O LORD, you are my God;
I will exalt you, I will praise your name;
for you have done wonderful things,
plans formed of old, faithful and sure.
For you have made the city a heap, the fortified city a ruin; the palace of aliens is a city no more,
it will never be rebuilt.
Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you.
For you have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their distress, a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat.
When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm, the noise of aliens like heat in a dry place,
you subdued the heat with the shade of clouds; the song of the ruthless was stilled.
plans formed of old, faithful and sure.
For you have made the city a heap, the fortified city a ruin; the palace of aliens is a city no more,
it will never be rebuilt.
Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you.
For you have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their distress, a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat.
When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm, the noise of aliens like heat in a dry place,
you subdued the heat with the shade of clouds; the song of the ruthless was stilled.
On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines,
of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear.
And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations;
he will swallow up death forever.
Then the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.
It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us.
This is the LORD for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.Isaiah 25:1-9
of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear.
And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations;
he will swallow up death forever.
Then the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.
It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us.
This is the LORD for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.Isaiah 25:1-9
Dear Aunt Elizabeth,
Another day of delight and challenge here in the stable. Our sweet Innkeeper and his wife wanted us to move in to a room in the inn since the crowds have eased up some. But the constables come by and check the registers twice a day now, because our baby is a wanted baby. Do you believe that? What pompous idiot would think a small infant is a threat to a ruler with a mighty army? It is so ridiculous but we are listening to our hosts, knowing that they have experience where we do not. At their instruction Joseph is cautious to go out, except in the twilight. Food is being brought to us and we ache for very little. There is a whole underground network at work here, and so many people are providing for our needs out of the watchful eye of the government. Here, for now, we have safe shelter.
I have to admit that I could stare at this little one for hours. I feel like I know him well already, having shared my body for so long. And yet, here he is right in front of me, and every aspect of him delights me anew. His ears, his tiny, perfect hands, his sleepy eyes, his sweet mouth...all of him amazes me. Joseph and I love nothing more than lying side by side with this precious little one between us. We find ourselves laughing and crying. How blessed we truly are.
Much love,
Mary
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