What Color Are Your Leaves?

Good morning to all on this wonderful December Sunday morning. Waine and I are in Thomaston, Georgia and are enjoying a restful morning. I had 9 babies in the nursery this morning but still was able to make rounds and be back at the hotel by 9 AM to watch CBS Sunday Morning, one of our beloved Sunday rituals. Freddie sent a beautiful picture of our 2 newest grand pickneys and I tell you the truth I can be having an intense day and then I look at a picture of any of my grandchildren and a smile will come across my lips. I hope you are also having a great Sunday morning!

I am continuing my journey in Jeremiah chapter 17 verses 1-8 “Judah’s sin is engraved with an iron tool, inscribed with a flint point, on the tablets of their hearts and on the horns of their altars. Even their children remember their altars and Asherah poles beside the spreading trees and on the high hills. My mountain in the land and your wealth and all your treasures I will give away as plunder, together with your high places, because of sin throughout your country. Through your own fault you will lose the inheritance I gave you. I will enslave you to your enemies in a land you do not know, for you have kindled my anger, and it will burn forever.”  This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. Amen! May the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

As Christians we are to be known by the "fruits" that we bear which is a beautiful metaphor to reflect what we are intrinsically; what we are at our core is what will eventually manifest itself especially in times of stress. I was driving on Friday; my usual Friday errands run. I was on a street with only two lanes and my lane was stopped because a care that was 2 cars ahead of mine was trying to turn left and was waiting for the the traffic in the opposite lane to clear. There was a man two cars behind me who began to beep his horn very vigorously even though he could see that there was no where to go. The traffic began to move at which point I approached the shopping center I wanted to go to. I slowed down to turn right and now the same man was behind me and beeping, waving his hand and had a beet red face. I really didn't understand why it was important for this man to insult my humanity over his frustration with traffic. I remember thinking would I trust this man to teach my children, fix my car, handle my money? His core, his intrinsic values bubbled to the top under the stress of going from point A to point B. I also reflected whether my core values as a Christian were evident to people I interact with and I admit that when I am not stressed it is infinitely easier to move myself out of the way and let the Love of God through Christ shine through. These verses underscore that as Christians we are planted in the love of God. Our roots receive nourishment regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in and as we spread our branches so that others will experience the Love of God through Christ, our roots become that much stronger.

I don't know where you find yourself today but I know that if you have professed a belief in God you truly do not have anything to be concerned with. 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



They Will Know That My Name is Lord!

Good  morning to all on this Monday  morning. The weather is overcast in Georgia and temps hovering during the day in the 50's and 60's. The temps are going into the mid 30's at night which makes for good weather to light a fire. Waine and I were in Thomaston over the weekend and we need your prayers as we seek God's guidance in starting a practice there. The community is only about 70 miles south of Atlanta which will make it easy for us to come home on the weekends that I am not covering the hospital. There is a ready made practice and it would appear that God wants us there because when I tell you every thing has been going smoothly, it is not an exaggeration. So keep us and this project in your prayers.

During this Advent Season, I am continuing my journey in Jeremiah 16 verses 14-21; "However, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when it will no longer be said, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’ but it will be said, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where He had banished them.’ For I will restore them to the land I gave their ancestors. “But now I will send for many fishermen,” declares the LORD, “and they will catch them. After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill and from the crevices of the rocks. My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes. I will repay them double for their wickedness and their sin, because they have defiled my land with the lifeless forms of their vile images and have filled my inheritance with their detestable idols.” LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in time of distress, to you the nations will come from the ends of the earth and say, “Our ancestors possessed nothing but false gods, worthless idols that did them no good. Do people make their own gods? Yes, but they are not gods! Therefore I will teach them— this time I will teach them my power and might. Then they will know that My Name is the LORD. " Amen and hallelujah! They will know that My Name in Lord!

