People will build houses and dwell in them...

I sat down to read a little tonight (which is unusual, usually I read in the morning and FB/blog at night), and opened to Isaiah 65. I found a section that struck me, right where I'm at right now, and also resonated with the last few years of my life. Here's most of it:

ch. 65:17-24ish

"(God) will create a new heaven & a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. Be glad and rejoice forever in what (God) will create... the sound of weeping and crying will be heard no more. Never again will there be and infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years...
People will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of (God's) people; (God's) chosen ones will long enjoy the works of their hands. They will not toil in vein or bear children doomed to misfortune; they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them.
BEFORE they call, (God ) will answer, while they are still speaking (God) will hear. "

Never have I looked forward to this more.

My family has spent the last year doing a complete demo and remodel of an old historic house. By that I mean down to the studs, raised the foundation and all. My husband's parents bought the house and the plan is that after we are done (soon!!), we will rent it from them. Right now we are "renting" a tiny apartment above their garage. I love, love the part that says, "people will build houses and dwell in them"!

Some other things that resonate with me are the parts about children. On the days that I'm nearly exasperated with my children, I am humbled by verses like this. I have dear friends that have lost babies after only a few days (or not even full term), and parts of my family were "children doomed to misfortune"- a cousin brutally murdered, and his sister lost herself in grief, to suicide. I long for the days that dear, sweet lives are not cut short.

I don't wear these hardships and hard work as a badge of "see how hard MY life has been". Instead, they bend me toward eternity-- remind me of the promises made in these verses. Promises made by the God gave up His own Son to prove how much He loves us, and to show how thoroughly He holds all power. I want the peace I find in these promises, from a God like that, to ring throughout the hardships and heartache of this life. These promises, and His grace will get me through- changed, but unscathed.

What a God we live for!

** The picture is of the house I mentioned-- it is probably the worst picture I've taken so far... through a rainy car window, from a weird angle... BUT it's the only one I have on this computer. After we move, you'll have to come see in person! The other is of Josh and I doing insulation, taken a few months ago.