August 18, 2022

During Israel and Judah’s captivity in Babylon, Jeremiah gives the people hope for the return to their land. His words are not only beautiful and exciting, but he also predicts the future birth of our Messiah, that he should be born of a virgin. 

How long will you waver, O faithless daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing on the earth: a woman encircles a man.” Jeremiah 31:22

Where it says “a woman,” in this instance, according to my commentary, a woman is considered an unmarried virgin; otherwise, it would say ‘a wife.’ The words “encircles a man” means a pregnancy with a male child. Why, while telling about their release from captivity, does he predict the birth of Jesus? I think it’s because Jesus is our ultimate freedom. This same chapter talks about the new covenant; Jesus is the new covenant! The words that God gave him are so beautiful that Jeremiah woke up happy from dreaming.

For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.” At this I awoke and looked, and my sleep was pleasant to me. Jeremiah 31:25-26

This chapter, by far, is my favorite of Jeremiah. I’ve been chewing on his words for a couple of days, so I haven’t written about it until today. Jeremiah went from weeping to gladness with good reason. Jesus is everyone’s source of peace, and Jeremiah hadn’t even met him yet. Find your rest in Jesus. The world is in chaos, but our hope is in Jesus and his return. Do not put down your weapons and continue to fight the good fight, but stay hopeful.

August 17, 2022

I spent the entire day with my youngest grandson Ethan, who is two years old. He is full of life. Richard and I took him to his first closing; it probably won’t be his last. After business, we spent the rest of the day tooling around the house, and he got to do whatever his heart desired. My house was built in the 70s, and it was fashionable to have a garden area inside, so we have a dirt pit beside the front door full of mulch. Ethan loves to dig in the dirt with his skid steer, so when he’s at my house, that’s his favorite place to play. He had a hole a foot deep, and mulch piled a foot high, and it was everywhere, and he was happy. He never did reach the dirt, which makes me wonder how far down the soil is. My daughter asked me if I planned to leave the dirt pit when we remodeled; I had to laugh, Ethan will grow up, and we would still have a hole in the house if I did that, so that’s not going to happen. It will get filled in with concrete and covered up just like my sins! Thank you, Jesus! I expect that Ethan will be committed to Jesus as an adult, being his parents are dedicated to helping that happen. He will help others dig through their sins and clean up the dirt like he loves exploring the ground with his skid steer. He will excavate their soul terrain, and Jesus will cover their sins and seal them in concrete.

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

August 16, 2022

As I try to fit years of work around the property into a few days, I usually end up with scratches, bruises, and cuts. I feel like I'm being careful, but obviously, I'm not. A few days ago, I'm guessing because I can't be sure, I must have stepped on something thorny without realizing and had a piece of that thorn stuck in my toe. I could only see a tiny black dot, so I wasn't sure if I had been stung and still had the stinger or if it was a thorn, but it was beginning to fester and hurt. I got out the needle and began surgery on my toe, and successfully removed it. It was so tiny, yet it caused so much pain. I feel like our minor indiscretions are much like that little sliver of a thorn. Though they seem insignificant, they are causing us much pain and discomfort. When will we learn our lesson? God put safeguards into place to help us, not to limit our pleasure. We will find peace and feel protected when we view his word as a helper rather than a limitation. 

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16

August 15, 2022

I’ve heard people say they love the book of Jeremiah. I think I’ve finally figured out why. I believe it’s because it contains the verse that I hear quoted time and time again; Jeremiah 29:11! I can’t say this book is my favorite. I like it because it’s God’s Word, but if I could sum it up, it’s about repentance. When the people failed to repent, God sent them into exile to Babylon as punishment. God was correcting their behavior but also wanted to give them the hope of returning to their land. However, if you were 20 years old, you probably weren’t going back home, and if you did, you would be 90 because this exile lasted 70 years! So God told them to live and prosper where he planted them.

Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. Jeremiah 29:5-6

After giving them the bad news about having to stay there for seventy years, he followed it by consoling them.

“For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:10-11

God has plans for all of us, but I don’t think this promise applies to those who do not seek him and pray to him with all their heart. 

