Powerful Words from the Prophets“But as a terebinth or oak tree leaves a stump when it is cut down, so Israel’s stump will be a holy seed.” – Isaiah 6:13 (NLT)“Seeds of Hope” I read a fascinating article about the CZU complex fire that happened in Northern California in 2020. It started with a thunderstorm that produced over 11,000 bolts of lightning, which started hundreds of fires. With strong w...

Powerful Words from the ProphetsThen I said, “Lord, how long will this go on?” – Isaiah 6:11 (NLT)“Are We There Yet?” When our boys were young, we took a 5-week, cross-country trip with them in our van. We traveled all the way from Pennsylvania to California and back again. My wife is the consummate tourist, so we visited every known (and unknown) site along the way, including every Spanish missio...

Powerful Words from the ProphetsAnd he said, “Yes, go, and say to this people, ‘Listen carefully, but do not understand. Watch closely, but learn nothing.’ Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing.” – Isaiah 6:9-10 (NLT)“The Faith to Be F...

Powerful Words from the ProphetsThen I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” – Isaiah 6:6-7 (NLT)“Pick Me!” Have you ever wanted to be “picked?” Maybe it was when you were a kid, and you were smaller or slower or not as athletic as the rest of the kids. So when they were choosing teams, you weren’t chosen. Some ...

Powerful Words from the ProphetsThen one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.” – Isaiah 6:6-7 (NLT)“Just One Touch” Do you remember these beautiful words from that wonderful old song, “He Touched Me?”Shackled ...

Powerful Words from the ProphetsThen I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.” – Isaiah 1:5 (NLT)“Seeing God Makes Me See ME” Isn’t it funny how easy it is to feel better about ourselves by comparing ourselves to someone else who is worse? Like, I drive a bit fa...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“They were calling out to each other, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!’” – Isaiah 6:3 (NLT)“Don’t Miss His Glory!” The glory of God. Have you seen it? The Seraphim declared that “The whole earth is filled with his glory!” That means that everywhere we look, we ought to be able to spot the glory of God. Have ...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.” – Isaiah 6:2 (NLT)“Trusting God with What We Don’t Know” When I was studying this section of scripture for my sermon last Sunday, I was fascinated by the description of the seraphim who were attending to God ...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“…and the train of his robe filled the Temple.” – Isaiah 6:1 (NLT)“Our Conquering King” This is one of those verses that can blow right by us because we live in such a different day and age. But some time ago, as I was studying this passage, I got an insight from a commentator that gave me an exciting new perspective on this verse. They said that in ancient times, w...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“He was sitting on a lofty throne…” – Isaiah 6:1 (NLT)“A Not So Common King” Have you lost your sense of “awe” when it comes to God? It happens sometimes. We get familiar with the stories of the mighty miracles God has performed so that hearing about them no longer “Wows” us. Healer, Redeemer, Deliverer, Savior…those words roll off our lips so easily that they lose ...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord.” – Isaiah 6:1 (NLT)“A Fresh Glimpse of God” When’s the last time you caught a fresh glimpse of God? God is like the sun. Huge. Brilliant. Illuminating. Beautiful. But for the most part, we take it for granted. It rises; it sets. We know that it’s there, but most days we don’t really pay attention. But then th...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“What sorrow for those who get up early in the morning looking for a drink of alcohol and spend long evenings drinking wine to make themselves flaming drunk. They furnish wine and lovely music at their grand parties—lyre and harp, tambourine and flute—but they never think about the LORD or notice what he is doing.” – Isaiah 5:11-12 (NLT)“Facing the Addiction Epidemi...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“He plowed the land, cleared its stones, and planted it with the best vines. In the middle he built a watchtower and carved a winepress in the nearby rocks. Then he waited for a harvest of sweet grapes, but the grapes that grew were bitter.” – Isaiah 5:2 (NLT)“Fruit Or Nuts?” I’m really excited for this summer. We’re going to be doing something at our church that we...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“But in that day, the branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious; the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of all who survive in Israel.” – Isaiah 4:2 (NLT)“Bright Spots” Through the years, I’ve done a good bit of consulting with churches that have plateaued or are declining. Almost always, there are broken systems that aren’t working, dysfunctional ...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“Tell the godly that all will be well for them. They will enjoy the rich reward they have earned! But the wicked are doomed, for they will get exactly what they deserve.” – Isaiah 3:10-11 (NLT)“Truth And Consequences” When I was taking Driver’s Education in high school, we were forced to watch a film that depicted horrible accident scenes. Some were scenes of people...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“Human pride will be brought down, and human arrogance will be humbled.” – Isaiah 2:11 (NLT)“Kill the Pride Before Your Pride Kills YOU!” Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. In a high school football game this year between two top rivals, one player’s arrogance got the best of him. It was a big game, and the stands were packed. Scouts were there from colleges to...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“In the last days, the mountain of the LORD’s house will be the highest of all—the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship. People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“Zion will be restored by justice; those who repent will be revived by righteousness.” – Isaiah 1:27 (NLT)“Restoration” The prophets are a bit of a downer to read because they are filled with a lot of doom and gloom. It’s not meant to discourage the Israelites. It’s actually meant to warn them and push them toward the path of righteousness. But woven throughout all ...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.” – Isaiah 1:18 (NLT)“God Buys Ugly Hearts” “We buy ugly houses.” Have you ever seen one of those signs? It always makes me laugh when I see it. I envision someone obsessed with ugly ...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“Why do you continue to invite punishment? Must you rebel forever? Your head is injured, and your heart is sick. You are battered from head to foot--covered with bruises, welts, and infected wounds—without any soothing ointments or bandages.” – Isaiah 1:5-6 (NLT)“Pain Is a Gift from God” As I started my prayer walk on New Year’s Day, I began by thanking God for His ...