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Years ago my husband and I lost our house in a failed business venture. As a result we we homeless, traveling and living in campers for over thirty-five years. God used the event to bring us into ministry which gave our new life on the road a beautiful purpose. He also wanted to change our perspective on how we are to view the poor, or His "Least of These." Our experiences produced a book called, "Jesus and the Poor." "Teapots" is from that collection of short stories, prose, commentary, Bible insights and illustrations. We hope you are blessed by "Teapots" and I hope it inspires you to be one. https://youtu.be/_tBZxfvf3CM

Scriptures, Uplifting - when in distress, trials and fears John 14:18 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 16:33 33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 14:27 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 2 Timothy 1:12 12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Isaiah 41:10 10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Proverbs 18:10 10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. Galatians 5:22 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Isaiah 26:3 3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Joshua 1:9 9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Philippians 1:6 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Ephesians 1:6 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 1 Peter 1:7 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Acts 4:12 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Philippians 4:13 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:19 19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Luke 21:28 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Proverbs 3:5-6 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Philippians 4:6-7 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Psalm 19:14 14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalm 27:14 14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. James 5:8 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Psalms 56:3 3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. Psalm 119:105 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Romans 8:28 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 1 Corinthians 10:13 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:31 31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 John 1:9 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 3:22 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 2 Corinthians 12:9 9 And he said unto me,My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Timothy 3:16 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: Ephesians 5:2 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. Isaiah 40:31 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. James 1:22 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. Jeremiah 29:11 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. John 3:16 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 13:34 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. John 14:6 6 Jesus saith unto him,I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 15:5 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. Matthew 5:44 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Matthew 6:20 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: Matthew 6:33 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 7:7 7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: Matthew 21:22 22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Acts 1:8 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Romans 3:10 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: Romans 3:23 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 5:8 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 6:23 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 10:17 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 12:2 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 6:12-13 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. Colossians 3:23-24 23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. Psalm 23 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Romans 8:35-39 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Psalm 91:1-16 1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

So this thread is born out of a thread in another part with the same title. anyone wishing to add to it is welcome to do so. The point here is to help those who need a bit of encouragement This is one of the videos. It is called The Walls of Jericho. Always helps me when I am feeling down

I pray you are encouraged by this classic Petra song (from 1982.)

