Welcome to...So Is My Word

For the longest time, my favorite scripture passage was Isaiah 55. In fact, the first sermon I ever preached was on this passage of scripture. As I read Isaiah’s writings, I think of The Chronicles of Narnia a beautiful, magical story about Narnia, another world than the world we know, which has been forced to be in an eternal winter by a wicked witch for years without one of the usual blessings of winter ever arriving, Christmas. Specifically, I picture the scene when Aslan, a lion who is a Christlike figure, is rumored to be on the move. As Aslan draws nearer and nearer to Narnia the snow and ice begin to melt and crack and warmth creeps in, an inevitable coming with Aslan’s presence. Aslan’s presence brings spring back into Narnia, bringing it to life again.

That’s what I think of, when I think of these words from the prophet Isaiah (Chapter 55:10-11):

As the rain and snow

Come down from heaven

And do not return to it

Without watering the earth

And making it bud and flourish

So that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

So is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

But will accomplish what I desire

And achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

So is God’s word. A word that will bring springtime and life. But not just any old life – life abundant. God’s word will bring forth a harvest. A harvest of joy and peace, a harvest where “Mountains and hills will burst into song... and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” (v. 12). It’s quite possible that I love these words so much because it reminds me of the way people absurdly burst into song in musicals, a fact which sparks an inordinate amount of joy in my heart. But I also love them for their confident and hope-filled faith.

That first sermon I ever wrote and preached? It was during my spring semester of senior year in college. And I wasn’t sure what I was going to do in life. I’ll never be sure of what I’m doing with my life. But what I loved about this word from Isaiah, is the picture it gave me of God. Of one who desires abundant life and who works to bring about the flourishing of the whole of creation. And somehow, I knew that that was what I wanted to be about, too. I wanted a life that mattered. A life that was a word of love spoken into the world that nourished it to more abundant life.

So, that’s the story behind the blog So Is My Word.

Maybe it’s a bit presumptuous to suggest that my word could be like God’s word. But then again, why not?

God’s word brings about life.

Isaiah's word brought life in mine.

I hope mine do, too.