Category: Jeremiah

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Falling In Love

Do you remember when you first fell in love? I do.

It’s been over 50 years ago now but I still remember the day I received the first letter that Dave wrote me. It was short and sweet. It changed my life!

I remember us writing several times before our first phone call when we set up a day to meet. He lived 245 miles away. We both had jobs and our schedules had to be worked out. We met the Sunday after Thanksgiving; I was in Yuma with family. It was only 60 miles from Dave lived – perfect!

We spent the day together; it was love at first site! Now I will interject here that I had known Dave for almost 12 years. Our first meeting came when I was 8 years old. He had been my school-girl crush, but this feeling I had was different, it was a confident love that I knew would last a lifetime.

I remember, after that first date, telling my friends at work that I was going to marry him. (He hadn’t asked yet, but I knew he would.) There’s something about being in love that fills you with joy. You just can’t help smiling and telling everyone how special it is.

This morning I was reminded of a verse that tells about joy. See if you think it fits with being in love.

“You will teach me the right way to live. Just being with you will bring complete happiness.  Being at your right side will make me happy forever.” Psalm 16:11 ERV

You make me happy forever. Pause and think about that for a moment.

I also remember the first time I realized Jesus loved me, I was a little girl. And then I also remember the first time, as an adult, that I realized God’s love was unconditional and eternal. I remember that although I had strayed in my relationship with Him, He had never strayed from me.

It was then I began to dive into the sweetest love letter ever written, the Bible. The love letters that Dave had written while we were dating were a tangible example of the love that God was telling me about in His letter.

“The Lord came to us from far away, saying, “I have loved you with a love that lasts forever. So I have helped you come to Me with loving-kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3 NLV

A love that lasts forever! Joy that lasts forever!

If you have slipped or strayed in your relationship with the Lord let me encourage you to return to the One who loves you the most.

“I love You, O Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, and my safe place, and the One Who takes me out of trouble. My God is my rock, in Whom I am safe. He is my safe-covering, my saving strength, and my strong tower.” Psalm 18:1-2 NLV

The words of a little chorus come to mind: I keep falling in love with Him over and over and over and over again…It gets sweeter and sweeter as the days go by, Oh what a love between my Lord and I, I keep falling in love with Him over and over again”.

Maybe today you will fall in love for the first time or maybe it will be the day you fall in love with Him, over again.

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Loss, Love & Triumph

Have you ever lost contact with someone you love? Maybe one of you moved and circumstances changed; maybe it was more permanent than that and death is the cause of separation. If that’s the case, then maybe you can understand the story of Joshua.

Joshua lived in Egypt and he was one of the many that Moses delivered from pharaoh’s control. He and Caleb were two of the twelve spies that saw how luscious and productive the land of Israel was; he gave a good report that the others chose to ignore. He became Moses’ assistant and served God with his whole heart. Now Moses had died and the responsibility for taking the Israelites into this new land was his.

“…The Lord said: 2 My servant Moses is dead. Now you must lead Israel across the Jordan River into the land I’m giving to all of you. 3  Wherever you go, I’ll give you that land, as I promised Moses…5  Joshua, I will always be with you and help you as I helped Moses, and no one will ever be able to defeat you.

6-8  Long ago I promised the ancestors of Israel that I would give this land to their descendants. So be strong and brave! Be careful to do everything my servant Moses taught you. Never stop reading The Book of the Law he gave you. Day and night you must think about what it says. If you obey it completely, you and Israel will be able to take this land. 9 I’ve commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the Lord your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:1-9 CEV

For forty years Joshua had seen God’s mighty miracles; for the same time, he had seen the stubbornness of the people. He had stood by Moses, learned from him and now he was on his own to lead. I imagine his sense of loss was almost too much to bear.

But God!

God knew Joshua was in need of encouragement. God knew His plans for Joshua’s future and He knows His plans for us.

“I will bless you with a future filled with hope—a future of success, not of suffering.” Jeremiah 29:11 CEV

In a few, power-packed verses, God establishes Joshua’s leadership and declares his victory.

  • I will always be with you
  • I will help you
  • No one will defeat you
  • Be strong. Be Brave
  • Obey My Word
  • Be strong. Be Brave
  • Don’t be discouraged or afraid
  • I will be there to help you

Notice the Lord repeated Himself. He was making a point to Joshua and to us.

“ I am grateful that God always makes it possible for Christ to lead us to victory. God also helps us spread the knowledge about Christ everywhere, and this knowledge is like the smell of perfume.” II Corinthians 2:14 CEV

Can you hear God saying to you “be strong, be brave – God, in Christ always leads us to victory”? Sure, there are battles but we will be victorious.

