Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Here Is Your God

The Spirit Comes
The Pledge of God's Presence


Jesus Promises an Advocate

Isaiah 40:1-11  The Message

Messages of Comfort

40 1-2 “Comfort, oh comfort my people,”
    says your God.
“Speak softly and tenderly to Jerusalem,
    but also make it very clear
That she has served her sentence,
    that her sin is taken care of—forgiven!
She’s been punished enough and more than enough,
    and now it’s over and done with.”
3-5 Thunder in the desert!
    “Prepare for God’s arrival!
Make the road straight and smooth,
    a highway fit for our God.
Fill in the valleys,
    level off the hills,
Smooth out the ruts,
    clear out the rocks.
Then God’s bright glory will shine
    and everyone will see it.
    Yes. Just as God has said.”
6-8 A voice says, “Shout!”
    I said, “What shall I shout?”
“These people are nothing but grass,
    their love fragile as wildflowers.
The grass withers, the wildflowers fade,
    if God so much as puffs on them.
    Aren’t these people just so much grass?
True, the grass withers and the wildflowers fade,
    but our God’s Word stands firm and forever.”
9-11 Climb a high mountain, Zion.
    You’re the preacher of good news.
Raise your voice. Make it good and loud, Jerusalem.
    You’re the preacher of good news.
    Speak loud and clear. Don’t be timid!
Tell the cities of Judah,
    “Look! Your God!”
Look at him! God, the Master, comes in power,
    ready to go into action.
He is going to pay back his enemies
    and reward those who have loved him.
Like a shepherd, he will care for his flock,
    gathering the lambs in his arms,
Hugging them as he carries them,
    leading the nursing ewes to good pasture.
 
For Reflection 
It is said that one does not fully appreciate help unless one is on one's last legs.  We all, at one time or another, have been on our last legs.  So desperate that we would grab onto anything that promises a good end.  We must fight to remember that any act out of desperation must be doomed for failure if God is not at its core.  Wait with patience on the Lord.  God will lead you out of desperation.

Pray
prayers for those whose times lead to desperation.  Pray that they will find a righteous path out of the darkness that confronts them on all sides.  Pray that you will have the patience to wait on the Lord for righteous solutions.

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