I guess I actually got started last night, when I put up the Christmas tree, but boy it looks drab this morning.

It’s missing something!  It appears to be in dire need of a transformation. And you know I love transformations, so I can’t wait to share what this little tree will look like once the master gets her hands on it this weekend. (I am sure you will be waiting with much anxiety all weekend to find out what this guy will look like on Monday morning!)

But I digress, on this Friday, as you head into the weekend that I am sure is full of lots of great Holiday fun, take a moment to remember that without the gift we have been given we are drab like this artificial tree.  Go throughout the weekend focusing on the fact that  “unto us a child is born!  and to us a son is given! (Isaiah 9:6)”  That’s no myth.  It’s real life changing stuff.  To US!  Wow! That should bring a smile to your face all weekend, no matter where you park your car, nor how long the lines are!  And maybe those words will bring a song to your lips!

The electricity and energy in the air is so contagious.  Do you remember that feeling?  It is only supplanted by the actual first day of school – when there are new teachers, new friends, new routines, new pencils, new pencil boxes, and anticipation!  I only wish I could bottle that energy and sell it to others, because most of the time, our days are not like these days.  The anticipation we hold is sometimes akin to the anticipation of a man walking to the gallows.

I wish so much I could capture that new school year anticipation and let it explode from me each day. You know, what is so interesting is that we as followers of the Christ have this little promise of his return – a event  that could happen any day.  Man, if we could just re-create that atmosphere of  anticipation everyday! I wonder how much energy, urgency and excitement we would have each day?

 ³¹But those expecting Jehovah pass [to] power, They raise up the pinion as eagles, They run and are not fatigued, They go on and do not faint! Isaiah 40:31  Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)

As the kids would chant at camp last week  oooooooohhh, yeah, yeah, yeah!

It’s one of those days where the pressures of daily life begin to choke and pull on the serenity and peace that we love, but it is in these moments when we can show the light even brighter.  But boy is it hard to do.  This are the moments when the anxiety and stress cause the darkness to well up inside, instead of the light.

So, this verse today is for me, to help me keep me focus and strong in the ridiculousness of the business day.  I pray it helps you as well.

11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.  Isaiah 58:11

So, anyway, there was one thing that stood out.  That’s actually not true, I did find the there were several very interesting points made by the speakers.  But, back to the point, the President mentioned that in a letter he had received from the parents of a fallen soldier, the parents had quoted these words from Isaiah:

⁸ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8, New International Version)

These seem pretty appropriate when thinking about a soldier heading off to battle.  I think however, that these are also appropriate words for us to consider each day as we head off to the spiritual battlefields. And that is what this blog is about – daily buffeting our spiritually bodies, so that we are ready when we are sent.  But in actuality we are sent every day.

So today, how will you answer the Lord’s call?

So just a few things for today.  The area around Chattanooga and in the whole south east US has been hammered this spring with tornados.  Please remember these people in your thoughts and prayers.

And then back to the power in these storms, it was so humbling to stand on the porch and listen to the rumble of these storms.  The constant rumbling, the immensing lighting.  I stood for an half an hour last night watching the storm move across the valley, with the sky flashing on and off from the lightning activity.  It’s so hard to put into words the magesty that is there, especially when we see the damage to people and property that these thing bring with them.

So I am not sure exactly what message I am trying to convey today except that those storms, show the incredible power that existing in our Creator, and just imagine if he created something with that much power and magesty, what  good things he can create!

 ⁸ “You heavens above, rain down my righteousness;
   let the clouds shower it down.
Let the earth open wide,
   let salvation spring up,
let righteousness flourish with it;
   I, the LORD, have created it. (Isaiah 45:8, New International Version, ©2011)

Yes, the Christ, the Son of God, was nailed to a cross and hung for hours before he gave up the spirit and from that some of my favorite verses where written

⁵⁰ But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice and died.

⁵¹ Then the curtain in the Temple was torn into two pieces, from the top to the bottom. Also, the earth shook and rocks broke apart.⁵² The graves opened, and many of God’s people who had died were raised from the dead.⁵³ They came out of the graves after Jesus was raised from the dead and went into the holy city, where they appeared to many people.

⁵⁴ When the army officer and the soldiers guarding Jesus saw this earthquake and everything else that happened, they were very frightened and said, “He really was the Son of God!” Matthew 17 NCV

And freedom was delivered, to the people of the world!

Andrew gets to read today in a little gathering from the 53 chapter of the book of Isaiah . I thought it was worth sharing on this Good Friday a little bit from that chapter.

4 But he took our suffering on him
and felt our pain for us.
We saw his suffering
and thought God was punishing him.
5 But he was wounded for the wrong we did;
he was crushed for the evil we did.
The punishment, which made us well, was given to him,
and we are healed because of his wounds.
6 We all have wandered away like sheep;
each of us has gone his own way.
But the Lord has put on him the punishment
for all the evil we have done.

and then the greatest part of it all

12 For this reason I will make him a great man among people,
and he will share in all things with those who are strong.
He willingly gave his life
and was treated like a criminal.
But he carried away the sins of many people
and asked forgiveness for those who sinned.”

So, even though he was the Son of God, he let himself be killed by men, for those very men and for us. But the news doesn’t stop there.. wait until Sunday!

If  you resolved something about strengthening your marriage or your relationships and you live in the Chattanooga area, then maybe you check our First Things FlowerFest.  I can’t imagine an easier way to support a great organization and bring home flowers.  If you live outside of Chattanooga, sorry, you’re on your own!

So with it being the Month of Love ( I guess), its interesting to see that February is also “Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month”, “Beans Month”, “Marijuana Awareness Month” and “Pull You Sofa Off The Wall Month”.  Needless to say there is a lot (of wackiness) going on!

But back to those resolutions.  We are a month into the year, and some of you have given up or not even started on making whatever changes you wanted to make.  Don’t give up, there’s not better day then today to renew yourself and get started on transformation.

²⁸ Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.  Isaiah 40:28-31 (New International Version, ©2011)

So here we sit at the end of 2010, the relative last seconds of the game called 2010. How did you match up against your goals? Did you achieve your resolutions from last year – or did you fail short? If you did, you will get a second chance to beat those resolutions, as the new year is upon us. Even though it feels like the end of the game, a new year provides a second chance towards victory. So even though its really just another day, use this ending of the year as a ‘life marker’- a line in the sand – and be transformed.

Look at these words of encouragement from Isaiah, which are actually the biblegateway.com’s verse of the day:

“This is what the LORD says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, “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 wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” – Isaiah 43:16, 18-19 New International Version, ©2010.

Don’t you just love it. My inbox was overwhelmed this morning with tantalizing Cyber Monday deals. Nothing like the assumption that people will go back to work and shop all day in the office!

Anyway, with the arrival of Santa at Macy’s in New York and the excellent shopping of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the Christmas season has descended upon us. As we look forward 26 days until Christmas, here is a quick reminder to remember what is coming on that day. – no no not Santa!

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 (New International Version 1984, ©1984)

Enjoy the day, and shine your light towards Immanuel.

Undesirable.  It made me think about a real person, who was in the exact state.

Remember this guy mentioned in 1 Peter

4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—

and in Isaiah 53

⁴ Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;

Yep.  That guy, Jesus, he was labeled, and still is lots of times, as undesirable number one, yet he still took the burden on sin for you.

the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
⁶ We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

So today, remember that he who was undesirable, gave himself that you might life.  Use your life to bring him the glory and to shine the light throughout the world!

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
²² “He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”^[e]

²³ When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴ “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:21-24