Meskerem 6 — September 16

Isaiah, the Great Prophet

Today we remember Isaiah, a great prophet, one of the people God chose to speak His words to everyone. Isaiah lived a very long time ago, even before Jesus was born. He served God while five different kings ruled the land, one after another.

God gave Isaiah a wonderful promise to tell everyone. He said that one day a special baby would be born, and people would call Him "Emmanuel," which means "God with us." That promise was about Jesus, our Lord! Isaiah told it hundreds of years before it came true.

Isaiah also helped a good king named Hezekiah. One night, when a strong enemy army surrounded the city, God sent the great archangel Michael to protect His people, and the enemy soldiers ran away. Another time, when King Hezekiah was very sick, Isaiah prayed, and God made the king well again and gave him fifteen more years of life!

Once, when the people were thirsty and had no water, Isaiah prayed, and God made rain fall and made a fresh spring of water flow. Isaiah always trusted God, and God always took care of His people. A wicked king named Manasseh did not want to hear Isaiah's true words, and he hurt the prophet, who died as a brave servant of God. But Isaiah was not afraid, because he knew he was going home to the God he loved.

A virgin shall have a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel — that means, God with us.— Isaiah 7:14

Baslantya, the Brave Little Girl

On this day we also remember a holy girl named Baslantya (say it: bas-LAN-tya). She loved God very much, and she was only nine years old, maybe just a little older than you!

There were people who did not want anyone to love Jesus, and they tried to scare Baslantya. But she would not stop trusting God. They put her into a fire, and God kept her safe. The flames did not hurt her at all!

When she grew thirsty, she asked God for water, and He sent water down for her to drink. God was watching over her the whole time. In the end, little Baslantya gave her whole heart and her life to God, and she became a martyr, faithful to Him even when it was very hard. She is happy forever now with the God who kept her safe.

James and His Faithful Friends

Today we remember a whole group of God's brave friends. There was James, a monk who gave his quiet days to prayer. With him we remember 'Atimos, a bishop who shepherded and cared for God's people.

There were also Baslis, 'Arontos, Rawrewo, Sawlwas, and Sawa. All of them loved God so much that they stayed faithful to Him no matter what, and they became martyrs together. They were not alone, because God was with them, and they knew He would bring them safely home to heaven.

It is good to remember that God gives us friends to love and pray together. These friends helped each other be brave, and now they sing together with the angels.