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Thank You…. (devo reflection)

Jeremiah 11:11 Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape. Although they cry out to me, I will not listen to them. 
I cannot imagine anything more terrifying than God writing me off. As long as I have a tiny penlight of hope, I can persevere. For God to say I’ve messed up so grievously that He will not listen to me would be an ending blow.
Jeremiah 11:12 The towns of Judah and the people of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they burn incense, but they will not help them at all when disaster strikes. 
I am thankful for Jesus and His compassion because I mess up again and again and again. Because Jesus took our place, God will never say to us these things He said to Judah and Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 11:13 You, Judah, have as many gods as you have towns; and the altars you have set up to burn incense to that shameful god Baal are as many as the streets of Jerusalem.’
Lord, I do not deserve Your mercy and compassion, but You lavish me with both. Thank You. I can never earn Your love nor demand Your attention, but You love me fiercely and listen to me intently. Thank You. I can never be worthy to be called Your beloved child, but You called me Yours because I am. Nothing I do can change that. ‘Thank You’ is so inadequate, but it’s all I’ve got. Help me to glorify Your name. Always. Amen.
Jeremiah 11:14 “Do not pray for this people or offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their distress.
Have a blessed day.
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Season of anticipation…. (devo reflection)

Jeremiah 10:3 “For the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.”
This weekend, for the first time in my memory, we went to a tree farm to select our Christmas tree. Yesterday, we brought it in, set it up, put lights on, placed the angel on the top, and began placing ornaments. It was an activity of both nostalgia—reminiscing about all the ornaments and their origins—and anticipation—preparing our home and our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Jeremiah 10:4 “They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter.”
As I read this chapter of Jeremiah, Romans 8:28 came to mind: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” The presence of the Christmas tree in so many homes as we prepare our hearts to celebrate Christ’s birth seems a perfect example of this verse in action.
Jeremiah 10:5a “Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk.”
Lord, Thank You that You can and will and do use all things for our good and Your glory. Thank You for this season of Advent and the ability to prepare our hearts and our homes for Jesus. Be with us in this season of anticipation. Draw us closer. Amen.
Jeremiah 10:5b “…Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.”
Have a blessed day.
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Life is not about us…. (devo reflection)

Jeremiah 9:23 This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches….”
We live in a culture that loves to boast, a culture built on who is the best, the brightest, the strongest, the smartest, the most attractive, the richest, etc, etc. Ultimately, those accolades mean absolutely nothing. You can’t take any of that with you, and if you’re the one holding the title of “the best,” then you are also the one holding the target that others are aiming for. That’s what happens when life is all about us.
Jeremiah 9:24a “…but let the one who boasts boast about this.…”
Thankfully, life shouldn’t be, isn’t supposed to be, all about us. If we can just keep our minds and hearts focused on the goals of Jeremiah 9:24–to know God, to exercise kindness, justice, and righteousness—we will be doing ok.
Jeremiah 9:24b “…that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight….”
Lord, It is so easy to get caught up in the ways of this world. We often join the quest for “best of” without even fully realizing we’ve done it. I do not want that for my life or my legacy. Help me to use Jeremiah 9:24 as my guide. Help me to focus on knowing You and on exercising kindness, justice, and righteousness in my interactions with others. Draw me closer. Amen.
Jeremiah 9:24c …declares the Lord.
Have a blessed day.
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A working relationship…. (devo reflection)

Jeremiah 8:11 They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. “Peace, peace,” they say, when there is no peace. (NIV)
This exact verse is in Jeremiah 6:14. Commentary says that this point was so important that God had Jeremiah repeat it. I think He has another lesson for me in the repetition. I am at my heart a Pollyanna. I try to look at the bright side, to see the good, the positive in every situation. There is a lot of good that comes from that. The world tries to tell me there is no peace, but God gently reminds me that He is in control, He is my peace.
Jeremiah 8:11 They offer superficial treatments for my people’s mortal wound. They give assurances of peace when there is no peace. (NLT)
With today’s repetition, I also feel Him reminding me that even though He is in control, that even though He brings peace where there is no peace, I should not be sitting on my hands waiting. He’s still got work for me to do. He doesn’t need me overwhelmed by the world’s chaos nor does He need me placated to the point of inaction. He needs me to understand that He is my peace in this world and I am His hands and feet. It’s a working relationship, and I have work to do.
Jeremiah 8:11 They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace. (ESV)
Lord, Thank You for being my peace in this world, for speaking to my heart through Your scripture, for reminding me that my peace is found in You and that You have work for me to do. Draw me closer. Amen.
Jeremiah 8:11 They have healed the brokenness of the daughter of My people superficially, Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ But there is no peace. (NASB)
Have a blessed day.
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To seek and listen…. (devo reflection)

