“7 ¶  O LORD, you deceived me, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me. 8  Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the LORD has brought me insult and reproach all day long. 9  But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. 10  I hear many whispering, "Terror on every side! Report him! Let’s report him!" All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying, "Perhaps he will be deceived; then we will prevail over him and take our revenge on him." 11  But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonour will never be forgotten. 12  O LORD Almighty, you who examine the righteous and probe the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you I have committed my cause. 13  Sing to the LORD! Give praise to the LORD! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked.” (Jeremiah 20:7-13 NIV)

            Some call Jeremiah the weeping prophet and here we see the pain and anguish expressed in what is an amazing exhibit of a prophet’s heart!  We are shown the pain and anguish Jeremiah is suffering as an intermediary between God and his people!

            Jeremiah openly and fervently accuses God of calling him to tell of the coming destruction and not revealing what this would cost him.  Rather than listening to what God is revealing they seek to destroy Jeremiah so they will not have to hear the open judgment for their sin and the punishment they deserve.

            Then comes an amazing picture of what following God’s call is in the life of a Christian.  Verse 9 goes beyond heart and soul and declares God’s call alights our very bones and leaves us unable to resist unless we turn from God!  This fire burns forth through judgment to bring healing but will not consume if we trust and follow God.

            Jeremiah sees God as his protective warrior who will show vengeance upon those who refuse to listen and abuse God’s messenger.  Jeremiah has faithfully committed “his” cause to God and trust God will revenge all wrongs.

            Having confessed to God his struggles and fears Jeremiah then calls all to sing to God and praise God!  Jeremiah has not just confessed his grief and sin but the relief is also a result of his faith God will make all right!  The fullness of song and praise comes from the faith that even in the midst of the suffering God is our warrior and will see us through!

            Have you ever experienced the burning in your bones of God’s call for you?  Do you trust in God to be your warrior and to defend you?  When you worship God is there a fire in your bones and do you sing forth praise to God rather than just mumbling the words?

“1 ¶  My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2  For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3  Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4  Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5  Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7  For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8  But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9  With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10  Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11  Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12  Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.” (James 3:1-12 NKJV)

            James warns us to be a teacher is not something we should seek and we must realize carries with it a stricter judgment!  Some might consider this unfair and others may say this makes it harder to find teachers.  Why should a teacher receive a stricter judgment just because they are a teacher?

            The answer to why teachers receive a stricter judgment can be seen in the rest of this passage. James spends many harsh verses dealing with the power of our tongue and the horrific damage an unruly tongue can make not only in our lives but also in the lives of others.

            A teacher carries an eternal burden of the souls of their students. James reminds us our tongue is an expression of our heart and it is very difficult to not teach from our heart and mind rather than from God’s word! We can even come to believe in what our tongue say’s rather than what God reveals to us in the Bible!

            This will lead not only us to eternal destruction but also our students! As teachers we will have the blood of our students on our own soul!

            To teach our own “truth” or what is acceptable in our time and community is to call God a liar and to despise the Truth! When we teach untruth and call it God’s truth we confuse and deceive our students and even ourselves!

            The tongue can create or destroy, praise God or abuse God and is so many ways either cause havoc or bring peace.  The danger of the tongue is seen in how many use their tongue for destruction compared to how few use it for peace.

            Why did James speak so harsh and so much about the power of the tongue?  Why did James say the tongue rather than our tongue?  How do you use your tongue?

“28  Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 29  He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. 30  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, 31  But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-31 NKJV)  It also would be helpful to read the chapters before this.

          Over the more then 30 years of being a pastor a common thread I have heard is the Old Testament God is so much harder than the New Testament God.

          What foolishness!  God is never changing and is the same in the Old Testament, New Testament and forever beyond!  We can see the same terror and violence in our own times as nations and even individuals are judged for their wickedness.  Maps change so much and great nations become weak and weak nations grow and become great.

          As in Israel if they come back to God they will be forgiven and strengthened and renewed!  Much of what nations and individuals blame God for is really the result of our sin!

