Good morning to all on this 20th day of September. Where has the year gone? My husband is always saying that the older he gets the more time seems to fly. This year certainly has flown by for us. Waine and I are in Atlanta and will enjoy a rare weekend at home and I am thanking God for this blessing. Its just good to wake up in your own bed sometimes. The weather in Atlanta has gone from triple digits to double digits and you can actually wake up and open your windows in the morning and again at night. Please continue to keep the US in your prayers and President Obama in your prayers. You know that God tells us to "owe no man anything except to love him". I am thinking that the debt problem we are having in America is a result of our sin and reliance on a lesser god, money. I am also thinking that America, and indeed the world, should turn to the one and only true God so that this monetary crisis can be solved.
That being said, I am continuing my journey in Jeremiah verses 18-23, "Because the LORD revealed their plot to me, I knew it, for at that time He showed me what they were doing. I had been like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter; I did not realize that they had plotted against me, saying, 'Let us destroy the tree and its fruit; let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more.' But you, LORD Almighty, who judge righteously and test the heart and mind, let me see Your vengeance on them, for to You I have committed my cause. Therefore this is what the LORD says about the people of Anathoth who are threatening to kill you, saying, “Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD or you will die by our hands” therefore this is what the LORD Almighty says: “I will punish them. Their young men will die by the sword, their sons and daughters by famine. Not even a remnant will be left to them, because I will bring disaster on the people of Anathoth in the year of their punishment.” May the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.
When men and women of God bring forth the Gospel we should expect to be talked about and plotted against. Satan cannot stand that the Word of God be preached to all the nations because that would mean his dominance and dominion in eternity is diminished. Remember that Lucifer fell because he wanted to be greater than his Creator. Instead of worshipping his Creator, he wanted the Creator and all the angels to worship him. His quest and struggle continues even today. There are so many 'gods" that are offered as role models to worship. I recently heard an NPR news articles that interviewed teenagers in Portland and Seattle who were actually idolizing Kurt Cobain, the rock and roll musician who abused drugs and then committed suicide. These teens were actually describing this disturbed musician as someone who should be revered and honored. I immediately began to pray for these kids because that level of confusion only comes from satan.
I also couldn't help but think that we as Christians are not doing our best at Kingdom building if our youth make demi-gods from the likes of rock and roll artists, sports athletes, movie and television stars. Christ and His message is not getting to the masses and because their lives have a void it gets filled with the "trash" of the world instead of the Good News that Christ died for our sins WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS. If you really stop and think about it what else could the world want if it really understood the Message of the Good News! The message of Grace and Mercy has to get out to this world so that our children will not be defiled by the evil one. Trust me, the world is becoming a very hostile place for Christians and the good that you would do is not going to be appreciated by many, but if its absorbed by ONE then that is one more person that will know the Love of God.
In my quiet time I pray for God's blessings of salvation and prosperity on those that have harmed me or grieved me. It took me a while but in so doing I have changed myself. There is less junk in my trunk. Just like Jeremiah, as obedient servants of Christ, we have to press on to deliver the Good News regardless of the consequences that people want to scare you with. God has you back, front, top, bottom and sides and He will take care of your enemies. When God fights your battles they are fought indeed. Don't get distracted today with the "noise" level of the world. Instead let your light so shine that others may come out of the darkness into the light. Be blessed today.
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
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