Taking Earnest Heed...

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. (Hebrews 2:1, ESV)

There was much in Hebrews 2 as well as in Psalm 103 that I wanted to search out more...alas...my allergies are terrible and I got up later than usual.  I hate feeling rushed when I study God’s word, but here I am feeling rushed.  The first verse of Hebrews 2 confirmed my sentiment.   Here the author uses “closer attention” and “drift away”.  Both terms apparently have nautical connotations.  Closer attention (the NKJV uses earnest heed) can refer to bringing a ship to land...mooring it and tying it up at the dock. Drift away refers to a ship that has been allowed to drift past the harbor.   The warning is clear...John MacArthur puts it this way:

secure oneself to the truth of the gospel, being careful not to pass by the only harbor of salvation.

I really like the picture these words paint of mooring myself to Jesus and allowing Him to bring me into His harbor of truth as I walk (drift) through my day.  So many things can cause me to go off track in the course of 24 hours.  Tying myself to His word course corrects and keeps my heart focused on the eternal.  It really doesn’t matter then that I got up late or that my allergies are terrible...I can still give earnest heed to the things I read this morning.  I can go back and take each one that I wanted to look at home to my heart by meditating on it.  Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. "The word IS near me, in my mouth and in my heart” and our God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  He is good and does good.  

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.—2 Timothy 3:16-17

Humility Trumps!

Psalm 101:2  I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.

HA!   If only this were true!  If only,  I walked within my house with a perfect heart.  How wonderful that would be not only for me but for my family.  I want my house to be a place where my family can relax, let their guard down and escape from the trials and temptations of the world.   I want my family to want to come home and be around me. I want to give them a soft place to fall.  I want my delight in the Lord obvious to them. These are all good desires.  

None of these desires, however,  will come to fruition overnight but if your delight is truly in the Lord and in pleasing Him, His desires for you will become your desires.  Immerse yourself daily in His word.  Allow it to take root in your heart through study and meditation...The word is the only thing that is necessary...it is the only thing that is needed.  I am going to say that again...The word is the only thing that is necessary.  It is the only thing that is needed. Little by little you will begin to see fruit. You will begin to surrender to the Spirit of God inside and you will be transformed. 

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. --2nd Corinthians 3:18

Yes it can be painful to draw near to God and see ourselves with all our dents, bruises and scrapes. Guess what..God already knows everything about us..He is never surprised. Our family is familiar with our shortcomings.  We are only deceiving ourselves when we refuse to draw near and repent. Pride keeps us from getting right with God at times and being who we need to be for our families. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up.   Humility trumps!

This I Recall to My Mind...

This I recall to my mind,

Therefore I have hope.

22 Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed,

Because His compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

24 "The LORD is my portion," says my soul,

"Therefore I hope in Him!"

25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,

To the soul who seeks Him.

26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly

For the salvation of the LORD.—Lamentations 3:21-26

Father...I look back over the past 25 years and wonder how I would have gotten through them if You were not my hope‽. Every morning, every noon and every night I think what Jeremiah called to mind...Your compassions fail not...They are new every morning.  But, I missed the first part!  “Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed”.  I rarely bring that one to mind.  It is not as kind and as pleasant as the others, but it IS the very foundation of truly appreciating the other verses.  It is so needful to call this to mind in the midst of our day that maybe isn’t going exactly how we would have wanted it to go.  Jeremiah’s words in verse 22a give us perspective.  They remind us of what He has done for us and what our portion would have been had not Christ stepped into our darkness and became for us our light of life.   God is so faithful!   He makes His goodness follow us and covers our missteps with His mercy.  

When I sinned before coming to Christ, I had a fatalistic approach.  I have gone too far...there is no going back...no possibility of anything being okay again.  Since, I had no incentive to cut my losses, I spiraled...I sinned more and more.  I am so thankful that His grace and mercy are greater than my sin.  He provided a way of escape and a way back for me and for you through the death of His precious Son on the cross at Calvary.  I still at times, blow it big time but have never stopped being awestruck and so absolutely grateful when I remember that there is forgiveness with Him.  When I sin, I am still His. There is a way back.  There is Hope in Him.  

Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we mightfn have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.  This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.—Hebrews 6:17-20

Salvation Moment...

The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,  “ Therefore I hope in Him!”--Lamentations 3:24

I am going to go back here to the moment of my salvation...the moment it became completely evident to me that something inside of me had changed dramatically and that I WAS NOT responsible for that change.  I had gone through many self-help books both from the library and bookstores....I FINALLY cried out to God and bought a bible.  I had tried reading the bible many times in my life.  The strangest thing for me was that I could read anything else and understand what I was reading...but I had never understood the Bible.  I always had to put it back on the shelf because it was like I was reading another language...there simply was no understanding. I did not have ears to hear.  (I figured it was the Bible’s fault, not mine . 😀). 

For some reason the Lord heard my cry this time and gave me the ears to hear His word.  The Lord knows our hearts and must have known that this time I really did want His help.  I remember coming home...sitting on the couch....opening the Bible up to Genesis 1 and before I reached Genesis Chapter 2 tears were streaming down my cheeks. The Spirit had spoken to my heart.  I understood!  Not just chapter 1 of Genesis but that He was my Rock in this world.  He was my Portion. That this book I had in my hands was exactly what I needed.  It was black and white, it was definite and most importantly it had answers. Truth truly resided here in this book.  I knew at that moment that I could stand.  I knew that I had what I needed to raise my family..to make it through life in this world. My eyes were opened to the God who created the universe and who also cared for me. Circumstances would change, emotions would change, my life would change but He would not.  Jesus Christ the same today, yesterday and forever.  He would be my guide, my strong tower, my help, my strength and my hope.  Girls, I went from quicksand to the Rock. Psalm 40:1-3 speaks to me of what the my God did that day in my heart.

I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to  me And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock,  And established my steps.He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God;  Many will see it and fear; And will trust in the LORD.

It truly happened in the blink of an eye...and His word by His grace has never been far from my heart or my reach since.

Being a Lightbearer...

2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.

3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.

4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,

5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.—Titus 3:2-8

Titus 3:2 is so convicting.  These are godly virtues that as a believer I am to exemplify to all...esp to unbelievers.  We are to behave differently from the world.  We are held to a different standard.  We are to live for Christ.  Oh, to be the one who ALWAYS speaks good things in regard to others...the one who doesn’t argue...the one who is sweetly reasonable and forbearing, kind and considerate towards the weakness of others...and finally the one who always considers the needs of others first.  This is what will be good and profitable for all men, because this will show them Gods saving power made manifest in our transformed lives. This is how God will be honored and exalted in this lost and dying world. This is the way to shut the mouths of those who criticize and oppose us. This is the way, as it says in Titus 2, that we can adorn the doctrine of God. 

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

“Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.—Matthew 5:14-16

My Resting Place...

"In those days and in that time," says the LORD,

"The children of Israel shall come,

They and the children of Judah together;

With continual weeping they shall come,

And seek the LORD their God.

5 They shall ask the way to Zion,

With their faces toward it, saying,

'Come and let us join ourselves to the LORD

In a perpetual covenant

That will not be forgotten.'

6 "My people have been lost sheep.

Their shepherds have led them astray;

They have turned them away on the mountains.

They have gone from mountain to hill;

They have forgotten their resting place.—Jeremiah 50:4-6

They have forgotten their resting place...i know these verses are from yesterday’s reading but the Lord put them front and center this morning.  When I was little (decades ago) my mom was my resting place.  When I was in school the church became my resting place...I attended a Catholic school and would spend most mornings before school attending mass with a very small number (5 or 6) of other parishioners.  I sat in the back and was the only child.  I really didn’t listen to the mass...being there and starting my day in God’s  house was my resting place.  There were no demands there...just sameness and peace.  His yoke was easy and his burden light.  As I got older my heart turned away, my feet became restless and my resting place was forgotten.  The Lord, however, did not forget me.   He drew me with cords of kindness out of the muck and the mire, clothed me with His righteousness and brought me home to his heart...my true resting place.  

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah --Psalm 32:7

 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. --Psalm 91:1

Light is Sown for the Righteous...

Light is sown for the righteous,

And gladness for the upright in heart.

Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous,

And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.—Ps 97:11-12

The WORD of God has been implanted in my heart. I have received it and its fruit will be holiness by Jesus Christ.  It is He Who LIVES in my heart. It is He Who is the light of life.  It is He Who came into the world to give me the joy of eternal life with Him.  He has clothed me with His righteousness. There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. I WILL give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.  Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!  

Psalm 18:28 (KJV)

28 For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

Proverbs 4:18 (KJV)

18 But the path of the just [is] as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

Isaiah 60:1,2 (KJV)

1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

Psalm 126:5,6 (KJV)

5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves [with him].

Do Not Be Wise in Your Own Eyes...

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.—Proverbs 26:12

Proverbs are hard for me to “get” right away.  My husband tells me that I really overthink them and reminds me to take my time, think on them and let the word of God speak to my heart.  Eureka!  I did that this morning and it worked. 🙃. 

Self-conceit blinds and puffs up. A man who is wise in his own eyes thinks he knows enough...he needs no more.  He stops seeing...he stops hearing and he stops learning.  He becomes unteachable as well as unreachable.

"Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked--Rev 3:17

Self-conceit...self-righteousness...self-made....self “dash” anything equal not good.  The Bible says that there is more hope for a fool than for him because a fool that knows he is a fool and owns it, is teachable.  He knows he needs instruction.  A man who is filled with himself and thinks he knows it all is in reality the greatest of fools and the most hopeless.  He must first admit he knows nothing and become a “fool” that he may then choose to learn and be wise. 

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.—1 Corinthians 3:18

He feeds on ashes;

A deceived heart has turned him aside;

And he cannot deliver his soul,

Nor say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?"—Isaiah 44:20. 

2 Timothy 3:14-17

A sermon in itself...abide...persevere through trials continuing in and holding fast to what you have learned and believed AND been assured by experience that they are true.  

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it

15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:14-17, ESV)

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4, ESV)

Your Comforts Delight My Soul...

Unless the LORD had been my help,

My soul would soon have settled in silence.

18 If I say, "My foot slips,"

Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up.

19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me,

Your comforts delight my soul.—Ps 94:17-19

The psalmist words in these verses resonate in my own heart.  Crying out to the Lord is what I do...He is my “Go-to” from before my feet hit the floor in the morning until sleep at night.  He is who I commune with during the day, moment by moment.  His unseen hand of mercy upholds me.   He is my help, my strength and my song.  It is so comforting to KNOW that the Lord is on MY side.  It is similarly consoling for me to KNOW that He is the same today as He was yesterday and He will be the same tomorrow as He was today.  My God IS the God who stays and who is my stay.  In the multitude of my anxieties within, the Spirit’s soothing word and His hand of grace bring me delight and peace in the midst of trouble.  John 16:32 says this: (Jesus is speaking)

Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

What grace I have been given.  Every trial I face drives me closer to His heart where I find my rest.  Spurgeon says this:

“Never is the soul safer or more at rest than when, all other helpers failing, she leans upon the Lord alone.”  So by His grace I cry out as David did in Psalm 142.  

1 I cry out to the LORD with my voice;

With my voice to the LORD I make my supplication.

2 I pour out my complaint before Him;

I declare before Him my trouble.

3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,

Then You knew my path.

In the way in which I walk

They have secretly set a snare for me.

4 Look on my right hand and see,

For there is no one who acknowledges me;

Refuge has failed me;

No one cares for my soul.

5 I cried out to You, O LORD:

I said, "You are my refuge,

My portion in the land of the living.

6 Attend to my cry,

For I am brought very low;

Deliver me from my persecutors,

For they are stronger than I.

7 Bring my soul out of prison,

That I may praise Your name;

The righteous shall surround me,

For You shall deal bountifully with me."

A Sound Mind...

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7, ESV)

This was a good reminder for me this morning.  God has given me everything I need to live a godly life.  I have His power by His Spirit who dwells in me and is with me.  I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.  God has also poured out His love in my heart...By His grace I can love the people around me with His self-sacrificing love.  I, personally think the key to this verse is this last one...God has given me self-control...the NKJV calls it a sound mind.  The Bible tells me I have the mind of Christ!  His truth is hidden in my heart.  As I meditate on it and cry out for it in my inward being, I am rooted and grounded...sober-minded and self-controlled with right priorities.  My heart is sound in His statutes..obedient to His word.  As I go through trials, I focus on the sovereign nature of my God as well as His perfect purposes. The Spirit of God living in my heart uses the word of God to produce godly wisdom and confidence in every situation I face.  He gives me understanding and unites my heart to fear Him. 

"Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed."—Ps 119:80

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" (Romans 8:15, ESV)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27, ESV)

Godliness with Contentment...

But godliness with contentment is great gain, (1 Timothy 6:6, ESV)

John MacArthur says that the Greek word for contentment in this verse means “self-sufficiency,” and was used by Stoic philosophers to describe a person who was unflappable and unmoved by external circumstances.  I love that picture.  I want that to describe my own heart...to be satisfied and sufficient seeking no more than what my God has given me. He is my true source of peace and contentment.  

Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.  Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, (2 Corinthians 3:4-5, ESV)

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8, ESV)

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11-13, ESV)

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19, ESV)

The Beauty of God...

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;

Mercy and truth go before Your face.

15 Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!

They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance.

16 In Your name they rejoice all day long,

And in Your righteousness they are exalted.

17 For You are the glory of their strength,

And in Your favor our horn is exalted.

18 For our shield belongs to the LORD,

And our king to the Holy One of Israel.—Psalm 89:14-18

Ahhh...I love this.  Sometimes I just read thru a Psalm quickly not really taking in its beauty and its truth. I paused at this passage this morning, however, and reread...really trying to take a little bit of its glory into my heart.   Gods judgment is according to truth...He is altogether righteous. The good news for fallen man is that His judgment is tempered with mercy.  We serve a God of righteousness, truth, justice and mercy. Our God is sovereign and holy...never unrighteous or unjust. Spurgeon says that “if mercy had not paved the way, the coming of God to any man must have been swift destruction.”

Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound...what sound?  The sound of praise to our God!   As believers we walk in His divine favor...in the light of his countenance. In His name we rejoice because He has sent His Son to save us from death and eternal destruction.  We are clothed in the righteousness of His Son, Jesus.  We need no other reason to rejoice...His all sufficient Son is ours and we are His. He has become our all sufficient joy no matter our circumstances.  The Lord is my strength and my defense. My heart trusted in Him and I am helped. Therefore, my heart greatly rejoices and with my song will I praise him.

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption--

that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."—1 Corinthians 1:30-31O

1 Timothy 4:12

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12, ESV)

The New King James also  includes “in spirit” in this list.

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

I read the “thru the Bible” readings for today last night before bed.  My heart focused here on the above verse.  I am the opposite of a youth and obviously not a pastor, but personally I think the advice is good for every age bracket.  It is especially good advice for pastors to be an example to the flock God has given them to shepherd, but is also important for parents and grandparents (me) who shepherd little ones and not so little ones to be a good example.  Paul lists six areas where we can example the character fitting of a child of God.

The first is ”in speech”.

34 "Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
36 "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."—Matthew 12:34-37

Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.—Ephesians 4:25

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.—Ephesians 4:29

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.—Ephesians 4:31

The second one is “in conduct”...righteous living

not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.—Titus 2:10

but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."—1 Peter 1:15

having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.—1 Peter 2:12

having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed—1 Peter 3:16

Being an example “in love“ is next...self-sacrificial service for others. Love should be both our motive and the spirit behind all that we do and say.

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.—John 15:12-13

“In Spirit” follows love...

The verse that came to mind here is Mark 12:30...

'And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This [is] the first commandment.

“In faith” is next and has the idea of faithfulness...believing, faithful, true, trustworthy.

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.—1 Corinthians 4:2

The last one is purity...sinlessness...esp chastity.  in thoughts as well as actions

Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, (1 Timothy 3:2, ESV)

Is There Anything Too Hard for Me?

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?—Jeremiah 32:27

Zedekiah, King of Judah, had imprisoned Jeremiah in the court of the guard which was in his palace for prophesying that the Lord would give Judah into the hand of the King of Babylon.  While there in prison God instructs Jeremiah to buy MY field (I like that the Lord reminded Jeremiah that it was His land) which is in Anathoth, for the right of redemption is yours to buy it.  Now Anathoth was about three miles outside of Jerusalem and already under enemy occupation...not a wise real estate investment.  Jeremiah bought the property because the Lord had told him to do it.  

