Sunday, June 21, 2009

book

Got a new book that I am loving with a Capital L. Prayers That Avail Much, the 25th anniversary edition. there are prayers for any occasion. For pastors, lay people, anyone who wants to pray better (and who doesn't?!) Every prayer is based on Scripture, with the Bible references listed at the end of the page for you to look up. I highly recommend! and no, i am not related to nor do I work for the publisher, the author, amazon.com or anyone else connected to this book.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1577949242/ref=ox_ya_oh_product

Friday, June 5, 2009

Favorite

A friend, Pastor Karen, and I do weekly worship services at a nursing home. So many times as we are about to read the Bible passage for the day, one of us says, "Oh this is my favorite Scripture!" We have MANY favorites! I have finally come to the realization that my favorite Bible passage is whichever one I am reading right now!
So here is my current fave:

Isaiah 55:1-2 and 8-13
1 "Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.

2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

...

8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.

9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

12 You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.

13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the LORD's renown,
for an everlasting sign,
which will not be destroyed."


This passage is so beautiful and says so much. God speaks to each of us individually, and to all of creation! God speaks thru the Word, the Bible. And also thru the Word, Jesus Christ. (John chapter 1)

God's Word, (both the scriptures and Christ) will accomplish everything that has been promised. The Bible will speak to people. Prophecies will be fulfilled, the children of God will all turn towards God and worship. (Every knee will bow --Isaiah 45:23 and Romans 14:11)

When all of God's children have come home, have come to Christ, then ALL of creation will celebrate and worship! The trees will applaud, the mountains will sing, evergreen plants will replace thorny bushes. What an image! All of creation celebrating, all of creation being in the perfect harmony that we were designed for.