          The passage from Isaiah gives us such an amazing picture of who we can be through God. God offers us “proof” of who we can become by revealing who God is!

          The God who created us is able and desires to re-create us. We spend and waste some much time and effort to make ourselves better but God is the only One who can re-create us!

          Please rethink your view of the Old Testament and see in the news God works in the same way now and forever! And now as in Isaiah’s time we can trust that God and desires to re-create us!

God showed me a river of humanity and they were singing and dancing along, lost in their merriment all headed together yet apart in the same direction.  A part of me wanted to join with them but My Lord reminded me I used to be part of that river but He had called me out.

          The river flowed on with each one dancing, singing and throwing their hands in the air.  Each one was part of the river but they also moved in their own way. 

          The noise they made was very loud and was so diverse that it became madness and some fell but they gradually rejoined the river along its path.

          Some fell into this huge pit and for a while they stayed there dancing and singing as though to hide from themselves the tears flowing like a river down their cheeks and over their body.  They were sold by others around the pit to others who would stop for a time to use and abuse them.

          Some got pregnant and their child was ripped from their arms and sold to others as they danced and sang by.  The women sang louder and danced harder to cover their own screams and tears.

          Some became so drugged they couldn’t sing or dance and they drugged themselves so they couldn’t see what was happening to them.  Others questioned and were told they didn’t dance correctly so they deserved what happened to them.  They believed and rejoined the dancing and the singing.  Eventually they would rejoin the river.

          The river continued to flow and then My Lord showed me others who stood on the side of the river and shouted for people to come out of the river and to go a different way.  They shouted and tried to grab those within the river to come out so they could be free. 

          Some came and listened to them and stopped dancing and singing and then they could hear the voice of My Lord and of those who stood on the side of the river. 

Some returned to the river at first putting their fingers in their ears and then returning to their song.

Some stayed and at first they cried harder and even reached into the river to try to pull those they knew out of the river.  If they were not careful they would rejoin the river and be washed away from their Lord.  Some pulled many from the river.

The number of those who called out grew and grew until all along the river there were people calling out trying to be heard over the singing and the sound of a multitude of feet dancing.

Even as He was with me My Lord called out to them with a song so light and beautiful which could be heard over the terrible sound and noise of the river.  Some heard and came out of the river and others stopped to listen to those beside the river.

Then I noticed those beside the river were singing the same song though not as beautiful as My Lord.  There never was such singing heard before!  The song at first made you cry as you realized what you had done and because you tried not to hear the beautiful song.  But then the song so filled you with life you began to sing and joined those along the river singing so others would come out.

But still the river flowed on and on.  It seemed to go nowhere but still it flowed on its course.  Some in the river fought among themselves.  In fact many of them did but still they sang and danced harder even as they screamed at those who didn’t dance like them and sing the same song even though their song was disjointed and hard to sing.

Many tried to kill others in the river and especially those alongside the river who called out.  Occasionally they would kill those alongside the river but those they killed actually rose over the river and joined in the song of My Lord from there.

I realized the song of those beside and above the river was the same as the song My Lord sang!  The song of My Lord was so beautiful that at times I laughed in joy and at other times I wept that those in the river could not hear.  My Lord told me that though He wanted all to hear and for the river to disappear many would not hear and did not want to hear and that is why they danced and sang so hard!

I wept and I wept and as I looked at My Lord I saw a stream of tears that flowed to the river but many in the river built walls so the tears would not reach them.  Then I noticed the tears were mixed with blood and those touched by it fell to their knees and wept at first and then shouted for joy and began singing with My Lord.

For the first time I realized I was singing the same song and My Lord showed me myself along the river crying for those in the river to come out and know My Lord.  Some listened and we wept together and then they joined with me singing the song of salvation and joy!

The river kept flowing and even when they were weary those in the river flowed on and on.  If someone fell down from weariness those around them kicked and beat them until they once again rejoined the river as it flowed along. Each singing their different song louder and louder as they once again danced.

