My Online Faith Journal

       In Jeremiah 1, God calls the prophet Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nations.  At first, Jeremiah does not want to do this.  He explains that he is only a youth.  But, God says, "Do not be afraid of them For I am with you to deliver you," declares the Lord." Jeremiah 1:8  Then the Lord gives Jeremiah the word that he is to say.         Jeremiah is a series of prophets and leaders (Moses and Gideon for example) who respond to the call of God in a reluctant manner much as people today do when they hear God calling them.  I think God places these examples here for us to remind us that God uses us despite our reluctance and even despite our weaknesses and legitimate claims of weakness.  Jeremiah may very well have been young compared to many of his contemporaries, but with God with him he was more than equal to the task.         After God calls him God shows him a rod from an almond tree.  I thought this was an unusually thing to show to the prophet, so I did a lit

    In 1 Corinthians 2:2, Paul says "For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God."     In my study through 1 Corinthian, I came to this passage. It appears to me that Paul is reflecting back on his coming to Corinth and the beginning of his year and a half ministry there and what his mindset was at the time.  He says that his mindset was that he was determined that he would know or focus his preaching and teaching on nothing more or less than on the person and death of Christ. This is what if a person was asked to summary what Paul's preaching was about what they would say.   His beginning, middle and end was about Christ.    Some churches today for sure grow at least

    As I look forward to 2014 and what it holds, I know that one big thing coming soon is the state licensing test to be a counselor in the state of North Carolina.  I sent in my registration two days ago and anticipate a possible test day around February 10 or so. I was hoping to do that in January and it is possible, although not likely that they could arrange that. To be honest, after taking three practice tests, this exam scares me to death.  I have committed myself to study every day until the test date and also to pray everyday until the test day.  I pray that God would help me to retain what I am studying and also to not be anxious or afraid.  Let me add,that I would appreciate your prayers for me as I prepare for this important exam.      It reminds me of another test that I took years ago when I tried to get on as a employee of Capital One.  I had been a temporary employee there for about 20 months.  When I was initially called to take the position I was told it would be fo