Sunday Stretch: Vol. 42

Start off your week with a grounded take on Bible, prayer, the world, and your life ...

Hi Readers,

Some weeks, as I sit down to study these Bible passages and prepare to write this Sunday newsletter for you, I briefly wonder if it’s making a difference. We writers and pastors (and so many of you, I know) send these words out into the world, and many times they don’t return to us.

And even as I hold so tightly and cherish your notes and words of encouragement, in the moments of doubt the questions still rises up. Does it matter? Is it worth it?

Feel free to substitute here whatever your work/passion is — and I suspect many of us ask ourselves these questions in an age of daunting global problems that seem only to grow worse each day.

Still, somehow, this ancient book of Scripture written long ago and far away still feels me with faith, hope, and love - probably because I believe that the Holy Spirit, and not merely words, dwell within its pages. You will see in our first reading today what I mean.

Let’s get to the texts …

Bible Stories

Isaiah 55:10-13

Is. 55:10    For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,

and do not return there until they have watered the earth,

making it bring forth and sprout,

giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

¹¹ so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

it shall not return to me empty,

but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,

and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Is. 55:12    For you shall go out in joy,

and be led back in peace;

the mountains and the hills before you

shall burst into song,

and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

¹³ Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;

instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;

and it shall be to the LORD for a memorial,

for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

As I read again this passage, I remember conversations with farm families. I remember the