"Behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord; So what wisdom do they have?"

It is time that God's remnant of true believers in this country stand up as the Jeremiahs of this generation. In the Eighth chapter of Jeremiah, we here the prophet lament that wisdom (the fear of the Lord brings it) is gone. People (in general) have rejected the word of the Lord. We complain that things are getting worse by the day, killers are getting younger, the morals of this country are in decay and we wonder why!

The Bible tells us that there is "nothing new under the sun" and the answers to our questions about our current conditions are as old as the tales told of Israel's rejection of God's Word and direction in the Old Testament and the solution to our present calamity is the same. We must repent and return to God with a humbleness and genuineness that will bring mercy from our creator.

In a daily devotional I am doing, I was taken by a reprint of Abraham Lincoln's Proclamation Appointing a National Fast Day on March 30, 1863. See the entire speech at the following link: http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/speeches/fast.htm In this proclamation, the wording (passed by the senate) claims recognition of "the Supreme Authority and just Government of Almighty God, in all the affairs of men and of nations."

Lincoln's proclamation goes on to claim "it is the duty of nations as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is Lord."

It goes on to acknowledge that we are subject to punishment and chastisement. Lincoln puts forth that "We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But, we have forgotten God."

How much clearer can it be stated!

I was bowled over and proud that my country had once been willing to admit it's sins, to publicly, and supported by its government, repent and ask God for forgiveness. I was proud to live in a country where a President would try to lead his country back to God, back from the brink of judgement.

As I shared this proclamation with a Sister in Christ, she stated: "We have a national day of prayer." I thought that I had remembered such, but I couldn't remember exactly what had been proclaimed and I was curious how much our society had changed in its willingness to stand, so I looked up this years proclamation signed by the Governor of Tennessee. See the full proclamation at the link: http://media1.ssiwt.com/ndptf/state_pdfs/2007/2007%20TN%20Proclamation.pdf

Believe me, if you linked to the one from 1863 and read it, this one's a breeze. There is no repentance mentioned. We admit no transgressions or miss direction of our loyalty to our creator, but we do ask for wisdom, knowledge and understanding. We do not acknowledge the possibility of punishment or chastisement, but we do emphasize being united with everyone.

I was appalled at the political correctness of the document and the comparison of the two should give anyone interested a perfect outline of what is wrong with our society today. In truth, I think our penchant for acceptance has allowed our relationship with God (as a nation) to not only lapse into neglect, but move into blasphemy that will, without repentance, bring judgement and correction from a merciful, but just God.

CIRCUMSTANCES

Circumstances are never so bad that they are beyond God's help. We need never to despair because we belong to a loving God. We never know what good He will bring out of a seemingly hopeless situation.

• Commentary from the LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE

Joyce Campbell

November 14,2007

This Ain't My Final Destination

I thank the Lord that this place is not my final resting place, but only my journey through the desert to the Promised Land.
With Paul, I say: "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Phil 1:21 It's not that I am striving to go, but the peace I keep comes from the knowledge that neither my destination nor my rewards are here on earth.
There has been an old song haunting my memory for a year or so, now, and I found it, performed wonderfully, tonight. The lyrics are as follows:

Wayfaring Stranger

I am a poor wayfaring stranger
Travelling through this world of woe
There's no sickness, toil or danger
In that bright land to which I go

(Chorus)
Yes I'm going over Jordan
Just going, no more to roam
Only going over Jordan
Just a-going to my home

I know dark clouds will gather round me
I know my way is rough and steep
But golden fields lie out before me
Where all the saints their vigils keep

(Chorus)
I'm going there to meet my [father/mother/brother sister etc]
I'm going there no more to roam
I'm just a-going over Jordan
I'm only going over home

I want to wear a crown of glory
When I get home to that bright land
I want to shout Salvation's story
In concert with that blood-washed band

(Chorus)
I'm going there to see my Saviour
To sing His praise for evermore
I'm just-a going over Jordan
I'm only going over home

I'll soon be free from earthly trials
This body rests in the orchard's yard
I'll drop this cross of self-denial
And go singing home to God

I've attached a YouTube video of the song from Selah. Pretty Awsome stuff!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0edb9O9wPOY