Posts
timewithgod.blog-city.com — December 2009
Jeremiah 19-22 Encouragement When We NEED It
Jeremiah got tasked with delivering an unpopular message to people who certainly didn't want to hear it. That had to be a very discouraging job. In these chapters, we can see the toll it took on him and yet he still had moments
Jeremiah got tasked with delivering an unpopular message to people who certainly didn't want to hear it. That had to be a very discouraging job. In these chapters, we can see the toll it took on him and yet he still had moments of incredible spiritual clarity:
"Lord, You tricked me, and I was fooled ... I have become a joke; everyone makes fun of me all day long ... This only brings me insults ... Sometimes I say to myself, ‘I will forget about the Lord. I will not speak anymore in His name.' "
But then .....
"But then His message becomes like a burning fire inside me, DEEP within my bones. I get tired of trying to hold it inside of me, and finally, I cannot hold it in ... The Lord is with me like a strong warrior..."
Jeremiah's highest thought is something I think every man probably hates to admit. Speaking to God, he says, "You are stronger than I am, so You WON."
Father, I'm so glad that You finally led me to discover that You are stronger than I am. I give! You win. How many times I stupidly tried to prove You wrong on that one! Thanks for lighting the fire within me. I know I can feel discouraged in ministry, but when I feel that way, stoke the fire. Remind me Whose I am. And if I ever complain too loudly, remind me of Jeremiah and all that he went through. My troubles are small by comparison.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
"Lord, You tricked me, and I was fooled ... I have become a joke; everyone makes fun of me all day long ... This only brings me insults ... Sometimes I say to myself, ‘I will forget about the Lord. I will not speak anymore in His name.' "
But then .....
"But then His message becomes like a burning fire inside me, DEEP within my bones. I get tired of trying to hold it inside of me, and finally, I cannot hold it in ... The Lord is with me like a strong warrior..."
Jeremiah's highest thought is something I think every man probably hates to admit. Speaking to God, he says, "You are stronger than I am, so You WON."
Father, I'm so glad that You finally led me to discover that You are stronger than I am. I give! You win. How many times I stupidly tried to prove You wrong on that one! Thanks for lighting the fire within me. I know I can feel discouraged in ministry, but when I feel that way, stoke the fire. Remind me Whose I am. And if I ever complain too loudly, remind me of Jeremiah and all that he went through. My troubles are small by comparison.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Jeremiah 23-24 -- I Can't Repent Anytime I WANT?
God was fed up with the kings and leaders of Israel. Along with the false prophets, they were only telling the people what they wanted to hear, much like today in America, I think. God said, "You are a heavy load to the Lord,
God was fed up with the kings and leaders of Israel. Along with the false prophets, they were only telling the people what they wanted to hear, much like today in America, I think. God said, "You are a heavy load to the Lord, and I will throw you down, says the Lord ... And I will make a disgrace of you forever; your shame will never be forgotten." Solemn warnings to us as a nation.
The problem was that they wouldn't call a sin "a sin". My sidebar today, by Oswald Chambers, said, "Conviction of sin is one of the rarest things that ever strikes a man. It is the threshold of an understanding of God ... When the Holy Spirit rouses a man's conscience and brings him into the presence of God, it is not his relationship with men that bothers him, but his relationship with God - "against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done evil in Thy sight." The marvels of conviction of sin, forgiveness, and holiness are so interwoven that it is only the forgiven man who is the holy man, he proves he is forgiven by being the opposite to what he was, by God's grace. Repentance always brings men to this point: I have sinned. The surest sign that God is at work is when a man says that and means it. Anything less than this is remorse for having made blunders, the reflex action of disgust at himself ... The new life will manifest itself in conscious repentance and unconscious holiness, NEVER the other way about... Strictly speaking, a man cannot repent when he chooses; repentance is a gift of God ... Examine yourself and see if you have forgotten how to be sorry."
Father, thank You for being loving and patient with me, and for forgiving me when I come to You in repentance. Help me never to take that grace lightly. What would I do without Your mercy?