"Then I charged Baruch (Jeremiah’s scribe)before them, saying, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: "Take these deeds, both this purchase deed which is sealed and this deed which is open, and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may last many days." For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: "Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land."'—Jeremiah 32:15

God is promising here that He would bring His people back to their inheritance.  Now I cannot imagine the tennis match that is probably going on in Jeremiah’s mind.  He wants to believe God, but his circumstances are overwhelmingly against this desire.  What does Jeremiah do to counter his unbelief.  He prays.   He praises God for his faithfulness, he declares his greatness and he admits the failure of his people to obey.  Here is part of his prayer. 

Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.

Jeremiah reminds himself of the truth...God CAN do anything...there is NOTHING too hard for Him...He is God!  There are situations in my own life (and probably in yours, also) where I need to do this...I need to remember who my God is...I need to remember that He is on my side and that He truly WILL accomplish what He has purposed and planned. 

Jeremiah’s faith falters a bit in verses 24 and 25 but he continues to pray...in these verses he prays for understanding.

'Look, the siege mounds! They have come to the city to take it; and the city has been given into the hand of the Chaldeans who fight against it, because of the sword and famine and pestilence. What You have spoken has happened; there You see it! And You have said to me, O Lord God, "Buy the field for money, and take witnesses"!—yet the city has been given into the hand of the Chaldeans.'"

God answers in vs 26-35 promising both judgment and restoration.  Here is also where God affirms Jeremiahs declaration about Him in vs 27.  

Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?

I love how the Lord answers.  Ha! He takes a page out of Jeremiah's book and says, [I'm] the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? Sometimes I look at situations in my own life that “seem” impossible to make right.  A quote from Dr Seuss’  The Cat in the Hat comes to mind.  

“And this mess is so big. And so deep and so tall, We cannot pick it up. There is no way at all!

And then in comes the cat and his machine and probably Thing one and Thing Two and they make short work of that mess.  God can and will do that for this world as well as in the microcosms of our own lives.  Praying that when my heart gets overwhelmed by circumstances that I, like the dad in Mark 9,  cry out, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" 

John 13:7 Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this."

Romans 11:33-34  Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!  "FOR WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD? OR WHO HAS BECOME HIS COUNSELOR?"

When you think your situation is impossible and need to be reminded of who the Lord is, meditate on one or two of these verses.

Genesis 18:14  Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son."

Job 42:2  "I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.

Luke 1:37  For with God nothing will be impossible."

Luke 18:27  But He said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."

 Isaiah 46:9  Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me,

Isaiah 46:10  Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, 'My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,'

Daniel 2:22  He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him.

Acts 15:18  "Known to God from eternity are all His works.

Lift up your eyes on high,

And see who has created these things,

Who brings out their host by number;

He calls them all by name,

By the greatness of His might

And the strength of His power;

Not one is missing.

27 Why do you say, O Jacob,

And speak, O Israel:

"My way is hidden from the LORD,

And my just claim is passed over by my God"?

28 Have you not known?

Have you not heard?

The everlasting God, the LORD,

The Creator of the ends of the earth,

Neither faints nor is weary.

His understanding is unsearchable.

29 He gives power to the weak,

And to those who have no might He increases strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,

And the young men shall utterly fall,

31 But those who wait on the LORD

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.—Isaiah 40:26-31

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.—Jeremiah 29:11

The exiles in Babylon did not know or remember that God thought about them...that His thoughts were “toward” them for their good...peace and not evil...to give them a future and a hope.  God wrote them a letter through Jeremiah to remind them. God has done the same for us...He has given us His word.  As a believer, God’s thoughts toward me are good, but like the exiles, I forget. 

Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered—Ps 40

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.—Ps 139:17-18

No matter where we find ourselves...no matter the trials we face here...He is with us to help us.  Our future is secured.  Eternal life in heaven is ours.  He gave His life to assure it. We have a hopeful end. 

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.—Ephesians 1:13-14