Biblical Shakers

  Click on Title for Video Intro Monday, Jeremiah Chapter 20 Jeremiah 20 Verse 9 Jane Jones Verse 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. THOUGHT Jeremiah was getting very tired. He felt the Lord had deceived him.  Jeremiah in this chapter cried out in despair mixed with praise. He had to unburden his heart to God. Yet when Jeremiah tried to withhold God’s Word for a while, it became fire to his bones until he could hold it back no longer. What a problem to have. How many of us can truthfully say that God’s Word is like a fire in our hearts and that we get weary of holding it in. I pray that I can become more like Jeremiah and continually proclaim the Gospel of the Lord to others, believers and nonbelievers. PRAYER We love You, God, but there are times when we want to complain to You because we feel You have left us alone or igno...

Click on Title for Video Intro   Monday, Jeremiah Chapter 15 Jeremiah 15 Verse 21 Bart Strayer Verse 21:  “I will save you from the hands of the wicked and redeem you from the grasp of the cruel.” THOUGHT In Chapter 15 we saw Jeremiah doubting God’s helping hand amongst the increasing turmoil of the day. Yet God reassures him that he has the power and will to save Jeremiah from harm.  How often do we doubt God’s helping hand? How often have we felt like we were going through pain that in our eyes was not justified? It is times like these to reflect back on our lives and gain a deeper appreciation of how God has bailed us out of our troubles in the past and what we were feeling at that time of despair. Remember, God already has the solutions to problems you don’t even know you have. PRAYER Heavenly Father, we thank You for not giving up on us even when we may at times give up on You. We thank You for Your unchanging hands. We thank You for providing a fortress to run to in...

  Click on Title for Video Intro Monday, Jeremiah Chapter 10 Jeremiah 10 Verse 23 Jeanie Boldt Verse 23:  I know, O Lord, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps. THOUGHT Oh, how we would like to control or plan things for ourselves. However, we find out that we need to pray for ourselves through life. We need to talk it over with HIM. Sometimes it takes a real large crisis to come to a realization of this.  God’s ability to direct our lives well is infinitely beyond our ability.  Don’t be afraid to let God correct your plans. He will give you wisdom if you are willing. PRAYER Father, I surrender my day to You today. Help me to work with You on a daily basis so that my life will be in YOUR will and not MINE. May I accept Your direction and know that what You have for me to do is the BEST thing for me. AMEN Tuesday, Jeremiah Chapter 11 Jeremiah 11 Verse 4 Bart Strayer Verse 4:  “The terms I commanded your forefathers when I brought...

Click on Title for Video Intro   Monday, Jeremiah Chapter 5 Jeremiah 5 Verse 1 Jeanie Boldt Verse 1:  “Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares.  If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city.” THOUGHT Jeremiah went looking for one person, just one, not a Bible Study or a family or a church, just one soul who would stand up for Our God.  God would have spared Sodom had He found ten righteous men as written in Genesis 18.  But to spare Jerusalem, He would have settled for ONE!!  Yet Jeremiah could not find one, not even among the ‘great men’ who were spiritual leaders in the city.     Jerusalem was the capital city and center of worship for Judah, but God challenged anyone to find ONE honest and truthful person in the entire city.  God was willing to spare the city if one upright person could be found.   Never underestimate the...

  Click on Title for Video Intro Monday, Jeremiah Introduction Jeremiah Intro Jeanie Boldt THOUGHT This book of the Bible was written by Jeremiah to Judah, the southern kingdom, and to Jerusalem, its capital city.  Jeremiah ministered under Judah’s last five kings.  The nation was sliding quickly toward destruction and was eventually conquered by Babylon.   For 40 years Jeremiah served as God’s spokesman to Judah, but when Jeremiah spoke nobody listened.  Consistently and passionately he urged them to act, but nobody moved.  And he certainly did not attain material success.  He was poor and underwent severe deprivation to deliver his prophecies. He was thrown into prison. He was taken to Egypt against his will.  He was rejected by his family, neighbors, false priests and prophets, friends, audience and kings.  Throughout his life, Jeremiah stood alone, declaring God’s messages of doom, announcing the new covenant, and weeping over the fa...

  Click of Title for Video Intro Monday, Song of Songs Chapter 5 Song of Solomon 5  Jane Jones THOUGHT The Book of Song of Solomon is really a truly amazing, love story. Solomon was very much in love; and just the fact that it is in the Bible, I think is truly amazing. It is a for sure fact that God definitely wants love to be first and foremost in our lives, first of Him, secondly for our spouse, and thirdly for our children. Chapter 5 tells us about a bad dream that Solomon’s lover had. Part of it referred to reaching out to her lover in the night, and he was gone. It was like a nightmare to her.  I’m sure we have all experienced nightmares at one time or other about our marriages, partners, or children. No matter what the nightmare, we do wake up in the morning to find that things are okay. That God has not left or forsaken us. We all have been praying so often, so hard, and so much for the Ruden Family. Our hope was that their house would sell soon, that Alan would fi...

Click on Title for Video Intro Monday, Song of Songs Chapter Intro Song of Solomon Intro Jeanie Boldt THOUGHT Jewish tradition sees this book picturing God’s love for Israel, and Christians see it illustrating Christ’s love for the church as well as the individual believer. The “plot” centers on King Solomon’s love for a humble maiden. Courtship leads to marriage and then to the joys and trials of married love. The book is indeed a beautiful presentation of the love of husband and wife.  The Jews accepted sexuality as a precious gift from God, a holy expression of true commitment in marriage.  This book is a wedding song honoring marriage. In reality, it is both - a historical story with two layers of meaning. On one level we learn about love, marriage, and sex; and on the other level we see God’s overwhelming love for his people. As you read the Song of Solomon, be sure to distinguish the various people speaking. This book is rich in Oriental imagery and must be “felt” as wel...