We are each designed for a unique and divine purpose. Live yours!

Friday, April 9, 2010

The trees shall clap their hands

"Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return not thither but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out in joy, and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign which shall not be cut off" (Isaiah 55:6, 8-13 NRSV).


Isaiah had a “personal” relationship with God. He conversed with him, and sought his presence along the path of his life. He understood that God’s plans are so much greater than man’s. We couldn’t even begin to enter the mind of a God who made mountains, and oceans and the sky!

Isaiah took God at his word because he believed that the same God capable of creating the universe would love, protect, guide and uphold him throughout his life. He accepted and rejoiced in the truth that God could and would bring good from evil, rejoicing out of sorrow, justice from tyranny, abundance from scarcity.

Do you think God created all the wondrous things in nature to give us tangible reminders, concrete proof, undeniable evidence that he is great, that he is control, and he holds us close in heart?! Do you think that because he made us, he knows that we need constant prodding, reminding, urging? God gave us such unfathomable promises!

And I think of those promises every time I see a red-hued sky at sunset, or see the moon in the sky as the sun rises, or pass an outcropping of wild flowers, or hear the birds singing at dawn. And sometimes I think of God and his promises even in the midst of my hum-drum, day-in-day-out existence! But not nearly often enough!

I hope today you broadcast God’s word, knowing that his promises are true, his word is life, his promised future is sure and bright. And that you will return to your Lord any time your mind wanders to the trifles of this life in this world.

Blessings on your journey,
Mary

1 comment:

Barbara said...

I love these reminders...I should post this and read it at least quarterly to keep it before me!