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
The problem was that they wouldn't call a sin "a sin". My sidebar today, by Oswald Chambers, said, "Conviction of sin is one of the rarest things that ever strikes a man. It is the threshold of an understanding of God ... When the Holy Spirit rouses a man's conscience and brings him into the presence of God, it is not his relationship with men that bothers him, but his relationship with God - "against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done evil in Thy sight." The marvels of conviction of sin, forgiveness, and holiness are so interwoven that it is only the forgiven man who is the holy man, he proves he is forgiven by being the opposite to what he was, by God's grace. Repentance always brings men to this point: I have sinned. The surest sign that God is at work is when a man says that and means it. Anything less than this is remorse for having made blunders, the reflex action of disgust at himself ... The new life will manifest itself in conscious repentance and unconscious holiness, NEVER the other way about... Strictly speaking, a man cannot repent when he chooses; repentance is a gift of God ... Examine yourself and see if you have forgotten how to be sorry."
Father, thank You for being loving and patient with me, and for forgiving me when I come to You in repentance. Help me never to take that grace lightly. What would I do without Your mercy?
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Jeremiah 25 & 26 -- God's Last Straw
"This is your last chance..." God seems to be saying. Here's what really stuck out: "Again and again ... you HAVE NOT LISTENED ... over and over again ... you have not listened or PAID ATTENTION ... Stop your evi
"This is your last chance..." God seems to be saying. Here's what really stuck out: "Again and again ... you HAVE NOT LISTENED ... over and over again ... you have not listened or PAID ATTENTION ... Stop your evil ways. Stop doing what is wrong so you can stay .... You did not LISTEN to Me ... You have not listened to My messages ... Now change your lives and start doing good and obey the Lord your God."
God is at the end of His patience with them and He threatens much - invading armies from the north, desolation, and the country turning into a desert along with the land of all the nations around them. But here's what I saw as the worst threat of all: "I will take away the light of the lamp." In other words, "You will not be able to understand what you read in My word. You will not even be able to seek me because your spiritual discernment will be gone."
I believe God had to do that for me to get me back to Him. I'd begun to believe in a lot of New Age stuff, and it quickly began to affect my views of the church and my relationship with Him. I remember once having to ask, "How do you hear from God? I don't know how to hear Him." That seems to be the last weapon He'll use, because it breaks fellowship with Him, and He hates for that to happen.
Father, the spiritual coldness and emptiness I felt during that time won't ever leave my memories. I was foolish and prideful and thought I knew better that You. I know You've forgiven me, but it's certainly hard to stop kicking myself for my stupidity. The regret of those wasted years still weighs heavily on me. Yet You knew what You were doing and You drew me back to Your side. Thanks for loving me enough to use tough love when I needed it the most.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
God is at the end of His patience with them and He threatens much - invading armies from the north, desolation, and the country turning into a desert along with the land of all the nations around them. But here's what I saw as the worst threat of all: "I will take away the light of the lamp." In other words, "You will not be able to understand what you read in My word. You will not even be able to seek me because your spiritual discernment will be gone."
I believe God had to do that for me to get me back to Him. I'd begun to believe in a lot of New Age stuff, and it quickly began to affect my views of the church and my relationship with Him. I remember once having to ask, "How do you hear from God? I don't know how to hear Him." That seems to be the last weapon He'll use, because it breaks fellowship with Him, and He hates for that to happen.
Father, the spiritual coldness and emptiness I felt during that time won't ever leave my memories. I was foolish and prideful and thought I knew better that You. I know You've forgiven me, but it's certainly hard to stop kicking myself for my stupidity. The regret of those wasted years still weighs heavily on me. Yet You knew what You were doing and You drew me back to Your side. Thanks for loving me enough to use tough love when I needed it the most.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Jeremiah 27-29 What An Awesome God!
God wants His people to understand the utter futility of disobeying Him: "Don't resist Me," He seems to say. The impression I got was of the oceans slowly but thoroughly overwhelming the continents. The continen
God wants His people to understand the utter futility of disobeying Him: "Don't resist Me," He seems to say. The impression I got was of the oceans slowly but thoroughly overwhelming the continents. The continents could do nothing but take it.
"I made the earth ... I can give the earth to anyone I want..... to Nebuchadnezzar and his son and his grandson ... Don't listen to the lies ... All of them will be taken to Babylon. And they will stay there until the day I go and get them .... Build houses in Babylon and settle in the land ... Plant gardens ... get married ... have kids ... let your kids get married ..."
"Don't resist Me... because ...."
