Unfaithful

Ezekiel 16 is a poignant metaphor. God is comparing Israel to an unfaithful bride. He's comparing us to an unfaithful bride. I hear bits and pieces of my own story within the metaphor. I hear Him making a covenant with me and sealing me to Him. And then I, going off and doing my own thing, bring His punishment on myself. Of course, being God, He remembers the covenant He has with me and takes me back. Now I am ashamed of my sin avoid it like the plague. What I love is the God promises to establish an everlasting covenant with Israel. That's Jesus. The ultimate covenant and promise of God. I've said once, I'll say it forever, I love the Bible. I love how Jesus appears in the OT. Good stuff.

Ezekiel 17 is another metaphor, but at the end is the part I like. God is talking about making a big tree grow in Israel where all the birds come to chill. God mentions how powerful He is to make trees grow, or shrink, and make grass die or flourish. I heard once that the Kingdom of God is compared to a tree. I pretty sure Jesus does it in the NT but I could be wrong, and this could be the passage I'm thinking of. Either way, it's a cool idea. God establishes His Kingdom in Israel and all the other nations come there to nest. We have a home and it is in the House of the Lord.

Boy do I need to be there today!

Consolation

Ezekiel 13-15

So there is a purpose God? You do things for a reason? This whole passage is discussing how God is punishing Israel so they might know Him. He's not just doing it because He's angry or anything like that. He wants His children back. Repeatedly he mentions the phrase "...and you shall know that I am the Lord". This phrase always follows a promise of destruction. Yeah. The Lord says we shall know Him because who else could punish this way? Who else could it be? False prophets prophecied things that didn't come true, so that we might know the Lord. We shall know Him because He is revealing Himself in everything.

Do you get it? God is always doing things so that we might know Him and fear Him and love Him. He's not just trying to discipline us. That's not His style.

"When you see their ways, and their deeds, and you shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, declares the Lord God." Ezekiel 14:23

God does not act without purpose - He's too big for that.

How He loves

Ezekiel 9-12

Maybe it's just me, but reading the Word of the Lord towards the Israelites is full of seeing God's sorrow. His jealousy. He is angry at His people, but under His justice and anger, I sense His sadness that His people could be so unfaithful. I sense His jealousy that they would trust others before Him. He mentions His own power repeatedly as if to drive it into their heads that He is more powerful than their idols. Are you listening? "I will speak the word that I will speak, and it will be performed" (3:25). He is God. We can't stop Him. We can't control Him.

It's both scary and reassuring. Depends on whose side you're on. I'm on the Lord's side. I know He wills great things for me and that those things will happen.

He is jealous for me. He loves like a hurricane, and I'm like a tree bending beneath the weight of His winds and mercies. All of the sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by Glory. I realize just how beautiful You are and how great Your affections are for me!

How He loves us, oh!!!

Rainbow

"Like the appearance of the bow that is in the the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around."
-Ezekiel 1:28

Maybe I'm making a connection that shouldn't be made, but I'm of the opinion that, in Scripture, if you can make it, it's probably intentional. After the flood, the rainbow was a promise from God that He would never punish by destruction the whole earth again. In this passage, Ezekiel is looking at the Glory of the Lord, and he compares it to a rainbow. Another promise. A promise that even though God is punishing Israel, it's not to destroy them. A promise of coming salvation. A promise of so many things. To see a rainbow around the Lord! How fitting!!

The first few books of Ezekiel (1-8) are full of a lot of really cool imagery. The Lord gives all these symbols and signs to Ezekiel. Some of the highlights are that the Lords says that even silver and gold won't save Israel from the wrath of the Lord. No matter how hard we try, our stuff can't save us. Also, there's a neat line where the Spirit strengthens Ezekiel to stand. Sometimes I forget that the Holy Spirit is a present in the Old Testament as He is in the New. He's there. He's working.

All throughout history, God has never changed. He's still a God of love, justice, and mercy. He is a God with a plan who keeps His promises.

Hallelujah!!

I think my computer hates me

So lamentations 3 is pretty sweet! After all the lamenting that Jeremiah does, he brings it back in focus again with some awesome ideas about how faithful God is and how even in His judgment, He still has mercy! Still has steadfast love. Read it...it's good :)

Same old song...

