Isaiah 46 - 10.02.25

SCRIPTURE

“Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob, all the remnant of the people of Israel,

you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born.

Even to your old age and gray hairs I AM He, I AM He, who will sustain you.

I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭46‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

OBSERVATION

I would like to begin by sharing the NLT version of this verse:

“Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, all you who remain in Israel.

I have cared for you since you were born.

Yes, I carried you —BEFORE —you were born.

I will BE your God throughout your lifetime— until —your hair is white with age.

I made you—and I WILL — care for you…”

In Isaiah 46 the LORD grants Isaiah the prophetic eye to see the history of the Babylonian Empire all the way through to its demise—BEFORE the first of its days had even begun. Bel was the chief god of the Babylonians and Nebo was his son.

These gods/idols were made by human hands of gold and silver. Not only unable to save or help people—they were a heavy burden—needing to be “carried” physically on ox carts. Anyone putting their trust in these lifeless idols would be crushed under their weight both physically and spiritually.

God reminds His People through Isaiah to “LISTEN”

What idol can EVER be compared to—GOD? (vs.5)

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APPLICATION

What Modern Day Idol—can ever be compared to God?

This chapter speaks about a disobedient time in Israel’s life when they purposely chose to worship idols over God.

Though our idols may not be handmade statues of silver and gold, our modern day idols can be every bit as idolatrous. Anything we put an ultimate value on above Christ is a “substitute savior” and an Idol.

Modern day idols include money, material possessions, career ambitions, hobbies, sports, entertainment, and addictions. While it’s not wrong to have ambition, money, enjoy hobbies or entertainment.

The question becomes—who or what has the First Place in our heart?

For Twenty Eight Years I experienced a Career as a high level executive with companies such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdales—interfacing with Vice Presidents, Presidents and CEO’s of every known beauty brand.

In the beginning of my career there was no question who was First in my life. Prayer was a priority and connection at Sunday Church was a Priority. I came into work early so I could pray over my department, office, appointment book and even my phone. God gave me such tremendous favor and literal-miraculous business transactions happened that were unheard of. Business was so exceptional that many took notice.

As time went on and I continued to climb the corporate ladder—each position wasn’t enough. It became an addiction.

Without realizing it, I began making my career an idol. Although my relationship with God was still present..it was my career—then God. God took a backseat as I began working seven days a week and twelve hour days.

God allowed this to continue for a period of time until one day I began to notice a change in my health. Interestingly, it was a change that was undetectable by doctors.

Even more interesting, it slid by me that God was giving me a warning that I didn’t pick up on.

Finally one day I couldn’t get out of bed. This happened after my husband informed me that he had watched me work 24-days straight for 12 hour full days. I didn’t believe him, but he said he had been watching and waiting for me to collapse.

I never returned to work after that day.

The fibromyalgia diagnosis came a year later—which is another story.

I had made my career an idol and…

I literally carried the burden of this idol on my back—

There was a cost to this…but God in His Very Great Mercy…

Was on the porch, Waiting

for His Prodigal daughter to return, to repent, to surrender all-

So HE could put His Robe on me and welcome me home.

GOD-IS the ONE who CARRIES —us—EVEN -BEFORE—we -are -BORN.

And—Cares For us—every —SINGLE —DAY—throughout—our —entire —life.

His WORD…not mine. His TRUTH.

“The Lord is merciful and compassionate,

slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness.

The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.”

‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭145‬:‭8‬, ‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

God carries us even into our old age when our hair is white with age.

I can look back and say with certainty that God has indeed Carried me.

There is NO God like HIM.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

YOU have cared for me since I was born. And indeed, I know full well that YOU carried me even BEFORE I was born. You protected me against any harmful side effects of alcohol that my mom was drinking when she was continually told into her 19 week that she was not pregnant. YOU Carried me as a child, as a young teenager, all through my adult years…through my rebellion…and now you carry me—

into my old age with white hair (under the color) —Yes..YOU are still carrying me.

Lord Jesus, Be my First obsession. First and Only Obsession in my Life. Everything else pales to YOU. And today, I say thank You for fibromyalgia. This thorn in my side is a constant reminder that I can do no-thing without You. I need Your Strength, Your mind, Your heart, Your portion and cup for every single day.

Spirit of the Living God..Fall afresh on me, Melt me, mold me, Fill me, use me.

I Love You, Thank You for First Loving me.

In Jesus Name. Amen.

