//Women Made for His Glory//
If You Think God Can’t Use You, Remember . . .
He Knew You Before You Were Born
Give Us This Day – Best Gig in the World
There are seasons when it seems like all hell is breaking loose. If those seasons are long, we grow tired of them. We’re sick of playing the long game. We want someone to bring us good news, to tell us our long nightmare is over, to say, “‘Peace, peace!’ . . . though there is no peace” (Jer 6:14).
Imagine being Jeremiah and facing a crowd like that. There are plenty of “prophets” who tell the people what they want to hear. But Jeremiah has heard the word of the Lord and knows it’s not at all what people want to hear. No wonder he’s called the “weeping prophet.” Bringing bad news to desperate people has to be the worst gig in the world. The Babylonians were bearing down on the people of Judah, who wanted to believe that, as God’s chosen, they would not be conquered. Jeremiah gets to tell them, “You will be. Give up.” He knows the false prophets—and even his friends—are watching for his fall, waiting to be vindicated. Yet he speaks the truth he knows, because that is his call.
There are times when faithful Christians have to speak prophetically to the world: “If we continue on this path, it will take us to a very bad place.” But as Christians we know there is always, always good news, even in the darkest hour. Because as another prophet reminds us, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” (Isa 9:1). When we bring that Light with us, all news is good news.
Susan Pitchford – Mar 26, 2021
Verse of the Day – Call to Him
The Bible in a Year – Day 224 – The Weeping Prophet
Fr. Mike introduces us to the prophet Jeremiah, who is also known as the Prophet of Doom and the Weeping Prophet. He explains what makes Jeremiah different than the other prophets, and encourages us to cling closely to him as we hear about his difficult call. Today’s readings are Jeremiah 1, Ezekiel 27, and Proverbs 14:5-8.
Click on link: https://youtu.be/mJ0TsNpvk6Y
The Bible in a Year – Day 225 – Our Will vs. God’s Will
Fr. Mike reviews one of the most powerful verses in Proverbs, dealing with personal discernment and wanting to follow our own will instead of God’s. He also goes into a deeper explanation of the prophet, Jeremiah, and how we ourselves can reflect the actions of Israel in the Old Testament. Today’s readings are Jeremiah 2, Ezekiel 28, and Proverbs 14:9-12.
Click on link: https://youtu.be/X40FtSN-d84
The Bible in a Year – Day 226 – Unfaithful Israel
In our reading of Proverbs 14, Fr. Mike reinforces that freedom is not the same thing as license, true freedom is the power to do what we ought. Fr. Mike also reflect on Jeremiah’s repudiation of Israel’s cult worship and how its distorted sexuality had serious consequences. Today’s readings are Jeremiah 3, Ezekiel 29-30, and Proverbs 14:13-16.
Click on link: https://youtu.be/8j4wGdi7jWE
The Bible in a Year – Day 227 – The Towering Cedar
Fr. Mike highlights the people of Israel’s flaw in trusting in the strength and power of Egypt, not realizing that although Egypt is like a towering cedar tree, the nation will eventually collapse. Fr. Mike also points out Jeremiah’s vehement message to Israel to brace themselves for God’s judgment. Today we read Jeremiah 4, Ezekiel 31-32, and Proverbs 14:17-20.
Click on link: https://youtu.be/dhyy3gqdQk8
The Bible in a Year – Day 228 – The Watchman’s Duty
Fr. Mike expands on Ezekiel 33 and emphasizes that the role of a prophet, is to be God’s watchman and speak whatever it is God wants to be spoken. He stresses the reality that those who are teachers and leaders, who shape and form the consciences of others, have the responsibility to speak the truth even when it’s hard. Today’s readings are Jeremiah 5, Ezekiel 33, and Proverbs 14:21-24.
Click on link: https://youtu.be/ny2lKJJNRhI
The Bible in a Year – Day 229 – Shepherds of Israel
Fr. Mike explains the beautiful connections between all of our readings today. He emphasizes how good shepherds are , to face the truth, and also sacrifice for his sheep, like Jesus who laid down his life for us. In our reading of Jeremiah, Fr. Mike also explains that the experience of shame points to the reality that there is something good within us that ought not to be violated. Today we read Jeremiah 6, Ezekiel 34-35, and Proverbs 14:25-28
Click on link: https://youtu.be/aPLc49xQNBE
