Tag: Jeremiah

  • Call to Me

    A dear Bible study leader and friend (Helen S.) calls Jeremiah 33:3 her “911” verse. In troubled times, she relies on this verse to reach out to God. In reaching out by calling His name, she also receives comfort and relief from fear.

    Fayette State Park, Upper Pennisula Michigan
    Fayette State Park, Upper Pennisula Michigan

    I like the concept too. This is a never-ending promise with no expiration date. One that’s good to remember in times of turmoil or distress. Not only does God promise to answer me, but I’ll receive a bonus: information leading to great and unsearchable things I don’t even know. How cool is that?

    “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know”—Jeremiah 33:3.

    But I must take that first step of faith acknowledging the need for help. I cannot function alone and hang on to a prideful attitude. My heart must be open to the leading of a wise, Heavenly Father. To think that the God of the entire universe desires my fellowship—well, my finite mind can’t capture this fully. I don’t need to. I only need to trust and believe it is so.

    • Is there an area of your life you haven’t called out to God about?
    • Maybe there’s a piece you’re clinging to thinking you can handle all by yourself … do you think it’s time to let it go and let God take control?

    Dear God, I’m weary of trying to manage my life and my loved one’s lives too. The job is exhausting and usually doesn’t work out when I try to take control. I give You back this day, my tired body, and flighty mind. Take control of me. I relinquish the reins and ask that You be in charge. I’m excited to see what amazing results You’ll accomplish through me. Thank you. Amen.

  • Thoughts after the Boston Marathon bombings

    How do we make sense of hate crimes such as the Boston bombings this week? Crimes that maim and even kill innocent people and alter lives forever?

    My finite mind will never reason it out. There is no justification for senseless, needless killings. Humans have free-will choices. Many choose to use their choices to do good. Unfortunately, there will always be those who choose evil.

    “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” — Jeremiah 17:9/NLT.

    And what about those who wake up this morning with no son, daughter, sister, or brother? What about the injured with missing limbs, brain or head trauma?

    How do we counsel them? What words could possibly ease their pain?     Comfort one another

    Amidst this horrific situation, God stands ready to comfort, to extend his caring, loving arms. To wrap those arms around bleeding limbs & hearts. God’s love is deep and strong — able to shelter the worst storms. He extends his hands and says, “Come to me, my bruised child. I will ease your pain.”

    “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God … but this happened that we might not rely on ourselves, but on God” — 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, 9.

  • Coffee’s brewing!

    “For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life” (2 Corinthians 2:15–16).

    My all-time favorite stop to make when I visit Rockford is Herman’s Boy Coffee shop! My first glance at the coffee bar is their current list of specialty flavors of the month:

    • Easter Sunrise – “an intriguing blend of toasted almond, coconut and orange citrus notes”
    • Grand Slam – “rich chocolate, spicy cinnamon and toasted hazelnut”
    • Sugar Cookie – “sweet sugar cookie flavor”

    The aroma as soon as I walk through the door is divine! I could sit in their coffee shop and sip coffee all day long and never tire of the fragrance. There is no mistake that coffee’s been roasting and brewing. I feel right at home in this quiet and quaint atmosphere.

    When I contemplate aromas and smells, I wonder if I am a sweet “fragrance of life” to those I come in contact with. Do my words and actions lead them toward God or away from him? When I hear gossip, do I chime in with the most recent details, or do I attempt to steer the conversation in a wholesome direction? The words that come out of my mouth originate from my deceitful heart. “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it” (Jeremiah 17:9).

    On the way home, my car smells of coffee beans. I breathe deeply and drink in the aroma.

    Prayer: Dear God, help me to be attractive to others and not repulsive. My desire is that they ultimately be attracted to you, your ways, and your heart.   

    Ask: Are your family and friends eager to be near you, or are they anxious to leave you? Do you contribute to negative conversations or try to respond in a positive, uplifting manner?

    Teresa K. Lasher ©2011

     

  • Encouragement

    Warren Wiersbe says, “God’s people do not live in the past but they know how to use the past to give them encouragement in the present and hope for the future.”

    Reminds me of Jeremiah 29:11–13: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity…”

     I’m told not to dwell on the past for if I spend my entire day dwelling on the past, I’ll miss the present and the future. Yet, Mr. Wiersbe’s comment about knowing how to use the past makes sense. If I remember the past as a tool to help me not repeat my past mistakes, this can serve as encouragement. Not to dwell constantly and beat myself up, but to recall what snare God rescued me from. As I recall those nearly fatal mistakes, I thank him for his grace and mercy in my past life. Then I can look forward to what lies ahead, learn from my mistakes, and move on to greater heights.

    Prayer: Thank you, God, for rescuing me from a potential huge mistake. I felt your presence and now see your divine intervention. Protect me from continuing to bring up the mistake in my mind. I know you forgave me, and now I want to let it go. I owe my life and peace of mind to you. I know you forgave me, but help me forgive myself.

    Ask: Is there something in your past that keeps nagging away at your brain? Is there a particular occurrence that just won’t go away no matter how hard you will it to be gone? Do you realize that God wants you to be free of those captive thoughts?

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