Good morning to all on this wonderful fall day. Waine and I are in Atlanta and were to be leaving on our cruise to Argentina today however as circumstances presented themselves we have postponed that trip until March. Anyone interested in joining us, let us know. When things like this happen I have learned there is good reason and I just let go and "let God" control the circumstances because then I know all will be well with my soul. I forgot what it meant to have  relaxing weekends; building this practice has been a blessing and a challenge and God has sent some help our way and thank God for her! Dr. Charlya Campbell has been a very REAL blessing to our practice and God knew we needed her. I am sure He has another one just like her waiting in the wings so pray with us that God will send a caring and compassionate Pediatrician our way and soon.

 

I am continuing my journey in Jeremiah 41, verses 1-18 "In the seventh month Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was of royal blood and had been one of the king’s officers, came with ten men to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah. While they were eating together there, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him got up and struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword, killing the one whom the king of Babylon had appointed as governor over the land. Ishmael also killed all the men of Judah who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, as well as the Babylonian soldiers who were there. The day after Gedaliah’s assassination, before anyone knew about it, eighty men who had shaved off their beards, torn their clothes and cut themselves came from Shechem, Shiloh and Samaria, bringing grain offerings and incense with them to the house of the Lord. Ishmael son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he went. When he met them, he said, “Come to Gedaliah son of Ahikam.” When they went into the city, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the men who were with him slaughtered them and threw them into a cistern. But ten of them said to Ishmael, “Don’t kill us! We have wheat and barley, olive oil and honey, hidden in a field.” So he let them alone and did not kill them with the others. Now the cistern where he threw all the bodies of the men he had killed along with Gedaliah was the one King Asa had made as part of his defense against Baasha king of Israel. Ishmael son of Nethaniah filled it with the dead. Ishmael made captives of all the rest of the people who were in Mizpah—the king’s daughters along with all the others who were left there, over whom Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam. Ishmael son of Nethaniah took them captive and set out to cross over to the Ammonites. When Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him heard about all the crimes Ishmael son of Nethaniah had committed, they took all their men and went to fight Ishmael son of Nethaniah. They caught up with him near the great pool in Gibeon. When all the people Ishmael had with him saw Johanan son of Kareah and the army officers who were with him, they were glad. All the people Ishmael had taken captive at Mizpah turned and went over to Johanan son of Kareah. But Ishmael son of Nethaniah and eight of his men escaped from Johanan and fled to the Ammonites. Then Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him led away all the people of Mizpah who had survived, whom Johanan had recovered from Ishmael son of Nethaniah after Ishmael had assassinated Gedaliah son of Ahikam—the soldiers, women, children and court officials he had recovered from Gibeon. And they went on, stopping at Geruth Kimham near Bethlehem on their way to Egypt to escape the Babylonians. They were afraid of them because Ishmael son of Nethaniah had killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had appointed as governor over the land." Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

 

Up until I read this passage I always thought of Ismael as being an Arab name but if you think about it both Ismael and Issac came from the same father, Abraham so now I know that other Jews have had the name, Ismael. The meaning of the name Ismael is that "God will listen" and now knowing that I am clear as to why Abraham named his 1st born Ismael--however the Ismael of this passage and the Ismael of Abraham's loins are turning into characters that think that their needs are paramount over the needs of others. This Ismael was not content to be lorded over by others and sought to fill the power vacuum left when Zedekiah who was killed. But as they say in Jamaica "it no go so". What Ismael didn't quite grasp was that no man was in control. God had prophesied the demise of the tribe of Judah under the rule of Zedekiah at the hands of the Babylonians and He also prophesied and ordained the rebuilding of the tribe of Judah. No man would be able to stand in the way of God's Way. Likewise, Ismael also learned that deceit and dishonesty are always short lived, which is a lesson mankind should learn. When you "win" by lying and deceit, you have built your "house" on shifting sands--this house will not stand. When you build your house and future on the Rock of Jesus the Christ, your house and future will withstand all that comes it way. Hallelujah!!!! Nothing can withstand the Will of the God who created us -- not even death! I feel so sorry for folk who think that Life is just a series of circumstance. They must lead a very frightening existance because when you live your life that way you wake up each day never knowing what circumstance might come your way to upset the balance you think you have.

