Jeremiah 42: 1 The army officers asked Jeremiah to pray that his God would tell them the way that they should go and what they should do...and they said that God count on them to do it! In Jeremiah 42:15, Jeremiah warns them not to determine in their hearts to go where it is safe and peaceful and make that their home---Egypt---the very thing you fear will catch up with them and track them down in Egypt. But they wouldn't listen! Let's go back to Isaiah's prophecy in Isaiah 31:1 - "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots, and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or seek help from the LORD." The people didn't obey a single word of God's Message through Jeremiah. Fast forward to today. Are we obeying the Message of God from our modern-day prophets and preachers? Are we looking to the Holy One? Whom did you go to today for help? I walked beyond the uber expanse of skies this day with a moon and sun tucked behind a veil, and I asked for help from the Holy One in the midst of my current challenges. Expose my foolish heart of determining what is the safest place for me to pursue while wild lions, so to speak, hunt me down. My God is My Shelter. My God is My Refuge. My God is My Strength. My God is My Help.
God will make my mountains come down low and my valleys raise up in order that I may know Him better. Isaiah 40:4 May HE glorify Himself. He is not lowering my mountains to make life better for me. It could get a whole worse than it is. In Jeremiah 45:5, God's Message to Baruch:
"Things are going to get worse before they get better." Do not seek great things for yourself. God is the One adding sorrow to my pain. Don't sit around planning how you can make a huge impact. Baruch says that God is piling on the pain. His Plan will not be thwarted.
Meanwhile back to Jeremiah 43, the army officers call Jeremiah a "liar." And Jeremiah responds in Jer 44:7 "This is the Message of God, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God of Israel: 'So why are you ruining your lives by amputating yourselves from life, leaving yourselves isolated, unconnected? Is God speaking to our lives today? How are we isolating ourselves from others in the name of religion? How are we disconnected from our husbands, our children, our friends?
Jer 45:5 (NKJ) And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,” says the LORD. “But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.”
ReplyDeleteJer 45:5 (Message) So forget about making any big plans for yourself. Things are going to get worse before they get better. But don't worry. I'll keep you alive through the whole business.
Sometimes, I just need me some King James. Bev, those questions you ask at the end today are convicting. The walls I seek to hide behind to be safe are the very things that amputate me from life and leave me in isolation. There is something so self destructive inside us. We know God’s ways, and yet we rely on our own strength, horses and chariots—grasping at straws. Yet God brings adversity to all flesh that we will seek Spirit and find Life.
40 days.
ReplyDeleteChrist is coming to us.
Right now, things are getting worse before they get better.
In our worst...we have to choose abundant Faith, Hope and Love. When we can't see it, touch it or remember it...IT is there.
I am trying my best to stay out of Egypt. I want to find a place of love in my desperate situation. I know it's there. I don't want to look to other things. I want to remain in Christ.
I read something last night that imprinted on my heart about handling our "worst." Tracie Peterson has a book, "The Eyes of the Heart" that I'm reading. Our plans get disrupted and we need a contingency plan. Instead of raging at the disruptions...or taking our frustrations out on ourselves or others that we love...or looking for bitter ways to blame...we have to have peace in the midst of our conflict.
She described a situation where traffic backed up for miles on a bridge over Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans. It was a one-way bridge and no one was moving at all due to an accident that was blocking the road. People were all dealing with this interruption in lots of angry ways. But one young man dressed in white shirt, tie and dress pants was handling things with a different perspective than all the others. You could tell he was on his way somewhere important. But he wasn't upset. In fact, he was calmly fishing off the bridge! He must have had his fishing gear in his car, so this "change in his plans" didn't cause him one minute's concern.
He chose not to go to "Egypt."
I know that God shakes us to remove the chaff. And the shaking can be life-changing. I need God's Voice guiding me, so that I won't be tempted to look for a better plan than the one He has for me.
A good friend who is a reader of this blog sent me an e-mail last night and I will share parts of it with you here. She wrote: "I was strongly reminded that Crabb's writing from the perspective of God is not God. Although it has been a great tool to cause me to think deeper and seek the Lord, it is not the Lord's words. On the blog are the few women who leave their comments and it appears they are mature in their faith. I just didn't know who is reading that may need to be reminded that Crabb's book, although good, is not God's words. The Bible is the final, complete message from God to us."
ReplyDeleteHere is my response: Crabb's writings are his thoughts, his opinions, his interpretation of rightly dividing (2Tim 2:15) the Word of God---they are not inspired words from God. Only the Bible is the inspired Word of God, written by divinely inspired humans.
