Daily Devotional with Dr. Duane Brooks
March 15, 2017
(Start of Year 2 of Fighter Verses)
Isaiah 40:8 
 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
    but the word of our God endures forever.
New International Version (NIV)
              As a freshman in college I walked into a great hall in Waco to hear Handel's Messiah for the first time.  To this day this great oratorio resonates in my soul.  Where did Handel find those magnificent words?  Before Handel put to music the beautiful prophecies of Isaiah, the people of Israel endured a great exile.  The words of the prophet offered hope to those in exile.  God will comfort his people.  Earthly beauty is temporal but God's message is eternal. 

                Do we ever confuse the ephemeral with the eternal?  In Hershey Park and all through this part of Texas the bluebonnets spring up.  I discovered a new red wildflower called crimson clover.  To be clear, it is new to me.  It came from Europe originally.   Have you seen the azaleas in bloom?  In a few days they added brilliant color to our neighborhood.  But they will not last forever.  Why are they here and gone?

                Isaiah reminds us that some things do not last.  Grass withers.  Flowers fade.  In our impermanent world what will ultimately last?  God's promises stand the test of time.  They were true for the prophet Isaiah, for the people in Jesus' day and right down to the present.  God's word is eternal because God is eternal.  He spoke and the world came into being.  When the trumpet blasts, at his command the world as we know it will end.  The good news is God speaks to us today.  Right now.  Are we listening?  His words will come true.
Pray with me:  
Father, we thank you for the beauty of this world, no matter how temporary.  The heavens declare your glory.  Flowers proclaim their Maker’s praise.  In view of the greatness of our magnificent God, do not let us be mute today, lest the rocks themselves cry out our great Redeemer’s praise.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen. 
I want to invite you to join me in memorizing 52 passages this year from the 2017 set of Fighter Verses.  You can find the Fighter Verses App at the App Store on your phones or via this link  http://fighterverses.com/the-verses/fighter-verses/. As we study the Bible this year, let's look at each text and learn what it says about God. 
Joyfully, 
Duane 
About Duane Archives
Copyright 2017. All Rights Reserved.
Manage your preferences | Opt out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
555 Tallowood Road
Houston, TX | 77024 US
This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.
Subscribe to our email list.