August 29

 

I’m comfortable, are you comfortable? The reason I’m asking is because we have been coddled and are living lives in relative peace with minimal discomfort. As I continue to read Jeremiah’s account of his life and his walk with the Lord, he was not comfortable or protected from the hands of oppressors, and yet he continued to call on the Lord, and he answered him. If things begin to get rough, do not turn your back on God, remain steadfast and loyal to him. He didn’t call us to serve him for comfort in our bodies, but to have peace and comfort in our salvation and our hearts. God can still hear you in the chaos while you are being oppressed. Find satisfaction in Jesus and in knowing the salvation that lies ahead, that should be enough for you. The message that Jeremiah gave was obnoxious to the hearers and rejected; you can expect the same, but the message of Jesus must go out into the world, even if it is for that one soul that God is calling out of the darkness. Continue to sound the alarm; time is short, if not for the world, for those whose days are cut short. 

Notice in the following verses that while Jeremiah was held captive, God spoke to him, reminding him to pray.

The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the guard: “Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it—the LORD is his name: Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. Jeremiah 33:1-3

August 28

 

For more than thirty years, I have been an advocate for the pro-life movement. I guarantee you that the trouble we are facing right now in this country is a direct reflection of God’s disgust with us for our laws affirming the right to kill our children before they are born. During Jeremiah’s time, he told God’s people that they were going to be held captive in Babylon because of their worship of other gods, including Molech. The people were sacrificing their children to this created god by burning them alive! God assured them that he never wanted this kind of behavior, and they had to face punishment because of it. 

We have the opportunity to rid ourselves of the people making these heinous laws, but you will have to vote for the party that promotes life rather than the party of death. It is up to the people of God to make this happen; otherwise, the destruction will continue. You cannot bury your head in the sand because you don’t like the way our president hurts your feelings. It’s not about your feelings; it’s about the action that we must take to prevent further punishment. Our country needs to turn back to God with our whole heart and stop destroying our people in the womb. He didn’t spare Israel and Judah, why would he spare us?

This city has aroused my anger and wrath, from the day it was built to this day, so that I will remove it from my sight... They built the high places of Baal in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to offer up their sons and daughters to Molech, though I did not command them, nor did it enter into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin. Jeremiah 32:31 & 35

August 27

Part of doing the will of God is to maintain our faith in him. We are a part of the New Covenant, yet it won’t be fulfilled until the end. I had to research a verse I ran across in Jeremiah that eluded to the new covenant. After reading it, I thought, “why am I teaching if we are part of the new covenant?” 

Here’s the verse:

"And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”  Jeremiah 31:34

Here’s the answer: We have to keep teaching and learning because it is not complete, and will only be fulfilled when Jesus returns to take his rightful place as King. 

We’ve all heard this verse:

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Jeremiah 31:33

I’ve always understood this verse out of context! I thought it was for the here and now, but it’s not. It is referring to the same period as when Jesus comes to rule. That’s when we will have the Word of God written on our hearts, not now, we still have to study and learn even though we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as our helper. God has given us his creation so we can understand his magnificence, but to know him deeply, we need Jesus, and we need to study his Word.

Note: Memory verses are only useful if you use them within the proper context.

August 26

I was on an elevator, and out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a tiny light flash from the floor. I thought to myself, that must be a piece of glitter. I looked for it, and sure enough, it was glitter. That stuff gets everywhere! It was probably a Christmas leftover from years ago, and it never lost its sparkle. Its tiny reflection on a dark floor can still be seen even though it’s slightly buried in the loops of the carpet. Those of us carrying the message of the LORD is like that tiny piece of glitter, this dark world surrounds us, and yet we reflect Jesus. 

Jeremiah brought a message to the world, predicting their captivity in Babylon would last 70 years, but the world didn’t want to hear him, and even tried to kill him. His life was spared; however, another “prophet,” Hananiah, came and to lessen the blow of Jeremiah’s message and predicted that their captivity in Babylon would only last two years. He was a false prophet, and God dealt with him severely by taking him out; he died within the year. The world doesn’t want to hear your message of salvation because they like their sin. That’s not your problem; the problem belongs to God, so don’t lose your sparkle. God will deal with prophets/preachers that are lying to congregations about what the Bible teaches. Wait and watch.