There is so much hope in these verses, not because of anything the Israelites were doing about turning from their practice of worship of idols; the hope here is that God never breaks His promises!! His promise was to Abraham and He intends to keep His promise DESPITE the disobedience of this set of Israelites. They are going to reap the wages of their sins but the inheritance promised to Abraham would go forward for future generations. As Christians, we are under the New Dispensation or New Covenant so as it says in  Romans 11:29, “God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable”. The promise of abundance that God made with us through Christ is irrevocable. Nothing can separate us from the love of God; nothing including our knuckle head behavior. We may have starts and stops; we may have hiccups but our course to abundance has been set not by our own merits but by the Merits from the Blood of the Lamb! Hallelujah for the Love of God that is a constant in the sea of our own sins and disbelief.  During this Advent Season wake up each day praising God for the abundance that will be revealed to you this day. Thank Him that when you thought all was lost, He was there to calm your seas; thank Him because when you gave up on yourself He was there as your strength and fortress.  I thank God for His Son and His unwavering love for you and me.

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

Just Two!!

Good  Sunday morning to all from Hawkinsville, GA. Waine and I are working covering Taylor Memorial Hospital and Waine is also playing in a golf tournament at Southern Hills Country Club which is a very nice Club here in Hawkinsville. The weather is very pleasant at 60 degrees and although I have been busy I have been able to enjoy the outdoors each day. Waine and I watched LSU beat the Georgia Bulldogs yesterday in the second half and of course this has been the topic of conversation throughout Hawkinsville today; that and Tiger's quest for his first win in over 2 years. Aleron's birthday is on 12/5/11 and I can't believe our "baby" boy will be 30. Wow! Waine is getting old!

I am continuing my journey in Jeremiah 16, verses 1-13 "Then the word of the LORD came to me: You must not marry and have sons or daughters in this place. For this is what the LORD says about the sons and daughters born in this land and about the women who are their mothers and the men who are their fathers: “They will die of deadly diseases. They will not be mourned or buried but will be like dung lying on the ground. They will perish by sword and famine, and their dead bodies will become food for the birds and the wild animals.” For this is what the LORD says: “Do not enter a house where there is a funeral meal; do not go to mourn or show sympathy, because I have withdrawn my blessing, my love and my pity from this people,” declares the LORD. “Both high and low will die in this land. They will not be buried or mourned, and no one will cut themselves or shave their head for the dead. No one will offer food to comfort those who mourn for the dead—not even for a father or a mother—nor will anyone give them a drink to console them. And do not enter a house where there is feasting and sit down to eat and drink. For this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Before your eyes and in your days I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom in this place. When you tell these people all this and they ask you, ‘Why has the LORD decreed such a great disaster against us? What wrong have we done? What sin have we committed against the LORD our God?’ then say to them, ‘It is because your ancestors forsook me,’ declares the LORD, ‘and followed other gods and served and worshiped them. They forsook me and did not keep my law. But you have behaved more wickedly than your ancestors. See how all of you are following the stubbornness of your evil hearts instead of obeying me. So I will throw you out of this land into a land neither you nor your ancestors have known, and there you will serve other gods day and night, for I will show you no favor." Amen. May the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

One of the reasons that Jeremiah has been a struggle for me is that this is not the God I know. The God I know through Christ is compassionate and forgiving. This God of wrath in the Old testament is not the God that is revealed to us Christians because of the sacrifice of Christ. This is a sacrifice that erased and erases our sins on a consistent basis which means that God only sees us through His Son, Jesus the Christ or through the eyes of perfect LOVE. In these scriptures God is telling Jeremiah that he must conduct himself as one who expects to see his country ruined very shortly. In the prospect of sad times, he is to abstain from marriage, mourning for the dead, and pleasure. In other words, those who would convince others of the truths of God, must make it appear by their self-denial, that they believe it themselves. By so doing, the peace of God that should be present, inward and outward, can be acknowledged to be wholly the work of God. By withholding His loving kindness and mercy the disobedient people of Israel will now experience the natural distress which is a consequence of God withdrawing His forgiveness and peace. God is also telling Jeremiah that there may be times when it is proper to avoid things that bring us pleasure and comforts as a demonstration to those watching that a relationship with God is a serious matter. Also, Jeremiah is being given guidance for those who quarrel at the Word of God, instead of humbling and condemning themselves and who justify themselves, as though God did them wrong. A plain and full answer is given. Jeremiah is instructed to tell them that they were more obstinate in sin than their fathers, walking every one after the devices of their own heart as opposed to hearkening to the instructions of God; they shall be hurried away into a far country, a land they know not. They will be driven there without God's favour which will result in their captivity and subjugation by the idol worshippers. Thank God for the Blood of the Lamb that covers my transgressions! Hallelujah!

