Isaiah 5: God is just in His Judgement Isaiah 5 presents a prophetic message through the metaphor of a vineyard, where God (the vineyard owner) has lovingly planted and cared for His people (Judah and Israel), expecting a harvest of justice and righteousness. Instead, the vineyard produces "wild grapes"—symbolizing corruption, injustice, and moral decay. The chapter lists six "woes" against specific sins, culminating in a pronouncement of judgment: the vineyard will be left unprotected, overgrown, and destroyed by invaders. This serves as a divine indictment of Judah's failure to live up to God's covenant, with themes of social injustice, greed, and ethical inversion. Key Sins in Judah from Isaiah 5 Greed and economic exploitation (v. 8-10): People "join house to house" and "add field to field," displacing the poor and consolidating wealth, leading to failed harvests and economic ruin. Hedonism and excess (v. 11-12, 22): Pursuit of drunkenness and parties, ignoring God's works and the needs of others. Deception and prolonging sin (v. 18-19): People "draw iniquity with cords of falsehood," mocking God's patience and daring Him to act. Moral relativism (v. 20): Calling "evil good and good evil," inverting truth and light for darkness. Arrogance and self-wisdom (v. 21): Being "wise in their own eyes" and clever without regard for divine wisdom. Corruption in justice (v. 23): Acquitting the guilty for bribes while denying justice to the innocent. These sins reflect a society that has turned from God's standards, prioritizing personal gain over equity and holiness, inviting inevitable downfall. I know I can apply this chapter to myself and ask for God’s grace to fight these sins in my own life. But there also seems to be a strong correlation to the state of America right now. The consolidating of wealth (specifically agriculture), the hedonism, the outright bold rejection of God, the agendas for proclaiming sodomy and abortion are good, AI being smarter than God, and the list continues. Will God raise the signal for nations far away to come like roaring lions and bring destruction to our land? Perhaps not. But if so, God, of course, would be just and right in bringing this judgement.

Isaiah 4: Refuge in the Branch of the LORD When God’s people are humbled, brought low, and in despair—like Jerusalem in the wake of judgment (Isaiah 4:1)—God reveals His grace and love. Time and again, He warns us not to trust in things, others, or ourselves, yet I often cling to my own ways. When life unravels, I see my mistake and turn to the “beautiful and glorious Branch of the Lord” (Isaiah 4:2), the Messiah who restores and redeems. How long will I stubbornly try to work myself out of the pit I’ve dug? How many times will I turn to distractions or substance abuse before recognizing the harm they cause me and those I love? Must I fall as low as Jerusalem, desolate and broken, before seeking God’s restoration? Yet God offers hope. He promises to “wash away the filth” of sin and cleanse His people through His refining spirit (Isaiah 4:4). Like the cloud by day and fire by night that guided Israel, God’s presence is my shelter through life’s spiritual storms (Isaiah 4:5–6). He calls me to turn from sin and live as part of His holy remnant, devoted to Him. Lord, Jehovah, be my cloud by day and fire by night. Cleanse my heart of sin and guide me to trust in You alone. May Your spirit work in me, making me holy and devoted to serving You all my days.

Isaiah 3: Accepting Responsibility with the Grace of God Isaiah 3 delivers a sobering message of God’s judgment on Judah’s sin. God declares He will remove the nation’s leaders, leaving “boys” and “children” to rule (Isaiah 3:4). Chaos follows: the young disrespect their elders, and society crumbles without godly leadership. In desperation, people beg anyone—even those barely qualified—to lead, but no one wants the burden, knowing the situation is dire and their own inadequacy (Isaiah 3:6-7). The people might blame their government or circumstances, but God points to their own sin: “It is you who have devoured the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses” (Isaiah 3:14). Their rebellion and injustice have brought this collapse. It’s tempting to read Isaiah 3 and point fingers at the wickedness in our nation today. But corruption begins in the heart—in my heart, in my home. Am I leading my family with strength and godliness, trusting in God’s guidance? Or am I distracted by worldly pursuits, idling away my time, and neglecting my responsibility to raise my children and love my wife well? Isaiah also condemns the “daughters of Zion” for their obsession with appearances—jewelry, fine clothes, and accessories (Isaiah 3:16-24). Their pride in materialism reflects a deeper spiritual problem. Do I fall into the same trap? Are my kids caught up in the toys we own, the clothes my wife wears, or the car I drive? Do I secretly think I’m better than others because of my accomplishments or possessions? God’s judgment in Isaiah 3 calls us to humility. We must take responsibility for our roles—at home, in our communities, and before God. Only by His grace can we lead faithfully, reject materialism, and prioritize what matters eternally. “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God” (1 Peter 5:6), trusting Him to guide and restore.

