tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125468582012-02-18T07:33:28.824ZDaily gleanings from the Word of God.Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.comBlogger24831100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-70949819035057259432012-02-18T07:29:00.001Z2012-02-18T07:33:28.830Z

Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? - Amos 3v3 This is one of those verses that sadly, most the time you hear it mentioned; you hear it out of context. I once had a church drop my support because I did not agree with them on some finer point of a personal standard. This was the scripture they used to back up their decision. I thought ‘If that is what this verse means my wife

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-60835562485121516492012-02-17T07:56:00.000Z2012-02-17T07:56:01.032Z

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. – Joel 2v32 I don’t even come close to understanding all that is involved the millennia old discussion of God’s sovereignty and man’s free will. I don’t, in fact, think

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-67029088814977576002012-02-16T08:24:00.001Z2012-02-16T08:24:41.738Z

“Now, therefore,” says the LORD, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. - Joel 2v12-13 One of the great problems with religious practices and habits is that they can become

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-57027287597538105732012-02-15T07:17:00.002Z2012-02-15T07:17:57.363Z

Blow the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the LORD is coming, For it is at hand… “Now, therefore,” says the LORD, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-38617976473502888092012-02-14T07:05:00.002Z2012-02-14T07:05:26.040Z

Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, But transgressors stumble in them. – Hosea 14v9 The way of the Lord is not always easy, but the ways of the Lord are always right. We don’t always understand how it is true and sometimes we don’t get it, but God’s ways are right – full stop.

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-56562260556534468242012-02-13T06:30:00.000Z2012-02-13T06:30:08.920Z

“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, For My anger has turned away from him. - Hosea 14v4 I must not have lived through the 60s because I remember being there (sorry, old joke). One of the phrases that came out of the 60’s was ‘free love.’ Of course we know now that the kind of the ‘love’ there were talking about was not free, it has had a heavy price. That kind of

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-86442351537419723302012-02-12T07:30:00.002Z2012-02-12T07:30:39.315Z

“I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction! Pity is hidden from My eyes.” - Hosea 13v14 Obviously when I read this I think of those powerful words when Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, ‘…Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-77850274020922916662012-02-11T07:18:00.001Z2012-02-11T07:18:19.544Z

My people are bent on backsliding from Me. Though they call to the Most High, None at all exalt Him. “How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I set you like Zeboiim? My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred. – Hosea 11v7-8 I know that God is a God of justice. I know that God is a holy and righteousness God. I know

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-7408442024885548612012-02-10T08:11:00.000Z2012-02-10T08:11:10.399Z

For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. - Hosea 6v6 It is easy to get confused about what God wants from us. Most of that confusion comes when we put religious practices ahead of our relationship with Him. There is a huge temptation to try and conform our practices and behaviour to what we think He wants and then me content because

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-10818918604628167592012-02-09T06:30:00.002Z2012-02-09T06:30:22.232Z

Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth. - Hosea 6v3 When I first noticed this verse it seemed like a really good thing. The people were confronted with their sin. The responded with ‘let us know more, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His way

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-77755831008216833512012-02-08T08:24:00.003Z2012-02-08T08:24:37.986Z

I will return again to My place Till they acknowledge their offense. Then they will seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.” – Hosea 5v15 Sin is a terrible thing. One of the most terrible aspects of it is its appeal. It can give great gratification for the moment. It can give great temporary pleasure. Everybody else is doing it. Everybody else wants us to be like

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-81810995414485338832012-02-07T06:44:00.001Z2012-02-07T06:44:27.223Z

So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver, and one and one-half homers of barley. And I said to her, “You shall stay with me many days; you shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man—so, too, will I be toward you.” - Hosea 3v2-3 To me this is an absolutely amazing situation and a powerful picture of love and sacrifice. Gomer continued on in her trade as a

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-16612721415254172062012-02-06T08:07:00.002Z2012-02-06T08:07:35.702Z

