TERRIBLE
Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 14-15
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 a modern building in the Old City of Jerusalem made with the same type of stone that the ancients used to build Jerusalem. This is the Aish Hatorah World Centre, built by the Dan family of Canada. On top of this building, encased in glass, is a replica model of the Temple that once sat upon the Temple Mount. The history of Jerusalem is “terrible.” It has been destroyed and rebuilt more times than any other city on earth.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Jeremiah 15:21b
I will redeem you from the grip of the terrible.
The word “terrible” refers to that which causes TERROR! We’re all familiar with that word and with the Satan-inspired evil of terrorism. Jerusalem suffered from lack of rain and from attacks by its enemies in the years prior to its total destruction by the Babylonian (Iraq) army. The people were terrorized and yet they did not turn with all their hearts to the true and living God. Jeremiah refused to cease his prayers of intercession for his people. He prayed, “Are You not He, O Lord our God? Therefore, we will wait for You!” In spite of what Jeremiah calls, “the grip of the terrible,” he adamantly refuses to give up on God!
Chapter 14 tells us of those claiming to be prophets who speak lies using God’s Name. Contrast this with Jeremiah, God’s true spokesperson. God’s person, when God’s Word is read, “eats the book!” (Jeremiah 15:16). The man or woman of God inwardly digests God’s book! We are doing this daily here in this blog. The result is, as Jeremiah experienced, “Joy and rejoicing of my heart!”
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, just as Jeremiah refused to give up his preaching of Your Word, so I pray that I will never give up sharing Your Word in every possible way. Teach me, O Lord, to be more effective in intercessory prayer, waiting in faith for Your deliverance from “the grip of the terrible!” I pray this in the Name of the greatest Intercessor, Jesus Christ, Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I’ve just read the intercessory prayer of Jesus (John 17:1-26). Jesus, in His life and death on the Cross, experienced the greatest and most “terrible” disaster possible, and He accomplished redemption. The word “mortgage” means “death” (mort) “grip” (gage). According to the dictionary, the word “redemption” means “the act of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment.” The word “redemption” comes to us in the English language from Latin and literally means “buy back.” Ever heard of Ivan the Terrible, Czar of Russia? He built St. Bazil’s Cathedral to celebrate his victory over the Muslim Tartars (picture below). He made England’s Henry VIII look good. Ivan was excommunicated by the Orthodox Church, but he was so “religious” (like many in Jeremiah’s day) that he made a hole in the wall of the church and would stand outside in below zero weather for two hours each Sunday morning, so he could still observe the service inside. His wife and children were only allowed to sit in the balcony.
Yours for God’s deliverance from dead, religious observance and for the reality of the experience described by Jeremiah, “Your Word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart” (Jeremiah 15:16b),
David
St. Bazil’s Cathedral, Moscow, in the winter.
An artist’s depiction of Ivan the Terrible.
We eat Your Words, Lord God. You are the Lover of our souls and we adore You! Wishing all saints needing prayer, this morning, the comforting Words of our Saviour, who died for us, that we may be free:
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24 NIV
Jesus Lover of My Soul (worship video w/ lyrics)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5jxwHjC6Xk
Meaningful blog and reading today. “Your words were a delight to me and the joy of my heart.”(Jeremiah 15:16). Thank you for your prayers, scripture and song, Beverlee and comments yesterday Rob. Yes, may all our prayers be answered in Jesus Name and for His Name sake.
Amen! Ger.
Usually I have coffee,an apple and a cinnamon roll as I read my devotions.I pray : “May this food and your words nourish me in the way that You desire.” and often add thanks for His Son,Jesus,etc.
One could not help notice when David was slipping away (I’m fighting tears) how he remained devoted to God and to us,giving us our nourishment,our ‘manna’ right to the end (actually,the real beginning.).We can only guess what he said to his devoted children regarding this blog but the Lord told him how important it was/is so they must possess this sense of importance also.[[I’m sure he did not say “Pull my finger.”(Reynold).]]
I don’t say it nearly often enough but “Thank you,Ron,Ann,Reynold and anyone else connected to this blog.”I still hear David’s voice behind these words.
