JEREMIAH-LAMENTATIONS-EZEKIEL

It's early on Saturday, and I finished up reading Jeremiah, and then Lamentations, and then into Ezekiel.  I told the LORD this morning that I was reading, not to be reading, but for Him to speak to me this morning.  I believe that God wants to speak to us all of the time and us to Him, and He uses our time in the Word to draw us close enough to listen to Him and to hear from His Word what He is saying.   Here are some thoughts I had as I read: 1) THEY TOOK THE PILLARS-Jeremiah 52, tells how they ran ransacked Jerusalem when the Babylonians conquered the city.  They tore down the walls, burned the house of God and the houses of the people.  Took apart anything of value in the temple, and in fact... a whole new foundation had to be laid to even build the temple again!  But in verses 21-23, it tells how they took the pillars.  They were 27 feet tall, 18 feet around, and four fingers thick.  Now that is some heavy brass.  The chapiter (decorative top) was also 7 1/2 feet higher.  There were ninety-six pomegranates carved around the top with a hundred going around and around.  They were an amazing work of art, but more than that to the temple.  They were the grand entrance to the house of God.  They were called Jachin and Boaz.  Meaning "In it there is Strength"  and "He shall establish".  As you went through these pillars, they told what would happen when you went to the house of God.  They would strengthen and establish you!  Now they were gone and the house of God was gone.  Now, there is no strength to be found and no establishing that will take place.  Oh how we ought to appreciate the church we have to worship in.  The church we get to hear God's Word preached and taught in.  Oh how we ought to delight in God each and every week as we go to Church;.... it may be, we will not always have it. 2) THE SOLUTION- In Lamentations, we have the solution for our straying from the LORD.  3:40,41 says:  "Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD, Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens."  This is always the answer.... it is us, getting right with God!  That is the solution!  Let us be using that often in our lives. 3) LET US DO THE SAME- In Ezekiel 1, we have the living creatures described and the wheels in the middle of the wheel.  We see the wheels were the spirit of the living creatures and the Bible tells us in verse 12, & 20: "Withersoever the spirit was to go, they went,"   So where ever the spirit went (the wheels), the living creatures followed.  Verse 21 says:  "When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them:  for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels."   So, let us do the same what?  Well, wherever the Spirit is leading us.... let us be going there!  What ever the Spirit is doing, let us be a part of it!  Let us go where He goes, do what He does, speak what He prompts, etc. LORD, take this day for your glory.  Let me abide in you all the day long.  Let my life shine out for my Savior.  Help me for I am weak and lowly.  I humble myself in Your presence and trust You to guide and strengthen me.  I love you LORD, and thank you for your kindness to this thy servant.  Bless all of dear people who have stopped by today and bless their walk with You as well.   Amen. Well, my time is gone.  I've enjoyed it today.  See you tomorrow, it's Sunday!! Pastor Mike Mutchler