QT 1/28/2021 Gal 1:19-20, Learn from everyone

 

QT 1/27/2021 Gal 1:12, One gospel with only one source -- Jesus

 

QT 1/26/2021 Gal 1:6-10, Understanding the impossible, "God saved me"

 

QT 1/25/2021 Gal 1:1-5, Only Jesus can deliver us

 

QT 1/21/2021 Lam 5:15-16, Woe to us, judgment is coming

 

QT 1/20/2021 Lam 5:11-12, Time is running short

 

QT 1/19/2021 Lam 5:1-2, Forgive us for taking salvation for granted

 

QT 1/18/2021 Lam 4:20, Relying on God and not others

 

QT 1/15/2021 Lam 4:12, What will happen when his protection is removed?

 

QT 1/14/2021 Lam 4:9, Others will be facing "the wrath to come" and need our message

QT 1/13/2021 Lam 4:1, What is really of value?

 

QT 1/12/2021 Lam 3:64-65, The days are shortening and we need to make them count

 

QT 1/11/2021 Lam 3:17-18; 3:52-57, Learning to trust

Lamentations 3:17–18 (RSV) — 

17 my soul is bereft of peace, 

I have forgotten what happiness is; 

18 so I say, “Gone is my glory, 

and my expectation from the Lord.” 

NOTE: I do remember that pain. It is very hard to go on in those days. And I have certainly experienced it again at times and moments of my life since the years 1987 - 1990. How does one get through it? How did Jeremiah get through it? I read something in a book last night about a lady paralyzed all her life (over 50 years) because of a poor decision as a teenager. But her life was a picture of joy. She took the verse, "give thanks in everything you do," and she said it had become her "reflex reaction" for her life. Steven Covey, writes that there are things outside of our control, and there are things within our circle of influence, and there are some things we can control -- like our reaction to events. We choose how we respond to the events of life. We try to influence other things, but for the things we can't influence, we can only control our reaction to them.  We can also pray about the things outside of our control, but we must accept the result when we give these things to God. He is not our "genie in the bottle." He is our Lord and King and Savior. What he chooses to do in answer (or apparent non-answer) to our prayers, we must learn to accept and to be thankful.

PRAYER: Father, I certainly have no strength in this area. I say that not because I have not learned these lessons, but because I feel I would certainly fall if tested again. I need you. I need you to get through these days. I need you so I am not bitter at people who have tried to hurt me at work.

Oops, wrong passage above. I don't know what I was looking at, but maybe the Lord wanted me to see those verses again, or more likely I am getting old.

Lamentations 3:52–57 (RSV) — 

52 “I have been hunted like a bird 

by those who were my enemies without cause; 

53 they flung me alive into the pit 

and cast stones on me; 

54 water closed over my head; 

I said, ‘I am lost.’ 

55 “I called on thy name, O Lord, 

from the depths of the pit; 

56 thou didst hear my plea, ‘Do not close 

thine ear to my cry for help!’ 

57 Thou didst come near when I called on thee; 

thou didst say, ‘Do not fear!’ 

NOTE: The people did not like what Jeremiah was saying, so they threw him into a well. That was a bad situation, to say the obvious. Water covered over his head. I wonder how wide the well was? He cried out to God. He prayed to the Lord. Help did not come immediately if I remember the story. I am sure he wondered if serving God was worth it in those moments. God rescued him, but how many of us come that close to death? And how many are so threatened by speaking truth? I think the day has arrived when our words will be censored. We will come under attack for our beliefs. We are heading to a day of controlled information. That is the only way that the enemy can prevent the masses from questioning the narrative. It is happening now in politics. It is also happening in the workplace. We need to continue to share our faith. We need to obey the law, but only until the law goes against God's word. Sharing our faith is not illegal yet although it is limited in some environments. Finally, no one can stop a person from living a life of love. That witness can never be stopped. If you live rightly, those around you will know that you are a follower of Jesus.

PRAYER: Father, give us boldness to live and speak for Christ.

QT 1/8/2021 Lam 3:43-45, So, we live in Rome again, let's get back to business

 

QT 1/7/2021 Lam 3:40-42, We lost our foundations and we don't even know it

 

QT 1/6/2021 Lam 3:25-32, It is good … to suffer unjustly

 

QT 1/5/2021 Lam 3:22, Transformed by his mercy

 

QT 1/4/2021 Lam 3:10, Being honest with God

 

QT 1/2/2021 Gal 3:6-9, Blinded by the false light (Lucifer)

 

QT 1/1/2021 Lam 3:7-9, Seeing beyond our comfort