a word

Isaiah 46:3b I created you & have cared for you since before you were born.

vs 4 I will be your God throughout your lifetime - until your hair is white with age.

           I made you & I will care for you.

           I will carry you along & save you.


2 Corinthians 4:1 Since God in His mercy has given up this wonderful ministry, we never give up.

vs 2 We reject all shameful & underhanded methods.

          We do not try to trick anyone,

          & we do not distort the word of God.

          We tell the truth before God, & all who are honest know that.

vs 7 This precious treasure - this light & power that now shine in us - is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies.

          So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God & is not our own.

vs 8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed & broken.

          We are perplexed, but we don't give up & quit.

vs 9 We are hunted down, but God never abandons us.

           We get knocked down, but we get up again & keep going.

vs 10 Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

vs 16 That is why we never give up.

            Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.

            17 For our present troubles are quite small & won't last very long.

            Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever!

vs 18 So we don't look at the troubles we can see right now;

            rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen.

          For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.