We have a country full of people with false gods, or we would not be behaving as we are. I’m not a prophet, but if we keep this up, I can imagine the horror and hear the hissing.

 Jeremiah 18:15-16  

But my people have forgotten me; they make offerings to false gods; they made them stumble in their ways, in the ancient roads, and to walk into side roads, not the highway, making their land a horror, a thing to be hissed at forever. Everyone who passes by it is horrified and shakes his head.

Jeremiah 18:15-16 (ESV) Bible Gateway link

At a dark point in my in my early life, I was headed backwards. I abused nearly every substance and many, many people. Then I took this to heart: “Obey my voice and I will be your God...” I read God’s word, I listen to him now. I’m not perfect but all is well with me as long as I don’t try to run my own life.

Jeremiah 7:23-24 - 

But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’ But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.

Jeremiah 7:23-24 (ESV) Bible Gateway link 

“The Covid” is making us all crazy, fear reigns. This verse helps me. It reminds me what the goal is and what the prize is.

 Philippians 3:12-16 

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Philippians 3:12-16 (ESV) Bible Gateway link

I can’t wait! This fills me with hope.

 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress. No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

Isaiah 65:17-21 Bible Gateway link (ESV)

I worked very hard in my career, I sacrificed a lot for it. I worked for the integrity of the product, the company, and my boss. Oh, did I grumble! Now I’ve finally figured out my boss is Jesus. I work for him. It is infinitely more rewarding.

Philippians 2:14-15 - 

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

• Philippians 2:14-15 ESV Bible Gateway Link
• Photo: 36 years ago today. It was the ‘80’s, what can I say!

Sometimes great grief washes over me because I never had children. What am I living for anyway? Then I turn to God and he kindly reminds me he has other uses for me.

 Isaiah 54:1 (ESV)

“Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married,” says the Lord.

Isaiah 54:1 Bible Gateway link

Always in peril of kindling my own fire, I’ve lapsed again posting my blog. My spirit for “Vine and Branch” has been refreshed by one of God’s lights in my life, Joanne Kemp. She always relies on God, and not on her own strength. Happy Birthday, Joanne. I love you.

 Isaiah 50:10-11

Who among you fears the Lord

  and obeys the voice of his servant? 

Let him who walks in darkness

 and has no light 

trust in the name of the Lord

 and rely on his God.

Behold, all you who kindle a fire,

 who equip yourselves with burning torches!

Walk by the light of your fire,

 and by the torches that you have kindled!

This you have from my hand:

 you shall lie down in torment.

(Emphasis added)