I won't lie...the internet malfunction this morning was convenient. My life is so rushed. It's hrard to make time for the important things. This morning's passage was sort of redundent-the same old doom and gloom. I know scripture is always fresh, but sometimes it's hard to hear. I wish I weren't so deaf. Tomorrow is another day. I have faith - if nothing else...

Goodness

There are a lot of good verses today. I think it would be redundant to comment on all of them, so I think I will just write some of them.

One comment I will make is about labor. Sunday, my pastor said something about references to birth pains in the Bible and I've been thinking about it a lot since. In this passage, birth pains is mentioned a lot. Birth pains are the punishment of Eve. However, what comes at the end of birth pains? A baby! The best miracle I can think of! I think it's interesting that the Lord is predicting sorrow and anguish like a woman in labor upon all of these nations. They are being punished, but after the punishment, comes new life?

Jeremiah 49-50

"In those days and in that time, declares the Lord, the people of Israel and the people of Judah shall come together, weeping as they come, and they shall seek the Lord their God. The shall ask the way to Zion, with faces turned toward it, saying, 'Come, let us join ourselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that will never be forgotten.'" 50:4

"In those days and in that time, declares the Lord, iniquity shall be sought in Israel, and there shall be none, and sin in Judah, and none shall be found, for I will pardon those who I leave as a remnant." 50:20

"I will appoint over her whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who will summon me? What shepherd can stand before me?" 50:44

Not one Lord, not one!!

Lord of hosts

Jeremiah 46-48

I didn't realize until a few days ago when I was reading a version of Cinderella, that the word "hosts" when used in the expression "Lord of hosts" might just be referring the Lord's army. God is the Lord of hosts because He has many who go out with Him to fight! Hosts isn't referring to fat little baby angels. No! Warrior angels who get the job done!!

Reading the Bible is so much easier when you have full command of a language. Or so I presume...I don't actually know because I'm still working on my English...which is my native language...

Further, I find it interesting (and I forgot to say this yesterday in the passage I first saw it) that God predicts punishment on the Egyptians not only because of their own sin, but also because Judah is seeking refuge there. God predicts that He will give them over to Babylon, and I'm no history buff, but something like that happens...

God gives power, and He takes it away. These chapters show that clearly. God lists their sins they kept committing and tells them how they will pay for it. I wonder if an humbled themselves and repented? Doubtful...His own people rarely do that...

Sunday

Jeremiah 41-45

I don't really know what to say about what I read this morning. Jeremiah predicted doom and gloom over the remnant of Judah, they didn't listen and went to Egypt anyway, and the Lord said "Ok, but be ready for what's to come!"

I find it very hard to focus on anything when I have so much to do for school. I wish I weren't so behind. At least now, I have a clear plan and direction to follow. Lord, help me to remember that it's all for you! Help me not get so caught up in myself. Help me stay humble. I don't want to end up like Judah...

I need you God!!! Speak to me at the service today. Make today productive because of your provision!!

Rejoice

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he make me tread on my high places.
-Habakkuk 3:17-19

Even when things are bad, you have to praise the Lord. Even when 4th period is insane, and you're 7th period just won't listen, you have to praise the Lord. Even when you have no lesson plans for Monday and no time to write them, you have to praise the Lord. Even when you have a friend who sucks the very life out of you, you have to praise the Lord. Because even when all else fails, the Lord is everlasting.

"The eternal mountains were scattered; the everlasting hills sank low. His were the everlasting ways."
-Habakkuk 3:6

At the end of the day, only one thing matters. Even if teaching blows up in disaster, at least I have the Lord. What I'm struggling with is working as if for the Kingdom while still being Jesus to my friends. It's a fine line and I think I'm on the side of being a work-a-holic. I'm addicted to those kids though. I can't be an ok teacher, I have to be the best. I won't settle for anything less because I am doing this for the Lord. I can't just halfway plan for them, or take the easy way and lecture to these kids. No! I have to carry out my ideas. I have to give 5000% because that's what they deserve. Is it killing me? Probably. Is it making me stressed about making other commitments, heck yes! I wasted hours yesterday just chatting because I couldn't bring myself to excuse myself. I have a lot to do and no time to do it. I'm kicking myself because I wasted so much time this past week. I feel disorganized and in chaos. MAHARAYAHRAHAHRARHG!!!

But the Lord is an everlasting God. His are the everlasting ways.

We got this.

