verse of the season

Have you ever had God keep repeating a passage of scripture to you over and over? It's funny how God's been doing that to me with Isaiah 43. It started a long time ago and every so often it comes around. The part about "when you pass through the waters -- I will be with you" rings out, as well as, vs. 18 and 19 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

A few months ago, one of the ladies at my church had to give a word to the people in the congregation. "God wants me to say, 'Behold, I do a new thing!'" Then she said she had no idea who it was for, but she hoped she could start sleeping again having delivered the message.

And then the bombardment of Isaiah 43 began in my life. When she gave the word, she didn't give a passage. In fact, at our anniversary dinner yesterday, she said something to us all about it and mentioned that she had no idea where it was found.

But I did. Because while i don't believe that her word was only for me, that God wants to and will do a new thing at my church, I do know that it was the begin of God's reassurance to me. I was telling my sister this morning at our Monday Waffle House Breakfast Respite, that God's been so faithful in His messages that He's preparing a new path and that He'll provide. I really don't deserve such clear-cut communication. I'm not a regular Bible reader. My prayers are always whispered on the fly, or when I first wake up and am in and out of sleep. Talk about grace.

So if you don't mind, I'm going to document our journey a little here on the blog.

Has God been bombarding you with a passage lately or can you remember a time when He did that? Would you like to share?

grace,

lisa

Comments

[Katy Raymond]

Lisa, I calligraphied your verse on parchment about a year ago and hung it on my fridge. (Yeah. I have a classy fridge...) I can't believe all the "new" that has happened in one year's passing. Every time I look at the verse I hear Phil Keaggy singing, "Now it will spring forth...And will you not be aware of it? I will even make a highway in the wilderness...These are the things I will do, I will do, I will do, and I will not leave them undone."

This isn't a verse, but lately I've been thinking about my favorite line from the movie Far and Away. The older Irish couple has planted their stake in the ground, claiming a piece of sod in Oklahoma. They are surrounded by claimants so much younger than they are, with more energy, ambition, and with many more years left to fulfill their dreams.

The woman expresses her misgivings about this new adventure to her husband, who says, "Let's pretend we're just starting out, instead of ending up."

After meeting you and Will the other night, and seeing how God is moving you into this new thing in your life, we're freshly inspired to believe He has something new for us, too. What might God be able to accomplish in and through us, if we "pretend we're just starting out, instead of ending up"?

Grace and peace to you as you journal the journey!! And much fond affection, too...

[relevantgirl]

Katy,

I want to know what your fridge looks like now! You have me curious. We bought the biggest honkin' European fridge we could find here. I love it! It is peppered with photos from home.

But, to the point of Lisa's post: Yes, Lisa, the Lord bothers me with stuff like that. For deciding to go to France, it seemed He shared this verse from BE THOU MY VISION:

Riches I heed not
Nor man's empty praise
Thou mine inheritance
now and always
Thou and Thou only
First in my heart
High King of Heaven
my treasure Thou art.

You wouldn't believe how many times that verse came up. First in our staff orientation, then at the very next church service we attended (at a church that seldom sung hymns) then in a newsletter, then in correspondence. It was God's preparation for a difficult move. It especially helped me with my writing career as I realized I'd jeopardize it by moving. God did call me to heed riches or revel in praise. He is my inheritance. I hope He is first in my heart. He is my treasure.

Interestingly, the verse you've been receiving was one God gave me years ago when He hauled me through a deep valley of healing that took several years. I especially clung to "will you not be aware of it?" because my sorrow sometimes prevented me from seeing the life He was producing through the pain.

I can honestly say He has made roadways in the wilderness of my life, pathways through dry deserts. He has fulfilled that verse (although I am still a work in process) and He will work through you in a beautiful way, too.