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

We can expect good things from God because he loves us, but we need to honor him by reaching out to him in prayer, worship him as our loving Father, and praise him for his goodness.

August 14, 2022

There is so much going on worldwide. Russia, Ukraine, China, and other countries have involved themselves in these shenanigans. We can’t see the whole picture, but if we could, we would probably be shocked. The enemy may not be who the media has portrayed as evil. Pay attention to who gets in line to visit certain factions. Who have celebrities and American dignitaries visited on the frontlines of the war going on right now? We know they take part in the propaganda. We must consider that what we think we are witnessing is a lie. No matter what the case may be, God will win! He uses whatever means necessary to bring his children to repentance and back into the sheepfold, even through countries we consider our enemy. If you don’t believe me, read these scriptures:

“It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me. Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, my servant, and I have given him also the beasts of the field to serve him. Jeremiah 27:5-6

It’s crucial that we dig below the surface of what the media tells us; they get paid big money to lie to help keep the world under the control of “Babylon” - who are the “few” that are quietly controlling what the “many” are seeing. However, God may be using the king of Babylon again, whoever that is, to serve him and bring a wake-up call to his people.

August 13, 2022

You have to pay your dues. I read a meme that one of my friends posted yesterday, and it said everything you need to know about the trials you may be going through, especially if you are a servant of the Lord. 

"Anointing didn't take David straight to the palace, it returned him to the sheep pen. Anointing doesn't bypass process, it binds you to it. It's dangerous to be released without bearing responsibility. It's dangerous to become a King without first being a Keeper."

Before being taken captive by Babylon, God told Jeremiah to prophesy to Judah and their allies:

Thus the LORD said to me: "Make yourself straps and yoke-bars, and put them on your neck." Jeremiah 27:2

God warned them to accept their captivity, or otherwise, he would destroy them. Wow! God wasn't playing any games. He is the same God we worship, and he doesn't change! God puts us through a rigorous process, so we become obedient to him. He molds us into valuable tools for his kingdom. It might be a good idea to recognize this process; maybe you will get through your trials more quickly if you are cognizant of the molding God has you going through. God also warned them to stop listening to the lying prophets telling them what their itchy ears wanted to hear. Being a Christ-follower may not be easy, but the rewards are incredible if we submit to his process! Remember what Jesus said about his yoke:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

August 12, 2022

They tried to kill the messenger, but Ahikam intervened on behalf of Jeremiah, and they let him live. He had stood right in the court of the Lord's house with a message to the people of God from him that they didn't like, and rather than repent of their evil ways, they got angry and threatened to kill him. Is the warning he gave them something we need to hear? As Christ-followers, are we doing things that go against the things of God that he has put in place to keep up from harm? Jesus told us to love God and people; are we doing that with all our hearts? Are we engaging in a lifestyle that reflects those around us rather than following the ways of Jesus? If you were standing in front of Jesus and he began assessing the things you do, would he be pleased? 

Think about some of the things you engage in daily that could be disappointing to the Lord. Maybe you read astrology, get lost in salacious books, or look at pornography. What if it's simpler than that; perhaps you are portraying a blissful lifestyle on social media when it doesn't reflect the truth. Isn't that a lie? What about coveting? Wow! I may have forgotten about that commandment. This post is hitting home for me today! What about Saturday the Sabbath? Do you keep it holy? The point is, stay repentant! It's nearly impossible to keep the commandments strictly; Jesus knew we couldn't do it, so he chose to die for us. He covered all our sins, past and future, but we still need to reach out to him and ask his forgiveness every day.

“Thus says the LORD: Stand in the court of the LORD's house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the LORD all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not hold back a word. It may be they will listen, and every one turn from his evil way, that I may relent of the disaster that I intend to do to them because of their evil deeds. Jeremiah 26:2-3

August 11, 2022

The world is in turmoil, but we are not of this world. We will not receive God’s wrath; we are under his grace because we trust in Jesus. The wicked should be scared, and I believe they are because they sense their doom on the horizon. Look how hard they are pressing in against the ordinary people, trying their best to silence us, but we are riding the train that will run over them! I’m so thankful and happy that I have Jesus! Pain is coming, but not for us! 

