Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living - The Global of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Tuesday, 26 June 2018 "Wrong Choices-Not God-Bring Difficulty" by William Coker, Jr. - Jeremiah 15:1-12.
Jeremiah 15:1 Then Adonai said to me, “Even if Moshe and Sh’mu’el were standing in front of me, my heart would not turn toward this people! Drive them out of my sight, get them out of here! 2 And when they ask you where they should go, tell them that this is what Adonai says:
‘Those destined for death — to death!
Those destined for the sword — to the sword!
Those destined for famine — to famine!
Those destined for captivity — to captivity!’
3 “I will assign them four kinds [of scourges],” says Adonai, “the sword to kill, dogs to drag away, birds in the air and wild animals to devour and destroy. 4 I will make them an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, because of M’nasheh the son of Hizkiyahu king of Y’hudah, because of what he did in Yerushalayim.
5 “Who will take pity on you, Yerushalayim?
Who will grieve for you?
Who will turn aside
to ask about your welfare?
6 You have rejected me,” says Adonai.
“You are heading backward.
So I am stretching out my hand against you;
tired of sparing you, I am destroying you.
7 With a winnowing fork I am scattering them
to the wind at the gates of the land;
I am bereaving them, destroying my people,
because they will not return from their ways.
8 Their widows increase in number
more than the sand of the seas;
At midday I am bringing the destroyer
on the mothers of young men,
causing anguish and terror
suddenly to fall upon her.
9 The mother of seven sons grows faint,
panting in despair;
her sun has gone down while it’s still daytime;
she is left disgraced and bewildered.
And the rest of them I will give to the sword,
to their enemies,” says Adonai.
10 Woe to me, mother, that you gave me birth,
a man who is the object of strife
and controversy throughout the land!
I neither lend nor borrow,
yet all of them curse me.
11 Adonai said, “I promise to release you for good, I promise to make your enemies appeal to you when calamity and trouble come.
12 “Can iron break iron and bronze from the north? (Complete Jewish Bible).
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One of the objectives in counseling family members of persons dealing with addictions or who have suffered the consequences of an overdose is addressing the issue of responsibility and not accepting unwarranted blame or shame. How one responds to a person or situation is the responsibilty of every individual. No one is responsible for how another person thinks, feels, or acts. Therefore, acting out behaviors, using drugs, or working towards recovery is the responsibility of the individual with the addiction. Each person's life will become the result of the thoughts, feelings, and actions they choise to live out. If you plant corn, you will corn and not sweet potatoes.
Remember Joshua’s challenge: “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15). When one chooses wrong, the problems that follow are the result of those choices, not someone elses or even God. There are countless real-life stories of people who believe a better life is possible and discover how to live differently than the negative conditions around them. Regardless of the choices that others make, the LORD reminded Jeremiah of his purpose; it is our responsibility to model positive, healthy thinking, attitudes, and activities.
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Hymn for Today: "I Have Settled the Question" by Haldor Lillenas.
1. I remember when the Lord spoke to my soul,
I could feel the heavy burden from me roll
When He spoke the gracious words, Wilt thou be whole?
Then I settled the question forever.
Refrain: I have settled the question, hallelujah!
I will never turn back from the narrow way.
I am going through with Jesus, hallelujah!
Till I reach the gates of glory some sweet day.
2. I no longer walk the ways of sinfulness,
But I daily tread the paths of righteousness
Since the day the Lord has come my life to bless
I have settled the question forever.Refrain: I have settled the question, hallelujah!
I will never turn back from the narrow way.
I am going through with Jesus, hallelujah!
Till I reach the gates of glory some sweet day.
3. I will choose the holy joys that always last,
And reject sin’s pleasures that will soon be past,
To the treasures of true worth I’m holding fast,
I have settled the question forever.Refrain: I have settled the question, hallelujah!
I will never turn back from the narrow way.
I am going through with Jesus, hallelujah!
Till I reach the gates of glory some sweet day.
4. Others may deny the Lord and live in sin,
But the race that I have entered I must win,
Through the pearly gates I mean to enter in,
I have settled the question forever.Refrain: I have settled the question, hallelujah!
I will never turn back from the narrow way.
I am going through with Jesus, hallelujah!
Till I reach the gates of glory some sweet day.

Thought for Today: “Therefore fear Adonai, and serve him truly and sincerely. Put away the gods your ancestors served beyond the [Euphrates]River and in Egypt, and serve Adonai! (Joshua 24:14) (Complete Jewish Bible)).

Please pray: That many people in Ghani will come to know Yeshua as their Messiah and receive the fullness of the Ruach HaKodesh.
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