The Church I Belong To

The Seventh Day Adventist Church

Click the link above to see our website.

I'm the Prodigal Daughter (a song by Lights). (Edit: I'm half joking and half serious. Sorry. I sometimes forget people can't read tone on through a computer)

I was baptized into this church at age 15 and it's the only church I ever chose because it's the one that made the most sense to me and usually always made me feel the most loved and ready for Jesus to return. We are not perfect, but we don't claim to be perfect as humans. Ellen White was a prophet(ess) and she was not perfect. Just because she did not always practice what she preached does not make her a false prophet. It makes her HUMAN. Just as I am human and have not always practiced what I've preached. We are flawed and that is something that everyone is just going to have to accept. Everybody Breaks a Glass by Lights.

I remember at Camp Meeting in the Northern New England area, we were taught that we should be ready every day for Jesus to return and should not doubt our salvation if we love Him and have truly gone to Him as our Saviour.

All we need to do is say "Yes!" I'm ready for Jesus to return. A lot of us, at the time only children, felt we could be praying more, or studying more, or being a better friend.

The pastor leading the junior youth group eased my fears and taught me that day to not doubt salvation. If Jesus returns, we can have faith that we are already saved.

We should follow the law of love, of course, and do our best to follow the 10 commandments, but if we return to our own vomit, all we have to do is ask for forgiveness for all our sins out of a pure heart. I like what Ellen White wrote somewhere in Steps to Christ that we can pray for Jesus to create in us a clean heart every day. We do not have to use words to pray this. All we really need is to desire it from Him.

God bless, and remember that Saturday was the original Sabbath. Let's remember it in our minds as the truth, for the way that the Catholic church and other denominations carry on observing Sunday as the holy day is disrespectful to our Creator.

If you have to work on the Sabbath for survival, don't worry. Do it as your ministry. Be a friend to your co-workers and bosses, just as Jesus would. Just remember to take some time out on the Sabbath to spend time with the best friend of humanity: the Saviour. Or Savior, if you like that spelling better. Haha.

If anyone from the Seventh-Day Adventist church has ever hurt you or your family, in any way, do not use that as an excuse to despise it or be unforgiving. Remember this bible verse:

Matthew 6:14-15

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 6:14-15

Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

If you don't have the ability or strength to forgive someone or multiple people, do as I have said before: Ask God to give you the strength to forgive. He will help you. As he has always helped me.

Praise the Lord that I'm no longer agnostic or atheist in any way. He saved me from that life.

A Link To My Current Autobiography/Songbook:

I sometimes change platforms, but right now I'm on Spotify. If you don't have Spotify, that's alright. Just focus on prophecy and truth. Read the Word.

Edit: Right now I have like over 100 playlists. I know, I know. It's way too much. But u gotta understand, I was using it as therapy for a while there to get better. I sometimes act as my own nurse and psychologist lol.

Some day I will hide all the playlists that don't matter, but right now I love all of them because they are like a diary or a journal.

Edit: I edited my playlists and reduced the amount to like, less than 60. I do this sometimes, lol. I hate when it gets crowded. But sometimes that’s what happens when someone gets racing thoughts in the form of music and has to journal for therapy 🤭

Rhiannon's Playlists

I feel like a lost sheep

I'm a little lost right now, but hopefully I'll believe again some day

It's weird looking at this website when you don't believe any of it anymore

I try every day and I pray

But for some reason I can't seem to really believe anymore

I'll keep praying to whatever is out there that might exist

I guess I'm agnostic

Oats We Sow

Playlist Link: Oats We Sow

Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
Matthew 10:26,27

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Matthew 7:15-20

Bible Reading: The Fall of Man

"If God exists, why is the world so bad?"

This question is probably the most common question those who do not believe in God ask themselves and ask others.

When looking to the Bible, the answer is clear and simple. Alas, many people, even those who do believe in God, do not even read the bible, and could not even answer the question.

I find that Christian religions often have this quality of passing down information from one generation to another without actually remembering the source of truth: The Bible.

It is like a game of gossip. One person has their beliefs, and they teach their children these beliefs. Those beliefs get passed down continually, and become so warped and so far from the Bible that eventually the family's beliefs split into many different ones. Perhaps some will choose to depart entirely from a faith that they feel only brings judgment and confusion and pain.

However, all of that can be avoided when we as individuals take the responsibility upon ourselves to search for truth, and to advise others to do the same. Spiritual ignorance and confusion can be overcome when we do not rely on people (Since when are people reliable?) or on any one religion (For there are countless religions) to tell us what is true of this world.