The clamor will resound to the ends of the earth, for the LORD has an indictment against the nations; he is entering into judgment with all flesh, and the wicked he will put to the sword, declares the LORD.’ Jeremiah 25:31

Though these scriptures come from the days of Jeremiah, the warning still rings true for today, and anyone who doesn’t listen to our warnings to seek Jesus before it’s too late, I expect, will get caught in the crossfire between God and Satan. Here is a word for them:

You have neither listened nor inclined your ears to hear, although the LORD persistently sent to you all his servants the prophets, saying, ‘Turn now, every one of you, from his evil way and evil deeds, and dwell upon the land that the LORD has given to you and your fathers from of old and forever. Jeremiah 25:4-5

August 10, 2020

We have several duplexes under contract. We’ve offered them as a package, which makes it easier for us, but can become confusing for the title agent. I spent some time in their office yesterday trying to help them understand so that the pro-rated rents would come out right on the closing statement. It was a mess in their mind until I explained it. It makes sense to them now and will give us confidence in their numbers. Sometimes there is a simple answer for the chaos we experience; a misunderstanding, hurt feelings, a comma when there should have been a period, you name it; and the results can come out much differently at its cause. In the case of the closing, there were too many unexplained papers. I expect that much of the upheaval the world is experiencing is a product of something simple. The enemy comes in, puts his spin on our troubles, complicates it, and causes confusion. When misunderstandings begin, know that it is not from the Lord. Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you to the truth and for him to sort it out, so you have clarity. Don’t get confused; wait on the Lord to give you the answer.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. John 16:13

August 9, 2022

Things aren't always what they seem. When the Chaldeans took Judah into captivity, at first glance, you would think God was punishing them and had set them up for death. It ended up being more like a spanking rather than a death sentence. God had a heart for them and was turning their love back to him and would eventually bring them back into their land. The ones left in Judah faced more trouble than the captives and probably even death. Consider what we are seeing now, like the FBI's raid on Mar-a-Lago and the additional IRS agents hired to take what's left of our money so they can replace the billions they've given to Ukraine. Maybe these things will shed some light on the government's corruption and wake those still sleeping. Perhaps what appears to be punishment is merely God's hand at work exposing the evil within our country. Some things are so unbelievable and almost comical that it makes me think we are watching a movie and the characters playing their role are bad actors. Don't get too anxious about what you see; we are on the right side of history. Relax, sit back, and eat your popcorn. It's going to be okay.

I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them up. I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart. Jeremiah 24:6-7

August 8, 2022

Did you know that God sent the prophets of the Bible to turn people away from doing evil? They were not fortune tellers like we see on television and in some pulpits sent to give you a personal word. God sent prophets to warn his people of the pending disaster that would come upon them if they didn’t repent and turn from their evil ways. Though I believe if we tune in to hear his voice, he speaks to us to help others who need to feel God’s love or to show us who needs help. If you are walking in the ways of the Lord, doing what’s right in his eyes, and you hear the words of a prophecy, those words are not for you but are for those doing evil in the name of the Lord, though we can benefit from hearing them; to help keep us on the straight and narrow path. Be careful who you listen to; use discernment to assess the intentions of “so-called” prophets; many are out to line their pockets at your expense; God will deal harshly with them if they don’t turn away from their evil practices. If you need to hear a word from God, the best place to get one is from your Bible. If you comb through the pages daily, you will get a word from him every day because it is the Living Word!

“Both prophet and priest are ungodly; even in my house I have found their evil, declares the LORD. Jeremiah 23:11

In the prophets of Samaria I saw an unsavory thing: they prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray. But in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his evil; all of them have become like Sodom to me, and its inhabitants like Gomorrah.” Jeremiah 23:13-14

Salvation

 I’ve noticed a lot of people dying lately. I’ve been to more funerals this year than my entire life. I thought it might be a good time to put this out there.

