No one compares

My employer is out of the office for a while, so because of that I'm currently working shorter days. Since Luke and I still carpool, that leaves me with a few hours to find something to do before work. So I've been going to the (only) Starbucks in town to study. And it's not like I can't study at home, but something about getting out of the house and finding a place where you can just zone out helps a lot. I actually read a lot this morning that I wanted to share, but to try and keep this post not a novel I think I'll only share half of what I was reading.

A lot of times I'll find a specific topic and go from there, sometimes just one certain passage. But sometimes I just thumb through and look at what I have highlighted. (Sorry if that offends people that I write in my bible, but I'm one of those.) There's always different reasons why a verse may stand out to me, but when I go back and look at it all I find it encouraging. This may be a jumbled mess of thoughts, but it makes sense to me.

Isaiah
30:18-"Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him."
19b-"He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you."
21-"And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' "

33:6-"He will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge;"
(The stability of our time, how true is that? Everything in the world is un-sure, but not God. He is always the same, someone to cling to that doesn't give in or give out.)
22b-"the Lord is our king, he will save us." (I have to pray to ask help not to lose sight of that. God is my king. Maybe it's hard to grasp because I've never lived in a time where you had a king, and so that idea doesn't stick with me. I find it interesting to watch movies with kings and to see the devotion the people have to this person.)

35:10-"And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."

38:5b-"I have heard your prayers; I have seen your tears,"

40:11-"He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young."
31-"but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

41:13-"For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, 'Fear not, I am the one who helps you.' " (This is one of my favorites.)

This is probably getting too long, so I'll stop there at 41:13. But wow, who can compare to our God? That seemed to be an appropriate title. He chose to create the earth and heavens. He made man and loved him. Even through our sinful flesh, he still loves us and sacrificed to make a way to heaven for us. He continues to make ways for us in our daily lives and provides our daily needs. Even more than just the salvation of our souls. As if that wasn't more than enough. He knows what we go through and is there besides us, helping and leading when we seek it. And he's still there loving us even when we aren't looking to him.

Why in the world do I complain? The truth that God loves us even though compared to him we're utterly worthless is pretty heavy to understand. For lack of a better word, it makes me feel pretty lame. And very thankful to have an Almighty God. So many reasons to praise Him. So, all this was a much needed reminder of the love God has for me and that we truly do have a living Savior. Hope this brings encouragement.

God bless