Is. 66 [The Message]

What is as exciting as a newborn baby? The birth process is one of the greatest miracles of creation. As only He can, God can bring forth a life from a fertilized egg. That life has the potential to change the world.

Sadly, abortion was a BIG factor in yesterday’s elections all around the country. I AM PRO LIFE, and I don’t mind saying the abortion candidates are a pitiful lot. One day, they will regret their influence over the deaths of thousands of infant children. How do you think God sees it? They are actually robbing God, for the fruit of the womb is His reward. [Ps. 127:3]

God has numbered each child and there is a day of reckoning coming. It would be like Him to bring them to Heaven so He could Father them forever.

(If you, by chance, have had an abortion and feel deep regret, just go to your Heavenly Father in prayer and confess your sin and BE FORGIVEN!. He’s probably raising your child.)

Is. 65 [The Message]

A land that is 448 times smaller than the U.S., Israel has certainly become a focal point of everyone’s discussion since the GAZA war. Disputes about whether the Jews are entitled to the land are causing great unrest and sizeable demonstrations in the world. “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. [Ps. 24:1] God gave the land to His People and He will defend it.

As we will read in tomorrow’s scripture passage, God is planning to create a NEW Heaven and a NEW earth. The real estate we are disputing will be inconsequential. The real estate God ks primarily concerned about is the hearts of people. That needs to be our primary focus in this whole mess of a war.

Is. 63-65 [The Message]

One aspect of God’s nature is that of a nurturing mother. YES, He’s our Heavenly Father, but he also displays the reaching, gathering, comforting quality of a mother with her children. [Is. 66:13]

As Christ gazed upon Jerusalem and lamented over their back-slidden condition, He said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones [to death] those [messengers] who are sent to her [by God]! How often I have wanted to gather your children together [around Me], just as a hen gathers her young under her wings, but you were not willing!” [Luke 13:34 AMP]

Is there someone you would like to see come closer to the Lord? Lift their name to God in prayer right now and keep praying. God’s Spirit will reach out to them and draw them to Himself.

Is. 62:6, 7 [The Message]

Whenever I read verses that accentuate persistent prayer, I take note. This is one that is worth examining … “O Jerusalem, I have set intercessors on your walls who shall cry to God all day and all night for the fulfillment of his promises. Take no rest, all you who pray, and give God no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes her respected and admired throughout the earth.”

We need to keep praying for the peace of Jerusalem. [Ps. 122:6] In light of the war going on right now, this verse is critical. We should add this item to our prayer list PRONTO.

God does not get weary of hearing us repeat a prayer item. In fact, we are instructed to do so in Luke 18.

Go ahead … try to wear Him out on this issue. When we see the productive results of our persistent prayer, we will bear down even harder. God LOVES it.

Is. 61, 62 [The Message]

I remember references to Beulah land when I was a kid growing up in a Pentecostal church. We sang hymns about it. What does it mean?

• In Biblical Hebrew Beulah (בְּעוּלָ֑ה‎ bə‘ūlāh) means “married to the land” and is applied to the land that the people of Israel will marry. The context is the Babylonian Exile, in which the land of Israel became holy to the Jews, their land to which they must return.
• n the Christian allegory ‘Pilgrim’s Progress (1678) by John Bunyan, Beulah Land is a place of peace near the end of the Christian life, on the border of the Celestial City. The River of Death separates Beulah from the New Jerusalem, the city on a hill.

In summary, The Biblical reference to “Beulah Land” is used as symbolism for Israel. Once a desolate and barren land, the Lord commanded future prosperity of Israel by naming the land Beulah.

Is.58-60 [The Message]

Arise, shine! For thy light (Jesus) is come. All nations and their kings shall come to the brightness of Your radiant sunrise.

Israel is going through a bitter trial right now. The nations are all taunting her and challenging her right to exist. in effect, they are stirring the Mighty God of Heaven to rise up to defend her and fulfill His end-time plan. Yes, we Christians have come to a saving knowledge of Christ and entered into a covenant relationship with God that lets us taste the new life to come. But there is a time soon to come whereby “Every tongue will confess Him, every eye will see Him, and every knee shall bow to Him.”

We will be SO GLAD we came to Christ voluntarily (errr, the conviction of the Holy Spirit had alot to do with it). God’s glory will arise and be seen upon us. Great days ahead!

Is. 57 [The Message]

“Are we there yet? Are we there yet?” Most parents have heard this question when on a trip with their children. Many of us ask this question about the times we live in. We ask, “Jesus, are you coming soon? Our world is caving in right before our eyes.”

The prophet clarifies how we are to live as we wait: “Maintain justice, and do what is right.” It’s almost an “Occupy til I come” exhortation. Herein lies the key. We keep LOOKIN’ and OCCUPYIN’. He will come to those who look for Him.

Here is Gordon Jensen, the composer of “Redemption Draweth Nigh.” One important line is, “Keep your eyes upon the Eastern skies.”

ALSO: Thanks for praying for me. I had my 12th bone marrow biopsy done and all tests went well. I will meet with Dr. Solomon after Thanksgiving to discuss where we go from here. You are all GREAT FRIENDS.

Is. 56 [The Message]

My oncologist, Dr. Goldklang, noticed a spike in one of my critical indicators for the cancer in my blood. He referred me to Dr. Solomon, my transplant Dr. who is truly an expert on my disease, Multiple Myeloma.

This morning, Patty is taking me to Northside Hospital for testing … bone marrow biopsy, full body bone scan, and blood work. Dr. Solomon wants to do his own testing to draw necessary conclusions.

Ask God to destroy this disease at the root. I want to go to heaven, but not just yet. I want to live to be available to my family and to continue being a witness of Christ.

Thanks!

Is. 55 [The Message]

Can you believe it? God provides everything for FREE. Oh, there was a price to pay, and Christ Jesus did it. He took our sin and provided eternal life, healing, deliverance, prosperity, everything we need to live an abundant life. There is no cost in dollars and cents. All we need to do is … DIE TO SELF.

Everything’s free, but there is a cost to our pride, our own plans for our life, our lusts and carnal appetites, and our reputation.

“When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun.”