Another good devotional by Paul Ellis, hope it will encourage others, too. By Paul Ellis, Escapetoreality Branches are Not Sticks: Why God Will Never Cast You Away Posted on August 2, 2018 by Paul Ellis // 37 Comments “Whoever comes to me I will never cast away” (John 6:37). Jesus promised he would never cast away those who come to him, yet some people fear he might. Because Jesus is fickle and he changes his mind a lot. Of course, that’s not true, yet some worry that it might be true, because of what he said here: If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. (John 15:6) How do these words make you feel? Read them again, then see which of the following responses best describes your reaction: 1. “I’m in trouble. I don’t know if I’m abiding, so I’m in danger of being cast into the fire.” This is the response of the uncertain or lukewarm mind. It’s the response of someone who has not fully understood the good news of grace. 2. “These words aren’t for me because I’m a good Christian. I’m not perfect, but I’m at least better than 50% of the people reading this.” This is the response of the self-righteous. Again, it’s the response of someone who has not understood the good news of grace. 3. “I’ve got nothing to fear because God loves and he will never leave me. Since I am one with the Lord, it is impossible for him to cast me away.” This is the response of those who have been set free by the gospel and are growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. If your response was an insecure (1) or a self-righteous (2), don’t worry; you’ve come to the right place. To the self-righteous and those of you who think you are good enough for God, I have some liberating news: you are wretched, poor, blind, and naked. God’s law says so. Okay, so that wasn’t good news, but this is: Jesus gives grace to the wretched and he clothes the naked. Put off your filthy rags and put on the spotless garments of his righteousness. No one is good enough for God, but God is more than good enough for us. His best is better than your worst. His grace is greater than your self-righteousness. Believe it. And now some good news for the insecure and anxious. In the parable of the vine and the branches (John 15:1-8), Jesus talks about two kinds of people: Those who abide in him Those who don’t abide in him and are cast away Question 1: Who abides in Jesus? The believer. “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God” (1 John 4:15). A believer, by definition, abides in the Lord. They are not merely branches, but “branches in me” (John 15:6). Because a believer is in union with the Lord, they bear his fruit, and if they don’t, God nurtures them and lifts them up. He doesn’t cut them off. Question 2: Who doesn’t abide and is cast away? The unbeliever. Reject the life that Christ offers, and you will have no life in you. You will be a dead stick rather than a living branch. This is what happened to the religious Jews who rejected Jesus. They “were broken off for their unbelief” (Rom. 11:20). Who broke them off? Not God, but themselves. “They stumbled… theysought to establish their own righteousness … they killed the prophets” (Rom. 9:32, 10:3, 11:3). Some think that God cuts off unfruitful branches because God allegedly cut off the Jews, but “God did not reject his people” (Rom. 11:2); the Jews rejected God. And by Jews I mean the Jews as a nation rejected Jesus, while many individual Jews accepted him. Question 3: What’s the takeaway? Abide in the love of God. Just as the Father has loved me, I have also loved you; abide in my love. (John 15:9) We don’t abide to get into the love of God; we get to abide because he loves us. Notice the order in the verse above. There is a proclamation (unconditional love from God to you through Jesus) followed by an invitation (abide in that love; agree that Jesus is the Son of the God who loves us). When you know how much God loves you, you’ll stop striving to earn his love. You will not fear that he may cut you off and cast you away. (He promised he wouldn’t.) You will be at home in his love. Your heavenly Father loves you. There is nothing you can do to make him love you more, and nothing you can do to make him love you less. “Abide in the vine” is both a statement of your union with Christ and an exhortation to live from the pleasant security of that union.

This is a good promise for us Christians to stand on: 1 Peter 3:13-22 New International Version (NIV) 13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats[a]; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

Look Up When your energy wanes And you start to feel blue When your skies turn to gray As they sometimes will do It's the time to look up When you start feeling down God can bring forth a smile By reversing a frown "When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul."Psalm 94:19 "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22

