Brett Hawthorn @BrettHawthorn@dingdash.com

*‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭28:16‬ ‭NIV* “So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.”‬‬

*28:16* If you’re building anything, you need a firm base, Isaiah speaks of a foundation stone, a corner stone, that will be laid in Zion. This cornerstone is the Messiah, the foundation on whom we build our lives. Is your life built on the flimsy base of your own success or dreams? Or is it set on a firm foundation (See Psalm 118:22; 1 Peter 2:8)?

*‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭28:23-29‬ ‭NIV* “Listen and hear my voice; pay attention and hear what I say. When a farmer plows for planting, does he plow continually? Does he keep on breaking up and working the soil? When he has leveled the surface, does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin? Does he not plant wheat in its place, barley in its plot, and spelt in its field? His God instructs him and teaches him the right way. Caraway is not threshed with a sledge, nor is the wheel of a cart rolled over cumin; caraway is beaten out with a rod, and cumin with a stick. Grain must be ground to make bread; so one does not go on threshing it forever. The wheels of a threshing cart may be rolled over it, but one does not use horses to grind grain. All this also comes from the Lord Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, whose wisdom is magnificent.”‬‬

*28:23-29* The farmer uses special tools to plant and harvest tender herbs so he will not destroy them. He takes into account how fragile they are. In the same way God takes all our individual circumstances and weaknesses into account. He deals with each of us sensitively. We should follow his example when we deal with others. Different people require different treatment. Be sensitive to the needs of those around you and the special treatment they may need.

*‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭39:1‬ ‭NIV* ““Son of man, prophesy against Gog and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshek and Tubal.”‬‬

*39:1ff* The story of the battle continues. The defeat of the evil forces will be final and complete; they will be destroyed by divine intervention. Because of his victory, God’s name will be known throughout the world. His glory will be evident, and the nations will understand that he alone is in charge of human history. God will clearly show his love for his people by restoring them to their homeland.

*‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭39:29‬ ‭NIV‬‬* “I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.””

*39:29* Both in this prophecy and in Joel 2:28,29, God promises to pour out his Spirit on mankind. The early church believed this began to be fulfilled at Pentecost, when God’s Holy Spirit came to live in all believers (Acts 2:1-18).

*‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139:13-15‬ ‭NIV* “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.”‬‬

*139:13-15* God’s character goes into the creation of every person. When you feel worthless or even begin to hate yourself, remember that God’s Spirit is ready and willing to work within you. We should have as much respect for ourselves as our Maker has for us.

*‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭27:11‬ ‭NIV* “When its twigs are dry, they are broken off and women come and make fires with them. For this is a people without understanding; so their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor.”‬‬

*27:11* Isaiah compares the state of Israel’s spiritual life with dry twigs that are broken off and used to make fires. Trees in Scripture often represent spiritual life. The trunk is the channel of strength from God; the branches are the people who serve him. Tree branches sometimes waver and blow in the wind. Like Israel, they may dry up from internal rottenness and become useless for anything except building a fire. What kind of branch are you? If you are withering spiritually, check to see if you are firmly attached to God.

*Ezekiel 38:1ff* In chapter 37, Ezekiel revealed how Israel (God’s people) would be restored to their land from many parts of the world. Once Israel became strong, a confederacy of nations from the north would attack, led by Gog (See also Revelation 20:8). Their purpose would be to destroy God’s people. Gog’s allies would come from the mountainous area southeast of the Black Sea and southwest of the Caspian Sea (central Turkey), as well as from the area that is present-day Iran, Ethiopia, Libya, and possibly the Soviet Union....(cont)

(Cont)...:Gog could be a person (he sometimes is identified with Gyges, king of Lydia in 660B.C.), or Gog could also be a symbol of all the evil in the world. Whether symbolic or literal, Gog represents the aggregate military might of all the forces opposed to God. Many say that the battle Ezekiel described will occur at the end of human history, but there are many differences between the events described here and those in Revelation 20. Regardless of when this battle will occur, the message is clear. God will deliver his people - no enemy can stand before his mighty power.

*Ezekiel‬ ‭38:21‬ ‭NIV* “I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign Lord. Every man’s sword will be against his brother.”

*38:21* God will directly intervene in the defense of Israel, unleashing severe natural disasters on the invaders from the north. In the end, the stricken pagan nations will turn on themselves in confusion and panic. All those who set themselves against God will be destroyed.

@mayahb it’s best to give to a cause that you know a little about and who’s vision and mission you agree with and support. If children are your soft spot then partner up with an orphanage, if homeless are your soft spot then partner up with a shelter. Find an organization that you can get to know so that you know when you give, your money is going to make a difference in many lives and not just make the greedy fatter. Hope this helps, have a blessed day.

@mayahb we partner up with other NPO’s and organizations within our area and when we receive a donation of food or something and we have excess then we pass the blessing on to help others as well. I also find that even if I don’t know what i’m Going to feed the people next week but we have excess now, then I still give and God never ceases to amaze with how He replaces. I think it is important to pray about giving and I personally rely on the Holy Spirit to lead and guide me. I don’t just give to anyone for example all the beggars on the street because where I am from, most of them actually choose that lifestyle and they refuse any genuine help we try to offer them. It’s not always an easy decision but the best advice I can give is to pray and rely on the Holy Spirit.

@mayahb this is a very good question, I love it. I can’t give you a “one size fits all” type of answer to this but I am happy to share what I apply in my life and hope that it helps give you some clarity. So the 1st thing I noticed in the Word was that it said if someone has plentiful and sees (takes note) of need and has no sympathy then they don’t reflect or display the love of God. I think the point being made is that they have the resources to make a difference but couldn’t care about anyone else and only concern themselves with stocking up their “barns”. My wife and I run a 2nd phase shelter (in our own home) where we help homeless and even those recently released from prison that have no family support etc, so we see need all the time and I must say it is extremely difficult to get people and companies to support our cause especially in times like we are facing. What we do to try make a difference outside of the people we already have living with us is that we partner up with....