The Simple Life

And to this people you shall say: Thus says the Lord: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death." Jeremiah 21:8 (ESV)   Today we have choices, and our choices matter. We can tell if we have made the right choices by the fruit that is displayed in our lives.   If we choose to focus on self, we choose to struggle with depression, anger, and worthlessness. Focusing on self usually means we focus on what others are doing or saying, or not doing or not saying, and place our lives somewhere on our own-created relevance scale. If we choose to live the way we were intended to live, we do not focus on ourselves but on how we can use the circumstances of our lives to show the world who God is and to demonstrate to those around us the principles that give them purpose, life, and hope. We live disparaging lives because our focus i "Do you think you are a king because you compete in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was ...

"And to this people you shall say: Thus says the Lord: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death." Jeremiah 21:8 (ESV)   Today we have choices, and our choices matter. We can tell if we have made the right choices by the fruit that is displayed in our lives.   If we choose to focus on self, we choose to struggle with depression, anger, and worthlessness. Focusing on self usually means we focus on what others are doing or saying, or not doing or not saying, and place our lives somewhere on our own-created relevance scale. If we choose to live the way we were intended to live, we do not focus on ourselves but on how we can use the circumstances of our lives to show the world who God is and to demonstrate to those around us the principles that give them purpose, life, and hope. We live disparaging lives because our focus is on ourselves, and our decisions are about what is best for us.   Jesus came to earth, was born in a stable, and was crucified because...

Then Jeremiah said to them: "Thus you shall say to Zedekiah, 'Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands and with which you are fighting against the king of Babylon and against the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the walls. And I will bring them together into the midst of this city. I myself will fight against you with outstretched hand and strong arm, in anger and in fury and in great wrath.'" Jeremiah 21:3-5 (ESV)   There is no weapon of war, no strategy, and no armed force that can prevail against God. If God says that He, Himself, will fight the fight, and His comments are directed at me, I have no hope.   Experiencing the mercy of God and living in the grace of God is easy and very "doable." To choose a life that ignores Him, His ways, and His purposes dooms us to certain and irrevocable disaster. For now, the choice is ours. https://www.podbean.com/relate365

If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it. Jeremiah 18:7-10 (ESV)   We need to live in a way that embraces the personal responsibility we have been given. It is our responsibility to walk with God. It is our responsibility to know Him and to listen to Him. When we do not do that, we will pay the price of being distanced from Him.   God knows what choices we will make, and our choices do not limit His choices. He has already arranged the victory, and our choices will allow us to participate with Him in the celebration as active participants, or to be the "onlookers" ...

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: "Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words." So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. Jeremiah 18:1-4 (ESV)   Man, as pottery, is a powerful illustration of reality. God made us for a purpose. He, being the potter, has the prerogative to make us into whatever He desires. Our shape, purpose, and eventual placement are His decisions, not ours.   We can look at the other pieces of pottery and wonder why we are not like them. We could wish we had a different function, and even claim the potter should have done otherwise, but in reality, the potter did, with His clay, as He wished.   The vessel should serve joyfully the purpose for which it was intended.   https://www.podbean.com/relate365

Thus says the Lord: Take care for the sake of your lives, and do not bear a burden on the Sabbath day or bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem. And do not carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath or do any work, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your fathers. Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck, that they might not hear and receive instruction. Jeremiah  17:21-23  (ESV)   Relationships are important. In fact, they are important enough to rearrange your life around them. Our relationship with God is something we need to prioritize. Our relationships with our spouse, children, friends, and coworkers should be a priority. We cannot have relationships with media, money, or things, so we should not allow them to steal us away from those with whom we do have relationships.   Somehow, we have "developed" into a nation of strangers, and we like it that way. We do not know God, even though we have ample opportunity to do ...