Faith in Jesus is the only way into Heaven. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY! You cannot get there by being a good person. God only allows entry into Heaven to individuals who have trusted their lives to Jesus. Some of the people who’ve died recently were saved by their faith, but others, I’m not sure if he knew them. The most dreadful thing to hear Jesus say when you pass from this life is: “And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” Matthew 7:23

I guarantee you will hear those words if you die without trusting your life to him.

Don’t let another minute go by without Jesus in your life. Death comes to everyone, and none of us know when our time is up. Ask now for Jesus to become the Lord of your life, to forgive you of your sins. He will accept anyone who asks. I know what you’re thinking; it can’t be that easy, but it is! And, believe me, it’s worth the change of direction. The Bible says in Romans 9:10, “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” 

If you have no idea how to pray, pray this:

Heavenly Father, I recognize that I am lost in my sin. I need a Savior. I accept the sacrifice of your son Jesus, who laid down His life for me. This day I choose to believe in him and ask for forgiveness of my sins. I ask Jesus to reign as Lord of my life forever. Thank You for drawing me to you and accepting me as your child. Amen.

August 7, 2022

I spent half my morning looking for an extension cord and a longer charger cable for my keyboard. I never found one, and I had to use the short charger, which required me to change my position on the couch, which was utterly uncomfortable. I failed to keep it properly charged, so I wasn't prepared when it went dead this morning. I shouldn't have allowed it to go for so long without a recharge. God forbid I should have to write my blog by hand; that would be so inconvenient and impractical for a digital post. 

When was the last time you recharged your spiritual life? Do you pray daily? Do you read your Bible? The best way to hear God's voice is by reading your Bible. Suppose you don't engage daily and communicate with him. In that case, your spiritual battery will run down, life will become uncomfortable, and you will waste a lot of time trying to catch up to where you should be in your relationship with him. Make sure you keep your spiritual battery charged and ready so that when life becomes difficult, you are prepared and can hear the direction of the Lord.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

August 6, 2022

There are days I feel that I cannot write another word. Then God refreshes my thoughts and reminds me that he is my strength and that it is he who keeps me going. When I try to accomplish the task he assigned me without his help, I fall flat, but when I remember that he is in control and not me, the words nearly write themselves. If you feel inadequate or unworthy in God’s ministry, it’s because you are. Without his strength, we are nothing. When you set out to fulfill the command to go and tell everyone the good news about Jesus, the Holy Spirit propels you. If you try without his direction, you will fail miserably. God equips the called and will draw you to his Word, counsel you in prayer, and invigorate you when you praise and worship him; for now, those things may be your only assignment until he’s ready to release you. With that said, don’t fret over feeling you are not doing enough for the kingdom; you will know when God calls you to complete a task; he will make it obvious.

but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

August 5, 2022

Yesterday, I spent the entire day with home inspectors. Fourteen inspections, three inspectors, and a box full of keys! That's too many for one day, but at least it's over. Home inspections are the most dreaded part of my job, but when they are rentals, it's even worse because I'm invading the tenant's privacy. There is no getting around it, especially when an insurance company or a buyer is involved. They want to know what could be wrong with the property so the homeowner can make corrections and the party to the transaction can make a sound financial decision. 

It's for the same reason God searches the hearts and minds of those he loves, ensuring every iniquity is repented, cleaned up, and we make corrections to our behavior. Through Jesus, every sin is cleansed, but we must confess them and remove any unrighteous from our being that may have crept in and sullied our reputation as his follower.

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Psalms 139:23-24

August 4, 2022

Jeremiah prayed for God to turn his wrath away from his adversaries, yet they plotted against him, dug a pit to capture him, and made a snare for his feet. They didn’t like his prophecy for them and wanted to keep doing their evil deeds rather than turning away from it so God would relent from bringing disaster. So Jeremiah prayed for them again; only this time he prayed against them!

Therefore deliver up their children to famine; give them over to the power of the sword; let their wives become childless and widowed. May their men meet death by pestilence, their youths be struck down by the sword in battle. Jeremiah 18:21

These people were nasty! He told them what God wanted him to say; he prayed for them and instructed them to turn away from wickedness, and yet they came after him because they didn't like what God said. They had the opportunity to change, not unlike today's evil. They've had warnings, and we've prayed for them to relent from their evil practices; it's time for us to pray against them. Pray that everything terrible they've planned for the ordinary people would fall back on them. Like Jeremiah, I'm tired of being nice, and now I'm praying that God would unleash his wrath upon them and remove them from this earth so we would have peace again.

