Isaiah 60:1-3 ~ 1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. KJV
IN THE PREVIOUS chapter of Isaiah, the people were still complaining and blaming God for their problems. Paul quoted Isaiah 59:7-8 in Romans 3:15-17. He used this passage, connected with other Old Testament passages, to demonstrate that man is a sinner from “head to toe.” Because of all this sin, it is amazing that God’s people could still believe (as they did in Isaiah 59:1) that the problem was with God, and not them. But seriously, don't we sometimes have those same feelings?
Through all of that, still Israel, and us sometimes cannot grasp that God is not the culprit in our problems, it is US! Many want to BLAME God for everything bad in their lives. Addictions, immorality, all the sinful things that keep us from living wholesome Christian lives - and just have a total disregard of our heavenly Father . . . all His fault, and that is NOT true. God is the God of love and grace and mercy, and He wants the BEST FOR US! God's glory, light, and love is ours for the asking and He wants us to know and see that for our own lives. We are the sinner as Paul indicated from the top of our head to the bottom of our feet. Before my salvation I was the one living in the total darkness of sin. GROSS darkness.
BUT GOD! Don't you just love that holy conjunction, BUT? If it were not for the BUT, we would have no Jesus our Saviour or salvation, eternal life and happiness in heaven, and the full knowledge of this amazing information as we live here on earth that the Heaven life is ours for the asking and when we do, we can live daily in the light and glory of God. Where are you in your spiritual life? Are you still living in darkness never asking God to save you through Jesus Christ His son and the Saviour of the world? Or are you saved, but not living the full Christian life that you can have just for the asking? God wanted Israel to love Him and only Him, trust Him and only Him, and obey Him and only Him. Well, He wants us to do the same so that others can see His light and brightness in us. The Light and shining of God is ours for the asking.
When we have that light the Lord Himself said it in verse 3, And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Through our Christian life we can draw others to Christ! Don't you want to see your loved ones saved; your children, grandchildren, siblings, parents cousins, aunts uncles - all of your family? How can we have peace within ourselves if we have not made sure that each one sees the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives so that they can potentially realize their sinful condition, their destination to hell, and get a desire to change that direction towards Heaven and our Saviour? Do All That You CAN to reach them before it is eternally too late. Are you attending church? Are you praying and reading your Bible at home and in front of that family under your roof, no matter the relationship? Is your LIGHT shining, or has it gone dim. Make changes TODAY! You can do it with God's glorious power and strength. His arm is not short to save! Believe it, LIVE it.
Do You Know HIM?
Lord, help us to be wise, studied up, aware, and faithful to You. Amen.
SPECIAL PRAYER REQUESTS:
- Miss Shirley-health - doing some better and able to help in the print shop some in the last couple of weeks. Miss Shirley has had a couple of rough days with vertigo! please keep her in prayer!
- UPDATE: Continue to Pray for Donna Kendall's daughter - her surgery went well yesterday - pray for swift healing!
- Pray for Richard Rosenmeier family - Passed 1/8/23 Lord, please help and bless the family and friends.
- David Wiles - Cancer
- Pastor Baker - went home to be with the Lord last night. Please pray for his family and his church
- Pastor Bernard Antonis ~ HEALTH, PRAISE THE LORD for answered prayers - Pray for Mrs. Carolyn as his caregiver.
- Pray for our need for a home here in Florida - we know you have the supply Lord already, help us to be patient. We are moving Saturday once again to a precious saint's home for a couple of Months... at least till May when we will "move again"
- Pray for Stan Skriloff - cancer and treatments, and pray for his caregiver wife Caren
- Pray for our dear friend, Sister Connie Booher and her graciousness to put us up for a couple of weeks till Mrs. Cora's is ready for us in a more long-term situation.
- Pray for Sister Cora and her hip healing from a fall and surgery. Miss Cora graduated from her wheelchair to her walker and can now sit in her very own chair. Praise the Lord! Keep her in your prayers please. Her granddaughter Christy leaves Saturday and I know she will be lonely for her. Please pray for the family.
- Pray for the Printing Ministry and all that goes on with it. Pray our paper supply will continue - we are still not able to purchase COVER STOCK, but we praise the Lord for our previous pastors wisdom in buying several truck loads of this precious product. Only God knew what we would be facing today with shortages, and we have the "widows mite" we are working from.
- Pray for the Mission Team coming in June that we will be able to finish all the work they will do for the few days they are with us.
- Pray for me and Tom; our health, out strength, and our service.
- Robyn-Health
- Carol and Richard-Health
- Cathy-Health
- 2-month-old great-nephew Evan. Evan is home from the hospital and doing well.
- Marsha-Health and ankle pain
- Sharon J. Her mom Kathryn's health.
- Pastor Johnny J-health and recovery from surgery - recovering well from surgery thank you for your prayers
- Carol and Richard-Health
- Cathy-Health
- Arlene-Health
- Ruth-Health
- Brian-Health
- Keth Cook Family
- Lucinda Lane Family - pray for my brother Joe. This is a hard transition for anyone, but his health is poor as well
- Tipton Family - pray for Bro. Paul who is back on the field in Nicaragua without his helper and bride
- Penny - special unspoken - pray for her husband Mike
- Bro. Wayne-health - He turned 91 on December 24th, and is still working, but mighty slow :)
- Carolyn-health
- Tudino family
- Fuentes Family
- DeSalvio Family
- Thompson Family
- Dewey Williams and wife - flu
- David Harrison-cancer diagnosis and treatment
- Davis and Tichnell Family
- Billy Ward - health and healing
- Benjamin - surgery went well, pray for his recovery which may be long
- The Toler Family in the homegoing of Donnie
- Elaine - continued good health and strength
- Linwood - health
- Walter - health
- Pray diligently for all those that carry the title "Caregiver"
- Sandra Parsons - her call yesterday to encourage the servants at FBC Publications & Printing. 90-year-old pastors' wife, now living alone at her church after her husband's homegoing. Saved 72 years loves the LORD God more today than ever. A real blessing and encouragement.
- Mary Nutter - Cancer
- Kimberly LaSage - health and her John Peters and family
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