MY SOUL! MY SOUL!
Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 3-4
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
You can still see the enormous cut rocks that were thrown down onto the street from the upper walls of the Temple Mount by the Roman soldiers in 70 AD.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Jeremiah 3:14a, 4:19a
“Return, O backsliding children,” says the Lord; “for I am married to you…”
…O my soul, my soul! I am pained in my very heart! My heart makes a noise in me…
In today’s Bible reading, the word, “BACKSLIDING” is repeated four times, and the word “RETURN” five times. Taking note of significant words repeated over and over lets us know what the writer is trying to emphasize for our benefit! God’s message to the backslider is “RETURN!” Ask ourselves this question and let’s make it personal: “Have I ever loved and served God in the past more than I do today?” If so, “RETURN.”
Jeremiah, in our key verses, expresses the heart pain that God feels…the pain of a Parent rejected by His children…the pain of a Husband who truly loves His bride and wife but has been rejected in favour of other lovers. Some who read this may have experienced such pain, which is not only crushing emotionally but also produces devastating mental anguish and even has negative physical effects. As a prophet, Jeremiah represents God and is feeling a measure of God’s pain. As a priest, he represents the human family before God in intercession. He identifies with the pain of our separation from God. We are beginning to understand why Jeremiah is called “The Weeping Prophet.”
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, my eternal loving heavenly Father, I return to You and run into Your loving arms, which are wide open and waiting for me to come closer than ever. Lord God, You have described Yourself as my Lover/Spouse. I do love You with all my heart. Give me grace to be 100% true to You at all times. Forgive me of my backsliding. Thank You for promising Your willingness to forgive and restore. I pray these mercies through Jesus Christ, the One who never backslid and, therefore, never needed to return. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
The person who loves the most is most deeply hurt when rejected by the one they love. The mother who has nursed a child at her breast and then lives to be rejected by a son or daughter knows the pain of which Jeremiah writes. The husband or wife who has given themselves totally in love with their spouse and is then rejected knows such deep inner pain, such that it’s impossible to describe in words. I have never felt that rejection personally, but I’ve put my arms around many whose body is wracked with such immeasurable pain. All I could do was to be there, as there were no words which I could speak that would be adequate. Surely God, Whose very nature is infinitely loving, must feel this pain much more than man. This is the pain Jesus bore when He suffered on the cross…the pain of rejection, separation and loss. I can’t even begin to imagine His pain. All I can do is cry and say, “I’m here Lord. I’ve returned! I’m determined to move closer to You and not backslide!!!”
Yours for loving God faithfully and showing love for Him by our love for others,
David
Very beautiful commentary. Inspires us too not to focus on our own pain, but to look around and reach out to others
Joel 2.13 talks about
returning to God.
David Mainse often reminded me of the weeping prophet, Jeremiah. Rejection is such a devastating feeling, which I unfortunately have experienced; the same as so many others. The capacity for humans to cause hurt is utterly profound. But our strength and renewal is found in Jesus. Such deep powerful and rich scripture this morning to sink into–oh, that we are married to You, Lord God! Our personal relationship with You is the defining factor of our existence. We are so in love with You, Lord and give You all the thanks and praise for Your Glory! In Jesus’ precious Name, amen! Wishing all saints a blessed day!
For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. Isaiah 54:5 ESV
Chris Tomlin – Jesus (with lyrics)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEbQswNB6Wc
Amen. Beverlee, Isaiah 54:5 was the scripture that spoke to me personally, and kept me going! What a promise!!!
Had to share, this saints: “Can you change me so I can handle these things happening to me… not can you change the things around me.” Micah Tyler shares such a powerful message about a personal and painful experience before his song, Different, starts playing:
Micah Tyler – Different (Official Music Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUT4trsrBCw
Praise You Jesus for loving me for who I am…that You will complete that which you began in me…I love You Lord Jesus!!
I have never felt rejection although as David said just being there helps, and prayer.
Last night I had a seizure a friend came to help, and I did not need to go to the hospital it was a long night. Even though I know doctors and nurses do help I felt afraid. One thing I want to ask saints is for continue healing
Lianne Hogg
You are always in my prayers, Lianne. Praise God your friend was there to help you get through the night. I can’t imagine how terrifying it must feel for you to experience seizures. Praise God you still know Your Saviour is with you and it gives you comfort at certain times. Be still and know that I am God, comes to mind for you.
One of my closet friends (and mentor),Rev J Fortier,was a pastor in Brighton,Ont when David was also in Brighton (early 60’s) had bad seizures right in class when about 15.These continued until about 21 (I forget most details).He was prayed over and on or about that time they stopped and tests showed the absence ‘of whatever had been there,in his brain,before’.He is in his 80’s now and has been free of seizures since.God bless
Trust Me
Trust Me,I know what I am doing,
It’s not just your heart I am wooing
But your soul is so dear to Me,
I want you with Me for eternity.