"I know what I am planning for you. I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future. Then you will call My Name. You will come to Me and pray to Me, and I will LISTEN to you. You will search for Me. And when you search for Me with ALL your heart, you will find Me! I will let you find Me. And I will bring you back ... I am with you and will save you."
I sit here with tears in my eyes. You see, my youngest son came in as I was writing this and I told him this was probably my favorite set of verses in the Bible. And I especially thought about him and his brother this morning as I read it - how they had both been in those orphanages in Ukraine, with about as much hope as those captives from Israel living in Babylon, and unknown to them, God had plans already worked out - plans to give them both hope and a future. It was nothing they'd ever dreamed about or dared ever believe would happen, but God plans BIG!
What's amazing is that He plans big for everyone's lives, and even intertwines all those plans for His good pleasure .... AND ours!
Thank You for making me a part of it all, Father. I only had inklings of the plans You had for me, yet I've watched them unfold and delighted in how You've given me exactly what I needed. You are such a great God, and eternity won't be long enough for me to thank You for all You've done for me and for my sons.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
"I made the earth ... I can give the earth to anyone I want..... to Nebuchadnezzar and his son and his grandson ... Don't listen to the lies ... All of them will be taken to Babylon. And they will stay there until the day I go and get them .... Build houses in Babylon and settle in the land ... Plant gardens ... get married ... have kids ... let your kids get married ..."
"Don't resist Me... because ...."
"I know what I am planning for you. I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future. Then you will call My Name. You will come to Me and pray to Me, and I will LISTEN to you. You will search for Me. And when you search for Me with ALL your heart, you will find Me! I will let you find Me. And I will bring you back ... I am with you and will save you."
I sit here with tears in my eyes. You see, my youngest son came in as I was writing this and I told him this was probably my favorite set of verses in the Bible. And I especially thought about him and his brother this morning as I read it - how they had both been in those orphanages in Ukraine, with about as much hope as those captives from Israel living in Babylon, and unknown to them, God had plans already worked out - plans to give them both hope and a future. It was nothing they'd ever dreamed about or dared ever believe would happen, but God plans BIG!
What's amazing is that He plans big for everyone's lives, and even intertwines all those plans for His good pleasure .... AND ours!
Thank You for making me a part of it all, Father. I only had inklings of the plans You had for me, yet I've watched them unfold and delighted in how You've given me exactly what I needed. You are such a great God, and eternity won't be long enough for me to thank You for all You've done for me and for my sons.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Jeremiah 30-31 What A Difference! Words Of HOPE!
I can just imagine the sheer relief Jeremiah must have felt when he was finally given a message of hope instead of disaster. Some of God's most beautiful words came to us through the weeping prophet: "At that time I will br
I can just imagine the sheer relief Jeremiah must have felt when he was finally given a message of hope instead of disaster. Some of God's most beautiful words came to us through the weeping prophet:
"At that time I will break the yoke from their necks and tear off the ropes that hold them ... They will serve the Lord their God ... I will bring back your health and heal your injuries ... He will come near to Me when I invite him. Who would dare to come to me uninvited? ... So you will be My people and I will be your God ... I love you people with a love that will last forever ... Their faces will shine with happiness about all the good things from the Lord ... They will not be troubled anymore ... I will change their sadness into happiness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sadness ... and My people will be filled with the good things I give them! ... I still remember him. I love him very much, and I want to comfort him ... now I will watch over them to build them up and make them strong ... I will put My teachings in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be My people ... all people will know me ... I will forgive them for the wicked things they did, and I will not remember their sins anymore ..."
A new covenant of grace was being established - a grace so undeserved that even today we marvel at what we've been given and we ready ourselves to celebrate the birth of His Promise as we near Christmas Day. And like those from Israel, we too are led to pray:
"Lord, You punished me, and I have learned my lesson. I was like a calf that had never been trained. Take me back so that I may come back. You truly are the Lord my God. Lord, after I wandered away from You, I changed my heart and life. After I understood, I beat my breast with sorrow. I was ashamed and disgraced, because I suffered for the foolish things I did when I was young."
