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   of the bride, the sound of the millstones and the light of the candle.   
   11 (Da 9:2; 2Ch 36:21-22) This whole land shall be a desolation   
   and an astonishment, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon   
   seventy years.   
      
   [4] And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising   
   early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to   
   hear.   
   [5] They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the   
   evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD hath given unto you   
   and to your fathers for ever and ever:   
   [6] And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and   
   provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no   
   hurt.   
   [7] Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke   
   me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.   
   [8] Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Because ye have not heard my   
   words,   
   [9] Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the   
   LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring   
   them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against   
   all   
   these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an   
   astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.   
   [10] Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of   
   gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound   
   of the millstones, and the light of the candle.   
   [11] And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and   
   these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.   
      
      
   Alida took a DNA test in 2020 and discovered a strong match to a man living on   
   the opposite coast of the US. Later, she and her daughters found news articles   
   from the 1950s that led them to conclude that the man was Alid'’s long-lost   
   uncle, Luis! He'd been abducted from a park in 1951 when he was six years old.   
   That DNA test, taken seventy years after Luis' disappearance, eventually led   
   to a happy reunion with his biological family members. Alida said,   
   "With [our] story out there, it could help other   
   families . . . . I would say, don't give up."   
      
   Seventy years is a long time to keep hope alive. Jeremiah and the people   
   of Judah must have been heartbroken and fearful when God said they would   
   "serve the king of Babylon seventy years" (Jeremiah 25:11). But they hadn't   
   listened to God and turned from their "evil ways and . . . practices" (v. 5),   
   which had deformed them into "an object of horror and scorn" (v. 9).   
   The people were condemned more than thirty times in Jeremiah for not listening   
   to Him. Seventy years might have felt like forever, but God would be with   
   them, and He promised that the hard season would eventually end (29:10).   
      
   As we face challenging seasons that seem to go on and on, let's remember that   
   while we may struggle to trust God, He promises that He's with us and loves   
   us (30:11). As we listen to Him and wait expectantly, we can find hope.   
      
   Reflect & Pray   
      
   How is it possible to endure difficult times?   
   Where can you find comfort in God’s promises?   
      
   Loving God, please help me find hope in You.   
      
      
   Find out how you can find comfort in who God is and what He says He will do.   
      
      
      
   3) From The Billy Graham Evangelical Ministry Association   
      
   Words in Season - Scripture Memory Tools   
      
   Week 3 - Saved Now and Forever - Day 2 - The Right of Family   
      
   John 1:11-12   
      
   11 (Jn 3:32) He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.   
   12 (Gal 3:26; 1Jn 3:23) Yet to all who received Him, He gave the power   
   to become sons of God, to those who believed in His name,   
      
   11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.   
   12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power   
   to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:   
      
   "Dad, can I ask you something?" Jimmy leaned across the back of his   
   father's chair. His father lowered the newspaper and reached around,   
   settling Jimmy on his lap.   
   "Sure. Son," he answered. "You can ask me anything you want. The answer   
   might not be Yes, but you always have the right to ask."   
   For many who have grown up in homes where the father was absent, or when   
   present, abusive or silent, the scenario of Jimmy and his father may   
   seem unrealistic. Often we aren't given the right by our parents to ask   
   what we want, to communicate openly, to express our needs and desires.   
   But god clearly indicates that no matter what our human families have been   
   like, in his family there are no barriers to belonging,   
   to open communications. When we commit our lives to Christ and submit to his   
   lordship, we have the right to become the sons and daughters of God.   
   In Christ, we have the right to approach him, to pray, to seek wisdom,   
   to ask advice, to make requests, to verbalise our needs and desires. We don't   
   have to be afraid of sounding stupid or being rejected, because in Christ   
   we belong to him, and he loves us.   
   The KJV uses the word "power" in verse 12 - "to them gave he power to become   
   the sons of God." Power implies ability, that we are equipped by the Spirit   
   to be children of the King. We have the right and we have the power to become   
   who God has called us to be - his children.   
      
   Application   
      
   a) Under what circumstances in my life have I felt that I didn't   
   have the right to express my wishes or feelings?   
      
   b) How do today's verses give me confidence in approaching God?   
      
   4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland   
      
   Luke 16:10-12   
      
   10 (Mt 25:21; Lk 19:17) "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful   
   also in much. And he who is dishonest in the least is dishonest also   
   in much.   
   11 So if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth,   
   who will commit to your trust the true riches?   
   12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another man's,   
   who will give you that which is your own?"   
      
   10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much:   
   and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.   
   11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon,   
   who will commit to your trust the true riches?   
   12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's,   
   who shall give you that which is your own?   
      
   5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:   
      
   God's Reconciling Peace   
      
   Col 3:12-17   
      
   12 (Eph 4:2; Lk 1:78) So embrace, as the elect of God, holy and beloved,   
   a spirit of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, and longsuffering.   
   13 (Eph 4:32; Mk 11:25; Eph 4:2) Bear with one another   
   and forgive one another. If anyone has a quarrel against anyone,   
   even as Christ forgave you, so you must do.   
   14 (Eph 4:3; 1Co 13:1-13) And above all these things, embrace love,   
   which is the bond of perfection.   
   15 (Jn 14:27; Eph 5:20) Let the peace of God,   
   to which also you are called in one body,   
   rule in your hearts. And be thankful.   
   16 (Eph 5:19; Col 1:28; Ro 10:17 ) Let the word of Christ dwell   
   in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing   
   one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,   
   singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.   
   17 (1Co 10:31; Eph 5:20 ) And whatever you do in word or deed,   
   do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,   
   giving thanks to God the Father through Him.   
      
   12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies,   
   kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;   
      
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   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)