I believe our faith will be strengthened as we see how God truly does take care of us.

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
God is our comfort when we are worried. The nation of Israel had been in exile. They were unsure of what the future would bring. But God sent this message from his prophet Isaiah to comfort the people. When we are worried or in despair, God sends his comfort. He wants to help his people. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
If you are worried or anxious for anything, know that God is your comfort. He cares about you, and he is by your side to help you through whatever difficulty you may be facing.


Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins.
God is our comfort when we are afraid. The people were under foreign oppression living under fear. But God told Isaiah to "speak tenderly to Jerusalem." God speaks tenderly to us when we are afraid. David learned this, as he wrote in Psalm 61:2-4, "From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings."
When you feel, as David did, that your heart is crying out to God, know that he will shelter you. He will comfort you even in times of fear and distress. Notice this verse promises Israel two things – her warfare was ended, relief from physical problems; and her iniquity was pardoned, relief from spiritual problems. God promises us the same thing today. God comforts us in our physical problems: health, financial, marital, and God comforts us in our spiritual problems. He makes us complete in him.
Barnes comments, "To speak ‘to the heart,’ is to speak in such a way as to remove the troubles of the heart; to furnish consolation and joy. It means that they were not merely to urge such topics as should convince the understanding, but such also as should be adopted to minister consolation to the heart."


A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God."
God is our comfort when we are overwhelmed. Do you feel like you have been going through a wilderness or a desert? Notice the two promises he makes in this verse. God is preparing a way in the wilderness – what wilderness are you in? Does there seem to be danger on every side? Do you feel lost and dismayed? God is preparing a way for you.
God is also making a highway in the desert – what desert have you gone through? Are you scorched and burned from the heat of your trials? Do you feel thirsty for relief but none appears in sight? God said that he would make a straight highway for you.
Barnes gives us some good background information, "The idea is taken from the practice of Eastern monarchs, who, whenever they entered on a journey or an expedition, especially through a barren and unfrequented or inhospitable country, sent harbingers or heralds before them to prepare the way. To do this, it was necessary for them to provide supplies, and make bridges, or find fording places over the streams; to level hills, and construct causeways over valleys, or fill them up; and to make a way through the forest which might lie in their intended line of march."


Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.
God is our comfort when things appear bleak. The psalmist is looking ahead and what does he see? He sees deep uncrossable valleys and steep mountains and hills. The terrain is uneven and rough before him. Things look very bad. Do you ever feel that way? Everywhere you look there are obstacles or barriers. It doesn’t seem like there is much hope. But this verse tells us every valley shall be lifted up – every low point in our life will be raised. Every mountain shall be made low – every obstacle in our way will come down. The uneven ground shall become level – the rollercoaster of our life will be calmed. And the rough places a plain – God will smooth out the rough places. God will help us through whatever we have to go through. No matter how bleak things may appear, remember God is our comfort.

Please share this with your friends!  We will miss you Darren!