Doubters Need Not Apply

Jeremiah 33  If you read or watch the news it can be pretty daunting. But, we who are His children know that God has the world in the palm of His hand and He orchestrates it all for His glory. Yet, even so, God reminds us “call to me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things which you do not know.”

What great things are you yearning to know? God wants to open your eyes, your ears and your heart to understand the wonderful things He has for you as His child. What he told the people of Judah then is as true for you today.

Are you carrying a burden today? Do you need strength and wisdom? Remember these words from James: ask in faith without doubting. Doubters are like the wave of the sea. Doubters will not receive anything from the Lord because a doubter is a double-minded person. They vacillate between believing and doubting. God wants those who will trust Him on His team.  God promises that if we truly call on him and do not doubt, He will open the windows of heaven and pour forth His blessings.

Call on Him today and believe.

 

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Letter From Home

Jeremiah 29  Mail call has to be the very best time in a college student or a service man’s life. It is sweet to get that snail mail that has been lovingly sent with thoughts of news of home and family. Parents and friends want us to remember that whether life is good or bad, these two important principles must be on your mind always:   “don’t forget who you are and don’t forget whose you are.” Don’t bring shame upon the family name and on the name of Jehovah. Remain faithful to both.

Jeremiah was trying to instill those principles in the lives of the Judahites in Jerusalem but his words fell on deaf ears. Even hundreds of miles away the exiles were hearing—don’t worry, it will end soon. Our wealth will be returned to the Temple and our kings will rise again. Instead, life dragged on day after day after day. Lovingly, God sent them Ezekiel to explain it all and then out of the blue, the exiles received this love letter from Jeremiah.

Dear Exiles,

The news here is the same; King Zedekiah is stubborn. But you can know this; you are loved. So, don’t listen to the false reports of this ending! They are not from me! I want you to remain faithful. and live as if you were in Jerusalem. The Lord told me that He has “plans to prosper you, not to harm you. [He has] plans to give you a future filled with hope.” God will take care of you each day.

Loving you, Jeremiah.

PS  don’t forget to pray for the Babylonians.

PPS:   Don’t forget who you are; you are an Isaac, or a Joshua or a Rahab.

Don’t forget whose you are, you are a child of the Most High God.

What would you do with that letter; save it or toss it?

 

Praise God From whom all blessings flow…

If you are of the “old school” of church you may remember giving an offering and then as the deacons or elders returned the offering to the altar the congregation stood to sing the doxology. But, few of us know the background of this hymn of praise. Thus a refresher course is in order. The words are not straight from scripture but they are words of praise. Keep that in mind!

Psalm 112 & Jude 24  Long ago in England, 1674 to be exact, an Anglican Priest wrote a simple song of praise for his students although it was told they could not share it because of the church rules which only included songs from scripture. But, it was not long before these precious words escaped the tyranny of the ecclesiastical imposed rules of the hierarchy. Today we know it as the doxology but then it was just a simple song of praise.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow

Praise Him, all creatures here below

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

A-M-E-N

The Psalmist reminds the reader to praise the Lord who is Jehovah, the Supreme Being. Jude offers to us how to offer a prayer of praise:

Now to the one who is able to keep you from falling, and to cause you to stand, rejoicing, without blemish before his glorious presence to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen. (Jude 24)

Refresh your soul today with these words. Amen, Amen, Amen

 

 

A Prayer in Hard Times

Psalm 79  Today we see this Asaph as a poet. He was, as we say, versatile. Could this be the same Asaph as in earlier psalms? Scholars differ but most say that these traits belong to a man who lived at the time of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign of terror; in other words a man in name only.  His heart is poured out in poetry as he recalls the recent events. The Babylonians have truly desecrated the Temple and the city and God has allowed it. As he pens these words he cries out to God “How long Oh Lord? Will you be angry forever?” He also seeks God’s vengeance upon the enemies of God. There are nations today facing similar hard times. Are we like Asaph crying out to God to end these travesties which fall upon believers and unbelievers alike? Are we asking the same questions Asaph asked?

As Asaph lives through this time he is reminded that this is but a moment in time and that God will end all suffering and He will bring to an end the travesties of life. And when all is said and done, the sheep of God’s pasture will not be vengeful but give thanks to God and all generations will praise Him.

Truly, Lord, we do not understand all that takes place and our hearts yearn for peace. Help us to keep looking to you for our salvation and we will give you praise.

In the Pits? Try God!

A friend is in the pit or maybe it is you. No matter, try God first. When that doesn’t seem to work, try Him again and again and again! The fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much so says, Elijah! He is right! Does King David agree? Read on:

Psalm 40 “When in the Pit, Reach out to God”

We all have those pit days when all of life seems to come to a grinding halt and you are reaching out for any solution to take the pain of the pit away. David says he completely relied upon the Lord—then! But, we know that he didn’t always and we don’t either. We seek the surest, quickest and easy solution to our pit problem but David’s advice is completely right. Prayers in the pit are the solution that keeps on giving, to quote a recent commercial, but it might not be quick, or easy. In fact, it may take you on a circuitous route before that solution is available or even noted. Remember the Israelites? God’s timing is not ours nor should it be. He is sovereign and knows the right time or solution.

Follow David’s advice, rely completely on the Lord. He will turn to you and hear your cry for help. He will lift you up and place you on a sure footing—when you least expect it. What we can pray is for God to heal us so we can praise Him where others hear and they turn to Him.

Beloved, we are praying for those of you who are in the pit. We may not know or understand your circumstance but prayer is what we can offer.

 

Walls Protect…Usually

Ps 34:7 & Ezek 22:30  Jerusalem had walls to protect the people from danger, wild animals and advancing enemies. Yet Nebuchadnezzar tore down that wall and it lay unrepaired for 70 yrs. until Nehemiah rebuilt that wall in just 52 days. The false teachers in Jerusalem were charged with not repairing the spiritual walls of the people. Instead, they whitewashed them with teaching false doctrine or truths to make the people feel good. Physical walls can be repaired but you may have erected a wall around your heart because you have been hurt in some way. Instead of repairing it you may have whitewashed that wall by falsely saying you are “fine.” But, little by little the rains and the tears wash off your whitewash and you are exposed to the enemy—life is not fine and you aren’t either.

Beloved, when that happens, God’s loving angelic presence protects you when you are vulnerable. Sometimes God uses others who note our distress and stand in the gap with prayer where our walls show empty spaces. The body of Christ begins its work of closing up the breaches with prayer because the prayer of faith will raise us up.

Dr. Linda Smallwood writes: “When we intercede for one another, our chief purpose is to fill the gaps in another’s spiritual armor.” May we take her advice and stand in the gap with prayer for those whose walls are in need of repair.

Dr. Smallwood quote: http://www.myredeemerlives.com/intercession.html