96th Week. Isaiah Chapters 5-9 (Click on title for Video Introduction)

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Click on Title for Video Intro 


Monday, Isaiah Chapter 5
Isaiah 5
Verse 1
Jeanie Boldt

Verse 1:  “1 will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard:  
My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside.”

THOUGHT
Sometimes I feel the Lord must be frustrated with us so much of the time. We fail Him daily and time and time again of the same sin. This verse somehow helps me picture GOD the Father singing for His chosen people and the gifts that He had given them. It is such a beautiful verse until the rest of the chapter shows the love, admiration, honor, respect and a genuine caring being completely lost in the sin of these His chosen people. When they took their eyes off their Lord and giver of life, everything was made dirty and no longer lovely. 

Remember as you work and interact with family, coworkers, friends and strangers, our actions need to be of HIM. Salt Shakers, keep a loving and intimate song of God in your heart so that your world may be kept as fertile and loving as possible.

PRAYER
Father God, please forgive us for not loving and respecting You and Your gifts as we should. We fall down each and every day. Help us to praise and honor You in all things and respect all the things we have from You. May I find myself singing to YOU each day and loving the Eternal Home that You have for us already.  AMEN


Tuesday, Isaiah Chapter 6
Isaiah 6
Verse 8
Jeanie Boldt

WOW! I sure got an awesome chapter. How great it is when the Lord talks to us. We may not have heard His voice or experienced His angels but we know when He speaks to us through the Word, songs, experiences, messages or through our family and friends. Sharing those special times with fellow Christians is so spiritually moving. It gives me goose pimples. There have been several times when the Lord has talked to me when giving care to my Stephen’s Ministry relationship. He has also spoken many times through scripture and songs and messages in regards to my marriage, my children, and extended family and friend relationships. Wouldn’t it be great to have coffee and share our experiences with our Father?  Hey, where is the central meeting place? Let’s GO!

Verse 8:  Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”  And I said, “Here am I, Send me!”

THOUGHT
There have been times in my life I have wanted the Lord to send me somewhere, especially when I was completely ready to start over. However, there were no pathways open. As I look back - I was so not ready. I couldn’t have helped a fly out of a cup of soup. However, now I am healed and learning and growing and so love the way the Lord keeps putting care receivers in front of me and couples to mentor and grow with in marriage in front of Rory and me. I must have said, “Here am I; send ME.” I love it. 

I know we have all experienced those times when we realize that the Lord has had divine intervention. Praise God. We must remember to daily ask for forgiveness of our sins, be cleansed with the Holy Spirit and then ask, “What’s my assignment today?”  “Please send ME.” Salt Shakers, be ready. You never know when the Lord may need any one of us. Pray that He continues to put those in need in our path.

PRAYER
Father God, please forgive us from all our sins and make us clean each day. Thank You for talking to Isaiah and making him the greatest Old Testament prophet. He was so willing and able. May we be that way when You need us to go about Your purpose. Realization is that we can do nothing without YOU. Thank You for going right alongside us. Thank You for desiring us to be on Your team. May we be ready to play ball when You ask, “Who wants to go in?” We praise You for giving us the ability that it will take along with the love, understanding, caring, faithfulness, trust and wisdom. The Salt Shakers are standing up to say, “We’ll be the best team we can possibly be if You are the coach.” Prepare us for whatever sport we need to be ready for.  We love You, LORD JESUS!  AMEN


Wednesday, Isaiah Chapter 7
Isaiah 7
Verse 9b
Jeanie Boldt

Verse 9b:  If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.

THOUGHT
Hey, Salt Shakers, we need to be “ROCKYS”. We need to leave all things to Him and don’t ever let anything keep us from hearing and obeying the Lord. We also should never be hesitant to ask anything of Him. ALL of our lives and events are important to HIM. When we have a relationship with the Lord, we are not testing Him when we question. We are just communicating. 

Judah did not trust in the Lord’s Word. Ahaz did not truly believe in the Lord’s message. He only talked about it. His Word goes to work when we believe it and act on it.  Judah was humbled because God’s people would not trust Him. It is faith in God, not faith in man’s treaties that brings the victory. We might as well sit down and curl up if we are not firm in our faith. How tall will you be standing today?  tomorrow?  and in the days to come?  Let’s heed the call —“STAND TALL!”

PRAYER
Father, please forgive us when our stance is not straight and tall. Forgive us when we listen to the people of the world and not YOU!  Forgive us when we put ourselves and our intellect before Yours. Keep us ever seeking, ever praising and ever in good communication with You. May we never feel anything is too little to take to You or too large for You to handle. Keep us firm in our faith. Help us to be above average when it comes to our heighth in our faith. Meet each of the Salt Shakers at their point of need today.  AMEN


Thursday, Isaiah Chapter 8
Isaiah 8
Verse 21
Jeanie Boldt

Verse 21:  Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God.

THOUGHT
This chapter shows two distinct attributes of God - His love and His wrath. To ignore His love and guidance results in sin and invites His wrath. We must recognize the consequences of our choices. God wants to protect us from bad choices, but He still gives us the freedoms to make them. Doesn’t that freedom get us in trouble sometimes?  When things don’t go exactly as we would like, it is easy to turn to the Lord and blame Him. 

How often also do we get impatient and not wait upon Him to direct us?  Is that also taking control and not allowing Him to make the happening just perfect for us? It is comforting to place the blame on others or choose our time for what we want to happen - anything but take the burden of the sin ourselves. However, let’s instead of blaming God, look to Him for strength to get us through the mishap and try to observe ways to grow closer to Him through our failures. Bring Him into the situation and ask for His strength and all-knowing power.

PRAYER
Father God, please forgive us for placing the blame for our mistakes on You. Forgive us when we think we know the best time for the desires of our hearts. Thank You for freedom. How wonderful to have the choice and be in a country that we can do just that. May we look to You in prayer for major decisions and pray that Your Will be done in our lives. Thank You for the leaders of our country and the men and women who fight for that each and every day. Walk each day with us.  In the Name of Jesus.  AMEN


Friday, Isaiah Chapter 9
Isaiah 9
Verse 2
Jeanie Boldt

Verse 2:  The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.

Guess who the light is? JESUS our BEST friend and Savior.

THOUGHT
In a time of great darkness, God promised to send a light who would shine on everyone living in the shadow of death. He is both ‘Wonderful Counselor and Mighty God’.  This message of hope was fulfilled in the birth of Christ and the establishment of the eternal kingdom. He came to deliver all people from their slavery to sin. 

I couldn’t help but think we all have our periods of darkness. Have you noticed when we turn to the Lord, our Savior, the light comes on and the darkness is no longer present? Alleluia, we have our Friend who carries us at that time. We never have to look for the light switch either. Jesus is there at our finger tips no matter where we are or no matter when. 

The verses in Isaiah remind me of the Christmas story. I love them. Plus, have you noticed how many verses are familiar? Isaiah is used a lot for teaching the Word. No matter where you are, I know you are not in the dark. I know you are all in the light of the Lord’s glow.

PRAYER
Father God, I offer prayers of Thanksgiving for the giving of Your Son as the light of the world.  We stumble each and every day. Thank You for making the way at least as visible as possible with Your light and guidance. May we share that light with others and pray that it generates from our actions and words.  We give You our lives and the control of them.  We love You, Jesus, our light.  AMEN






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