My pain became unbearable as I watched and My Lord took my tears and they flowed with His toward the river to bring healing.  Then I realized my tears were my prayers as I cried, no screamed out to My Lord to please do something!  “Can’t You stop this evil and horrific river My Lord?”

My Lord replied, “I cannot stop the river without destroying those in it.  So I call out to them with My song so they will join with Me and My song!”  Then He and I wept together and the tears flowed toward the river.

Then I noticed sometimes my song was my own and was about My Lord and then my tears flowed for Him.  My Lord told me that this was when I loved and worshipped Him!  I then saw I could sing both songs at the same time!  Then I saw I sang the song to those in the river even better when I sang the loudest to My Lord.

So I sang louder to My Lord and more came out of the river to wonder how I could sing two different songs at the same time.  Many joined with me casting off their old song and slowly began singing both of the new songs.  My Lord sang to them that they had been made new and they could sing the new songs.

As I looked at the river again I wept for joy at those along the river and realized the song to My Lord encouraged them so they could work harder and sing louder!

But still the river flowed on and on.  They told themselves they were singing a newer and better song but to me they sang a very disjointed song.  I was amazed they could deceive themselves so much.  As they flowed along soon their lies made them a lie and they could say opposite things and believe they were the truth.  It became their truth even though it remained a lie!

They so deceived themselves and then turned to deceive others, especially those who headed toward those alongside the river.  They were the ones who screamed at those along the river and even killed those alongside and made a lie that those they killed were already dead and could never be alive!  Many believed their lie and laughed even as they too became a lie.

I became so weary seeing what I saw.  I was seeing not with my eyes but through the eyes of My Lord.  I cried out “My Lord I cannot bear this!  Why are you showing me this?” 

The kind voice of My Lord calmed my soul and replied”My child, come and sit in my lap.”  I did and I felt so loved and grew stronger by the second.  My Lord spoke to me but I am not allowed to repeat what He said.  But I was loved as I had never been loved before and I wept for joy!

I so much wanted to stay in His lap but soon My lord asked me to go back alongside the river and cry out to those in the river to come to Him.

As I returned I noticed something strange.  Some within the river called for people to come to them and be saved from the river.  I cried out, “But you are still in the river!”  They shut their ears and told those who followed them that I was a heretic because I did not agree with them.  I wept!

The river kept flowing along in the same direction and I wondered where it was going.  My heart thought it was all going nowhere but My Lord wept and told me it was going somewhere that was nowhere!  I wept.

Then My Lord showed me that every people, tongue and nation flowed in the river.  They stayed together even as they fought among themselves to be the leader even though they didn’t lead but just followed the river. 

Some would say they sang a different song but it all sounded the same because everyone sang the same song in a different way.

Then I saw another horrific sight.  Many in the river killed those within the river!  They killed them to gain power, they killed others for the rags and trash they carried and some killed because they enjoyed killing and seeing others suffer!

Those they killed still flowed in the river but they moved along faster and faster and soon were out of sight!  I did not know where they went but I felt a heavy burden for I realized they could no longer hear the song of My Lord! I wept and I wept.

My Lord called me to rejoin the singing and because of the pain I sang louder and tried harder to pull others out of the river.

But still the river flowed on and on singing louder and dancing harder in spite of the weariness they felt.

Those along the river grew weary but My Lord would let them sit in His lap for a little time and they were refreshed and returned to sing to those in the river.

My Lord told me I could tell part of what He told me that renewed me!  My Lord wanted all those alongside the river to know one day they would sing over the river even as they sat in His lap forever and ever in love and joy!  I wanted to go right then but He reminded me He wanted me beside the river for now so others could sit in His lap forever.

I loved My Lord so much I would do what He asked even though I did not want to leave Him.

But He wanted me to see one more thing.  Something I DID NOT want to see, something that brought a stream of tears from me.

First I smelled an evil and horrific smell that made me gag and throw up.  My Lord had to breathe into me for me to even be able to see what He wanted me to see.