Jesus himself said to the Jews that were criticizing him for healing on the Sabbath and for calling God his Father:

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
I receive not honour from men.
But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.
But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
Matthew 10:39-47

The bible is a book of books. These books were written across history, by many different men of different generations. These books are prophetic. What is prophecy? Prophecy is a prediction of something to come. The Bible is filled with prophecies, which is why these different books written by different people were all compiled together into one book. When Jesus was alive, the Old Testament books were believers' scripture.

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2 Peter 1:20, 21

Personally, I think of the Bible as both inspired and also simply a record of what happened, or in other words, as history. The Old Testament in particular (the testament before Jesus was born, books Genesis through Malachi), is filled with war and death, much like a history book. Who expects books written about a fallen world to be all good? We have lived in corruption from the moment we fell -- the moment Adam and Eve, creatures given free will, did not trust in their Creator when he said:

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Genesis 2:16-17

Today we will be discussing the fall of man.
What is the "fall of man"? Biblically speaking, the fall of man is why the world contains both good and evil; both light and dark; both life and death.

The world that God created was perfect and free from sin. Adam and Eve had knowledge only of good and also had access to the tree of life (eternal life). It is by partaking of that tree of knowledge of good and evil -- against God's command -- that Adam and Eve fell from perfect communion with God.

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Genesis 3:3-5

On one side, they had their Creator telling that them when they eat of it, they will surely die. Not if they eat of it, not might they die, but when, and surely.

On the other side, we have a serpent which is said to have been more subtil (or clever) than any other creature that God had created (Genesis 3:3), telling the woman quite the opposite: "You won't die. God just doesn't want you to eat of it because he doesn't want you to be like a god like him," is basically along the lines of how the serpent deceived Eve.

Once Adam and Eve had eaten the fruit of the tree which God blatantly told them in the day they ate of it, they would die, they knew of both good and evil.

It is important to note that the reason Adam and Eve's eyes were opened to evil was because of their desire to gain more than the perfection they had already had. Just as Lucifer had desired to rise above the one who formed and created him, and coveted his Creator. Tree or no tree, it was their choice to trust themselves more than God that opened their hearts to sin.

And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
Genesis 3:7-11

Adam and Eve explained what happened to the Lord, Adam placing the blame partly on God and partly on Eve, and Eve placing the blame on the serpent. Notice the pattern here of blaming others instead of taking responsibility for one's own mistakes. This pattern of humanity carries on even to this day (Genesis 3:12, 13)

This is why the serpent was cursed above any other animal for deceiving the woman, the woman was cursed for eating of the fruit and sharing it with the man, and the man was cursed for listening to the woman even though God had commanded them not to do it. And it was for man's sake that the ground was cursed (Genesis 3:14-19).

Even after all of this, God provided clothing for his fallen children so that they would not be naked (Genesis 3:21)

And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Genesis 3:22-24

After they had fallen, he cut them off from the tree of life that they previously had access to, so that they, now subject to sin and evil, would not live on eternally in this state of darkness.

God loves and cares for his creatures' souls so much that instead of simply destroying them after having disobeyed and having become subject to sin, he instead provided the great propitiation (Jesus, as we know from previous bible readings) to free them and give them the gift of eternal life with Him, the Source of all good things.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Matthew 1:18-23

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 3:8

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
John 1:10, 11

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1:14

Jesus said to the Pharisees and the Jews while he taught in the temple as written in John 8:
But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
John 8:40-44 (I highly recommend reading this chapter in its entirety)

We know that the serpent in the Garden of Eden was being influenced by the devil, for the serpent lied to Eve when it told her "Thou shalt not surely die," and the devil, who has been called a serpent in the bible, is the father of deception and of lying (Revelation 12:9).

As Jesus said, the devil, or Lucifer, who was an angel of God, has been sinning from the beginning, for he sought to rise above his Creator, and was cast out of heaven, along with those fallen angels (also called demons) which chose the devil over their Creator (Matthew 25:41)...

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Isaiah 14:12-15

Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
Ezekiel 28:15, 17

The devil is an example of a creature that has both eternal life and knowledge of good and evil, because he, in his beauty that was given to him by the Lord, sought to rise above his God. But God will destroy the devil and his angels in the end.

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Revelation 12:7-9

As for humans, unlike the devil or his angels, we are given this gift of salvation and of eternal life, and all we must do to receive it is to believe in Jesus (John 3:16), our mediator to God, our Savior (1 Timothy 2:5). For he lived in the flesh just as we are living here, and is sinless. He experienced all the temptations of the flesh and did not sin, and was killed by his own people, his own children.

