Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

November 14
Friday


HEARTBREAK
AND HOPE

READ:
Lamentations 3:1-6,
16-25
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
The LORD is good to
those who wait for
Him.
__Lamentations 3:25
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

When American country singer George Jones died at the age of 81, his fans remembered his remarkable voice and his hard life and personal struggles. While many of his songs reflected his own despair and longing, it was the way he sang them that touched people deeply. Chicago Tribune music critic Greg Kot said, "His voice was made for conveying heartbreak."

The book of Lamentations records Jeremiah's anguish over the nation of Judah's stubborn refusal to follow God. Often called "the weeping prophet," he witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem and saw his people carried into captivity. He wandered the streets of the city, overwhelmed by grief (Lam.1:1-5).

Yet, in Jeremiah's darkest hour, he said, "This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness" (3:21-23).

Whether we suffer for our own choices or from those of others, despair may threaten to overwhelm us. When all seems lost, we can cling to the Lord's faithfulness. " 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul. 'Therefore I hope in Him!' " (v.24). __David Mccasland

``````````````````I'm thankful for Your faithfulness, Father, even``````````````````
``````````````````in the times when I am unfaithful. Help me to``````````````````
``````````````````remember, like Jeremiah, that my hope comes`````````````````
`````````````````````from You, not from my circumstances.`````````````````````
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
The anchor of God's faithfulness holds firm in the
strongest storms.

*************************Today's Bible Reading __ Lamentations 3:1-6, 1616-25*****************************

1 I I am the man who has
seen affliction by the rod of
His wrath. 2 He has led me
and made me walk in
darkness and not in light.

3 Surely He has turned His
hand against me time and
time again throughout the
day.

4 He has aged my
flesh and my skin, and
broken my bones. 5 He
has besieged me and
surrounded me with
bitterness and woe. 6 He has
set me in dark places like
the dead of long ago....

16 He has also broken
my teeth with ravel, and
covered me with ashes.

17 You have moved my
soul far from peace; I have
forgotten prosperity. 18 And
I said, "My strength and my
hope have perished from
the LORD." 19 Remember
my affliction and roaming,
the wormwood and the gall.

20 My soul still remembers
and sinks within me.

21 This I recall to my mind
therefore I have hope.

22 Through the LORD's
mercies we are not
consumed, because his
compassions fail not.

21 They are new every
morning; great is Your
faithfulness. 24 "The LORD
is my portion," says my
soul, "therefore I hope in
Him!"

25 The LORD is good to
those who wait for Him, to
the soul who seeks Him.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The International standard Bible Encyclopedia says: "Jeremiah was
called by the Lord to the office of a prophet while still a youth (1:6)
about 20 years of age...At first he probably lived in Anathoth, and
put in his appearance publicly in Jerusalem only on the occasion of
the great festivals; later he lived in Jerusalem, and was there during
the terrible times of the siege and the destruction of the city."

[dema]

I really appreciate you posting these, Cimi. I like them a lot.

[cimi]

A double Amen to that!__I like your signature. And Thank you! Happy Thanksgiving:-}