Jeremiah 12:15-16
But after I uproot them, I will again have compassion and will bring each of them back to his own inheritance and his own country. And if they learn well the ways of my people and swear by my name, saying 'As surely as the Lord lives'- even as they once taught my people to swear by baal- then they will be established among my people.
No matter how wicked or terrible we are, if we learn to love God and follow Him then He will forgive us and will still love us like His own children. He teaches us so that we learn from our mistakes. These two verses show God's great character of mercy and compassion. He wipes our slate clean.
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Monday, December 28, 2015
Jeremiah 11
When we live out a life that is glorifying to God, it may be different from others who don't know God's love yet. They may persecute you and it will hurt, but God will be by your side and protect you. So you don't have to be afraid when your're doing good in God's name.
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Jeremiah 10
Jeremiah 10:10
But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King. When he is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure his wrath.
Jeremiah 10:12
But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.
God's ability to create and design the world is with knowledge, understanding, and power that the human mind will not be able to comprehend. We are not God, we will never fully understand everything.
Jeremiah 10:23
I know; O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.
Let God be the guide in our life journey, because wherever He takes us will be beneficial and good. He will never lead us to something that we cannot conquer. God will help us succeed in the plan He has for us.
But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King. When he is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure his wrath.
Jeremiah 10:12
But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.
God's ability to create and design the world is with knowledge, understanding, and power that the human mind will not be able to comprehend. We are not God, we will never fully understand everything.
Jeremiah 10:23
I know; O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.
Let God be the guide in our life journey, because wherever He takes us will be beneficial and good. He will never lead us to something that we cannot conquer. God will help us succeed in the plan He has for us.
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Jeremiah 9
Jeremiah 9:23-24
This is what the Lord says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the Lord.
Declare the goodness of the Lord in all things that I do.
This is what the Lord says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the Lord.
Declare the goodness of the Lord in all things that I do.
Monday, December 21, 2015
Jeremiah 8
At the end of this chapter, Jeremiah pleads to the Lord for healing of the people in Israel. He prays for compassion and mercy.
That same heart full of compassion and empathy towards people is a beautiful trait that needs to mature in me. I don't want to look through the world's lenses and feel judgment towards others. Each individual has their story for the circumstances they're in, but may I feel compassion and plead to the Lord for them as well, even if my own life is getting by God's grace.
That same heart full of compassion and empathy towards people is a beautiful trait that needs to mature in me. I don't want to look through the world's lenses and feel judgment towards others. Each individual has their story for the circumstances they're in, but may I feel compassion and plead to the Lord for them as well, even if my own life is getting by God's grace.
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Jeremiah 7
Jeremiah 7:6-7
if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever.
God clearly tells us to care for foreigners, orphans, and widows. He tells us to do only things that are just and good.
Whenever I walk the streets of Downtown, I see so many homeless people. Some ask for change and I just simply walk by without glancing at them. People say we shouldn't give change since it may continue spurring on harmful actions (e.g. use that change to get drugs or smokes). However, people say to simply talk to them, show that you acknowledge their hardships, or give them something to eat. Those are ways we can continue to show God's love to them... but I don't. It's something I need to change.
Jeremiah 7:23
but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you.
How often do I follow God's way? This should be a question I always ask myself. I'm not conscious enough about this. It's something I need to change.
if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever.
God clearly tells us to care for foreigners, orphans, and widows. He tells us to do only things that are just and good.
Whenever I walk the streets of Downtown, I see so many homeless people. Some ask for change and I just simply walk by without glancing at them. People say we shouldn't give change since it may continue spurring on harmful actions (e.g. use that change to get drugs or smokes). However, people say to simply talk to them, show that you acknowledge their hardships, or give them something to eat. Those are ways we can continue to show God's love to them... but I don't. It's something I need to change.
Jeremiah 7:23
but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you.
How often do I follow God's way? This should be a question I always ask myself. I'm not conscious enough about this. It's something I need to change.
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Jeremiah 5 & 6
If my heart was at any point as wicked as the people in Israel who turned away from God, please forgive me of my sins. I surrender my ways and my wants for yours. Put me on the path of righteousness so I can stand before you clean and as a dear daughter of God.
Friday, December 11, 2015
Jeremiah 4
Jesus took on a wrath that was thousand fold greater than that described in this chapter. He did it so that I can live and be clean as I stand before God. How great His love is for me to take this suffering. How merciful is our great and good God!
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Jeremiah 3
Jeremiah 3:12
Go, proclaim this message toward the north: " Return, faithless Israel,' declares the Lord, 'I will frown on you no longer, for I am merciful,' declares the Lord, 'I will not be angry forever.
This is not a secret that only select people know about. God is angry when we disobey Him and do things that He doesn't want us to do... but he's also loving and merciful. He knows that we are broken but when we consciously decide to change for God, He will be there to receive us.
Jeremiah 3:15
Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.
Our shepherds could be our parents, friends, mentors, brothers and sisters. We walk in our faith in a community so that we have people to support and guide us, teach us and rebuke us. They will spiritually feed us with knowledge and understanding that only comes from the Holy Spirit.
Turn away from sin and be righteous before God.
Go, proclaim this message toward the north: " Return, faithless Israel,' declares the Lord, 'I will frown on you no longer, for I am merciful,' declares the Lord, 'I will not be angry forever.
This is not a secret that only select people know about. God is angry when we disobey Him and do things that He doesn't want us to do... but he's also loving and merciful. He knows that we are broken but when we consciously decide to change for God, He will be there to receive us.
Jeremiah 3:15
Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.
Our shepherds could be our parents, friends, mentors, brothers and sisters. We walk in our faith in a community so that we have people to support and guide us, teach us and rebuke us. They will spiritually feed us with knowledge and understanding that only comes from the Holy Spirit.
Turn away from sin and be righteous before God.
Monday, December 7, 2015
Jeremiah 2
Devotion to God. The people followed God out of Egypt, through the desert, and into holy land. They trusted that the Lord will take them away from their misery as slaves and into righteousness as they stand before God.
We've put God to the side and instead replaced with money, social activities, pride, and other worthless idols. These idols won't save us. They give an illusion of control (as what I heard from this past Sunday's sermon). We should be submitting to authority instead of asking for autonomy. We shouldn't let ourselves be controlled by things that won't help us. These things don't last.
Jeremiah 2:13
"My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
Why go elsewhere and find water when God provides the spring of everlasting, living water?
Jeremiah 2:21
I had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock. How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine?
God made us to be images of Him. We may be a broken humanity but there is a journey that we are on to bring us closer to our original state that God made us to be.
Jeremiah 2:32
Does a maiden forget her jewelry, a bride her wedding ornaments? Yet my people have forgotten me days without numbers.
If we believe that God is the #1 thing in our lives, we would make time for Him. Like a bride who cannot forget her wedding ornaments, how can we forget God in our own lives?
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Jeremiah 1
Jeremiah 1:5-9
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. "Ah, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I Do not know how to speak; I am only a child." But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord. Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth.
God has a special plan for each of His children. Things will or won't happen that you may or may not like, but they will all guide you to the final product that God has intended for you. You may not think that you are able to carry out God's will, but He will equip you so that your mission is successful. God will provide for you, He will be there for you. There's nothing to be afraid of.
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. "Ah, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I Do not know how to speak; I am only a child." But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord. Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth.
God has a special plan for each of His children. Things will or won't happen that you may or may not like, but they will all guide you to the final product that God has intended for you. You may not think that you are able to carry out God's will, but He will equip you so that your mission is successful. God will provide for you, He will be there for you. There's nothing to be afraid of.
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