Encouragement, and only Spiritual encouragement is allowed here. No excuses, nor deceits. Only humility. And I mean the good encouragement, that I see lacking so much in the Christian community. The Spirit cries and urges for: Love, love, love! I see people encouraging a dead faith, which discourages people of reading and/or practicing what the Lord Jesus said. That encourages uncleaness, and despise holiness and the grace and mercy of our God... "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." - Romans 12:1 And I tell you: Every word He spoke and it is now written was not in vain. It is all written for our own benefit, if we put in practice. "But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life." - Romans 6:22 I see so many people finding excuses not to put the Word in practice, by saying: "It is by grace we have been saved" "I do not care... He paid for it" Many people have a misunderstanding of the grace, and I want to believe it is of ignorance. Sorry, but the grace that is given to us is exactly for this: To please our God, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Thessalonians 5:23 As we know, we can do all things in Christ Jesus... Because nothing of the Spirit is contrary to God. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23 Sanctification that comes by faith, as without faith it is impossible to please Him. But when we see people comfortable in the hands of Satan, fulfilling the lusts of their flesh and living in communion with their bad habits, I feel sad. I feel sad because they do not do what the Lord Jesus said to us: "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." - Matthew 7:7 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" - Luke 11:13 And judge for yourself if the works of the flesh is something to be comfortable with: "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." - Galatians 5:19-21 And I do not write this to scare you, but to encourage you to be in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who loves you beyond your imagination. But if we despise so great a grace and salvation... Then we really are in danger. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." - Hebrews 10:31 "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." - John 3:19 But I really want all of us to please God through love... Because God is good and He loves us, so much, He sent His Son to save us and protect us under His mighty hands. And I am not here to make you feel comfortable in your flesh, I want you to be comfortable in the Spirit. "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." - Romans 8:6 Because comfort in the flesh is a deceit, the flesh will only lead us to death, its fruits are all evil. "but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." - Hebrews 3:13 But in Christ Jesus we are secure, because He is life, and He loves us. "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." - Romans 8:1 But why are we hardly seeing any encouragement from the Spirit nowadays?! I feel the Church is greatly quenched Spiritually, there are few people who are really fervent in the Spirit. And Scripture is clear that we should seek to be dead indeed to the flesh and alive to God, in Christ Jesus, through faith. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." - Matthew 5:16 "not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord" - Romans 12:11 "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." - Romans 12:14 We have so great an opportunity to please and do what is good in the sight of God through Christ Jesus, and many people are despising this grace. We sure may fail sometimes, but seeking daily in prayer and humble ourselves under the mighty hands of God. And we will overcome all of our problems and difficulties we find in the flesh. And I tell this from experience. But people simply forget and do not go and seek for more grace... As without faith it is impossible to please Him. "Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”" - James 4:5-6 "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up." - James 4:10 We are so powerless, so weak, so easily dominated by the flesh without the grace of God, that we should seek Him daily. But when we know of such good things, and still despise Him, and still do not look forward to please Him. If we know how to do good, and we do not... Then we start to get in serious danger. "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." - James 4:17 "For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit." - 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 Unless you want to despise His blood, and reject His grace, and live under the dominion of Satan. If not, then please humble yourselves daily before Him, and repent, indeed, of your wicked ways... If indeed you have tasted that He is gracious. I see some people who are in the world and when someone died for them in an accident of some sort... They are so thankful that they dedicate their lives to that person. And they do that for a sinner... And for the Lord Jesus, who gave their life for them and rose again, people are so reluctant to obey Him. It is no wonder that many will say to Him in that Day... Many will seek to enter, but they will not be able. "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." - Matthew 7:14 "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able." - Luke 13:24 Judge for yourself if indeed is pleasant in the sight of the Lord that we are more friend of the flesh than His. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who loves us abundantly cries, and cries, and say: "Do you really love me?!" "So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”" - John 21:15 Do you really think the Lord Jesus wants to see you in the hands of Satan and doing what he pleases?! I say no, He wants you to live with Him, doing His will. "to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me." - Acts 26:18 Then please, cry, and cry, and cry whenever you need and feel... Because the Lord will come to you quickly and He will deliver you from the evil one. "And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" - Luke 18:7-8 "Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom." - James 4:9 What I see today is that the Church is greatly quenched Spiritually. The flesh is prevailing against many members, and this should not be happening. We see dissensions, heresies, hate, slander, evil-speaking, unnecessary jokes, unholy practices... And the list goes on. I see many people resisting the Holy Spirit, and insulting the grace of our God by treating it as excuse to sin. "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" - Romans 6:1-2 And I say again: Do not seek for excuses to sin. But seek for excuses to humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God and ask for more grace. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent." - Revelation 3:19 "But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." - Matthew 9:13 Just go to me and ask, says the Lord, humble yourselves and get freely of My grace. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9 The Lord Jesus calls you today. Come, and start living in His light. "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" - 1 Peter 2:9 "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." - 1 John 1:7 May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ bless you abundantly and that you continue to walk with Him with all sincerity and humility. And that you know that He loves you so much, so much, that He want you closer and closer to Him each day. Remember, you were bought at a price... Then honor God both in body and in spirit. "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." - John 15:13 Please, let us encourage one another in the Spirit. This pleases the Lord. Glory to God! Amen.

