Advent - Week 1, Day 5: The Message of Hope

What2Say2Day? Today's post will be simple and to the point - sort of. This past Sunday's scripture was from Isaiah 64:1-9. In it Isaiah paints a very bleak picture of where the people of Israel are headed if they don't shape up. He uses phrases like, "O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence" and, "We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away", and my favorite, "There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you." All words talking about how we no longer look for God, and because of this they were living in a time of destruction of creation in general. Then, out of nowhere Isaiah gives us these words, "Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand." Wow - a glimmer of hope in the middle of words of destruction. A reminder that God is still in control and we are still able to be molded to live lives worthy of the love God gives us; if only we allow ourselves to be shaped. Friends, listen to the words of Isaiah, we're living in a time very similar to the days of the Prophet. If we will allow God to live through us this Advent season to bring hope to those looking and waiting for it, maybe, just maybe things will get better. We only have a few more days in our journey to bring HOPE to others, use this time wisely. Remember, it's as easy as Healing Others with Prayer and Encouragement.