204 - "Every Valley Lifted Up; Every Mountain Made Low" Isaiah 40-42; Psalm 46

 Isaiah 40 - it's a commission to all of God's ministers, you and me. Comfort God's people. Speak tenderly to them. Tell them they are forgiven. They will receive double from the Lord's hand. These people saw Jerusalem "ripening for ruin" and they couldn't help themselves. They were melancholy for good reasons. But they needed to look further. God had mercy in store. So, what's the point here. Comfort, you comfort. Doubled down. They needed it in the worst of times and so do we. Make straight in this desert, a highway for God. Every valley shall be lifted up and every mountain and hill be made low. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed. Isa 40:1-4

What an introduction! I am God! Be still. Know this! Such a beautiful way to introduce the offer. Take this comfort: I am with you. I am for you. That is what you use to answer your fear. Psalm 46:10 

The Hebrew word for "be still" means to let it fall; let the concerns hang down. Then, slack off, especially your hands. No exertion needed. Leave the matter with God. Oh! The Providence in all our problems. Oh! The Power in what we contemplate. Oh! That introduction! Take the comfort! 

Isaiah 42:3 "A bruised reed He will not break, and a dimly burning wick, He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice."  This prophecy is about the Coming Christ.  This Son of God is tender toward those who are suffering, the bruised and the broken; the dimly burning and the delicate.  He knows our frame.  He will never allow more suffering than for our good.  Whatever comes our way, we have a Savior who will bear us up, bring us up, and give birth to Something New.  Isa 42:9; 43:1-4.This is my world today.

PHOTO: California coast. Still as the stars. 

Nine hours stuck on the Kansas turnpike with 2 little kids waiting for AAA was quite the challenge to hold the peace. Forced to spend the night at a pretty good Kansas last-minute hotel. I had just picked up Zeke in Kansas City for a week's vacation with us in Texas when we were stopped in our hot tracks at Mile Marker 97 on that Kansas turnpike. 24 hours later and we were back on the Kansas freeway. Our first stop was to see Aunt Carolyn in a nursing rehab facility in Norman, Oklahoma. Zeke shared with Carolyn a verse from John about the love of God. Ezri shared the fruits of the Spirit from Galatians 5. Carolyn told them about all they needed to know as a child and tears rolled down my eyes. "It's what you do with what you read in the Bible---what decisions you make to follow God." And she spoke in such a childlike manner bursting into a soliloquy with a British accent telling several Bible stories from the Good Samaritan to Jonah and the Whale. IYKYK. Our time ended with a thought I will hold close forever: She shared 7 ways that God will give Ez and Zeke a full life. 7 gifts and activities of the Lord's Spirit in 7 ways for each of them: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Might, Knowledge, Godliness, and the Fear of God. And we walked away a little richer in God. Carolyn has lived out Isaiah 40:1-4 her whole life---commissioned to minister: Comfort God's people. Speak tenderly to them. Tell them they are forgiven and that they will receive double from the Lord's Hand. This Son of God is tender toward those who are suffering, the bruised and the broken; the dimly burning and the delicate.  He knows our frame.  He will never allow more suffering than for our good.  Whatever comes our way, we have a Savior who will bear us up, bring us up, and give birth to Something New.  Isa 42:9; 43:1-4. This is my world today. Take the comfort!