Isaiah God Promised Harvest Time

The Lord says, “My thoughts are not like your thoughts. Your ways are not like my ways. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 NCV

We do not always know God’s thoughts. We do not always understand the purpose of God’s ways. But we learn to trust Him and His great wisdom in all that He does. Our desire is to abide in His Word and continue responding to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Our hearts will continue to be renewed and be changed by seeking Him. Our thoughts and our ways will be conformed into the likeness of Christ. It leads to the richness of God’s grace upon us when we endure all things for Christ as He has endured all things for us.

“Rain and snow fall from the sky and don’t return without watering the ground. They cause the plants to sprout and grow, making seeds for the farmer and bread for the people. The same true of the word I speak. They will not return to me empty. They make the things happen that I want to happen, and they succeed in doing what I send them to do. So you will go out with joy and be led out in peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees in the fields will clap their hands. Large cypress trees will grows where the thornbushes were. Myrtle trees will grow where weeds were. These things will be a reminder of the Lord’s promise, and this reminder will never be destroyed.” Isaiah 55:10-13 NCV

Have you ever heard of rain or snow that must come down, changed their minds and go back up to the clouds? No, we don’t because it is the nature’s law that rain must come down and watered the earth. So is God’s Word, when He speaks, His Word are seeds that goes into our hearts. The Holy Spirit watered the seed to grow into our hearts. We harvest the blessings and the healings from God’s promised. Seed-sowing always bring a harvest. God will never fail us or let us down when we remember that God’s Word can never go back to Him empty. God knows best and He loves us enough to do it His ways, not ours. He is bigger than our needs and wiser than our problems. Let’s trust our Heavenly Father.

Song of Solomon The Rose of Sharon

I am the Rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
Song of Solomon 2:1

In the land of Israel, Sharon is the coastal plain just south of Mount Carmel. Christ is often compared into the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys—common flowers of the field. This expresses His presence with us. There are songs about Christ as the type of the Rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys. It has brought a close relationship between me and Christ when I sang these songs to Him, ‘Sweet Jesus’ and ‘The Lily of the Valley.’ It just reminds me of what Christ is to me and you.

Sweet Jesus
Sweet Jesus, sweet Jesus, What a wonder You are,
You’re brighter than the morning star;
You’re fairer, much fairer,
Than the lily that grows by the way side,
Precious, more precious than gold.
You’re like the rose of Sharon,
You’re the fairest of the fair,
You are all my heart could e’er desire;
Sweet Jesus, sweet Jesus, What a wonder You are,
You’re precious, more precious than gold.
[Words and Music by Paul Goodwin]

The Lily of the Valley
I have found a friend in Jesus, He’s everything to me;
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see
All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay;
He tells me every care on Him to roll.
He’s the Lily of the Valley, the bright and morning Star;
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
[Lyrics: Charles W. Fry; Music: William S. Hays]

Ecclesiastes The Gift of God

“…that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy
the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God”
[Ecclesiastes 3:13 KJV].
“God wants all people to eat and drink and be
happy in their work, which are gifts from God”
[Ecclesiastes 3:13 NCV].

Note from Zondervan, The Full Life Study Bible.
The ability to enjoy life and live it properly is a gift
from God that comes only when we are brought into a right
relationship with Him and sincerely submit ourselves to Him
as our Lord and God. He then gives us joy in what we do.

Dorothy: There was a question in my heart about our struggles
to accept the ‘new change,’ our semi-retirement since we moved
here two years ago. It was difficult to adjust after 40 years
of being busy between jobs and our ministry.

Then something happened! I read Ecclesiastes 3:13. God answers
my question! I share this with Tony. His eyelids went up as in
surprise that it is a gift of God that we are to enjoy the simple
things and we have yet to learn this.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for showing us Ecclesiastes 3:13.
Thank You Lord for taking a good care of us. We praise You and
love You so much in Jesus’ name. Amen!