God promised to always be with Joshua and He has made the same promise to us.

“ In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us. 38 I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—” Romans 8:37-38a CEV

Maybe you’ve experienced the loss of someone you loved and depended upon, just like Joshua. Your heavenly Father is there – in your loss to encourage you with His love and lead you to victory!

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Advent

Yesterday our great granddaughter announced to me that “Christmas is 3 days away”! She was very excited.

I asked how she knew that and she said she had opened her calendar.

Advent. The looking forward to or anticipation of the birth of Christ.

Did you notice that “advent” is the root word for adventure? And what a heavenly adventure it was.

Yesterday we were together with family; the rest of them will be arriving today. I’m so excited for this time to spend with them.

Thinking of our Heavenly Father and how He must feel as He brings each of us to mind. His love is overwhelming, His peace reassuring and His comfort beyond comparing!

I can hear Him saying:

“I love you with an everlasting love” Jeremiah 31:3

“My peace I give to you; peace, be still.” John 14:27

“I will send the Comforter that will abide with you forever” John 14:16

“Let my joy be your strength” Nehemiah 8:10

” I know the thoughts I have for you; thoughts of peace”. Jeremiah 29:11-13

Yes, in the quiet of my morning I can hear my Father speaking to me and He’s speaking to you as well. Enjoy your time with Him. Each day is an amazing advent-ure!

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The Gift of God

When our children were little, we began a tradition of passing out the gifts, after Dave had read the Christmas story from Luke 2.

The kids would work together taking presents from under the tree and passing them to their intended recipients. Once all the gifts were distributed, the youngest family member got to open the first present. Then each one of us would open a present, all the time observing the succession of youngest to oldest. And we still do that today.

Even in our leanest years financially there would be more than one gift for them to open. There were gifts!

That was the scene that filled my mind this morning. The gifts.

“God does not change His mind when He chooses men and gives them His gifts. 32 God has said that all men have broken His Law. But He will show loving-kindness on all of them.’ Romans 11:29 & 32 NLV

God has given us His gifts and He doesn’t change His mind. What a thought! It would be cruel to promise a gift and then withhold it. God doesn’t do that.

“Then the Lord said to me, ‘You have seen well, for I am watching to see that My Word is completed.’” Jeremiah 1:12 NLV

“For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will look for Me and find Me, when you look for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 NLV

I didn’t title this morning’s blog “The Gifts of God” but instead “The Gift of God”, for a reason. Our heavenly Father has many gifts waiting for us – forgiveness, joy, peace, grace, strength, His abiding presence but the many gifts come through “The Gift of God”, Jesus.

“Men become right with God by putting their trust in Jesus Christ. God will accept men if they come this way. All men are the same to God. 23 For all men have sinned and have missed the shining-greatness of God. 24 Anyone can be made right with God by the free gift of His loving-favor. It is Jesus Christ Who bought them with His blood and made them free from their sins.” Romans 3:22-24 NLV

Once we receive the gift of His Son and our forgiveness of sins we are reconciled to God; adopted by Him and become heirs of His promises.

“The yes to all of God’s promises is in Christ. And that is why we say “Amen” through Christ to the glory of God. 21 And God is the one who makes you and us strong in Christ. God is also the one who chose us for his work” II Corinthians 1:20-21 ERV

It’s time to open our hearts to the gift of God, to His Son, Jesus!

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Christmas Presence

Christmas time as a retiree is so much different than it was with children in the home. There were school programs to attend and help with, gifts to select for teachers, parties to plan as well as time with family and friends.

Christmas was such a hectic time and it seemed everyone was calling your name – Mom, Kristi, Honey? I think every mom has said at one point, “I’m changing my name”. We say that in jest because we never would but some days, we were just tired and out of answers.

How great to know that there is One who is always there to answer when we call. He never gets tired or falls asleep while we’re talking. He’s interested, He’s concerned and He loves to make time for us.

“Ask me, and I will tell you things that you don’t know and can’t find out.” Jeremiah 33:3 CEV

His names: Wonderful, Counsellor, Prince of Peace, Mighty God.

Also Maker, Husband, Lord, Redeemer, Mighty God

” For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.” Isaiah 54:5 KJV

His name is Jesus…Savior

“21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 KJV

He is I AM: bread of life, the door, the good shepherd, the way, the truth and the life, the Word, the resurrection, the vine, the friend that sticks closer than a brother!

He is our intercessor, our high priest, the author and finisher of our faith, our healer, our Savior, the Son of God.

” For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin. 16 Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].” Hebrews 4:15-16 AMP

He is Immanuel, “God with us”! Oh, how I love that. He is God who lives with us and in us. We don’t have to wait for a special visitation as the people did in the Old Testament. We don’t have to experience a burning bush, a pillar of fire or a cloud overshadowing. We have His promise of His Christmas Presence.

