When I quote this part of Isaiah some people argue that the idea is not in the Bible. Yet there it is. I also have experiential knowledge of the phenomenom referred to in this verse. It is not a fantasy and available to all who call upon the Almighty.
20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them.21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isiah 30:20-21 NIV
You WILL hear a voice behind you, or almost just a whisper in your head. That still small voice of guidance and wisdom from the King of all kings. A “KNOWING.”
James says when we need wisdom we are to call to Him and He will answer.
All those words I posted the last couple of days lead me to Isaiah 35:8-10
And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. 9 No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, 10 and those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Years ago we sang this as a praise chorus. (Singing Scripture is a powerful way to learnt the words!) To this day I can remember the melody. I think ‘everlasting joy will crown their heads’ likely refers to the thoughts we think. Paul said to take captive every thought unto Christ Jesus. I believe that when we do that we do experience everlasting joy.
May your travels on the highway with the Trinity be filled with gladness and joy.
In Isaiah 30:15 The Lord shows the way to salvation and strength. At the end of the verse It is stated, “But you would not.” I always pray I will not be one of the Would Nots.
I have frequently been led to Jeremiah 6:6 where we encounter another rebellious last phrase.
JEREMIAH 6:16 NIV This is what the Lord says:
“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
Oh Father, deliver us from being the ones who declared “We will not walk in it.” Lead us by the hand or drive us by the Holy Spirit. Whatever it takes help us walk in Your ancient paths of obedience and grace.
Psalm 139:13-14 Fearfully and wonderfully made. My first impression of Scripture is often colored by the many chronic health conditions I carry. Usually when I hear this part of the Bible I want to shake my fist at heaven and ask the Lord, “What were You thinking?”
While on retreat I heard this passage and went to look it up to be reminded of all the words surrounding it. The only Bible in the room was the Jerusalem Bible, a version I am unfamiliar with.
Jerusalem says:” It was You who created my inmost self, and put me together in my mother’s womb, for all these mysteries I thank You, for the wonder of myself, for the wonder of Your works.”
For all these mysteries I thank You, for the wonder of myself, for the wonder of Your works.”
I thought, “What a refreshing translation!” For the wonder of myself.
For the wonder of all the works of the Almighty let us give Him thanks and continual praise.
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom andknowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” 36 For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen
As you read this I am on my way to a six night, seven day retreat with my spiritual director. I made this adventure last year and am really looking forward to the experience once again. So I likely will not be posting on the blog next week. My typical routine is to write on Monday and Tuesday mornings and post Wednesday through Sunday. This week I will reside in a Sisters of Charity guest room. Private room with half bath, shared but private shower room. All meals included plus nice grounds for walking, rooms for prayer, art work. Just a lovely place. They even have a huge church in the building if I want to go there.
We changed from one internet/TV/phone provider to another last week so Bob in particular has been busy, busy this week with setting up remote controls, learning the remote basics and getting us all situated. I typed a smaller channel guide from the large one they provided.
I have been learning how to use the CGM, (Continuous Glucose Monitor) to make my decisions about foods I eat, how often I eat, etc. The two most annoying things are when the alarm from this device rings in the night and when it loses signal. I even changed the device implanted on my arm on my own this week! Took out the old one (painless). Inserted the new one which was painless but still foreign to me. The hardest thing was getting the container for the new one open. I had to get Bob to do it. I was not strong enough. Grrr. Doctor has changed when I take one of the diabetic medications. We are still working to adjust some aspects of my care.
Lucky, our special beagle is improving with her new monthly arthritis injection, Librela. Her tail is much more straight as she walks now and she can walk further than 2 months ago. She still gets stiff (we can relate!) but she seems to be in much less pain.
Bob has resumed riding his bike at least once a week. We both walk for exercise most every morning. I have been clocking at least one mile a day. Told myself I can take a day off when there is morning rain. Trying to work up to longer walks which will be a challenge in this hot, humid weather. Ha! at the convent I can even walk when it rains! No idea how many times I will need to circle a floor to get a mile! Not quite ready to attempt their indoor stairs.
Three old dogs living here and maybe not new tricks, but adapting to changing ages, technology and health. Whew! It can be a lot of work to keep up, stay calm and work at something you are unfamiliar with. So that is the Dutina update!
I pray you are each doing your fair share of adapting to change and growing in new technological advances!
I am trying to eat more vegetables, like a good diabetic should. This morning I put on a saucepan of onions, pepper, chopped ham, a little soup base and 2 cans of green beans to simmer. I took my morning walk ( like a good diabetic should). There was still lots of fluid in the pan. I sat down at the computer.
I think my next writing feat will be to select from previous blogs the entries that seem to touch people the most. Then I will re-write and organize those, perhaps into a booklet? I really have no idea what is next with all of this.
The Lord has assured me that it will be work. I am not deterred by this sort of work. I began going through one notebook of blog entries that Bob so kindly marked for me with post-its. I am not actually re-writing at this stage as much as organizing.
I smelled the beans fragrance and kept working. When I finally decided I should check the beans I was too late! Almost all of the liquid had simmered away and there was black goo in the bottom of the saucepan. Yes, I have all of the ingredients to restart the process. but I hate to be wasteful.
