Isaiah 43-- Oh How He Loves Us for His Name's Sake

God has been teaching me sooo so so much lately that I feel that I can't even process it; let alone blog it, but hopefully this will help me do so; encourage you; and most of all Glorify His Name.

Where to start? It's the most wonderful time of the year.. (YES it should be!) but for mothers-- this season brings stress.. to prepare for the holidays.  For the employed , there are end of the year deadlines to meet; for many Pastors the desire to have fruitful ministry and share the Gospel with  as people's hearts as possible so that they may be warmed by Jesus' Birth; and for students... final papers, deadlines, finals, stress..  and for me the reality of graduating in 5 months.

Yesterday this reality caused me great anxiety.  I am often paralyzed with dreading to do this or that or overwhelmed by the endless checklist.  We all want God's help, we all want His wisdom.. His will to be done.. but often, if you are like me, it is very much out of selfish ambition.  We want all these things so that we can "feel" happy and to be comfortable.. many times for things to "turn-out" of our own glory & not His.  We essentially-- in the American culture--  want and expect Heaven here on earth.  

Yesterday the Lord opened my eyes to this harsh reality.  I woke-up so depressed, so overwhelmed.  I had a 8 page research paper to write-- and my laptop would NOT work; a ton of other homework.. yada yada yada... it was raining out... I didn't want to shower,  I didn't want to eat; I didn't want to move,  to get up to listen to God.  I wanted to dwell in my emotions; my self-pity... YUCK

After much battle, I got-up and went to help make church bags and write my paper--

long story short the Lord pulled me through.  He once again showed me that I am not of this world and that His will and plan are not for always for me to know .  That being a Christian does not mean not struggling with anxiety, or stress or depression, but combating those thoughts with the TRUTH.  The truth of His Love and the fullness of the Holy Spirit. 

     Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
    Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
(Philippians 4:4-9 ESV)

That He loves me for HIS sake and His Mercy is for Him and His Glory and that He does love me, but because of who He is not because of anything that I do or don't do.

All will pass and the Lord will remain.  Paper deadlines will pass and so will the grades.  God is good all the time. (Ecclesiastes)
  This world in not our home for those that have accepted the gift of eternal life by the Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross.  That He lives and moves and will always remain and that those who have put their whole life and trust and faith in Him will never be put to shame.  That Christ's blood and body that was shred for us covers all our sins yesterday, today and tomorrow and that we are completely Justified and made right in His Eyes.  For while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8) and There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1) that whoever believes in Him and puts their trust in Him has Eternal Life (John 3:16).  For it was written, like a therapeutic song to our souls by the prophet Isaiah who wrote over 700 years before the Birth of Jesus Christ:

Israel’s Only Savior

43 But now thus says the Lord,

mhe who created you, O Jacob,

he who formed you, O Israel:

n“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

oI have called you by name, you are mine.

2  pWhen you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

pwhen you walk through fire qyou shall not be burned,

and the flame shall not consume you.

3  For rI am the Lord your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

sI give Egypt as your ransom,

Cush and tSeba in exchange for you.

4  Because you are precious in my eyes,

and honored, and I love you,

I give men in return for you,

peoples in exchange for your life.

5  uFear not, for I am with you;

vI will bring your offspring from the east,

and from the west I will gather you.

6  I will say to the north, Give up,

and to the south, Do not withhold;

bring wmy sons from afar

and wmy daughters from the end of the earth,

7  everyone who is called by my name,

whom I created for my glory,

whom I formed and made.”

8  Bring out xthe people who are blind, yet have eyes,

who are deaf, yet have ears!

yAll the nations gather together,

and the peoples assemble.

Who among them can declare this,

and show us the former things?

Let them bring their witnesses to prove them right,

and let them hear and say, It is true.

10  z“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,

“and amy servant whom I have chosen,

that you may know and believe me

and understand that I am he.

bBefore me no god was formed,

nor shall there be any after me.

11  cI, I am the Lord,

and besides me there is no savior.

12  I declared and saved and proclaimed,

when there was no strange god among you;

and zyou are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and I am God.

13  Also dhenceforth I am he;

there is none who can deliver from my hand;

I work, and who can turn it back?”

14  Thus says the Lord,

your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

e“For your sake I send to Babylon

and fbring them all down as fugitives,

geven the Chaldeans, in the ships in which they rejoice.

15  I am the Lord, your Holy One,

the Creator of Israel, your King.”

16  Thus says the Lord,

hwho makes a way in the sea,

a path in the mighty waters,

17  who ibrings forth chariot and horse,

army and warrior;

they lie down, they cannot rise,

jthey are extinguished, kquenched like a wick:

18  l“Remember not the former things,

nor consider the things of old.

19  mBehold, I am doing a new thing;

now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

nI will make a way in the wilderness

oand rivers in the desert.

20  The wild beasts will honor me,

pthe jackals and the ostriches,

qfor I give water in the wilderness,

rivers in the desert,

to give drink to my chosen people,

21 the people whom I formed for myself

rthat they might declare my praise.

22  “Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob;

but syou have been weary of me, O Israel!

23  tYou have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings,

or honored me with your sacrifices.

I have not burdened you with offerings,

sor wearied you with frankincense.

24  You have not bought me sweet cane with money,

or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices.

But you have burdened me with your sins;

you have wearied me with your iniquities.

25  “I, I am he

uwho blots out vyour transgressions for my own sake,

and I will not remember your sins.

26  Put me in remembrance; wlet us argue together;

set forth your case, that you may be proved right.

27  xYour first father sinned,

and yyour mediators transgressed against me.

28  Therefore zI will profane the princes of the sanctuary,

and adeliver Jacob to utter destruction

and Israel to reviling. 

He has blotted out our transgressions for HIS name's sake and He has Mercy on us for His Joy and He Loves us for HIS Glory.  Oh How He loves us!!! God is so good! 
We can and should find so much peace & joy in these despite what the day might bring.  We press on toward the Cross :) & His Future Glory (Romans 8)

With Love your Sister in Him,

Katherine :)