“Say to them, “This is what the Lord says: ‘ When people fall down, do they not get up?  When someone turns away, do they not return?  Why then have these people turned away?  Why does Jerusalem always turn away?  They cling to deceit; they refuse to return.  I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right.  None of them repent of their wickedness, saying, “What have I done?”  Each pursues their own course like a horse charging into battle.  Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration.  But my people do not know the requirements of the Lord.”  Jeremiah 8:4-7 NIV

Yesterday there was another school shooting.  This tragic event took ten lives and left ten wounded.  The saddest part of this type of thing is the frequency with which these types of tragedies are occurring.  Earlier in the week we heard of an attempted school shooting in Illinois that was thwarted by the actions of the School Resource Officer.

Now when something like this happens, you will hear people start to play the blame game.  Well, this is happening because we need stricter gun control.  Some will say that this is because kids play violent video games.  Others will say that it’s because we removed prayer from the schools.

This scripture passage in Jeremiah talks about God’s chosen people, the Israelites.  Many times they strayed from God and faced His wrath.  They would repent and come back.  They would coast along for a while and fall into sin and history would repeat itself time and time again.

Our country is kind of like those Israelites, but the problem is that we have sinned for such a long time and have never seen any great revival or turning back.

I am amazed at the world we live in.  There are people that wonder why I don’t watch the news.  I hate seeing problems being created.  I would rather watch crime television.  On these shows they are solving crimes not creating them.

We live in a world where it is okay to be transgender, gay, mean, hateful, disruptive, impolite.  If you are any of these things, people will write it off to say that you are misunderstood or you “have had a difficult life”.   But if you are a Christian, you are expected to hide it.  And, we wonder what the problem is, hmm.

I no longer shop at Target.  There were other reasons prior to the whole bathroom issue as to why I had boycotted them, but when I am told that anyone can come into the women’s restroom with me, well that put the icing on the cake.  I am not about to bring my 6 year old niece into a store where I am afraid to take her into the bathroom.  I don’t need your stuff that badly Target.

I watch children disobey their parents and parents at a loss as to how to control them.  They are told by child protective services that you should not spank your child.  Well, let me tell you what the Bible says about that, “The one who will not use the rod hates his son, but the one who loves him disciplines him diligently.”  It was only after I was older that I was so grateful to my parents for disciplining me, but I am so grateful.  I am grateful that they did not allow me to be that child that everyone cringed when I walked into the room.  I wasn’t allowed to be disruptive in church or any other public place.  If you are a parent that cringes at spanking, please don’t take the time to send me a nasty email, just take the time to find something that works with your child and make time to use that technique.  Perhaps taking away a favorite toy or time out will help.  Just do something.  And news flash, child protective services is so busy with parents who are molesting their children and selling them into prostitution and beating them with things like extension cords and hoses that they certainly do not have time for a parent that simply spanks (not beats) their child.  The parent that doesn’t discipline their child stands amazed when the police carts their young adult away for refusing to obey the laws.  Could it be that if the parent had taught them to obey, they would not be in jail?

I am also grateful that I lived in a time where you had to be good enough to make the team or get the trophy.  I was a cheerleader and I am happy to say that each time I tried out, I made the squad. I made it because I practiced and worked hard.  I put in the time and the effort.  I also wanted to play softball.  I made it my sophomore year, but in my junior year the competition was a bit tougher and I didn’t cut it.  That’s ok.  I still supported my team.  What has happened where we think it is okay to tell our children that they don’t have to put forth the effort but they can still make the team and get the trophy?  Can you not go to your job or not put forth any effort and continue to get a paycheck? What is this teaching them?

Our nation has turned so far from God that each day we hear news that is just a bit more ridiculous than the days past.  Just the other day I heard that there are counselors who are now saying that if a child wrongs someone that the parent should not make them apologize! Are you kidding me?

So you read this and think well what can I do?  I’m just one person.  Well, I’m glad you asked.  You can turn to God.  You can raise your child in a Christian home.  You can cry out to God to help you do His will.  You can start with you.  You see when you have this peace that passes all understanding while the world around you is falling apart, others will want what you have.  This is your golden opportunity to spread God’s word and God’s love with them.  So you could change your family.  Your family could change your neighborhood.  Your neighborhood could change your town.  Your town could change your parish or your county.  Your parish or your county could change your state.  Ok, so you see where I’m going, right?

Love yourself and your family enough that you don’t want them to die and go to hell.  Love them enough to encourage them to spend eternity in glory with God the Father.

In our scripture passage, God is telling Jeremiah to let His people know that He is angry with them and He is about to bring destruction.  Look at the news reports in this country.  No politician can restore our land.  2 Chronicles 7:14 tells us, “and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.”  Isn’t it time that we do just that?  Isn’t it time that we turn back to God and trust in Him to heal our land.  Our founding fathers trusted Him, in the early years America was a great nation.

I encourage you today to turn to God.  Pray for Him to heal our land.  Pray for His mercy, grace and forgiveness.  Don’t be fooled into thinking that we can create some fairy tale existence where wrong is not judged harshly.  Our lives and the lives of our children depend on it.

Have a great weekend!