And Jeremiah the prophet said to the prophet Hananiah, “Listen, Hananiah, the LORD has not sent you, and you have made this people trust in a lie. Therefore thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will remove you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have uttered rebellion against the LORD.’” In that same year, in the seventh month, the prophet Hananiah died. Jeremiah 28:15-17

August 25

 

This could be good news or bad news, you decide. There is nowhere you can go to get away from God; he fills heaven and earth! You can fear the world and hide away in a closet or crevasse to be alone, but you’re not alone, he is there with you whether you like it or not. You can’t conceal yourself from him, or become more significant than him, we are like dust in his presence, and we never leave it. The sooner you get this straight in your mind, the better off you will be. To some, this revelation will bring comfort, but to others, this will bring fear. Repent, turn away from your sin and be clean, so that fear will not overtake you, and so you feel comfortable with him around you. 

I have twenty-seven chapters left in the book of Jeremiah, and I’m struggling to get through them because a lot of his prophecy is negative, but he was only telling what God told him to share. However, there are fascinating tidbits that I can’t help but bring to your attention because they are truths that need to be understood and kept in the forefront of our minds. Don’t fear God’s presence; enjoy it.

“Am I a God at hand, declares the LORD, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD. Jeremiah 23:23-24

August 24

Florida seems to have dodged a couple of hurricanes that were heading our way; unfortunately, someone else will feel the full effect of those disastrous storms. Have you ever seen trouble heading your way, only to watch it veer off in another direction? We all face difficulty, but when it evades us, we are thankful and relieved. The prophet Jeremiah got beaten and put in prison overnight for prophesying disaster against Judah and Jerusalem. He told them that they would die by the sword, and their dead bodies would become food for the birds and other animals if they didn’t turn from their evil ways. Even today, we hear many people crying out to the world to turn away from their wicked ways to avoid pending disaster, only to watch it continue. No one wants to hear it, especially those perpetrating the evil. I see it all the time, a simple post with a warning becomes a tongue lashing, and then the powers of the Facebook Community Standards put the poster in “Facebook jail” for a couple of days. People would do well for themselves to heed some of those warnings. Continue to cry a warning out of love! Continue to praise God! Continue to pray for the world! Hopefully, people will hear our cries and comply, and the Lord will turn away the pending judgment.

If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. Jeremiah 18:7-8

August 23

Richard and I had dinner with some dear friends last night. They picked us up and took us on a trip to Dunedin, which is a short drive from our Clearwater home. What a cute little town! It was a beautiful scenic drive down old highway 19. I want to go back there when I’m able to linger and enjoy a little boutique shopping. The place they took us was called Lucky Lobster. I usually avoid restaurants with the name lobster in it because I’m deathly allergic to it! Even the steam from the boiling water will cause a reaction. When I chose my food last night, I made sure I selected land animals to prevent cross-contamination. Here’s the lesson; in this situation, lobster represents sin. If we know what causes death, why do we continue to relish in it? Just like there are choices on the menu, there are choices that maintain life and choices that lead to death. There is no excuse for sin; he always gives us a way out. Choose carefully, so you don’t have to deal with the consequences. 

As a side note: the verse I’m including is always misquoted by weak Christians or unbelievers. “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle” is a lie that the devil wants you to believe so that you will blame God for your unrelenting trouble. The verse is about sin, and not about your burdens unless your burden is sin.

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

August 22

People who worship anything other than God are just treading water, going nowhere, and barely staying afloat. What is society worshipping now? They are worshipping an idea, the idea that they can do whatever they want with their body without legal consequences. Our lawless government has given them that right! They’ve allowed them to do things with their bodies that are opposing God and science and then punishing those who disagree with them. The difference between the idol worship from back in biblical days and today is that they fashioned an object to represent the god that “allowed” such nonsense. In reality, there is some sinister person behind the scenes making up the rules that suites their fantasies and then bringing a whole sect of people with them. Guess who pays the price? The Christians who object to their lifestyle. With all our hearts, we are trying to do what’s right in the eyes of the LORD, but are penalized because of it. Just know that God sees all of this and will punish the world on our behalf. Surely you can see what’s coming.