I suppose the moral of the story is to not try to cook when I am working at the computer?!?!
Remember the song, “The cook she burned the bacon and there’s fire down below!”?
Sitting in my prayer chair, waking up the morning of May 31st, I heard this:
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4 NIV
The Message of the same verse reads:
“Listen to me, family of Jacob, everyone that’s left of the family of Israel. I’ve been carrying you on my back from the day you were born, And I’ll keep on carrying you when you’re old. I’ll be there, bearing you when you’re old and gray. I’ve done it and will keep on doing it, carrying you on my back, saving you.”
Brings to mind the image of refugees or flood victims fleeing and carrying old people on their backs. Proud Americans do not like to think this image is about them, yet we all need God to carry us, regardless of age.
Listening to Lectio 360 the same day they related a story about a man whose wife battled chronic illness for 20 years. People WANT someone to blame. Many years ago when I sought prayer for strength and courage to cope with my chronic illness a “charismatic” preacher said to me, “I thought you knew better than that,” as if I should never be ill. Shame is not helpful in those situations! God TOLD me He would be with me in the fibromyalgia.
Should I push God aside and shout, “but You have to heal me! You promised if I did such and so I would be healed.” We tend to see others who have physical afflictions as if they are less than ourselves, as if they are responsible for the failing of their body. What a crock of hooey! Those of us who suffer need the courage of the Lion of Judah, the strength of the Risen Christ to help in times of need.
Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 NRSV
Even Bob was struck in Lectio by the story of the woman with chronic illness. He wanted to be certain I listened on that day, and I had. The story is like what I was told … there is unresolved anger in your past, that is why you are ill. Let us just pray over you …sleep on a bed of magnets to be healed …drink this particular juice made from an exotic fruit … its all in your head. (Yep! those are actual things I was told!)
And to the remark about it all being in my head I replied, “Yes, in my head, my elbows, shoulders, hips. You name it I hurt there or I did last week or will next week.”
Fibro caused me to live in a high state of denial. That same logic does not work with diabetes. I AM angry at having diabetes, but I understand some of the disease in under my control, though there are many factors that are not. The Continuous Glucose Monitor no longer lets me live in that state of denial regarding diabetes. I must confess I am shocked at the effect certain foods have upon me. I must limit or eliminate those from my consumption.
In my nick knack collection I have a tiny brass chair that used to be in the windowsill. It reminds me that Christ is in our midst, ‘the unseen guest at every meal’. In the photo below it fell forward in the glass fronted case. At first I wondered how long it had been like that? Then I wondered if I could right it without dropping it behind the bookcase that rests below the display? Then I rejoiced that AGAIN the Lord has gotten my attention. I set a place for Him at the table of my life.
Lord God, Ruler of the Universe, give me eyes to see and ears to hear that I might proclaim Your glory.
Have you ever visited a place and later thought, “Wow! I wish I had stayed longer.” We need to linger in those places that touch our souls. I feel this way about the National Cathedral in Washington D.C.
I think I need to begin my prayers addressing my Father as Lord God Ruler of the Universe. How often I seem to forget that fact. The things of this world and the drama of American politics, (where some of the actors think they are the most important beings) distracts and disgusts me.
But my Father, the Lord God Ruler of the Universe is not bothered by those things. Just as the fish and turtles at the nature center are not concerned with my blood glucose, my Father is not distracted by things of the world.
Lord God, Ruler of the Universe, it seems as if You are not in charge, but I know what Your Word says. You win. I believe You are Alpha and Omega, Ruler of the World.
As depicted below from the Walker Hancock High Altar, National Cathedral, Washington D.C.
May Your power be known and recognized in America as the only power going on forever. May every knee bow and every tongue confess that You are Lord.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. Revelation 22: 13-15 NIV
Lord God Ruler of the Universe I worship and adore You.
Season 4 Episode 1 of The Chosen was broadcast last weekend and we were delighted to have it on again. Very interesting that the church we visited used many of the same Scriptures and images that the show did. Made me wonder if they have an “in” with the program or if it was just the Holy Spirit at work, again!
When I attended the Soul Collage retreat in May of this year I found this picture. It moved me deeply. I share it with you not knowing if there is a copyright on it or not. If there is, my apologies to the photographer.
I immediately thought of the prayer quoted in the Eucharist by some churches:
"Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you: fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink."
And like in the Chosen, the website Jewish Voice says:
Blessed are You O Lord, our God, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
To me, it is no small thing the the Lord draws all of these things together for us. It is my plan to write the prayer of blessing/thanksgiving on the photo.
When we had our very first house on 1/2 acre of land, Bob not only planted a large garden but also wanted to grow grapes. And grow them he did! I quickly learned that if I was going to help harvest the grapes I better wear rubber gloves (thicker than cotton garden gloves) in case the wasps and bees were there ahead of me. Now we are fortunate if we can purchase fresh concord grapes in a market.
Blessed are You O Lord our God, King of the Universe. May we always see Your hand at work in our midst.
Treasures in Plain Sight, A Christian Blog 