The Heart 2

We could learn more about the heart since the Bible speaks of the heart as the center; “out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23 and Luke 6:45). The heart is the center of the intellect, emotions and human will. When I say things rashly that was not what I intend to say, I often quoted from Jeremiah 17:9 “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it?” This is the reason why I need the Holy Spirit to fill my heart with God’s Word. Psalm 119:11 ‘Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee.'

God spoke of “harden hearts” to His people during the time of 40 years of wilderness and how they often grieved Him. In the book of Hebrews was the letter with warnings to believers not to harden their hearts (Heb. 3:8-12). Anyone who continues to reject God’s word will eventually have a hardened heart.

God has the answer to the sinfulness of the human heart is regeneration. It comes to all those who repent of their sins, turn to God, and put a personal faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Regeneration is a change of heart. The person who repents from his heart of all sin and confesses in his heart that Jesus is Lord, this person is born again and receives a new heart from God [Rom.10:9; Ps. 51:10; Ezek. 11:19].

When we were born again God creates a desire in our hearts to love Him and to obey Him. I pray that God’s love in your heart will be so full that it will flows to others who needs to feel the love of God from your very heart. In Jesus' name, amen.

Proverbs The Heart

Proverbs 4:23
KJV: Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are issues of life.
NLT: Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do. NCV: Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.

KEEP THY HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE.
Jesus said, “Good people bring good things out of the good they stored in their hearts. But evil people bring evil things out of the evil they stored in their hearts. People speak the things that are in their heart.” Luke 6:45 NCV.

Dorothy: I had a question for myself, “What is in my heart right now?” I wrote down what was in my heart. I was amazed what I wrote: My heart wants to study God’s Word. My heart wants to know more about God. My heart wants to fellowship with God. My heart wants to love God. My heart wants to worship God. My heart wants to sing praises to my living God. My heart wants to see miracle of God every day. My heart wants to adore Him. My heart wants to seek His face. My heart wants to find Him through the Books of the Bible. My heart wants to find the hidden treasure of the Bible.

Delight thyself also in the Lord: and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart [Psalm 37:4]. Dear Lord I pray that You will show me when to watch for the harvest of miracles. Miracle for me and my husband and for all of my friends in Jesus’ name, Amen.

So what is in your heart right now? Think and ponder on these things and talk to God.

Proverbs’ Wisdom

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean
not into thine own understanding. In all thy ways
acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy path.
Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV

Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don’t depend
on your own understanding. Remember the Lord in
all you do, and He will give you success.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NCV

My child, pay attention to my words; listen closely to
what I say. Don’t ever forget my words; keep them
always in mind. They are the key to life for those who
find them; they bring health to the whole body. Be careful
what you think, because your thoughts run your life.
Proverbs 4:20-23 NCV

My son, give attention to my words; … For they are
life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.
Proverbs 4:20a, 22 NKJV

Pleasant words are as an honeycomb,
sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Proverbs 16:24 KJV

Dorothy: Those verses from the Bible inspire me very much.
This is why I love Fresh Manna from the Holy Spirit because
God’s Word are like honeycomb … it is sweet … and it brings
healing to my soul and to my body, even to my bones. May God’s
Word bring blessing and healing to your mind, soul and body
in Jesus’ name I pray, amen!

Psalm God Our Healer

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord,
heal me, for my bones are troubled [Psalm 6:2].

O Lord my God, I cried out to You,
And You healed me [Ps.30:2].

I said, “Lord, be merciful to me; Heal my soul,
for I have sinned against You” Psalm 41:4].

He sent His word and healed them, and delivered
them from their destruction [Psalm 107:20].

He heals the broken hearted and binds up
their wounds [Ps. 147:3].

O Lord, open my lips and my mouth shall show
forth Your praise [Psalm 51:15].
[All scriptures are New King James Version]

Sing, pray and quote these Words from the Psalms.
May the Lord strengthens you spiritually and physically.
May the Lord enables you to trust God for the impossible.
The Lord is your light and your salvation. The Lord is
your strength of your life. The Lord bless your soul
today in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!

