"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. -- Isaiah 55:8

We must always remember the message of this verse.  As our ability to manipulate our reality increases, so does our hubris.  And yet, there will always be One from which we came who can breathe us out of existence.  We can be so large in our own mind, but we are so infinitesimally small... let us remain a humble people.  Remember who and whose you are...

Readings:  Isaiah 54:1-57:13; Ephesians 6:1-24; Psalm 70:1-5; Proverbs 24:8

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!' Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy." -- Isaiah 52:7

We see a turn happening in the communication given to the people of Israel... Isaiah has become a prophet of hope... there is a repeating call throughout this part of the book: "Awake!"...

Are we awake to the presence of God in our midst?  Does the landscape of his creation move us in a way that reminds us of the greatness of God?  Does the mind go to a place of majesty when we consider the work of his hand?

Does the world then see the beauty of God in and through the people of God?  Does the world hear proclamations of peace and good tidings and salvation? 

How will you see God in the world today?  How will you show God to the world today?

Readings:  Isaiah 51:1-53:12; Ephesians 5:1-33; Psalm 69:19-36; Proverbs 24:7

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." -- Ephesians 4:31-32

To live a healthy and whole life, we must live with a lightness of sorts that comes from being free from emotional burdens and baggage.  So much of that heaviness comes in the form of anger and resentment and holding grudges against one another.  If you live your life seeking revenge or even just focusing on the ways you have been wronged by others, you hand over to them power that they do not deserve.  You can take that power for yourself only when you free yourself from the hold the emotions have on you.  Life is short.  Don't let ill will steal it away.

Readings:  Isaiah 48:12-50:11; Ephesians 4:17-32; Psalm 69:1-18; Proverbs 24:5-6

"Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." -- Ephesians 4:1-16

So what is the "then" in this passage?  When is it that we will all finally grow up?  The "then" is found just prior in vv 11-13:

"It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

Then he finishes later with:

"From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."

My what a vision... what would the politicians do in such a world?

Readings:  Isaiah 45:11-48:11; Ephesians 4:1-16; Psalm 68:19-35; Proverbs 24:3-4

"Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker, to him who is but a potsherd among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, 'What are you making?' Does your work say, 'He has no hands'?" -- Isaiah 45:9

We come made with so many questions... and not enough answers.  It seems at times that our great human quest is one that will not rest until we ourselves become like gods.  What begins as an innocent survey of wonder as we look around at what God has created, turns to a more focused interest in all that exists that is unseen... whether that be in the form of galaxies, the surface of mars, and other extraplanetary phenomenon... or the space found among molecules at the cellular level.  Then it turns from observation to manipulation.  We observe DNA, we decode DNA, now we are beginning to manipulate DNA.  Before long, we will be developing designer babies, growing replacement organs in petrie dishes, and much more.  We are taking the building blocks of life and are assembling new life.

Let's not forget along the way though, who we are.  We are assemblers, not creators.  We are taking that which God has already created and fashioning new forms from it. 

Can you creat DNA from nothing?  I can't.  God did.

Readings:  Isaiah 43:14-45:10; Ephesians 3:1-21; Psalm 68:1-18; Proverbs 24:1-2

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast." -- Ephesians 2:8-9

I can't save you.
You can't save me.
I can't save me.
You can't save you.
No matter what we do,
no matter who we are,
We are not God.

Only God can save.
By God's grace you are saved
By God's grace I am saved
By God's grace we are saved

"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah." Psalm 67:1

"A voice of one calling: 'In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.'" -- Isaiah 40:3

These are the words from Isaiah which John the Baptist will echo as he preaches on the coming of Christ.  Both prophets speak to a people who need to get ready to receive the one who is about to appear...

Though we find ourselves post-resurrection on this side of the story, we don't need to dismiss it as a message to a people long ago.  The message is still fresh for us today.  We must still make room for him in our lives.  When we fill our lives up with messages from tv, radio, internet, texting, social media, etc... so that every space is packed and we have no margin left for anything or anyone, how do we let God in?

It's only September still, but the words, "Let every heart prepare him room..." shouts loudly in my mind. 

Is there room in your life for Christ?

Readings:  Isaiah 39:1-41:16; Ephesians 1:1-23; Psalm 66:1-20; Proverbs 23:25-28