Monday, April 13, 2020

Verse of the Day 4/13

Verse of the Day 4/13

Jeremiah 33:10-11  "This is what the Lord says: You have said, 'This is a desolate land where people and animals have all disappeared.' Yet in the empty streets of Jerusalem and Judah's other towns, there will be heard once more 11 the sounds of joy and laughter. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will be heard again, along with the joyous songs of people bringing thanksgiving offerings to the Lord. They will sing,

'Give thanks to the Lord of Heaven's Armies,
    for the Lord is good.
    His faithful love endures forever!'

For I will restore the prosperity of this land to what it was in the past, says the Lord.   New Living Translation (NLT)

Reading these verses the other day I could not help but think of some of the scenes that we've seen on TV recently where some of the worlds busiest streets have been virtually empty.  Stores and restaurants closed and no shoppers to be found.  It is not like the population had been carried or driven away by an enemy country; but the people have been driven to their homes having been told to "shelter at home" to avoid a virus.

In spite of that Easter came and praises rang out to God with many (our family included) watching multiple services on line.  Some churches conducted services in their parking lots with people gathering in their cars.  Through the trials they continued to praise God and give thanks for His great love for us that was celebrated this weekend.  We also come together to pray, for our country for our leaders and especially those that are in the throws of a battle against this virus.

This is also a time when people may be more receptive to hear about the Gospel, good news for all people that will hear and believe.  We can proclaim that the Lord is good and that His love does and will endure and that a time of restoration will follow.  Let the amen sound from His people again.

1 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation!
Come, all who hear; now to his temple draw near,
join me in glad adoration.

2 Praise to the Lord, above all things so wondrously reigning;
sheltering you under his wings, and so gently sustaining!
Have you not seen all that is needful has been
sent by his gracious ordaining?

3 Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you;
surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
if with his love he befriends you.

4 Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him.
Let the Amen sound from his people again;
gladly forever adore him.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Jeremiah 33:10-13 New King James Version (NKJV)

10 "Thus says the Lord: 'Again there shall be heard in this place—of which you say, "It is desolate, without man and without beast"—in the cities of Judah, in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast, 11 the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who will say:

"Praise the Lord of hosts,
For the Lord is good,
For His mercy endures forever"—

and of those who will bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. For I will cause the captives of the land to return as at the first,' says the Lord.

12 "Thus says the Lord of hosts: 'In this place which is desolate, without man and without beast, and in all its cities, there shall again be a dwelling place of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down. 13 In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the lowland, in the cities of the South, in the land of Benjamin, in the places around Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, the flocks shall again pass under the hands of him who counts them,' says the Lord.

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