This is why the Bible tells us these things:

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Ephesians 6:11

But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
John 17:15

But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
2 Timothy 3:13

Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
2 Timothy 2:22-26

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Romans 6:16

One of my most favorite parables that Jesus shared with us summarizes all of it metaphorically, in a way that we can understand:

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?


He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Matthew 13:24-30

Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; (the Son of man being Jesus)
The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Matthew 13:36-43

The Bible reveals to us that death on earth can be thought of like sleep, for being resurrected is being awakened from death. Jesus referred to death as sleep, and the bible often refers to it as sleep.

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1 Thessalonians 4:13, 14

Those who have died believing in Christ will be resurrected first when Jesus returns, as Jesus was resurrected. Then those who are alive who believe in Christ will join them as well (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17)

When Jesus spoke of Lazarus:
These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
John 11:11-14

But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1 Corinthians 15:35-44

In the end we must remember, it is not humans that we wrestle against, but the evil one and his angels.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:12

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:12-14

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:105

All About Faith and Works

Paul the apostle, in his letter to the Romans, wrote in great detail about the topics of faith and works, and how they relate to one another. Have you ever met people who seem forced into doing good deeds to 'get into heaven'? Or have you ever met someone who claims to have faith in God, but their life doesn't represent His character at all? This type of thing was around even in Paul's day, and he was well aware of it. Taking a deeper look into this book of Romans, faith and works are put into a clear perspective.

Let's start with the verses supporting that the deeds of the law do not justify anyone, but rather we are justified by grace.

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus...

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on *him that justifieth the ungodly*, his faith is counted for righteousness.
*Christ*

Romans 3:20, 23, 24 and 4:5

If we were to read these all by themselves, it would seem the only step to a life with God is simply believing on Him and accepting the gift of grace which we have received through Christ. It is true that this is the first step to a life with God, but it isn't the only step.

For example, when a sinner comes to God for repentence, are they coming to God in perfect form? Absolutely not. They are coming in brokenness of spirit, exactly as they are. We are accepted exactly as we are. We are not given grace because of our good deeds. If that were the case, none of us would have grace. We are given grace simply by reaching out and taking it out of a pure heart.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
- Ephesians 2:8-9

I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
- Luke 5:32

The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
- Psalm 145:18

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
- John 6:37

Keeping this in mind, we can move on to the sixth chapter:

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therin?
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

- Romans 6:1-4, 6

Verses from Galatians give us even more insight and understanding:

But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
-Galatians 2:17-21

Can we not conclude from what we've read so far that the first step is acceptance and belief of Christ's sacrifice for us? Surely that is all it takes. However, it doesn't mean we're suppose to continue on in sin. With faith in God, there will come a transformation from the inside out. When we take that first step of believing in God and having faith in Him, but we continue on in sin, our old self is not gone, and we are not crucified with Christ, and we do not abide in Him.

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
- Psalm 51:10

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
1 John 2:4-6

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17

Every day we can ask God to purify our hearts and our minds. Every day we can be reborn in Him. It isn't something that's forced, it's something we will have a deep desire for. We will hunger and thirst for righteousness, just as we hunger and thirst for food and water.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
- Matthew 5:6

Faith and works go hand in hand. Works without faith will bring no man salvation. Our faith is dead without works; without an outer transformation of character (James 2:26). Have faith in Jesus, and you will be transformed! It will come naturally. It doesn't mean it will be easy. There will be tribulations and even temptations, but as the apostle Paul said:

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations, also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
- Romans 5:1-5

As we bring this Bible reading to a conclusion, I highly recommend reading John 15:1-10:

The Vine and the Branches

Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
- Psalm 119:165

Also, if you'd like to read more on this subject, this site does a good job of explaining while using scripture for reference:

Why Faith Without Works Is Dead

Bible Reading: God Does Not Leave Us ... / The New Covenant

Jeremiah was ordained, by God, a prophet unto the nations before he was even born (Jeremiah 1:5). God put His words in Jeremiah's mouth (Jeremiah 1:9).

Today we're going to read mostly from Jeremiah, because there are a great many things in this book that can help us today, and that explain why these people had to endure the wrath of the Lord...

But what is the wrath of the Lord, really? As we covered in our previous reading, God is most certainly the source of everything good, and he does not turn away from those who cleave to him and follow him with their whole heart.

And I will utter my judgments against them, *touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands.

