Believing the Promises of God - in His Word

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed… Without weakening in his faith… Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised. ~ Romans 4 [selected 18-21]



Monday, March 22, 2010

The STAR Has Fallen


Isaiah 30
[selected passages]

Woe to the Obstinate Nation

1 "Woe to the obstinate children,"
declares the LORD,
"to those who carry out plans that are not Mine,
forming an alliance, but not by My Spirit,
heaping sin upon sin;
4 Though they have officials in Zoan
and their envoys have arrived in Hanes,
5 everyone will be put to shame
because of a people useless to them,
who bring neither help nor advantage,
but only shame and disgrace."
8 Go now, write it on a tablet for them,
inscribe it on a scroll,
that for the days to come
it may be an everlasting witness.
9 These are rebellious people, deceitful children,
children unwilling to listen to the LORD's instruction.
10 They say to the seers,
"See no more visions!"
and to the prophets,
"Give us no more visions of what is right!
Tell us pleasant things,
prophesy illusions.
11 Leave this way,
get off this path,
and stop confronting us
with the Holy One of Israel!"
12 Therefore, this is what the Holy One of Israel says:
"Because you have rejected this message,
relied on oppression
and depended on deceit,
13 this sin will become for you
like a high wall, cracked and bulging,
that collapses suddenly, in an instant.
15 This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:
"In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it.
16 You said, 'No, we will flee on horses.'
Therefore you will flee!
You said, 'We will ride off on swift horses.'
Therefore your pursuers will be swift!
17 A thousand will flee
at the threat of one;
at the threat of five you will all flee away,
till you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop,
like a banner on a hill."
18 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you;
He rises to show you compassion.
For the LORD is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for Him!
21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left,
your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying,
"This is the way; walk in it."
22 Then you will defile your idols overlaid with silver
and your images covered with gold; you will throw
them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them,
"Away with you!"
27 See, the Name of the LORD comes from afar,
with burning anger and dense clouds of smoke;
His lips are full of wrath,
and His tongue is a consuming fire.
28 His breath is like a rushing torrent,
rising up to the neck.
He shakes the nations
in the sieve of destruction;
He places in the jaws of the peoples
a bit that leads them astray.
33 Topheth has long been prepared;
it has been made ready for the king.
Its fire pit has been made deep and wide,
with an abundance of fire and wood;
the breath of the LORD,
like a stream of burning sulfur,
sets it ablaze.
[emphasis added]
_____________________________________

God is loving and compassionate.

But He will not be mocked.

Our God is also a consuming Fire!

Any nation that defiles His ways will be judged.

_____________________________________

I will win no awards for this post.

Good thing this is an award-free blog. ;-)

Most people will leave no comment here.

I pray you are not most people.

We close our ears to things like this.

We want to know only a loving God, not one who is angered by sin.

Some will label me a 'radical' or 'controversial ' for speaking the truth because it is harsh. Do they think I like writing this? These are not my words - they are God's Word! I believe the whole counsel of the Word of God. I can't pick and choose to throw out the parts that make me queasy!

His Word stands firm and true.

Jesus was a radical. Label me what you will. I follow Him.

His Name along brings controversy.

_________________________________
May we come back to the Prayer of Daniel in Daniel 9:4-19 and pray this for all the nations of the earth who have closed their eyes and ears to the LORD's instructions. May we cling tightly to the God who loves us and Who alone can save us from our 'national' iniquities for WE have sinned greatly against a Holy God.
_________________________________
______________________
Choosing JOY in the wake,
Stephanie
JESUS ONLY in 2010

15 comments:

Runner Mom said...

Praying for our country! Thank you for your obedience to the Word.

Love you!
Susan

Anonymous said...

Hi Steph - I have loved verse 18 for many years, but the rest of this passage never stood out to me the way it does now. We have a lot of work to do in sharing the gospel, before it's too late ! Thank you for your words, Dear.

B His Girl said...

Wow Steph. We are to stand in the gap for our country. You are a bright witness for the Lord. Thank you for your words to me. Totally a word from the Lord to me. Shared them with my prayer partner. God's word always stands. I pray we fall on our knees to Him. Hugs, B

Farmgirl Cyn said...

