SEARCH!!!
Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 29-30
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Here is the tel Herodian. It is located just southeast of Bethlehem. Excavations have revealed Herod’s Fortress Palace. Perhaps he was in this stronghold when he ordered the slaughter of the children in Bethlehem.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Jeremiah 29:11-13
“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. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”
Our key verse is true for all people at all times, a good verse to memorize! It’s a guarantee of strength when one feels under pressure and vulnerable!
David Reynold’s photograph above speaks to the practice of empire builders of appointing puppet kings in the conquered regions. Everything was O.K. as long as the king ensured that taxes were paid to overlords (in Herod’s time, the Romans, and in Zedekiah’s time, the Babylonians).
Most of us do this blog for inspiration, but here’s some information. King Josiah, a king who did right before God, had sons who were corrupt and did evil in God’s eyes. The ones that ascended to the throne were Johannan, Shallum, Jehoiakim (his son Jeconiah), and Zedekiah (1 Chronicles 3:15). All reigned for very short periods of time. Jeconiah was taken to Babylon in the first captivity with others, including Ezekiel and Daniel. These displaced persons were treated rather well. The Babylonian Nebuchadnezzar obviously believed that Zedekiah would be content to be a puppet ruler and submit to every order from Babylon. That was not the case and when Zedekiah asserted Judah’s sovereignty, Nebuchadnezzar invaded again (11 years later) and destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple of Solomon. He took Zedekiah and the people as slaves to Babylon (modern-day Iraq).
Words worth noting are “diminished” and “increased” (Jeremiah 29:6b). It’s our choice.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I pray fervently that I will, 24/7, do as Jeremiah’s letter exhorts me… search for You with all my heart. You are not hiding! I see You clearly in the Life and Words of my Saviour and Lord, Jesus, Messiah, in Whose Name I pray. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Several times I have walked to the top of Herodian (pictured above) and meditated on the life of a king who, like Zedekiah, owed his throne to a foreign emperor. King Herod was totally spooked by the possibility of rebellion of his own family members and the people of Jerusalem. He murdered family members and anyone suspected of disloyalty, but he never rebelled against Rome. He constantly pandered to Caesar and with brutality collected the tribute from the Jews, sending great amounts of money to Rome.
I must not pass up the opportunity here on today’s blog to testify to the fact that the promise of our key verse is so very true (Jeremiah 29:11-13). The week I turned 17, at the altar in the tabernacle at Lakeshore Pentecostal Youth Camp in Cobourg, Ontario, I believe that I did seek God with all my heart. He found me, and I found Him in such a life-changing new direction that I’ve never been the same! He gave me a “FUTURE” such as I could have never imagined, and a “HOPE” which has been a constant throughout 62 years since that pivotal moment!
Yours for our “search” for God with the help of daily Scripture readings, daily prayer and this daily blog!!!
David
On top of Herodian recording a Christmas Special, November 2013. Bethlehem is in the distance behind me.
This is a model of Herod’s fortress palace. Herod’s fears were not of the Roman overlords, but of his own people.
I found hope in the key verses this morning. My husband has extreme pain in his right leg and can’t sleep at night. Apparently this is common after Spinal Stenosis surgery, we found this out online. I would appreciate your prayers for him, his name is Edward. Blessings to all, Eleanor M.
Holding your husband in prayer, but please call your doctor, Eleanor. Do not wait.
Eleanor, I also have severe nerve pain from 2 spinal stenosis surgeries so I know how tough it can be. I sympathize with Edward and pray that he will find some relief. He may get some relief with over the counter rubs. May Jesus bless you both. Be well.
Remembering you in prayer Eleanor & your husband Edward
for our Heavenly Father’s healing & peace of mind, in His Holy
Name, Amen!
Amen, Joy!
Yes, agreeing in prayer with Beverlee for you Eleanor M.
Praying for your husband Edward and you Eleanor!
OH, no words could be truer and prayer so sweet! Moved by the scripture and David’s message, this morning. We worship You, Lord, and give You thanks for filling us with hope. Praying for love and peace for all saints, today. May the Lord give all, enduring strength.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Rom 15:13 NIV
My Hope – Hillsong (with Lyrics/Subtitles) (Worship Song)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdQwQ9WDlAY
Amen! Beverlee Kay. Thank you for sharing and your prayers.
Ron
What a nice picture
of your father David Mainse
holding the bible.
So agreed–one of my favourites.
Thankful for God’s word. Praying for relief of pain for Edward.
Agreed in prayer with David; The Key verse is one of my favorites.
Blessings on you bloggers, saints!!
The picture of David is nice one Ron. Eleanor I am praying for you, and Edward. I hope see your doctor soon.
Lianne Hogg
Thank you all for your prayers for my husband. Beverlee I phoned the surgeons office, they said this was common and he would have to wait for his appt on Fevruary 27th. Then they will discuss what is going on. If it gets unbearable we have to go to the emergency room. We have accepted that for now. Eleanor M.
I pray, Eleanor, that Edward’s pain will cease. Please promise if it continues and becomes unbearable, that you will, indeed, go to the emergency dept. There is nothing worse than post surgical radiating back pain that increases rather than deteriorates. You are both lovingly in my prayers.
I promise Beverlee. I will take him to the emergency if it gets worse. Thanks for caring.
Praying for your husband and for you, Eleanor!
May you sense God’s comfort and peace .
Blessings to all!
Moved by the blog today and praying for your husband Eleanor.
Thanks Ger!!!