The Simple Life

"But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen! Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen." Isaiah 44:1-2 (ESV)   Once the phrase, "thus says the Lord God," is uttered, no more is needed to be said. When the ultimate authority in the universe speaks, all others must remain silent. God was, is, and will be the only authority.   When I live as if I am an authority, I lose, for I can never be the absolute authority. Not only is it clear that God is the only and ultimate authority, but we are told that during our most vulnerable time, when we are being formed in the womb, God was present, active, and responsible for our very creation. Those who advocate abortion are Satanic in that they are trying to destroy the creative work of God, as well as the ability of God to demonstrate His mercy and grace to another person.   Ultimately, Satan loses because those murde...

"You are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior." Isaiah 43:10-11 (ESV)   There is only one God. There has always been only one God, and there always will be only one God. We must know who God is.   Since there is one God, He has names, real names, that represent Him. It matters what name we use to describe Him, and it matters that we do not use His name in vain. Using His name in vain is to lie about something. We want to claim authority, so we use His name. We want to soften the hardness of a decision we make, so we use His name. Satan is the father of all lies, and there is no greater lie than to lie about what God has said, what He meant, or what He represents. I need to spend time discovering Him, not making Him up. https://www.podbean.com/relate365

Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see! Who is blind but my servant, or deaf as my messenger whom I send? Who is blind as my dedicated one, or blind as the servant of the Lord? He sees many things, but does not observe them; his ears are open, but he does not hear. The Lord was pleased, for his righteousness' sake, to magnify his law and make it glorious. Isaiah 42:18-21 (ESV)   Why would anyone be intentionally blind and deaf? Those who are blind or deaf need to work harder at understanding the world around them, and they can easily be taken advantage of by those who can see and hear.   The irony here is that those who are blind and deaf do so by choice. Then, perhaps they roam the earth crying about not being able to see or hear. They talk about not seeing God, or not hearing God, when God is plenty evident if they would just open their eyes and choose to listen.   Choosing to be blind and deaf to God will prove to be a bad idea. https://www.podbean.com/r...

    "I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them." Isaiah 42:8-9 (ESV)   God is God alone, and no one or anything else can take His place. Yet, it seems as if one of the greatest temptations we have is to take the glory that belongs to Him.   Often, we want to use God to gain status, rather than love God and enjoy the status that comes from being His. We seem to enjoy pointing to us when good happens, and question God when "bad" happens. We relish the good times without a thought towards God, while desperately praying to Him when things have gone south.   Taking a bow should be reserved for God, while bowing is reserved for us. He, alone, is God, and He, alone, should be glorified, and all those who, for any reason, steal His glory on this earth will, one day, wish they had not. https://www.podbean...

Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law. Isaiah 42:1-4 (ESV)   Those who come to God broken need not fear that their brokenness will be used against them. In fact, the bruised will not break, and those with very little hope will not be crushed. In this life, it is not my strength that matters; it is God's strength. My wisdom is limited; God's wisdom is unlimited. My power is virtually non-existent, and God's power is everywhere.   My goal in life should not be autonomy, but dependency. I need to be dependent upon God, and anything that allows me the privil...

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)   "They are poor and needy. God must have room in which to work. Emptiness to receive Him; weakness to be empowered by Him. It is into the empty branch that the vine-sap pours; into the hollowed basin that the water flows; the weakness of the child gives scope for the man's strength." (F. B. Meyer)   The principle of "weak being strong" is clear and consistent throughout the Scriptures. As in all true things, we can observe this principle manifest in various ways. A mind that is full, or already made up, cannot accept new ideas and cannot learn. The one who perceives themselves as strong will not ask, seek, or desire help.   False perceptions of ourselves often make us "God," independent, needing no one, and all-powerful, when in reality, we are just the opposite.   We need to live i...