Our job: praise, respect, obedience. Our reward: light dawns in the darkness.

Psalm 112:1-4
Praise the Lord!

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
who greatly delights in his commandments!
His offspring will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever.
Light dawns in the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.

Bible Gateway Link: Psalm 112:1-4

These are values on which America was built. Be merciful but be careful not to be pulled in, help each other, do not lie to yourself, do not boast, bear your own load. I think we have lost our way? You?

Galatians 6:1-5
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.
For each will have to bear his own load.

Bible Gateway Link:Galatians 6:1-5

Reasonable people can look at the bible and see that God is what He says and does what He says. If His promises have not yet come true in our lives, use logic. His guidance to us stands and all will happen at His pleasure.

Isaiah 46:8-10
“Remember this, and show yourselves men;
Recall to mind, O you transgressors.
Remember the former things of old,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like Me,
Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things that are not yet done,
Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
And I will do all My pleasure,’

Bible Gateway Link: Isaiah 46:8-10

The Apostle Paul is quoting Isaiah 54:1 below. His point is far deeper than the literal meaning. But, I'm taking it literally today. I am barren, but I have been a "work" mother to many. More children than I would have had if I had borne my own.

Galatians 4:27
For it is written:
       “Rejoice, O barren,
         You who do not bear!
         Break forth and shout,
         You who are not in labor!
         For the desolate has many more children
         Than she who has a husband.”

Bible Gateway passage Galatians 4:27 (NKJV)

He will not be discouraged, and neither should we. As Isaiah quotes God, Christ is at work in our world and He will bring forth justice for truth.

Isaiah 42:1-4
“Behold! My Servant whom I uphold,
My Elect One in whom My soul delights!
I have put My Spirit upon Him;
He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.
He will not cry out, nor raise His voice,
Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street.
A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench;
He will bring forth justice for truth.
He will not fail nor be discouraged,
Till He has established justice in the earth;
And the coastlands shall wait for His law.”

Bible Gateway Link: Isaiah 42:1-4

I feel often as the Psalmist does, poor, needy and brokenhearted. And then right around the corner is joy. Ask for mercy, it is powerful stuff.

Psalm 109:21-22

Granddaughter Helen jumping for joy!

But You, O GOD the Lord,
Deal with me for Your name’s sake;
Because Your mercy is good, deliver me.
For I am poor and needy,
And my heart is wounded within me.

Bible Gateway Link: Psalm 109:21-22 (NKJV)

There are times when I need to be turned back. I have experienced His bridle. Struggling with God is no fun. Besides, He knows where I live.

Isaiah 37:28-29
“But I know your dwelling place,
Your going out and your coming in,
And your rage against Me.
Because your rage against Me and your tumult
Have come up to My ears,
Therefore I will put My hook in your nose
And My bridle in your lips,
And I will turn you back
By the way which you came.”’

Bible Gateway Link: Isaiah 37:28-29 (NKJV)

Look what we have to look forward to: "He will come and save you." In the meantime, "be strong; fear not!"

Isaiah 35:3-6
Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to those who have an anxious heart,
“Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God 
will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you.”
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
For waters break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
Bible Gateway Link: Isaiah 35:3-6

What is the thorn in your flesh? This verse is the opposite of how I normally think. I just want to be strong, I am not into weakness. I've learned though, with God's help, that "when I am weak, then I am strong."

2 Corinthians 12:7-10
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Bible Gateway Link: 2 Corinthians 7-10 (NKJV)

Really, who do we think we are? Do we actually think we live our lives apart from God? We are clay to be formed, and deeply loved by our potter.

Isaiah 29:15-16
Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the Lord,
And their works are in the dark;
They say, “Who sees us?” and, “Who knows us?”
Surely you have things turned around!
Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay;
For shall the thing made say of him who made it,
“He did not make me”?
Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it,
“He has no understanding”?

Bible Gateway Link: Isaiah 29:15-16 (NKJV)

This is the best explanation I have heard for climate change. Only God has the power to change the climate and He has His reasons.

Psalm 107:33-38

He turns rivers into a wilderness,
And the watersprings into dry ground;
A fruitful land into barrenness,
For the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
He turns a wilderness into pools of water,
And dry land into watersprings.
There He makes the hungry dwell,
That they may establish a city for a dwelling place,
And sow fields and plant vineyards,
That they may yield a fruitful harvest.
He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly;
And He does not let their cattle decrease.

Bible Gateway Link: Psalm 107:33-38

It is said that when a prophet's words come true, one will know that he is a true prophet. I am so glad Isaiah was correct and will continue to be correct as the future unfolds.

Isaiah 25:8-9
He will swallow up death forever,

And the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces;
The rebuke of His people
He will take away from all the earth;
For the Lord has spoken.

And it will be said in that day:
“Behold, this is our God;
We have waited for Him, and He will save us.
This is the Lord;
We have waited for Him;
We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”
Bible Gateway Link: Isaiah 25:8-9

Darkness to light. This is what the prophet Isaiah predicted just a couple of verses before one of the most quoted prophesies in the Old Testament: "For unto us a Child is born. Unto us a Son is given;" Isaiah 9:6a

Isaiah 9:2
The people who walked in darkness 
     have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
     on them has light shone.

Bible Gateway Link: Isaiah 9:2 (ESV)

We need men to act like men. We feminized our society at our own peril. Ladies let us give them a chance to be strong, and do it in love.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
Let all that you do be done in love.

Bible Gateway Link: 1 Corinthians16:13-14 (ESV)

Don't know what to do? Here is a straightforward suggestion that covers much.

Psalm 105:4-5
Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!
Remember His marvelous works which He has done,
His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,

Bible Gateway Link: Psalm 105:4-5 (NKJV)

The verses below have such a calming effect on me. God gives me gifts through the Holy Spirit. My only job is to use them for the profit of all. Maybe your gift is kindness, I am so grateful to you.

1 Corinthians 12:7-9
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,
to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,

Bible Gateway Link: 1 Corinthians 12:7-9

Steadfast love from everlasting to everlasting. Reassuring isn't it? All we need do is fear, keep and remember.

Psalm 103:15-19

As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children's children,
to those who keep his covenant 
and remember to do his commandments.
The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
Bible Gateway Link