60:1 Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you.
3 And nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising.
4 Lift up your eyes all around, and see;
they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from afar,
and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.
5 Then you shall see and be radiant;
your heart shall thrill and exult, [1]
because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
6 A multitude of camels shall cover you,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
all those from Sheba shall come.
They shall bring gold and frankincense,
and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.
7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you;
the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you;
they shall come up with acceptance on my altar,
and I will beautify my beautiful house.
8 Who are these that fly like a cloud,
and like doves to their windows?
9 For the coastlands shall hope for me,
the ships of Tarshish first,
to bring your children from afar,
their silver and gold with them,
for the name of the Lord your God,
and for the Holy One of Israel,
because he has made you beautiful.
10 Foreigners shall build up your walls,
and their kings shall minister to you;
for in my wrath I struck you,
but in my favor I have had mercy on you.
11 Your gates shall be open continually;
day and night they shall not be shut,
that people may bring to you the wealth of the nations,
with their kings led in procession.
12 For the nation and kingdom
that will not serve you shall perish;
those nations shall be utterly laid waste.
13 The glory of Lebanon shall come to you,
the cypress, the plane, and the pine,
to beautify the place of my sanctuary,
and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
14 The sons of those who afflicted you
shall come bending low to you,
and all who despised you
shall bow down at your feet;
they shall call you the City of the Lord,
the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
15 Whereas you have been forsaken and hated,
with no one passing through,
I will make you majestic forever,
a joy from age to age.
16 You shall suck the milk of nations;
you shall nurse at the breast of kings;
and you shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior
and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
17 Instead of bronze I will bring gold,
and instead of iron I will bring silver;
instead of wood, bronze,
instead of stones, iron.
I will make your overseers peace
and your taskmasters righteousness.
18 Violence shall no more be heard in your land,
devastation or destruction within your borders;
you shall call your walls Salvation,
and your gates Praise.
19 The sun shall be no more
your light by day,
nor for brightness shall the moon
give you light; [2]
but the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory. [3]
20 Your sun shall no more go down,
nor your moon withdraw itself;
for the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your days of mourning shall be ended.
21 Your people shall all be righteous;
they shall possess the land forever,
the branch of my planting, the work of my hands,
that I might be glorified. [4]
22 The least one shall become a clan,
and the smallest one a mighty nation;
I am the Lord;
in its time I will hasten it. (ESV)
Wounded soldiers in sink
No music is accompanying
the sounds of their marching feet.
I see rays of burning light beaming from their faces.
No music,
fills in the spaces
as millions are standing in the streets.
Dust covered nostrils,
The smell of despair
No shelter, no food
stench in the air.
.
Why did the captains choose the wrong turn?
Weren’t they supposed to lead us?
They pushed us down a one way track
They never seemed concerned.
We took the land by force,
Protesting with mighty fervor
We told them they had to turn around
And still they stayed their course.
Now for a thousand years……..
Were they ever here?
Did we take what God had given freely
to stand in the gap and fight?
Did we know what lied ahead?
Did we use His might?
Still….a ray of burning light,
Beaming from our faces
The sounds of marching feet
Fills in the places
Where hope was rising
The quiet stirred
I saw a glimpse of something in the distance.
Still…..no music was ever heard.
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Many have wished to see you, but we must seek your face.
You have lifted us high to the mountain plains,
Your pure white clothing, torn and stained.
We have reached the depths in the valleys of despair
And you have held our hands gently, while you were there.
You brought us to the hope of life,
When all seemed hopeless, nothing but strife.
You have called each of our names though the darkness of night.
Each sound you made was a glimmer of light.
Can we hear you now as you speak bold and loud?
Or will we wait until you come in the glory cloud?
You Lord have numbered the hairs on our heads.
It is you Lord who has raised the chosen from the dead.
You Lord alone are the armor of our souls.
You have shown us Lord how we must attain your goals.
I have covered you with my blanket of grace.
“Seek me while it is still early, seek my face.”
My word is sharper than any two edged sword,
Stand still, and know that I am God, thus saith the Lord.
]]>Who sees the the windows of my soul?
Who hears me Lord when I do not speak?
Who forgives me when I’m not whole?
If I could understand the mysteries in your mind.
If I could know the vast, wheres and whys
If I could keep you in my sight.