Sabbaths

"All the days that it lay desolate it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years."
-2 Chronicles 36:21

What an interesting idea! I had never made this connection. God left His dwelling place bare for seventy years to make up for all of those Sabbaths that hadn't been kept since long before (Josiah?). To be specific, the writer says, "until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths." The land was tired. It was probably being abused and overworked. It needed to rest. We all need rest.

"Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, 'The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the Lord his God be with him. Let him go up.'"
-2 Chronicles 36:23

How interesting that a Persian King, who is not Jewish, could be so in touch with God. I know the stories of Cyrus, they come later in the Bible. It always intrigues me that God would choose someone outside of His people to rebuild His house. But Cyrus was being pretty faithful to God. He had realized that all his power comes from the Lord, and any time he forgot that, the Lord sure helped him remember. I just think it's cool.

I just think God is cool. He always surprises me. He works in ways I would never expect or plan. He shows me things and humbles me with His greatness. I don't know why He would ever choose me to use me, but He has, and so I will follow His crazy plans where ever they lead because I'd rather be following God's crazy plans than my own.

Sometimes it's okay to give up

Jeremiah 38-40

Jeremiah explicitly tells King Zedekiah that he needs to surrender to the Chaldeans when they show up to take over. But the king doesn't, and he pays the price (2 eyeballs and all his houses). However, the Lord also command all of His people to serve the Chaldeans, and they would be rewarded. Promise made, Promise kept. They served them, and they flourished even while being ruled by foreigners.

So yeah, sometimes God wants us to surrender in order to live. We have to give up in order to win. It's a hard thing to do. Can you imagine the heat Zedekiah would have taken for surrendering? Though it can't be much worse than running like a coward. I don't even know why he asked Jeremiah's opinion if he wasn't even gonna try. Some battles aren't worth fighting, but running is never an appropriate response. You either stand and fight, or you surrender.

It's just funny to me how God can give such clear instructions that can be so blatantly ignored. Like in my own life... :/

Hardness of heart

Jeremiah 35-57

Today is a little bit harder to write about. I'm having one of those mornings. I'm trying to get myself together to be ready to see my students, but all I have is tired. What Word does the Lord have for me today?

In this passage, Jeremiah is repeatedly trying to get the attention of Israel and the king of Judah, but they won't listen. They have no fear of the Lord. The king even burns the scroll Jeremiah wrote that was from God. If that doesn't say, "God, Your Word means nothing!" I don't know what does. But that's what went on.

Keep my heart from being hard Lord. Let me always listen to wise council, even if I think my way is better. I think this might be the Word for me today. When I get to school, and people start making suggestions of how I could do things, I should listen. When they say, "Don't reinvent the wheel" I know they were talking to me. It is evidently my life goal to write a curriculum by myself because it's what I've set out to do. I don't want to be a teacher island, I just don't know how to collaborate. Help me have courage to work with others, to ask for help, to ask for ideas. Help me listen even when I think I have the best idea ever. Give me energy for the day Lord!

Coffee doesn't cut it because my joy comes from the Lord.

The Lord is our Righteousness

"Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land."
-Jeremiah 33: 14-15

Jesus. Righteous Branch of David. I get so excited when I see God predicted Jesus. It is so reassuring. (Have I said this?) In my Bible I have written on the inside covers "Promise made (front) Promise kept (back)". I took it from a sermon I heard once upon a time (pretty sure it was Andy Stanley). That's the Bible right there. God spends time making a series of promises and then you see those promises come true. Every last one. Like God's plan is huge! It blows my mind!

Speaking of God's plan: there's another verse earlier in chapter 33. It's verse 2: "...the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it -- the Lord is his name".

Think about it...God is promising doom and gloom on His people, but He gives them this reassurance. He says, "Look yall (because at heart God is a Southern Baptist (sarcasm)), I know it seems like I'm bent on destroying the whole world anytime someone messes up, but I created this earth to establish it. Now that's a pretty long term deal. Yall and yall sin can't disrupt my plans to establish my Kingdom."

God has a plan for the earth. For us. He's had it planned since He created it. He knows what He is doing. Isn't it incredible!!! I serve a pretty awesome God!

Just saying...

New Covenant

"Behold the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah...I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declare the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."
-Jeremiah 31:31-34

Jesus is what's coming. The New Covenant. I will put my law within them - Holy Spirit. And we shall all know Him because the veil has been torn and we all have access to God. He has forgiven us as He promised He would. He will remember our sins no more.

