Isaiah 8:1-17

Isaiah 8:13
The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread,

God is powerful. God is in control. He can change things with the snap of fingers. He is one that I should fear and respect. I should dread him because He is just and condemns those who sin against Him, He is so loving and compassionate that He sent His son to die for my sins. He can do anything.

Isaiah 8:17
I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob. I will put my trust in Him. 

I place all my trust in the Lord because I know that He leads me on a path that is righteous and one that is for my good according to His will and purpose for me. I'm excited to see how life is going to roll out in His glorious plans for me. :)

Isaiah 6:11-7:25

This passage was definitely one with a lot of context and background that I had to look up in order to understand what was happening.

Isaiah 7:4
Say to him, 'Be careful, keep calm and don't be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood- because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah. 

These kings who wanted to conquer Jerusalem may have seemed powerful and strong... but God is even stronger. Nothing will stand in the way of the Lord. God is in control. Lesson: don't think that you're all that because you're not. God is the only one who can show off his power and glory.

Isaiah 7:9
The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah's son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.'"

Our faith and trust in God is what gives us the strength, courage, and hope to get through difficult times. God never leaves you or forsakes you. He always watches over you and allows things to happen for good reason. Any kind of doubt in your heart will open the doors wide open for Satan to instill his evil thoughts and works in you, causing you to stray even further away. Stand firm in your faith and God will give you the strength to overcome things you never thought you ever could.

Jesus' coming is foreshadowed here in verse 14 and was used as a sign to Ahaz that He always keeps His word (Ahaz decided to rebel and not trust God but He still kept His word). I read this from a commentary on this chapter.

Isaiah 6:8-10

Here am I. Send me!

Do you have a heart to serve God? Do you have a desire to go out into the world, into the community, into your circle of friends to share the Good News? God, place in me a burning conviction to share. I want to be like your disciples and be able to tell people about my faith unashamed. May I be a true beacon of light in this dark, materialistic world. 

Sometimes we just don't see it at first. We have to experience the worst in order to know of the best. God has definitely revealed to me things through this way. Easy example is with school. I didn't pay attention at all in class, didn't work hard... and I ended up failing my exam. I was suppose to glorify God through my studies and at the end I know the course definitely became a hindering block in my path to the career that I want to go into. I could have followed His direction and guidance to focus and be diligent in my studying but I was so tempted by Satan and at the end, I failed. God has to make our ears dull and and close our eyes in order to make us realize the significance of His grace and mercy. Otherwise we take everything for granted. Afterwards when we're deaf and blind to everything we begin to rely on God, we call Him our Rock, we ask Him for strength and provision and it's that's the mentality that God always wants us to have... that all things are from Him and through Him and nothing else. Not of myself. Not of anyone else... but of God. 

Isaiah 5:26- 6:7

Isaiah 5:26-27
He lifts up a banner for the distant nations, he whistles for those at the ends of the earth. Here they come, swiftly and speedily! Not one of the grows tired or stumbles, not one slumbers or sleeps; not a belt is loosened at the waist, not a sandal thong is broken. 

This verse made me think back about the sermon that was preached on Sunday. The theme was whether you act immediately when God calls on you. You shouldn't be putting His calling for you to the side because there is nothing else that should be higher than something God is telling you to do or say. The verse from Isaiah describes how we should act really well: we should move swiftly and speedily. We should never be tired or stumble when acting on God's will because He will make sure that we don't tire or sleep. He gives us life and energy. It's also a reminder of doing everything with all your effort. Take the things seriously and not for fun unless you can present your acts to the Lord with assurance that you've done the best you can. Your belt should not be loosened at the waist and God will make sure that your sandal thong won't be broken as you achieving His will in you.

Isaiah 6:3
And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Alnighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."

Amen to that! :)

Isaiah 6:7
With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."

God is so full of grace and mercy. We truly don't deserve the things He blesses in our life and we're constantly forgiven for all the sin we commit each day... but He is love, and Jesus the manifestation of love comes down to Earth and walked with us until He gave Himself up for us... how amazing is that? Could you ever do that for a family member? A friend? A stranger? The whole world? We don't have to be cleansed with burning coal anymore (as it was read earlier in verse 6). As long as we have faith and the desire to glorify God in all things, He will be compassionate and forgive us with the words "I love you my son/daughter."

God, we love you, I love you.