Better Than Expected

     "Economists expect the global economy to expand by about 3% this year and next. Based on strength shown by the private sector and governments last year, despite economic shocks from trade disruptions and marketplace uncertainties. 

     "Experts revised their expectations upward after observing responses to tariff increases that began in April, investor optimism and surging tech investments. Worldwide, economic growth has averaged about 3% each year since 2021.

     "Trade and market analysts were surprised that global economics, led by the U.S. and China recovered well following the 2020 recession. 

     "The risks rosy projections remain numerous: rising government debt levels, higher than predicted inflation, reduced AI investments, and economic or military disruptions to supply chains." 

 

Drawn to Darkness

     Teens are succumbing to the lure of violent online extremism. Can their families save them before it's too late?

     An article in WORLD magazine: "Radicalization often happens behind closed doors, making it impossible to know the entire scope of the problem. But existing metrics suggest this is a significant and growing threat." 

     "Happy kids aren't stumbling on these sites and they are being radicalized. The are already struggling with difficult experiences and broken relationships and want to know 'does anybody else feel like I do?"

     And a reminder from Scripture. Ephesians 6, in this war-like world, we must put on the armor of truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and Spirit. 

Views has company this week. Our blogs continue, but short.

 

It Was the Lord's Will

Isaiah 53:9-12 

     He was assigned a grave with the wicked. and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. 

     Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. 

     After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life, and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 

     Therefore, I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Your blogger is a transgressor,

but Jesus took my punishment. 

How about you? 

We Know Who He Was and Is 

Suffering and Glory     Isaiah 53:5-8

     But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 

     He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgement, he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people, he was stricken. 

Isaiah 53:9-12 tomorrow

What the Lord Suffered for Our Escape from Hell 

700+ years before it happened    Isaiah 52:13-15   

     See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up (on the cross) and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him, his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness - so he will sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand. 

Isaiah 53:1-4   v 

     Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 

Jesus was not handsome, as portrayed today.

     He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.

Continued tomorrow

     

 

 Never Be Discouraged

There is really nothing we need to know

or even try to understand.

If we refuse to be discouraged

and trust in God's guiding hand.

So take to heart and meet each minute

with faith in God's great love,

aware that every day of life

is controlled by God above.

 And never dread tomorrow

or what the future brings.

Just pray for strength and courage

and trust God in all things.

For God never comes too early, 

and He never comes too late.

                                             Helen Steiner Rice

Friends, stay with us, back 2700 years to Scripture more important than Christmas, beginning Sunday. 

 

Going Through the Gates

     In ancient times, city gates were symbols of strength and centers of life. Business deals, marriages arranged, disputes settled, kings addressed and prophets proclaimed God's word. 

     There is a specific gate God calls "the gate of the Lord," the gate of righteousness. We don't have righteousness of our own. Isaiah says our righteousness is "like filthy rags." 

     So how do we walk through the gate of righteousness? 

     The answer is Jesus. He is the gate. "I am the gate. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved" John 10:7,9

     We don't present God our impressive record; rather, clothed in his righteousness, we present His Son. 

     Some of us try to enter life's gate in our good works, our ministry record, our morality. 

     Prayer: Jesus, I lay down my filthy rags of self-righteousness and striving. Clothe me in Your righteousness. 

Part of a message from our pastor.