All this on the wings of prophecies of destruction, but a whole chapter devoted to God's promise to restore them. To turn their mourning into joy. To give them a new covenant. To hear them when they cry out. Hallelujah praise the Lord for this New Covenant. For Jesus. A Covenant signed with the blood of the Most Holy Son cannot be broken or forgotten. Israel broke the old covenant, but we cannot break the New Covenant. You've either signed it or you haven't. I have signed on. No matter what crazy thing I do, or what I put before God in my heart, the Covenant cannot be broken. This is a Covenant of victory over everything. If it could be broken, then it never had any power to begin with. He will forgive us, that's the promise.

"Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar -- the Lord of hosts is his name:" Jeremiah 31:35

Signed, sealed, delivered, I'm Yours!

29:11

This verse kind of gets me on my high horse because of how people use it. You should not quote this verse to someone on a graduation card unless the college they are going to is a form of exile! This verse is in  a letter written by Jeremiah to the people in exile. He is saying to them that they should make the best of their life in exile (verse 6-7). Later in verse 10, the Lord says He will fulfill the promises He has made because (verse 11) He knows what He is doing, and He isn't doing it to make them miserable, but to make them better. Because (verse 12) at then end of the whole thing, they will come to Him with a heart more devoted, and He will answer them. God is not simply saying, "I have a good plan for everyone! Puppies, rainbows, unicorns!" No! He does have good plans for everyone who trusts in Him, but more than that He is saying, "Even when your life is awful and you feel like I have totally abandoned you, I still have a plan for you. A plan for your peace and not for evil. A plan to give you a future and a hope." God is giving His people hope in the midst of exile. "But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare" (Verse 7). God is commanding us to be optimists. Even more than that, He's sort of saying whether the glass is half empty or half full, you should pray that the Lord would overflow it, and then He should overflow it for your enemies as well.

Once again, God isn't promising an easy life, He's promising a good plan. It's all about perspective.

But really, all I care about is that I never see Jeremiah 29:11 on another graduation card again!

Promise

I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall by my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.
-Jeremiah 24:6-7

It's a promise of being welcomed back with open arms. God says they shall be sent away for 70 years, but those who do return are good. God has good plans from them (He says so in chapter 29). He wants to always be theirs. He wants them to always be His.

He wants us to be His. He wants to be ours. God promises good to us. He wants to build us up. Even when it seems like we are being punished, that God hates us, He is not trying to uproot us, but plant us. Maybe even replant us? So we should cast our whole hearts unto Him.

What gets me about today's selection is that God is promising both destruction and a homecoming. He says how long they will be gone, but then He talks about how they'll be brought back (with the Chaldeans and bad shepherds smushed under their feet). God is promising victory over unrighteousness.

Maybe it's all my experience as a literature teacher (idk 3 months?) that gets me looking for themes...

The major themes of the Bible:

Army of one

Jeremiah 20:7-12

There are times we go together, and there are times we go alone. I can't imagine going alone. That's what Jeremiah is doing. He is alone among a people that have completely forgotten their God - the only God that matters. Jeremiah is crying out to God about how he wants relief from the persecution. He wished he'd never been born. His friends want to denounce him. But he says, "My persecutors will stumble; the will not over come me" for he has committed his cause to the Lord. (Verses 11-12). God doesn't promise the easy life. Jeremiah tried to hold in the prophecy the Lord was giving Him, but it burned like fire within him to say it. We have to do what God is calling us to do no matter what the consequences. I can't imagine being this guy...talk about tough.

And just for a snack:
"Do you think you are king because you compete in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me? declares the Lord." Jeremiah 22:15-16

Is this not what it is to know the Lord?

Tree planted

If you return, I will restore you
-Jeremiah 15:19

A very simple promise from a very Great God. He says restore. Later, He says redeem. This is the promise of the Gospel. This is the Gospel. The Bible is a story of redemption, not of wrath or of a man dying for the sins of others. No! It's about the only Man who ever mattered doing something totally unthinkable in order to restore and redeem His beloved to Himself. To restore and redeem all of creation to Himself. It's a story of victory, of overcoming. It's a story of the difference 3 days can make in the life of the humble. The Bible is more than the story of the Cross; it's the Word of God. (John 1, anybody?) I'm just gonna let that sit...

