Dear readers, Friday, March 20,2009

In the past few months I've been sending out a daily thought. Things were slow in the writing side of things, and I found that I had time for this. Now, however, other ideas are forming for new books, our agent wants us to work on something new, and I still have the present work in progress to complete. Therefore, the daily thoughts have come to an end. I will leave you with the thought that God is with you always, no matter what happens in the next few months or years. Look to Him, not to the news, or to others. Spend less time looking out into the world, and more time looking up to God.
Many blessings and best wishes,
-Hannah Alexander

Thought for Friday, March 20: The news has been coming from every direction, and in our house, where we don't even have television, this is alarming indeed. I can't help worrying about the economy, the increased threat of terrorist attack, the collapse of our country, of the world, of the universe....
     Oh my!
     But since I'm STILL reading through Jeremiah, I'm still convinced that God is on His throne, and He is aware of all that is happening. It's so easy to worry, to lay awake at night and wonder what's going to happen next. Do you trust God? He does know. He's in control.
     So whom do you listen to the most during the day? Television? Radio? Do you read the newspaper? Do you read the Bible? Do you listen to God at least as much as you listen to human voices piped into your home electronically?
     Never forget who controls our lives. Don't let television or radio or frightened friends or biased newspapers tell you how to feel. Listen more to God and less to others. You'll be so glad you did.

Thought for Thursday, March 19: Have you ever suffered with symptoms of false humility? I do. When I'm called to do something for God, such as sing in church, or write a novel, or speak before an audience, or teach a class, my initial response to God is, "You've got to be kidding. Me? I'm a nobody. I can't do anything right. I'm not capable of serving you."
     And yet when I read the Bible, I find so many flawed individuals who were able to serve God in mighty ways. Remember Abraham and Sarah? He was so afraid for his own life that when they went to Egypt during a famine, he asked his wife to pretend she was his sister so that when the Pharoah saw how beautiful she was, he wouldn't kill Abraham to take her for himself. Jacob cheated to gain his brother's birthright and his blessing. Mighty Kind David committed adultery and murder. Moses had a temper--he killed an Egyptian in anger. He refused to speak for God--Aaron, his brother, ended up doing it.
     God used these flawed men to establish the nation of Israel. Have you murdered anyone lately? Have you struck out in anger, or cheated someone? Have you had an abortion or committed adultery? Whatever you've done, and wherever you end up for doing it, God can use you there. Turn it all over to Him, and then watch to see what He can do with your failures.

Thought for Wednesday, March 18: Jeremiah 29:11-13 says "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.'"
     God wants to have a loving relationship with us. He wants to prosper us. First, we must seek Him with everything we have, our hearts, our money, our homes, our lives. God has a perfect will for each of us. What is His will for you? If you aren't sure yet, seek Him until you know.

Thought for Tuesday, March 17: Jeremiah 27: 5 says "With my great power and outstretched arm I made the earth and its people and the animals that are on it, and I give it to anyone I please."
    This is God speaking as He warns Judah of the coming destruction of their country. During this time of world-wide fear and worry, keep in mind Who controls the economy, Who controls the leaders. Place your trust in God, not in political leaders or government. God controls those who think they control us. We are children of the true King.

Thought for Monday, March 16: Read the 26th chapter of Jeremiah for yourself, where priests and false prophets object to Jeremiah's call for repentance. They are objecting to God's words, because Jeremiah can only speak the words God has given him. They object so strongly that they try to have Jeremiah killed because they have been telling the people God will overlook their sin and preserve them and Jerusalem.
     Is there a false prophet in my life? In yours? Are there leaders telling us that God will not judge our country for our sins? How vital it is for us to draw close to God, stand against sin as Jeremiah did, no matter the cost. Yes, God is a God of mercy, but that mercy cannot be disconnected from the truth, or from God's ultimate justice.

Thought for Friday, March 13: Jeremiah 23:23 says "'Am I only a God nearby?' declares the LORD, 'and not a God far away?'"
     This gives me great comfort as I think about our troops in distant lands, of missionaries all over the globe--many of whom endanger their lives by sharing the truth of Christ to people in countries hostile to the truth. My stepson is serving with the Coast Guard in Kuwait, and it gives me great comfort to know that God watches over him there as easily as He watches over me here. I have cousins who serve in China, who sacrifice so much in order to serve Him and reach others for His Kingdom. I'm so glad God is just as capable of protecting them as He is of protecting me, of giving me reassurance daily, of helping me find lost items, of showing His love for me. Wherever we are, He will be with us.

