Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers out there. Yes, this is one that will go down in the record books for Mother's Day, what with the virus and all. But you know, GOD has allowed us to see another day, and that means that the work that HE has planned for us is not yet done. And so, the world, for us, keeps on turning.
We will be walking through Isaiah 43 today, and I will share what fruit that catches my eye and seems ripe for my picking.
I learned long ago that, "The things that were written afore times were written for our learning." I love it when I have a scripture(s) that jump out at me because it seems to have been written for my time of adversity. That is what Isaiah 43 did for me as I read it this morning.
You can see from reading verses one and two below that apparently Israel had had some kind of trouble and were fearful because of it and downhearted. I love it that GOD starts off reassuring them by saying, "But now......" That says to me that whatever has gone on before, don't worry about it anymore. I will handle it. (To me, HE could be talking about the virus or whatever has cropped up in our lives.) He says that some more trouble will come up again, but don't worry about it because HE has us in HIS hand (verse 13) and I will give you whatever you need when you need it. (Verses 18 and 19) Can you imagine being told to not worry about anything, that HE will provide whatever it is that we need? Oh, to be loved like that by GOD! Oh, the great love HE has for us. He says several times to them not to be afraid.
Then HE reminds them in verse four that they are precious in HIS sight. (That means you and me, too.)
Isaiah 43:1-19 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
1 But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel,
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are Mine!
2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,
Nor will the flame burn you.4 “Since you are precious in My sight,
Since you are honored and I love you,
I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.
13 “Even from eternity I am He,
And there is none who can deliver out of My hand;
I act and who can reverse it?”18 “Do not call to mind the former things,
Or ponder things of the past.
19 “Behold, I will do something new,
Now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert.
All of these good things will be ours if we remain faithful and have faith and trust in HIM. Yes, that means that we have to serve HIM and not take HIM for granted. If we do what HE has asked of us, everything will be all right.
So, Isaiah told me this morning that GOD has all of my issues covered in the Bible, and it told me not to dwell on what used to be as far as simple joys that may have been taken away from me for a while. HE says, "You are MINE!" I tell you, folks, I like belonging to HIM. I like knowing that a GOD, not just any god but THE GOD of all creation knows when I lie down, when I arise, when I am asleep, when I pray, and what the cells in my body are doing and anything else that may be going on with me. HE knows! And I like that; it's like I told you before, you cannot beat this lovingkindness that our GOD has for us!.
I remember when joys were simple
Like having the wind blow a gentle breeze
Through my house on a warm spring day
With screens keeping the pesky flies at bay,
Like exhilarating in the wintry gale
That swept over my smiling upturned face
Yes, I remember those simple joys
That I, in my ignorance, took for granted
Those joys for which my soul has since panted
There are some things that you do not
Miss or cherish until they are taken away
And one of those things is the joy of
The right to assemble and pray.
And now I am shuttered in
With a nasty virus roaming about
And my family, who got on my nerves
Have, by this virus been shut out
But I'll not fret overmuch
Because via telephone and social media,
We manage to stay in touch.
But, I will tell you this before I go
Never again will I prayer forgo
Because I have learned through all of this
That my relationship with GOD
Can fix anything that goes amiss!
No, I won't take HIS love for granted again
I will bestow upon HIM the honor, praise
And thanksgiving that HE deserves
As I teach my family, by example, HIM to serve!©
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