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is in the Lord. He...does not fear when heat comes, and is not anxious in the year of drought"
-Jeremiah 17:8

Trusting in the Lord does not magically turn your life into puppies and rainbows - believe me - that is never written in the Bible. Jeremiah had to stand by and watch his people face destruction. He had to trust that the Lord would see him through that time. Jeremiah did not fear that he should be killed in the exile - no! He was focused on God and God's work. Instead of freaking out anytime things go south, you have to focus on the mission. Just because it doesn't seem like God is working, doesn't mean He isn't. I do not fear in heat or drought because I continue to bear fruit. Can I say it and mean it? Lord, may it be so!

Not like these

"Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob, for he is the one who formed all things and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; the Lord of hosts is his name".
-Jeremiah 10:16

God is not like anything else, and nothing else is like God. Not my job, not a man, not a TOTY, not a house, not money, nothing! Nothing can do what He does. Being married will not give me someone who loves me unconditionally. Being TOTY will not give me confidence that I am an awesome teacher. Some things only come from God. Actually, all things come from God.

I'm willing to stick by that statement. God gives everything and He can take away. He never gives us more than we can handle suffering wise. He's just that powerful. He formed all things. Praise Him we have a share in His inheritance. What an inheritance it is!!?

Awake my soul today Lord to live for You only.

Boast in this

"Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let no the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord"
-Jeremiah 9:23-24

God doesn't care about anything but us loving Him. If He wanted us to be different in wisdom, might or riches, He would change it. One thing He cannot change is how much we love Him. In this we have control, and in this we can boast. I know the Lord is God. I know He is love, justice, and righteousness. I love Him. Don't be jealous :)

The theme in this book continues of being humble. Boasting in everything you have or can do doesn't bring God glory. I do struggle with that sometime. I want recognition for my work. I want to be the best. Sometimes I confuse doing my best with getting worldly recognition. Little do I realize that I could go unnoticed forever and bring Glory to God. I could never be recognized and still be doing all things as for the Kingdom.

Basically what I'm saying is that I do not have to be Teacher of the Year in order to be a great teacher.

Peso

Jeremiah 4-6: just a little bit too much for this time of morning. Warning after warning towards Israel that destruction is coming because they've earned it. They have been evil and treacherous, so the Lord says, "Why should I not punish them"? And He's right. He has that right. He is the Judge.

Good news is, there is hope for the humble. Those who put on sackcloth and humble themselves before the Lord. This is something I do poorly. I know I sin everyday, but rarely do I humble myself and beg for forgiveness. I really do think it should be humbling and begging. We don't deserve, and we can't take it for granted. God does not hold our sins against us thanks to Jesus, but if we don't humble ourselves and acknowledge our evils, we are no better than Israel at this time. God was so willing to forgive them, but they ignored Him saying, "No, He won't come for us." So what's the take-away today: be humble and lowly and God will always redeem you.

Beef with a side of chicken

"Then I said, 'Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth' But the Lord said to me, 'Do not say, "I am only a youth"; for to all to who I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.'"
-Jeremiah 1:6-8

Literally, that sounds like me. "No God, I can't...I'm too young!" Like, did Jeremiah know me? Seriously...coming across things like this just reminds me of how alive Scripture is. Lord, I'm so sorry for thinking I'm too young! I'm so sorry for trying to contain Your work with excuses like that. It doesn't matter if I'm not enough for the task, because You are! Anywhere I fall short, You excel! Anywhere I'm not enough, You're everything! I may be young, but I have You. Nothing can stop me!

"How well you direct your course to seek love!"
-Jeremiah 2:33

What do I seek when I go astray? Love. We all want love. Recognition. For me, I want the love of a man. I ignore that God is more than enough love for me, and I say things like, "God's love isn't enough. I want to be loved by a person, by a husband." The only problem is God's love is enough. God's love is like a husband. The ultimate Husband. Like, no one's gonna be a better life partner than God. Yet, I have dedicated so much time and energy to finding, earning, keeping love. Has it worked? No. Has anyone ever loved me that way? No. Does it upset me? Often. Is it a challenge? Of course. Am I trying to change? You bet. So much so, that I did something crazy. I've made a 180 in my life trying to break the habits. One of my favorite past times has been fantasizing up a life with random guys I see (notice I did not say meet). I see a cute boy, or better yet actually meet one, and I immediately start working out in my mind how he could be the one. I know it's sad; I'm ashamed to be quite honest. I mean, who does that? (Me.) Anyway, through some moments and some Scripture, God told me to stop. So starting June 16 for a year, I'm not liking boys. Have I been successful? Eh.... It's tough. I can't do it alone, and it's an uphill fight. I have to rely on God to take away the thoughts and to focus me on him. Fortunately, I have a lot on my plate right now to distract me. Not to mention, my other favorite past time is avoiding guys like the plague.

