O afflicted one, lashed by storms and not comforted:I'm about to rebuild you with stones of turquoise...(Isaiah 54:11 NIV/MSG)


Hosea 6:1-3

1 “Come on, let’s go back to God.
He hurt us, but he’ll heal us.
He hit us hard,
but he’ll put us right again.

2 In a couple of days we’ll feel better.
By the third day he’ll have made us brand-new,
Alive and on our feet,
fit to face him.

3 We’re ready to study God,
eager for God-knowledge.
As sure as dawn breaks,
so sure is his daily arrival.
He comes as rain comes,
as spring rain refreshing the ground.”

Isaiah 54:4-17

Don’t be afraid—you’re not going to be embarrassed.
Don’t hold back—you’re not going to come up short.
You’ll forget all about the humiliations of your youth,
and the indignities of being a widow will fade from memory.

5 For your Maker is your bridegroom,
his name, God-of-the-Angel-Armies!
Your Redeemer is The Holy of Israel,
known as God of the whole earth.

6 You were like an abandoned wife, devastated with grief,
and God welcomed you back,
Like a woman married young
and then left,” says your God.

7 Your Redeemer God says:
“I left you, but only for a moment.
Now, with enormous compassion, I’m bringing you back.

8 In an outburst of anger I turned my back on you—
but only for a moment.
It’s with lasting love
that I’m tenderly caring for you.

9 “This exile is just like the days of Noah for me:
I promised then that the waters of Noah
would never again flood the earth.
I’m promising now no more anger,
no more dressing you down.

10 For even if the mountains walk away
and the hills fall to pieces,
My love won’t walk away from you,
my covenant commitment of peace won’t fall apart.”
The God who has compassion on you says so.

11 “Afflicted city, storm-battered, unpitied:
I’m about to rebuild you with stones of turquoise,
Lay your foundations with sapphires,

12 construct your towers with rubies,
Your gates with jewels,
and all your walls with precious stones.

13 All your children will have God for their teacher—
what a mentor for your children!

14 You’ll be built solid, grounded in righteousness,
far from any trouble—nothing to fear!
far from terror—it won’t even come close!

15 If anyone attacks you,
don’t for a moment suppose that I sent them,
And if any should attack,
nothing will come of it.

16 I create the blacksmith
who fires up his forge
and makes a weapon designed to kill.
I also create the destroyer—

17 but no weapon that can hurt you has ever been forged.
Any accuser who takes you to court
will be dismissed as a liar.
This is what God’s servants can expect.
I’ll see to it that everything works out for the best.” God’s Decree.

Psalm 91
1 You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow,

2 Say this: “God, you’re my refuge.
I trust in you and I’m safe!”

3 That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps,
shields you from deadly hazards.

4 His huge outstretched arms protect you—
under them you’re perfectly safe;
his arms fend off all harm.

5 Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night,
not flying arrows in the day,

6 Not disease that prowls through the darkness,
not disaster that erupts at high noon.

7 Even though others succumb all around,
drop like flies right and left,
no harm will even graze you.

8 You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,
watch the wicked turn into corpses.

9 Yes, because God’s your refuge,
the High God your very own home,

10 Evil can’t get close to you,
harm can’t get through the door.

11 He ordered his angels
to guard you wherever you go.

12 If you stumble, they’ll catch you;
their job is to keep you from falling.

13 You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,
and kick young lions and serpents from the path.

14 “If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says God,
“I’ll get you out of any trouble.
I’ll give you the best of care
if you’ll only get to know and trust me.

15 Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times;
I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party.

16 I’ll give you a long life,
give you a long drink of salvation!”
A Sabbath song

Isaiah 60:14-22
The descendants of your oppressor
will come bowing and scraping to you.
All who looked down at you in contempt
will lick your boots.
They’ll confer a title on you: City of God,
Zion of The Holy of Israel.

15 Not long ago you were despised refuse—
out-of-the-way, unvisited, ignored.
But now I’ve put you on your feet,
towering and grand forever, a joy to look at!

16 When you suck the milk of nations
and the breasts of royalty,
You’ll know that I, God, am your Savior,
your Redeemer, Champion of Jacob.

17 I’ll give you only the best—no more hand-me-downs!
Gold instead of bronze, silver instead of iron,
bronze instead of wood, iron instead of stones.
I’ll install Peace to run your country,
make Righteousness your boss.

18 There’ll be no more stories of crime in your land,
no more robberies, no more vandalism.
You’ll name your main street Salvation Way,
and install Praise Park at the center of town.

19 You’ll have no more need of the sun by day
nor the brightness of the moon at night.
God will be your eternal light,
your God will bathe you in splendor.

20 Your sun will never go down,
your moon will never fade.
I will be your eternal light.
Your days of grieving are over.

21 All your people will live right and well,
in permanent possession of the land.
They’re the green shoot that I planted,
planted with my own hands to display my glory.

22 The runt will become a great tribe,
the weakling become a strong nation.
I am God.
At the right time I’ll make it happen.”

Psalm 66
1 All together now—applause for God!

2 Sing songs to the tune of his glory,
set glory to the rhythms of his praise.

3 Say of God, “We’ve never seen anything like him!”
When your enemies see you in action,
they slink off like scolded dogs.

4 The whole earth falls to its knees—
it worships you, sings to you,
can’t stop enjoying your name and fame.

5 Take a good look at God’s wonders—
they’ll take your breath away.

6 He converted sea to dry land;
travelers crossed the river on foot.
Now isn’t that cause for a song?

7 Ever sovereign in his high tower, he keeps
his eye on the godless nations.
Rebels don’t dare
raise a finger against him.

8 Bless our God, O peoples!
Give him a thunderous welcome!

9 Didn’t he set us on the road to life?
Didn’t he keep us out of the ditch?

10 He trained us first,
passed us like silver through refining fires,

11 Brought us into hardscrabble country,
pushed us to our very limit,

12 Road-tested us inside and out,
took us to hell and back;
Finally he brought us
to this well-watered place.

13 I’m bringing my prizes and presents to your house.
I’m doing what I said I’d do,

14 What I solemnly swore I’d do
that day when I was in so much trouble:

15 The choicest cuts of meat
for the sacrificial meal;
Even the fragrance
of roasted lamb is like a meal!
Or make it an ox
garnished with goat meat!

16 All believers, come here and listen,
let me tell you what God did for me.

17 I called out to him with my mouth,
my tongue shaped the sounds of music.

18 If I had been cozy with evil,
the Lord would never have listened.

19 But he most surely did listen,
he came on the double when he heard my prayer.

20 Blessed be God: he didn’t turn a deaf ear,
he stayed with me, loyal in his love.

Revelation 4

8 “Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come.”

11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”

Revelation 5

9 “You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.

10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth."

12 “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”

13 “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”

Created over 2 years ago