The following passage is part of the Lord’s answer to Jeremiah concerning the nations who rallied against his people. We are dealing with our countrymen coming against us. We must pray for them to turn and do what is right in the eyes of God.

And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, ‘As the LORD lives,’ even as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they shall be built up in the midst of my people. But if any nation will not listen, then I will utterly pluck it up and destroy it, declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 12:16-17

August 21

 

Forgive me, but today’s post is not uplifting and is more of a rant. Please don’t read it if you’re feeling down.

God doesn’t play any games! It astonishes me that people go about doing what they do without considering the consequences. When I read about his wrath, I can’t help but voice my concern for the lost; it’s not going to be good, and you certainly don’t want to be left behind! 

However, some individuals make me lose my desire to see them saved, and I want them to face God and his wrath! When I hear about people using children for their sexual pleasure, anger wells up within me that is overwhelming, and I can tell you I have no sympathy for them and the destruction they face at the hand of God. What kind of heinous individual would do such as this to a child? It disgusts me, and they deserve hell! You might say, “you’re supposed to love everyone,” but I can’t love them. It might be biblical to pray for their souls, but I can’t. I pray that he forgives me if my righteous indignation is a sin. God help us all! We asked for evil to be exposed, and we got it! You think you’re living in a clean house, but when you turn on the lights, and the roaches scatter, it makes you want to puke. We need the exterminator to come. Come now, LORD Jesus!

"But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." KJV Matthew 18:6

August 20

God doesn’t care about your sacrifice if you are using it as a license to sin! 

What use to me is frankincense that comes from Sheba, or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing to me. Jeremiah 6:20. 

For Christians, our acceptable offering is Jesus.

If you are using Jesus as a license to sin, are you truly saved? My greatest fear is this; my friends and family, going about business as usual after they’ve made a “commitment” to Jesus, thinking that God’s grace is sufficient, so they continue in their sin. If you read God’s Word in context, you will find out that this isn’t true! God’s grace is sufficient to save you, but sinfulness will bury you! You haven’t truly died to sin if you keep on sinning.

Do not take this verse out of context! The following verse is the last in Romans 6:

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Romans 6:23. 

The prior verse is true, but so are the first couple of verses in Romans 6.

 

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Romans 6:1-2

You need to read the entire chapter to understand the full meaning of the last verse! 

We are human and will mess up occasionally, but we should not be living in sin.

I do not believe you can lose your salvation, but my question is, did you ever have it?

I need each of you to get this right, so you are not disappointed when Jesus calls us home, because it might be soon!

August 19

Though I’ve written about this before, I think it needs repeating; consider what is happening around you, and don’t let the media hysteria drag you down. As is stands at this moment, I live in a quiet neighborhood; stores and businesses around me are somewhat normal, and people are going about as usual. Things are only slightly different, in that people are conscientious about their health and the health of others, which is fine by me, I’m a little bit germaphobic anyway. Things on the national stage seem disastrous because we hear about it all day, every day, but remember those events are only concentrated in certain areas and cities. It’s good for us to know what’s going on, but it’s not good to dwell or become distraught because of it. Set your mind on things above, and know that the LORD is in control of everything and that he is especially careful where his children are concerned. He is our keeper, our Father, and Savior, and he knows what’s best for us, is watching over us, and will command his angels concerning us. Have faith and know that he is in control.

"God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne." Psalms 47:8

August 18

Coming soon to a town near you; the people who are leaving New York City, and Hollywood! They’ve made a mess of their cities, and now they are coming to make a mess of yours. The governments that they’ve created have failed, and we now have their loud mouths infiltrating the small towns across the country. We must stand firm against their progressive policies. Let your voices be heard! Stand for what’s right! If we don’t, they will leave our towns and rural areas the same way they left theirs, in ruins. We must fight back against the liberal agenda, and stand firm for what we believe, and continue to make Jesus our head. If you think what the liberal stand for is right in the eyes of the LORD, you aren’t reading the same bible that I’m reading, which means you’re not worshipping the same God that I’m worshipping. The things they stand for and believe in are an abomination! Don’t cast your vote for just anyone, make sure you know where they stand on the critical issues, and that they agree with the things of God; otherwise, we will become a slave to their detestable practices. Please vote, but make sure you line up your vote to match Biblical principals.