Whether in the Old or New Testaments, God states that there are TWO (2), just two commandments that we must abide by that is to Love the Lord with all of our hearts, mind and soul. Forsaking any worship of any other man made gods or idols. God also instructs that we are then to love each other as God has loved us. This supernatural love would then dictate our behavior as being that of Christ --long suffering and forgiving.  God says on these two commandments hang ALL the laws of the Universe. Just 2! We are commanded to follow JUST 2 commandments--so why then does man make up so many rules that cloud the simple relationship we are to have with God through Christ. My belief is that man seeks to be god through these rule makings as opposed to just following the Commandments of God. This sin nature has been present since the beginning of time starting with Lucifer, continuing through Eve and then Adam and through us. Our sin nature will full you into thinking that you are in control of your life and destiny. I would invite all who believe that to delve into the Old testament and read what happens to people who turn their face from God and try to become gods themselves. I am convinced that God never allows that to happen.

During this Advent season leading up to the celebration of the Birth of the Christ, it is a good time to get back to the Basics of what makes us Christians. Love God and then love someone who you find it hard to love.

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

Keeping Your Focus

Good morning to all on this first Sunday morning after Thanksgiving. Waine and I had a house full of children, grandchildren and friends in Atlanta and although I was exhausted I was none the less content. I remarked to my husband that I needed a bigger  house and he reminded me that I feel that way once a year at Thanksgiving which is not a reason to have a bigger house. I think he is almost convinced to give me a bigger kitchen though. A special shout out to  my daughters, Tracy and Melanie who were the chief bottle washers. Without them I would not have been able to keep up with the cooking and serving. My husband and children remarked that it was the best turkey and dressing I have ever made, which made the effort expended worth while, indeed. I trust that this Thanksgiving found each of you in the company of people that love you and that you in turn love. If so we all have a lot to be thankful for.

I am continuing my journey in Jeremiah 15 verses 11-21, "The LORD said, Surely I will deliver you (Jeremiah) for a good purpose; surely I will make your enemies plead with you in times of disaster and times of distress. “Can a man break iron— iron from the north—or bronze? “Your wealth and your treasures I will give as plunder, without charge, because of all your sins throughout your country. I will enslave you to your enemies in a land you do not know, for my anger will kindle a fire that will burn against you." LORD, you understand; remember me and care for me. Avenge me on my persecutors. You are long-suffering—do not take me away; think of how I suffer reproach for your sake. When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, LORD God Almighty. I never sat in the company of revelers, never made merry with them; I sat alone because your hand was on me and you had filled me with indignation. Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? You are to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails. Therefore this is what the LORD says: “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them. I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you,” declares the LORD. “I will save you from the hands of the wicked and deliver you from the grasp of the cruel.” Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

Apparently, Jeremiah was being persecuted for his ministry to the point that he (Jeremiah) was asking God not to forget about his servant. God assures Jeremiah that he should not worry or be distressed because God has made Jeremiah as strong as iron and bronze. However Jeremiah seems to be having a pity party-- he remarks that he used to delight and look forward to God's Words but now he was complaining about his pain and the reproach that he suffers at the hands of the Israelites that he had been sent to preach to. This is a beautiful passage on the power of long suffering through difficult times. Jeremiah had been obedient to God's commandments and he was human. I am sure as a Jew himself, he felt alone most of the time because he was fighting against a tide of idolatry. I am sure his life was threatened; he felt alone other than for the communion he had with God.  I am sure when God first commissioned Jeremiah to be His prophet to a sinful Israel, Jeremiah thought the battle would be short and the victory assured. As the journey lingered, Jeremiah became impatient and weary and had no problem voicing his concerns to God. God, in His graciousness, reminds Jeremiah that He has His back. He has fortified Jeremiah and would deliver him from the hands of the wicked. Jeremiah had only to stay focused on the task at hand and believe that God had every thing else covered! Hallelujah.

