Isaiah 33:16 reads in part, “Bread will be given him, his water will be sure.” This reminds me of how Jesus taught His people to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.”[1] It was His people to whom Jesus taught this prayer, and it was they whom He authorized to address God the Father in this manner; God is not the father of all.[2] Isaiah’s passage also limits the “him” of “Bread will be given him…” for the preceding sentences read, “The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness has seized the hypocrites: “Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?” He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, he who despises the gain of oppressions, who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil: he will dwell on high; his place of defense will be the fortress of rocks; bread will be given him, his water will be sure.”[3]

To whom will bread be given? “He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly…!” Yet this righteousness and uprightness is not infallible in God’s people, for Jesus, immediately after teaching to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” said, also pray, “Forgive us our trespasses!”

God is Father to all who love the Lord Jesus Christ with a love incorruptible.[4] A father cares for his children even when they err and continues to give them food to eat. A father also disciplines his children when they err. “If you are without discipline…you are illegitimate children and not sons.”[5] Beloved children receive food and discipline!

Therefore, child of God, take courage! Your Heavenly Father cares for you.

Isaiah 30:20-23 (NKJV)
And though the Lord gives you
The bread of adversity and the water of affliction,
Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore,
But your eyes shall see your teachers.
Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
“This is the way, walk in it,”
Whenever you turn to the right hand
Or whenever you turn to the left.
You will also defile the covering of your graven images of silver,
And the ornament of your molded images of gold.
You will throw them away as an unclean thing;
You will say to them, “Get away!”

Then He will give the rain for your seed
With which you sow the ground,
And bread of the increase of the earth;
It will be fat and plentiful.
In that day your cattle will feed
In large pastures.

by Eugene Clingman

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Try our fruit sweet granola (sugar free granola) and organic granola or if you want to cook your own go to www.GranolaDelights.com for dozens of free granola recipes.

“These are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king–Jesus.”* This was the accusation those of Paul the Apostle’s day leveled against the Christians. And when it came to obeying the governing authorities, Peter said, “We ought to obey God rather than men.”** This Christian response to state and social authorities show us that God is over these realms. When the state, or social authorities overreach their jurisdiction, they should not be obeyed. Such disobedience is native to the Bible. From earliest times godly people have disobeyed the state (king, emperor, etc.) and have been rewarded by God for doing so when the state commanded them to disobey His commands.*** Three such examples come to mind: 1) the midwives disobeyed pharaoh’s command to murder every newborn male child. The midwives not only disobeyed the command but also lied about their disobedience when confronted by pharaoh. “But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive… Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very mighty. And so it was, because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them” (Exodus 1:17-21). 2) Rahab the harlot hid Israelite spies and lied to the authorities. “By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace” (Hebrews 11:31; also Joshua 2:1-21). 3) Jonathan lied to the king, his father Saul about David (1 Samuel 20). These “lying” and “rebellious” people are treated by the Bible as heroes for doing the right thing. (*Acts 17:7; **Acts 5:29; ***For further insight into Christian civil disobedience see Francis Schaeffer’s book – A Christian Manifesto, chapter 5, “Revival, Revolution, and Reform.”)

I am sure the time for some of us to disobey has come! Recently a single panel of three California judges decided to outlaw homeschooling. These judges, as well as the National Education Association (NEA), suppose it is the state’s right, no, more than that, the state’s duty to indoctrinate ALL children. Yet the education of children is a jurisdiction given by God to families, and ultimately to the family’s head which is normally the father. God has not assigned the indoctrination of children to the state; not of any child, and certainly not of all children as it now claims in California. The state is outside its God-given jurisdiction when it is in the education business. And children are attending an institution which ought not to be in existence (not under the state’s jurisdiction) when their parents send them to government run schools (aka public schools).

Perhaps this ruling by the three judges will force this issue to a head. Pray for California’s Christian parents and for all Christian parents. May they/we receive God’s grace and strength to do what is right in the face of tyranny. I hope we may be counted heroes some day!

For a biblical and theological explanation of Christian education, see the International Church Council Project’s Education of Christian Children at www.ChurchCouncil.org, and at Coalition on Revival’s worldview document on education www.Reformation.net

by Eugene Clingman

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Granola Delights. There are three organic granolas from which to choose: Apple Raisin Walnut, Cinnamon Spice (technically called Cinnamon Spice All Delight) and Marvelous Maple. All are oat-based; none has the typical large granola clusters you find in many granola-type cereals. The Apple Raisin Walnut has very large chunks of walnut (though they seem relatively few in number), and the raisins and dried apple chunks contribute more of a chewiness than the other varieties, which I enjoy. The Cinnamon has a considerable strength of cinnamon flavor and contains nutmeg and raisins. The Marvelous Maple has a modest but appreciable maple flavor, and I like the addition of the sunflower seeds. Online ordering.

