Encouragement Prevails

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord. “Go down at once to the potter’s house; there I will reveal my word to you.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, working away at the wheel. But the jar that he was making from the clay became flawed in the potter’s hand, so he made it into another jar, as it seemed right for him to do. The word of the Lord came to me: “House of Israel can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay?” - this is the Lord’s declaration: “Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so you are in my hand, house of Israel. At one moment I might announce concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will uproot, tear down, and destroy it. However, if that nation about which I have made the announcement turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the disaster I had planned to do to it. At another time I might announce concerning a nation or kingdom that I will build and plant it. However, if it does what is evil in my sight by not listening to ...

My sweet little 2-year-old, Stephen, has been having tummy issues. We aren’t sure what started it. We just know where we’ve ended up. He’s been struggling with acid reflux and stomach pain. We are now giving him a bland diet and it’s resolved all issues with his stomach that is. You see within the past month little man found out how to open the fridge. He happily helps himself to anything from the fridge or pantry whenever he pleases. Regardless of mom’s “no”. Trying to keep this little guy on a bland diet isn’t easy. Yesterday for breakfast he had a banana, apple sauce, tortilla, and rice cereal. He felt like he was living the life. Lunch was a different story. “I know you want bacon, but we’re having special food to help your tummy get better. Bacon will hurt your belly right now. You can have applesauce, bread, banana, rice cake, cereal, tortilla, or noodles. These will help it get better.” “NO!! I want bacon!” he responds pulling on the fridge. This went back and forth wit...

In 1Kings 3 Solomon has a life-changing opportunity. He is approached by God in a dream and asked “What should I give you?” Wow, how huge is that? I encourage you to take a moment and pause to think. What would you ask? Note your initial response, and then continue to think more deeply about it. What is your true heart’s desire? Solomon asked “Give your servant a receptive heart to judge your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?” 1Kings 3:9 What a great thing for a king to ask for and seek. God was pleased with him. “I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again. In addition, I will give you what you did not ask for: both riches and honor, so that no king will be your equal during your entire life. If you walk in my ways and keep my statutes and commands just as your father David did, I will give you a long life.” 1Kings 3:12-14 The next 7 ch...