We have long felt that God has been judging America. He begins with the church, and we have seen many "stars" fall. Where is the weeping between the porch and the altar?
Thank you for your courage in posting this. It is not a popular message, but it is truth.

Blessings,
Cindy

Warren Baldwin said...

Soooo appropriate for our day. It is amazing (and frightening) how scripture continues to speak to whatever age we live in. Scripture is definitely alive! Good post.

Patrinas Pencil said...

NO COMMENT! just kidding :)

I love the title you gave this post!! perfect photo to go with it! Yes, Yes, Yes!! The star has fallen.. This nation is in for some undescribable chain of events. Eye hath not seen. But the Lord has revealed enough to know that it isn't going to be prertty!.

"Woe to the obstinate children," declares the LORD, "to those who carry out plans that are not Mine, forming an alliance, but not by My Spirit, heaping sin upon sin;"

Woe!! indeed..

But God...

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying,"This is the way; walk in it."

I have always loved this scripture...it speaks of focused guidance - there's that guidance word again. Thank God for His Holy Spirit's guidance. We need this FOCUSED direction now... TODAY!!

May our ears be tuned towards His voice and nothing less - for such a time as this!!

Great Post my friend and sister in the journey...

Patrina <")>><
His watchman on the wall

Rachel said...

Very well said. Our country needs prayer so badly. We are living in scary times!

Camille said...

This post took courage to write, but it is God's Word and we must follow HIM at all costs. Hopped over from Cindy's blog to see what you were so troubled about. Oh, yes...we ought to fall on our knees and repent...that is the only way! May you know HIS peace as you continue to seek Him with all your heart. Truth hurts sometimes, but it is still truth and the kindest thing is to share it not matter how unpopular it might be!

Blessings,
Camille

Heart2Heart said...

Stephanie,

Well I guess I must be one more Jesus redical as well for following Jesus and believing in His word and not just the good parts.

I wanted to say Hello and thank you for leaving such wonderful and incredible comments on my blog. I think we will find ourselves more alike in so many ways. You have always encouraged me and as of now, become a follower of yours today.

I personally believe we need to take a stand and pray for this country like never before. God won't overlook our efforts and may He be pleased to find not all the hearts of His people have turned away from Him.

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

Count me in! Everything you said here is right from God's word, and humanly, I get fearful for this nation. We are not exempt from suffering because we live in America. God has been gracious to this country for a long long time. I wonder how much longer...

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."2 Chronicles 7:14 (King James Version)

Good for you Stephanie, it's not easy to speak it out clearly sometimes...we need this reminder!

Love,

Sonja

Denise J. Hughes said...

I am so encouraged by you, a fellow lover of Truth. Continue pressing on proclaiming His Truth.

Surprised By Joy! said...

I am with you....we need to cry out in repentance and cry out for mercy for our nation.

I am standing in prayer with you.

Tammy

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

Verses 10 & 11 are ones I think of often when I consider the direction our country is headed; not just in Washington, but throughout the rest of sphere of influence (the media, etc.). Seems to me some have turned a deaf ear to truth, and when truth is ignored, sure and certain consequences will follow.

Are beginning to follow.

We must stand strong, for we are not a people who shrink back and are destroyed! Praise God!

Thanks for your voice.

peace~elaine

Tea with Tiffany said...

Love this verse: YET the LORD longs to be gracious to you

Amazing that God longs to be gracious. Hard to understand the choices our nation is making. Thank you for standing on the Rock in boldness and in truth.

Love your passion for the Word! I believe in the whole counsel of God's word too. We cannot pick and choose.

Hugs...

Anonymous said...

Hi Stephanie,
I have just read the fallen star and must tell you what God has laid on my heart. your blog was published on 3/22/10 and I didn't read it until 3/30/10 and yet God led me to read Daniel 9 for Israel and for the USA.
I also feel such sadness for our country after last Sunday night's vote. Pray for repentence and mercy. Thank you.Bonnie