Uplook - March 29, 2025
Dear Ones,
Looking out my office windows today is a view of pink and red and white tree blossoms along with yellow and white flowers. They brought to mind Isaiah 55 which describes the abounding grace of the kingdom of the heavens which was to be ushered in by the coming Messiah. Familiar words pointing Israel (and us) to sustaining waters which while beyond our means are offered freely. A call to listen and enter into a covenant relationship with God which is now accessible through the Messiah who will lead and guide. The invitation is extended beyond Israel and all are encouraged to seek the Lord who is near and can be discovered through repentance leading to merciful pardon. Following is a reminder that God’s thoughts and ways are higher than those of humanity and that His word will prosper, grow, and accomplish His great plan just as rain and snow water the earth bringing forth buds and blooms, seeds for planting, and the source of needed sustenance.
All of this culminates in verses 12 & 13 …declaring that we (those who respond to this marvelous opportunity) will live unencumbered, with joy and thriving wholeness and peace. Beyond that, all creation will join the chorus of rejoicing; mountains and hills singing, piercing thorns replaced by soothing fir shade trees, and useless brush replaced by beautiful and useful myrtle trees all clapping their “hands” together in joy because the curse of sin has been broken and an eternity with God is once again opened because of the great name of Jesus, the Messiah.
Isaiah 55
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, And he that hath no money; Come ye, buy, and eat; Yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labour for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, And let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, Even the sure mercies of David. 4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, A leader and commander to the people. 5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, And nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee Because of the Lord thy God, And for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. 6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, Call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts: And let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; And to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, And the snow from heaven, And returneth not thither, But watereth the earth, And maketh it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, But it shall accomplish that which I please, And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 12 For ye shall go out with joy, And be led forth with peace: The mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: And it shall be to the Lord for a name, For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
If the trees/shrubs/flowers outside my windows look this majestic in spring, just consider what they will be when the curse of sin is lifted from creation. We love the Olympic and Cascade mountains this time of year showing their snow capped peaks (especially Mt. Rainer) but what glory it will be when the curse is lifted … will they sing literally? I don’t know, but I do know it will be wonderful and I want to encourage each of us to be there to experience it.
As we approach the darkness which engulfed Calvary, may we remember that it all was according to God’s great and merciful purpose to usher in the empty tomb …and ultimately the redemption of all creation. We are a part of that redemption so maybe a bit of singing and clapping is in order for us as well.
God bless,
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
Looking out my office windows today is a view of pink and red and white tree blossoms along with yellow and white flowers. They brought to mind Isaiah 55 which describes the abounding grace of the kingdom of the heavens which was to be ushered in by the coming Messiah. Familiar words pointing Israel (and us) to sustaining waters which while beyond our means are offered freely. A call to listen and enter into a covenant relationship with God which is now accessible through the Messiah who will lead and guide. The invitation is extended beyond Israel and all are encouraged to seek the Lord who is near and can be discovered through repentance leading to merciful pardon. Following is a reminder that God’s thoughts and ways are higher than those of humanity and that His word will prosper, grow, and accomplish His great plan just as rain and snow water the earth bringing forth buds and blooms, seeds for planting, and the source of needed sustenance.
All of this culminates in verses 12 & 13 …declaring that we (those who respond to this marvelous opportunity) will live unencumbered, with joy and thriving wholeness and peace. Beyond that, all creation will join the chorus of rejoicing; mountains and hills singing, piercing thorns replaced by soothing fir shade trees, and useless brush replaced by beautiful and useful myrtle trees all clapping their “hands” together in joy because the curse of sin has been broken and an eternity with God is once again opened because of the great name of Jesus, the Messiah.
Isaiah 55
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, And he that hath no money; Come ye, buy, and eat; Yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labour for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, And let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, Even the sure mercies of David. 4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, A leader and commander to the people. 5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, And nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee Because of the Lord thy God, And for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. 6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, Call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts: And let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; And to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, And the snow from heaven, And returneth not thither, But watereth the earth, And maketh it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, But it shall accomplish that which I please, And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 12 For ye shall go out with joy, And be led forth with peace: The mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: And it shall be to the Lord for a name, For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
If the trees/shrubs/flowers outside my windows look this majestic in spring, just consider what they will be when the curse of sin is lifted from creation. We love the Olympic and Cascade mountains this time of year showing their snow capped peaks (especially Mt. Rainer) but what glory it will be when the curse is lifted … will they sing literally? I don’t know, but I do know it will be wonderful and I want to encourage each of us to be there to experience it.
As we approach the darkness which engulfed Calvary, may we remember that it all was according to God’s great and merciful purpose to usher in the empty tomb …and ultimately the redemption of all creation. We are a part of that redemption so maybe a bit of singing and clapping is in order for us as well.
God bless,
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
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