Say to your brethren, ‘My people,’ And to your sisters, ‘Mercy is shown.’ – Hosea 2v1 Hosea chapter one is a listing of the children born to Hosea and Gomer. They have names like ‘God will scatter,’ ‘Not-my-people’ and ‘No-mercy.’ What sad names those are! Every time Hosea saw his children he was reminded that God has scattered the people. He heard the words ‘not my people’ and ‘no mercy

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-2642978837395495032012-02-05T06:30:00.000Z2012-02-05T06:30:07.389Z

When the LORD began to speak by Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea: “Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry And children of harlotry, For the land has committed great harlotry By departing from the LORD.” – Hosea 1v2 I really feel for Hosea. I also admire Him. I also am challenged by his willingness to serve God. We don’t hear much about him, but he was quite a guy called to quite a task. The

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-89560989461677811982012-02-04T07:49:00.001Z2012-02-04T07:50:42.035Z

Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-22062832510701428382012-02-03T08:13:00.003Z2012-02-03T08:13:56.811Z

O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. - Daniel 9v18 There are certain themes that seem to run through the word of God. I suspect that the reason they are there is that if they were not said

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-63479939492398675572012-02-02T08:40:00.000Z2012-02-02T08:40:01.799Z

“I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-59676856498503103702012-02-01T07:49:00.000Z2012-02-01T07:49:04.237Z

I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. - Daniel

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-43916511156358112402012-01-31T06:09:00.001Z2012-01-31T06:09:10.907Z

Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-90676265388676537672012-01-30T06:30:00.002Z2012-01-30T06:30:16.592Z

So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed. –

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-61455142973876869552012-01-29T06:15:00.001Z2012-01-29T06:15:21.343Z

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. - Daniel 6v10 Here is another instance of a man who does the kind of thing that I really desire to happen in my life. I am always

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-32543362349916560442012-01-28T07:18:00.003Z2012-01-28T07:18:45.102Z

Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation. – Daniel 5v17 ‘Keep all of your gifts and rewards king.’ That was Daniel’s response when the king trued to pay him to interpret a mysterious dream. Belshazzar followed Nebuchadnezzar as

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-83685208003877302522012-01-27T08:09:00.000Z2012-01-27T08:09:40.156Z

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down. - Daniel 4v37 Nebuchadnezzar proclaims a truth here that he had to learn the hard way. To see that we need to go back just a little bit for some background. One day the king was out walking in the beautiful

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-31194253518897888032012-01-26T08:13:00.003Z2012-01-26T08:13:35.897Z

‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.’ – Daniel 4v17 It is really easy to get caught up in news and politics and elections and all that stuff. At least it is for me. I really like all

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-77214692582214366272012-01-25T07:33:00.004Z2012-01-25T07:33:53.493Z

Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-3375916822369073002012-01-24T06:17:00.002Z2012-01-24T06:17:28.236Z

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-17013732815503556242012-01-23T07:23:00.001Z2012-01-23T07:23:34.898Z

You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach,

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-10491876555360585702012-01-22T07:11:00.002Z2012-01-22T07:11:27.122Z

Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.  - Daniel 2v20-21 When Daniel was called before the king to interpret his mysterious dream he had the marvellous opportunity to show

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-22008741546586423112012-01-21T07:48:00.000Z2012-01-21T07:48:29.096Z

Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm. Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus. –

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-8272868987885076982012-01-20T06:23:00.001Z2012-01-20T06:23:35.403Z

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. - Daniel 1v8 I have always admired the young men in the book of Daniel. If there was ever a time when young men might be tempted to sacrifice their standards and

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-68985925184386793632012-01-19T07:03:00.000Z2012-01-19T07:03:14.266Z

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. – Ezekiel 36v26-27 There is a danger in our churches that shows itself in stressing external Christianity. That is nothing new. The

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-78706711841445449372012-01-18T07:11:00.002Z2012-01-18T07:11:45.534Z

“Therefore you, O son of man, say to the house of Israel: ‘Thus you say, “If our transgressions and our sins lie upon us, and we pine away in them, how can we then live?” ’ Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’ -

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-75474321037443279612012-01-17T06:47:00.003Z2012-01-17T14:45:01.594Z

