Hope in Days Ahead

Jeremiah 31: ³³ “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
    after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds
    and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.
³⁴ No longer will they teach their neighbor,
    or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
    from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
    and will remember their sins no more.”

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“The days are coming,” declares the Lord are the words I saw repeatedly in this chapter. After sitting for a while the only thing that came to my mind was “hope.” I mean it seems like GOD gets no gratification in disciplining me. In fact it seems like it hurts HIM. HE awaits a time to bless me.

• GOD says to me “I will make a new covenant with you.”
• GOD says to me “I will put my law in your mind and write it on your heart.”
• GOD says to me “I will be your GOD an you will be my person.”

GOD forgives me for all of my wickedness and remembers my sin no more. HE has fully restored me and all I can do is rejoice!

• What are you putting you hope in?
• Do you need a GOD sized savior?
• Will you allow HIM to restore you today, HIS way?

Time Machines Do Not Exist

Psalm 76: ⁷ It is you alone who are to be feared.
    Who can stand before you when you are angry?
⁸ From heaven you pronounced judgment,
    and the land feared and was quiet—
⁹ when you, God, rose up to judge,
    to save all the afflicted of the land.
¹⁰ Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise,
    and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.

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“You know what’s really disappointing, I trusted you” were the words that turned me around. After losing the trust of my supervisor I felt miserable. Now I was being watched carefully on a job that I hated anyway. What hurt the most is I had trust placed in me, lost it and could never gain it back.

• Sometimes I blow it with people and I cannot gain their trust back.
• Sometimes I make permanent mistakes with people and I cannot win them over.
• Sometimes I burn bridges with people and they cannot be rebuilt.

It seemed like GOD was angry at my slothful ways. I was definitely on the wrong path and this incident with my supervisor proved it. I had to wake up and place my fear back in GOD rather than fearing a shrinking bank account. I had to get restraint.

• GOD allows me to be as wild as I want to be, but HE would rather have me fear HIS ways.
• GOD allows me to not follow HIM, but HE would rather that I fear HIS wrath.
• GOD allows me to get angry at HIM, shake my fist at HIM and threaten to move away from HIM, but HE would rather have a peaceful loving relationship with me that has power.

I do not have a time machine to go back and fix all the ills I have created in life. GOD allowed me to feel HIS wrath in a very small way many times. BUT GOD is the ultimate forgiver. HE chastens me rather than destroying me. HE adds restraint to my ways that tend to run away from HIM and HE holds on tight. I can now praise HIM for holding onto me instead of letting me run further away from HIM.

• Are you looking back at past mistakes?
• Do you think reviewing the past will help you right now?
• Can you let go of the past and hold onto GOD?
• Will you stop looking into the future and look at the here and now?
• Will you fear and praise GOD today?

Cure for Jealousy

Psalm 37: ¹ Do not fret because of those who are evil
    or be envious of those who do wrong;
² for like the grass they will soon wither,
    like green plants they will soon die away.

³ Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
⁴ Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

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It was easy to stay away from the thugs of my day. Petty crime and thievery was about the worst that it would get. Then I saw a new wave of thug emerge with flashy cars and clothes to match. They said “You have to be tough and take no prisoners if you want to be like me.” It was still easy for me to avoid them but others flocked towards their glitter.

I went my way, worked hard and met some wonderful corporate minded people along the way. They said “You have to be tough and take no prisoners if you want to be like me.” Wait, didn’t I hear that somewhere before? It must have been my imagination. I was envious of the corporate mogul.

• No matter where I am I can get envious.
• No matter how little or how much I have, I can get jealous.
• No matter what the cost, I can get green-eyed.

It seemed like the “tough” and the “arrogant” and the “mean spirited” people would get their way most often, meanwhile I was left to fend on my own, working hard for little reward. I mean why do they get all the rewards and I have to do all the work? BUT GOD hears and knows.

• GOD says to me “Trust in ME and do good and you will dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.”
• GOD says to me “Take delight in ME and I will give you the desires of your heart.”
• GOD says to me “Be still before ME and wait patiently for ME; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”

Success of those who harm others is short lived. Yes it seems like they have the bigger bank accounts, bank rolls or Benz’s BUT GOD says I want you to follow ME on MY path, not theirs. GOD’s path means my eyes are open to those who hurt and are in pain. It means telling someone they are forgiven, no matter what sin they have committed. GOD says “MY way is the right way and I will bless you for following ME.”

• Are you jealous?
• Do you have envy of those who do wrong?
• Are you secretly looking over what they do so you can be like them?
• Can you turn your heart to GOD?
• Will you stop being envious of them and delight in following GOD?