In the prologue of 66 Love Letters on page xxi, Crabb said that he expressed what God wants us to hear when we read through the Bible. "I write in the first person, as if God Himself is speaing directly to us, which perhaps He is. Whether I've accurately heard Him or not is up to you to decide."
We all need to decide what is the truth for our lives and it needs to settle deep into our hearts. I would say that this author uses the "first person" as a literary device to communicate to us the deep things of God. I love the thought on page xxi near the bottom of the page where Crabb writes:
"I've concluded one thing (after 40 years of study): If you face yourself honestly, if you look through a clear lens at your life in this world, hearing God speak to you in the sixty-six love letters that make up the Bible will do you more good than anything else."
Acts 11:17 - the Bereans were more noble in character than the Thessalonians because they examined the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul was saying was true. May we examine the Word every day of our lives to find the Truth. We follow Christ and His Words, not the words and motives of men. So grateful for a modern-day signpost named Crabb who will deal with the "Unequaled Love Story" and lift us up to the Greater Story, while most authors give wisdom and ways to make your life here on earth better.
If any of you would like to respond, please feel free. Just like the book, "The Shack", people have reacted to Crabb's interpretation. I don't know much...but this I know. I am convinced of some pretty important things because of this guy's writings that have changed my life for eternity and I'll never be the same person.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI've tried to leave a comment about this but it's confusing.
ReplyDeleteI sense there's more to this than Dr. Crabb writing his perspective of what God's Word as a Love Letter means to him.
I'm sorry if anyone has been confused about that. Dr. Crabb definitely clears that up in his book.
Shoot, I get just as tripped up over reading the Message instead of the older versions of the Bible. I am reminded with each chapter when I pick up 66 LL that it's a book, not the Bible. It has offered a wonderful fresh perspective for me this year to look more for the eternal purpose in my circumstances. I definitely believe God wants us to find joy in today as well (not sure Dr. Crabb would fully agree), but He wants us to find that joy in Him, and He won't sacrifice our eternal wellbeing for our temporary comfort.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your friend's reminder, and she is right, of course. The Bible alone is our guide. Just like any other Bible study, the book is more a commentary than anything. And it is the Holy Spirit Who awakens our hearts to Truth.
I've been most grateful for this place and my quiet time companion pearls this year!
I'm a little behind (well, actually a lot behind) in our readings. I do have to agree with you all. God's Word is the Bible and 66LL is just a tool. A great tool, and I've enjoyed it tremendously!
ReplyDeleteI love this special space too, to study along side of you all. I'm sorry I can't be here more.
If you want to pray for my mom I would appreciate it. She has had SO many illnesses throughout her 74 years and it's starting to cause more serious problems. After losing her mom at age 12 she raised 7 children, she has lost her first born daughter, her husband of 50 years, has had lung cancer, triple bypass surgery, diabetes and we almost lost her a few years ago after being in a coma for 2-1/2 years. My problem is... I don't know how to pray for her. I know she misses my dad like crazy and is lonely even in a crowd. She's ready to go to Heaven and since her near death experience has been baptized and has been going with me to The Assembly of God church where God's Presence is so thick in there. Just this past weekend we went to Chicago together and listened to Praise and Worship music for 6 solid hours (on the highest volume)! God has been doing a lot in her heart and I think He is preparing her for Himself. Anyway... I feel I should be praying for healing, but I think she'd like to pray that He brings her home. It's quite confusing when I don't know how to pray. I guess I'll pray for His Will to be done!
Thanks for listening to me ramble, even though I am rarely here these days! Much love to you all! xoxo
Oops... She was not in a coma for 2-1/2 years, but 2-1/2 weeks! Praise God! :)
ReplyDeleteBev, I love how you are keeping us focused and how faithful you are to us. This site is a blessing to me. I don't ever want to cause someone to be confused, but let's not lose sight of the good here.
ReplyDeleteYou are doing an awesome job and it is making a difference in all our lives.
Ang, you KNOW I'll be praying. She's the same age as my mom and life is hard for our older saints. I see so much going on in my mom and dad's life that is so depressing, but they stay active in church and have found so many ways to serve God in their older years. I will keep you and your mom in my prayers.
A verse for us tonight:
ReplyDeleteIsaiah 40:11
He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.
This one is speaking to my heart today and I just wanted to share it with all of you. He tends us. He carries us. He cares about moms. He is our Shepherd.
Ohhhh Angie...I saw your comment on Faceboo about your mom and I was so sad for you guys. May God's Presence be with her all wee as well as Sunday---I don't have the strength to slam the KKKK button tonight, sorry. I'm a mess tonight but still trusting! Anyway, I will be praying for you and your sweet mom. It has to be a tremendous encouragement and strength to her to have a daughter like you! My love,bev
ReplyDelete