Even when your days are very bad,
I share the load that makes you sad,
So do not be angry with Me,
You must trust in Me eternally.
I love all my children most dearly,
And in life I see you clearly,
That is why you are on the Earth,
It is a school and the grave is your birth.
‘I knew you before you were born’,
I would never leave you forlorn,
I know every hair on your head,
Death is not for you to dread
Life is through my precious Son,
A reward for when your day is done,
So know that this is my gift to you
And walk with Him your life through.
G W (Bill) Marshall/.2011
Lord Jesus I pray for Your intervention in Lianne’s body; for a complete healing. Praise God You are a God of the impossible, and we ask and pray for a complete healing for Lianne. Jesus, in Your Holy Name I pray…Amen!!
Amen ! Agreeing in prayer with Irene.
Praying for you, Lianne.
Liane you are always in my prayers also! I am so thankful for your postings and your story and asking for prayers, yes, many of us know that feeling of being deeply hurt or being afraid, when these feelings begin Liane pray the Lord’s Prayer and read some Psalms,
you can phone for prayer to 1-866-273-4444, that is the 100 Huntley Prayer Line and there is someone always to pray with a person 24 hours a day. Praise and thank the Lord for this ministry.
Lord we ask You dear Heavenly Father to heal Liane of all her seizures, we pray that You will heal her completely of all her illnesses, we Thank you Lord for loving us unconditionally, for always being right beside us always, every day, we thank you Lord for all the blessings in Liane’s life and in all our lives! Thank you In Jesus Name we Pray amen
Thank you Beverlee for your prayers for my brother Les. His leg was really bad but he may be coming home today but he still needs prayer. Sorry Lianne for your affliction and not being able to get some preventive. My mother used to have seizures as a child but grew out of them. Will pray for you for a miraculous healing.
I was married for 17 1/2 yr to a woman who habitually,without any guilt,was unfaithful.The worst came on the last day of our divorce proceedings when she presented a (false) sworn statement that I used to come home drunk and beat her and my son (same as in the book “Life With Billy”).That explained why so many people stopped talking to me or kept their distance.I was never violent with her.When a retired probationary officer from TO moved in across the street,a lovely Christian lady (Betty in one of my poems),she told me it sounded like she might be Bipolar.I googled and found she had every characteristic.Not one of our friends ever hinted of her lies.
It was when I surrendered to Jesus that that weight lifted (I thought I had already forgiven her.)In today’s scripture I felt the Lord said that I knew how He felt.(Over and over as my spouse did).This was the tip of the iceberg.
These were written for grieving mothers but are still relevant:
Forgiveness
Forgiveness is a gift we receive,
And freely we must give it too,
To prove to Him we do believe,
Forgiveness also works for you.
When a friend stabs your back,
Do not turn and choose to attack;
But smile and take up his slack
To show the faith you do not lack.
When you forgive it then returns,
For your heart is then lightened
While given the freedom it yearns
And your mind is then enlightened.
Let His healing hand touch your soul,
Then may His love render you whole,
For Satan will try to collect a toll;
If your faith is weak you give control
But someone you may overlook
Is one you may be least kind to;
For mistaken paths that you took;
The one you forgive must be you.
GW (Bill) Marshall/2012
Lest You Be Judged (4 Grieving Mothers)
Unless you have been in my shoes,
I’ve been on paths I did not choose,
So do not judge what I may do,
For one day soon this could be you.
Fortune has not been my friend,
Nor has my heart had help to mend,
Misfortune has never been far away
The scars I bear,too many to say.
Not many smiles are without a blade
And when you’re down quickly fade,
So remember,to thine own self be true,
And be honest in all things you do.
G W(Bill) Marshall/2012
great poems William, from the heart!
bi polar is different in every person, some are more manic than others; each mental illness is different, the work of each one of us is to encourage all people to get tested at Mental Health and find out what type of chemical imbalance we have and then get the right treatment…..
I have learned that too,Sah.Thanks.When I was married to her she never sought help nor took meds for this disorder.I gave it to the Lord.
Jeremiah, one of my favorite prophets!
Agreed in prayer with David.
Pray for my children who have backslid. I believe and pray the Lord will restore them to Himself in His time!!
Holding your children up in prayer, Irene. May the Lord God guide them back home and bring peace in their hearts, and comfort to you. All for His Glory! In Jesus’ precious Name. Amen.
Thank you Beverlee!!
Lord please provide me with the funds to get upgrades done in my home, have lived here for 22 years and need to upgrade toilets, sinks, floor in kitchen, fence outside, roof, TY Lord for the bargain on Sunday at Walmart,TY Lord, that was all Your doing, got lingerie for half price, TY Lord in Jesus Name amen