Jeremiah: Encouraging Words For Difficult Times Bible Reading: Jeremiah 23:1-28; 32:16-44. Memory Verse: ‘I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.’ 1:19 ‘ Call unto me and I will..’ (33:3) Aim: To receive encouragement, wisdom and strength for living from the book of Jeremiah.. Introduction: Jeremiah wrote from 629-588 BC to Judah. He was the son of Hilkiah the priest (1:1). God chose him before his birth to be a prophet (1:5). He protested God’s call because of his youth (1:6). He prophesied during the reigns of godly king Josiah, Jehoiakim (ungodly, Bible burning), Jehoiachin (90 day reign), Zedekiah (Judah’s last king), Gedaliah (Babylonian appointed governor) and Johanan. He pleaded with Judah to return to God (3:12-15). He was commanded to remain unmarried (16:2). He prophesied the Babylonian captivity would last 70 years (25:11,12; 29:10). He was the weeping prophet (9:1). He was imprisoned, but freed by Nebuchadnezzar (40:1-6). Johanan took him to Egypt 43:1. He rebuked Egypt (46), Philistia (47), Moab (48), Ammon (49), Edom(49), Damascus (49), Elam (49), Babylon. 1. 1:5 God knew us before our birth & ordained us to do a work. ‘Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, I ordained thee a prophet to the nations.’ 2. 1:6 God can overcome our fear of speaking for Him by putting His words in our mouth.‘I cannot speak: for I am a child. Say not, I am a child:.. Be not afraid of their faces:…I have put my words in thy mouth.’ 3. 1:10 How to restore a country is by uprooting error and by building truth. ‘I have this day set thee over the nations & over the kingdoms, to root out, to pull down, to destroy, to throw down, to build, & to plant’ 4. 1:19 God is with us to deliver us from trouble. ‘I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.’ 5. 2:5 God asks backsliders: What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me ? 6. 3:10 Importance of wholeheartedness. ‘Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.’ 3:12 ‘I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.’ 7. 3:15 Good pastors are a gift from God. Appreciate and value them. ‘I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.’ 8. 3:17 Jerusalem will be the throne of the LORD and the world capital in the millennium. ‘At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it,’ 9. 3:18 Israelites will return from Russia to Israel in the last days. ‘they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers.’ 10. 5:5 Speak with and learn from great men. ‘I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the LORD, and the judgment of their God:’ 11. 5:25 Sin causes us to lose good things. ‘your sins have withholden good things from you.’ 5:25. 12. 6:16 Value and ask for the old paths and the good way. Peace will result. ‘ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.’ 13. 7:18 Serve God as a family. The Catholic ‘Queen of heaven’ is a pagan idea which angers God. ‘The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.’ 14. 7:31 Babies go to heaven at death, not to hell. God never thought of sending babies to hell. ‘they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.’ 15. 8:20 Get saved early in life. ‘The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.’ 16. 9:23,24 Don’t glory in wisdom, might or riches, but that you understand and know God to be a God of lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness. ‘let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, & righteousness, in the earth’ 17. 10:1-4 Learn not the way of the heathen. Christmas trees are of pagan origin. ‘Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.’ 18. 10:21 Pastors must seek the LORD or their people will be scattered. ‘the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.’ 19. 10:23,24 A prayer for guidance and gentle correction. ‘O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.’ 20. 12:5 If you can’t solve small problems, you won’t solve bigger problems. ‘If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses?’ 1364 21. 12:10 Pastors can buld a church or destroy it by sin, laziness, wrong decisions or not appreciating it. ‘Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.’ 22. 13:23 Some things can’t be fixed. Bad habits are hard to correct. ‘Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.’ 23. 15:1 God is persuaded by Godly Christians. Yet even Godly Christians can’t change God’s mind against evil. ‘Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people:’ 24. 15:16 Take God’s word into our innermost being. It will give joy. ‘Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart:’ 25. 17:5-11 The cursed man (5), the blessed man (7), the heart (9), riches by dishonesty (11). 26. 18:7-10 God blesses repentant nations (7-8). God withholds good from sinful nations (9-10). 27. 20:9 We are created to give out God’s word. We cannot keep it in. ‘Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.’ 28. 20:13 ‘Sing unto the LORD, praise ye the LORD: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.’ 29. 21:8 Our choice ‘Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death’ 30. 22:1-4 Look for the way to escape trouble. God offered Judah a way to avoid destruction. 31. 22:13 Pay your debts. ‘Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour’s service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;’ 32. 22:24,30 Jeconiah’s line to Joseph.(Matthew 1:11). ‘no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.’ Joseph descended from Jeconiah. 33. 23:1,2 Pastors should visit people or they scatter. ‘Woe be unto the pastors that destroy & scatter…’ 34. 23:4 Pastor’s duties: ‘I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.’ 35. 23:5,6 Messiah will descend from David. ‘I will raise unto David a righteous Branch,’ 36. 23:12 God visits nations & individuals for good or evil. ‘I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation,’ 37. 23:16 False prophets speak of their own heart. ‘they speak a vision of their own heart,’ 25,26. 38. 23:23,24 God is close to us yet fills heaven and earth. ‘Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?’ ‘Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.’ 24. 39. 23:28 ‘he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully.’ 23:36 False prophets ‘perverted the words of the living God,’ Examples are NIV, modern versions. 40. 25:9 God uses wicked people to punish wicked people: ‘Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant.’ God punishes wicked oppressors. ‘these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity,’25:11,12,14. ‘After 70 years at Babylon I will visit ‘ 29:10 41. 29:7 ‘seek the peace of the city…. in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.’ 42. 29:11-14 ‘I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, not of evil, to give you an expected end. ye shall seek me, & find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 43. 31:3 Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. 44. 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. 30:20 I will punish all that oppress them. 45. 31:31,33,34 I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel,the house of Judah: Heb 8:8,13;12:24 46. 32:16-19 Prayer: Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power.. 32:27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? Omnipotent. 47. 33:3 ‘Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.’ 48. 38:17,18 God provides a way of avoiding destruction (17). Verse 18 disproves the book of Mormon. Nobody named Nephi left Jerusalem in 600BC to escape Babylonian destruction as BOM claims. ‘if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand.’ Answers p.794.

