God's Judgment

Jeremiah 28
The False Prophet Hananiah

1 In the fifth month of that same year, the fourth year, early in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon, said to me in the house of the LORD in the presence of the priests and all the people: 2 "This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: 'I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3 Within two years I will bring back to this place all the articles of the LORD's house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon removed from here and took to Babylon. 4 I will also bring back to this place Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and all the other exiles from Judah who went to Babylon,' declares the LORD, 'for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.' "
5 Then the prophet Jeremiah replied to the prophet Hananiah before the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the LORD. 6 He said, "Amen! May the LORD do so! May the LORD fulfill the words you have prophesied by bringing the articles of the LORD's house and all the exiles back to this place from Babylon. 7 Nevertheless, listen to what I have to say in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people: 8 From early times the prophets who preceded you and me have prophesied war, disaster and plague against many countries and great kingdoms. 9 But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the LORD only if his prediction comes true."
10 Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it, 11 and he said before all the people, "This is what the LORD says: 'In the same way will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon off the neck of all the nations within two years.' " At this, the prophet Jeremiah went on his way.
12 Shortly after the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: 13 "Go and tell Hananiah, 'This is what the LORD says: You have broken a wooden yoke, but in its place you will get a yoke of iron. 14 This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I will put an iron yoke on the necks of all these nations to make them serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I will even give him control over the wild animals.' "
15 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, "Listen, Hananiah! The LORD has not sent you, yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in lies. 16 Therefore, this is what the LORD says: 'I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This very year you are going to die, because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.' " 17 In the seventh month of that same year, Hananiah the prophet died. [emphasis added]

Ezekiel 9 (selected)

Idolaters Killed

1 Then I heard him call out in a loud voice, "Bring the guards of the city here, each with a weapon in his hand." 2 And I saw six men coming from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with a deadly weapon in his hand. With them was a man clothed in linen who had a writing kit at his side. They came in and stood beside the bronze altar.
3 Now the glory of the God of Israel went up from above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. Then the LORD called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side 4 and said to him, "Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it."

8 While they were killing and I was left alone, I fell facedown, crying out, "Ah, Sovereign LORD! Are you going to destroy the entire remnant of Israel in this outpouring of your wrath on Jerusalem?"
9 He answered me, "The sin of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great; the land is full of bloodshed and the city is full of injustice. They say, 'The LORD has forsaken the land; the LORD does not see.' 10 So I will not look on them with pity or spare them, but I will bring down on their own heads what they have done."

Our only hope...

Jeremiah 29:10-14

A Letter to the Exiles

10 This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill My gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

REPENT... PRAY...SEEK GOD with ALL YOUR HEART... KNOW GOD'S WORD by HEART!

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[Led Home by the Shepherd]

SHEPHERD'S WALK at Sweetbriar

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Psalm 23
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

As I prepare to leave for Mexico tomorrow with the Team from For the Fame of His Name, I wanted to share what God is also preparing, designing and completing as I type this. When I return from my missions trip (where I have the awesome privilege to speak to Mexican Pastor's and Elder's wives about discipleship in their churches and among their people) I will share more about SHEPHERD'S WALK and all God has given - and continues to give for the vision of it all! The paving has barely hardened and God is already supplying and providing - just as He has promised!

It is a Prayer of Faith Walk - that leads to the purity of The Sanctuary Area - the CIRCLE - the KEY to God's Presence - meeting one-on-one as each sojourner COMES to the TABLE of GOD!

Isaiah 40:21-23

21 Do you not know? Have you not heard?Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded?
22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. [all emphasis added]

Enjoy the pictures. It was just completed yesterday [the 27th] at 6PM. Share this with those you care about.

Choosing JOY in all the World,

Stephanie

[Led Home by the SHEPHERD]

CONFIDENCE

Where is your CONFIDENCE?

Jeremiah 17 (selected)
7 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,

whose confidence is in Him.
8 He will be like a tree planted by the water

that sends out its roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes;

its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought

and never fails to bear fruit."

Psalm 71:5-6
5 For You have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth.
6 From birth I have relied on You; You brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise You.

Psalm 27:13-14
13 I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

2 Corinthians 3:3-5
3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
4 Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. [all Scripture emphasis added]

I am so glad that we don't have to depend upon men or machines or any other thing except God to carry out His divine purposes. We have confidence in Him alone! He is GOD! Nothing He plans can be thwarted!

Caution: Cardinal Crossing!

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[Led Home by the Shepherd]

NO OTHER NAME

Nehemiah 9:3-7

3 They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the LORD their God. 4 Standing on the stairs were the Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani and Kenani—who called with loud voices to the LORD their God. 5 And the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah—said: "Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting."

"Blessed be Your glorious Name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise.

6 You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship You.
7 You are the LORD God, who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and named him Abraham."

Psalm 8:1

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your Name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens.

Psalm 138:2

2 I will bow down toward Your holy temple and will praise Your Name for Your love and Your faithfulness, for You have exalted above all things Your Name and Your Word.