I'm due for a good steak n shake burger

Isaiah 2: The Day of Jehovah What better way to spend a day than to go hiking up a glorious mountain to a house where God gives wisdom and guidance about how to live? Isaiah 2 envisions a time when people stream to God’s holy mountain, learning His ways, and nations turn their weapons into tools for peaceful production. This is the promise of the Day of the Lord—a time when God’s kingdom reigns supreme. Yet, this day also brings judgment. Isaiah warns that the proud and haughty will be humbled: “The haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and Jehovah alone will be exalted in that day” (Isaiah 2:17). When Jesus returns, pride and self-reliance will crumble before God’s glory. In our lives, what we treasure often becomes our idol. While we may not bow to silver or gold statues, we chase modern idols: smartphones, faster cars, bigger houses, more time, or , dare I say, Bitcoin. I confess I’ve spent more time these past few years learning about Bitcoin than deepening my knowledge of God. These pursuits, though not inherently evil, can distract us from what truly matters. The good news? We don’t need to wait for the Day of the Lord to experience fellowship with God. His wisdom is available now through Scripture, prayer, and the church. We don’t need more things or excuses to pause and seek Him. True joy comes from walking with God today, humbling ourselves, and prioritizing His guidance over worldly distractions.

Isaiah 1 Devotional: A Call to Repentance As I begin studying the book of Isaiah, I plan to write a short devotional each morning to stay accountable and reflect on God's Word. Isaiah 1 hits close to home. Raised by God-fearing parents and nurtured in the church, I still find myself straying, forgetting who God is. I’m no better than others; I can’t point fingers. Only by God’s grace can I believe, repent, and find salvation through Christ. This chapter speaks powerfully to nations like America, founded on Christian principles but now marked by rebellion. Isaiah describes a people spiritually sick, their cities burned, their land devoured by foreigners, and their defenses crumbling—eerily reminiscent of Sodom and Gomorrah. Our Christian holidays, once sacred, have become vain, even an abomination to God. Our wealth—symbolized by silver—has turned to worthless dross. Our finest offerings, like wine, are diluted with water. Leaders have become rebels, chasing bribes and personal gain. Yet God’s call is clear: “Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression, defend the fatherless, plead for the widow” (Isaiah 1:16-17). Those who forsake the Lord will face judgment, but those who repent will be declared righteous through the saving work of Christ. Reflection: Like Judah, I must examine my heart. Where have I turned from God’s ways? How can I seek justice and show mercy today? Let’s heed Isaiah’s warning, turn back to God, and trust in His redemptive grace.

Starting my plan to move to a small farm to grow vegetables and animals. Found a few good books but let me know if you have any recommendations. Videos welcomed too. Midwest US and a little over10 acres. Has a little 2 acre pond on it too. I'm pretty excited but have to stay realistic and ease into it. Can't give up my fiat job... Not yet at least!

The idea of time preference comes up a lot on Bitcoin conversations. But still feel like it's under stated. Maybe it's a personality trait specific to individuals, but to be able to store money in one spot without having to worry about it's future is such a rewarding and liberating mindset. I only want to spend what i need and save the rest for various opportunities or emergencies that inevitably come up in the future. Prior Bitcoin conviction, i had dozens of investment. Every month or sooner i would evaluate and stress over how to best diversify. Digging through company financials. Trying to come up with stock screeners and complicated Excel automated tools. No matter what direction i took, i had this gut feeling i was being ripped off or making a genuine bad decision. After years of researching and learning about Bitcoin, I gained full conviction of it's value. I still read the news every day and try to find anything to disprove my conviction. With each day of failed arguments against Bitcoin, my energy continues to increase on more important things like my family, community, what i eat, exercise, and most of all, devotion to my God. Having money stored away for future uses when i need it is life changing. It's always there. It's ever growing. I think a lot about what business i could start when it grows 10x in a few years. Or who i could help if i have more money than what i need. I'm becoming less of a slave to fiat and more of a contributor to society and specifically my local community.