been reading jeremiah

I've been reluctant over the years to read Jeremiah. I tend to be melancholy and depressed, so hanging out with a guy whose message is gloomy and who feels the weight of the people of Israel has not been high on my priority list.

However, in light of recent events, I cannot help but be drawn to this great prophetic voice. I have particularly felt the weight of chapter 15:16.

Your words were found, and I ate them,
     and your words became to me a joy
     and the delight of my heart,
for I am called by your name,
     O Lord, God of hosts.

The Scriptures have become sweeter and more joyful than I have ever found them, and this during what I would have thought to be a terribly trying time. God is ever merciful with the Spirit that dwells within me.

I hope to talk about the issue at hand in the coming weeks, so that you all will know what it is that I am referring to, but I haven't yet found words for it.

-joe

scripture highlights

1 samuel 15:22b
"Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams"
Help us to obey, Lord. Do not leave us to our own devices, but bring us into alignment with your will, that we obey your commands and show ourselves to be believers.
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Jeremiah 10:13c
"He makes lightning for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses."
The greatness of our God in His sovereign control of nature. The song rings true "Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go?..."

scripture highlights

psalm 10:14-15, 17-18
"But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation,
that you may take it into your hands;
to you the helpless commits himself;
you have been the helper of the fatherless.
Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer;
call his wickedness to account till you find none.
O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear
to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more."
God, find the broken. Heal them. Give us hearts to reach out. Give me strength to love. Do justice for them.
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Romans 1:13
"that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine."
I spent two hours with my pastor today. It was a great time of encouragement for me. I hope it was the same for him. Fellowship of believers is so vital.
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Jeremiah 8:11
"They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace."
I see this being played out today, folks claiming peace in the world. But, to me it seems that peace is not here, nor will it be until the end. What is peace? Is it not the great rest we shall find in the love of God?

-joe

scripture highlights

1 Samuel 12:20-24 (various parts of these verses)
"...Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart...because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself...Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart."
my sin is heavy. but, by the grace of God, i serve Him faithfully. I fear Him. Lord, help me to continue.
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Jeremiah 7:23 "Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you."
i remember a camp song of this, the king james version of the verse, but it has stuck all these years. 12 or more years and it still sits there, a golden piece of Scripture tucked into my heart.
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Psalm 25:7b "according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord."
remember me this day God. I remember you, your love on the cross. Displayed for the world. remember the love displayed, God. Be gracious to me.

-joe

scripture highlights

Jeremiah 4:3b "Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among the thorns"
what does this mean in regards to the parable of the sower? anything? nothing?
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1 Samuel 8:3 "Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice."
this is similar to what happened to Eli and his sons. the fathers were close to the Lord, but their sons turned from him. it makes you realize how little our upbringing has to do with our faith, for surely the Lord chooses whom He will, but to serve and to turn aside.

-joe

scripture highlights

i think i will have a blog post a day of my Scriptural highlights. the purpose is twofold. one, to encourage anyone who reads. the second, to help keep me accountable. so, do that. if i don't post ask me why.

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1 samuel 3:7 "Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him."
What a statement. How true of this in our own lives, that before we really knew God, He called us out of the darkness and we put our faith in Him. This happens before we officially believe, the call to believe is issued to us all.
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psalm 25:11 "For your name's sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great."
i rarely think of my forgiveness in light of this. i know it in my head, but my heart doesn't want to say it.
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jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."
this hit me today because on two or three separate blogs the authors quotes other pastors and they themselves said that preaching cannot be taught. all those books that have the '5 great step to being a preacher' are of hardly any worth. God makes the preacher. hopefully i am a preacher by birth, because i think that i am a preacher by calling.
this is true of any other profession, whether secular or not. God has ordained where and when you work. where you are called. where you fit in His amazing plan. take courage and strength that if you are working out your salvation with fear and trembling that it is God who works in you, both to will and to act according to His purpose.

-joe