Tina L Kudelka

Isaiah 45 - 10.1.25

Scripture

…to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. (Isaiah 45:1, 2)

Observation

This is a prophecy about King Cyrus (Cyrus the Great) of Persia. This gentile king was prophesied by name about 150 years before his time! God used Cyrus to end the 70-year exile of the Israelites in Babylon. Cyrus set the Israelites free, and allowed them to return to their homeland. Imagine the economic setback the country would have faced, by setting free their entire labor force - the whole nation of Israel. Cyrus was mightily used by God to accomplish His purposes. 

Because the Bible is God’s living word, these promises apply to you and me as much as it applied to Cyrus thousands of years ago. 

When the Lord calls us, He goes before us to open the door before us so that the gates will not be shut (Is 45:1). Wherever He leads us, He will not leave us orphans (John 14:18). He goes before us, levels the mountains and breaks the gates of bronze and the bars of iron (Is 45:2). We can trust the Lord who brought us so far to complete the work He has started in us (Phil 1:6). This applies to whatever calling the Lord has placed on our life. 

Application

All of us are called to be the children of God and as disciples of Jesus we are called to do the great commission. Apart from that, each one of us are also called into a specific vocation or profession. Not all of us are called to full time ministry. Most of us are called into the marketplace, to work and provide for our families and sow into the kingdom of God. This promise of God applies to whatever situation we are facing in our everyday life. The Lord cares for us in all our struggles, he watches out for us, goes before us, opens doors for us and levels the mountains for us.

Open Doors: We can trust God to go before us and open doors for us, and keep them open so that the gates are not shut. (Is 45:1). Our Lord holds the keys of David, and what He opens nobody can shut and what He shuts nobody can open (Rev 3:7). 

The Lord who goes before us: He has promised to go before us (Is 45:2). Not only has He promised to go before us, the God of Israel will be our rear-guard (Is 52:12). What a wonderful promise to rest in! He has hedged us from behind and before, and He has laid His hand upon us (Ps 139:5).

Mountains, Gates of Bronze and Bars of Iron: The situations we face might look like huge mountains. We might be facing strong gates made of bronze and bars made of iron. He has promised to level the mountains, break down the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron (Ps 107:16). Thank God that we can trust Him.

Prayer

Father, I thank you for loving me. Knowing you is the best gift I have received. You are the most precious possession that I have. You are my exceedingly great reward (Gen 15:1, KJV). Thank you for hedging me from behind and before, and for placing your hand upon me (Ps 139:5). Thank you for engraving me in the palm of your hand (Is 49:16). Thank you for your everlasting arms underneath me (Deut 33:27). Lord, I thank you because you have gone ahead of me, and opened the doors that need to be opened. Thank you Lord, because You have made the great mountain a level ground before me (Zech 4:7). You have broken the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron, and delivered me. I thank you. I know I can trust you to complete the work you have started in my life (Phil 1:6). In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

- Asha Chacko George

1 Peter 1 - 9.30.25

SCRIPTURE:  1 Peter 1:3-8

“Praise be to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.  This inheritance is kept in heaven from you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.  In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

OBSERVATION:  In this portion of Scripture, Peter is writing to the Jewish Christians regarding God’s greatest blessings to them. Some had been experiencing persecution for their faith, and Peter wrote to comfort and encourage them, and to challenge them to continue living holy lives.  He prayed for God’s grace and peace to be in abundance over them.  His encouraging words helped them face opposition. 

APPLICATION:  As Christ-followers, we will all face opposition and persecution, but thank God for God’s grace and peace that is ours, in abundance, as we go through trials and times of suffering for our faith.

In my own life, as I have grown in my faith, I have experienced feelings of being the outcast.  It hasn’t been easy because so many times when I wanted so much to share what God was doing in my life, I knew many of my family members didn’t want to hear it.  They just weren’t interested!  Thank God for my husband, who has been so kind to sit and listen when I needed to share. 

God has been so good to meet me every step that I’ve taken to draw closer to Him. And the things that He’s taught me about Himself have been mind boggling!  He’s shown me time and time again that He is the true and living God, and that His Word is faithful.  No matter what I have had to face, He has faithfully been there to guide me through as I have called out to Him.  Every challenge and trial I have gone through has refined me and strengthened my faith in God!  He has NEVER failed me, and He never will!

PRAYER:  God, I praise You for Your grace and mercy over my life.  Thank You for the countless ways that You have shown up when I have suffered grief and all kinds of trials.  You are in the refining business, and as I look back and remember all the many ways You have been faithful to me, it makes me have inexpressible and glorious joy for all the wonderful blessings that I have received from You, and especially the salvation of my soul. 

Holy Spirit, I pray You will use me to bring encouragement to the ones who need to find joy and hope in the midst of their trials, and for the ones who are longing for security and hope for their future, I am willing to point them to Jesus.

- Robin Orefice