The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "GOD’S SHIRT" for Sunday, 2 October 2016 with Scripture: Isaiah 49:8-18

The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "GOD’S SHIRT" for Sunday, 2 October 2016 with Scripture: Isaiah 49:8 Here is what Adonai says:
“At the time when I choose, I will answer you;
on the day of salvation, I will help you.
I have preserved you, and I have appointed you
to be the covenant for a people,
to restore the land and distribute again
its ruined inheritances to their owners,
9 to say to the prisoners, ‘Come out!’
to those in darkness, ‘Show yourselves!’
They will feed along the paths,
and all the high hills will be their pastures.
10 They will be neither hungry nor thirsty;
neither scorching wind nor sun will strike them;
for he who has mercy on them will lead them
and guide them to springs of water.
11 I will turn all my mountains into a road,
my highways will be raised up.
12 There they come, some from far away,
some from the north, some from the west,
and some from the land of Sinim.”
13 Sing, heaven! Rejoice, earth!
Break out in song, you mountains!
For Adonai is comforting his people,
having mercy on his own who have suffered.
14 “But Tziyon says, ‘Adonai has abandoned me,
Adonai has forgotten me.’
15 Can a woman forget her child at the breast,
not show pity on the child from her womb?
Even if these were to forget,
I would not forget you.
16 I have engraved you on the palms of my hands,
your walls are always before me.”
17 Your children are coming quickly,
your destroyers and plunderers are leaving and going.
18 Raise your eyes, and look around:
they are all gathering and coming to you.
Adonai swears: “As surely as I am alive,
you will wear them all like jewels,
adorn yourself with them like a bride.”
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The LORD says, “I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands.”[Isaiah 49:15-16 (NRSV)]
I was studying full-time and trying to hold down a part-time job as a pastor. My spouse worked full-time. One day, my toddler son sat on my lap at my desk. He was playing with his juice cup. I was in the middle of a phone call and typing on my computer. Seconds before a church member came through the door, my son spilled his grape juice all over my shirt. What a mess — upset child, phone call, computer, stained shirt, and now someone at my door! I had the presence of mind to stop typing; to say, “I’ll call you back”; and to hang up the phone. As for the church member at my door, she laughed when she saw me. She said, “You should see God’s shirt!” and gave me an understanding smile.
Her remark has stuck with me ever since. God takes on so much — all at once — for our sakes. God listens to our prayers, dries our tears, accepts our complaints, forgives our sins, and calms our fears. Getting close to us and our spills is certainly going to mess up “God’s shirt.” We may have our hands full, every hour of every day; but we are continually blessed, knowing that through it all we are fully in God’s hands and always loved.
Read more from the author, here.
"More from Rob Fennell"
It has been a number of years since I held my little son on my lap and he spilled that juice! He is pretty well grown up now and in his third year of university, which is awfully hard to believe. Time flies.
My son's growing-up years alongside his younger brother (another blessing to us) have brought their share of challenges and joys. But I count myself blessed every day when I look at these two fine young men that God has given us to raise, love, and befriend.
There was a time when I didn’t really like children, but the truth was that I was just uncomfortable around them, not sure how to relate to them. But having children of my own changed all that. Now it’s a joy to share time with youth and their parents in my community and my church.
Each of us has a gift to share, a gift that God gives the world through us. I have delighted in seeing my sons' gifts with music, drama, teaching, leadership, speaking, and caring grow and develop over the years. Who knows where it will all lead? In the meantime, my spouse and I trust in God’s provision and wisdom to guide us as a family.
What gifts are you still discovering, in yourself or those you love? I pray that God will continue to grow those gifts in you as you put them to service for the world God loves.[Rob Fennell, Rob Fennell teaches Christian Theology and Church History at Atlantic School of Theology in Halifax, Canada. You can learn more about him and his writing on his website:https://robertfennell.wordpress.com.]
The Author: Rob Fennell (Nova Scotia, Canada)
Thought for the Day: In times of trouble, I will give thanks that God is always near.
Prayer: Thank you, God, for loving us through the messy, difficult, painful times of our lives. We need you, and you never fail us. Amen.
Prayer focus: WORKING STUDENTS
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