This Day With God – A Spiritual Journey

Over the last few weeks I’ve written about my journey through the book of Isaiah and how the life of Jesus was prophesized in this ancient book written eight hundred years before Christ. Last week, I wrote about the clear victory God has given in Jesus. As I continue reading from Isaiah 14-18, there is a picture forming as Isaiah tries to communicate to the people of his time.

The picture being communicated is one of destiny. Isaiah is telling about a God who will prove His love to people by sending a savior. God’s purpose will be executed and no one will turn it back. With hind sight, we can look back on history and know that it was executed. God proved His love on the Cross when Christ hung, and bled, and died. God was saying to the world “I love you”. Destiny tells us that we are empowered to step ahead because of God’s plan. Be thankful for the victory in Jesus. Prepare for and expect victory in your own life because our Savior loves, our Savior lives, and is always there for us.

Knowing that victory is assured, what should be our response? We should have composure and take the best course of action. In our prayers, we can ask for direction, listen, journal, and write notes of ideas or plans. We can ask God to help design our life plan and how we can help with His. We can dream about carrying out the plans, prepare with confidence, and be determined to carry the plans out one step at a time.

Each of us makes a difference to our family, church, community, and nation. Know the role you can play with a singleness of purpose and a burning desire to help not only in the present but also for future generations. Here is a link to a video that inspires one to look for a reason and find a place in this world: Place In This World by Michael W Smith.

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• Send a comment or email any thoughts or prayers to lifetransgroup@live.com 
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 Thanks for letting me share.

Mark

Last week, I wrote about some thoughts from Isaiah 7-9 which emphasized that life is not always easy but we should remain optimistic because of what Jesus has done. He told the disciples about the Holy Spirit that would be sent to them upon His death. Today, all believers have access to that same resource of wisdom and knowledge that Jesus talked about.

We are simply instruments in God’s hand and our desire should always be to execute His will not for our own ambition but for His glory. When great things do happen, all the credit should go to God. Even our individual strengths and talents are given by Him. As I read in Isaiah 10-12, the thought is that God sometimes needs to clear a new path. New paths seem risky but when we believe that Jesus is continually with us, we can take on risk and step ahead to obey God in new and adventurous ways.

Everyone faces problems but as talked about in the sermon at FUMC Waco last week, we can smile because of God’s resources. To solve problems, there are three questions we can ask ourselves. The first is what can we do? The second is what can we read? The third is who can we ask? Start with God. His grace is enough and He can lead us in the right direction.

Fortunately because of our Redeemer who has sent the Counselor, we have a way to efficiently get the answers to the questions above. God is all powerful and we should be thankful for the clear way to victory that has been provided. Here is a video that sums up for me why we can have optimism for the future: God’s Grace Is Enough by Matt Maher. 

• Photo of the week
• Send a comment or email any thoughts or prayers to lifetransgroup@live.com
• To receive a weekly email with thoughts from a sermon or if you have thoughts from a sermon, Sunday school lesson, or other thoughts, send an email to the same address

  Thanks for letting me share.

Mark

We face tough opponents in life but God is a friend in time of trials. In Isaiah 7, Ahaz was going through a difficult time because of the plot against him and Isaiah was sent by God to calm his fears. Today, we can be calm and have peace because Christ was sent our way. We can stand firm in faith, go to God in prayer, and maintain confidence. Our time on Earth is temporary so there’s nothing to lose as we take steps of faith and journey into the realm of the unknown because God will help in our time of need.

As talked about at Easter a few weeks ago, we find dawning light and hope in the living God who lived on earth, was crucified, rose, and continues to live. He changed the world in every way and has had and continues to have the broadest impact of anyone in the world. Here is a link to a three minute video: Emmanuel by Amy Grant. The Wonderful Counselor is the source of all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge and teaches how to live. Listen for the guidance He gives in your prayers and be thankful for the light He shines upon your path. 

• Photo of the week
• Send a comment or email any thoughts or prayers to lifetransgroup@live.com
• To receive a weekly email with thoughts from a sermon or if you have thoughts from a sermon, Sunday school lesson, or other thoughts, send an email to the same address

Thanks for letting me share.

Mark

A woman was asked why she couldn’t get along with her husband. She said, “My husband and I have religious differences. He thinks he’s God and I don’t”. A good laugh helps us get through tough days especially when life throws some curves. From the start of time, the world has never met all of man’s wishes and we get one example in Isaiah 3. The people were not satisfied and just couldn’t connect with God. The whole society was called to account as many provisions and luxuries were being taken away from the people. The city of Judah and the land was made desolate because the people had rebelled against God and He was displeased.

In today’s times, the world still can’t meet all our needs. A person can work hard and do all the right things but there is no guarantee things will work out. The world may not be able to fulfill everything but God can through the rewarding fresh change that only Christ can provide. Like emphasized in the video O Praise him by David Crowder Band, we should keep praising God and trust that true help, happiness, and reward will come our way.

God can cultivate the life of a person one day at a time if one seeks the truth with discipline and lives by His principles. The way has been cleared with Jesus our Mediator and we can receive counsel through the Holy Spirit. It all starts by asking God to reveal His plans for you. The next step is taking action; being inspired by God’s grace and being determined to carry those plans out. One day at a time, God can show the way.

Take a look at photo of the week. Thanks for letting me share.

Mark