Daily Devotional

Daybreak: Jeremiah 8:4 through 9:1

March 28, 2020

“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” (Jeremiah 8:20)

An incident from the American Revolutionary War illustrates how great tragedy can result from neglect. Colonel Rahl, the commander of the British garrison in Trenton, New Jersey, had been ordered to construct defense entrenchments around the town but had not troubled to do so. Few precautions were taken, and the cannons intended for the protection of the town were used...

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Daybreak: Jeremiah 7:1 through 8:3

March 27, 2020

“But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.” (Jeremiah 7:23)

Margaret Parker had drifted away from the faith of her childhood, and she was miserable. Though she attended various churches and prayed at times, she had no victory in her life. She...

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Daybreak: Jeremiah 6:1-30

March 26, 2020

“Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.” (Jeremiah 6:16)

Where I grew up in rural Minnesota, the schools were far apart, and each usually served eight grades. When I began first grade, the three-mile walk to ...

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Daybreak: Jeremiah 5:1-31

March 25, 2020

“Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not.” (Jeremiah 5:21)

As the photocopier demonstration became more and more technical, I could feel my eyes glazing over. “Oh, I see,” I said as one particular function was explained. That was followed by, “Mmm-hmm. That’s a nice feature . . .” While my ears were hearing precisely how our new piece of office equipment...

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Daybreak: Jeremiah 4:5-31

March 24, 2020

“Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled.” (Jeremiah 4:13)

Whirlwinds are common and destructive in many parts of the world, but here in Portland, Oregon, where I live, they are less common. However, we do occasionally have severe windstorms. My mind goes back to the biggest storm I remember: the Columbus Day Storm of 1962....

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Daybreak: Jeremiah 3:6 through 4:4

March 23, 2020

“Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the Lord our God.” (Jeremiah 3:22)

Don Danner was a man who spoke passionately of the wonderful power of God to restore the backslider. He would often begin his testimony in our church services by saying, “It was a happy day when Jesus washed my sins away!” His face would shine as...

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Daybreak: Jeremiah 2:1 through 3:5

March 22, 2020

“Thus saith the Lord, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?” (Jeremiah 2:5)

When people choose to go away from the Lord and walk after “vanity,” it is tragic. Stan Frank told his story this way. “At one time my wife and I were saved, and bringing up our children to love the...

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Daybreak: Jeremiah 1:1-19

March 21, 2020

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

Julie and Alex Armas desperately wanted a baby. Twenty-seven-year-old Julie had already suffered two miscarriages, and now she was pregnant again. Hopeful and excited, she and her husband had already picked out a...

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Daybreak: Zephaniah 3:1-20

March 20, 2020

“The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

Often I am privileged to visit various care and retirement centers throughout the metropolitan area with a team from our church. We sing Gospel hymns, read Scripture verses, share our testimonies, and pray with...

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Daybreak: Zephaniah 2:4-15

March 19, 2020

“This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.” (Zephaniah 2:15)

If you were to drive in the area about fifty miles south of Lake Tahoe in California, near the Nevada border, you would come across a...

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