“This happened as the Lord said it would happen through the early preacher. 23 He said, ‘The young woman, who has never had a man, will give birth to a Son. They will give Him the name Immanuel. This means God with us.'” Matthew 1:22-23 NLV

Who is it you need to talk to today? He is JESUS!

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Christmas Cards

I know it’s only December 1st but have you received any Christmas cards yet?

I have a few friends that address their cards and write their Christmas letters on Thanksgiving weekend. Then, like clockwork, they are in the mail and delivered by December 1. In fact, I have already received one – it arrived, hand-delivered, on Thanksgiving Day.

Are you like me? I love getting these Christmas greetings from friends and loved one far and near. Reading their newsy letters brings them close once again.

As I sat here this morning wondering what I should share, I prayed a simple prayer and asked “Lord, what do you want to say this morning?”. Here’s the answer – it’s from God’s heart to you – ‘nuf said.

“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3 KJV

“From far away, the Lord will appear to his people. The Lord says, “I love you people with a love that continues forever. That is why I have continued showing you kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3 ERV

Years ago, I read this verse about this time of year and it really impacted my heart. I felt like it was God’s message for the Season. His matchless love – His unconditional love – His love that never fails is the reason we have Christmas.

The Father reached out to us with His most extravagant gift, Jesus, His Son.

Maybe, just maybe, you’ll print this verse and attach it to your mantle or at least copy it and put it in your phone so you can look at it several times each day. This message of everlasting love and God’s lovingkindness, His “hesed” is a message from His heart to ours!

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Grateful for Unconditional Love

Unconditional love and loving-kindness walk hand in hand.

We saw over the last week that the loving-kindness of God is His love in action. His protection, provision, peace and forgiveness. Forgiveness is certainly paramount in my life and thoughts.

For years, I felt I had to earn God’s love. I needed to be reading my Bible every day, praying according to some set standard, going to church by man’s standard, doing as many good works as possible and giving, not only finances but my time, according to a standard.

I couldn’t! I didn’t measure up to the standard of a good Christian.

“My dear children, I am writing this to you so you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, there is One Who will go between him and the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the One Who is right with God. 2 He paid for our sins with His own blood. He did not pay for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world.” I John 2:1-2 NLV

My sins – past, present and future – were paid for by Christ. We were on His heart before He went to the cross and willingly gave His life. We were forefront in His thoughts. He died for us. He wanted us to have an unbroken relationship with His Father.

“I do not pray for these followers only. I pray for those who will put their trust in Me through the teaching they have heard. 21 May they all be as one, Father, as You are in Me and I am in You. May they belong to Us. Then the world will believe that You sent Me. 22 I gave them the honor You gave Me that they may be one as We are One. 23 I am in them and You are in Me so they may be one and be made perfect. Then the world may know that You sent Me and that You love them as You love Me.” John 17:20-23 NLV

This was just part of the prayer Jesus prayed on the night He was arrested and taken to trial. His thoughts weren’t on the persecution He was about to face, He was thinking of us!

“The Lord says, ‘I love you people with a love that continues forever. That is why I have continued showing you kindness.'” Jeremiah 31:3 ERV

Forever!

“We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.” Romans 3:22-24 NLT

I want to spend my time walking and talking with Him each day. My Father loves me. All those things I said I felt I had to do to earn and deserve God’s love, I now do because of my love and gratitude for His unconditional love!

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Through & Through

This morning my thoughts went to a Scripture I had memorized as a child in Sunday School. It made an impression on me because of one word. The word was thoroughly.

I’m not sure why I was so intrigued by that word, but I was. And as I sat here this morning that word came up in my heart with the same intensity that it had all those years ago.

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary the following words are synonyms that can be used in place of, but keep the meaning of, thoroughly.

  • completely
  • comprehensively
  • detailedly
  • exhaustively
  • fully
  • roundly
  • systematically
  • through and through
  • totally

Now that you know the background, let’s look at the verses I’m referring too.

“and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” II Timothy 3:15-17 NKJV

Timothy was a young man and Paul, the Apostle, was mentoring him in his walk with Christ. Timothy’s mother and grandmother were godly women who had raised him to know the Scriptures. Paul was reminding him of the importance of that early upbringing.

This is also a good reminder to all of us. It is through the Scriptures that we obtain faith for salvation. It is also through God’s written word that we have the pattern for godly living.

God never intended for us to attempt this lifestyle on our own. No, to the contrary, it is through the instruction of God’s word that we are complete and thoroughly equipped. We are changed from the inside out, through and through, systematically, totally, comprehensively fitted for every good work.