So I spoke to the people in the morning, andat evening my wife died; and the next morning I did as I was commanded.– Ezekiel 24v18I had not noticed this little aspect of Ezekiel’s life. I am not surewhat to think about it. Ezekiel spoke to the people in the morning. Okay, that’snormal enough. But then we read ‘and at evening my wife died…’God had told him in advance that ‘the desire of his eyes’

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-86350622314144523372012-01-16T07:50:00.002Z2012-01-16T07:50:28.440Z

So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. 31 Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord GOD. – Ezekiel 22v30-31 The book of Ezekiel is all about

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-84415962908383784342012-01-15T07:51:00.001Z2012-01-15T07:51:29.354Z

“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair? When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and dies in it, it is because of the iniquity which he has done that he dies. Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-33129898163643992982012-01-14T07:48:00.001Z2012-01-14T07:48:19.331Z

The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.  “But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-74540879330408584392012-01-13T09:21:00.002Z2012-01-13T09:21:38.419Z

Now some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me. And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them? “Therefore speak to them, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Everyone of the house of Israel

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-937762741581924942012-01-12T07:40:00.001Z2012-01-12T07:40:33.210Z

For I am the LORD. I speak, and the word which I speak will come to pass; it will no more be postponed; for in your days, O rebellious house, I will say the word and perform it,” says the Lord GOD.’  - Ezekiel 12v25 The time for God to act had come to pass. Ezekiel was in Babylon foretelling the fall of Jerusalem and its eventual restoration. In these prophecies there are some words

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-4376756228615157302012-01-11T07:22:00.004Z2012-01-11T07:22:40.743Z

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-15378833231118363822012-01-10T06:55:00.003Z2012-01-10T06:55:57.649Z

“And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house. You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious. But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-40714838722773707332012-01-09T07:25:00.001Z2012-01-09T07:25:52.852Z

And He said to me: “Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. For they are impudent and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse—for they are a

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-80597691613725439972012-01-08T07:44:00.002Z2012-01-08T14:58:39.271Z

How the gold has become dim! How changed thefine gold! The stones of the sanctuary are scattered at the head of every street. The precious stoned of Zion, Valuable as fine gold, How they are regarded as clay pots, The work of the hands of the potter! – Jeremiah 4v1-2Yesterday gold was selling at $1,767.27 an ounce. That is an amazing price, even for gold. Gold has always had an appeal and ‘gold

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-21114200980715617742012-01-07T07:31:00.000Z2012-01-07T07:31:19.315Z

The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth. - Lamentations 3v25-27 I have said it here before and I wish I could say that I have overcome it, but I haven’t. I hate to wait. Waiting is one of my least favourite things to do. I don’t

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-49484844714374958332012-01-06T08:18:00.000Z2012-01-06T08:18:03.322Z

They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” – Lamentations 3v23-24 I make the world’s nest lasagne. It is that simple. I call it ‘Roger’s World Renown Five Cheese Lasagne.’ It is simply fantastic. When I make it I mark out my portion of the lasagne. I know which part of the lasagne has the best combination

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-71451761158832634952012-01-05T07:49:00.001Z2012-01-05T07:49:26.635Z

Through the LORD'S mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. – Lamentations 3v22-23 "Great is Thy faithfulness," O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be. "Great is Thy faithfulness!" "Great is Thy

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-89651624377355622402012-01-04T08:25:00.001Z2012-01-04T09:14:16.010Z

And I said, “My strength and my hope haveperished from the LORD.” Remember my affliction and roaming, the wormwood andthe gall. My soul still remembers and sinks within me this I recall to my mind,therefore I have hope. Through the LORD'S mercies we are not consumed, becauseHis compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Yourfaithfulness. – Jeremiah 3v18-23After his prophecies

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-43281302957766955782012-01-03T07:00:00.002Z2012-01-03T10:14:57.294Z

Then all the men who knew that their wives hadburned incense to other gods, with all the women who stood by, a greatmultitude, and all the people who dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros,answered Jeremiah, saying: “As for the word that you have spoken to us in thename of the LORD, we will not listen to you! But we will certainly do whateverhas gone out of our own mouth, to burn incense to the

