the time LORD

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12562Psalm 100

LORD, you were there at the creation of Adam, lovingly creating humanity and calling us to a relationship with yourself. You are GOD.You will be there to the end because your steadfast love endures forever, your faithfulness will outlast our lives to the generations after us. You are GOOD.  It is for those reasons that you deserve joyful, noisy worship, and glad service. You are the time LORD.

Forgive me Lord for even thinking about putting myself first.

Thank you for the joy of entering your heavenly courts within myself this day.

LORD, help my friends who are struggling to stay committed to you — some will have to disappoint family or defy authorities to do so. Give them strength LORD.

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results of rebellion

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

wild grapesIsaiah 5

Israel is portrayed as a vineyard, and the prophet decries the fact that the vineyard produced the wrong crop: wild grapes. They rebelled against the master’s intentions. He “looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry!” (7).  The results of this rebellion are identified by the word “therefore” which appears four times:

  1. Therefore the people will go into exile (13)
  2. Therefore Sheol (the place where the dead go) will enlarge its appetite and swallow both the nobility and the masses (14).
  3. Therefore the vineyard will be devoured by fire, rot, and dryness (24).
  4. Therefore sudden disaster will leave corpses in the streets,with no relenting or the LORD’s anger (25).

Rebellion is a serious thing. It has serious consequences.

LORD, may we produce the fruit that you expect of your vineyard. May your people be fair to others,and always committed to you.

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all the GOD we need

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0896Psalm 99

Three great men in Israel’s past are mentioned in this psalm: Moses, Aaron and Samuel.  These three are reminders that the LORD is holy and just, forgiving, but also holding his own accountable for their wrongdoings.

LORD, we praise you for being all the GOD we will ever need.

Forgive us for even looking for more.

Thank you for answering the prayers of great leaders in the past.

Answer our prayers today. We put our trust in you.

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one source of pride

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0895Isaiah 3:1-4:6

In Isaiah’s day, the city of Jerusalem prided itself over its leaders: “the mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor and the skillful magician and the expert in charms” (3:2-3).  God would humble them by taking away those great leaders.  Their women  prided themselves because of their beauty and luxurious living.  The Lord will take away “the finery of the anklets, the headbands, and the crescents; the pendants, the bracelets, and the scarves; the headdresses, the armlets, the sashes, the perfume boxes, and the amulets;  the signet rings and nose rings;  the festal robes, the mantles, the cloaks, and the handbags; the mirrors, the linen garments, the turbans, and the veils” (3:18-23).  He is making room for only one source of pride: the Branch of the LORD (Jesus Christ) and the fruit that the land will produce under him (4:2). That is the fruit of true righteousness.

LORD, may we pride ourselves only in Jesus Christ, and the fruit of his kingdom.

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joyful noise

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0894Psalm 98

With earthquakes, tsunamis and wars and strife all around us, is it appropriate to make a joyful noise to the LORD?  Yes, because of what he has done for this planet.  He has been faithful to Israel and brought forth the Messiah as he promised. He has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations through that same Messiah.

LORD, forgive us for being short-sighted. We only see the pain, when you have already administered the cure.

Thank you for caring so much for us that you have revealed your righteousness and remembered your covenant.

I pray for my friends today, that no matter what personal pain they face — it will not keep them from rejoicing in Christ.

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the sovereign over situations

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0892Psalm 97

The nations know all about their gods. There is no mystery that cannot be explained by the specialist, for a price.  But the God of Israel is shrouded in darkness and mystery.  The nations can manipulate their gods with the right offering, or the right ritual.  But righteousness and justice are the  foundation of the God of Israel’s throne. He cannot be bought off.  The nations play around with their gods of limited power and authority, but Israel’s God is most high over all the earth; he is exalted above all gods.

LORD, I praise you for your infinite power, righteousness and glory.

I confess that I often feel powerless — and I shouldn’t — because you are my God, and all power is yours.

I thank you for reminding me today that things are under control, because they are all under you.

I pray for my friends today who are overwhelmed by the circumstances of their lives. I pray that you give them each a reminder today that you are sovereign in their situations.

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good news and bad news

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0893Isaiah 2

The prophet has good news and bad news. First, the good news.  The light of the LORD will some day bring peace between the nations, ending the need for swords and spears.  The prophet calls on God’s people to walk in that light (and that peace) today.  But he also has bad news. Before the deliverance happens, there will be judgment, because the house of Jacob is full of things from the east:  fortune-tellers, foreign allegiances, stuff, idols. All these things keep the children of Jacob from being faithful to their LORD. 

LORD, help us to get rid of all the stuff in our lives that is keeping us from being faithful to you. Prepare us for your reign.

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universal worship

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0728Psalm 96   The LORD is worthy of the worship of all the earth for what he alone has done.  The other gods are worthless idols, but he has made the heavens (1-6).  The LORD is worthy of the worship the families of the peoples because of his glory and strength (7-9). The LORD is worthy of the worship of all the nations because he reigns, and is coming to judge the earth (11-13). 

LORD, I confess that my view of you is often too small. I see you as my personal savior when you are the creator-redeemer-judge of the universe.

Thank you for opening my eyes to your greatness.

I pray for my friends, that you give each of them a glimpse of your universal worth-ship today.

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when worship makes God sick

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0891Isaiah 1

The Israelites are continuing their worship in the temple, but there is so much wickedness in their lives that the worship makes God sick.  He threatens to come as a consuming fire and destroy them. Only a few survivors will be rescued because they repent and clean up their lives.  Everybody else will be destroyed.  God cannot tolerate unrighteousness among those who claim him as their father.  It is time for his people to start acting like it.

LORD, may we — your people — get our lives sorted out before our worship makes you sick.

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they heard his voice

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Jefferson Vann

c2k0037Psalm 95

The Israelites heard God’s voice one day,and he said “keep going, I will sustain you.”  But all their fear said “we have no water. “  Later, they heard his voice, and it said “take the land.” But their fear said “But there are giants there.”  They went astray in their heart.

LORD,  I confess that my fear has been getting in the way of my obeying your voice.  I have hardened my heart. I have been failing the test.  Forgive me, Father.

Thank you for being gracious and not condemning me.  I wait on you for your deliverance.

I pray for my friends today, as they also have opportunity to listen to your voice, to obey — to keep going in the right direction. Give them loyal hearts.

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