“My word never returns to me limping, head-hung down, and empty. I speak and it happens. I neither exaggerate nor lie. This is why you can live with joy and peace as your traveling companions all the way Home. Everything I promise finds a resounding YES in Jesus. I don’t try to do anything. I do all that I desire (Isa.46:1-11).
The Scriptures and creation both testify to my glory, goodness, and faithfulness. Even now I am giving you a preview of the Day of singing mountains, caroling hills, and happy trees clapping their limbs and leaves. Before long the entire earth will be filled with my glory. Don’t fear with anxiety; hope with joy.” (Combination, tapestry, paraphrase of Isa. 55:11–12, 2Cor.1:20, Hab.2:14; Titus 1:2)
Gracious Father, you know how much I love mountains and trees of all shapes and sizes, varieties, and foliage. Most recently I tasted your glory in Vermont—on and around Lake Champlain, surrounded by maple trees of all ages and shapes. Within weeks those maples will be ablaze with your beauty and weeks later the maple syrup harvest will begin—to the delight of we pancake and waffle eaters.
Abba, there is SO much we don’t like in our world right now—even in our own country—even in our own hearts. Thank you for the imagination-stretching, inviolate promises in your Word of the Day of “all things new,” nothing broken, and everything beautiful. Thank you for palpable evidence in creation of your ongoing presence with us and for us (Ps.19).
We long and ache for the perfect order, society, environment, and world of the new heaven and new earth (Rev.21:1-22:6). Sin and selfishness, avarice and corruption, harming and being harmed don’t get the last word, you do. You have spoken it, you have promised it, and so shall it be! Your Word will accomplish everything you decree, and all your delights. Thank you, please make it soon, and So Very Amen.
