His government and its peace
will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice
from the throne of his ancestor David
for all eternity.
The passionate commitment
of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
will make this happen!
Isaiah 9:7
All posts by janrhodes
Blessings of Bethlehem
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
are only a small village among all the people of Judah.
Yet a ruler of Israel,
whose origins are in the distant past,
will come from you on my behalf.
Micah 5:2
Blessings of New Growth
Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—
yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.
And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
…the earth will shake at the force of his word,
and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.
Isaiah 11:1-2, 4
Olive shoot from the roots of an ancient olive tree in Jerusalem
(photo by Joy Floyd)
Blessings of the Child
For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
Blessings of His Keeping
Make the LORD of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life.
He is the one you should fear.
He is the one who should make you tremble.
He will keep you safe…
Isaiah 8:13-14
Blessings of the Sign
…must you exhaust the patience of my God as well?
All right then, the LORD himself will give you the sign.
Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son
and will call him Immanuel
(which means ‘God is with us’).
Isaiah 7:13-14
Blessings of the Heart
Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.
Proverbs 4:23
Blessings of Finding
Joyful is the person who finds wisdom,
the one who gains understanding.
For wisdom is more profitable than silver,
and her wages are better than gold.
Wisdom is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
Proverbs 3:13-15
Blessings of Trust
Trust in the LORD with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Fill Your Mouth With Laughter
In order to eventually be healthy, I knew that I’d have to be honest with my grief. That didn’t make everyone around me comfortable; but to be truthful, the crushing heaviness of grief doesn’t allow much room for patience with those who are ignorant because they haven’t yet walked the path.
Huge life-changing loss isn’t something you ever get over—but it is something you can eventually get past. In the beginning it’s measured by less of the bad, but in time can be measured by more of the good.
It’s been four years now; and I’ve thought some about people I’ve known who’ve hanged on to grief and worn it as their life’s cloak. That would be easy enough to do, but it’s sure not appealing. So in the same deliberate way that I made myself be honest with grief, I’m making myself be honest about finding joy in living again.
Someone brand new on the path-nobody-wants-to-walk asked me the other day, “So…how is it after four years”?
My answer: it’s better; and this year I can honestly say that I feel happy again. I smile more and laugh; and my best friend, who has known me since we were 12 years old, says the lilt is back in my voice.
I’m unabashedly aware that I’ve not gotten here under my own strength. I won’t have a clue until I get to heaven, and can ask my Abba Father, just how many people have prayed for me; but I know it’s an enormous number. And I am eternally grateful to each and every one of you.
Job 8:21 was one of my Scripture on the go verses years ago, for the Sunday school class I taught and loved; and the tiny little slip of paper has been in my Bible for a long time. I’d read it periodically and trust it would eventually be true for me; and now, for today, it is.
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
and your lips with shouts of joy.
Job 8:21
