The Oak Tree: “A strong commitment to lead the way, strength and durability to help others in growth.” PT 1

Isaiah 43:8-13 MSG

8-13
Get the blind and deaf out here and ready—� the blind (though there’s nothing wrong with their eyes)� and the deaf (though there’s nothing wrong with their ears).�Then get the other nations out here and ready.� Let’s see what they have to say about this,� how they account for what’s happened.�Let them present their expert witnesses� and make their case;� let them try to convince us what they say is true.�“But you are my witnesses.” God’s Decree.� “You’re my handpicked servant�So that you’ll come to know and trust me,� understand both that I am and who I am.�Previous to me there was no such thing as a god,� nor will there be after me.�I, yes I, am God.� I’m the only Savior there is.�I spoke, I saved, I told you what existed� long before these upstart gods appeared on the scene.�And you know it, you’re my witnesses,� you’re the evidence.” God’s Decree.�“Yes, I am God.� I’ve always been God� and I always will be God.�No one can take anything from me.� I make; who can unmake it?”

Colossians 3:17 MSG

15-17 Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

Proverbs 19:17 MSG

17
Mercy to the needy is a loan to God,� and God pays back those loans in full.

Proverbs 8:19-21 MSG

12-21
“I am Lady Wisdom, and I live next to Sanity;� Knowledge and Discretion live just down the street.�The Fear-of-God means hating Evil,� whose ways I hate with a passion—� pride and arrogance and crooked talk.�Good counsel and common sense are my characteristics;� I am both Insight and the Virtue to live it out.�With my help, leaders rule,� and lawmakers legislate fairly;�With my help, governors govern,� along with all in legitimate authority.�I love those who love me;� those who look for me find me.�Wealth and Glory accompany me—� also substantial Honor and a Good Name.�My benefits are worth more than a big salary, even a very big salary;� the returns on me exceed any imaginable bonus.�You can find me on Righteous Road—that’s where I walk—� at the intersection of Justice Avenue,�Handing out life to those who love me,� filling their arms with life—armloads of life!

Ecclesiastes 8:14-17 MSG

14 Here’s something that happens all the time and makes no sense at all: Good people get what’s coming to the wicked, and bad people get what’s coming to the good. I tell you, this makes no sense. It’s smoke.
15 So, I’m all for just going ahead and having a good time—the best possible. The only earthly good men and women can look forward to is to eat and drink well and have a good time—compensation for the struggle for survival these few years God gives us on earth.
16-17 When I determined to load up on wisdom and examine everything taking place on earth, I realized that if you keep your eyes open day and night without even blinking, you’ll still never figure out the meaning of what God is doing on this earth. Search as hard as you like, you’re not going to make sense of it. No matter how smart you are, you won’t get to the bottom of it.

Matthew 28:16-20 MSG
16-17 Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus had set for their reunion. The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally.
18-20 Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”

Ephesians 3:19 MSG

14-19 My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.

Ephesians 1:18-19 MSG

15-19 That’s why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn’t stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I’d think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!