deanna and i were talking on the way home last night… simply figuring out the meaning of life and what it’s all about when we saw some people setting up a ‘will you marry me’ sign off a bridge on the highway. we were jealous. whence deanne exclaimed “I WANT A SIGN JUST FOR ME.. from Jesus, JUST A LITTLE SIGN” so we asked. half joking half sincerely praying, more sincerely praying. an hour later a simple hand-painted sign was stapled to a powerline just visible from the freeway reading isaiah 55:6. OF COURSE the first verse of isaiah 55 is one of deanna’s favorites, OF COURSE verses 10-11 have been scribbled in my journal countless times this year, and OF COURSE the last verse even says this is an ‘everlasting sign’. it’s a beautiful chapter, take a minute and read it. then read it again. 

“come, all you who are thirsty;

come to the waters;

and you who have no money,

come, buy and eat!

come, buy wine and milk

without money and without cost.

why spend money one what is not bread, 

and your labor on what does not satisfy?

listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,

and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

give ear and come to me; 

hear me, that your soul may live.

i will make an everlasting covenant with you,

my fauthful love promised to david.

see, i have made him a witness to the peoples,

a leader and commander of the peoples.

surely you will summon nations you know not,

and nations that do not know you will hasten to you,

because of the LORD your God,

the Holy One of Isreal,

for he has endowed you with splendor.”

seek the Lord while he may be found;

call on him while he is near.

let the wicked forsake his way

and the evil man his thoughts.

let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him,

and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

for my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are my ways your ways,”

declares the Lord.

“as the heavens are higher than the earth, 

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

as the rain and the snow

come down from heaven, 

and do not return to it without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yiedls seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes 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.

you will go out in joy 

ad 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.

instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree,

and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.

this will be for the Lord’s renown,

for an everlasting sign,

which will not be destroyed.”