 *about

- Jeremiah 1:16

This nation, the people therein, had "forsook", "forgotten" and "rejected" their God (all of these words appear in Jeremiah, concerning their relationship towards God), and they did not obey the words of the first *covenant, or *agreement.. By reading Jeremiah 11:1-6, you will have more details, and a fuller picture:

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;
And say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant,
Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God: 
That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O Lord.
Then the Lord said unto me, *Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them.
*preach

Then we look back to the Old Testament - when the covenant was made:

But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce you unto this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go possess it.
- Deuteronomy 30:17-18

Continuing in Jeremiah:
For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice.
Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the *imagination of their evil heart: therefore will I bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did them not.
*stubbornness
- Jeremiah 11:7-8

These verses alone are enough for me to know the Lord's patience towards these people. Yet there it says: they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear.

Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; thought they roar, yet can they not pass over it?
But this people hath a revolting and rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.
Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.
Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.
- Jeremiah 5:22-25

A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the Lord their God.
- Jeremiah 3:21

What exactly were these people doing? It's said many times the type of things they did.

Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;
And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?
- Jeremiah 7:9-10

And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt shew this people all these words, and they shall say unto thee, Wherefore hath the Lord pronounced all this great evil against us? or what is our iniquity? or what is our sin that we have committed against the Lord our God?
Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the Lord, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshiped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law;

And ye have done worse than your fathers; for behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me...

- Jeremiah 16:10-12

When Jeremiah went to some of them:
The Lord called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled a fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken. For the Lord of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal.
And the Lord hath given me knowledge of it, and I know it: then thou shewdest me their doings.
But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be no more remembered.
- Jeremiah 11:16-19

They wanted to take Jeremiah's life, instead of listening.
In Lamentations, we read of what became of Israel during that time.

All our enemies have opened their mouths against us. Fear and snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction. 
- Lamentations 3:46-47

Then when turning back to Jeremiah:
Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thy heart.
- Jeremiah 4:18

How simple it all becomes when you read the word of God, and have understanding of it, given by the Lord. If we are truly following God, how could he ever forsake us? It is not He who leaves us - it is we who leave Him.
Can you not relate with these wicked people at all? We all can, for we are all wicked - but unlike them, I hope you will hearken unto the word of the Lord, and will obey his voice, that pleads with us every day. It is the Lord's desire that the wicked turn from their wicked ways, and live (Ezekiel 33:11). Every person who chooses the Lord, and obeys his commandments, chooses life. And when you follow the Lord with your whole heart, and you cleave unto him - you love all his ways, and they become what you love to do, and your way of life. We do not live our life according to His commandments because we want to 'secure' salvation, for we are saved by grace, but we live in his ways because we love all of them, and they give us peace.

My son, forget not my law, but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
- Proverbs 3:1-2

For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither it is far off.
It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us, that we may hear it, and do it?
Neither is it beyond the sea, *that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mightest do it.
*to say
- Deuteronomy 30:11-14

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
- Deuteronomy 30:19-20

As you have read, this people turned from the Lord, and the Lord protested (Jeremiah 11:7), but it came to a point where he had to utter his judgment against them, because they broke the covenant (or agreement). It was warned from the beginning that they shall surely perish, if they turned from the Lord their God. But he did not bring them to a full end (Jeremiah 5:18).

For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah:

Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

For this covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people: 

And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
- Hebrews 8:7-12

For thus saith the Lord, Enter not into the house of mourning, neither go to lament or bemoan them: for I have taken away my peace from this people, saith the Lord, even lovingkindness and mercies.
- Jeremiah 16:5

God is truly the Source of every good thing, so if we turn from Him, show shall we have peace? How shall we have any fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22)? By rejecting Him, we reject also his mercies, his lovingkindness, and his peace and his joy he gives unto us.

Know though, that when you call upon the Lord with your whole heart, you will find him:

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:13

Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. ... - Isaiah 58:9

The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. - Psalm 145:18

Bible Reading: God's Character and Love For Mankind

The Bible says a lot about God's character. Jesus is our example of how to live, after we have chosen to follow Him, but if we don't know what His character is truly like, we are not going to be truly like Him.

Today we are going to be reading a great deal from the books of John and 1 John, so if your Bible is with you, you may want to put bookmarkers in those ones.

As the name of this site implies, these Bible studies and readings are for those who are thirsty in life. Anyone can read this, but it's not a debate initiative. Ideally, this is written for those who already believe in Creation, and believe in Jesus as their Saviour. But no matter who you are, you can read this, because I base this all fully on the Bible. None of it is of my own opinion, it is all from the book of books. And that book is meant for all.

The following texts are taken from a King James Version Bible, so if you have another version, that's fine. Don't be alarmed if a few words are different. Also, the asterisks are there to indicate a translation mark in my own Bible, that gives a synonym of the old English word in the verse(s). I list that word after the text.