August 3, 2022

After selling the cows in one pasture, we moved other cows into their vacated field. We weren’t sure how to get them to cross over, but we set up the panels across the driveway and moved their feed, hoping they would go on their own. At first, they didn’t move. We thought we might have to cut off their water supply so they would look for it in the new pasture. Thankfully we didn’t have to do that because it seemed cruel. They must have become curious because by the following day, that had all moved over, and we could close the gate behind them. They seem okay, but we can tell that they want to cross back over because they keep gathering near the access. 

When God moves you into a new pasture that is green and lush and sets a meal in front of you, don’t try to cross back over. Be thankful that your past is behind you and that God moved you forward. Your life in Jesus is about moving closer and closer to him and turning away from past sin into a new direction. Don’t look back! The promised land is just ahead. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Psalms 23:2-3

August 2, 2022

After carefully placing my newly filled paint tray away from the ladder so I wouldn’t step in it, I stepped in it, and paint went everywhere! Not only that, but the flooring is green carpet that I had covered with a tarp, but it sloshed onto the carpet and seeped through the tarp. We have plans to replace the carpet, but not yet! After scooping most of it up, I had the presence of mind to pour Fabuloso on it to keep it wet until I could get some water to pour over it. After working diligently for about an hour, I got the paint out of the carpet and was able to finish the job. I didn’t get anxious but worked steadily through this unplanned situation.

Though this is minor and not world-changing, it’s an example of our challenges as citizens of God’s Kingdom. Life is certainly not easy, and even though we may face a delay for a time, if we work steadily, we will get through it, accomplish our goals, and receive our reward. If you are going through a situation, whether it’s your health, finances, or relational, don’t give up! Don’t rely on your own strength; have faith in God’s power. He will never leave you nor forsake you.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8

August 1, 2022

I did some weeding in my vegetable garden on Saturday. I had allowed them to become too numerous, so it took me a while to get them cleaned up. The gnats were bothering me, and the heat was intolerable. I decided to bring a fan outside and set it up in front of me, and it kept me cool and the gnats out of my face. It was the best idea I’ve had in a long time. Plucking them out gives me such satisfaction and immediate gratification. If only I had made it a daily practice to remove them, it wouldn’t have gotten so out of hand. 

The weeds are like sin, the heat and the gnats are like the enemy, and the fan is like Jesus. It will become overwhelming if you don’t pluck the sin from your life daily. Then when you decide it’s time to clean it up, the enemy will come along and torture you. However, you have Jesus, and he will help you keep the enemy at bay if you are sincere in your desire to remove it from your life. It is best not to sin, but sometimes it happens; clean it up immediately to avoid accumulation. 

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9

July 31, 2022

You must remain strong in this day and age.

*Become bold in your convictions.

*Stand firm in the Lord.

*Do not waiver in your belief.

The enemy is throwing everything at you because you belong to Jesus; don’t let that sway you. Think about issues happening in the world right now and lay these verses over the people causing them. The entities creating all the problems for the world will be brought to justice by God himself; he will remove them from his sight! 

Then the LORD said to me, “Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my heart would not turn toward this people. Send them out of my sight, and let them go! And when they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD: “‘Those who are for pestilence, to pestilence, and those who are for the sword, to the sword; those who are for famine, to famine, and those who are for captivity, to captivity.’ Jeremiah 15:1-2

God will use the very things they used to oppress the people as punishment for themselves. He is going to give them a dose of their own medicine. They will not get away with what they are doing to the people. Pray that all eyes open to the truth, and those lulled to sleep by the evil of this day will wake up.

“Who will have pity on you, O Jerusalem, or who will grieve for you? Who will turn aside to ask about your welfare? You have rejected me, declares the LORD; you keep going backward, so I have stretched out my hand against you and destroyed you— I am weary of relenting. Jeremiah 15:5-6