Jeremiah Takeaways so far

 Here are a few takeaways from the book of Jeremiah so far.   God's judgements are true, fair, and according to sin.  God hates when we break his covenant and laws.  Judgement through Babylon is used by God as a time of refining in the lives of the Israelites.    Persecution comes when we preach and teach according to the name of God.    We are to speak against false lies.   God has a plan for restoration for our lives.   God is faithful and just to lead us back to him in times of exile in our lives.  He will give us peace and protection as he leads us back to a place of restoration.  

Ecclesiastes-Takeaways

 Here are some things to take away from the book of Ecclesiastes: everything in this world is vanity and passes away.   We will not be remembered.  Enjoy our wife/the things that God has blessed us with in life.   Fear God for, he judges all things in life.   God is sovereign and in control of all things.   Everyone will end up dying in life.  True godly wisdom considers God in all things and leads us to an eternal focus.  

Proposal weekend

 Last weekend, God worked out all the details for my proposal weekend when I proposed to Amanda.  It was an amazing weekend seeing how both of our friends helped and attended the Engagement Party on Saturday night.  Everything came together last weekend from the scavenger hunt to the proposal, to the engagement party.   Miranda and I planned out all the details months prior to that weekend.  I texted each of our friends and some family about helping out.   Around 20 or so people ended up attending the engagement party last weekend.  

Also, we were able to find the friends to help out that weekend pretty quickly.  The people that wanted to be at the engagement party were there.  On my end, the Airbnb details worked out last minute.  Miranda and I were able to keep Amanda guessing so she did not know.  The scavenger hunt and proposal weekend was a good surprise to Amanda.   She was only somewhat surprised for the engagement party. 

God showed me from that weekend how he ordained us to meet August 27,2022.  It was truly a God thing in leading us to meet that weekend.   We talked multiple times that afternoon before I asked for her number.  We just had an instant connection that afternoon.  Two days after we talked for five hours on a Monday night.  Then, I came to Austin in the end of September for our first date weekend.  

Now, we are going on eight months of officially dating.  We are transitioning as I move to Austin in a few weeks.  It has been amazing see God work out this relationship these past eight months of long-distance dating.  Neither of us have had much dating experience before.   God has totally worked this out for his glory.  

Wait on God

 Right now, God is calling me to wait on his leading in my life.  He is calling me to wait on him for a Children's Ministry position in my life.   He is calling me to seek him in his leading in my life.  God shown me this paid internship program when I am waiting on this move to Austin to be close to my girlfriend.   I am trying to trust that God still has a plan to lead me to a Children's Ministry position.  

Psalm 46:10 is a verse that reminds me to wait on God in my life.   Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still, and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!  This verse shows me that I need to be still and rest in God in silence more often.   God also reveals that I need to constantly remind myself God is God is above all the problems and struggles in my life.   God is sovereign and in control of all the problems in my life.   He is over all the nations and does things according to his will and design.  

God is calling me to wait on his leading in my life.   He still has a good plan for me and he is still working.  I have to listen to God and what he is saying to me.   I have to be still and listen to God in silence.   Also, I have to know that God is sovereign and in control of all things in my life.  

What God has been showing me through Ecclesiastes

 This is a short post that describes what God has been showing me in Ecclesiastes.  Solomon who is David's son wrote the book about his life and what he learned.   The main things that God has been showing me in Ecclesiastes are everything is vanity under the sun, God is eternal and above all things, we are the fear God and give him glory, enjoy the good gifts that God has given us, true wisdom is found through God, and worldly things cannot bring us joy but God alone.  The preacher searched out all wisdom through pleasure, building things, attaining wisdom, and he found that even those things pass away under the sun.    Those things did not give him satisfaction and joy but only God alone.  The preacher had many wives and a large sum of may but even those things pass away under the sun.  

The preacher found through all this searching that we should enjoy the good gifts God has given us.  We should pursue our passions with joy.   He tells us to eat and enjoy the goodness of God in our life.  For it is God that has given these good things for us.  God is the true provider of these gifts in our life.  

Main themes in the book describes are God's immutable, God's sovereignty, and a healthy fear of God.  It is important to realize God is immutable the preacher tells us.   The preacher also says numerous times how much God is in control of everything.   Lastly, the preacher discusses in detail the importance of having a healthy fear of God.   Fearing God is merely an awe or reverence of God.   Solomon says the end of it all is to fear God.  

Fear God

God is calling me to fear God when everything going on in my life.   I am seeking God where he wants my girlfriend Amanda and I to live.   I am seeking him for direction to a Children's Ministry position.   I am also looking to propose and get a ring soon.   I feel like God is leading us to marriage and calling us to fear God.   Fearing God helps us obey his Son, Jesus Christ and draw near to him.  

Fearing God does not mean we are scared of him.   It is a healthy fear of him that shows, awe, reverence, and respect.  Fearing God helps examine the way we live our life.    It brings us to our knees in remembering who God is.   It draws us closer to him. 

Immutable

 A couple weeks ago Justin Flores preached on Ecclesiastes 3 and he talked about Solomon describing the changing seasons in our life.    Solomon described how there is a time to die, a time for birth, and etc.   In verses 9-10, Solomon talks about how he has seen every burden under the sun.   He concludes in verse 13, saying that we should enjoy the specific gifts of God that he has given us.  Justin touched on verse 14 in depth, describing God immutable nature.  

Immutability is a theological term which describes the fact that God never changes.   Isaiah talks about how the grass withers but God never changes.   Verse 14 in Ecclesiastes talks about how God endures forever.    Justin described how even when our seasons change, God never changes.   God is eternal; he is never ceasing.  

God has been reminding me of this in this season that I am in.   I am seeking God's leading for a Children's Ministry position.   Amanda and I are seeking God were God is leading us to live.   God is reminding me he is never changing.   He never ceases or changes.