Category: Isaiah

Isaiah 43:18-19 ~ A Year of New Things ~ “See, I am doing a new thing!” ~ Devotional for New Year's Eve '16 ~ Pastor Carl

12/31/2016

Thanks to Christmas, we all end the year with new things—new toys for the kids, new clothes (not always the right color or size, but still new), new pounds on our bodies. We start the year off with new things, a new calendar on the wall, new bills, new resolutions for the days ahead. Everybody likes new things, including God. He’s called the Ancient of Days, and He says,

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
(Is. 43:18-19)

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Promise, Trial, Fulfillment (Easter Sunday) ~ Is. 52:13-15, 53:10-12 ~ Carl Crouse

3/28/2016

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God has ordained a universal pattern for His people to be drawn to Him: Promise, Trial, and Fulfillment. The last three verses of Is. 52 demonstrate the pattern.

First the promise: READ Is. 52:13. He will be raised up. He will be resurrected. He will be exalted. This is the Easter message! A promise is a vision of an amazing future. I love the quote in the bulletin: “If you're a Christian you're just a shadow of your future self.” (N.T. Wright). God has given a promise of a glorious future.

Promises are the substance of hope, expectation. God’s promise is resurrection ~ the best is yet to come. The power of a promise changes lives because of optimistic expectations. The greatest promise of all is resurrection: new life, new hope.

God is the ultimate promise keeper, which is why there are so many stories of his character, his sovereignty, his power, his love, his consistency… He makes promises that he binds himself to keep and bring to fulfillment/completion. Without promises we have no expectation…. I live today in great hope because of the transformational promises of God and the Resurrection life that is ours through Jesus Christ. First comes the promise.

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Poking Holes in the Darkness ~ Is. 52:7-12 ~ Carl Crouse

3/13/2016

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Robert Lewis Stevenson, author of Treasure Island, Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde, and many more works, was in poor health during much of his childhood and youth. One night his nurse found him with his nose pressed against the frosty pane of his bedroom window. "Child, come away from there. You'll catch your death of cold," she fussed. But Robert wouldn't budge. He sat, mesmerized, as he watched an old lamplighter slowly working his way through the black night, lighting each street lamp along his route. Pointing, Robert exclaimed, "See; look there; there's a man poking holes in the darkness."

Our calling as Christians is to be Lamplighters, poking holes in the darkness.

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Isaiah 52:1-6 ~ A New Lease on Life ~ Carl Crouse

3/7/2016

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There is an amazingly beautiful beach in Fort Bragg, CA, near San Diego. The beach is a story of transformation. Decades ago the townspeople used the beach as a dump. All the refuse was tossed down the cliff to the beach below. It became a terrible eyesore. Long after they quit using it as a dump, the beach was a huge mess. Nobody did a thing. There it sat. Slowly the beach changed. Over the decades, waves washed away the garbage. All that was left were bottles, thousands of colored bottles. Today the Fort Bragg beach is known as Glass Beach.

The miracle of God: He takes the "garbage" and turns it into a beautiful creation. He gives us new life. Wave after wave of blessings. Wake up and accept the promise of God to redeem you, change you, with no cost. God does not give up on you. He promises a new lease on life, turning the garbage of your life into a beautiful glass beach.

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Jesus the Difference Maker, Prince of Peace

12/27/2010

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Long ago a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered. The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled.

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Jesus the Difference Maker, Everlasting Father

12/20/2010

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I’ve often wondered, what do those who have expressed disbelief in God and the divinity of Jesus Christ think of Christmas? In theory the day would be hollow, but in practice I see most people appreciate the day, the season, the celebration, the presents, the lights, the stories. I believe Christmas is a gift of God’s grace, even for those who do not believe. If the commercial aspects are what keeps Christmas alive for the nation, then I am thankful for the stores and the buying and exchanging of presents. The holiday lights.

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Jesus the Difference Maker, Mighty God

12/13/2010

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A simple story that tells us of the purpose of why Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became human:

There was once a man who didn't believe in God, and he didn't hesitate to let others know how he felt about religion and religious holidays. His wife, however, did believe, and she raised their children to also have faith in God and Jesus, despite his disparaging comments.

One snowy eve, his wife was taking their children to a service in the farm community in which they lived.

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Jesus the Difference Maker, Wonderful Counselor, Isaiah 9.6, John 14

12/7/2010

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100’s of years before Jesus Christ was born, the Isaiah 9:6 prophecy was given as a gift from God. We look back in amazement at the specifics.Isaiah 9:6.

The child is Jesus Christ, born of the virgin Mary, born in a stable, a feeding trough for a bed. Is. 9:6: four descriptions of who Jesus is, or better, his gifts to us: wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace.

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Christmas messages for December, Jesus, The Difference Maker

11/30/2010

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Isaiah 9:6 is an incredible prophecy of the birth of Christ, not only for the vision that became a reality 100's of years later, but also for the awesome description of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Difference Maker. Here's Isaiah 9:6 from "The Message" translation:

For a child has been born—for us!
   the gift of a son—for us!
He'll take over
   the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor,
   Strong God,
Eternal Father,
   Prince of Wholeness.

The messages in December:

Dec. 5: Wonderful Counselor,
Dec. 12: Mighty God,
Dec. 19: Everlasting Father,
Dec. 26: Prince of Peace

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Isaiah 43:18-19 ~ A Year of New Things ~ “See, I am doing a new thing!” ~ Devotional for New Year's Eve '16 ~ Pastor Carl

Promise, Trial, Fulfillment (Easter Sunday) ~ Is. 52:13-15, 53:10-12 ~ Carl Crouse

Poking Holes in the Darkness ~ Is. 52:7-12 ~ Carl Crouse

Isaiah 52:1-6 ~ A New Lease on Life ~ Carl Crouse

Jesus the Difference Maker, Prince of Peace

Jesus the Difference Maker, Everlasting Father

Jesus the Difference Maker, Mighty God

Jesus the Difference Maker, Wonderful Counselor, Isaiah 9.6, John 14

Christmas messages for December, Jesus, The Difference Maker

Carl Crouse, Pastor

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