The Simple Life

"Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,' calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it." Isaiah 46:8-11 (ESV)   God said that He has a purpose and that He will do it. He is not random. He will accomplish His purpose no matter what I think, do, or say. If I want to be a part of what He does, I need to choose to be a part of it. If I choose to ignore Him or say no to Him, I lose.   One cannot think that God is random or tied to our personal responses. He is not. My only hope is to be in sync with Him. https://www.podbean.com/relate365

"Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other." Isaiah 45:22 (ESV)   The word "saved" in this verse is a primitive root meaning to be proper, to be open, wide, or free (by implication) to be safe.   Everyone can turn to God or ignore God, because God has given them that choice. Even though we have the option of truth or ignorance, we do not have the choice of consequences. Our ideas and actions have consequences, and even though we can choose the path we take, we cannot decide where it ultimately leads.   Paths go somewhere, and only fools think that all paths go to the same place. If I choose to believe lies, then I also choose to look foolish when my lies are exposed. In fact, those who choose to live lies spend enormous energy trying to convince others that their lies are actually "truth," and they can never really enjoy the journey. If I choose to turn to God, acknowledge Him as God, and allow Him to love me, ...

For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): "I am the Lord, and there is no other. I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, 'Seek me in vain.' I the Lord speak the truth; I declare what is right." Isaiah 45:18-19 (ESV)   God makes it very clear that He is God and there is no other. The only way this life will make any sense is if we live in this truth. If God can be amazed, I bet He is amazed at man who wants to have Him continually prove that He is God. It would be as if I were around you all the time, and you were constantly asking me to prove that I was Dave.   God has clearly communicated the fact that He is God, that He loves, that He is the creator and sustainer of life, and that those who seek Him, find Him. We need to look for Him honestly.     Learn More at Relate365.com https://w...

For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): "I am the Lord, and there is no other. I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, 'Seek me in vain.' I the Lord speak the truth; I declare what is right." Isaiah 45:18-19 (ESV)   It seems like the theme in Isaiah is that God is God and there is no other. Perhaps if we all really knew that, and lived like that, we would be in a better place. Those who know God know how to love. Those who know God know what to hate (not who, but what). Those who know God know what is essential. They know what to live for and are not afraid to die.   Those who do not know God seem to be forever spinning their life tires in the "mud of life," expending much energy, while going nowhere. Their lives are full of self-inflicted misery. https://www.podbean.com/rela...

“I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other.” Isaiah 45:5-6 (ESV)   It seems that God, for some reason, needs to keep stating the obvious. However, if God keeps saying it, we need continual reminders that He alone is God, and there is no other.   This might be hard to grasp in a culture that would consider idols "silly" waste. Yet a people who usually love what we should use and use what we should love can easily get everything out of alignment.   If God is God alone, then I need to act as if God alone is God. This means that He possesses a place, both in history and in my life today, that is uniquely His. This means that He alone is my hope, authority, guide, and counselor. This means that all other values are measured by how they bring Him value.   https://www.podbean.c...

"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...