A Love Story [Last Post In the Year 2021] ♡♡♡

       "Ten days later the Lord gave this reply to Jeremiah . So he called for Johanan son of Kareah and the other military leaders, and for all the people, from the least to the greatest. He said to them, "You sent me to the Lord, the God of Israel, with your request, and this is his reply: Stay here in this land. If you do, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you. For i  am sorry about all the punishment I have had to bring upon you. Do not fear the king of Babylon anymore, says the Lord. For I am with you and I will save you from his power. I will be merciful to you by making him kind, so he will let you stay here in your land"" - Jeremiah 42:7-12

One day, I'll write extensively about the prophet Jeremiah. He is one of my favorite prophets of the bible. Such a hard task he was purposed with, at a time when people were so anti-God and rebellious in all of their ways. He was one who started out young too. Everywhere he looked was misery. He was so alone in his walk. God made him say hard things and do hard things, but it's not really where I am going this week, please bear with me. 

So as I continued in my study, in the book of Jeremiah this week, I stayed on this verse that took me aback. "wait what? You mean God is sorry?, what exactly is he sorry about?" So I read it over and over again and viola it was the beautiful heart of the Father displayed right before my very eyes. "For I am sorry about all the punishment I have had to bring upon you........" - Jeremiah 42 verse 10b. What beautiful heart, even when these lot were deserving of it. Of course I have always known that it is not God's heart to watch on his creation in great suffering and pain; rather it is his heart to heal us, to protect us, to preserve us and to show us his loving kindness and mercy.

"David said to Gad, "I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but do not let us fall into human hands" - 2 Samuel 24:14

To an extent, I understand so very well David's prayer here. God's hands are a lot more merciful, than the hands of men. So great news for someone today. Just like in our focal scripture. God's motives are pure. To build and not tear down. To plant and not uproot. Though he is able to do both if the need requires it. My point this week is that, there is no greater love, than the one our Father embodies. He is LOVE personified. He is LOVE all through and through.

"All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing thier own imaginations. To a people who continually provoke me to my face, sacrificing in the gardens and burning incense on altars of brick, sitting among the graves, spending  nights in secret places, eating the meat of pigs and polluted broth from their bowls..." - Isaiah 65:2-4

It's how we always embrace all the old testament scriptures, when it speaks of blessings and promises, but leave these one's hidden away to continue to marinate and stew. These are good for us also. The Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16  that all scripture is God breathed. All of it is good for us. Well, as we wind down the year and what is my last post for the year. I wanted to remind you of the Father's beautiful heart. I wanted to remind you that what he desires for us to have with Him is incredibly precious. The festivities will begin shortly, but what is your story with the Lord like?

Praying indeed, that it is truly a LOVE story. Afterall that is what the Christmas story is all about :)

Catch you in the new year if Jesus tarries !!!!

Love,

Shay