If I could trust you with my life.
Then…….I wouldn’t struggle with my heart.
I would know my soul has wings to soar.
I would hear your voice instead of mine.
I would understand, I’m not alone,
Even when I’ve fallen, for you will never leave………
I can give you more.
]]>Then I will feed you carefully, little eagle,
making sure each bite is digested slowly.
I will help you stand, then walk, then run.
Later when I know you have the strength,
I must let you fly…………….
If I let you rush, you may miss the task,
that I purposed you for, since the beginning.
If you think you are ready, and you go thru the door
perhaps unsteady, how will you ever know there was more?
Take my hand, and hold onto it tight,
I will tell you when it is your time.
It is different for everyone, you trust me now.
I will know the day, the hour, and the moment,
you will take flight…………….
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Lord, I thought I knew you,
but know the winds have changed.
Tossed away, will you find me?
Can still , my heart be sustained?
Just me and you when things were new,
then the season’s storms blew by.
Did I forget to worship you?
Will you come, Lord Jesus to gather us- your sheep.
For the days grow long and still,
If we watch and wait, will you hear us yet-
Can we stand strong to do you will?
The wheat has been blowing in that field,
While the laborers are so few.
What then, now are we waiting for?
Can hardened hearts become like new?
Safely can we stay behind you,
as we march with your trumpet sound?
Or- have we stayed and hid so long now,
That our roots dry underground?
I pray Lord that you will find me.
I pray not to be ashamed.
I seek you when it’s early Lord.
I pray not to fall away.
So come Lord Jesus come quickly-
The terrible day is at hand.
I pray we’ll all be steadfast.
So you may strengthen our spirits ,
as we stand.
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A timely word from God Sunday July 26, 2009.
"To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven"
a) He speaks of this diversity of time for two causes first to declare that there is nothing in this world perpetual: next to teach us not to be grieved, if we have not all things at once according to our desires, neither enjoy them so long as we would wish."To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."
A season - "A certain time appointed by God for its being and continuance, which no human wit or providence can alter. And by virtue of this appointment of God, all vicissitudes which happen in the world, whether comforts or calamities, come to pass. Which is here added to prove the principal proposition, that all things below are vain, and happiness is not to be found in them, because of their great uncertainty, and mutability, and transitoriness, and because they are so much out of the reach and power of men, and wholly in the disposal of God. Purpose - Not only natural, but even the voluntary actions of men, are ordered and disposed by God. But it must be considered, that he does not here speak of a time allowed by God, wherein all the following things may lawfully be done, but only of a time fixed by God, in which they are actually done."
"To expect unchanging happiness in a changing world, must end in disappointment. To bring ourselves to our state in life, is our duty and wisdom in this world. God's whole plan for the government of the world will be found altogether wise, just, and good. Then let us seize the favourable opportunity for every good purpose and work. The time to die is fast approaching. Thus labour and sorrow fill the world. This is given us, that we may always have something to do; none were sent into the world to be idle."
Notes from the author>
I have been unhinged by current situations, and realize that no matter how hard we try even if we think we can, there is nothing in the world we can do about our gains, or losses, failures, or successes, sadness, or joy, and utimately life or death. There is only one thing we can count on that the supreme being God almighty will take us thru each season in His grace! I speak from a point of view not of my own, but from an awareness that nothing is perpetual as the definition explains, rather then: permanent. With this in mind we all are striving for something that we cannot attain. Yes in this world to others who have not had the experience yet of the cross; gain is of course gain, but to those who have experienced the cross; the bible says we must count our gains, but loss.
"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." Phillipians 3:8
So with this timely word from God I assure you, no God assures you, what you may experience now, as gain, be sure to note scripturally in God's appointed season for your life you will be faced with loss. Know for sure, no matter what you believe this will cost you, it will never compare to what Yeshua suffered on the cross, and what His death and ressurection brought us, eternal life.
Never look at another and believe this could never happen to me, whatever it may be. I am not writing this to be a doom sayer, but a truth giver...........There is only one truth, narrow as it is, but Christ and Christ alone is the promise, and the end of the beginning...........................................
]]>shackled in my pain.
Can it be you will ever hear me?
Or do things just stay the same.
I am bound by my disbelief.
I refuse to own this suffering.