Jeremiah 7:12 “‘Go now to the place in Shiloh where I first made a dwelling for my Name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel.”
When reading verse 13, Isaiah 65:24 came to mind in sharp contrast: “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” God wants relationship with His people. He wants us to talk with Him. He wants to bless us. But we must seek and establish relationship, we must trust and obey if we want to hear His voice, if we want to see His blessings.
Jeremiah 7:13 “While you were doing all these things, declares the Lord, I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen; I called you, but you did not answer.”
As I was typing this, the parable of the Prodigal Son came to mind. The Prodigal, when he returned home, finally understood all the bounty and blessing he had been surrounded with the whole time. He had been blind to it before, but now that he actively sought relationship and forgiveness, he saw it clearly. The brother, vision clouded by anger and bitterness, was still blind to the abundance around him.
Jeremiah 7:14 “Therefore, what I did to Shiloh I will now do to the house that bears my Name, the temple you trust in, the place I gave to you and your ancestors.”
Lord, I am guilty of being blind to Your presence, Your blessings. I am guilty of being deaf to Your voice. I am better now about seeking and listening, seeing and hearing, but I am still not where I want to be. Help me to sit quietly at Your feet, to seek and listen, to draw closer to You with every breath. Amen.
Jeremiah 7:15 “I will thrust you from my presence, just as I did all your fellow Israelites, the people of Ephraim.’”
Have a blessed day.
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Peace, peace…. (devo reflection)

Jeremiah 6:14 They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace. (NIV)
The “they” referred to in this verse is the prophets and the priests. The corruption went so high that even the men of God were corrupted. That’s an insidious level of corruption, when even those you should be able to trust for right counsel steer you wrong.
Jeremiah 6:14 They offer superficial treatments for my people’s mortal wound. They give assurances of peace when there is no peace. (NLT)
Interestingly, the thing that really stuck out to me about this verse is how different it seems now. Then they were claiming peace when there was no peace. Now, I’m awfully bad to think the whole world is falling apart, when my precious Savior whispers, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)
Jeremiah 6:14 They dress the wound of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all. (BSB)
Lord, You are sovereign. You are already on the other side of every battle, every heartache, every problem I will ever face. When life feels overwhelming, help me to cling to Romans 8:37: “No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” When I try to say there is no peace in the chaos of life, remind me that You are my peace. Thank You. Amen.
Jeremiah 6:14 “They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ But there is no peace. (NASB)
Have a blessed day.
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Being mindful…. (devo reflection)

Jeremiah 5:21 Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear:
This motif of unseeing eyes and unhearing ears is prevalent throughout the Bible. Sadly, it’s prevalent throughout life, too. How often do we go through life not really looking or listening, not really seeing or hearing? All. The. Time.
Jeremiah 5:23 But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and gone away.
For some time now, my sister and I have ended each day with texts to each other about blessings and things we are thankful for within each day. I’m sad to admit that in the beginning, I was a little concerned I might run out of things. Clearly, I wasn’t looking, wasn’t seeing. Now I’m more mindful through my days, sometimes even thinking, “This will go on tonight’s list” about something that happens. This practice is changing me, and I am grateful.
Jeremiah 5:24 They do not say to themselves, ‘Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.’
Lord, I am foolish and senseless. I am guilty of not looking, not seeing, of not listening or hearing, and the truth is, Your presence is EVERYWHERE if we will only take the time to seek You. Help me continue to be more mindful of Your presence in my life, in this world. Help me to shine Your light for all. Draw me closer. Amen.
Jeremiah 5:25 Your wrongdoings have kept these away; your sins have deprived you of good.
Have a blessed day.
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Repent and return…. (devo reflection)

