Sunday, September 25th

Sunday, September 25th

Jeremiah 49:12-22
12 This is what the LORD says: "If those who do not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, why should you go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, but must drink it. 13 I swear by myself," declares the LORD, "that Bozrah will become a ruin and an object of horror, of reproach and of cursing; and all its towns will be in ruins forever." 14 I have heard a message from the LORD : An envoy was sent to the nations to say, "Assemble yourselves to attack it! Rise up for battle!" 15 "Now I will make you small among the nations, despised among men. 16 The terror you inspire and the pride of your heart have deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks, who occupy the heights of the hill. Though you build your nest as high as the eagle's, from there I will bring you down," declares the LORD. 17 "Edom will become an object of horror; all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff because of all its wounds. 18 As Sodom and Gomorrah were overthrown, along with their neighboring towns," says the LORD, "so no one will live there; no man will dwell in it. 19 "Like a lion coming up from Jordan's thickets to a rich pastureland, I will chase Edom from its land in an instant. Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? Who is like me and who can challenge me? And what shepherd can stand against me?" 20 Therefore, hear what the LORD has planned against Edom, what he has purposed against those who live in Teman: The young of the flock will be dragged away; he will completely destroy their pasture because of them. 21 At the sound of their fall the earth will tremble; their cry will resound to the Red Sea. 22 Look! An eagle will soar and swoop down, spreading its wings over Bozrah. In that day the hearts of Edom's warriors will be like the heart of a woman in labor.

Today is a great day. I had issues with a great friend and today we can to a resolution, peaceful at that. I was a walking jungle gym to family. I love kids and until my health gives way, I will continue to do so. I guess I am just a big kid at heart. Something I have thought about since speaking with my friend is that forgiving and being forgiven is such a healing thing. I don’t know about him, but for me, I feel rejuvenated and my zeal is refreshed. It is great, to say the least. Could that be why so many in our society walk around with so much luggage? I know for me, it was extremely hard to forgive him, due to my past and how I had been treated by so many “friends.” It is unfortunate I placed him in with those people, but it happens. Sometime or another the past will come up and we have to deal with it. I wanted to share that before I dig into the scripture and my quiet time.

The pride of my heart will deceive me. You know that is what happened. My pride deceived me. I was wounded with an all to familiar sting, my pride crept up and told me that he was like the others before him. It wasn’t true, but I for whatever reason, believed it. Bitterness then pitched a tent in my heart and was started on plans of a very big house with many rooms, good to host a grand pity party. I preached to my wife about the angers I felt. She was very righteous, I am proud to say. She kept me in prayer and wanted me to seek counsel. Oh, the biggest thing was that when I told her I didn’t want to go to church, she suggested us going to the elders house church. I was like, “see the elder when I am in sin? You want me to be righteous?” I laughed it off, because I just wanted to run from the solution. I wanted to hold the sin over my friends head. “A guilty man flees though no one pursues…” it says that in Proverbs somewhere. Today, I felt much rejoicing in my heart. It was a good day. I think I am going to buy candy bars for my friends soon, when the money hits the bank. No money right now for gas. We have less than half a tank in one car and the other is riding on fumes. Guess what? We just got paid! And it is all gone. One way or another, things will work out. I did make a covenant today. Not with my eyes, I already did that and am doing very well with it. Today, I made a covenant with my heart to stay focused on my God. I made a covenant that I would let nothing stand in the way of my salvation, and that I would be devoted to studying the word. I do want to look at one definition, just because I am curious to see what the true meaning of deceive.

Deceive (verb):

1. To cause to believe what is not true; mislead.

I was so caught up in being right, that I caused myself to miss the true call of what I needed to do. I should have gone after my salvation, but instead I turned to the bitterness of my pride, returned to my vomit and my old ways. I missed the proverbial buss of salvation and took the taxi instead. You pay more with a taxi. But at least I got there and joyfully I might add. The trip, however, was a little bumpy and the air conditioner was out, but hey, an important lesson was learned and a deeper friendship resulted. Amen. God works in spite of myself. “Rejoice in the law of the Lord,” goes a song. Today, my quiet time, I simply lift praise to my Lord and rejoice. And the lesson I learned?

Tank of gas to church: $40.00
Breakfast at local donut shop: $5.00
Bible: $12.00
Songbooks: $12.00
Fellowship: $0.00
Repentance: Priceless

Thanks all for being patient with me. Johnny Out.