August 9, 2017
Isaiah 43:1-3
But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
 When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.
 For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
    Cush and Seba in your stead.

New International Version (NIV)
              I love the Big Thompson River near Estes Park, Colorado.  At first sight one wonders why it is called "Big."  It is barely twenty feet across at places.  How little is the "Little Thompson?"  But the locals tell of a monsoon some years ago in which the Big Thompson left its banks and boulders the size of houses rolled down the Big Thompson destroying everything in their path. 
             We on the Gulf Coast understand the devastating force of moving water.  This week, again, right after the repair of the trails in Hershey Park, the flood waters overflow the banks of Buffalo Bayou covering the new asphalt with rushing water.  We know to "turn around" instead of driving into rushing waters.
             The fears of childhood give way to different fears as we age.  What waters do we fear?  What if we are swept away by the tumultuous storm waters of life?  How do we live fearlessly?  Once again Isaiah offers hope and help.  God has redeemed us and summoned us by name.  We are his.  The waters will not sweep us away, nor will the flames consume us.  The Lord is God.  The Holy One is our Savior.  He sustains us in the storm.  It is well with our souls.
Pray with me the words Julian of Norwich says God whispers over his people when we cannot sleep at night:  
“All shall be well.  And all shall be well.  And all manner of thing shall be well.”  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 
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