Scripture: Jeremiah 2:1-2 The LORD’s word came to me: Go and proclaim to the people of Jerusalem, The LORD proclaims: I remember your first love, your devotion as a young bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in an unplanted land. Thought for the Day: Like many of the prophets, Jeremiah used metaphors to communicate both the relationship between God and humanity, and the ramifications of sinful
Scripture: Acts 17:5-7a But the Jews became jealous, and with the help of some ruffians in the marketplaces they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar. While they were searching for Paul and Silas to bring them out to the assembly, they attacked Jason’s house. When they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some believers before the city authorities, shouting, “These people who
Scripture: Luke 13:34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Thought for the Day: As we continue to reflect on the book of Jeremiah, it is good to remember that the Prophets were often respected
Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11 I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the LORD; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope. Thought for the Day: This is one of the well known passages from the Prophet Jeremiah, and I must confess how it has found itself into my thinking on so many occasions in life…so many different occasions
Scripture: Jeremiah 1:18-19 Today I have made you an armed city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall against the entire land—the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests, and all its people. They will attack you, but they won’t defeat you, because I am with you and will rescue you, declares the LORD. Thought for the Day: It might sound as if Jeremiah needs to prepare for
Scripture: Jeremiah 1:9-10 Then the LORD stretched out his hand, touched my mouth, and said to me, “I’m putting my words in your mouth. This very day I appoint you over nations and empires, to dig up and pull down, to destroy and demolish, to build and plant.” Thought for the Day: If you heard the sermon yesterday, you know that Jeremiah was not initially enthusiastic about God’s
Scripture: 1st King 12:20-24 When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. There was no one who followed the house of David, except the tribe of Judah alone. When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, one hundred eighty thousand chosen troops to fight
Scripture: Jeremiah 1:1 These are the words of Jeremiah, Hilkiah’s son, who was one of the priests from Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. Thought for the Day: Tomorrow we begin a three week look at some key passages from the prophet Jeremiah. If you turn just past the halfway mark of your Bibles, you will find yourself in Isaiah, Jeremiah or Ezekiel. These are considered three of
Scripture: Ephesians 6:18 Offer prayers and petitions in the Spirit all the time. Stay alert by hanging in there and praying for all believers. Thought for the Day: Last night was the sixth and final Congregational Conversation. Actually, that was the last of the Bruce-led conversations for now, but I pray that the conversations are just beginning. It was my intention to lay out a number of ideas,
Scripture: Galatians 6:9 Let’s not get tired of doing good, because in time we’ll have a harvest if we don’t give up. Thought for the Day: Bill Bradley said, “Ambition is the path to success. Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in.” I don’t know if ambition is the right word for people of faith, but maybe yearning or hunger is the path to success. But Bradley was