Psalm The Shepherd

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul [KJV]. He lets me rest in green pastures. He leads me to calm water. He gives me new strength [NCV]. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength [NLT]. He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters. He refreshes and restores my life [my self][AMP].
Psalm 23:2, 3a

What does this mean to me?
Out of the entire Psalm, these verses are the greatest blessing to me to picture Christ as my Shepherd. He makes me as a sheep to “lie down” in green meadows. The sheep would lie down to relax and be able to eat the fresh and tender pastures. Afterward, the Shepherd leads the sheep to the calm water to drink. The sheep cannot drink from the fast current river. It makes them nervous. It has to be peaceful streams, easy to drink from.

We like the sheep sitting down and eating His Word through reading or studying the Bible and read devotional books. Jesus will lead me to find topic to study and to write Fresh Manna. It is the food to my soul. Jesus, the Shepherd leads me to Holy Spirit who represents the peaceful streams. Then He refreshes my soul. He renews my strength. He restores my life. It is a beautiful picture of the Shepherd and the Sheep [Rev. 7:17].

Chorus: He Leadeth Me
He leadeth me, He leadeth me, By His own hand He leadeth me:
His faithful follower I would be, For by His hand He leadeth me.
[Lyrics: Joseph H. Gilmore, Music: William B. Bradbury]

Job's Intercession

After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord gave him success again. The Lord gave Job twice as much as he had owned before
[Job 42:10 NCV].

This was a story of Job with his friends who tried to reason with him why so much trouble came to Job. God came from the storm and asked “Who is this that makes My purpose unclear by saying things that are not true?” God was not pleased with Job’s friends who tried to use their reasons for everything that happened to Job. God asked Job to pray for his friends so that He would not punish them for being so foolish. They had not said what was right about God, and His servant, Job. The Lord blessed the last part of Job’s life even more than the first part. Job had many more sheep, camels, oxen, and donkey. He had children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. He lived to be 140 years.

What does this apply to us?
This is a simple reminder that we don’t always know why things happened to us? God loved Job and came to defend him against his friends. The Lord will bless us when we pray for our friends and do what Jesus said, “Pray always.” When we pray, we feel better and know that God Himself will someday have the final words. May the Lord bless you today.

Esther’s Entrance to the King

On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner courtyard of the King’s palace, facing the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the doorway. When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, he was pleased. He held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand, so Esther went forward and touched the end of it [Esther 5:1-2 NCV].

This is a picture-story like Esther’s entrance to the king, we as a child of the King can come into God’s presence at any time. Why? God has given us His Son to be our Savior and now we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous and His blood covers us [1John 2:1]. Like Esther, the king was pleased to look at her. God is pleased to look unto us when we enter boldly into the throne of God to find mercy and grace to help in time of need [Hebrews 4:16].

What this mean to me?
God is pleased when we come to Him to worship Him and to love Him with all of our hearts. Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. There is a song collection that often led me to sing: O how I love Him, how I adore Him, my breath my sunshine, my all in all. The great Creator became my Savior and in God’s fullness dwelleth in Him (Jesus). Sometimes I would sing personally to Him: “O how I love You, how I adore You, my breath my sunshine, my all in all. The great Creator became my Savior and in God’s fullness dwelleth in Jesus."

Nehemiah’s Intercession

“Our enemies were trying to scare us, thinking, “They will get too weak to work. Then the wall will not be finished.” But I prayed, “God, make me strong” Nehemiah 6:9 NCV.

Nehemiah served the king of Persia with wine. Nehemiah heard news from people who traveled from Judah and came back to Persia. They told him that the wall around Jerusalem was broken down, and its gates had been burned. This news grieved Nehemiah so he interceded the king to send him to the city of Judah to rebuild its broken-down walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah went to Jerusalem as Governor and he lead in reconstructing the walls. Nehemiah interceded to God against the enemies who tried to stop them from rebuilding the walls. Nehemiah wrote “Our enemies were trying to scare us, thinking, “They will get too weak to work. Then the wall will not be finished.” But I prayed, “God, make me strong” (6:9). Nehemiah with the help of others cooperated and completed the walls in 52 days. Then they had Dedication services for several days.