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-28928816929070226232012-01-02T08:10:00.003Z2012-01-02T08:10:44.630Z

For you were hypocrites in your hearts when you sent me to the LORD your God, saying, “Pray for us to the LORD our God, and according to all that the LORD your God says, so declare to us and we will do it.’ And I have this day declared it to you, but you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God, or anything which He has sent you by me. – Jeremiah 42v20-21 The more I read of

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-31900514976006491532012-01-01T07:47:00.003Z2012-01-01T07:47:59.347Z

“Thus says the LORD: “Again there shall be heard in this place—of which you say, ‘It is desolate, without man and without beast”—in the cities of Judah, in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast, the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who will say: “

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-3591811662375820122011-12-31T08:26:00.003Z2011-12-31T08:26:31.989Z

Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the prison, saying, “Thus says the LORD who made it, the LORD who formed it to establish it (the LORD is His name): ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ – Jeremiah 33v1-3 What a great way to close 2011 even though, as we

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-15110478630383041332011-12-30T08:42:00.002Z2011-12-30T08:42:11.184Z

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. – Jeremiah 31v3 The word ‘love’ is an interesting one. It is a shame that we only have one word for love in English. We miss a lot of the nuances of the Bible languages and I don’t know enough about them to dig them out. I do know that in

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-87298402037093678062011-12-29T08:29:00.002Z2011-12-29T08:29:34.708Z

Thus every one of you shall say to his neighbor, and every one to his brother, 'What has the LORD answered?' and, 'What has the LORD spoken?' And the oracle of the LORD you shall mention no more. For every man's word will be his oracle, for you have perverted the words of the living God, the LORD of hosts, our God. Thus you shall say to the prophet, 'What has the LORD answered you?' and, '

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-32246553050381306422011-12-28T07:23:00.002Z2011-12-28T07:23:48.127Z

"Is not My word like a fire?" says the LORD, "And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? – Jeremiah 23v29 It sure doesn’t seem like there is much hope, does it? Evil is progressing at such a rate that it seems like we have no hope and nothing to stem the vicious tide of wickedness. Jeremiah lived in day a lot like this. He knew that he would have no visible success because God

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-39809456689710510982011-12-27T08:59:00.002Z2011-12-27T08:59:52.556Z

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. – Jeremiah 23v5-6 Religion is almost always an attempt to figure out

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-30701859773830394002011-12-26T08:15:00.002Z2011-12-26T08:15:11.044Z

"The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? – Jeremiah 17v9 ‘Go with your heart! You can’t go wrong!’ That is the kind of advice that we hear all the time. ‘If you go with your heart you can’t go wrong.’ That sounds pretty good. After all nobody knows more about me than me, right? I know me and therefore my ‘gut feeling’ should be the thing to

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-29908321000481072272011-12-25T07:45:00.000Z2011-12-25T07:46:40.132Z

Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil. "Therefore I will scatter them like stubble That passes away by the wind of the wilderness. This is your lot, The portion of your measures from Me," says the LORD, "Because you have forgotten Me And trusted in falsehood. Therefore I will uncover your skirts over your face,

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-2540801846905108222011-12-24T08:23:00.003Z2011-12-24T08:23:13.111Z

For the shepherds have become dull-hearted, And have not sought the LORD; Therefore they shall not prosper, And all their flocks shall be scattered. – Jeremiah 10v21 This morning’s little thought is a challenge to any of us who minister the word of God to others. Spiritual leaders and teachers have a special responsibility to make sure that we are prepared ourselves so that we can

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-74774144989604127262011-12-23T08:35:00.003Z2011-12-23T08:35:25.514Z

But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD.  – Jeremiah 9v24 Jeremiah is what you might call a prophet of doom. He writes about the worst time in Judah’s history. Their sin and wickedness has brought them to the point where the

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-51371789859877779022011-12-22T07:40:00.002Z2011-12-22T07:40:42.312Z

Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time I punish them, They shall be cast down," says the LORD. – Jeremiah 6v15 We all know of course that the things Jeremiah writes about are meant specifically for a certain time and place. We can’t take everything

