Jeremiah - A Time to Weep!

Jeremiah - A Time to Weep!   Subject: September 2025, NM Prayer Connect/PATH, NM/COG, NM, El Paso, TX & South West Indian Ministries (SWIM) Newsletter -Ecclesiastes 3:4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance (NASB 1995).   Ecclesiastes 3:4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance (NASB 1995).   Jeremiah 13:23 “Can the Ethiopian change his skin Or the leopard his spots? Then you also can do good Who are accustomed to doing evil. 24 “Therefore, I will scatter them like drifting straw To the desert wind. 25 “This is your lot, the portion measured to you From Me,” declares the Lord, “Because you have forgotten Me And trusted in falsehood (NASB 1995).   Jeremiah is known as 'the weeping prophet' and he's my hero! I can only think that Simon Marak had him in mind, when he penned the third line of the famous hymn, 'I Have Decided to Follow Jesus' in 1880:   3. Though none go with me, still I will follow; Though none go with me, still I will follow; Though none go with me, still I will follow; No turning back, no turning back. The words reflect Luke 9:23, emphasizing self-denial, the taking up of the cross, and daily discipleship.  Imagine doing everything, just as God asked you to and then watching your whole nation go into bondage.   Isaiah 1:5 Where will you be stricken again, As you continue in your rebellion? The whole head is sick And the whole heart is faint (NASB 1995).   I was raised in the church, although I was not saved until I was twenty-five years old.  It never dawned on me that I was at war with God, as the bible says or that I was considered His enemy.  In our fallen nature, we have a rebellious spirit, we're sick in the head and faint in heart, which is why Jesus says, "You must be born-again!"  Jeremiah 4:22 “For My people are foolish, They know Me not; They are stupid children And have no understanding. They are shrewd to do evil, But to do good they do not know (NASB 1995).” Paul the Apostle said, "I'll be a fool for Christ," but when God calls us foolish, stupid, without understanding and shrewd to do evil, not able to do good, we're in trouble.  He also let us know that any works that we do in the flesh and not by God's Holy Spirit are as filthy rags and unprofitable.  We have not only believed the lie of the deceiver, but like our father, the devil, we deceive others, speak lies and commit iniquities, having immoral or grossly unfair behavior to our family, friends, coworkers and neighbors, instead of loving our neighbor as ourselves.   Jeremiah 9:5 “Everyone deceives his neighbor And does not speak the truth, They have taught their tongue to speak lies; They weary themselves committing iniquity (NASB 1995). God continually warns us and others to do the right thing or suffer the consequences, He's no respecter of persons and will turn away from us, so we have to humble ourselves, repent, turn from our wicked ways and then He will smile upon us, forgive our sins and heal our land.   Jeremiah 18:17 ‘Like an east wind I will scatter them Before the enemy; I will show them My back and not My face In the day of their calamity (NASB 1995).’”  I'm generally not a hell, fire and brimstone preacher, but people need to know that Jesus talked more about hell than Heaven! If we don't receive His forgiveness, we will die in our trespasses against Him and others, this is our portion and He has given us free will, but He clearly admonishes us to, "Choose Life!"  Psalm 11:6 Upon the wicked He will rain snares; Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup (NASB 1995).   The following portion of Holy Script comes from the mouth of Jesus Himself and He only said and did what The Father told Him.  Theologians tell us that Isaiah the prophet was sawn in two and if you've ever seen the movie, Braveheart, historians tell us that he was disemboweled.  The bible says that our sin separates us from the presence of God and the only mediator between God and man is the man Christ Jesus, His is the only name under Heaven, by which we 'must be saved.'  Matthew 24:51 and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (NASB 1995).   All the nations of the earth are just a one drop of water in the ocean to God, but He wishes that none would perish, and all would come to repentance.  Jesus still says to us today, "Come unto Me, all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest!"  Psalm 9:17 The wicked will return to Sheol, Even all the nations who forget God (NASB 1995).   I believe that America is in an awakening period, but the time to act is now, because we don't know how long this door of opportunity will remain open.  We're encouraged in scripture to take advantage of every opportunity, so let us not forget the God of the bible, the very foundation that our nation was built upon.  From the Mayflower Pact to the cross being planted on the beach in Virginia, America's destiny is calling us back to our basic Judeo/Christian beliefs and actions, to return to our first Love/God! In two separate portions of biblical text we'll read, "Forget the former things," and then, "Remember the former things." The bible never contradicts itself, but we always need to look at the biblical context, who God is speaking to, when, why, what is He really saying, where did these things take place and how do we apply these words of Life in a practical way, in this present world of darkness that we're living in?  Jeremiah 2:32 “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me Days without number (NASB 1995). Almost everyone mentions the famous bible verse, "Forsake not the assembling of the brethren," but rarely do we hear it in its entirety, "Even more so, as you see The Day approaching." Some translations call it, 'The great and terrible day of the LORD/Yahweh!' My friends, judgement day is closer now than when we first believed.  It always interested me how Jesus says, "I didn't come to condemn the word, but to save it," but He also said, "You're condemned already," but He has provided the way out, so there's no condemnation in Christ Jesus! Today, if you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.   Jeremiah 3:21 A voice is heard on the bare heights, The weeping and the supplications of the sons of Israel; Because they have perverted their way, They have forgotten the Lord their God (NASB 1995).   God heard the cries of His people in Egypt and brought a great deliverance to them. The voice of One is still crying out in the wilderness, this dry and weary land, but those who have ears to hear what His Holy Spirit is saying to us in love will respond accordingly.  Weeping may last for the night, but Holy Spirit joy will come, if you receive it.  It's up to you and me to make straight the way of the LORD, to make the perverted/crooked ways straight and to remember the One Who made us, redeemed us and wants to call us His own.  May I say a closing word to each and every one, in this time and season, from Pete Seeger and The Byrds: To everything, turn, turn, turn There is a season, turn, turn, turn  And a time to every purpose under heaven 10Days.Net is coming to Santa Fe, NM, September 22-October 2, 2025, so help us spread the word! If you or someone you know would like to have a prayer meeting in or around NM, don't hesitate to contact me! Shalom, Mark Tross NM Prayer Connect Http://nmprayerconnect.weebly.com  Featured Products Your browser does not support iframes. ; View the content of this inline frame with your browser nmprayerconnect.weebly.com Mark Tross Listen to Mark Tross on Spotify. Audiobooks & MORE read by Mark Tross, Author, Conference Speaker, Radio & Television personally, blogger, newspaper and internet writer, Bishop with The Church Of God, Cleveland, TN and Coordinator for New Mexico Prayer Connect . 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