Father, thank You for loving me more than I could ever love myself. Thank You for the precious gift of Your grace through the birth of Your Son Jesus. Don't let me ever take that grace for granted. It cost You way too much. Help me to love You by obeying You. Thank You again for the newness of life You've given me.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
"At that time I will break the yoke from their necks and tear off the ropes that hold them ... They will serve the Lord their God ... I will bring back your health and heal your injuries ... He will come near to Me when I invite him. Who would dare to come to me uninvited? ... So you will be My people and I will be your God ... I love you people with a love that will last forever ... Their faces will shine with happiness about all the good things from the Lord ... They will not be troubled anymore ... I will change their sadness into happiness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sadness ... and My people will be filled with the good things I give them! ... I still remember him. I love him very much, and I want to comfort him ... now I will watch over them to build them up and make them strong ... I will put My teachings in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be My people ... all people will know me ... I will forgive them for the wicked things they did, and I will not remember their sins anymore ..."
A new covenant of grace was being established - a grace so undeserved that even today we marvel at what we've been given and we ready ourselves to celebrate the birth of His Promise as we near Christmas Day. And like those from Israel, we too are led to pray:
"Lord, You punished me, and I have learned my lesson. I was like a calf that had never been trained. Take me back so that I may come back. You truly are the Lord my God. Lord, after I wandered away from You, I changed my heart and life. After I understood, I beat my breast with sorrow. I was ashamed and disgraced, because I suffered for the foolish things I did when I was young."
Father, thank You for loving me more than I could ever love myself. Thank You for the precious gift of Your grace through the birth of Your Son Jesus. Don't let me ever take that grace for granted. It cost You way too much. Help me to love You by obeying You. Thank You again for the newness of life You've given me.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Jeremiah 32 -- God's Long Term Investment
Jerusalem was on the brink of disaster. The city was surrounded by the Babylonian army, and its fall was eminent. It wasn't a good time to be investing in real estate. Yet that's what God told Jeremiah to do. He
Jerusalem was on the brink of disaster. The city was surrounded by the Babylonian army, and its fall was eminent. It wasn't a good time to be investing in real estate. Yet that's what God told Jeremiah to do. He told him that his cousin would come to the king's palace, were Jeremiah was under arrest, and offer to sell his land. Despite the battle ensuing, there were government officials still at their posts, and the transfer was accomplished and sealed with witnesses! Jeremiah sent for an archivist to seal his deeds in a fired clay pot - protecting them so that years later, when the Israelites returned to the land, his ownership records would prove to the nation that God had indeed been faithful in His promise to restore them.
Jeremiah then prayed publicly to God, saying, "Oh Lord God ... there is nothing too hard for You to do ... You plan and do great things ... the city will be handed over to the Babylonians ... You said this would happen ..."
God responded, "I am the Lord, the God of every person on earth. NOTHING is impossible for Me ... the people of Jerusalem have made Me angry. They turned their backs on Me, not their faces. I tried to teach them again and again, but they wouldn't listen or learn."
I thought I'd just discovered an oxymoron - nothing is impossible for God and nothing is too hard for Him, BUT He'd tried to teach them again and again, but they wouldn't listen or learn. Is it impossible? Is it too hard for Him to do?
In verse 38, God answers that question: "The people of Israel and Judah will be My people, and I will be their God. I will make them truly WANT to be one people with one goal. They will truly WANT to worship Me all their lives, for their own good and for the good of their children after them."
The answer is: It wasn't time yet. Yes, God can do anything. Nothing is too hard for Him - even the hardened hearts of those Israelites. Yet He wants us to discover the joy of freely choosing to worship Him - a joy that cannot be superseded by the joy we would have if we wait until we are made to worship Him.
God continued, "I will never turn away from them. I will always do good to them. And with My WHOLE BEING, I will surely plant them in this land and make them grow." It only took a thought for Him to create everything in the universe. Yet He will use His entire being for this last task. Either we're surely stubborn critters, or God's gonna be doing something really big!
Father, I know how willful I can be, and what it took for You to bring me back to You. I'm sorry it took such effort, for allowing myself to be loved by You and blessed by You should be the most natural thing on earth. Forgive me for my stubbornness, my willful disobedience, and my sin.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Jeremiah then prayed publicly to God, saying, "Oh Lord God ... there is nothing too hard for You to do ... You plan and do great things ... the city will be handed over to the Babylonians ... You said this would happen ..."
God responded, "I am the Lord, the God of every person on earth. NOTHING is impossible for Me ... the people of Jerusalem have made Me angry. They turned their backs on Me, not their faces. I tried to teach them again and again, but they wouldn't listen or learn."
