Trust in God!

Just wanted to share a little about the book of Isaiah of which I've been able to get well acquainted with in the last few days. For those unfamiliar with Isaiah, he was a prophet who spent 60 years of his life preaching and prophesying to the nearly pagan, godless nation of Israel (God's chosen people). I started to put myself in Isaiah's sandals and wonder what I would do if God gave me the ability to see into the future and know that there was death and destruction coming to those who rebel against God....and then I (as I've been practicing in the last 7 months) started to copy the message of this story and place it in our present day and age. Fortunately for us we didn't have to witness our entire nation being physically destroyed and taken into exile by pagan nations but I think, in more of a spiritual sense we face the same challenges of trusting in everything BUT God in our lives. Unlike Israel, we have Jesus who came to earth and died on the cross so that we would be able to engage in the fullness of life, free from guilt or shame but I dont think it excuses us from the reality of "spiritual judgement" which to me is essentially missing out on what it truly means to live life to the full.

Unfortunately the "carved images" "false gods" and even child sacrifice (Abortion) are not some ancient sin of the bible but a startling reality in our day and age. We have creatively justified and manipulated our selfish desires to fit into a culture of "relevance" instead of trusting in God (Israel worshipped idols for the same reason). This book is really challenging me to put all of my trust in God and nothing else. The truth of the matter is, as is the theme of this book; Trust in God because he is trust worthy! All Israel had to do was trust in God that he would protect them and be enough for them but they didn't, they chose their own way eventually leading to their destruction. My prayer is that myself and whoever reading this would be able to have the faith to believe that God is worthy of our trust.

Are we willing to trust God even when it doesn't make sense? In finance, family, future?

Are we constantly trying to earn God's favour?

If we're really struggling with trusting God, do we really know who he is?

"God is my salvation; I will trust , and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation." Isaiah 12:2

Learning to trust
Jer

Wisdom

It's been getter harder to gauge which books I deem as a favourite but I think the book that has impact me the most lately would have to be the book of Proverbs. The last few weeks our class has had the privilege of having the founders of this bible school to travel from Montana USA to teach the wisdom literature books (Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs) It's definitely been refreshing to listen to teachings of how to practically walk in wisdom in areas of finances, relationships and speech. I've always thought that wisdom was determined by intellect or education level but I've come to realise in these last few weeks is that wisdom is not determined by age, intellect or social condition but by the decision one makes in every day life. In Proverbs it says that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," and that the reality of "fearing the Lord" begins with an emotion of hating what God hates and loving what God loves. This book has challenged me to make "fearing God" the bedrock of each life decision I make.

A couple weeks ago I began a new ministry at the local Univeristy here teaching and helping students practice their english once a week. Its been awesome to just be able to sit with people and have conversation about thier lives, what they like doing and what they want to be. I would appreciate your prayer in the relationships I'm building with these students, that I would be able to speak life into these people and be sensitive to the promptings of the spirit if God would open a window for me to say a word for him.
Only two more months of bible school and 18 books left until I will have read and studied the entire book of the bible. I cannot express how valuable this time has been in my life. I wish everyone could do this school.

God is good!

All or nothing

Jer