Rest For the Weary

“Thus says the Lord: Take care for the sake of your lives, and do not bear a burden on the Sabbath day or bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem. And do not carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath or do any work, but keep the Sabbath day holy, asContinue reading “Rest For the Weary”

Our Refuge

“O Lord, my strength and my stronghold, my refuge in the day of trouble” (Jeremiah 16:19, ESV) We have many battles in life. Some come at the hands of other people. Some through illness. Some through natural disasters and calamity. These are sometimes spiritual attacks. Some are clearly from spiritual forces of evil. Yet allContinue reading “Our Refuge”

The Greatest Rescue Mission

“Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when it shall no longer be said, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ but ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the north country and out of all theContinue reading “The Greatest Rescue Mission”

Fortified Walls

“And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 15:20, ESV) When in the United States Army, I was stationed in the Federal RepublicContinue reading “Fortified Walls”

A Nonconformist

“I did not sit in the company of revelers, nor did I rejoice; I sat alone, because your hand was upon me, for you had filled me with indignation.” (Jeremiah 15:17, ESV) As I have been in the pastoral ministry for many years, I look back and realize the power of behavior patterns. We establishContinue reading “A Nonconformist”

Sweet Food or Bitter

“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.” (Jeremiah 15:16, ESV) Growing up, one of the great breakfast foods that I ate was cereal. My grandmother used to purchaseContinue reading “Sweet Food or Bitter”

Spiritual Weeds

“I will appoint over them four kinds of destroyers, declares the Lord: the sword to kill, the dogs to tear, and the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. And I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh theContinue reading “Spiritual Weeds”

Liar Liar Pants on Fire

Then I said: ‘Ah, Lord God, behold, the prophets say to them, ‘You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place.’” And the Lord said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did IContinue reading “Liar Liar Pants on Fire”

Slip Sliding Away

“Though our iniquities testify against us, act, O Lord, for your name’s sake; for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you.” (Jeremiah 14:7, ESV) When I was in college, I had a 1967 Toyota Land Cruiser. This four-wheel drive vehicle could go just about anywhere. I remember taking it on the sandy beachContinue reading “Slip Sliding Away”

Broken Can’t Fix Broken

“Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil.” (Jeremiah 13:23, ESV) Ask people what they consider one of the greatest hymns of all time and you might get a variety of answers. Yet this one hymn almost everyone will recognizeContinue reading “Broken Can’t Fix Broken”