Jeremiah 4:1a “If you, Israel, will return, then return to me,” declares the Lord….
What I hear in these two verses of Jeremiah is yet one more invitation from the Lord for Judah to turn from her wicked ways, repent, and come home. The rest of the chapter outlines what will happen if they do not repent and return. It’s easy to stand on the outside and judge them for being fools for ignoring God’s invitation to return, but I’ve seen that play out in my own life too many times to judge.
Jeremiah 4:1b …“If you put your detestable idols out of my sight and no longer go astray….”
So why do we, when our precious Savior calls us once again to repent and return, why do we stay entrenched in our destructive behaviors? Do we enjoy them? Do we think that the invitation is not genuine? Are we too proud to admit our errors? Do we not feel we deserve the second chance? (We don’t, but who are we to argue with God?) There are as many reasons as there are sinners, yet God continues to issue the invitation to repent and return to Him.
Jeremiah 4:2a “…and if in a truthful, just and righteous way you swear, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’….”
Lord, Thank You for Your compassion and love. Thank You that You continue to invite me to repent and return to You. Help me, no matter what my pigheaded reasons, to swallow my pride and admit my deep need for You. Help me back Home. Amen.
Jeremiah 4:2b “…then the nations will invoke blessings by him and in him they will boast.”
Have a blessed day.
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Return to Me…. (devo reflection)

Jeremiah 3:1 “If a man divorces a woman and she goes and marries someone else, he will not take her back again, for that would surely corrupt the land. But you have prostituted yourself with many lovers, so why are you trying to come back to me?” says the LORD. (NLT)
Commentary brought my attention to the wording at the end of this verse. Some scholars translate the end of this verse to mean, essentially: how dare you consider returning to me after what you’ve done. Others translate it as an invitation: you have sinned, yet return to Me and I will heal you.
Jeremiah 3:1 They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD. (KJV)
I find it fascinating (and frustrating, if I’m honest) that even scholars are divided on this issue, but I’m going to go with my gut. The God I believe in, the God I worship, He is the God of love and second chances. He would leave the 99 to find the one lost sheep and bring him home. My God would definitely issue an invitation: “Yep. You screwed up, you are actively turned away from Me. But I love you. Come home to Me and I will heal you.”
Jeremiah 3:1 “If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him and marries another man, should he return to her again? Would not the land be completely defiled? But you have lived as a prostitute with many lovers— would you now return to me?” declares the LORD. (NIV)
Lord, You ARE the God of love, compassion, and second chances. You see us at our worst, our most stubborn and pigheaded, in the middle of our rebellion, and You love us anyway. Thank You for the invitation to return to You. Help us to be wise enough to accept it and come home. Amen.
Jeremiah 3:1 If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him to marry another, can he ever return to her? Wouldn’t such a land become totally defiled? But you! You have prostituted yourself with many partners — can you return to me? This is the LORD’s declaration. (CSB)
Have a blessed day.
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Where and with whom we spend our time…. (devo reflection)

Jeremiah 2:5 This is what the LORD says: “What fault did your fathers find in Me that they strayed so far from Me, and followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves?” (BSB)
An aphorism by Ben Franklin came to mind as I read the various translations of this verse: “He that lieth down with dogs shall rise up with fleas.” You become like those you spend time with. That was God’s point in this section that He spoke through Jeremiah. The Israelites were becoming like their captors, worshiping their gods, turning their backs on the One True God.
Jeremiah 2:5 Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain? (KJV)
And the danger is not just in who you spend your time with but also in what you spend your time doing. Worthlessness, vanity, idolatry, and emptiness are not just dangers faced by the Israelites from long ago. They are still real and present dangers if we don’t keep ourselves focused on God.
Jeremiah 2:5 Thus says the LORD: “What injustice have your fathers found in Me, That they have gone far from Me, Have followed idols, And have become idolaters?” (NKJV)
Lord, Help me to be ever mindful of the fact that I become like those I spend time with and I become like what I spend time doing. Help me to spend my time with You, focused on You, trying to build Your kingdom on earth, shining Your light, glorifying Your name. Draw me closer. Remake me in Your image so that when others look at me, they see You, my Father. Amen.
Jeremiah 2:5 This is what the LORD says: “What injustice did your fathers find in Me, That they went far from Me, And walked after emptiness and became empty?” (NASB)
Have a blessed day.