All the people of Israel gathered together in the square by the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the teacher to bring out the Book of the Teachings of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. Ezra read to them every day from the Book of Teachings, from the first day to the last seventh day. The people of Israel celebrated the feast for seven days, and then on the eighth day, Israel confessed their sins and worshiped the Lord their God. [Suggest reading The People’s Prayer: 9:5-38]

Have you faced problems that make you feel like you just can’t go on? Sometimes you feel like, “I am ready to give up. It’s no used?” Nehemiah constantly faced a lot of problems. He was a man of prayer and he prayed, “God, make me strong.” This is an inspiration story to read the book of Nehemiah how he trusted God to get him through.
It was a final victory for Nehemiah to complete the walls in 52 days. Let’s pray, “God, make me strong. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen”

Ezra's Prayer

I prayed, “My God, I am too ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to you, my God, because our sins are so many. They are higher than our heads. Our guilt even reaches up to the sky. From the days of our ancestors until now, our guilt has been great. Because of our sins, we, our kings, and our priests have been punished by the sword and captivity. Foreign kings have taken away our things and shamed us, even as it is today.

“But now, for a short time, the Lord our God has been kind to us. He has let some of us come back from captivity and has let us live in safety in his holy place. And so our God gives us hope and a little relief from our slavery. Even though we are slaves, our God has not left us. He caused the kings of Persia to be kind to us and has given us new life. We can rebuild the Temple and repair its ruins. And He has given us a wall to protect us in Judah and in Jerusalem” [Ezra 9:6-9 NCV].

The end of the chapter 36 of II Chronicles tells stories about how the Israelite and Zedekiah, the king of Judah, had rebelled against the Lord by doing evil things. And how God allowed the King Nebuchadnezzar to capture the city of Jerusalem and took many captive people to live in Babylon. Jeremiah prophesied that they would stay at Babylon for 70 years of their captivity. God touched Cyrus, the king of Persia and allowed Ezra and the Israelites to return to their homeland, Jerusalem. Ezra was the next book of II Chronicles. Ezra is a book about the first and second return of exiles (from Babylon) to Jerusalem.

Ezra was a priest and teacher who taught about the commands and laws the Lord gave Israel. When they had finished rebuilding the Altar first and then rebuilding the Temple, soon afterward people forget to follow the Laws of God. They did not keep themselves separated from the influences of people that worship their pagan gods. This grieved Ezra and this was why he prayed a shameful prayer.

This kind of prayer impresses me. Going through the Zondervan Outlines book by book in the Bible, has really shown me the highlight type of prayers we could learn from. May the Lord open our eyes and forgive us if we sin against Him. Study Ezra’s prayer and may it touch our hearts. Amen!

II Chronicles Greater Power 2

There is greater power with us than with him (2 Chronicles 32:7b).

This is a story about Sennacherib, the king of Assyria attacking Judah and the city of Jerusalem. How the people of Jerusalem reacted to this frightening situation and how King Hezekiah respond to the people through the theme that impressed me greatly, “There is greater power with us than with him.” (2 Chronicles 32:7b) Then Sennacherib sent his letters to discourage King Hezekiah from fighting against him and his huge army, and to surrender to King Sennacherib. King Hezekiah of Judah turned to God for help and his prayer impressed me because he recognize who God was and know that God was All-Powerful God. God answered his prayers and told him what He will do. He sent an angel and killed 185,000 enemies who went against the city of Jerusalem.

What this mean to me?
We kept hearing about so many things going on in the United States that can be very distressing. Reading the story about how King Hezekiah turned to God and said prayer to Him, really encouraged me and gave me hope that God in the past was and still is the same God of today. God did work a miracle for Jerusalem and defeated the army of Sennacherib the king of Assyria who had insulted the God of Israel. Sennacherib did not believe in a miracle of God because he had defeated all the nations included north of Israel and Samaria. When it came to Jerusalem, Sennacherib was so sure, he could win the battle and defeat Hezekiah’s God. Surprised, he didn’t.

