Go Out in Joy

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; . . . Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David . . . You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55: 1, 3, 12

I turned the calendar page over and the October scene before me made me even more eager to see the display that fall has in store for us!  The leaves are just beginning to turn, and I am so ready for all those glorious colors, the cool breezes, and the feel in the air that change has come. How I enjoy this time of year and all it brings.

I am so grateful that we live in an area where we can enjoy the variety of weather that the seasonal changes bring. Even the thought that the time is nearing for nature to take a rest as the cold winter months approach doesn’t dampen my spirits, for afterwards, I know the promise of new life will arrive with spring. And then will come summer, as nature gives us even more time to enjoy all her beauty! But for now, let’s take in this one.  The days will go by quickly enough!

Our boys have even made their annual visit to the pumpkin patch to choose the best from the field. Remember when that meant rows and rows of pumpkins and nothing else? Well, not anymore!  Now it means rows of pumpkins with bouncy houses, trampolines, games, pony and tractor rides, goats to feed, huge cornfield mazes, corn cribs to play in, games, pipes to crawl through, and bales of hay to jump over! And then there’s pumpkin pie, candy apples, and hot chocolate! These little guys could ask for nothing more! Kel sent great pictures of them in the midst of the surroundings of the farm, the beautiful red barns framed by the blue sky, the geese on the pond, and the hint of leaves changing which just added to the anticipation! It’s as if all of nature is getting ready to celebrate the change in seasons and burst forth in song – inviting us all to be a part of it.

God too has an invitation for us in these beautiful verses from Isaiah. In fact, chapter 55 is sometimes referred to as “The Great Invitation” in which God calls His people to come to Him, and He gives beautiful promises of joy and peace in return. A joy so great that even the mountains, hills, and trees join in. He  graciously invites us to come and be a recipient of his glorious presence and the opportunity to take advantage of all His blessings, spiritual and physical, that He has to offer. What a gift of His everlasting covenant with us – a call to His people to believe on Him, to drink from His living water, and to partake of the life He longs to give us. What an invitation to enjoy all He has to give.

As these changes come, may we enjoy this fall season – take in the beauty of nature as it “bursts forth in song” and especially remember to be grateful for His goodness to us. Let us bask in the beauty of His world and His presence with us as “we go out in joy and be led forth in peace.”  

Prayer

Our most gracious God, what gifts you desire to give us, what beauty and grace we can find in a life with you. Thank you for all the many blessings of life, your goodness to us, and for the beauty of your creations. Amen