Thought for February 8, 2024

•  1693: William & Mary College chartered
• 1861: Confederate States of America form
• 1883: Louis Waterman begins experiments to create the fountain pen
• 1910: Boy Scouts of America incorporated
• 1918: "Stars & Stripes" magazine first published
• 1930: #1 song--"Happy Days are Here Again"
• 1930: First NFL Draft--Jay Berwanger is first pick
• 1965: First combat troops sent to Viet Nam
• 1969: Last issue of "Saturday Evening Post"
• 1984: Sarajevo Olympics open--look at the city now
• 2002: Olympic Games open in Salt Lake City
• Born: William Tecumseh Sherman, Jules Verne, Dmitri Mendeleev [periodic table], Thomas Selfridge [first to die in a plane 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, Peter the Great, Connie Mack, William Fulbright, Anna Nicole Smith, Robert Conrad

Thought:

Have you ever wondered how other people really viewed you? They say nice things, but do they mean it? Do they really like me? Do they think I am attractive, funny, caring, good? Do you wonder how God views you today--beloved child, faithful follower, rebellious daughter. When He looks, is He smiling or weeping? 

Recall, Jeremiah's excuses when called were that he was too young and not well spoken. Then God touched his mouth, put words in his heart and assured him of His presence and power. Now look at 1:17-19. God tells Jeremiah to pull up his pants and speak the words to the people and not be dismayed, fearful or discouraged. If you are Jeremiah and God has instructed you to tell the people that their wickedness has caused God to send a boiling pot from the north to destroy them, how would you feel about your speech? Hesitant, fearful, simply scared? He might feel like Gideon hiding in the vat and being hailed as "mighty warrior." Or like Moses who asks for Aaron to do the talking. Now look at what God says to Jeremiah. 

Don't worry about how the people see you, here is how the Lord God sees you--a fortified city, a pillar of iron, a wall of bronze. Not only does God see Jeremiah that way, He has made Jeremiah that way. Would that change how you feel about God's call to service? When He calls and empowers and equips, in Him you are a fortified city [the name of the Lord is a strong tower]; you are a pillar of iron [not a willow bending in the wind]; a bronze wall [no enemy can penetrate]. Maybe this was really the situation with the 12 spies--some saw themselves as grasshoppers in the eyes of the enemy--Joshua and Caleb saw themselves as servants of the Lord God Almighty. So how do you see yourself today. Satan will whisper about your inadequacies, your past failures, your fears and doubts--don't listen. Jesus says your are a chosen vessel, a royal priesthood, a pillar in the house of the Lord. 

Why does God tell Jeremiah he is a pillar, wall and fortified city? Verse 19 tells us there will be opposition. But praise God, because the Lord is with us, the enemy cannot overcome us. Go back this morning to Revelation 2 and 3 and write down the blessings promised to those that overcome. I need to be reminded daily that the way God sees me is important for He has the plan and the power to make it reality. 

Blessings

Larry