Don't let Satan confuse you this day as to whether your life has a meaning. God gives it meaning daily. Don't worry about the waves and forget the purpose that you were chosen for. Our job is to make our lives a witness for Christ and  not be distracted about the "waves" that surround us daily. I am a good example of this. I was very frustrated about lots of things a few weeks back. Instead of focusing on the blessings in my life I stayed focused on the frustrations. Focusing on your frustrations will take you eye off Christ and you will sink but thank God, Christ will reach out and save you even from yourself. That certainly does not excuse my behavior of losing focus however this chapter in Jeremiah let's me know that we all can become distracted when focused on the wrong thing.  If you are not feeling blessed today then I know your focus is on the wrong thing. If you feel animosity towards anyone then you have forgotten what it means to be forgiven. If you can't love those that have offended you then you have forgotten what Kingdom building is all about. Time to get refocused and give Thanksgiving for the Christ that has risen so that all might experience the freedom that is in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah and praise God.

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

Your Ark is Secured!

Good day to all from Kingston Jamaica. Waine and I have had a fun filled week in both Runaway Bay and Kingston and a much needed rest. We are packed and are on our way to the US; Melanie and her crew are already in Atlanta so we are looking forward to hugs and kisses from our grandchildren Audrey and Vincent upon our return to be joined in short order by Kai and Hailie. What a home coming to come back to. As you and yours enter this Thanksgiving week, we pray for your safety and blessings for your health and continued prosperity.

I am continuing my journey in Jeremiah 15 verse 1-10, " Then the LORD said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel were to stand before me, my heart would not go out to this people. Send them away from my presence! Let them go! And if they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ tell them, ‘This is what the LORD says: Those destined for death, to death; those for the sword, to the sword; those for starvation, to starvation; those for captivity, to captivity.’ I will send four kinds of destroyers against them,” declares the LORD, “the sword to kill and the dogs to drag away and the birds and the wild animals to devour and destroy. I will make them abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh son of Hezekiah king of Judah did in Jerusalem. Who will have pity on you, Jerusalem? Who will mourn for you? Who will stop to ask how you are? You have rejected Me,” declares the LORD. You keep on backsliding. So I will reach out and destroy you; I am tired of holding back. I will winnow them with a winnowing fork at the city gates of the land. I will bring bereavement and destruction on my people, for they have not changed their ways. I will make their widows more numerous than the sand of the sea. At midday I will bring a destroyer against the mothers of their young men; suddenly I will bring down on them anguish and terror. The mother of seven will grow faint and breathe her last. Her sun will set while it is still day; she will be disgraced and humiliated. I will put the survivors to the sword before their enemies, declares the LORD. Alas, my mother, that you gave me birth, a man with whom the whole land strives and contends! I have neither lent nor borrowed, yet everyone curses Me." May the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

Wow!! I think we have a clear picture of the fate of folk who are outside of the Circle of Love of God made possible through the sacrifice of Jesus the Christ! These verses fore tell what is going to happen to those who have not accepted Christ as their Savior when He comes for His Church, we the believers! Just remember when Moses was preaching to Pharaoh and Pharaoh's heart was hardened against the people of God, plagues and catastrophe hit Egypt inclusive of the death of the 1st born of each Egyptian household. Only those houses with the Blood of Lamb drawn across the threshold were saved. So too the households of those who have not given their life to Christ when the rapture happens. That is why we as Christians should be working over time to ensure that we are able to witness to those who have not given their lives to Christ; the time is drawing neigh that the last days will be upon us! This is serious business and there are plenty of examples for us to pay attention to. Remember Noah? He labored for hundreds of years building the Ark and preaching with his life that the people needed to get ready for this flood. Each person was afforded the chance of safety and salvation up to the day the door of the Ark was closed. When the door closed their cries went unheeded and the destroyer was upon them. I am sure the Destroyer convinced these folk to continue to eat, drink and be merry. The earth had never seen rain so why should they believe that water from heaven would destroy them. I am sure just as the false prophets of Jeremiah's time told the people that they would not be destroyed, the prophets of Noah's day said the same thing. What are the false prophets telling the people today? How are we counter-acting these false prophets? Who will be saved?

