Jeremiah 16 (résumé): Day of Disaster

God is about to judge Judah and so he commands Jeremiah not to marry, not to go to funerals and not to take part in celebrations as a symbolic demonstration of being ready for the impending demonstration of the wrath of God. Then when the people ask the reason for such impending judgement Jeremiah is told to tell them it is because their fathers forsook him and followed and served other gods. However the current generation is worse still following the stubbornness of their hearts. So as punishment God will throw them out of their land and send them into exile where they can serve foreign gods as much as they like, but God will show them no favour. Despite the pronouncement of ruthless exile the chapter progresses to a more positive note with God promising to send out fishermen and hunters to find his scattered people and bring them to justice because "their sin is not concealed from my eyes... I will repay them double for their wickedness... and detestable idols". There ensues however still a promise of deliverance of God's people so much so that they will remember more the deliverance from Babylon than the deliverance from Egypt, and the nations will realize that their hand-made gods are not gods at all. 

Jeremiah 15 (résumé): Who will have pity on you, O Jerusalem?

Jeremiah makes it clear that God's mind is made up to judge Judah owing to their sin and unrepentance, and not even Moses and Samuel intervening would make any difference! The message from God through Jeremiah is devastating: "Those destined for death let them die; those destined for the sword let them have it; those destined for starvation let them starve; and those destined for captivity so be it!" God goes on to say: "You have rejected me... so I will destroy you... I will bring bereavement and destruction on my people... because they won't change". Then the prophet cried out to God weighed down by the message of doom and despair that he is commissioned to deliver. "Alas, my mother, that you gave me birth... everyone curses me". But God replies saying he is with Jeremiah and will "make his enemies plead with him". Jeremiah responds asking God to remember him and care for him questioning why he has to suffer so much "pain unending" in the service of God? God reacts to Jeremiah's complaints calling on him to repent of his moaning and get on with the job. "If you repent I will restore you that you may serve me... and promises Jeremiah to protect him with a wall of bronze... saying he will save him from the hands of the wicked". 

Pastor Oseias

Our Pastor Oseias at the Itaporanga church has had some sort of mild heart-attack in which he passed out twice hurting his face a lot in the process with the impact of his falls. He is now in the hands of a cardiologist doing tests to arrive at a clear diagnosis and treatment. Please pray for Pastor Oseias and his wife Lucia at this time.  

Last night I led the prayer meeting and Bible study which went off very well with a good number present and many blessed participations in the service.

Custard Apple

I have just eaten a delicious 'custard apple' for my morning snack! 😋

Dona Florzinha is a lovely very poor middle aged lady who rides round Patos on a donkey cart collecting recyclable goods. Liz is her friend and every week gives her all our recyclable items like empty tissue boxes, empty yogurt cartons etc. Dona Florzinha has just taken our materials to the recycling centre where she sells them, not for much, but it all helps. 

Liz is now out distributing food hampers to the poor and hungry,

Today is a public holiday in Brazil for the Roman Catholic festival of 'Corpus Christi' (body of Christ) commemorating the transubstantiation of the literal body and blood of Christ in the mass. This day occurs on the Thursday 60 days after Easter. Of course we do not believe in transubstantiation, and on Sunday we will be holding our monthly communion service in which we share the emblems which represent the body and blood of Jesus which we remember with grateful hearts.

Snake

Yesterday a snake appeared in our Patos School and the headteacher called the Fire Brigade who came and "arrested" it! The children loved the diversion from regular lessons and once the fireman had hold of the non-venomous snake they all took turns in stroking it! I reckon the snake was glad to finally be released back into the wild after so much affection and attention! 🐉

Last night I went with the Patos Men's Fellowship to preach the Gospel in São Mamede in a street meeting. It was a nice little service with about 35 people present.

A young man in the process of being taken to rehab for alcoholic addiction is to have a foot amputated owing to advanced diabetes. He has made a commitment to Christ and the plan is to take him to rehab as soon as possible. Please pray for him. 

Shark

An 11-year-old boy has been bitten by a shark in Recife. It is the second shark attack in Recife this year. The boy is recovering well in hospital.

I took some people home from the Care Centre last night who had been attended by our dentist. On the way to the farmstead I saw 3 Burrowing Owls and I saw the same 3 on the way back.

Yesterday I finished sending the reports from our 15 Action Schools to our EAB UK Office. Our total number of pupils attended this year is 810. I also sent the translated letters from all the sponsored children.

Blog

Last month this blog was read 74,153 times. I checked this statistic and learnt that Google, who owns the blog site, is not completely reliable so I have no way of knowing what the correct figure is. But anyway thanks for being with us and thanks for all your prayers and support.

Last night I led the service in Patos and Pastor Rafael preached on Psalm 32:1-5. It was a good service with a full church.