Lashed by Storms

Strange weather yesterday. One moment sunny, the next rainy. Light and then dark. It just couldn't decide what kind of a day it wanted to be.

I can relate.

Sometimes, you just have to test varying moods to decide which one exactly fits the occasion. I was elated to publish my fourth book, a little manual called, "The Good Parent." It is illustrated and in my humble opinion, charming. However, when I previewed how it would look on various devices as an e-book, the formatting was awful! The print book which comes out in a couple of days was fine, but the e-book, out as of today, not so much. I instantly plummeted to the depths of despair. Was it even possible to fix it? E-book formatting with illustrations is not easy over the range of devices to which it can be downloaded. One has to pick the device you most want to best showcase the book, and then try to format correctly for that device. I was like the sky, stormy and weepy over all the struggle. (There are other issues that caused the inflated response but I don't need to go into all that. Just trust me on it.)

In the best of circumstances, I am not an "even keel" kind of person. I tend to be like the capricious sky yesterday, sunny as the brightest day, and then storming like a hurricane. In the times of Isaiah, God showed both stormy wrath, and abiding sunny comfort as well. I love the chapter where Isaiah describes how God rebuked His errant people, seeming to disappear while the storms of life raged through the city. That part is not the section I most love, of course. My favorite part is when God assures His people that when they return to Him, He will be there, and nothing will ever shake them from His strong and eternal grip. The desolate, ravaged city will be rebuilt with sparkling jewels and peace will cover the land instead of the storms.

This morning, I was able to deal with the formatting issue, rising early while the sun was deciding to shine on a peaceful, and lovely day.

Isaiah 54:7-8,10-11 (NIV)
“For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. [8] In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord your Redeemer. [10] Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. [11] “Afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with lapis lazuli.

Isaiah 54:13 (NIV)
All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace.




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