Jesus, you took away my grief,
With your sacrifice of dying.
I know and want to understand.
as the world goes on with it's living.
Why did you choose me for this task?
It's way beyond my giving.
You tell me of dreams
that I cannot see.
You come and visit them too.
Tangible though they may be...
I yearn to be with you.
Then I could peer down from this pain,
no more tears could cloud my eyes.
And I would give you all I have.
A living sacrifice.
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White as snow,
Led theLamb to the slaughter.
Crimson blood flowed,
For your sons and your daughters.
Pure and blameless,
Spotless and new,
Did we lead the Lamb?
To make all of us new?
No, there He stood steady,
Viewing His fate
Seeing beggars go hungry,
While rich men ate.
Who could come?
To determine His own life?
Who could be sent here?
To change death, fear, and strife?
So enter in-
To the season fast coming.
No life is untouched.
Drink from the fountain, that you thirst for so much.
Have you met Him yet?
Do you know His name?
The richer, the poorer, the lost-
He took away all of your shame.
Our Passover Lamb-
Gave His life, for mine,
He laid it down,
For all of time.
White as snow,
Pure and blameless,
Spotless and new,
He stood steady
Determined His own life.
The Passover Lamb: the final sacrifice
The Transformation
White as snow,
Led a Lamb to the slaughter.
Crimson blood flowed,
For your sons and your daughters.
Pure and blameless,
Spotless and new,
Did we lead the Lamb?
To make all of us new?
No, there He stood steady,
Viewing His fate
Seeing beggars go hungry,
While rich men ate.
Who could come?
To determine His own life?
Who could be sent here?
To change death, fear, and strife?
So enter in-
To the season fast coming.
No life is untouched.
Drink from the fountain, that you thirst for so much.
Have you met Him yet?
Do you know His name?
The richer, the poorer, the lost-
He took away all of your shame.
Our Passover Lamb-
Gave His life, for mine,
He laid it down,
For all of time.
White as snow,
Pure and blameless,
Spotless and new,
He stood steady
Determined His own life.
The Passover Lamb: the final sacrifice
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Do you witness to others who are placed in your path, or do you just say maybe tomorrow? Are we so sure for us or for them there will be another chance? Do you set expectations or your lack of biblical knowledge as a prelude to whether or not you will or will not be obedient to Christ's example? Or do you have so much knowledge that you really don't have the time or desire to share with others and spend any quality time with those in need. Let's look for a moment at Jesus:
In Matthew chapter 5, Jesus is sharing with a crowd of people who had followed Him: "You are the salt for the land. But if salt becomes tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer become good for anything except being thrown out for people to trample on." "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Likewise, when people light a lamp, they don't cover it with a bowl,but put it on a lamp stand, so that it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine before people,so that they may see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven."
A good share of Jesus ministry was spent telling people who God was, and following the narrow path, of His Father. That the way to eternal life was only one way, not many. And the way of our earthly lives was from the word of God who had sent Him. Not many choices, and many desires, but the Lord's way.
Have you ever taken a glimpse back at your path, and wondered what was I thinking? Or can you finally resolve yourself to the fact the path you may have wrongfully been on , is the path that God has rightfully placed you on? You had to start somewhere, and now your here, reading this article, thinking the person who is writing this has been down probably the same well traveled path. Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things good work together for them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."
I guess what I am trying to get across here is this. It's really time for us all, no matter where we come from or what we done, if we have been given the gift of salvation, and the knowing that Jesus really did come to give life and life more abundantly, then isn't it time for us to share the good news, instead of us growing our churches bigger and better, and more prestigious, and get out there and just be the fishermen Jesus has called us to be, even if it is one person at a time. After all a WISE man wins souls. Multitudes are important and some have the position to fulfill the purpose. But there is great a reward, in obedience to the Lord, caring for those who are truly looking for a light in a dark world. I want to be that light, do you? I am going to continue the path as a Jew who believes in the redeeming power of, Yeshua Ha Mashiach. I am laying to rest my desires and my plans to conform to God's plan. Remember 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."
Isn't it time for all the body of Christ to share our inheritance with those whose paths cross ours? Tell them about your saving grace,your healing, about our Messiah, and be an example of the hope that God has given to His people, and watch how God will begin to show you the plans He has made for you.
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