Isaiah 29:18-24 ~ see +

Isaiah 29:18-24

18 In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll,
and out of gloom and darkness
the eyes of the blind will see.

19 Once more the humble will rejoice in the Lord;
the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

20 The ruthless will vanish,
the mockers will disappear,
and all who have an eye for evil will be cut down—

21 those who with a word make someone out to be guilty,
who ensnare the defender in court
and with false testimony deprive the innocent of justice.

22 Therefore this is what the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, says to the descendants of Jacob:

“No longer will Jacob be ashamed;
no longer will their faces grow pale.
23 When they see among them their children,
the work of my hands,
they will keep my name holy;
they will acknowledge the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob,
and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.

24 Those who are wayward in spirit will gain understanding;
those who complain will accept instruction.”




Around here we have seen all the Christmas store decorations arrive November 1. Which is great with me - we are celebrating the arrival of Wonderful Jesus. God's Only Son. And in my neighborhood we have some Christmas Lights and some Christmas Trees already. More the merrier!

So, we had coffee today while my son's car was having the oil changed and the proprietor is from the U.K. and she plays Christian Christmas Music. While she was playing "Oh Christian Men Rejoice" Edward called and he had gotten an "Ace" hole in one on a National Tournament. I did really love that moment. I really did.



So the time has come for Christmas portraits. And the one at the top says "Do the best with today. Do the best with what is Given to you. Find all the Joy all His Mercies Renew."

There is a household in Ecclesiastes. Where all have become very old and the house is rather appathetic.

We tend to progress in years:

And REALLY - this could apply to our life from time to time.


The point is this. We think after we tell the kids about the tooth fairy and the Easter Bunny and Santa that sooner or later - our real morality in our 20s comes back and it all hangs pretty loose with the early 20 year olds.

About this time in life - people say what do you tell your adult kids about sex. My reply is, "Don't make love outside of marriage. Wait until you can really love and be committed. Don't ever make love with someone you wouldn't want to have children with." And then the people say to you, "That's great, what do you Really say?"

Exactly.

And I want to tell you a family story.
And for long life - I just won't say other than this is my blood kin and won't point fingers at my father's family or the sainted family of my mom. Hint. And this does not apply to my sons. They behave actually very well.

Well. One of my fore-bearers (I am excessively fond of) was very, very uxorious to his very wonderful wife.
Her saying was, "Don't have an enemy, have a dinner guest and by desert, all will be well."

And their children were having children and my lovely forebearer got cancer and she died in her 50s. And he started making the cemetery very lovely and planting things. He was never going to re-marry because she was perfect for him. He spoke of her all the time. She had died on his birthday and he would later die on hers. They really did love each other very much.

And while he talked to his children about their children and his grandchildren and told them with genuine heart-braking sincerity about his  broken heartedness. He started having trips to the big city. Well the female part of the family was not informed. But the male said of the family - was in the - know.

The female part of the family went on to be close to the Lord.

The male part of the family - well - om.



The point of the story is.

Do not forget - no matter what age you are. You are contributing lights to those around you. We sometimes tend to think our opinion is invisible. Not so. We are the Body of Christ. We are the links of the praying saints.

Divorced? You are teaching your future generation - how to behave - your behavior around your kids matters. You are still parenting. (Thanks to my mom, who, when she was divorced - never, ever made home uncomfortable or dangerous. She always was upright. Thanks, Mom.)

We all know that having adult children is to not parent - well, we parent.

We give advice when tears are falling from adult kids with tenderness. We give love and encouragement. We find the time to tell dating 20s why you don't date the last one now and why you didn't say too much when they dated. Learning from life.

Ecclesiastes House does not need to happen to the Easter People who know the promises of Jesus.

And we do not fit in boxes. My family surely does not. We are not perfect people. Obviously. But there is the framework where we want our kids to stay to have the best chance of Joy, Love, Peace, Encouragement. Hope. Faith. Tenderness. Sincerity. When we move away from the pattern of security God gives us - we tend to wander into Ecclesiastes House.





So what do we do about redeeming a family that has dwindled due to age or attrition or just big ol bad, plain ol life.

We do like Father God. We run to the people we love and we Love. We pick up weary hands and feet and we love what God has given us. We look for the renewal of what is good in life around us. We find the Joy that might be Like Where is Waldo. But we find that Joy.

Hope to Love.
Faith we will Love.
Love - and so we do.

God. Is Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. He does not chide, He does not stay in upset. God is saying the Door to God is open all the time. All we have to do to reach the Goodness of God - is today, ask.

At some point in our lives - usually about the 6th Generation we decide if we had a life worth living.

On all days - God says Yes.

And the path to God is always Open.

See God does not give us each step, we do what we believe God would truly want of us. And in this sincerity, in just faith, if we miss a step, surely our Father is God and He will help us. As a Father comforts a child. We will let God see and let Him work His Plan. His Will for me is Good. Hope and Future. Thank Jesus.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.




Father God,

We come all thee faithful, willing to be Joyful and Triumphant
and
Jesus us says:

"Oh come Ye to Bethlehem" "Come and Be Faithful"
"Welcome Joy Abundant"
"Oh Come Ye to Jesus' Heart"

There with that re-arranging of an old Hymn - we will say
Thank God we can Lift UP all our prayer requests to the Very God of ALL

Jesus, You are our righteousness. We need You when we feel weak, when we fall, when we sin, when we say too much, when we say to little. Help us be as bold and as willing as You would want us to do. We need Jesus as Lord to be our Guide and Comfort. I am willing, make me Your Willing Child. Your Blessed Child. Your forgiven Child. Your steadfast Loving Child. Jesus Your Name is our Joy!

Thank You for hearing, loving steadfastly to the millenniums and generations, caring and forgiving. The Gates to Prayer are and the Throne of God is always Open. Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †