---Timeless Truths--- (Isaiah 1:1-31)

Historical/Cultural Truths

• Israel is on trial for forgetting their half of the covenant
• God is pissed
  
• Israel will still be saved.
  

So What?

• God demands holiness

Teach Me, O Lord

Teach me, O Lord, Thy way of truth,
And from it I will not depart;
That I may steadfastly obey,
Give me an understanding heart.

In Thy commandments make me walk,
For in the law my joy shall be;
Give me a heart that loves Thy will,
From discontent and envy free.

Turn Thou my eyes from vanity,
And cause me in Thy ways to tread;
O let Thy servant prove Thy Word,
And thus to godly fear be led.

Turn Thou away reproach and fear,
Thy righteous judgments I confess;
To know Thy precepts I desire,
Revive me in Thy righteousness
--Words by Joseph P. Holbrook--

Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming

Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as men of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.

Isaiah ’twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;
With Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind.
To show God’s love aright, she bore to men a Savior,
When half spent was the night.

The shepherds heard the story proclaimed by angels bright,
How Christ, the Lord of glory was born on earth this night.
To Bethlehem they sped and in the manger found Him,
As angel heralds said.

This Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere;
True Man, yet very God, from sin and death He saves us,
And lightens every load.

O Savior, Child of Mary, who felt our human woe,
O Savior, King of glory, who dost our weakness know;
Bring us at length we pray, to the bright courts of Heaven,
And to the endless day!

--15th Century Carol, Author Unknown--

A'rah

Once again the good guy gets screwed, and the unjust collect the reward.

Lord may my words and motives be of you.

For you will have your way with our enemies.

One More Year of Life Down!

Today is my 24th Birthday I asked for no gatherings this year since my B-day shares Easter. I received my request except a nice surprise visit from my aunt and uncle. It was very nice to see them today.

As I reflect back on my 23rd year of life I am filled with both remorse and hesitation (with the loss of my mother and a revelation that I have very "unique" ways of perceiving things) about the upcoming year.

Once again I am at a crossroads of life. Hopefully the paths I choose this year will be less bumpy and be filled with new relationships, new studies, and an ongoing relationship with God.