Acts 4:9-11

If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is " 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.

Acts 4:29-31

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable Your servants to speak Your Word with great boldness. Stretch out Your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the Name of Your holy servant Jesus."
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly.

JESUS!

As our Missions Team prepares to share Jesus with the people in Mexico - may this be our prayer - to bring glory to the Name of Jesus and proclaim Him and His Word of truth boldly, through the power of the Holy Spirit!

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[Led Home by the Shepherd]

SCARECROWS

This is October... a month to enjoy the beautiful color of God's creation as the earth prepares to bed down for a long cold winter. Red oak trees, orange-yellow maples, pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks, and scarecrows line the porches along the streets of our communities.

Ever wonder what God's Word says about scarecrows?

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Jeremiah 10 (selected)
God and Idols
1 Hear what the LORD says to you, O house of Israel.
2 This is what the LORD says:
"Do not learn the ways of the nations
or be terrified by signs in the sky,
though the nations are terrified by them.
3 For the customs of the peoples are worthless;
they cut a tree out of the forest,
and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.
4 They adorn it with silver and gold;
they fasten it with hammer and nails
so it will not totter.
5 Like a scarecrow in a melon patch,
their idols cannot speak;
they must be carried
because they cannot walk.
Do not fear them;
they can do no harm
nor can they do any good."
6 No one is like you, O LORD;
you are great,
and your name is mighty in power.
7 Who should not revere you,
O King of the nations?
This is your due.
Among all the wise men of the nations
and in all their kingdoms,
there is no one like you.
8 They are all senseless and foolish;
they are taught by worthless wooden idols.
9 Hammered silver is brought from Tarshish
and gold from Uphaz.
What the craftsman and goldsmith have made
is then dressed in blue and purple—
all made by skilled workers.
10 But the LORD is the true God;
He is the living God, the eternal King.
When He is angry, the earth trembles;
the nations cannot endure his wrath.
11 "Tell them this: 'These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.' "
12 But God made the earth by His power;
He founded the world by His wisdom
and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.
13 When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar;
He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.
He sends lightning with the rain
and brings out the wind from His storehouses.
14 Everyone is senseless and without knowledge;
every goldsmith is shamed by his idols.
His images are a fraud;
they have no breath in them.
15 They are worthless, the objects of mockery;
when their judgment comes, they will perish.
16 He [GOD] who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these,
for He is the Maker of all things,
including Israel, the tribe of His inheritance—
the LORD Almighty is His Name. [emphasis added]

Praise GOD = the Maker of the heavens and all the earth.

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie
[Led Home by the Shepherd]

SHEPHERD'S WALK Begins

Today begins the first phase of SHEPHERD'S WALK at Sweetbriar. What is that, you ask? Well - that is a very llllonnnnggg story. But the short version is:

A PRAYER WALK in the woods.

The LORD Himself has been the architect and designer as He has shown me what His plans are. This will be something that will become a Non-Profit Organization as I seek to Incorporate it as that - also under God's direction. There is a looped path with a large 1400-foot Circled Sanctuary in the back part. This morning as the contractor arrived and we went over the last minute details of the Sanctuary specs - the crescent moon shone above us and the man said to me, "Wow - it's right there in the center." I reminded him of Psalm 89 where it talks about the moon being a witness of God's covenant love for us. We waited for the other workman to arrive and I led all of us in prayer at the entrance area before the work started. I reminded them that that place is "holy ground" and that everything done there is to be done to their best ability because they are to answer to God - even before they answer to me. It was a special time to begin - even then - with PRAYER!

The LORD has taken a long and winding path to take me to this place of beginning. HE is making all things new. SHEPHERD'S WALK at Sweetbriar began with a vision from the LORD while reading and studying the 23rd Psalm. Its main basis is PSALM 23 - but there are many other Scriptures that mark its path and purpose. There will be more information to come as work progresses and the Incorporation gets underway.

Psalm 89 (selected)
1 I will sing of the LORD's great love forever;

with my mouth I will make Your faithfulness known through all generations.
2 I will declare that Your love stands firm forever,

that You established Your faithfulness in heaven itself.
3 You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one,

I have sworn to David My servant,
4 'I will establish your line forever

and make your throne firm through all generations.' " Selah
5 The heavens praise Your wonders, O LORD,

Your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.
6 For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD ?

Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings?
7 In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared;

He is more awesome than all who surround Him.
8 O LORD God Almighty, who is like You?

You are mighty, O LORD, and Your faithfulness surrounds You.

28 I will maintain My love to him forever,

and My covenant with him will never fail.
29 I will establish his line forever,

his throne as long as the heavens endure.

35 Once for all, I have sworn by My holiness—

and I will not lie to David-
36 that his line will continue forever

and his throne endure before me like the sun;
37 it will be established forever like the moon,

the faithful witness in the sky." Selah [all emphasis added]

Psalm 23 (KJV)
1 The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. [all emphasis added]

The CIRCLE in the photo is God's Glory - as He established it in the very Sanctuary area of SHEPHERD'S WALK the day the Sanctuary was being cleared for the first time. There are 12 main trees that surround the actual Sanctuary circle area.