As Christians we have to be bold about our faith and be willing to stand up and declare the Day of the Lord because once the door is closed it will be too late. Who will be on the other side of this door for you? Your Mom, Dad, sister, brother, husband, wife son or daughter. Waine once attended the 80th birthday party for a woman he knew. When she was asked what she wanted as a birthday present, she looked around the room and said very distinctly, "I don't want to have to be looking for any of my children in Heaven! I want to make sure you all have professed the faith in Christ that is necessary so that we can all rejoice in eternity forever!" That is my Thanksgiving wish for each of you!

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!

Happy Thanksgiving.

Stephanie and Waine

God Has Your Back and Ensures We Never Sees His!

Good Sunday to all of you. Waine and I are in Hawkinsville this weekend and will be heading to Kingston tomorrow for 10 days. I can't wait to get back on the island! Upon our return, Melanie and Don and their brood will be down for Thanksgiving week to be joined by Freddie and Tracy and their brood on Wednesday of the same week. This is the first Thanksgiving in along time that we will have three of our four children. I am so excited and can't wait!  Waine and I awake each morning and thank God for all the blessings He continues to bestow on our family and our Thanksgiving prayer for you and your family is that God's blessings continue for you.

I am continuing my journey in Jeremiah 14, verses 11-22, " Then the LORD said to me, “Do not pray for the well-being of this people. Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry; though they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword, famine and plague.” But I said, “Alas, Sovereign LORD! The prophets keep telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine. Indeed, I will give you lasting peace in this place.’ Then the LORD said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in My name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds. Therefore this is what the LORD says about the prophets who are prophesying in my name: I did not send them, yet they are saying, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ Those same prophets will perish by sword and famine. And the people they are prophesying to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and sword. There will be no one to bury them, their wives, their sons and their daughters. I will pour out on them the calamity they deserve. Speak this Word to them: Let my eyes overflow with tears night and day without ceasing; for the Virgin Daughter, my people, has suffered a grievous wound, a crushing blow. If I go into the country, I see those slain by the sword; if I go into the city, I see the ravages of famine.

Both prophet and priest have gone to a land they know not. Have you rejected Judah completely? Do you despise Zion? Why have you afflicted us so that we cannot be healed? We hoped for peace but no good has come, for a time of healing but there is only terror. We acknowledge our wickedness, LORD, and the guilt of our ancestors; we have indeed sinned against you. For the sake of your name do not despise us; do not dishonor your glorious throne. Remember your covenant with us and do not break it. Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies themselves send down showers? No, it is you, LORD our God. Therefore our hope is in you, for you are the one who does all this. May the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

These Israelites have finally come to their senses, however it is too late. God has pleaded with them for 13 chapters to turn from worshipping other gods and now their sin of disobedience has sealed their fate. Their pleas are falling on deaf ears and they don't even know it because the same prophets that encouraged them to sin are now telling them that God has not abandoned them. Their fate, along with that of the Israelites, is sealed. None of them will survive the drought and famine.  Thank God for the Blood of Jesus that covers our sins so that God never turns His back on us. Unlike the Israelites, Jesus has our backs and therefore we never have to see the back of God because He never turns His face from us. Hallelujah! What a wonderful promise. God never turns His back on us so what ever situation you find yourself in, PRAISE GOD because your deliverance is at hand 100% of the time. You only need to claim it. Unlike the unfortunate Israelites in Jeremiah 14, God never abandons us; His covenant with us is full proof because He only sees Jesus and His sacrifice when He , God, looks at us! Our life is complete and fulfilled. You only need claim it. God bless you and I thank God because His Promise is full and complete in you and me.