I thought I'd just discovered an oxymoron - nothing is impossible for God and nothing is too hard for Him, BUT He'd tried to teach them again and again, but they wouldn't listen or learn. Is it impossible? Is it too hard for Him to do?
In verse 38, God answers that question: "The people of Israel and Judah will be My people, and I will be their God. I will make them truly WANT to be one people with one goal. They will truly WANT to worship Me all their lives, for their own good and for the good of their children after them."
The answer is: It wasn't time yet. Yes, God can do anything. Nothing is too hard for Him - even the hardened hearts of those Israelites. Yet He wants us to discover the joy of freely choosing to worship Him - a joy that cannot be superseded by the joy we would have if we wait until we are made to worship Him.
God continued, "I will never turn away from them. I will always do good to them. And with My WHOLE BEING, I will surely plant them in this land and make them grow." It only took a thought for Him to create everything in the universe. Yet He will use His entire being for this last task. Either we're surely stubborn critters, or God's gonna be doing something really big!
Father, I know how willful I can be, and what it took for You to bring me back to You. I'm sorry it took such effort, for allowing myself to be loved by You and blessed by You should be the most natural thing on earth. Forgive me for my stubbornness, my willful disobedience, and my sin.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Jeremiah 33 -- Perfect Timing, As Usual, Father
Chapter 33 in my Bible is entitled "The Promise From The Lord". God provided the lesson I needed to hear, right when I needed to hear it. Jeremiah is still imprisoned and Jerusalem is surrounded. They're even te
Chapter 33 in my Bible is entitled "The Promise From The Lord". God provided the lesson I needed to hear, right when I needed to hear it.
Jeremiah is still imprisoned and Jerusalem is surrounded. They're even tearing down the fancy houses in the city so they can use the materials to help fortify the city. There's an ongoing, "They said, I said" dialogue and several "They did, I did" episodes as well. Speaking of the Babylonian invaders: "They will fill these houses with the bodies of people I killed in my hot anger .... But then I will bring health and healing to the people there ..."
And about the Jews: "They sinned against Me, but I will wash away that sin ... They did evil and turned away from Me, but I will forgive them ... They will be surprised and shocked at all the good things and peace I will bring to Jerusalem. You are saying, ‘Our country is an empty desert, without people or animals. But THIS is what the Lord says: "There will be sounds of joy and gladness ... They say: "The Lord turned away from the two families of Israel and Judah" ... This is what the Lord says: "But I will be kind to them and cause good to happen to them again."
God promises that the sky and earth would have to leave their courses in the sky before He'd renege on His promises. That's how certain His promises are.
So what's it going to take for all this to happen - to change their sad and mournful times to times of joy? He tells us in verse 3: "Judah, PRAY to Me and I will answer you. I will tell you important secrets you have never heard before."
Father, I sure feel like this is where we are with my dear friend Karen Parsons. She's under attack by cancer and yesterday's news after the surgery made everyone feel like those people in Jerusalem must have felt. But we pray to You, Father, as You told Jeremiah, and we trust You to answer and to reveal important secrets to the doctors who will be caring for her. Please rid her body of this invader, or show her doctors the very best way to do so. Let all that she and Curt endure be for Your glory. Lift them up and carry them through this time, Father!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Jeremiah is still imprisoned and Jerusalem is surrounded. They're even tearing down the fancy houses in the city so they can use the materials to help fortify the city. There's an ongoing, "They said, I said" dialogue and several "They did, I did" episodes as well. Speaking of the Babylonian invaders: "They will fill these houses with the bodies of people I killed in my hot anger .... But then I will bring health and healing to the people there ..."
And about the Jews: "They sinned against Me, but I will wash away that sin ... They did evil and turned away from Me, but I will forgive them ... They will be surprised and shocked at all the good things and peace I will bring to Jerusalem. You are saying, ‘Our country is an empty desert, without people or animals. But THIS is what the Lord says: "There will be sounds of joy and gladness ... They say: "The Lord turned away from the two families of Israel and Judah" ... This is what the Lord says: "But I will be kind to them and cause good to happen to them again."
God promises that the sky and earth would have to leave their courses in the sky before He'd renege on His promises. That's how certain His promises are.
So what's it going to take for all this to happen - to change their sad and mournful times to times of joy? He tells us in verse 3: "Judah, PRAY to Me and I will answer you. I will tell you important secrets you have never heard before."
