Thought for February 8

 History: 

• 1693: William & Mary College chartered
• 1861: Confederate States of America form
• 1883: Louis Waterman begins experiments to invent fountain pen
• 1910: Boy Scouts of America incorporated
• 1918: Stars & Stripes Magazine first published
• 1930: #1 song--"Happy Days are Here Again"
• 1936: First NFL Draft--Jay Berwanger is the first pick
• 1965: First combat troops sent to Vietnam
• 1968: "Planet of the Apes" premiers
• 1969: Last issue of "The Saturday Evening Post"
• 1984: Olympics open in Sarajevo
• 2002: Olympics open in Salt Lake
• Born William Tecumseh Sherman, Jules Verne, Dmitri Mendeleev, Thomas Selfridge [1st to die in an airplane crash], Lana Turner, Audrey Meadows, Jack Lemon. James Dean, John Williams [composer], Ted Koppel, Nick Nolte, John Grisham, Gary Coleman, Bethany Hamilton [Soul Surfer]
• Died: Mary Queen of Scots [Bloody Mary], Peter the great, Connie Mack, William Fulbright, Anna Nicole Smith, Robert Conrad

Thought:

Looking at two passages in Jeremiah chapter 9 today. Here is what I see when I read 9:12-14 and 9:23-24.

• Who is the wise man that can understand this? --"Why has the land ruined and laid waste like a desert?" Because they have forsaken My law, not obeyed it, not walked according to it. This is really helpful to me. When I try to understand why the world has so many problems---climate, economy, war, disease, crime, failing schools, failing marriages, lost generations. When I look for the source of all the big issues of the day--my search ends with this conclusion---sin. My sin. Sins of others. God's law is designed to allow His creation to operate according to the manufacturer's suggested operating instructions. Just like any home appliance--failure to follow the manufacturer's instructions will cause the product to fail. 
• Let not the wise man boast, let not the mighty man boast, let not the rich man boast--boast if you know the Lord and know that He exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness. I need to read this passage often. We boast about our companies, our churches, our children and grandchildren. We boast about our teams. We don't call it boasting, but we drive cars to let people know how well we are doing. We take trips to show how prosperous or well educated we are. We pay way to much for a watch when a Timex keeps time. Our boasting is in Christ--we are unworthy, He is worthy. We are imperfect, He is perfect. We are weak, He is strong. Think about what it would be like if every time I started to boast about something, instead I praised the Lord, proclaimed His truth. Wonder what the Lord would do with that?

Lord, give me wisdom to see and hear Your will and the strength to obey. Then let me boast in Christ alone--for He alone iw worthy of all praise.

Blessings

Larry