Satan still uses such similar ways on God’s children. Satan tells us that when we are in great need, we should not expect or seek a miracle from God. Have you ever felt like when troubles come into our lives and circumstances seem out of control, what should we do? Like Hezekiah did—draw near to God in fervent and trusting prayer.

Heavenly Father, I thank You for this story that you are still the same God, yesterday, today and forever. This story reminds me of who You are; the Possessor of heavens and earth. When I hear the distressing news going on around the world, I will lift my eyes toward heaven and believing that You are in charge of everything that is going on. I ask for peace in my heart in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!

II Chronicles Greater Power

There is greater power with us than with him (2 Chronicles 32:7b).

Sennacherib, the king of Assyria Attacks Judah.
In 701 B.C. King Hezekiah received news that Sennacherib king of Assyria came and attacked Judah. He and his army surrounded and attacked the strong, walled cities. Soon Sennacherib would come to attack the city of Jerusalem. The people of Jerusalem were scared. King Hezekiah encouraged them, saying, “Be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid or worried because of the king of Assyria or his large army. THERE IS GREATER POWER WITH US THAN WITH HIM. He only has men, but we have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” The people were encouraged by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah (2 Chronicles 32:6b-8).

King Sennacherib wrote letters to King Hezekiah insulting the Lord, the God of Israel. They spoke against him, saying, “The gods of the other nations could not save their people from me. In the same way Hezekiah’s God won’t be able to save his people from me” (2 Chron. 32:17). When Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it, he went up to the Temple of the Lord. He spread the letter out before the Lord and prayed to the Lord:

“Lord, God of Israel, whose throne is between the gold creatures with wings (Ark of God), only you are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made heavens and earth. Hear, Lord, and listen. Open your eyes, Lord, and see. Listen to the words of Sennacherib has said to insult the living God. It is true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed these countries and their lands. They have thrown the gods of these nations into the fire, but they were only wood and rock statues that the people made. So the kings have destroyed them. Now, Lord our God, save us from the king’s power so that all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you, Lord, are the only God” (2 Ki.19:14-19).

God answered Hezekiah through the prophet Isaiah and said, “I have heard your prayer to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria.” This was a prophetic message from God about Sennacherib, the promise of God to His people, and the promise of deliverance from Sennacherib (2 King19:20-34).

That night the angel of the Lord went out and killed one hundred eight-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up early the next morning, they saw all the dead bodies. So Sennacherib king of Assyria left and went back to Nineveh and stayed there (2 King 19:35-36). Verse 37 tells us that Sennacherib was killed.
[Suggest reading 2 Chronicles 32:1-23; 2 Kings 18-20; Isaiah 36-39]
[Continue to part 2]

I Chronicles Riches & Honor

All that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine. . . Both riches and honour come of thee. –1 Chronicles 29:11,12

David praised the Lord in front of all the people who were gathered. He said: “We praise you, Lord, God of our father Israel. We praise you forever and ever. Lord, you are great and powerful. You have glory, victory, and honor. Everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you. The kingdom belongs to you, Lord; you are ruler over everything. RICHES AND HONOR COME FROM YOU. You rule everything. You have power and strength to make anyone great and strong. Now, our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name. These things did not really come from me and my people. Everything comes from you; we have given you back what you gave us.” I Chronicles 29:10-14 NCV

What this means to me?
This is a simple reminder that everything we have actually came from God. “All that is in heaven and in the earth” belong to God. Paul tells us that, “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). It is not according to the size of our need, but according to His riches, God will meet our needs.

We could use David’s prayer to talk to God about who He really is. And then ask Him for guidance and wisdom how to handle our checking account and allow Him to bless us financially. God really wants to help us. God is generous and enjoys giving to all of us. This will make you feel so good just to know how much God want to do this with you.