Father, I sure feel like this is where we are with my dear friend Karen Parsons. She's under attack by cancer and yesterday's news after the surgery made everyone feel like those people in Jerusalem must have felt. But we pray to You, Father, as You told Jeremiah, and we trust You to answer and to reveal important secrets to the doctors who will be caring for her. Please rid her body of this invader, or show her doctors the very best way to do so. Let all that she and Curt endure be for Your glory. Lift them up and carry them through this time, Father!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Jeremiah 34-36 Not Hearing, Not Listening, Or Not OBEYING God?
Agreeing to a royal order, the people of Judah freed their Jewish slaves to assist in the defense of the city. However, once the immediate threat was over, those who'd covenanted to free their slaves began to back out of the agreemen
Agreeing to a royal order, the people of Judah freed their Jewish slaves to assist in the defense of the city. However, once the immediate threat was over, those who'd covenanted to free their slaves began to back out of the agreement. This infuriated God.
Jeremiah was then told to highlight a family group which had always obeyed the commands of its ancestor. God desired the same level of obedience from all His people. But the new king, Jehoiakim, wasn't interested. As a scroll containing Jeremiah's words from God was read to him, he'd periodically halt the reading and use his penknife to cut away a portion of the scroll and throw it into his fire - showing his utter contempt for God's word.
In my Bible's sidebar today by Oswald Chambers, it says, "We don't consciously and deliberately disobey God - we simply don't listen to Him. God has given His commands to us, but we pay no attention to them - not because of willful disobedience, but because we do not truly love and RESPECT Him ... Why are we so terrified for God to speak to us? It is because we know that when God speaks we must either do what He asks or tell Him we will not obey ... Once I finally do hear Him .... My response then becomes, ‘Lord, why was I so insensitive and obstinate?' This is always the result once we hear God. But our real delight in finally hearing Him is tempered with the shame we feel for having taken so long to do so."
Father, I hate to admit that I've been so stubborn that I have willfully disobeyed You - about like a two-year-old would. I've also heard Your commands and failed to keep them. I agree with Mr. Chambers that my problem at times is that I don't truly love and respect You enough to follow Your will for me 100% of the time. In those moments, I'm trusting only in myself, and my limited wisdom makes that a losing proposition. Please help me to agree with You and to do what I hear You saying. Sharpen my spiritual hearing so that I don't miss a single command. Soften my heart to love You more than I love myself.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Jeremiah was then told to highlight a family group which had always obeyed the commands of its ancestor. God desired the same level of obedience from all His people. But the new king, Jehoiakim, wasn't interested. As a scroll containing Jeremiah's words from God was read to him, he'd periodically halt the reading and use his penknife to cut away a portion of the scroll and throw it into his fire - showing his utter contempt for God's word.
In my Bible's sidebar today by Oswald Chambers, it says, "We don't consciously and deliberately disobey God - we simply don't listen to Him. God has given His commands to us, but we pay no attention to them - not because of willful disobedience, but because we do not truly love and RESPECT Him ... Why are we so terrified for God to speak to us? It is because we know that when God speaks we must either do what He asks or tell Him we will not obey ... Once I finally do hear Him .... My response then becomes, ‘Lord, why was I so insensitive and obstinate?' This is always the result once we hear God. But our real delight in finally hearing Him is tempered with the shame we feel for having taken so long to do so."
Father, I hate to admit that I've been so stubborn that I have willfully disobeyed You - about like a two-year-old would. I've also heard Your commands and failed to keep them. I agree with Mr. Chambers that my problem at times is that I don't truly love and respect You enough to follow Your will for me 100% of the time. In those moments, I'm trusting only in myself, and my limited wisdom makes that a losing proposition. Please help me to agree with You and to do what I hear You saying. Sharpen my spiritual hearing so that I don't miss a single command. Soften my heart to love You more than I love myself.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Jeremiah 37 -- For A Christmas Day Quiet Time??
Jeremiah's only mission in life was to bring God's word to His people. For that, he was imprisoned and made fun of and pretty well faced an existence that was miserable compared to how his life started out. Sounds like Some
Jeremiah's only mission in life was to bring God's word to His people. For that, he was imprisoned and made fun of and pretty well faced an existence that was miserable compared to how his life started out. Sounds like Someone else I know..... Wonder if He ever felt the same?