The singing and dancing grew louder and more frantic as the river flowed faster and faster as it approached its destination.  Some cried out in pain, some in despair but many cursed My Lord and to the end their hatred grew and grew.  I wept and wept and could not hate those who cursed My Lord because I knew He loved them!

The smell grew and I was amazed to see that to those in the river it was like pure air.  They drank it in and those who feared soon became comfortable.

Then I was amazed!  I was even more amazed then at anytime during my journey!  Before me, or should I say before those in the river was a massive hole.  It was not a cave as much as it was a hole.  I cannot explain it but it seemed like a doorway without a door.

Those in the river flowed into it faster and faster and the noise from the hole and from the river made it very hard for those singing out to those in the river to be heard, but they would not give up and sang out all the louder.

Soon I realized those at the mouth of the hole were singing to those they knew and loved!  Their desperation was a reflection of My Lord’s heart and of His song!

Then I saw the hole and that there were those who led others to the hole and those who dwelt within the hole pushing the river of those dancing and singing into the hole.  I expected to hear screaming but most continued to sing their song for awhile and only later would they scream!  And their screams were to blame My lord for where they were!

I could feel their hatred of My Lord like a force and it actually knocked me back.  I was shocked to realize the terrible smell and the horrific heat came from the pure hatred for My Lord!

I wanted to defend My Lord and sing out to them but I felt His hand on my shoulder and He said, “I have already come here and sang My song here to all who would end up here.  They did not and will not listen anymore.  For them it is finished.”  And I wept!

I wept for them but most of all I wept for My lord because I experienced a small part of His anguish and pain.  The scars He bore stood out more then I had ever seen them before and I loved Him for them.

Those who dwelt within the hole laughed and shrieked that they had hurt My Lord by stealing from Him those He loved!  And then those they deceived joined in the celebration of hurting My Lord.  This time I vomited!  From me flowed all my hatred and anger at those who reviled My Lord and I was able loved them with His love!  I sang my song of joy and those in the hole shook with fear!

I wanted to join those above the river and be with My Lord, but with a kindness and sadness He asked me to please go back.  I knew it was a command but His love for me made it a request.

As I prepared to go back My Lord asked me to write this down.  I told My Lord that it would be hard since my fingers do not work well and it is hard for me to type out so much.  My Lord laughed at me and said “My child, I made your hands and they are weak for My glory!  I can make them do what I want when I want.  Out of love do as I ask and all things will be possible.”

I got out of bed fixed some coffee and then I typed this out!  My Lord brought all of this back to mind and yet there is so much more I saw but all I can tell I have told.

Many will say I am fool.  Some may say I am deceived.  Some will sing and dance louder and harder so they will not hear.  But some will listen and hear not my words but the song of My Lord!  I rejoice at that.

This was not given to me because I am special but because I am weak.  This was not given to me because I am good because I am not.  I truly do not know why it was given to me except that My Lord wanted to and to me that is enough.

I share this with you as showed to me December8, 2017 at 5634 Kalispell Way Knoxville, Tennessee.  May My Lord through this sing His song into your heart and life!  That is my prayer and song to you and for you.

To My Lord be all glory and honor and as I serve Him may I make Him smile!

                                                          Yours in Christ,

                                                          Ronald Ramsey

Your mercy endures forever

Your glories light the skies

Awaken my heart and cry

Awaken my soul and sing

Be lifted up oh God of might

Your strength is forgiveness

Your glory is redemption

Awaken my lips to shout

Awaken my hands to lift

For God, You are my hope

You are my daily delight

I rejoice in You my Lord

A day under Your control

Is better than life without

Where could I go for life

To who could I even go to

You alone have words of life

You alone hold all of life

O source of life and grace

To You I cling and hold to

In You I find all that I need

With you all is made anew

Awake lost and find hope

Awake and discover life

                                                                        March 16, 2008

Over the last weeks I have struggled more and have not been able to keep up with the blog.  A very wise person (Bonnie) told me I didn't have to do the blog everyday so I will try to praise God as I can. To those who read the blog, pray for me and support me I want to express my thanks and pray you will receive a daily dose of God's glorious love.