I lead a special life...

"And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding."
-Jeremiah 3:15

That's a promise. God says to Israel, if you come back, I'll help you. Shepherds like David. Or even better, the Ultimate Shepherd, Jesus. God doesn't want us to go it alone. He wants to have us be fed. He wants us to  learn and grow. He wants us to not struggle everyday. He doesn't want us to feel like we're fighting a losing battle. He's not a mean God who enjoys watching us suffer. He wants to make it easy. His road is narrow, but His burden is light. It may be difficult to stay on course, but He's there helping us!

That's a promise and a guarantee.

Daughter

"From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, daughters of my dispersed ones, shall bring my offering"
-Zephaniah 3:10


That's me! God is talking about me! I have been chosen, and I love to be reminded of my place in the inheritance. Sometimes I do find myself feeling like a slightly less legitimate child of God...sort of like a step-child. In reality, though I am adopted into the Kingdom, I am loved. I am chosen. God has purposed for me to be His from the beginning. I am one of those called "my worshipers" and "daughters of my dispersed ones". Praise the Lord!! The earth is ripe for the harvest, so go and tell. Do you hear that, self, go and tell!!


Another goody in Zephaniah is 3:5: "The Lord within her is righteous; he does no injustice; every morning he shows forth his justice; each dawn he does not fail; but the unjust knows no shame."


Everyday the Lord is revealed. Each dawn He does not fail. If those aren't words to live by...


This whole book is about God condemning His people because of their wickedness. His says a remnant shall remain, but for the most part, none of them are humble and lowly enough to be worthy of Him. He's tried to show them and to warn them, but they never paid him no nevermind, so He's coming to do justice. I talked the other day about God's perfect justice that will always be done, even to His own. There is no escape for the wicked. He does no injustice.


Each dawn He does not fail. Here it is, a little after dawn, and God has not failed!!

Too young?

"For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet a boy, he began to seek the God of David his father..."
-2 Chronicles 34:3

King Josiah had some pretty awesome faith. He started reigning when he was 8, and by the time he was 16, he was committed to following the Lord. Considering how evil his father was, that's pretty impressive. What I think is the best about this verse is that it emphasizes his youth. I'm not that young, but I often get frustrated with my age. I want (desperately at times) to be older. I feel people won't take me seriously until then. I'm a pretty mature person when I want to be, but because I'm still in my early 20s, people just don't take me seriously. I feel like, if I were 30 instead, but still acted the same, I would be treated like I know stuff. King Josiah was yet a boy, and he did some radical things. People followed him (1) because he was the king and (2) because God was with him. I think that's where the message lies. If God is with me, he will use me in spite of my youth (even because of my youth). I've come to terms with it more now, especially since I'm in the "adult" world (i.e. I have a "real" job). Even in my youth, I have something to offer people. I know what I know. I can do what I can do. I have confidence in myself. Eventually my age will catch up to me, but until that day, I'll trust the Lord has a plan (because he does) and my age will not affect it at all (because it won't).

So no, I am not too young...

More than slapping fish

Nahum

Obviously, Nineveh - like many nations - did not fully grasp how to love the Lord, because here they are, at the last straw. Nahum says, "The Lord is slow to anger and great in power...The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him." (verses 1:3 & 7). Those are the only two verses (ish) that say how good the Lord can be for those who trust Him. The whole rest of the book is about God's justice. Nineveh did bad, didn't repent, and now must face the consequences: complete destruction.

 The Lord is powerful. There are some awe-inspiring verbs in this books. Hills melting, seas drying up, floods setting loose, earth heaving, all because God speaks. God is so strong, and you do not want to be on the receiving end of His wrath!

So what does this mean for me? Well, I take comfort in knowing God is a God of justice and that "the Lord will by no means clear the guilty" (verse 1:3). But God is also a God of mercy and grace. He wants to restore the majesty of Jacob in this book (verse 2:2). Now we all know that Israel and Judah are just as bad as any other nation, but they are God's children so He restores them - of course He still punishes the wicked. God cannot be unfair. God is love. God hates evil. These Truths shine forth in this book.

But by far my favorite concept is verse 1:15 - "him...who publishes peace". I'd like to publish peace. What an interesting idea!

