Jeremiah 12:13 English Standard Version (ESV) They have sown wheat and have reaped thorns; they have tired themselves out but profit nothing. They shall be ashamed of their harvests because of the fierce anger of the Lord.

I am ashamed of what I wrote and was about to release for publication this morning. It was written about a month ago when I was tired and hurried and planning on taking a vacation. I did not do it with the same care and concern as I should. It was a reflection of my exhaustion. I had not been sleeping well. I was not taking care of myself and that is no excuse for poor performance.

I know my tendencies when I am tired. I warn others that I am not at my best. I become intolerant, impatient and I fail to be gracious. I get critical. What I wrote I have erased because it was not acceptable to me. It was a reflection of a servant who is reaping thorns.

I had two choices and I chose the poor one. Here is the right choice.

Matthew 11:28-30 English Standard Version

²⁸ Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

I know how to do this and I chose not to because I was concerned about the labor and not what the Lord wanted in that moment. Entering into His rest, taking on His yoke allows me to be gracious and humble. He makes the labor easy because He does all the work and I become unburdened. I do not have to be ashamed of what the Lord does.

I am ashamed of what I have done. I will not burden you with my problems.

Zephaniah 3:17 English Standard Version (ESV) The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

Yesterday I wrote that God meets us here where we are because He is Omni-present. Today my bible app presented me with this verse of the day. Would it have been better fitted for yesterday? Not from the point of view taken, simplicity for children.

God was in our midst when He revealed Himself mightily in my life. I didn’t know that much about God and what His intentions were towards me. I was too wrapped up in myself. I only saw how things affected me at the time. I was naïve to say the least.

It takes a little more maturity to understand the concept of the God of the universe, the creator of all things, having any moment of joy over us. It isn’t logical from our point of view. It takes a little more maturity to see things from God’s point of view. We have to know Him better to be able to see things His way.

The comment about accepting as a child is one in trusting that the one teaching them is honest and teaching them the truth. Parents should have that trust. Parents should introduce the children to the Lord in the most simple and earnest way. They know their own children and should know how best to approach the subject of God’s love.

Not all parents are capable of doing that because they do not know God themselves. My parents did not speak of God in any loving way. There was no example set before me by the ones I trusted the most.

That didn’t stop God from making Himself known to me. I just didn’t know it was God at that moment.

God took care of that too. God is faithful even when man is not.