Thought for Thursday, March 12: Jeremiah 23: 5-6 says "'The days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.'"
     These days have not yet come. They are still in the future. We have this to look forward to, when we, as part of God's new Israel, will live in safety. Just think how wonderful it will be when Jesus reigns over all the earth with wisdom, justice and righteousness, when we all get along with each other and live in God's grace. I can't wait, can you?

Thought for Wednesday, March 11: Jeremiah 18:7-8 says "If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict the disaster on it I had planned."
     This is quite a warning for us to pray for our nation and for its leaders. God is still giving us time to repent.

Thought for Tuesday, March 10: Jeremiah 17:18 says "Let my persecutors be put to shame; let them be terrified, but keep me from terror. Bring on them the day of disaster; destroy them with double destruction."
     Wow. Strong words spoken by a man of God. These words echo down through the ages as we, too, have persecutors. Note that Jeremiah didn't take action against his persecutors except with the tools God had called him to use--his words. Powerful tools, indeed. Jeremiah spoke God's words, and those words came true. God gave Jeremiah's persecutors--the false prophets--plenty of time to repent and listen to the truth, and they ignored the words. Pray your heart out to God, no matter what's on your heart--and let everything happen in His time, in His will. Use His Word in your prayers, and watch as the power works in your life.

Thought for Monday, March 9: Jeremiah 17:14 says "Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise."
     I love that final phrase Jeremiah uses--"...for you are the one I praise." To me this means I'm placing my hopes, my life in God and praising Him despite all, and through all. He is the one I praise, and the one on whom I depend, so if he doesn't heal me and save me, it's not going to happen. I realize no false idol--be it my trust in medical science, a daily or weekly religious ritual, money in the bank, a steady job--is going to be my support. God is the one who gives that support, who created healing herbs and the doctors who use them, the scientists, the employers. God is the only steady foundation in this world. You can depend on Him. Give it a try.

Thought for Friday, March 6: Jeremiah 17:10 says: "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."
    Has the Holy Spirit changed your heart and mind to the point that, when God examines your inner being, you will be glad to receive His reward? I'm not talking about working your way to heaven, I'm talking about your heart's openness to the Holy Spirit's molding.

Thought for Thursday, March 5: Jeremiah 17:7 says: "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him."
     I know this echoes yesterday's thought, but it bears repeating. I often have nightmares that leave me bummed in the morning--one of the side effects of an active imagination. My first thought of the day is, "Lord, help." Do you ever have to pray yourself out of bed in the morning? Have you ever prayed yourself through the day?
     One of the most productive times of spiritual growth I've ever had was a two-year period in which I drove thirty minutes to work every day. During that time, I prayed. This just happened to be one of the most difficult times in my life, as well. I felt like a lump of clay on the potter's wheel. The Master Potter knew what to do.
     Never forget to let God get you through the day.

Thought for Wednesday, March 4: Jeremiah 17:5 says: "This is what the LORD says: 'Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD.'"
     How often do I depend on human strength to guide my way? Do I depend on the US government to take care of all my needs? Do I depend on my husband or best friend or parents to meet all my needs? Do I leave God out of the equation?
     I can remember certain times in my life when I was confused, hurting, afraid, and I didn't know who I could confide in. It was during these times, when I realized there was no human I could turn to, that I went to God. He has never let me down.
     The next time you're confused, hurting, feeling betrayed or lost, turn it over to God. Don't let go of Him. Let Him guide you through the rough spots, and look to Him, and Him only, for your sustenance.

Thought for Tuesday, March 3: As I've read through Jeremiah, I've found several verses where this brave prophet complains to God about his task. He suffers, and he doubts, and he lets God know about it. He's human, and he falters. And yet, look how God has used him. He was maligned by his countrymen, who mocked his decision to follow God's will to remain celebate. In those days, all men were expected to marry and produce offspring to carry on their name. They thought Jeremiah's name would be forgotten. If they only knew.
     I know I can complain to God, let Him know my deepest hurts and feelings, and He will continue to love me, use me, guide me. I need not worry that I have no children, or that my name will not be remembered. As long as I serve God, my name is on His heart. How much more would anyone want?

Thought for Monday, March 2: I'm presently reading through Jeremiah. Though I've read through the Bible several times, there are certain books that stand out in my mind during different reading cycles. This time through, I see what a hero and strong man of faith the prophet Jeremiah was. He endured extreme loneliness, as he was charged to remain unmarried throughout his life. His family turned against him, and plotted to kill him, simply because he obeyed God.
     I ask myself if I would be that courageous. Am I willing to risk my life, the love of my family, my happiness to follow God's commands for me? People all over the world suffer daily for the cause of Christ. What am I willing to lose? What are you willing to lose?