THE GOD IN ME It's the God in me that keeps me free to be me. Only God can change me, dismiss my past & rearrange me into the woman of God that He has called me to be. I once was blind but now I can see, that it's the God in me that allows me to be the woman, the mother, the wife, or the boo. The woman that God has placed to speak a word into you. A word that comes forth so bold & so new; leaving you baffled as to how I do what I do. But it's not me ---nah I'm just the ves-sel; but some would think it's quite stress-ful to take on your fears, your worries, and your doubt ....but I'm just an ear for you to let it all out. I'm not Jesus, so I can't carry your every bur-den; but I can speak a word-in your life---to help you get thru whatever is causing your heartache & pain, and let you know there is sunshine after the rain. And if you should ever doubt, I'm here to tell you there is a way out. Out of the darkness and into the light, where the arms of Jesus will hold you tonight! ©Kaye F. D.

UNFAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS She stood still in the midst of darkness. All of a sudden, the walls began to close in around her, but she could not move. She just stood there helpless, with no way out. She thought to herself, "This place is lonely, dark, cold, and miserable. How could anyone survive in a place like this?" She cried out for help, but no one answered. She cried out again saying, "God help me! Where am I?" She started to weep; and as her tears fell to the floor of this cold, dark, and lonely place, she saw a glimpse of light from above. Finally the Lord answered her saying, "This place that you said was so cold, dark, lonely, and miserable was the inside of your heart. You said you loved me with all of your heart, but it was only when the tears fell from your eyes that I believed you."- Ms. Kaye *Just a little something from my imagination*-Peace & blessings!

