Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Isaiah 40

I didn't post yesterday because there was just too much going on. Good stuff, hard stuff, packing stuff, prepping stuff, all busy stuff. I did grab some time first thing in the morning to read my Bible before my little fellas came zipping into my room asking for food - I have one in particular that - I'm not kidding - is awake for about 5seconds before he decides he needs to eat. I have about 2 seconds from when he wakes me up to figure out what to feed him!

Anyway, back to what I was reading... I was reading Isaiah 40. I often hear the final few verses quoted, they are lovely "feel - good" reminders of who God is -- but what about the rest of it?

Today I want to draw your attention to The Message version and to the verses above the most often quoted passage. All of Isaiah 40 is wonderful but in the interest of really highlighting a few things - I am just posting this much:

How often do we forget how BIG He is????

25-26"So—who is like me?
   Who holds a candle to me?" says The Holy.
Look at the night skies:
   Who do you think made all this?
Who marches this army of stars out each night,
   counts them off, calls each by name
—so magnificent! so powerful!—
   and never overlooks a single one?

How often do we do this???

 27-31Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,
   or, whine, Israel, saying,
"God has lost track of me.
   He doesn't care what happens to me"?

Here is His response:

Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening?
God doesn't come and go. God lasts.
   He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath.
   And he knows everything, inside and out.

And this is what He does for us regardless of our attitude:

He energizes those who get tired,
   gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
   young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
   They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don't get tired,
   they walk and don't lag behind.

I really love this version because it is so REAL. It reminds me that being REAL is super important. Many of you compliment me on my transparency. But I want you to know that the transparency is what keeps me from thinking too highly of myself - or you thinking of me that way either.

I am a child of God working hard on learning how to obey. I want to hear Him in every aspect of my life. I want to KNOW the path I am walking He has led me to. I want to trust Him with my every step.

And then, like today, I get too tired & too hungry to care -really - what to eat that will bless my body. I had a bunch of "vacation" food today - I will do better tomorrow. Especially since I have a big workout in the morning to remind me that I really want LESS OF ME to cross that finish line in September!!!

2 comments:

  1. Yip... you are right... real is good!

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  2. This is awesome, Jennifer. Very inspiring. I don't think I've ever read Isaiah 40 in the Message. I like it.

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