 

For Christians, we wake up each day knowing that whatever life circumstance we find ourselves in today we are to be encouraged because God is still on the Throne and is in Control. He needs no help being God and does a great job all by Himself. Get out of His way today and let Him work to get you back on the path of prosperity. If you are fretting about anything, let it go so that He can start working a solution, His solution, for you. Fear not the future, because you know the One that controls the future. You are the child of the King!

 

Now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

 

Stephanie

What a Witness!

Good Sunday to all. Its a beautiful fall day in Atlanta and Waine and I have thoroughly enjoyed our weekend in Atlanta. We had a chance to have dinner with our sons and Freddie and his Dad were able to play golf yesterday.  I am sure all of you witnessed the HISTORIC RE-ELECTION of President Obama last week. I knew in my heart of hearts he would win and I went to bed before the returns came in knowing I would awake to a second Obama administration. I am also believing the haters in this country will just get over themselves and come together to solve the many problems our country has. Having said that, every time Waine and I leave the country to travel abroad we are always GRATEFUL to come back to a country that allows everyone to disagree. Pray for our country and pray for God's blessings for you, our country and each other.

 

I am continuing my journry in Jeremiah chapter 40 verses 1 - 16 "The Word came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had released him at Ramah. He had found Jeremiah bound in chains among all the captives from Jerusalem and Judah who were being carried into exile to Babylon. When the commander of the guard found Jeremiah, he said to him, “The Lord your God decreed this disaster for this place. And now the Lord has brought it about; he has done just as he said he would. All this happened because you people sinned against the Lord and did not obey him. But today I am freeing you from the chains on your wrists. Come with me to Babylon, if you like, and I will look after you; but if you do not want to, then don’t come. Look, the whole country lies before you; go wherever you please.” However, before Jeremiah turned to go,^[a] Nebuzaradan added, “Go back to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the towns of Judah, and live with him among the people, or go anywhere else you please.” Then the commander gave him provisions and a present and let him go. So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people who were left behind in the land. When all the army officers and their men who were still in the open country heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam as governor over the land and had put him in charge of the men, women and children who were the poorest in the land and who had not been carried into exile to Babylon, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of the Maakathite, and their men. Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, took an oath to reassure them and their men. “Do not be afraid to serve the Babylonians, he said. “Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you. I myself will stay at Mizpah to represent you before the Babylonians who come to us, but you are to harvest the wine, summer fruit and olive oil, and put them in your storage jars, and live in the towns you have taken over. When all the Jews in Moab, Ammon, Edom and all the other countries heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, as governor over them, they all came back to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, from all the countries where they had been scattered. And they harvested an abundance of wine and summer fruit. Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers still in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah and said to him, “Don’t you know that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them. Then Johanan son of Kareah said privately to Gedaliah in Mizpah, “Let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it. Why should he take your life and cause all the Jews who are gathered around you to be scattered and the remnant of Judah to perish?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, “Don’t do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael is not true. Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

 

What a WITNESS Jeremiah was to the Babylonians. The captain of the Babylonian guards knew of Jeremiah's admonition to the Jews and knew of disobedience of the Jews which led to their eventual subjugation by the Babylonians. I truly believe when we are acting in FAITH, GRACE and MERCY we need do nothing but be obedient. Jeremiah never wavered; he remained obedient and responded to God's commandments to deliver the admonishments to the Jewish people. Although the Jews continued to ridicule him; plotted to harm him; and even enslaved him God had his back 100% of the time. You don't read any accounts that Jeremiah wavered; he was human so I am sure he had fears and doubts BUT he never wavered because his heart was committed to God.

 

Likewise, as Christians we are not perfect. We are faced with challenges daily and sometimes we may even be disappointed in our actions but if our hearts are committed to Christ at the end of the day, your life is one of abundance. When you truly let go and don't try to "figure" things out and just TRUST the will and Word of God you will be happier and more content. All the pundants; the political analyzers; the book makers; the haters and doubters spent months in speculation. At the end of the day it really didn't matter because at the end f the day God's will is always fulfilled just like with the tribe of Judah!

 

Trust God for your week and trust god for your blessings. Share the love of God with someone this week and let your light shine that other men may come to know the God that you know. The God of Abraham; the God of Christians; the God of the Beginning and the God of the end.

