When I read these words I can't help but think about how revered God was at the time these words were spoken after seeing them in Isaiah 58:14.  At those times even the ones who were not necessarily in the family of God, knew that the God of the Israelites was to be feared.

Was it that God revealed Himself more in those times? and so they had to fear Him. I think not. I know that God speaks to us even more today. The bible tells us that the scribes and the prophets of old, were eager for the time that we are now in.. The grace period.  The time when we could go into the holy of holies.  In their time only one man - the priest could go and when He did, and sin was found in him He died.  

God has allowed us to have a one on one with Him.  He in all His glory has said to us mere kids, come let us reason together.   How do you reason with Him when you do all the talking and never stop to hear His side or what He has to say?  Do you read His word - the scripture?  

God says He is the savior of the world, He has said He will provide redemption for us and indeed He has.  He has done everything possible to get it through our heads.. that He is the way, and even among us believers - myself included we refuse to get-it.  We refuse to surrender, Dear God.. Help us in our unbelief.

But while we still can.. let us magnify Him.  Those that know the Lord and His goodness while we still can let us praise Him.  For He has spoken.  And He is God.  He is the Almighty - the redeemer of mankind, the Creator of the universe and all in it and outside it.  Let every knee bow before our KING.  At this time of Christmas let our celebration exalt - The words the Lord speaks in Isaiah 53-59.

Amen.  All Praise to Yashua. 

1ST SAMUEL 12:20-22

Then Samuel said to the people, "Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.

And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing.

For the Lord will not forsake His people for His great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people

IN OTHER WORDS:

To the Israelites: They insisted that they wanted to have a king for themselves and be like other nations. I guess they wanted to fit in. They were rejecting the rulership of God and wanted to be subject to a man. God told them that a king would take their daughters, their best cattle, their best sheep, their best land, their young men - to go fight his battles and to serve in His palace. Israel refused to consider and insisted that they wanted a king. So God allowed them to get their king.

To me a Christian: So I want out of God's purpose and desire for my life, and desire something He really doesn't want for me. I refuse to listen to what the Holy Spirit is telling me - because I feel God is too far or too unrealistic so I do it my way. God would much rather have spared me the drama of it all but He respects my free will though He knows the suffering my choice will cause me.

So He says this - since in this area you have gone and done your own thing, see it and return to me. But renew your resolve and be faithful to Me.

Because if you choose to go do your own thing, your own things will waste you. They will use you. They won't deliver you. They won't love you. They won't heal you. They won't feed you. They will leave you robbed, ashamed and naked. Be faithful to me. Hang on to me.

Haven't I given you my Name? haven't I come with you this far? Haven't I delivered you? Will I let you go from Me? And watch you who is Mine, be destroyed by another whom I have warned you about? Don't go. Stay Here with me, because I have made you mine. Don't go.

ROMANS 10:19 - 21

But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says:

"I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation"

But Isaiah is very bold and says:

"I was found by those who did not seek Me: I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me"

But to Israel He says

"All day long I have stretched out My hands to a diobedient and contrary people"

Romans 11:32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.

To me the above few verses reflect the nature of man - there are those of us who since our childhood have known about God but have refused to acknowledge Him in our lives, and their are those who were not even interested in the idea of God, and were even busy persecuting those who tried to say that their was a God, that in His wisdom those that know of Him might commit themselves to Him if only out of jealousy from what He was doing in the lives of those they did not consider worthy of any calling from the Almight.  Again in this He demonstrates His love for us. He wants to find all that none who hear His call maybe lost. 

Zechariah 1:3

Therefore say to them, "Thus says the Lord of Hosts: "Return to Me," says the Lord of Hosts, "and I will return to you," says the Lord of Hosts.

Zechariah 2:5

"For I," says the Lord, "will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst,"

Isaiah 43: 11,&13

I, even I, am the Lord and besides me there is no Savior

I am the Lord, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel your King

God says nothing should seperate us from Him because He is God and no one else can deliver us. He says He will surround us with a wall of fire so that nothing can harm us. He clearly stakes out His place in saying that He is my Creator and will be my glory and my Savior

ME NOW:

You know this is crazy, God loves us. He does. And if these are just a few examples of how passionate God is about us and there is still the whole bible to read. I think we should just be crumbling before Him. He deserves our worship because He is worthy.

You alone are worthy of all worship, all honor and all praise. In which other language can I speak in? To say these things. My soul magnifies You, Almighty God.

I pray that for all who know You, Almighty that Your Spirit shall work in us to make You known. That as Roman 14: 11 says

For it is written,

"As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue confess to God. "

Let us do that which is our reasonable service - the great commission.  To make Him known. 

God bless You all.

Amen.

HEBREWS 11:1 SAYS

FAITH is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

VERSE 3:   By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

HEBREWS 10:23

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful

HEBREWS 10: 35&36

Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.  For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise

It is so hot here.  It really really is hot!! At night it's even hotter.  and during the day the world seems sluggish.  All everyone seems to want to do is drink lots of soda and just laze about.  The rare whist of a cool breeze is refreshing and oh so very welcome.  It helps my mind wake - up as I struggle with drowsiness at work.  I don't even want to eat now, all I want is cool things; ice-creams, sodas and fruit juices.  It's funny how sometimes the physical and the spiritual coincide. 

I feel as if there's something between me and God.  Some distraction.  I miss Him and yet there's this thing in between.  I don't know what it is - maybe it's the many thoughts in my head, or the plans or the worries, or the blessings.  What is keeping me from being in Your presence Lord?  How I miss the intimacy I have come to know and love?  Or could it be that there is sin in my life?  Why is it that when I pray, I feel as if I really haven't been forgiven?  As if You haven't heard?  Being away from You God is so awful.  It's like being in the sun all day.  It's tiring, it's frustrating.  Breathe on Me oh Lord, and revive my faint Spirit.  

But Lord I know - that even more sure than the sun that rises everyday is Your steadfast faithfulness and love.  If I don't see the sun which gives me light at daytime or there is only darkness in the night it  does not mean there is no sun.  Surely God, even at this time when You seem so far from me and even when I pray I feel as if I am not really in Your presence -  it doesn't mean You aren't there.  You have told me that You are faithful and You will not deny Yourself.  

So as there is a time for everything - I know that Lord You are and always will be.  My Soul will magnify Your name come rain come shine, in plenty and in none.  You remain God, You remain true.  and especially at this time I will praise Your name - not out of emotion or passions that are sometimes so unreliable, but out of conviction that You are true.  May Your name be praised always.

Watch over me, Lord.  especially the thoughts that are carnal that so easily ensnare.  Watch over us all.   And those secret things oh Lord, the very secret and deep things and parts of our hearts and our minds... let Your right hand shine forth even in those places.  Lord walk with us till we are no more.  Only You can redeem us.  The Good Shepherd - have mercy on us - and consider our foolishness and steer us back on to the right path.  For Your ways are true and Your strength is sure.  Be with us now and always forever.  In Jesus name I do pray and believe.  Amen