Confidence in rain

"Be strong and courageous...for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight battles."
-2 Chronicles 32: 7-8

God is with us. He fights for us. He helps us. We don't have to rely on ourselves and our strength to do things because we have the Lord our God on our side. Be strong and courageous!! In this story, I'm not sure if there actually were more people of Judah or of Assyria, but I'm willing to bet there were more Assyrians and that King H is referring not to fleshy arms but heavenly ones. The Lord of hosts provides help for us. Remember that battle where God provided the hosts of heaven to help Israel fight? They won! More than that, the enemy just ran!

In the same way, God can make the enemy run from us. We have nothing to fear. No one can ever defeat us. I can't tell you how many times (because it is too many to actually count) God promises us victory of evil, satan, and death. One I've read a lot recently: John 1:5. "The light (Jesus) shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (ever!). The whole Bible is basically a promise of victory and redemption. God has always been greater than the evil of this world, and He wants to make us greater too. He promises us victory over the evils here and redemption to what He created us to be. Jesus came to defeat evil and redeem God's people. There are so many more on our side.

Spiritual warfare is real. Look around you, there is a battle going on. But take heart! Do not fear! Everyone already knows who wins.

It's up to us to choose our side.

Old habits

2 Kings 21

I think some habits are harder to kick. No matter how hard one may try to overcome the sins of a society, somehow or other society always pulls you back. No matter how much Hezekiah tried to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord, his son succeeded in doing everything that was evil and disgusting. It'd been a pattern with Israel and Judah for a long time - since Egypt (verse 15).

I feel like Israel is more than a man or a nation - I feel like it's a metaphor. Just like Israel, sometimes I get it. I serve and love God with all I have. In those moments, me and God couldn't be closer. But then, other things happen, people around me (like the other nations) begin to pull me away. Temptations and worries begin to cloud my thoughts and all of the sudden, I've erected alters in the House of the Lord, just like Manasseh. I tell people all the time to trust in the Lord because He's got a plan, and I wonder why they worry so much about things they can't change or control. I think to myself, "Boy, I must really have things figured out because I never get all crazy because of things I can't control!" Yeah, the problem with that is I'm obviously really good at lying to myself because I worry ALL THE TIME!!! I'm worried and anxious right now!

I just started my first teaching job yesterday, and this week is devoted to meetings and such. I'm anxious about it, I won't lie. At the same time, it fills me with so much joy because every second is like a confirmation of God's plan for me. However, the unknown kind of freaks me out. I don't know what to expect, and it makes me nervous. But can I control what will happen? No! Should I be worried? No!

There are other things, too. Things that come from the culture around me: dating, financial worries (a whole new and (not so) exciting adventure for me!), looks, etc. I don't want to care about these things. I don't date. I don't want to be obsessed with how I look. Affording a place to live and saving money is too stressful to even think about. Really, I just want to let it all go!!

So I will...

Here You go, Lord! All my worries, fears, and anxieties. I can't control any of it! I can't control my job, what happens today, how much money I (don't) make, where I can live, what happens to my car, who I marry, how slow my metabolism decides to be every day, how my hair turns out, or other people's actions. All I can control is me and how close I can come to You! I know that the more I trust in You, the more things just work out - not necessarily in the "good" way I was hoping for, but in the awesome way You had planned all along! That's what I put my trust in. No more alters to money, jobs, looks or boys. I put my trust in the Lord and the Lord alone!!!

The Lord is good!!

Better than ESPN

Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. 
-Isaiah 65: 24


There isn't much to add to that verse. It says it all. By the time we get around to bringing our troubles and cares to the Lord, He is ready to answer and speak. It doesn't mean we get instant answers or results, but it does mean that God is paying so much attention to us that He already knows what we need and what we are going to say. After all, He is God.


But in context this verse is talking about life in the New Heavens and New Earth where there is so much peace and harmony, most of us wouldn't know what to do with ourselves. Wolves and lambs hanging out together,  lions eating straw, it all seems a little strange. But God is making a promise that we shall have peace like this some day. All His children and all creation will enjoy Him the way He always wanted us to. We'll be so close that He will actually answer before we can even say the "F-" in  Father. 


Daddy, where are you?


Here am I, here am I!


Praise the Lord He is with us and He is listening!! Most of all, praise Him because He's already doing something!!


Lord, let Your will be done!!