WOW!

On those days when you feel like quitting, giving up and giving in you are thoroughly equipped. in those times when you are discouraged and disheartened you have been systematically and totally undergirded by the power of Almighty God.

“ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 NLT

We were created as a masterpiece of the Father’s love. He planned for us to do good things.

“ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

I hope this has been an encouragement to you today. You are totally, completely, fully, exhaustively equipped through and through by the power of God’s word!

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Listening to the Waves

Yesterday I received an email from a dear friend. She was asking me about the trip, “is it even more than you expected?”.

Yes more, so much more.

She also talked about listening to the sound of the waves. Oh yes, that sound completely engulfs us as we sit on the balcony enjoying the view. We hear it as we walk to the village and stop at the shops. It is an ever-constant reminder of where we are and in reality, it’s also a reminder of the greatness of the Lord.

“The ocean is roaring, Lord! The sea is pounding hard. 4 Its mighty waves are majestic,
but you are even more majestic, and you rule over all. 5 Your decisions are firm, and your temple will always be beautiful and holy.” Psalm 93:3-5 CEV

I know that one of the underlying threads to these morning devotions is finding the hand of God in daily events. It is Almighty God who designed nature to reveal His glory and goodness. It’s the simple things in life that expose His majesty.

“’No longer will they have to teach one another to obey me. I, the Lord, promise that all of them will obey me, ordinary people and rulers alike. I will forgive their sins and forget the evil things they have done.” 35 I am the Lord All-Powerful. I command the sun to give light each day, the moon and stars to shine at night, and ocean waves to roar. 36 I will never forget to give those commands, and I will never let Israel stop being a nation. I, the Lord, have spoken.'” Jeremiah 31:34-36 CEV

When we see God in the everyday course of life, it heightens our awareness of His presence. All this beauty and grandeur was created for us. The sunrise and sunset, the changing of the seasons, the tides ebb and flow, the vastness of the galaxies are all for us. Our heavenly Father wants us to know that He is always near.

“The heavens keep telling the wonders of God, and the skies declare what he has done. 2 Each day informs the following day; each night announces to the next.3 They don’t speak a word, and there is never the sound of a voice. 4 Yet their message reaches all the earth,
and it travels around the world.” Psalm 19:1-4 CEV

(Please take time today to read the whole chapter of Psalm 19. It will bless you.)

Before there was an internet the heavens were in place; before the smart phone the waves spoke of God’s glory; before Starlink the sunrise communicated the unchangeableness of God’s greatness.

Before I close, I would like to remind you of the words of an old hymn:

“O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed

[Refrain]
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!”

As my friend said, “I bet the waves are so relaxing to just sit & watch. Close your eyes and hear them.” Take time to listen for God’s voice – His words of love are on every breeze, in every sunset and they roll in on every wave.

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Living the Dream/Plan

Those of you who know me know that Dave and I have been living with a particular dream for about five years now.

We’ve never been on an exotic vacation, in fact, we’ve only been on a handful of actual vacations. But one warm summer day, we came across a series of travel videos on the islands of Greece. I had never seen such beautiful turquoise water, it was breathtaking, literally. The quaint towns, the local residents and those iconic, white-washed buildings with blue doors drew me in.

Greece has over 200 hundred inhabited islands, rich in history. They also have a Biblical connection. The Apostle Paul, Titus, Barnabus and Luke traveled there bringing the message of Jesus to the uttermost parts of their world. John, the apostle, was exiled to the island of Patmos and it was there he received and wrote the Book of Revelation.

And we will be leaving for Greece on Friday.

“You are now children of God because you have put your trust in Christ Jesus. 27 All of you who have been baptized to show you belong to Christ have become like Christ. 28 God does not see you as a Jew or as a Greek. He does not see you as a servant or as a person free to work. He does not see you as a man or as a woman. You are all one in Christ. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you have become the true children of Abraham. What God promised to him is now yours.” Galatians 3:26-29 NLV

One in Christ!

Wherever we are, whatever we do, God wants us to be focused on who we are in Christ and to experience unity with like-minded followers of Christ. One of our plans is to attend a Greek Orthodox service and join in their worship of the Lord.

“For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:11-2 NLV

We will be gone most of September. I plan on sharing the adventure with you, but I don’t know if that will be every day. We ask for your prayers as we travel, this will be our first international flight.

We know we will enjoy the people, the food, the beauty and we are thankful to be going on such a wonderful journey. Ten years ago, I would have never thought we would experience anything like this but here we are ready to pack our suitcases and be on our way.

“This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us be full of joy and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 NLV

One thing I’ve come to know is that each day is an adventure with the Father just waiting to unfold!

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