Jesus was sent into the world by God (... and he that sent me is with me. - John 8:29) not only to give us the gift of eternal life (John 3:16; 1 John 2:25), but also to give us an example of God's character, for Jesus said, "I and my Father are one." - John 10:30.
Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. - 1 John 2:23

Jesus said to his disciples, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for a friend. Ye are my friends, if ye do *whatsoever I command you." - John 15:13-14 *what

Jesus did lay down his life for us...
"Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself, I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." - John 10:17-18

Here we read that God laid down his life for us, since Jesus and the Father are one:
"Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." - 1 John 3:16

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world. - 1 John 2:2

Do you feel as though you are walking in darkness? God can be your light.
He revealeth the deep and secret things:
He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with Him. - Daniel 2:22
When we truly follow Jesus, we walk in light:
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. - John 8:12

God desires that the wicked turn from their ways, and repent. Confession alone is not enough though - we must also turn from our wicked ways, and do them no more. That is what genuine repentance is.

For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, THE DOG IS TURNED TO HIS OWN VOMIT AGAIN; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. - 2 Peter 2:21-22

Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live. - Ezekiel 33:14-16
When the bible says 'lawful' in this context, it is usually referring to God's law - the law of love. Not a worldly law.

Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye form your evil ways, for why will ye die, O house of Israel? - Ezekiel 33:11

And why will we die, when he has given us this gift of eternal life, which he has promised us (1 John 2:25)?

Do you picture God as a strict and punishing judge? If this image were true, why would he have ever bothered to send his Son into the world, to die a death he did not deserve, to free us from the bondage of sin? Why would we be living now? Because that idea, that God is cruel, couldn't be farther from the truth, and is a lie, from the "father of lies", which is the devil (John 8:44 and 1 John 3:8).

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
In this was *manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. *revealed
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent His Son to be the *propitiation for our sins. - 1 John 4:8-10 *expiation

So why are we still here? What is God waiting for? you might wonder. Within His word there lies an answer:
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
- 2 Peter 3:9

There are many, many people in this world still who have never heard of Jesus, or who have heard of Him, but don't truly know Him. That's why he works through those who have chosen to follow Him, that everyone will know of Him, even if they don't all choose Him. Even if there are those who will reject Him.

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." - Revelation 3:20

Our loving and merciful Lord is waiting at the door, and knocking. Do you hear his voice?

Is there a yearning in your heart to read more of God's word? Then read it every opportunity you have. Read it for yourself, and do not rely on others to tell you what they believe of it. Find out on your own, by opening the scriptures of truth, and knowing that it is God's word, and that it is His voice, speaking to you.

I hope you have received a clearer picture of God's character, and magnificent, immeasurable love for all of mankind, if you didn't already have a true and clear picture.

A little bit about me...

^Doggy from Pinterest <3^

What is your name?
My name is Rhiannon or RJ.

How old are you?
I turned 16 in August. I have this thing where the first person to ask me how old I am after a birthday, I remember well. Nobody had asked me my age yet though! Just my grade, lol. In this case I guess I just asked myself - but that doesn't count. :D

What's your favorite food?
I don't have a favorite food, but I eat a lot of rice and curries to go on
the rice, because my step-mom is Indian. But I no longer call her my
step-mom, just Mom, since it's already been almost 2 years since I've been living with her.

PETS??!!
But of course... We care for and love two black dogs - one big, and one small. Their names are Bully (we didn't name her that) and Blackberry (we've had her since she was two months, so we got to pick her name).

What color is your bed?
PINK. but I wish it were beige with green and pink flowers or something like that. I have had this bed set since I was about 10. HAHAHAHA. Ha. Ha. ha.  ha.... a... yeah...

What do you do for a living?
I follow Jesus! That is the best living there is.

Favorite TV Serials right now?
Once Upon a Time is so good. I'm on the second season. And 21 Jump Street with Johnny Depp, though I need to buy the third season still.

Music?
I like Gregory and The Hawk, LIGHTS, and some particular songs: You are the Moon by the Hush Sound // and a bunch of others.... That's for secular music.
My favorite hymnals are Long Upon The Mountains, I'm A Pilgrim, Sun of My Soul, My Faith Looks Up to Thee, and many more too.

Last but not least - what are you wearing right now? O.ooo???
I am wearing dark jeggings with a green t-shirt and a blue and white scarf tied around my neck. I am barefoot. My hair is messy. I guess I should brush it now....


And to bring it all to a nice thought-provoking end - a beautiful Bible verse.
I read this text this morning and thought I'd share it:

O DEATH, WHERE IS THY STING? O GRAVE, WHERE IS THY VICTORY?
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:55-57

We have God to thank for everything. He is the best Father any of us will ever have.