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-48026219166009400562011-12-21T06:22:00.001Z2011-12-21T06:22:05.495Z

They have lied about the LORD, And said, "It is not He. Neither will evil come upon us, Nor shall we see sword or famine. And the prophets become wind, For the word is not in them. Thus shall it be done to them." – Jeremiah 5v12-13 What a mess the nation had on their hands. Jeremiah’s report just kept getting worse and worse. Not only were they not giving God credit for the things they

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-52688308137019582542011-12-20T07:56:00.001Z2011-12-20T07:56:49.986Z

"For My people are foolish, They have not known Me. They are silly children, And they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, But to do good they have no knowledge." – Jeremiah 4v22 ‘Silly’ is not a word we come across very often in the Scriptures. The more reliable English translations only use it 2-3 times if at all. We all know that the word means today. We often talk about

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-10430352488701218522011-12-19T08:43:00.000Z2011-12-19T08:43:21.112Z

Truly, in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, And from the multitude of mountains; Truly, in the LORD our God Is the salvation of Israel. – Jeremiah 3v23 People hope in all kinds of stuff. At times like this it is easy to try and find solutions for all the difficulties that we face. As Israel looked vainly to the hills and the mountains for someone to come and deliver them we

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-81927588930689419822011-12-18T07:39:00.002Z2011-12-18T07:39:16.045Z

"They say, 'If a man divorces his wife, And she goes from him And becomes another man's, May he return to her again?' Would not that land be greatly polluted? But you have played the harlot with many lovers; Yet return to Me," says the LORD.  – Jeremiah 3v1 There are many blessings to serving the God we serve. One of the greatest is to see His desire for His people to return to Him when

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-6050288019706757822011-12-17T08:30:00.003Z2011-12-17T08:30:36.946Z

"Therefore prepare yourself and arise, And speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, Lest I dismay you before them. For behold, I have made you this day A fortified city and an iron pillar, And bronze walls against the whole land— Against the kings of Judah, Against its princes, Against its priests, And against the people of the land. They will fight

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-45361143245089370952011-12-16T08:28:00.002Z2011-12-16T08:28:23.036Z

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Then said I: "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth." But the LORD said to me: "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-64986705196987931272011-12-15T08:26:00.000Z2011-12-15T08:26:03.041Z

As one whom his mother comforts, So I will comfort you; And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem." – Isaiah 66v13 In yesterday’s thought we saw God portrayed as our Father Potter moulding and shaping and forming us into what He wants us to be. That sounds a lot like a dad, doesn’t it? Dads seem to be the ones who take on the role of smoothing the rough edges and applying the pressure to

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-51752663675401171322011-12-14T07:20:00.001Z2011-12-14T07:20:28.410Z

But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand. – Isaiah 64v8 Of course whenever I see this verse I remember the great old hymn by Adelaid A. Pollard. The chorus goes ‘Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Thou art the Potter, I am the clay. Mould me and make me after Thy will, While I am waiting, yielded and still.’

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-39759018553816696062011-12-13T06:58:00.002Z2011-12-13T06:58:32.703Z

But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. – Isaiah 64v6 You know what? Sometimes we can think we are pretty good. This is especially those of us who are Christians and have been for a good long time. We go to church, we don’t battle with the ‘big’ sins, we are nice

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-68515316732304174672011-12-12T08:35:00.001Z2011-12-12T08:35:39.324Z

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; - Isaiah 61v1 I always pause when I get to this passage because it is the one scripture that Jesus used in the synagogue to reveal to the Jews that

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-69041204041413513912011-12-11T07:41:00.001Z2011-12-11T07:41:59.833Z

Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. – Isaiah 59v1 There is a phrase that businesses and organisations often use to describe why they can’t get things done or meet deadlines. ‘We’re sorry, but we are running a little behind because we are short-handed this week.’ We use that phrase today in a specific way referring to

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-5101575038515536232011-12-10T08:43:00.001Z2011-12-10T08:44:12.766Z

"Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? – Isaiah 58v6-7 I remember the

