Isaiah

 All throughout the book of Isiah God imparts to the prophet his heart for his people.   The phrase "I will" is repeated throughout the book.  God repeats his promise of leading and restoring his people back to him even through exile.    In the midst of judgement, God imparts to Isiah to tell Israel of his plan to lead his back to him.  In the last book of Isiah, God imparts to Isiah a new future for Israel.   This new future will have a new heavens and new earth.  Some people debate on what type of realized future state of Israel this will be or if it will be in an eternal state.  

In the midst of judgement and exile, God imparts his holiness to his people.  Also, in the midst of judgement God shows his power to his people.   Through Isaiah, God shows he is sovereign over sin, judgement, oppression, and evil in this world.   God shows to his people that he is sending a Messiah to restore them back to him.   He has a future plan to lead them out of their sin and oppression.  

Rest

 God is calling me to rest in him more.   Rest in silence in him.   Rest in savoring who he is and how he has made me and my surroundings.  Rest in the stillness of his presence.  Lastly, resting in that he is God alone.   

We were going through Psalm 46 at church today.   First, we can rest that God is our refuge and strength.  2. Rest that God is with us.  Rest that God is with us in the midst of the chaos in our life.   The church he talked about resting in God in the midst of chaos we are going through.  

Third. when we rest in God his glory will be shown across the world.   Resting in God gives us trust in him.   When we are still, we recognize that he is God.   When we rest in God we recognize, he is sovereign.  When we rest in God, we realize he is with us. 

Trust

 This past week at VBS was all about trust.   Trust when we wonder/doubt, trust when we are alone, trust when things are hard, and trust when we need.  God used me to co-teach this past week with an older gentleman named Ron.   We went through various Kid's Ministry curriculum to describe these lessons on different days of the week.    God used us to share the gospel that week and teach the children what Jesus did for us on the cross and how he has given us life through him.    

April 14th

 After two years of waiting to get married, God worked it out for Amanda and me to get married.    There were a few things that were not included in the ceremony we wanted but it was still a beautiful day.   God worked out all the details for us to get married on April 14th.  

After I proposed April 29th, then moved to Austin shortly thereafter we had been in a waiting period.  Amanda's roommate's parents decided to build her a house in January.   That started the process of us trying to figure out when/where to get married.   A few years ago, we wanted the Chapel at the Gruene.  We were hoping to get married at a local church's chapel, but they took a while to get back to us.   Then we finally decided on the Chapel Dulcinea.   I got my suit/pants/new shoes a month or so after we decided when to get married.  

That month before we got married in April all the details just worked out.   Amanda's best friend helped plan the ceremony.    She used a Google doc to plan out all the details.   I organized various things such as buying tables, chairs, etc.   Amanda and I went back and forth on a reception restaurant.  Then we ended up going out to eat at Aba Austin then officially decided to do the wedding reception at Abba.   Also, God worked out the details regarding the cake since we found a great gluten free cake place called Sweet Treats about a month after deciding on the wedding.  Sweet Treats ended up being just ten minutes.  

My friend Jordan and I picked up the cake the Saturday before the wedding.  My best friend Andrew Boone came in later that night.   Jordan and Andrew and I went to church that Sunday before the wedding.  My friend close friend from college Kurtis came in later that morning and we went to the rehearsal afterwards.   After the rehearsal, we had my bachelor party all day that day.   We went to a Thai place, sports bar to hang out, hiking, and Salt Lick barbecue for dinner.  

The morning of the wedding was a long but amazing day.   The guys and I moved my bed out and Amanda's bed in my apartment.  We went to the chapel at seven fifteen to get there early and I hid in the groom's room.    I was excited/nervous for that day.    It was amazing to read my letter to Amanda I wrote.  

I was excited for the ceremony to take place after all the waiting that morning.   My excitement to see Amanda as she walked down the aisle was high.  I almost cried while reading my vows.   The ceremony was amazing though a verse was left out, the wrong verse was said, and we forget the worship.  At the end of the ceremony, I was excited to finally kiss my bridge and ring the bell.    We did our dance and enjoyed cake/toasts afterwards.  

The reception at Abba was a great time with family and friends.   They did a great job with providing us with a wide range appetizers, drinks, food, and desserts.  It was great to finally be married.

Habbukk

 The book of Habbukk shows that we can cry out to God with our complaints.  It is okay to question God with our frustrations in life.    God wants us to bring our doubts, cares, frustrations, to him every day.  He wants to know what is going on in our life.  The book of Habbukk also shows that it is okay to question God why certain things are happening.  Lastly, the book helps us see it's okay to ask God why wicked people are thriving.

In Habbukk's prayer at the end of the book in Chapter three, he remembers God's glory, power, and majesty.   He remembers God's good deeds and what he has done for us people.  He remembers how God delivered his people.   He recalls how God is over creation and the seas.  Lastly, Habbukk is in awe of how God judges all things.  

He closes by saying that he will rejoice in the Lord and he will have joy in God my savior.  Verse 18 says, "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord.  I will be joyful in my God my savior."  Ha Habbukk is able to rejoice in God despite the circumstances and put his joy in the Lord.    Lastly, Habbukk says, "The Sovereign Lord is my strength, he makes my feet is of a deer; he enables me to tread on heights."  This shows Habbukk's full confidence and trust in God.   He trusts in God despite the circumstances. 

Phrases in Jeremiah that repeat themselves

 "The Lord is our Righteous Savior."

In Jeremiah 23:6 and 33:16 both are prophesies of Jeremiah speaking about God and the coming of Jesus Christ.    23:6 says, "In his days Judah will be saved, and Isarael will live in safety.   This is the name by which he will be called: "The Lord is out Righteous Savior,".   These repeating verses are a foretelling of the coming of Jesus Christ. Jeremiah 23:1-7 section encompasses the Messianic prophecy of the coming of Jesus Christ.   They also act as a play on words describing the current king Zedekiah.  

Jeremiah 23:5-6 describe Jesus Christ has the righteous branch.  All people will come to him to be saved.  Their new king, Jesus Christ, will reign justly and rightly in his decision making; verse 5.   The new king Jesus will teach the people true righteousness, verse 6.  God is reminding us that our righteousness comes from Christ alone.  

In

Ecclesiastes Big Ideas

 Ecclesiastes talks about a few big ideas in the book.   It is written by King Solomon at the end of his life.   He discusses how everything in life passes away.    Also, how everything has their own time and season in life.  There is a time for death, work, and life each has its own season.   His main theme centers around the "fearing God" because everything else passes away at the end of our life.  

The book discusses the fleeting nature of life.   Life passes away in an instant, but God is there at the end of time.  Death passes away, toil passes away, and life passes away.    The hardship we endure in life passes away as well.   God never passes away; he is eternal.  

The preacher says at the end of the book that God will judge all things at end of our life.   Fearing God centers our life on God in the midst of life.   God will bring everything under his control.