"and if you swear, ‘As the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.”" Jeremiah 4:2

August 17

The sun is always bright in the presence of the LORD, even when the day is gloomy and dark, but that’s for the here and now. One day he will become our only light; there will be no need for the sun or the moon for light any longer. My wish is that all of those I love would make it into that realm, where there will be no more sorrow, no pain, and every chain that binds loosed. We will worship the LORD and look upon him with our eyes, and all that is written in his Word fulfilled. Sadness and pain will abound on that day, but not for us; we will see the recompense of the wicked brought about as he warned. Even though the world seems to be falling apart, rejoice because that is not our destiny; what we are seeing is not meant for us, but a way for the enemy to flush out the wicked to bring his beloved into full view for all to see. Do not be afraid of what is to come, because God’s plan will manifest before our eyes.

Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Isaiah 60:18-19

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. Isaiah 65:17-18

August 16

I found a chapter in Isaiah that describes the pure evil we are experiencing in today’s society. Are we becoming a nation where lawlessness rules and justice is far from the courts? 

“but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies; your tongue mutters wickedness. No one enters suit justly; no one goes to law honestly; they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies, they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.” Isaiah 59:2-4

If we don’t get control of our government and vote for those who stand up for justice, life as we know it will disappear. It’s more important than ever to make sure the proper people get put into our local governments, our states, and in congress. We see that power on the local level is what’s making our lives miserable with their senseless mandates as a way to garner control of the people. The people that are part of the evil plan don’t care who becomes president; they only care if they control the house and the senate; we must make voting for those who are Christ-minded a priority, or even for those who believe in freedom for the people with less government interference. We don’t have anywhere to run if tyranny takes over, and no one from a repressed country will have a place to turn for freedom. It is your duty as a Christ-follower to vote! Together, let’s help make the voice of Christians heard loud and clear.

August 15

My mission statement is: Training believers to break bonds and live free. My posts are a representation of that mission, and hopefully, it’s working for some. I continue to comb through the scriptures, looking for lessons to bring to whoever God places within my path. Today, as I was lingering in Isaiah, I came across a scripture that adds depth to that mission. An essential part of breaking bonds is fasting. I know that I mentioned fasting a couple of days ago as a way to hear the LORD more clearly, but it never crossed my mind to instruct you to fast to help you break free from the enemy’s stronghold. I find this revelation quite interesting being I prayed on Thursday for him to open my mind to something new, and here it is Saturday, and he gave me an answer. I live a life of fasting by giving up the American tradition of eating three meals a day; our bodies don’t need to eat that often, so that’s probably why Americans are so fat. Fasting may be why I’m able to hear the LORD more clearly in the morning; my mind has fasted. The clearer his voice is, the easier it is to release the ties that bind. If for health reasons, you’re not able to skip meals, meet with the LORD first thing in the morning, before your meal; you’ll hear his voice more efficiently, and he will begin helping you break free from the strongholds that are keeping you from living your best life.

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Isaiah 58:6

August 14

I’m meticulous about the image I create in my home; I like for it to be peaceful and visually pleasing. As I’m reading and studying, I suddenly notice something out of place, it’s the clock! During the night while I was sleeping, my husband moved it and strung the cord to the first available receptacle, and now my eye-pleasing decor is marred, blemished, and unsightly! What would this place look like if I didn’t keep everything in check? Thankfully, I am the savior of my house and will cover the transgressions of the oppressor, and bring visual peace to my existence once again. Even though I’m the one who bought the clock, I am not the one who made it bring visual distress. This strife did not come from me! This weapon formed against peace shall not prosper! 