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-45442402167254301572011-12-09T07:54:00.001Z2011-12-09T07:54:05.813Z

"I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near," Says the LORD, "And I will heal him." But the wicked are like the troubled sea, When it cannot rest, Whose waters cast up mire and dirt. "There is no peace," Says my God, "for the wicked." – Isaiah 57v19-21 ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’ We all immediately

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-27054095039416237502011-12-08T07:59:00.001Z2011-12-08T07:59:35.291Z

For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend forever, Nor will I always be angry; For the spirit would fail before Me, And the souls which I have made. – Isaiah 57v15-16

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-74322359882467656362011-12-07T08:43:00.001Z2011-12-07T08:43:19.668Z

"For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; And it shall be to the LORD for a name, For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." –

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-79109989603880546932011-12-06T06:56:00.001Z2011-12-06T06:56:41.685Z

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. – Isaiah 55v11 I can get discouraged sometimes at a lack of results and lack of response to God’s word. It seems like we can preach and teach and share and that nothing ever really seems to happen as a result. If

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-58631579863589552122011-12-05T08:18:00.001Z2011-12-05T08:19:03.419Z

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55v8-9 Sometimes I can’t figure it out? ‘Can’t figure what out?’ you might ask. ‘IT, I can’t figure it out. Any of it. Why does stuff happen the way it does? Why can’t things

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-51879811304751132512011-12-04T07:44:00.001Z2011-12-04T07:44:53.763Z

Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. – Isaiah 55v6-7 If yesterday’s invitation was a bit vague and general, today’s call makes it very, very clear. While the first couple of verse

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-20493198738787280012011-12-03T08:19:00.001Z2011-12-03T08:19:20.032Z

"Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance – Isaiah 55v1-2 I certainly don’t understand how God’s

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-14287572942011898822011-12-02T06:33:00.001Z2011-12-02T06:33:53.363Z

All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. (Isa 53:6-7) ‘All of us, every one of us, are like sheep which have

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-64549556841526656952011-12-01T07:36:00.001Z2011-12-01T07:36:25.796Z

He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-64937654998908595092011-11-30T07:08:00.001Z2011-11-30T07:08:24.991Z

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" – Isaiah 52v7 I don’t find feet attractive. In fact, I think feet are ugly. I don’t think I have ever noticed a pair of feet and thought, ‘My, those are nice looking feet!’ I am glad we

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-84949024654276357012011-11-29T07:06:00.001Z2011-11-29T07:06:35.865Z

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, And look on the earth beneath. For the heavens will vanish away like smoke, The earth will grow old like a garment, And those who dwell in it will die in like manner; But My salvation will be forever, And My righteousness will not be abolished. – Isaiah 51v6 Everything we see today will one day be gone. It will all be wiped out in a flash. Everything

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-59787346338551703712011-11-28T08:13:00.001Z2011-11-28T08:13:30.979Z

"Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you. – Isaiah 49v15 There are very few images that capture care, compassion, and love than a mother with her nursing child. There is a deep bond. It is a unity of heart and soul. When you see that image in a normal and healthy relationship it is hard to

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-24578184838776886042011-11-27T07:56:00.001Z2011-11-27T07:56:41.336Z

"For you have trusted in your wickedness; You have said, 'No one sees me'; Your wisdom and your knowledge have warped you; And you have said in your heart, 'I am, and there is no one else besides me.' Therefore evil shall come upon you; You shall not know from where it arises. And trouble shall fall upon you; You will not be able to put it off. And desolation shall come upon you suddenly,

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-45457371571265553782011-11-26T07:52:00.001Z2011-11-26T07:52:36.067Z

"Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted, Who are far from righteousness: I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off; My salvation shall not linger. And I will place salvation in Zion, For Israel My glory. – Isaiah 46v12-13 Today’s thought is something of a continuation of yesterdays. When I look around at all the wickedness going on around me I can get angry, frustrated, and even

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-789260850793411242011-11-25T08:08:00.001Z2011-11-25T08:08:47.720Z

I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath.- Isaiah 45v23 Humanly speaking probably the last thing we can imagine is a world where every knee bows down in worship to out God. He is constantly mocked by the world around us. He is blasphemed and cursed. I have seen