 

Now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; may the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

 

Stephanie



God is The Shield that Protects You!

Good morning to all on this great fall day. Waine and I are in Hawkinsville and I have had a great weekend catching up on projects that I have been trying to finish. It's day light savings time y'all so roll those clocks back i hour. It's been an interesting and trying week--one in which I had to call upon the Lord daily for guidance and in the end He is still God and all is right with the world. This was a "growing" week! I trust that all of you have either voted early or are planning on voting. Each man and woman counts! This is going to be historic and monumental.

 

I am continuing my journey in Jeremiah chapter 39, verses 1 - 18, "In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army and laid siege to it. And on the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the city wall was broken through.  Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and took seats in the Middle Gate: Nergal-Sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-Sarsekim a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer a high official and all the other officials of the king of Babylon. When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled; they left the city at night by way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls, and headed toward the Arabah. But the Babylonian army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They captured him and took him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced sentence on him. There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes and also killed all the nobles of Judah. Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon. The Babylonians set fire to the royal palace and the houses of the people and broke down the walls of Jerusalem. Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard carried into exile to Babylon the people who remained in the city, along with those who had gone over to him, and the rest of the people.  But Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard left behind in the land of Judah some of the poor people, who owned nothing; and at that time he gave them vineyards and fields. Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had given these orders about Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard: “Take him and look after him; don’t harm him but do for him whatever he asks.” So Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard, Nebushazban a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer a high official and all the other officers of the king of Babylon sent and had Jeremiah taken out of the courtyard of the guard. They turned him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him back to his home. So he remained among his own people. While Jeremiah had been confined in the courtyard of the guard, the Word of the Lord came to him: “Go and tell Ebed-Melek the Cushite, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfill my Words against this city—Words concerning disaster, not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes.  But I will rescue you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear. I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord." Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

 

Well it has finally happened! Jerusalem has been attacked and overtaken. It took 2 years to knock down the walls and over take the city. Two whole years and what you don't see written is that Zedekiah even tried to repent of his sins during the seize and turn to God. He was probably hoping against hope that he (Zedekiah) would prevail. He still didn't believe in the God of his forefathers; even with the evidence in front of him, his pride and will was too strong to over come. So the city of Jerusalem was over taken, the people of Judah captured and enslaved and Zedekiah's family destroyed. What foolishness! Pride definitely goes before the fall. What struck  me was that Zedekiah had evidence of the truth of God's promise for 2 whole years. Everything Jeremiah prophesied was coming to past and yet Zedekiah never repented and turned to God. This is how Satan works. If you let him live your life long enough, your heart becomes hardened against God and your heart is not able to respond to the love of God. A hardened heart will misread and misinterpret all that God sends your way. A hardened heart will blind you much like Zedekiah was blinded--you will not be able to see the love of God but instead see your own blackness and bleakness. This is a situation in which there is no escape and the only one that is ultimately hurt is the person whose heart has hardened. Satan glories in this. One more soul to suffer with him.

 

As Christians, just like Jeremiah, we have a duty to continue to spread the Good News no matter what the consequence to us. This dying world; this sin sick world needs the love of God and in a real way. This world needs to see the love of God through you and me and when life gives you challenges the world needs to see the confidence that comes through the relationship you have with God. In the end every thing Jeremiah preached came to past. Instead of using it as an opportunity in which to repent, I am sure Zedekiah blamed Jeremiah and God for the calamity. Again, that is what the father of lies, Satan would have you believe but it is not true. God does not desire that any suffer. He loves all His children yet the path to Him comes through a belief that Christ's sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary is the payment for our sins. Everyone must embrace and repent of their sin of not having God on the throne of their life and then accept the Gift of Life through Christ. So easy and yet so hard for so many. There is only one Way to God and that is through Christ. Yes there are many good Muslims, good Buddhist, good people but God's Word teaches that the path to Him ONLY comes through Christ.

 

In the end, Jeremiah and the Cushite were spared. They had the Arc of the Covenant to shield them. God's promises are as real today as they were in Jeremiah's day. He covers all who believe in the blood of Jesus so that we can be saved. Hallelujah! What a great God we serve. Have an awesome day and an awesome week.

 

Now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

 

Stephanie