When the Word of the Lord is spoken..........

I have been outlining what would be referred to by my commentaries as the "Baruch document" Chapters 34-45. It's the story part of Jeremiah when you hear about this life. And it's scary, really scary. So here's Jeremiah, he's been speaking the Word of the Lord and has a pretty good "track record" people, kings even come to him and ask him to inquire of the Lord, that's pretty cool, but here's the thing, no one ever listens to him, occasionally some officials do and when they let the king know the king burns Jeremiah's scrolls (chapter 36). Seriously read it, not only do people not listen (so they continue in rebellion against the Lord) but Jeremiah has to experience the judgment that comes to Judah as a result of them rebelling against that Lord.

I think a lot about the Jeremiah 23:22 Word of the Lord, the Word of the Lord that causes people to turn from their wickedness. Here is where it hurts, it appears that the Word of the Lord either softens or hardens the heart, no one can be neutral when the Word of the Lord is spoken. People in Jeremiah's time, ask him for the Word of the Lord, say they will do it whether they like it or not and even call God as their witness, and then when they hear the Word of the Lord refuse to follow and decide to worship false gods (Chapter 42).

Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God is living and active....and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Though people came and asked Jeremiah for the Word of the Lord they wanted him to say what they wanted to hear. The Word revealed that their hearts were still in rebellion against the Lord.

So I don't have any conclusion for you, but this is what I think about ALOT.
I guess to be continued

The license continued

I know that my last 3 posts have been about my license but I'm going to continue. Today I went into the city hall, it was a short line, I had all my documents and I got that's right...........a temporary license, my real one will come in the mail, but they have to send all my documents to someplace. But now I have a cool piece of paper with my picture on it that says I can drive!

Next post will be something about the Word, hopefully Jeremiah, I'm really enjoying it at the moment

Me

I got my license! (well almost)

The good news is I passed the written and skills test. According the the Missouri License people I am safe to drive in the states. Amazing! I was happy, after doing the test I then had to go to the city hall and get the actual license (you are given a piece of paper that says you have passed but it's not a license). After waiting in line for about 1/2 an hour I got to the counter, and found out the letter to say that I work for IHOP-KC must have a date 30 days or less, mine wasn't as I just used the one I had for customs.

So the saga continues, but soon I will have a Missouri License, a real American one with my photo and weight and height and address.

One of my motivations in getting my license, is not only does my international license expire in May but I am going on my first real road trip in July and I want to be able to share the driving. My friend Jen and are going to Nashville for a one day prayer and worship event called "The Call" we are then going to Virginia (her home state). So there will be a lot of driving and I'm glad that Jen now wont have to do all of it!

Another international incident

You would think after living here for almost 2 years I would have learnt by now! Today I went to do a written and driving test that I could get my Missouri license (I have been driving on my international license this past year). I brought everything the lady told me, my passport, my social security, my letter to show my address. And then the women at the desk asks "Do you have the letter". Yes it's true, I need a letter from IHOP to show that I am at IHOP. Despite the fact you can't even get into the country without this letter! The moral of this story is if you are international take ALL your documents to anything that involved getting more documents!!!!

Honey or soup?

When we have a "bad day" do we find comfort from the Word of God aka honey (Psalm 19:7-10) or "chicken soup for the soul." Nice stories but words that lack the power to transform us on the inside. So much of the time we run to things that make us feel comfortable, but maybe sometimes the Lord wants us to feel uncomfortable. Maybe he wants us to deal with the sin in our lives and the areas of compromise or maybe he wants to comfort us in times of affliction with true comfort (2 Cor 1:3-4) Either way the Word of God is alive (Heb 4) and it is eternal (heaven and earth will pass away but my words will remain" and it is powerful.
The moral of this blog? We need to read and pray the Word, we need it written on our hearts and we need it to transform our lives. How do we do that? Everyday actually reading the Bible, making time, turning off the television and opening our bibles. Letting God speak to us through his Word because he really likes doing that!

Easter

It seems appropriate during Easter to talk about Jesus, and that he rose again. I've been going over Allen Hood's message on the resurrection (notes can be found at www.ihop.org). Remembering the importance of the resurrection to our Christian Theology. If Jesus didn't rise again and conquer death once and for all then what hope to we have? The Good News is that there was an empty tomb! Jesus fulfilled his prophecy concerning himself and we are going to live forever with him, we no longer have to fear death because Jesus is ALIVE!!

I've been outlining Acts and so I've been looking at the messages of the Apostles, much of which concerns that Jesus, who was crucified is alive! He is the firstborn from the dead. No one has ever raised themselves from the dead! So we die with Christ and we are raised with him. This is such a mystery and something I want to spend a decent amount of time studying and meditating over!

So happy easter everyone!!
Note to New Zealanders - it was 2 degrees today and the weirdest thing, it didn't feel that cold!
Wendy