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Breaking vs Crushing

August 21, 2019 by memullin

It is one thing to be broken. A clean break is not impossible to mend. Align the broken pieces, apply some epoxy, wait and time will heal the fractures.

Crushing is a totally different thing. With a horrible blow or a series of repeated strikes to the fragile porcelain of a human heart, a crushing occurs–thousands of tiny pieces are left with no hope of ever being re-aligned or re-assembled.

Humpty-dumpty all over again.

But God . . .

Indeed, the former things have come to pass, Now I declare new things;
Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you. Isaiah 42:9

If anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].  2 Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified)

Sometimes with God it is a break, clean and neat. But often with God it is a crushing–to testify to His desire and power and make all things new–to release the fragrance that is within us.

Take heart, beloved, if you are going through a time of crushing right now, He will make all things new for you. Not one of His promises will fall. He will keep each and every one.

 

Posted in Devotional, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , |

Isaiah Chapter 36

August 20, 2019 by memullin

The next three chapters of Isaiah are about King Hezekiah. In order to better understand them, we are going to review what the books of the history (Kings and Chronicles) tell us about Hezekiah and his life.

Read 2 Kings Chapter 18
1. Who is the king of Judah at the beginning of this chapter?
2. How old was Hezekiah when he became king of Judah? How long did he reign? How is his reign described?

3. What do you learn of Hezekiah from 2 Kings 18:5-6?
4. What happened to Israel during the sixth year of Hezekiah, King of Judah? Why? (See verse 12)
5. What happened to Hezekiah and Judah in the 14th year of his reign? How does Hezekiah try to remedy the situation? What was the result?

Read 2 Chronicles 29
Some of what is covered is review of the above chapters in 2 Kings Chapter 18.
6. What did Hezekiah do in the first month of his reign? What did he tell the priests?
7. What does Hezekiah lay out as his plan in 2 Chronicles 29:10?
8. What do the priests do in 2 Chronicles 29:12-19?
9. How does King Hezekiah respond?

10. What are you told about Hezekiah and the people in 2 Chronicles 29:36?

Read 2 Chronicles 30
11. What does Hezekiah decide to do in this chapter?

12. What did the runners (couriers) tell the people when they announced the celebration of Passover in Jerusalem and the call for the people to come?
13. What did Hezekiah pray for the people according to 2 Chronicles 30:18-19? What was the Lord’s response?
14. What happened according to 2 Chronicles 30:23?

15. What do you learn from 2 Chronicles 30:26-27?

Read Isaiah Chapter 36
16. What is going on in the opening verses of Isaiah 36?

17. What does Rabshakeh try to do to those listening?
18. How did Hezekiah’s servants respond? Why? What did they do/tell Hezekiah?

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Isaiah Chapter 35

August 17, 2019 by memullin

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Read Isaiah Chapter 35
1. What appears to be happening in verses 1 to 2 on the earth?

2. What do you learn from Hebrews 8:19-22? How is this related to the opening verses of Isaiah 35?

3. What words of hope are given in Isaiah 35:3-4?

4. What similar encouragement is found in Hebrews 12:12? What application to your own life, ministry for God, can you make from these two passages?

5. What words of encouragement does Jesus offer to John the Baptist in Luke 7:18-23?

6. What promises are given in Isaiah 35:5-7?

7. What do you learn from the following verses?
□ Matthew 9:32-33

□ Matthew 12:22

□ Matthew 15:30

□ Matthew 21:14

□ John 9:6-7
8. What hope and/or encouragement do these verses give you as you look at the events of the world going on today?

7. Read and meditate on Isaiah 35:8-10. What things come to your mind? How does this encourage you?

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Isaiah Chapter 34

August 3, 2019 by memullin

Read Isaiah Chapter 34

  1. Who is called to listen in Isaiah 34:1?
  2. What is being announced in Isaiah 34:2?
  3. What things will come to pass according to Isaiah 34:3-7?
  4. What is this “day” according to Isaiah 34:8?
  5. What will this place look like according to Isaiah 34:9-15? 
  6. Read Revelation 19:11-21. What similarities to the descriptions and events in Isaiah 34 do you see?
  7. Read Zechariah Chapter 14. What similarities do you see to Isaiah 34? Revelation 19?
  8. Read Revelation 17:14. Meditate on this. What do you learn? See? What questions do you have?
  9. What application can you make from these two chapters? How will you prepare for the coming day of the Lord?

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Emily Dickinson – Poem

August 1, 2019 by memullin

I never saw a moor;

I never saw a sea;

Yet know I how the heather looks,

and what a wave must be.

I never spoke with God,

nor visited in heaven,

Yet certain am I of the spot

As if the chart were given.

                  Emily Dickinson

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Rescued and Drawn

July 31, 2019 by memullin

Some days everything’s coming up roses, but often it’s hard to move forward, maybe even to get out of bed. For times when what faces us seems to be dominating us, God has provided in anchors for the soul to hold us and keep us from slipping. Colossians 1:13 is such an anchors.

For He [Adonai] has rescued us and has drawn us to Himself from the dominion of darkness, and has transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son [Jesus] (Amplified version)

He has rescued us. This speaks of a completed work. It requires nothing further to be complete. It can’t be undone. It won’t unravel.

We were rescued from imminent danger-the danger of death and the unavoidable wrath of God because it is the fate of man to die once and then face God’s judgment. What an amazing rescue! Without anything else that would be mind-blowing. But Paul goes on.