I may have dramatized this story a bit to give you a sample for the following verses, but because the promise is so good, I didn’t want to pass the entire section over just to get to the one famous verse. God created everything, including the one who makes the weapon, but the conflict didn’t come from him, but they will fall! The LORD will vindicate us! No weapon formed against us will prosper. Remember these promises when the enemy comes after you.

If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you. Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the ravager to destroy; no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.” Isaiah 54:15-17

August 13

You cannot demand that God do for you. I spoke to him this morning, asking for him to open my mind to something new, maybe tell me what I don’t know about him. I couldn’t possibly know everything; he is too magnificent for me to understand him completely. However, I received no new revelation. We should desire to know more, but we can’t demand it or expect an answer right away. Could I be opening myself up for a trial? Maybe! I certainly hope not, but I think he reveals himself when we are at our weakest. I will not fear what is to come, but be thankful that he pays attention to me, and hears me when I cry out to him for more revelation. Do you desire to know more about God? Are you satisfied with your relationship? Make it a goal to seek him and all he has to offer; he is majestic and worthy of our attentiveness. Show us your glory, LORD!

Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent. He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind; he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire. He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved. Psalms 104:1-5

August 12

I’ve been following a low-carb diet for nearly two years. Before, I had gained more than twenty pounds and was very uncomfortable in my own skin. I lost the weight within the first three months, but because I noticed other benefits, and wanted to keep the weight off, I continued to follow it. You may think this sounds crazy, but lately, I’ve added a few extra carbs, and have noticed that my connection with the Holy Spirit has suffered a bit. I haven’t lost my connection, but my hearing isn’t quite as healthy as it is when I’m entirely sacrificing sugar. I like my close relationship with God, and if I think sugar and carbohydrates are standing in the way, then I must let them go. It is true that your mental clarity improves when you eat a ketogenic diet, but don’t ask Google, or the internet, it will tell you that your brain needs sugar to function; that’s just another lie we choose to believe. Have you come to a point in your walk with God that you will make sacrifices to keep a strong relationship with him? It doesn’t have to be your diet, though I would recommend it, it could be something like your time. It may be inconvenient at first, but eventually, you will find that you love your connection with God more than what you sacrificed. Try it; I guarantee you will be pleased with the outcome.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1

August 11

No matter how bad this world becomes, we are here for a reason. Will there be a great revival in our time that puts us to work? I hope so. There is a conspiracy culture at work, and the things revealed are a depiction of hell on earth; whether they are authentic, I do not know for sure, though there seems to be evidence, making some very heinous acts appear to be true. Do we fall for this, or should we be careful what we believe? Is this the darkness being brought into the light, or is this a work of the enemy to instill fear? The things I’ve seen about children and human trafficking is almost more than my mind can handle. I’m so disgusted, and if any of it is true, it makes Sodom and Gomorrah look innocent. We have a purpose in all of this, whether these allegations are true or not, and that is to be the light in the darkness! We are to give hope to the hopeless and calm the fears of those who are gripped by it. We are not going to change the trajectory of this world, Satan rules it, but we can change the outcome for some, and reveal Jesus to our dying world. Do not be overcome by the rumors, but be ready to share the love of Jesus to anyone who might need salvation. God will reveal if you need to get involved when it’s time.

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Isaiah 40:1

August 10

Richard, my husband, is the best grandpa, and all of our grand-boys love him. He has an over-the-top personality, and a smile that melts your heart, but he also has a booming voice. Our newest grandson is very sensitive to noise, and startles easily. Richard loves him with all his heart, but lately, he cries when he holds him. It’s the cutest thing to see; he smiles at first, but then his face turns upside-down. Richard is no quitter, and he keeps trying, and it seems to be working; last night he was able to hold him for a long time without him shedding a tear, I think he might be getting used to his voice. Did you know that God continues to go after those who keep rejecting him? God’s love reminds me of Richard and his love for his grandson. Many people reject God and don’t want to hear his voice, but he keeps pursuing them in the hopes that they will turn and believe in his goodness and love. If you have a loved one who has yet to accept Jesus as Savior, just know that he never stops chasing after them; keep praying for their heart to change, and hopefully, before their last breath, they will turn and trust him.

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. Luke 15:4-5