Food4thought: We all know that the seeds we plant will become the harvest we reap. We don't plant apple seeds hoping to get a plum tree; so why would you expect a harvest of love if all you plant is hate & negativity? We all have our seasons where we have planted good seeds, but experienced a season of drought, storms, or a season of nothing at all. But keep on planting those good seeds, and in DUE SEASON, you will produce the most beautiful fruit of all! Just something to encourage you. God bless.

the Lord speaks to me sometimes in song , this morning as i woke up it was i was hearing people in a very large crowd with angels in echo singing " I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS No Turning Back No Turning Back The Cross Before me The World Behind me The Cross Before me the World behind me The Cross Before me The World Behind me NO TURNING BACK NO TURNING BACK ! When we let go of the tight grip of the worldly things , we will draw closer than ever before to the Father but we must have Faith and Trust in HIM Please this will have to be a decision that you make from your own heart , and only the Holy Spirit will reach you about FACEBOOK It may seem a good thing , or like you think you are making it better but the Lord spoke to me and said " Deborah Leah " if you sin and try to cover it with a white cloth dont you know i see under the cloth ?" Things that are rooted in such evil , are not Glorifying to GOD at all And We as His precious children are to Abstain from the appearance of Evil I know you may think that sharing Jesus on a Social Networking blog that is Non Christian but as Jesus said even though the tares and wheat grow together , they both will be plucked up and seperated what is so rooted in Facebook is so dark and sinister that some dont realize or want to realize it is not Where Jesus would want us . Heres what helped me say good bye to Facebook Think about " WWJD " would Jesus approve of what is being put on my wall , either by me or " friends of facebook " and would i be ashamed to show him ? Did you know Facebook , will allow from bullying , to child exploitation , even recently the beheading of Christians ! everything from porn to suicide , and satanism is allowed and the worst is the new thing people are doing using the thumbs up in like and saying the foul blasophomist word with the letter f #$@ Jesus with over 129,000 and more liking it ? They are blasophming Jesus on Facebook , i draw the line when a company allows this kind of thing and wont take it off . i have tried to leave Facebook over and over 3 times , i felt like a herione addict thinking i would not survive if i didnt have it connected when all along its just a Lie and a part of Satans deception from brain washing the christian into the cute fuzzy farmville games to the role playing games to keeping you so occupied in chat and comments your whole day is Wasted in Facebook , instead of reading the WORD or singing praises to Jesus Im sorry but for me personally i chose to stay away i still have skype to talk to my loved ones email, and the ever popular snail mail or the phone if need be due to i live in Australia and family in USA but the Holy Spirit wants us to let go of the Tight grip of the world and the things in it and cling tighter to HIM Jesus wants you to draw closer in fellowship and also to protect you dear Children from the Wiles of the Devil and internet is his WEB of Deceit i left Facebook started my own blog and still share Jesus but now i have a clean conscience knowing i am not supporting a socail network that is rooted in such evil and blasophmy against GOD or the Holy Spirit Please dont quench the Holy Spirit Child when you think you can compromise with the world and live like it then the still small voice becomes more and more faint in the distance and the world becomes your god Jesus has warned us in the last days that even the elect would try and be decieved Satan dangles things like Facebook to make you think you can be a part of it even though its rotting at the root in evil . read about the founder of Facebook , and the Alumanati and all the things it promotes and tell your self this " if i even log on to it and like a page i am supporting the Blog and supporting the Evil behind it . Jesus said to be seperate from the world , we may be in the world but we are not of it to FLEE even the appearance of evil I promise you your life will be more at peace you will not feel the anger , frustration , see the gossip of the news and media , or feel the fear if you leave it and true friends will stick beside you closer than a brother no matter if you leave Facebook i had over 115 friends , would you know since i left i have only 3 that now contact me ! goes to show you FACE BOOK is not your friend its a Fraud and a fake way satan uses the things of the world to entrap you please note this is your choice but for me i have decided to follow Jesus , the cross before me the world behind me NO TURNING BACK NO TURNING BACK God bless and Shalom Deborah Leah Yeppoon , Qld Australia