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

Abundance and not Abandonment

Good morning to all on this wonderful fall day. Waine and I are in Thomaston and have had a nice relaxing weekend. We watched the LSU/Alabama football game last night; Waine rooted for Alabama and I for LSU. Of course LSU won--but the defense on both teams were tough and awesome!!  I had the blessing to visit retired Senior citizens last week. What an eye opener!!! If you are over 55 and have your health, then praise God each day you wake up. If you are over 55 and have an active relationship with your spouse, your children and grandchildren then you are BLESSED!!! There are some very lonely people out there who just stay in their homes; they crave company and a simple conversation with someone who cares. Take some time this week to visit a home bound senior citizen and give of yourself. God will bless you richly. Also a GREAT book to read is the "Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks". You won't be able to put the book down and your life will be richer for it. Mackenzie, our oldest grandchild, wants to be a researcher/physician so I recommended it to her to read.

I am continuing my JOURNEY in Jeremiah chapter 14 verses 1- 10, "This is the Word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought: “Judah mourns, her cities languish; they wail for the land, and a cry goes up from Jerusalem. The nobles send their servants for water; they go to the cisterns but find no water. They return with their jars unfilled; dismayed and despairing, they cover their heads. The ground is cracked because there is no rain in the land; the farmers are dismayed and cover their heads. Even the doe in the field deserts her newborn fawn because there is no grass. Wild donkeys stand on the barren heights and pant like jackals; their eyes fail for lack of food. Although our sins testify against us, do something, LORD, for the sake of Your name. For we have often rebelled; we have sinned against You. You Who are the hope of Israel, its Savior in times of distress, why are you like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who stays only a night? Why are you like a man taken by surprise, like a warrior powerless to save? You are among us, LORD, and we bear your name; do not forsake us! This is what the LORD says about this people: “They greatly love to wander; they do not restrain their feet. So the LORD does not accept them; He will now remember their wickedness and punish them for their sins."  May the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

Thank God that the Blood of Jesus that covers us so that God will not SEE and therefore not REMEMBER our wickedness! For 13 chapters we have witnessed God asking these Israelites to turn their face to Him and not to the idols and false gods that they were worshipping. That is the one thing as humans we are charged not to do! There is only One God and His name is Jehovah!  For 13 chapters we witnessed God, through Jeremiah, plead with these folk to turn from their sin of worshipping false gods so that disaster could be avoided. We have witnesses Jeremiah's intervention on behalf of the Israelites with God and Now, Now, Now the drought is upon them. Their land is drying up. Nothing is growing; they go hungry and even the wild animals are starving and yet they do not turn from their sin of idol worship. Can Satan's deception really be that great? That even in the face of this destruction can human beings still rationalize that there is more than one true God? Amazing!

As Christians, we are immune to this type of alienation from God. He never turns His face from us nor does He give us droughts. So why do Christians experience "droughts"?? I have Christian friends who are going through some tough times and they think its because of some sin they committed. John 10:10 states "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. THIS IS A PROMISE!!!!!!! If their is confusion and despair in the life of a Christian then that Christian needs to evaluate why he or she is allowing satan to deceive them. Christians, have as a birth right ABUNDANCE!! We only need to claim it. So many of us have PAWNED our abundant life in the Pawn Shop called DOUBT. We only need to realize and REJOICE daily that God has a Plan of Abundance for us. Even if you are experiencing what you consider to be hard times, REJOICE and keep on rejoicing until you see clearly the abundance that is yours today. Joel Olstein's ministry is criticized by some as a "Cotton Candy" ministry--always emphasizing the Joy and abundance of Christianity. Why shouldn't we emphasize the JOY of Christianity?? No death can claim us; no destruction can claim us; no calamity can be fall us; no disease can destroy us; no financial ruin can befall us. God will turn time backwards for us IF ONLY YOU BELIEVE. Something so simple and YET SO HARD FOR MANY OF US. Why you ask? Because Satan will confuse you into thinking that God has abandoned you. Roman 8:38-39 says (and this is Paul speaking) "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Hallelujah!!

Don't get stuck on the street of Doubt. Praise God today for your abundance even if you can't see it. Really praise Him and be happy right in this moment. Don't worry for anything especially not tomorrow for all of us KNOW that tomorrow is not promised so don't act like it is. 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! Amen and amen.

Stephanie