• Recommended: Marvelous Maple and Cinnamon Spice

More food reviews at:
“Organic Matter” (www.TheNibble.com)
“Whey to Go!” (www.TheNibble.com)
“Make Mine Chocolate” (www.Sallys-Place.com)

Jeremiah 1:17-19 (NKJV)
“Therefore prepare yourself and arise,
And speak to them all that I command you.
Do not be dismayed before their faces,
Lest I dismay you before them.
[18] For behold, I have made you this day
A fortified city and an iron pillar,
And bronze walls against the whole land–
Against the kings of Judah,
Against its princes,
Against its priests,
And against the people of the land.
[19] They will fight against you,
But they shall not prevail against you.
For I am with you,” says the Lord, “to deliver you.”

When Jesus told his disciples and us, the modern day church through them to go and make disciples of all the nations, He promised to be with them and with us “always, even to the end of the age.” The Lord also said to Jeremiah, “I am with you to deliver you.”

God was faithful and did deliver Jeremiah, but the deliverance faithful Jeremiah experienced was a painful one. For a time he was locked up in a dungeon like place. At another he was lowered into a muddy well and left to die. Some of the personal distress and heartache he experienced in his ministry is recorded in the Book of Lamentations.

Jesus’ command to disciple the nations also comes with the promise of His presence. He has said that as we serve Him, “Not a hair of your head shall be lost.” (Luke 21:18). This promise however rides on the tail end of these verses – “You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. (Luke 21:16-17)

We serve the Eternal Son of God, Jesus Christ, who is God Incarnate. Service to our exalted Lord Jesus is service rendered for an eternal cause. Our life here on earth, though precious to God and to ourselves and our loved ones is temporary. We must learn to live as those who have died, for our lives are already “hidden with Christ in God.” We must live as those who believe that “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” Col. 3:3-4

Commentary by Eugene Clingman
Bible quotes from the New King James Version (NKJV)

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Isaiah 22:12-14 (NKJV)
And in that day the Lord God of hosts
Called for weeping and for mourning,
For baldness and for girding with sackcloth.
[13] But instead, joy and gladness,
Slaying oxen and killing sheep,
Eating meat and drinking wine:
“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
[14] Then it was revealed in my hearing by the Lord of hosts,
“Surely for this iniquity there will be no atonement for you,
Even to your death,” says the Lord God of hosts.

The verses prior to those above tell of Israel’s extensive efforts to fortify Jerusalem (the City of David). Yet they did not turn to the Lord. It was because of their sin that the Assyrian army had invaded. It was repentance that would have relieved them of the impending judgment. Yet instead they trusted only in “fate,” saying, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

This rebellious and flippant confidence in the face of death and destruction is what Jesus warned against when He said, “Unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins!” (John 8:24). Isaiah says, “…for this iniquity there will be no atonement for you…!” God had provided atonement for Israel and for any from the entire world who would come. Yet Israel rejected God’s every salvation provision when only God can provide atonement. If atonement is forfeited by refusing repentance there is no other remedy. This rejection of repentance and atonement is none other than blaspheme of the Holy Spirit, blaspheme of the Holy Ghost (Mark 3:28-29). This is eternal damnation.

The good news of Jesus Christ is that all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13). The call to repentance goes out to all, no matter what has been their sin. The vilest sin may be forgiven, “for such were some of you” who are now forgiven and saved Christians (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). However rejection of repentance and atonement which comes only through the blood of Jesus Christ will not be forgiven in this life or in the life to come; this is “eternal damnation.”

Coalition on Revival and the National Solemn Assembly are calling our nation, indeed every nation to call solemn assemblies in every town and city. God will hear prayer and cries for mercy when rendered up from repentant hearts.
Hear the words of God from the Bible:

Matthew 11:28 (NKJV)
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Isaiah 55:1-3 (NKJV)
“Ho! Everyone who thirsts,
Come to the waters;
And you who have no money,
Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price.
[2] Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight itself in abundance.
[3] Incline your ear, and come to Me.
Hear, and your soul shall live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you–
The sure mercies of David.

Romans 10:13 (NKJV)
For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Bible quotes from New King James Bible
Commentary by Eugene Clingman

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