Faith Defeats Sorrow
You speak of me in the past tense
But I am more alive than you,
For I know now what makes sense,
It’s in the grace I never knew.
I’m free of every earthly care,
Not even sorrow can touch me
In this blissful home I share
Where you and I will both be free.
Earthly eyes can ne’er understand
The truth in His words,left behind,
For He came from this very land,
To which earthly eyes remain blind.
Faith defeats sorrow every time,
Without it each day is the same
And Satan repeats his crime
By imparting to you the blame.
G W(Bill) Marshall / 15 March, 2014
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It’s beside the point but I have never heard anyone point this out although the facts are well known:
” I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” John 17 (NKJV) Jesus did not expect anything more than what he already had…after going on a suicide mission and completing it successfully and perfectly.
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Doesn’t Ivan the Terrible bear a resemblance to Vincent Price?
I don’t know if I would classify Jesus sacrificing himself for us the same thing as a suicide mission. Suicide and self sacrifice are two different things. Suicide is never noble and usually leaves nothing but pain behind. Jesus willingly accepting death is different than killing oneself– a firefighter who runs into a burning building to save someone isn’t committing suicide even though he could lose his life in the process–so no I wouldn’t called what Jesus did a suicide mission- that would bring his act of love down to the same level as suicide bombers — not the same thing at all.
Amen, Donna …I agree, Jesus did not commit suicide, He was killed for our sake, and was willing to suffer and die for our Redemption!! His blood was spilled for us, to cleans us from our sin!! He paid a debt He did not owe, for us!!!
Praise His Holy Name!!
I can understand the discrepancy with the term suicide mission but saying suicide is never noble is very judgmental, Donna, nd you have to be careful with your words on this blog. Just a reminder you have not always walked in other people’s shoes.
Yes saying suicide in never noble is a judgement— against the act itself not the person who commits it. I have dealt with this a number times in my life and known many others that have also–so I have walked in those shoes– no matter how the person who commits the act might be deceived into thinking their death would make life better for others or the world in general their death never has the positive result intended. If you know one example where someone killing themselves was noble in their loved ones eyes or God’s eyes I stand corrected.
No two lives are ever the same. You cannot compare one person’s pain and reason to commit or attempt suicide with another. The point of you or anyone else NOT being entitled to be a judge of nobleness regarding suicide is exactly my point. God is the only Judge.
yes Donna you are right! thanks for posting your comments….it was not suicide what Jesus did!
I am so humbled when I realize what Jesus did for every man, woman and child in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was the lowest form of death to nail people to a cross!!!!
He did this for us, Jesus was doing what His Father said to do for ALL MAN KIND!
Lord God I could never thank you enough for what You have done for me and others, I thank You for the gift of eternal life, for taking away all my sins and those of others in this world,
I thank You Lord that You rose from the grave! In many ways it is a mystery but our Triune God planned the death and resurrection of His only Son Jesus Christ before the world was even created! God also knows each one us and He knows who will follow and who won’t! All I can say is thank You Lord for loving us unconditionally, in Jesus Name I pray all these things amen amen amen!!!!!!!
William I can smell the coffee and bun—mm.m.m. Blessings to you
Jer 15.16
William you are so right about David Mainse being a wonderful servant of \God, but he was also a man with a great sense of humour,and obviously had a mischievous side that just wanted to make his children laugh… like you, l cherish his memory and am amazed by this wonderful Blog produced during a most difficult time of his life,while battling cancer. Thanks Ron and Ann for sending it out again!
Amen, Christine!!
Amen William and Christine!
Joining you in praise and thanksgiving to God for this wonderful daily inspiration, 100words, left for us even today after our spiritual mentor, David Mainse’ departure to be with the Lord. Thank you for sure to Crossroads, to Ron and Anne and to Reynold for their devotion to God in honouring their father, and our Heavenly Father in this way. I along with many, many others are truly blessed. Thank you and God bless and encourage everyone!
Amen, Alice!! So right on!!!
Great picture photos, Reynold, thank you for providing them for us; thank you Ron for posting them!!!