Happy and blessed Sunday to all! I am in Thomaston weathering temperatures of 30-37 degrees! I left sunny Kingston, Jamaica on Thursday with temperatures in the 80's! What a difference a couple of latitudes make! Our news of the week is that Waine's mother Violet went on to her new sunrise on February 11, 2012. I can honestly say that Violet received her roses while she was alive and she knew she was loved. She will be missed by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. My husband will miss his frequent visits to her to taste her humor and her cooking. We will memorialize Violet on Saturday the 18th of February and as I record this Bog entry her loved ones and family members are preparing to come into Atlanta from near and far.Please keep us in your prayers.
I am continuing my journey in Jeremiah 20, verses 7-18 "You deceived me, LORD, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me. Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the Word of the LORD has brought me insult and reproach all day long. But if I say, “I will not mention His Word or speak anymore in His Name, His Word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. I hear many whispering, “Terror on every side! Denounce Him! Let’s denounce Him!” All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying, “Perhaps He will be deceived; then we will prevail over Him and take our revenge on Him. But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten. LORD Almighty, You who examine the righteous and probe the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have committed my cause. Sing to the LORD! Give praise to the LORD! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked. Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me not be blessed! Cursed be the man who brought my father the news, who made him very glad, saying, "A child is born to you—a son!” May that man be like the towns the LORD overthrew without pity. May he hear wailing in the morning, a battle cry at noon. For He did not kill me in the womb, with my mother as my grave, her womb enlarged forever. Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame? Amen. May the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.
I had to read a commentary of verse 7 because I was not understanding why Jeremiah would accuse God of "deceiving" him. Apparently the Greek translation is "persuaded"; in other words God persuaded Jeremiah to be His prophet and as we have all discovered in these 20 chapters, Jeremiah was NOT without murmurings and laments as he went about his duties as God's prophet to a sinful Israel. He would go ahead and do as God instructed but God would hear about it. Which is good instructions for us. God doesn't mind that we lament; He minds that we lament and then become un-empowered. We focus on the terror and not on the revelation that "the Lord is with me as a mighty Warrior!" That statement at the beginning of verse 11 starts with "but" which then negates all that has been said before that statement. "But" is a conjunction--it connects two thoughts in a contraction or contrary manner. Jeremiah was lamenting his trials in verses 7-10 and then realizes that despite the persecution he faced GOD REMAINED WITH HIM AS A MIGHTY WARRIOR!!!!!
When we are obedient to the commandments of God He has us covered. God will fight all the battles that befall you so you are free to continue to perform your Kingdom building activities. It is only when Satan can distract us from our duties involved in Kingdom building by "frustration", does he (Satan) win. We are to stay focused on the Cross; the place where all your battles have been fought and won. Be obedient such that God can do His work as your Mighty Warrior and not have to worry that you will run into the very sword that He is using for your enemies. Be bold in your faith and not worry about how the check gets covered. We are to step out in faith and let God work the rest for us. Thank you Jesus! Hallelujah!
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.
God bless your daughter Violet who is now in your bosom.
Stephanie
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