He has drawn us to Himself. This is the very heart of God–closeness with us, intimate relationship with us. He knows that we are surrounded by darkness–the dominion of darkness. That which has dominion over us rules us, governs us, dominates us. Our necks were under the heel of the boot of the enemy of our souls. God saved us from that. And not leaving us there, He gave us a new destination–a new Sovereign. He transferred us to the kingdom of His Son–a kingdom in which all sin has been paid for and its power eliminated. In the Kingdom of His Son, I am an adopted child, I’m grafted into a rich history with God and the people of God.

Hallelujah! What a Savior! That’s good news (gospel).

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Posted in General Epistles, Uncategorized | Tagged , |

Isaiah Chapter 33

July 26, 2019 by memullin

Read Isaiah Chapter 33; Read 2 Chronicles 32:1-23

  1. What do you learn of Sennacherib king of Assyria from 2 Chronicles 32:1, 9-19, 21?
  2. What do you learn of Hezekiah from 2 Chronicles 32:2-8, 20?
  3. What do you learn of God from 2 Chronicles 32:1-23?
  4. What do you learn about Isaiah from 20?
  5. How did God deliver Hezekiah and all of Jerusalem?
  6. Copy 2 Chronicles 32:7-8. Meditate on this passage. Record your thoughts and impressions. How does this apply to your life today? Tomorrow?
  7. What is the prayer of the people in Isaiah 33:2?
  8. What does Isaiah say of God in Isaiah 33:3–6?
  9. What judgment is spoken in Isaiah 33:7-9?
  10. What does God declare in Isaiah 33:10-13?
  11. What question is asked in Isaiah 33:14? What is the answer given in Isaiah 33:15?
  12. What does Isaiah go on to say of these people and how they will live in that time (when King Jesus is ruling in Jerusalem) in Isaiah 33:16-24?

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Being a Friend of God

July 8, 2019 by memullin

According to James 2:23, Abraham was called the friend of God.

What does it mean to be the friend of God?

The friend of God agrees with God on everything. He is not like other friends with whom you can agree to disagree. With God, you must believe every word that comes forth from Him (every word of the Bible).

The friend of God:
obeys God
follows God–doesn’t veer from God’s path
walks with God–goes in the same direction
submits to God–isn’t his or her own boss
speaks God’s language
loves God’s other friends
worships God for who He is

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Reflections on Psalm 23

July 6, 2019 by memullin

Psalm 23 is a well-known and well-loved Psalm. It is perhaps the most well-known of the psalms, often quoted at funerals. But Psalm 23 is not a psalm of death, it is Psalm that speaks of the abundant life of a believer–life with The Good Shepherd.

What makes Him the Good Shepherd? Consider what He does according to Psalm 23:1-3:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

My Shepherd removes my want and provides completely for me. He gives me a place to rest where there is food and water available to me.

He cares for my eternal nature–my soul–as well. He alone can restore my soul and make me whole. My soul was once far from God. Even now, my soul is often discouraged, but it seeks after its Maker.

He also is a leader, mentor and coach taking me forward in sanctification, leading me down paths of righteousness. He teaches me about Him and about me. He teaches me to walk worthy, instructing me about our relationship, and leading me through our relationship. These things He does for His name’s sake, to fulfill His promises.

But as we see in Psalm 23:4-5, this life with the Shepherd is not a life of ease or without trials:

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.

I will face trouble in this life. But my Shepherd is always with me. He never leaves me. He promises to be my companion through the dark times, times in the valley where death hovers near, menacing and threatening me. But I am not afraid because He uses His rod and staff to guide me and keep me on the narrow path that leads to life. His prodding and correction remind me that He is near.

He feeds me even when my enemies are near. He is not intimidated by them and let’s nothing interfere with our fellowship. They will not prevail over me.

My shepherd tenderly cares for me, anointing my head with oil to keep the pests from me, to sooth me and calm me. Life with My Shepherd is so full.

I can’t but proclaim as David did in Psalm 23:6:

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

I have no concerns now or for eternity. Blessed by the name of the LORD!

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Isaiah Chapter 32 – The Future King

July 5, 2019 by memullin

Read Isaiah Chapter 32

  1. What do you learn about the king described there? The princes?
  2. What do you learn about the man described in verse 2?
  3. What does the prophet say about those who see and hear (believers/followers of God)?
  4. What will happen to the rash? The tongue of the stammerer?
  5. What will be revealed about the foolish person according to Isaiah 32:5-6?
  6. What do the following verses teach about the fool?
  7. □ Psalm 14:1 □ Proverbs 11:29 □ Proverbs 26:10
  8. What does the prophet say about the schemer?
  9. What to the following verses teach about the schemer?
  10. □ Proverbs 24:8 □ Jeremiah 5:26-28
  11. What does the prophet say about the generous man?
  12. To whom is the prophecy directed in Isaiah 32:9-11?
  13. Review Isaiah 3:16-26 and consider what else Isaiah has said to the daughters of Zion.
  14. What prophecy is given in Isaiah 32:13-14?
  15. What promise is given in Isaiah 32:15?
  16. How does that promise compare to Psalm 104:30?
  17. What promise is given in Isaiah 32:16?
  18. What is the result of righteousness according to Isaiah 32:17?
  19. What do you learn about righteousness from the following verses?
  20. □ Proverbs 11:18 □ Hosea 10:12 □ Romans 14:17 □ Hebrews 12:11 □ James 3:18
  21. What prophecy is given in Isaiah 32:18-19?What can you take away from this chapter and apply to your life and/or walk with God today?

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