Good morning to all on this Sunday morning. My last posting was on the Sunday after Violet's passing and I dare say that the past 2 weeks have been a whirl wind. Her brothers and sisters came from near and far as did her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Her memorial service was very touching and beautiful as the life of this woman was celebrated. I don't think it has quite hit Waine yet so please keep him in your prayers. I didn't even get to post my weekly Jeremiah blog entry because of the demands (good demands) of ensuring that our children and our obligations to Violet and her family were met. Waine and I had a great bonding time with all four of our children, Kai and Hailie and hosted a Sunday dinner for about 50 people. Funerals and weddings are a great time to catch up with family and friends. In lieu of flowers, Waine established a Violet Johnson-ABC memorial fund which anyone can access through http://www.abcardio.org/. Violet had atrial fibrillation for decades and if her passing can assist others, this would continue to honor the life of this remarkable woman who was eulogized by one of her son's as a woman "who never hid the talents that God gave her". What a wonderful tribute.
I am continuing my journey in Jeremiah 21, verses 1-14 "The Word came to Jeremiah from the LORD when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah. They said: Inquire now of the LORD for us because Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is attacking us. Perhaps the LORD will perform wonders for us as in times past so that he will withdraw from us. But Jeremiah answered them, “Tell Zedekiah, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I am about to turn against you the weapons of war that are in your hands, which you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babylonians who are outside the wall besieging you. And I will gather them inside this city. I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm in furious anger and in great wrath. I will strike down those who live in this city—both man and beast—and they will die of a terrible plague. After that, declares the LORD, I will give Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials and the people in this city who survive the plague, sword and famine, into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who want to kill them. He will put them to the sword; he will show them no mercy or pity or compassion.’ Furthermore, tell the people, ‘This is what the LORD says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death. Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; they will escape with their lives. I have determined to do this city harm and not good, declares the LORD. It will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will destroy it with fire.’ Moreover, say to the royal house of Judah, ‘Hear the word of the LORD. This is what the LORD says to you, house of David: “‘Administer justice every morning; rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed, or my wrath will break out and burn like fire because of the evil you have done— burn with no one to quench it. I am against you, Jerusalem, you who live above this valley on the rocky plateau, declares the LORD— you who say, “Who can come against us? Who can enter our refuge? I will punish you as your deeds deserve, declares the LORD. I will kindle a fire in your forests that will consume everything around you. Amen. May the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.
Here is what the Lord says, "I am setting before you the WAY of Life and the way of Death". This is a reference to the coming of Christ. In John 14:6, Christ declares that I am the Way, the Truth and the Light. No man comes to the Father but through me. God was telling the disobedient Israelites that although they would be conquered and would suffer because of their sins, there was still a way out. A path to secure life if they chose to take it. Even in their disobedience; even in His disappointment, God was providing a Way for the obedient to save themselves. It wasn't so much that delivering themselves into the hands of Babylonians would save them; the message to the Israelites was always that their OBEDIENCE would save them. Whether its their obedience to these particular instructions or their obedience to the instructions provided by God through His prophets, the key is obedience.
God desires that we have LIFE and have it more abundantly which is why Christ died for us while we were yet in SIN. The act of obedience to accept the sacrifice provided by Christ when He freely gave His life so that we could live, IS THE GREAT COMMANDMENT. On this hangs the balance of your life and my life. Violet went to sleep on Friday February 10th and never woke up on this side of Jordan. Hallelujah that she long ago had accepted Christ as her Savior so when she woke up on the other side of Jordan she was ready for the continuation of her life with Christ. Our job here on earth is to use our lives so that others can see Christ in it and also be ready whenever they are called to cross the River Jordan. That is an eventuality ofr all of us. We all have "one more River to cross". When we let out lives so shine that others will come to know God and to love God then our living is not in vain.
As you reflect on your obedience, I thank God that He never gives up on us. We are never lost and as we continue to step out on faith, His blessings are pressed down and multiplied. We are not to live in fear but break the bonds of fear through OBEDIENCE to His Word. As we approach this Advent season, know that God loves you and so do I.
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