Choosing JOY along the path of life,

Stephanie

[Led Home by the Shepherd]

A Day to Remember

....and CELEBRATE! This is long so please bear with me. I promise that the Scripture alone will be worth it! Oh, how I love God's Word!

Today marks the 2nd anniversary of my husband, Bob's home going to glory. Some of my family were able to join me at my church today when I shared a brief testimony about Bob and about Who God Is and ALL that God did two years ago in our lives bringing healing of every kind, both physical and spiritual - to Bob - to me - to our marriage - to our children and to the many who God allowed to participate in all that God's agenda held open for us!

JESUS turned Bob's life around in the last 124 days that he breathed on earth and then God took him home - to Glory - to be in the very Presence of His Savior, Jesus Christ! What a day that was and we remember with tears of grief, tears of sadness, tears of victory, and tears of great JOY! Bob's last word spoken was [one of] his grandson's name - JYDEN - which means Jehovah-Jireh = The LORD will PROVIDE!

Today was special in another way. I had the privilege of being commissioned today - being sent off to Mexico. I will be speaking to Pastor's wives about discipleship among women in the church at a Mexican Pastoral Staff Conference in Tamazunchalie, Mexico, in only a few short days. I am going with a missions organization called: For The Fame of His Name.

As I shared today - this is completely out of my "comfort zone"! But God knows that. God spoke to two dear friends [Bible study mates] that told me that God will be my "Security Blanket" - and that I was "going with God alone - as all I need."

We had a special missionary speaker today - Barry Jordan, who is presently in the USA teaching at Nyack College. What a blow away message he had for us. But the bottom line was that "This World - Is all about GOD." HE takes front seat - HE leads - and we follow after we give Him that place in our lives.

I could spend all day writing Scripture after Scripture about God - that have been significant in my life over the past 3 years, especially what I shared as my commissioning verses from:

Isaiah 6: 1-8
Isaiah's Commission
1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:
"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory."
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

This is also a day to remember because 3 years ago this month I heard Beth Moore speak at a Simulcast from Psalm 126. Though I did not understand that entire chapter at the time - God made it clear that I was to memorize every word of it. By Thanksgiving, I knew it and repeated it over and over. God was faithful as He continued to show me more and more about the deep meaning in that Psalm.

I call it my Psalm of JOY and PROMISE!

Psalm 126
A song of ascents.
1 When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion,
we were like men who dreamed [restored to health].
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."
3 The LORD has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.
4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like streams in the Negev.
5 Those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy.
6 He who goes out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with him.

When my fears came flooding in last week about stepping into the unknown God reminded me of this passage - the very one that speaks about my earthly Promised Land! Oh, praise God for His Word. It gives us all we need to live a life of godliness.

Joshua 1
6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

No matter what we encounter in life - even the death of a spouse or the death of a child or parent or sibling - or financial ruin - or illness - or abuse - no matter WHAT - He is there and will see us through those "impossible" circumstances. He tells me over and over, "keep your eyes on ME - and take them off your circumstances." Just like in the flood I had in my house a few weeks ago. It was hard as I went through it - but just when I called out in desperation to the LORD - He sent forth all the help I needed to turn it all around for good - and for His glory! Only God!

Having most of the church lay hands on me today along with some of my family and many Bible study partners was beyond belief - yet the day of Bob's celebration service I spoke this last Scripture from:

1 Corinthians 2:9-10
9 However, as it is written:
"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love Him"—
10 but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit. [all Scripture emphasis added]

God faithfully continues to reveal what my mind and heart cannot conceive! This journey of the abundant, victorious life - I'm in it with JOY for the long haul - no matter how hard - because none of it depends on me. God doesn't need me for anything. HE is the one doing all the work - He just allows us the privilege to participate! Awesome God!

Choosing JOY in the new journey ahead and going FEARLESS with God,

Stephanie
[Led Home by the Shepherd]

MY SECURITY BLANKET

Psalm 16:5-9

5 LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;

You have made my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

surely I have a delightful inheritance.
7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;

even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the LORD always before me.

Because He is at my right hand,

I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;

my body also will rest secure...

Psalm 46:10-11

10 "Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations [heathen],

I will be exalted in the earth."
11 The LORD Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Selah

Jeremiah 33:6-7

6 " 'Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal My people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. 7 I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before.

Job 11:17-19

17 Life will be brighter than noonday,

and darkness will become like morning.
18 You will be secure, because there is hope;

you will look about you and take your rest in safety.
19 You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid,

and many will court your favor.

Psalm 48:8-9

8 As we have heard,

so have we seen

in the city of the LORD Almighty,

in the city of our God:

God makes her secure forever.

Selah
9 Within Your temple, O God,

we meditate on Your unfailing love. [all Scripture emphasis added]

In the Presence of our God and King - we are SECURE!

Praise Him - the Name of Jesus!

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[Led Home by the Shepherd]

PHOTO = Another "Cologne Avenue" Sunset