Father, thank You for sending Your Son to this earth all those many years ago, and for doing so knowing how we would treat Him. How amazing that we could coo at the baby but despise the man. Forgive us. Thank You for saving us through the death of Your Son, and for guaranteeing us eternal life with You by raising Him back to life. I love You, and I love Him, too!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Father, thank You for sending Your Son to this earth all those many years ago, and for doing so knowing how we would treat Him. How amazing that we could coo at the baby but despise the man. Forgive us. Thank You for saving us through the death of Your Son, and for guaranteeing us eternal life with You by raising Him back to life. I love You, and I love Him, too!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Jeremiah 38-42 The Unfortunate Results Of Not Listening
The scene repeats itself all too often, both in the Bible and in life today: people badly want to know what to do. They ask God for an answer, then they don't like the answer they get. Knowing full well that they are proc
The scene repeats itself all too often, both in the Bible and in life today: people badly want to know what to do. They ask God for an answer, then they don't like the answer they get. Knowing full well that they are proceeding against the will of God, they make up their minds to do their own thing.
Jeremiah told the king to simply surrender and he'd live well. Instead, the king tried to escape and ended up watching his sons being murdered then having his eyes put out. Johanan and other army officers rescued Israelites whom Ishmael had taken captive. Fearing a Babylonian reprisal for the assassination of the appointed governor, Johanan stopped to see Jeremiah on his way to Egypt. Johanan asked Jeremiah to pray that God would direct them. He promised, "It doesn't matter if we like the message or not. We will obey the Lord our God ..." Jeremiah got an answer ten days later: "Stay, and I will build you up ... If you make up your mind to go and live in Egypt, ... war will find you ... hunger will follow you ...and you will die there."
That's a pretty strong message. You'd think that our self-preservation instinct would kick in at some point, and we'd do the right thing. But so many times, there's more than a hint of selfishness involved. When it comes to a contest between God and us as to who we should obey, I think we stupidly trust ourselves FAR too often. We recoil at the thought of enduring hardships. We try instead to pick the easy routes.
My sidebar by Oswald Chambers today says, "God does not give us overcoming life: He gives us life as we overcome. The strain is the strength. If there is no strain, there is no strength." Chuck Swindoll also added: "Honestly - have you said, ‘Thanks, Lord, for this test' ? ... Pain plants the flag of reality in the fortress of a rebel heart. When God wants to do an impossible task, He takes an impossible individual - and crushes him. May these things encourage you the next time God heats up the furnace."
Father, I know that You have Your best planned for me if I'll only obey. When those times come where I see the possible pain and begin to doubt Your loving guidance over me, help me to trust you anyway. Help me to know deep down inside that You're in my corner.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Jeremiah told the king to simply surrender and he'd live well. Instead, the king tried to escape and ended up watching his sons being murdered then having his eyes put out. Johanan and other army officers rescued Israelites whom Ishmael had taken captive. Fearing a Babylonian reprisal for the assassination of the appointed governor, Johanan stopped to see Jeremiah on his way to Egypt. Johanan asked Jeremiah to pray that God would direct them. He promised, "It doesn't matter if we like the message or not. We will obey the Lord our God ..." Jeremiah got an answer ten days later: "Stay, and I will build you up ... If you make up your mind to go and live in Egypt, ... war will find you ... hunger will follow you ...and you will die there."
That's a pretty strong message. You'd think that our self-preservation instinct would kick in at some point, and we'd do the right thing. But so many times, there's more than a hint of selfishness involved. When it comes to a contest between God and us as to who we should obey, I think we stupidly trust ourselves FAR too often. We recoil at the thought of enduring hardships. We try instead to pick the easy routes.
My sidebar by Oswald Chambers today says, "God does not give us overcoming life: He gives us life as we overcome. The strain is the strength. If there is no strain, there is no strength." Chuck Swindoll also added: "Honestly - have you said, ‘Thanks, Lord, for this test' ? ... Pain plants the flag of reality in the fortress of a rebel heart. When God wants to do an impossible task, He takes an impossible individual - and crushes him. May these things encourage you the next time God heats up the furnace."
Father, I know that You have Your best planned for me if I'll only obey. When those times come where I see the possible pain and begin to doubt Your loving guidance over me, help me to trust you anyway. Help me to know deep down inside that You're in my corner.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
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