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-22908806739460934332011-11-24T07:56:00.001Z2011-11-24T07:57:03.688Z

I, even I, am the LORD,  and besides Me there is no saviour. – Isaiah 43v11 Today is Thanksgiving in America. As expats it is the one American holiday that we still celebrate. Today will be full of friends, family, feasting, and fun. Of all the things to be grateful for the one that should be the most important is that we are thankful for our Saviour, the One who gave His life for us and

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-79979978367932529512011-11-23T09:00:00.001Z2011-11-23T09:00:36.106Z

But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. – Isaiah 43v1-2 There

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-61971095267826062392011-11-22T07:10:00.001Z2011-11-22T07:11:00.136Z

"I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles, To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the prison, Those who sit in darkness from the prison house. – Isaiah 42v6-7 God had a plan from the very start. There was a purpose in providing redemption. There was something for

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-86376924133132147032011-11-21T07:46:00.001Z2011-11-21T07:46:40.992Z

For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.' – Isaiah 41v13 Sometimes God uses the most precious pictures to show us how He cares for us. Here we have an especially tender picture. Being Grampy now allows me the precious opportunity to care for young children again. We get to do things and go places with our grandkids. Sometimes we

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-69057834502423685922011-11-20T08:26:00.001Z2011-11-20T08:26:13.556Z

The hand of God Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' – Isaiah 41v10 The next couple of chapters of Isaiah are packed with promises and assurances of God’s protection for His people. They are facing scary times as they look into the unknown and God promises them that

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-37654678691445231802011-11-19T08:11:00.001Z2011-11-20T08:08:03.584Z

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength;

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-91793573721233488972011-11-18T08:42:00.001Z2011-11-18T08:43:25.424Z

Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. He brings the princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-87313174983562392832011-11-17T10:23:00.001Z2011-11-17T10:24:35.047Z

The voice said, "Cry out!" And he said, "What shall I cry?" "All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever." – Isaiah 40v6-8 We have a picture on our wall downstairs that

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-53727907433647282772011-11-16T07:09:00.001Z2011-11-16T07:09:14.592Z

A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, But it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, Shall not go astray.  – Isaiah 35v8 This caught my eye because I just like the sound of Highway of Holiness. Though it speaks of a physical road that leads to the future New Jerusalem I think there is

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-16648411305973722482011-11-15T07:00:00.001Z2011-11-15T07:00:15.191Z

Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.  You will also defile the covering of your images of silver, And the ornament of your moulded images of gold. You will throw them away as an unclean thing; You will say to them, "Get away!" – Isaiah 30v21,22 This is just a neat little

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-14419996720173412042011-11-14T08:14:00.001Z2011-11-14T08:14:40.962Z

The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, Will be trampled underfoot; And the glorious beauty is a fading flower Which is at the head of the verdant valley, Like the first fruit before the summer, Which an observer sees; He eats it up while it is still in his hand. In that day the LORD of hosts will be for a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty to the remnant of His people, - Isaiah

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-32240210949785583162011-11-13T08:16:00.001Z2011-11-13T08:16:55.341Z

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. – Isaiah 26v3 It must seem like we address the issue of peace just about every time it comes up in scripture. There is a good chance that is true since these are my own thoughts and it is an area that I need to be reminded of all the time. It is hard to find peace in this troubled world. Every

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-45300212691303133862011-11-12T09:18:00.001Z2011-11-12T09:19:04.693Z

O LORD, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, For You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. – Isaiah 25v1 What are the marks of someone we can really depend on? There are a lot of things we could list. We depend on someone who is always there. We depend on someone who has proven themselves. We depend on someone who

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12546858.post-10598405467423686582011-11-11T09:22:00.001Z2011-11-11T09:22:42.088Z

And in that day you will say: "O LORD, I will praise You; Though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; 'For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.' " Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation. – Isaiah 12v1-3 ‘I will praise You. You were

Roger Parrowhttps://profiles.google.com/117028229122528348312noreply@blogger.com0